'SIS goes MaD'
Frequently Asked Questions
General Parents Students New Students
Cost, Deposit & Refund Forms Travel Document Enrolment Allocation
General
What is "CAS"?
Students can choose from a range of activities that will make a difference to themselves or others through the lens of either in Creativity, Action or Service:
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A Creativity activity is interpreted broadly to include a wide range of arts activities and experience that involve creative thinking and implementing personal initiative.
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An Action activity is defined as one in which offers personal challenge.
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A Service activity is one in which the students perform some aspect of assistance for the community either locally or globally or as part of a voluntary exchange.
Why do students need to complete all "CAS"?
Students may not opt for an individual category of activity more than once so that over their three years (Y8-10) they have a variety of experiences.
Parents
What do parents need to do for 'SIS goes MaD'?
Parents need to review carefully their children’s four choices, and to be sure that their children are capable of participating in each. For example, if they choose an activity that is physically demanding – are they able to endure the rigour? PLEASE be careful in the selection process.
Parents are financially responsible for the trips that their children take on.
What are parents' financial responsibilities?
‘SIS goes MaD’ activities have been costed as well as possible. Final costs may change in some cases because, for example, airlines are unwilling to give firm prices well in advance. As sometimes happens in Asia, natural or political difficulties can lead to a decision to reroute a particular activity. It may be necessary to cancel an activity entirely, in which case alternative arrangements will be made. Whilst the school will do all that is possible to prevent any losses, parents do have to assume the financial risk involved with the Week. Neither SIS nor its travel agents guarantee to underwrite costs of activities cancelled for safety or other reasons.
Our family is planning a trip right after 'SIS goes MaD'. Can my child stay behind at the overseas destination to meet us after the trip?
For students' safety, all students on overseas trips MUST return to Hong Kong with the group.
Students
What should students do before they enrol on the VLE?
Can a student skip 'SIS goes MaD'?
Can students change their choices after they registered on the VLE?
Are students free to do anything they want during their trips?
I might have an external exam in October. Can I skip 'SIS goes MaD' to take this exam?
Students should discuss thoroughly their intentions with their parents. If they want to choose an activity that involves a high cost must ensure that their parents are fully in agreement with this.
All students are expected to participate in ‘SIS goes MaD’ activities. Only under very special circumstances can a student skip MaD. In such case, student MUST seek prior approval from MaD Co-ordinator in charge of ‘SIS goes MaD”.
Choices should be made after careful and thorough discussion with parents. If students want to change their options after registration is closed, they MUST seek approval from MaD Co-ordinator. Changes after registration will be treated as new entries, per date and time of request.
All groups will be under the supervision and direction of at least one SIS teacher. The teachers-in-charge of activities will not allow the students to engage in any activity that is not covered under the parameters of the description written on the website without consultation with the school or supporting external organisation.
All school conduct and discipline codes will be adhered to throughout the activity. In addition, if travelling abroad we expect students to obey the laws of the host country and to be sensitive to the culture of the people. We expect all students to refrain from any involvement with alcohol or drugs. In some countries, indulging in such activities carries very severe penalties.
Violations of school rules will be reported to the Head of House for follow-up. Consequences of breaking rules are similar to in-school violations of those rules.
From past experience, exam boards, such as those for piano exams, accept school commitment as reason for rescheduling. SIS can prepare a school letter to prove students' school commitments. Please email the trip administrator, if such a letter is needed.
New Students Starting August 2023
I am joining SIS in the new school year. What should I do with 'SIS goes MaD'?
Students who will be joining SIS in Y8-12, starting August, should enrol to ‘SIS goes MaD’. Please refer to the page for "New students starting in August 2023" for more details.
Parents of new students should email the trip administrator, with their four choices when their space at SIS is confirmed.
Costs, Deposits, Payments & Refunds
What do activity cost include?
Should we pay by cheque or cash?
If we want special attention for our child(ren) during the trip, is there additional cost involved?
Why is deposit necessary?
Unless specified, activity costs should have included transportation, activity package, insurance and administration.
For overseas activities, costs DO NOT include: inoculation fees, physician consultation fees or visa fees.
If, after the 'SIS goes MaD' trip account is closed, there is surplus in a trip, families will be reimbused the excess amounts paid.
Only E-payment will be accepted. Please click HERE for how to arrange the payment via ESF App.
Although we are committed to an equal opportunity policy, some of the activities are very physically demanding which may mean that some students will need one-to-one support for them to be able to participate. Parents should be aware that this can be provided, but only at additional cost. They may also want to consult with activity leaders about the demand involved.
Deposits, non-refundable and non-transferrable, are needed for some trips to secure places. This is stated on each activity in this booklet. SIS also needs funds to secure bookings with airlines and tour operators in order for the trips to go ahead.
How much is the deposit?
Deposit amount for current Yr 7-11 Students:
For local activity, the cost is over HK$2,000, a HK$2,000 deposit is required. If the cost is under HK$2,000 full payment is required (no deposit).
For overseas trip is HK$7,000
When is deposit due? Where can we submit it?
What happens if we don't send in a deposit?
Deadline for deposit: June 16, 2023
If deposits are not received by the set deadline, students’ registration will be considered incomplete. Students without completed registration will be removed from their registered trip and re-registration will be required. Re-registrations are considered after those on the waiting list. Hence, it could be possible that a student would not be able to get back into the originally registered trip.
Can we get an invoice and receipt for the payment made?
