Dear All,
“Every dream begins somewhere. Some are born to greatness, and some find greatness on their own.“
– Monsters University
When Mike Wazowski met the critical ‘monster’ (mentor) who changed his life during a school trip to the Monsters Incorporation, 132 S5 LTPSS students also sailed away from their safe harbour and embarked on the journey of self- exploration and careers discovery during the S5 Careers Week from 7th March – 10th March 2016.
Briefing Session on 7th Mar 2016
This year, the S5 Careers Week was not merely a standalone, outsourced event but a tailor-made career intervention under our Academic Counselling and Advising Programme for our S5 students. With our students’ characteristics and needs and aspirations in mind, we planned and sketched the whole plan since June 2015. Throughout the past seven months, our accountable and creative Careers Teachers had been working around the clock and finally confirmed 30 visits to different governmental organisations, factories,
private firm, self-financing and government-funded institutes in early February just to ensure a meaningful and
“life-turning” week for our S5 students:
Governmental Organisations:
1. Youth Employment Start Centre (Labour Department)
2. Qualifications Framework (Talk)
3. Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum
4. Land Registry
5. Electrical and Mechanical Service Department
6. Civil Engineering Development Department
7. Immigration Service Institute of Training and
Development
8. Home Affairs Department
9. Police Museum
10. Tai Po Ambulance Depot (Fire Department)
Firms/ Factories:
11. Crystal Knitting and Garment Company Ltd in Dongguan
12. Crystal Group Yida Apparel Limited Factory in ZhongShan
13. Schindler Lifts Training Centre (Visit)
Tertiary Institutes:
14. IVE (Tsing Yi)
15. IVE (Tuen Mun)
16. IVE (Chai Wan)
17. IVE (Sha Tin)
18. IVE (Kwun Tong)
19. HKDI
20. HKMC
21. PolyU HKCC
Universities:
22. HSMC
23. Shue Yan University
24. Baptist University
25. Open University of Hong Kong
26. City University of Hong Kong
27. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
28. Lingnan University
29. Polytechnic University
30. The Hong Kong Institute of Education>
Youth Employment Start Centre – Labour Department
Schindler Lifts Training Centre (Visit)
Crystal Group (Visit)
Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development
Tai Po Ambulance Depot
IVE (Tsing Yi)
Poly U
HKUST
Hang Seng Management College
During the Careers Week, we were glad to know that students engaged in talks and visits that were tailor- made for them. We bumped into alumni such as Jason Yung and Lucas Tong in the HKUST who showed support and care to their alma mater.
From teachers’ observations of students’ performance, evaluations, written tasks on students’ Careers Logbooks and oral assessments in the SBA, as well as the very heart-warming debriefing session on the last day, we are very pleased to learn that our bold and vigorous attempt this year was a success. It is also gratifying to learn that students treasured this chance to verify their own abilities, interests and career goals, to better understand the post-secondary education choices and the world of work in various contexts.
Alumnus: Jason Yung @ HKUST
Alumnus: Lucas Tong @ HKUST
Alumnus: Kenneth Lee @ IVE
Debriefing Session on 10th Mar 2016
Most importantly, there were students who told us that the Careers Week did empower them to make informed choices and lead a more goal-driven life. Yes, we planted seeds. Yes, we made a CHANGE:
“I no longer see teachers and students inside the school hall. I see adults who have a clear mind of what to do with their lives and people who love us so much to guide us step by step to reach our goals and dreams.” ~ excerpt from a Thank You card by an S5 student.
Our S5Careers Week this year was only the THIRD stage of our whole programme (Stage 3: Pathyway Exploration). In collaboration with the English Department, our four-day Careers Week is related to the S5
English Language Module titled “Post-secondary Communication” this year. Before the Careers Week, students were engaged in English lessons with discussion on life planning (Stage 1: Engagement), before they completed a Careers Interest Inventory Assessment (CII), an empirically-based quantitative assessment on career inclination based on John Holland’s theory on the Six Personality Trait and launched by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Stage 2: Self-Understanding).
Our four-day week required each student to complete at least two tasks in their logbooks every day. A number of them managed to complete more than 12 tasks satisfactorily and seriously at the end of the Careers Week!
On the day of Global Learning Showcase, students will be making use of this platform to share what they learnt with those from other groups. This serves as another opportunity for students to organise and consolidate their learning. The Showcase also offers all participants a holistic picture about what actually happened during the Careers Week. From May to July, S5 students will be invited to Academic Counselling and Advising Sessions by their S5 Class Teachers. This is Stage 4: Career Planning and Management.
Students’ Careers Logbooks
Finally, I must express my heartfelt thanks to each governmental organisation, firm, company, tertiary institute for their hospitality and support. In addition, may I take this opportunity to thank Patten (our diligent, energetic and quick-witted teacher), Alan (our exemplary model in the team) and SKK who have contributed a great deal throughout the past few hectic months. Thank you all Careers Teachers, S5 Class Teachers, S5 English Teachers, staff members from the G.O. (especially Flavia and Lilian). Thanks Kathy for collaborating with us, supporting us and encouraging us. Ms. Tam and Man, thanks a lot for your support and trust.
What’s more should we expect then from this profession? It is the genuine human connections that make our teaching lives unique; it is the sense of self-actualisation that makes us complete. When we see our students grow and find their paths and our team members so united, what’s more should we expect?
Best regards, Joanna
Head, Careers and Life Planning Education
P.S. If you would like to see some of the videos of the week, including the very heart-warming and thought- provoking debriefing session on the last day, please approach me.
