In middle school, we aim to teach students why academic integrity is essential and ensure they have a thorough understanding before they begin high school. We also recognize that middle schoolers are still learning about how to use the work of others and that as they develop their research skills. Mistakes will be made. Our approach is to teach students the importance and methods of academic integrity and provide logical consequences for breaches of the policy. Students are expected to complete intellectual work honestly, ensuring that the work is their own and proper credit is given to sources they have used. We focus on teaching students to respect the intellectual property of others by giving credit where it is due. 

Students in Middle School demonstrate academic integrity by not:

• cheating - copying others’ work, accessing the questions in advance, using notes, phones or other aids when taking tests. Cheating also includes:

  • • seeking out or providing information from other students e.g. what was on an assessment which other students have already taken

    • using electronic devices inappropriately (including phones, smart watches, etc)

    • seeking extensive help from a tutor

    • Using unauthorized notes or ‘cheat sheets’ in an assessment

    • accessing a phone, smart watch or other unauthorized device for any purpose during an assessment

• plagiarizing (taking other people’s ideas and passing them off as their own). Plagiarism also includes:

  • • submitting work as their own that was written by a tutor or a parent

    • submitting work as their own, that has been written using artificial intelligence (AI) applications

    • failing to cite their sources

    • submitting projects, creations, images, recordings etc. which are not entirely the work of the student.

• providing work for any other students thus enabling other students to commit academic misconduct

• using AI (artificial intelligence) against teacher guidance

While the middle school is not beholden to external examination bodies, the integrity of our school and our students is a core value and thus we expect students and teachers to model these appropriate behaviours. It is also important for students to take responsibility for their actions and the consequences of those actions, even if the offence is unintentional.

JIS Middle and High Schools use MLA 9th Edition formatting for citations and references.  Teachers explicitly teach note taking, paraphrasing, referencing and citations in classes.

Link to JIS HS Academic Integrity Policy

Academic Misconduct occurs when a student attempts to obtain credit for work, or any improvement in evaluation of performance, by any dishonest or deceptive means.

A person who assists in aiding another in this respect is considered also to have committed academic misconduct.

The main areas that constitute academic misconduct include:

At JIS, we are committed to preparing students for a world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a significant role. Our philosophy is simple: AI’s job is not to do students’ work for them, but to help them explore ideas, organize their thoughts, and push their creativity further than ever before. These guidelines establish a framework for how to use this tool wisely, ensuring students’ personal judgment and original ideas always come first. 

Student Guidelines:

Ask first. Never assume that you can use AI in your learning task.

• When unclear or in doubt about if/how you are allowed to use AI, ask your teacher for clarification. 

If you are allowed to use AI:

• For those under the age of 13, responsible use of AI includes only using AI tools offered by teachers (example: FlintAI and Canva). 

Think first. Problem-solve on your own before using AI.

Use AI as a thinking partner, not a shortcut. Use AI as a tool to enhance your ideas and thinking, not to replace your work or do the task for you.

Check before you trust AI. Always verify information you obtained from AI with other sources, just as you would any information. AI can be biased, inaccurate, or wrong.

Always give credit to AI. Describe how you used the tool to help you in your tasks. Failure to do so will be considered plagiarism. Here are some examples of how you might acknowledge the use of AI tools.

For all externally assessed work, the external body’s AI policies will apply:

• IBO ChatGPT/AI statement

• IB Summary (Short Version)

• IB Summary (Long Version)

• College Board Guidance for AI use on AP assignments/assessments

Prohibited Use Examples:

• Using AI to generate full essays, scripts, or creative works without human authorship

• Using AI to bypass required cognitive effort or academic tasks intended to assess individual skill.

• Submitting AI-generated work as original without disclosure (plagiarism).

• Entering full names, ID numbers, emails, grades, or sensitive student data into AI platforms.

• Using AI below the age of 13, unless under direct teacher supervision with parental consent.

Parent-Specific Guidelines:

1. Build your understanding of AI and its impact on learning. Take the time to learn how AI can influence your child’s thinking, learning habits, cognitive development, and day-to-day school experience.

   1. Utilize school-provided resources such as workshops, research materials, and presentations to stay informed.

2. Familiarize yourself with JIS AI guidelines. Review how AI is used across Elementary, Middle, and High School divisions, noting that expectations may differ depending on the subject and type of tasks. 

3. Keep an open dialogue with your child(ren) about how they use AI, why honesty and academic integrity matter, and the importance of fact-checking. Encourage them  to use AI as a support for  learning, not a replacement for their own thinking.

4. Support safe and responsible use. Ensure your child follows age restrictions and remind them  not to share personal information (e.g., name, email, or other identifying details.) when using AI tools. 

The focus of consequences in middle school is to help students understand the nature of academic integrity and develop their understanding of its intricacies. All breaches of academic integrity are taken seriously. Consequences focus on ensuring students grow in their understanding of the practices. These offenses are treated as cumulative throughout JIS.

Students are expected to progressively develop their understanding and application of academic integrity over middle school. It is expected that by the end of Grade 8, all students will understand the seriousness of these breaches.

Level 1 offences*- these examples of academic misconduct are often more difficult for younger students to fully understand. While these instances are not excused, we recognise that younger students may need more explicit teaching of these components to understand them.

Level 2 offences*- we believe that by the time a student is in middle school, they will have a good understanding of these examples of academic misconduct. While teachers will remind students of the importance of appropriate behaviours, these may be taught less explicitly, and students are expected to adhere to these for all academic work.

*Please note that repetition of these offences impacts the severity of consequence.

Updated August 2025