Parents keep the chill away
JANUARY 15 might have seen the temperature plunging to a low of 6.7 degrees Celsius, but the heart-warming participation of the crowd at Law Ting Pong Secondary School's athletic meet soon lifted spirits.
A group of them stood out - about 30 parents of the students - at the Tai Po Sports Ground.
In patchy rain and chaos, they volunteered to help as judges, timers and in first aid.
''Some of them specially took the day off from work to come,'' said Mrs Louisa Li, the school's English panel head.
The highlight of the day was when the parents teamed up with their children in a three-way relay with students and teachers.
This fun event included a three-legged race, running with table tennis balls in spoons, rope-skipping and a final dash.
''I haven't done things like this with my child for some time,'' said one parent.
''It made me remember the old days when I won medals!'' said another cheerfully.
The parents were enthusiastic members of the school's Parent-Teacher Association, formed to enhance the students' school life by getting their parents involved.
The new school has 640 first and second formers, of which 348 competed that day.
The award for overall champion was split between Shing House and See House which saw the support coming from the new first formers who boosted the scores.
From this year, the school will honour Houses over individuals in the various championships.
''We want to promote a better competitive spirit among the Houses instead,'' a teacher told Young Post.
Hang House clinched the boys' championship because their members put in the best performance and participation. Their counterparts in Shing House grabbed the girls' championship.
Last year's Best Cheering Team - See House - retained their title due to the outstanding teamwork.
Adding energy to the day were five Chinese University exchange students from the United States who braved the weather to join the mixed 4 x 100 metres relay.
The exchange students are also giving tuition in oral English after school hours to the pupils.
The teachers' team showed their colours by outrunning other competitors in the men's 4 x 100 metres relay.
Special guests at the sports day were principals of some primary schools where various members of the student body had started their education.
The day ended on a successful note when Mr Raymond Law Ka-kui, chairman of the Law's Foundation, which sponsors the school, presented hard-earned trophies to winners.
The students have something to look forward to soon; Mr Law said there are plans to organise equestrian lessons in the next academic year.
