CONTENT1.

2.

SCHOOL LIFE INTERVIEW (TEACHERS)

3.

ESSAY COMPETITION SPORTS EXPRESS OTHER INTERVIEW

PROMOTION

CONTECT . ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . COMMITTEE

Hui Jing 5J Fung Kwun Ping 5K Chu Ho Yan 5J Doe Tsun Kit 5K Cheung Hin Lok 4K

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Dr. Tan Kang Mr. Lee Hang Kin, David Mr. Lee Han Kin, Eugene Ms. Chau Suk Man, Eva Mr. Cheng Hong Kan Mr. Chow Ping Wa, Timothy Mr. Lee Kwok Keung Mr. Tse Chun Ming Mr. Yuen Wing Hang TEACHER ADVISOR

Ho Kwong Chun 5K Chan Kwun Kit 4K Cheung Ho Lun 5K Fong Jeffrey 4K Lau Cheuk Fung 5Y Tan Hei 5S Cheung Yau Ting 5Y Lor Sing Yeung 4C Chan Cheuk Kit 3W Fan Yeuk Hin 4K Yan Hei Long 4K Ho Yorke 4K

PUBLICATION COMMITTEE

Chow Yui Yeung 4C Wong Jun Wei 4J ChI Kwong Tsun 4Y Chik Long Ting 4C Lam Herman 3W Tse Justin 2W Chung Cheuk Hang 3C Lee Kit Lun 5K Seeto Siu Fung 5Y Shue Wai Him 5Y Yeung Chun HIm 4W Darren Tang 3K Ronald Chiu 3W

DITS CRE

SIGNUM

Music Association Strings Society 4Y

SIGNUM

WahY

SMS E-Game Cup() ! E-GameCup( ) Premier League Phase 1 E-Game Cup() FIFA 12Tetris Battle CAL ROOM Tetris Battle !

SIGNUM

Yan Festival

--Union Day Union Day

() : ! UNION DAY 4K

SIGNUM

JUNIOR CAMPOINT WAH YANJoint Wah Yan Junior Camp took place on 1st to 3rd April, 2012 in the Po Leung Kuk Pak Tam Chung Campsite. Posters were being posted in various places in the campus since 19th March, 2012. All Form 1 and Form 2 students were entitled to join the camp. A briefing session of the camp was held on 31st March, 2012 at Wah Yan College, Kowloon. Participants gathered at Wah Yan College, Kowloon and played a series of ice-breaking games before lunch. They presented their group names and slogans just before departing to the campsite. Some of the names struck the aim of the camp, such as Wah Yan One Family. Campus Tracing was the first activity at the campsite, followed by design and presentation of group flag which marked the end of Day 1. Day 2 started sharp at 7:30 when all participants gathered and completed their morning exercise before the meal. A ball match between groups was held right after and followed by leadership tasks and leadership lecture. After lunch, an exchange lecture was conducted in which both Wah Yan campers introduced their culture and customs. A water fight was held afterwards, before the BBQ dinner and campfire experience. Camp fire marked the climax of the camp which participants could get a glimpse of real campfire, for most of them, the first time. Different songs were taught as well as cheering songs and slogans used in inter-school competitions. Day 3 started up similar as Day 2, trust games were demonstrated and conducted after breakfast. Groups were requested to transport one of the teammates using arms only. Evaluation session was held before the dismissal of the camp. All participants submitted a written reflection and shared verbally upon the camp. Howard Chu Ho Yan 5J

SIGNUM

BROTHERHOODHOMECOMING CONCERTSpotlights grew dimmer and dimmer, everyone then stopped chatting with their friends and family members. They sat in their seats quietly, eyes focusing on one spot in the front only-the stage. Stand by me, stand by me emotional, loud and clear voices of the members of Old Boys Choir started off the Homecoming Concert. The annual Homecoming Concert was held on the evening of Saturday, February 25. This year, the concert returned back to the old venue-the School Hall. All of the audience were sitting in the School Hall closely with one another, feeling much warmer and enthusiastic about the show. Homecoming Concert has always provided a precious chance for alumni, current students and teachers to meet with each other. Alumni and students have always supported this program. Through the knowledge exchange of music and art, the networks between them are strengthened. That is the reason why Homecoming Concert is always one of the most famous activities during the year. The concert kept running in a smooth way. Choir members showed off their excellent voices in front of us. Performed songs varied from famous ballads like Over the Rainbow to inspiring lively music that filled up our hearts with energy. Following other fascinating performances, the vocal singing by Mr. Frankie Fung and our Principal, Dr. John Tan must have been the highlight of the Concert! Their voices made this well-known Neapolitan song, Funiculi, Funicula much richer and fresher. Dr. Tans startup brought the emotions of the audience to the highest point. Everyone clapped along with the melody. The entire show lasted for about three hours. Although it was almost eleven oclock at night, everyone was not tired, either in a physical way or in a mental way. Instead, we still felt enthusiastic about the show. Having a look at such an elegant performance, we can see how performers having a hard work on preparation prior to performing in the Concert. Their performances are valuable assets to us. Flipping on the concert booklet, we can also see the fruits of the Concert. Every word typed in the booklet is filled with sincerety ofthe Past Students Association. On the front cover of the booklet, there are two hands holding with each other, symbolizing the theme of the Concert this yearBrotherhood.

