PARENT HANDBOOK 2017-2018 Learning Together, Thoughtfully.1 CHAPTER 1 WELCOME • Message from the Principal 3 • The School Culture 4 • Mission and Core Values 4 CHAPTER 2 STAFF AND GOVERNORS • Leadership Team 5 • Teaching Staf 5 • Learning Support and English as an Additional Language (EAL) 5 • Board of Governors 5 CHAPTER 3 OUR SCHOOL • Accreditation 6 • Teaching and Learning 6 • School Routines / Organisation 9 • School Transport 12 • School Rules 13 • Facilities 15 • Extra-Curricular Activities and Educational Trips 16 • The School Community 16 • Communication with Parents 18 CHAPTER 4 HEALTH AND SAFETY • Care and Supervision of Students 19 • Health and Safety 19 • School Closure Policy 21 CHAPTER 5 FEES AND CHARGES • School Fees and Association Charges 22 CHAPTER 6 GETTING TO KNOW HONG KONG 23 CHAPTER 7 FURTHER HELP 25 CHAPTER 1 WELCOME TO OUR SCHOOL MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Welcome to International College Hong Kong, Hong Lok Yuen. I am delighted that you have chosen to educate your child / children at our dynamic school, which has been delivering excellence in education for more than 30 years. Our teaching staf has been recruited from around the world and is bringing a wealth of experience to our school community. Collectively, we are giving our children the skills, understanding and vision they need to succeed in the world and become truly global citizens. This handbook is aimed at helping you to become familiar with the policies of our school. It provides a summarised version of information that can be found in other documents and on the school website. At ICHK Hong Lok Yuen, students receive a high quality education and we believe in encouraging and fostering the talents of every child. Our guiding values are at the core of everything we are doing, both inside and outside the classroom. Children come from many diferent countries, representing more than 30 diferent nationalities. They are articulate, often in more than one language, confdent, eager to learn, enjoy their play and show real care for each other and their environment. Together, we strive to develop confdent young people with creative and inquiring minds, equipping them with the skills and knowledge that will bring them success in their future lives. I look forward to welcoming you to our school, and am confdent that your family will be a real asset to our community. Ruth Woodward Principal 3 THE SCHOOL CULTURE The Council of International Schools has applauded the school as “a welcoming Parents often tell us how much they are and friendly place with a strong sense of struck by the depth of the family and community, characterised by fairness, trust community feel at our school. and mutual respect.” Our strong community ethos is something The Visiting Team concluded that “a caring, we are very proud of, and one of the key supportive atmosphere pervades the school reasons why so many choose to educate and it is clear that the needs of the child are their children with us. central to the programme.” This positive climate for learning is sensed by It is this ethos that underpins everything we visitors very quickly and we believe that the do at ICHK Hong Lok Yuen. personal touches that we add set us apart from other schools. MISSION AND CORE VALUES Students achieve more when schools and Our mission is to be a vibrant and parents work together and parents can help caring community developing creative, more if they know what the school aims to enthusiastic, confdent learners who will take achieve. action in an ever-changing world. Our open door policy means staf will always We provide high quality education through make time to speak to parents and close our shared core values: connections are formed as a result. • celebrating individuality and diversity We have excellent channels of • fostering the talents of every community communication with our families and the member, inspiring all to reach their full sense of pride that students, teachers and potential parents take in our school becomes quickly • developing skills, knowledge and evident to all who visit us. understanding to become inquiring We have created a true community school, lifelong learners and global citizens which provides a supportive environment • respecting ourselves, each other and the where children of all cultures and abilities environment can thrive. • benefting from the outdoors at any opportunity 4 CHAPTER 2 The teacher (and teacher assistant) to student ratio ranges from around STAFF AND GOVERNORS 1:5 in pre-nursery, 1:8 in nursery, LEADERSHIP TEAM 1:12 in reception to year 3 and The school’s Senior Leadership Team consists 1:24 in the upper years. of the Principal and two Deputy Principals. LEARNING SUPPORT AND ENGLISH The Principal is responsible for the overall AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE running of the school and together with (EAL) the Deputy Principals helps to formulate the long term educational goals and lead We have thorough systems in place to identify teaching and