The Middle School years are a time of exploration, discovery, and growth. Middle School students undergo many changes in their intellectual, physical, and emotional development, and we tailor our curricula and programs to meet their unique needs.
A Community of Belonging
The Middle School is located on the Tai Tam campus and is adjacent to the High School campus at 1 Red Hill Road. Home to over 700 students from Grades 6 to 8, this sprawling outdoor campus features spacious classrooms across six floors and many community spaces for students to socialize, play sports, and share a meal.
12
students per Pastoral Care Group (all grades)
40
students per DYAD (Grade 6)
100
students per Academic Team (Grades 7&8)
Middle School Communities
Students take academic and elective classes with students across their whole grade and sometimes mixed grades. However, every student belongs to a House and a Pastoral Care Group (PCG) to foster community and school spirit.
The Middle School is supported by three counselors, one for each grade level. Each counselor stays with your child’s grade through the entire Middle School journey. When the Grade 8 counselor sends their students off to High School, they cycle back to receive the incoming Grade 6 cohort. Counselors get to know students as individuals, learners, and school community members, striving to support their mental health & well-being as well as their social and emotional needs.
Meet Our Team
Student and Parent Support
The MS Counseling team provides proactive and responsive support services which may include individual counseling, group counseling, or a family meeting. In addition to this, counselors will support students in life transitions e.g. a new student joining the HKIS community, or supporting an HKIS student as they prepare to move to a new location.
Counselors also provide support to parents through individual consultation, as well as parent education opportunities such as our 5-week parenting course, or monthly coffee mornings. We firmly believe that establishing and maintaining positive parent partnerships is a critical component in raising healthy, balanced, and motivated children.
A Day in the Life
At HKIS, every child is loved, and every child has a purpose. An HKIS Middle School typical day is filled with opportunities to learn more about yourself and to grow socially and emotionally. Building community is a priority in the Middle School. As you seek out your interests and passions, our hope is that you will find belonging at school, no matter how big or small the community.
Classes begin at 7:50 am each morning. Students arrive by private car or by school bus at the main entrance at 700 Tai Tam Reservoir Road. Students who wish to take the bus may register with our bus provider, Kwoon Chung Motors, to take one of the dozens of bus routes from all across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. You’ll see students in uniform tops, which can be purchased at the Dragon Shop at the High School. See the Uniform Guide!
Each day, there is a 15-minute mid-morning break and a 40-minute lunch. The whole Middle School breaks and eats lunch at the same time to foster community. After eating, students can spend time in the amphitheater, the library, the picnic tables on the 5th-floor podium, or in the peace garden. Students may bring their own lunch or purchase meals from our food provider, Sodexo.
The Middle School runs an 8-day cycle with core and elective classes in a cascading schedule. Each day students meet with their Pastoral Care Group (PCG), where 10-12 students connect to build community and share logistics. On Tuesday and Thursday, students engage in our club program, exploring a range of teacher and student-led activities.
Students finish the day at 3:00 pm and can take part in Middle School Athletics or a paid After-School Activity (ASA). School buses are available to registered bus riders at 3:15 pm, 4:20 pm, and 5:00 p.m. to take you home after your activities. Find out more about the Middle School Athletics program and ASA program.
Student Learning
The Middle School academic program offers a wide range of courses in mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, Chinese, Spanish, religious education, physical education and health, design, visual arts, culinary arts, band, choir, strings, and theater. These courses challenge and inspire our students to develop their skills, knowledge, and creativity in various disciplines.
In the Middle School, all students will take required courses and choose from a selection of elective courses.
Please consult the HKIS Middle School Handbook to find information related to your child’s student journey.
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SPICE ROTATION
In Grade 6, students rotate in groups through six different subjects called a SPICE rotation. Each student group attends class for one subject every day for 6 weeks before they rotate to the next subject. Subjects include Visual Arts, Theater, Culinary Arts, Health, Religious Education, and Computing to Learn. The SPICE rotation gives students a taste of elective courses available in 7th and 8th grade.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: PEAK
PEAK (Program of Experiential Activities for Kids) is a weeklong Middle School experiential learning program. Students engage in off-campus learning experiences that help them to understand the world around them and bring to life the learning that occurs throughout the year on campus. PEAK calls upon students to live out HKIS’s mission and vision and engage with the school’s Student Learning Results (SLRs). PEAK is a required component of the HKIS Middle School experience and is designed with options that are inclusive for all students.
