King George V School, Hong Kong

King George V School 英皇佐治五世學校
Location
2 Tin Kwong Rd., Ho Man Tin, Hong Kong
Information
Type	International secondary Independent school Co-educational
Motto	Honestas Ante Honores (Honesty Before Glory)
Established	1894
School district	Kowloon
Principal	Mr. Ed Wickins (2004)
Grades	Years 7 - 13
Enrollment	1740
Campus size	10.2 acres (41,000 m2)
Colour(s)	gold, navy blue
Mascot	The Lion
Publication	The Lion (annual yearbook)
Website	http://www.kgv.edu.hk

King George V School (Chinese: 英皇佐治五世學校), often shortened to "KGV" (pronounced K-G-Five) is a co-educational international secondary independent school of the English Schools Foundation, located in the Ho Man Tin area of Hong Kong. Currently school 1,740 students in the Kowloon peninsula, it is one of the oldest schools in Hong Kong, founded in 1894. Its students take IGCSEs followed by the International Baccalaureate or the British BTEC programme. KGV has a Learning Support Centre (LSC) for students with moderate learning difficulties. The campus is 10.2 acres (41,000 m²) in size. The school is one of three English Schools Foundation secondary schools in Kowloon and New Territories, the others being Sha Tin College and Renaissance College Hong Kong.

History

Pre-WW2 period

KGV is the oldest of all the schools in the English Schools Foundation. It first opened in 1894 on Nathan Road, and originally catered for the children of British people living in Kowloon. At the time, the school occupied just one small building. It was destroyed in a typhoon in 1896, and Kowloon College opened in its place in 1902. A huge opening ceremony took place. Many of Hong Kong's elite, such as Major General Gascoigne, the Apostolic Vicar of Hong Kong Louis Piazzoli and J.H. Stewart Lockhart, the Colony Secretary, were there. The school was built using donations from Sir Robert Hotung. The school was renamed The Kowloon British School, later The Central British School and then King George V School.

By 1930, the number of students in the school had grown to 300. Wooden huts were built at the back of the school to create extra classrooms. The playground was only 7 m². The then-headmaster, Mr. Nightingale, asked for a new and bigger school site, which was acquired, and the site plan was designed by a teacher named Mr. Rowell. Classes began at the new site on 14 September 1936. The first headmaster of the new school was the Reverend Upsdell. The present school is still on the same site. The foundation stone for the new building was laid by Sir William Peel and the building was subsequently named The Peel Block in his honor. Students in year 7 learn about the school history.

WW2 period

In 1937, the Japanese army invaded China and many European women and children were evacuated from Shanghai to Hong Kong. They needed a place to stay in the summer and the school was used as a refugee camp. As World War II developed past 1939, the government started to worry about the safety of the children and in August 1940 the government ordered the evacuation of European women and children from Hong Kong. Thereafter, the school site was used by British forces as a hospital. When Hong Kong surrendered in the Battle of Hong Kong, the school site was taken over by the Japanese and used as a hospital for prisoners of war. It is rumored that the Pavilion was once used as a torture chamber under the Japanese occupation and that ghosts of tortured victims inhabit the clock tower and room P14 which is currently used as a Media Room. Dead bodies were also said to be buried under the school field although when this was extensively excavated in preparation for the construction of an artificial playing surface in 2002/3, no such evidence was found. What is known, however, is that when classes at KGV resumed after WWII, the back of the stage still had the Rising Sun Flag (of the Japanese military) painted on its back wall.

When the news was received that Japan had surrendered, the General commanding the school left holding his sword high. As soon as he left, the school raised the British Union flag, probably the first to be raised in Hong Kong following the Japanese surrender. For a short period after the end of the war KGV continued to be used as a military hospital and British doctors lived in the school. The following message was inscribed at the Hall's main entrance: "Never in the field of human conflict" - a reference to Winston Churchill's famous speech given to the British Parliament on 20 August 1940 - to remind future pupils of the value of peace. To this day the quote still remains at the Hall's main entrance.

