St. Paul's Co-educational College

St. Paul's Co-educational College 聖保羅男女中學
File:SPCC badge.jpg St. Paul's Co-ed.
Location
33 MacDonnell Road Mid-levels Hong Kong
Information
Type	Grant, DSS, secondary, co-educational.
Motto	Faith, Hope, Love
Established	1915 (as St. Paul's Girls' College)
Principal	Dr. Anissa Chan
Faculty	Not applicable
Enrollment	approx. 1,200
Information	(852) 2523 0910 info@spcc.edu.hk
Forms Alumni	Form 1 to Upper 6 Hong Kong Alumni Website
Website	http://www.spcc.edu.hk/

St. Paul's Co-educational College (Traditional Chinese: 聖保羅男女中學), (often abbreviated as St. Paul's Co-ed., St. Paul's or SPCC) is located at 33 MacDonnell Road, Mid-levels, Hong Kong.

The School has a long history (since 1915), and students performed exceptionally well academically and in inter-school competitions, making SPCC one of the most renowned schools in Hong Kong. Eminent for its choirs, orchestra and harmonica orchestra, the school has a strong emphasis towards music, and is regarded as one of the best schools for students' musical development in Hong Kong. Apart from the music groups mentioned above, the school also organizes wind band, guitar ensemble, pianist chamber.

Background Information

The school was founded in 1915 as St. Paul's Girls' College by the Anglican church. It was the first school in Hong Kong to require students to wear uniforms (1918).

The chairman of the School Council is Professor Sheung-Wai Tam.

It is operated under the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS), and was the first subsidized school to join the scheme. Each student pays HK$48000 annually which is the maximum limit for a DSS school restricted by the HKSAR government. However, it is announced that the school fee will be increased to HK$52000 per annum. The financial report on that are not revealed.

The motto of the school is 'Faith, Hope and Love'.

Campuses

Introduction

Situated in the Mid-levels, the school campus is naturally deprived of space. The school split into two sections after the moving of the affiliated primary school, taking up the space of the ex-Kennedy Road campus of the primary school. The original school building is called MacDonnell Road Campus, while the one at 26 Kennedy Road is named the Kennedy Road Campus.

The Vice Principals are Miss Kok Kai Fong, Mr. Luk Wai Hi

International Baccalaureate

On 15 November 2006, the school introduced plans for an International Baccalaureate Diploma programme from the academic year of 2010. This will be accompanied by upgrading the campus to accommodate foreign exchange students and non-local staff/ students, giving students more exposure to the broader world, in a bid to make St. Paul's a "world-class institution".

Change of funding mode

At least 6 extra computers were installed in every Form 1 classroom during the first year of the Direct Subsidy Scheme. In the next year, 6 extra computers were installed in every Form 2 classroom. Mr. Henry Poon, the principal of that time, states that "renovation starts from the first floor" which aroused discontent among the higher forms.

MacDonnell Road Campus

The MR Campus comprises currently 12 floors, including the roof structure, and two "underground" floors, which are only partially underground. Flooring system is based on the American style, which counts floors similarly to the Chinese style, to avoid confusion. There has been a whole new classroom arrangements in the school year 2008-2009.

Ground Floor

The ground floor contains an outdoor irregular patch of ground named the triangular football pitch due to the roughly triangular shape, the gymnasium, a table tennis room, and a boys' changing room.

Mezzanine Floor

The mezzanine floor contains a girls' changing room. The Design and Technology Workshop is on the opposite.

1st Floor

On the first floor, there is a staff room (Staff Room (D)), two music rooms, four Form Two classrooms (2A - 2D), Special Room D, tuck shop and a boys' lavatory. There is also an outdoor tiny playground for badminton, which is currently closed by PE teacher Mr. Ma Shun On because students were found playing badminton wearing leather shoes. A White Champaca (or White Sandalwood, Michelia alba) tree grows from this playground through the open air, passing all the corridors to a point higher than the school's fifth floor. The lower exit on this floor enters the Tramway Path between MacDonnell Road and Kennedy Road. The trail overlooks the aforementioned football pitch.

