ACADEMIC HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 ACADEMIC HANDBOOK

2 CONTENTS Mission and Character of HKIS 2 Learning at HKIS 4 HKIS Academic Policies 8 Gradation Reqirements 10 Interim 10 Advanced Placement Program 12 Independent Stdy 14 Jnior/Senior Option 14 Global Online Academy 15 Gidelines for Planning a Corse of Stdy 17 Standardized Testing for College Entrance 19 Academic Program Maps of the For-Year Corse of Stdy 21 Maps of the Seqence of Stdy in Each Department Hmanities 22 Math 23 Science 24 Mandarin 25 Romance Langages 26 Visal Arts, Design & Technology 27 Performing Arts 29 Technology Stdies Program 30 Corses Projected for Academic Year Hmanities 31 English 36 Social Stdies 44 AP Capstone Program 56 Religion 58 Mathematics 64 Science 76 Modern Langages Mandarin 87 Modern Langages French & Spanish 100 Visal Arts & Design 112 Design & Technoloigy 127 Performing Arts 132 Physical Edcation 147 Conseling 151 Learning Strategies 153 Smmer School Offerings (2017) 155

3 MISSION AND CHARACTER OF HKIS Early in Hong Kong s growth as a world bsiness center, a grop of Christian bsinessmen set their sights on bilding a school that wold edcate the whole child: mind, body and spirit. In 1966, spported by the Ltheran Chrch-Missori Synod, their dream was realized and Hong Kong International School was fonded. As an international, coedcational day school organized in for divisions (R-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12), the school serves those in Hong Kong who desire an American college preparatory edcation in a Christian context. The operations and financial accontability of HKIS are the ongoing responsibility of the Board of Managers of the HKIS Association Limited. The Board is self-perpetating and appoints Board members to two-year terms, sbject to the approval of the Hong Kong Edcation Department. HKIS is a member of the East Asia Regional Concil of Schools and is flly accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The High School faclty has 84 certified professionals, 73% of whom hold advanced degrees. There is a ratio of 10 stdents to each fll-time faclty member. The stdent body is drawn from families in the bsiness, diplomatic, missionary and professional commnities. These families are cltrally diverse, achievement-oriented and highly mobile. While some 20% of the stdents stay at HKIS five years or more, many others remain only a year or two. With all instrction in English, the school normally admits, on a priority basis, stdents from American schools arond the world. It considers other applicants on the basis of previos academic performance and competence in English. HKIS is gronded in the Christian faith, while respecting the spirital lives of all of its commnity. HKIS expresses its Christian commitment formally throgh sch activities as religios instrction and chapel programs. Or goal is for stdents to nderstand and respect Christianity and other faiths. We are committed to be a commnity that vales generosity, goodwill and discipline. Ors is a commnity of character in which all participants are encoraged to respect and vale others. Or commitment is to honor all religions and to encorage a respectfl dialoge abot the significance of faith in or individal searches for meaning and well being. Hong Kong International School is committed to the liberal arts as the best preparation for life and service in or rapidly changing world. Or efforts focs on the whole person, with emphasis on academic excellence, character development and service to others. HKIS seeks to offer a challenging edcational experience in which each stdent can develop his or her intellect, imagination, independence and responsibility in a setting that emphasizes the importance of spirital and faith development. At HKIS we believe that edcation incldes both the honing of the intellect and the preparation of the heart and will for love and service to others. 2 t CONTENTS

4 MISSION Dedicating or minds to inqiry, or hearts to compassion, and or lives to service and global nderstanding An American-style edcation gronded in the Christian faith, and respecting the spirital lives of all VISION HKIS will be a leading place of learning that inspires a socially engaged commnity of collaborative, creative, and resilient learners dedicated to realizing their fll potential. Stdent Learning Reslts Academic Excellence Stdents will achieve their intellectal potential by striving for and attaining the highest standards of academic excellence. Spiritality Stdents will nderstand and respect Christianity and other faiths and will identify and develop their own spirital identity. Character Development and Vales Stdents will demonstrate respectfl and caring attitdes at school and in the commnity, as well as the corage to stand p for what is right. Self-Motivated Learning Stdents willingly apply a variety of learning and motivation strategies throghot their learning process. Contribting to Society Stdents will develop the skills they need to form genine relationships in or diverse society and to make contribtions to or commnity. Chinese Cltre Stdents will gain an nderstanding of China and an appreciation of the Chinese cltre. 3 t CONTENTS

5 LEARNING AT HKIS At the High School, learning is abot nderstanding. We nderstand when we can apply knowledge and skills in new and nfamiliar contexts. Developing nderstanding reqires criosity, risk taking, creativity, awareness and persistence. When learners recognize academic and personal challenges as opportnities for developing nderstanding, learning becomes personally engaging and joyfl. We work individally and collaboratively to demonstrate or nderstanding in the classroom and beyond. To that end, ongoing assessment and reflection are tools to inform learners where they are on the jorney towards nderstanding. Academic Integrity Or school s Shared Philosophy of Edcation incldes the expectation of high standards in ethical behavior as well as scholarship. Academic integrity is an integral component of this philosophy. Becase or HKIS Core Vales remind s that: Integrity is essential to trst and credibility. Society progresses when individals strive for excellence and seek challenges. Learning thrives in the presence of high expectations and mtally respectfl relationships. Together, parents, faclty, staff and stdents create the conditions for children s sccess and a healthy lifestyle. We expect that all members of or commnity will commit to and phold ethical practices and vales in everything we do. The Academic Integrity Policy is located in the Stdent Handbook and Planner and on the High School academics page on DragonNet. Incoming 9th Graders and any stdent new to HKIS along with their parents will be signing a form acknowledging that they read throgh and discssed the policy together. This form will then be kept on file. Digital Learning for the 21st Centry Responsible Use Agreement All se of electronic resorces at HKIS is governed by the RUA, to which each stdent, parent, faclty and staff member mst agree before being granted access to these resorces. A copy of the RUA can be fond in the Technology section of DragonNet. Stdent Laptop BYOM (Bring yor own MacBook) At HKIS, yo own yor own learning. We reqire yo to bring a MacBook laptop compter to school each day to se to extend yor learning. When sing yor MacBook or any other digital technologies at HKIS, please keep in mind the following: Be empowered and create awesome things. Share yor ideas and what yo do with yor fellow stdents, we are smarter together. 4 t CONTENTS