Post-WW2 period

The school re-opened in the summer of 1946 and in 1947 children of all nationalities were able to join the school. Since it was no longer for British pupils only, the school's name was changed on the school's speech day of 1948 to 'King George V School,' as George V was king when the foundation stone of the Peel Block was laid.

In 1979, principal Angela Smith decided that KGV should join the English Schools Foundation, and by 1981, the transfer was complete. KGV is currently the oldest school in the ESF.

Students and the house system

A group of senior students at KGV

There are approximately 1,740 students of some 28 different nationalities enrolled in the school. Students are accepted from many feeder primary schools in the English Schools Foundation such as Kowloon Junior School, Beacon Hill School, Clearwater Bay School, and other English Schools Foundation schools.)

The house system is the basis for all school competitions. Each student at KGV belongs to a house, named after former members of staff.

The houses, and their associated colours, are as follows:

• Crozier (green) - a teacher who fought to defend Hong Kong in WWII.
• Nightingale (yellow) - headmaster who first asked for a new school building, which is now the current school site.
• Rowell (blue) - a teacher who designed part of the current site of the school.
• Upsdell (red) - the first headmaster to serve in the school building located at the current school site.

Curriculum

See also: Education in Hong Kong

The curriculum adopted by KGV, as an international school, is significantly different to the system commonly practiced in Hong Kong.

Middle School Curriculum

The Middle School curriculum is designed for Years 7 to 9. All subjects (Art, Drama, English, History, ICT, Mathematics, Modern Foreign Languages, Music, Physical Education, Religious Studies, Geography, Science and Technology) are compulsory, and students must learn Mandarin and a European language (French, German or Spanish). A coherent skills based curriculum is being introduced in 2014.

In year 7, students are not put into academically levelled sets but is considered as a "transition" year, offering a wide variety of "inquiry" opportunities, transitioning from the "PYP" inquiry format learning to the British curriculum.

IGCSE

In Years 10 and 11 all students follow course leading to IGCSE examinations (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) in their chosen subjects.

Some subjects are compulsory (English, Mathematics, a Foreign Language, Science), but there is a choice to suit the aptitude and interest of students.

All students taking the IGCSE course have to study the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science (split into Biology, Chemistry and Physics), PE and PSE (Personal and Social Education). Students also have to take a further course in ICT, CIDA (Certificate in Digital Applications), which is equivalent to two GCSEs. In addition, they must choose four further subjects by choosing one of the subjects from each of the boxes -

Box 1	Chinese AS, Chinese GCSE, French, German, Spanish
Box 2	Art, Music, Sports Science, Drama, Media, Design & Technology Electronics, DT Resistant Materials, DT Graphics, DT Food, DT Textiles, BTEC Course in Arts and Media (this occupies two boxes)
Box 3	Geography, History, Economics, Business Studies, Psychology, Religious Studies, BTEC Course in Economics and Business (this occupies two boxes)
Box 4	BTEC course or Triple Science or another subject from Boxes 1, 2 or 3.

The boxes are structured in a way that is balanced and ensures that students can build on their strengths whilst keeping their options open in the future.

IB Diploma

Starting from September 2007, KGV replaced the existing British A Level Program with the International Baccalaureate, offering the Diploma Programme.

All students have to complete the core syllabus, consisting of an Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and Creativity, Action, Service. The school is the largest IB school in the world.

ID Diploma

From September 2011 KGV replaced the A Level Programme (which was an option for students who did not want to take IB) with the BTEC International Diploma - a vocational course.

School Council

The KGV school council is responsible for the governance of the school. The council has a number of responsibilities including monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the school development plan; the appointment and promotion of staff; approving the school budget; ensuring the condition and state of repair of the school premises and also acts as a link between ESF management, the school and the community as a whole.

Student Council

The student council is the student government of KGV. It consists of fifteen students in Years 11 to 13. All of them are elected through direct student voting (weighted-point system favouring more senior students), with a two to three week process where the candidates run campaigns and give speeches about their ideas for the school. The president and vice president of the council are then voted in by Year 11 and 12 students after another round of speeches.

