Dr. Sylvia Chan, Principal of Ying Wa Primary School: Our forest programme sparks Ying Wa pupils’ love for nature

Ying Wa Primary School began revamping its General Studies curriculum in 2017, introducing a forest programme that took the Ying Wa pupils out into nature for experiential learning. Activities like hiking, starting fires and outdoor living experiences have enriched the junior primary General Studies lessons and cultivated students’ self-care skills and collaborative spirit. When Dr. Sylvia Chan became the principal in 2019, she was determined to build upon this foundation. Under her leadership, the forest programme was expanded from an initiative limited to Primary One and Two to one open to all students. During the pandemic, Dr. Chan joined the teachers and students in their expeditions into the mountains and by the seaside. The forest programme has allowed the Ying Wa boys to reconnect with nature ahead of their peers, whilst providing timely opportunities for them to rebuild their social skills and holistic well-being.

A signature programme for Ying Wa boys

With her crisp, short hair and eloquent yet approachable demeanour, Dr. Chan is a beloved figure among the students at Ying Wa Primary School. Even after staying as late as 11 pm to snap photos with students during the school’s graduation ceremony, she was back bright and early the very next morning, expertly handling the secondary school places allocation for the departing Primary Six cohort – a testament to her tireless perseverance. Before joining the Ying Wa family, Dr. Chan had spent 14 years teaching at Ma On Shan Ling Liang Primary School. In just a few years at Ying Wa Primary School, she has cemented her status as the most playful principal. The boys feel comfortable opening up to her without hesitation. “The kids would offer me hugs – even the tall ones love to cuddle. They like to share all sorts of personal stories with me. I have even had Primary Six students asking for my phone number and regularly sending me messages to talk through what is on their minds. It is so heartwarming to have earned this level of trust and rapport with them.”

Despite the negligible difference between the method of raising boys and that of raising girls nowadays, young boys tend to be more energetic, especially the Ying Wa boys who are known for staying true to the principle of “study hard, play hard”. To encourage students to venture out of the traditional classroom and connect more with nature, Ying Wa Primary School introduced a Finnish-inspired outdoor education experience and launched the first forest programme named “Ying Wa Explorers” for Primary One and Two students in 2017. After becoming the principal in 2019, Dr. Chan made it a priority to gradually expand this programme to cover Primary Three through Six as well. The programme consists of three classrooms – the on-campus classroom, the outdoor classroom and the online classroom – all tailor-designed for the lively Ying Wa boys. The opportunity to expand the forest programme was expedited by a “complaint” from a Primary Three student who expressed his concern to Dr. Chan that despite the programme was well-known to the public, he had yet to experience it. Attuned to students’ needs, Dr. Chan was determined to enrich the forest programme to make it available for all students.

Ying Wa Primary School had been successful in seamlessly transitioning from in-person to virtual learning since the beginning of the pandemic. Alongside delivering online lessons and creating instructional videos, the teachers implemented flexible teaching models such as large and small classes, as well as one-on-one tutorials, ensuring that students could truly achieve “suspending classes without suspending learning” and would have no pressure catching up to the curriculum. “I firmly believe what students needed most at the time was the ability to develop interpersonal skills. The pandemic had affected their mental well-being. The priority was to help them reestablish connections with others, rather than solely focusing on their studies.” As a result, the forest programme was actively carried out even under half-day schooling arrangements. “We regarded the forest programme as core, and integrated selective topics from Chinese, Mathematics, Visual Arts, Music and other subjects into it,” Dr. Chan elaborates. “The focus went beyond self-care skills, to also include nature appreciation, environmental protection and artistic expression. All facets of learning were able to happen seamlessly in the forest.”

Dr. Chan shows her support on the forest programme not only through continuous class observations and reviews of its effectiveness, but also by personally accompanying the students on their outdoor adventures. Even though she is not a strong swimmer, she would don a life jacket and paddle alongside the students on a stand-up board during water activities. “We persevered even during the pandemic when we had to wear masks. I felt it was important to convey to the students that we should not let environmental constraints limit our progress,” Dr. Chan explains. “At the time, I shared with parents that the key to weathering the pandemic was cultivating adaptability. This generation has been greatly impacted by COVID-19, yet, overcoming these difficult times has instilled in us a form of resilience that we may not have developed in more stable, peaceful eras.”

Mending family bonds with the power of nature

The forest programme is designed to provide students with ample opportunities to connect with nature. The goal is to cultivate their appreciation for nature, resilience, adventurous spirit, self-confidence and self-care skills. Moreover, it is also one of the school’s objectives to inspire students’ families to participate in more outdoor activities, thereby promoting a healthier lifestyle across the community. The forest programme, spanning from Primary One to Six, encompasses 23 topics and teaches a wide range of practical skills, from starting fires and tracking insects, to identifying medicinal plants and working on agricultural tasks. Students can also build fishing rafts, experience woodwork in the wild and even enjoy a day in the life of a fisherman by learning how to fish and fillet. Offering up to 115 outdoor learning activities annually, the forest programme has benefited as many as 940 students at Ying Wa Primary School alone. Many parents and students have expressed their appreciation for the programme in the school’s surveys, which have also indicated a significant increase in their self-care skills as well as their interest in outdoor activities and insect ecology. Thanks to its forest programme, Ying Wa Primary School has been recognised as the Hong Kong champion of the AIA Healthiest Schools Challenge 2023/24 – a well-deserved accolade.

