Junto Issue 5

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Hong Kong International School 1 Red Hill Road Tai Tam, Hong Kong http://dragonnet.hkis.edu.hk

“Veritas vos liberabit�

ISSUE 5

A STUDENT PUBLICATION OF HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

HKIS Repulse Bay Campus to Institute Compulsory Bussing

MARCH 2012

New Turkey Summer Trip in Danger

By Martin Man Staff Writer

The Repulse Bay campus is to put in place a mandatory bussing scheme for all students beginning in the autumn of 2013. Starting the school year of 2013-2014, no cars will be allowed to pick-up or drop-off students from the Lower or Upper Primary— all students must take the bus or walk home. This decision has come after inFUHDVLQJ SUREOHPV ZLWK KHDY\ WUDIĂ€F at the campus during dismissal time. The congestion of cars and buses not only causes delays for students and parents, but is also adversely affecting the citizens who live nearby. Starting Wednesday 14 March, the +RQJ .RQJ SROLFH GHSDUWPHQW KDV blocked access to South Bay Close to all non-residents before school dismissal times in an effort to alleviDWH WUDIĂ€F A parent with children in both the Lower and Upper Primary said WKDW WKH WUDIĂ€F FRQJHVWLRQ LV ´XQIDLU WR parents who need to get their kids to after-school activities.â€? She called it

“a congestion nightmare,â€? and that it is “unfair to the residentsâ€? of Repulse %D\ 6KH DGGHG WKDW WKH WUDIĂ€F QHFHVsitates her reaching school by 2:00pm in order to be on time to pick up her children when they are dismissed. According to the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ page on Dragonnet, ´PRUH WKDQ +.,6 IDFXOW\ DQG VWDII are required to manage the arrival and dismissal to ensure safety for the students’ every day, taking teachers’ time away from academic duties.â€? From 2013 onwards, cars will only be allowed to pick up chilGUHQ LI WKH QXUVH VHHV Ă€W RU GXH WR “extenuating circumstancesâ€? that will be decided “on a case-by-case basis.â€? To accommodate for the increased passengers, the school will “be adding in new buses and routes as necessary in order to make sure that no children are on the bus longer than 35-minutesâ€?—a 35-minute bus ride being the longest for any student Continued on Page 3

Renowned Journalist and TED Speaker brings “Wisdom of Crowds� to HKIS By Charles Packer and Andrew Wang Editor and Staff Writer

On February 16th, staff writer for the New Yorker James Surowieki presented a keynote speech for the 4th Annual 21st Century Learning &RQIHUHQFH KRVWHG DW +.,6 DERXW WKH EHQHĂ€W RI FROOHFWLYH LGHD VKDULQJ LQ the decision making processs. James Surowiecki is the business DQG Ă€QDQFH FROXPQLVW IRU WKH 1HZ Yorker. In 2004, he published a book entitled, “The Wisdom of Crowds: Why Many Are Smarter Than the )HZ DQG +RZ &ROOHFWLYH :LVGRP Shapes Business, Economies, Societies and Nationsâ€?, which suggested that the aggregation of ideas and information (by “crowdsâ€?) creates an environment where better decisions can be made. This same idea is UHĂ HFWHG LQ KLV 7(' 7DON ZKLFK was the basis for his keynote speech at the 4th Annual 21 Century Learning Conference with an additional emphasis on its relation to classroom environments. Surowiecki discussed examples of how collective intelligence surpasses individual intellect, ranging from the “simplest example of the jellybean experimentâ€? to the “collective judgement of Wikipedia usersâ€? and “Google‌the exemplary demonstra-

NEWS Booster Club Turns Down Musical Theatre Club PAGE 3 Some Teachers Question Net Value of Interim PAGE 3 Worker from Apple’s Supplier Commits Suicide PAGE 4

WLRQ RI WKH ZLVGRP RI FURZGV Âľ +H praised Google’s ability to “tap the collective intelligence of the internetâ€? and its “page rank algorithm,â€? which “surveys the internet as a whole and asks where is the information this person is looking for by treating a hyperlink as a vote.â€? Surowiecki sees several ways in which this “Wisdom of Crowdsâ€? is being used in classrooms, as seen in “Classroom 2.0â€? which allows for “sixty or seventy thousand educators to come together and collaborate.â€? +H DOVR FODLPV WKDW EHFDXVH RI WKH DFDGHPLF Ă€HOG HPEUDFLQJ WKLV FROlective knowledge base (as seen in WKH VFLHQWLĂ€F FRPPXQLWLHV FROODERUDtion during “the SARS epidemicâ€?), “we are moving away from a model in which knowledge is all about the single individual seeker and moving toward a recognition that the collective intelligence of classrooms, of schools and organizations is much greater than any one person.â€? Surowiecki also cited the “National Institute for Technology in Liberal Educationâ€? which uses “prediction markets to try and think about the future of education. You can go Continued on Page 4

Fashion Show Preview: Solstice 2012 PAGE 5 Student Hospitalized on Jordan Interim PAGE 5 Summer Trip to Rwanda Cancelled PAGE 6 Z-Club Hosts Annual Encore Event PAGE 7

Turkey: The Other Holy Land 2012 By Stephanie Tang Staff Writer

This year, Mr. and Mrs. Cairns introduced a new summer excursion to Turkey. Flyers around the school called it “a thematic experiential learning course designed to present students with the opportunity to encounter, practice, and discuss the teachings of Christianity in a unique and vibrant setting�. The Cairnses now believe that they will not be able to go forth with the course this summer for many reasons. Mr. and Mrs. Cairns decided to introduce this course after having traveled around in Turkey on their own, visiting many important Chris-

tian heritage sites. “We saw a direct connection between these places and their importance to the study of biblical traditions,� said Mrs. Cairns. “Many ancient Greek cities that play prominent roles in the Bible were located in modern day Turkey, so we thought that it was a perfect place to experience this type of study.� She went on to explain that the structure for this course was largely experiential and thus different from a regular biblical traditions course, even though the credit gained from this trip could be used for any type of religious credit. Mrs. Cairns explained that there would be some sort of class structure: students would

EH H[SHFWHG WR ZULWH UHĂ HFW UHDG preparatory articles, and keep a daily journal as part of the course, all of which would also factor into their Ă€QDO DVVHVVPHQW +RZHYHU EHFDXVH of the long periods of ground travel, students would not be expected to complete homework. According to Mrs. Cairns, it is unlikely that the Turkey trip will occur this year. A large reason may be that students are simply not aware of this opportunity. “I’ve never heard of this Turkey trip,â€? admitted senior 5\DQ +D\GHQ ´, GRQ¡W NQRZ ZKDW LW is.â€? Continued on Page 4

ERB TEST TO REPLACE STANFORD 10 TEST By Samantha Fong Staff Writer

This year in March and April, the +.,6 PLGGOH VFKRRO DQG XSSHU primary are planning to switch their testing system from the Stanford 10 test to an ERB (Educational Records Bureau) test called the CTP Online (Comprehensive Testing Program Online). In previous years, middle school and upper primary students have each had to take the Stanford 10 test in late February or early March. The test required scantron sheets and thick DQVZHU ERRNOHWV +RZHYHU DFFRUGing to director of curriculum Mr. Courtney Lowe, the new test won’t require paper, as it is online and can be accessed using our laptops. The new tests also require less time and effort to obtain results. The Stanford 10s required sending boxes of answer sheets to the US and waiting for them to be scored before getting

boxes of paper back. This wasted a lot of paper and jet fuel. In comparison, the results of this new ERB test will be generated immediately on the computer and can VKRZ WKH VSHFLĂ€F TXHVWLRQV WKDW WKH student missed so that students can work on a topic they have trouble with. The same can be done with the Stanford 10 test, however, it requires a lot more work since the results aren’t mailed back with the questions, which means that the students won’t know which questions they got wrong. Mr. Lowe also mentioned that, “It’s a lot of time. By the time we get Stanford 10 results now, many students don’t even remember taking the test. With the ERB, they will even be able to remember which questions they had when they get their results.â€? The material on the new ERB test

$,#$ Page 9 Lower Primary Bussing The Interim Delusion

is quite similar to the Stanford 10 test, as both test math and reading skills. “We want to use a test that other high-achieving students use so we are more sure the result is really because of the students and the school, not about the test,� said Mr. Lowe. “Not only will we be able to compare ourselves to higher-achieving schools in the US, but we will also be able to see comparisons with international schools, [and] even with other schools in Asia that also use the ERB – big schools like us.� “Another advantage is that the test items are created by ETS (Educational Testing Service), the same group that creates the PSAT, SAT, APs and other tests. So students will be more familiar with the format for those important tests when they take them,� Mr. Lowe said. Continued on Page 4

JUNTO WEBSITE COMING OUT SOON!

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MARCH 2012

JUNTO

TAKE FIVE

Presented by the HKIS Sustainability Committee

Competition between HKIS Divisions from March 26 to June 1

REDUCE ELECTRICITY USAGE BY 5%

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Hong Kong International School 1 Red Hill Road Tai Tam, Hong Kong Junto is a student publication of Hong Kong International School. Student editors make all content decision. Please feel free to submit letters to the editors. Submit your letter to junto@hkis.edu.hk. Letters may be edited for clarity. Teacher Advisor .................................................................................................Chris Taylor Editor-in-Chief ......................................................................................Sanchita Kanthadai Editors ...............................................................................................................Thomas Ruan Emily Williams Christine Herman Charlie Packer Layout Editor ...........................................................................................................Jinny Lee Layout assistants ...........................................................................................Tiffany Cheung Photo Manager .......................................................................................Victoria Montecillo Photo assistants ...............................................................................................Gabriella Tam Hannah Passamonte . Amy Griffin Kira Bauman

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MARCH 2012

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Booster Club Turns Down Musical Theatre Club

SOME TEACHERS QUESTION NET VALUE OF INTERIM ByArshia Bhatia Staff Writer

Profit from the Dragonshop funds Booster Club Allocations. By Radhika Jhunjhnuwala Staff Writer

In late October, the Musical Theatre Club requested $15,000 from the Booster Club funds allocation process, but was denied the funding. The money was to be used for the funding of the school musical, Into the Woods, including costumes and sets which would remain with the club in the future. Each year, the Booster Club has an allocation process in which they ´JLYH DOO SURĂ€WV JHQHUDWHG E\ >WKHLU@ operation of the Dragon Shop to +.,6 FOXEV JURXSV RUJDQL]DWLRQV divisions and departments who meet [their] funding guidelines,â€? according to the Booster Club webpage. The Club was denied funds because it did not meeting these guidelines. Musical Theatre’s leaders, Victoria Montecillo, Nathalie (OOLV (LQKRUQ DQG .ULVWHQ 6KUXKDQ are producing the musical for their senior project, but are not using the club itself as a project. In an email to the Booster Club, Montecillo stated that, “The money we would receive from the Booster Club would go directly into materials for all sixty members of the club and also help to VHW XS IRXQGDWLRQV IRU IXWXUH +.,6 musical productions.â€? The Booster Club responded by email saying, “I am sorry to say that we have to deny the allocation request for the musical theatre group based upon our restrictions regarding funding for curriculum and senior projects.â€?