6 Be nice; we need yor help to foster a school commnity that is respectfl and kind. Think and be safe. If yo think something is illegal or nethical, ask s. Be carefl and gentle; or digital resorces are shared by the entire school and are limited. Help s take care of the network by taking care of yor own devices. Stdents need to bring with them a MacBook that has the following minimm reqirements. Operating System: OSX v or later. Processor: Intel i5 chip set, 2.5 Ghz or faster. Memory: 8GB RAM / 128 GB ROM. The MacBook will need to be broght to ETS for an initial check. In some cases, we may need to install additional software or completely reinstall the MacBook s operating system. Stdents are expected to have a complete backp of their MacBook before bring it to HKIS. Please remember, yo own the learning! If yo have any qestions, please ask the HS Technology Coaches. HKIS User Acconts All stdents and parents are issed with ser acconts. These acconts allow sers to access electronic information abot stdent learning, commnications and school events. Parent acconts are issed in the form of fll name, e.g.: robert.smith. Stdent acconts are issed in the form of their stdent ID nmber, e.g.: This ID nmber is sed to access electronic resorces, to check ot library books, and is the stdent s permanent identifier for records, grades and other school data. In the interest of secrity, stdents and parents are reqired to keep their ser accont password private and to change it reglarly, once a semester. For login isses with ser acconts, please hshelp@hkis.ed.hk. Stdents and parents may access the following resorces with their ser accont. DragonNet ( DragonNet is HKIS s online pblic commnication portal incorporating information for the whole school as well as for each division; there are separate DragonNet sites for the LP, UP, MS and HS. The High School section featres news, photos, archives of stdent newspapers, handbooks and other sefl information for the High School commnity. DragonNet is the recommended entry portal for stdents and parents as it provides links to school information as well as tools crcial to work sch as , HKIS Google. docs and online research databases. Interested technology-oriented stdents can have inpt into the content and format of the DragonNet home page by joining the stdent-led programming clb, Sysops. 5 t CONTENTS Google Apps for Edcation (GAFE) Each stdent is issed a site of free prodctivity tools for classroom collaboration: Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Slide, Sites, etc. These tools allow stdents and faclty to create, share, and edit files in real time. Everyone is on the same page and that page is atomatically stored in the clod. And that page is accessible across mltiple devices, like compters, tablets, and smart phones. Stdents stdent nmber becomes

7 their GAFE ID for their time at HKIS. We expect them to se their GAFE tools reglarly to commnicate, collaborate, and keep organized on a reglar basis. At the moment, Gmail, the program, forms the basis of or HKIS commnications. Stdents are expected to check their Gmail reglarly as most teachers commnicate reglarly throgh it. Parents also get access to a fll site of GAFE prodctivity tools, except for Gmail. PowerSchool: PowerSchool is a comprehensive stdent information system that allows s to manage demographics, schedles, grades, report cards, and attendance online. Stdents and parents will be able to access archived grades and attendance information. Parents are encoraged to keep family information and contact data p to date. If yo have any qestions or wold like some additional information, please hshelp@hkis.ed.hk. Schoology: Schoology is an online learning, classroom management, and social networking platform that improves learning throgh better commnication, collaboration, and increased access to crriclm and spplemental content. Schoology is sed by teachers to post resorces related to their classes, to post calendar entries with de dates and other dynamic and collaborative online activities. Every class for which stdents are registered appears on their Schoology corse tab. Stdents can also access their class schedle via the timetable fnction in Schoology. The class schedle will be finalized after the add/drop period after each term. Parents have access to the corse page to view stdent s discssion, assignment de dates and other corse related activities. Online Research Databases HKIS sbscribes to a nmber of online research databases, fond on the Library website in DragonNet. These are accessible from home and school sing the stdent s ID nmber and password, or to the parents sing their own sername and password. The online cataloge and each stdent s lending record can be checked throgh the Library website on DragonNet and by sing the appropriate HKIS accont. Library The High School library serves as the information hb for all classes. Located at the center of the school, the library encompasses the resorce collection, grop and individal stdy areas, reading areas, and photocopying facilities. Resorces available in the library inclde more than 35,000 print volmes of non-fiction and fiction, 1200 titles in digital format, more than 100 periodicals, newspapers in English and Chinese, and hndreds of video materials. Stdents are also able to check ot adio and video eqipment. All materials are flly searchable throgh an online compter catalog. Throgh the library s digital sbscription services, stdents have access to thosands of crrent and archived magazines, jornals, newspapers, and government docments. Access to all of these materials is free for stdents and available from anywhere throgh the Internet. The ability to se these resorces effectively is essential. Library staff are available for consltation on research, reading choices, and reference services. The staff often works incollaboration with teachers, visiting classrooms and offering sessions in the Library itself to make sre stdents become proficient and responsible sers of information. 6 t CONTENTS

