St. Francis' Canossian College

Not to be confused with St. Francis' Canossian School.
St. Francis' Canossian College
嘉諾撒聖方濟各書院

Veritas in Charitate
Live by the Truth in Love
Information
Type Grant School
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Established 7 May 1869
School district Wan Chai District
Principal Sister Susanna Yu
Grades Form 1–6
Affiliation Canossian Daughters of Charity
Information +852 2527 1007
Medium of instruction English
Color(s) Blue, White
Address 9-13, Kennedy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
(School Size: About 8,000 sq. meters)
Website http://www.sfcc.edu.hk/

St. Francis' Canossian College (abbr: SFCC; traditional Chinese: 嘉諾撒聖方濟各書院; demonym: Franciscan) was founded on 7 May 1869, and meanwhile the second school established by the Italian Canossian Daughters of Charity in Hong Kong. The wall painting of four Guardian Angels' playing instruments is the mascot of the school and a prominent landmark on Kennedy Road. The primary section is known as St. Francis' Canossian School, located on St. Francis Street and connected to the campus of the secondary section by a bridge.

After established for more than one century, St. Francis' Canossian College, being one of the 22 earliest Grant Schools, has also been identified as one of the most prestigious catholic girls' schools in both Wan Chai District and Hong Kong.

School history

St. Francis' Canossian College

In 1860, a small group of Canossian Sisters left their native Italy and moved to Hong Kong for evangelism. In order to teach and care for the moral welfare of the many poor children who lived in Wan Chai, in 1869, Canossian Sisters took a house to provide proper education with an emphasis on moral growth and self-respect to the poor and needy, which was the beginning of today's St. Francis’ Canossian College. The Sisters did not only start a school, they also set up a hospital and an orphanage at the same address. After visiting the school, the Governor of Hong Kong was very impressed with the school's education, so he invited the school to join the "Grant-in-aid" Scheme. Although the school became a government establishment and one of the earliest Grant Schools in Hong Kong, the administration and management still belonged to Canossian Daughters of Charity.
The school closed in 1941 due to the Japanese Occupation, but the determination and passion of the Sisters did not waver. After the World War II ended in 1945, the school re-opened and was named "Sacred Heart Junior School" until 1953 when it was renamed as "St. Francis’ Canossian College." As a result of increasing demand of school places, the school started an expansion project with two extensions completed in 1956 and 1958. In 1956, the school also established the first team of Red Cross Youth Unit, which became one of the most sizable uniform groups in Hong Kong.
In 1962, the school introduced Form Six classes and since then provided free education from Primary One to Form Six. The hall building opened in 1985, which consisted of a gymnasium, a library, a needlework room, a cookery room etc.
Eventually, only St. Francis’ Canossian College and St. Francis’ Canossian School remained standing on Kennedy Road while the other buildings were used as the convent for Canossian Sisters and Caritas Magdalene School for deaf-mute. In 2008, Caritas Magdalene School was redeveloped into the new school campus for the primary section, which was below the Kennedy Road campus.
St. Francis’ Canossian College’s redevelopment construction started in 2013 and was expected to be completed in 2016. The area of the new school site would be around 10,000m2.

Timeline

School building in 1869
School building in 1870
School building in 1958

19th Century

20th Century

21st Century

List of principals

Period Name
1 1937-1945 Sister Angelica de Piazza, FdCC
(In the early years the principal of SHCC also took charge of St. Francis'.)
2 1945-1947 Sister Lina Riva, FdCC
3 1947-1948 Sister Valentina Pattano, FdCC
4 1948-1953 Sister Giannina Gilardi, FdCC
5 1953-1958 Sister Carlotta Abati, FdCC
6 1958-1965 Sister Nedda Buratti, FdCC
7 1965-1967 Sister Laura Piazzesi, FdCC
8 1967-1971 Sister Emma Cazzaniga, FdCC
9 1971-1974 Sister Miriam Tavecchio, FdCC
10 1974-1979 Sister Marie Remedios, FdCC
11 1979-1991 Sister Bernadette Au Yee Ting, FdCC
12 1991–present Sister Susanna Yu Ka Pik, FdCC

School Information

Principal and Supervisor

School Motto

Veritas in Charitate

Admission

Class Structure

There are 24 classes in total with 4 classes at each level, from Form One to Form Six (A,B,C,D).