The Booster Club funding guidelines do not allow funding for, “activities, projects, or equipment used solely in the academic curriculum or which require academic coursework or grading.â€? As Into the Woods is part of a senior project, a Booster club email said that, “The fact that the club is involved in the Senior Project does not mean that we can fund the request.â€? Nathalie Ellis-Einhorn, Director of the musical, was disappointed with the denial. “The Booster Club contributes very little to the high school arts clubs and an inordinate amount of money to the athletic departments and sports teams. We are trying to establish a way for our student-run FOXE WR Ă€OO WKH KROH LQ +.,6¡ FXOWXUDO environment.â€? In agreement with this statement, Michele Chu, a leader of Art Club believes, “As a strongly sports- oriented school, it is natural that the Booster Club contributes more to sports clubs LQ JHQHUDO +RZHYHU LW ZRXOG EH LGHDO for the Booster Club to cater more to the needs of other clubs as well.â€? The Musical Theater Club is fundraising and getting donations from parents of club members in order to fund Into the Woods. The Booster Club stated that there are restrictions prohibiting the funding of Senior Projects, and “therefore had no choice but to deny the request. In prior years the Musical Theatre Club has made a total of three allocation requests, two were funded at 100% and one was funded at 70%.â€?

UNDER THE BIG TOP By Ivy Tse Staff Writer

The PFO World Fair will be held on Saturday, April 14th from 11 until 3 pm, and families are invited to spend D GD\ RI IXQ DQG JDPHV DW WKH +LJK School campus. This year’s theme is “Under the Big Top,â€? or under the roof of a circus tent, and activities and decorations will be designed accordingly. As with the tradition, a used book sale will be held. Each ERRN ZLOO FRVW +. $ORQJ ZLWK LW a talent show and family food stalls will also be featured. .DUHHQD &KRWLUPDO PDQDJHU RI the World Fair Chairing Committee, explained that “the funds from the Book Sale, as part of the overall World’s Fair, go to the PFO,â€? or Parent Faculty Organization. “The funds are then used to support programs in the school that meet the SLRsâ€? [student learning results]. According to Dunivant, the money will also EH XVHG WR IXQG WKH EXWWHUĂ \ JDUGHQ in Lower Primary, the all school art show Chinese New Year assemblies, DQG UHFRQVWUXFWLRQ RI WKH +.,6 7DL 7DP Ă€HOG

$W WKH IDLU HDFK +LJK 6FKRRO service club will be allowed to host DQ DFWLYLW\ DQG D VDOH )XWXUH +RSH D club that works to provide safe homes for street children, plans on selling cultural accessories from India, where the club is based. Boxes that layer like bricks to build a wall will EH DYDLODEOH IRU GHFRUDWLQJ DW +DELWDW IRU +XPDQLWLHV¡ ERRWK $PQHVW\ International, a club that writes letters to raise awareness of human rights issues, is organizing face-painting and clothing decoration activities, similar WR SDVW \HDUV +HLIHU ZKLFK DLPV WR alleviate world hunger and poverty, will set up a DIY sand bottle and jewelry-making booth. Make A Wish is working with the PFO to make student volunteer run game stations. Performance art clubs, including the Musical Theater Club, Vocal Jazz, DQG +RQJ .RQJ 'DQFHUV ZLOO DOVR be contributing to the event. Various selections will be played by the Jazz Band, including “Can’t Buy Me Loveâ€? from the Beatles and “Coolâ€? from West Side Story.

Having recently come back from interim most students have fond memories from the week. There are some teachers, however, who are not so sure if the pros of interim outweigh the cons. One key disadvantage many teachers mention is the responsibility teachers have to take care of about 20 students for a week. In comparison to teachers, students found interim less stressful. Many students don’t really understand what goes into interim planning. There are budgets to be considered, safety, accommodation, education and many more aspects to it. “It’s a huge amount of work for teachers,� said Ms. Ueland. Another question that’s been raised by students is the need for cultural Interims like Spain and Jordan. Though most teachers have a strong belief in doing service they are also strongly opposed to only having service interims. Ms. Ueland pointed out “I am opposed to requiring service interims because if you force kids to do service it doesn’t work out well.� Mr. Seehafer believes that “we shouldn’t

only have service interims, but they should be an option. They should only increase by the supply and demand concept. In fact, [students] should be encouraged to try a service, adventure and culture interim during their 4 years of high school.� Mr. Suh also opposes the idea of having only service interims. “No. Service Interims are fulfilling, but so are non-service ones in their own way. There seems to be a sense that service Interims are ‘superior’ to the others, which, I suppose, is in line with the service fetish this school sometimes exhibits. The primary point of Interim isn’t about doing service, and non-service Interims should make no apologies for being non-service Interims.� One distinct difference between teachers and students opinions about interim involves the locations of trips. Many teachers think we should focus more on trips that are closer to Hong Kong because it puts less pressure on the teachers in terms of planning and also reduces our carbon footprint. “I do think there should be more Hong Kong offerings,� said Mr. Suh. “While it is great to see the world, it is worth pondering whether it is always

justifiable to travel halfway across the world to play with poor children, when there are plenty of children to play with at home.� Several other teachers voiced concerns about interim’s carbon footprint. “One issue is about our carbon footprint of sending 700 students all over the planet, I think we have to weigh the effectiveness of what impact it has on the environment. Its kind of tough for the students to break up the year and everyone comes back really tired, so I guess we would have to weight the advantages and disadvantages of having interim� said Ms. Montgomery who went to a Habitat interim at Kuching this year. Ms. Ueland said “I would not be opposed to having only or at least more Hong Kong Interims because our carbon footprint is something we should think about.� Mr. Seehafer also has mixed opinions on Hong Kong interims. “I’m mixed because I think you can have unique experiences overseas, but we can also expand more here in Hong Kong. And taking into account the work load for teachers, and the environmental reasons.�

HKIS Repulse Bay Campus to Institute Compulsory Bussing From Page 1 currently. Mr. Don Shono—whose children will also be affected by the change—said the situation had deteriorated since his children joined +.,6 Ă€YH \HDUV DJR +H DGGHG LW ZDV the “worst last year,â€? emphasising that “if there were an emergency, an ambulance couldn’t get up thereâ€? due to congestion. Part of the problem is that the current bussing scheme is “all or nothingâ€?—students either take buses all the time, or not at all. Furthermore, students cannot walk home if they have signed up for car pick-up.

Even so, Mr. Shono sees VRPH EHQHĂ€WV LQ GULYLQJ KLV FKLOGUHQ to school. For some families where a parent or both parents work late, the drive is “family time.â€? “It gives you a chance to talk to your kids about school,â€? another parent with children at the Repulse Bay campus said. Mr. Shono also expressed scepticism about whether or not compulsory bussing will solve the problem. “Residents will still have to deal with busesâ€? after 2013, he stated. “I would rather deal with cars than immovable buses.â€? According to all the abovementioned parents, this car conges-

tion became severe only within the past two years. It was “not like thisâ€? LQ 'HFHPEHU VDLG RQH SDUent. But by 2010 it “got worseâ€? and WKDW LW WKH WUDIĂ€F ZDV WKH ´ZRUVW ODVW year.â€? Mr. Shono speculates that the increasing number of Asian families DWWHQGLQJ +.,6 LV SDUW RI WKH FDXVH +H VWDWHV WKDW ´LW LV WKH $VLDQ IDPLOLHV who schedule after school activities to maximize the time available after school (our family included).â€? And that parents hesitate to put their “kids on a school bus which will arrive 25-35 minutes laterâ€? than if they “just picked them up by car.â€?

Continuities and Changes in HKIS’ Religious Curriculum By Nicholas Liu Staff Writer

In a multi-religious and diverse VFKRRO VXFK DV +.,6 WKH &KULVWLDQ centered religious curriculum LQHYLWDEO\ FRPHV XQGHU Ă€UH 7KLV LV especially true in the Upper Primary where students are taught Christianity in greater depth than the other religions that they learn in Middle 6FKRRO DQG +LJK 6FKRRO 0U &KHK associate principal of Upper Primary, said, “Because the students are younger when we are teaching them Christianity than when they study other religions in Middle School and +LJK 6FKRRO ZH KDYH WR WDNH D GLIIHUent approach. We teach them through stories and activities.â€? This system of teaching draws some criticism from students. Arjun 5DMHVK D +LQGX ZKR IRUPHUO\ DWWHQGHG +.,6 VDLG E\ HPDLO ´, don’t remember precisely what it was like, but I do recall feeling very FRQĂ LFWHG DERXW P\ EHOLHIV VLQFH my religion and Christianity is very different. At times, I also felt kind of isolated from the Christian majority during activities or prayers.â€? Regarding the review of the religious curriculum in 2007 in

DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK D Ă€YH \HDU UHYLHZ cycle, Mr. Cheh stated that there had been no changes in the religious curriculum. “We do not feel that students KDYH LQWHUQDO FRQĂ LFWV EHWZHHQ WKHLU religious heritage and Christianity. In fact, many non-Christian students compare their religion with Christianity at home with their parents and gain great learning experiences out of it. As stated in our school’s mission statement, we put more emphasis on Christianity over other religions. But our purpose is not to convert everyone to Christianity, we are just trying to help them be aware of and PRUH NQRZOHGJHDEOH DERXW LW Âľ +H also said though, that the social studies department now emphasized more non-Christian religions around the world in its unit structure. ,Q WKH +LJK 6FKRRO 0U /HHVH and his fellow religion teachers worked to make the religious curricuOXP WLH LQ ZLWK WKH +XPDQLWLHV FXUriculum through a series of changes. +H VWUHVVHG ´6RPH VWXGHQWV GR QRW think of religion as their favorite subject, but that does not mean it is QRW LPSRUWDQW 5HOLJLRQ DQG +XPDQLties are closely related and we felt the need to make this relation help stu-

dents in their learning. According to the changes, students will take World Religions in their Freshmen year, and Biblical Traditions in their Sophomore year. Once they get to Junior and Senior year they will have more Ă H[LELOLW\ LQ VHOHFWLQJ WKHLU FKRLFHV for religion credits.â€? Before the changes were to be implemented, students were allowed WRWDO Ă H[LELOLW\ RQ WKH UHOLJLRXV FXUULFXOXP DV ORQJ DV WKH\ OHIW +LJK School with one religion credit under their belt, including a ½ Biblical Traditions credit. Mr. Leese continued, “Let me JLYH \RX DQ H[DPSOH ,Q +XPDQLWLHV II, the main focus is European history and culture, where Christianity played an enormous part in the lives of the people. This is why we decided to stick Biblical Traditions in Sophomore year, so students can relate between the two classes. In American history, texts such as the Gettysburg DGGUHVV DQG 0DUWLQ /XWKHU .LQJ¡V speeches all quoted and took concepts from the Bible.â€? The changes will be implemented in the 2012-2013 next year, with all incoming Freshmen required to take World Religions as a course.

