The captioned joint-school talk, delivered by Mr Gabriel Chan, a speaker from the Hong Kong Blockchain Society, was organised on 18th January 2023. Together with Diocesan Girls' School, Heep Yunn School, United Christian College (Kowloon East), Methodist College, Pui Kiu College, St. Margaret’s Co-educational English Secondary and Primary School, students and teachers from different schools not only gather and explore the possibilities of Blockchain technology in Hong Kong, but they also exchange insightful ideas among them.

 

The talk is indeed to equip students with the necessary knowledge of Blockchain technology in Hong Kong. Blockchain represents a boulevard of broken dreams, further exacerbated by the collapse of cryptocurrency markets. This talk serves to help the participants differentiate what is possible and what is probable, especially with a focus on local case studies.

 

The Annual Fashion Show, being one of the major events of the Aesthetic Development Team, took place in the School Hall in the afternoon on 9^th December, 2022.
  

The theme of the Fashion Show this year was Creation, with a total of 6 groups of students taking part in the competition. 

Each group presented their innovative design with a video description of the concept and on the catwalk with a student-model, competing for the prizes of Best Model Award, the Best Music Video Award and the overall Championship, which were all voted for by Form 4 and Form 5 students and teachers. At the end, 5F Coco Chen, 5A Chloe Lam and 5D Anna Law won the aforementioned prizes respectively.

God loves us so much that he sent his only son, Jesus, to earth.  We are joyful to receive this ultimate gift from God!
 

This was the good news the Catholic Society shared with us this Christmas.
 

On December 22^nd, St. Mary’s was filled with the atmosphere of fun and joy.  Dressed In their causal wear, all St. Marians greeted one another with smiling faces in the morning.

The celebration started with a Bible liturgy in the playground.  The fourth Advent candle representing peace was lit to remind us of the message the angels proclaimed to the shepherds.  The nativity account according to St. Matthew was read telling us the good news of great joy is for all people.  Then with trust and hope, we offered our intercessory prayers to God.  The liturgy was concluded with carol singing led by the Assembly Choir. Their angels’ voices lifted our hearts to the highest.  Our Principal, Ms. Janet Wong, further explained the message conveyed in the Bible reading and encouraged us to share the joy and love of Christmas with the people around us.  The most exciting part of the celebration was the annual lucky draw.  We thanked the PTA and the PSA for their generous donations. The lucky draw would not have been successful without the active participation of teachers and students. 
 

The celebration continued with a video show broadcasted in the classrooms.  The Christmas play ‘The Ultimate Gift’ was produced by the Catholic Society and the Student Council.  Some St. Marians held a Christmas party for some children in a local hospital as voluntary service.  They recognized that all of them were invited to receive the ultimate gift from God.  While enjoying the creative and lively presentation of the play, we got the very important message that we are God’s children and we are all so much loved by God.  The video show was wrapped up with a joyous performance by the Concert Band, the Intermediate Choir and the Junior Choir which added to the festive mood.
 

Although we could not have Christmas parties to enjoy good food in the classrooms, we still treasured the short class time playing together and chatting leisurely with friends.  We took photos together to keep the beautiful moments in our memories.
 

The SMCC Mentorship Program was launched in 2004 and is now in its nineteenth year of operation.  The program aims to provide a means for past St. Marians to share their experience (both academic and life) and professional knowledge with our F.5 students.  It is hoped that through this communication, we shall be able to better prepare our girls for further studies and career choices.

 

This year, the program was launched with a Careers Seminar Day held on 12 November 2022.  15 past St. Marians registered to be mentors and 12 of them served as the speakers on the Careers Seminar Day.  Students first attended two parallel seminars based on their preferences.  Then all students gathered again to attend the HKU Admission Talk conducted by the admission officer.  The animated chatter was a clear sign that there was no “generation gap” despite the fact that the mentors and mentees might have come from vastly different times in the St Mary’s eras.

 

The joyous and delightful School Picnic was held in Ocean Park on 10^th November. Students and teachers relished this pleasurable moment spent together.

This was the first time the entire school had congregated outdoors after the pandemic and was truly a portrayal of the renewed and vibrant school life. Students frolicked with their classmates and teachers inside the park. The relationship between students and teachers was fostered and it is hoped that a harmonious atmosphere can be further developed at school.

The CCA Registration Day was held on the 18th to 20th October. The purpose of this activity was mainly to unleash our students’ talents and help them cultivate a wide range of skills. 