The Student Council listens to the student opinion through form representatives and assists the school's development and improvement. It has a powerful and respected voice on all facets of school administration. Many of its achievements in the past include input on the school Healthy Eating policy, smart card system, vertical tutoring, ICT usage, environment, assembly structure, physical education (PE) kits, and site redevelopment.

Every year the Student Council also hosts or assists in fundraisers, such as the annual 'ESISCO' and School 'Karnival'.

In recent elections, issues of concern for KGV students have included congestion in the school's stairways, the lack of means through which students can voice their concerns, and the replacement of malfunctioning computers in the Senior Student Centre Resource Room.

School logo, motto and song

• School Logo

The heraldic description of the Coat of Arms of King George the Fifth School is:

Azure, on a chevron charged a lion rampant
or

• School Motto

The motto of KGV is Honestas Ante Honores, which means "Honesty Before Glory" in Latin. The school motto and song share the same name.

• School Song

The school song is sung at school events such as the Junior School Celebration and Speech Day.

Here are we gathered from many a nation,
Arts to acquire that our peoples may serve.
Characters moulded by strict regulation
Honour demands we this motto observe:

Honestas ante Honores
Honesty first then glories
Loud raise the echoing chorus
Honestas ante Honores
Bold as the Lion Crest
Blazoned on every breast
Loud let resound the chorus
Honestas ante Honores

Chivalry's courtesies claim cultivation.
Honour depends on such disciplined rule.
Honour acquiring a good reputation,
Honour the name of King George the Fifth School.

Honestas ante Honores
Honesty first then glories
Loud raise the echoing chorus
Honestas ante Honores

Co-curricular activities

Sports

KGV is renowned for its excellence in sporting events ranging from rugby to basketball; games often take place within the school campus, as the school is one of the few in Hong Kong with such well-equipped facilities. It is a Division I category school. In 2009, the KGV won the Bauhinia Bowl, marking it as the best co-educational sporting school in Hong Kong for the academic year 2008-2009.

KGV Rugby

Rugby has been a traditional sport at KGV for a very long time. In the 2007-2008 term, the A-grade rugby team won the 15s, 10s and 7s tournament; this had not been achieved before in the history of the school. This team includes many Hong Kong rugby representatives and the 2010 Larry Abel award winner; Aiden Bradley. A single word, "MANA" (meaning 'pride'), is shouted out at every practice and match to build up confidence in team members. KGV has recently embraced female rugby, the women's team in 2010 are well known in Hong Kong for their un- beatable strength and skills. The women's team includes many Hong Kong Bauhinia U16 rugby representatives as well as players for the Hong Kong U18 Development and U18 Nationals for XVs and VIIs. In 2013 the women's team won the cup against the Hong Kong Standard Charter Select team in the first Bill Williams 7s tournament with a women's section.

KGV Football

Football has been a traditional sport at KGV for a long time. In recent years, the team has won the "Team With Most Space For Improvement" Award, and has exceeded expectations with regards to the maintenance of its losing streak in penalty shootouts.

The season of 2009-2010 was the only season in recent years in which the school won a penalty shootout when goalkeeper Ryan Chan saved a penalty, and defender Elson Tong scored, to make the score KGV 3(5):(4)3 Chong Gene Hang College in the HKSSF Division 1 Football semifinal. However, they lost on penalties in the final to Hong Kong International School. The season, under coach Ian Greenfield, was widely regarded as the most successful in recent history until the academic year of 2011-12.

The A- Grade season dictates which team enters the Jing Ying Inter- School Football Tournament which is regarded as the elite football tournament within Hong Kong with best teams participating. KGV normally did not progress past the 2nd round but KGV won every round except the final where they lost to Beacon College (Tsuen Wan) which most people do not regard as a school. The season had made history as KGV had never made it into the finals and had beaten the defending champions Yan Chai Hospital Tung Chi Ying Memorial Secondary School in an intense penalty shootout 2(5):(4)2 in the semi-final with captain Michael Wu scoring the winning penalty. The team consisted of 3 Year 10 students, 1 Year 11 student, 5 Year 12 students and 9 Year 13 Students. The team was Goalkeepers: Rupert Phillips & Zachary Bennett Powner. Defenders: Chris Maize, Dominique Sing, Kento Elio Jorge, Callum Whiting, Chris Whiting, Yasuhiro Tsang, Hiroki Tsang & Jack Combes. Midfielders: Toby Down, Shu Kitamura, Jason Jeyam and Brian Cho. Forwards: Michael Wu, Krishna Mohinani, Ryan Mow & James Patrick Gunning and Ian Greenfield being the coach.

