6. General Information and Policies

6. General information and policies

6.1 School hours and timetable

6.2 Office hours

6.3 Arrival and departure from school

6.4 Campus floor plans and teacher room allocations

6.5 Teacher:student ratio

6.6 Student code of conduct

6.7 Academic intergrity policy

6.8 Academic appeal process

6.9 Parking on campus

6.10 After school hours and staying on campus

6.11 Bikes, scooters, skateboards and skates

6.12 Guest on campus

6.13 Lost and found

6.14 School telephone use

6.15 Elevator use

6.16 Lockers

6.17 Electroninc equipment

6.18 Liability for student property

6.19 iPad and macbook requirements

6.20 Network system accounts

6.21 Acceptable network use policy

6.22 Artificial intelligence (AI) policy

6.1 School hours and timetable

The school day for all full day students is 8.30am to 3.30pm. Students who do not travel on the bus are advised to be at school by 8.25am. You can view the timetable for the 2025-2026 school year below:

6.2 Office hours

Office opening hours:

Kindergarten, primary and secondary offices are open from 8am to 5pm
Main reception is open from 8am to 5pm, with the phone line remaining open until 6pm when school is in session
Finance counter (main office) is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am to 1pm and 2 to 4.30pm

6.3 Arrival and departure from school

Student arrival and departure information can be viewed below.:

6.4 Campus floor plans and teacher room allocations

Campus floor plans and teacher room allocations can be found on the divisional pages in My.CIS.

6.5 Teacher:student ratio

The average student to educator ratio at CIS is 10.5:1. This ratio encompasses all our professional educators and administrators. It is not an indication of class size. All classes are staffed to ensure our students enjoy age appropriate optimal learning environments.

English programme

Nursery to grade 1 Our early years (Nursery and Kindergarten) classrooms require a high level of care, support and supervision. For this reason, our Nursery classroom is supported by one teacher and up to two instructional assistants, while each kindergarten and grade 1 class is supported by one teacher and one instructional assistant.
Grades 2 to 6 Students in grades 2 to 6 have one homeroom teacher and one shared instructional assistant.
Grades 7 to 12 Students in grades 7 to 12 have an advisor teacher whom they meet with each morning, and individual specialist teachers for each subject.

Chinese-English bilingual programme

The bilingual programme follows a single language model on alternate days (Chinese one day followed by English the next day). Students are immersed in each language for 5 days over each two week period. No adjustments will be made for holidays.
Both teachers will be considered homeroom teachers responsible for ensuring students’ academic success and pastoral care.
Our Chinese-English bilingual programme community is supported by two bilingual PYP coordinators.
All grade 1-6 classes have a full time instructional assistant (IA).

French-English bilingual programme

This bilingual programme is a full day programme option for students in Junior Kindergarten to grade 6. The programme follows a dual language model with an equal amount of instructional time in each language each week.
Both teachers* will be considered homeroom teachers responsible for ensuring students’ academic success and pastoral care. *There may be times where classes are run by one fully bilingual teacher.
Senior kindergarten to grade 2 classes have a full time instructional assistant (IA).

6.6 Student code of conduct

CIS fosters an environment in which the needs, rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups are respected. Our students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will bring credit to themselves, their families and their school, and adhere to the CIS core values. Read our student code of conduct.

6.7 Academic integrity policy

One of the paramount goals of CIS is to foster the growth of ethically responsible students. Our students learn the importance of academic honesty: what it is, why it matters, and what the consequences are for engaging in dishonest behaviour. Our academic honesty policy applies to all students in grades 4 to 12.

6.8 Academic appeal process

Should a student or parent disagree with an awarded grade/level of achievement, the student or parent must first contact the respective teacher directly. This allows the teacher an opportunity to explain the grade/level of achievement and how it was awarded. If there is still a concern about the grade/level of achievement, the student or parent may initiate the academic appeal process by submitting an academic appeal form to the student’s principal within 30 days of the release of results.

View our academic appeal policy.

6.9 Parking on campus

There are approximately 200 car parking spaces onsite. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents can register their In-Vehicle Unit (IU) and obtain a parking decal, either at security or at the main office. Individuals who park illegally, move parking barriers, willfully damage school property, or exhibit aggressive behaviour will be handed a red card violation to indicate a first warning. Vehicle and/or personal details will be recorded. A subsequent violation of CIS rules will result in the individuals’ vehicle being banned from entering campus.

6.10 After school hours and staying on campus

Students are not permitted on CIS’s premises on non-school days, or to remain on CIS’s premises after dismissal unless they are participating in an after school activity that begins immediately after school. Playgrounds and recreational areas will be closed at dismissal.

It is the responsibility of the parent to provide adult supervision if a student (or their siblings) must wait on campus for a later activity.