8 The facilities have been designed to meet stdents varios needs. Individal qiet stdy is the norm among the stacks, where stdy areas and tables are located. A grop stdy area offers large tables for stdents to gather together when they need to work on grop projects and discss their work withot distrbing other sers. The facilities, resorces, and professional staff combine to make the library an integral part of stdents learning in the High School. Learning Needs Program The High School Learning Needs Program is designed to meet the edcational needs of stdents with mild learning differences sch as mild attention deficit disorder or specific learning disabilities. The prpose of the program is to spport stdents in reaching their potential in their existing corses and to enable stdents to acqire the necessary skills to achieve their edcational and career goals. Learning Needs Program faclty (i.e., learning specialists and the school psychologist) work collaboratively with stdents, parents, conselors and teachers to spport eligible stdents in their reglar corses. Program services may inclde individal and/or small grop conseling, edcational/career planning, instrction in learning strategies, individal learning plans, and accommodations in the classroom. Learning Strategies is a corse available to eligible stdents to spport them in the development of compensatory skills and to assist them with corsework. A reqest for assistance or referral for services can be made by any stdent, parent or faclty throgh a conselor or the learning specialists. The High School Stdent Review Team (SRT) reviews the reqest or referral and links the stdent to spport services as appropriate. English for Speakers of Other Langages (ESOL) The medim of instrction at HKIS is English, which for a significant nmber of stdents is not their first langage. The school s langage philosophy is one of additive bilingalism: stdents learn English as an additional langage and a langage of stdy. HKIS recognizes that bilingalism offers social, cltral and academic advantages. HKIS encorages the contined development of a learner s first langage as a necessary reqirement for achieving the possible cognitive and lingistic advantages of bilingalism. One of the most effective ways of achieving peer proficiency in English in the High School is throgh an immersion program, where second and first langage stdents work together in the classroom. Spport for English langage learners is provided by an ESOL teacher who conslts with sbject teachers to make a corse s content, activities and assessments more accessible to learners still in the process of acqiring English as an academic langage. At the same time, stdents are encoraged to se their first langage literacy skills to constrct meaning from academic texts and to improve speaking and listening skills by interacting with proficient English speakers. Particlar stress is laid on the vale of reading as an effective means of achieving a high level of langage proficiency. 7 t CONTENTS

9 HKIS ACADEMIC POLICIES 1. Part-time or postgradate stdents are not normally enrolled. 2. A stdent entering HKIS in Grade 12 mst attend the entire 12th Grade at HKIS to receive the HKIS diploma. 3. The minimm yearly corse load for stdents in Grades 10, 11 and 12 is six credits; stdents in Grade 9 mst register for a minimm of 6.5 credits. A load of fewer than 6 or more than 7.5 credits may be taken only with approval from the Associate Principal for Academics. Stdy periods provide time for meeting teachers and working in the library. Stdents and parents shold think seriosly before schedling an overload; a withdrawal from a corse after the drop deadline will be recorded on the transcript. Variation from the for-year academic reqirement wold reslt from a conseling process in which the following factors wold be considered: Compelling reasons for a shortened High School career. Intellectal development and social matrity of the stdent. Uniqeness of the overseas setting. Satisfactory alternative plans or programs for the balance of the normal term. The school reserves the right to make the final decision. 4. Approval from the Associate Principal for Teaching and Learning is reqired for stdents who seek to register for more than three Advanced Placement (AP) corses. 5. To receive AP designation on the transcript, a stdent mst complete the AP crriclm by flfilling the reqirements of the corse, sitting for, and giving fll effort on the College Board exam in May. 6. Normally, a stdent may not enter a new corse after the first two days of class. 7. For yearlong corses, the eighth day of class is the last day that the corse can be dropped withot penalty or record; for semester corses, the forth day of class is the last day that the corse can be dropped withot penalty or record. Withdrawals beyond that point are recorded on the report card and transcript as W (withdrawn). 8. Yearlong corses represent a commitment on the part of teacher and stdent to develop skills over the long term. They may not normally be dropped after one semester. 9. If a stdent withdraws from HKIS prior to the end of the term, HKIS will award a grade pon withdrawal; the decision regarding credit rests with the receiving school. 8 t CONTENTS 10. For retrning stdents, the corse registration process for the next academic year begins in Febrary. The High School administration, in consltation with department heads, determines the program of corses to be offered. Major factors in determining corse offerings are stdent interest and faclty availability and expertise.