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New Turkey Summer Trip in Danger From Page 1 Mrs. Cairns believes that it is the lack of advertisement that has caused this unawareness, though she notes that both she and Mr. Cairns have heard many students expressing interest in the course. “Since students don’t know about this course, by the time they hear about it, it might already be WRR GLIĂ€FXOW WR PDNH WKHVH NLQGV RI summer plans. It’s probably not going to happen this year.â€? The Cairns plan to reintroduce their summer course next year and they hope to garner more attention by beginning to advertise it at an earlier date. Mrs. Cairns believes that students who choose to take the course stand to gain a different and unique experience, as it would be based on their own choice and interest, unlike a required course such as Biblical Traditions. “It’s different because it’s based on experience and what these

VWXGHQWV ZLOO VHH Ă€UVWKDQG 7KH\ ZLOO be able to draw connections to biblical stories and ideas because they’ll be able to see it for themselves,â€? said Mrs. Cairns. “I think this course also brings more authenticity to learning because it’s something that the student chose – students are much more motivated when they’re doing something that they chose to do.â€? Even though students who wished to take the course this year will most likely be unable to do so, the Cairnses hope that students entering high school next year and current juniors will still have the opportunity to take the course next summer and gain a new appreciation and understanding of biblical traditions. “If it works, that’s great,â€? said Mr. Cairns. “But if it doesn’t work, that’s okay too, because there are other ways to get the credit, and it’s really just a matter of trying to give students a number of opportunities.â€?

ERB TEST TO REPLACE STANFORD 10 TEST From Page 1

Renowned Journalist and TED Speaker brings “Wisdom of Crowdsâ€? to HKIS From Page 1 there and run a variety of prediction markets and try and aggregate the collective intelligence in educators to try to predict what will happen and what should happen,â€? which will provide, “the best forecast of what will happen both on a policy level and also more importantly on a classroom and pedagogical level.â€? There are a few criteria, however, that Surowiecki claims to have to be in place before a crowd can be FRQVLGHUHG ÂśZLVH¡ 7KH Ă€UVW LV WKH importance of an environment that allows for private judgements to be turned into a collective decision. The second characteristic is “cognitive diversityâ€? and the importance of “lots of people thinking about things from different perspectives,â€? using “different problem solving tools.â€? If the group is diverse, including “some of the brilliant ones, the pretty good and some of the mediocre, problems are looked at from different angles and obstacles such as “being hung over a wrong answerâ€? are less likely

to occur. This requirement of diversity extends to students and school environments too. In his interview with Junto, Surowiecki said that “diversity in terms of the kind of student is very important� and that “it’s really important to be able to reach across cliques.� This means “keeping [learning] networks as open as possible,� avoiding the same people who challenge the norm and working with others you are not as familiar with. Surowiecki’s last criterion is that the people in the group are all thinking individually. As Suroweiki states, “the real key to making us work well is ensuring that people are really contributing what they really think.� People “are really prone to look at what other people are doing and try to imitate them,� and the “danger� of having talkative people is that they will dominate the conversation and affect the ideas of those around them. Creating an environment where students can all share their individual opinions is “a place where digital technology can really be valuable.�

Anna Esaki Smith joins HKIS for Journalism Speaker series By Andrew Yu Staff Writer

On February 22nd, Anna Esaki Smith, a freelance writer and former writer for the Associated Press, Reuters, and various other publications, visited +.,6 DV WKH Ă€UVW VSHDNHU IRU D VHULHV of talks on journalism as a profession. Over a period of two months, three lecturers were invited to speak DW +.,6 DV SDUW RI WKH 6HQLRU (QJOLVK Journalism course. Anna Esaki Smith ZDV WKH Ă€UVW RI WKH WKUHH VSHDNHUV LQ the series, which were open to all students, though only Senior English Journalism and the staff of Junto and &KXDQ /RQJ ZHUH VSHFLĂ€FDOO\ LQYLWHG Mrs. Smith initially described her path as a journalist as she graduated from Cornell University and then the Columbia School of Journalism. She then went to describe her experiences at a news wire, which she characterized as “fast moving.â€? During her news wire years at Reuters, she cov-

ered the “stock market in Tokyo, the bond market and some fashion.â€? She then moved to New York, where she FRQWLQXHG WR ZRUN LQ D VLPLODU Ă€HOG The talk included tips for aspiring journalists. Mrs. Smith described it as “compulsory to speak the language of the country you are working in.â€? She also described how the journalism industry has changed over the years, especially on how “the industry has become much more nichedâ€?—writers often have a specialty they report on, and those who wish to become a jourQDOLVW VKRXOG Ă€QG WKHLU RZQ QLFKH In the question and answers session, Mrs. Smith encouraged students not to “dismiss our everyday experiences,â€? as that was one way she was able to get her stories published. Mrs. Smith also stressed the importance of taking good notes, the importance of “being accountable for your work,â€? and how journalism was “inherently fun.â€?

“Possible disadvantages? Well, it ZLOO GHĂ€QLWHO\ WDNH VRPH JHWWLQJ XVHG WR IRU VWXGHQWV ,QVWHDG RI Ă€OOLQJ LQ bubble sheets, they will have to mark their answers on the computer. Even though they can still use scratch paper and pencils and calculators (on some sections), they will have to get used to clicking on their answer.â€? One new feature is that students are allowed to go back to review and change their answers on the secWLRQV EHIRUH WKH\ VXEPLW WKHLU Ă€QDO answers. A challenge the school faces is to schedule the test so that every student can get online with the maximum speed without lagging or freezing of computers. Eighth grader, Seamus Gallivan, said that the ERB is “probably not going to be good,â€? as he said that for the math section, he would want to work everything out on a piece of paper, and that even if there was

a calculator and scratch paper given WR KLP LW ZRXOGQ¡W EH WKH VDPH +H also commented that if he was on the computer for too long that it annoys his eyes, and that if someone had forgotten to charge their laptop that it would be a serious disadvantage. On the other hand, eighth grader, Lily Wu, who already has experience taking the ERB Test at her old school, felt that “it’s good that we can compare to other schools this way, because then we can really show what the grades of the students at our school is like, rather than just showing our average GPAs or something.â€? She also thought that having the test on the computer is convenient, and that it would get rid of a lot of anticipation, in her opinion, as she knew that since the Stanford 10s’ results took so long to generate, that it made people nervous waiting. “Still, having them on the computers might be another challenge, because some people might cheat by going online to search or chatting with their friends.â€?

The destruction of the Hotung Gardens By Sam Klein Staff Writer

Several recent news articles have described the imminent destruction RI WKH IDPRXV +RWXQJ *DUGHQV 7KLV mansion was built at 75-peak road in 1927 by the business tycoon and SKLODQWKURSLVW 5REHUW +RWXQJ +H ZDV WKH Ă€UVW (XUDVLDQ WR EH DOORZHG WR OLYH on Victoria peak under colonial rule. The building is the earliest example of Chinese Renaissance architecture and is surrounded by gardens and an RUQDPHQWDO VZLPPLQJ SRRO +RZHYHU 5REHUW +RWXQJ¡V \HDU ROG granddaughter and now owner of +R WXQJ *DUGHQV +R 0LQ .ZDQ LV determined to see her ancestral home demolished. 7KH +RQJ .RQJ JRYHUQPHQW KDV EHHQ WU\LQJ WR GHFODUH WKH \HDU old mansion a historical site. This action would prevent it from being destroyed. 1HYHUWKHOHVV +R 0LQ .ZDQ KDG WKLV to say to the South China Morning Post in January of this year: “What I ask for is to let me demolish the house and live here happily and not WR GLVWXUE PH Âľ +HU SODQ LV WR EXLOG residential cottages on the land. The she wants to live in one and rent out the other nine. She has assured that the Chinese gardens and swimming pool will be left intact.

Junior Aiden Cheng asked, “Should my culture be associated ZLWK WKH RFFXSDWLRQ RI +RQJ .RQJ E\ a foreign power? She should destroy this symbol of British imperialism.â€? But when reminded that Robert +RWXQJ ZDV KDOI &KLQHVH DQG RQO\ half European Aiden said, “Then they should only destroy half of the PDQVLRQ Âľ 7KLV UHĂ HFWV WKH PLQGVHW RI PDQ\ +.,6 VWXGHQWV WKDW WKH FRORQLDO SHULRG LQ +RQJ .RQJ LV QRW WKLV FLW\¡V GHĂ€QLQJ SHULRG There are many local and expat +.,6 VWXGHQWV ZKR KDWH WR VHH KLVWRULFDO EXLOGLQJV LQ +RQJ .RQJ EHLQJ forgotten and demolished. Eleventh grader Flora Liu said she is “pretty GLVDSSRLQWHG WKDW EXVLQHVVHV LQ +RQJ .RQJ KDYH EHHQ GHVWUR\LQJ ROG EXLOGings with culture and history to build new ones for economic gain. English colonialism and Chinese traditions DUH LQWHUZRYHQ LQWR +RQJ .RQJ¡V culture and they make up the fabric of our city. It is sad to see that we are losing much of our cultural heritage. “ The mix of cultures old and new, international and Cantonese, is what makes this city so dynamic. The dilemma will always remain when herLWDJH LV VDFULĂ€FHG IRU HFRQRPLF JDLQ EXW WKHUH DUH PDQ\ SHRSOH Ă€JKWLQJ IRU +RQJ .RQJ¡V KLVWRULFDO UHPQDQWV WR outlast property developers and the passing of time.

WORKER FROM APPLE’S SUPPLIER COMMITS SUICIDE By Flora Liu Staff Writer

A worker from Apple’s supplier, Foxconn, in China has committed suicide because an iPhone prototype was missing. This incident has sparked debate about poor factory conditions as reports for 13 other suicides date back to 2010. Claims about militarystyle production lines and extended work hours in the supply chain have tarnished Apple’s reputation. According to reports by Forbes and the Daily Mail, Sun Danyong, employee at Foxconn, realized that one of sixteen prototypes he was responsible for had disappeared. Sun was to deliver them from a Foxconn plant to Apple, but “became frantic after discovering that one of 16 prototypes of Apple’s fourth-generation N90 iPhone had gone missing.â€? +H IDFHG VHYHUH SXQLVKPHQW DV KLV home was searched and Sun was beat up after being detained. A security guard denied the beatings, but did admit he was angry and “pulled his right shoulder once to get him to tell me what happened.â€? Sun reportedly committed suicide the next day. Apple CEO Tim Cook promised an in-depth investigation about the allegations made by several media RXWOHWV +H VD\V ´:H EHOLHYH WKDW workers everywhere have the right to a fair work environment, which is why we’ve asked the FLA to independently assess the performance of our largest suppliers.â€? The Fair Labor Association will begin to audit conditions at all of Apple’s supplier plants to ensure the safety of workers, but many still question whether the factories are running on ethical grounds. Workers continue to complain about the militant culture and the stern atmosphere. Employees are not allowed to talk to each other and as many as twentyfour people live in a dorm. Nets have even been placed around a Shenzhen Foxconn plant to catch employees who try to commit suicide by jumping off the buildings. Forbes reports that some workers are only 11 years old, and working hours last from fourteen to twenty-four hours. Last year, one worker died after working for thirty-six hours straight. Ms. Chen, a worker at a Foxconn plant comments, “Foxconn employees have a saying, they use women as men and men as machines.â€? Since the string of suicides from last year, factories have taken extreme measures to prevent anyone from doing the same. Monks were brought in to ward off evil spirits. New staff now have to sign pledges stating that they will not try to kill themselves. +RQJ .RQJ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6FKRRO has implemented a one-to-one program that requires students to use Macbook computers, which are manufactured in Chinese factories. For some, it was startling to know that those who assembled Apple products worked under such a stringent conditions. Thomas Liu, a sophomore, says, “we use Macbooks everyday in school, yet we don’t know where they come from or how they are made. I think that the working environment of these factories are too extreme.â€? Another student, Jacqueline Cheong, believes that action should be taken to improve the conditions of these workers in China, but adds that Apple should not be fully blamed for the incidents. “Apple may not even know that these things are happening in its supply chain until they make the news.â€?

