A tribute to Miss Sito for her 80th Birthday!

Principal’s Message

Dear alumni,

We dedicate this August issue of our Alumni Newsletter to Miss Helena Sito, our belovedex-teacher and ex-principal who has so dedicatedly served Methodist College for 36 yearsbefore her retirement in 1994.

It is no exaggeration to say that Miss Sito has been our shared memory. To alumni of theearly years, she was the wonderful English teacher who has helped many to master thisforeign language which contributed to their career success. To alumni of the 80s and 90s,she was the committed principal who brought the College to high achievements in bothacademic and non-academic aspects. To alumni of the recent decades, she was the bigname behind the fund which has enabled them to widen their horizon in life. To me, she isthe warmest supporter who is always sympathetic to my needs and requests.

Earlier on, to celebrate Miss Sito’s 80th birthday in March, we collected some words ofgratitude from some alumni and put them into a Special Publication which was sent to MissSito as a birthday gift. With the permission of Miss Sito and those alumni, we are glad toattach it with this issue for your enjoyment. To let you see the present Miss Sito in sightand sound, we have enclosed the link to a video which was taken in May 2013 when shewas interviewed by our students for a writing competition.

On Miss Sito’s retirement in 1994, HK$ 700,000 was raised to establish the “Miss HelenaSito Education Fund”. Owing to extremely low interest rates in the recent decades, thebalance now is approximately HK$ 350,000. It is thus urgent for us to raise new funds tomaintain the good work. In this issue, I am grateful to Mr. David Chan (1971) and Mr. NgKin Yuen (1976) for contributing some words to help us in the appeal. We have alsochronicled the names of the beneficiaries from the Fund as a valuable record.

It is my greatest wish that more donations could come from those who have benefited fromMiss Sito’s service in the College as well as those who have benefited from this Fund.Though you may be still on the first rung of your career ladder, your contribution will be themost effective teaching on gratefulness to the younger ones here in the Methodist Collegefamily.

To make your donation, simply complete the Donation Form attached and send it with yourcheque to us. Don’t forget to mark down 2 Nov 2013 (Sat) on your calendar. I look forwardto seeing you on our 55th Anniversary Founders’ Day.

Emily Wong

Principal

Tribute to Our Beloved Miss Helena Sito, at her 80th birthday

Miss Helena Sito Suk-han’s teaching career started with Methodist College when we were just opened in 1958. Being one of the longest serving staff members of the College, she took up the pivotal role of Principal from 1980 to 1994, and was the longest serving principal so far in the College’s history. Under her leadership, the College went from strength to strength. To honourher at her retirement in 1994, alumni and teachers eagerly contributed and set up the Miss Helena Sito Education Fund. Throughout the years, the Fund supported worthy students on English immersion programmes to the UK and Singapore, from which a large number of students have benefited. These lucky students were testimonies of the continuous grace of God bestowed upon the College through Miss Sito. Here, in this special pamphlet, blessed graduates from various years join their hearts in wishing Miss Sito – Happy 80th Birthday! And may God’s grace be bountiful upon you in the days to come!

Emily Wong, Principal~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Through taking part in the Miss Helena Sito Education Fundsince its inception in 1996, I have been deeply touched bythe unstinting support from our former and presentteachers as well as alumni in various ways. This not onlyshows their concern for the well-being of the College, butthe great respect to Miss Sito in whose name the Fund isestablished.Happy Birthday, Miss Sito.

May God bless you abundantly! Mr. Ng Kin Yuen (1976)

We owe so much of our school's fundraising success to our teachers whocommunicate with their students and create excitement and generateenthusiasm. Good health and sense are 2 of life's greatest blessings. You arenever too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.You're looking fabulous at 80. Miss Sito.

Mr. Alexander B Macdonald (1974)

Mr. Ting Wai Chun David (2001)Corporate Development Director

Immersion/exchange year: 2000Destination: U.K.

Greatest benefits gained from the programme:International exposure, an open mind, andlong-lasting friendships that last till today.

Words for Miss Sito:Dear Miss Sito, Happy Birthday! Thank you very much for yoursupport to various initiatives at MC, including the exchangeprogramme that I participated many years ago. The experienceequipped me an open mind to pursue many new chapters later inlife, including an exchange program in US, a full-time career in theUK, and most recently, in China. I wish to personally thank you atthe next MC occasion, and promise to extend the spirit ofpromoting cultural immersion within MC through various means.