 

Students participating in the activity could join the clubs according to their interests. This was a portrayal of the colourful campus life that has flourished again after the pandemic and a reflection of our substantial efforts to provide St. Marians with a high degree of autonomy. 

 

Simultaneously, the club committee members were required to make every endeavour to promote their clubs and attract new club members for this academic year. In addition to granting them an opportunity to unleash their creativity, this activity also strengthened their generic skills, such as teamwork and leadership.

 

 

In the training session, students had to overcome their fear and cooperate with one another in tackling different challenges. This process has indeed strengthened their team spirit and problem-solving skills. Moreover, engaging in group games as the participants instead of organizers, the club executive members were granted the opportunity to put themselves into other students’ shoes. They were able to reflect on the critical factors for hosting an event and how to raise the participants’ interest in future club activities. This way, the club executive members can also be capable of creating a fruitful campus life for all our students in the coming future. 

 

A thrilling and exhilarating abseiling training session was held for our F.6 students at the start of the new academic year.

 

This adventure-based activity offered students a precious opportunity to step out of their comfort zones. In the training session, students had to cooperate with their teammates and perform abseiling from the top of the school building. They were encouraged to try something new and surmount their fear in a supportive environment. This process not only helped students develop team spirit and self-confidence, but also strengthened their willpower. It is believed that this meaningful experience can help improve our students’ capabilities in dealing with future challenges.

 

The School Opening Mass was held in the school hall and live-streamed in classrooms on 29th September 2022, with Rev. Fr. Mario E. Gutierrez Carrejo as the celebrant. During the Holy Mass, the Executive Committee Members of the Catholic Society pledged to accept their missions and perform their duties faithfully for the well-being of the school and their counterparts, as well as for the greater glory of God.

 

The Swimming Gala was held on 30^th September 2022 after a two-year hiatus. Much appreciation to the preparation committee for overcoming a lot of challenges arising from the precautionary measures against COVID-19.   Since the seating capacity had been reduced, only F.1 to 3 students and student officials could take part in the Gala. The senior form students were arranged to join other sports activities on campus.
 

The Investiture of the Student Office Bearers was held in our school Hall on 29 September 2022. The ceremony began with our principal, Ms Janet Wong’s speech, addressing on the importance of leadership qualities and reminding students to show appreciation in the time of changes caused by Covid, followed by her presentation of badges to the head girls, the SC ex-co members and other head prefects.

 

The newly elected head girl, Angel Leung (5E), led the Student Council to take an oath, and all the prefects with God’s help also pledged loyalty to serve the school and uphold the values of the school community. The ceremony culminated with a speech given by the head girl to introduce the theme of the Student Council this year, “Zenith--Follow the light, reach your zenith”.

              

The Student Council Election was held on 9 September 2022 in the school hall. After the candidates had given their opening speeches, they took part in the challenge tasks where they had to answer impromptu questions related to the council positions they had applied for. On the stage, they had to break out of their comfort zone and display their talents to persuade their schoolmates that they deserved their individual votes.

 

Due to COVID restrictions, the election was broadcast live online again this year. Only F5 students were in the hall during the presentation session while all other students watched and participated in voting for the candidates in their classrooms. Despite the circumstances, the election was held smoothly and successfully. Congratulations to Angel Leung (5E) who is elected as the Head Girl and Lowell Ng (5D) and Peony Lai (5F) who are the Vice Head Girls of 2022-23! 

 

The essence of the school theme was further elaborated in the talk addressing disciplinary concerns by our Vice Principal, Ms. Amanda Tang, and Discipline Mistress, Ms. Clara Leung. The singing of the school song not only marked the end of the ceremony, but also the beginning of a fruitful school year to come.

On 27th August 2022, our Principal, Ms. Janet Wong, together with the teachers of the Religious Activities and Formation Team (RAFT) welcomed our new Form 1 Catholic students in the School Hall.  The Catholic Society introduced the theme of the year ‘Love One Another Without Distinction’ and presented the goals and activities of the five religious clubs.  The highlight of the program was the holy sacrifice of Mass, celebrated by the school chaplain, Fr. Mario Carrejo, the Parish Priest of the Rosary Church.

Our warmest welcome to our new Form 1 Catholic students!  

The Graduation Ceremony took place on 18th July 2022 at the School Hall.  143 graduates, together with their family members, distinguished guests and teaching staff, attended this dignified occasion marking an important milestone in their lives.  
 

