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| Q: |
What is your school start and end date? |
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| A: |
School generally commences the third week in August and concludes the second week in June. You will find that the HKIS calendar consists of the same number of instructional days as US schools, but the calendar is stretched to accommodate the required local Chinese holidays, as well as some of the major US holidays. |
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| Q: |
What are your school hours? |
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This varies according to division. Reception 1 (R1) has a half-day option based on geographic area and a long-day option. Students residing on the south side of Hong Kong Island attend school from 7:50 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and students residing on the north side of the Island and Kowloon attend in the afternoon from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students in the long-day option and Reception 2 (R2) attend from 7:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. while students in Grades 1-5 attend from 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Students in Grades 6-12 attend school from 7:50 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. |
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| Q: |
Is transportation provided to the school? Do you have buses? |
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Kwoon Chung Motors has been providing bus service for HKIS students on a contract basis since 1971 and currently operates 65 routes. If you are planning to reside on Hong Kong Island, you can be nearly certain there is transportation available. In addition, buses operate as far north as Kowloon Tong, and students in the New Territories are met at a designated location in Kowloon. Even students living in Discovery Bay can be picked up from the Discovery Bay Central Pier 3. It is customary to have a bus supervisor on all buses to and from the elementary campus. A bus supervisor also escorts the afternoon runs from the middle school. In addition to normal school operating hours, an after-school activity bus departs the elementary campus at 4:00 p.m. and additional buses depart from the middle and high schools at 4:20 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. You will be billed directly by the bus company.
For further information please contact Kwoon Chung Motors at: -
Tel: (852) 2578 1178
FAX: (852) 2562 3399 |
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| Q: |
What are your class sizes? |
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This varies by division. Maximum numbers are listed below:
Grade
R1 - 15 students 1 Teacher plus 1 Teaching Assistant
R2 - 17 Students 1 Teacher plus 1 teaching Assistant shared between 2 classes.
1-2 - 20 Students 1 Teacher plus 1 Teacher Assistant shared between 2 classes
3-5 - 22 Students 1 Teacher plus 1 Teacher Assistant shared between 3 classes
6-8 - 22 Students per homeroom Teacher, fewer in Modern Language and Math
9-12 - 22 Students, although as classes become more advanced there may be as few as 12-15
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| Q: |
Do you wear uniforms? |
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Lower and Upper Primary School students in R1 to Grade 5 wear uniforms which consist of navy blue bottoms (blue shorts, blue jeans, a blue skirt, etc.) and red or white collared shirts on which the HKIS emblem is sewn. Shorts and shirts can be purchased from the Dragon Shop (school store), or you can provide your own and purchase from either campus a sew-on HKIS emblem.
Middle school students are required to wear school uniforms. This consists of a choice of navy blue or white polo type shirt with HKIS embroidered on its left sleeve. This shirt is sold through the Dragon Shop. The bottoms consist of any typical shorts, skirts, or long trousers in blue, black or khaki color. Denim is acceptable.
No uniform is required in Grades 9-12. Instead, students are expected to exercise good judgment by selecting clothing that is moderate and in good taste.
PE uniforms are required for both middle school and high school and can be purchased from the Dragon Shop upon arrival. This is a unisex uniform that consists of blue shorts and a gray T-shirt.
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| Q: |
What kind of shoes should my child wear? |
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Most shoes are fine. However, for safety purposes, clogs and sandals without a heel strap are not allowed. It is recommended that your child wear sneakers for designated PE days. |
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| Q: |
Do you have a hot lunch program? |
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As the Lower Primary does not have a cafeteria, children in R1 (long-day) to Grade 2 must bring their own lunch on a daily basis. R1 (half-day) students eat lunch at home.
In Grades 3-12, a catering company provides a balanced hot lunch program. Meal tickets may be purchased on a daily basis, or you may purchase a plan with an option of three, four, or five days per week; in addition, Octupus cards are accepted. Grades 6-12 also offer an option of meal vouchers sold in coupon books. In all cases, children are also welcome to bring their own sack lunch.
