HKA School Profile 2021

SCHOOL
PROFILE
A non-profit international IB
World School for students in
Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12

LETTER FROM
THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
The Hong Kong Academy mission statement serves as a guidepost and foundation
Hong Kong Academy is a joyful, dynamic learning community
that provides a rigorous international education characterised
educational leader, HKA
empowers learners to pursue pathways to individual excellence
by fostering creativity, communication and problem-solving skills.
HKA learners develop an evolving understanding of themselves and
our changing world, leading them to engage in responsible action
motivated by their interests, strengths and ongoing reflection. HKA is
committed to maintaining a diverse, collaborative and captivating
learning environment in which students become adaptable,
sustainable future.
Welcome to Hong Kong Academy and thank you for your
interest in finding out more about our community of learners.
Founded in 2000, we pride ourselves on being a non-profit, fully
authorised three-programme IB World School that provides
a happy and healthy learning environment for students in
Pre-Kindergarten through to Grade 12. We celebrate the
unique strengths and talents that each learner brings to our
community, and embrace our collective diversity as a part of
what makes learning at HKA both joyful and transformative.
I have been the Head of School at HKA for over 10 years
and was delighted to celebrate the school’s milestone 20th
anniversary in 2020. My own daughters have been among
the more than 200 graduates who continue to thrive from the
world-class educational experience they had here at HKA.
Surrounded by caring and nurturing faculty and staff, HKA
students gain the confidence and desire to contribute to their
communities as global citizens both now and in the future.
Our students, parents, faculty and staff bring the HKA mission
to life each day and contribute to the identity of our dynamic
community. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about what makes
HKA special, and we look forward to welcoming you to our campus for a visit.
Sincerely,
Stephen Dare, Head of School
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School Profile
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School Profile

Why is HKA an
IB World School?
PRIMARY SCHOOL
In Primary School, students develop literacy and
numeracy skills and engage in a rich programme
of inquiry at every grade level. Students use a
range of resources to grow as communicators and
mathematical thinkers and apply their knowledge,
skills and understandings in different contexts.
We use the IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP)
to structure our curriculum and invite learners to
inquire about themselves, others and the world
around them. Specialist teachers partner with
classroom teachers to integrate key learning
objectives and outcomes across subject areas.
This invites students to connect their learning
in visual arts, physical education, music, literacy
information technology (library) and Mandarin to
their homeroom learning experiences.
Through the frameworks of the
International Baccalaureate Primary
Years, Middle Years and Diploma
Programmes, we deliver a rigorous
international education that engages
students in rich, challenging and
meaningful learning experiences. As
a fully authorised IB World School,
we are committed to cultivating
global mindedness, nurturing positive
learning dispositions and developing
versatile approaches to learning skills
in every student.
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A week in the life of an HKA Primary
School student includes...
Literature
Circles
Guided
Reading
Read
Alouds
Resource-Based
Literacy Programme
Writing
Conferences
Spelling and
Phonics
Concepts of
Print
Geometry
Measurement
and Data
Counting
Number and
Operations -
Fractions
Number and
Operations
in Base Ten
Operations and
Algebraic Thinking
Resource-Based
Mathematics Programme
Library
Visual
Arts
Music
Physical
Education
Mandarin
Specialists
Digital
Citizenship
Exhibitions of
Learning
Service
Learning
Units of
Inquiry
Wellbeing
Community
Circle
Lunch and
Snacks
Field Trips
and Camps
Assembly
Intentionally small class sizes allow teachers to differentiate
learning experiences for every child. Our two-teacher
model in every Primary School classroom promotes strong
student-teacher relationships, ensuring every child is known
and understood as an individual. HKA’s Primary School
Counsellor works with teachers and students to integrate
wellbeing education into the curriculum. Through our robust
service learning programme, students learn to think flexibly
and consider the impact that their actions have on the planet,
on other people and on themselves. This holistic approach to
education provides students with tools and strategies to help
them know who they are, become self-directed and develop
empathy for others.
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The Secondary School programme inspires
curiosity, encourages innovation and nurtures
a strong sense of identity in every individual.
