2020-2021 has been an extraordinary year. First of all, due to the impact of COVID-19, all schools in Hong Kong could not hold face-to-face classes on 1st September, so we had to arrange a very different Opening Ceremony at school. In late August, we shot a video which included the Opening Worship and also an introduction of the school development in the new school year. However, the most challenging part for students was the need to engage in online learning before they could even meet the teachers and see their faces. During the process, we tried our best to offer help and support to the parents as well as the students. In addition, a lot of arrangements had to be reorganised. For example, the Adaptation Week, class schedule, learning time of each subject...all need to be re-planned because of the new learning mode. At the same time, it was necessary to help all teachers to develop the ability of real-time online teaching. The school office also needed to answer all sorts of parents' enquiries. There were indeed many challenges!

　　By the end of September, the school could resume face-to-face classes in stages. Yet in the face of the epidemic, we had to follow closely the health guidelines by the Centre for Health Protection and take all precautionary measures. When students were back at school, we had to ensure that they maintained appropriate social distancing. By mid-November, there were cases of upper respiratory tract infection in the community and in schools. Different classes experienced suspension at different times. Administrative arrangements became more complicated, and the teachers had to cope with both face-to-face and online classes at the same time. The assessment arrangements for Primary 1 to 6 also needed to be revised several times. In any case, we overcame the difficulties one after another.

　　After the Lunar New Year holiday, Primary 5 and 6 could resume face-to-face classes while the other year levels still continued online learning. Starting from mid-March, through arranging all staff to be tested every two weeks, we could finally resume face-to-face classes for the entire school, thus creating a more stable environment for students. It was a relief for both the parents and the teachers.

　　As this year was also our school’s 50th anniversary, we originally planned to hold the Golden Jubilee Celebration Ceremony cum the dedication of the "STEM and Innovation Room" and "Learning Hub" on 22nd April. However, due to changes in the epidemic situation, the event was postponed to 22nd June. We were very honoured to have invited Mr. Kevin Yeung, JP, the Secretary for Education, to officiate at the ceremony. This event was very important and meaningful to us and we were pleased to be able to go ahead. All thanks be to our Heavenly Father!

　　In addition to the Secretary for Education, we were very fortunate to have invited Mr. Edward Yu, JP, the District Officer (Yau Tsim Mong) to officiate at our Golden Jubilee Celebration Ceremony. Rev. Daniel Li, Chairman of the Christian Education Committee of the Lutheran Church HK Synod, was invited to give a sermon. Mr. Chu Tai Wo, the founding principal of the school, and Mr. Ko Chi Hung and Ms Ho Shuk Yin, the former principals, were able to join the celebration too, making the stage dazzling. As for the audience, there were likewise a number of VIPs, including representatives of Yau Tsim and Mong Kok District School Development Section of the Education Bureau, Chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong West Area Committee, principals of primary and secondary schools, church representatives, school partners, former teachers and alumni. We felt grateful and were touched by the love and great support they expressed for the school.

　　During the preparation for this 50th anniversary celebration, the former and current school supervisors, school managers, principals, teachers and alumni joined their hands to form the “Cross-regional Sharonites Virtual Choir" and sang together. There were also “Interviews with the Distinguished Alumni”. During the process, many alumni responded promptly to our invitations, showing love and full support to their alma mater. Quite a few of them are Christians who have believed in the Lord for many years. The alumni have made wonderful contributions to the society in different roles. It is evident that over the last fifty years, Sharon Lutheran School has borne rich fruits and nurtured many talents.

　　Looking back on this year, I would like to thank the teachers for their tremendous efforts. Under the epidemic situation, students still had many opportunities to participate in various competitions, including the Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival, Drama Festival and also Mathematics, STEM, visual arts, sports, music competitions. The uniformed groups (such as the Red Cross Junior Unit, Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol) also used various ways to enhance students’ development and enrich their learning experience. All these have enabled students to continue to have balanced and whole-person growth in spite of adversity.

