Aunnal School Report 2015-2016 Annual School Report (2015-2016) Professional development programmes were as follows: Date & I. Management and Organization Topics Guests/Persons -in-Charge Duration 1. Mission of the School Fri New special arrangement Lo SK Our school is a subsidized grammar girls' school run by the Daughters 18/9/2015 in DSE for SEN Students & of Mary Help of Christians. Founded in 1973 and now in its 43rd year, it 4 hours Gifted Education has incorporated the educational philosophy of St. Mary Mazzarello Programme and St. John Bosco of educating the young with a harmonious and IT training to prepare for Tang SL joyous family spirit of loving kindness, reason and religion. The e-learning part 1 emphases of our mission are: Briefing on School Target Sr. Kwok MY, Yau WP, Leung PS, Chik CY, Fong PF, Ng SH a. With the teaching of Christ and values of the Gospel, we create an Fri Learning Motivation & Dr. Leung Shing Him educational environment that is full of joy, love and care. We help 25/9/2015 Catering for Learner’s our students to live with a clear sense of direction and to find the 2 hours Diversity true meaning of life. Fri “Mini-opera” of Mr. Morton Chan (CUHK b. We commit ourselves to the all-round formation of our students, 16/10/2015 Self-directed Learning: Quality School Improvement putting equal stress on the importance of spirituality, virtue, 3.5 hours from revision to project) wisdom, physique, sociability and aesthetic appreciation. construction of knowledge c. We encourage our students to participate actively in the life-long Wed IT training to prepare for Tang SL learning process, to apply the acquired knowledge to everyday 23/3/2016 e-learing part 2 situations, to cherish their lives and to contribute to the 6 hours To re-visit and realize the Mr. Peter Lau Chiu Yin community. vision of our Catholic Assistant to the Episcopal schools Delegate For Education 2. Class Organization and School Facilities Review on School Target I Yau WP, Leung PS, Fong PF There are altogether 25 classes with 4 classes each in S.1 to S.5, and & II 5 classes in S.6. The total number of students is 832. The computer Tue Catholic School Teachers’ Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong network in the school covers all 26 classrooms and 14 special rooms 17/5/2016 Day – “I am The Way, The including 2 multi-media learning centres (MMLC/ITLC) each providing 2 hours Truth and The Life” 44 sets of personal computers. The network also covers the library and Tue Evalution on School Target Yau WP, Leung PS, the hall. There is also a chapel, an English Corner, a Parents’ Resource 24/5/2016 (Major Concern I & II) Ng SH, Fong PF, Room, a Social Worker’s Room, 2 Counselling Rooms, a basketball Choi FY, Chun KY, court, 2 netball courts, a garden, a self-study area and a Snack & Chat Tang SL Area on the playground. 3. Teachers’ Information II. Teaching and Learning The total number of full-time and part-time teaching staff is 61, which includes a Native-speaking English Teacher. All 61 teachers hold 1. Medium of Instruction English is uniformly used as the medium of instruction at all form levels professional qualifications. All language teachers hold language except for the subjects of Chinese Language, Chinese History, proficiency qualifications. There are 40 teachers holding Master’s Putonghua, Chinese Literature, Liberal Studies, Ethics & Religious degrees, 20 holding Bachelor’s degrees and 1 other holding tertiary Education, Life & Society and Visual Arts where Chinese is used education qualification. Teachers participate actively in school-based instead. development programmes as well as professional seminars, talks, local and overseas courses to enhance their professional capacities. The following table shows the subjects taught in English in 2015-2016 4. School Administration S.1 – S.3 S.4 – S.6 The IMC of the School was set up on 30 August 2013. There are 14 English Language English Language School Managers working with the Principal and coming from 5 Mathematics Mathematics categories, namely School Sponsoring Body the Salesian Sisters, History (S.2 – S.3) History Teacher, Parent, Alumni and Independent Managers. Together with the Geography (S.2 – S.3) Geography rest of the school community, they strive to uphold the vision and Science (S.1 – S.2) Economics mission of the School. New term of office of the Teacher, Parent, Biology (S.3) Biology Alumni and Independent Managers started this school year on 1 Chemistry (S.3) Chemistry September 2016 and will last for 2 years. Physics (S.3) Physics Technology & Living Technology & Living(S. 5 & S. 6) The School Policy & Executive Team, consisting of 34 teaching staff Business, Accounting, Financial Computer Literacy and headed by the principal and vice-principals, draws up school Studies policies. These school policies and functions are implemented by Music various functional groups categorized into 5 sections, namely Physical Education Academic Development, Student Formation, Student Activities, Social Studies(S. 1) General Management / Support Services and IT Assisted Education. 