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| Q: |
What happens on the first day of school? |
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The first day of school varies according to grade level. In R1-5, the first day of school is actually a very important orientation day for new and returning students alike. For students in R1 and R2, time is set aside to meet your new teacher individually. You will receive confirmation of your designated time with the letter announcing your teacher assignment in early August. All new students in Grades 1-5 will meet their teachers at a pre-determined time, details of which you will receive in your letter of placement. New students in Grades 6-12 will be invited to a special orientation scheduled the week prior to the start of school. |
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| Q: |
How do you select my child’s teacher? |
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A great deal of effort is invested to create classroom climates that provide for the most effective instruction. We look at learning personalities, gender, former teacher recommendations, individual strengths, diversity of the class, etc. This is a good reason to include as much information as possible regarding your child’s past academic experiences, special interests and personality. |
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| Q: |
What supplies do I need to bring to school? |
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All basic school supplies for Grades R1-8 are included in tuition fees. Students will want to bring a backpack for carrying items back and forth from home. Occasionally an item affiliated with a particular class, i.e., a scientific calculator for algebra, may need to be purchased. The classroom teacher will notify you of this in plenty of time. Students in Grades 9-12 should provide their own binders, paper, pens and pencils. |
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| Q: |
Do you have any after-school activities? |
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Lower and Upper Primary Schools
In Grades 1-5, our after-school activity program offers three sessions with each session lasting six weeks. Students are allowed to choose one or two activities during this time, depending on availability. Activities are wide-ranging and include choices such as cooking, roller hockey, hiking, swimming, computer, chess, arts and crafts, and many more. Information is sent home with the students and parents may sign up on our website, with the first session beginning in October. There are numerous musical opportunities including choir, handbells, Orff Ensemble, and strings. After-school Chinese language classes are also available. Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops are very active at HKIS, so be sure to bring along your uniform and badges! In addition to all of these, HKIS offers an extensive youth sports program. Soccer begins in R2, baseball in Grade 1, and basketball in Grade 3. These are the HKIS intramural youth leagues, which conclude in Grade 8.
Our facilities are also used by private organizations that offer fee-based activities, which include gymnastics, dance, judo, art, drama, soccer, etc. These are coordinated by the Community & Summer Program Center and contact information can be found on our website under ‘Activities’.
Middle School
Intercollegiate sports are available in Grades 6-12. Options for middle school include swimming, cross-country, track & field, badminton, volleyball, rugby, basketball, soccer, and field hockey. Grades 6-8 may also participate in the HKIS youth league for soccer, basketball, and baseball. Many clubs and after-school activities are also available, including Jazz Band, Allegretto (girls) and Bass (boys) Honors Choirs, Student Council, Drama, Yearbook, Chess, Language Clubs, Art, Broadcasting, etc.
High School
Sports available at the high school level include badminton, basketball, field hockey (girls), track and field, crew, rugby (boys), volleyball, cross country, sailing, soccer (boys), softball, squash, swimming, tennis, and table tennis. All students are registered with the Hong Kong School Sports Association and leagues are categorized according to age into A, B, or C grade. A full range of extracurricular activities abounds. Clubs are generally classified according to type, with multiple opportunities available in each category: Journalism, Service, Music & Drama, Spirit, Cultural Awareness, Technology, and Academics/Speech. Approximately 60 percent of the students are involved in sports with 96 percent also involved in community service. |
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| Q: |
How do I sign up for sports and activities? |
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Parents of children in Grades R2-5 will have an opportunity to sign up for the HKIS and community activities on orientation day. Middle and high school students will be notified through the daily bulletins and parent newsletters available both in print and online at http://dragonnet.hkis.edu.hk. |
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| Q: |
How do we schedule classes? |
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High School
Before arrival, a credit worksheet will be prepared which takes into account all previous coursework. High school students starting at the beginning of the academic year take placement tests in August to determine proper placement in the areas of math, modern language, and music. Often this placement can be determined by a conversation with the course teacher. Once course eligibility is established, a meeting with the academic dean is required to determine the class schedule. Simply call the high school at 3149-7000 and you will be directed to the counseling office to make appointments and to get further details and testing schedules. New students arriving after the start of the new school term can make appointments on an individual basis.
