hkaVoices 2019-20

CELEBRATING
Sai Kung Culture
BY LYNNE MCCALL
hkaFLOW offers HKA students the opportunity to engage in
project-based learning. This year Grade 6 -10 students have been
offered Learning Expeditions and Service as Action Projects. In
Service as Action Projects, students work together to research
an issue and to take action, working closely with local
NGOs. We caught up with the iDiscover Sai Kung team to
hear about their semester 1 Service as Action Project.
iDiscover is an NGO founded by HKA parent Ester van
Steekelenburg. Ester worked in urban planning and noticed that,
as a result of globalisation and economic expansion, Asian heritage
and culture was changing at risk of being lost. The iDiscover mission is to keep
heritage alive for a vibrant and viable urban future. It is about the spirit of a place.
They work with locals to record and share knowledge about neighbourhoods across Asia.
Through this project, they aim to preserve the stories and knowledge that illustrate why each
place is unique. hkaFLOW presented a great opportunity for iDiscover and HKA to partner and
expand this mission through the eyes of HKA students and the Sai Kung community.
If we didn't map
Layla,
it together it would
Grade 8
only be one person’s
opinion, but having a lot
of different people’s opinion together
actually shows what Sai Kung really is.
Super proud of and
Alison May, amazed by the hkaFlow
Parent iDiscover group and the
work they did creating this
map and adding content to a
very cool app that highlights the local culture
that is at risk of getting lost as globalization
blankets the world with chain stores and
restaurants. Well done for giving our little town
its own special place on the map of the world!
The students really enjoyed working
Dave Feren, on this project which they were able
Teacher to select as part of hkaFLOW service
learning. The authenticity of the project
really brought their learning to life as they
got out into the community, interviewed locals and worked
collaboratively towards a common goal. All the students
were fully invested and enthusiastic throughout the process
which really comes out in the map and app products.
Calvin,
Grade 9
It was super
self-led and we
had lots of freedom.
Daniel,
If we map it and
Grade 8
put it out, maybe
people will start to pay
more attention to small things in Sai
Kung that you might not see normally.
The hkaFLOW iDiscover Sai Kung team
included 7 adults and 16 students who
worked together over a period of 8
weeks. Using a 6 step cultural mapping
process the team built a map and App of
Sai Kung, highlighting what makes the
place special from their perspective.
Each step was student led, required
specific skill and content input from
individuals and included collaboration
and reflection.
Throughout the project the team pulled
on each other’s strengths and interests
in order to research, gather and organise
the necessary materials. They were also
inspired by guest lecturers and mentors.
This project will be built upon in semester 2
by a new team of HKA students, we can’t
wait to see how that develops. In the
meantime, check out the App and map
for yourselves, go out and
walk the neighbourhood and
rediscover what makes Sai
Kung unique!
Amy Tse,
As a girl who grew up
Social Sorker in Sai Kung I really
Caritas & Guest appreciate what you
Lecturer are doing for this
community. It is important
to document the changes that some
people may not see or care about.
I think we
Douglas Young, Hongkongers can
Founder of GOD be very proud of our
historical heritage.
It is time for us to revive
our own standards, our own heritage.
This is why I think the iDiscover
project is so cool. Our own culture
will enrich us, make us stronger.
6 STEP CULTURAL MAPPING
1 REVEAL - explore the neighbourhood
In order to capture the spirit of Sai Kung the team
explored the town and brainstormed which sites
stood out to them. They were also inspired to look
at Sai Kung from a new perspective after meeting
with a guest lecturer and social worker who grew up
in and now works with the Sai Kung community.
2 MAP - narrow down the options
During the Map step, collaborative decision making
saw students using their voice by advocating for
sites to include. There were nearly 50 sites under
consideration and with space for only 25 on the
final product there were passionate views
exchanged. Through listening to all viewpoints the
team made informed, collaborative decisions about
what to include.
3 CREATE - photography and interviews
The team interviewed Sai Kung locals to capture
their stories about sites planned for the map.
When reflecting on this step the students
realised they needed to refine their process,
take a new approach to interviewing and go back
to gather better information. Ultimately their final
output became stronger and the students were able
to develop more effective interviewing techniques.
4 DESIGN - putting it all together
The team synthesized content through writing,
drawing and photo editing. As every iDiscover map
is developed by a unique team they all have their
own graphic style. The team were pleased to be
mentored by HKA parent and graphic designer,
Kirsten Ackland, who helped them bring their
vision to life.
5 SHARE & 6 CONNECT
The team proudly shared their learning with the
HKA community during the hkaFLOW Celebration
of Learning. The map and App were launched in
December and the project was also featured in the
BODW Sai Kung eco design event where the team
presented alongside business and community
leaders such as Douglas Young from GOD with an
interest in sustaining Hong Kong heritage and tradition.
08 09

