Message from the Principal (1st September 2016)

Munsang College

2016 / 2017

Message from the Principal (1)

1^st September, 2016

 

 

Dear Parents and Students,

 

Please take note of the following:

 

A.	F.1 to F.3 Streaming
	A B C D E F.1 * Academically Stronger Academically Stronger Normal F.2 * Academically Stronger Academically Stronger Mediocre Normal F.3 Academically Stronger Mediocre Normal
	* Putonghua is adopted as the medium of instruction for Chinese Language.
B.	School Major Concerns 2016/2017
	1.	Enhancing learning and teaching effectiveness
		a.	Catering for learners’ diversity
			⚫	Adopting differentiated instruction and tiered assignments to cater for students’ diverse learning needs
			⚫	Using higher order thinking questions and assessing students’ learning outcomes
			⚫	Using e-learning to cater for students’ different learning styles
		b.	Effective use of assessment
			⚫	Using assessment to
				-	identify students’ common areas of improvement and misconceptions
				-	help students’ self-reflection and self-monitoring
				-	facilitate teachers to make adjustment to their teaching strategies
		c.	Use of effective study skills
			⚫	Cultivating students’ note-taking skills and study skills through school-based curriculum for F.1 and F.2 students
			⚫	Adopting pre-lesson preparation to create space for deep learning
	2.	Building learning communities
		a.	Strategies for students
			⚫	Enabling students to learn from their peers and to share good practices
			⚫	Providing a platform for high achievers to learn from their peers, teachers and alumni
			⚫	Facilitating students’ capability of employing reflection skills in running OLE activities
		b.	Staff development for teachers
			⚫	Inculcating a sharing culture among teachers
			⚫	Providing teachers with chances on experience sharing on teaching and curriculum planning
			⚫	Managing and sharing learning and teaching resources
			⚫	Facilitating communication and collaboration among teachers of different committees and subject departments
C.	Matters Concerning Financial Arrangement
	1.	Student Financial Assistance
		a.	Collection of Eligibility Certificate ( 資格證明書 )
			The Student Financial Assistance Agency has mailed the captioned application results to the applicants who have submitted application for assessment of eligibility. To facilitate the assessment process, please complete and return the Eligibility Certificate to the class teachers on / before 6th September, 2016 (Tue).
		b.	New Application
			Applications are invited for the above-mentioned assistance which includes assistance in the following areas:
			⚫	School Textbook Assistance
			⚫	Student Traveling Subsidy
			⚫	Subsidy Scheme for Online Charge
			The scheme is applied on a 'family-basis' and the Student Financial Assistance Agency has mailed pre-printed family-based Application Form B to applicants who were granted financial assistance in 2015/2016.
			Parents who wish to apply on behalf of their children in 2016/2017 but were not granted the assistance in 2015/2016 should
			⚫	obtain an Application Form A and the relevant information from the General Office, and
			⚫	mail the completed application form together with all the supporting documents to the Student Financial Assistance Agency directly.
	2.	Grantham Maintenance Grants 2016/17 (For F.4-F.6 students)
		To be eligible for applying for the captioned maintenance grants, the student-applicant must be a Hong Kong resident who is not in receipt of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance in his/her own name or under the applicant's family. Repeaters will not be considered except under very special circumstances. Application forms can be downloaded from the following website:
		http://www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/sfo/pdf/common/Form/sgl/GMG_Application_Form_E.pdf
		The application form together with the supporting documents should reach Mr. Yu Kin-man, Vice-principal, at the General Office on/before 15th September, 2016 (Thu).
	3.	Tong Fai & Fee Collection
		a.	ePayment for F.1 – F.3
			Commencing in 2015/16, all F.1 – F.3 students will be able to make electronic payments (ePayment). An amount of HK$3,000 is to be deposited for settling the "Tong Fai and Fee to be collected”. Parents will be able to keep track of all payment transactions made at school via the eClass platform. For deposit of funds into students’ accounts, 2 channels are available:
			i.	PPS (繳費靈), select “Munsang College” (PPS Code: 6340), or
			ii.	Bank in to the account 285-120754-003 (Hang Seng Bank - Bank Code: 024).
				Bank-in slip should be submitted to the class teachers on/before 6th September, 2016 (Tue).
