Last updated: May 2014
Last reviewed: May 2024
Basic Principles for Student Conduct as a Member of the FIS Community
Expectations for student conduct and self-discipline are built on a set of principles that acknowledge both student rights and responsibilities, and principles that provide an ethical foundation for good conduct.
The principles are:
Students have a right to learn in a safe and secure environment and the schools' responsibility is to uphold this right.
Students act in good conscience, honestly and with integrity.
Students value excellence in the pursuit of knowledge; be it academic, social or sporting.
Students are loyal to the school and supportive of its mission and belief statements.
Students support human diversity and work to build unity within that diversity to create a harmonious international community.
Students will uphold the IB learner profile.
The school’s goal is to help each student learn to behave responsibly and to make appropriate decisions about his or her behavior. To achieve this goal certain rules of conduct are established.
Student Discipline
The school expects that students will respect the above basic principles for conduct. Their language, sportsmanship, courtesy, dress and personal habits, and their demonstrated respect for a clean and orderly school will be further evidence of this attitude. In all aspects of school life, each student is also to demonstrate self-respect and respect for others.
When problems of conduct or behavior arise, they will be dealt with according to the age of the student and the specific rules and expectations developed, communicated, monitored and administered by each school division.
The responsibility for encouraging and ensuring appropriate student conduct is to be a cooperative venture among faculty, parents and students. When disciplinary procedures do not result in needed improvements in conduct and behavior, the initial enrollment contract signed by the parent or guardian may be immediately rescinded or not renewed for the following year. Where appropriate, the police will be involved.
Unacceptable Student Conduct or Behavior
Unacceptable student conduct or behavior take many forms. Some of the more serious examples include:
Cheating and Plagiarism
When a student uses the written or published work of another person, he/she must state or quote the source from which the material is taken. Any student deliberately taking someone else’s idea, writing or work and passing it off as his/her own, is subject to failure on the piece of work or the term in which the work was done. This also applies to anyone caught cheating on a quiz, test or final exam. In the case of externally examined subjects, the rules of the external authority shall be used.
Bullying and Intimidation
All students have the right to learn in an environment free from bullying, abusive behavior or harassment. Behavior that infringes on the safety of any student and/or disrupts the educational process will not be tolerated. A student shall not bully, intimidate or harass another student through words or actions. Such behavior includes, but is not limited to: direct physical contact, such as hitting or shoving; threats; verbal assaults such as teasing or name-calling; and social isolation or manipulation either in person or on the internet, while on FIS property or as an educational disruption brought to the school through a personal or internet communication.
This policy applies to students on school grounds, while traveling to and from school, while waiting for the arrival of or immediately following the departure of any school bus at designated school bus stops, and at school-sponsored activities whether on or off campus. This policy also includes conduct occurring off campus, which manifests itself at school and results in a disruption of the educational process.
Should a student show a lack of respect for the rights of others by bullying or harassing in any way, the student will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action which may include suspension or expulsion.
Vandalism and Theft
Willful destruction, defacing or theft of school or other people’s property are criminal offences and that the school will deal with appropriately. Violators will be subject to suspension and may be recommended for expulsion and/or prosecution. In addition, perpetrators will be held liable under civil law for the cost of repair or replacement of the damaged or destroyed or stolen property.
Possession of Weapons
All kinds of Weapons (including, but not limited to, ammunition, guns, pistols and other technical devices for shooting, knives or chemical substances of any kind that are qualified for severely injuring others), are strictly prohibited on the school premises, on any school sponsored activities and on school buses. Violations will result in immediate suspension and there may be a recommendation for expulsion and/or prosecution.
NOTE: Students should be mindful of the fact that they represent FIS at all times. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken when students engage in unacceptable behavior or conduct, as defined in the FIS Expectations and Responses, whether on or off campus. In serious cases, this may include suspension or, as a final resort, expulsion.