2nd Floor

On the second floor, there are the three Form Two classrooms, three Form Three classrooms, three Form Four classrooms, Special Rooms A and B, two Interview Rooms, a Supporting Service Office (SSO) (formerly named as stationery office/sick room), the Art Room, the Conference Room, the Integrated Science Laboratory and its Preparation Room, two girls' lavatories. A staircase links the covered playground to the tiny playground on the first floor, right outside the windows of Music Room A. There is also a Student Union Room beside the staircase. There is also an SIP section, containing two rooms for Campus TV, three storerooms, and two lavatories. The lift lobby is opposite storeroom 225. This section of the 2nd floor can be reached by the staircase between 4A and 3C classroom.

3rd Floor

On the third floor, there are two staff rooms (Staff Rooms (B) and (C)), four Form Three classrooms, the Geography Room, boys' and girls' lavatories, The Sir Robert Kotewall Hall (aka "The Hall" or "School Hall"), the Biology and Advanced Biology Laboratories.

4th Floor

On the fourth floor of the Old Wing (the red brick portion), there is a staffroom (Staff Room (A)), and three Form five classrooms. A new reception area cum satellite library is also being built on this floor. Form Four Classrooms D to E, girls' lavatory and the IT-Learning Centre (ITLC) (which is also known as the computer room) are situated on the lower fourth floor of the New Wing while Form Five B to D, boys' lavatory and Lower Six Science C are on the upper fourth floor of the New Wing. A set of wooden stairs lead down to the third floor outside the Hall, and a concrete one up towards the roof of the Hall, where there is an outdoor basketball court. The gallery at the back of the Hall is accessed here. The MacDonnell Road entrance is also situated on this floor, near Staff Room (A). The core part of the school can be found on the fourth floor of the school as well, consisting of the Student Affairs Office (SAO), the Administration office and the Principal's office.

5th Floor

On the fifth floor are the three Upper Sixth Science classrooms (A, B, C) and two Lower Sixth ones (A, B), one of which is isolated by the Chemistry and Advanced Chemistry Laboratories that take up a portion of the corridor. The classroom is isolated because safety regulations disallow students to enter or walk through the labs. Also on this floor are the Physics and Advanced Physics Laboratories, the girls' lavatory, and the basketball court on the top of the Hall. The Principal's Conference Room can be found next to the Advanced Physics Laboratory, and can alternatively be reached from a staircase on the fourth floor next the MacDonnell Road exit. Hence, students are disallowed from going up that staircase.

6th Floor

The sixth floor houses the English Corner (disused), the Dance Studio, and the Computer Assisted Learning Room, reachable by staircases in the New Wing and SIP. Staircases in the Old Wing leads up to the roof, which is theoretically out of bounds for students. However, it is a tradition for Upper Sixth graduated to go up to the roof to celebrate their last day in school, and janitors would be tolerant of this rule-breaking on that particular day.

7th Floor

The seventh floor houses the three Supportive Education Rooms.

8th Floor

The eighth floor houses the two Culture and Language Rooms.

9th Floor

The ninth floor houses Staff Room H.

10th Floor=

The tenth floor houses the Chapel.

Roof of SIP=

The Roof, which is the highest part of SPCC, is locked. No entry is permitted except in emergencies.

The 7th to 10th floor, and part of the 2nd to 5th, belongs to the School Improvement Programme (SIP) Annex, which has been in use since October 2006. Due to the tiredness of walking up numerous floor of the building, it is nicknamed 'Eastern Siberia' by students.

Kennedy Road Campus

The KR Campus comprises currently of 4 floors, including the roof structure. Flooring system as MR Campus.

Ground Floor

The ground floor contains the Lower and Upper 6-Arts classrooms, a Special Room, and Staff Room A. Some tables are placed in the uncovered place by the school tuck shop.