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Fashion Show Preview: Solstice 2012

MARCH 2012

JUNTO

Upcoming Diving Trip to Donsol during Spring Break

Donsol - diving with a whale shark By Radhika Jhunjhnuwala Staff Writer

Heather Chan (‘13) poses at the end of the runway during Legacy 2011, last year’s Interact Fashion Show. By Gabriella Tam Staff Writer

2Q $SULO WK +.,6¡V ,QWHUDFW Club will be presenting its annual charity fashion show, Solstice 2012. The show involves a committee consisting of 26 people, 32 designers, and 37 models. 0RGHO KHDGV +DOHLJK 6WRGGDUG and Lizzy Mok are in charge of model tryouts, choreographing the runway walks, and assigning models to certain walks. Each year, approximately 150 students try out as models for the fashion show with only around 30 models that are accepted. Stoddard and Mok are the ones who decide which models make the cut, and GHVFULEH WKLV SURFHVV DV ´GLIĂ€FXOW DQG very hard to choose when you have so many good people trying out.â€? As the show gets closer, Stoddard and Mok believes that “it becomes more time consuming because we have to make sure all of the models are prepared for their walks, and that WKH\ DUH FRQĂ€GHQW RQ VWDJH :KLOH it can get stressful, the night of the show is so much fun, and we think the audience enjoys it as much as the people who take part in it do. The show itself is rewarding for the work everyone has done all year to pull it together.â€? Clothing director Jennifer Wong describes the fashion show as “really rewarding to see everything come to-

gether, especially since it’s basically a whole years worth of work.â€? As the clothing director, Wong is in charge of getting the word out for student designers, calling PR companies and retail stores to see if they are willing to sponsor the show by lending garments. As for the show’s charity organization, Wong believes that “it is amazing to see how much money we can raise and know that we have really made a difference.â€? Every year, the fashion show displays a variety of clothes designed E\ +.,6 VWXGHQWV 'HSHQGLQJ RQ WKH fashion show’s theme, each designer designs a collection under that speFLĂ€F WKHPH 6WXGHQW GHVLJQHU %DUWRQ Liang, who has designed for the past two years, chose to design for the fashion show because he believed that “the fashion show raises a lot of money for a good cause, and being able to be a part of that is great. You also have some fun while doing it, because you get to play around with creative ideas.â€? This year’s fashion show took a new turn, creating a “no-themeâ€? theme, where each designer had to design a collection under a theme that they chose themselves. With this new change, student designer Barton Liang believes that this new theme will “allow each designer to stand out with their one themeâ€? and that they have the chance to “play around with different ideas.â€?

JUNTO HKIS JUNTO HKIS JUNTO HKIS JUNTO HKIS

A Diving Safari to Donsol, Philippines will take place this coming spring break, from March 31st to April 5th. The trip is for students who are seeking their advanced scuba diving license, and will feature Whale Sharks and Manta, as well as opportunities to perform marine research VXFK DV FRUDO KHDOWK VXUYH\V DQG Ă€VK counts. $FFRUGLQJ WR 6SODVK+. LW LV GLIĂ€FXOW WR REWDLQ DQ DGYDQFHG VFXED GLYLQJ OLFHQVH LQ +RQJ .RQJ DV ´YLVibility on a good day will probably QHYHU H[FHHG WHQ PHWHUV LQ +RQJ .RQJ DV DJDLQVW VD\ WZHQW\ PHWUHV plus in somewhere like Phuket.â€? There are also many Tiger sharks,

which makes diving here a lot more dangerous, as it is essential to see where the sharks are during a dive. 3DXO +RGJHV D GLYLQJ LQVWUXFtor from the Oceanway Corporation LQ +RQJ .RQJ LV OHDGLQJ WKH WULS 7KHUH ZLOO EH ERWK +.,6 DQG +.8 students on the trip, and the total cost per person, including scuba diving HTXLSPHQW LV +. $V VWDWHG in the trip description, “the trip is all about interacting with animals. It is both a snorkeling and diving trip‌ it will be shore based, the diving will EH XS WR P GHHS Âľ 3DXO +RGJHV ZDV interviewed on the trip, and he stated that, “This trip will be a very personal introduction to whale sharks. This is part of my effort to stop the current VODXJKWHU RI ZLOG VKDUNV IRU VKDUN Ă€Q soup.â€? +.,6 VWXGHQWV ZKR DUH JRLQJ

on this trip have positive outlooks. “I obtained my advanced scuba diving license during my interim trip WR 0DEXO 6LSLGDQ DQG .DSDODL LQ Malaysia. I really want to go on this trip too, since it’s an opportunity to spend time with my friends during the last days of senior year,â€? said Toffee -LDUDYDQRQ DQ +.,6 VHQLRU ´,¡P DOVR very excited to see the Whale Shark DQG 0DQWD 5D\ IRU WKH Ă€UVW WLPH Âľ Deidra Wirakusumah, also a senior, is looking forward to the trip as well, “I love diving in general and every dive trip is an opportunity to learn about fascinating creatures that live under the sea.â€? She is also interested to see how “the coral health in Donsol compares to that of Sipadan, Lankayan and Raja Ampat,â€? where she has earlier been on diving trips.

Student Hospitalized on Jordan Interim

3+272 .$7+< 0$18(/

By Thomas Ruan Editor

Trip leaders on the Jordan interim were forced to adjust when sudden illness and bad weather threatened the plans they had made for the trip. Ella Cleary became sick with a WRQVLO LQĂ DPPDWLRQ RQ 0DUFK WK .DWK\ 0DQXHO RQH RI WKH WZR OHDGers, took her and Nicole Cheung, who was also unwell, to the doctor the next day. 2Q 0DUFK WK &OHDU\¡V FRQGLWLRQ worsened, and she had to be admitted at the Arab Medical Center. Manuel stayed with her overnight in the hospital. When doctors advised Cleary QRW WR WUDYHO EDFN WR +RQJ .RQJ RQ the night of the 9th, the expected departure time for the interim, Manuel and Clearly both remained in Jordan. $V .HYLQ 0F&DXJKH\ WKH RWKHU leader, said, “There was never any

question of Ella being in the hospital herself.â€? This left McCaughey alone with the group for two days, raising concerns for both leaders. Manuel said, “What if someone else got sick? That’s a big worry, and I think that’s an issue.â€? If such a situation arose, “interim would stop,â€? McCaughey said. “If at all possible, the whole group would stay together.â€? Also, Manuel had to stay behind with Julie West on the 5th while the rest of the group went for a hike, because West had a stomach illness. Another issue that complicated LQWHULP SODQV ZDV VQRZ RQ WKH Ă€UVW WZR GD\V 7KH +DELWDW IRU +XPDQLW\ service activity McCaughey and Manuel had planned for the 3rd had to be canceled because of the weather. This forced the leaders to come up with new activities for the day. So, instead of the service activ-

ity, students visited Roman ruins in Jerash and a Greek Orthodox church in Madaba. These two activities were originally scheduled for later in the trip. Because McCaughey had previously lived in Jordan, he said, â€?It was very easy to think of alternaWLYHV Âľ ´+RZHYHU Âľ KH DGGHG ´, FRXOG LPDJLQH LW EHLQJ PRUH GLIĂ€FXOWÂľ RQ interims where teachers do not have local knowledge. These two incidents highlighted the need for interim leaders to be Ă H[LEOH 0DQXHO WKRXJKW WKDW ´FRPmunication was a big issue,â€? because she had to frequently call the insurance hotline and Anna Nunez, the interim emergency contact. She also said, “Students don’t see the kind of pressure teachers are under.â€?

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PAGE 6

The Interim Headquarters By Aidan Cheng Staff Writer

Working behind the scenes, the ´,QWHULP +HDGTXDUWHUVÂľ KHDGHG E\ Mrs. NuĂąez quietly keeps watch over the mass exodus that is Interim. When students describe Interim, the words “interesting experiencesâ€? and “a chance to step out of your confront ]RQHÂľ DUH WRVVHG DURXQG +RZHYHU WR WKH ´,QWHULP +HDGTXDUWHUVÂľ WKH ZRUGV “logistical nightmareâ€? particularly stand out as relevant. :KHQ DQ RUJDQL]DWLRQ OLNH +RQJ .RQJ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6FKRRO KDV trips going out at the same time, it is necessary that a select few stay and operate a logistics centre that handles all things unforeseen. Unanticipated accidents ranging from small-scale incidents such as getting sick, to fullscale mayhem such as the Japanese earthquake, must all be handled in a single place. From calling parents about the situation or invoking the +.,6 FULVLV PDQDJHPHQW WHDP DOO must be coordinated from a single place. Mrs. Nunez, the de facto leader of a three person team comprising of Mrs. Nolasco and Joanna Lin, leads WKH ´,QWHULP +HDGTXDUWHUVÂľ ZKHUH amongst a variety of tasks, they handle travel agencies, insurance companies, and other issues dealing with bureaucracy. When asked about her job at the command center, Mrs. NuĂąez describes it as a “24 hour emergency contactâ€? for all things unexpected. 6XFK D VPDOO VWDIĂ€QJ RI SHRSOH RQ WKH ´,QWHULP +HDGTXDUUWHUVÂľ may cause some parents to worry; however, in Mrs. NuĂąez’s words, “We only have one phone coming in, if there were more people helping me, it wouldn’t do much good.â€? And when asked about only having one number to call, considering the immense volume of people on Interim and the

possibility that they may have an accident, she replied citing familiarity and consistency “We only have one number because it’s more consistent and familiar that way, I’m the one talking to the parents, and I’m the one talking to the travel agency.â€? Mrs. NuĂąez is also responsible for reporting directly to an administrator lest an Interim goes out of control, a good example being the Japanese earthquake that affected many Interims last year. According to Mrs. NuĂąez, a committee comprised of administrators called the “crisis management teamâ€? assesses a situation and makes plans accordingly, GUDZLQJ RQ LQSXW IURP WKH +.,6 Ă€QDQFH RIĂ€FH DQG YDULRXV DGPLQLVWUDtors. When asked about why she was chosen to head this special role, Mrs. NuĂąez cited her background “I have been a teacher, administrator, and currently a counselor, I feel that I’m able to effectively handle people from all of these different areas as I have previously been in their position.â€? Mrs. NuĂąez highlights her ability to calm people down as one of the traits that makes her effective for a role in the Interim Command Center. Mrs. Passamonte, a teacher who had extensive contact with Mrs. Nunez over her Interim due to two students getting hospitalized, remarked that “she never missed a phone call, and she [Mrs. Nunez] always got back to me and followed up on us.â€? Most students are oblivious to the Command Centre’s existence. When asked about the existence of an “InWHULP +HDGTXDUWHUVÂľ +HHMDH <DQJ D junior, remarked that “I have no idea ZKDW WKDW LV Âľ +RZHYHU VRSKRPRUH Alex Cheng feels differently, “I feel like she [Mrs. NuĂąez] deserves some more attention because of all she does for us.â€?

