A Year of Grace, Gratitude, and Hope
By Dr. Esther Ho, School Principal
As the academic year 2024-2025 comes to a close, my heart is filled with immense gratitude and pride. This has been a truly memorable year – a testament to our collective spirit, resilience, and unwavering commitment to excellence – one that will undoubtedly be etched into the vibrant history of Carmel Secondary School.
Celebrating Six Decades of God’s Abundant Grace
The 60th Anniversary Celebration in October 2024 was the highlight of this academic year. The Lord has blessed Carmel Secondary School abundantly, guiding our path and nurturing the development of both our cherished institution and countless students over the past six decades.
The anniversary festivities were a profound demonstration of the unity and passion that define our Carmelian community. I was especially touched by the whole-school cleanliness campaign prior to the celebrations. Everyone participated unconditionally, ensuring our campus was immaculate and ready for the various grand occasions.
At the Thanksgiving Ceremony, a paramount moment of unity, we recalled the visionary stories that laid our foundation, as shared by our esteemed school leaders, Prof. Joseph Kwan, Principal Li Po Ching, and Principal Lawrence Lour. We delved into our rich school history, recalling the pioneering spirit that shaped us.
Our Open Days welcomed over 3,000 visitors, who eagerly engaged in a wide variety of experiential activities, participated in thrilling interschool competitions, and captured memorable photos at the many beautiful spots across our campus. Visitors to the Core Exhibition could appreciate archives – many exhibited for the first time – and explored Carmel’s historical development through virtual platforms embedded within the High-Performance Digital Twin of the campus.
The celebrations also featured a spectacular Anniversary Show. With Songs of Carmelians, old and new, sung again to recall precious memories of different cohorts, the show was a moving tribute to our shared past and enduring bonds.
The festivities culminated in a magnificent Anniversary Banquet, where 60 tables of guests gathered, sharing immense pleasure and love across generations of Carmelians – a truly heartwarming sight. It was a beautiful symphony of past, present, and future, truly echoing the spirit of our journey.
Our gratitude extends deeply to the overwhelming support for the 60th Anniversary Fund Raising initiative. It fills my heart with joy to announce that, by the end of May 2025, we have raised a remarkable total of HKD 6.2 million! This tremendous achievement, surpassing our HKD 6 million target, is a powerful testament to the generosity and unwavering commitment of our alumni, friends, and community. Your contributions are an investment in the dreams and potential of every Carmelian.
Innovating for the Future: Stretching Every Carmelian’s Potential
This past year wasn’t just about celebrating our heritage; it was equally about pioneering innovative learning and teaching practices to maximise every student’s potential in both academic pursuits and essential life-skill development. We embarked on significant initiatives, including the strategic revamp of our curriculum time, the promotion of cross-curricular inquiry learning programmes that extended beyond Hong Kong, and the launch of a comprehensive Gifted and Talent Programme (GTP) for S1-5 students. These programmes have not only enriched learning experiences that cater to diverse abilities and interests, encouraging our young minds to explore beyond conventional boundaries, but also equipped our students with adaptable skills for their future.
On 3rd July 2025, we launched our first Annual Showcase of Learning Programmes by Carmelians, rounding off the learning cycle with a sharing of students’ excellent work created in various special initiatives. From intricate art pieces to new sports endeavours, self-driven service-learning projects, and mini-research, students offered engaging demonstrations to fellow teachers, students, and parents. It was a time to recognise and celebrate the achievements of all.
Education stands amidst a transformation due to the advancement of AI technology. Many teachers at Carmel have been actively experimenting with how AI can effectively assist, rather than substitute, learning and teaching, and many innovative practices have taken root. My sincere appreciation goes to this team of creative and professional educators.
Looking Forward with Hope and Commitment
Every step has been a collective effort. My deepest gratitude goes to every member of the Carmelian family. Your commitment, hard work, and prayers have been the bedrock of our achievements.
As we conclude this academic year and prepare for the next, let us carry forward the spirit of gratitude and innovation. We remain hopeful for the future, knowing that with continued effort and God’s guidance, even greater accomplishments lie ahead.
In the spirit of our 60th Anniversary theme, I urge each of you to heed the powerful words of 2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV): “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” This verse serves as a profound call to action for every Carmelian – to continuously ignite the divine gifts within us, whether in our learning, our teaching, our service, or our unwavering support for this beloved school. Let us nurture these gifts, allowing them to shine brightly for the glory of God and the betterment of our community.
May our Lord continue to bless Carmel Secondary School and each of our students in the coming academic year.
