ST. MARY'S CANOSSIAN COLLEGE

Latest Happenings

AI-5000 Project Workshop

On January 13, 2026, the AI-5000 Project Workshop provided all Form 2 girls with the opportunity to explore how Artificial Intelligence can make learning more accessible. Jointly organized by the EdTech company Preface and the local charity Melo Foundation, the workshop was designed to utilize various AI-powered tools to transform abstract concepts into tangible prototypes. Girls developed Product Requirement Documents (PRDs) and created prototypes using AI tools, culminating in presentations that emphasized storytelling and responsible AI use. It is essential to empower our girls with versatile skills to embrace an evolving future, which is one of the school's major concerns.
 
It was our distinct pleasure to have the Honorable Bernard Charnwut CHAN, GBM, GBS, JP, as our guest speaker. St. Marians had the valuable opportunity to engage in a dialogue with Mr. Chan regarding his personal journey and the impact of AI on his professional field. Mr. Chan’s extensive experience and leadership in various sectors, including his role as Chairman of the M+ Museum and Our Hong Kong Foundation, make him an exceptional source of inspiration and knowledge.
 
Special thanks to Mrs. Eva Chan, one of our remarkable alumni, whose instrumental role in connecting St. Mary’s with Preface and the Melo Foundation provided this wonderful opportunity for our girls. 

Christmas Prayer Meeting 2025

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:14) 
 
In view of the recent social situations and challenges faced by our community, St. Mary’s marked Christmas this year not with a celebration, but with a Christmas Prayer Meeting, inviting the whole school community to pause, reflect, and pray together. Through this prayerful gathering, we were reminded that the true spirit of Christmas lies in loving service, care for others, and hope amid uncertainty and suffering. 
 
On 19th December the Prayer Meeting began with a Christmas play entitled “Embracing the Light of Jesus”, prepared by the Student Council. Through the Nativity story, the play gently recalled how Mary and Joseph faced uncertainty with trust, and how the birth of Jesus brought light and hope into a dark and humble place. Following the play, the Word of God was proclaimed, and the Christ Candle—the fifth and central candle of the Advent wreath—was lit, symbolising the presence of Christ among us. With the lighting of this candle, we recalled that the long season of waiting had reached its fulfilment: Jesus, the true Light and our Hope, has come into the world. 
 
A meaningful highlight of the Prayer Meeting was the offering of wishes and messages. In the days leading up to Christmas, students and staff had written their wishes and blessings for the school during the Christmas Fair. These were prayerfully offered to God during the meeting. Representing the unity of the school community, the School Parent Manager Mrs. Alice Lam, PTA Chairperson Ms. Teresa Li, PSA Chairperson Ms. Justina Law, PSA Vice-Chairperson Ms. Susanna SS Chung, Principal Ms. Janet Wong, and Student Council Chairlady Annabelle Chan placed their wishes and blessings on the large star at the top of the tree. The star symbolised how students, parents, and educators come together as one community, offering our hopes, prayers, and intentions to God. 
 
The Prayer Meeting concluded with the whole school singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth”, echoing our heartfelt wish that true peace and lasting hope may come into the world through the birth of Jesus—especially for those who are suffering, waiting, or in need of comfort. Our sincere thanks go to the Concert Band, the Intermediate Choir, the Junior Choir, and all others who contributed to making this Prayer Meeting possible. Through this Christmas Prayer Meeting, St. Marians were reminded once again that Christmas is not only a time of joy, but also a call to remain hopeful in difficulties, to serve with love, and to be bearers of Christ’s light to others.
 

Christmas Fair 2025:
A Heartwarming Celebration of Sharing and Joy

On 16 and 17 December 2025, during lunchtime at the open playground, St. Mary's Canossian College buzzed with festive joy as our Christmas Fair brought all the students and teachers together in the true spirit of the season.
 
Organized collaboratively by the Student Council, various school clubs and their executive committee members, the event featured a variety of creative game booths designed entirely by our talented students. They poured their creativity and enthusiasm into designing fun and meaningful game booths. From music performances to game challenges, writing messages with the Catholic Society, and hanging wishes on a Christmas tree — every activity was designed to spread the joy of Christmas.
 
One of the absolute highlights was the beautiful choir performances of Christmas carols, featuring a special collaboration with primary school students. It was truly heartwarming to see our adorable primary school singers joining our secondary school choir, sharing the stage and spreading that peaceful festive spirit together.
 