The Ceremony started with a prayer in which graduates thanked God for His graces bestowed upon them and prayed for God’s strength and wisdom in their search for the meaning of life.  The Guest of Honour, Ms Miranda Wong, Director of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Leadership Institute, addressed the graduates on how to make good use of the education and personality development received at St. Mary’s to become deferential and resilient leaders.  After the speech, certificates and prizes were presented to our Form 6 students to affirm their graduation and their achievements in various domains.  The Benediction Prayer was said by Reverend Fr. Michael J. Sloboda who asked God for His divine guidance and protection over our graduates.  On behalf of her fellow graduates, Angelina Yu (Student Council Head Girl 2020/21) gave a vote of thanks to express their heartfelt gratitude to the school, as well as their beloved families and schoolmates, for all the guidance and support throughout their years at school.  The Ceremony came to a close with the school song chanted in unison.

 

On 8th August, a precious opportunity came up for representatives of  the Student Council and Editorial Board  to co-interview one of our distinguished alumni, Professor Nancy Ip, a world-renowned neuroscientist, the Morningside Professor of Life Science , and  the Director of the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

 

During the interview, Professor Ip reminisced her school days at St. Mary’s, recounted her journey of  being a neuroscientist venturing  in a relatively unknown field of science and her significant breakthroughs in genome editing and finding a possible cure to Alzheimer’s disease.   Besides talking about her profession, Professor Ip also gave advice on pursuing a career in science and being a leader. 

 

At the end of the interview, Professor Ip was presented with two printed copies of the latest edition of the school newsletter, The St Marian, and a copy of A City’s Educational Heritage: Stories of Kowloon Schools 《承教．城傳：九龍學校的故事》in which she was interviewed about our school's history.  

 

We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Professor Ip as the first female president of HKUST and wish her every success in her next endeavour.

 

A full version of the interview will be published in the School Magazine 2021-2022.

A variety of exciting and stimulating activities were organized for different levels after the final examinations to let our students have fun, strengthen bonding and develop generic skills. 

 

F.2 and F.3 students participated in an adventure-based training day organized by Tree Top Cottage and the Salvation Army Education and Development Centre.  Through the challenging games, they have built up their self-confidence, communication skills, and developed their leadership, group decision-making and problem-solving skills.

 

F.4 students participated in an adventure-based programme organized by FHL Power Adventure Training Centre. They have learnt how to face challenges, boost confidence and support each other by taking part in abseiling and some other invigorating activities.  This has greatly enhanced their communication, teamwork and leadership skills.

 

 

 

1. Learning Trip to Shing Mun Country Park (Gin Drinker’s Line) on 27th July 2022 

This 2-hour guided tour offered our students a first-hand experience to explore the Shing Mun Redoubt of the Gin Drinker’s Line which was a British military defensive line built to defend Kowloon and the New Territories against Japanese attacks from the north in 1941. It was an eye-opening trip to learn about the battle of Hong Kong and the history of war relics including pillboxes, tunnel network and artillery observation posts.

 

2. Learning Trip to Wong Nai Chung Gap Trail on 28th July 2022

This 2-hour guided tour was especially designed for F.4 and F.5 Chinese History students.  The route is Hong Kong’s first battlefield trail tracing the battle at Wong Nai Chung Gap on 19th December 1941, which recorded the largest sustainment of casualties in a single day. By visiting the various stations which include an anti-aircraft gun platform, two pillboxes and an ammunition magazine, the students learned the strategic importance of Wong Nai Chung Gap and the fighting that took place in the area during WWII.

 

3. Eat Well Workshop on 4th August 2022

This workshop was conducted by Green Hub, a centre for sustainable living, situated on the Old Tai Po Police Station under the Revitalizing Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme. Our students learnt about food from field to table, as well as recovering food wastes as resources by engaging in a series of hands-on activities.  They were able to get more in-depth knowledge about sustainable living, respecting nature and healthy eating.  

 

4. Low Carbon Diet Workshop on 5th August 2022

This workshop was also held at Green Hub. It was designed to encourage low-carbon living by examining the origin of food and the carbon emissions involved in food production. Our students were offered activity sessions of herb harvesting at the Kitchen Garden and preparation of low carbon snack.  The programme ended with a guided tour to understand the historic and architectural values of the Old Tai Po Police Station. 

