14 November 2019

Dear Parents and Students,

Everything in life will pass.

Looking at the current situation, the changes that Hong Kong has experienced over the last five months has made many of us worried and frustrated. The Bible says: "Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty; if anyone drinks the water I give, he will never be thirsty. The water I give will be a source of spring in him, and will flow forth to eternal life." (John 4: 11-14). From the lessons in the Bible, we can see that things in the world are like flowers and grass, flowers will wither, and the grass will dry. Only God's will can last forever, and let the flowers bloom again, and let the grass regenerate.

If we just follow the world, we will find that nothing can satisfy our hearts and desires. But in fact, we will eventually realize that the disappointment is not from others, but ourselves! The Lord Jesus said that only the fountain of life, the new life in God, can truly bring us satisfaction, and that we should hope that God will bring us peace, joy, love and satisfaction in such chaotic circumstances.

Thank you for your concern and prayers. Your support for the school, teachers and students has given the school a lot of strength! We are convinced that in our turbulent society, by relying on the protection of God and adhering to the school motto of "love, integrity, purity and perseverance", we can certainly overcome many difficulties.
  
In early October, we took the initiative to hold a number of activities, hoping to directly listen to the voices of teenagers and also to guide our students' emotions. We hold teacher and student prayer meetings to allow students to share and pray. We also set up the "Father, I want to talk..." prayer board to let students express their feelings and cheer for Hong Kong. We also held one hour "Walking together in a storm - heart-to-heart sharing sessions between teachers and students" for each form. At all levels of the sharing sessions, students expressed themselves as both teachers and students discussed social situations and the school’s stance and principles. Everyone was open-minded, expressing different opinions and feelings. In addition, the truth was revealed regarding any suspicion caused by rumours that were circulated by different media outlets. I would like to thank all the staff for their selfless dedication. We know that we are all in the same boat and can overcome these difficult times together.

Given the last five months of social unrest, the emotions of students after the summer vacation have been a key part of our attention. Since the start of the school year, we have actively taken steps to understand the students and make sure appropriate counseling is given to those in need. Over these two months, teachers, parents, alumni, social workers, and students have worked together to enable students to continue their studies on a safe and orderly campus. In the face of difficult times, we teach students to have positive and optimistic attitudes and hold a positive outlook on life in the future.

Here, I would like to thank the alumni for their concern for their alma mater. You have given various suggestions and we have considered them one by one. The Bible says: "Do not report evil with evil. Everyone thinks that beauty is something to do. If it is possible, always try to be harmonious with all." (Romans 12:17-18). When times are difficult, ask God to lead Pooi To with wisdom, patience and integrity to face any challenges that lie ahead. Let us be the witness of God in our actions and integrity. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

Finally, we sincerely invite you to attend the Parents' Seminar from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. on 13th December. The speaker is Dr. Chen Chia Lu, Sylvia, a famous specialist in Psychiatry. She works with mentally and emotionally stressed children and adolescents. She has extensive experience in emotional management and parent-child relationships. The theme of this talk is "How to deal with conflicts in the family and how to face adversity". Interested parents can reply using this letter.

 

Best regards,
Constance Cheung
Principal



Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
(Philippians 4:4)