KGV Girls' Lacrosse

Girl's Lacrosse was introduced in 2011. It first started off as a small group of enthusiastic students but as time passed, more people were motivated to join as well. In May 2012, the KGV Girls' Lacrosse Team joined the Hong Kong Lacrosse League, which was between 2 adult teams and HKIS.

KGV Basketball

The season of 2011 - 2012, KGV A-grade boys basketball team had won the HKSSF Division 3 basketball championship, it was first time for KGV basketball to win a championship. The team consisted of 12 members. They were Center: Jerry Yeung & Sahil Bhavnani. Power Forward: Zachary Zhang, James Labrum. Shooting Guard: Josh Chen, Erwin Wong, Girish Thadani. Small forward: James Zhu, Oliver Hoong. Point Guard: Ryan Mow, Ashwin Wadwani In the same season the B-grade basketball team had also reached to the HKSSF Division 3 basketball Finals, but unfortunately did not complete the winning record for KGV. But this is already a remarkable achievement and continue to show improvement in the future.

Technology

Students are encouraged to bring a laptop to lessons. During the summer of 2009, the school installed WiFi coverage over the entire school, making it possible to have high speed Internet connection throughout the site.

Students are allowed to possess mobile devices during the free time between lessons, but are not allowed to receive calls.

The Octopus card is accepted as a form of payment in the canteen, and are also required to access certain classrooms and used to take attendance.

Facilities

KGV Peel Block - during Karnival 2004

[[File:Peel Block.jpg|thum

Peel Block before renovations, May 2013

Buildings

The following is a list of buildings on the KGV campus as of 2014.

Peel Block (P)

Completed: 1937

Currently under renovation

This block is named after Sir William Peel, the Governor of Hong Kong from 1930 to 1935. His name can be found on the foundation stone on the north-east side of the building. This is the first block built on the present school site. It is protected under Hong Kong law because of its age and historical significance.

The building has the shape of the letter E and has two stories. The Peel block currently houses the School Hall, ten general-purpose classrooms, the Reading Centre (a junior library), a Business Studies room, the staff room and offices on the ground floor and two Media rooms on the second floor. The first floor is currently under renovation and is expected to be completed in May 2014. The clock tower sits prominently on the front side of the building. There are also two paved quads for various activities.

Since the KGV site was used as a hospital and a dungeon by the Japanese in World War II, there are many rumours about this block. Many have said that the former computer room (now media rooms) is haunted and was a torture chamber during the Japanese Occupation, while others say that footsteps can be heard on the Peel Block's roof at night.

Hall

KGV School Hall - Speech Day 2001

The Hall, located in the centre of the Peel Block, has hardwood flooring in the centre and marble flooring on the side walkways and up halfway along the wall. At the front of the hall is the stage, and to the rear, there is a second balcony level. The hall is outfitted with advanced sound and lighting equipment, and is used for events ranging from assemblies to Speech Day (an award ceremony for Year 9s and above) to music and dance competitions.

New Block (N)

Completed: 1964

Renovated: 2014

This building, situated on the south side of the campus, is three stories tall. There are two design technology rooms, two textiles technology rooms, a computer help centre and a nurse room on the ground floor; two graphics technology rooms and two food technology rooms on the first floor; six modern language classrooms and a language office on the second floor and twelve language classrooms on the third floors. Students are able to access the New Block through an link between the third floor of the New Block and the second floor of the Science Block.

Annex Block (AN)

Completed: 1982

Relocated: 2011

Demolished: 2013

The Annex Block housed two classrooms on the ground floor and two on the second floor. These classrooms were used exclusively for teaching Chinese and Spanish. However, this building has now been demolished and in its place stands the new science block. The new Annex block is now situated next to the field. The block was demolished in late 2013 as rooms dedicated for modern languages are now available in the New Block.