			For PPS bill registration procedures, please refer to the Information for PPS Bill Registration printed on P.10. Besides, parents are advised to keep a proper record of the transaction for checking purpose. At the end of an academic year, any unused balanced will be tallied and carried forward to the next academic year. Upon graduation, any remaining balance will be returned to students via a cheque.
		b.	For F.4 to F.6
			Please submit fees listed in the table on P.9 by cheque to the class teachers on 2nd September, 2016 (Fri). Points to note:
			⚫	have the cheque made payable to "The Incorporated Management Committee of Munsang College"
			⚫	write the name, class and contact number of student on the back of the cheque
			⚫	post-dated cheques not to be accepted
		c.	If parents have two or more children studying in Munsang College, refund of the overcharged amount for the membership fee of Parent-Teacher Association can be applied for in the General Office from 5th to 9th September, 2016 while refund of the overcharged amount for “Voice 2015/16” (Year Book) can be applied for from 11th October, 2016. The reply slip should be returned to the General Office on/before 21st October, 2016.
		d.	For iPortfolio (9) and Smart Card (10), the charges are ONLY applicable to the newly-admitted students (NOT for F.1 Repeaters). Students who have lost the cards should approach the General Office for replacement.
		e.	Charge of $25 for the 2nd Copy of Testimonial / Transcript
			With reference to EDB Circular No. 46/99, the College has been given approval to collect HK$25.00 for the second copy of testimonial or transcript from students.
			Accordingly, applicants must submit HK$25.00 for each succeeding copy, other than the first copy, of the testimonial or transcript to be issued by the College.
D.	Health Concerns
	1.	Students' Medical History
		In order to provide our students with better support services, you are invited to supply the information of your children's medication condition by completing the Table on P.11 and returning it to the Class Teachers on/before 5th September, 2016 (Mon).
	2.	P.E. Lessons and Sports Activities of our School
		It is our objective to provide students with balanced development in integrity, intelligence, physical fitness, gregariousness and aesthetic. Physical Education is therefore a compulsory subject in our formal curriculum and all students must attend P.E. lessons.
		If a student suffering from serious health problems (e.g. chronic heart disease, injuries, surgical operation, and other diseases concerning internal organ or acute infections) wishes to be given exemption from P.E. / swimming lessons either temporarily or on a long term basis, application should be made to the Physical Education Department of the school on/before 15th September, 2016.
		The application should be in the form of a letter signed by the parents of the student, together with a medical certificate given by a doctor practicing western medicine. The student who has been granted exemption is still required to attend the P.E. lessons as an observer. Furthermore, he/she will not be allowed to participate in any extra-curricular sports activity until a written application to resume his/her P.E./swimming lessons is made by his/her parents. The school holds no liability in this connection.
		We therefore urge you as parents to make an early application to the school pursuant to this letter if you consider that your son/daughter cannot do vigorous physical exercises either temporarily or on a long-term basis. Appropriate arrangements will then proceed accordingly.
	3.	Preventing the Spread of Communicable Diseases in School
		a.	As advised by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), outbreaks of communicable diseases such as human swine influenza, influenza, chickenpox, norovirus and hand, foot and mouth disease may occur in institutions and schools from time to time.
		b.	Before the commencement of the new school year, we have thoroughly cleaned and disinfected the school premises. We would urge all students/staff members to pay attention to their personal hygiene and environmental hygiene of the school.
		c.	For the sake of students’ health, we would like to appeal to you that in addition to maintaining a clean and healthy household environment, please remind your children to observe personal hygiene and keep the school environment clean. Please also kindly take note of the following measures:
			-	Seek medical advice as soon as possible if your children develop symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting and skin rash. If symptoms such as fever, sore throat or cough are developed, they should put on a mask immediately and seek medical care from designated influenza clinics as soon as possible. Please also notify the school and let the children stay at home for rest until symptoms have improved and fever has subsided for at least 2 days, or follow the medical advice on sick leave, whichever is longer.