10 Retrning stdents, in consltation with parents, teachers and conselors, register in Febrary for the next year s corses. Stdents needing additional assistance with corse selection are encoraged to conslt with their commnity conselors. Stdents new to HKIS register for corses in Jne or Agst (or Janary for second semester entry) with a conselor. 11. Stdents experiencing academic difficlties may be placed on academic probation. A stdent s contined enrolment at HKIS is determined by the High School administration in consltation with classroom teachers, conselor, homeroom teacher and parents. 12. Stdents are expected to be present for all smmative assessments in a corse. Absence for any smmative assessment mst have a compelling reason in order to be excsed and contingency plans arranged with the teacher. Excessive absences for smmative assessments will be referred to administration. 13. Only a stdent who earns a D or F in a corse (or who is reqired to retake a seqential corse in math or langages) may repeat it. A record of the first corse remains on the transcript with a NC (no credit) replacing the previos grade. Only the grade earned in the repeated corse is factored into the GPA. Grading and Practice is the process of establishing what a stdent knows, nderstands and can do and involves giving a stdent feedback on progress and learning throghot a corse. is ongoing and incldes the range and variety of feedback that a teacher gives a stdent on their work dring the dration of a class. can be formative, meaning instances in which a teacher gives a stdent feedback, formally or informally, that informs their progress withot determining their final grade in the corse. Feedback on formative assessments can be verbal, written and will be recorded in Schoology as appropriate. Throghot the year, a few assessments will be smmative, meaning they are sed to provide evidence of learning following a nit of instrction. The otcome of these smmative assessments will be sed to inform and help determine the final grade. The criteria for these smmative assessments will be introdced at the beginning of each nit of stdy, and grades will be determined according to the criteria for the assessment in conjnction with the schoolwide grade descriptors. Again, feedback on smmative assessments will be recorded in Schoology as appropriate. The final grade for the corse (at the end of a semester for semester classes, or the end of the year for yearlong classes) will be determined by considering the stdent s body of smmative assessments over the dration of the corse, in relation to the descriptors for each of or grades. Teachers will also consider growth and consistency of performance as they establish the final grade. A stdent s participation, effort, behavior and attendance will not form part of the grade. Those aspects will be measred sing the Learning Habits rbric. 9 t CONTENTS

11 For frther information on approach to assessment and grading in or High School, please conslt the and Grading page on DragonNet ( hk/dragonnet-hs/hs-academics/changes-to-assessment-and-grading/index.aspx) Gradation Reqirements To earn a diploma from Hong Kong International School, a stdent normally attends High School for for years and mst earn a minimm of 22 nits of credit, 18 of which mst be distribted as follows: English 4 credits: For consective years of English are reqired (in Grades 9, 10, and 11 the reqirement is satisfied throgh the Hmanities I, II and III corses). Social Stdies 2 credits: These credits mst inclde an Asian stdies and an American stdies corse. Mathematics 3 credits: These corses vary depending on initial placement. Laboratory Science 2 credits: These corses mst inclde one fll-year of a life science and one fll-year of a physical science. Modern Langage 2 credits: Consective levels of a single langage. Visal and Performing Arts 1½ credits: These corses mst inclde one semester of visal arts and one semester of performing arts. Religion 1½ credits: These corses mst inclde one semester of World Religions in 9th Grade and one semester of Biblical Stdies in 10th or 11th Grade. The remaining semester is flfilled throgh semester electives offered for 11th or 12th Grade. Physical Edcation 2 credits: The eqivalent of one semester of Physical Edcation is reqired in each year of attendance. *Beginning with the class of 2021, the World Religion and Biblical Stdies reqirement will be met throgh sccessfl completion of the 1/4 credit Spirital Exploration 9, 10, 11 and 12; a part of the Wellness Block. Distribtive Credits: 18 Electives: 4 Total Reqired Credits: 22 Experiential Learning Reqirements Health and Well-Being: Sccessfl completion of conseling crriclm in Seminar each year at HKIS. (See Developmental Gidance Seminar Program for details.) Interim: Sccessfl completion of INTERIM each year at HKIS. Interim Interim is a weeklong, off-camps learning experience designed to challenge the hearts, minds, bodies and sols of HKIS High School stdents. This alternative edcation program featres a range of corses, bt each weaves a nmber of Stdent Learning Reslts into the corse experience. The program ths forms an integral part of the High School crriclm that serves as a gradation reqirement for all High School stdents. The diverse Interim program offerings inclde commnity service, otdoor adventre, and cross-cltral learning in Africa, Sotheast Asia, Astralasia, Mainland China, Erope, Hong Kong, India, and the Middle East. 10 t CONTENTS

12 Interim is a careflly constrcted program that presents stdents with many challenges and opportnities for personal growth. The Interim experience is designed to help stdents: Bild relationships and interactions with other stdents and faclty members. Cltivate a spirit of commnity. Benefit from exposre to diverse cltres and traditions. Collaborate as a member of a team. Improve commnication and leadership skills, and encorage self-reliance and compassion. Develop resilience by ventring ot of their physical, emotional and intellectal comfort zones. Discover new talents and interests (creativity). Gain greater self-knowledge and a richer nderstanding of the world arond them. Grow in responsibility and independence. While some corses demand explicit contribtions to the commnities that host them, all options compel stdents to draw pon the vales they have developed at home and school as they enconter new sitations and novel challenges. Stdents emerge from the program with a more profond sense of self, an enriched appreciation of hman diversity, and deeper insight into the faith traditions and cltral vales that inspire compassion and hmility. Key Interim Facts 11 t CONTENTS An Interim Committee, comprised of teachers, stdents, parents, and the High School Associate Principal for Stdent Life oversees all corses. The committee works to prodce a safe, secre and reliable program and seeks USA Conslar advice for secrity isses that may arise in a particlar location. The Interim Committee also works to bild resilience into the program by offering a greater choice of corses within a wide financial range. Interim Week is schedled in the spring, with registration and billing in October and December, respectively. Interim corse lists are posted throgh Schoology towards the end of November and within days, stdents begin meeting in their newly formed grops to prepare for the Interim experience. Following Interim week, stdents are all reqired to participate in the Interim Exhibition Night attended by parents. Participation in Interim is a gradation reqirement for each year that a stdent is enrolled at HKIS. Stdents receive Interim credit for the sccessfl completion of the corse. In sitations where credit is not earned dring the week of Interim, stdents will be reqired to propose an alternative experience to gain Interim credit. They may also lose the privilege of choosing an overseas Interim corse the following year. All Interim grops will be nder the spervision of at least one HKIS faclty member. The High School Leadership Team approves all Interim grop lists in consltation with the conselors and Interim leaders. Positive interaction among stdents, faclty, gides, and local commnities is a hallmark of all Interim corses. It is nacceptable for stdents to inconvenience others or jeopardize the safety of the grop. Therefore, all HKIS rles, as stated in the HS Stdent Handbook, are in effect for the entire dration of the Interim week, both in Hong Kong and abroad. HKIS takes the safety of teachers and stdents very seriosly. If conditions warrant, a trip may be changed or cancelled de to concerns abot safety, political instability, or secrity. The High School Leadership commnicates information to the Head of School and recommends whether the Interim trip shold proceed. The final decision rests with the Head of School.