Activities Centre

Completed: 1983

Renovated: 2014

Formerly consisting of two Drama Studios, Drama Office and P.E. changing rooms, the Activities Centre now houses one of three Art Studios on campus and three P.E. rooms.

Link Block

Completed: 1984

Currently under renovation

This five-storey building links the New Block, the Peel Block and the Activities Centre, with covered walkways on connecting floors. This building houses one Design and Technology room, a D&T office and store room, two media rooms and two art studios on the ground floor. The two middle school pastoral offices, three computer labs, and the school library are on the first floor; an English Office and fourteen English classrooms are spread out amongst the second, third floors; seven Mathematics classrooms are on the fourth floor while the fifth floor is under renovation, later to become Mathematics classrooms.

Jockey Club Sarah Roe Centre

Completed: 1986

The Jockey Club Sarah Roe Centre (JCSRC) was built with funds donated from the then Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and named after Mrs. Sarah Roe, an occupational therapist, who was a founder of the Child Development Centre at the Matilda Hospital. It originally contained the Jockey Club Sarah Roe School in the Garden Rooms on the ground floor (which moved to new accommodation underneath the Senior Student Centre later in 1996), support offices, and a professional development and resources centre for ESF staff on the floors above.

Over the years, the building has been used for different purposes including housing the offices of ESF Educational Services Ltd, Sally's Place (ESF's Self-Access Language Learning Centre), the ESF Professional Library and KGV using the Garden Rooms as classrooms. Currently, the Garden Rooms are being used as Learning Support Centre classrooms, the first floor as a Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) store and the second floor as six classrooms, two occupied by the student support team.

Sarah Roe School (JCSRS) / Senior Student Centre (SSC) / Vertical Extension

Completed: 1996

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Sarah Roe School (JCSRS) is housed on the KGV site, and occupies the first and parts of the second story of this building. This facility educates students with special needs across the English Schools Foundation, and is the only such unit in the entire foundation.

KGV occupies the remaining floors. The remaining parts of the second story is occupied by a BTEC Art Room while the third story of the building houses the Senior Student Centre (SSC) which is a common lounge/study area reserved exclusively for senior students. There are five classrooms in the Senior Student Centre used by students from all years, as well as a lecture theatre and a small computer centre. Offices for senior school pastoral staff are also housed there.

In 2001, a vertical extension to the building was completed. The fourth floor of this building provides ten more classrooms as well as one of the four computer labs in campus. There is also a second staff break room there. This floor is technically not part of the Senior Student Centre, but is often referred to by junior students as the "SSC" floor anyway.

The roof of the building has two tennis courts. These replaced the tennis courts which were previously on the ground floor before this building was erected.

B-block

Completed: 1999

These six ground-floor classrooms were meant as "temporary" classrooms, but as KGV grew, these classrooms became necessary and thus became a permanent fixture. Modern Languages are taught predominantly in these six rooms which occupy the "piazza" area encased inside the square formed by the Peel, New, and Link blocks. In 2014, rooms dedicated for modern languages opened in the New Block, meaning that there were no longer a use for the B-block. Currently, the B-block is being used as temporary Mathematics classrooms but as classrooms on the fifth floor of the Link Block opens, B-block classrooms will once again turn useless and be demolished, making more space for the piazza area.

Science Block (SC)

Completed: 2013

The Science Block is a five storey building built on the former Annex Block, besides the New Block. This building mainly houses science laboratories, but other facilities are also found on the block. The Guilford Lecture Theatre (GLT) covers the ground level of the building; three science laboratories and a science equipment preparation room on the first floor; three laboratories and an open area on the second floor; three laboratories, a preparation room and a multi-purpose room on the third and fifth floor while the fourth floor is covered by four laboratories and the Science Department Office. On the roof is a rooftop garden for students to use during break and lunchtimes.

There is a link between the second floor Science Block that allows students to access the third floor of the New Block.