Sugata Mitra Speaks at 21st Century Learning Conference By Archit Batlaw Staff Writer

“Can children learn to read by themselves?â€? Asked Sugatra Mitra to a crowd of educators during his keynote speech at the 21st century learning conference. The conference, which was held DW +.,6 RQ WKH WK WK RI )HEUXDU\ LQ WKH +.,6 PLGGOH VFKRRO IRFXVHG on new approaches to learning and teaching. Sugatra Mitra, a professor at Newcastle University, talked primarily about the former. Mr. Mitra is best known for his +ROH LQ WKH :DOO H[SHULPHQWV ZKLFK started with Mitra placing a computer in a hole in a wall in a slum near his RIĂ€FH +H WKHQ FRQQHFWHG KLJK VSHHG Internet to it and left it there for all to use. Soon, some illiterate children came and started playing around with the computer. What resulted was “unanticipated information about pedagogy and the nature of learning.â€? By repeating this experiment in a variety of locations, such as Chittipuri, India, Mitra soon came to the conclusion that “children in groups can self instruct themselves to use the computer and the internet.â€? Essentially, Mitra found that the slum children, who had never learnt English or used a computer, would learn both in a matter of days. Mitra soon began adapting his experiment by giving kids the same computer but then asking them to VROYH D ´ELJ TXHVWLRQÂľ +LV TXHVWLRQ was: “Can Tamil speaking students learn biotechnology in English on

their own?â€? So, Mitra gave the students a computer and left them to it. Two months later, he came back DQG DVNHG WKH VWXGHQWV ´+DYH \RX learnt anything?â€? A 12-year-old girl raised her hand and said, “Apart from the fact that improper replication of the DNA molecule causes genetic disease, we have understood nothing.â€? Another two months later, Mitra gave the students a test on biotechnology and found that their scores had jumped “from 0% in the pretest to 50%— an educational impossibility. >+H@ WKHQ ZHQW WR D SULYDWH VFKRRO in Delhi and found that they got the same results even with a knowledgeable instructor teaching them the information.â€? The conclusion Mitra drew after replicating this and other experiments was that “groups of children with a friendly, but not necessarily knowledgeable, mediator can learn almost anything by themselves.â€? Or in other words, kids can invent pedagogy. After presenting all this information, Mitra made sure to reassure the teachers that their livelihoods were not at risk: “With this in mind, we must make a new primary school curriculum,â€? one that focuses on “reading comprehension, information search and analysis, and a rational system of belief.â€? Once this is done, “the kids can learn by themselves.â€? Mitra summed up his keynote by saying that education, rather than being the process of giving and receiving instruction, is “a self-organizing system, with learning as its emergent phenomenon.â€?

HKIS Students Win National Level Scholastic Awards By Martin Man Staff Writer

7KUHH +.,6 VWXGHQWV KDYH ZRQ national-level awards in the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers 2012 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. These students previously won Gold .H\ DZDUGV DW WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO regional level in February. Their works were forwarded to the United States for national level judging. The winners were senior Larry Chan, junior Alison Cheung, and freshman Samantha Li. Samantha Li won Gold Medal for KHU Ă DVK Ă€FWLRQ SLHFH ´-XVW $QRWKHU 'D\ Âľ )ODVK Ă€FWLRQ LV D FDWHJRU\ of “short short storiesâ€? that cannot exceed 1,300 words. Li’s story was originally an assignment for her humanities class. She explains that “it’s about the boxer rebellionâ€? and is narrated from “the view of a girl/ woman about to be executed, which WKH UHDGHU GRHVQ¡W Ă€QG RXW XQWLO WKH last sentence.â€? Li was further recognised as “Best in Grade.â€? According to Mrs. Tan, this means Li’s story was “the best 9th grade writing submitted—in

all categories or genres.â€? Mrs. Tan expressed that “it is pretty amazingâ€? considering there were a total RI HQWULHV WR WKH FRPSHWLWLRQ overall. Larry Chan won a Silver Medal IRU KLV GUDZLQJ ´7LEHWDQ +RXVH Âľ The sketch was done whilst he was in Tibet during Interim last year. According to Chan, he “drew the house on the spotâ€? when the group stopped WKHUH IRU OXQFK +H H[SODLQV WKDW ´LW depicts the house as well as several people from my Interim group sitting down at the front.â€? Describing his emotions when he received the news of the award he said, “I was stunned when Mrs. Tan told me.â€? Chan added WKDW WKLV ZDV ´GHĂ€QLWHO\ RQH RI WKH EHVW PRPHQWVÂľ KH¡V ´HYHU KDG LQ +LJK School.â€? Alison Cheung won Gold Medal for her piece “Greenâ€? in the personal essay/memoir category. These three students will now be invited to attend a ceremony at &DUQHJLH +DOO LQ 1HZ <RUN &LW\ IRU the National Awards Ceremony where they will be recognised for their work.

Vassar College Makes Admissions Mistake By Gabriella Tam Staff Writer

On Friday the 15th of December +LJK 6FKRRO VHQLRUV around the world who had applied for early decision to Vassar College received an electronic acceptance letter at 4:00pm EST. These seniors celebrated with their family and friends RYHU WKHLU DFKLHYHPHQW +RZHYHU DQ hour after the acceptance letter was sent, Vassar College’s admissions ofĂ€FH VHQW DQRWKHU OHWWHU WR RI WKHVH “acceptedâ€? seniors revealing that they had experienced a glitch in their computer system, and that these seniors were, in fact, rejected. All students who applied early decision had to sign a contract with the school, stating that if admitted they would attend. Once admitted, these students were required to withdraw all other college applications. Because of this, many of the families of these rejected seniors sent complaint OHWWHUV RU Ă€OHG ODZVXLWV DJDLQVW WKH FROOHJH¡V DGPLVVLRQV RIĂ€FH +.,6 FRXQVHORU 0UV 1XQH] describes this situation as “an awful shame, and a really big mistake on the institution’s part. It’s disheartening for students who had to deal with this incident.â€? This incident created a bad

reputation for Vassar College, and DIIHFWHG PDQ\ +LJK 6FKRRO VHQLRUV and their families. Mrs. Nunez says, “If I were a student or parent who had been involved in this incident, , ZRXOG GHĂ€QLWHO\ TXHVWLRQ WKHLU SUDFWLFHV +RZHYHU HYHU\ERG\ PDNHV mistakes, I mean we are all human.â€? She explains how “the reality is that the institution will certainly be more careful for years forward, because they are going to make sure that it’s prevented for the future.â€? For next year’s juniors who will be applying to college, Mrs. Nunez believes that this incident will not affect any of this year’s juniors’ decisions on whether to apply to Vassar College. She says, “if a student still loves the school, and what the institution stands for, the student will still apply to that school since the match RU WKH Ă€W ZLOO RXWZHLJK WKH VWXGHQW¡V decision from this incident.â€? $V IRU WKLV \HDU¡V +.,6 VHQiors, no one has been affected by this admissions mistake, as no one had applied to Vassar College. Mrs. Nunez explains how “Vassar College is not a real popular school with our kids. This year, we don’t have any applicants, and if we have any from year to year, it’s just a very small amount of applicants.â€?

TAKE FIVE

Presented by the HKIS Sustainability Committee

Competition between HKIS Divisions from March 26 to June 1

REDUCE ELECTRICITY USAGE BY 5%

MARCH 2012

Summer Trip To Rwanda Cancelled By Gigi W Choy Staff Writer

The 0.5 biblical studies Rwanda summer course has been cancelled due to the host organization having scheduled a fundraising talk outside of the country. Last year, participating students had the chance to visit the Rwandan genocide museum, go to genocide churches (areas where Tutsi refugees were massacred), and stay at Fatima’s, a Catholic Church-run hostel. At Fatima’s students played with orphans, taught English, and did small construction jobs, as well as maintenance of the facility. One of the highlights of the trip was a hike to see gorillas in the wild, and a night at a cultural village where students learnt about the tradition and history of Rwanda. “The trip was cancelled because our ground activity called The Art of Conservation suddenly pulled out on us. They called after we promoted the trip and said sorry, we’re not going to be in Rwanda when the students are here. They were going to be at a presentation, out of the country raising funds,� Mr. Ferrin, the trip leader, explained. “We searched for different organizations and came up with 3 possibilities, but none that vouched for safety and what we were going to do there. Instead of taking a risk with an unknown organization, we cancelled the trip.� Mr. Ferrin was extremely disappointed, saying that he hoped that the Rwanda trip would run a second year in a row so that another teacher that wanted to run it could take over, while he concentrated on the alternative Mongolia trip, for which students can also earn 0.5 biblical studies credit.

APAC Preview By Gigi W Choy Staff Writer

The Asia Pacific Activities Conference (APAC) was founded in 1995. It is an interscholastic activity participated in by many schools including the International School of Beijing, Shanghai American School Pudong (SASPD), Taejon Christian International School (TCIS), and the United Nations International School of Hanoi (UNIS). For the spring season, APAC will take place from April 18 to April 22, 2012. Badminton will be hosted by Concordia International School in Shanghai. Boys soccer will be hosted at Taejon Christian International School, girls’ soccer at HKIS, track and field at Shanghai American School Puxi, and softball at Brent International School of Manila. Unfortunately, due to the travel ban from the Hong Kong government, the softball team will not be participating in APAC this year. “Our risk assessment from the school takes first priority from the Hong Kong government. I think it’s too bad because the girls won the APAC tournament last year and they don’t get to defend that,� Mr. May, the assistant coach of the varsity softball team, said. “It’s totally out of control, we don’t even have any say in it. It’s not even an open discussion, it’s just a no chance type of thing,� he explained. Although the news is disappointing, Mr. Baker, who is the head coach of the softball team, stayed positive by saying that, “it doesn’t take away from all of the work that we’re doing in practices and all the prep we’re doing for the team in the future. There are 3 girls that have been with us for the last couple of years but the good thing is that they got to experience the win. The rest of the team will have an opportunity to go to APAC and represent our school.�

PAGE 7

JUNTO

The purpose of the JLP By Bronwyn Lloyd Staff Writer

Much of this year’s junior class has recently completed its Junior Literary Paper. The project, over a month ORQJ DQG FRQVLVWLQJ RI ÀYH WR VHYHQ pages concentrated on the analysis of one author. The project, in contrast to the Junior Research Paper written by American Studies students, has comparatively little research involved aside from choosing the author, WZR RI WKHLU ÀFWLRQDO ZRUNV DQG D non-literature piece with the author’s thoughts on writing. The students spend most of the month of February on the project, but on completion their responses are mostly positive. As both juniors and seniors who have taken, or are currently taking, Junior English know, the process of choosing and researching the author IRU WKLV DUWLFOH EHJLQV LQ WKH ÀUVW semester. The choice of author has WR ÀUVW EH DSSURYHG E\ WKH WHDFKHU 7KH VWXGHQW WKHQ KDV WR ÀQG DQG UHDG one major novel by that author, an interview or speech by them demonstrating their views on writing, and another piece of their work from a different genre. The writing doesn’t really begin until the beginning of February—students then have

approximately a month before the SDSHU LV GXH RQ )HEUXDU\ WK 7KH majority of this year’s juniors agree WKDW WKH GHDGOLQH DW $0 ZDV D point of much concern, but allowed the rest of the day to be very relaxed in comparison. The narrow perspective of the paper, and the limitation to only primary sources allows students to simultaneously be more open with this project and more focused. “I liked that it didn’t involve secondary sources and it was completely about our own individual response to the author’s work,â€? says junior Mary Mulcahy. While the prospect of writing an LQWHQVH OLWHUDU\ SDSHU VHHPV DW Ă€UVW GDXQWLQJ PDQ\ VWXGHQWV Ă€QG WKH -/3 PRUH PDQDJHDEOH WKDQ UXPRUV RU Ă€UVW impressions may suggest. “It wasn’t that painful because I got to read a lot of good books and I like readingâ€? says Lotus Ye, a junior. The paper is an analytical and rather than a research paper, meaning that fewer documents need to be referenced, but that the documents are used in depth. The focus is on an analysis of one aspect of the author’s writing, be it their style of writing their use of symbols or themes. The general consensus among students seems to be that fewer documents

make the project easier. This concept stems from the ease of access to most of the required sources from the Information commons, and the reduced amount of time trolling the Internet for sources. The process is possibly the most important part of the project, because even as upperclassmen in high school, students may be unfamiliar with the process of writing an extended essay, which is a vital skill when entering FROOHJH -XQLRU 0DUVKDOO .LP VD\V “The JLP process itself has taught me a lot, such as patience and revision. I learned that in order to get the best paper I possible, I needed all of those things.� The experience gained from writing this paper is valuable for any student eagerly looking forward to graduation and college. The literature paper is also very different from the AP style essays written by hand under the pressure of a crowded exam room. The individual nature of the JLP as a personal response essay also allows students to explore their own tastes in literature and to answer honestly without fear of how their answers compare to their peers answers. Mary Mulcahy says, “It’s important to encourage original thought and honest responses, which the JLP did.�

Z-Club Hosts Annual Encore Event

MARCH 2012

APAC Roundup

Apac Forensics 2012. By Beatrice Yeung Staff Writer

7KH $VLD 3DFLĂ€F $FWLYLWLHV &RQIHUence (APAC) for basketball and forensics speaking recently took place, with the former being held at Concordia Shanghai and the latter EHLQJ KHOG KHUH DW +.,6 +RZHYHU GXH WR FRQĂ LFWV ZLWK +.,6¡V WUDYHO SROLF\ +.,6 FRXOG QRW DWWHQG $3$& swimming. Both boy’s and girl’s varsity basketball teams competed at Concordia International School Shanghai. The girls’ team of 12 students and the boys’ team of 11 students both obtained second place in their pools of six teams. This was the last APAC experience for many seniors such as Natalie Guzikowski, who plays center for girl’s varsity. ‘My last APAC Basketball experience was amazing,’ she comments, ‘I love my teammates and we did well in the tournament’. APAC Forensics was held at +.,6 DIWHU VL[ PRQWKV RI SUHSDUDWLRQ +.,6 KRVWHG WKUHH GD\V RI tournament with a total of six events, accommodating nine schools and almost a hundred participants. With teachers’ leadership and help, as well as administrators and the student body’s support and efforts, the tournament ran very smoothly. Mrs. Tan, one of the three tournament directors, explains how an enormous amount of work was put into the preparation for

this tournament, particularly since the nature of forensics events is extremely complex. ‘We were starting to discuss in October and we were already anticipating what has to be done and when we have to go about doing it. We even spent most of Chinese New <HDU Ă DW RXW RQ LW ¡ VKH VDLG Âś$OO WKH hard work eventually paid off,’ adds Mrs. Tan. ‘All of us who were part of it have great appreciation for the people who came together to make this happen’. Thomas Ruan, current senior advisor of the Forensics Club, earned a gold medal in the ImprompWX 6SHDNLQJ (YHQW IRU +.,6 ZKLFK marked a great end to the former Forensics Club president’s career in high school forensics speaking. Jenna Watson (11), a spectator at the tournament, said she ‘thought it was really entertaining and interesting to see students from different schools across Asia perform in a variety of events’. +.,6 GLG QRW DWWHQG $3$& Swimming, however, ‘since it was hosted in Manila and was against +.,6¡V WUDYHO SROLF\ ¡ VDLG VZLPPHU :LOOLDP 0HWFDOIH +H H[SUHVVHG his disappointment towards the cancellation decision made by the school, saying ‘it’s such a shame we FRXOGQ¡W VZLP DW $3$& WKLV \HDU¡ +H was really looking forward to it after last year, and commented on how ‘the fact that the government ranks the Philippines to be as dangerous as Syria right now is ridiculous.’

Mishra Promotes Repurposing Technology Judges with Encore ‘12 Winners. By Gigi W Choy Staff Writer

2Q )HEUXDU\ WKH = &OXE =RQWD Club) hosted the annual Encore event, a fundraising inter-school singing competition. Over the past years, Encore has not only raised large funds for the less fortunate, but also has brought together students from differHQW VFKRROV DFURVV +RQJ .RQJ 7KLV year, all proceeds raised went through Christian Action towards the Xining &KLOGUHQ¡V +RPH “Encore is the most spectacular HYHQW WKDW WKH = &OXE ZLOO KRVW WKLV year,â€? Serene Lam, current PR leader

of the club said. Auditions for Encore have been ongoing since November, 2011. “It’s a very big production that has taken months of planning,� current junior Jade Chan said. “I’m not nervous at all,� one of the Encore contestants, Riley Gallivan said. “I’m just really excited to perform in front of my friends, the faculty, as well as the other guests who are attending.� Encore ‘12 featured 9 soloists and 1 duet. ConWHVWDQWV IURP +.,6 LQFOXGH FXUUHQW sophomore Riley Gallivan, juniors Alisa Price and Winnona DeSombre, as well as current seniors Sonia Min, Jun Jun Li, and John Anderson.

Arnold Lam (Canadian International 6FKRRO RI +RQJ .RQJ $VKHO\ &KXQ (German Swiss International School), Diana Dai (Chinese International School), Robert Lee (Chinese International School), and Yu Ting Chang (Victoria Shanghai Academy) were the 5 inter-school contestants. Current MXQLRUV .HQ &KL $LGHQ &KHQJ DQG Archit Batlaw will also be performing during this event. 7KH = &OXE LQYLWHG 0U -XOLDQ Cheung (Chi Lam) and Mr. Calvin Choy Yat Chi of Grasshopper, 2 very ZHOO NQRZQ VLQJHUV LQ +RQJ .RQJ to appear as guest judges for this competition.

JUNTO 2012 JUNTO 2012 JUNTO 2012 JUNTO 2012 JUNTO 2012 JUNTO 2012

By Archit Batlaw Staff Writer

“There is no such thing as educational technology,â€? said Punya Mishra, a professor at Michigan State University, during his keynote speech at the 21st century conference on the 17th of February. Throughout the keynote, Mishra focused on the importance of repurposing technologies in order to teach more effectively. The 21st century learning FRQIHUHQFH KHOG DW +.,6 IRFXVHG on novel approaches to teaching and learning strategies. Mishra spent his speech discussing the repurposing of technologies for education, and the overlap between pedagogy, content, and technology. “Technologies are rarely designed for education, but we change their function,â€? he said, citing examples such as Microsoft Excel, which is “often used in US public schools because the teachers work with what they have. Excel is on almost every computer, so teachers have adapted LW LQWR WKHLU FODVVHV Âľ +H FLWHG RWKHU tools, as diverse as audacity and novels, as examples of repurposed technologies, commenting, “teachers often tell students to only read certain chapters, and we need to look at all technologies like this.â€? Mishra argued that “simple WHFKQRFHQWULFLVP LV EDG Âľ +H UHSHDWedly spoke about the importance of

“combining technology, content, and pedagogy to form good teaching.â€? +H FODLPHG ´SURIHVVLRQDO GHYHORSment often sees these three aspects as separate by only teaching teachers to use technology, through wikis and VXFK WHFKQRORJLHV Âľ +H VWDWHG Mishra instead suggested that “technology must be integrated with content and pedagogy when teaching teachers, so that technological LQQRYDWLRQ FDQ RFFXU Âľ +H IXUWKHU explained this by saying, “there is no standard solution and so PD should not act like there is one. The only solution is creativity‌ A lecture is a lecture, whether it is on laptop, a videoplayer, or whatever. We must form a community of learning by XVLQJ WHFKQRORJ\ FUHDWLYHO\ Âľ +H WKHQ gave the example of Sean Nash, a WHDFKHU DW %HQWRQ +LJK 6FKRRO ZKR constructed the website Principles of Biology to encourage his students to raise the standard of their work. The website has expanded from a Benton +LJK SURMHFW WR D JOREDOO\ IUHTXHQWHG site that encourages students everywhere to get interested in biology. +LV SRLQW ZDV WKDW WKLV FRPELQDWLRQ of technology, content, and pedagogy led to a successful example of “a community of learning.â€? Mishra concluded by saying, “Technology is not a magic bullet, but something that can be used if repurposed.â€?

