St. Paul's Convent School

Not to be confused with St. Paul's Secondary School.

St Paul's Convent School

School Badge
Headmistresses	Sr. Joanna Marie Cheung (Primary Section) Sr. Margaret Wong (Secondary Section)
School type	Private, Girls' School, DSS
Religious affiliation	Catholic
Founded	1854
Location	Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
Classes Scheme	Primary: P.1-P.6 A, B, C, D, E. Secondary: F.1-F.6 S, T, P, A, U, L , F.7 P, A, U, L
School website	http://www.spcs.edu.hk

St. Paul's Convent School (SPCS, Chinese: 聖保祿學校) is a Catholic girls' school founded by the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres from France in 1854. SPCS counts a total of 15 winners of the Hong Kong Outstanding Students Awards, ranking third among all secondary schools in Hong Kong.

The school comprises three sections: kindergarten, primary and secondary, with an overall aim to "provide a seamless bilingual education for girls in a happy and motivating learning environment so that they will learn to embrace the Paulinian heritage of truth, beauty, goodness, nobility and honour."

The school's motto is Omnia omnibus, Latin for "Being all things to all people, irrespective of race, religion and social status" (1 Cor 9:22).^{[citation needed]}

Facilities

The school have a swimming pool, library, like any other schools. In addition to that, a "Classroom Of The Future" as well as science and computer labs were constructed. Each classroom is also equipped with computer running the Windows XP operating system, so teachers can create their materials in form of powerpoint, to assist teaching.

Classroom of the Future

Classroom of the Future is located on the 7th floor of the new block (SIP). It provides Paulinians with an environment that is both functional and stimulating, and facilitates various patterns of group work that promotes creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills for global learning. It extends students beyond the traditional classroom setting while leveraging off advanced technology. Furthermore, it demonstrates the re-cycling of solar energy by activating a fountain and different equipment at the lobby entrance of the seven-storey block, as well as supplying energy for the movable light boxes that serve as partitions when required.

The Classroom Of The Future, although it is white in colour, is considered a "green classroom". It has a computer with touch screen monitor and a glass board to be written on. There was a video camera for students to have video conference with overseas students, and a slanting window in the ceiling, in order to let the natural sunlight come into the classroom, which greatly increases the energy efficiency of the room. Also, the chairs in the room are specially designed so students can use the chair both as an armchair or as a writing desk.

Computer lab

The computer lab has imported Apple Macintosh computers. This room is frequently used by teachers and visitors for educational (Creative Media lessons) and advertising purposes. The school also makes extensive and valuable use of other Apple products such as iPod Touch, which teaches students more about the changing usage of technology. The school also provides full coverage Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).^{[citation needed]}

Houses

All students studying in St. Paul's Convent School are grouped into 6 houses. The houses competing for the Overall House Champion in the Annual Sports Day and Swimming Gala. There are also cheering competitions in the former events among the 6 houses. Here are the introductions of the houses.

Cavell (Blue)
Named after Edith Louisa Cavell (1865–1915), a British nurse who became a celebrated martyr during World War I. Born in England, Cavell began her nursing career in 1895 at a London hospital. Later she became the first matron of the Berkendael Medical Institute in Brussels. In the course of her work there, Nurse Cavell helped British, French, and Belgian soldiers escape across the Dutch Frontier. For these activities, Edith Cavell was tried as a spy by the Germans and was executed.

Kenny (Green)
Named after Elizabeth Kenny (1886–1952), the Australian nurse known for her technique of treating poliomyelitis, or infantile paralysis, Kenny developed a system of therapy, which was sometimes too elaborate, too extensive and too time-consuming. However, Elizabeth Kenny did manage to draw attention to poliomyelitis as a national problem. In 1942, the "Elizabeth Kenny Institute" was founded in Minnesota, U.S.A. Sister Kenny can be regarded as the Florence Nightingale of Orthopedies.