Performing Arts Centre

Completed: 2013

The Performing Arts Centre, like the Science Block, is a five storey building built on the former canteen area and PTSA store, behind the Peel Block and beside the Swimming Pool. The centre features a number of classrooms for different purposes; the ground level and first floor used as canteen space, music studios, store rooms and Music Department Office on the second and third floor, drama studios, drama store room, technician room and changing rooms on the fourth and fifth room. Similar to the Science Block, the Performing Arts Centre also features a rooftop centre, but unlike the Science Block, the Performing Arts Centre rooftop garden includes a small amphitheatre for any performing uses. A two storey tall banyan tree is also located at the Performing Arts Centre; the canteen eating and an amphitheatre surrounding the tree.

Pavilion

Completed: 1940

This block occupies the south-west corner of the school field. Prior to the reconstruction of the field, two classrooms (X1 and X2) were housed in this block, and storage shed and maintenance shed occupied the ground floor. The classrooms have now been converted into changing rooms. Although there is no conclusive evidence, students and teachers may still be led to believe the Pavilion was used as a torture chamber during World War II when the Japanese occupied the school.

Other facilities

KGV School Field

Field

Currently under renovation

KGV's artificially turfed field is ESF's multipurpose sports facility. It has markings for various sports, such as football (soccer), and also has a track running the perimeter of the field.

Prior to the astroturfing, there was opposition to the use of artificial turf. However, huge amounts of money were spent on maintaining the natural grass on the field's base of hard clay were uneconomic and impractical, and the field would become a large dust bowl after a month or two of use and students would often get injured playing on the field. Over HK$16 million was spent on the conversion, which started in late 2002.

Swimming pool

Completed: 1979

The school's swimming pool is located behind the Peel Block. It is a 23-metre swimming pool with six lanes, normally in operation from April (usually after Easter break) to November. It plays host to a variety of activities hosted by the academic departments as well as extra-curricular activities, such as D-Day emulations by the history department and re-enactments of the Red Sea Crossing by the Religious Studies (RS) department.

Tennis Courts

The Tennis courts are located on the roof of the SSC (Senior School Centre). There are two courts and are also used during PE (Physical Education) lessons which all years are required to do.

Canteen

The canteen is in the Performing Arts Centre which was finished in 2013. Eating areas are available inside the canteen, nearby the canteen surrounding the Banyan Tree and at the piazza, near the B-blocks. The canteen used to be behind the Peel block, next to the PTSA shop. While the canteen was under renovation, the left Quad has two small canteens without chairs or tables. The students buy food from those canteens and ate at the tables near the B-block.

Although the school has entered an agreement which guarantees the canteen a monopoly to food provisions on campus, a variety of food options are nonetheless available for senior students who are willing to violate the senior school contract. The class of 2008, in particular, has been known as the pioneers for ordering deliveries of McDonald's and Kebabs. This has become the unofficial norm and a major rite of passage for members of the senior school.

Future site development

There are plans to amalgamate the KGV and KJS (Kowloon Junior School) Perth Street campus to allow KGV to grow further. This would involve the replacement of the swimming pool with state-of-the-art facilities including a performance hall, indoor swimming pool, gym facilities and new classrooms to accommodate the increasing numbers of new students.

In September 2008, KGV introduced an Octopus smart-card registration system, replacing paper registration (attendance).

Traditions

KGV, being an old school, has many traditions in place. The list below is by no means exhaustive.

Assembly

Formerly held Monday and Friday mornings, they are now held on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings (not in a weekly basis). Assemblies are where announcements are made to the whole of middle or senior school, performances are given, and, in general, is a common bond that holds the school's students together. However, due to the growth in student numbers since 2003, assembly can no longer be held with all students under one roof. Currently though rarely, whole school assemblies are broadcast live to other various locations on campus, including Drama Studios 1, 2, and 3; and the SSC Lecture Theatre.

Year 13 pantomime

File:King george v school Pantomime.JPG

KGV Year 13 Pantomime

The Pantomime, otherwise known as the "panto", is performed by Year 13 students on the final day of the fall term, prior to the start of the Christmas break. Generally making fun of the school or its teachers, this event is invariably a great comedy show for all students.

