HKA’s Grade 11 IB Literature students were fortunate to have best-selling Vietnamese author and poet Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai visit their class last Thursday, 3 March for a 40-minute question-and-answer session via Google Meet. Students had read Quế Mai’s novel The Mountains Sing earlier this year and were excited about the possibility of asking questions they had been wondering about for several months. Quế Mai was very gracious, and with every question asked, she spoke for several minutes, offering additional background and anecdotes.
The students particularly enjoyed Quế Mai’s enthusiasm for writing and the power of stories. Grade 11 student Noelle said, “Because of how passionate she was about her book, it was really refreshing to hear her talk.” This sentiment was echoed by fellow student, Sydney: “The manner in which she talked about her book, with such passion, was very enthralling and had you listening closely. I really liked how she described poetry, along the lines of ‘simplify until it is the essence of the language’. It was a really fascinating perception and got me to look at poetry in a new manner and recognise the power of poetry.”
This focus on poetry was a recurring motif of the session. At one point, Quế Mai joked that she wrote the novel with lots of poetic language so “more people would read [her] poetry.” Grade 11 student Arin appreciated this discussion of poetry: “One of my favourite aspects of her book is how poetic the descriptions are and I’m really glad I got to speak with her about it.”
Students also enjoyed hearing about some of the choices Quế Mai made in the process of writing the novel. Grade 11 student Calvin was interested in “her thought process behind the extent of including the Vietnamese language” in the novel, and how she “used Vietnamese as dialogue and traditional Vietnamese proverbs” to “decolonize” Vietnamese history. And classmate Minnie liked hearing how Quế Mai “does not plan out her stories, she creates her characters and sees where they go, having a fluid plot so the characters don’t have to bend to meet it.”
Before concluding our session, Quế Mai repeatedly promoted the power of literature, and encouraged the students to recognize (and use) the power of literature to break stereotypes, challenge assumptions, and inspire positive change. Overall this time with Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai gave students a profound glimpse at the intersection of literature and life.
*Co-curricular activity, choose from:
Navigation & Campcrafts workshop, STREAM Plastic Waste Identification and Upcycling for 3D Printing Workshop, Rubber tip Archery and Indoor Climbing
Thank you for your interest in HKA Exploration Day, registration for this event is now closed. We offer school tours Monday through Friday every week and encourage you to visit us, explore our award-winning campus, meet our faculty and learn about our unique educational programmes.
Thank you for your interest in HKA Exploration Day, registration for this event is now closed. We offer school tours Monday through Friday every week and encourage you to visit us, explore our award-winning campus, meet our faculty and learn about our unique educational programmes.
Please choose either the morning or afternoon session for you and your child to attend.
Thank you for your interest in HKA Exploration Day, registration for this event is now closed. We offer school tours Monday through Friday every week and encourage you to visit us, explore our award-winning campus, meet our faculty and learn about our unique educational programmes.
Day 2: Half the class come in for 1 hour 30 minutes 8am – 9:30am with the other half from 10am – 11:30am. There will be an 8:00am and 11:30am bus available.
Day 3: Half the class come in for 1 hour 30 minutes 8am – 9:30am, with the other half from 10:30am – 12noon. There will be an 8:00am and 12:00pm bus available.
Day 4: All students in, 8am – 10:30am. Arrival and Dismissal bus available.
Day 5: All students in, 8:00 – 10:30am. Arrival and Dismissal bus available.
For children applying to Grade 2 and up, current grade level will also be a factor in grade placement decisions in addition to age.
Kindergarten
Day 1: First Day of School 8am – 12noon. Students will have scheduled group sessions of 30 minutes with the teachers and parents (3 students in a group). No bus available.
Day 2: Half the class in school morning and other half in an afternoon session without parents. 8am and 3pm bus available.
Day 3: All students attend half-day 8am – 12noon (including eating snack in the classroom). Arrival and Dismissal bus available.
Day 4: All students attend half-day 8am – 12noon (including lunch at school). Arrival and Dismissal bus available.
Day 5: All students attend half-day 8am – 12noon (including lunch at school). Arrival and Dismissal bus available.
Grade Level Equivalencies
For children applying to Grade 2 and up, current grade level will also be a factor in grade placement decisions in addition to age.
For other country grade level comparison inquiries please see here or contact our admissions team.
SCHOLARSHIP
ANNUAL FUND
Donations in support of ROAD
CAPITAL PROJECTS
LEARNER SUPPORT
CLUBS
Our Secondary School students have many opportunities to pursue their interests during lunchtime and after school clubs. Faculty and staff offer a variety of activities such as Math Competitions, Young Investors Club, and Student Media Team. Students can also join student-led groups and leadership teams that are supervised by faculty. These include Action for Refugees, Project Plastic, Sai Kung Stray Friends, ImpactHK, Dragonfly Council, Student Council and GCD Student Leadership Team.
ANNUAL FUND
The Annual Fund is a general fund that supports HKA’s operational budget. Unrestricted gifts to the Annual Fund help us realise additional innovative school projects not fully covered by tuition and the operational budget. Giving to the Annual Fund is a powerful way to support creative ideas and initiatives that bring HKA’s mission to life.
DONATE NOW
LEARNER SUPPORT
HKA’s Learner Support programme caters to a wide range of students with diverse learning styles and needs. Inclusive education is at the heart of our mission, and HKA’s leadership in this area is known throughout the international school community.
15% of the student body is supported by this programme.
The Learner Support programme operates on an 80% recovery model. HKA is committed to subventing the remaining 20%.
HKA’s Learner Support programme is designed to ensure that all students can thrive in our rigorous learning environment. Inclusive education is at the heart of our mission, and HKA’s leadership in this area is known throughout the international school community. The Learner Support programme operates on an 80% recovery model. HKA is committed to subventing the remaining 20%.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion includes socio-economic inclusion. Families may apply for a range of means-tested scholarships. HKA also offers financial assistance to families experiencing short-term challenges.
HKA offers scholarships at the 30, 60 and 90 percent levels.
The school will offer as much scholarship support as funding allows.
CAPITAL PROJECTS
HKA seeks to stay ahead of the curve by investing in capital projects that enhance our capitivative learning environment. We strive to implement a new learning initiative capital project, community artefact, or renovated building infrastructure on an annual basis. These multi-phased, costly projects are not included in the annual operating budget. They are critical to the long-term viability and sustainability of the school.
get involved test 3
HKA is committed to diversity and inclusion, including socio-economic inclusion. Families may apply for a range of means-tested scholarships. HKA also offers financial assistance to families experiencing short-term challenges.
HKA offers scholarships at the 30, 60 and 90% levels.
The school offers as much scholarship support as funding allows.
How to Get Here
The following information will assist you in arriving at our campus. If you have any issues while travelling, feel free to call our Main Office on 2655 1111 for more advice.
“Sai Kung Rocket”: Mong Kok <-> Sai Kung ‘red-top’ from Dundas Street
MTR & Taxi
The nearest MTR stations are Wu Kai Sha, Choi Hung or Hang Hau and all are approximately 20/25min away by taxi. Click here for an image to show the taxi driver with the school address in English & Chinese (香港新界西貢惠民路33號).
Private Car
There is no parking on campus but there are 2 public car parks, one opposite and one behind the campus.