Be with us in our home, that is what it stated in the booklet.

SIGNUM

SUBCOMMITTEE

ELECTION

2012The mission of this years SA cabinet is almost complete, but like any leaders and administrators of the past, one must lay down the seeds for the next generation. This years subcommittee was finally being elected, as the candidates speak out their political agenda such as introducing their future plans for next years SA such as new activities methods to improve the quality of programs for the better good of next years student, the Ex-co members of the students association, will decide wheather not to put their vote of confidence for the student candidates. On the day of 9th March, the subcommittee centralized recruitment scheme was held successfully. There are 86 posts provided for Form 2-4 students and we have received nearly 120 applications. The reason for electing a sub-committee is to help our juniors to fortify or to form a bed stone for future plans. We wholeheartedly hope that they can bring Wah Yan a brighter future next year. Wong Jun Wei 4J

SIGNUM

E

changing

K

nowing

I

mproving ( ) Closing Ceremony CityTracing Closing Ceremony Rex Alex Doe Tsun Kit 5K

E.K.I. E.K.I. E.K.I. Exchanging Knowing Improving E.K.I ?

Orientation Day City Tracing

IT QOn the 11th May 2012 evening, the school hall was filled with deafening applauses. That night, the school hall was no longer a grave occasion where assemblies are held. It was a stage for talented students. It is a platform for the equipped. It was a carnival for after-work relaxation. It was a place where miracle happens. It was Sailing in the sky the Internal Talent Quest 2012. The great success was attributed to the dreamy, evocative promotion video and effective promotion strategies of the Recreation Committee. Facebook and YouTube were efficient channels to diffuse the event. The Hall was furnished exquisitely beforehand and a team of skillful lighting crew was paid to create aesthetic lighting effect. Streams of lasers were projected onto the ceiling. At the front door, a counter was set to sell SA products like tie clips, foolscap papers and towels designed by the Students Welfare Committee. Very soon, students of our school and guests assembled outside the hall and were yearning for the show to begin while finalists were sharing their nervousness with their supporters. The carnival started off precisely at six. Blue hand straps and colourful glowing sticks were given off at the entrance with the sign and the event Sailing in the sky printed. The hall suddenly glutted with anticipations and aspirations. The committee honorably invited Mr. Choi Chi Ming (Thomas), Mr. Daswani Ashok, Ms. Fung Ying Kwan Agatha and Fung Ching Wai Wilson, the Internal Vice-President, to be the judges of event. Mr. Choi was chosen as very few know that he studied music in university. Ms. Fung is an experienced conductor. Under her expertise as a conductor, the choirs she has led received various prizes in public choral competitions. The competition started with a little jokes and the innocent singing by 4J Jordan Tai and 4J Aldous Wong, who were also the master of ceremonies. Screams, shouts, screeches emerged when the first contestant 6W Terrence Leung was invited to perform Jacky Hok Yau Cheungs . Followed by was Westlifes Home by 3S Michael Wong, Eason Chans by 5Y Jethro Chan, Hins Cheungs by 3S Grant Sung, Eason Chans by 4J Henry Cheung and Bruno Mrazs The Lazy Song by 6Y Modee Leung. It was harsh that Jethro and Grant were being eliminated at last. The groups contest came immediately after the individual part. Two tenors from the choir, 7B Chris Lee and 5Y NgaiFung Li, sang s . Terrence Leung and Modee Leung were not only contestants of the individual session, they also formed a group and sang a series of cartoon songs that most of us shared those memories. Everyone was perfectly blended into the atmosphere that they successfully built. Right after was the Big Band performing and , and then it was Jacky Tung and Michael Wong performing Sail Boats and Im Yours. Next, it was the talent part which grasp edpeoples interest. Queen Four Tonight utterly showed their passion towards dancing. They chose Scheie. Another contestant, 3Y Leo Yan arranged himself a ten-minute dancing which astonished everyone. Finalists of the individual singing were to interpret the two set pieces, namely Talking to the moon and Viva in Round two of the individuals contest. After the ghastful elimination, Terrence, Modee and Henry remained under the spotlight. They battled for the champion with the very last song presented to the audience. Henry had most of the noise and support from the crowd. Yet, Terrence and Modee were not belittled as well. The competition went fiercely. To resolve these tensions, the committee had invited Ms. Ho Wing Sum, who had previously participated in a large-scale singing contest organized by the Asia Television Limited, to showcase her powerful singing and skillful techniques. Her passion and sincerity towards music warmed everyones heart. CriminaWs, another performing unit, was arranged behind all items as the highlight. The team won several awards in different occasions last year. Their performance did not only win cheers among the audience, but also popularity and recognition of their hard work. Towards the end of the sail, the adjudicators made their comments upon pitch, interpretation, rhythm, style and diction. Ms. Fung specifically praised the wide spectrum of talent put on in the show. However, when ending a phrase, one should always bear in mind to keep the shape of your voice and keep the projection. Having heard of the inspiring comments, audience had all been longing for the results. With no big surprise, Terrence Leung won the champion of the individual contest. Let alone, he also held another champion with Modee Leung of the group singing. The champion of talent eventually went to Queen Four Tonight. The event had come to an end. Some of the spectators went to congratulate the winners. Some were taking photos outside the car park. When the crowd dismissed, the glowing lights dimmed and vanished at last. However, the three rising stars were still shinning dazzlingly in the starry night sky. Heron Yan Hei Long 4K