SELF-MOTIVATED LEARNING (SML) PROJECTS
The Middle School Self-Motivated Learning Project gives each Middle School student a chance to delve into a passion or a curiosity while extending their learning beyond the classroom. Time will be dedicated to supporting students in pursuing an area of interest. At the end of the project period, all students share their project and their learning journey with parents, teachers, and fellow students.
In Grades 6-8, students may receive 1:1 or small group Learning Support services in core classes (English language arts, math, social studies, and science) that are supported by a Learning Specialist collaborating alongside the classroom teacher. Students with identified academic needs may also be enrolled in a Learning Strategies class, taught by the Learning Specialist, in lieu of an elective. Students in Learning Strategies class are provided with 1:1 and small group remediation according to their identified needs. They are provided additional time and support to complete core class assignments. Students in the Learning Strategies class are given direct instruction in study skills, executive functioning skills, reading comprehension, written expression, and self-advocacy. Testing accommodations are provided when indicated by the report from a psycho-educational evaluation.
Home learning is any activity or assignment directed by the teacher to be performed outside the classroom that may include practicing skills learned in class, reading, studying for assessments, or completing assignments. We believe that family and leisure activities are important, and the amount and type of home learning assigned should reflect this belief. We acknowledge individual student differences in ability, achievement levels, and needs, and that some students may take more or less than the recommended time to complete assignments. The purpose of this home learning policy is to guide teachers, parents, and students in ensuring that homework is meaningful and supports the learning experience for all students.
The maximum amount of home learning per grade level on a daily basis is as follows:
Grade 6 – 60 minutes daily
Grade 7 – 70 minutes daily
Grade 8 – 80 minutes daily
Philosophy of Assessment
The purpose of assessment is to promote learning. Assessment is a process of gathering a variety of evidence to identify a student's level of attainment of learning goals. The evidence helps students understand their strengths and how they can improve their learning and helps teachers understand how they can improve instruction. In addition, assessment forms the basis of reporting to students and parents the current level of students’ attainment of learning goals. A robust assessment system is relevant, accurate, ongoing, informative, timely, and understandable.
Student Life in Middle School
Student Life at HKIS Middle School involves a spirited community where all students endeavor to find a sense of belonging no matter how big or small the community. Students have the opportunity to explore passions that not only spark their love of learning but allows them to connect with others who share the same interests. At HKIS, we care about the whole child.
Pastoral Care Groups (PCG)
Each student is placed in a small group of 11-13 students along with a teacher to form a Pastoral Care Group (PCG). PCGs are committed to creating a safe and supportive space where all students can thrive. We aim to foster a sense of belonging and community by promoting positive peer and adult relationships. Our mission is to support the holistic development of each student by addressing their social, emotional, and academic needs. We strive to empower students to be their best selves by providing guidance, encouragement, and opportunities for growth. Students will meet with their PCG every day and for extended periods three days per week.
House Spirit
Each student belongs to one Middle School House, named after significant locations across Hong Kong. Each has a unique color and is supported by teachers who also belong to that house. The house structure helps create a sense of community, promotes healthy competition, and provides opportunities for leadership and teamwork. Every Friday, students wear house t-shirts and accessories in their house color, which earn spirit points for their house. Throughout the year, the whole Middle School community participates in spirit events to earn house points, and a winning house is awarded at the end of the year.
Chapels
Chapels are an opportunity for the proclamation of God’s love and one of the ways that the school shares its Christian identity. Chapels are a regular part of student life. They are inclusive gatherings for the entire Middle School community, and all are welcome to engage with respect, reverence, and joy. In Chapel, every student hears the affirming message that they are cherished as beloved children of God and that their lives hold significant purpose.
Middle School students also have many opportunities to participate in co-curricular and athletic activities that enrich their learning and foster passions and interests. Whether in sports, clubs, service, or leadership, students can find something that suits their talents and goals. At HKIS, Middle School is a time to learn, grow, and have fun.