Mr. Lau Cheuk Yin Chadwick (2003)Revenue Analyst

Greatest benefits gained from the programme:A great experience in social life at a secondary school dormin UK and travelling around.

Words for Miss Sito:Happy birthday! I still feel obliged to thank you for thewonderful trip after 9 years. It was the first step for me toput imaginations into practice - to live and travelindependently abroad. Writing this from Paris on my CNYbreak, this feeling gets more eminent than it would be if I’min the comfort of my home. May I take this opportunity towish you a year full of joy and grace from the Lord inabiding by His Words.

Immersion/exchange year: 2004Destination: U.K.

Words for Miss Sito:

I am sincerely grateful for being granted the

scholarship, which enabled me to gain overseas

experience and challenge myself. I wish Miss Sito ever

good health and I hope Methodist College students

could enjoy more immersion opportunities under the

generous support of Miss Helena Sito Fund.

Ms Kung Sin Kei (2012)

Current HKU Student

Immersion/exchange year: 2011

Destination: U.K.

Ms Lie Sze Sze Helen (2002)Solicitor Immersion/exchange year: 2001Destination: U.K.

Greatest benefits gained from the programme:The programme gave me a great chance to experience the life asan exchange student in a boarding school and in a host familyabroad. Through the programme, my horizons were expandedand my English was improved. Moreover, I had the opportunitiesto make friends with people of different nationalities.

Words for Miss Sito:Miss Sito’s kind contributions have been benefiting manystudents of Methodist College. It was my pleasure to be one ofthe very first batch of students who were sponsored by MissSito’s fund to participate in the foreign exchange programme.Such experience was memorable and valuable. I would like totake this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to MissSito.

Mr. Tsui Ho-Kan Kingsley (2006)Master’s student in Applied Linguistics at Oxford University, U.K. Immersion/exchange year: 2004 &2007Destination: Singapore & U.K.

(Photo taken at Oxford in 2012)

Greatest benefits gained from the programme:It was an immense pleasure for me to be able to benefitfrom the Programme twice. Singapore and Britain havevery distinctive educational styles, the former isrenowned for its strict disciplines while the latter isfamous for its liberal learning atmosphere. What theyhave in common is, these two countries never fail toproduce talents in all walks of life. I am very thankful forthese invaluable experiences which have broadened myglobal horizon, strengthened my interpersonal abilitiesand enhanced my understanding in international affairs.These also motivated me to pursue my studies overseasafter secondary school.

Words for Miss Sito:Thank you for your lifelong dedication to Methodist College for over half a century which have been inspiring generations and generations of teachers and students. May you continue to be blessed with countless happy, healthy, fruitful and grace-filled years to come!

Ms So Choi Sim Chris (2004)Project AssistantImmersion/exchange year: 2005Destination: U.K.

Greatest benefits gained from the programme:The trip to Leeds broadened my horizon as asecondary student. What I learned from this trip wasuseful for my studying French for a month in Lyon,France and being an exchange student in London, UK atuniversity.

Words for Miss Sito:Miss Sito, thank you for providing such a valuableopportunity for me to improve my English and get toknow the world more. I could not imagine I wasselected as a recipient of the Scholarship to go to theUK after the interview. It is never the same, comparedwith travelling. Thanks again and wish you all the best!

3 March 2013, Methodist College

Miss Sito shared her invaluable experience to students in May 2013. To watch the highlight of the interview, please visit:

http://www.mckln.edu.hk/mess_to_alumni/interview_misssito.mpg

「循道人」、「循道情」

「司徒淑嫻校長基金」校友贊助計劃

-陳德忠

各位循中校友，母校踏入2013年新學年便是55周歲，如果以18歲為一代，循道中學為香港、為全球的中華兒女作育英材，足有三世代。

以我十二屆畢業生為例，有的已為人祖父母，或臨界退休、或成為旅遊家，周遊列國、享受人生﹔畢業於80後的校友，正值事業高峰期，卻心有所掛，為子女的學業前途鋪排﹔而千禧後畢業的少壯校友，或正享受高等學府的生活、或正想方設法地向事業和生活的高處鑽尖。無論您是哪一代的循中畢業生，我相信都有以下幾方面的共同點﹕

