

YEAR PLAN 2017-18
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

OVERVIEW
2-5
INTRODUCTION
2
AIM & MISSION
3
THE CABINET
WELFARE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
4-5
6-12 13-16 17
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INTRODUCTION
“Apex” can be defined as the the tip, point, or vertex of an object. This embodies what we, as student council, hope to achieve by the end of the 2017-18 academic year - to lead the VSA community in “reaching the top”, and in doing so creating yet another unforgettable year at VSA. The 8 students who constitute Apex, including three from the previous student council Ascend, come equipped with a wide range of both talent and experience. We have come together to carry forward the ideas of the previous student council, striving to make school life better for the VSA community. Apex, comprising of a group of unique, talented and experienced DP and MYP students, are committed to working together and serving VSA. With our all rounded experience, we believe that we have what it takes to unify the school community, and we are ready to face challenges head on with our respective expertise. All we need is for the student body to be on board with us, and with your support, we will be able to rise to the Apex. Apex aims to organise a range of events and programs that everyone can enjoy. Not only will we put forward a number of welfare ideas, such as the addition of hairdryers and the Oasis Gradebook, which will positively change the face of the school in years to come; but we will also organise events that students can enjoy throughout the year. We will also be amending certain policies that have had little contribution towards the wellbeing of our community. In doing all of the above, we hope to be able to revitalise our school community. We also hope to be a bridge the student body and senior management, acting as a communication platform between the both; to find balance between the wishes of students and the directive of the school by allowing students voices to be heard. These will be critical towards our success as a student council, as it will help us achieve our mission by the end of the school year. We promise to you, the VSA community, that we will aspire to do our very best to achieve the goals that we have set, and that we will strive to fulfill our promises towards our VSA family. We will ensure that our actions will only be seen as a step towards our final goal of fulfilling our promises towards reaching the apex.
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AIM & MISSION
Our aim as a student council is simple - to make school life more enjoyable for students. We hope to do the above by finding ways to fulfill student’s wants while also considering the school’s directive. Moreover, we want to bond all members of the VSA student body so everyone can have the best learning experience here at VSA. With the above, students can reach the apex of their enjoyment and happiness at VSA! We pledge to: Provide all members of the student body support, and a comfortable environment to learn, prosper, and have fun! Create realistic, yet innovative events and new schemes that would be equally beneficial to both the students and the school’s directive. To allow students to exhibit their talents and leadership through various proposed activities. Find balance between students’ wishes and the directive of the school by allowing students voices to be heard. To maintain an equilibrium between academics and recreation for students at VSA. Continue with the previous student council, Ascend’s initial goals in striving for a more memorable experience in school and by representing the student body on issues that affect the school community.
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THE CABINET 

4


THE CABINET
5
WELFARE
RENTAL SERVICE Objective
To provide students with necessities in case of emergency.
Introduction
Sometimes, students will find themselves forgetting the necessary supplies for learning, such as calculators, protractors, or PE uniforms; or find themselves lacking sporting or technological equipment for their day to day activities. Thus, Apex will be continuing the lending service (with new items such as PE uniforms, belts, soccer gloves, GDC calculators, etc.) where students will be able to borrow day to day items from the Student Council Room. However, to ensure students return the borrowed items, they will be required to provide their student card as well as sign a consent form whenever they borrow an item.
Details Items that can be borrowed: Uniforms: All MYP & DP uniforms + PE uniforms + Belts Sports Equipment: Ball Pump, Basketball, Soccer Ball, Soccer Gloves, Volleyball, American Footballs, Frisbees Technology: MacBook Chargers (New and Old) Stationery: Calculators (Scientific Calculator & GDC), Protractors, Compasses, Rulers. Others: Umbrellas
Loan Requirements:
Student card will be required for loan as deposit, signature for consent form will also be needed.
SELF-RUN EVENTS/STUDENT ENTREATY Objective
To provide students with an opportunity to run their own events. Encourage students to be interactive and voice their own ideas. Provide a platform between the senior management team and the student body.