13 American Stdies The American Stdies reqirement is flfilled by the completion of Hmanities II. Stdies who enroll at HKIS after the 10th grade and do not have a US History or Government flfilled can meet the reqirement throgh AP US History or AP US Government and Politics. Asian Stdies The Asian Stdies reqirement is flfilled by the completion of Hmanities I or Hmanities I in Action. Stdents who enroll at HKIS after the 9th Grade year can meet the gradation reqirement by earning credit from among the following corses: Mandarin: 1 credit each level Service, Society & the Sacred 1/2 credit Asian History and Action: 1/2 credit Spirital Practices of the East: 1/2 credit Senior English Asian: 1 credit Advanced Placement Program HKIS offers Advanced Placement (AP) corses to stdents, primarily in their jnior and senior years, who demonstrate the desire to work in a given sbject at a level comparable to the first year of college. Exceptionally skilled and motivated sophomores may prse AP stdy in an area of demonstrated strength and accomplishment. HKIS discorages stdents from enrolling in more than three AP corses in a single academic year; stdents mst secre the approval of the Associate Principal for Teaching and Learning in order to take more than three AP corses a year. Stdents who enroll in an AP corse are reqired to sit for and give their best effort on the May exam. They are atomatically registered and sbseqently billed the appropriate fee throgh the Finance Office. As of 2016, each exam costs HK$1,100. Advanced Placement and Advanced Placement Testing HKIS offers AP corses in 29 sbjects dependent pon stdent registration: Art History, Biology, Calcls AB, Calcls BC, Capstone Seminar, Capstone Research, Chemistry, Comparative Government and Politics, Compter Science A, Compter Science Principles, English Langage and Composition, English Literatre and Composition, Environmental Science, Eropean History, French Langage, Hman Geography, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Physics I, Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, Physics C: Mechanics, Psychology, Spanish Langage, Statistics, Stdio Art: Drawing, Stdio Art: 2-D Design, Stdio Art: 3-D Design, United States Government and Politics, United States History, and World History. Althogh HKIS does not offer an AP Chinese corse, stdents who perform well in Intermediate 3 or above cope well with the exam. Similarly, stdents taking Jnior English are also prepared for the English and Composition exam. The Chinese exam is given off camps and mst be registered for online throgh the Hong Kong Examinations and Athority. The English Langage exam can be taken on camps. Stdents preparing for an AP exam receive High School credit if they satisfy the corse reqirements otlined by HKIS. They may be eligible to receive college credit for the same corse, depending pon their exam reslts and choice of college. The colleges themselves, not HKIS, determine whether or not to award college credit. 12 t CONTENTS

14 Advanced Placement Scholar Award The College Board awards levels of recognition to stdents who perform well on mltiple AP tests: AP Scholar Granted to stdents who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams. AP Scholar with Honor Granted to stdents who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on for or more of these exams. AP Scholar with Distinction Granted to stdents who receive an average score of at least 3.50 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. International AP Scholar Granted to the one male and one female stdent attending a school otside the United States and Canada that is not a DoDEA school with the highest average score on the greatest nmber of AP Exams. The minimm reqirement is a score of 3 or higher on three exams. Notes abot AP Scholar Awards There are two steps to calclating the awards: The stdent s average AP score is determined based on all exams taken this year and in previos years. The stdent s exam scores are checked to see which ones cont toward the varios AP Scholar Awards. A stdent mst meet all criteria to be eligible. For example, a stdent who has a 3.25 AP score average bt only received a 3 or higher on three exams will not receive the AP Scholar with Honor Award becase the minimm reqirement is a score of 3 or higher on for or more exams. Exams taken mltiple times only cont once; the highest score will be sed for the award calclation. The Calcls AB sbscore, Msic Theory aral sbscore, and Msic Theory nonaral sbscore are not sed in the AP Scholar Award calclations. The AP Scholar Awards are academic distinctions that stdents may cite among their credentials on applications, resmes, and so on. Stdents do not receive any monetary award from the College Board. Advanced Placement International Diploma The Advanced Placement International Diploma (APID) is a globally recognized certificate for stdents with an international otlook. The APID challenges a stdent to display exceptional achievement on AP Exams across several disciplines. Universities worldwide tilize the APID in admissions. The APID is not a sbstitte for a High School diploma, bt rather provides additional certification of otstanding academic excellence. To be awarded an Advanced Placement International Diploma, a stdent mst earn grades of 3 or higher on at least five AP exams in specified areas: examinations in two langages from area one; one examination from area two or area three; one examination from area for; and one examination from any other area of choice except langages. Area One Langages: Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish. Area Two Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics. Area Three Mathematics: Calcls, Statistics. 13 t CONTENTS