Curie (Yellow)
Named after Marie Skłodowska Curie (1867–1934). With the help of her husband, a French chemist, Pierre Curie, the couple discovered the twin of polonium, radium. Marie Curie was the only person to have received two Nobel Prizes once in 1903 and in 1911. Marie Curie founded the Paris Institute of Radium, and was appointed its director by the French government. Madame Curie became a victim of leukemia, which was caused by long periods of exposure to radiation.

Keller (Red)
Named after Helen Adams Keller (1880–1968), an American author and educator of the blind. From infancy, Keller was without power of speech and was also deaf and blind. With the inestimable assistance of Anne M. Sullivan, Keller learnt to read and to write by Braille; to use a typewriter; and even to speak, and eventually mastered five languages. Upon graduating with honours from Radeliffe, she began to lecture extensively on the education of the blind; and has received many honours for achievement. Helen Keller greatly furthered the work of the "Foundation of the Blind".

Mason (Orange)
Named afterCharlotte Mason(Marie Shew) 1842-1923. An educationalist whose philosophy influences much on the best practice of modern primary schools. She believes in the response of all children to all living ideas presented in a literary form. Children must enjoy their lessons. The desire to know should be the only motivation. She also appreciates the importance of parental involvement to the child's confidence and progress. She founded the Parents' Union School, a correspondence school that became widespread in England. The demand for governess to implement her methods caused her to train young women and to raise their status by insisting on adequate salaries and conditions of work. These students were trained in her Ambersice home, now the Charlotte Mason College.

Morris (Purple)
Named after Margaret Morris (1891–1980). A dancer was born in London. She had no formal academic education but went to dancing classes where she soon rebelled against classical ballet and composed exercises of her own. She adapted the six classical Greek dance positions as the basis of her own system of movement. In 1915 she started the Margaret Morris Club which became a center for discussion and the presentation of creative ideas. She extended her exercises into sports training, remedial movement for the handicapped and school education. Her overall influence was immense on modern practice of physical education, on remedial work and in choreographic innovation.

Extracurricular activities, Dance

Students of the school participates in various extracurricular activities and competitionsm Such as the annual Inter-class English and Chinese debate competitions, dance competition and the annual Music Talent Quest (MTQ). Students can have a chance to take on a leadership role and can even join in 55 extracurricular clubs, societies, voluntary service units and interest groups. The clubs attempts to hold activities relevant to the aim and nature of the Club. The school also has exchange programs with schools in other countries, such as trips to Beijing, Standford, Xichuan, Spain and France.

The SPCS dance club consists of the oriental dance team, western dance team, modern dance team and Chinese dance team. The school's dance teams are renowned for its excellency, achieving a lot of prices.^{[citation needed]} The choreographer and dance mistress of the two dance teams is Miss Eileen Lee.

The 2 SPCS dance teams performs in various occasions, including the opening of 2008 Beijing Olympics equestrian competitions, which was held in Hong Kong. Each team has about 20 dancers which were selected through auditions held around September by committee members. Dancers receive training once or twice a week, each ranging from 1–2 hours. Extra trainings are often added before competitions and may be as much as 3 hours per day, depending on the time that they have before the competition and how much practice they need.

Habits of Mind

The school imports the 'Habits of Mind' by Sir Arthur Costa into students to motivate them to think better and learn smarter.^{[citation needed]}

Development

Recently the school has undergone renovations which include the installation of new tile walls imported from Japan, repainting the school hall, holographic window displays and new blinds made from synthetic and durable material.

Noted Alumni

• Louisa Wong, reporter
• Luisa Maria Leitão, reporter
• Shirley Kwan, singer
• Anne Heung, actress
• Stephanie Che, actress
• Christine Loh, member of the Legislative Council
• Ellen Joyce Loo, singer
• Jolie Chan, Singer
• Nicola Cheung, actress, wife of Jeremy Young
• Lydia Dunn, Baroness Dunn, Life peer in the House of Lords
• Wylien Chiu, model
• Emily Kwan, actress
• Ann Hui, director

External links

• Official site
• Alumni Association