			-	Children with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) should be excluded from schools until fever has subsided and all the vesicles have dried and crusted. As an extra precaution, children with EV 71 infection should not go to school for another two weeks after all symptoms subsided.
			-	Inform the school immediately if children are sick or have been admitted to hospital for surveillance.
			-	Co-operate with the school by picking up children not feeling well from school and consulting the doctor immediately.
			-	Provide children with handkerchiefs or tissue papers and remind them not to share towels or tissue papers with others.
			-	Remind children to keep hands clean, cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose used tissue paper properly.
			-	Before sending children to school, measure their body temperature, record the reading and sign the temperature record sheet which is available in Student and Parent Handbook 2016/2017. The control measure will take effect from 5th September, 2016 (Mon).
			Please ask your child to present the temperature record sheet to his/her class teacher for checking every day. Students who fail to do so have to pay an amount of $3.00 for temperature checking at school.
		d.	Again, we would like to appeal to parents’ co-operation in maintaining a clean and healthy household environment. Please remind your children to pay attention to personal hygiene and to take all necessary preventive measures against communicable diseases.
E.	Careers Committee
	1.	To help students in managing their Careers & Life Planning (CLP), we have adopted a set of career tool books published by Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters (HKACMGM) to be used in students’ CLP sessions and activities. F.2 to F.3 students will use “Finding Your Colours of Life” ($15 per copy) whereas F.4 to F.6, Career Mapping ($27 per copy). Please remind your children to keep good custody of these tool books as they will be used during their years in school.
		F.1 students will receive a free green file for keeping careers materials.
	2.	Careers Programmes for the 1st Term
		Date Time Event Participants 22nd September, 2016 (D1, Thur) 3:30 – 5:00 pm JUPAS Talk for F.6 F.6 & Parents (optional) 21st October, 2016 (D1, Fri) 3:30 – 5:00 pm Career Day for F.4 – 1st Career Mapping Professional Mentorship (1) (Partnering with Alumni Association) F.4 17th November, 2016 (D2, Thur) 3:30 – 5:00 pm U-Life Sharing for F.6 F.6 19th December, 2016 (D5, Mon) 3:30 – 5:00 pm Career Day for F.3 Preparation for elective choices F.3
	3.	To go green and reduce paper consumption, Careers Programmes to be held on campus after class will be uploaded to the “School Homepage CCA Portal” and also printed on “Message from the Principal”. There will NOT be any extra circulars to be issued regarding these uploaded and printed programmes.
F.	Counselling Committee and Guidance Prefect Association
	To provide support for F.1 students so as to help them to adapt to secondary school life, the following activities will be organized:
	1.	“You Light up my Life” scheme (For all F.1 students)
		Each F.1 student will be assigned to a Guidance Prefect (F.2 - 5 students) as the mentor, whom they will meet in the Kick-off Ceremony, periodic lunch meetings and after-school activity have been scheduled as below:
		i.	Kick-off Ceremony
			Date: 9th September, 2016 (Fri) Time: 3:30 – 5:15 p.m. Venue: School Hall
		ii.	Periodic lunch meetings
			Date: 12th October, 2016 (Wed), 7th December, 2016 (Wed), 10th May, 2017 (Wed) Time: 12:40 – 1:45 p.m. Venue: Home Room
		iii.	After-school activity
			Date: 11th April, 2017 Time: 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Venue: School Hall
	2.	First Lunch Gathering for F.1 New-comers, i.e. students from primary schools other than MSCPS
		A lunch gathering and a guided school tour will be arranged to welcome F.1 students from primary schools other than MSCPS.
		Date: 2nd September, 2016 (Fri) Venue: D210-211 Time: 12:40 – 3:00 p.m.
G.	Co-Curricular Activity Committee
	The following activities would be arranged in September:
	1.	CCA Enrollment Days
		Students are required to attend the CCA Enrollment Day to enroll in CCA groups on 23/9 (Friday) after school (3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.). All students need to make application through the CCA promotion booths on that day. Late application would NOT be accepted except for absentees.
		Teachers-in-charge would select the members of the following groups before the enrollment day. Thus, students cannot make application to these groups on the Enrollment Day.
