Behavior Expectations

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As a student of the HKIS community, it is expected that all students:

  • Respect themselves, each other, teachers, staff and guests by showing honesty, integrity, and compassion.
  • Be at school, in every assigned class, on time, every day (see Attendance Policy).
  • Dress appropriately according to the school’s dress code.
  • Take care of their belongings and respect the property of others.
  • Stay within the designated areas of the High School campus.
  • Manage difficult issues in a responsible manner.

Handling Difficult Issues

As a community that is built on mutual respect, we strive to maintain supportive relationships with each other. There are times however, when we disagree or have a different perspective concerning decisions made. It is during these times that it is important to follow a few key steps whether you are in school, on a school bus, or participating in a school sponsored activity:

  • Assume good intent of others.
  • Ask questions of the individual involved in order to acquire factual information concerning the issue.
  • Speak face-to-face with the individual in a respectful manner in an attempt to gain deeper clarity concerning the issue.
  • Discuss possible solutions to the issue that might be mutually beneficial.
  • Be willing to ask for forgiveness of the individual if need be to move forward and/or be willing to offer words of forgiveness to the other person if appropriate.
  • ALWAYS begin to resolve issues by going directly to the person involved in the issue.

In most cases, the above process will help resolve difficult situations. However, AFTER you have made every attempt to work directly with the other person, AND if you cannot come to a resolution, then it may be necessary to ask a third party to assist you in further discussion with the person.

Procedures For Any Disciplinary Incident

It is important for students, parents, and faculty to be aware of school policies, consequences, and procedures. When a student violates community expectations, students are expected to take responsibility for their behavior, accept the natural consequence, and then take time to demonstrate a positive change in behavior.

Members of the community, students, teachers, counselors, or administrators may report students who have not demonstrated responsible behavior. After a discussion with the student, incidents will be entered in Powerschool on the student’s disciplinary record when appropriate by a High School administrator.

Depending on the severity of the incident, a conference may be required to help the student understand the community expectations and plan for increasing his/her responsibility. The counselors or a High School administrator may also hold a conference with the student and parents.

Examples of Not Meeting Behavior Expectations May Include:

  • Bus misbehavior.
  • Computer/HKIS network offenses.
  • Dishonesty.
  • Dress code.
  • Eating and drinking in non-designated areas.
  • Forgery (typically parental excuse notes).
  • Inappropriate behavior.
  • Rudeness or inappropriate language.
  • Misuse of electronic equipment (cell phones) during instructional time.
  • Off-campus.
  • Off-limits (typically in car park, Scenic View Apartments, Middle School, under art room, in stairway by the Community Office).
  • Cutting class.

Additionally, a High School administrator may assign consequences and/or remove student privileges for the above situations and any not covered including:

  • Choosing to remain present while others are in violation of the Substance Abuse Policy (during school hours or on a school sponsored activity).
  • Coming to school or any school sponsored event under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Acting in such a way that discredits the school – behavior that is detrimental to the best interests of the school, or it is incompatible with the common goals and standards of the school community.

In addition to other disciplinary consequences, seniors may also lose the privilege of participating in Prom and festivities leading up to the Commencement Ceremony.

School Bus Behavior

The bus operator and bus supervisor (on MS/HS shared buses) are in charge of the
bus and the passengers. They are responsible for the safety of the students and for
their conduct on the bus. Riding the bus is a privilege that can be denied temporarily or permanently if the student’s behavior warrants it. There will be no refunds as a result of a disciplinary removal from the bus. In addition, regular school discipline procedures and consequences apply. The following are expectations for all bus riders:

  • Stay seated.
  • Respect each other’s personal space. 
  • Call the bus supervisor by name.
  • Be cooperative, polite, and respectful at all times.
  • Use a soft voice.

Bus supervisors will sit at a designated seat on the bus in order to supervise all students. Smoking, vandalism, “horseplay”, bullying, disrespect to the operator or bus supervisor or any acts endangering the safety of the passengers or passers-by may result in immediate denial of bus services for the remainder of the year.

Off-Campus and Off-Limits Areas

The school boundary ends at the front gate. Areas such as the Middle School, the faculty apartments, the car park, the “overhang” and the side stairs at the back of the Art Department, under the 100 rooms, the guard offices, the stairway by the Community Office, and places which are not public areas are out-of-bounds to students at all times.

