A child’s school life is greatly enriched by a family that is well informed and active in school affairs. HKIS welcomes parent involvement and encourages close ties between parents and school. Below are some examples of how we communicate with parents:
Monday Newsletter
Every Monday afternoon, you will receive the Primary School newsletter via email. This newsletter provides important updates on weekly activities and events at school, as well as news from community organizations such as the Parent Faculty Organization (PFO), Booster Club, Annual Fund Committee, and Church of All Nations.
As a key channel of communication between school and home, we encourage you to take a few moments to read it each week. The email will include links to view news from multiple school divisions—especially helpful if you have children in other grades—and access archived newsletters online.
Homeroom Communication
Homeroom teachers will send home updates on a weekly basis and maintain a class blog to communicate curricular information as well as any information on upcoming events.
Back to School Night
Back to School Night is held at the beginning of the year and provides an opportunity for parents to meet their children’s teachers.
Parent Education Sessions
These events provide an opportunity for parents to hear more about aspects of our educational program. Parents also enjoy the opportunity to meet other parents in an informal setting. Parents will receive information and sign- up details on Parent Coffee /Evening topics through the Monday Newsletter.
Parent/teacher conferences
Parent/teacher conferences are not limited to those pre- scheduled. If you have any questions concerning your child’s school work or other school matters, please make an appointment with the teacher at any time during the year.
Telephone calls
Students should not call home during the school day if they have forgotten to bring items to school or arrange playdates or sleepovers. Likewise, students will NOT be called to the telephone to receive messages. However, during school hours IMPORTANT messages may be telephoned into your child’s teacher’s assistant or left at the office. In case of an emergency and with their teacher’s permission, students may use the telephone.
Messages for teachers may be called into your child’s teacher’s assistant. Teachers will return calls within one working day.
Electronics and Other Equipment
The Upper Primary Admin strongly recommends that children of this developmental age group do not own personal electronic devices. Therefore, students are not permitted to bring and/or don wearable technology (i.e. Smart Watches) to school. The school recognizes that mobile phones may be a necessary link for family communication. If your child needs to bring a mobile phone to school for a particular day or reason, they must keep it silent, out of sight, and in their school bag throughout the day and while riding the bus. Kindles are permitted; however, the school cannot take responsibility for the safety of any electronic devices. The UP does not condone students participating in online group chats on any personal devices.
How to Use Technology Responsibly in the HKIS Upper Primary School
Technology can help students learn and have fun at school, but they need to use it in a good way. That means following some rules and being respectful to themselves and others online. Here are some guidelines students need to know and do to be responsible digital citizens at school.
- Before students use any technology at school, parents and their child need to approve a form that says they agree to follow the rules. This form is called the Educational Technology Responsible Use Agreement (RUA).
- Students will only use school-approved devices at school for school work and when a teacher or another adult allows.
- Students will only go online or use the internet at school for school work and when a teacher or another adult is with them. If they are not sure about something, they can always ask a teacher or another adult for help.
- When working and communicating with others, Students will only use the internet, email, iPad, and other devices to be productive, kind, and helpful.
- Students will use the internet, email, iPad, and other devices as a tool for learning in a creative and collaborative way that supports their learning goals.
- Students will keep their password secret and not try to find out other people’s passwords.
- If students see something online that makes them feel bad, scared, or angry, or that they know is not okay at school, they should:
- Not show it to anyone else.
- Tell a teacher or another adult right away.
- Students will protect and not share personal identifying information online at school. Personal identifying information includes: Their name, address, email address, or phone number
- Students will demonstrate responsibility and care for the technology equipment at school by:
- Handling it gently to avoid breaking it on purpose or by accident.
- Keeping food and drinks away from it.
- Telling a teacher or another adult if something is misplaced, lost or damaged.
Students need to follow these rules if they want to use technology at school. If they break these rules, the school will talk to them and their parents about it.
Why These Rules Are Important
These rules are not just for student safety and learning. They also help them develop skills and habits that will make them better digital citizens. A digital citizen is someone who uses technology in a responsible, respectful, and ethical way.