Good morning supervisor, teachers, and students,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you back to our campus. After a refreshing and enjoyable summer break, we gather here once again to embark on a new school year.
Welcoming Our New Staff
First, let’s give a very warm welcome to our new teachers who are joining our family this year:
1. Ms. CHAN Wing Ki - teaching Mathematics and Science.
2. Ms. CHUNG Cindy - teaching English.
3. Mr. FUNG Wing Ho - teaching Computer Literacy and ICT.
4. Ms. YUNG Wing Man Mandy - teaching Ethics and Religious Education.
5. Mr. LEE Ka Wai - teaching Economics and EDM.
6. Ms. NG Yin Shan - teaching English.
7. Mr. YANG Hoi Yuen - teaching Chinese and NCS.
8. Mr. YUNG Chun Kit - teaching Economics.
We are excited to have you on board, and I hope all of you find joy and fulfillment in your teaching journey here. Your arrival brings us synergy, and we look forward to supporting you on this journey!
New Appointments in Leadership
We are also happy to announce the new arrangements of our leadership team:
Ms. LI Shun Wah – Vice Principal for Student Development
Dr. LEUNG Ka Ming – Vice Principal for Learning & Teaching & Management
Mr. SZE Ka Wai – Assistant Principal for Student Affairs & Co-Curricular Activities
I have full confidence in them as their dedication will definitely help us achieve our shared goals.
After a brief introduction of our new staff and leadership, it’s time for me to share with you some good news. Our 2024 HKDSE results have improved significantly. In particular, we have achieved a record high passing rate of 98% in English Language and 100% in Chinese Language. 100% passing rate was also obtained in 3 other subjects as well. So, well done, everyone! The percentage of students gaining the 332A & 2 benchmark for university entrance is nearly 60%; and the percentage of students gaining a JUPAS offer is about 50%; this is very encouraging and I hope our 6 students would be inspired and motivated by the success of their predecessors. Please bear in mind your teachers are here to help you get through your upcoming challenges.
Let me tell you more about our highflyers this year. Both 6D Chan Tsang Wing & 6D Lam Chuen Yui Jerry achieved 3 level 5* and 2 level 5. 6D Tam Hoi Lee achieved 1 Level 5**, 1 Level 5* and 1 Level 5. All of them will study Engineering with an Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence at HKUST.
Apart from our academic excellence, I also would like to take this opportunity to share with you all the highlights of the coming months. They include the Antarctica & Finland Study Tour sponsored by our sponsoring body and Sham Shui Po District respectively. Our football team has also upgraded, showing our students’ brilliant performance in Sports.
A new school year brings new opportunities and challenges. In the days ahead, whether in learning or life, I encourage everyone to maintain the spirit of exploration and the willingness to face challenges. Each small goal achieved is a step leading to a larger one. Let us not fear difficulties but bravely confront challenges to strive for excellence.
School Theme: Unleash Potentials! Collaborate in Synodality!
This year, our school theme is *”Unleash Potentials! Collaborate in Synodality!”* This theme embodies our commitment to recognizing and nurturing the unique talents of every student and staff member.
Unleashing potentials means we will actively support each individual in discovering and realizing their strengths. We want everyone to feel confident and motivated to achieve their best.
Collaborating in synodality emphasizes the importance of working together as a community. Synodality invites us to listen to one another, share ideas, and participate in each other’s journeys. Together, we can create an inclusive environment where everyone’s voice is valued.
Focus of the Academic Year
To align with this theme, we will focus on three major concerns this school year:
Major Concern 1: Cater for Learner Diversity
Our goal is to work together to enable students of all abilities to learn with enhanced motivation and confidence, leading to academic growth. We will implement differentiated instruction strategies, such as tailored lesson plans and varied assessment methods, to meet the needs of all learners. For example, teachers might use small group activities that cater to different learning styles, ensuring that every student feels included and supported.
Major Concern 2: Whole Person Development
In accordance with our Catholic values, we aim to nurture students to become well-rounded individuals. Parents and teachers will collaborate closely in this endeavor, focusing on resilience, perseverance, emotional stability, and leadership.
To support this journey, we will offer:
Major Concern 3: Foster a Positive School Culture
We will strive to create a positive and supportive school culture that enhances relationships among staff, parents, and alumni. Regular team-building activities for staff and open forums for parents will be organized to foster communication and collaboration. By involving former students in mentorship roles or alumni events, we can strengthen our community bonds and inspire current students through shared experiences.
In the past year, we have shared many unforgettable moments, be it academic progress or the excitement of sports competitions—these are the fruits of our collective efforts. This year, I hope you excel even more in your fields and manage to support one another, creating wonderful memories together.
Inspiration from Olympic Success
Today, I want to share with you the inspiring story of an outstanding athlete — Vivian Kong Man-wai. Her journey not only tells us about her accomplishments in sports but also provides important lessons for all of us.
Vivian was born in 1994 and moved to Canada with her family when she was six. During her childhood, she learned various sports and dance, including taekwondo, figure skating, and ballet, even earning a black belt in children’s taekwondo. This diverse experience laid a strong foundation for her accomplishment in fencing.
At the age of 11, she returned to Hong Kong and began to pick up fencing. Just two years later, she won the national youth championship. Vivian has represented Hong Kong in numerous international competitions, earning three gold medals at Asian championships and multiple victories in international competitions.
However, her journey was not a smooth one. In different Olympics, she faced significant injuries, and missed out on a medal. It required her to undergo a surgery and took her a long time to recover.
During these tough times, Vivian did not give up. Instead, she found strength in her faith, exploring Buddhist teaching and practicing meditation to maintain inner peace and overcome mental struggles. Her positive attitude allowed her to regain her focus.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she stepped back onto the stage. This time, despite being down 1:7 in the final match, Vivian showcased her incredible determination, achieving an extraordinary comeback and winning the gold medal, making her the third person in Hong Kong’s history to earn an Olympic gold medal.
Vivian’s story teaches us that no matter what challenges we face, as long as we have strong belief and unwavering effort, we can achieve our goals and have a bright future. Besides sports, she has excelled academically, earning a degree in International Relations from Stanford University and currently pursuing a doctoral degree in law at Chinese University, with the ambition to contribute to world peace in the future.
Her actions remind us that success is not a matter of chance, but the result of perseverance and hard work. Therefore, I encourage every student hereto face the challenges you encounter in lives or studies bravely and diligently, just like Vivian Kong. With determination, success is round the corner.
Let us all take Vivian as our role model, move forward bravely, and strive to reach greater heights!
As we embark on this new school year, I encourage each of you to embody our theme of collaboration. Share your ideas, support one another, and be open to learning together.
Final Thoughts
Indeed, I want to remind everyone that mental and physical health are equally important. While pursuing academic success, do not forget to take good care of yourselves and each other. When you face setbacks, seek help; together, we can overcome difficulties. United we stand, divided we fall. Together, we can stand tall.
As we begin this year, remember the words from 1 Peter 4:10: (first Peter Chapter 4 verse 10)
“Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these varied graces of God, put it at the service of others.” May we embrace our unique talents and work together in service to one another. Through our collaboration, we can truly unleash our potentials and ensure that our school community flourishes.
Let this inspire you to share your unique gifts with those around you. May God bless each of you on this journey. Have a fantastic year ahead!
Sung Hoi Yan
Principal
