Christian Service News
Issue 58 (January 2008)
Newsflash
Sharing Session on "Caring School Award Scheme 2007"
The 'Caring School Award Scheme 2007' was organized by Happy Teens Club (Integrated Children and Youth Service) of Hong Kong Christian Service (HKCS) with the collaboration of Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters (HKACMGM). This is the third year for this meaningful event. To facilitate more sharing on the promotion of caring culture among schools, two sharing sessions for primary and secondary schools respectively were held on 12 October 2007 at City University. Around 200 teaching professionals attended the function.
Honorable speakers, Mr. Brian Lee, Principal Inspector (Guidance & Discipline) of Education Bureau and Dr. Esther Ho, Chairperson of HKACMGM had been invited. Together with Ms. Yvonne Chak, Principal Coordinator of Happy Teens Club, speakers shared their views in the promotion of caring school culture. "As revealed from foreign literatures and research, caring culture in schools can help to prevent students' problems and provide a good nurturing environment for students' development," Ms. Yvonne Chak said. Dr. Esther Ho also highlighted the importance of education professionals in building a caring school. "The Caring School Award in itself is not a 'competition' of any kind, but it is a kind of recognition to teachers and school personnel on their dedicated efforts in loving their students," Dr. Ho said. Mr. Brian Lee also appreciated the Award Scheme, "The Education Bureau supports the Award Scheme in promoting the caring school culture and very much appreciates the efforts done by the schools."
Moreover, representatives from some schools that were awarded the '2006 Excellent Caring School Award' were also invited to share their valuable wisdom and experience in cultivating a caring school atmosphere. These included Pak Kau College, FDBWA Mrs Fung Ping Shan Primary School, Po Leung Kuk Gold & Silver Exchange Society Pershing Tsang School, Hong Kong Student Aid Society Primary School, Tseung Kwan O Methodist Primary School, Holy Carpenter Primary School, and Taoist Ching Chung Primary School. School representatives shared practical ways to address students with special caring needs and create caring atmosphere in the classroom, their experience in developing a caring staff team, ways to enhance cooperation between parents and schools, and to carry out effective evaluation of the schools' caring work.
Finally, Mr. Li Tin Lun, Supervisor of Shamshuipo East Happy Teens Club, introduced the details of the 'Caring School Award 2007'. As the previous years, the aims of the Caring School Award were to openly recognize those schools that had actively promoted caring culture in their schools. Three kinds of awards would be granted in this year. These included the 'Caring School Awards', 'Outstanding Caring School Awards' and the newly designed special award of 'The Most Caring School for Students with Special Needs'. All awards would be presented in an award presentation ceremony held in March 2008.