School Facilities

All classrooms, special rooms and School Hall are air-conditioned and provided with Internet access. Each classroom is equipped with a TV set, a projector, a display screen and a video-cassette recorder. Special rooms include four computer rooms, Multimedia Learning Center, Independent Learning Center, Library, Laboratories, Needlework Room equipped with computer facilities.

School Uniform

School Uniform before the 1950s

The school uniform of St. Francis’ Canossian College has the same design as the two other sister schools’, SHCC and SMCC, but they are differentiated by colors and school badges.

Regulations on school uniform and grooming are strictly enforced at all times with zero tolerance for any kind of extraordinariness. Unannounced uniform inspection will be conducted throughout the school year to ensure that, including, but not limited to, the length of the hem-line, the style of hair, ornaments, shoes, school bags and underwear comply with the school's guidelines.

Summer Uniform

White short sleeve dress with turn-down collar and pleated bottom, blue waist belt, blue skinny tie, white short socks and black leather shoes. Navy blue or black or white cardigan or sweater of simple style is allowed when necessary. White slip is compulsory to even out the high transparency of the white uniform dress. No other garment can be used as a substitute.

Winter Uniform

Navy blue jumper with pleated bottom, white long sleeve turn-down collar blouse, blue waist belt, blue skinny tie, navy blue short socks and black leather shoes. Navy blue or black cardigan or sweater of simple style is allowed when necessary.

School Tie

The school tie of junior forms and senior forms are different. Form One to Form Four students wear azure      plain skinny tie. Form Five to Form Six students wear cerulean      school badge patterned skinny tie.

Sports Uniform

Sports shirt corresponding to the color associated with the house and navy blue athletic shorts.

Hair style

Hair longer than shoulder length must be neatly tied up with dark blue or black ornaments. Masculine hairstyle and use of gel, hair spray, mousse or hair-coloring are forbidden.

Subjects Offered

Form One & Two

Besides Chinese Language, Putonghua and Chinese History, all subjects are taught in English.

Form Three

Besides Chinese Language, Putonghua and Chinese History, all subjects are taught in English.

Form Four – Six

Besides Chinese Language, Putonghua, Religious Studies and Chinese History, all subjects are taught in English.

Subjects offered in each class:

Student Activities

Student Formation

Extra Curricular Activities

The school has 4 houses, 20 clubs and interest groups, which are divided into 5 categories and managed by Student Association:

School Teams Service and Uniform Groups Interest Groups Religious Groups Academic Groups
Chinese/English Debating Team Community Youth Club (CYC) Art Club Legion of Mary Chinese Club
Junior/Senior Choir Girl Guides Association
(31st Island Company) 		Debating Society Catholic Society Computer & Maths Union
Symphony Orchestra Red Cross Association
(Youth Unit 1) 		Drama Club English Society
Chinese Instrumental Ensemble Social Service Group Games Club Science Union
Swimming Team Music Association Social Science Union
Basketball Team Photography Club
Athletics Team Sports Union
Dance Team

Four Houses

Each student or teacher is randomly assigned to a house upon joining the school. Four houses will be competing in different inter-house contests throughout the school year. The house with the highest scores will be awarded the title "House of the Year."

Publications

School Song

Verse 1:

Do you hear our joyful voices
Ringing sweetly through the skies?
Day by day our heart rejoices
As our thanks to heaven rise.
For our school instructs and leads us
On the way to virtue and love.

Refrain:

Live St. Francis! Live forever
In our mind and in our heart!
Bless our teachers and companions
Be the bond when we depart!
Live St. Francis! Live forever
In our mind and in our heart!
Bless our teachers and companions
Be the bond when we depart!

Verse 2:

Here we pray, we work together
For the love of God and men;
Here we study, here we gather
Here we play and here we gain.
And when troubles seem to double
To our school for peace we turn.
(Refrain)

Verse 3:

As the years fly off together
We, too, march on life's hard main,
But St. Francis' will forever
Live in mind and heart again;
To encourage, to uplift us
Till we reach our home above.
(Refrain)

Available on YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mflUwbcwI6o

Notable alumni

Sister Schools in Hong Kong

References

  1. ↑ "Hong Kong protests: 8 things you might not know about Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's Chief Secretary". The Straits Times (Singapore). 3 October 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to St. Francis' Canossian College.


Coordinates: 22°16′29″N 114°10′09″E / 22.2748°N 114.1691°E