Bishop Paschang Catholic School
| Bishop Paschang Catholic School |
|
Patience,Justice,Diligence,and Thriftiness. [1] (traditional Chinese (HK))仁義勤儉 |
| Location |
No. 6 Wang Chiu Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
|
| Information |
| Type |
Hong Kong SAR aided school
Medium of Instruction Chinese |
| Religious affiliation(s) |
Roman Catholic |
| Established |
1969 |
| President |
Rev. Fr. Anthony Vincent Brennan |
| Principal |
Miss CHAN Mei Hing |
| Faculty |
about 50 teachers |
| Enrollment |
about 800 pupils |
| Affiliation |
Maryknoll Fathers |
| Website |
http://bpcs.edu.hk |
Bishop Paschang Catholic School is a government aided,[2] whole day [3]Roman Catholic coeducational primary school located in Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was founded by the Maryknoll Fathers in 1969.[4] The school is in Primary One Admission Net 46 of Kwun Tong.[1]
Timeline
Bishop Paschang Catholic School (Chinese: 天主教柏德學校)is a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government aided whole day coeducational primary school. With the exception of English and Putonghua (Mandarin) lessons, the school employs Chinese (Cantonese) as the main medium of instruction, in line with the prevailing education policy set by the Hong Kong government. The sponsoring body is the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, commonly known as the Maryknoll Fathers.[5]
- 1969 founded – Bishop Paschang Catholic School was formerly known as the “Bishop Paschang Memorial School”, originally located in Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was founded by Maryknoller, Rev Fr. John M Mcloughlin MM. Initially, there were an AM section and a PM section. Fr. Mcloughlin named the school after another Maryknoller Bishop Adolph John Paschang).[6]
- 1971 – First Primary 6 graduation of the AM section of Bishop Paschang Memorial School
- 1972 – First Primary 6 graduation of the PM section of Bishop Paschang Memorial School
- 1975 – First batch of pupils who studied from P1 up to P6 graduated in the year of 1975
- 1979 – 10th anniversary
- 1994 -- 25th anniversary, publication of 25th anniversary memorial booklet [7]
- 1999 – Bishop Paschang Catholic School Parents-Teachers Association founded
- 2002 – AM section of Bishop Paschang Memorial School moved to the new campus in Kowloon Bay,[8] became a full day school[9] and was renamed Bishop Paschang Catholic School. New campus is situated in a school village next to Richland Gardens, opposite to Kai Yip Estate, of Y2K design by the Architectural Services Department of HKSAR government.[10] PM section of Bishop Paschang Memorial School stayed in Ngau Tau Kok but became a full day school as well.
- 2003 – SARS outbreak in Amoy Gardens, Ngau Tau Kok. Bishop Paschang Memorial School in Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate was seriously affected too.
- 2006 – Incorporated Management Committee founded according to the Section 40BU of the Education Ordinance 2004
- 2007 – Bishop Paschang Catholic School Alumni Association founded
- 2008 – All remaining classes of Bishop Paschang Memorial School in Ngau Tau Kok were relocated to Bishop Paschang Catholic School in Kowloon Bay. A 39th anniversary special memorial booklet was published to commemorate this event.[11] The campus in Ngau Tau Kok was then handed back to the HKSAR government, and was subsequently demolished together with the rest of the Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate. The migration from Bishop Paschang Memorial School in Ngau Tau Kok to Bishop Paschang Catholic School in Kowloon Bay was then completed. The campus in Lower Nga Tau Kok Estate were twice opened to the public to visit on 8 March 2008 and 20 July 2008. Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate was the last one of its kind of resettlement estate built by the Hong Kong Government, therefore, the news of demolishing it swept the territory arousing lots of collective recollection effect.[12] The open day of Bishop Paschang Memorial School on 8 March 2008 was thus reported by local newspapers in Hong Kong.
- 2009 – 40th anniversary – Bishop Paschang Catholic School Parent-Teacher Association, Bishop Paschang Catholic School Alumni Association and the School jointly published a memorial booklet.[13] In addition, a memorial mass was held in the school by Bishop John Tong Hon of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong
Serving those in need
Bishop Paschang Catholic School is a government aided school, started to adopt forward small class teaching in 2010.[14] Starting from 2010, the School enrolls five primary one classes, totaling 125 pupils intake every year. Most pupils are from grass root families in the neighborhood. There are now about 800 pupils altogether. Secondary schools that graduates attended include La Salle College, Wah Yan College, Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, Ying Wah College, King’s College, Cheung Chuk Shan College, Shatin Government Secondary School, Sing Yin Secondary School, St Paul’s School, and St. Catherine’s School for Girls. Occupation of graduates include doctors, lawyers, accountants, pharmacists, professors, principals, teachers, professional athletes, actors, administrative officers, and engineers.
Fr Anthony Vincent Brenann MM picked up the role of Supervisor in 2004. The School employed an expert in curriculum design, Ms Chan Mei Hing, in 2009 to succeed the retiring headmaster, Mr Au Wing Cheung. Besides the supervisor and the headmistress, members of the Incorporated Management Committee (2010–2012) consists of Rev Fr. Thomas Anthony Peyton, Mr Joseph Lai, Mr Lee Ping Hing, Mr Au Wing Cheung, Mr Martin Lai, Ms Rosa Chan, Ms Priscilla Ko, Ms Stefy Wong, Ms Yip Miu Yee and Mr K.F. Chan.[15]
Mission
The school was founded on the Maryknoll spirit to serve those in need, and to preach the good news of Jesus.[16] The school places high importance on moral values, so that pupils can become citizens who can walk the talk of “Love thy neighbours” of Jesus Christ.
