st.mark's alumni · pdf filere-acquaintance with their classmates, ... chairlady of the...

St.Mark's Alumni News

July 2008 Issue

St. Mark's School AlumniAssociation Limited18 Oi Yin Street, Aldrich Bay Shaukeiwan Hong Konghttp://www.smsaa.org

Lam Kwok Yin, Edmond

Vice ChairpersonChan Pik Fai, JoyceTsang Kin Chung, Ronnie

Honorary TreasurerLam Hing Sum

General SecretaryLeung Wai Kin, Jacky

Assistant SecretaryChan Fung Ngo, Sam

I.T. OfficerTam Sau Man, Shermen

Committee MembersChan Sai Wing, PhillipChing Lai Mun, VeronicaLau Yiu Cho, JoeLi Chan Kuen, GraceLim Ching Foon, FannyMok Wing Kai, HenryNg Suk Han, HenriettaWong Yat Hung, Jacko

Contacts for overseas alumniOntario Chapter http://www.stmarksalumni.ca

Calgary Chapterhttp://www.stmarksalumni.com

British Columbia ChapterSMSAABC Hon. Secretary,Catherine [email protected]

Co-ordinator for Alumni in AustraliaWarren WONG Hung Toh(Year of Graduation: 1967)[email protected]

Co-ordinator for Alumni in USAAlfred Cheung-Nang Lee(Year of graduation:1962)[email protected]

Website: http://www.smsaa.org E-mail: [email protected] 1

Coming Event in 2008

6 December 2008 (Saturday) 6:30pm to 10:00pmButterfield’s Club (Tel: 2968 5600) Dorset House, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Hong Kong

Annual General Meeting & Dinner 2008

Registration: Please fax the enrollment form to Ms. Ivy Wong at 25675809

Aug Welcome BBQ for new membersOn 2 August, 2008 (Saturday), a BBQ was held for new life members to meet the executive committee of Alumni Association and other alumni in the Disciplined Services Sports and Recreation Club in So Kon Po. More than 30 participants turned up for the event.

News

Oct

Location Map:

Date and time:Venue:

Retirement of Mr. Li Fook HingMr. Li Fook Hing has served St. Mark’s School as a member of the School Council for more than half a decade with dedication and enthusiasm, and retires this year. An Evening of Music with Mr. and Mrs. Li Fook Hing was held on 6 October 2008

Celebration of the 80th birthday of Mr. Joe Whitney In October, the 1961 alumni with the support of the Alumni Association celebrated the 80th birthday of Mr. Joe Whitney in Hong Kong. For details,please refer to the article written by Mr. Ken Kwok (class of 1961).

Retirement Party for Ms. Grace LiThe party was held on 29 August 2008 in the Bauhinia Room, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. You are welcome to visit http://smsaa.org/ for retirement party photos.

HK$280 per headHK$200 per child (under 12)

Fee:


November 2008 Issue

Mr. Edmond Lam, Chairman of Alumni Association

Grace 33 is the Retirement Party organized by the Alumni Association for Miss Grace Li who has served our alma mater for 33 years of full time service and her last year as a part-time staff. Moreover, she has been elected an Executive Committee Member of the Alumni Association for many years. Her contributions are well-known among all of us.

The Grace 33 organizing committee consisted of Joyce Chan (class of 1981), Ms. Hilda Chiang (class of 1967), Ms. Choy Mei Pok (class of 1973), Henrietta Ng (class of 1976), Philip Chan (class of 1976), Wong Sui Kuen (class of 1979), Jacko Wong (class of 1988), Lam Hing Sum (class of 1978), Fanny Lim (class of 1981), Cheung Ching Yee (class of 2002), Cheung Kui Wah (class of 2002), Ivan Chang (class of 2006) and me (class of 1982). We have a great team working on this event.

After the inception of the idea of organizing Grace 33 in July, the brainstorming period lasted for a few weeks and the party was then agreed to be held on 29 August 2008. The venue, the Bauhinia Room in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, was confirmed only in early August. Despite of the fact that the organizing committee only had three weeks to prepare the grand party, the seamless collaboration of the committee together with the widespread support from other alumni had made the impossible possible. More than 230 alumni/guests attended the event. The participants commented that they were impressed by the decoration of the venue, the happy re-acquaintance with their classmates, the video clips, the speeches made, and the great food. Of course, they valued the opportunity to say hello to Ms. Grace Li, took pictures with her and delivered to her their wish that she would enjoy her new chapter of retirement life. Mrs. Rosalind Chan even told those who attended the party that Ms. Grace Li warranted commendation in the success of moving the school to the new campus, and her dedicated service to the school. The event was memorable for all.