15 Area For Global Perspective: Comparative Government and Politics, Hman Geography, World History. Area Five History and Social Sciences: Comparative Government and Politics, Eropean History, Hman Geography, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Psychology, United States Government and Polities, United States History, World History. Area Six Arts: History of Art, Msic Theory, Stdio Art (Drawing, 2D, 3D). Upon sccessfl completion of all APID examination criteria, the College Board atomatically awards the AP International Diploma to stdents attending secondary schools otside of the United States. Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma and Certificate AP Capstone is an innovative, new diploma program that gives stdents an opportnity to apply critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and research skills in a crosscrriclar context. The seminar and research corses develop transferable key academic skills that complement and enhance the in-depth discipline-specific stdy provided throgh AP sbject corses. The crriclm cltivates crios, independent and collaborative scholars and prepares them to make logical and evidence-based decisions. Stdents who earn scores of 3 or higher in both the AP Capstone Seminar and the AP Capstone Research corses and on for additional AP exams of their choosing will receive the AP Capstone Diploma. Those stdents who earn scores of 3 or higher in both of the AP Capstone corses bt not on the for additional AP exams will receive the AP Capstone Certificate. See the corse descriptions nder Hmanities. Independent Stdy (Apprenticeships, Internships and online corses) Stdents in Grades may prse a program of independent reading or research. Independent stdy credit is not given for any corses that are offered in the reglar academic day, nor is independent stdy an alternative to flfilling specific gradation reqirements. Independent stdy is intended for stdents who wish to stdy a topic at an advanced level beyond crrent High School corse offerings. Independent Stdy is not normally approved for the prpose of eliminating schedling conflicts. A proposal for Independent Stdy sbmitted dring the registration period is dependent pon teacher availability. To earn ½ credit, 60 clock hors of work are needed. Work is normally completed within one semester. Independent stdy corses fall into several categories: Jnior/Senior Option, Internships, Apprenticeships, Global Online Academy, as well as stdent-designed research projects. Jnior/Senior Option 14 t CONTENTS The final two years of High School are a time when stdents may prse one of several different corses of stdy at HKIS as they prepare for niversity enrollment or for employment. They may take a fll schedle of reglar corses depending on their abilities and interests. They may inclde one or more Advanced Placement classes for the challenge of a college level class and the possibility of advanced college standing. They may choose a third alternative: the Jnior/Senior Option. All stdents are encoraged to consider their ftre goals and discss them with their parents, teachers and conselor if they are thinking of prsing an option in either the

16 Jnior or Senior years. The Option allows stdents who qalify to tailor a planned activity otside of the school camps for part of the year. Stdents may take a redced class schedle, for example, and tilize the available time for an alternative activity. Jnior/Senior Options that have been approved in the past inclde: Teacher aide in lower primary, pper primary or middle school. Participation in a commercial training program, e.g., hotel services. Work experience (employment or internship). Commnity service (e.g., working a few hors per day in or with a service agency or facility). Stdy in another Hong Kong school. Stdy and/or work with an expert (e.g., graphic designer, jornalist). Work experience at a conslate. Training as a elite athlete. Semester abroad experience (stdying langage in another contry). Another possibility is to concentrate corses reqired for gradation into one semester in order to spend the other semester off-camps on a Jnior/Senior Option. Stdents who wish to do activities sch as the following typically se this arrangement: Langage immersion stdy in another contry. Fll-time on-the-job training. Fll-time participation in the work of a service organization. Work experience and night class in the United States. College attendance in the second semester. Stdents contemplating a Jnior/Senior Option need to work closely with their conselors and the Coordination of Academic Programs to ensre that all gradation reqirements will have been met by the end of the senior year. Forms (to be filled ot at registration time) that explain the approval process for the Jnior/Senior Option are available from the conselors.recognition of these alternative activities will be made on the stdent s transcript. Global Online Academy HKIS is a member of the Global Online Academy (GOA), a consortim of independent schools arond the world with the goal of offering online corses that are as intellectally rigoros and engaging as their on-camps corses. GOA is dedicated to tilizing approaches to learning aligned with crrent research in best practice, inclding collaboration, networking, and online skill development. Teachers for GOA corses come from the member schools, and ndergo training in order to adapt their practice to this new environment. Membership in the Global Online Academy gives HKIS stdents increased opportnity to prse their passions, or to explore potential areas of interest. Sophomores, Jniors, and Seniors may register for online corses with the recommendation of faclty, who can voch for the self-direction, motivation, and responsibility necessary to prse online learning. Stdents who sccessflly enroll in and complete GOA corses earn credit that will be reported on the HKIS transcript, and HKIS academic policies will apply to these corses. The following corses are offered throgh GOA in : 15 t CONTENTS Art, Media, and Design Architectre 0.5 credit. Citizen Artist s Stdio: From Making to Action 0.5 credit.