對曾在母校盡心盡責愛護學生的各年代的師長都有一定的感情﹔

對現職於循中的教職員們都有一定的要求﹔

對循中現在及將來的學生都有一定的祈望﹔

對作為循道中學的校友都有一定的光榮感。

綜合來說，這些同理心就是那些年，與我們一起成長的「循道人」、「循道情」﹗

*****

近年我與本港文化教育界朋友閒敘暢談現今和將來的「社會棟樑」時，不少前輩和有識之士都慨歎在香港時下的教育制度、「一國兩制」下的青少年德育及社會教育，總是含糊不清、方向混淆，追不上國際需求。推出甚麼國民、國情…教育，就是缺少了「地球公民」(Global Citizen)的教育﹔而地球公民的理念，絕不是一般以「保護地球、保護環境」概括便成，而是要求每一個社會、每一個人，特別是年青一代，要有以下幾個方面的特質﹕

一. 你是誰﹖認清我們自己是全球的一部分﹔

二. 認識你的社區定義：我們現在都是一個新興的國際社會的一部分。我們的城市、我們的國家、我們的民族成員。這意味著我們有另一個社區和國際社會﹔

三. 認識價值觀﹕每一個社區和國際社會都需要有價值觀，它反映了道德理想。我們大多數人相信，作為人類生存的基礎，例如人權、宗教多元化、保護環境、減貧、可持續的經濟增長、消除大規模殺傷性武器、人道主義援助、並保存世界的藝術和文化多樣性…等﹔

四. 了解全球政策和方案的制定﹕不管你意識到與否，國際社會的政策和方案都正在制定中﹔認識這些政策組織：如聯合國、國際貨幣基金組織、國際法庭、國際專業協會、像星巴克這樣的跨國公司等﹔

五. 認識和履行可持續發展的日常生活方式﹕支持環保的交通工具、家居溫度、衣服、食物都需要採取對環境負責的行為﹔

六. 支持世界藝術、音樂和文化，保育人類文明的精粹。

*****

各位校友，我本人就希望有一天，我的子孫都擁有上述作為「地球公民」的特質，那就真的是香港之福、世界之福也﹗作為循道中學大家庭的成員之一，我也很希望現在和未來的循中學生，都具備「地球公民」的質素。

現在，您們都有機會支持母校學生成為真正的未來「社會棟樑」了。

自1994年司徒淑嫻校長退休而成立的教育基金，一直以來都發揮著協助循中學生放眼世界、實踐成為「地球公民」的願望﹔至目前止，約超過百多名學生受惠於該基金，通過往各國和地區交流學習，成果顯著。據學校反映，該基金現已「見底」，需要「補血」了﹗為了發揚「循道人」的「循道情」，我懇請各位循中兄弟姊妹們慷慨用解囊，踴躍捐款，使基金可維持正常運作。

Some Highlights about the

Miss Helena Sito Education Fund

It is my privilege to have helped in setting up the Miss Helena Sito Education Fund, in drafting itsConstitution and in its work as a member of the Management Committee since its inception in 1996.

There are certain remarkable features about the Fund:-

1. From its beginning, the Management Committee of the Fund has been composed of the Principal,representatives from the Board of Management, the teaching staff and the Alumni Association as well asthe President of the Student Union. In short, the Management Committee provides a platform fordifferent stakeholders, particularly the student representative, to exchange ideas and consider how thefunds should be utilized for the well-being of our College.

2. It has always been an objective of the Management Committee that the Fund would support someinnovative activities initiated by teachers and students that would not be financed by other sources. It isencouraging to note that many creative programmes have been organized for our students over the years.

3. More significantly, the Fund has been sponsoring our students to go on study trips to the U.K. since 2001and to Singapore since 2002. The trips have enabled our students to study in Methodist schools there forabout two weeks every year. Our students could gain some first-hand experience of studying abroad andgetting along with people of different cultural backgrounds. This has proved to have broadened ourstudents’ horizon and enriched their lives immensely.

4. The study trips would not be so successful without the unfailing support from Dr. Brian Hollingworth andMrs. Fee Cee Ho, two former Heads of the English Panel of our College. They helped to liaise with theschools in the U.K. and Singapore respectively. Besides, throughout the past years, when our studentsvisited these two countries, they would spare their precious time to meet up with them. Invariably, ourstudents have always treasured such gatherings and deeply felt the spirit of the “Methodist family”.

5. These overseas trips have allowed our College to build up connections with Woodhouse Grove School,Ashville College and Ockbrook School in the U.K. and Anglo-Chinese (International) School, MethodistGirls’ School and Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) in Singapore. Recent years have seen our boysvisiting Methodist Boys’ School, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for IT training too. They are all renownedMethodist educational institutes. Our College is certainly the first Methodist school in Hong Kong whohas established such ties with other overseas Methodist schools. It is hoped that these connections wouldflourish.

