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Years 8, 9, and 10 CAS Focus Week Information

Creativity, Action, and Service

Objectives

  • To broaden students’ horizons by developing an understanding of a culture other than their own
  • To develop a sense of responsibility to the community and convey the fulfilment of giving service to others either in Hong Kong or elsewhere in South-East Asia
  • To provide a range of opportunities outside the students’ usual range of experience
  • To challenge students and enable them to achieve their personal best.

How to make choices for Focus Week 2009 (Year 8 – 10 only)

Students can choose from a range of activities, either in Creativity, Action or Service.
A Creative activity is interpreted broadly to include a wide range of arts activities and experience that involve creative thinking and implementing personal initiative.  An Action activity is defined as one in which offers personal challenge.  A Service activity is one in which the students perform some aspect of assistance for the community either in Hong Kong or overseas or voluntary exchange. Students may not opt for the same category of activity more than once so that over their three years, each student will participate in an activity from each category.

Students may not opt for the same category of activity more than once so that over their three years, each student will participate in an activity from each category.

After viewing the activity details on the South Island School website, students must choose three activities, nominating their first, second and third choices in order of preference.  Whereas every effort will be made to assign students to one of their three choices, this may not always be possible.  Should this happen, the student(s) concerned will be invited to make three additional selections.

If, when all applications have been received, an activity is well undersubscribed then it will be cancelled.  Every effort will then be made to allocate the student to one of his/her other choices.

Students are asked to download and print the consent, medical and choices forms attached and hand in by Thursday 21th May, 2009 to the General Office.  Deposits are needed for some trips to secure places.  This is stated on each activity.  (Cheques should be made payable to "South Island School"). Students should realise that if they wish to be allocated one of their choices, returning the form after this date may affect the possibility of getting those choices.

Because some students may need to be asked to make three new choices, the names of those allocated to each trip will not be announced immediately.  Names of students allocated to each trip will be posted on the notice boards in the school foyer by 12th June, 2009.

Parents need to review carefully all three choices, and to be sure that their children are capable of participating in each.  For example, if they choose trekking – can they walk for five days?  If they choose a white water rafting - are they confident in water?  If they choose an activity that is physically demanding – are they able to endure the rigour?  PLEASE be careful in the selection process.  All forms must be signed by parents or guardian.

Students who choose an activity that involves a high cost must ensure that their parents are fully in agreement with this.  This is because staff, who are organising overseas trips, need to have a clear idea of numbers so that bookings can be made early and deposits paid.

Activities listed on the SIS Website - Focus Week section have been costed as well as possible, but costs may change in some cases because, for example, airlines are unwilling to give firm prices well in advance.  As sometimes happens in Asia, natural or political difficulties can lead to a decision to reroute a particular Focus Week activity.  It may be necessary to cancel an activity entirely, in which case alternative arrangements will be made.  Whilst the school will do all that is possible to prevent any losses, parents do have to assume the financial risk involved with Focus Week.  Neither SIS nor its travel agents guarantee to underwrite costs of Focus Week activities cancelled for safety or other reasons.

If the demand for any activity is high then parents may be invited to help.  In this case a charge of 50% of the cost of the activity will be required.  Parents joining activities will be required to help supervise students.

I hope that everyone will have a productive and enjoyable Focus Week.

Annette Chapman
Assistant Principal
(Head of Middle Section)

Year 8-10 front page (pdf format)

Documents

Activities List

Creativity (Hong Kong)

Creativity (Overseas)

Action (Hong Kong)

Action (Overseas)

Service (Hong Kong)

Service (Overseas)

Action & Service (Hong Kong)

Action & Service (Overseas)

Creativity & Service (Overseas)

Creativity, Action & Service (Overseas)

General Guidelines for Focus Week
Points to note:

  1. All students are expected to participate in Focus Week activities.
  2. The Head of Section, the Heads of Year and the teachers-in-charge of each activity, will approve the final group lists.  Any student who has a record of poor behaviour may be excluded from certain trips.
  3. The teachers-in-charge of activities may not allow the students to engage in any activity whilst on Focus Week that is not covered under the parameters of the description written on the website.
  4. All Focus Week groups will be under the supervision and direction of at least one SIS teacher.
  5. All school conduct and discipline codes will be adhered to throughout the activity.  In addition, if travelling abroad we expect students to obey the laws of the host country and to be sensitive to the culture of the people.  We expect all students to refrain from any involvement with alcohol or drugs.  In some countries, indulging in such activities carries very severe penalties.
  6. Violations of school rules will be reported to the Head of Year for follow-up.  Consequences of breaking rules are similar to in-school violations of those rules.
  7. The cost of medical insurance is included in the prices quoted in the Focus Week information for all off site trips.
  8. In cases of overseas activities, the cost includes airfare, accommodation, meals, airport taxes, and insurance.  Costs do not include inoculation fees, physician consultation fees or visa fees.  There will be no refunds for overseas trips once bookings have been made.
  9. Although we are committed to an equal opportunity policy, some of the activities are very physically demanding which may mean that some students will need one-to-one support for them to be able to participate.  Parents should be aware that this can be provided, but only at additional cost.  They may also want to consult with activity leaders about the demand involved.