Introduction

Our Belief

• Each individual student is unique and has diverse potential and different life experiences. Teachers in Carmel are committed to guiding students so that they get to know themselves better and discover their own talents and abilities. Students are encouraged to work hard to achieve their potential fully, to serve the community and to strive for personal excellence.

• Students have their own set of life experiences. The responsibility of our teachers is to stimulate students’ curiosity and promote their eagerness in learning. They are expected to encourage students to develop new concepts based on old ones.

• The responsibility of students is to learn while the duty of teachers is to design and conduct appropriate learning activities and implement strategic policies. Our teachers are willing and prepared to offer help throughout the learning process. In time, as students study on their own and take an active part in the process of learning, they will eventually be able to learn by themselves without the aid of their teachers.

• Our school provides a conducive learning environment for students and cultivates a good learning atmosphere. Meaningful learning activities are designed to enable students to carry out learning both inside and outside the classroom.

• Learning is fun. In order to make learning enjoyable, a solid foundation is crucial. Abilities in reading, writing, thinking, probing and numeracy are the cornerstones. Our teachers exhaust all means to encourage and help students learn actively and let them enjoy the fruit of their own hard work.

Curriculum and Teaching

• S1 is a crucial year in secondary education. Students need to make considerable effort as they adapt to a new learning environment. There are three areas in which novice English secondary school students may find difficult.

             1. There are too many subjects in the curriculum.

             2. They are unable to use English effectively in learning.

             3. Unlike before, memorization gets them no where in their study.

• Appropriate adjustments have been made in the curriculum. In order to help students adjust to their new school life, the number of subjects is reduced. In S1, students need only study six subjects, namely Chinese, English, Mathematics, Geography, Integrated Science, and Chinese History. It is hoped such an arrangement will enable students to have enough learning time and ample opportunities to lay a solid foundation in their secondary education.

• Chinese History is not included in the S2 learning curriculum. By increasing the number of History lessons from one to three per cycle, we believe that students will get more accustomed to learning in English.

• In S3, students are expected to have acquired a solid foundation in learning. They are required to study both Chinese History and History. Also, Economics is introduced. The Integrated Science curriculum is expanded and reorganized into three individual subjects: Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Apart from academic subjects, subjects concerning aesthetic education, IT and whole-person development are offered. They include Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education, Home Economic, Design and Technology, Computer Studies and Biblical Studies.

• All subjects, except Chinese and Chinese History, are taught in English. The Cross- Curriculum Committee is responsible for matters relating to the coordination and implementation of EMI teaching. All EMI teachers have already been trained to use English in their teaching. In order to maximize the efficiency of English learning, five classes in S1 are streamed into six groups based on students’ different levels of ability.

• Learning to Learn Period

             When students master appropriate learning methods, it means they have fewer learning 

             difficulties.  Empowering students helps to cultivate their interest in learning. In S1, one period

             in a cycle is dedicated to helping students to develop a correct attitude and to master effective

             learning methods. For S2, through Project Learning, students begin to inquire, to research, to

             analyze data and information, and to acquire useful generic skills.

• From S4 onwards, after securing a solid foundation, students are free to choose different subjects to study according to their interests and abilities. Apart from the Arts stream and the Science stream, we also offer a Commercial stream.

Class Structure

              Secondary 1 to Secondary 3: Five classes in each form.

              Secondary 4 to Secondary 5: Three classes are offered: Arts and Commercial subjects,

                                         one class Science subjects, one class Science and Commercial Subjects

              Secondary 6 to Secondary 7: Two classes are offered: Arts and Commercial subjects,

                                         one class Science subjects.

Homework

              Homework helps students reflect on what they have learnt. It stimulates students to think

              and encourages them to pursue answers in different ways. Therefore, homework is

              indispensable. If students fail to hand in their homework, they need to go to the detention

              class for one hour on that day to finish the homework. Their handbooks will be stamped

              as a record.

Revision and Review

              Learning involves continuous hard work and it is necessary that students develop a hardworking

             attitude. Persistent hard work not only includes the completion of assignment given by teachers,

              but also extending learning outside textbooks. Apart from regularly doing homework, students

              should be persevered in their self-study, independently exploring and acquiring knowledge.

              Students are expected to spend at least two hours per day revising, reviewing and reading

              through their learning materials outside textbooks.

Computer and Internet

              The Internet is a unique source through which students can obtain a lot of useful information.

               At present, there are two computer rooms in our school, and we have over 300 computers

               installed for students to use. Students can make use of the computers to finish their homework

               or download information from the Internet for studying purpose. They are discouraged from

               using computers only as a game device and for net chatting. They are forbidden to browse

               websites that carry harmful contents. Parents are strongly advised to supervise and teach

                their children to use computers properly.

Self-study Room

                 The school strongly encourages students to discuss what they have learnt with each other

                  outside lesson time. The hall is open to students for revision in the morning from 7 a.m. and

                  the classrooms are open for self-study after school until 9 p.m.

Evening Study Class

                   For those who have difficulties in learning or seeking for greater improvement, they are

                   encouraged to join the evening class. It runs from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Teaching assistants

                   are available for helping students to solve problems encountered during their studies.

Promotion Criteria

                   In order to maintain a high academic level, students are expected to reach the prescribed

                   level of competence before they can be promoted to a senior form. The criteria for promotion

                   are listed as follows:

                   S1 – S2: - Pass in Grand Total Average

                                    - Pass in Chinese, English and Mathematics and two other subjects

                              S3: - Pass in Grand Total Average

                                    - Pass in Chinese, English and Mathematics and four other subjects

                              S4: - Pass in Chinese, English and Mathematics and four other subjects

                              S6: - Pass in Chinese and English

                                    - Either a) Pass in 1 A-Level subject and 2 AS-Level subjects.

                                                  b) or Pass in two A-Level subjects

                     Students are required to join the Summer Study Class for about 20 days if they do not

                     meet the above requirement.

Parents' cooperation

We expect parents to:

• Monitor the learning progress of their child by checking their student handbook. To make sure they have finished all their homework, parents should always be aware of whether or not their children have been assigned to detention class as a result of failing to hand in homework on time.

• Help their child to make good use of their time after school hours, discourage them form picking up the habit of being lazy or addicted to Internet games, watching TV, talking on the telephone for too long.

• Read together with their child in order to establish a family with a good reading habit and a good learning atmosphere.

• Participate in the Parents'  Nights / Parents' Days organized by the school in order to receive the report card in person. Frequent communications with class teachers are also strongly advised.

Academic Leaders (2009 ~ 2010)

   4B Kwan Yau Ming, Tsang Kwok Kit

   4C Cheng Ka Man, Lui Yee Ling

   4D Chan Chi Wa, Mak Ping Kwan, Tam Loi Ling, Tang Wing Sheung, Wong Lai Hung

   4E Hau Cheunk Yu