5. Staff Professional Development 2 Learning & Teaching The theme of staff professional development of the year was to 2a. Curriculum Organization—S4 elective subjects enhance teachers’ capacity in facilitating the School Target I of “To combination enhance English Proficiency and general learning and teaching This year (2015-16), there are four classes in S5. Among the classes, effectiveness through reading across the curriculum, strengthening two classes (5C, 5D) are for those who take 3 elective subjects (3X) learning skills/strategies and catering for diverse learning needs in whereas two classes are for those who take 2 elective subjects (2X). class” especially in the increasing diversity in learning and School Therefore, students of different abilities are provided with the Target II of “To enhance students’ leadership and self-confidence” opportunities to study different electives. especially in the implementation of PIE (Planning-Implementation- . Evaluation) cycle for student leaders. It also aimed at preparing staff There are four classes in S4. One (4C) of those taking 3 elective members for the full implementation of IT in Education for the school subjects (3X) and the other classes taking 2X. After discussion at the year 2016-2017. Furthermore it also aimed at orientating staff members SPET meeting about the S.4 subject combinations for next school year, in the spirit of the implementation of the Core Values of Catholic it was decided to keep this year’s arrangements. Education under the spirit of the Incorporated Management Committee. 3 Aunnal School Report 2015-2016 to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas 4A (2X) 4B (2X) 4C (3X) 4D (2X) and emotions to others and through their reading and listening, others Core 1 Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Subjects 2 English English English English can communicate with them. Through appreciating a variety of texts in 3 Mathematics Mathematics mathematics Mathematics particular, students have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, 4 Liberal Liberal Liberal Liberal intellectually, socially and spiritually. Literature, especially, plays a key Studies Studies Studies Studies role in such development. Reading also enables students both to Elective 1 Physics/Biology/History/Chinese Literature/BAFS (ACCT)/Visual Arts Subjects 2 Chemistry/Economices/Geography/Chinese History/BAFS(MGT) acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. 3 -- Maths M1/ -- The students had benefited greatly from using class discussion in order Chemistry/ to learn – the acquisition of a wider vocabulary, and a better Biology 4 Ethics and Religious Studies (students will attend lessons on understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for Saturday morning) /Music/Other Language reading, writing and spoken language. A progression in learning was highly observable from the students 2b. Language across the Curriculum (LAC) in S.2 Geography across the junior form years. They demonstrated that they could write Rationale more clearly, accurately and coherently, and adapted their language 1. to integrate content learning and English learning and style in for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences. 2. to raise students’ language proficiency and strengthen literacy skills in this content subject 2d. S.2 Drama Day Camp (English Version Only) This year’s S.2 drama day camp was conducted in the hall from Implementation 14/3/2016 to 18/3/2016. For four lessons, S.2 students engaged An English teacher has been assigned to teach 3 classes of themselves in theatre-related activities, line reading and rehearsals Geography in S.2, with the students who are not very proficient in leading to a stage performance. Students were asked to incorporate English. The teacher has revised the teaching materials, e.g. handouts an argument scene into their 8 to 10-minute play. Prior to the camp, and PowerPoint. Regarding teaching pedagogy, the teacher has teachers had taken students through drama-teaching and adopted the following strategies in order to enhance students’ script-writing. language proficiency: 1. Asking students to read the chapter before lesson and finish a Students were very positive about the drama day camp. In the simple summary task (reading skills) evaluation, they expressed that they had improved speaking and 2. Pre-teaching difficult keywords before starting the chapter, e.g. writing skills while acquiring various drama techniques and acting skills. marine animals (understanding vocabulary) They claimed that their confidence was enhanced and that they 3. Emphasising the singular/plural forms of nouns, parts of speech experienced joy in the learning process. They also recognized the and usage of vocabulary apart from explaining the meaning (use importance of team spirit, communication, cooperation, division of of vocabulary) labour and commitment in the preparation process.