2022-2023

The extra touch wight ECA Activities
THE EXTRA TOUCH WITH ECA ACTIVITIES Fourth Formers have joined 6 lessons of extra-circular activities, from late October to early November. Based on interest, S.4 students were able to choose from 10 different activities. These included classes to help with language, that of Spanish; to skill classes like latte art class, guitar class and even a dart-throwing workshop. For those of us who wanted to give service, we can join the Social Service Group, Guidelight. To improve our knowledge, we had the hydroponics workshop, sign language class, and a STEM class. And for those who wanted that extra touch, we had the etiquette and cosmetology class. These classes all aimed to further enhance the generic skills of Shungtakians and explore their potential in different areas. Here is what Shungtakians felt: Spanish Class：Trilingual is never a full stop “Muy bien”—means “very good” in Spanish. Through lessons, students can learn simple vocabulary. “Picking up a new language must be hard” has always been a misconception for students. However, the statement has been proven wrong as can be seen from S4 students’ feedback. With interesting and interactive activities in lessons, students surely can have an unforgettable experience. Latte Art Class：Art and Life Most of the students have never tried latte art before. It may seem easy from the teacher’s demonstration, but it requires many techniques. Students felt satisfied when they were able to create art with milk on coffee and the best part was that they can enjoy a steaming hot coffee with their created masterpieces on top at the end of the class. Hydroponics Workshop ：Life and Love Through lessons, students can have a short experience of being a farmer and giving birth to the life of new plants. They also had to nurture the seedlings. It was never easy keeping them hydrated and absorbing enough nutrients and sunshine. Although some seedlings died during the process, students can learn from their mistakes. Life can be vulnerable, but it can also be strong. With the growth of plants, students can learn a life lesson while enjoying a delicious harvest.

The time has come for the start of the school year. Students are all excited to come to school again after the holiday. The highlight of the opening day is the handover ceremony. It is when the former student leaders pass the torch to the upcoming student leaders, continuing the spirit of servant leadership. It marks the start of their duty to serve, but not to be served. Bearing the name and duty of a student leader is never easy. However, it is certain that all of them are more than willing to give all they have and work together to create a better school atmosphere. Let us all look forward to having a fruitful and unforgettable 2022-2023 school year!

By 4L Matthew Cheung Have you ever noticed that some monuments in Hong Kong are closely related to the judicial system of our homeland? The North Kowloon Magistracy, a magistrates’ court, that was closed in 2005, is one of these monuments and we, STC’s Mock Trial team, had the chance to explore and learn more about our history. The Magistracy was erected in 1960 and served the community for over 44 years handling cases of the Kowloon district. It is a 7-storey building made of granite ashlar blocks and features a neo-classical architecture combined with stripped classicism which is a form of neo-classicism from which most of the traditional mouldings, ornament and details have been elided, visually emphasizing the structural and proportional systems. It is one of the only surviving examples of this building type. Another interesting fact is that after the closure of the court, it was converted into the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2009 until the government reclaimed it in 2020. What also makes this court unique are the cases that were adjudicated here. The Kwai Bing Hong case is an example of one of the three major criminals in Hong Kong who stood on trial here for assaulting two police officers and for the illegal possession of firearms. Members of our Mock Trial team had the opportunity to visit the cells and walk up the staircase to reach the defendant’s dock – an incredible feature of the Court where prisoners are held as they wait for a judge or jury to decide their fate. We also listened to accounts of thought-provoking cases and even participated in the judgement of a case of familicide, serving in the role of a jury. This experience provided us with basic understanding of the jury system and the severity of murder. Later on, an experienced judge shared insights closely related to the responsibilities that Hong Kong citizens should uphold. An ex-inmate shared his journey of reform since his release from jail, emphasizing the importance of obeying the law. This was a significant event for our students as we had an opportunity to interact with an ex-judge and an ex-inmate. As technology advances, law changes and we teenagers need to increasingly keep abreast of these changes so that we are fully aware of what constitutes a crime. It is, therefore, crucial to supplement textbook knowledge with out-of-classroom experiences which can provide a broader perspective on societal issues. Learning more about our home Hong Kong and the beauty of it in the forms of buildings was also a bonus in the journey.

Biology Field Trip to Ho Koon Nature Education Cum Astronomical Centre
In late November, S5 and S6 students studying Biology joined a field trip to the Ho Koon Nature Education Cum Astronomical Centre. S5 students learnt to use the ‘Biobliz’ method to estimate the biodiversity in Tai Mo Shan and S6 students studied different microhabitats in the garden of the Centre. The experiences paid off as was evident with their smiles.

The Capture the Flag competition has entered its third year and has received strong support from the local and international academic communities. Nearly 1,200 local secondary school, tertiary institution students, IT elites, and international CTF experts formed 434 teams to participate, demonstrating the passion of Hong Kong’s new generation for cybersecurity. The success of this competition highlights the excellent talent and technical skills in the field of cybersecurity in Hong Kong. Participants demonstrated outstanding technical abilities and problem-solving skills, showcasing their deep knowledge and solid foundation in cybersecurity. Moreover, the competition provided participants with the opportunity to engage with top CTF experts from different regions, fostering international knowledge exchange and collaboration. Against fierce competition from more than 200 teams, the four students of our school, Shung Tak, participating in the Hong Kong Cyber Security CTF Challenge 2022 secondary division, showcased an unparalleled level of skill and knowledge in the field of cybersecurity. The others were no match for our team as we walked away with the trophy for the champion. Way to go Shungtakians! A job very well done.