Introduction
Students may want to create their own events for their own needs, whether that would be raising money for a charity they wish to help, or simply to provide Apex with ideas of events that they wish to have during the school year. We want your voice to matter, therefore, Apex will be setting up an ‘Ideas’ box outside the student council room so you will be able to drop in your ideas to us as you please. If you wish to self run an event, simply approach us, and we will be able to draft up a proposal for the senior management team.
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Inter-house Sport Competitions Objective
To bring back the inter-house competition tradition. To enhance the school’s house spirit. To develop a greater bond between students of different year groups.
Introduction
In the past, our school has hosted inter-house competitions for sports such as football, basketball, or volleyball. Due to popular demand, we are happy to inform you that Apex will be bringing them back! Through these competitions, we wish to allow students who have passion in different sports to display their abilities and discover their potential. Competitions will run on throughout the year, and plenty of house points can be won by being victorious!
Details Sporting Events: Dodgeball, Touch Rugby, Football, Volleyball, Basketball
Themed Casual Dress Days Objective To allow students to dress in the festive or holiday spirits costumes or clothing. To raise money for various charities.
Introduction
Over the past few years, we have noticed that casual wear days are extremely popular and loved within the student body. Casual wear days provide more freedom to what we wear and it unifies the student as a whole when it comes to special themes. Hence why Apex is proud to announce that we aim to accomplish an ‘’alternative month casual wear day’’ program for the upcoming school year, this plan features a base structure of one casual day per alternating month.
Details
Since this event will take place bi-monthly, here are the months in which there will be a themed casual dress day: Last Friday of every month (October, December, February, April, June)
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IMPROVED LUNCH QUEUE SYSTEM Objective
To reduce the overly long lunch queues to resolve student frustration when buying lunch. To provide a sustainable and time efficient lunch queue structure for the long term.
Introduction Apex is aware of the frustration students face when cafeteria queues are overly long. We will implement a new system to combat this problem. After multiple discussions with the students from Y6-Y10 and the school staff, Apex came up with a new lunch queue process that would make use of all the relatively unoccupied areas for food carts and allow more flexibility for students to travel and queue up in the cafeteria.
Details
We will be placing meals A,B and C together on one side of the cafeteria (where A,B and D meals currently are), and move meal D to the other side of the cafeteria as we have noticed more people choose meal D as opposed to meal C during lunch. The salad bar will stay where it is and we will add a snack bar next to it, so people who only want a snack for lunch would not have to queue up for a long time to just get a snack. The lunch collecting cart and kiosk will be repositioned at the end of the cafeteria to clear up the traffic at the entrance of 3/F.
Hoodies and School jackets Objective
To enhance school spirit and school pride. To unite the students of VSA. To be proud of the VSA Sharks sports teams.
Introduction
In the past, VSA based clothing items have been largely popular. For example, almost 200 VSA Hoodies have been sold just months after the 2016-2017 student council Ascend officially launched the hoodie. To meet the great demand of VSA based clothing from students, APEX aims to enforce more modern clothing designs such as new jackets to declare more pride for the school and the VSA sharks. Apex also aims to allow MYP students to have the privilege to purchase and wear the hoodies and school jackets to help enhance unity and school spirit.
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  Decorate the School
Objective To enhance school spirit. To bring festivity to school. Raise awareness of the VSA school mascot: The Shark!
Introduction
The walls of VSA have been barren for quite some time, lacking any significant representation of school spirit. In order to celebrate our school mascot: the shark, we will join up with students who wish to express their creativity to decorate the school with various shark-related decorations - such as murals, banners and artwork - to increase school spirit and spice up the hallways of VSA.
Past Study Material Objective
To provide students with a variety of past studying material from multiple students and teachers to benefit their revision and learning. To encourage students to reuse study material and notes instead of shoving them into a corner of their rooms at the end of each year.
Introduction
The revision of multiple subjects before every major assessment or SAP week seems to be a struggle for some students. We are aware that students seek help from older students to find access to past study materials. Apex would like to enforce a communication and sharing system that allows students from different year levels to provide past studying material to benefit each other, this enables notes to be reused and not wasted.