		a.	Student Leader Groups (Student Association, Prefect Association, House Committee and Guidance Prefect Association)
		b.	School Teams
			-	Music groups (School Choir, Western Instrumental Training Programme and Chinese Instrumental Training Programme)
			-	Sports teams (Athletic, Badminton, Basketball, Dancing, Fencing, Football, Swimming, Long Distance Running, Table Tennis and Volleyball Team)
		Students could get the detailed enrollment procedure and the information of CCA groups in the following ways:
		a.	visit school home page → OLE → CCA
		b.	refer to the CCA Enrollment Day brochure (to be distributed in early September)
		c.	refer to the Student and Parent Handbook page 62 – 65
		d.	contact Mr. Tsoi Ka-wing (Head of Co-Curricular Activity Committee)
	2.	House Annual General Meeting and House Committee Election
		The House Annual General Meeting and the House Committee Election Meeting will be held on the same day this year. All house members have to attend the meetings according to the following schedule:
		Date House Time Venue 13th September, 2016 Tak House 15:40 – 16:30 Chapel Chi House 15:40 – 16:30 Hall 14th September, 2016 Tai House 15:40 – 16:30 Chapel Kwan House 15:40 – 16:30 Hall 15th September, 2016 May House 15:40 – 16:30 Chapel Love House 15:40 – 16:30 Hall
		Students who cannot attend the meeting have to apply for leave by submitting a parent letter to their house advisors two school days in advance. For sick leave, students have to submit a parent letter to their house advisors on the next school day.
H.	Mathematics Department
	Please be informed that the Mathematics Extended Modules Briefing Session for F.4 will be held after school from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on 4th November, 2016 (Fri). This is compulsory for all F.4 students.
I.	民生書院家長學堂 – 申請成為會員及「家長卡」事宜
	為提昇家長對教育子女的理念，並掌握相關知識和方法以全面培育孩子的成長，本學年民生書院及家長教師會聯合推出第二期「民生書院家長學堂」，藉著一系列不同類型的課程、工作坊及活動，使家長能在餘暇自我增值外，亦加強了解學校的課程發展和子女的校園生活，從而幫助子女的學習及成長。
	為了鼓勵家長積極參與家長學堂的課程，持續進修及自我挑戰，計畫將推行學分獎勵計畫，臚列如下：
	目的 藉著整合民生書院家長教師會及學校相關之家長活動，有系統地組織成多元化的家長教育課程，以加強親子關係，促進家校合作 對象 民生書院學生家長 形式 家長講座、義工服務、活動、工作坊等 報名方法 ⚫ 如欲報名成為「民生書院家長學堂」的成員，只需填妥第13頁之回條，並繳交一張個人近照以製作「家長卡」之用便可，每個家庭可申請兩張「家長卡」 ⚫ 獲發「家長卡」之家長可因應自己的興趣及活動名額登入以下網址：http://event.msc.edu.hk/parents報名參與相關的講座及活動 費用 全免 學分計算 完成課程或活動後可獲取一個活動的特定學分，家長需於每一個活動後隨即拍卡紀錄學分，系統將會於學期完結時自動結算整個學年的學分 (必須攜學分卡出席活動儲分，積分將不另作補發) 獎賞 ⚫ 所有曾參與學校義工服務的家長均獲發證書，並於該年度之家教會週年大會中頒發 ⚫ 累積較高學分之家長將獲邀出席學校的特別活動(如：高桌晚宴、校慶典禮及聚餐、畢業典禮的嘉賓席及聚餐等)，以表揚其積極參與的精神及對學校的貢獻 備註 ⚫ 「家長學堂」課程將不斷更新，請登入http://event.msc.edu.hk/parents密切留意最新動向
	現誠邀各位家長報名參與是次計畫，有興趣之家長請填妥第13頁之回條，並於9月16日或之前交回班主任。
	( 二零一六至二零一七年「民生書院家長學堂」課程概覽 )
J.	Student and Parent Handbook 2016/2017
	The Student and Parent Handbooks are for the easy reference of both students and parents. The content of the handbook covers information of the "parent-teacher correspondence", "school rules and regulations", "examination regulations", "assessment criteria", "remedial programs", co-curricular activities", etc. Parents are invited to make good use of the Handbook for getting to know us more and also for communicating with us. The electronic version of the Handbook is downloadable from the school homepage under “Administration | School Policy and Handbook”.
K.	Message from the Principal
	In order to remind students and parents of the important school programmes / functions / events, a total of five "Message from the Principal" will be printed and uploaded onto the school homepage in this academic year on the dates listed below and parents are invited to offer us their opinions on school administration on the reply slip:
	1st September, 2016 (Thu),   9th December, 2016 (Fri),   6th March, 2017 (Mon),     26th May, 2017 (Fri),   6th July, 2017 (Thu)
	Parents are also invited to view our homepage for the most updated information and a more comprehensive picture of the college.
K.	School Events
	This year, details of school events will be announced through school homepage – MSC Portal. To be kept updated with school events, students and parents are reminded to visit the school homepage regularly.
M.	Christian Ministry
	Prayer Meetings for Campus Development Project
	We would like to engage parents, students and staff on the Campus Development Project through praying to our Lord. May our Lord provide sufficient resources for the development project and protect all Munsangnites during the course of the development.
	Date (1st Mondays) Time Venue 5th September, 2016 4:45p.m. – 5:15p.m. Administration Centre 3rd October, 2016 7th November, 2016 5th December, 2016 9th January, 2017 6th February, 2017 6th March, 2017 3rd April, 2017 8th May, 2017 5th June, 2017
May I wish my students a prosperous year 2016/2017 and thank you for your kind attention!
Yours sincerely,
Kuby CHAN
Principal
( Reply Slip )