Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Shatin Pui Ying College

Shatin Pui Ying College , abbreviated as SPYC or PYC, was established in 1978. It is a EMI secondary school fully subsidised by the government with 5 classes each for Forms 1 to 5, and 2 classes each for Forms 6 and 7. The school icon is an eagle symbolizing courage and determination.

School mission


The school has "holistic education" as its philosophy, with "Faith, Hope, Love" as its motto. The school is committed to the provision of a comprehensive range of quality education services, which aims to promote the moral , intellectual , physical , social , aesthetic and development of the students.

As the ability of the students, the English capability of the teachers and the relevant supporting strategies are above the required standard, the has given us approval to continue using English as the medium of instruction since 1998.

School history


Rev Henry Noyes, the school founder, was a minister of the U.S. Presbyterian Church. In 1879 he founded a beginners' school called An Hwoh School in Saki, Guangzhou, offering Mathematics and Science. With a lot of hard work, Pui Ying emerged and bloomed. A chain of schools was established in Guangzhou, Taishan, Jiangmen and Hong Kong.

In 1978, to celebrate the centennial, the Board of Directors established the 5th school; an Anglo-Chinese School named Pui Ying College, with Mr Wong Wai Wah as the Principal. In the first year, the school operated on the campus of Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School at Lek Yuen Estate. In September 1979, the school could at last move into the 24-classroom premises in Wo Che Estate. The school library was open since September 1982.

In order to make it possible for all the Form 3 students to continue Form 4 in the school, the school altered the class structure to a symmetrical one. The Student Union was set up in September 1995 and Parent-Teacher Association in 1996. In 1996, Principal Wong retired and was succeeded by Vice Principal Ms Yau Oi Yuen. The mixed ability classes replaced the elite system in September, 1996.

The library system was changed to use computer since September 2001. The new wing building of the school has been finished since July 2005. In the new wing, there are classrooms for higher forms classes, a new library, some special rooms and computer rooms.

Biliteracy and Trilingualism


English


Exchange students from Italy and Germany help to enhance student ability in English. To enhance students’ interest and ability in English, the school offers Script-writing Courses, English Tutorial Class, English Drama Competition, Form 1 Bridging Programme, Lyrics-writing Course, English Immersion Speech Competition, Interviewing Tourists, English Phonetics Class, English Enhancement Course, Summer English Class, Overseas Immersion Course, Summer English Camp for senior form students, Summer English Day Camp for junior form students, Intra-school and English Musicals.

Chinese


The Chinese Language teachers have written several teaching units for the new curriculum, which have been examined and commented on by educators from Shanghai. Various activities to upgrade students' Chinese standard are Extensive Reading Scheme, Creative Writing Class, Chinese Week, Prose Writing Class, Reading Club, Modern Poetry Writing Class, Verse-speaking Gathering, Story Writing Class, and Seminar on Reading, Seminar on Modern Poetry, Intra-school and Inter-school Chinese Debate Competitions and Report and Comment on Chinese 'Words of Wisdom'.

Putonghua


To arouse students' interest in Putonghua, the school offers Putonghua Day, Tongue-Twisters, Putonghua Class, Singing Contest, Putonghua Broadcast and Putonghua Corner. Students participate in inter-school seminars and competitions including Verse Speaking of Classical Poetry in Putonghua and Putonghua Speaking Competitions. To promote the Chinese culture, the school offers Visits to Chinese relic sites, Workshop on Chinese clipart, Chinese Tea Tao and Chinese Culture and General Studies Competition.

Academic achievements


All Form 1 newcomers from the own district are Band 1 students. 100% of the Form 3 students gain admission to Form 4 in the school. Students achieve good academic results in public examinations. The average passing percentage for the HKCEE and HKALE is above 90%. Most of the subjects have percentages in credits and distinctions well above the figures obtained by all HKCEE and HKALE candidates. The best individual result is 8As in 2004.

All Form 6 places in the school are filled by the Form 5 students, except the exchange students from other countries. Most of the Form 7 graduates gain university admission these years. The graduates perform well in universities with some being scholarship-holders.

According to the "Academic Value-added Indicator" results released by the EMB, the school has achieved positive added value in its best six subjects as the school as , and Mathematics from 2000 to 2006. The added value is higher than the territory-wide average, and the average gained by similar intake schools and schools from the same district. Some subjects have reached the highest possible value-added limit.