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JUNTO

Rising Juniors to Pilot AP Capstone Seminar By Stephanie Tang Staff Writer

The College Board and the University of Cambridge International Examinations have recently collaborated to create a new AP course to be piloted this fall. This two-year course is currently being offered to this year’s sophomores as a supplemental program “designed to further develop inquiry and research skills as applied to topics of global relevance, and foster communication, collaboration, and creative skills to improve college and career readinessâ€?, as stated by the College Board. The program is meant to be completed over the course of the last two years of high school: it includes a seminar course taken in junior year followed by a year-long research project in senior year which will be supervised by a mentor. “To satisfy the College Board research needs for the pilot program,â€? said Associate Principal Dr. Johnson, “we must enroll a cohort of at least twelve juniors who will commit to the two-year seminar and research sequence.â€? In order to enroll for the program, students are required to take three or more AP courses in addition to the seminar, as it is meant to complement the different skills and knowledge provided through regular Advanced Placement courses and exams. Credit for taking the seminar course would be issued after the student has successfully completed three or more AP classes as well as the pilot course, provided that the student received a passing score (meaning a 3 or above) on all of their AP exams. Dr. Johnson described the course as “a junior seminar that addresses D WRSLF RI JOREDO VLJQLĂ€FDQFH IURP multiple disciplinary perspectives.â€? For this course, each school that chooses to participate will select thematic topics of interest which will provide the content for the development of research and inquiry skills in the seminar. Students will learn to analyze information and learn to evaluate evidence in order to compare competing points of views. These experiences will then be put to use in the research project undertaken during their senior year: a 4,500-5,000-

word paper that is meant to build on the school’s chosen topic. +.,6 LV WKH RQO\ LQWHUQDWLRQDO school out of twenty schools in the world to be offered this pilot program. According to Dr. Johnson, +.,6 ZDV LQYLWHG DV D UHVXOW RI WKH school’s academic strength and the high regard accorded to our school internationally. “Two key factors contribute to the determination of our school’s strength,â€? said Dr. Johnson. ´7KH Ă€UVW LV RXU SDVV UDWH RQ $3 H[ams; it is perennially over 90%. The second is that our Equity of Access index, which is the percentage of our graduates who take at least one AP FRXUVH LV FRQVLVWHQWO\ LQ WKH range.â€? When news of this program was Ă€UVW UHOHDVHG WR VWXGHQWV PDQ\ ZHUH interested but also apprehensive. Some students believe that this course will provide even more stress than a typical AP course. “It seems really rigorous, and it would completely take over your life,â€? said sophomore Sarah Faruqui. “Juniors always tend WR WDNH D ORW RI GLIĂ€FXOW FODVVHV DQG , feel like this one would be twice the work.â€? “I hear that junior year is really stressful,â€? said sophomore George Molina. “I think it sounds interesting but I’d like to know what we stand to JDLQ IURP LW Âľ &OD\ +HQVOH\ WKH GLrector of International Strategies and Relationships of the College Board, spoke to Dr. Johnson about this same concern. “It would be a chance for your students to shine and showcase WKH VNLOOV WKDW +.,6 KDV DOUHDG\ started to help them develop. This capstone would help them validate these highly-valued skills externally,â€? VDLG 0U +HQVOH\ ´7KH\ ZRXOG EH SLRQHHUV WKH Ă€UVW VWXGHQWV LQ WKH world to earn a multi-modal credential offered by the AP and Cambridge. On their transcript, this course would differentiate them in the admission process.â€? 'HVSLWH 0U +HQVOH\¡V FRPPHQWV DERXW WKH SRWHQWLDO EHQHĂ€WV RI WKH $3 Capstone Seminar, many teachers agree that only when rising juniors provide feedback for the College Board after completion of the course will students be able to truly weigh the pros and cons of such a program.

The New Cafeteria Mural

By Judy Kim Staff Writer

Last year, the members of the Art club designed the mural that now spreads across the big wall of the cafeteria. As many students should remember, the big wall before was almost bare with a few bulletin ERDUGV +RZHYHU DOWKRXJK WKH PXUDO certainly did bring aesthetic changes to the cafeteria, not many students seemed to notice the difference. Tom Woods, one of the most UHQRZQHG PXUDO GHVLJQHUV LQ +RQJ .RQJ KHOSHG WKH $UW &OXE PHPEHUV in producing a design that could UHà HFW WKH DUWLVWLF TXDOLWLHV RI HDFK of the Art Club members. The art club itself had not much information regarding this designer because he was only contacted by several Skype videos and phone calls. Each member RI WKH $UW &OXE KDG WR ÀQG XQLTXH GHsigns and objects they thought could be a part of the mural. The images were scanned and were sent to Tom

Woods, who used different parts of various patterns and images to design what decorates the cafeteria now. Despite the efforts of the Art Club and Tom Woods, not many people seem to have received positive effects from the mural. “I actually don’t remember what it looks like, “ said sophomore Shelia Fu. Junior Anson Lee gave a similar answer, saying, “I don’t remember.â€? “ I thought it was a pretty cool LGHD DW Ă€UVW EXW WKLV SURMHFW RQO\ involved a small percentage of students in school, and would have been better if it was a more public event where everyone could participate in contributing to the design of the mural,â€? said Michelle, a leader of Art Club. She suggested that more of the school population should contribute in improving the aesthetic appearance of the school so that a wider audience can appreciate the artworks.

MARCH 2012

FEATURE

Kumusta: Domestic Workers in Hong Kong By Pooja Hattangdi Staff Writer

When you meet a Filipina from another home, you quickly welcome WKHP ZLWK KRVSLWDOLW\ .XPXVWD ² +RZ DUH \RXÂł\RX JUHHW HDFK RWKHU warmly. Mabuti naman, Salamat! At LNDZ" Âł,¡P Ă€QH WKDQNV $QG \RX" ² Then you might chat for a while, grab a bite to eat and take a walk in the gardens. You always exchange phone numbers. It was easy to make long-lasting friendships within the Filipino community. The women usually met each other through friends, their church or during their day off on Sundays. There were no inhibitions among them. Old friends, young friends, new friends came together to gossip freely, laugh, banter and reminisce about their lives back in the Philippines. One was never constrained by her home province. The sense of mutual camaraderie remained whether you came from Mindanao, Luzon or Manila. When you did make a friend, you made an effort to maintain it. You would update each other during the day through your mobile phones, call her while you were having your morning tea and pandesal—rice and egg with bread—text while cleaning the house and doing the laundary, DQG GHĂ€QLWHO\ PHHW GXULQJ \RXU IUHH time on Sunday. If a friend was out RI ZRUN \RX PLJKW KHOS KHU Ă€QG D job by recommending her to your employers. 7KH ORQJHU \RX KDG OLYHG LQ +RQJ .RQJ WKH PRUH IULHQGV \RX KDG ,W was the easiest thing in the world to keep in touch with someone. The best day of the week was Sunday. Throngs of women would cluster around one of the many FKXUFKHV LQ WKH +RQJ .RQJ GLVWULFW indifferent to the early hour of the morning or the discomfort of the large crowds. Women of all shapes and sizes would gather in the streets of Queensway Central in the afternoon, playing cards and snacking, their chatter being carried through the air. Women who had just come out from home were consistent about sending their money back. Other ones who had been out longer set up saving accounts for themselves, especially if they had a family. Older women carrying the responsibility of funding their children’s education usually dressed a little simpler and saved a little more. It was easy to tell ZKR VDYHG WKH OHDVW ZLWK WKHLU Ă DVK\ clothes, highlights and endless supply of high-heeled shoes. Once a woman came out, they tried to stay as long as possible. Domestic helpers were bound by a two-year contract that was renewed or terminated at the end of each cycle. Each domestic helper was paid a monthly fee, the minimum wage of +. RU DERYH $OWKRXJK WKH\ ZRXOG DLG WKHLU IULHQGV LQ Ă€QGLQJ new jobs, the women would never mix their own employment with their friends. Generally their closest friends would live in proximity to their home or residence of employment. It was the easiest thing in the world to keep in touch with someone. *

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=HQ\ 3DUUHQR ZDV QHYHU DORQH She shared her home with her husEDQG ZKR ZRUNHG DV D GULYHU LQ +RQJ .RQJ DQG KDG VHYHUDO IULHQGV VFDW-

tered all over the city. She maintained strong relationships with her relatives at home through the telephone and letters for the older generation, and email and Skype for the younger JHQHUDWLRQ =HQ\ WRRN SULGH LQ KHU MRE DV D GRPHVWLF KHOSHU LQ +RQJ .RQJÂłVKH ZDV KHOSLQJ RXW KHU family back in Manila and funding her son, Phillip’s education. “I like to help everybody who needs help,â€? she said. “Everybody at home is working but they don’t earn as much as I earn here, so you know if they need anything or have a problem, like a hospital thing...â€? She was employed as a part-time domestic helper by the Ewing family. +HU HPSOR\HUV KDG ZHOFRPHG =HQ\ into their home and life over 15 years ago, and she was soon made to feel as a part of the family. A day consisted RI ZDNLQJ XS DW Ă€YH WKLUW\ LQ WKH morning, rushing through breakfast with her husband and arriving at the Ewing’s residence in Tai Tam by six WKLUW\ =HQ\ VSHQW WKH Ă€UVW SDUW RI WKH morning washing and cleaning the house, doing laundry from nine to ten, going to the market from ten to eleven and then preparing lunch from eleven to twelve. At one in the afterQRRQ =HQ\ GHSDUWHG IURP WKH (ZLQJ house to run errands for varying families, and was home by six to prepare dinner for herself and her husband before bed.

of their lives at home. Domestic helpers are provided with a suitable living accommodation in their employer’s residence, required to perform only the duties highlighted in the employment contract, provided with free health care by their employers and granted with at least one day of rest each week. For most Filipino GRPHVWLF KHOSHUV DGMXVWLQJ WR +RQJ .RQJ OLIH LV QRW KDUG HVSHFLDOO\ QRZ that communication is so much easier through the Internet. Migrants savor their freedom and independence. 7KH\ VWD\ LQ +RQJ .RQJ EHFDXVH RI WKHLU GXW\ WR Ă€QDQFLDOO\ VXSSRUW WKHLU families, but also because they enjoy the adventure of living in the city. In 2010, Filipino domestic helpers made XS RI WKH WRWDO IRUHLJQ GRPHVWLF KHOSHUV LQ +RQJ .RQJ In 2011, the government acknowledged the one million local XQGHUSULYLOHJHG IDPLOLHV LQ +RQJ .RQJ WKDW ZHUH GHQLHG MREV GXH WR the increase of foreign workers. It decided to reevaluate whether foreign ZRUNHUV FRXOG DSSO\ IRU +RQJ .RQJ residency, an action that struck up several protests among foreign domestic helpers that experienced discrimination from the government and their employers. The majority of grievances included “discrimination, the minimum wage and the two-week stay limit at the end of a domestic helper’s employment contract.â€?