Supervisors
- Rev. Fr. John M. Mcloughlin, M.M. (1969–1980) [17]
- Rev. Fr. Peter Alphonsus Reilly, M.M. (1980–1994)[18]
- Rev. Fr. Howard D. Trube, M.M. (1994–1995) [19]
- Rev. Fr. Thomas Anthony Peyton, M.M. (1995–2004)[20]
- Rev. Fr. Anthony Vincent Brennan, M.M. (2004 – now)[20]
Headmasters
Headmasters of Bishop Paschang Memorial School AM Section in Ngau Tau Kok
- Mr Chan Man Wai (1969–1984)
- Ms Yeung Yuen Man (1984–1992)
- Mr Leung Kwok Hung (1992–2001)
- Mr Lee Ping Hing (2001–2002)
AM section moved to Kowloon Bay in 2002 and became a full day school.
Headmasters of Bishop Paschang Memorial School PM Section in Ngau Tau Kok
- Mr Lau Neng Chung (1969–1976)
- Mr Lee Tai Chung (1976–1991)
- Mr Leung Kwok Hung (1991–1992)
- Mr Sun Leung Shek (1992–1996)
- Mr Lee Ping Hing (1996–2001)
- Mr Au Wing Cheung (2001–2002)
PM section of Bishop Paschang Memorial School became full day school in 2002.
Headmasters of Bishop Paschang Memorial School Full Day School in Ngau Tau Kok
- Mr Au Wing Cheung (2002–2006)
- Ms Au Suk Yan (2006–2008)
Full day school of Bishop Paschang Memorial School was merged with Bishop Paschang Catholic School in Kowloon Bay in 2008.
Headmasters of Bishop Paschang Catholic School in Kowloon Bay
- Mr Lee Ping Hing (2002–2006)
- Mr Au Wing Cheung (2006–2009)
- Ms Chan Mei Hing (2009 – now)[13]
Facilities
The campus in Kowloon Bay is of Year 2000 design by the Architectural Services Department of the Hong Kong SAR government, the current Hong Kong Government standard design for school buildings.
Bishop Paschang Catholic School places high importance on moral education and participated in the “Marathon 101 Education Program”.[21] In 2009, they invited the blind marathon winner Henry Wanyoike and his leading runner Joseph Kibunja to the school to share with pupils their labour.
The School places priority in both Chinese and English learning. The school promotes English reading program throughout, aiming at improving language skills of pupils and was a participant in the SCOLAR English Language Camp for Primary 4 Students in 2002.[22][23] In addition, the school uses “Putonghua” (Mandarin) in all Chinese lessons from P1 to P3.
There are a number of different extra-curricular activities for pupils to choose. The Bishop Paschang Catholic School Alumni Association also awards an “A life body skill” scholarship to those pupils with outstanding performance in sports and arts.
Supporting bodies
Bishop Paschang Catholic School Parent-Teacher Association was founded in 1999. Bishop Paschang Catholic School Alumni Association was founded in 2007. Through the years active members of the alumni association have been extended to graduates of all years from both Ngau Tau Kok and Kowloon Bay campus.[24] These two supporting bodies help the school in organizing activities and award scholarships to pupils.[25]
School Song
The founding headmaster, Mr Chan Man Wai, invited the classical music composer from Taiwan, Mr Huang You Di, to compose the school song. Lyrics were written by Mr Lee Shi Shou who was the father of the second headmaster of Bishop Paschang Memorial School pm section.[13][26]
Titbits
- The Bishop Walsh Memorial School was also founded by the Maryknoll Fathers in Hong Kong in 1963. When Bishop Paschang Memorial School was set up in 1969, most of the senior staff was transferred from Bishop Walsh Memorial School. Mr Chan Kai Yin, the husband of Ms Yeung Yuen Man, the second headmistress of Bishop Paschang Memorial School, was the headmaster of Bishop Walsh Memorial School before he retired. During the recruitment of headmaster of Bishop Paschang Memorial School in 2009, Mr Chan Kai Yin was on the selection board.
- School song of another Maryknoll Father school, Bishop Walsh Memorial School, was also composed by the same composer and lyrist.[27]
Alumni
- Ms HO Ka Lai – former Hong Kong Fencing Team member
- Mr POON Man Tik – former Hong Kong soccer team member
- Mr POON Man Chun – younger brother of Poon Man Tik, also a former Hong Kong soccer team member
- Ms Myolie WU – Hong Kong TV actor
- Ms LEE Wai Sze – Hong Kong cycling team member (2010 Guangzhou Asia Games Gold Medalist) [28]
Further reading
- Christ the Worker Parish
- Supervisors of Bishop Paschang Catholic School
- Headmasters of Bishop Paschang Catholic School
- Photo of founding teachers
- Photo of teachers in 1994
- Couplet presented by Mr Lau Neng Chung, founding headmaster of Bishop Paschang Memorial School, at the 40th anniversary of the School
- Staff photos in 2009
- Bishop Paschang Catholic School school song
- Graduation song written by deceased teacher Mr Fong Lai Man in 1975
- Jumgoo sunsite.cn
- Fr. Paschang with Latin students at Yangjiang, China, 1924 from USC digital library Website
- Children enjoying firecrackers at Jiangmen, China, 1947 from USC digital library Website
- Maryknoll priests at Dongzhen, China, 1922 from USC digital library Website
- Sacred Heart Hospital staff, Toishan, China, ca. 1949 from USC digital library Website
- Maryknoll Priests and Sisters at Hong Kong, China, ca. 1925 from USC digital library Website
- Fr. Paschang and graduating class at Gaozhou, Maoming, China, 1926 from USC digital library Website
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Jiangmen
- (traditional Chinese (HK))天主教柏德學校
Old pictures
Reference
External links
See also