Message from Mr. Edmond Lam

Grace 33


November 2008 Issue

Ms. Joyce Chan, Chairlady of the organizing committee of Grace 33

I learnt that many alumni would love very much to hold a retirement party for Ms. Grace Li last July. A number of us determined to make it a memorable event for everybody. I was happy to be appointed Chairlady of the organizing committee of the said party scheduled on 29 August 2008 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The organizing committee consisted of some executive committee members of the Alumni Association and some volunteers. The organizing committee wonderfully brought out their potential. Members with great public relationship skills were appointed to recruit participants. Wong Sui Kuen, Jacko Wong, Choy May Pok, Hilda Chiang, Lam Hing Sum, Ivan Chang and I recruited more than 230 participants. Ivan Chang even recruited the reception team for the party. Lam Hing Sum also asked Danny Chan to be the photographer of the event. Danny Chan is our alumnus and a professional photographer. I discovered that Philip Chan is not only a great lawyer, but is very artistic also. All of us loved his proposal of the programme name, Grace 33, and the logo for the event. However, he further asked Li Chi Keung, who is another alumnus and a professional designer, to improve the logo. “Grace 33” was proudly presented at the party. Henrietta Ng is a person with multiple skills. She was a great team leader to ensure we were together and on schedule for every task in the preparation of the party. She took the initiative to recruit donors for the event. Her team recruited 26 donors. Her proposal for the retirement gift for Ms. Grace Li was echoed by all of us. Cheung Kui Wah generously helped Ms. Grace Li in the preparation of the video clips with two sleepless nights. Jacko Wong, Fanny Lim, Cheung Ching Yee and Ivan Chang were appointed masters of ceremony. Their professional skills were wonderfully demonstrated in front of the audience. I would like to thank every member of the organizing committee for their dedicated work, and also every participant of the event.

Message from Ms. Joyce Chan

Grace 33


November 2008 Issue

I would like to express my gratitude to the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association for holding the retirement party, Grace 33, for me, and also the participants for attending the event. The retirement party is very memorable to me and wonderfully wrapped up my career in St. Mark’s.

In Grace 33, I appreciate the efficiency of the organizing committee in the meticulous preparation of the party in about 3 weeks’ time. I have witnessed the spirit, “Where there is a will, there is a way”, in them. I am overwhelmed by the St. Mark’s culture, the iron bonding between students and teachers. About two hundred students greeted me with friendly attitude, wished me happy retirement life and took pictures with me. The only regret in Grace 33 is that I did not have sufficient time to talk to them individually. I am also thankful for the generosity of St. Markans. There were such a great number of donors who supported the programme. Without their support, the organizing committee might have to trim Grace 33 budget. I also admired their respect towards teachers. They did not only turn up for the event, but also presented to me the wonderful retirement gift, the green Lalique bowl covered with the weightless dandelions. What impressed me most is their total involvement in Grace 33 as participants and/or organizers. Those who could not attend Grace 33 gave me a call or sent me messages from overseas. In the video about my family and my career, I appreciated the background music, “Twinkles twinkles little stars” for my relationship with students. It had spoken how I treasured my students. I will treasure them the same in the years to come.

I have to thank my family and friends who turned up for my support. I would like to say thank you to Mr. Ngai Kwok Wai and Rev. Frankie Li not only to make time out of their heavy schedule to attend the party, but also their continued support to me when I was in St. Mark’s School. Last but not least, I would express my profound gratitude to my retired “boss”, Mrs. Rosalind Chan, for giving me all the opportunities to serve my alma mater, and her commendation for my work during her speech in Grace 33.

I would remember every details of Grace 33 forever.

Grace 33

Message from Ms. Grace Li


November 2008 Issue

Message from overseas retired teachers

HI Grace,

"Grace has been my great friend & colleague, who is always ready to share her ideas. encourage & help . It is a pleasure to work with Grace and a blessing to be her friend.Grace has dedicated the prime time of her life to St. Mark's: teaching & counselling students in school and co-ordinating past students.

