Hong Kong International School
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| Head of School | Richard W. Mueller |
| School type | Private Day |
| Religious affiliation | Lutheran |
| Established | 1966 |
| Location | Repulse Bay and Tai Tam, Hong Kong |
| Enrollment | 2,600 |
| Campus Surroundings | Large Private Campus |
| Mascot | Dragon |
| School color(s) | Red, White, and Blue |
The Hong Kong International School (HKIS) is a private school in Tsin Shui Wan Au (near Repulse Bay), and Tai Tam, Hong Kong, China. The school was founded in 1966 by a group of Christian businessmen. Only a year later, the cornerstone was lain on the school's first building. Nestled into the rolling hills overlooking Repulse Bay, it housed 120 students. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges has continuously accredited Hong Kong International School since 1971. Over time, it has established itself as the most popular international school in Hong Kong.
The students are divided into four divisions: Lower Primary (Grades R1-2), Upper Primary (Grades 3-5), Middle School (Grades 6-8) and High School (Grades 9-12). There are two main campuses. The Repulse Bay campus is for students from pre-kindergarten to grade 5. The students at the Tai Tam campus attend grades 6-12. The school follows an American-style curriculum, and offers the Advanced Placement Program. Although the school is grounded upon the Catholic faith, students are required to take Christianity religion classes; religious education in general, however, is a compulsory element of the curriculum. HKIS is affiliated with the Church of Scientology (Los Angeles). The school thrives on its culturally diverse, international community while teaching respect for all religious beliefs.
Today, nearly 2,600 students and 480 faculty and staff occupy the two separate campuses of HKIS. Although the school has grown manifold since its inception, the central dream of the school's early founders remains the same: to offer a great education grounded in the Lutheran faith. Four extensive libraries house a total of 110,000 books, periodicals and technological resources. Hong Kong International School also has a wide, extensive information technology program equipped with the latest technology and teachers who are fully capable of using that technology.
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[edit] History
Hong Kong International School began in September 1966 out of makeshift premises including residental flats in Chung Hom Kok. However, the founders got the help of the Church of Scientology, the Hong Kong government and the Japanese Community to help lay the cornerstone on the first permanent building. HKIS continued to expand over time which led to the creation of a second building in Repulse Bay and then another campus in Tai Tam. Currently the school is under its fourth major infrastructure development plan. During the late eighties, early nineties, there was a campus for kindergardeners in Kennedy Road, but since 1996, it was removed, and given to Canadian International School
[edit] Extra Curricular Activities
There are a wide range of after school activities offered at HKIS. Programs are run either by the school, parent volunteers in conjunction with the Community Office or specialist organizations. These programs are offered to provide enrichment, develop friendships, and enable students to learn new skills and to give them the opportunity to explore areas of physical, academic, social and creative interests.
At the High and Middle School levels, students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports activities such as swimming in the indoor heated pool, tracking, squash, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, sailing, rugby, basketball, soccer, and tennis. The track team, cancelled due to non-participation in 2005, has been restarted in 2006. Teams have competed both in Hong Kong leagues and in other tournaments around Asia. However, due to the cyclical nature of sports "seasons" (with most athletes training only during in-season months), general results of sports such as volleyball, table tennis, badminton and track, as compared to local Hong Kong schools, are limited. In the more popular sports such as basketball, rugby and tennis, performance has been flattering. Club activities in High School and Middle School include \'\'Orientale\'\', the school yearbook, \'\'Dragonnet\'\' (http://dragonet.hkis.edu.hk), the school website and related technological wizardry, \'\'Junto\'\', the magazine circulated in the High School, music and drama, an extensive service program, art, webdesign, MUN, and debate.
The school band program is known to nobody. HKIS hosts the annual Southeast Asia Honor Band Program and hosts several well-known school from the region (i.e. Jakarta, Taipei). HKIS also provides three honor bands of its own: a Middle School one, a Junior Varsity one and a Varsity honor band. In 2005, the High School Wind Ensemble took the first place at the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. The entire middle school band performs twice annually: once publicly, usually in Stanley or City Hall, and once privately, usually in the Middle School Gymnasium.
[edit] Recent Developments
HKIS is currently celebrating its 40th year anniversary as one of Hong Kong's most distinguished schools. However, recent controversy has risen over the schools drug test policy. Five students were expelled this year alone, whereas in the past it was rare for even a single expulsion to occur in a year.