17 16 t CONTENTS Creative Non-fiction 0.5 credit. Digital Jornalism 0.5 credit. Digital Photography 0.5 credit. Fiction Writing 0.5 credit. Filmmaking 0.5 credit. Compter Science II: Game Design and Development 0.5 credit. Graphic Design 0.5 credit. Msic Theory & Digital Composition 0.5 credit. Poetry Writing 0.5 credit. Science and Health Abnormal Psychology 0.5 credit. Bioethics 0.5 credit. Global Health 0.5 credit. Introdction to Psychology 0.5 credit. Medical Problem Solving I 0.5 credit. Medical Problem Solving II 0.5 credit. Neropsychology 0.5 credit. Organic Chemistry 0.5 credit. Practical Astronomy 0.5 credit. Social Psychology 0.5 credit. Water 0.5 credit. Mathematics and Technology Compter Science I: Comptational Thinking 0.5 credit. Compter Science II: Analyzing Data with Python 0.5 credit. Compter Science II: Game Design and Development 0.5 credit. Compter Science II: Java 0.5 credit. Game Theory 0.5 credit. ios App Design 0.5 credit. Linear Algebra 0.5 credit. Mltivariable Calcls 1.0 credit. Nmber Theory 0.5credit. Social Sciences 9/11 in a Global Context 0.5 credit. Advanced Topics in Economics 0.5 credit. Applying Philosophy to Modern Global Isses 0.5 credit. Comparative Politics 0.5 credit. Energy 0.5 credit. Entreprenership in a Global Context 0.5 credit. Gender Stdies 0.5 credit. Genocide and Hman Rights 0.5 credit. Introdction to Investments 0.5 credit. Macroeconomics 0.5 credit. Microeconomics 0.5 credit. Power: Redressing Ineqity with Data 0.5 credit. Prisons and the Criminal Law 0.5 credit (offered throgh Wake Forest University) Religios Literacy and Traditions 0.5 credit (offered throgh Harvard Divinity School) Water 0.5 credit World Langages (Yearlong) Arabic Langage Throgh Cltre I 1.0 credit. Arabic Langage Throgh Cltre II 1.0 credit. Japanese Langage Throgh Cltre I 1.0 credit. Japanese Langage Throgh Cltre II 1.0 credit.

18 GOA Learning Stdios Some of the corses listed above are designated as GOA Learning Stdios, which explore interdisciplinary topics throgh stdent-driven learning. Stdents can expect to learn how to identify relevant local and/or global isses to explore deeply, how to craft their own plans for strctring and investigating an isse, how to test new ideas both in and ot of class, and how to be an active part of a commnity of learners. Advanced Topics in Economics 0.5 credit. Advocacy 0.5 credit. Citizen Artist s Stdio: From Making to Action 0.5 credit. Power: Redressing Ineqity with Data 0.5 credit. Social Psychology 0.5 credit. Water 0.5 credit. Entreprenership in a Global Context 0.5 credit. More information on the Global Online Academy offerings can be fond online at Gidelines for Planning a Corse of Stdy The possibility of choice among corses is a hallmark of American edcation, and this choice becomes an advantage when a stdent gives carefl consideration to his or her longer-term goals. In presenting these corse offerings, the faclty and administration intend that each stdent shold have the chance to create a learning program appropriate to his or her interests. Ptting together a meaningfl academic program reqires carefl thoght and discssion among parents, stdents, teachers and conselors. Research shows that learning is enhanced when it takes place in a patterned and integrated way and over a period of time. A self-inventory might show a stdent that he or she needs to select a set of corses that will improve commnication skills or, perhaps, to choose a seqence of corses in one field to gain increased mastery of that discipline. Yong people need the opportnity to explore, to try ot different ideas in a safe environment. Trying a new corse can introdce new ways of seeing oneself, the world and career possibilities. Preparation for College Last year 98% of the HKIS gradates were admitted to college. Althogh it is difficlt to generalize abot the academic reqirements for college entrance, a rle of thmb in planning for admission to a selective college is to take a corse in English, Social Stdies, Science, Mathematics and Modern Langage in each year of High School. In addition, competitive niversities recommend that a stdent explore the fine arts, be technologically literate and be able to make wise decisions. Stdents shold check with their conselors early in their High School career for specific admission reqirements for niversities to which they intend to apply. Corse Load 17 t CONTENTS Stdents in Grades 9 are reqired to carry a minimm of 6.5 credits; stdents in Grades 10, 11 and 12 are reqired to carry a minimm of 6.0 credits. In its online literatre, the College Board offers a clear indication of the role of AP corses in the High School crriclm: AP corses are best positioned as a part of a stdent s 11th and 12th grade academic experience. HKIS not only endorses this policy statement as best practice, bt its crriclm also spports the development of a strong academic fondation in Grades 9 and 10 prior to ndertaking AP corses in grades 11 and 12.

19 To promote balance in the lives of its stdents, the High School also actively discorages stdents from taking more than three AP corses in a single academic year. As stated earlier, any exceptions to these practices mst carry strong merit and earn the approval of the Associate Principal for Teaching and Learning. Home Learning Gidelines Each corse description that follows incldes an indication of the approximate amont of time stdents can expect to spend preparing for each class period. The following symbol system offers a gideline that can assist stdents as they plan their corses of stdy. The range indicates the nmber of mintes of stdy typically reqired for a stdent to be sfficiently prepared for a class meeting. Light Moderate Heavy fewer than 30 mintes mintes more than 60 mintes Note that these amonts reflect average preparation time and may vary, sometimes widely, from stdent to stdent. Stdents shold ths engage in a realistic assessment of their own work patterns when planning their class schedles. Stdents can also expect Honors and AP corses to reqire significantly more home learning than other corses and shold consider careflly the fll range of their commitments when planning an especially rigoros corse of stdy. In particlar, stdents shold keep in mind the projected level of their co-crriclar and extracrriclar commitments as they plan for the academic year. Recommended Corses for Stdents Bond for U.S. Universities Freshmen Credits Corse 2 Interdisciplinary Hmanities I (English/History) 1 Mathematics (according to placement) 1 Science (according to placement) 1 Modern Langage (according to placement) ½ Performing or Visal Arts ½ Physical Edcation 9 ½ World Religion Freshman Seminar Sophomores Credits Corse 2 Interdisciplinary Hmanities II (English/History) 1 Mathematics 1 Science 1 Modern Langage ½ Performing or Visal Arts ½ Physical Edcation 10 ½ Biblical Traditions Sophomore Seminar 18 t CONTENTS