1st Floor

The first floor contains two Form 1 classrooms, a Special Room, a basketball court, the General Office (which is similar to the SAO in MR Campus), and an assembly hall.

2nd Floor

The second floor contains five Form one classrooms,(F.1F,1G) a Special Room, a Computer Room, and Staff Rooms B and C.

Roof

The Roof of KR Campus houses the Project Office, Accounts and Finance Office, the SPCC Alumni Association Office, and the Community Relations Office. It is the centre of administration. Unlike the roof of MR Campus, it is not out of bounds.

Other areas

The school's swimming pool and library are located at 1 Calder Path, which is in between the two campuses.

Assembly

Normally, there is an assembly every school day from 8:30 am to 8:45 am. Students start arriving at the hall from 8:20 - 8:30 am. While waiting for all students to be seated, a student, or 2 in duet, from the Pianist Chamber plays a classical piece of music. Assembly starts with hymn singing and the Lord's Prayer, which is then followed by performances, presentations, speeches etc. It usually ends with announcements of the school, clubs and interest groups.

When assembly is to include performances, presentations, speeches etc, there will be a 30-minute "Long assembly" instead. It ends with a reminder of a different timetable for morning lessons.

Uniform

St. Paul's Co-educational College is the first secondary school in Hong Kong that requires students to wear school uniforms. The uniforms of St. Paul's today are one of the typical styles of Hong Kong student uniforms. Boys wear white shirts and girls wear blue cheongsam. The idea behind the uniform is often cited as to be as simple as possible. This implies no make-up and only a pair of simple ear studs (no earrings) for girls, and boys should not have hair that is long enough to touch the shirt's collar. Flamboyant hairstyles are not permitted.

The male summer uniform is a white short-sleeved shirt, a metal school badge above the sole chest pocket on the left, with deep blue trousers, black shoes and white socks with no logos; The winter uniform is a long-sleeved white shirt with grey trousers, with a red school tie with tiny blue school badges on them (these are worn with the summer uniform for ceremonial purposes as well, and probably with a long-sleeved shirt if called for). The deep blue suit-jacket style blazer with a large silver-brimmed school badge sewn onto the chest pocket is compulsory.

The female summer uniform is based on the traditional cheongsam, plain blue with darker blue rims, with white socks and black shoes. The school badge is positioned below the collar in the middle. The winter uniform is similar, except that the dress is long-sleeved, of a thick material, without different coloured brims and is navy blue. Again, the blazer is optional. The dress must be long enough to conceal the knees when standing up. At below 12 degrees Celsius or for specific health conditions, girls are allowed to wear a white long-sleeved shirt and long blue trousers.

Wool jumpers are optional for both the summer and winter. These must be dark blue. They can either be customized ones with the SPCC logo on it that are sold at school, or completely dark blue, where if the metal school badge is concealed, it must be replaced onto the jumper. The jumpers can be sleeveless, long sleeved, buttoned or unbuttoned.

Sports wear is common for boys and girls: a white, short-sleeved top with a modernized school badge and 'SPCC' on the left side of the chest, with a pair of dark blue shorts, white socks and sports shoes that should be mostly white. However, the shorts for boys and girls are slightly different. Those for boys are looser (similar to basketball shorts) while those for girls are more tight-fitting (similar to volleyball shorts).

Swimming gear: swimming trunks for boys and swimsuits for girls. They are of the same colour, the same red and white stripes running vertically, and the words 'SPCC' sewn onto them near the left hip.

Current policies

Language policy

The school launches a "Language Policy" which aims at encouraging students to speak in Putonghua or English.

Cleaning campaign

Cleaning Campaign intends to motivate students to keep their classrooms clean and tidy while the real intention is commonly believed to be 'saving manpower for the school', due to the release of the result of how much electricity saved. The regular inspections are supposed to operate every week. In addition to the regular inspections, there are also sudden inspections occasionally. Classes with the lowest marks in cleanliness and tidiness will have to stay after school to clean up their classrooms. The three classes with the highest and lowest marks will be announced respectively. Classes with highest scores will be awarded certificates.

