Establishing Global Connections in Hong Kong

Recently our SPCC Gosford Principal, Michelle Cairelli and Head of Senior School, Cameron Johnston had the opportunity of visiting two schools in Hong Kong who we have had the good fortune of building relationship with over the past few years. The relationship we have built with United Christian College Kowloon East (UCCKE) and The International Christian Quality Music School, have afforded us numerous two-way benefits at every level of our organisation through best practice, student exchange programs and global connections to name but a few. 

The main purpose of the trip was to visit (UCCKE) who are offering two Year 9 Gosford students scholarships for a 3-week visit. The students will stay in the international student accommodation on-site at the school for 2 weeks before joining the Hong Kong students for their annual week-long mission trip.

The trip also provided the opportunity to build relationship with the two schools, to see first-hand some of the practices outworked in the schools and to meet the family of the two international students, from the International Christian Quality Music School, who are enrolled at Gosford in 2019. Michelle and Cameron also visited 4 other Christian Schools, including a reciprocal visit to two of the Alliance Christian Schools who visited Gosford last year. 

The trip was tremendously successful in helping to strengthen the International Schools Program and our global connections.It enabled our Gosford School to establish a partnership with UCCKE and assess the scholarship opportunity.

Beyond the relationship building experience it was a valuable opportunity to observebest practice from the schools visited. One standout feature of the International Christian Quality Music School was the Christ-centered focus in all areas of the school, even evident in their architecture. At the school 100% of students have developed a relationship with Christ by the time they graduate in Year 12 (from around 50% in Kindergarten).

Each school visited displayed outstanding hospitality and accommodation for international visitors and inspiring STEM facilities.

As a result of this trip, opportunities for authentic engagement with schools in Asia have been established, in particular to strengthen relationships with Christians in Asian countries. It has led the Gosford School to begin exploring the possibility of a CAPA cultural trip for 2020.

The facilities at the International Christian Quality Music School