Bishop Paschang Catholic School


Bishop Paschang Catholic School is a government-aided, whole dayRoman Catholic coeducational primary school located in Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
The school is in Primary One Admission Net 46 of Kwun Tong. With the exception of English and Mandarin lessons, the school employs Cantonese as the main medium of instruction, in line with the prevailing education policy set by the Hong Kong government. This school is generally considered as the best primary school in the area of Kowloon Bay and Ngau Tau Kok. The sponsoring body is the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, commonly known as the Maryknoll Fathers.

History

The school was founded by the Maryknoll Fathers in 1969. The Bishop Walsh School was founded by the Maryknoll Fathers in Hong Kong in 1963. When Bishop Paschang Memorial School was set up in 1969, some senior staff were transferred from Bishop Walsh School. Mr Peter Chan Kai Yin, the husband of Ms Melissa Yeung Yuen Man, the second headmistress of Bishop Paschang Memorial School, was the headmaster of Bishop Walsh School before he retired. During the recruitment of headmaster of Bishop Paschang Catholic School in 2009, Mr Peter Chan Kai Yin was on the selection board.

Timeline

Bishop Paschang Catholic School is a government aided school, started to adopt small class teaching. Starting from 2010, the School enrolled five primary one classes, totalling 125 pupils each year. Most pupils are from neighbourhood families. As of 2011 enrolment had reached about 800 pupils. Graduates became doctors, lawyers, accountants, pharmacists, professors, principals, teachers, professional athletes, actors, administrative officers and engineers.
Fr Anthony Vincent Brenann MM picked up the role of Supervisor in 2004. The School employed an expert in curriculum design, Chan Mei Hing, in 2009 to succeed the retiring headmaster, Au Wing Cheung. Besides the supervisor and the headmistress, the Incorporated Management Committee consists of Rev Fr. Thomas Anthony Peyton, Joseph Lai, Lee Ping Hing, Au Wing Cheung, Martin Lai, Rosa Chan, Priscilla Ko, Stefy Wong, Yip Miu Yee and K.F. Chan.

Mission

The school was founded on the Maryknoll spirit to serve those in need, and to preach the good news of Jesus. The school places high importance.

Supervisors

Headmasters of Bishop Paschang Memorial School AM Section in Ngau Tau Kok
AM section moved to Kowloon Bay in 2002 and became a full day school.
Headmasters of Bishop Paschang Memorial School PM Section in Ngau Tau Kok
PM section of Bishop Paschang Memorial School became full day school in 2002.
Headmasters of Bishop Paschang Memorial School Full Day School in Ngau Tau Kok
Full day school of Bishop Paschang Memorial School was merged with Bishop Paschang Catholic School in Kowloon Bay in 2008.
Headmasters of Bishop Paschang Catholic School in Kowloon Bay
The school places high importance on moral education and participated in the "Marathon 101 Education Program". In 2009, they invited the blind marathon winner Henry Wanyoike and his leading runner Joseph Kibunja to the school to share with pupils their labour.

Curriculum

The School places priority on both Chinese and English learning. The school promotes English reading throughout, aiming at improving language skills. The school participated in the SCOLAR English Language Camp for Primary 4 Students in 2002. The school uses "Putonghua" in all Chinese lessons from P1 to P3.

Facilities

The campus in Kowloon Bay is of Year 2000 design by the Architectural Services Department of the Hong Kong SAR government, the current standard design for school buildings.

Extracurricular activities

The school has various extra-curricular activities. The Bishop Paschang Catholic School Alumni Association awards an "A life body skill" scholarship to those pupils with outstanding performance in sports and arts.

Supporting bodies

Bishop Paschang Catholic School Parent-Teacher Association was founded in 1999. Bishop Paschang Catholic School Alumni Association was founded in 2007. Through the years the alumni association accepted graduates of all years from both Ngau Tau Kok and Kowloon Bay campus. These two supporting bodies help the school in organising activities and award scholarships.

School Song

The founding headmaster, Chan Man Wai, invited Taiwaneesee classical music composer, Huang You Di, to compose the school song. Lyrics were written by Lee Shi Shou, the father of the second headmaster of Bishop Paschang Memorial School PM section.
The pair also composed the school song of Bishop Walsh Memorial School.

Notable alumni