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7KH YLOODJH ZKHUH =HQ\ 3DUUHQR ZDV ERUQ ZDV UXQ E\ GHVWLWXWLRQ +HU family ran on the money provided by the menial, janitorial employPHQW RI KHU IDWKHU 6ORZO\ =HQ\¡V siblings were pulled out of school to enter similar jobs. One night she was woken to the sobs of her thirteen-year old sister, Theresa who was being IRUFHG WR VXSSRUW =HQ\¡V HGXFDWLRQ by taking on a job as a janitor at a ODZ Ă€UP 7KH JXLOW RI VWRSSLQJ KHU VLVWHU¡V HGXFDWLRQ SODJXHG =HQ\¡V childhood. She was determined to get out of the Philippines and pay her ate EDFN VRPHGD\ $IWHU VFKRRO =HQ\ worked as a domestic helper for a Singaporean family and immigrated ZLWK WKHP WR +RQJ .RQJ LQ :LWKLQ D \HDU =HQ\ VZLWFKHG RYHU WR a banking family before settling with the Ewings in 1994. 7KH KDUGHVW \HDU IRU =HQ\ ZDV 2000 when her son, Phillip was born. After his birth, Phillip was sent to live ZLWK KLV DXQW LQ 0DQLOD EHFDXVH =HQ\ FRXOG QRW Ă€QDQFLDOO\ VXSSRUW KLV HGXFDWLRQ LQ +RQJ .RQJ 3KLOOLS¡V HGXFDWLRQ ZDV WKH LQFHQWLYH NHHSLQJ =HQ\ ZRUNLQJ LQ +RQJ .RQJÂł ´,W¡V TXLWH GLIĂ€FXOW WR HDUQ PRQH\ LQ 0DQLOD , couldn’t send Phillip to a good school if I lived in the Philippines,â€? she said. Together with her husband’s salary she provided him with an education from a private, Catholic school in Manila. She saw her son twice a year, once during his annual two-month YLVLW WR +RQJ .RQJ DQG RQFH GXULQJ her annual Christmas break in the Philippines. *

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Migrant Filipino workers are GHĂ€QHG E\ D VLPSOH WHUP LQ +RQJ .RQJ EXQ PXLÂłD )LOLSLQR JLUO Originally used as a slang term, it is now commonly used and not meant in a derogatory sense. The city offers them a satisfactory living, more luxurious than that

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, PHW =HQ\ IRU WKH Ă€UVW WLPH WZR years ago. She was short at barely 5-feet and petite with shoulder-length black hair and jet black eyes that had D PLVFKLHYRXV WZLQNOH +HU VPDOO frame might have lead someone to think she was much younger than her 50 years, and she stood with her arms folded in quiet reticence. We met at the apartment of her HPSOR\HU .HQW (ZLQJ , ZDV D QHZ friend of his daughter, Jackie. She was initially reserved around me as she takes time to warm up and trust foreign strangers. Luckily, I happened to visit her around the time her son, Phillip was visiting and managed to break the ice by striking up a FRQYHUVDWLRQ ZLWK KLP Ă€UVW )LHUFHO\ SURWHFWLYH RI KHU VRQ =HQ\ DFFHSWHG me as part of the family when Jackie and I provided Phillip with a day of IXQ DW +RQJ .RQJ¡V IDPRXV DPXVHment park, Ocean Park. =HQ\¡V UHVHUYHG GHPHDQRU disappeared and I was exposed to her vibrant personality, infectious laughter and maternal nature. The restrained behavior was transformed into endless chatter, whether it was ordering me to eat more food, or telling me stories about her life from the 3KLOLSSLQHV DQG +RQJ .RQJ One day I hesitantly asked, ´=HQ\ DIWHU DOO \RXU GLIIHUHQW H[SHULHQFHV OLYLQJ LQ +RQJ .RQJ GR \RX ever regret leaving your family?â€? She replied without missing a beat, “Of course not. I have my own friends here, a job I love and without moving here I would have never met my husband, and never had Phillip.â€? “Yes, I do miss my family but I KDYH IRXQG P\ RZQ QLFKH LQ +RQJ .RQJ , ZRXOG GR LW RYHU DJDLQ Âľ $QG ZLWK WKH HQHUJ\ RI D \HDU ROG =HQ\ Ă LSSHG RSHQ KHU ODSWRS DQG EHJDQ furiously typing away to her sister on Skype.

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By Edmund Ho Staff Writer

This mandatory bus policy is one of the worst decisions higher administration has made, for many reasons. First of all, it takes away the ability of kids, and their parents, to show off their fancy new sports car or their cutting-edge SUV that they bought last Friday “on a impulseâ€?. What will the poor children do? Now, they can’t say to all their friends, “Oh, look at me! I’ve got a brand new Ferrariâ€?, as nobody will EHOLHYH WKHP +RZ ZLOO WKH\ Ă€W LQ" They will all be relegated to saying that they ride on the, God forbid, school bus to school, and, oh, what a plebeian activity we all know that is. And how dare they allege that carpooling in a school bus with other children is more environmentally friendly than a parent and their FKLOG LQ D +XPPHU E\ WKHPVHOYHV" It is utter nonsense to say that Ă€IW\ RGG NLGV SOXV D GULYHU XVLQJ D tank of gas is more environmentally friendly than two people using a tank of gas. Clearly the two people are using less gas per person (even though the private car’s tank is split Ă€IW\ Ă€IW\ DQG WKH EXV¡ WDQN LV VSOLW LQWR Ă€IW\ SHRSOH Not only that, but banning private cars takes away from the real-estate attractiveness of the Ă DWV QHDU DQG DURXQG WKH 5HSXOVH Bay. Real-estate agents can’t put “Natural alarm at around 7:30â€? anymore, as the cars won’t be there to honk, and drivers won’t be there to cuss and swear, thus waking up the tenants with the soothing sounds of urbanity. The real-estate business is going down, because QRERG\ LV JRLQJ WR EX\ WKHVH Ă DWV

anymore and tenants won’t have the insurmountable privilege of hearing a brand-new Rolls-Royce purr up the slope to the Upper Primary and then honk violently to make some Volvo get out of the way. I totally agree with those parents that say the commute by bus is too long, because clearly children have many things they could do ZLWK WKLUW\ Ă€YH PLQXWHV ZKLFK LV the highest commute time in the bus routes), like maybe do homeZRUN IRU Ă€YH PLQXWHV DQG WKHQ JHW distracted by a show on the TV or with a new app on their iPhones. Additionally, the administration has put forward the “factâ€? that private cars will necessitate more teachers to come out and assume UROHV DV WUDIĂ€F FRRUGLQDWRUV ,VQ¡W this a good thing? I want the teachers teaching my kids to work for their paychecks. Not laze around and mark essays and help students afterschool and develop meaningful relationships with their students. I want to see them actually do some physical labour. Some parents have also noted that Asians are the cause of that problem. “Mr. Shono speculates that the increasing number of Asian IDPLOLHV DWWHQGLQJ +.,6 LV SDUW RI the causeâ€? and that “it is the Asian families who schedule after school activities to maximize the time available after schoolâ€?. Of course it’s the Asian parents’ fault! It’s not as if Americans or Spanish or Venezuelans do anything after school, as they just sit around at home like still automatons not given the orders to move. Sincerely, &RQFHUQHG +.,6 3DUHQWV

Many students use school buses to get to school.

JUNTO ONLINE

COMING SOON

MARCH 2012

Japan: Trekking the Nakasendo Trail By Martin Man Staff Writer

The introduction of the ‘Take Five’ school-wide energy-saving programme by the Sustainability Committee immediately after the ‘Interim Celebrations’ ranks amongst the most ironic of situations. After we had just spent a week spewing out carbon emissions on Interim, we’re encouraged to turn off the lights and air-conditioners as we leave classrooms. Do not, however, mistake my meaning. Every little thing we do to be environmentally friendly helps. Yes, we do need to foster good habits such as saving electricity and water, but VD\LQJ WKDW LQ RQH EUHDWK DQG Ă \LQJ off to Spain in the next is plainly hypocritical. I’m not criticising the efforts of the environmental movement LQ +.,6 7KH SUREOHP LV WKDW WKH school doesn’t seem to have its priorities straight. On one hand it makes efforts to install new water fountains, ban water bottles, and encourage energy-saving initiatives. On the other hand it sends us halfway across the world on jumbo jets for a whole week of vacation. I cannot deny that I too am guilty of this hypocrisy. By the estimates of ‘www.chooseclimate. RUJ¡ DQG WKH 8. EDVHG FDUERQ offset company ‘Climate Care,’ my URXQG WULS Ă LJKW IURP +RQJ .RQJ to Nagoya, Japan and back emitted DURXQG WR NJ RI FDUERQ GLoxide. That number, however, pales in comparison to the South Africa ,QWHULPÂłDQ\ZKHUH IURP WR NJ RI FDUERQ GLR[LGH HPLVsions for the round trip. According to ‘chooseclimate.org’, that’s around 10,566kW-hours of energy when burnt, or as much carbon as the all the food eaten by ten people in one whole year. For further comSDULVRQ GULYLQJ IURP +RQJ .RQJ Island to Shenzhen and back emits on average roughly 10kg of carbon dioxide. What do we do in these faraway places after we’ve polluted the world’s skies in getting there?

It is questionable if anything we do on Interim is worth the grave cost to the environment. For many, it’s simply a holiday—a week of adventure, sightseeing, or bonding with other students. Some justify their environmental destruction by saying they served people in need. But then again, is even service really a valid reason? Service trips are another thing where we must set our priorities straight. Ostensibly students seem to go on service Interims—and service trips in general—with the aim of making a difference to others’ lives. Most people do service because they care about a certain cause or care about giving back to communities in need. If my optimism about people’s motives is true, and students go on service trips to aid others, then VXFK WULSV DUH DQ XQMXVWLĂ€HG ZDVWH of money. Furthermore, if students believe that going on such trips is worth it due to the service they do, then they are tragically misguided. What can we do in one week that could possibly make enough of a difference to make up for the tonnes of carbon dioxide we spew into the atmosphere—whether by airplane or by bus? Ironically, we may even be indirectly exacerbating the problems of the people whom we serve by contributing to climate change and other causes that underlie their predicaments. Students need to dispel the delusion that they’re going on the WULS IRU WKH EHQHĂ€W RI WKH SHRSOH they serve. If we truly cared about serving people in need and chose WKDW DV RXU Ă€UVW SULRULW\ WKHQ ZH wouldn’t travel abroad. We would not go on the trips at all to save— on average—around $17,000 per person and donate the money to WKH SHRSOH ZH ZHUH JRLQJ WR Ă \ WR VHUYH $ OHDĂ HW IURP 7KH &LWL]HQV¡ Foundation for their dinner event stated that $5000 is enough to pay for a Pakistani primary school’s monthly operating cost—imagine what a whole Interim’s worth of funds would do.

The fact is that Interims and VHUYLFH WULSV DUH VHOÀVK DIIDLUV ,Qstead of maximising the impact we could make on the lives of people in less fortunate situations than XV ZH à \ WR H[RWLF ORFDOHV WR VHH romanticised poor people in rural areas. We sooth our First World guilt by convincing ourselves we’ve done our bit to serve, and that those few days is enough to make up for all our extravagance. We play with underprivileged children so that we can take the moral high ground when we return and pretend to have improved their lives. In reality, those children were merely toys that we used to placate our troubled consciences. It will seem all too easy for PH³KDYLQJ MXVW ÀQLVKHG P\ ODVW Interim—to suggest that instead of doing more to fatten the pockets RI &DWKD\ 3DFLÀF ZH VKRXOG IRFXV DOO VHUYLFH RQ +RQJ .RQJ %XW LW is nonetheless true that there is no QHHG WR OHDYH +RQJ .RQJ WR GR service. There are plenty of people in need right at our doorstep; so if students are truly committed to helping others—and not using it as an excuse for a vacation—then there shouldn’t be any problem. After all, it is often said that it’s the people that make an Interim enjoyable, not the location. To go one step further, perhaps we should donate all the money we would have originally spent fuelling the capitalistic system to charity. Clearly our parents have no qualms about spending those large sums for non-charitable causes. It should be simple to convince them to give the same amount to charity. Of course, I—adhering to my SKLORVRSK\ RI VDFULÀFLQJ VKRUW WHUP aid to the needy so that the human race doesn’t perish when the Earth becomes inhospitable—would recommend donating to carbon offset programmes or other environmental ends. But an en masse donation to any charity would surely be better than our current system of service.

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JUNTO

MARCH 2012

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