General Expectations
We believe that every child has the right to feel safe and learn in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect. Every student is expected to be responsible for his/her own behavior, to exercise self-discipline and to refrain from behavior which interferes with other students’ right to learn or endangers the health or well-being of others. We encourage and expect positive, responsible, and respectful behavior.
All students are expected to live out our Common Agreements. These Common Agreements are shaped by all students in Grades 6 through 8 and are ratified in partnership with our House Leaders and Secondary Leadership Team. The Common Agreements were last ratified in the 2022-2023 school year. We will review these agreements this school year.
Break and Lunch Times
- Students should use these times to eat, socialize and play.
- Students should consume food and drink at a table in a designated eating area.
- Students may go to designated locations that could include student services center, cafeteria, outdoor terrace, amphitheater, field, library, the Multipurpose Room (MPR), and the Peace Garden. The cafeteria is reserved for Grade 6 students during the first half of the lunch break.
- Students must begin to make their way back to class when advised by the supervising teacher/staff member.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are considered private spaces, and students should be thoughtful and respectful of these locations in alignment with our common agreements. With our commitment to health and safety, adult employees are allowed to enter a student-designated bathroom when they have a concern that a student:
- is at risk to themselves
- is a risk to others
- is acting in violation of school rules and regulations
Except in cases of extreme emergency,
- Adults entering a student bathroom are expected to knock on the door, announce themselves and explain reason they are entering
- Adults should attempt to enter a student bathroom with a partner
- Adults should attempt to enter only gender-matching bathrooms
Personal Devices
If a student chooses to bring their mobile phone to school, it must be kept in the student’s backpack or locker during the school day – arrival time to dismissal time unless a teacher allows the student to use it for class work. Students may come to the SSC if they need to make a phone call. If a student is unwell then the Nurse's Office will contact a child’s parent or guardian. For other uses of mobile phones, please see the Educational Technology Responsible Use Agreement.
Lockers & Valuables
All students are assigned a locker at the beginning of the school year. The locker use policy is in line with our Common Agreements and, therefore, our lockers are lock-free. These lockers are private spaces, and other students should not open them without permission from the locker owner. Separate music and PE lockers are available for student use during the day.
Valuables should not be left in bags outside of lockers, on benches, in classrooms, hallways or other locations including the cafeteria, MPR, BBT and bathrooms, or in gym lockers. Whenever possible, items should be marked with the owner’s name.
Theft and Vandalism
HKIS is a place where it is expected that individuals will respect themselves, classmates, teachers, the property of others and school property. Students not demonstrating this respect will be held accountable for their actions in accordance with our discipline philosophy. In addition, families may be held responsible for payment for total restoration or replacement of all damaged property/materials.
Weapons
Everyone has the right to feel safe while attending school and/or school events. It is the practice and policy of HKIS that no one shall possess or use a weapon, or a look-a-like, in any school facility/grounds or during any school sponsored event. Possession means having a weapon on one’s person, or in the area subject to one’s control, on school grounds or at a school trip or activity.
Weapons include, but are not limited to, all types of knives, training blades, firearms, pellet guns, bows, clubs, tear/pepper gas, or any other device or instrument that, in the manner it is used or intended to be used, is calculated to or likely to produce death or bodily harm. In addition to the parents and guardians, the Hong Kong authorities may be called when students or visitors possess and/or use weapons in violation of this policy.
