S3, or “S Cubed” as it is commonly known, is a series of lectures or workshops, held on Monday afternoons, usually in 60 to 90 minute sessions. They cover a variety of topics in the areas of academics, social life and health. Each S3 session aims to convey a core message or a philosophy to the students, either through a presentation, a discussion or some activity. Attendance is compulsory for first year students, and second years act as facilitators on several of those sessions.

Tutor Groups

The tutor group system is the foundation for providing support and establishing friendship between teachers and students. Each student is allocated to one tutor in their residential block, and the tutor follows up academic performances, aspects of school life, and various everyday matters. In many ways, the tutor group becomes like a second family.  The tutor also provides support and advice for his/her tutees. To increase the time for establishing tutor-student relationships, tutor meetings are held frequently on Wednesday evenings, often over dinner or supper.

COP

COP, or Change Of Pace days, are days when lessons are suspended for special purposes. Each COP Day focusses on a particular issue, such as conflict management, Model United Nations, discrimination, etc. To a certain extent, a COP day is an extension of the S3 philosophy. The changing of pace is often achieved by engaging students in activities completely different from academic life, which most students embrace enthusiastically as a chance to get away from school work for a day and focus on big issues.

University

University Guidance is essential in any senior high school. The college has a teacher specialising in graduate issues such as advice for applications, college and course selection, and public exams (e.g. SAT, ACT, TOEFL etc.) There is also a specially developed university guide, or the LPCUWC BUG (Big University Guide) which is available for background reading about matriculation matters.

There are many perspectives on the Sino-Japanese relationship and many differing degrees of awareness about each others’ culture. We, the Sino-Japan Youth Conference Committee, are non-partisan and encourage flexible ways of thinking in young people. We strive to establish constructive dialogue by exploring diverse points of view and upholding the United World College ideals of international understanding. For the inaugural 2009 conference, “Dialogue for Young Neighbours” is our slogan.

Our aim is to bring together secondary school students, from both China (including Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan) and Japan, to participate in a conference. Please note that participants will be selected based on abilities in activities of social, cultural importance, and not based on their academic merit or their written ability in English. Therefore, any interested applicants are encouraged to submit an application. Please join us as we meet each other and learn about each others’ cultures to deepen your understanding on today’s Sino-Japanese relationship. Please visit our website http://sinojapanyouthconference.org for further information.

Click here to download the application form (traditional Chinese)

Click here to download the application form (simplified Chinese)

To apply for the conference, follow these steps:

1. Download the application form (PDF Format).
2. Print the form.
3. Fill the form out diligently and truthfully.
4. Scan the form and email us the scanned copy to contact@sinojapanyouthconference.org, or send it to us by mail to the following address:

The deadline for Chinese application is 15th of February, 2009. Please feel free to contact us at our email address for further information.

The Sino-Japan Youth Conference Committee

With deep sadness, we announce that our former Head of Mathematics, Martin Breen, passed away in his home country of South Africa about three weeks ago.  Although the College only learnt this news on 1st December, Martin had apparently been ill for some time.

A College Meeting was called on the evening of 1st December to share this tragic information with our staff and students.  Understandably, there was a sense of disbelief when everyone heard this news.  At the end of the short meeting, we stood and maintained a silence in memory of Martin and all that he had contributed to the lives of so many of us here at LPCUWC.  As many students dispersed to reflect in silence, some looked for support among their friends while others lit some small candles in the middle of the courtyard as a sign of respect and remembrance.

Martin was one of those ‘larger-than-life’ personalities who seemed invincible.  One of the ‘pioneer’ team of teachers who helped set up LPCUWC in 1992, Martin had a particular ability to connect with his students, often through his own idiosyncrasies such as his terrible recycled jokes or his unique ability to throw calculators across a classroom with uncanny accuracy.  Martin’s ability to connect crossed all boundaries , and embraced not only students who were in his Mathematics classes, but also his football teams, his many tutor groups over the years, the teachers in “his” Mathematics Department, and perhaps most especially, any and every student from Africa.

For those people on Facebook, there is a ‘Martin Breen Appreciation Society’ page at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16194361471 which contains messages of condolence and some wonderful photos that will stir the memories of anyone who was fortunate enough to know Martin.

Our thoughts are with Martin’s wife, Norah, and all his family at this difficult time.

(Dr) Stephen Codrington
Principal

In line with proposal made to the Education Bureau, the CEG funds received for the school year 2007-08 were used to employ a part-time teacher of Mandarin.  This allowed a reassignment of teaching duties within the Languages Department to allow an English teacher, who also has training in Music, to offer Music as a curriculum subject for the first time.  This was done, and a very encouraging initial enrolment of four students took up the option to study Music, which was offered in co-operation with nearby Renaissance College.  The Music program has entered its second year in 2008-09 during which time the development of the two-year teaching program will be completed.  The teaching of Music has already expanded the College’s cultural offerings, and it is expected that this enhancement will lead to a long-term flourishing in the arts.

Following discussions with academic staff, the funds will be used to employ a part time teacher of English B in order to address the English language needs of those students in need of more intense English language development due to their weakness in English language.

The success of this proposal will be judged on whether the students enrolled in the course are able to progress into more advanced courses at the earliest opportunity.  Thus, the proposal will be judged as a success if the need for the program is reduced to the level that it can be eliminated before the end of the academic year.

The long-term objective will be the elimination of the need for special remedial courses in English.

This Capacity Enhancement Grant proposal has been approved by the Board of the College.

(Dr) Stephen Codrington
Principal

Our new 1st Year students have now arrived on campus, and Orientation Week is underway.  On Sunday evening (7th September) we held a special dinner in the canteen to welcome the new students, followed by a welcome show in the courtyard with a strong Chinese theme.

All our new students are special, whether they come from as close as Ma On Shan or as far away as Africa or South America.  Nonetheless, a special spontaneous applause was given at the welcome show when the Principal welcomed the five ‘pioneer’ students who will be the first to represent their countries at LPCUWC - these students have come from Albania, Iraq, Mauritius, Moldova and Yemen.

The welcome show was a sensational introduction to Hong Kong, to China, and to Li Po Chun United World College.  The College is very grateful to Li Ping and the 2nd Year students from Hong Kong for organising such a great show in their own time.