Middle School
Students will be required to complete a survey to determine placement for math and their elective classes. These include courses such as music, modern language, art, drama, technology, and life skills. Homeroom teachers for both new and returning students will be announced on the first day of school, and this homeroom teacher will provide each student with his/her completed schedule. New students arriving after the start of the school year will report to the Student Services Center where they will be paired with a grade level ‘buddy’ who will help with the transition during the first few days. |
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| Q: |
Are parents involved with the school? |
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HKIS is firmly committed to fostering a strong partnership between school and home. There are many ways to be involved, whether that means being an active participant in Parent Faculty Organization (PFO) activities, assisting as a classroom volunteer, coaching a soccer team, or serving on the Board of Managers. You can learn more about our parent community through their homepage at http://dnet.hkis.edu.hk/pfo/. |
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| Q: |
Where are your teachers from? |
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Our teachers represent an international body, coming from all over the world, including: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, India and the US. Our modern language teachers are often native speakers from their home countries.
The average teaching experience is 13 years, and approximately 63 percent of the teachers hold master degrees or above.
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| Q: |
If our family is not Christian, may we be excused from religion classes? |
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Religious studies are an integral part of the identity of HKIS and are a compulsory component of instruction in all schools. HKIS is a Christian school with a religiously pluralistic student body. The Christian religion is taught with respect for all religious backgrounds, and students are exposed to many different religious beliefs and philosophies. |
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| Q: |
Do you administer standardized achievement tests? |
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The Stanford Achievement Test (SAT10) is administered to students in Grades 2-8 every spring. All Grade 10-11 students are required to take the PSAT and all high school students are eligible to take the SAT, which is administered six times during the year. These tests are scored in the US and parents receive a detailed explanation of their child’s results. |
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| Q: |
What amount of homework should my child expect? |
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This varies by division and is a gradual build-up to the heavier academic loads of a college preparatory program. For example, a second grader may have only 20-30 minutes of homework per day while a seventh grader may have up to two hours per day, and by the time a student reaches high school he/she may have as much as 20 hours per week. |
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| Q: |
What happens if my child arrives and needs help to catch up with the curriculum? |
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Children come to HKIS from all parts of the world and therefore from all levels of program and curriculum. If we see that a child is in need of extra support outside of what can be provided in the classroom or learning center, we will refer you to a tutor to help bridge the gap. At the older grades, homework club or peer tutoring can be helpful. Alternatively, if we find that your child is in need of additional challenges, he/she may be referred for observation for consideration in our Gifted and Talented Program. |
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| Q: |
How will you help my child with the special transition of being new to Hong Kong and to HKIS? |
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Your child’s smooth and positive transition to HKIS is of top concern to us. Transition issues are dealt with in many ways: from puppet talks at the youngest level to peer counseling, student orientation programs and buddy systems at the older grades. You should also know that exit transitions are equally as important to us. When it is time to move on to your next assignment, we will also help your child say good-bye. Our counselors are available to you, too! |
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| Q: |
What modern languages are offered? |
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In R1-Grade 5, Mandarin is compulsory. Children are placed in ability groups according to grade level. Students may choose one language from Mandarin, French, or Spanish at the middle and high school. Modern language is an elective from Grades 6 - 12. Although a modern language is not required for high school graduation, it is strongly encouraged and often required for college admission. Most college-bound students take at least 2 consecutive years of Mandarin, French, or Spanish. |
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| Q: |
What colleges do the majority of HKIS students attend? |
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Each year over 90 percent of our high school graduates attend colleges and universities in North America, while the remaining graduates attend colleges and universities in other parts of the world. Our graduates are accepted to the most competitive institutions in the world. HKIS ranks high among international schools for its number of AP Scholar graduates. HKIS has fulltime college counseling staff on hand to assist students with making the appropriate college choice and with the application process. |
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