1 September　School Re-opening—A NEW START (1st September, 2011)

On September 1, when all the students and teachers gathered at the school hall to attend the School Re-opening Ceremony, our Principal, Ms Agnes Tang’s words were echoed by all with the joyful sharing of experiences of the summer holiday and the discovery of what the new academic year holds for them.  1st September, 2011 will mark the beginning of the new 2011-2012 academic year.  For the newcomers, a very warm welcome!  New teachers for this school year are introduced.  For those returning for another new school year, they will be led by their teachers through another exciting exploratory journey in the vast sea of limitless wealth of knowledge. 

Everyone in the school gets to meet the old and new teachers as well as understand the school major areas for concern of this year.  They are:

1. Developing Students’ Self-Learning Capacity for Effective Learning
   培養學生自學能力達至有效學習
2. Optimizing Students’ Competence in English through Language Across Curriculum and
   優化跨學科課程以提升學生英語能力
3. Cultivating Students’ Personal Quality, Promoting National Education through Joint Efforts of Teaching, Discipline and Guidance
   教訓輔共同規劃：培養學生個人素質，推動國民教育

Our students value not only academic excellence and personal enrichment, but also individual differences, and are always ready to make contributions to the school as a learning community.  The educational goals and school ethos of the school sponsoring body, the TWGHs, are to be fully realized in the Yearly Educational Theme 2011-2012, that is, ‘Love ourselves, Love our School; Develop our Potential, Serve our School; Strive for Excellence, Contribute to our Community’.  「愛惜自己、 愛惜校園；發揮潛能、服務校園；追求卓越、回饋社會」Setting the direction for students' character building, core values such as 'To love', 'To serve' and 'To contribute ' are identified. Miss Tang encourages our students to set clear goal, work out strategies, employ multi-dimensional learning to reach a sensible decision and build a healthy lifestyle.  With the education S. C. Gaw delivered and the multiple learning experiences provided, the school endeavours to create a wholesome and stimulating environment within which students' academic, aesthetic and physical development will flourish.  As emphasized by our Principal, positive attitude, learning habit, reading, healthy lifestyle, project-based learning, co-curricular activities, other learning experiences, new impetus for learning and new food for thought, continue to be important.  What a lot of excitement!

As students were to face the new challenges ahead, as put by Ms Tang, they must be wondering what the new senior secondary school system 334 would mean to them and their studies.  She also understood that parents and teachers would no doubt be equally, if not more, concerned about this new system and how it would impact the future of our students, and as said by Ms Tang, the School will do our utmost to guide students and see them through.  Ms Tang pointed out that as our students are to strive for the highest standards in their studies.  In addition, students will be exposed to a diversified learning environment like the spacious and resourceful Learning Activity Centre with Interactive Learning Areas and the development of Gifted Education as well as Multiple Intelligences Training Programme.  As we approach our 28th Anniversary in 2011-2012, looking back to our history, S. C . Gaw graduates and students are now setting new heights and records in vrious fields that certainly do make us proud.

The opening address by our Principal, Ms Tang, emphasized the building of a learning & healthy community in which we acknowledge and appreciate each other.  To get well-prepared for coping with the ever-changing world, Ms. Tang also encouraged our students to make a ‘NEW START’ --- to set a clear goal, work out strategies, employ multi-dimensional learning to reach a sensible decision,  build a healthy lifestyle and to lead a fulfilling life.  It is indeed our greatest honour to have Mr Law Chiang Fon, Former Training Officer at the Police Training School to be our Guest Speaker to share with our students on the ‘Smart Leadership Training’ Programme..             

 

At the beginning of the new school year, Ms Tang extends her warmest wishes to all teachers and students by referring to the words—NEW START.  In the words of Ms Tang:

1. N : New people; New subjects; New stage〔新人事、新科目、新里程〕;
2. E : Enthusiasm〔學習熱誠〕for students〔教學熱誠〕for teachers;
3. W: Write down the things that you have to do〔好好利用筆記簿，將所要重要的東西寫下來〕;
   
4. S : Sharing & Support—Happiness multiplies and sorrow divides when you have someone to turn to.〔與人分享、互相支持〕
   
5. T : Time-table〔時間表〕—Well begun half done〔好的開始是成功的一半〕At the beginning of the school year, you may have to make a good plan for your study, activity and sports as well as interests.
   
6. A : Appreciation〔欣賞〕—in this school year, we are going to promote a 3 in 1 Loving Culture of Praise in S. C. Gaw—that is, whenever you are going to criticise somebody, do please remember to find out 3 of his/her good points.
   
7. R : Rest 〔休息〕—You may stay up very late during the summer holiday.  When the school begins, you may need an adjustment of your work and rest schedule.
8. T : Target 〔訂下目標〕—To make the new start more meaningful, you may have to set your targets.  To start from small, you may try to work out a Do Lists for a day or a week.

[Full Text of the Principal’s Address at the School Re-opening Ceremony]
[開學禮校長致辭全文] 

The ceremony ended with the hearty and ever-supportive sharing made by teachers and student representatives from the Board of Studies and Board of Student Support as well as the Baord of Student Affairs.  Different words but of the same thoughts—be responsible students, positive thinkers and communicative learners.  Their words of care and love strongly etched into the hearts and minds of our students.  Such is the way this school year declared its official re-opening—A promising beginning and building with our heart for creating a platform of love and compassion for our students.