The forest programme also covers parent education through activities like the Primary Three family camping trip and the Primary Six father-son camp. These family activities facilitate quality time between parents and children while fostering a healthier lifestyle among participants. Apart from harnessing the restorative power of nature to mend interpersonal relationships, the family activities also reduce parents’ everyday anxieties and encourage them not to worry too much about their children’s exposure to the great outdoors. Taking the father-son camp as an example, Dr. Chan explains: “We believe fathers are the most important role models for their sons. A strong father-son relationship tends to improve communication among all family members. The father-son camp is organised in Primary Six because it is a pivotal time when boys are entering adolescence. We want to provide an opportunity for our boys to learn how to appreciate and open up to their dads, while encouraging the fathers to break free from the traditional Chinese stereotype of being reserved and stiff, fostering good fatherson connection and communication.”

Alongside her emphasis on parent education, Dr. Chan prioritises family-school collaboration as well. She believes that this relationship, built on mutual respect and close communication, is crucial for students’ development. “We take parents’ opinions very seriously. If we can implement their suggestions, we take action immediately. If we cannot do so straight away, we explain why. This helps build trust between parents and the school. I have always maintained this approach in my 19-year career as an educator, including my time as principal. We do not take action to avoid parental complaints, but because we recognise the merit in parents’ contributions.” In early July, Dr. Chan represented her school at the AIA Healthiest Schools Regional Competition in Bali. As a token of support for the school, three parent representatives from the Parent-Teacher Association accompanied her on this trip at their own expense. Dr. Chan sees this as an important demonstration of the bond between the school and the students’ families, which is essential for promoting healthier lifestyles. “If we want our students to become healthier, we must first cultivate a healthy relationship with their parents. Relying on one side alone is not enough as children must maintain positive habits both at school and at home. The two spheres must be seamlessly connected for any health programme to be truly effective.”

Staging a soul-stirring English musical

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the reopening of Ying Wa Primary School. Dr. Chan shares that both the teachers and students have been “stretched to the limit”, with each pupil juggling two or three large-scale music and sports competitions at once. Yet, the school has still managed to stage its first English musical.

Dr. Chan has always had a passion for plays and musicals. When her daughter began getting involved in musical theatre in secondary school, it provided an opportunity for them to explore their shared interest together. During the Hong Kong School Drama Festival, she would even lend a hand backstage to help her students with script revisions and blocking. “I really enjoy pondering interesting ideas, but I did not realise that this sort of talent could be channelled into musical theatre,” Dr. Chan shares. The decision to focus exclusively on English musicals stems from Dr. Chan’s background. “I started as an English teacher. As musicals are an excellent way for students to learn a foreign language, I naturally began writing English plays and musicals.”

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ying Wa Primary School’s reopening, Dr. Chan adapted her children’s storybook “The Great Adventure of the Magic Forest 2: The Mysterious Mushrooms” into an English musical last December. Titled “The Mysterious Mushrooms Musical”, the production featured several original songs composed by Dr. Chan herself. She cast 320 students from Primary One to Six, divided evenly into two groups of 160 to take turns performing five scheduled shows. While Ying Wa Primary School had the resources to stage a large-scale English musical, the main obstacle was finding enough rehearsal time for the young ensemble. With just three months to prepare, the cast rarely rehearsed together as a full company. Dr. Chan admits that their performance at the dress rehearsals was still plagued by mistakes. Thankfully, the school’s multidisciplinary learning theme this year is “Mr. Timely”, and the students rose admirably to the occasion with impeccable time management skills. When not actively rehearsing or performing, the cast members could be found studying or doing homework backstage – transforming what could have been a “logistical nightmare” into a flawless show that left teachers and students in awe. To allow the entire student body to enjoy the English musical, the school arranged a special student-only performance. The production’s impact has reverberated throughout the campus, with students humming the catchy melodies even after the five scheduled shows. Moreover, the school briefly changed the recess bells to one of the musical’s tunes, and opened up the hall for students to sing after lunch. The magical English musical has united the whole Ying Wa community.

I want recognition for students’ efforts

Dr. Chan believes this musical production has not only been transformative for the students, but also united the Ying Wa family. “I think this approach to learning is far more effective than traditional classroom instruction. First, it has significantly boosted students’ self-confidence. Second, imagine how they felt when they stepped onto the stage in front of a large, applauding audience – it is certainly an experience they will remember for a lifetime. When we look back on our school days, we may not recall the specifics of what we learnt. However, we do vividly remember the field trips we took, the fun experiences and the significant moments when we worked hard or overcame our self-doubts thanks to others’ encouragement. The emotions and sounds from those occasions remain etched in our memories for years to come.”