 

5. Experience Natural Tie Dyeing  on 8th August 2022

The event was another activity held at Green Hub. The day began with a workshop in which our students tried out tie-dyeing techniques to form unique patterns on wrapping cloth using turmeric, a common spice. The workshop was to promote environmental awareness and to encourage low-carbon living.  The day finished with a conducted tour of the heritage site of the Old Tai Po Police Station which is historically, architecturally and ecologically significant. 

 

6. Experience Herb on 11th August 2022

In this programme, our students were given a guided tour of the theme-gardens which grow a diverse range of plant species at Green Hub. They also experienced herbal tea tasting, vegetarian refreshments and making of herbal salt. At the end of the programme, they have learnt more about the characteristics, planting, mixing and usage of different herbs.

 

7. Elementary Japanese for Travel Class on 1st, 3rd, 5th and 10th August 2022

A short course was organized for our students to learn the Japanese language and experience Japanese culture in a fun and interactive way which included games and an online simultaneous cultural exchange session with local Japanese in Okinawa.  The classes were well received particularly when travelling to Japan has been made infeasible during the pandemic.  

 

Rejoice! For we are blessed to have a God who loves us and dwells among us!

This was the good news the Catholic Society shared with us this Christmas.
 

On 21 December, St. Mary’s was filled with the atmosphere of joy and fun. Dressed In their causal wear, all the St. Marians greeted one another with smiling faces. One could see the excitement and curiosity especially among the Form One students. For them this was their First Christmas in St. Mary’s.

The celebration started with a Bible liturgy in the School Hall while the fellow students participated in the classrooms via live broadcast. The nativity account according to St. Matthew was read telling us the good news that Jesus, called Immanuel, God-with-us, was born. Following the tradition, the fifth candle in the Advent wreath was lit to symbolize the coming of Jesus, who is the Light of the world. Then with trust and hope, we offered our intercessory prayers to God. The liturgy was concluded with carol singing led by the Assembly Choir. Their angels’ voices lifted our hearts to the highest.
 

The celebration continued with a video show broadcasted in the classrooms. The Christmas play produced by the Catholic Society and the Student Council came as a surprise! The missing Jesus in St. Mary’s chapel led the viewers into a touching and humorous story. While enjoying the creative and lively presentation of the play, we got the very important message that God is Love, when we love one another, God is with us. The video show was wrapped by the joyous performance by the Concert Band, the Intermediate Choir and the Junior Choir with a festive mood.
 

Though we could not have Christmas party to enjoy the good food in the classroom, we still treasured the short class time playing together and chatting leisurely with friends. The gorgeous decorations around the school compound attracted almost everyone to take photos. Yes, we definitely wanted to keep the beautiful moments in our memories.

The most exciting part of the celebration was the annual lucky draw.  We thanked the PTA and the PSA for their generous donation. The lucky draw would not be successful without the active participation of the teachers and students.  
 

 

Owing to the pandemic, only those who had been vaccinated could join the competitions. The Form 6 students were especially excited and enthusiastic as it was the last time they could gather together in this sportsground.

 

Although the event was comparatively smaller in scale than past annual sports days, everyone took an active part in cheering for their schoolmates and running in the races. The highlight of the day was the Prize Presentation Ceremony, not only because the winners were rewarded with medals, but also because of the fruitful and joyful experience. To draw the Athletic Experience Day to a close, all teachers and students took a group photo to end the day.

Fashion Show 2021 took place during the class period in the School Hall on 3^rd December 2021. Form 5 students watched the presentations in the Hall, whereas Form 4 students stayed in their classrooms and watched a live broadcast.
 

The theme of the Fashion Show this year was Contrast.  Four groups of students presented their fashion designs in the show.  Each presentation included a video – depiction of the theme and walking down the catwalk by a student-model to present their innovative ideas on the concept. Form 4 and Form 5 students, as well as teachers, voted for the Best Model Award and the Champion Award. 5A Anny Chau and 5A Esther Chan were the awardees respectively.
 

A Life-wide Learning Day was held on 26th November 2021 to expose students to different learning experiences outside the classroom.

 

Form One students participated in team building activities at school. To start with, they had an opportunity to discover their character strengths through fun games. After a series of warm up activities, they accomplished different tasks in groups - played a treasure hunt, created their class slogan and built a castle together. They enjoyed a fun morning communicating with their classmates and knowing each other better.

