Miles Apart, but Close at Heart
Miles Apart, but Close at Heart
Wong Ka Po (’72)
On 28 March 2026, I visited my alma mater to search for the footprints of the past.
Kindergarten Education
Miss Chiu Kwan Hung (the then teacher-in-charge), cultivated "whole-person development" through playing, singing games and children operetta (a photo in which I played the role of one of the seven dwarfs was displayed in the 1926 Heritage Block).
Primary Schooling - in the 1927 Block
In Primary 5, an English teacher taught us to learn English through singing "Do Re Mi” from “The Sound of Music" with dramatization. Music lessons were held in the gymnasium of the 1953 Low Block. Each student was sitting on one wooden floor tile as a chair, learning to sing hymns. There was a spacious area outside the block where my classmates and I enjoyed playing hopscotch and skipping rope, and we could also appreciate the beautiful view of the Victoria Harbour. As I remembered, the classrooms were fitted with wooden shutter doors, and I had never seen such unique design elsewhere ever since.
Secondary Schooling - in Robinson Road Wing
The Robinson Road Wing was completed in 1967 to replace the 1927 Block. I had the privilege to study in a multi-storey school building throughout my secondary schooldays. There were a number of special rooms catered for learning and teaching. However, it seemed that recreational space for students during leisure time sometimes fell short of demand. We often just gathered on the corridors outside the classrooms having light chit-chat to strengthen friendship. Inside the grand school hall (named as Silcocks Hall) accommodating students of the entire school for morning assembly, we listened to short talks delivered by teachers in order to deepen our understanding of Christian, moral and values education. Music lessons were conducted by Professor Chao Mei Pa (the then Music teacher) in a decent Music Room, and beautiful singing was always heard from my classroom. The Senior Choir of Ying Wa was always the winners of the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival (HKSMF) in the 1960s. When I was in Form 3, I was so proud to be selected by Professor Chao to join the Senior Choir. Singing then became one of my hobbies thereafter.
I encountered many alumnae teachers during my studies in Ying Wa. Their words and behaviours enlightened me to take up teaching as my profession afterwards.
Teaching in Ying Wa
From 1977 to 1983, I stood in front of the class cultivating students' interest in appreciating Music, and teaching them to enjoy and love Music. I organised the Junior Choir. With the brilliant student piano accompanists, the choir members always sang musically, awarded places and even won the championship in the HKSMF. After so many years, a former choir member told me that she remembered the songs learnt from the Junior Choir.
In 1999, I was invited by Mrs Katherine Chau (’55) (the then Principal) to be the conductor of the Alumnae Choir. Alumnae of different generations united together with songs of praise to celebrate the centenary anniversary of the school in 2000. I wish the legacy of choral tradition continues to flourish in Ying Wa.
Afterthought
I am so grateful to have an opportunity to receive formal education in Ying Wa. Though the old school buildings were gone, I never forget the people that I interacted during my schooldays. Friendship of classmates is still close after our graduation over 50 years ago. During my recent visit to the school, I was so excited to reconnect with an alumna from Canada whom I did not expect to encounter. We greeted each other warmly. My former students also chatted with me enthusiastically during the buffet lunch in the Silcocks Hall. While the modern school buildings have replaced the old ones, may "Love Always" surround our alma mater.
