Dear Parents and Students,

As a new academic year commences, I extend my heartfelt wishes for your good health, academic success, and the continued blessings of the Lord. Alongside the dedicated school team, I would like to warmly welcome all our new Primary One students, newly admitted students of different levels, and their families to the Salvation Army Lam Butt Chung Memorial School's family.

During the summer holiday, I hope that all students not only completed their summer assignments and learning tasks but also had the opportunity to observe and engage with the exciting events of the 2024 Paris Olympics. It is evident that the athletes exemplified the spirit of "trying their best with perseverance" throughout the Games. In addition to their remarkable performances, they displayed positive attitudes and values to the principles of "fearlessness in the face of adversity" and "never giving up." These qualities are truly commendable and worthy of emulation. Students are encouraged to draw inspiration from these athletes as role models in their primary education, embracing the dedication and spirit of rigorous training and active participation in competitions as guiding principles for their learning journey.

As we step into a new year of joyful learning, I encourage students to reflect on their past academic experiences and to set new learning goals for the upcoming year. In addition to actively participating in the vibrant life of our school community, students can enrich their educational journeys by engaging in meaningful activities. These may include sharing their learning experiences and insights with peers and teachers, exchanging thoughts and feelings with classmates, mentors, and social workers, and relaying moments of joy from their school life with family and friends. Furthermore, I urge students to enhance their learning through reading, staying informed about news, and reciting both English and Chinese articles as well as classical Chinese poetry. During weekends, students are encouraged to visit exhibitions, museums, and other meaningful diverse places, while also engaging in regular physical activity to strengthen their bodies and pursue personal interests.

We are deeply appreciative of God’s guidance, as the school has experienced smooth operations over the past year, with thoughtful beautification of the campus and steady development across all areas. In this year of returning to normal, we owe a great deal of gratitude to the support and cooperation of our parents. Through our collaborative efforts, the school has been effectively optimizing both the regular and specialized curricula. This includes programs such as the Early Childhood Picture Book Course of Chinese subject, Compassion-Based Life Education across various subjects (General Studies, Visual Arts, and Our Library), English STEAM learning, and subject-specific pedagogical research and teaching. Also, we have implemented diverse teaching strategies to enhance the effectiveness of our educational practices. The school has utilized various resources and EDB grants to offer a broader range of physical and academic activities, complemented by the optimization of specialized rooms, such as the Science and Music rooms, and the acquisition of new equipment. These enhancements further enrich students' effective learning experiences and promote physical education. Furthermore, the school has also employed additional foreign teachers and registered social workers to cultivate a more conducive English learning environment and foster a caring, positive atmosphere in our campus. Our school team is committed to uphold the mission of the Salvation Army, as well as our educational values and school motto, which embody Christian principles. We strive to provide a all-rounded and diverse education that emphasizes holistic development, addressing the varied learning needs of our students while fostering self-discipline and positive character. Our aim is to assist students in constructing knowledge, developing essential competencies, and instilling positive values and attitudes that promote their healthy growth and overall development.

I firmly believe that every child is a precious gift from God, inborn with unique talents and a love for learning. We are committed to the principle that "education begins from the heart." Through our collective efforts, we strive to provide a school-based curriculum that caters to diverse learning needs, alongside a variety of interactive teaching and learning strategies within a nurturing environment, ensuring that every student enjoys learning and achieves academic success. As the saying goes, "It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person." I am also convinced that raising children is not a short-term task but a long-term, systematic endeavor involving thoughtful nurturing, enduring influence, and boundless love. The primary school years are a golden period for students' learning, "learning begins with the heart" and we hope to cultivate a passion for learning from an early age. Nurturing students with grace, our team will continue to strive for excellence, creating a healthy and joyful campus life for our students.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." — Proverbs 22:6

The new academic year marks the first year of our school's three-year plan, with a focus on "optimizing teaching and learning strategies to enhance students' autonomous learning abilities" and "strengthening values education to cultivate positive and healthy lifestyles." The school will continue to refine the curriculum and diversified modes of assessment that cater to students' diversified learning needs and the promotion of biliteracy and trilingualism. We will promote subject-based and interdisciplinary learning (such as Chinese culture and STEAM), life education, environmental education, and inquiry-based learning. In the classroom, we will further promote students’ self-directed in learning and improve their digital learning through diverse strategies. Additionally, we aim to enrich students' varied learning experiences with our extracurricular enrichment. We encourage greater participation in physical education activities and talent performance. We will also develop thematic learning activities such as Christian values, academic subjects, Physical Education, National Education, health, and interdisciplinary studies, effectively promoting students' self-directed learning, positive values, and national identity. Furthermore, we will enhance the campus atmosphere nurturing students to be positive, disciplined, autonomous in learning, confident, caring, and healthy individuals who love learning, treats others with sincerity, embraces innovation, shows compassion towards others, and possesses a sense of health and happiness.

Wishing everyone enduring joy and abundant blessings from the Lord!

Principal Ma Kai Lung

The Salvation Army Lam Butt Chung Memorial School

September 2, 2024

Click here to view the video presentation (2023-2024)