Speech Day

Speech Day is a formal occasion for Students from Years 9-12 who have achieved academic excellence in KGV. Each subject comes with a subject prize and only one student of the each year is awarded. Other prizes are awarded such as Community Service, Lion Yearbook, School Public Spirit, Art, Acting, Music and many more. As this is a very important event to prize winners, teachers and alumni frequently attend, and the KGV Orchestra and Choir plays music to make the night even more ceremonious.

Christmas Carol Concert

The Carol Concert is a concert given by the KGV Orchestra, Choir and Jazz band which is open to the general public.

White Christmas has been a staple of every KGV Christmas Final Assembly for as long as anyone can remember. Originally sung by Chris da Silva (a student from 1985 to 1992, who performed the intro solo) with the school choir; and later, by William McMahon, a mathematics teacher, performing the intro solo for the "staff choir", no Christmas Carol Concert or Christmas Final Assembly is complete without the singing of this song. Following Mr. McMahon's retirement in 2001, White Christmas is now sung by Fred Croft, Head of Art and finally in the last couple of years, White Christmas is sung by student soloists and the choir.

File:King george v school WhiteChristmas.JPG

KGV - Christmas Final Assembly

KGV Karnival

Known as the "Beach@KGV" in 2008, KGViva in 2007 and Spring Fair prior to 2003, this event is held every year in March or April where KGV is set up to be like a bazaar. Students set up games stalls and merchants set up small shops, with raffle ticket sales contributed to the PTSA to cover its general expenses. There are also performances by student groups, the Orchestras (Junior Orchestra and Senior Orchestra) and the Jazz Band.

KGV Survivor

An elimination game, which is held on the last day of each school year, is held on the quads closer to the SSC or in the hall where a series of questions are asked, different houses are separated and joined up at the finale. The winner of the game wins HK$1000.

Year 13 final assembly

A final assembly on Year 13's final day before exam leave in the summer. Usually, a performance is given by Year 13 students, and final goodbyes are said. There is a recital of Rudyard Kipling's poem If— by the Head Boy, and Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou by the Head Girl. At the end, a band of teachers play Summer Holiday by Cliff Richard while the rest of staff (on stage) and school sing along. Prior to 2002, students would spend the night at the school as well; this tradition was scrapped due to safety concerns.

Arts

In 2006, KGV was the first school in Asia to perform the musical, Les Misérables: School Edition.

In 2009, musician Mika visited King George V School. He viewed the artwork based on his music (created by Advanced Diploma students) and helped finish a mural on the B-block wall, painting "I am not what you think I am / I am made of gold." He followed by performing 'Grace Kelly' for the students.

School Fees

As of 2013-14, the annual fees for this school are set to HK$101,400 (Years 7-11) and HK$106,300 (Years 12-13).

Notable alumni

See also Category:Alumni of King George V School, Hong Kong

• Michael Hutchence – deceased lead singer of Australian band, INXS.
• Martin Booth – deceased author of over 30 novels, including Industry of Souls, Music on the Bamboo Radio and Gweilo: Memoirs of a Hong Kong childhood.
• Dermot Reeve – England cricketer, known as an unorthodox all-rounder.
• Kemal Bokhary – Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal (Hong Kong)
• David Millar – Professional Cyclist on the Garmin-Chipotle Team & Tour de France Stage Winner
• Jason Tobin – British-Chinese actor known for his role as Virgil Hu in Justin Lin's Better Luck Tomorrow.
• Victor Fung, GBS – Chairman of the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the Hong Kong-Japan Business Co-operation Committee, and Co-Chair of the Evian Group.
• Loletta Chu – Winner of Miss Hong Kong Pageant 1977, Hong Kong socialite.
• Aarif Lee, Toby Leung, Charles Ying, and Shiga Lin – Cantopop singers and actors from Hong Kong.
• Rowan Varty, Hong Kong rugby player.

External links

• King George V School
• King George V School Alumni Association
• King George V School Alumni Registry
• KGV Hong Kong Handover Reunion 2007
• English Schools Foundation