What does it mean to be a Dragonfly? Whether you play on the U20 basketball team, run on Wednesday
lunchtimes with Mr. Cook or take photographs at a sports event, you are a Dragonfly! Any time you
contribute to the HKA sports programme, you are a Dragonfly and are integral to everything we do! The HKA
sports programme has something for everyone, and the contributions of so many Dragonflies have helped the
HKA sports programme grow and develop into an incredible aspect of our school’s identity.
CO-AUTHORED BY HKA ATHLETICS LEADERS HEIDI BOSHOFF & SIMON ROBERTS
HKA’s sports programme is designed to provide students with
opportunities to compete in a wide range of sports as part of
finding their pathways to individual excellence. Dragonfly
athletes participate in local Hong Kong leagues and regional
competitions across four sporting seasons. With over 50 teams
there is a strong sporting culture at our school. Our sports
programme continues to evolve, adapting to the strengths and
interests of our students. We hope that with a diverse range
of sports available to all students, each feels that they can
challenge themselves to reach personal goals and to grow
in skill, competency and confidence.
Together
we are
A TEAM!
Recent athletic achievements that have led to medals and
trophies for HKA teams this year have been:
• SCISAC U15 and ISSFHK U14 girls
football champions and boys
second place
• ISSFHK U20 girls volleyball
champions
• ACAMIS U20 girls volleyball 2nd
place and Most Sporting Team
• ISSFHK U20 boys cross country
champion
as the most sporting team, whilst also
competing at the highest level throughout
the tournament.
Character development, passion and
the joy of participation is what sports
offer to all players. There is nothing
better than seeing an athlete taking the
initiative to shake an official’s hand to
thank them for officiating or watching
a player stop mid-play to pick up an
opponent who has taken a bad fall on
the pitch. Sport cultivates a unique
environment where students can benefit
not only from physical activity, they can
also learn how to manage relationships
through good and hard times.
HKA student players are supported by a fantastic group of coaches behind the scenes.
Each year, our coaches give over 1,000 hours of coaching time and include faculty, staff,
Secondary School students and parents. They dedicate hours of their time as well as
investing huge reserves of motivational energy into the teams to give our athletes the
best chance at success. Our coaches are truly the unsung heroes in this community,
working selflessly in support of our students.
“How do I respond to my teammates when we are
losing on the court? Or, how do I treat my opponent
who is clearly less experienced than me?“
As coaches, we are interested in seeing the whole person develop and questions like
these lead to meaningful conversations where we have the privilege of motivating
our players and helping them exercise characteristics like perseverance, self-control
and mental resilience.
Dragonfly athletes are also supported by a large number of parent and student fans
who come along to cheer on our teams at both home and away matches. The Dragonflies
cheering team or ‘Fan Club’ are often the largest and loudest at sporting fixtures,
giving our students that little bit of extra encouragement when it’s needed. We are
excited to announce that HKA is hosting the SCISAC volleyball tournament in February
2020. This three-day tournament features six international schools and will give
the whole community the opportunity to come along in support of our athletes as
we showcase our sporting culture and welcoming community spirit.
• ISSFHK U20 boys climbing
champion
• HKA sailing team winning
multiple awards, leading to a
new partnership with Hebe Haven
Yacht Club
The above mentioned are just some of our athletes’
achievements earning podium positions, and there is so much
more to sports than just winning or losing. We saw this when
our U20 ACAMIS girls volleyball team were awarded a trophy
11

LISTEN!
Mathea Sobejana / Looking
back, something that comes to
mind is a photo of me singing my
heart out and how I don’t even
recognise myself in that photo. I
see ‘Martha’ and how she was:
unapologetic and passionate. I
never knew if I was good enough
to be one of the writers nor if I was
able to play one of the leads, but
listening to the applause and
seeing the standing ovation
we received filled me with so
much gratitude. I’m so grateful
for the opportunity to work with
and learn from such talented
individuals, for the support we
received, and ultimately, for
listening to a wish I had in which
I left the world I was in and gave
it my all.
LOOK TO
THE ESSENCE
FACE THE
CHALLENGES

Climbing
Gardening
Golf
Sound Crowd
Intro to Ballet
Graffiti Wars
Chess Squad
Ukulele
Kung Fu: Wing Chun

Everyone’s
BY JENNIFER SWINEHART
A Learner!

WE WILL SOON BE
CELEBRATING OUR 20 TH ANNIVERSARY!
BY BEA ARMSTRONG

Michelle Oliva and Valerie Wong Grade 10
In October, Grade 10 students Michelle Oliva and Valerie Wong participated in a STEM competition at Renaissance College Hong
Kong. They were tasked to design and create a model prototype of an energy sustainable house. After attending a few workshops
over several weeks, they learned about how to create programs and code through Ti-nspire calculators and created an automated
system with light sensors, motor-controlled curtains, and LED lighting. Up against 12 four-person teams, they won the prize for best
innovation after a long day of hard work and preparation.
Lili Connell
Grade 10
Budding journalist and Grade 10 student
Lili Connell is pursuing her passion for
writing as a Junior Reporter with Youth
Journalism International (YJI).
Scan to read Lili’s latest
piece on living in Hong Kong

hka
Voices
Paper
Ink
Printer
Mango Satin, a recycled
paper with fiber of well
managed forestry and Totally
Chlorine Free (TCF)
Soy inks were used for
printing
Pixel Printing, Hong Kong an
FSC certified printer