Code of conduct for parents & caregivers

In short

The code applies to parents, guardians, nannies, drivers, siblings who are not KSIM students, and any other caregiver with access to the school. It is your responsibility to inform your representatives of it. Breaches follow a four-step process from verbal warning up to permanent exclusion — and the school can skip steps where it judges it necessary.

Why it exists

KSIM states that it values the relationships within the school and community, that these relationships must be based on honesty and integrity, and that its parent partnership and conduct expectations support a welcoming, respectful, open and safe environment for everyone.

Parents are obliged to adhere to all of the school’s expectations with regards to conduct. Any family members and/or their family representatives found in violation of the Code of Conduct are subject to disciplinary action, including possible exclusion of family members from the campus and/or expulsion of their children.

Expected behaviour

In interactions between staff and parents, the Handbook says “We will”:

• demonstrate integrity and honesty at all times, including during the admissions process in terms of documentation submitted and responses supplied to questions online and in person
• treat all members of the KSIM community with respect and dignity
• participate regularly in academic meetings, including parent-teacher, student-led and three-way conferences
• participate in community events
• work amicably to resolve any financial issues that may arise as part of enrolment
• use courteous written and spoken language when communicating with each other
• provide encouraging and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism
• provide the school with all necessary, up-to-date information to support the educational process
• meet health and sanitary statutory regulations for students
• cooperate fully with the school with regards to student conduct expectations
• respect and adhere to child protection and safeguarding expectations

Unacceptable behaviour

The full list of “We will not”

• behave in a way that disrupts any normal operations or activities anywhere on or in the vicinity of the KSIM campus, or at any kind of school-sponsored event
• behave inappropriately on the campus or at a school-sponsored event; this includes using loud or offensive language or displaying anger or aggression
• threaten a member of staff, a visitor, parent/carer or child, in any way
• deliberately damage or destroy school property
• send abusive or threatening emails, SMS messages, or other written communications (including social media) to anyone within the KSIM community
• make defamatory, offensive or derogatory comments regarding students, staff, other parents or any KSIM community member
• negatively affect the school image or reputation or that of any member of the school community
• use any form of media to publicly challenge school policies or decisions, or to discuss issues about individual students, faculty, staff or other parents
• use physical, verbal or written aggression towards another adult or child, including physical punishment of their own child whilst on the campus or at a school-related event
• approach someone else’s child in order to discuss or chastise them for their behaviour (other than to stop an immediate instance of violence)
• smoke, take illegal drugs or consume alcohol on school premises
• appear at any school event under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• bring weapons onto the campus or to a school event
• breach or ignore school security procedures or safety regulations on school facilities, or not follow staff directions regarding security or safety

These requirements apply to parents, guardians, nannies, drivers, siblings who are not KSIM students, and any other caregiver who has access to the school premises. It is the responsibility of parents to inform their representatives of the Code of Conduct.

If the code is breached

The process below is reproduced without changes, because it sets out due process and the circumstances in which the school may act immediately.

Actions to be taken against Breaches of Parent Partnership Conduct Code — Community Handbook 2026-27, p.26

Code of Conduct Violation Process

The School has systems in place to allow for due process for all parents considered in breach of the KSIM Parent Partnership & Conduct Code. The School reserves the right to take legal action when the actions of a community member violate local laws.

Protocol

There are clear, consistent and fairly administered consequences for any parent, or their representatives, involved in a breach of the Parent Code of Conduct. A typical sequence includes the following:

1. A verbal warning
2. A written warning from the director
3. Exclusion of parent and/or representative(s) from campus for a specified period of time
4. Permanent exclusion (expulsion) from KSIM, for the parents (their representatives) and their children.

The school leadership reserves the right to move immediately past the warning stage as necessary. Under certain circumstances, school leadership may choose to exclude or move to expel without going through other steps.

Exclusion

The director may ask any parents/guardians or their representatives to leave the school campus, with a verbal explanation of the reason for such a requirement. If it is reasonably concluded that a parent has acted in serious and/or repeated breach of this Code of Conduct, the director may temporarily or permanently ban any parents / guardians or their representatives from the school campus. The director will provide a written and signed notice outlining the reasons for this decision and indicating any required follow up actions.

Expulsion

The School considers expulsion when the behaviour of the student(s) and/or their parents and/or their representatives poses a threat to other students or other members of the School community or if the behaviour deviates from the accepted standards, as described in the effective rules and regulations of the School, in ways that violate the normal educational environment of the School. The school director will convene the Code of Conduct Committee to hear the case and notify the parent in writing no less than two working days in advance of the hearing.

Raising a concern is not a breach

The code does not prevent you from raising a legitimate complaint — see complaints procedures and parents’ use of social media.