Res

rvey Su nteen f Ca ult o

We have also asked the students for extra suggestions (Question 10) to investigate their needs. In majority, we have received suggestions as below: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Increase number of queues Provide Wi-Fi signal Improve temperature of food Improve quality of lunchboxes Increase number of staff Evaluate the working attitude of staff Broaden narrow spaces between tables Increase number of seats Enquire students for choice of foods/snacks Extend office hour Add fences to queues (prevent jumping queue)

NBA All Star 4S

SPORTSPROMOTION MONTH Energetic Recharge with Sports

5K6Y

1961 () 2K3K4J5Y ----4S 5S 3K4J

Inter-School

Altheletic

Champaionship

A platform for schools to compete, a chance for athletes to fight for schools glory and honor, an event to unite the hearts of teachers and students, it was the annually held Inter-School Athletic meet! Our school, Wah Yan College Kowloon had been competing in the Division one of Inter-School Athletic meet for 27 years, which is the division with the highest quality and best athletes. Its an honor and a record to be proud of to have this in our history. However, we faced danger of regulation to Division 2 last year. We scored 93 points which was one point higher than West Island School, and here we are now this year in division one, facing the same danger. Even Mr. Tse said we have the danger of beingregulated to D2. Can we make it? Were not sure. What can our athletes do? Train harder and try their best in competitions. What can wahyanites do? Show their enthusiasm and support to athletes by cheering and striving for them! Wah Yan was ready, united and one-hearted, to face the challenges and difficulties coming. Day one comes, it was 16 February. The competition was held in Wan Chai Sports Ground. Banners were hung everywhere, students cheering, athletes competing on the stadium, coaches giving their words to athletes; the whole stadium was filled with enthusiasm, vitality and stress. The brothers of Wah Yan gave up their time in class and came to cheer and strive for Wah Yan! Before the event started, wahyanites cheered once to bring up the atmosphere and spirit. This caused athletes souls being refilled with power, being more ready to strive for the glory and honor of school! With the sound of horn, signaling the first event for us to cheer for, A grade 400m hurdles, William Fung did a great job by getting a standard. Coming next was the C grade 200m event. Wah Yan! Wah Yan! Wah Yan! Our athlete Fong King Ho ran with all his might and kept his position of third for the first 100m. Unfortunately, he accidentally fell down in the last 50m, but he stood up and completed the race. Although he end up last in the event, but his sportsmanship to finish was