The elevator is also off-limits for general student use. Students with medical conditions that require elevator use are to come to the main office for an elevator pass. Students who use the elevator without permission from the main office will be considered off-limits.
Students are NOT to be dropped off in the car park between 7am and 8:30 am. unless the High School Principal gives special permission in advance. Students who disregard this expectation will be considered “off limits’’.

Public Displays of Affection

It is important that students demonstrate an attitude and behavior regarding interpersonal relationships that would be acceptable to people of various cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Genuine feelings of affection may exist between students; however, public display of such affection on campus is not acceptable. Students must refrain from inappropriate behavior such as intimate and prolonged embraces, kissing, and similar actions that may be offensive to the general public on campus, on school transportation, and at school-sponsored events.

Disciplinary Probation

If a student has recurring disciplinary issues, they could be placed on Disciplinary Probation. Parents will be informed and the student’s counselor will begin a series of mandatory check-ins with the student. In addition:

  • The student may be expected to attend assigned study during all free periods, and Senior Privileges (if applicable) revoked for a period of time to be determined by the Associate Principal for Student Life.
  • The administration has the right to revoke overseas travel privileges.
  • The student may lose any student leadership position, including Senate, Class Officer, NHS, Ambassador Board membership etc. for the remainder of the school year.
  • If appropriate, on-going counseling with the student’s counselor.
  • Possible suspension from school.
  • Conference, following the suspension, with parents, counselors, and principal to determine how the student can remain at HKIS.
  • Loss of other privileges as deemed appropriate.

Technology Use Guidelines

Digital technologies represent an essential part of our everyday lives and when used appropriately, responsibly and intentionally, have the potential to be transformative tools for learning and engagement. In High School, we believe that technology should be used when it can enhance and transform experiences and put away when it’s not. With that in mind, the following guidelines and expectations should be followed:

Students will:

  • Be flexible problem solvers who are open to new technologies, who  understand that not all learning involves technology and who are prepared when it does.
  • Use technology with common sense, responsible decision making, critical thinking, honesty, and respect for others, acknowledging information overload, focus issues, and distractions as part of the digital experiences.
  • Students are expected to abide by the HKIS social media policy.
  • Store cell phones in bags or in a location of the teacher’s choosing during class time. 
  • Leave cell phones in their bag when they go to the restroom
  • Use cell phones in class only when the teacher gives permission.
  • Keep phones, earbuds, headphones etc in their bags during Community Gatherings and other performances 
  • Seek teacher permission to use headphones/ earbuds during class time. 
  • Put all devices—including cell phones, laptops, tablets, watches etc—on ‘Do not disturb’ mode during class time to reduce distractions from notifications.
  • Use devices to support the learning for the class they are in. Students will not game, engaging in learning for other classes, email, or send chat messages during class time.
  • Not walk and look at their screen or text while walking.
  • Prioritise ‘in person’ interactions with their peers and teachers.
  • Come to school every day with a fully charged laptop as their primary learning device.

In the event of a student's digital devices being a distraction to learning, consequences may include:

  • Devices taken away from the student until the end of the lesson
  • Devices turned into the HS office for collection at the end of the day
  • Parents informed
  • Repeated or established patterns of behavior may result in a parent conference and further actions being taken.

Faculty will:

  • Invest time throughout the school year to establish expectations for use of technology in their classroom, including emphasizing where they expect cell phones to be stored during class time, how laptops and tablets will be managed and used, as well as reviewing AI guidelines and key facets of the social media policy.
  • Guide students in the appropriate use of digital technologies for learning in their classroom.
  • Model appropriate technology use in their classroom and around the school building.
  • Address and support students who struggle to use technology in ways that are appropriate (i) for learning, and (ii) for their interpersonal relationships with others.

Parents will:

  • Support the HKIS technology guidelines and expectations, including the digital communication policy with their child
  • Refrain from texting or calling their child during class time
  • Contact the HS office if there is an emergency and they need to contact their child immediately 
  • Model appropriate use of technologies in the home, establishing family expectations for the use of an management of devices.

Details on the HS approach to digital learning can be found here.