Scholarships, Academic Awards, Flying Eagle Awards and Improvement Awards are given to students with outstanding academic achievements. The school sponsors students to take part in inter-school competition and Courses for Gifted Students offered by educational institutions, such as The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Tutorial classes have been launched to improve junior form students' proficiency in both English and Chinese languages as well as Mathematics. English Enhancement Courses are provided for students to enhance their English standard. The school sponsors students interested in Chinese writing to join workshops hosted by renowned writers.

Features


Promoting a reading culture


A Reading Time for 20 minutes every day is designed to help students to cultivate a habit. The school organises Chinese and English Extensive Reading Schemes. A Reading Day is held by the school library for all students to read or to take part in activities related to reading.

Information technology


The school offers the subjects of Information Technology for Forms 1 to 3, Computer and Information Technology for Forms 4 and 5, and Computer Applications for Forms 6 and 7. Teachers, IT Coordinator and IT Technicians design software and write subject homepages as teaching aids. IT Prefects are appointed to provide teachers with technical support in using IT-related devices. All the teachers have acquired Basic IT knowledge. The number of teachers having attained Intermediate IT level and Upper Intermediate IT level is well above the basic requirements set by the EMB. The school have also set up the intranet with optical fibres linking up the file server to classrooms and special rooms. Computer screens and LCD projectors are installed in all classrooms and special rooms. The school has set up 3 Computer Rooms, a Multimedia Learning Centre, an Audio-Visual Room, a Multi-Media Language Laboratory and a Multi-Media Music Laboratory. Computers and colour laser printers have been installed. There are a total of 400 computers for use by students and teachers.

Art education



The school has organised 3 , ''The Comeback Kid'', ''Soul for Sale'' and ''The Last Move'' with songs composed by the students and alumni. The school have organised a worship team, a school choir, and an orchestra. Every Form 1 student has to learn to play at least 1 musical instrument. The Photography Club and the Audio-Visual Group offer opportunities to develop a variety of skills, such as film editing, image recording, lighting, backdrop setting and sound engineering.

Current affairs


The school organises current affairs talks and invites celebrities as guest speakers. Political, social and economic issues are discussed and analysed to increase student awareness of developments in Hong Kong and around the world. The school encourages the students to participate in extra-curricular activities such as "The Youth Summit", "Dinner with Outstanding Citizens" and "Hong Kong International Model United Nations". The school organise a series of "Meeting the Celebrity" seminars at which the students share their views with people from different professions. The school made arrangements for the students to join mainland and overseas cultural tours.

Leadership training


The school encourages students to take leadership-training courses, join camps and extra-curricular activities. In recent years, the students have taken part in activities such as “Youth Leaders Auditorium 2005”, “The 6th Basic Certificate Course for Student Leaders”, “Outstanding Leadership Development Programme” and “Youth Think Tank Training Project”. “Free Talk” enables students to have better training in giving speeches.

Training in creativity and thinking


Students can develop their potential and intelligence through the subjects of Living with Innovation, Civic Education and Liberal Studies, as well as activities and assignments on creativity.

Flying Eagle award


Its objectives are to cultivate a good attitude of learning in students and encourage them to achieve better academic results, foster self-discipline, a sense of responsibility and community spirit, and to provide a guide for students through this award scheme so as to inspire students to participate actively in school activities. This award scheme is arranged as 4 phases. Students can be awarded a Bronze Eagle Badge in Phase 1, a Silver Eagle Badge in Phase 2, a Gold Eagle Badge in Phase 3 and a Trophy in Phase 4.

Highlights in recent developments


The school emphasises on the development of the four key tasks identified in curriculum reforms, including project learning, promoting a reading culture, use of IT and Civic Education. The school introduced the subjects Liberal Studies & Integrated Humanities and enhance the cultural literacy of the students, and introduced drama as a new subject to enhance the communication skills of students and their confidence.

Evangelism


The school offers activities to guide the students according to the Christian principles, such as Gospel Week, Gospel Camp Evangelical Team, Evangelical Broadcast, Bible Study Groups and Christian Fellowship.

School life


School songs


There is a school song with Chinese lyrics. Its melody is the same as the song O Christmas Tree and there are two paragraphs. There is also a school hymn with English lyrics. There are three paragraphs in this school hymn.

