Education | St Paul celebrates 46th anniversary

Fr Salcedo (left) and Bishop José Lai

St Paul’s School held its 46th anniversary celebration last week, along with the inauguration of the “Bishop Jose Lai Garden” on the institution’s rooftop.

The celebration featured performances conducted by the students and speeches made by St Paul’s School principal Fr Alejandro Salcedo, Bishop José Lai and Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) director Leong Lai.

In his address, Bishop Lai said that the newly inaugurated garden serves as a reminder for the students to be more aware of nature.

The school hoped to connect students and the community with the garden, in order to provide a place where education can be fostered.

Fr Salcedo told the Times that the institution is currently implementing a three- year project that aims to discover “new ways of teaching.”

“We are focusing on, aside from technology, a new way of teaching [and] how teachers have to deliver the message,” said Fr Salcedo.

He added that the school has strived to encourage their teachers to change their mentality in educating students.

The school previously launched such a project to Primary 4 students and above, and also now has plans to launch a one-to-one computer project catering for K1 to Primary 3 students.

“In education, every time and every day is new. Society changes [so] education has to change. It has to follow the society,” the principal said.

When questioned on the plans for the Canidrome, Leong Lai replied that the site would be used for social and cultural interest as previously announced by the Chief Executive.

She said the bureau plans the school system based on social  and demographic changes so as to cooperate with the “Blue Sky Project.”

Leong Lai recalled the “Blue Sky Project” involves several projects including demolitions and renovations of schools, as well as expansion of former institution spaces.

The project was initiated by Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam with the purpose of improving the environment of local schools, and ensuring that schools would have outdoor playgrounds.  LV