The first Chinese Disney animator, Mr. Davy Liu, talked to students in Grade 4, 6, and Grade 9 to 12 on Sept. 14 about his life story and spiritual journey.  Mr. Liu encouraged students to believe in themselves because everyone can find their niche and realize their dreams.

The Macau Innovation and Invention Association held the 12^th Soong Ching Ling Young Inventor’s Award Press Conference cum Presentation on the 12^th International Youth Invention Exhibition at the Macau Science Center on September 4.  Primary 5 student Mr. Pak Ian Ho introduced his invention “The Sound-Controlled Escalator for the Visually-Impaired” to the guests with his teacher Mr. Kuok Chin Un.  Mr. Ho’s work had received the 12^th Soong Ching Ling Young Inventor’s Gold Award, which was the first Gold Award from Macau in twelve years.

Primary 6 student Mr. An Yin Chan’s invention “The Automatic Rain-Collecting and Fire-extinguishing Trash Can” received the 12^th International Youth Invention Silver Award.  Primary 5 students Mr. Wang Chon Tai and Ms. Qi Hui Feng received the 12^th Soong Ching Ling Young Inventor’s Innovation Awards.

Pui Ching Middle School attended the 31^st China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest together with contestant schools coming from 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region.  Pui Ching is the first school in Macao to be recognized as one of the 10 Most Innovative Schools in the People’s Republic of China.  The awards ceremony was held on July 17 at East China Normal University.  Pui Ching chancellor Dr. Lo Veng Cheong, principal Dr. Kam Fai Kou and vice principal Dr. Keng Lim Chan accepted the honour for the school at the ceremony. 

The China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest was held from the 13^th to the 19^th at East China Normal University.  34 contingents, close to 500 youth contestants, 200 members of technical support and over 100 judges came together at this event.  The vice president of the People’s Republic of China Mr. Yuan Chao Li was also there to show his support.

Our school held an English training course for our secondary school English teachers from June 13^th to July 8^th.  The 30-hour programme was tailor-made for our school by the Bell Centre of Macau Polytechnic Institute and taught by experienced trainers Mr. David Sansom and Mr. John Wheeler.  The purpose of the course is to improve teaching effectiveness in English reading and writing.

Bell’s in-house training is designed to create an English teaching and learning environment.  It aims to promote student autonomy and interest in second language learning through the teaching of independent reading skills, incorporation of jigsaw reading, game-based learning, process writing, and learner self-editing. 

The alternative teaching approaches have shed new light on the familiar subject of language teaching.  It is hoped that the course will prepare our teachers to meet society’s growing demand for autonomous learners.