Dr. Chan emphasises that the English musicals are not to train young actors, but an educational initiative focused on ensuring the students are “seen”. “I like to cast students who doubt themselves,” she adds. Her approach has indeed transformed the lives of her students. Some have experienced a significant boost in self-confidence after performing, attracting the attention of talent scouts with their beaming stage presence. Others have gained devoted Primary One and Two fans, even being greeted with requests for autographs during recess. Yet, Dr. Chan wants to ensure recognition for not only the talented actors on stage but also every single student who has contributed to the production. “For this performance, we took on the challenge of incorporating a live band for the first time, requiring students to play in sync with the conductor and stage performance. The band members were never visible on stage, but I felt it would be wrong to conceal their tremendous efforts during rehearsals. Therefore, I insisted that the director prerecord the instrumentalists so their faces could be projected on screen during the live performances. I also made sure that the students who created the visual effects or artwork were specially introduced by the teachers on stage. The parents were all so happy and moved when they saw their children’s faces,” she elaborates. “I have been told that in typical stage productions, the focus tends to be on the lead actors, with others merely providing supporting roles, which is not right when it comes to education. I am determined to have all of my students being seen, and their efforts being recognised.”

The most playful principal

Ying Wa boys are well-rounded individuals who excel in both active and passive pursuits. Dr. Chan believes that people in this modern age should have a diverse range of talents and strive for holistic development. They should possess unique strengths and areas of excellence without being too “one-dimensional”. She explains, “This means your EQ should be reasonably high. You should have some refined pursuits, musical understanding and cultural awareness. Moreover, you should know how to cook and enjoy a well-rounded lifestyle, rather than focusing on just one aspect of life. Work hard, play hard – do not confine yourself, and unleash your full potential in every environment. Remember to savour every moment.” Dr. Chan herself may be the best role model for the Ying Wa boys in this regard. Since her first year as principal, she has made a grand entrance at the opening ceremony every year, dressing up in creative ways to align with the annual learning theme.

“Since Ying Wa Primary School is a boys’ school, my first order of business as the new principal was to ‘wow’ the students and show them that I know how to have fun.” The learning theme during Dr. Chan’s first year was “How 2 Obvious”, with water being a key element. She left the students completely awestruck when she transformed herself into a water fairy, gliding gracefully into the hall on wheels. The teachers behind her were sitting in two lines of chairs, mimicking the motion of rowing a boat. “The PE teachers were worried that I might end up in the hospital or accidentally injure a student on my first day. No one could have predicted that the principal would pull off something like that,” Dr. Chan recalls. Another annual theme was “Let’s WAoW!” – Dr. Chan secretly rehearsed an impressive tap dance routine, emerging onto the stage in a suit and top hat, dancing with flair to the students’ delight. “I told the boys that while my performance lasted only one minute, I had actually spent 10 hours perfecting the routine. At the time, only two or three of my colleagues knew I would dance, so even the teachers were taken by surprise.” Ying Wa Primary School places great emphasis on the annual opening ceremony, which is why the boys always look forward to the beginning of each school year. Dr. Chan believes that a joyful opening ceremony sets the tone for an exciting and happy year of learning ahead, making the effort she puts in worthwhile.

Dr. Chan outlined the “HEART” mantra on the “Words from Principal” page of the Ying Wa Primary School website: Humble, Enthusiastic, Appreciative, Resilient and Tender. This is her message to the Ying Wa boys. “The state of your heart determines the quality of your character,” she explains. She is convinced that the school can create tailored scenarios to nurture students’ hearts and give them regular “updates” as they grow up to become individuals with unwavering faith and good character.

The AIA Healthiest Schools Programme, an initiative that has successfully driven the implementation of healthy campuses in local primary schools, invited all primary schools in Hong Kong to develop health plans that cover the themes of healthy eating, active lifestyles, mental well-being, as well as health and sustainability. In an effort to promote Healthier, Longer, Better Lives throughout the community, schools are encouraged to sign up for the AIA Healthiest Schools Challenge and share their models and results. With the outstanding forest programme, Ying Wa Primary School has been awarded the Hong Kong champion of this year’s AIA Healthiest Schools Challenge. Dr. Chan is grateful for the recognition of the school’s thoughtful curriculum design and their efforts to enhance students’ physical and mental health. The US$50,000 prize will be used to further develop and enrich the impactful forest programme. “It is just one component of the many healthfocused activities we have designed to support our students’ overall well-being and development. I believe that health cannot be achieved through one programme alone. It requires cultivating a positive atmosphere on campus through various activities and curriculum designs that strengthen students’ health while instilling in them the resilience and values needed in modern society,” Dr. Chan shares.