Dear honourable guest Professor Kuo, chairman Dr Li, supervisor Dr Lee, school managers, parents, teachers and students.
On behalf of our school and graduates, I am honoured to welcome Professor Kuo to preside over this year’s Speech Day.
The Quality Assurance Section of the Education Department visited our school last year and observed our school activities for a period of five days. And, as a result of this visit, I am delighted to report that they gave very positive remarks regarding our school in general, including the school management and our sponsoring body. Furthermore, after observing 50 lessons, they credited us with a high percentage of ‘excellent and good’ grades related to ‘teaching and learning’. The visitors also provided an array of examples which suggested a high level of good behaviour from our students both in and outside of the school. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to show my appreciation to our teachers and students.
In regards to our performance in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), thirteen out of fifteen subjects have seen a passing rate of over 90%, which is above the Hong Kong average. Among these results, Business, Accounting and Financial Studies, Information and Communication Technology, History, Mathematics (M1) and Mathematics (M2) have reached 100%. Former student, Mr Wong Chun Ting, attained the grades: one (Level 5**), one (Level 5*) and four (Level 5s). We have twenty-seven graduates being admitted to Hong Kong universities for bachelor degree courses. Among them, nine have been admitted to the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Enhancing our students’ English efficacy is one of our major concerns. Apart from our standard English teaching practices, we have also managed to enrich the school’s English learning environment. The English Reading Aloud and the English Songs Programmes were, once again, very successful last year.
This year we have two more subjects using English as the medium of instruction in Secondary One. We hope our students can take advantage of the various English learning opportunities on offer to them. The English Summer Camp (ELIC), which was held over the Summer Holidays, is a good example of an opportunity. During the camp, the students learned English through a variety of authentic mediums. As a result, I have no doubt that our students’ interest and desire to learn English have shown a marked level of improvement. I would therefore, like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the school’s sponsoring body for subsidising the camp fee for the eleventh consecutive year.
Last year’s slogan was ‘Thankfulness’. We not only expect our students to become active learners, we also expect that they be thankful to their parents, their teachers and society as a whole. Throughout the year, students have been immersed in altruistic and pastoral activities. It is my sincere hope, that through these activities both inside and outside of the school, our students have learned the virtue of ‘give’ rather than just to ‘take’.
Dear graduates, you are leaving your school today, your second home. You fly away like birds, catch the wind and begin your journey, your odyssey, and to seek your dream. I wish you every success in finding your dreams and I am delighted to share with you the day your dreams come true. In the world outside there are numerous challenges and uncertainties awaiting you, you must be courageous and uphold your beliefs and faith. Our school is always open to you. Our teachers and fellow schoolmates are waiting here to meet you again.
Last but not least, and on behalf of our entire school, I would like to say a big thank you to Professor Kuo for presiding over today’s ceremony. Also, my sincere thanks also go to our school’s sponsoring body and school managers for their continued support of our school and its students. Our school is supported by devoted teachers, without whom, our school would find it hard to progress. Also, there are many alumni and parents here with us today - to them I say, thank you for coming back to your second home.