Lift to Higher Floors During Lunch Objective
To minimise the chance of students being late to classes after lunch. To reduce the travelling time of students going to classes after lunch.
Introduction
Due to changes regarding lunchtime durations, the previous student council was not able to enforce the new planned policy of allowing students a choice of either taking the lift to 8/F as always, or 10/F between 1:40-1:50, to ensure students won’t be late to classes if their lessons are on the higher floors. This year, Apex will aim to continue negotiating with the school and enforcing a new policy where students can take the lift during lunch can travel up to the 8/F and 10/F between 1:45-2:00.
Details
Location: 3/F to 8/F & 10/F Time: 13:45-14:00
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Oasis Gradebook Objective
To provide students with a template to estimate their summative marks in order to help them achieve their desired grade.
Introduction
Apex understands the struggle of forgetting your grades you have obtained from various assessments throughout the year. This is why we are introducing the improved Oasis Gradebook system, where all you have to do is input your current grades in a certain subject onto your personal document, and Apex will do the rest for you! This idea, originally proposed by the previous student council, Ascend, could not be implemented due to internal and technical issues. This is why Apex plans to revisit this idea and relaunch the proposal as we will be approaching a new year where we will have more time to focus on this idea.
No Homework Week Objective
To reduce the stress student’s receive throughout the summative assessment period by implementing the “No Homework” policy during the week leading up to SAW/SAP.
Introduction The “No Homework” policy has been designed to help reduce the stress students may have during the summative assessment period. During the week leading up to SAW/SAP, teachers should not require students to hand in homework or give them work that is unrelated to their assessments. Nonetheless, students are of course, welcome to seek help regarding their assessment and assignments from their teachers, however, they would not have the pressure of handing in work on time.
Hairdryers for Changing Rooms Objective To increase the efficiency of students getting ready for class after swimming lessons. To ensure that students have dryer hair when they go to class..
Introduction Apex understands the struggle of having to rush to get to class after swimming lessons, and sitting through a whole period in wet hair. We know that there are a few in the changing rooms currently, however, we have received numerous comments about them being very slow and weak, therefore, slowing down the efficiency of people getting ready for class. This is why we are happy to announce that we will be striving to implement hairdryers for 3/F changing rooms for all students to use.
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Cup Noodle Selling Objective
To raise money for the chosen charity of choice from the students. Allow students to choose a popular food option on a bi-monthly basis (every two months). Encouraging students to raise money and raise overall awareness for charities.
Introduction
Last year, Ascend’s Indo-mie sales did not work out so well due to the inability to use the Food Technology Room during lunch time. Therefore this year, we decided to change things up and create a bi-monthly Cup Noodle selling day. This event has proven to be extremely popular in previous fundraising events and effectively raised money for various charities and organisations. From this event, Apex will be able to provide students with something different for students every two months as well as raise money for a good cause.
Details
Sell Product: Cup Noodles Date and Time: Last Friday of every other month (September, November, January, March, May) - Lunch Time Venue: To be confirmed
Food Vending Machine Objective To To To To
minimise the rush for food during lunch and recess, especially during rainy days. cater towards students who have CAS clubs to attend during lunch. provide food for students after school when the cafeteria is not in operation. provide a minimal line for students who only want a snack but not a full lunch.
Introduction As you all may know, Ascend has promised to establish a food vending machine in their year plan. However, due to logistical problems, this project has started, but not completed. Therefore, Apex will be here to accomplish it this year. This food vending machine caters for students who don’t want to queue up for lunch or snacks during break times. We want students to never have to queue a long line again just to get a snack. Moreover, we also recognise the need for students to get a snack after school. Therefore, food vending machines are a must to satisfy your hunger. From Ascend, they made a deal with the Primary and Secondary Principal as well as the supplier to provide us with a vending machine, all that’s left for Apex to do is to negotiate with Chartwells, and for you, the student body to be on board with us so the food vending machine can soon be here.
