HK baby

Paramedic parent

First-time parent Gemma Shaw explores the benefits of infant first aid training

As a new mum, the thought of bringing home my baby girl, who was born prematurely at the end of April, was both overwhelmingly joyful and terrifying in equal parts. In the days leading up to the homecoming my sense of responsibility and unpreparedness grew. A friend suggested taking a first aid course tailored to treating infants and I jumped at the chance.

The Family Zone offers a four-hour course which covers CPR theory and practice as well as how to respond in the most common paediatric emergencies faced in Hong Kong which include drowning, poisoning, head/spinal injuries and heat emergencies. The course provides a relaxed environment for first time parents in which questions are encouraged and real life examples are used throughout. Here are some aspects that really resonated with me.

Basic life support for infants

Choking is one of the leading causes of unintentional death for infants in Hong Kong and it can quickly lead to an infant becoming unresponsive. Resuscitation techniques differ for adult, child and infant patients so it’s important for parents to know the specifics. All first aid courses should cover basic CPR skills with paediatric courses tailoring techniques towards children and babies. Having these skills can assist parents in being able to react quickly and help improve the health outcome of the child.

Wound management

As infants grow they become increasingly active leading them to encounter an infinite number of potentially dangerous situations. All good infant first aid courses should teach parents skills in immediate wound care, compression and faster healing techniques as well as guidelines on how to monitor wounds for signs of infection.

Sudden illness

Bringing a newborn home will undoubtedly present a plethora of new ailments for first time parents. Learning from an expert when to seek medical attention for serious conditions and how to monitor and treat minor illness at home is key. With Hong Kong’s warm and humid climate it is also helpful to know a bit about conditions such as dehydration, overheating, drowning and seizures.

While of course there is no guarantee that any parent is ever able to fully protect their child from every potentially dangerous situation, this course places a huge emphasis on prevention rather than treatment of accidents which has certainly helped me feel a little more prepared during the first few weeks at home with our new addition.

The Family Zone

The Family Zone offers a four hour course in Paediatric First Aid & CPR for Parents ($980 per person). Classes are led by founder Yvonne Heavyside, a British-trained health visitor and registered nurse with more than 35 years experience. Yvonne has worked in Hong Kong since 1997, her work has included running the antenatal classes and first aid & CPR Courses at Matilda International Hospital. The Family Zone also offers courses in child safety specifically tailored towards helpers as well as pre and postnatal classes and consultations.

thefamilyzone.hk

A look at Malvern College Hong Kong

Charmaine Ng visits the international school with British heritage in Pak Shek Kok, Tai Po

One of England’s great public schools, Malvern College has a rich and distinguished history and is known for its strong academic focus, with an enrichment programme that stimulates learning beyond the confines of exam criteria.

The leading co-educational school extended its reach to Hong Kong in 2018, opening a campus in Pak Shek Kok, Tai Po. Following the footsteps of its mother school, Malvern College Hong Kong (MCHK) offers a highly regarded international curriculum to the primary and secondary levels, in a beautiful greenfield campus adjacent to the Hong Kong Science Park.

What sets MCHK apart is its unique heritage in combining academic excellence with pastoral care that cherishes each child as an individual. Every child and young person is encouraged to demonstrate the various personal characteristics that define a Malvern education beyond the academic curriculum, called the Malvern Qualities. Individuality, creativity and the need to ‘think out of the box’ are given utmost importance.

To help students settle in, MCHK has a carefully planned induction programme at the start of each school year. Class teachers are the main point of contact for pupils and parents in the primary years, whilst all secondary pupils are assigned to a tutor overseeing the academic, social and personal progress of each young person.

In the classroom, teachers develop an environment where pupils feel safe and secure. “We arrange buddies for new pupils and pay special attention to them through the transition period,” says Ms Maria Gebrial, Head of Primary at MCHK. “The buddies make sure that new pupils know their way around the classroom and the school. The onboarding process is an opportunity for pupils to understand and feel connected to the school’s culture.” Pupils also experience a sense of belonging through a house system at the school.