The theme that tied everything together was simple yet powerful: sharing hope, gratitude, and care for others. In a busy school year, it was beautiful to see everyone pause, play, laugh, and remind one another of the joy in giving and connecting. It wasn’t just about the games but about coming together as a community and living out the Canossian values we hold dear.
 
A huge thank you to all the students who worked so hard behind the scenes, and to everyone who joined in the fun. Moments like these make St. Mary’s truly feel like one big family.
 
Wishing you all a peaceful, joyful Christmas and a bright New Year ahead!
    

Fashion Show 2025-26

The Fashion Show 2025-26 was successfully held in the School Hall on December 15, 2025, during designated class hours. The event was attended by Form 4 and Form 5 students.
 
This year’s theme, "Content," explored the multifaceted nature of fulfilment. Beyond mere happiness, the theme challenged designers to represent complex concepts such as inner peace and the acceptance of difficult truths, aiming to capture a genuine spectrum of emotional completeness.
 
Eight student groups presented innovative fashion designs, each offering a unique interpretation of the theme. Every entry featured a thematic video followed by a catwalk presentation by a student model.
 
A panel of teacher-adjudicators assessed the entries based on technical skill, conceptual depth, visual presentation, and stage performance. The following awards were presented:
 
·         Champion & Best Music Video: Cherry Chan (F5B)
·         First Runner-up: Dora Lin (F5D)
·         Second Runner-up: Jancy Law (F5C)
·         Best Model: Katie Wong (F5B)
 
Furthermore, Dora Lin (F5D) received the Most Popular Design Award, determined by a joint vote from students and teachers in the audience.
 
The event was a resounding success, showcasing the exceptional creativity and dedication of our student designers. 

Exploring Together: The Joy of Our School Picnic

We are excited to share a glimpse of our annual school picnic, held on November 14, 2025! This year's event brought together students from Forms 1-6 for a day filled with joy, community spirit, and a love for nature.
 
Our students explored various beautiful locations, including a country park, a beach, a cultural heritage site, and a campsite. The day's activities were diverse, featuring everything from team-building games to seaside adventures and delicious BBQ sessions. These engaging experiences allowed students to bond and strengthen friendships outside the classroom while enjoying nature's beauty.
 
As part of this cherished school tradition, we witnessed incredible support and camaraderie among students. Many shared their fond memories and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to connect with peers in a relaxed setting. This picnic not only offered a break from routine but also highlighted our commitment to holistic education and the well-being of every student.
 
We look forward to nurturing these moments of harmony, joy, and community spirit in future events, continuing our mission to foster personal growth and togetherness among our students. 
 

Participation in the National Games

The 15th National Games were co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao from November 9 to 21, 2025, marking the first time Hong Kong has hosted this major national sporting event. Sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, over 150 students and 8 teachers attended the National Games as spectators for the Men’s Basketball (U22) match at the Hong Kong Coliseum on November 13, 2025. The basketball competition featured a thrilling game between the Hong Kong team and the Beijing team. All players demonstrated a high level of skill and strategic gameplay, showcasing great perseverance.
 
Participants enthusiastically cheered for the Hong Kong team. Our spirited support caught the attention of the organizing committee, leading to several photos being taken by the official camera and displayed on the LED monitor. By watching the competition, students learned the importance of perseverance when facing strong opponents and enhanced their sense of identity with Hong Kong. At the end of the games, each participant received a souvenir bag featuring the National Games mascots, ‘Xiyangyang’ and ‘Lerongrong’. 

Club exco training day 2025-26

The annual Club Exco Training Day, held on October 11, 2025, at Wu Kai Sha Youth Village, provided a powerful experiential learning platform for our student leaders. The program was designed to cultivate essential skills in teamwork and creative problem-solving.
 
The day began with ice-breaking activities, such as the XL cup stacking challenge, which required speed, precision, and clear communication under time constraints. This laid the groundwork for deeper collaboration in the subsequent activities, where students needed to set a target score by completing a variety of physical and strategic team challenges. These exercises pushed students to set goals, communicate clearly, and truly support one another. They learned firsthand how to combine their individual talents to succeed as a team, and it was inspiring to watch their creativity and determination turn challenges into victories.
 
