Ringing in the School Year: Exploring La Campana and School-Related CANS Items

​As the school year begins, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how we can best support children and youth in their academic journeys. In this installment of the Lotería and the CANS series, we’ll explore La Campana (The Bell) and its connection to the school-related items in the CANS. Just as the bell signals the start to the school day, it also represents opportunities for growth, connection, learning, and perhaps even triggers–both for students and for those working alongside them. For more information on using Lotería cards with other CANS items, such as strengths and family, visit our previous posts and newsletters for further details. 

El Sol

El Arbol

​The CANS includes several school-related items, such as school behavior, achievement, and attendance. These areas are critical to shaping a child’s overall well-being, and La Campana offers a creative way to explore them during assessments.

Applying the Concept in Practice
When assessing school-related needs, La Campana can serve as a visual reminder to listen for the unique “ring” of each child’s experience. For example:

• A student struggling academically may still have strong relationships with peers that serve as a foundation for engagement.
• A child with frequent absences might benefit from identifying what “rings true” for them about school–whether it’s a specific teacher, activity, or subject–and finding a way to amplify that connection.
• A family experiencing conflict may need guidance in communicating with school staff, fostering stronger collaboration between home and school.

 
Some questions clinicians can ask clients and families to better understand these experiences are:

• What comes up for you when you think about a typical day at school?
• What are the things about school that you like? Dislike?
• What are the things about school that you do well?
• Where do you need more support in school? What would make your school experience easier?
• What comes up for you when you think about a school bell ringing? School year starting? Ending?

 
The responses to these questions can then lead to collaborative conversations around CANS needs ratings. By focusing on both strengths and challenges from their responses and ratings, we can help children and families navigate the complexities of the school environment with greater resilience and success. 

---

Using La Campana (The Bell) as a Supervision Tool
La Campana (The Bell) can evoke many interpretations–some positive, such as excitement for learning, and some more challenging, like the stress of high expectations or other triggers. The CANS is an amazing tool that can be brought into supervision to further deepen discussions. La Campana can be used as a metaphor to spark reflection on how school environments impact a child’s strengths and needs. Consider posing the following questions to a supervisee:

• What does the sound of a bell symbolize for your client? Anticipation? Stress? Celebration? What have they shared about their school experience?
• Does your client experience school as a place of growth? Or as a place of struggle?
• What role can caregivers, teachers, and providers play in “tuning” the bell to make school a supportive and empowering space?

 
These prompts can lead to rich discussions about school-related CANS items and how we approach them in a collaborative, strengths-based way.

Looking Ahead
As the school year progresses, La Campana reminds us to celebrate even the small victories: a child’s improved attendance, a parent-teacher partnership, or a student feeling more confident in their abilities. These moments resonate far beyond the classroom, creating a ripple effect of growth and empowerment. We would love to hear your experiences and/or questions about using Lotería cards during your CANS assessments and using them in schools. Feel free to contact us here:

In future posts, we’ll continue to explore Lotería cards and their connections to CANS, weaving cultural creativity into meaningful conversations about strengths, needs, and collaboration. Until then, let’s keep listening for the bells that signal progress in our work with children, youth, and families.
 
Here’s to a school year filled with opportunity, resilience, and connection–one ring at a time!!

Contact us!