With rock-climbing walls and inflatable trampolines, recesses at Baptist (Sha Tin Wai) Lui Ming Choi Primary School almost have a carnival atmosphere.
Students use its sports and leisure facilities in reward for their good academic performance.
A teaching philosophy promoting positive reinforcement has earned five teachers from the Sha Tin school the Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence this year.
Strengthening students
Winning the award for its positive education programme, the school teaches students about character building through a set of 24 cartoon figures.
Teacher Wan Siu-kwong said the figures were designed by the students.
"Concepts like creativity and curiosity may be too abstract for pupils, so we teach them through the cartoon figures.
"We want the students to know everyone has positive and negative personality traits. When teachers know about the pupils’ strengths and weaknesses, we can design lessons on character building that better suit their talents and needs."
While the lessons are designed according to students' strengths and weaknesses, teachers' character also plays a role.
The school's principal Joyce Sit said her teachers took a personality test to discover their character strengths so they can use these traits more in teaching.
"Teachers have also changed their teaching styles. In the past, they taught by giving commands and threatening punishment if the students did not follow their orders.
"Now they teach by giving reminders to students, telling them what character strengths they should use for different situations. For example, they have to exercise the virtue of self-control during morning assemblies."
The teachers arrange a half-hour daily "dynamic recess" for students to participate in physical activities like climbing and trampolining to stimulate their positive energy.
Stimulating science
Ho Yu College & Primary School science teacher Sze Ma-yan was another recipient of the award.
His inspirational style of teaching boosts students' interest in science and boosts their critical thinking.
Mr Sze said he encourages students to prepare well for lessons by doing research on the topics he is going to teach.
"I design worksheets for the students to do before classes so I can better understand their levels of ability before teaching them.
"In lessons, they discuss their answers on the worksheets among themselves instead of only listening to what I say in front of the blackboard."
Mr Sze also attaches great importance to critical and independent thinking.
"Society is developing fast. What students learn today might not be relevant in future.
"While I teach them science knowledge, the more important thing is to equip them with critical thinking skills and the ability to do self-learning, so they can self-study and do their own critical analysis."
Arts therapy
Another awardee Kwan Lu Pui-ling from Tang Shiu Kin Victoria Government Secondary School was recognised for her caring visual arts education.
Mrs Kwan, who has been teaching visual arts for 30 years, said arts education is important for students.
"Learning visual arts allows them to have better thinking skills and to view things from a wider perspective."
She encourages students with low motivation to express themselves through drawing, and identifies those with emotional needs through their artworks and gives them extra support.
"I can tell which students have emotional problems and need a chat through their artworks.
"It is good to express one's feelings through arts. When I see a student need help, I will approach them and help them through the difficult times."
Form Four student Icarus Hui has benefited from Mrs Kwan’s encouragement.
He said: "Mrs Kwan cares about us. She talks to me whenever I have problems. When she sees students' grades drop, she will take the initiative to talk to the students to see what they need."
Since the launch of the award in 2003, more than 800 teachers have been awarded for their inspiring education programmes.
The examples set by them will continue to inspire others tasked with enlightening the next generation.