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Shuttle Bus To MTR STATION Objective
To provide students with a more efficient way to travel to the Wong Chuk Hang MTR station after school.
Introduction
As you all know, the Wong Chuk Hang MTR station is a quite the distance away from our school. In order to promote sustainability in VSA, we propose to create a shuttle bus service from VSA to Wong Chuk Hang MTR station after school so that we will be able to decrease the usage of public buses during this period of time. We will be negotiating with the current school bus company that our school uses in order to provide shuttle buses for students to travel to the MTR.
Tutoring Service from Alumni Objective
To give students from Y10-Y12 an opportunity to seek academic advice and university-related questions from experienced alumni from VSA.
Introduction
We understand that students from Y10 to Y12 are bombarded with thoughts about future schooling as well as dealing with harder exams. With the tutoring service from Alumni that we will be creating, there will be multiple sessions throughout the entire school year where Y10 to Y12 students will be able to meet up with VSA alumni and get advice from various aspects of university life as well as IB exams. With these sessions, we hope that students will be able to get meaningful and useful advice from those who have experienced the university process as well as gone through the IB final exams.
Sharks Snapchat Geofilter Objective
To enhance school spirit and appreciation towards our VSA Shark Mascot during hosted sport events and more, through social media!
Introduction Apex understands that the current VSA snapchat geofilter is very popular and we would like to introduce a brand new VSA sharks geofilter for students to include on their snaps in hopes of enhancing school spirit and raise awareness towards our mascot: The Shark! Students can use this filter when capturing memorable moments during after-school events such as sporting competitions or events at VSA. Through this initiative, we hope to create something that is easily accessible and fun, to unite the student body as VSA Sharks!
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COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
The Halloween Fiesta Objective
To provide students with an opportunity to celebrate Halloween with others. To allow students to have a memorable and spooktacular halloween.
Introduction
Halloween celebrations have been an annual event in VSA. This year, Apex aims to not only bring back popular original events, such as: spooky movie showing, trick or treat hunt and the opportunity to dress up as their favourite scary halloween characters, but also brandnew, exciting events. This includes of a Halloween house bake sale during assembly time where students can have the freedom to snack on their favourite baked desserts while watching a scary movie. There will also be fun booth games during assembly time to relax and celebrate the spooky season. At the end of the day, students will be able to submit a photo of their costume to enter a costume contest, where the winning students can win a lift pass for a whole week!
Details
Activities: Halloween house bake sale and game stalls during assembly time, Horror and spooky movie showing during lunch, Candy treasure hunt during lunch, Halloween dress up to school Date: 31st October, 2017 Location: To be confirmed
Christmas Ball Objective To allow students to gather and celebrate the start of Christmas together. To further develop the VSA family bonding.
Introduction The Christmas Party hosted last year was a great success, attracting students from various grades and even former VSA students to attend. This year, Apex aims to bring you a low cost yet fabulous Christmas Ball that aims to allow students to gather together and celebrate the start of Christmas. The Christmas Ball will feature Lucky draw, DJ, Karaoke competition, Flip cup game, and Flip the bottle challenge. Most importantly, The Christmas Ball will bring back students’ favourite photobooth from last year’s Christmas party, allowing them to relive this memorable Christmas Ball for ages to come.
Details Activities and Shows, Lucky Draw, DJ, Karaoke competition, Flip cup game, Flip the bottle challenge Date and Venue of this event are to be confirmed based on students’ preferences.
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Valentine’s Week Objective
Allow students an opportunity to express their gratitude and appreciation towards fellow students, teachers or school staff. Establish and continue to build upon a stronger bond within the VSA community.
Introduction
Students rarely have the opportunity to express their love, gratitude and appreciation towards other members of the school community. Through this week of activities, Apex will provide a range of different activities where students can express their gratitude and love towards others. The activities will include the Secret Valentine Delivery service, where students can send love themed sweets, gift boxes and cards to a special someone. There will also be polaroid photo booth where students can take instant photos with their friends and VSA staff members to take home with them. Other than this, we will also host a competition where students can submit a photo of them with a VSA staff member for a week long lift pass! On top of these exciting activities, there will also be a Valentine’s themed dress day to celebrate the festivities!