 

Form Two students experienced a 4-hour stress-release course, surrounded by the nature of Shing Mun Reservoir, through meditation and mindfulness exercises under the trees and sky. In addition to relaxing themselves, they also learnt more about the local ecosystem and appreciated the beauty of the natural environment. 

 

Form Three students visited the Hong Kong Heritage Museum to find out more about popular culture in Hong Kong after the 1960s which acted as an extended learning activity for History. It was truly an eye-opening experience for them to learn about the culture of Hong Kong six decades ago.

 

 

The speakers, Mr. Joseph H. L. Chan, JP, Under Secretary for FSTB and Mr. Gabriel Chan, Secretary General of HKBCS, shared with students the latest blockchain developments in Hong Kong and the adoption of technology in finance and the treasury. In the meeting, our girls were invited to introduce their blockchain application prototype and the professionals shared their valuable advice in terms of business and technical aspects.  

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the School Opening Mass was successfully held and live-streamed to classrooms on 23rd September 2021, with Rev. Fr. Christopher Chor Yuk Wa as the celebrant. All Catholic students and teachers participated in the Liturgy in the school hall. During the Holy Mass, the Executive Committee Members of the Catholic Society pledged their loyalty to accept and faithfully perform their duties for the greater glory of God, as well as for the good of the school and all students. Thanks be to God for making the event worthwhile and smooth-running. May God continue to bless each and every one of us in St. Mary’s! 

On 23rd September 2021, all Student Office Bearers were invited to officially mark the beginning of the new Student Officials of 2021-2022 in the investiture ceremony. All student leaders, including the Student Council Executive Committee and the respective Prefect Team Heads, were presented with badges by the school principal, Ms. Janet Wong, to mark the handing over of all the official duties to the new office bearers. The newly elected Head Girl, Huey Li, also introduced the theme of the Student Council this year, "Find The Key to Infinity - UNLOCK - Reach Beyond Our Limits" to all students in her maiden speech. 

Student achievement presentation sharing took place on 17^th September, 2021 during the class period in the school hall. Form 3 students went to the hall to watch the presentations, whereas other forms stayed in their classrooms and watched a live video feed. A total of six groups presented during the sharing, with experiences shared ranging from joining ambassador schemes and leadership programmes, to attending a forensic science competition and FINTECH course. The highlight of the event was undoubtedly a sharing from Bethany Chow on her day spent shadowing a senior government official. All groups were introduced by four lively and entertaining student MCs who did an excellent job in arousing the audience’s interest before the presenters came to the stage. Overall, the event was run smoothly and the sharing provided all students with a great insight into the enrichment activities and courses available to them. 

The Graduation Day, a special occasion to celebrate our F.6 graduates’ achievements and shower them with best wishes as they embark on a new journey, was held on 12th July 2021.  We were honoured to have Sr. Virginia Wong, Provincial Superior of Canossian Missions (Hong Kong & Macau) presenting certificates and Rev. Mario Emeterio Gutierrez Carrejo, Parish Priest of Rosary Church, giving a benediction.  Sr. Agnes Law, our school supervisor, addressed the audience and reminded our F.6 girls to be thankful at all times. Jackie Wong (6F), Student Council Headgirl 2019-20, represented the student body to give Votes of Thanks. The ceremony concluded with Sr. Agnes presenting tokens of appreciation to retiring teachers, Vice Principal Mr. Mikel Tso, Mathematics Department Head Mr. Cyril Lee and Home Economics Department Head Ms. Helena Kung for their dedicated service to the school.  We wish them a joyous and wonderful retirement life!

The online joint school parents' sharing co-organized by SMCC, SMCS, HACS and their Parent Teachers' Associations was held at 2pm on 16 January 2021, Saturday. It aims at informing primary school parents of the through-train spirits, familiarizing them with SMCC life and culture and offering advice on helping their daughters adapt to secondary school life.

 

Ms Janet Wong (school principal), Ms Flora Poon, Ms Jenny Chan (Heads of Learning and Teaching) and Ms Evita Lai (Advisor of Student Council) gave a presentation on the school profile:
 

•    School history, vision & motto

•    NSS curriculum & public exam results

•    Clubs & activities

•    Support for gifted students

•    Class allocation policy

•    Ways to adapt to secondary school life

 

Lorraine Siu (2018 F6 graduate) shared her experience of how to attain all-round development and gave suggestions on adjusting to school life at SMCC.

 

The sharing was held successfully with over 200 parent participants.