We use the International Baccalaureate
Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) to
structure teaching, learning and assessment
for students in Grades 6-10. In Grades 11
and 12, students can pursue a range of
programme options that align with who they
are as learners and prepare them to achieve
their post-secondary aspirations. At every
grade level, our approach to instruction is
practical, dynamic and student-centred,
and teachers build strong relationships with
students, gathering evidence of learning on a
regular basis and providing timely feedback.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
A Future-Focussed
Education
Our holistic education recognises, addresses and
celebrates the evolving needs of adolescent learners.
Wellbeing is fundamental to student success, and we
encourage every child to actively pursue a healthy and
balanced lifestyle. A bespoke wellbeing and counselling
programme nurtures the mental, physical and social
growth of every individual. Co-curricular offerings cater
to the interests and passions of student athletes, artists,
leaders and global citizens. As they become increasingly
independent and self-sufficient, we recognise the
importance of strong home-school partnerships for
student success, and we work closely with parents to
ensure every student feels supported and successful as
they progress through the Secondary School programme.
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Every HKA graduate earns an HKA Diploma, a credit-based
certification of their academic performance in Grades 9-12 that is
aligned to North American university requirements. The majority
of students also pursue an additional qualification through the
IB Diploma, a two-year university preparatory programme which is
externally awarded and internationally recognised.
Hong Kong Academy embeds the
competencies, knowledge and skills
students need today in authentic
contexts that prepare them for the
future. By identifying complex problems,
connecting their learning across
different disciplines and considering
a range of perspectives, our students
develop flexibility and confidence
as learners. Built upon a foundation
of inquiry, our programme engages
students in project-based learning
experiences that invite collaboration,
reflection and action.
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Determining the next steps in the learning
journey after graduation is an important
process for students and their families.
We take a highly personalised approach
to post-secondary planning and work
with individual students to understand
the different options they might wish to
pursue. Through counselling and advisory
programmes, students are introduced to
a range of post-secondary opportunities
and supported in exploring how their
interests and future aspirations will
inform their pathway to graduation.
HKA
ALUMNI
Whether a student graduated from HKA or was here for a single semester, they are
considered an important member of our alumni community. Comprising graduates and
former students, families and employees, the HKA Alumni Network spans the globe and
remains connected. We stay in contact with alumni through regular newsletters and
events both in Hong Kong and globally, and welcome former community members back
for campus visits and updates since their time at HKA.
College and university representatives regularly visit the
HKA campus to meet students and share information on
their programmes. These conversations provide valuable
insights into life in different countries and at different
institutions worldwide. Students also have opportunities
to speak with professionals from various industries to
learn more about what different career paths entail.
HKA alumni and former students are also important
resources as they share their personal experiences with
their transitions to university life and their professional
careers after graduation.
POST-SECONDARY
PATHWAYS
We recognise the important role that families play in the
post-secondary planning process, and offer a number
of parent education events that provide information
on university and college application requirements and
degree programmes for schools all around the world.
Canada 4%
United States 42%
United Kingdom 29%
Africa

ENGAGING IN
RESPONSIBLE
ACTION
We believe that nurturing global citizens who act
responsibly for both themselves and their environment
forms the foundation of a holistic education. We embed
the language and principles of the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals into the Primary and
Secondary curriculum, inviting students to use their
personal passions as jumping off points for inquiry,
exploration and action. Starting with our youngest
learners, students participate in experiences that help
them develop their individual identities and understand
their impact on the world. Through partnerships with
local and global organisations, students see how they
can serve as agents of change within their communities.
ENHANCING THE
LEARNING JOURNEY
FOR EVERY CHILD
LEARNER SUPPORT
Our commitment to inclusion starts in early
childhood and continues through to graduation.
Through tiered interventions, we provide students
with the resources and strategies that help them
become self-directed learners.
We prioritise diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects
of our educational programme and operations. Through
building relationships with individuals who embody
a wide range of strengths, talents and passions, our
students become equipped to thoughtfully navigate the
world with compassion and care.
Primary School students have opportunities to make
connections between their classroom learning and the
wider world and identify actions they can take towards
a sustainable future. As they continue into Secondary
School, students design their own projects, clubs and
initiatives to act in ways that are mutually beneficial for
themselves and their communities. Our approach to
service learning is designed to teach students that as
young people, they have the capacity to find their voice
and make a difference.
