No Boundaries
November 23-December 1, 2013
General Information
As a part of the school’s aim to provide students with a variety of learning experiences, we will again be holding our annual extended off-campus activities week for students in Years 10-12. No Boundaries will take place from November 23-December 1 and will offer a range of exciting opportunities for students in a diversity of locations.
As the name suggests, No Boundaries introduces students to experiences that they normally cannot meet in the confines of the classroom. We aim for our students to develop further independence and interpersonal skills by being placed outside of their comfort zones. We want them to develop an understanding and appreciation of different cultures and communities and where appropriate, empathy for those who have less access to resources than they do. In doing so, we hope that they will see the need for them taking ongoing principled action and understand that they can make a difference to the lives of others. By offering new experiences and broadening perspectives we aim to develop in students a deeper understanding of self and of others.
In designing the trips that the school will offer, the following points were considered:
- Provide students with hands-on-learning experiences and real-world connections to curriculum
- Create opportunities for students to deepen their appreciation of others
- Provide an opportunity to interact with a community foreign to the student
- Offer experiences that will help develop self-awareness by providing physical, intellectual and emotional challenges
- Give students exposure to new cultures and points of view
- Allow for variety of lenses through which to view, and respond ethically to, issues faced in the 21st century
- Design activities that will promote independence, leadership, responsibility, cooperation and goal setting among students
- Foster international mindedness in students through development of all attributes of the IB Leaner Profile
Additionally, No Boundaries options for Years 10/11 will extend student understanding of the MYP Area of Interaction ‘Community & Service’. By direct interaction with those from other communities we aspire to better our understanding of others, increase civic engagement and give clarity on our place in the global community, and, where applicable, to foster empathy for those in a less-advantageous position.
Complementing the off-campus trip, No Boundaries options for students in Year 12 will involve students participating in independent and group pre- and post- trip activities that will form a part of each student’s CAS programme. These trips will have a strong service component, and, in addition to the points mentioned above, have been developed with the following points in mind:
- Planned service activity is relevant, meaningful, challenging, of an extended duration, and directly addresses an identified need
- Target community is able to be involved in planning, and hopefully implementing, of service activities
- Students will be able to interact with target community (pre, during and post trip)
- A reliable and reputable organization at location is available to work with.
- There is strong potential for ongoing connection between the school and the community to be supported
The Year 10/11 Programme will have a package of trips for students to choose from that includes Hong Kong-based activities, regional trips and destinations further abroad.
The Year 12 programme, which has a specific emphasis on students working closely with a community for mutual benefit, will have four to five trips that students can choose from. As No Boundaries is a part of our school programme, attendance is required from all students.
Student selection process
- Once finalized, synopses for each trip and projected total costs will be placed on the school website.
- Students submit selections indicating first, second and third preferences.
- When student interest exceeds the maximum number of places available, the selection criteria used is as follows:
a. For Year10/11 trips, first preference will be given, in most cases, to Year 11 students
b. Date of submission
c. Gender balance/imbalance
- Once places have been allotted, final student lists will be publicised on the school website
- Permission letters will be sent home for respective trips. Once signed and returned along with first payment, student lists will be finalised.
Notes –
- Students may not choose the same No Boundaries destination more than once.
- It is important that students/parents carefully consider the nature of the activities on offer, and if the student is capable of participating in them. An example would be whether a student is able to cope with the intensity of trips that are physically demanding. We ask that much care and deliberation is taken when selection is made. Final decisions will be made by the school (with input from families)
- The cost of trips must also be closely considered, bearing in mind that confirmation of trip selection will only be made following permission from parents/guardian and first payment has been made.
- In regards to costs, despite our best efforts, some fluctuation in final costs may occur beyond our control. For example, accommodation and transport costs may alter according to the final number of students on a trip. While we calculate final costs to the best of our ability, please appreciate that our predicted final costs may differ to actual costs.
- Please ensure that you carefully read details about visa and passport requirements for each trip. Processing of visas and visa costs are the responsibility of parents.
- The school will make flight bookings based on details provided by parents. If changes in flight bookings are required as a result of incorrect details supplied by parents, costs for such changes are the responsibility of parents.
- An activity that is undersubscribed may lead to it being cancelled. In this case every effort will be made to allocate students according to their other preferences.
Payment procedures
Payments will be made in four installments. The first three payments will each be a quarter of a projected total cost, with the final payment to be adjusted after costs are finalized. The first payment will confirm participation in an activity. All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Payment dates:
- 19 April 2013
- 28 May 2013
- 23 August 2013
- 27 September 2013
Withdrawal from No Boundaries
Should your child be forced to withdraw from No Boundaries after their enrolment in an activity has been confirmed and the first payment has been made, please note that the school’s policy on refunding fees is as follows:
- 50 percent of the total fee minus non-refundable items (such as flights, accommodation, transport, fees) will be refunded if a student withdraws on the day of the event and the family provides notification to the school that is deemed reasonable.
- 100 percent of the total fee minus non-refundable items (such as flights, accommodation, transport, fees) will be refunded if a student withdraws three school days or more before the event and gives notification in writing.
- Refunds are to be requested in writing to the teacher supervising the activity, and must be accompanied with relevant medical certificates in the case of a student withdrawing from the activity due to illness.
- If a student gives no notification of withdrawal or non-attendance then no refund is due.
- Refunds will not be made if a student is sent home from the activity due to illness or injury occurring at the activity or due to disciplinary reasons.
- Refunds based on absence due to family reasons will be decided upon on an individual basis by the school Principal.
Force Majeure
Some of our destinations could be considered unpredictable, and often face political or social instability. Added to this is the risk caused by extreme weather conditions or natural disasters that may lead to alternative plans for a trip being required, or even the cancellation of a trip. In such cases, the school complies with ESF Policy which uses the following site as a guide -http://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota/
While the school will do everything that it can to prevent financial loss by families, in exceptional circumstances, this may happen and those costs are the responsibility of families. The school will not incur those costs.
Offsetting our Carbon Footprint
To show our continued commitment to environmental sustainability, all No Boundaries trips outside of HK, regardless of destination, will have an added calculated cost to offset carbon emissions from flights used during that trip. For example, the offset cost for a return flight to Bangkok (a flight emission of 0.35 tonnes of CO2) will cost around HK$50. As a school, discuss and then decide how the collected carbon offset fund will be spent, with options including contributing to recognized carbon offset projects or developing our own school based ones, such as solar panels on our roof. We may also explore the possibility of members of the DC community making voluntary contributions to this fund for travel made throughout the year.
No Boundaries Programme
Deposit Letter April 2013
