Credits: 1 credit per Semester The final two years of High School are a time when students may pursue one of several different courses of study at HKIS as they prepare for university enrollment or for employment. All students are encouraged to consider their future goals and discuss them with their parents, teachers and counselor if they are thinking of pursuing an option in either the Grade 11 or 12 years. The Option allows students who qualify to tailor a planned activity outside of the school campus for part of the year. Students may take a reduced class schedule, for example, and utilize the available time for an alternative activity. Grade 11/Grade 12 Options that have been approved in the past include:
- Teacher aide in lower primary, upper primary or middle school.
- Participation in a commercial training program, e.g., hotel services.
- Work experience (employment or internship).
- Community service (e.g., working a few hours per day in or with a service agency or facility).
- Study in another Hong Kong school.
- Study and/or work with an expert (e.g., graphic designer, journalist).
- Work experience at a consulate.
- Training as an elite athlete.
- Semester abroad experience (studying language in another country).
Another possibility is to concentrate courses required for graduation into one semester in order to spend the other semester off-campus on a Grade 11/Grade 12 Option. Students who wish to do activities such as the following typically use this arrangement:
- Language immersion study in another country.
- Full-time on-the-job training.
- Full-time participation in the work of a service organization.
- Work experience.
Students contemplating a Grade 11/Grade 12 Option need to work closely with their counselors and the Associate Principal for Academic Programs to ensure that all graduation requirements will have been met by the end of the senior year. Forms (to be filled out at registration time) that explain the approval process are available from the counselors. Recognition of these alternative activities will be made on the student’s transcript.
Final proposal forms must be submitted by the end of April in order to be considered for Senior Option for the following academic year.