Shatin Pui Ying College

Coordinates: 22°23′21.4″N 114°11′40.1″E / 22.389278°N 114.194472°E / 22.389278; 114.194472

Shatin Pui Ying College (Chinese: 沙田培英中學), abbreviated as SPYC or PYC, is a Christian school that was established in 1978. Located in Hong Kong, SPYC is an English medium of instruction (EMI) secondary school fully subsidised by the government with 4 classes each for Forms 1 to 3, 5 classes each for Form 4 and 5, and 6 classes for Forms 6. The school icon is an eagle symbolizing courage and determination.

School mission

The school has "holistic education" as its philosophy, with "Faith, Hope, Love" (「信、望、愛」) as its motto. The school is committed to the provision of a comprehensive range of quality education services, which aims to promote the moral (德), intellectual (智), physical (體), social (群), aesthetic (美) and spiritual (靈) development of the students.

As the ability of the students, the English capability of the teachers and the relevant supporting strategies are above the required standard, the EMB has given us approval to continue using English as the medium of instruction since 1998.

School history

Rev Henry Noyes, the school founder, was a minister of the U.S. Presbyterian Church. In 1879 he founded a beginners' school called An Hwoh School in Saki, Guangzhou, offering Mathematics and Science. With a lot of hard work, Pui Ying emerged and bloomed. A chain of schools was established in Guangzhou, Taishan, Jiangmen and Hong Kong.

In 1978, to celebrate the centennial, the Board of Directors established the 5th school; an Anglo-Chinese School named Pui Ying College, with Mr Wong Wai Wah as the Principal. In the first year, the school operated on the campus of Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School at Lek Yuen Estate. In September 1979, the school could at last move into the 24-classroom premises in Wo Che Estate. The school library was open since September 1982.

In order to make it possible for all the Form 3 students to continue Form 4 in the school, the school altered the class structure to a symmetrical one. The Student Union was set up in September 1995 and Parent-Teacher Association in 1996. In 1996, Principal Wong retired and was succeeded by Vice Principal Ms Yau Oi Yuen. The mixed ability classes replaced the elite system in September, 1996. Ms Chan Lai Fan becomes the principal starting from the academic year 2015/16.

In September 2015, Principal Yau retired and was succeeded by Vice Principal Ms Chan Lai Fan. And Mr Chan Tak Nam succeeded as Vice Principal.

The library system was changed to use computer since September 2001. The new wing building of the school has been finished since July 2005. In the new wing, there are classrooms for higher forms classes, a new library, some special rooms and computer rooms.

Biliteracy and Trilingualism

English

Exchange students from Italy, Brazil and Germany help to enhance student ability in English. To enhance students’ interest and ability in English, the school offers Script-writing Courses, English Tutorial Class, English Drama Competition, Form 1 Bridging Programme, Lyrics-writing Course, English Immersion Speech Competition, Interviewing Tourists, English Phonetics Class, English Enhancement Course, Summer English Class, Overseas Immersion Course, Summer English Camp for senior form students, Summer English Day Camp for junior form students, Intra-school and English Musicals.^[1]

Chinese

The Chinese Language teachers have written several teaching units for the new curriculum, which have been examined and commented on by educators from Shanghai. Various activities to upgrade students' Chinese standard are Extensive Reading Scheme, Creative Writing Class, Chinese Week, Prose Writing Class, Reading Club, Modern Poetry Writing Class, Verse-speaking Gathering, Story Writing Class, and Seminar on Reading, Seminar on Modern Poetry, Intra-school and Inter-school Chinese Debate Competitions and Report and Comment on Chinese 'Words of Wisdom'.

Putonghua

To arouse students' interest in Putonghua, the school offers Putonghua Day, Tongue-Twisters, Putonghua Class, Singing Contest, Putonghua Broadcast and Putonghua Corner. Students participate in inter-school seminars and competitions including Verse Speaking of Classical Poetry in Putonghua and Putonghua Speaking Competitions. To promote the Chinese culture, the school offers Visits to Chinese relic sites, Workshop on Chinese clipart, Chinese Tea Tao and Chinese Culture and General Studies Competition.

Academic achievements

All Form 1 newcomers from the own district are Band 1 students. 100% of the Form 3 students gain admission to Form 4 in the school. Students achieve good academic results in public examinations. The average passing percentage for the HKCEE and HKALE is above 90%. Most of the subjects have percentages in credits and distinctions well above the figures obtained by all HKCEE and HKALE candidates. The best individual result is 8As in 2004.

All Form 6 places in the school are filled by the Form 5 students, except the exchange students from other countries. Most of the Form 7 graduates gain university admission these years. The graduates perform well in universities with some being scholarship-holders.

According to the "Academic Value-added Indicator" results released by the EMB, the school has achieved positive added value in its best six subjects as the school as Chinese, English and Mathematics from 2000 to 2006. The added value is higher than the territory-wide average, and the average gained by similar intake schools and schools from the same district. Some subjects have reached the highest possible value-added limit.

Scholarships, Academic Awards, Flying Eagle Awards and Improvement Awards are given to students with outstanding academic achievements. The school sponsors students to take part in inter-school competition and Courses for Gifted Students offered by educational institutions, such as The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Tutorial classes have been launched to improve junior form students' proficiency in both English and Chinese languages as well as Mathematics. English Enhancement Courses are provided for students to enhance their English standard. The school sponsors students interested in Chinese writing to join workshops hosted by renowned writers.

Features

English Musicals

1999-2001 The Comeback Kid

2001-2003 Soul for Sale

2003-2005 The Last Move

2005-2007 The Lost Face

2007-2009 Heart in Arms

2009-2011 Project Messiah

2011-2013 The Twelfth Night

2013-2015 The Merchant of Venice

2015-2016 TBA

Promoting a reading culture

A Reading Time for 20 minutes every day is designed to help students to cultivate a reading habit. The school organises Chinese and English Extensive Reading Schemes. A Reading Day is held by the school library for all students to read or to take part in activities related to reading.

Evangelism

The school offers activities to guide the students according to the Christian principles, such as Gospel Week, Gospel Camp Evangelical Team, Evangelical Broadcast, Bible Study Groups and Christian Fellowship.

School life

School songs

There is a school song with Chinese lyrics. Its melody is the same as the song O Christmas Tree and there are two paragraphs. There is also a school hymn with English lyrics. There are three paragraphs in this school hymn.

Sports days and swimming gala

There are 2 sports days every year. The sports days take places on the Yuen Wo Road Sports Ground. Besides the various types of sports competitions, there are competitions among the cheering teams. The swimming gala is held every year with the Pui Ying Secondary School. It takes place on the Hong Kong Island or Sha Tin District alternatively every two years.

External competitions

Students in the school take parts in many external competitions in many fields such as music, sports, debates, writings, mathematics and other academic competitions. One of the most notable competitions is the Hang Lung Mathematics Award. The school’s HLMA team got an Honourable Mention in 2004 ^[2] and a Special Commendation in 2006.^[3]

School organizations

Student Union

The Student Union was established in November 1994. Its election activity is held in November every year. It helps the school setting new school rules and improves students’ lives. It organises activities such as blood donation days and ball game competitions.

School library

The school library has over 20000 books available to students. Every year there are about 100 school librarians. The book borrowing system was changed from man power only into computer system in 2001. The location of it was moved to the new wing building of the school in 2005. It organises Reading Day every year.

Notable alumni

• Joey Yung (容祖兒): A very popular female Canto pop singer and actress.
• Lai Wing Man, Carol (賴穎文): A future film maker.
• Louise Ho (何璐怡): A female dubbing actress in TVB.
• Tsoi Chi Fu (蔡智夫): A writer of a computer reference book.^[4]
• Raphel Wong (黃浩銘): Vice Chairman for League of Social Democrats

See also

• Education in Hong Kong

References

http://www.pariscommunityhospital.com/

External links

• The official website of Shatin Pui Ying College
• Secondary School Profile