Emergency Weather Warnings Procedures

Hong Kong weather can be extreme and this sometimes requires that we modify our school schedules. As always, parents are advised to use their best judgment in determining whether to send their children to school whenever the weather is inclement or road conditions make travel to school unwise. The

Education Bureau makes a decision before 6 a.m. on such mornings and distributes this information to the media. Under normal circumstances HKIS follows the Government’s recommendation and will not contact parents directly. Parents are responsible for checking

DragonNet for any announcements.

What we do when the signal is raised before school starts:

Typhoon 1 Typhoon 2

All R1-12 classes are in session.

R1 classes are cancelled. R2-12 classes are in session.

Typhoon 8 and above The campus is closed - all classes will take place in Home Learning. Amber Rainstorm All R1-12 classes are in session.

Red Rainstorm

Black Rainstorm

The campus is closed - all classes will take place in Home Learning. The campus is closed - all classes will take place in Home Learning.

Please note there are times when localized weather conditions on the south side of the island are very different from territory-wide predictions. In circumstances where HKIS needs to take action that is different from the Government’s recommendation, we will contact parents as early as possible and place an announcement on DragonNet. If the signal is raised on the way to school parents should decide whether it is safer to return home or continue to school. Generally speaking, HKIS will wait for an official announcement from Hong Kong’s Education Bureau before notifying the community about school closures (due to bad weather or health considerations such as flu outbreaks). On occasion, these announcements take time to come out, and, in that time, some news outlets and community members try to anticipate whether the Education Bureau will close schools or not. Please rest assured that HKIS will contact parents and employees with news of any closure once official word has been received.

When a typhoon or rainstorm signal is raised during school hours:

At times a typhoon increases in intensity or a rainstorm signal is raised while the children are at school. If this happens, we will use the following procedures:

Typhoon 1

All R1-12 classes will remain in session with regular dismissal times. Typhoon 3 All R1-12 classes will remain in session with regular dismissal times Typhoon 8 and above All R1-12 classes will be dismissed. (The notice of typhoon 8 signal being raised is given to schools several hours before it is actually hoisted, thus allowing schools enough time to make arrangements to get students home safely.)

Amber Rainstorm

All R1-12 classes will remain in session with regular dismissal times.

Red Rainstorm

All R1-12 classes will remain in session AND* students will remain in school until conditions are safe for them to return home.

Black Rainstorm

All R1-12 classes will remain in session AND* students will remain in school until conditions are safe for them to return home.

* This means students will not be released until the warning has been removed and buses are authorized for safe travel, which could be after 3 p.m. Please note that the HK government strongly advises everyone to stay indoors during a Black Rainstorm warning. Driving yourself or sending someone to pick up your child during a Black Rainstorm signal is extremely dangerous and not advisable. If Red/Black rain signal is after 3:05 p.m. then students report to MS Cafeteria.

Note: In the case of a Typhoon 8 signal when we must dismiss the children prior to the end of the regular school day, parents will be contacted with the approximate new dismissal time. It is critical that you discuss with your family and your helper the new arrival time and determine who will be waiting at the bus stop for your child. If your child regularly walks home or is picked up by car, please be prepared to come immediately to school and pick up your child at the normal meeting place.

Buses will run and complete their routes if school is in session or when students are on board. Any variation to the regular schedule will be the decision of the bus company in consultation with the school administration.

For information regarding weather conditions, we recommend the following sources: www.weather.gov.hk & www.edb.gov.hk Hong Kong Observatory: 187-8200 (Press 1 for Cantonese, 2 for Mandarin, 3 for English) RTHK - Radio 3: FM 97.9 (Central and environs) OR FM 106.8 (Southern Hong Kong Island)