Culture Salon

The Culture Salons are organized by a core group consisting of students from different forms, led by Mrs Ning Lau Chung Man Veronica. The core group organizes activities that elevate students' awareness and concern about the past, and current culture. Guests are often invited to give talks at school during morning assemblies and Enrichment Programme Days.

New Timetable

It is announced in the assembly on 23rd June, 2008 that a new timetable will be introduced in the next school year. There will be several main changes. The number of cycle days in 1 cycle will be increased from 5 to 10. There will be no more lessons of 30 minutes and all lessons will be of 1 hour. The lunchtime and recesses are also lenghthened. There is an additional Form Teacher Period everyday before the morning assembly. As a result, school starts earlier and ends later. Such policies are said to be implemented for the convenience of the construction of the new school campus. Reaction towards the new policies is mixed.

Choirs

The choirs are the most prestigious school teams in SPCC. There are three choirs in the college, the Treble Choir, the Concert Choir and the Senior Mixed Voice Choir. The Treble Choir is the only junior choir in SPCC and the members are usually from Form 1-3. On the contrary, the Concert Choir and the Senior Mixed Voice Choir mainly consist of Form 3-7 members. There are about 120 members in CC and 80 members in SMVC. Talented members in the CC with good attendance can have the chance of being promoted to the SMVC and compete in the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival.

The Senior Mixed Voice Choir has been achieving excellent results in the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival and other international competitions since its establishment in 1949. The SMVC is now ranked at position 475 in the World Choir Ranking List of Musica Mundi, the organiser of the World Choir Games.

Comparing with other school teams and clubs, the senior choirs have the most "complicated" administrative structure. Each committee member have different roles in the senior choir. For instance, there is one chairman, one chairlady, 4 part leaders, 4 part coordinators, 3 secretaries, one treasurer and 3 librarians.

Starting from the era of Dr. Anissa Chan, chairpersons and part leaders of the senior choirs are responsible for leading the singings of hymns on stage, instead of the teacher-in-charge of the event. At the same time, prefects take the role of announcing notices, rather than teachers.

Alumni choir

The SPCC Alumni Choir was founded in 1980 at the initiative of the late former Principal Dr BM Kotewall, who wanted to preserve the tradition of musical excellence of the School. It made its debut at the 1980 Summer Concert under the founding conductor Geoffrey Ko, who passed on the baton to John Lowe and Barnabas Chung in 1982.

In addition to its regular appearances in the Carol Service, the Summer Concert and other significant functions of the School, the Alumni Choir also organizes public concerts on its own or with other performing groups, continuously providing a vital and precious musical and social link among different generations of graduates.

Primary school

The college had an affiliated primary school: St. Paul's Co-educational College Primary School, which was once divided into two half-day schools, St. Paul's Co-educational (Kennedy Road) Primary School (former St. Paul's Co-educational P.M. Primary School) and St. Paul's Co-educational (MacDonnell Road) Primary School (former St. Paul's Co-educational A.M. Primary School) to cope with the demand for places, they resumed full-day education in 1999.

The secondary school curriculum is taught in English, except for Chinese Language, Chinese History and Putonghua. Furthermore, its primary school teaches predominantly in English with help of Cantonese, and some lessons are taught by native English Teachers.

