Principal's Speech in the Opening Ceremony on 1st September
Dear teachers and students,
Today, we all return to school to begin a new academic year. I hope you all had a pleasant and fulfilling summer.
During the summer, our campus remained active with a variety of overseas exchange and study trips, extracurricular activities, remedial classes, and school team training. We were very busy, despite the frequent adverse weather, such as black rainstorms and typhoon signals, which caused some disruption. A number of campus projects were also completed over the summer, including the new lighting system for the underground sports hall, air conditioning on the ground floor, the refurbishment of the 2nd-floor computer room into a new STEAM Lab, and the resurfacing of the 5th-floor sports ground. The entire school has also been freshly painted. In the next phase, we will re-line the underground sports hall, upgrade the classroom lighting, sound systems, and air conditioning, improve the auditorium lighting, and renovate the 5th-floor laboratories, among other projects. I hope all of you will cherish our school facilities, use them responsibly, and help us maintain them.
I extend a warm welcome to all the new faculty, staff, and students who have joined the Heung To family this year. I encourage everyone to actively support and care for our new members, helping them to quickly familiarize themselves with and adapt to their new environment and integrate into Heung To school life.
This year, we will be focusing on two main concerns:
1. Our school's 80th Anniversary: This academic year marks the 80th anniversary of Heung To Middle School, and we will be holding a series of celebratory events. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. We must never forget the immense suffering endured by the Chinese people during the 14-year war of aggression by Japan. By reflecting on history, we can understand that today's peaceful era was hard-won, sacrificed by countless martyrs who fought against the invaders. Only with national unity and a strong, prosperous country can people be spared the hardships of war. The school has arranged for a live broadcast on the morning of September 3rd of the massive military parade in Beijing for the "80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War." We will witness our nation's strong armed forces and its ability and determination to protect its people from aggression and bullying.
2. Implementing Regular Standards and Striving for Excellence: I would like to report on our university admission results. In the first round of JUPAS offers, 110 students were admitted to degree programs. Together with the 2 students who received direct offers, a total of 112 students secured university places. Of these, nearly 30 were admitted to the top three universities, with 55 students gaining entry to the eight publicly-funded universities. Other students are also confirming their places at universities in mainland China and overseas. These results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of both teachers and students, and to the extensive counseling provided by our form teachers and career planning staff. I hope this year's secondary six students will continue to work tirelessly to achieve their best results and find their ideal paths. I urge all students to adhere to our regular learning standards consistently, striving for excellent performance and grades.
Finally, as the start of a new phase, the first day of school is a time for students to reflect on their successes and failures from the past years and set new goals and plans. I hope that all of you will strive to reach new heights in your moral, intellectual, and physical development. I wish you all a fruitful and happy new academic year! Thank you.