Sixth Form

Following its successful launch in 2018, MCHK is flourishing with a growing secondary section. The primary and secondary classes are now operating from Year 1 to Year 10, adding Year 11 in August 2020. The school will see its first cohort of Lower Sixth (Year 12) pupils in 2021/22 and sit for their final exams in Upper Sixth (Year 13) in 2022/23.

To meet the increase in pupils, new staff are joining MCHK this August. The school is growing its secondary leadership team COVER STORY

and welcoming Mr Wayne Maher as the new Head of Secondary and Diploma Coordinator. Mr Maher is joining from Malvern College Egypt, where he is currently the Headmaster. Meanwhile, Ms Katrina Englart will continue in her role as MYP Coordinator.

Hong Kong is no stranger to the IB Diploma, one of the most challenging educational programmes available. IB graduates are ambitious and well-prepared for success in further academic studies and in life beyond.

As a candidate school for the IB Diploma

Settling in

programme*, MCHK is putting time into careful

* Malvern College Hong Kong is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years, the Middle Years and Diploma Programme. It is currently pursuing authorisation as an IB World School. Only schools authorised by the International Baccalaureate can offer any of its four academic programmes: The Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP) or the IB Career-related Certificate (IBCC). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorisation will be granted.

and thorough planning in order to meet the requirements for authorisation, in advance of its first year of implementation. Apart from hiring new staff to accommodate the upcoming IB Diploma Programme, it is currently working on design plans for the sixth floor of its campus building, which will be opened in August 2021/22 for the first cohort of diploma pupils.

Adapting to changes

The past year has been a difficult one for all industries around the world. As the coronavirus sweeps the globe, MCHK has tackled the challenges of Hong Kong’s compulsory school suspensions with gusto.

Implementing a comprehensive online learning programme across all year groups, MCHK maintained an interactive and

inquiry-focused approach to learning. There were routine days with the continuation of face-to-face check-ins, flipped learning activities and video lessons, mixed up with days focusing on connecting the school community such as wellness days, house events, the celebration of book week or an online sports week of daily activities.

When the school reopened in May, it took on a phased approach in accordance with EDB guidelines, allowing the most senior years to return first. It also shortened its school days from 8am to 1pm instead of 3pm, with all pupils departing before lunch.

Leadership scholarship programme

Starting in 2021/22, MCHK is implementing a merit-based leadership scholarship scheme designed for the upcoming Sixth Form. The purpose of this prestigious scholarship is to recognise and further pupils who have been demonstrating innovative and initiative-driven leadership that has a meaningful impact on their academic work and community environments.

Three to four leadership scholarships will be available for the academic year 2020/21, awarded to see pupils through to the end of the Sixth Form. Both internal and external applicants are eligible for the scholarship.

The school is constantly on the lookout for candidates who demonstrate solid knowledge, know-how and skills in alignment with Malvern’s leadership definition, with a view to further their natural talent. Successful applicants’ leadership profiles are aligned with the school’s ethos and educational values.

Candidates are invited to apply based on personal, academic and co-curricular leadership experience. The school follows a three-step process to evaluate and identify suitable candidates including:

Stage 1: Entry, Stage 2: Online Assessment, Stage 3: Challenge day and interview

Successful candidates will be awarded with a full tuition and annual capital waiver.

To minimise the risk of exposure to infection, classroom layouts were adjusted to enable social distancing. Face masks and temperature checks became mandatory and pupils were required to wash their hands frequently. Staggered breaks became the new norm, where all pupils headed out into open air but without contact play. All facilities, classrooms and equipment were cleaned and sanitised on a regular basis.

The school continues to reflect on the experience of prolonged remote learning and to retain some of the best bits of this experience. It saw huge creativity in approaches to learning and teaching. Of course, teaching staff would never want to replace face to face contact. In fact, there was great excitement when they were finally able to bring the community back together in May.

For general admissions, the school accepts rolling applications up to two years in advance. For the upcoming academic year 2021/22, the cut off for the first phase of applications is October 9, 2020. Online assessments and admissions interviews are typically scheduled in November, with offer or rejection letters being sent out prior to Christmas. malverncollege.org.hk