Poster designed by Pao School student-led graphic design club, WeeStudios
From November 7-17th, 2014, the first Student Overseas Exchange Exhibition was held at the Huang Sue Ing Memorial Library. The exhibition was a wonderful opportunity for all 11 exchange students to share their experiences with the rest of the Pao School community through posters, pictures, and videos.
This past October holiday, eleven YK Pao School Secondary students and four faculty members travelled to six different schools in the US and the UK as part of an inaugural student exchange program. The students were fully immersed into the academic, athletic and social life of the schools for two weeks. During their stays, the students stayed in either school dormitories or in homestays with local families. We have received extremely positive feedback from our partner schools who all were impressed by our students. In particular, our students are to be commended for how well they adjusted to their host school's environment; our host schools reported that our students were particularly good at getting involved in the life of the school, collaborating with other students in classes and engaging well with adults. We are fortunate to have wonderful partner schools who hosted our students and faculty so warmly, and we look forward to reciprocating this generosity as our exchange partnerships evolve.
Following the student exchanges, Pao School then welcomed to its campus two faculty members from Dollar Academy, one of Scotland’s top independent schools. Kyle Ely and Lynette Pollock visited both the Secondary and Primary campuses during their nearly 2-week stay from October 26 to November 8. Kyle Ely is a Maths teacher and was very interested in learning more about the Chinese approach to Maths teaching, while Lynette Pollock is a homeroom teacher and teaches most subjects at the primary level.
(From Lucia Jaccaci, International Department Coordinator ，Venessa Zhao, International Department Officer)
Teacher and Student Reflections
I am very grateful for the precious opportunity to take part in this international exchange program. The trip to Dollar Academy in Scotland was the experience of a lifetime. I not only built friendships with local teachers, but was also inspired by many great ideas and activities that happened in all the different classrooms.
Dollar Academy is located in the beautiful valley of Scottish Highlands. The campus, which has more than 1200 students and faculty staff consists of three major academic areas and three green pitches. The age groups of students range from 5 to 18. The school is divided into Prep School, Junior School and Senior School.
Though visiting Dollar Academy is my first experience overseas, I experienced neither homesickness nor anxiousness, because there were so many similarities between Dollar Academy and YK Pao School. Both schools have a similar schedule. Teachers at Dollar Academy have similar roles as tutors, subject teachers, coaches and dorm parents. Both schools see English reading as a very important method in students’ English learning. What’s more interesting was that we even recommended the same book list to students!
Dollar Academy’s curricula have been well-developed over the last 200 years. In their curricula, students are not only learn to appreciate Scottish culture but also to be creative. I was very moved by what I saw on National Poetry Day on October 2nd, which coincided with the 100 year anniversary of ending of the first World War. At English class, teachers gave each student a white cross. On it, each student was asked to write their favorite line from a war poem, and to plant the cross around the war monument. Student bagpipe players played solemn tunes while students read. The whole ceremony was somber and serious.
At Junior School, which is equivalent to Pao School’s Year 4 and Year 5, teachers specially designed their lessons by combining story-reading, calculation and logic questions. In this way, their Maths class is known as “Problem Solving.” Their music lessons are loads of fun. Students were provided with Ipads, computers or musical instruments and were asked to compose a short piece of music either through musical applications or by playing instruments. One of the boys showed me the heavy metal music he wrote. I was very impressed. At Dollar Academy, children are encouraged to be creative and express themselves in many different ways.
Just like YK Pao School’s friendly staff, Dollar Academy’s teaching staff are willing to share their teaching resources and approaches. When they discovered that we use technology in our teaching, they are very interested in our technology policy and how we manage the use of electronic devices in the classroom. In addition, the school’s Rector, Mr. David Knippman, shared Sir YK Pao’s three core values: “Integrity,” “Compassion” and “Balance” during the school assembly!
——Rachel Zhang, Language Support Teacher
眼前一片又一片碧绿的草地，一颗又一棵参天大树，一张张带着微笑、说着欢迎的话语的陌生面孔……这就是苏格兰Dollar学校，我参加交换生的地方。
在那里，学习压力很少。学校放学以后，我几乎很少看到他们老师布置作业，也许是因为学的简单吧。他们一天只有5节课，包括课间走动时间，每节课也就一个小时。他们的考试也很少，但都比较难，要认真复习才行。
最令我感到奇怪的是，他们的饭费是吃一次算一次的，所以大部分学生选择自己带三明治吃。他们的食堂也特别小，只能做200个人左右，但他们学校从小学到高中都要在一个时间吃饭，真不明白他们的食堂是怎么“装”下那么多人的！
Dollar学校有100个左右的学生是住校生。宿舍很温馨，厚厚软软的地毯，沁人心脾的熏香，干净整洁的房间，以及走廊上贴的照片，都给人一种家的感觉。
这就是我知道的Dollar学校，至于其他的，还需你们去探索！
——Arine, Y9 - UK (Dollar Academy)
I made friends, and took photos, and kept contacts. I lived a life of a proper student and became part of the community. I will always be part of the community.
It was a great experience, jumping into a new culture, a new place, and being part of it. You need to work quite hard to be engaged in everything, and have an open mind to new things that appear. It is no different to going to school, I was learning new words, new names, new schedule, new stories,and a new culture. I saw joined in the Scholar’s Society, went to the choir practice, saw Calling over, practiced the house song, not to mention all those classes I went to!
Now that I look at the changes that took place within the week, it wasn’t anything like survival, I am truly enjoying being part of the community. By learning about everyone and everything, people also learned more about me and my country. I am not saying that it was a piece of cake, in fact,it was one of the most difficult and challenging tasks I have faced. It takes time and constant awareness of what’s happening around me.
——Jonas, Y10 - UK (Charterhouse)
This experience of placing myself at a strange school, in a foreign country will provide an opportunity for me to become more proactive.
——Trinity, Y10 - St. George’s School (US)
My host family is the best! They planned everything for me,including what I will be eating! They also helped decorate my room – it’s so cute and warm! Today’s dinner is an original American dinner with mashed potatoes, pork and chicken.
I followed my ‘body,’ Emily, for two weeks at school. The Maths class was very easy for me. The material they are studied was what we learned in Year 6!
I’ve got a great time with my friends on the way back to school. Our friendships are growing closer! I love Pennfield School!
——Rose, Y8 – Pennfield School (US)
Today, I had my first Latin Class although I didn’t understand any of it. I also had my first 2D Art class. The school made a cake to welcome us. I am happy and excited.
——Greg, Y9 – Eaglebrook School (US)
I like Francis Parker because you can be as comfortable or as busy as you let yourself be. Some students participate in student council,clubs, Yearbook, and take a lot of courses, and play for sports teams or theatre, and they are really in control of their own high school life. Unlike at YK Pao School where everyone is required to take the same amount of pretty much the same courses, one club and activity and one sport each season. I think when the students take their own initiative and be their own leader, they have more motivation and will to accomplish their goals. At least I know I am. It’snot competitive, or academically intense, but in no way “easier” to succeed than YK Pao School. And I feel all kinds of motivated.
——Leaf, Y10-Francis Parker School(US)
The most challenging subject for me is obviously the language, because I am having classes with native English speakers. The vocabulary is also a big challenge for me, personally.
——Owen, Y8 – Pennfield School (US)
After a wonderful meal, my host family and I discussed some really in-depth topics, ranging from politics to education, from 1979 to 2014. It was also during the discourse that I felt really lucky to be a YKPS-er, having this chance to sit in an American family and exchange different ideas and even learn things about my own country from others!
——Lucy, Y10 - St. George’s School (US)