School uniform


All boys in the school wear white shirts and green trousers, and all girls wear white with green drawstrings as summer uniform. The boys wear grey trousers and the girls wear grey dresses with white socks as winter uniform. Both boys and girls wear green ties when wearing winter uniform.

When students have physical education lessons, they wear PE uniform. From 2000, students can wear PE uniform directly to school without first wearing formal uniform then changing to PE uniform at school. From 2001, the PE uniform has been changed into a new format that is grey and blue in colour. The PE T-shirts have 3 different colours, namely black, blue and red, with respect to the students’ house.

Classes


The class names are combined with one number and one English character, such as “7B”. There are about 40 students in each class from Form 1 to Form 5. 1A and 1B are remedial classes whereas 1C to 1E perform better in exams. The classes are mixed when students go into Form 2 or Form 3.

All Form 3 students have to choose their subjects after finishing their year. In Form 4 and 5, A and B are arts classes, C is commercial class, D and E are science classes, with the students and class teachers being together in the same class in both Form 4 and 5.

After the HKCEE, some students study in Form 6. Each class in Form 6 and 7 has about 30 students. The class A is an art class and B is a science class.

Houses


Each Form forms a House, with its own chairman and committee members elected by the students in the own Form. Each House has its own colour such as black, blue or red, just like the students’ PE uniform. The forms with the same colours join together to form during the sports days.

Sports days and swimming gala


There are 2 sports days every year. The sports days take places on the Yuen Wo Road Sports Ground. Besides the various types of sports competitions, there are competitions among the cheering teams. The swimming gala is held every year with the Pui Ying Secondary School. It takes place on the Hong Kong Island or Sha Tin District alternatively every two years.

External competitions


Students in the school take parts in many external competitions in many fields such as music, sports, debates, writings, mathematics and other academic competitions. One of the most notable competitions is the Hang Lung Mathematics Award. The school’s HLMA team got an Honourable Mention in 2004 and a Special Commendation in 2006.

School organizations


Student Union


The Student Union was established in November 1994. Its election activity is held in November every year. It helps the school setting new school rules and improves students’ lives. It organises activities such as blood donation days and ball game competitions.

Student guidance committee


The school aims at inculcating the students with true values. Counselling is shared among teachers, school social worker and educational psychologist. Peer-group counselling is available.

Careers guidance committee


The aim of careers guidance in the school is to help students plan for their future by giving them information about different study opportunities and the world of work.

Disciplinary committee


Students may not be mature enough to defend themselves against the undesirable influences of society and peers. So, preventive measures are adopted.

School library


The school library has over 20000 books available to students. Every year there are about 100 school librarians. The book borrowing system was changed from man power only into computer system in 2001. The location of it was moved to the new wing building of the school in 2005. It organises Reading Day every year.

Information technology committee


The IT Committee in the school is made up of an IT technician and some teachers. They work closely together serving as a link between the Education Department and the school; providing the most up-to-date information concerning the use of IT in teaching and learning; helping to train teachers and maintaining and software. To further promote the use of IT in teaching, advanced computers and facilities including digital video cameras and viewers are provided for the production of teaching materials.

Extra-curricular activities committee


There are 5 categories of extra-curricular activities, including academic, community service, leisure, sports and Christian programme. They are organized into 40 clubs and activity groups.

Civic education committee


The school adopt various ways to promote civic education in the school. Besides using formal and informal curricula in different subjects, various kinds of activities are organised to enhance students' civic awareness.

Religious education committee


The evangelical work of the school is carried out by a group of Christian teachers and Christ's Harvest Church. The Gospel is passed on in 3 different ways: Special Activities, Morning Assembly and Fellowship.

Pui Ying family


The school has close ties with its sister schools such as Guangzhou Pui Ying, Xiguan Pui Ying, Jiangmen Pui Ying, Taishan Pui Ying and Pui Ying Secondary School. In Canada, there is Pui Ying Christian Services Society under which Pui Ying College and 11 Chinese schools operate. Pui Ying Alumni Associations can be found all over the world, e.g. in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, England, South Africa, Japan, Peru, Singapore, Thailand, Guangzhou, Taishan, Jiangmen and Taiwan.

Notable alumni


* Joey Yung : A very popular female Canto pop singer and actress.
* Lai Wing Man, Carol : A future film maker.
* Louise Ho : A female dubbing actress in TVB.
* Tsoi Chi Fu : A writer of a computer reference book.

No comments: