Build a colorful campus and inspire multiple intelligences

Y.C.H. Choi Hin To Primary School Upholding the spirit of the school motto of "Respecting benevolence and helping the world", we are committed to cultivating students to become the pillars of society, teaching "good students" and "teaching" every student well, cultivating them to distinguish right from wrong, love life, be proactive and benefit the community, and become tomorrow's successors who "keep pace with academics, sports and arts". The new principal, Xu Jian, has more than 25 years of school administrative experience. He leads the teaching team to bring novel learning experiences to students and provide a comfortable learning environment for students to study in a colorful and enjoyable campus, so that they can thrive and give back to society and contribute to Hong Kong in the future.

Optimize class arrangement and set up multiple intelligence classes

The school is committed to enriching students’ learning experience and taking care of their diversified development of knowledge and skills. The school has re-optimized and integrated the class schedule, concentrating subject courses in the morning and arranging different learning activities for students in the afternoon to promote the development of students' multiple intelligences. Vice Principal Ye Minmei pointed out: "The school attaches great importance to students' English development, and specially arranges two foreign English teachers to strengthen students' English expression and communication skills, and conducts top-notch English courses during school hours to improve students' English proficiency. At the same time, the Monday afternoon period is set as a 'language class' to consolidate students' language foundation through English activities."

"Talent classes" are arranged on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons to provide students with different courses to explore their shining points. Director of the Activities Department Lin Wanzhen said that Tuesdays mainly arrange art courses, such as calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, Chinese folk crafts, percussion, etc.; Thursdays focus on innovative technology, arranging students to participate in STEAM creation, Scratch programming or creative robots. The school promotes a "whole-school participation" model and will not ignore the talents of students just because they fail to make the school team.

On Wednesday afternoon, "Growth Class" is held, focusing on life planning education. The school will arrange themed activities for each level. For example, in the fourth-grade "Financial Intelligence" activity, each class of students needs to design an exhibition booth, be responsible for the entire booth operation process, and sell goods to the third-grade students. Through this, students can learn sales skills, marketing knowledge, and cost calculation, thereby cultivating "entrepreneurial spirit" and promoting the development of interpersonal intelligence through teamwork. Principal Tsui added: "At the upper primary school level, the school leads students to go into the community to deepen their understanding of Hong Kong, and organizes the "Create Your Own Itinerary" activity, in which fifth graders are asked to design travel day itineraries for fourth graders. Students need to collect information, formulate publicity strategies, calculate travel time and fares, etc. Teachers will assist and give suggestions to students. The program allows students to participate in school planning and teaches them how to coordinate activities and cultivate young leaders."

Enrich music, sports and art activities and colorful campus life

The school's activities are very diversified, especially in the arts, which presents a strong learning atmosphere. It provides Chinese drama, English drama, ballet and other courses to cultivate students' language and physical expression skills. The school's dance group achieves excellent results in inter-school competitions every year, demonstrating excellent dance skills. At the same time, the school also has choirs, Chinese orchestras, etc. to promote the development of students' musical intelligence. In terms of sports, the school has established different sports teams. In addition to specially hiring professional coaches, it also makes good use of community training resources and applied for coaches from the Hong Kong Rugby Union to coach the men's and women's rugby teams respectively.

In addition, the school holds spiritual painting classes, allowing students to create freely and express their inner thoughts and feelings through artistic works. Teachers will identify students in need of help and provide timely support. The school also incorporates spiritual arts into the regular curriculum to provide them with ways to relieve their emotions and stress. At the same time, the school will display students’ outstanding works on different floors and even make them into souvenirs for children and guests to share their students’ learning results, build a sense of “success” and “ownership”, and inspire them to be motivated to improve themselves.

Dual-track common sense and visual arts to take care of learning diversity

The school implements STEM education with a dual-track policy of "common sense-based" and "visual arts-based" to take care of students' learning diversity and allow different abilities and expertise to be brought into play. The school has specially set up a new "Natural Ecology Room" to coordinate with the ecological education courses to teach students about natural ecology and the relationship between humans and nature. In addition, teachers will also train students to become ecological ambassadors, responsible for caring for and feeding small animals, such as shield-armed turtles, geckos, jellyfish, etc., thereby cultivating and strengthening students' values, including respect for others, responsibility, commitment, care, empathy, etc., and practicing positive values ​​in life. Under the dual-track policy, the school's STEAM education has achieved remarkable results, and students have used their creativity to design many outstanding works. Among them, the "dynamic sculpture" designed last year was well received by the kindergarten affiliated to Yan Chai Hospital. This year, the school even won the championship in the "Tai Po Thousands of Happy Mid-Autumn Festival Gala" lantern design competition. The work used technology, art design, culture and other knowledge to implement the concept of interdisciplinary learning.

Teacher Zhuang Xiaolang, director of the visual arts department, added: "Every child has his or her own talents. The school hopes that students who are strong in art but weak in mathematics and science can also actively participate in STEM learning and stimulate their interest in learning different subjects. Through interdisciplinary collaborative teaching and linking different technical subjects, we promote the participation of the whole school and enhance students' interest in innovation and technology learning." The school actively organizes various types of STEM activities, such as exploring the relationship between egg and vinegar erosion, making solar boats, etc., to promote students' life skills and scientific development. At the same time, the Visual Arts Department will also cooperate with the General Studies Department and the Computer Department to arrange laser cutting courses for students to learn how to apply innovative technologies.

Adaptation course for primary school freshmen to integrate into happy campus life

The transition from kindergarten to primary school is a challenge that every Primary One student and their parents need to face. The school is committed to providing appropriate support and assistance. As early as June, the school has held parent-teacher meetings for registered new students to enhance their understanding of the school. In addition, it will provide new students with a two-week "English Adaptation Course" and arrange for foreign teachers to participate in the class to create an international English context. The "English Adaptation Course" not only covers English, but also covers other subjects, allowing children to experience the primary school class model. Teachers will also use this to observe their level, interest and ability in English, so as to adjust the curriculum arrangement.

Director of the Academic Affairs Department Feng Zhongyi added that the school will arrange a half-day "adaptation class" for students in August; the first week of the semester will be used as an adaptation week for new students to help them become familiar with campus life and teaching methods; in the first semester, there will only be mock exams to reduce students' learning pressure and give them more time and space to understand knowledge. In addition, the school also organizes a "Parent School" for parents to teach them "review tips" to support their children's learning. A growth ceremony will be held three months after the start of the school year, where parents are invited to the school to witness their children's learning achievements.

Strengthen community participation and establish a spirit of giving back

The school sponsoring group "Yan Chai Hospital", as a charity organization that provides diversified services, regularly organizes charity activities to help those in need. The school also takes this opportunity to arrange students to go into the community and participate in voluntary work. For example, selling flags to raise funds, visiting nursing homes, and cleaning beaches to serve the society and cultivate citizen awareness. In addition, the school also makes good use of social resources to allow students to participate in the "Five Studies in Martial Arts Campus Project" and conduct a National Day martial arts performance with thousands of people, thereby strengthening ties with the community and establishing national identity. During the service and activities, students not only promote the development of multiple intelligences, but also train their self-care and communication skills and practice positive values.