A behavioral infraction of a major school rule or repeated instances of violations of other school rules as set forth in this handbook will result in disciplinary action involving administrative review, probation, suspension or expulsion.
Overseas travel will likely be affected (see Overseas Travel Policy). In most cases, the first violation of a major school rule, including academic malpractice, at HKIS will result in Disciplinary Probation and/or suspension, though expulsion is possible.
While on Disciplinary Probation, any violation of a major school rule or an accumulation of minor infractions will likely result in consideration of expulsion. However, even after the completion of a term of Disciplinary Probation, a second violation of a major school rule at any point in a student’s career at HKIS will generally result in expulsion.
All school rules apply to students participating in any school-sponsored event on or off campus. In addition, it is important to understand that incidents, which occur out of school, are of concern to the school and will be handled in an appropriate manner as you represent the school wherever you are.
Examples of a violation of a major school rule may include:
- Lying, plagiarizing, cheating or stealing.
- Using, possessing, distributing and/or facilitating the use of alcohol, marijuana or other illegal drugs see Substance Abuse Policy No. 3060.
- Off-campus participation in illegal use of alcohol or drugs while school is in session (see Substance Abuse Policy No. 3060).
- Smoking or vaping on campus or any school sponsored activity.
- Harassment, or acting in any way that intimidates someone either physically or emotionally. (See Harassment Policy).
- Flagrantly disregarding property (vandalism). Any incidents of vandalism should be reported. If students are found to be responsible for vandalism of HKIS resources they will be held liable for the cost of the item and will face disciplinary penalties.
- Tampering with or damaging fire safety equipment.
- Possessing or using dangerous weapons, firearms or explosives.
- Engaging in sexual behavior on campus.
- Entering the school grounds for the purpose of playing practical jokes. School pranks are not harmless and cannot be condoned since such incidents inevitably result in some damage to school property, considerable extra work for school personnel, and a breach of trust between faculty and students.
Students who receive any sort of suspension may not be eligible for student leadership positions the following school year. This includes, but is not limited to, leadership roles in Senate and ExCo, Ambassadors, NHS and SDLT and any athletics and activities teams. Students in these roles are expected to demonstrate consistent good character and be in good standing in the community.
Recording Suspensions
Students should be aware that colleges ask specific questions relative to out-of-school suspensions during High School. Students and/or counselors will be required to report these instances to college personnel. Students should therefore avoid circumstances that may result in an out-of-school suspension.
Substance Abuse and Drug Testing
(see Substance Abuse Policy No. 3060)
Our work with students and families emphasizes care and respect for individuals. This means working both proactively and reactively to foster and encourage healthy, wholesome lifestyles. Our natural extension of this philosophy is taking an institutional stand against any drug abuse, and substance abuse generally.
The pressure and temptation on teenagers in Hong Kong to participate in the drug scene is well documented. HKIS has determined that, in providing our students with a safe
and nurturing environment, zero tolerance of illegal drug use is critical, and that random testing can be a useful tool in deterring drug involvement.
The school’s contributions toward achieving that goal, in reference to illegal substance abuse as defined by Hong Kong law, include:
- Preventative education programs on substance abuse at all age levels.
- School support of a student who requests help to overcome substance use, abuse, or dependency.
- Education on the consequences under Hong Kong law and HKIS policy relating to possession, use, and facilitating use by others of illegal drugs.
- A drug-use screening and detection procedure utilizing student hair samples conducted on a random basis.
- Intervention when the school has reasonable cause to believe drug abuse has occurred.
Students who possess or use illegal drugs, bring drugs to school or school activities, or facilitate drug use by others violate Hong Kong law and HKIS policy.
HKIS reserves the right to terminate the continuing enrollment of any student who violates HKIS policy on illegal drugs and substance abuse.
Policy approved: 2 April, 1998 (reviewed June 2013)
Implementation
As an annual requirement for enrollment, each student in Grades 6 -12 and their parents will read and sign a statement in PowerSchool acknowledging their understanding and acceptance of the conditions of this policy.
The school reserves the right to inspect personal effects of students who are believed to be in possession of or facilitating the use of illegal or dangerous substances or paraphernalia. This will normally be done in the presence of the student affected.
