Praise
CIS expects all staff to engage in strengths spotting and to provide appropriate praise for curiosity, perseverance, effort, creativity, initiative, progress, cooperation and kindness.
Year and Head's Commendations - Year 8-13
Following the publications of reports, students in Years 8-13 who achieve above 80% of the possible maximum number of points receive a Year Commendation and those who achieve above 90% a Head’s Commendation.
House Awards - Years 7-13
Students who have exhibited outstanding service to a House may receive this award. This may be for exceptional participation in inter-house competitions, assistance with organisation or general promotion of House spirit. House awards take the form of certificates that are presented in Year assemblies. The House Trophy is presented at the End of Year Assembly.
Secondary Recognition and Academic Awards Policy and Procedure
Following research, discussions and consultation with the Secondary Recognition Review Team, and with representatives from the student, parent, teacher and leadership bodies via the Whole School Advisory Council, please see below for the policy, procedure, criteria and rationale for academic awards for secondary students from 2023-2024 onwards.
Summary:
i. Years 7-9 "Achievement (Best)" and "Most Improved" Awards will be replaced with “Communitas Awards” from 2023-2024 onwards.
ii. Years 10-13 "Achievement (Best)" and "Most Improved" Awards will be replaced with “Communitas Awards” and "Subject Awards" from 2023-2024 onwards.
iii. Years 7-13 “Communitas Awards” will be awarded on the basis of three per year level (with there being recognition of the need for flexibility in this regard, dependent on the qualities of the students in each year level.)
iv. Year 10-13 “Subject Awards” will be awarded on the basis of one award, per course, per year level.
Criteria For Years 7-13 Communitas Awards
The recipients of the Communitas Awards:
exhibit unique, individual talents, passions and interests that they share generously with others.
exhibit their passions and character strengths with the CIS community in creative and inspiring ways.
exhibit and add value to the school community and bring people together.
Selection Process For Years 7-13 Communitas Awards
HOYs, Teachers and Advisors will collaborate within their teams to determine the recipients of the Years 7-13 Communitas Awards. (There is flexibility with regards to how many Communitas Awards we administer at each year level. The suggested number is three per year level).
HOYs, Teachers and Advisors nominate student(s) prior to their meeting with supporting evidence that meets the set criteria. This will be collated by the HOY and shared with team members.
Criteria For Years 10-13 Subject Awards
The recipient of the subject award:
exhibits passion for the subject
exhibits academic achievement
exhibits involvement in the course, and subject area, both within, and possibly, outside the classroom
exhibits key elements of CIS’ Mission Statement and Values
exhibits key elements of our CIS Learning Principles
exhibits key elements of the IB Learner Profile
Selection Process For Years 10-13 Subject Awards
Teachers will collaborate within their teams to determine the recipient of the Years 10-13 Subject Awards.
Teachers nominate student(s) prior to their meeting with supporting evidence that meets the set criteria. This will be collated by the team facilitator and shared with team members.
Years 10-13 “Subject Awards” Courses
Year 10 - (HZ team to determine)
Year 11 -
Chinese A
Chinese B
English
Math
InSo
Science
French
Spanish
PHE
Theatre
Visual Arts
Music
Media Arts
Computer Science
Product Design
Year 12 and 13 -
Chinese A Literature
Chinese A Language & Literature
Chinese B
English A Literature
English A Language & Literature
Economics
Geography
History
Psychology
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Computer Science
Design Technology
SEHS
Math AA
Math AI
French B
Spanish B
Theatre
Visual Arts
Music
Media Arts
TOK
Rationale for this policy and procedure
With 154 students across multiple classes and disciplines in some year levels, giving an award for “Achievement (Best)” and “Most Improved” is always going to be highly subjective, challenging, and suggests we place a value on comparing students based on their academic achievement. This is contrary to our academic philosophy of emphasizing the importance of, and celebrating, the process of learning for our students, rather than simply the outcome they achieve.
We follow a criterion-related academic assessment model in Secondary. We do not engage in norm referencing or comparing our students with each other. Therefore, awards that implicitly support such a system are no longer viable or desirable at CIS.
Hence, this replaces the “Achievement (Best)” and “Most Improved” awards with “Communitas Awards” in Years 7-9, and “Communitas Awards” and “Subject Awards” in Years 10-13.
The criteria for “Communitas Awards” support our school values, the characteristics of the IB Learner Profile, and the contributions our students make to our community and others.
The criteria for “Subject Awards” incorporates academic achievement, but also includes important attributes such as passion, involvement, and demonstration of the key elements of CIS’ Mission and Values, CIS’ Learning Principles and the IB Learner Profile. “Subject Awards” are deemed to be more age appropriate for students in Years 10-13 as we wish to instill more intrinsic motivation for our younger students in the formative MYP years.
Special Awards
Frances Fremont-Smith Award for Chinese as a Second Language
C. Tsim Orchestra Award
Swire Award for outstanding contributions to the Chinese Music Ensemble
Flora Langdon Liu Memorial Cup - Music
Catherine Fleming Award - Year 9 Science
CISPTA IT Award In Memory Of Christopher Berrisford - Technology
Lily Wong Award - Visual Arts
Christopher Stuart-clark Cup - Year 9: Academic Excellence & Outstanding
Service To The School
Dr. Barry Drake Award For International Understanding
SPORTS AWARDS
Sports Boy of the Year
Sports Girl of the Year
Carl Murray Cup for Rugby
Mallen Cup for Best Sports Team
GRADUATION AWARDS
Headmaster’s Cup
Founders’ Cup
ECIS Award for International Understanding
Derek Chu Memorial Cup for Economics
CISPTA Award for Service to the Community
Francoise Henderson Memorial Prize
Executive Centre Scholarship for scholar athletes