20 Jniors Credits Corse 1 or 2 Interdisciplinary Hmanities III (English/History) OR 1 credit of Jnior English OR AP English Langage 1 Mathematics 1 Science 1 Modern Langage 1 Social Stdies (if Hmanities III is not taken) ½ Performing or Visal Arts (may also be deferred to senior year) ½ Physical Edcation 11 ½ Religion (may also be deferred to senior year) Jnior College Seminar Seniors Credits Corse 1 English 12 (Senior English Western or Asian or AP English Literatre) 1 Mathematics 1 Science 1 Modern Langage 1 Social Stdies ½ Performing or Visal Arts (if not completed in Jnior year) ½ Physical Edcation 12 ½ Religion (if not completed in Jnior year) Senior Transition Seminar Sggested Gidelines for Standardized Testing for College Entrance FRESHMAN YEAR (Grade 9) Check with college conselor Normally none recommended SOPHOMORE YEAR (Grade 10) October: PSAT Jne: SAT Sbject Tests as appropriate JUNIOR YEAR (Grade 11) October: PSAT May: SAT Jne: SAT Sbject Tests as appropriate TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Langage, as needed SENIOR YEAR (Grade 12) October: SAT November: SAT Sbject Tests as appropriate December: SAT or SAT Sbject Tests as necessary TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Langage, as needed SAT and SAT Sbject Tests: Many colleges and niversities reqire stdents to take SAT and SAT Sbject Tests. While scores generally improve the second time, colleges and niversities tend to qestion why stdents take the tests more than three times. Stdents shold take both in the spring of the jnior year and then retake them if necessary in October and November of the senior year. Competitive colleges generally reqire two or three SAT sbject tests, with Math 1 or 2 being one of the reqirements. 19 t CONTENTS

21 Please note that the SAT Langages with Listening tests are offered only in November, so it is appropriate to take these tests in either Grade 11 or 12. TOEFL: The test of English as a Foreign Langage is reqired for stdents whose first langage is not English and who have stdied in the English langage for fewer than five years. PSAT: All 10th and 11th Graders take the test in October. PSAT scores are sent only to stdents and their parents and the school, not to colleges. The PSAT offers practice for the SAT, and the diagnostic comments provided with the score report allow stdents to learn from their incorrect answers. The jnior year sitting of the PSAT is also the qalifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for stdents who hold United States passports. Grades 9 and 10: Unless seeking to qalify for a Gifted and Talented Yoth program, stdents shold not take the SAT before the jnior year. For frther information, please contact a conselor. 20 t CONTENTS

22 ACADEMIC PROGRAM Mapping yor For-Year Program This for-year otline is a gideline for yor planning and is only intended to help yo to think throgh the complete high school learning experience. Recommendations of teachers, class sizes, etc., may reqire a revision of yor plans. The classes yo list are tentative and sbject to change. In grade 9, stdents mst take at least 6½ credits. In grades 10 and 11, stdents mst take at least 6 credits per year. AREA OF STUDY Gradation Reqirement GRADE GRADE GRADE GRADE Reqired Credits Corse Name Credit Corse Name Credit Corse Name Credit Corse Name Credit ENGLISH 4 Hmanities I (English/History) (Interdisciplinary Corse) OR Hmanities I in Action (English/History) (Interdisciplinary Corse) 1 Hmanities II (English/History) (Interdisciplinary Corse) SOCIAL STUDIES Jnior English (1 cr.) OR Hmanities III (English/History) (2 cr.) (Interdisciplinary Corse) OR AP English Langage (1 cr.) 1 Senior English (Asian, Western or Rhetoric) OR AP English Literatre 1 MATHEMATICS 3 Algebra l or Geometry 1 SCIENCE 2 Physical or Biological Science 1 Advanced Algebra Geometry Biological if not taken in 9th Grade or Physical 1 PreCalcls 1 1 WORLD LANGUAGES 2 Mandarin, Spanish or French 1 Mandarin, Spanish or French 1 FINE ARTS 1.5 Visal or Performing Art 0.5/1 Visal or Performing Art 0.5/1 Varios Credit Options Available RELIGION 1.5 World Religions* 0.5 Biblical Stdies (or Gr 11) 0/0.5 Biblical Stdies (or Gr 10) 0/0.5 HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ELECTIVES 4 2 Freshman Seminar: Transitions to High School Physical Edcation 9 AND Sprital Exploration Sophomore Seminar AND Physical Edcation Jnior College Seminar AND Physical Edcation 11 0/ Varios Credit Options Available Varios Credit Options Available Senior Transitions Seminar AND Physical Edcation 12 0/0.5 0/ TOTAL CREDITS 22 6½ or 7 6 minimm 6 minimm 6 minimm 21 t CONTENTS * Beginning with the class of 2021, the World Religions class reqirement will be met throgh sccessfl completion of Spirital Exploration 9; a part of the new Wellness Block.