Click HERE for how to get the invoices & receipts.
Can we get any refund if we cancel the trip?
When can we get our refund?
We paid for my child's trip, but my child won't be returning to SIS in the new school year. Can we get our money back?
Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
If payment has already been made on student’s behalf, there will be no refund. It is all down to when cancellation is made. For overseas trips, there will be no refund once bookings have been made.
Refunds will only be made after the 'SIS goes MaD' accounts are closed after 'SIS goes MaD'.
If students are not returning to SIS in the new school year, they should notify the school & trip administrator as soon as possible.
If SIS has already paid expenses on students' behalf, the paid amount will definitely not be refundable. The final amount to be refunded will be net after deducting all incurred expenses on students' behalf.
Parent Consent Form & Student Medical Information
Why do parents need a separate "Parent Consent Form" for 'SIS goes MaD'?
Due to some higher risk activities involved, the general start-of-school-year consent form does not serve the purpose. A separate Parent Consent Form is required for 'SIS goes MaD'.
How can we inform the school of our child(ren)'s latest medical information?
Parents should ensure that the most recent medical information is up-to-date.
HERE is a guide to show you how to view & update the medical information.
Travel Document
Why is passport information necessary?
For security reason, airlines are very stringent in matching names on air ticket and passport of travellers. Different names may result in students being refused to boarding, penalities or cancellation of trips, without refund. Parents are still responsible for all incurred expenses in such circumstances.
My child has more than one passport. Which one should we submit?
My child's passport is expiring in December 2023. Can this passport be used for 'SIS goes MaD'?
What is "China Return Permit Card"? Is my child eligible for one?
Students holding more than one passport should upload the passport information that will be used for travelling during 'SIS goes MaD'.
It is normal international practice that passports MUST have at least 6-month validity. A valid passport for ‘SIS goes MaD’ 2023 in middle of October MUST NOT be expiring before April 22, 2024. Any passport that is expiring before this date is considered invalid and student must have a renewed passport in order to travel overseas.
The official name of this “Permit Card” is only in Chinese, i.e. “港澳居民來往內地通行證”, or more commonly known as “回鄉證” or “回鄉卡”.
Check CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE or this web site for more information. Web information, however, is only available in Chinese.
Can students use their HKID Card of the "China Return Permit" Card (回鄉卡) instead of their passport to travel overseas?
The HKID card is NOT a recognised travel document for overseas countries.
“China Return Permit Card” (回鄉卡) is only recognised in China. Holders must use their Card to travel to China, not with their passports.
Does SIS arrange travel visas for students?
Parents/Students are responsible to arrange their own visas, if travel visas are required. SIS can provide necessary supporting documents such as school letter, travel itinerary and travel insurance for visa applications. As visa applications take time, parents and students are recommended to arrange for visa once the activity allocation is announced.
Please refer to the page of individual trips for visa information.
Enrolment
Who can enrol to 'SIS goes MaD'? Can parents register?
How can students enrol?
Enrolment is ONLY accepted via the VLE. Students should use log in to the VLE to enrol. Detailed procedures can be found in this booklet.
After studying the activity details carefully and discussed with parents, students MUST make 4 activity options, nominating 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th choices in order of preference.
Students MUST enrol choices through the VLE.
Please refer to the page of 'Enrolment & Allocation' for enrolment details.
When can students enrol?
Can students make changes after the VLE enrolment is closed?
Enrolment is open on May 12, 2023 by noon.
Students are HIGHLY recommended to think through their choices and discuss with their parents before enrolling.
Please careful in the selection process.
Once enrolment is submitted via the VLE after registration is closed, students can only make changes with special permission from the MaD Co-ordinator in charge of ‘SIS goes MaD’.
What is the consequence if students do not enrol by the deadline?
Once the system is closed, no more electronic enrolment will be accepted. Students need to write to the MaD Co-ordinator in charge of 'SIS goes MaD' for enrolment.
Students should also realise that if they wish to be allocated to one of their choices, enrolling late or submitting after deadline may affect the chance of getting those choices.
My child may be leaving SIS next school year. Do they need to enrol for 'SIS goes MaD' 2023?
If students are definitely not returning to SIS next school year, please mark enrol as "Leaver" on the VLE.
If departure is unsure, enrolment is still recommended. Late enrolment may result in students having very limited choices by the time they enrol.
My child chose 4 options, but didn't get assigned to any one of them. What should we do?
If, when all applications have been received, an activity is undersubscribed then it will be cancelled. Every effort will then be made to allocate the student to one of his/her other choices. Whereas every effort will be made to assign students to one of their four choices, this may not always be possible. Should this happen, the student(s) concerned will be invited to make additional selections.
Our child and his/her friend registered on the VLE at the very same moment. How come his/her friends got into their first choice, and our child did not?
Activities are assigned based on random allocation.
As with any computer booking system, even if users press the register button at the very same moment, the system will record the registration as and when the signal is received. When there are many users registering at the same moment, the registration will automatically form a queue for processing.
Allocation
How are students allocated to their activities?
Allocations are on a random selection process on the VLE.
The school may allocate students to trips/activities accordingly, if all choices are not selected by students.
When can students find out about their allocated activities?
Upon closing of enrollment for Year 7-11 on May 21 by 11:30pm, student records on the VLE will be taken for allocations.
The Head of Family, Heads of House and teachers-in-charge of each activity, will approve the final group lists. Any student who has a record of poor behaviour may be excluded from certain trips. Announcement will be on June 02.