We are the only school in Hong Kong to offer the Global
Citizen Diploma (GCD), an external credential that
validates the ways our students are taking action
towards a better future. A partnership of schools located
on three continents, GCD members collaborate to
provide their graduates with a framework within which
they can showcase their skills, passions and talents as
global citizens. Learn more about the GCD framework,
how it benefits students now and in their
post-secondary application process and
how the consortium continues to evolve by
visiting globalcitizendiploma.org.
CHILD
SAFEGUARDING
Every member of the
HKA community has a
responsibility to support
and protect each child.
Our policy, procedures
and training programme
provide clear guidance for
keeping all children safe.
Through our range of
learner enhancements,
we cultivate a community
that values individual
contributions and
collective wellbeing.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS (ELL)
For students who are acquiring English as an
additional language, ELL specialist and classroom
teachers use a strengths-based approach to
scaffold and target language development.
COUNSELLING &
WELLBEING
In grade level lessons,
small group meetings
and individual sessions,
HKA wellbeing teachers
and counsellors provide
both proactive and
responsive support to
our students and their
families.
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CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMMES
At HKA, we offer an extensive co-curricular programme that
supplements and enhances the learning students do each day in
the classroom. Including competitive and developmental sports,
performing arts, after school activities, clubs, mother tongue classes
and seasonal programmes, students can pursue their interests in over
100 activities each semester. Every co-curricular offering is led by an
HKA staff member or specialist external partner to engage students in
hands-on activities that extend their skills and inspire their passions.
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Strategy 2020-2025
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A CAPTIVATING
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
EMPOWERING LEARNERS
THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
We believe that the purposeful use of digital systems and technologies is essential for our future-focussed learners.
Digital citizenship is integrated into teaching and learning at every grade level. In the early years, we introduce
technological tools that support students to communicate ideas and showcase the learning process. Our 1-1
in-house device programme in upper primary scaffolds device maintenance as students build their skills as
responsible users of technology. In Secondary School, students become increasingly independent in their application
of platforms, systems and information in a digital environment. As well as strengthening their technology skills,
students also develop their understanding of their digital footprint and how to maintain a healthy online presence.
Hong Kong Academy’s purpose-built, award-winning campus is designed to
engage students in authentic learning experiences. Every classroom, specialist
space, common area and playscape encourages collaboration, communication
and creativity, enriching the opportunities students have to express themselves
throughout the school day. The integration of natural light and open spaces help
to nurture a healthy and supportive setting, and our proximity to national
parklands and beaches contribute to community wellbeing.
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CELEBRATING
HKA’S HISTORY
AND
COMMUNITY
Hong Kong Academy was founded as a
Primary School in 2000 and first opened
with just three early childhood students.
For over 20 years, HKA has remained
committed to cultivating a diverse and
inclusive community and offering a rigorous
international education that meets the
needs of every learner.
One of our daughters particularly loves
HKA’s sports programme, and the
other is passionate about music and
theatre. Both appreciate the small class
sizes and having teachers who genuinely
care about them and encourage them
to step out of their comfort zones. We
love that HKA is committed to both
the students’ academic and personal
development, and that community
service is fostered at all grade levels.
Patti and Patrick Stillhart, HKA parents
One of the first things I remember really loving about
HKA was seeing my first assembly, which was presented
entirely by students. It was in a language for our young
people and was driven by their initiative and ambition.
I see students taking the lead and encouraging younger
students to contribute as well, and throughout the
community student voice is clearly visible.
Laura Scully, Secondary School Performing Arts Teacher
The teachers at HKA helped foster a huge sense of
community. I connected with them on experiential
learning trips and at various sports competitions, as well
as in after-school and weekend study sessions. Their
mentoring helped me feel more comfortable working
with others, whether that be in teams or clubs in college,
interacting with professors, and most recently in
successfully cooperating with co-workers and managers.
Sam Maddox, Class of 2015
What I have found
most rewarding about being
an HKA student has been the joy
that I have found through service. My
interest began in Individuals and Societies
classes and grew through my involvement with
community projects. Founding and leading the
school’s ImpactHK student group and working as
a volunteer at a local charity that supports
children with terminal diseases have
reinforced my desire to make an impact in
the lives of others.
Cherry, Class of 2021
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33 Wai Man Road, Sai Kung,
New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
+852 2655 1111
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