The capstone experience was the Roman Catapult workshop, which challenged teams to design and build functional catapults from bamboo and rope. In constructing their catapults, students demonstrated their ability to plan, organize, and coordinate a complex task, as well as make critical decisions collectively. In the end, all teams successfully launched water balloons using their impressive creations. The final friendly competition was not just an application of their work but a celebration of their shared creativity and perseverance.
 
Throughout the day, students articulated a deeper understanding of leadership—recognizing it not as a position, but as a practice of communication, adaptability, and inspiring collective action. This training has undoubtedly fortified their capabilities, preparing them to lead their clubs with vision and integrity throughout the 2025-2026 school year! 

2025-2026 CCA Team
Student leaders' training camp

The Co-curricular Activities (CCA) Student Leader Training Camp was held on October 4th and 5th, 2025, at the Jockey Club Sai Kung Outdoor Training Camp of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups—an ideal setting for developing essential leadership qualities amidst nature. This highly engaging event aimed to enhance student leaders’ teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills through dynamic outdoor challenges and interactive sessions.
 
The camp began at school with an ice-breaking game to help students get to know their teammates better, followed by an exciting city hunt challenge. Despite the changing weather, our student leaders demonstrated great resilience and teamwork, showcasing the core qualities of effective leadership.
 
One of the highlights was the night game, where student leaders were separated and tasked with silently locating their teammates and lining up in ascending order according to assigned numbers—all while blindfolded. This challenging activity highlighted the importance of building confidence and practicing proactive communication. True leaders must not only organize but also know when and how to seek feedback and provide closure, showing decisiveness and clarity.
 
Our student leaders had the invaluable opportunity to step outside the classroom and immerse themselves in practical leadership experiences within a supportive and inspiring environment. The camp strengthened their confidence and decision-making abilities, while also fostering lasting friendships and a strong sense of responsibility. We are proud to offer such enriching opportunities that prepare our future leaders for success in school and beyond. 

Investiture of Student Office bearers

On September 19, 2025, the investiture ceremony for the new Student Office Bearers was held in the school hall, marking a significant moment of leadership transition. The event began with a speech by the principal, Ms. Janet Wong, who emphasized the importance of student leadership and expressed gratitude to the outgoing 2024-2025 Student Council for their dedication.
 
The ceremony proceeded with the school supervisor, Sr. Veronica, presenting a badge to the newly appointed Head Girl, Annabelle Chan (5C). The principal then awarded badges to the Student Council committee members, while prefects received theirs from their respective advisors. The stage also welcomed the introduction of the CCA Chairladies, Chief Ambassadors and the Drama Core Team, who were proudly presented to the school community.
 
Led by the Head Girl, the Student Council took a solemn oath to serve the school and uphold its core values. The prefects followed, pledging their commitment to their responsibilities with steadfast resolve. The highlight of the ceremony was the Head Girl’s inspiring address, where she introduced the 2025 Student Council theme: SOLAS - Shine Your Light, Forge Our Legacy. This theme resonates with the school’s ethos of fostering courage, confidence, curiosity and compassion.
 
The ceremony concluded with the entire school joining in the singing of the school song, a moment that strengthened the sense of unity, reinforcing a collective commitment of everyone to the school’s values. 

School Opening Mass 2025

The School Opening Mass was held on 19 September 2025 in the School Hall and Gymnasium, with Rev. Fr. Tito Lopez Martin, MG as the celebrant. With joy and gratitude, students and teachers gathered to pray for God’s abundant blessings as we embark on a new academic year.
 
Before the Mass, student representatives presented the newly designed school prayerbook. They reminded the congregation that this prayerbook is not only a guide for prayer and worship, but also a token of gratitude to God, who has lovingly protected and blessed St. Mary’s throughout the past 125 years. Everyone was invited to use it with care and love, remembering that reading its prayers and singing its hymns wholeheartedly is the most beautiful offering we can present to the Lord.
 
During the liturgy, the Executive Committee Members of the Catholic Society renewed their pledge to faithfully carry out their mission, committing themselves to the spiritual well-being of the school community and striving for the greater glory of God.
 
We give thanks for the countless blessings God has bestowed upon our school, and we pray for His continued guidance. May the spirit of our Foundress inspire us always, and may we remain steadfast in our mission to serve the poor and the needy with faith, love, and dedication.
 
With grateful hearts, we thank God for a smooth and grace-filled celebration, and we ask for His blessings upon every member of the St. Mary’s family throughout this school year and in the years to come.