Details Secret Valentine Delivery Instant Polaroid Photo Booth Staff Photo Competition Valentine’s Themed Dress Day
CHARITY WEEK Objective Allow students to start and handle their own business and raise money for charity, whilst doing something that they love in the process. Allow students to participate in a relaxing event to take their mind off of their busy schedules.
Introduction
Apex would love for students to take the initiative and be in control of starting their own businesses. This whole week of managing a business will allow students to build marketing, and business skills with their friends. Students can sell their desired product and have all the freedom to design and manufacture the item. 100% of the money profited from each business will go to the desired charity chosen by the student body. Students who wish to stay consumers can also walk around the fair and participate games and visit stalls to take their mind off of their busy schedule and enjoy the products created by their fellow schoolmates.
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SPRING CARNIVAL Objective
To provide students with a relaxing end to a school week to kick off the easter break. Gives students an opportunity to perform creatively in an open space for others to enjoy. Create a platform for students to start their own booths to sell their desired products and host game stalls.
Introduction
To kick off the Easter holiday, Apex is proposing a spring carnival for students to enjoy after a hectic few months of school. This event gives students a chance to set up their own booths to sell their desired products or host a game stall for other students to play games. The money profited from the event will also be donated to the chosen charity by the students. Students can also perform in an open space while everyone walks around the stalls. Apex hopes to end a stressful few months of school will a more chilled out afternoon that will raise everyone’s spirits for the upcoming Easter break.
SPICY MEME COMPETITION Objective
To offer students the opportunity to express themselves creatively through memes.
Introduction
A lot of times, VSA students feel pressure due to stress from homework and assessments. Thus, we want to offer them a creative and fun event - the Spicy Meme Competition, in which they can express their views about school life in the form of a meme. We understand that the meme has a become popular form of expression on the Internet and we would love to incorporate an interesting, fresh and fun way for students to express their thoughts creatively. However, to keep it respectful, permission will be needed before using images of VSA students and staff as the meme. The winner of the Spicy Meme Competition will get their meme featured on the bulletin board outside the 8/F student council room for a whole month, and a lift pass for a whole week!
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Homecoming Party Objective
To develop the sports banquet into a school-wide affair. To provide all students the opportunity to celebrate together the school’s end of the sports season, and also the achievements that fellow students have accomplished over the past school year.
Introduction
Homecoming is typically a semi formal event in High School where students celebrate the end of a football season. For Apex, we have switched things up a bit and will be hosting a homecoming to celebrate the end of various sports seasons. This will be a semi-formal event where students will be able to dress up, come together and celebrate the achievements of the school sports teams.
spirit week Objective
Further develop and raise school spirit. Continuing VSA’s annual tradition of spirit week. To allow students to participate in competitions, special sports and teamwork activities to enhance the school spirit.
Introduction Spirit week is a recognised week-long event where students gather together to display school pride. Activities and competitions such as singing competitions and dance-offs, ultimate frisbee, human foosball and teacher/student talent shows are organised to enhance school spirit. Other events such as themed dress ups will be held as well.
Details
Singing/dance competitions (Bilingual) Ultimate frisbee Human foosball Teacher/student talent shows
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EXTERNAL AFFAIRS  
EXTERNAL DISCOUNTS Introduction
Apex understands that Hong Kong Book Centre has been an on-going supplier of textbooks for VSA students. We also have noticed that the school has been awarding book coupons from other bookstores to students who have achieved grade 7s on their report card, which we believe does not fully benefit students financially when purchasing textbooks. Therefore, we have started negotiating deals with Hong Kong Book Centre in hopes that they will provide discounts for VSA consumers when purchasing textbooks for academic purposes, or reading books for leisure purposes. We will strive to further negotiate more deals that will only continue to be beneficial for the school in the future.
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REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Disclaimer: Although we aim to achieve all of our proposed ideas, the success of their implementation is subject to school policy.