On a personal note, I am touched by our former and present teachers as well as alumni who have renderedgenerous help to the Fund in various ways. This must be attributed to their respect to Miss Helena Sito and theirconcern for the College.

NG Kin Yuen

Major beneficiaries from the Fund across the years

YearUK: Woodhouse Groove School or Ashville School or Ockbrook

School

Singapore: Methodist Girls’ School or Anglo-Chinese

School (Independent) or Anglo-Chinese School (International)

Malaysia: Methodist Boys School (Kuala Lumpur)

Book Coupons

20014G Lie Sze Sze Helen4G Lo Pak Hong Bryan

N/A N/A N/A

20026S Ting Wai Chun6A Yeung Yee Wan6A Au Yeung Viona

4B Leung Sik Kwan3R Wong Lok Ming Daisy3R Yeung Wai1R Tam Cheuk Yin

N/A N/A

2003 Cancelled (due to SARS)

2R So Chui Kiu Chuki2W Tsui Ho Kan2W Chan Pak Hin5W Leung Wai Hang Raymond6G Chan Yee Lam Jacqueline6S Yu Ka Yan Pengie6A Leung Sin Yee6A Chan Yin Yan

20046A Lau Cheuk Yin4B Cheung Miu Ying4B Wong Ho Lun Alan (SF)

4W Leung Lai Ling4B Lee Hiu Yan6A Luk Lok Yin3W Tsui Ho Kan

N/A N/A

20054B Tsang Yuen Ting Jackie6S So Choi Sim Chris

2W Janice Ho3W Cynthia Chiu

N/A 1R Stephanie Yau

20066G Chan Tsz Yeung Clement6S Leung Hoi Yan Peggy5B Yip Kwok Fai

3R Tam Ka Wing Jo Jo3G Man Ho Yan Karen

N/A N/A

2007

6S Wong Ka Fai Alan6G Wong Kin Yan Candice6A Tsui Ho Kan Kingsley4B Yip Oi Ming

N/A N/A N/A

2008 Cancelled (No places offered) N/A N/A

2009

3R Ma Wai Yan Janet3R Lau Kin Sing Sunny4R Chan Wai Hin Jacky4W Lee Yin Lai Rebecca

2B Ho Chi King2B Lau Ka Ching

N/A N/A

2010

5B Cheung Yan Chi Kitty4G Suen Tin Yan Samuela4B Sit Wing Ki Winky3W Li Uen Shuen Denise

2R Lam Sin Yan Tina2R Ho Muk Wah Moses1W Kwan Ho Lun Kevin1B Fang Zhi Liang

3R Chan Erik3B Li Hao Yuan Henry3R Lau Chi Pang Louis

N/A

20115G Lau Ching Ning5W Kung Sin Kei5W Tang Siu Kei

2R Tong Fu Yi1W Tang Hoi Wai3R Kwong Chung Ching3R Cheung Ho Chi

3R Chan King Cheung Lawrence3W Chang Yau Shing3W Cheung Kai Laam Geoffrey4B Lee Chi Him4W Sham Pak Yin4W Tam Da Sun Handason

N/A

2012

4B Chan King Cheung Lawrence5B Chan Ka Yee5G Cheung Hoi Yan5G Li Jingwen5R Cheung Yee Ki

2R Lai Man Sum3R Yuen Kin Yan3W Tso Tsun Tramy

2B Erwin Charles Helios2R Lee Kwong Keung3B Choy Man Lok Ricky3B Kwan Samuel Shing Lok3B Kwok Chun Ting

N/A

Apart from the above, the Fund has also subsidized some students on other out-of-the-territory interflow

or exchange programmes, as well as the teachers who went on these trips with the students.

The Fund will continue to generously sponsor similar activities in future to broaden and widen students’

horizon and the scope of school life.

Miss Helena Sito Education FundDonation Method

1. Create a crossed cheque made payable to“Methodist College”.

2. Write your name, graduated year, email address,contact number and donation purpose on the backof the cheque.

3. Send it to Methodist College, 50 Gascoigne Road,Kowloon.

4. Donation is tax deductible with receipt. Receipt willbe sent to donor by mail.

For inquiry, please contact Mr Martin LI through mckln.alumni@gmail.com or 2384 3543.