Academics

Academic Handbook: LINK

Secondary Assessment, Grading, and Reporting Agreements: LINK

Academic Integrity

Our school’s Shared Philosophy of Education includes the expectation of high standards in ethical behavior as well as scholarship. Academic integrity is an integral component of this philosophy. HKIS Core Values remind us:

• integrity is essential to trust and credibility;

• society progresses when individuals strive for excellence and seek challenges;

• learning thrives in the presence of high expectations and mutually respectful relationships;

• together, parents, faculty, staff and students create the conditions for children’s success and a healthy lifestyle, we expect that all members of our community will commit to and uphold ethical practices and values in everything we do. Students are responsible for asking for clarification if in doubt about what is acceptable practice, and teachers are responsible for being clear about what acceptable collaboration looks like.

Academic integrity includes, but is not limited to:

Cheating – Cheating is obtaining or attempting to obtain, or aiding another person to obtain, credit for work or any improvement of a score or grade of performance, by any dishonest or deceptive means. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: lying, copying from another’s test or piece of work and any unauthorized assistance given to another’s piece of work. Simply stated, cheating is anytime that you use another’s words, work, and/or ideas, and claim them as your own. Cheating may include:

• Giving or receiving questions or answers to work, including quizzes and tests

• Bringing and/or using unauthorized materials (e.g. calculators, cell phones/watches or crib notes) to complete an assignment or exam

• Using outside sources such as tutors, paid organizations or the Internet to complete assignments in part or in whole, write papers or produce projects for you and submitting as your own without acknowledging and/or citing their work.

Stealing – To take or acquire another’s property or ideas without explicit permission.

Lying – A false statement made with the conscious intent to mislead others.

Forgery – The intent to mislead others by falsifying a signature in an academic matter.

Plagiarism – “The act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts, or passages of his [or her] writing of ideas, or the language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.” (Black’s Law Dictionary, 5th Edition) Plagiarism includes borrowing the work or ideas of another person without giving them proper credit whether or not the source copied has been published. One gives proper credit by citing the original source in a way that is recognized as a legitimate citation. HKIS has adopted the standards set forth by the Modern Language Association (MLA).

Note: The use of Artifial Intelligence without attribution is a form of academic dishonesty. For HKIS’s position on the use of Al, see this document.

Responsibilities of our school community

STUDENTS will:

• commit to the school wide Academic Integrity Policy

• complete all assigned learning with integrity

• seek clarification from teachers about questions related to the process of completing an assignment or assessment

• encourage their peers to pursue their academics with integrity

• express concerns regarding academic integrity to teachers, counselors or administration.

PARENTS/GUARDIANS will:

• read and understand the Academic Integrity Policy.

• support the school’s core values and Academic Integrity Policy.

• support the decision of administration regarding consequences if the policy is violated.

• ensure that when helping with assignments, the work remains the student’s own.

• encourage open communication with teachers and counselors on any academic issues

TEACHERS will:

• publish the Academic Integrity Policy in the course syllabus.

• include guidelines for working on assignments and assessments.

• model proper citation of sources used in the classroom.

• explain the use of permissible study aids including tutors.

• check and monitor student work for academic integrity.

• report to the Associate Principal for Academics any violations of the policy and follow through on consequences.

DIVISIONAL LEADERSHIP will:

• enforce consequences for policy violations in a consistent and transparent manner.

• communicate decisions with teachers, students, and parents in a timely manner.

• record and maintain confidential records of policy violations.

• check applications for National Honor Society, Senate/Class Officers, Student Digital Leadership Team, and Student Ambassadors for academic integrity violations.

Consequences for Academic Integrity

Violations of academic integrity will be reported to the Associate Principal and entered into the student’s internal disciplinary record. In collaboration with the teacher, decisions made regarding consequences will be consistent with this policy and communicated to the student and parents. Violations of academic integrity are cumulative throughout the student’s academic school career. Our goal is that the students learn from their mistakes and understand the importance of academic integrity.

Classroom-Related incidents:

• First Incident: The teacher and/or Associate Principal will meet with the student and possibly their counselor to discuss the importance of academic integrity, and the incident will be recorded in the student’s internal disciplinary record as a first offense. The work (or parts of the work) will receive an “Insufficient Evidence” (IE) and may no longer be used as evidence for learning. The teacher may determine how the student can demonstrate their learning in an alternative way. Additionally, if applicable, membership in National Honor Society will be terminated. Eligibility for other student leadership positions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, parents will be notified of the incident.