remarkable and honorable. We all gave him a big hand after he reached the finish line! Following by the remaining 200m races, our school athletes tried their best. We could see from their eyes, they were on fire with the spirit of Wah Yan! Cheering gave them energy to run faster and courage to finish the race! Whats next was the A grade High Jump Event, it was a event that we expected to score a lot. It was because we had two great High Jumpers who are Yeung Pak hei and Brian Seto, the former got First in B grade and the latter got Third in A grade Last year. Things always didnt go well as expected, Brian Seto was fouled after 1.67m and Yeung Pak Hei ended up in sixth place. We could feel the despair and disappointment in their heart, but they had already tried so hard and got so far, we were all proud of them! Events kept going, ABC grade 1500m and 400m heats were the next ones. Disappointments didnt weaken the spirit of Wah Yan, sounds of cheering and roaring kept coming from wahyanites! For 1500m races, except of C grade they all got standard, besides Chung Man Kin and Cheung Hin Lok entered the finals of A grade and B grade 1500m respectively! For the 400m races, all of them got standard mark, Aldous Wong Cosmos Chan of B-grade and Matthew Lei Oscar Jim of C-grade all entered the semi finals! These good news brought an end to the morning section of Day one. The afternoon events started with B grade triple jump, Yan Kan Hong did a marvelous job by getting the sixth place. The spotlight then went to the B,C grade 100m and A grade 110m Hurdles event, which Wong Tsz Fong entered the semi finals! There were good news of Cyril Hui of getting the sixth place in Javelin, Albert Leung getting to the 100m semi finals. We could see a ray of hope, the number of wahyanites on stage was the same as in the morning, sounds of cheering were louder, this indicated the spirit of Wah Yan was getting stronger and stronger!

Finally, it was the important event of 4x400m relay! C grade started first, Boom! the horn goes and wahyan athletes ran with all their might, ending up the sixth in group and 9th in overall, only one more place then they were in the final! B grade came next. Everything went perfectly well until an accident happened while handling the ballot. They were supposed to enter the final but they were disqualified. We could see tears in their eyes, our support to athletes wont change because of their mistakes, we still gave them a big hand. A grade got a standard but didnt enter the finals. But the school prayers wrote Be with me in my disappointments and sufferings, so that I may have strength to overcome my problems and accept my pain with courage and cheerfulness. Though 4x400m teams didnt have a great result, we still had to fight till the end! Day one ended. We scored 34 marks ranked 12th out of 16 schools, with the results of A grade 12 marks B grade 18 marks and C grade 4 marks. This was only the start of this competition, theres still many challenges for us to break through. Mr. Tse told us Could you athletes make it? It depends on you all! The war continued, it was 21st February, day two approached us. Here we were in Wan Chai Sports Stadium again. We all knew in our heart we were in danger and a risky situation, but wahyanites didnt fear difficulties and challenges, this gave us more reason to support our school athletic team. Bang! This brought the start for events of day 2, B grade 3000m race following by A grade 5000m race. Though these are long distance track races, the sound of cheering of Wah Yan! only got louder each round, giving support to athletes who were running for the glory of Wah Yan. After each lab Wah Yan athletes ran, their legs and arms got weaker and more tired, but the determination and faith in their deep heart increased adversely, they struggled to give their very best, and all off them managed to complete the race! The events coming next were 100m semi finals, which only Albert Leung entered, he ran with his spirit and finally breakthrough the finish line. Something remarkable was that he got 8th position in the B grade Long Jump event before this race, his determination to take part in all race was notable. Coming next was the ABC grade 800m race, we had our former team captain Chung Man Kin taking part in this race! This made the wahyanites cheered even louder! In the end, Chung Man Kin entered the final and all of the others got standard mark. Time files, the semi-finals events started, first its the B grade 100m hurdles. Wong Tsz Fong was the only one to enter the semi-finals for hurdle events. Then came the 400m semi finals which we had 4 finalists. All wahyanites had a great expectation on them as we only had a few brothers entered the finals, and they were the only hopes. However, all of them were unable to get through to the final at last. But they were still honored as they had already tried their best to compete to take a step so close to finals. 4x100m relay was the last event that we could gain marks and get into the finals. We were all so nervous about the coming events, could we still stay in division one next year? It depends

on them. C grade started first, and ended up as 5th but failed to get a standard only by 0.2 seconds slower and didnt enter the finals. B grade was the next. Our B grade relay team was relatively strong and had the ability to enter the finals. No matter how high we get to the top, no matter how hard, we still conquer! The slogan was shouted as loud as we could to give power and support to our relay team. B grade ended up the 4th and entered the final! We did it! For A grade, they were unable to get to the finals. Day two ended, we scored 55 marks ranked 12th out of 16 schools, with the results of A grade 18 marks B grade 31 marks and C grade 6 marks. The competition was coming near to the end, only 4 events we went into the finals, its not satisfactory. However, the danger of regulation to division two was fading away. Even though the danger seemed to be gone and we had very few events to cheer for, but we would still fight till the end of the competition, we would not loss our form and concentration! Day 3 came. It was 24th February, the final day approached us. Could we really stay in division one next year? It depended on the performances of our athletic team! The morning started with events of A grade shot put and triple jump, B grade high jump. A early good news of Yeung Pak Hei getting the fifth in triple jump brought a good start for the day. But the up coming event was way more exciting, A grade 800m final, our finalist Chung Man Kin became the spotlight and hope in the eyes of Wahyanites. He was second in A grade 800m last year, could he make it this year? The horn went and wahyaites shouted and cheered out loud We are the wahyanites! Outstanding wahaynites! Courageous wahyanites! Immortal Wahyanites! Long live the wahyanites! Long live the wahyanites! In the first lab, Chung Man Kin was the seventh among all the competitors. But Chung Man Kin didnt slow down and started to accelerate, he passed 3 other competitors in the last 200 meters and ended up the fourth! After he dashed through the final line, there was a roar of cheerfulness by the crowd of wahyanites following by a big hand. Chung Man Kin did a beautiful run and had a wonderful result! In the afternoon, it was the 1500m race. We had two finalist Chung Man Kin again in A grade and Cheung Hin Lok in B grade. At this moment, we were sure that we were able to compete in division one next year, but our support to athletes wouldnt decrease! B grade start-off first, Cheung Hin Lok ran and tried to follow the main stream of competitors. But, he couldnt persist in the last lab and was left behind by 50 meters, the crowd cheered much louder and gave him support. He finally finished 9th out of 12 competitors with a good time. Although he didnt get any extra marks, he still got a big hand from the wahyanites. It was Chung Man Kin again. He was a bit tired as he already competed in the morning. But we could see in his eyes, the determination and heart was still there. Chung Man Kin did his best to keep up with the runners, but due to the tiredness after the 800m event, he ended up the 8th out of 11 competitors, gaining 1 point! His strong endurance to compete in two tough events in one day was respectable and admirable!

Finally, it was the last event and chance that our team could compete and gain points, B grade 4x100m relay. The first leg, So Kin Pang started the race well, and was the second to handover the ballot, the second leg Yan Kan Hong boosted forward and kept the lead, the third leg Albert Leung took the ballot and dashed quickly along the curve, the final leg Wong Tsz Fong got the ballot and swing his hands strongly, they finished the race with the position of 7th. They all did a great job and wrote a full-stop for Wah Yan this years Interschool Athletic Meet. We scored 72 marks ranked 14th out of 16 schools, with the results of A grade 30 marks B grade 36 marks and C grade 6 marks. This was the result of athletic teams hard and good work and of course the heart and time that Mr. Tse and our coach Mr. Ng devoted to us. Wahyanites gathered and sang the school hymn, it was the most touching moment of the whole competition. Tears ran own from our cheeks, what weve been through was hard, we all experienced happiness, disappointments and despair. No matter you were the ones who cheered, or the ones who competed, we were the wahyanites, true and forever supporters of Wah Yan. Here we were, we stayed in Division one! We, together, made it this year! When athletic team needed support and cheering, wahynites gave out their helping hand. When everyone was having fun after school, our athletic team was sweating and practicing hard. When athlete team members started to lose faith, Mr

Tse and other coaches would cheer them up and give advices. When Wah Yan athletes were competing, they tried their best and fulfilled the expectations of others. Wah Yan athletic team had been trying so hard for Wah Yan just like other school teams. Wahyanites who were not school team members should go to cheer for them, maybe they wouldnt run faster, but they would have higher incentive to compete and practice! Next year, we expected to see more wahyanites cheering and striving for Wah Yan! We had stayed in Division One this year, but we could see that the danger of regulation was still here. Two years ago, we ranked 10th with 100 marks. Last year, we ranked 14th with 93 marks. This year, we ranked 14th with 72 marks. How about next year? If the result kept falling like this, next year we may be regulated to division 2. How could we get back to the middle class of division one or even the top? We had the spirit, but we needed actual actions. Athletic team members should practice harder and more frequently, as the competitors outside were improving at the same time, we had to keep up with them. Next year Interschool Athletic meet seemed so far away, but it wasnt. Preparation needed to be started now! No matter how high we get to the top, no matter how hard, we still conquer! We still conquer! We still conquer! Cheung Hin Lok 4K

RUNOUND

CAMPUS

If we win ,we may not boast, if we lose, we may not make excuses

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DSE DSE

First of all, under the NSS, the senior secondary is made up of 3 years and the F.6 students will have to sit for the public examination. Therefore, the responsible posts of the SA, together with some other positions, will be taken up by the F.5 or the other junior students. Some people would think that students at F.5 may not be as mature as those F.6 students under the old system and this may affect their performance. However, some other people may believe that the F.5 students under the NSS would know better about the problems experienced by the SA and they might be able to propose better solutions than those put forward by the F.6 students under the old system as they needed to prepare for the HKCEE and would not serve on the SA during F.5. More information should be collected before we can arrive at the conclusion. However, it is certain that the F.5 students under the NSS would have to face great pressures if they also take up responsible positions in the SA. As three core subjects and some electives would include SBA in the assessment and the SBA would usually be conducted in F.5 and F.6, The F.5 students must develop strong time management skills or else they would not be able to deal with the heavy academic work and the SA matter at the same time. It may be adviseable for the outgoing SA committee members to share their experiences with the incoming officials so that the latter will be able to know how they should manage their time properly. Eugene Lee

SBASBA

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WYOFFINTERVIEW

Everyone is capable of learning. Everyone has ability. Sometimes we may not know our ability but we have to discover it. The school is offering us a lot of chances for students to discover their talents. Everyone can bring joy to this world with our own talents. Therefore we can be a Man for Others. Fr.Deignan

It is not the first time for Wahyanites to hear the name Wah Yan One Family but I am sure not many of us know this organization well. The Signum is very honoured to have invited Fr. Deignan and Mr Fong, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wah Yan One Family for a brief interview right after our final examinations for the 2011-2012 academic year. The Wah Yan One Family Foundation (WYOFF) was founded in 2004 by Fr. Deignan and a group of passionate alumni from both Wah Yans. The objectives were to provide more support for education, especially language education, and moral character building for students at these two Jesuit Schools. At that time teachers and staff were overloaded. In fact, as a subsidized school we did not have many resources to improve our education standard and support our students developments. Therefore, with the help of alumni we established WYOFF to provide funds for the two Wah Yans. This fund enabled us to work like a DSS school, explained Fr. Deignan. Teachers are the front line staff. It is of paramount importance that we employ good and dedicated teachers so as to help students learn better, he stressed. He highlighted that it also explains why the school is so keen on small class teaching, as smaller class sizes would help teachers manage better. Fr. Deignan described that the support of alumni to the foundation was fundamental. Without their help, it would be impossible to build up such funds. They were generous, very generous. Apart from financial support, alumni such as Mr. Fong also worked very hard to manage the operations of WYOFF and help in organizing fund raising activities. Reviewing the numerous fund raising events held in the past eight years. They both agreed that the most successful activity held was the first marathon in October 2007. It was impressive to see that parents, alumni, staff and students joined hands and walked all the way from Waterloo Road, across the Harbour to Queens Road East. It truly reflected the spirit of Wahyanites and the strong bonding between different parties of the school, recalled Fr. Deignan. Looking ahead, Fr. Deignan and Mr Fong pointed out that with the current minimal interest rate and weak economy, the Foundation would definitely need more support. There will be major fund raising activities in the year 2014-2015 when the two Wah Yans celebrate their 90/95th Anniversaries. More to add, alumni, students

and staff have been preparing and practicing hard for the Alan Tam Concert, which will be held in December this year. Its our commitment supporting teachers and students. reassured Mr. Fong. As current students, we should be thankful to our seniors and try our best as a means of repayment. As many of us know the WYOFF has been supporting Wah Yan throughout the years, some may ask how we could contribute back to their indefatigable support. The answer is very simple. With the continuous support from the alumni, we should always strive for excellence to develop our own talents. Near the end of the interview, Fr. Deignan offered some advice to current students. Be grateful, it is very important to be grateful to teachers, parents and other people. Also, learn to appreciate opportunities. He emphasised it is easy yet polite to say thank you frequently. Fr. Deignan appreciates the friendly spirit of Wahyanites which he admires very much. However, he pointed out that we should also be aware of the overwhelming criticism in the society which may destroy this precious spirit. We are human and we have good and bad sides. It is reasonable to criticize the bad points but we also have to mention about the good ones. He added Everyone is capable of learning. Everyone has ability. Sometimes we may not know our ability but we have to discover it. The school is offering us a lot of chances for students to discover their talents. Everyone can bring joy to this world with their own talents. Therefore, we can be a Man for Others. Howard Chu Ho Yan 5J

WYKpsaINTERVIEW

Back when I was a student, the PSA was more likely an individual organization which was not very involved in school affairs. But reviewing the past few years, the PSA happened to have more interactions with the school, such as involving in the School Management Committee (SMC) and some fund-raising events, such as the Home-coming Concert held earlier this year to raise funds for the new teachers room. The cooperation between the school and the PSA was more direct in contact. Mr. Raymond Siu

The Past Students Association might not be the most familiar organization among current students. In facts, past students have always been one of the greatest supports to the school. Lately, the Signum was honored and privileged to be offered an opportunity to have a brief interview with Mr. Raymond Siu, the Chairman of the Past Students Association. The Past Students Association (PSA) was founded in the 1960s by a group of alumni who were greatly devoted to the school aiming to strengthen relationships between alumni. The PSA was initially formed as a club in nature. Within less than ten years, the PSA have accumulated a great amount of fund and founded the Wah Yah College Kowloon Past Students Association, Limited in 1970. Calling to mind of the past forty-two years since the formation of the PSA, Mr. Siu have witnessed the cultivation of generations of Wahyanites and the ever-strengthening relationship between the school and alumni. During his years in Wah Yan College, Kowloon, Mr. Siu had also greatly volunteered himself in student duties and was the Chairman of the 30th Students Association. In the latest general meeting of the PSA, he was nominated as the Chairman, and, as we all know, he was eventually elected. The first time that I have heard about the PSA was in 1996, the year when I was the chairman of the Students Association, Mr. Siu recalled. At that time, the PSA held functions very frequently and each function was grand and elevated. The most impressive event held by the PSA that I could remember was the Annual Ball. The ball was held on the New Years Eve in a hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. I could still barely remember how the entire hall was filled with guests and it was quite sensational for me as a student, he remembered. My first impression of the PSA was that it successfully associated alumni from different years and was really impressive. Besides the Annual Ball, other events such as the International Conference and some short trips to mainland China were also held by the PSA, he added. In the recent ten years, the situation changed. Our alumni were notably busier on their works and families and could spare less time to have a hand in the PSA, he commented. The form of our gathering has been different from before to cope with the change. The PSA prefers to hold gatherings maybe in a more casual man-

ner. Perhaps a dinner with the members and some meetings will do. Also some other events such as the Football League held in earlier this year and the visit to Cathay Pacific City later was also well-received, he added. Although the forms of gathering might be different from before, that does not mean that bonds between alumni were loosen. The PSA still maintains the relationships between alumni very well, he stressed. As mentioned before, past students are very important motivation for both the school and students. Speaking of the role of the PSA, Mr. Siu had some opinion to share. The gathering of the PSA was not the only thing that differs from since. The role of the PSA in school affairs has also changed. Back when I was a student, the PSA was more likely an individual organization which was not very involved in school affairs. But reviewing the past few years, the PSA happened to have more interactions with the school, such as involving in the School Management Committee (SMC) and some fund-raising events, for example, the Home-coming Concert held earlier this year to raise funds for the new teachers room. The cooperation between the school and the PSA was more direct in contact. He explained. Near the end of the interview, Mr. Siu had some words for us current students. The spirit of Men for Others was something that passed through generations of wahyanites and have not been changed, he pointed out. Many works and duties in the school are volunteer in nature. Although so, students were still willing to carry the workloads and to serve others. This is what I appreciate the most about wahyanites. Leaving the school fifteen years ago till now, I have experienced the importance of responsibility and the spirit of Jesuit in my work. Wahyanites are armed with such specialty so as to be men for others. Jacky Tung 3Y