Any students found to be in possession of any illegal substances (e.g., illegal drugs) or paraphernalia while on campus or at any school activity will be expelled, including possible loss of credit for the semester in which the offense occurs. In those cases where drugs are found on campus, the school must contact the Hong Kong Police.
Any student determined to be facilitating the drug use of others will be expelled from school. Facilitation includes, but is not limited to: selling drugs; making drug purchases for someone else; transporting drugs for someone else; or providing information so others may buy drugs.
For the random testing component the school will:
- Cover the cost of the individual tests and program implementation.
- Ensure through quality controls that any procedure involving a student is done in the least intrusive way possible and with care, respect, and sensitivity.
- Train a designated administrative member of staff to collect, process, and provide results of hair sampling.
- Randomly test on average two High School students per day. (For middle school, on average 20 students per month will be tested.)
- Retest for accuracy any positive test whose results are disputed; consult a licensed medical review officer for resolution if necessary.
- Require a student who tests positive to enter the intervention program.
- With reasonable cause, school personnel may call for a test (hair, urine and/or saliva) to assess drug use. This process is independent of the routine random sampling.
- If drug use is established, a committee of Senior Administration will determine whether or not a student may continue enrollment at HKIS. If asked to withdraw or expelled, it is highly unlikely that it would be successful for a student to be readmitted to HKIS. Under certain circumstances, opportunity to reapply may be considered on a case by case basis by the committee. Decisions will be communicated in a timely manner. If it is determined that the student may remain enrolled at HKIS, involvement in the intervention program will be mandatory.
Intervention Program
The intervention program will include the following:
- Parents will be notified of the student’s test results, if positive (or when a student admits drug use to school personnel), and meet with a member of the High School administrative team and the student’s counselor.
- A student who accepts responsibility for their use and is open to counseling assistance, will be placed in the intervention program that will commence immediately and last for up to 12 months. (Note: regular drug testing will continue throughout the HKIS enrollment of any student who has a positive drug test and enters the intervention program).
- Should a student not initially choose to accept responsibility for his/her documented use, he/she will be suspended from school for up to three days to reconsider his/her decision. If after three days the student is still unwilling to take responsibility for his/her use, the student will be asked to leave HKIS.
The intervention program will include the following elements:
- Regular sessions with the student’s HKIS school counselor.
- When appropriate, a recommendation by the school that the student receive additional outside counseling/drug intervention support. School counselors will assist families in locating suitable intervention services and maintain contact with outside therapists. In order to remain in school, students in the intervention program and their parents must provide a signed release of information relating to such counseling, intervention or therapy.
- Periodic unannounced testing by the school to assist the student in avoiding continued drug use.
- Loss of all free periods, for a minimum of six weeks, at which time further assessment will take place to determine the return of privileges.
- Loss of participation in school sponsored overseas travel for 2-4 academic quarters.
- If at any point after the initial positive drug test result, the student tests positive for drugs again and the result indicates continued use (or admits to drug use), he/she may be asked to leave HKIS. This decision is at the school’s discretion and will allow the student to receive drug/alcohol abuse services beyond the expertise of HKIS personnel. If the school allows a student to remain in school following a second positive test any subsequent positive test will result in the student’s expulsion from school.
Alcohol and Nicotine use, including vaping, on Campus or at School-sponsored Activities
Since the effects of alcohol and nicotine abuse are also harmful, HKIS is proactive in its care for students and prohibits the possession and/or use of alcohol or nicotine on campus or at any school-sponsored event. This includes vaping.
First Offense:
Parent conference may be required; assessment on the extent of the problem and recommendations; students may face an in-school suspension, loss of free periods and HKIS sponsored overseas travel for the remainder of the semester or year.
Second Offense:
Required parent conference; may include out-of-school to suspension; and student is placed on disciplinary probation along with its consequences as appropriate.
Third Offense:
Suspension and/or expulsion.
Special Provision for Overseas Travel:
Please note that alcohol, nicotine or vaping violations which occur on overseas trips will result in a student’s suspension from school until the student’s enrollment status is reviewed and a determination of extended suspension or expulsion is made.
Agreement
Students must log on to PowerSchool to read and complete the Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Agreement before the first day of attendance at HKIS.