May Our Lord Bless Grace "

Margaret (Margaret Tsang)

Grace 33

Hello, everybody and Miss Li,

Warm thoughts and wishes for a happy and healthy retirement.

With love,

Edith Wu

I have known Grace Li for exactly forty years. When I started teaching in St. Mark's School, she was in Lower Six Science. She gave me the impression that she was a gentle, sociable and conscientious student. She showed much affection and care for her schoolmates, not only those of her age but also those much younger than her. Grace took a prominent role in the school life. She was a leader in the school's Junior Red Cross Cadet, serving people and community. She also made great contribution in the development of Science Society; I was then the club's advisor. In the science exhibition held in the school hall Grace's booth attracted many admiring spectators. The marvelous contrivance that Grace constructed herself compounded two simple harmonic motions at right angles to each other and could draw very beautiful Lissajous figures. Here she demonstrated her talent in science. After her graduation from Hong Kong University Grace found her vocation in teaching. I had the opportunity to work with her as discipline master and mistress. Through her painstaking guidance and counselling many disturbing and puzzling youngsters were set again in the right path. Later when Grace became the assistant principal, besides other contributions she built a strong bond between the PTA and the school and between the Alumni Association and the school. It is no doubt that her enthusiasm and dedication will remain in everyone's heart for many more years to come.

Fong Wang Bun


November 2008 Issue

Dear Ms. Li,

I still remember vividly your first day of teaching in St Mark's and can't believe you are retiring. It was absolutely wonderful to have you as my squad advisor and my physics teacher. Your encouragement throughout my high school years truly ignited my interest in physics. Even though I didn’t get a PhD in physics, the concepts of physics have been etched so deeply onto my mind that it finds its way into my daily life and work. Every time when I am engaged in a technical discussion with my colleagues, my high school physics will whisper itself to my ears allowing me to boil down a complex problem to just a few basic physics concepts.

I know this is a long overdue thank you letter to one of my favorite teachers in St. Mark’s. But I’m sure this won’t be the only one you will get from all your students.

Would like to wish you a very happy retirement and thank you for everything. Regards, Ben Hui

Message from Mr. Ben Hui

Grace 33


November 2008 Issue

Hi Miss Li, I am glad that you can finally take a nice break. Congratulations! I wish I could read the following paragraphs at your party. But I have no more vacation left this year. Weshall get together for a tea break next year. In the mid-80s, Miss Li was my science and physics teacher. Like some students, I got bored in school very easily. But that was changed after I attended Miss Li’s classes. Under her guidance, I was motivated to raise questions in her lectures. I overcame those fear factors by raising my hand in class. Her Q&A sessions were found to be exciting and interesting. Her teaching methods helped me to build up the motivations for learning. Under Miss Li’s influence, I began to read magazines about modern science and technology. While trying to understand those difficult materials, I was busy in recalling the basics from the textbooks. I enjoyed such learning process although I was far from understanding the black hole. It was a pleasure. At that time, I didn’t realize the effectiveness of her teaching. It was very smooth. Miss Li knew what kind of student I was. She gave me two wonderful opportunities to practice my skills of electronic circuits and computer programming. They were both outside the scope of the regular curriculum in the mid-80s. The first event was the Science Competition where participants raced each other to answer science related questions. Our school had very limited resources in those days. Instead of purchasing equipment, Miss Li gave me an opportunity to build a competition machine with very little budget. I made a real “home-grown” machine, which was made up of electronic circuits and many household recycled items. For example, the console was an indeed a lunch box. Miss Li gave us a big smile when she saw the machine, mainly because of its appearance and those recognizable components. But she had full confidence that we would not make any headline in the news, that says, “Students suffered from electric shock in a school competition.” Of course, we had a safe event and no one was seen on 6:30 evening news. It was a successful event. The competition also broke the boundary between Form 4 and Form 5 students who competed with each other. We made some friends. Thanks to Miss Li. The other unforgettable event is the Science Expo ’86, which was an inter-school event. We seldom participated in any inter-school events in those days. Miss Li insisted on the importance of interacting with other schools. She gave us an opportunity to be part of the event. It was a quite a valuable experience for us. We learned the value of teamwork. Miss Li was very open to the student’s ideas. She had confidence in us and didn’t reject my wild ideas. It ended up that we were the only team, which presented our materials from our own computerized kiosk system. That included custom-made user-interface and programming. That was a break-through in an inter-school event in 1986. Our booth attracted many guests. It was a success. Thanks to Miss Li again. Miss Li, I wish you the best for your retirement. Thank you for your great contribution to our education. Thank you for giving all those great opportunities to us. We would never forget. Cheers, Kyle JanSoftware Developer