Shung Tak after-hours Have you ever wondered what Shung Tak looks like, feels like at night? In a highly anticipated activity organized by the Students’ Union 2022-2023, Hestiuz, students finally had the chance to stay overnight in Shung Tak on 31st March and 1st April. The activity was one of the experiences offered in the past but due to the pandemic, life was not what it was. But now as things return to the norm, the long awaited and anticipated activity was back on. Three games — Escape from Confinement, Treasure in the Dark, and Inception offered fun and thrilling experiences to participants in figuring out clues to escape the room or finding objects in the dark. Students certainly had a blast during the two days. The activity was also a chance for our members to be creative and as they worked together to put the activity together, it was the best way to build team spirit. Let us all work together as one building the experiences of all Shungtakians.

The first blood donation days 2022-2023, on the Blood Donation Coach, was successfully held in early November with 49 units of blood collected. From registration to donating blood, each step followed the additional protocol required under COVID-19. Donating blood is the most valuable gift we can give. The decision to donate blood can save a life or keep supporting the drive. The next blood donation day will be in May 2023.

When I was in S4, I was honoured to be nominated to join the Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award by my school. Established in 1985, HKOSA recognises promising students with outstanding academic, extracurricular, and community service achievements and morality. All Finalists of the Award are invited to join the HKOSA Association, which has evolved into a diverse community of more than 1,000 Award Alumni, including social leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals. ‘Giving is Outstanding’ is the slogan of the award, which encourages us to contribute to society. I have learned so much and broadened my horizons on this one and a half-year journey. From the 400 candidates that sat the written test to the final 20 individual interviews, I have met so many different OSArs. Each stage of the award interview is unforgettable and will definitely be a lifelong memory for me. One highlight was the assessment camp which was held in June 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time, the usual overnight camp was not possible, so a two-day camp was held instead. Even though it was not overnight, we had enough time to be with the other participants and learn about each other. Being an OSAr does not only require our academic abilities, but also calls upon our personalities, actions, and understanding of society. We formed teams and played different games to train our team spirit as well as show our own uniqueness. My team colour was green, and my team was called ‘Greenish Green’. Although we didn’t know whether we would meet again in the future, we treasured the moments we had at that time. We were all genuine with our peers and showed the real version of ourselves during the camp. After passing the assessment camp, we became official OSArs. There was a wide variety of ‘enrichment programmes’ provided by the Youth Arch Foundation, such as excursions sharings about different topics from past members of OSA. We could ask questions and chat with them to share opinions at dinner or lunch gatherings. Moreover, past members were paired up with students who are interested in studying overseas, to act as their mentors. In the programmes, we would learn more about real experiences from past OSArs and get their genuine and valuable opinions. In the finalist sharing session, I chose to present on “Special Educational Need Students”. “Every kid is unique” was my presentation title. Every student has their own personality and hobby and no one should be discriminated against because of their differences. I also heard some brilliant talks from other OSArs. Some of them who are also secondary school students had organised NGOs and were even representatives of the Hong Kong girl’s football team. Most of them targeted education inequality and even organised different enterprises like second-hand book shops and tutoring platforms. Seeing these outstanding performers, I truly understood the meaning of the term – “There is always a taller mountain”. We may think we are strong already, but we should never be overconfident or arrogant. On the other hand, we should not look down on ourselves or others because everyone has hidden talents and abilities. In a nutshell, I learned so much and broadened my horizons with the HKOSA, and I am glad to have been a part of it. I still couldn’t believe that I have been through so many stages and interviews, and it has been a blessing for me at each stage. The OSAr family is very special. There is a bond between present and past members and they are all willing to share and give opinions to each other. I met truly talented peers in society, and I was able to interact with them. This was undoubtedly a rare and precious experience and now, I have a brand-new interpretation for the meaning of ‘outstanding’. I hope whoever is reading this can also step out of their comfort zone and remember that ‘outstanding is giving’. Contribute to society while being excellent with your own skills!

With the weather noticeably warming up, you may recall, on a cooler, more drizzly day last December, our annual Operation Santa Claus (OSC) was held on a dreary but cheerful Friday afternoon. Our efforts and charitable spirit have now been acknowledged by RTHK and SCMP, the joint organizers of the fundraising event. Shung Tak Catholic English School has been recognized and awarded as the ‘Most Creative School Fundraiser’ this year.
This award certainly demonstrates that our school has the common spirit of helping those in need as well as being creative in the methods of raising funds.
Operation Santa Claus (OSC) is an annual charity campaign with the aims of making a difference in the community and to spread joy and goodwill. 15 local charities and organizations were chosen by RTHK and the SCMP as the beneficiaries of OSC 2022. In keeping with our STC tradition, we choose one of the 15 to focus on so that our students can gain more insights about the beneficiary. Pathways Foundation, who help local children with learning challenges complicated by dyslexia, was chosen by the Organizing Committee. After the charity’s visit and sharing at the school in December last year, our students and staff had a better understanding about the work of this organization and had a clearer picture of how the money raised would be utilized.
The day was yet another one to remember. It was clearly seen in the enthusiasm and the way that both the PTA and student groups provided mouth-watering food for all participants; it was also seen in the many varied and fun game booths that had to be set up in the hall due to the wet weather; and it could be seen in our students’ faces as they were enjoying the festivities of the day and tucking into the tasty treats and delicious drinks. The festive and enjoyable atmosphere brought in a staggering HK$73,888 in support of OSC 2022.
Well done, Shung Tak and thank you to all those responsible for making it run smoothly, effectively, and creatively! We hope you had an absolutely fantastic time at this year’s OSC@STC!
The award is certainly the icing on the (Christmas) cake for the school!

Video Link of OSC Awards: Youtube Link