Student Life

Birthdays

Student birthdays are celebrated with the community. Parents are welcomed to send a simple treat to school to make it special but not to join in the classroom for the celebration with their child. Please do not send in party or loot bags for the class. Treats which are healthy are desirable. Communicate with your child's teacher for specifics. Should party bags get sent in, we will return them back home.

We invite children on their birthdays to make a lasting contribution to our library by purchasing a book containing a specially designed nameplate with their name and birthday. Check with our librarian for more details.

Please check with your child's teacher about ways to plan for birthday celebrations in the classroom.

Cafeteria, Snacks and Lunches

Our school has a wonderful cafeteria, which offers healthy and balanced lunch options for our children. Our parents, teachers and Sodexo personnel have worked collaboratively in planning for an eating experience that supports understanding of healthy food, eating well balanced meals and enjoying eating with friends and classmates. Purchasing lunch is an option we are excited to offer our students.

Parents may purchase lunches online and may also view the monthly menus. The cafeteria will serve three options daily or students may also opt in to only purchasing a snack option, which we are served family style on a daily basis at the tables. These snacks will be vegetable and fruits, some organic. The vegetable and fruit options are a way for children to share and experience eating family style,with a focus on the pleasure of sharing in a meal.

Parents who prefer to send healthy lunches from home are welcome to do so. Please be reminded that Lower Primary adheres to a total Nut-Aware/Nut-Free Policy throughout the entire campus

Field Trips

Field trips are an important part of our school curriculum. They provide extended, hands-on learning experiences for all the children. You will be informed of all field trips in advance. We use our own regular school bus for transportation. Parents are welcome on field trips. Siblings are not permitted to attend field trips as this takes away from the safety and supervision of our students and it is a special time for our learners. Teachers will inform parents about field trip attendance and volunteer parent chaperones. Please note, domestic helpers and/or nannies are not permitted to accompany children on field trips.

Home Learning in Lower Primary

Students at HKIS spend their school days engaged in rich, structured and developmentally purposeful learning. We believe in nurturing a child’s imagination, social-emotional skills, physical growth, creativity and intellectual curiosity--fostering their achievement and success both at school and at home.

We do not give specific homework assignments in Lower Primary. Instead, we hope that students engage in activities at home and in the community that support their learning in school. Making time for reading, unstructured play and everyday adventures helps children consolidate the structured learning of the school day and gives them a solid foundation for continued academic growth.

What does the research tell us?

An ever-growing body of knowledge and research of early childhood development and learning influences our work with young students.

• Research from top educational institutions such as Duke University and the Harvard Family Research Project shows that homework is not effective in increasing academic achievement for young children.
• Reading for pleasure and reading consistently is positively connected to achievement. Experts recommend giving children opportunities to choose their own books, read independently, read with their families, have others read to them, and talk about the books they read. Engaging in meaningful conversations about books is an essential element of developing students’ foundation and identity. Building sustained time for reading is important and must be modeled and supported.
• Authentic life experiences provide moments to nurture curiosity and develop capacities for mathematical thinking. Everyday activities such as shopping and taxi rides teach children that math is all around us, and will build deeper mathematical concepts and language.
• Children need time for unstructured play to grow their imagination and creativity. They also need time to play with their families and friends, cultivating their social- emotional lives and their physical development.
• The brain develops in childhood through multiple experiences that require hands- on, constructivist and child-centered experiences. Play is the best formof learning when children are young.

Our Partnership

Teachers and staff will connect with families to ensure parents have practical,timely information on your child’s learning and development. At Back-to-School NIght, as well as throughout the school year, parents will receive ideas for activities and experiences that foster children’s growth. We believe there are many ways for families to explore these opportunities, and the diversity of your experiences enriches our entire school community.

There may be times that students need specific practice at building skills or development, and in those instances, teachers will work closely with parents to provide the information needed to support this growth.

Instructional coaches support the understanding of the approach and LP curriculum. In all cases, parents are welcomed to explore the resources available through our LP Library and our faculty for inspiration and activities. Teachers and staff strive to support families and work together as partners in a child’s learning journey.

School Supplies and Backpacks

The school provides classroom materials and supplies, so children do not need to bring extra materials. Children should bring an appropriate sized schoolbag or backpack to carry home daily papers, notes, library books, lunches, a water bottle and personal belongings. Parents should teach their children how to open zippers and carry their backpack safely. Parents should also take care not to selectoversized bags or those with complex openings or zippers. Backpacks with large openings and easy zippers are ideal for this age group. Many supplies can bepurchased from the Dragon Shop. Do not send in phones or any electronic devices including smart watches. Toys may only be brought in for special occasions such as show and tell.

Six-Day Schedule

Our specialist schedule follows a 6-day cycle. This means that your child receives instruction in music, art, PE and Chinese following a 6-day cycle. A copy of this year’s cycle can be found on on the inside cover of this handbook. Details of your child’s class schedule will be given at Back-to-School Night.

Tutoring

Some parents may choose to employ a tutor for their children. This is highly discouraged at this age. If you believe your child needs tutoring, please discuss this with your classroom teacher, counselor and/or LP administrator. Parents need to be aware that teachers are not allowed to tutor any child who is currently in a class they are teaching or could potentially be teaching, as this presents a conflict of interest.

Uniform

Dress Code Policy

The Lower Primary official dress code colors are navy blue, red and white. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure their children are dressed according to the policy below. The dress code reflects the mission and vision of the school and unifies our student community as representatives of HKIS. All uniforms are available for purchase from the Dragon Shop located at the High School Campus in Tai Tam.

Please refer to Lower Primary Uniform Guide for details.

DRAGON SHOP:
HKIS High School, Level 2 (near cafeteria), Monday – Friday (9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
(when high school is in session)
Tel: 3149-7186, dragonshop@hkis.edu.hk

Tops

Bottoms

Cold Weather Uniform Layers

Other

Physical Education + Swimming