Message from Mr.Kyle Jan

Grace 33


November 2008 Issue

Woo Ho Wai (1960 graduate)

I first met Ms. Grace Li in the 1980’s and we have seen each other since then. After years of bilateral communication, I began to realize that her métier was physics which was my weakest subject during my school years and that she has taken me as her alter ego.

In Grace’s 33-year stint as a teacher and educator, she was industrious, dedicated, loyal, helpful and caring. Her professional competence, her sense of responsibility, her fidelity to duty and devotedness to her classroom work earned her much panegyric. Believe it or not, she toiled hyperbolically 24 hours a day for the good of the school and the interests and well-being of the students. Furthermore, she was heavily involved in school activities such as mentoring scheme and the Science Society. One of her greatest contributions to her alma mater was the new school. Indeed, she was (perhaps still is) a rara avis – rare species!

She is a likeable person, considerate, magnanimous, affable and amiable, human and humane, kind and kindly. She is also a lady of ingenuity and ingenuousness. She has a pleasing and outgoing personality. Moreover, she is a bon vivant.

A farewell party was held in Ms. Li’s honour at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on August 29, 2008. Hundreds of old St. Markens, olim (former) students, colleagues and some members of the School Management Board turned up, thus making the gathering a throbbing. ‘So bucksome, blithe and debonair’ John Milton would have described the bustling frolic had he been there. Such a joyful occasion clearly and merely reflects that Grace is a persona grata. Touching and sentimental speeches were made by individuals and encomia were showered upon the retiring guru who in turn delivered her own rather lengthy valediction.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Grace La Dolce Vita (Happy Life)!

Message from Mr. Randi Woo

Grace 33


November 2008 Issue

Mr. Ken Kwok (Class of 61)

A Reunion with Joe Whitney (after nearly half a century)

The pharaohs of Egypt and the emperors of China tried to bring many and varied things with them when they went on their last journeys. They didn’t succeed. Some of them are however remembered because of their magnificent pyramids and tombs. Teachers of St. Mark’s don’t need such monuments to be remembered. As long as they teach earnestly and creatively their students will remember them. Joe Whitney taught geography at St. Mark’s for a few years at the end of the fifties and the beginning of the sixties. Then he left Hong Kong and went to settle and taught in Canada. His students remember him. Knowing that Joe would like to be back in Hong Kong to celebrate his 80th birthday after having been away for nearly 50 years, the inner cabinet of the Class of 61 got together and fulfilled his wish. In the weeks just passed (at the latter half of October 2008) a welcome dinner at the CCC in Happy Valley was organized. Over 70 St. Markans and friends turned up to welcome Joe and celebrate his 80th birthday. Many had not met Joe since they left school. Some had not seen each other after graduation. It was a memorable occasion and a real reunion. Though still recovering from his jet lag Joe went from table to table chatting with his former students and friends. From the photos you can tell everyone had a great time.

The following morning 26 of us went on a 4 day 3 night trip to Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Macau with the Whitneys (Diana and Joe). Apart from visiting the famous landmarks and having local delicacies we had a lively tour guide and plenty of chances to renew our acquaintances along the way. With her beginner’s luck Diana even made some money on her first visit to a casino in Macau.

Then it was farewell time. Another 40 or so St. Markans and friends had another memorable dinner with the Whitneys at the Chinese Club in Central. The dinner ended with some singing. The Elvis of the Class of 61, Andy Kwok, presented a condensed version (He couldn’t remember all the lyrics.) of the song ‘My Way’ to Joe. We all consider that Joe really did it his way!

Whitney’s visit

st.mark's alumni · pdf filere-acquaintance with their classmates, ... chairlady of the...

Documents