learning. learning needs and our experienced staf work closely with students and parents, to ensure TEACHING STAFF children receive the support they require. Our teachers are recruited from all around We have strong Learning Support and EAL the world and bring a wealth of experience programmes in place, along with speech to the school. They are enthusiastic, caring, therapy and occupational therapy on site. passionate about primary education, internationally minded and totally See chapter 3 for more detailed information. committed to the interests of our students BOARD OF GOVERNORS and the school. The governing body works in close We have teachers from countries including the partnership with the school’s senior UK, New Zealand, Canada and Australia, and leadership team. they are complemented by a support team The aim is to provide the school with sound which includes assistant teachers in all classes. direction and ensure that students have the There are specialist teachers in Physical best opportunities to achieve their goals. Education, Music, Chinese Studies, English The Board is made up entirely of parents, as Additional Language Learning Support and elected by other parents from the school, Digital and Information Literacy. and anyone over 18, with a few exceptions, The school has additional support staf for can take up the role. the library, the learning support programme To fnd out about joining the Board and ICT. of Governors call the Director of Administrations and Operations on 3955 3000 or email [email protected] 5 CHAPTER 3 school, which are built on every year, and are central to the school community. OUR SCHOOL For further information see the IBPYP website. ACCREDITATION Units of Inquiry We are an independent school, approved by The school uses a concept-driven, inquiry the Hong Kong Education Department. approach to teaching and learning. We are an accredited member of the Council It organises Units of Inquiry under of International Schools, which is the transdisciplinary themes. Nursery and premier worldwide accreditation service for Reception students complete four Units of international schools, and also a member Inquiry and students in Years 1 to 6 complete of the Association of China and Mongolia six units. These Units help students to International Schools. develop an understanding of each of the following themes. The school has also been accredited by the International Baccalaureate to deliver the • Who We Are Primary Years Programme. • Where We Are in Place and Time We have links to other schools via sporting • How We Express Ourselves and other inter-school competitions. • How the World Works TEACHING AND LEARNING • How We Organise Ourselves • Sharing the Planet Curriculum Our concept-driven curriculum allows The school uses the International students to move beyond memorising facts Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and mastering skills and onto engagement (IBPYP) for its curriculum framework. This is with signifcant ideas. It puts facts and an international model catering for learning skills in context. It also allows students to and teaching from Nursery to Year 6. Our use and challenge their prior knowledge, curriculum promotes the development of explore new ideas and develop deeper the whole child, with emphasis on social, understandings of the world. physical, emotional and cultural needs, as well as academic development. Each Unit of Inquiry develops learning across all subject areas. Students acquire The IB Leaner Profle and Attitudes become vital thinking, social, communication, self a major focus in classrooms. They become a management and research skills. common set of core values throughout the 6 Our students are exposed to new An assessment will be carried out and on knowledge across the following subject occasions an individual education plan will be areas: Mathematics, Languages (English, put in place. Chinese), Social Studies, Science, The Arts In some cases students will have 1:1 support (Visual Arts, Music, Drama) Personal, Social throughout the day. and Physical Education. There is a strong focus on Language and Mathematical We can meet the needs of a variety of development across the school, as well as students who may display aspects of speech Information Literacy and Communication. The and language difculties, dyslexia or be on extended curriculum ofers a wide variety of the Autistic/Asperger spectrum. extracurricular activities, all of which broaden We work closely with educational and enrich the education we ofer. psychologists, occupational therapists Our vision is to be a leader in outdoor and speech and language specialists. learning and Forest School education. Our We also have an English as an Additional beautiful green campus provides us with the Language (EAL) teacher who is responsible perfect location to develop this pioneering for coordinating English support lessons, approach in Hong Kong. Research shows diagnostic assessment and screening that if children have regular access to a throughout the school.