Message from the Principal

September 2023

The typhoon on 1 September 2023 gave us a belated commencement of school year 2023 – 2024. Nevertheless, students returned to school refreshed and reenergized all the same.

In retrospect, our achievements in 2022 – 2023 were countless. To highlight some, we once again broke our own record in the 74^th Schools Speech Festival in terms of number of awards and participation. Approximately 40% of our students from Form One to Form Six joined various English speaking events, with some of them reaping the first, second and third places. What we treasure the most is not the trophies or certificates, but the experience and self-confidence students have gained in the process. Progressing from the success we made the previous year, our drama team has staged two musical performances involving nearly 70 front stage performers and backstage helpers. Our students’ performance was highly praised and recognised. Our effort in cultivating a language rich environment is not limited to performances or competitions, but the daily encounters with each other which are further reinforced by our diversified English activities. The greatest reward, for an educator, is to see our students’ growth.

Meanwhile, our young sports and music talents shone in interschool competitions obtaining nearly 130 prizes. What students have learned on the sports ground and the stage are invaluable. From the very vigorous and persistent training to turning stress into motivation, success is never about luck but hard work. A senior form student once shared with me that he had to spend at least 2 hours on practices every day amid his hectic schedule, with his increasing workload for the HKDSE was approaching. To strike a balance between studies and personal pursuit, time management and self-discipline are the key. These qualities are to be cherished and further nurtured.

As for teachers, we have organised in total 11 open classes, coupled with ample inter as well as intra-departmental dialogues, for professional exchange and development. The scale is, once again, unprecedented. From lesson planning, class delivery to after class debriefing sessions, teachers were highly engaged. With them playing an active role in lesson demonstration, not only do we enhance learning and teaching effectiveness as a whole, but establish a learning community where teachers inspire each other, joining hands to provide quality education to students.

Looking ahead, what we need to further strengthen among Wong Tai Shan students is probably their resilience and the first step is to realise the importance of acknowledging imperfection and focusing on improvement. Failures could teach us life-changing lessons, and we make progress by refining what we do, avoiding the same mistakes, and becoming a little wiser. While aiming at success, let us also make the best of the setbacks that toughen us up.

With technology advancing at light speed, what can truly stand the test of time is human values and our mentality to embrace changes, which members of Wong Tai Shan for sure possess. Salute to my team for their all-out effort in creating precious learning opportunities and success experiences for students! Let’s kick off a new school year with buoyant smiles!

Message from the Principal

September 2022

I am delighted to share with you the School’s achievements and event highlights, to mark an end of this academic year and a beginning of a new stage ahead.

Wong Tai Shan students are multitalented and they have shone in interschool competitions. We have won champion titles in the HKSSF Inter-school Athletics Competition, Speech Festival, music and STEM-related competitions, and more (kindly refer to the list of awards in this Newsletter). The joy and sense of achievement gained from victory give us motivation to aim higher, and the pride goes far beyond winning. It is the lessons we learnt, the hardship we endured, the difficulties we overcame and the teamwork we built that counted the most.

The diverse provision of activities and visits organised by subject departments and administrative sections, amid the changing pandemic situation, has further promoted the fact that meaningful learning happens both inside and outside of the classroom. Our students enjoy coming to school and participating in all programmes as part of their colourful school life. Their quest for knowledge and curiosity about the world are further nurtured.

Whereas for everyday learning, forming good habits and setting achievable targets are still the core matter. With pre-lesson preparation, teachers co-construct knowledge with students who contribute equally in the learning process, thus further enhancing learning and teaching effectiveness. We will continue to promote the reading atmosphere, encouraging students to read extensively and using reading as a means to cultivate positivity and good virtues. While there is only one student who can rank the first, all learners are capable of making progress. Academic success will be the ultimate harvest of diligence and perseverance coupled with effective learning strategies. Let us set new goals and achieve them with our all-out effort.

Students, I am ready for the new challenges ahead. Are you?