• Second incident: May result in up to a two day in-school suspension and the assignment (or parts of the assignment) will receive an “Insufficient Evidence” (IE) and may no longer be used as evidence for learning. The teacher may determine how the student can demonstrate their learning in an alternative way. In addition, a parent conference will be held with the Associate Principal for Academics and possibly the Counselor, and the incident will be entered into the student’s internal disciplinary record.

• Third Incident: Will result in an out-of-school suspension. In addition, a conference will be held between the student, the parents, the Principal, and Associate Principal for Academics, regarding the student’s continuing enrollment at HKIS. The incident will be recorded in the student’s internal disciplinary record and if asked for or required on application materials, must be reported on the student’s school report sent to other schools, colleges, and universities.

Incidents outside of the classroom: (SAT, ACT, AP Exams…)

• Incidents of academic dishonesty for an external test (in or outside of HKIS) will be reported to the Associate Principal for Academics and entered into the student’s internal disciplinary record.

• The incident will result in an out-of-school suspension for a minimum of 3 days, a mandatory parent conference with the Principal and Associate Principal for Academics, and a review of the student’s continuing enrollment at HKIS.

• A mandatory «Incident Report» will be sent to the College Board, and if asked by the post-secondary institution, will be reported on the student’s secondary school report sent to colleges and universities.

HS Library

The HKIS High School Library is a space of inquiry and belonging where the entire community can find a concise nonfiction collection, a current fiction collection, and dedicated spaces for quiet study, collaborative work, and recording. The digital library contains books, audiobooks, and magazines in the Sora app, as well as databases and software for research. The librarian is available for consultations on information literacy, research, and what book to read next. The Library Council offers service opportunities for students who love the library and reading.

HS Library Norms ask users to be mindful of others so that their movements and voices don’t disrupt those around them, to leave food and drinks (other than water) outside, to use headphones, and to treat others with respect and kindness. This also means returning borrowed items promptly when they become due, so that others may have a turn.

HS Library Information

High School Teacher Librarian: Marie Slaby

High School Library Staff: Miyuki Hashimoto and Jinny Chao

Hours: Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Phone Number: 3149-7172

Email: hslibrary@hkis.edu.hk

Website on DragonNet: HKIS Library and Tech

Instagram Account: @hkishslibrary

The Humanities Center

Can’t tell a thesis statement from a topic sentence? Macroeconomics causing you to commit microaggressions? Still mispronouncing hyperbole, litotes, and onomatopoeia? Visit the Humanities Center! The Humanities Center is open to all students seeking to refine their skills in social studies, language arts, and the human sciences, including academic research and writing, note-taking, discussion, oral presentation, debate, critical thinking, and interpretation and analysis of texts. Whether it be for DBQs, MCs, FRPs, FRQs, LEQs, SRPs, JLPs, MLA, or APs, a library of resources and a team of dedicated and knowledgeable peer-tutors will be on hand to offer guidance and support.

Note: for 2023-24, the Humanities Center will be in a shared space with the Math & Science Center and the World Languages Center (room to be announced).

The Math & Science Center

The Math & Science Center is available for all students who may have questions regarding any topic studied in Math and/or Science at all levels through to AP courses. Teams of friendly and knowledgeable peer tutors are there to provide guidance and support before and afterschool, during class periods, and on social media platforms beyond school hours. Regular review sessions are often organized for specific courses ahead of unit summatives, along with helpful suggestions and strategies to be successful in various Math and Science courses.

The Learning Center

The Learning Center is a resource area for students with difficulties that impact their learning process, as documented by a full educational psychological report. Learning Specialist teachers assist students in developing strategies and advocating for their accommodations that will help them succeed both in and out of the academic setting. Testing accommodations (including extra time, use of a computer, small space environment, etc.) are also available for students who qualify.

Students may be encouraged or required to enroll in Learning Strategies classes upon the recommendation of a Learning Specialist teacher. Admission to the Learning Support Program and access to the Learning Center is determined through a referral process that can be initiated by contacting either the Learning Specialist in the high school or the student’s guidance counselor.