Principal’s Message (July 2017)

Message from the Principal

The theme of this issue, Building Connectedness, is one target of our 2015-18 School Development Plan.  We are fully aware that the school is not only a place of academic learning, but  also one  of socialization for young people.  Positive relationships, a sense of belonging, inclusion and active participation are crucial for a student’s socio-emotional development.  It is such positive day-to-day interactions and participation that build respect, trust, empathy, autonomy, responsibility and self-efficacy.  Ultimately, as documented in extensive research, connectedness promotes positive mental health and wellbeing, and improves educational outcomes.

A question that pops up must be: How effective is it in Carmel?  The articles in this issue tell the answer.  Other than that, the annual survey Assessment Program for Affective and Social Outcomes (APASO) conducted this January revealed consistently positive responses from students, particularly in teacher-student relationships and peer relationships.  The vibrancy of the campus during recesses, lunchtime and after school hours, when students actively engage in extracurricular activities is also solid evidence.  Carmel underwent External School Review in mid-October 2016 and the reviewers commended on our work and appreciated that we are heading towards a right direction.

Our vision is that every Carmel student feels connected and empowered to make informed decisions.  They  are not withdrawn into themselves but reach out to their parents and family, to the school community, to God, to our neighbourhood and to the wider world around.

                                                                                                                                                                Ng Miu Yee Maria

校長的話

建立聯繫感是今期的主題，也是2015-18年學校發展計劃的目標之一。我們很清楚知道，學校除了是上課的地方，也是學習與人相處的地方。正面的人際關係、歸屬感、接納包容和積極參與對學生的社交及情意發展至為重要。透過日常接觸和活動，學生學會彼此尊重、互相信任、建立同理心、自主能力、責任感和自我效能感。正如不少研究發現，聯繫感對精神健康和學習，都有正面的幫助。

你必然會問，這個目標在迦密有多少成效？今期的內容就是答案。除此之外，學校每年均透過情意及社交表現評估(APASO)，了解同學的看法。根據今年一月收集的數據，學生對師生關係和同儕關係都有極高的評價。學生常在小息、午飯時間、放學後參與課外活動，或與知己友好玩樂談笑，校園充滿生氣，這足以證明此目標已見成效。迦密於去年10月中接受校外評核，外評隊對我們的工作表示欣賞，也認同學校的發展方向。

我們的願景，是每個迦密學生都不感到孤單、能夠放膽作出知情決定；他們不會把自己鎖在封閉的自我世界，而會主動與父母家人、學校群體、我們相信的神、社區和社區以外的天地建立聯繫。

                                                                                                                        校長啟