　　Finally, I would like to thank the PTA and the parents for their strong support to the school. Over the year, I have witnessed the growth in maturity in the development of the PTA. When organizing and planning events, the parent members are better able to match the school development and needs. For instance, they launched an online workshop to support the Primary 1 parents in e-Learning before the start of the school year. Moreover, they organized parent volunteers to help the school decoration for the 50th anniversary celebration. All these works were remarkable. Their dedicated contribution has not only benefited the parents and the students, but also has enhanced the school support and provisions.

　　May the Lord accept all the works we have offered with our hearts and bless all Sharonites!

June 2021

　　2020至2021年度是不平凡的一年。首先，就著疫情影響，全港未能於9月1日作面授課堂，因此學校有了一個不一樣的開學禮。我們在八月下旬拍攝了影片，準備了開學崇拜及介紹學校在新學年的新發展；然而需花更多的時間，是幫助學生及家長如何在未能見到新學年教師的面孔之前，就要準備投入網課的學習中，並支援他們在網上學習及進行視像課堂時所遇到的各項挑戰 。不論適應周、課堂時間表、各科的上課時間……都需因應新的學習模式而重新規劃，同時間亦需幫助全體老師發展網上實時教學的能力，及解答家長的各項查詢，挑戰著實不少！

　　到九月下旬，學校分階段恢復面授課堂，也要遵循衛生防護中心給學校的健康指引，做好一切預防措施及在復課安排上要做到讓學生保持社交距離。到11月中，社區及學校都出現上呼吸道感染個案，學校經歷不同班別在不同時候停課，不單行政上要作更多考慮，老師亦要兼顧面授及網課兩種模式同時進行。一至六年級的評估安排也因著疫情修訂了多次。無論如何，難關過了一關又一關。

　　到農曆新年假後，五、六年級先復課，其他各級繼續網課。至3月中起，透過安排全體教職員每兩週進行檢測，我們終於可全校恢復面授課堂安排，締造了較穩定的環境予學生，對家長和老師來說，都算鬆了一口氣。

　　適逢今年學校創立50周年，我們原定4月22日舉行金禧校慶典禮暨「科技及創意教室」及「學習中心」奉獻禮，然而也因疫情變化不定，決定延至6月22日舉行。感謝教育局楊潤雄局長答允蒞臨主禮，令典禮生色不少，且令我們能順利舉辦這有意義的慶典。一切要感謝天父！

　　這次慶典除邀得楊局長主禮外，油尖旺民政事務專員余健強先生也為主禮團成員之一，這也是非常難得。我們又邀得路德會基督教教育委員會主席李日誠牧師作證道，加上創校校長朱泰和、前任校長高志雄、何淑賢都能抽空出席，令台上星光熠熠。至於台下，也有相當多的嘉賓到校致賀，包括教育局分區代表、油尖旺西分區委員會主席、各中小幼學校的校長、教會代表、合作夥伴、舊老師、校友等，他們的隆情厚誼、對學校的支持，也令我們感動又感激。

　　是次校慶的籌備過程中，同時招聚了舊校監、校董、校長、老師及校友聚合一起作「跨地域沙崙人大合唱」，又有「校友專訪」。在過程中所接觸的校友，一呼百應，他們充份展現對母校的愛護及支持；當中不少校友，亦是信主多年的基督徒，在社會上不同崗位作美好的貢獻，可見沙崙五十年來，桃李芬芳，結下碩果纍纍。

　　回望這一年，感謝老師的付出，在疫情下學生仍有不少機會參加各項比賽，包括中英普朗誦、戲劇節、數學、STEM、視藝、體育、音樂，而制服團隊（如紅十字會少年團、交通安全隊）亦繼續透過不同方法，幫助學生發展和豐富他們的學習生活，這都讓學生能在逆境下繼續有均衡及全面的發展。

　　最後，我要多謝家教會及家長對學校的大力支持。這年來，我見到家教會越來越成熟，家長委員在組織、籌劃方面都能更配合學校發展及需要，就如開學前支援小一家長的網上工作坊、校慶的場地佈置等，都相當出色。他們的委身付出，令家長、學生都得益，也令學校的安排更完善。

　　願上帝悅納我們用心所呈獻的一切，並賜福予各沙崙人！

2021年6月