Weather Policy

All school closures due to inclement weather are announced by the Hong Kong Education Bureau on their website, and on radio and local TV stations. Parents, Guardian, Students and Staff members should pay attention to Web, TV, and Radio announcements before embarking on the journey to school during times of inclement weather.

Please Note:

Students should not come to school if the Education Bureau announces the closure or suspension of classes for 'whole day schools'. If the cancellation is announced after students have departed for classes they should continue to school as usual.
If the Education Bureau announces the closure or suspension of classes for Primary Schools, there will be no school for students in Pre-Grades 1 through Grade 6. Students in Grade 7 through Grade 12 will come to school as usual. All staff members will report to school.
If the Education Bureau announces that kindergartens are closed for the day, this does not apply to DSC International School. All students and staff will come to school.
If during Summer School, the Education Bureau announces the closure or suspension of classes for whole day schools, DSC International School is closed for both morning and afternoon Summer School classes.

Websites where suspension of classes and current weather conditions may be found at:

Weather Information for Schools: http://www.weather.gov.hk/
Hong Kong Observatory: http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm

Tropical Cyclones

Weather Condition	Weather Signal	School Responses
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1		School is open as usual School Administration monitor changes in weather conditions that may affect classes Student absences are recorded on the report card
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3		School as normal for students and staff School Administrators closely monitor weather conditions EDB may decide to suspend classes (see response below for suspension of classes) ECAs and Fieldtrips are canceled (Parents are notified by email)
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above		Suspension of Classes Students should stay home If hoisted before 6:00am only essential staff report to work The School has developed contingency plans to deal with the handling the suspension of classes due to a No. 8 Warning Signal Students will be sent home when conditions are safe if the signal is raised during school hours. This will occur as soon as the warning message is sent to School that a T8 or above signal will be raised. Please refer to the Student and Parent Handbook for more information.
When Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 is replaced with No.3 or lower		Classes resume on the next school day Non-Teaching staff report to work within 2 hours

Rainstorms

Weather Condition	Weather Signal	School Responses
Amber Rainstorm Signal		Unless the Education Bureau has made special announcements on the closure of schools the School will be open as usual. All staff and students come to school.
Red Rainstorm Signal and Black Rainstorm Signal		*Announcement made before 6:00 am:* Suspension of classes Normal classes will not resume until the next normal school day Students should remain home Student absences are not recorded on the report card *Announcement made between 6:00 am - 8:00 am:* Suspension of classes Students who have not left home should stay home Students who are already in transit to school should continue to school if it is safe to do so If students learn about the class suspension announcement on their way to school, they should decide whether to proceed with their journey to school taking into consideration the rain, road, slope or traffic conditions.Teachers will supervise students until the normal dismissal time and it is safe to return home All staff come to school when a Red Signal is hoisted Essential staff report to work when a Black Rainstorm Signal is raised *Announcement made after 8:00 am:* Classes will continue as usual School rainstorm contingency plan will be put in place Students will remain at school until it is safe to return home Absences are counted on the report card Parents and Guardians should exercise their discretion in deciding whether or not to send their children to school based on current inclement weather conditions. In the event of adverse local weather, road, slope or traffic conditions, parents should keep their children at home for the sake of safety. Students will not be penalized for the absence.

Weather Condition

Weather Signal

School Responses

Amber Rainstorm Signal

Unless the Education Bureau has made special announcements on the closure of schools the School will be open as usual. All staff and students come to school.

Red Rainstorm Signal and Black Rainstorm Signal

Announcement made before 6:00 am:

Suspension of classes
Normal classes will not resume until the next normal school day
Students should remain home
Student absences are not recorded on the report card

Announcement made between 6:00 am - 8:00 am:

Suspension of classes
Students who have not left home should stay home
Students who are already in transit to school should continue to school if it is safe to do so
If students learn about the class suspension announcement on their way to school, they should decide whether to proceed with their journey to school taking into consideration the rain, road, slope or traffic conditions.Teachers will supervise students until the normal dismissal time and it is safe to return home
All staff come to school when a Red Signal is hoisted
Essential staff report to work when a Black Rainstorm Signal is raised

Announcement made after 8:00 am:

Classes will continue as usual
School rainstorm contingency plan will be put in place
Students will remain at school until it is safe to return home
Absences are counted on the report card

Parents and Guardians should exercise their discretion in deciding whether or not to send their children to school based on current inclement weather conditions. In the event of adverse local weather, road, slope or traffic conditions, parents should keep their children at home for the sake of safety. Students will not be penalized for the absence.