The only exceptions are when, with the permission of the Head of School or a school principal, the school grounds are the venue for:

school or sporting events
laboratory or other curriculum related courses or exercises
self-study in permitted areas including CIS’s libraries at which at least one staff member, employed directly by the school, is present and supervising the activity.

Students who have not been picked up by the end of dismissal should wait in the respective divisional office.

Liability

CIS will not be liable for any injury to students or any loss or damage to students’ personal belongings or any unforeseen damages, losses, injuries or circumstances that may result from the students remaining in CIS after dismissal or as a result of the presence of students after dismissal or on non-school days outside of the permitted exceptions referred to above.

6.11 Bikes, scooters, skateboards and skates

Students who use bicycles and scooters to school are not allowed to ride them when on campus. Students are strongly encouraged to wear a helmet and to bring a lock to lock their bikes or scooter up at school. The school is not responsible for the safekeeping of equipment.

Unless a student is participating in a skateboarding or roller skate/rollerblade activity, skateboards, roller skates/blades and roller skates/heelys are not allowed on campus at any time during school, after school or on weekends.

6.12 Guest on campus

Nursery to grade 6

Former out of country students are welcome to visit CIS and to attend classes*, with permission obtained in advance from the principal or vice principal. The most appropriate time for the visit will be determined in collaboration with the teacher and principal. A current CIS student must escort guests, and guests will be required to present identification at the guardhouse and to provide an emergency contact number at the main office.

Grades 7 to 12

School-aged visitors are not allowed on campus during the academic day or during lunch. If former students want to visit with friends, these students are welcome to come to school at the end of the school day*. Former students or friends of students should notify the principal of a prospective visit. If a former student wishes to visit a teacher, they should email the teacher to arrange an appropriate time. Prospective students can arrange for visits through the admissions office.

*Students who would like to visit must contact the relevant office in advance to see if a visit is possible and/or what measures are in place.

6.13 Lost and found

Students are discouraged from bringing valuable personal property to school, and are reminded that they assume all risk for damage or loss. The school will not make any reimbursement for missing items.

Found items should be placed in the bins located in the primary school play area on the day that they are found. Fragile or expensive items should be turned in at the main office.

6.14 School telephone use

Student phone calls are limited to emergencies. Students must have a teacher's permission for calls made during school hours. After hours calls can be made under the supervision of office staff.

6.15 Elevator use

School elevators are for parents, staff and deliveries only. Students are not permitted to use the elevator unless it is medically necessary or when they are escorted by an adult. Students who are permitted to use the elevator should carry an official pass, which they can obtain from the nurse, and they should be prepared to show it to staff if requested.

6.16 Lockers

All students in grades 4 to 7 are provided with their own locker. Students in grades 8-12 may request a locker assignment through their advisor. Students are strongly advised to ensure that their valuables are kept in their lockers and that the lockers remain locked at all times. Students must purchase a lock prior to the commencement of the school year.

6.17 Electronic equipment

Students are expected to observe our guidelines regarding electronic portable devices and valuables (e.g. smartphones, e-books, digital audio players, headphones, etc). Read our electronic equipment policy and primary on-campus device use guidelines for further information.

Note: The school is not responsible for any loss of students’ electronic equipment.

6.18 Liability for student property

CIS shall not be held liable for accidental injury or loss of or damage to property. CIS is not responsible for students’ personal property on CIS campuses or on the way to or from CIS or on any CIS sponsored activity. It is the responsibility of parents/legal guardians to provide any additional comprehensive medical and accident insurance, as well as personal property insurance, for their children and their possessions.

6.19 iPad and macbook requirements

It is mandatory for students in grades 3 to 6 to bring their own iPad to school daily. Students in grades 7 to 12 must have their own MacBook computer at school every day. View our digital literacy page for more information and device recommendations.

6.20 Network system accounts

Accounts are issued to students in grades 3 to 12 to access various school resources including, but not limited to, communication networks, school printers, Google Workspace accounts, ManageBac, Seesaw (primary only) and My.CIS.

Email addresses on the school’s email system are assigned to all staff and students from grade 3 and up (grade 3 students are restricted to internal communication only until the last 3 months of the school year). Email is used extensively for communications and collaboration within the school community.

Students are to ensure that all information provided to CIS pursuant to network use is correct, and to further ensure they update CIS immediately of any changes in their particulars. Students further agree to hold CIS, its employees, agents, associates and affiliates harmless from any and all claims and damages of any nature arising from the student’s use of, or inability to use, the CIS network, including, but not limited to, any claims arising from the unauthorised use of the system to purchase products or services.

6.21 Acceptable network use

Read our policy concerning the use of CIS IT resources and the consequences for students who do not comply. CIS reserves the right to make any necessary modifications to this policy and such changes and/or modifications will be conveyed to students in writing.

6.22 Artificial intelligence (AI) policy

At CIS, we are committed to the responsible, safe, and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to enhance learning, teaching, and operations. Please refer to our full AI Policy for detailed guidelines.