SIGNUM

PerseveranceWYK Students Association Essay Competition Winners Essay By Yuen Wing Hong 4YIn this small swift torrent, a stream of water runs down to the lake. The water is crystal clear. The surface of the lake glistens like a great mirror with the reflection of the shadowless blue sky and the picturesque surroundings. Trees are rustling in the soft breeze. Flowers are vivacious and in full bloom with green hills lying at the back. Everything appears to be as beautiful as with it is in a dream. This stream is the place where salmons are hatched, and where they swim with all their might to arrive and lay eggs. Salmons live the first part of their lives in fresh water, then migrate to the ocean when they have grown into adults. As soon as they reach sexual maturity, they return to the freshwater stream of their origin to lay their eggs. Salmons may swim hundreds, or even thousands, of miles to get back to the stream where they were hatched. Yet, only a small part of salmons can reach their natal stream or spawning grounds. Those who have survived through the trip are often gaunt, with grotesquely humped backs, hooked jaws, and battle-torn fins. Large white patches of bruised skin are usually found on their backs and flippers. Those who cannot make their ways through will die on the way because they have consumed much of their stored body fat and do not have sufficient energy to make the trip. Loads of them are caught in fishermens nets. Those that evade the nets may have to swim in the grimy waters near the cities. Many of the escapees must make their way over the power dams, leaping up from one tiny pool to the next along cement cascades. In the tributary streams, waterfalls and rapids are steep and swift enough to eliminate most of the salmons. Otters, eagles, and bears, on the other hand, stalk the salmon in shallow riffles. Once the salmons are on the spawning grounds, the fish battle one another: females against females for places to nest, males against males for available females to copulate with. At last, the salmons die within a few days after spawning. Though the longevity of salmons is short, they still try their best to stay alive as to give birth to their next generation. On their way to the spawning ground for laying eggs, they face hurdles, dangers, however; they will not shrink back, but to face them with courage. This is the spirit of perseverance that we should learn. Perseverance is a kind of spirit developed self-consciously by people to overcome setbacks and difficulties in order to pursue their dreams and goals. It is the stamina of people to accomplish ones study, work, or career. It is the key for success. It is the basic instinct of living creatures. Mammals, insects, plants and all creatures are born to persevere. In the forests, predators like leopards and tigers ambush themselves in the dense woods and wait quietly and patiently for their food. They may need to wait for a few days or even up to weeks before they can slowly, cautiously approach their prey and hunt them down. The process of hunting may be scorching hot, strenuous and time consuming, however these predators will not back down because of these obstacles. Their basic instinct tells them they will die if they sit still and do nothing. They know however difficult and time consuming they still need to be patient and persevere to hunt other animals in order to keep them and their family alive. We, humans mimic the animals on the ground of perseverance. We are also born with the instinct of perseverance. However the change of society has dampened it. Take Beethoven as an example. He is a well-known musician and is renowned for his appealing compositions. Behind his splendid achievement, he had gone through lots of hardships and devoted much efforts and time in overcoming all his dooms. He faced the death of his loved ones, the lost of his hearing, financial deficit and more things that made his life miserable than anybody. Confronting his frustration, he did not back down but continue in his composing, conducting and performing. Desperation and hindrance had not deterred him from advancing and trying again. He finally became a legend in the history of music and is honored one of the most famous and influential composers. His accomplishment inculcates us the importance of being persistent. Perseverance is the prerequisite to success. Back to the situation in Hong Kong nowadays, career advancement has overtaken the traditional Chinese values of having extended families for lineage and kinship. Teenagers are always left unattended and compensated and pampered by materialism. They are provided with ample resources that give them a feeling of reaping without sowing and teenage will not medicate their future. Wah Yan College Kowloon was the prime school in the Kowloon district. The main reason for this is because of the students at that time who were persistent and diligent. However, the quality of students nowadays have depressed dramatically, especially in the academic results. Current students do not realize the consequence of having poor academic results they will be unqualified from entering universities, and finally getting a job of low salary due to their bad results in the DSE. Their bad academic results have direct effects on the reputation of Wah Yan as well. We will not be recognized as students from a prime school by then. We should stand on our own feet and be persistent to make improvements both for themselves and for the school. Perseverance is pivotal for success. It is an instinct that everyone should treasure. Come on Wahyanites, no matter how hard, we still conquer! Lets shape a better future for our school!

SIGNUM

5Y

We would like to express our acknowledgement to Mr Percival Ho, Mr. Ashok Daswani, Ms. Joyce Lam for being the adjudicators of English essays, and Mr Cheung Tai Chiu, Mr. Lai Kwok Keung and Ms. Tsoi Sau Chun for judging Chinese essays.

Have a nice summer! :DDD

COMING SOON