Latest news with #StJoseph'sPrivateSchools
Borneo Post
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Sarawak kids shine at Hippo English competition in Vietnam
The children from Sarawak who competed in the Hippo English Without Borders competition in Da Nang. DA NANG (July 11): The enthusiasm to prove their English chops was seen on the faces of 291 children from different countries during a balmy Saturday morning here last week as they gathered to compete in the far east regional qualifier of Hippo's English Without Borders competition on July 5, 2025. Among them were children from Sarawak: Taiga Ling Ren Xing, Ethan Chua Jun Quan and Stella Chang Ching Yi from St Joseph's Private Schools, Kuching; Arman Abu Bakar from Sekolah Sri Knewton, Miri; Jared Lee Ren Lau from SJK Chung Hua No. 1, Kuching; and Jolyn Chiong Jia Hxuan from SJKC Su Tak, Sarikei. There were other children from Malaysia who were also vying to secure an opportunity to represent Malaysia in the academic competition's World Finals stage. Billed as a global academic English competition, Hippo, which started in 2013, is targeted at children between six to 19 years old who compete according to their age groups over four stages. Some 93,148 students from 3,208 schools across 73 countries participated in the competition this year, with the World Finals to be held from Sept 29 to Oct 1, 2025 in Assisi, Italy. Taiga made Sarawak proud when he clinched the gold medal in the Little Hippo category, thus securing his invitation to the World Finals. Six children from other Malaysian states also won their 'golden ticket' through scoring the best mark in their respective categories. They will join potentially 37 children from Malaysia, including two from Sarawak – Ronald Hu King Onn from SMK Chung Hua, Sibu; and Theodora Pei Ern Huei from SMK Merbau, Miri, who have already qualified to the World Finals during the contest's National Finals stage earlier. Taiga, who turns 10 this year, has attempted the competition three times thus far. 'I feel very excited (about winning); I'm not sure if I am ready for Italy but if they tell me to go, I'll go!' he said with great enthusiasm. Taiga clinched the gold medal in the Little Hippo category and secured a place in the World Finals. Gan Choon Keong from Caya Academy, which is the Malaysia and Singapore Hippo coordinator, said the Hippo English competition has grown in popularity in Malaysia since they introduced it to the country in 2020. Starting with just 3,000 participants in the first year, the competition has now attracted over 19,000 participants in 2025, making it one of the most well-received English language competitions that emphasises the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) standard, he said. Gan observed that as Hippo gained popularity in Malaysia, many participants returned to compete year after year even if they did not advance to the next round. 'Feedback from these participants shows that they see Hippo as a valuable opportunity to continue learning, improve their English proficiency, and enjoy their language learning journey,' he explained. 'Each year, through the Hippo World Final Round, over 40 top-performing participants from Malaysia qualify to compete in the Grand Final in Italy, joining other top English learners from more than 70 countries around the world.' Daniele Piacenti, a Hippo founder, explained that the Hippo competition started in Venice, Italy as it was seen as a neutral area for children from Western and Eastern European countries to gather and have a friendly competition at a time of heightened political tensions. By 2015, the competition had reached Abu Dhabi, and Asia by 2016. Piacenti further drew attention to the availability of scholarships, Hippo4Equity Grants, that are targeted at Hippo candidates from low socioeconomic backgrounds. These grants help enable disadvantaged children to participate in international Hippo events including the World Finals. Application details for Hippo4Equity Grants can be found at competition English Hippo lead Sarawak kids vietnam
Borneo Post
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
St Joseph's Private Schools to present 'Rhythm and Colour: Wonder' concert this August
Cultural dancers rehearsing their performance for the Rhythm and Colour 2025 concert. KUCHING (July 1): St Joseph's Private Schools will once again celebrate the spirit of creativity and the performing arts through their biennial variety concert titled 'Rhythm and Colour: Wonder – Seeking Truth, Goodness and Beauty', to be held at Dewan Majma Kuching on Aug 2 and 3. Organised in collaboration with the Sarawak Arts Council (Majlis Seni Sarawak) under the MySeni scheme, the concert aims to showcase the richness of local arts and provide a vibrant platform for students to express themselves through music, dance, and drama. According to a statement by the school, the production will feature students from St Joseph's Private Primary School, St Joseph's Private Secondary School, and St Joseph's International School. 'This year's theme is inspired by the butterfly, a symbol universally recognised for its beauty and ability to inspire awe, especially among young children,' said the concert's creative director, Benedict Lo. 'The butterfly is familiar to all of us, yet it still evokes a sense of wonder. Through the performing arts, we invite audiences to contemplate truth, goodness and beauty. We hope this immersive concert experience will ignite a sense of awe and inspiration in everyone who attends.' Lo added that the production process offers students a meaningful learning opportunity, encouraging them to imagine a better future and work together toward building a more harmonious society. Among the highlights of the concert are performances by the schools' acclaimed music ensembles with the SJPS Chamber Choir and St Joseph's Private Primary School Choir, both of which recently earned gold awards and reached the Grand Prix finals at the inaugural Sarawak International Choral Festival 2025, will showcase their vocal prowess. 'Audiences can also look forward to rousing performances by the SJPS Concert Band, SJPS Chinese Orchestra, and String Ensemble, along with captivating displays from the school's Ballet, Cultural and Contemporary Dance troupes,' said the statement, The variety concerts have long been part of St Joseph's tradition, tracing their roots to the 1950s and 1960s when the school was run by the La Salle Brothers. The concerts were seen as a vital part of the school's holistic approach to education, providing a platform to develop students' talents, promote teamwork and foster community spirit which is a passion that remains alive to this day. 'In line with this legacy, the school is currently constructing a new block that will include state-of-the-art music and dance studios. All proceeds from this year's concert will go toward the school's Building Fund,' said the statement. Tickets for the concert are priced at RM50, RM80 and RM120, and can be purchased online via Cloudjoi and further details and donation options for the Building Fund are available at Arts and Culture concert entertainment St Joseph's Private Schools
