Spiritual Development is one of six Student Learning Results (SLRs) at HKIS. Through this SLR, students will understand and respect Christianity and other religions. In their journey at HKIS, students will explore and develop their spiritual identity.
Spirituality at HKIS is a journey of reverence that explores the meaning of our lives and connections with God, other people, and the world.
HKIS believes the Christian faith is a response to the redemptive grace and love found in Jesus Christ and recognizes that each student is a precious child of God. Motivated by that belief, HKIS nurtures each child to develop a clear sense of their identity, calling, and relationship with others.
HKIS provides an environment to nurture students' spiritual growth and development journey. The religious education program is a well-thought-out curriculum spanning the four divisions at HKIS with clear outcomes based on our broader philosophy of education.
On a day-to-day level, HKIS embraces an open and accepting community spirit. We believe this happens best in an atmosphere of active role modeling, conversation, and discussion about spiritual matters, world views, personal understandings of God, and personal life experiences. Students learn about and openly discuss Christianity and other beliefs through these conversations. They work cohesively to foster HKIS' mission to be "an American-style education grounded in the Christian faith and respecting the spiritual lives of all."
- Students recognize, define, and articulate their own spiritual identity and demonstrate how it guides their personal decisions.
- Students demonstrate an understanding of the Christian story and the centrality of Jesus in the Bible.
- Students understand both the common and unique beliefs, practices and influence of the major religions of the world.
As religious educators at HKIS, teachers:
- Support the religious education program among colleagues and students through curricular and co-curricular programs.
- Acquaint themselves with the religiously diverse nature of the HKIS community (students, parents, teachers, and staff) and exhibit an interest in and respect for these religious traditions.
- Participate in HKIS spiritual growth opportunities.
- Acquaint themselves with religious festivals and incorporate them into classroom instruction and discussions.
- Lower and Upper Primary Schools: Classroom teachers teach Religious Education, which includes lessons about Christianity and world religions. These units are primarily topical in nature and inquiry-driven, asking questions like “What do people believe about God?” and “Why do people pray?” As we get into the upper grades we also spend dedicated time gaining a deeper understanding of several world religions including Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.
- Middle School: An Old Testament overview is taught in Grade 6. In Grade 7 students learn about the New Testament, focusing on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In Grade 8 students continue to explore the New Testament, learning about the early church through the book of Acts and they also learn about world religions during a second RE module. In Middle School, we have dedicated religious education teachers.
- High School: Biblical and world religion courses are integrated into the humanities and fine arts programs and taught by specialists. All students will take a 1-credit course across their High School journey, split into one quarter each year. In this course, Spiritual Explorations, students continue their spiritual journey, recognizing and developing their own spiritual identity through active participation in lesson activities, projects, and reflection on course material. Students will also be required to take one additional semester-long religious education course of their choice.
Chapels and community gatherings are an important part of student life.
The GIFTS conference is an annual conference for the whole community to come together and share ideas about what it means for HKIS to be grounded in the Christian faith and respectful of the spiritual lives of all. GIFTS stands for Grounding-Identity-Fellowship-Theology-Spirituality. This event takes place in the Fall each year.
HKIS has a diverse and vibrant community that celebrates festivals and traditions across many faiths and cultures represented within the student and faculty body. Christian Life is an active part of the school’s community and is coordinated by the Schoolwide Spirituality Coordinator.