Notable Alumni

Academics

• Lawrence J. Lau - Vice-Chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Arthur Li - Former Secretary for Education and Manpower of Hong Kong; former Vice-Chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Chung-Kwong Poon - President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Vivienne Poy - Senator of Canada; former Chancellor of the University of Toronto
• Philip Tsang Man Fai - Professor in Mathematics of the University of California, Berkeley

Public services / professionals

• Audrey Eu - member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
• Moses Cheng - former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
• Selina S Y Chow Liang - former member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and Legislative Council of Hong Kong
• Eric Ka-Cheung Li - former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
• Andrew Kwok-Nang Li - Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong; Also Vice Chairman of the School Council
• Ernie Chi-Fung Lo - Chairman of the Hong Kong Frontline Doctors' Union
• Maria Wai-Chu Tam - former member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and Legislative Council of Hong Kong
• Herbert H K Tsoi - former president of the Law Society of Hong Kong

Business

• Richard Li - Founder and chairman of PCCW Limited; younger son of Li Ka-Shing
• Victor Li - Managing Director of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited; elder son of Li Ka-Shing
• Patrick Yuk Bun Fung - Chairman of Wing Hang Bank

Artists

• Kai-Tai Chan - Hong Kong actor
• Danny Pak-Keung Chan - the late popular Hong Kong singer
• Michael Ching-Kit Kwan - Hong Kong singer
• Mark Chung-Tak Lui - Hong Kong pop song composer and producer
• Justin Lo - Hong Kong pop song composer and singer
• Man Chung Lam - Hong Kong actor and comedy star
• Eugene Pao - Famous Hong Kong Jazz Musician and Guitarist

International liaison

• High School attached to Tsinghua University, Beijing, China - sister school
• Shanghai High School , Shanghai, China - sister school
• Nankai High School, Tianjin, China - sister school
• Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - sister school
• St Andrew's Cathedral School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - sister school
• St Joseph's Institution, Singapore, - sister school
• CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) [Convent of Holy Infant Jesus (Toa Payoh)], Singapore - sister school
• St. George's School (Vancouver), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - sister school
• Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, Massachusetts, USA - sister school
• One of the five member schools for the Student Science Conference Platform, including Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore; Nankai High School, Tianjin, China, Stella Matutina Girls’High School Taichung, Taiwan; The Hutchins School, Tasmania, Australia; St. Paul's Co-educational College, Hong Kong, China

Access

The school is currently on the route of Citybus route 12A from the Admiralty (Tamar Street) Bus Terminal and the Green Minibus route 1A from the Central City Hall. There are bus routes 3B, 12, 23, 23B, 40, 103, minibuses 9, 22, 22S, 28 at Kennedy Road, just below the school. The school is also accessible by taxi, or even on foot if the gradient is not too taxing for the individual. The school is not too far away from Hong Kong Park, and can be reached by exiting from Pacific Place and taking a short walk through the Park. School bus services are provided to students.

Annual Summer Music Event

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of SPCC, the school held the Extravaganza in the Asia World Arena which is far away from the school in 2006. This act set a record of being the first school holding an event that involves all students and the first school to use the Asia World Arena.

In 2008, even the annual music event - Summer Concert, which usually takes place in Hong Kong Cultural Center, is cancelled this year. The reason for this is that both the Treble Choir and the Senior Mixed Voice Choir are participating in the 5. World Choir Games Graz, Austria. This reduces the opportunity of the other music groups' performance. According to the Music Department, it is said that the Summer Concert will be presented to all again in 2009.

Clubs and Societies

The club and society promotion which is the most intriguing during assembly yearly in Mr. Henry Poon's era no longer exist under Dr Anissa Chan's regime. The promotion provided opportunities for student to have a chance to act, give presentation and promote the clubs during the assembly and it was part of the collective memories of the past SPCC. Still is the reminiscence of the alumni and some senior form students, the club and society promotion now survives only as the performances by the Music Society, including the choir, school orchestra, harmonica orchestra, wind band and pianist chamber.

See also

• Education in Hong Kong
• St. Paul's Co-educational (Kennedy Road) Primary School
• St. Paul's Co-educational (Macdonnell Road) Primary School
• Principals of SPCC
• List of schools in Hong Kong

External links

• SPCC website
• SPCC Alumni Association
• Entry on the Heritage Trail description