Families Up In Arms With Jubilation at Prize Presentation For First-Of-Its-Kind Contest For Primary School Students To Make Teaching Materials

50,000 Entries Themed Around Ocean Park’s Amazing Asian Animals Submitted

(23 May 2009 – Hong Kong)  Close to 50,000 primary school students answered the call to join the “Ocean Park Amazing Asian Animals – Hong Kong Primary Students Creative Teaching Material Contest,” launched to all primary schools in Hong Kong by the Park in February, with amazing works of art received. The award presentation ceremony for this first-of-its-kind contest took place at Ocean Park’s Whiskers Theatre today, as over 200 students, teachers and parents joined Ocean Park’s clowns and mascots,  to salute the six students with the most outstanding pieces of work, as well as to recognise the top ten schools with the highest participation rate. Among these 10 schools, one will also be recognised as being the ”Most Enthusiastic School Among the 18 Districts of Hong Kong.”  
 
The 50,000 school children hail from 213 primary schools, representing 35% of the total number of primary schools around Hong Kong. In particular, Ho Lap Primary School (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen), Tung Chung Catholic School and Lui Cheung Kwong Lutheran Primary School all boast 100% participation rates and were duly recognised for the high participation. . Ocean Park Chairman, Dr. Allan Zeman, who was also one of the judges for the contest, said,  “We hope that students can learn about our animal ambassadors in ‘Amazing Asian Animals’ in a fun and innovative way, and to share what they have learnt through creating teaching materials that will highlight the characteristics and conservation messages each of the animals represents. The subject matters included the giant and red pandas, Chinese giant salamander, Asian small-clawed otters and Chinese alligatorsconservation” He continued, “All the entries are of very high standards and it was a tough job being a judge! I really want to thank all the students, teachers, and parents for coming together to support this unique project. I hope everybody had fun along the way!”
 
The contest was divided into the Junior (P.1-3) and Senior (P.4-6) groups. Students were invited to develop creative teaching materials based on the looks, characteristics, habitats, diets, and origins of the eight iconic animals in Amazing Asian Animals. Ms. Catherine Leung, Representative from Hong Kong Society for Education in Art – Research and Development and another judge of the contest, said, “The teaching material contest is different from the usual drawing competitions because students have a chance to learn about animal conservation and environmental protection as well as unlock their creative genius. It was also an opportunity to build some interactions between students and teachers, parents and children as students conjure up interesting ways to introduce the animals and their habitats through techniques such as drawing, comics, paper-cutting, collage, computer graphics, calligraphy and photography. Their incredible efforts are a reminder of why we must protect nature.”
 
Seven-year old Cheung On Kiu from The Salvation Army Ann Wyllie Memorial Primary School was the Champion for the Junior group. His work inspired thinking and learning about the different animals through the use of riddles (Photo 1). Ten-year old Law Tsun Sum from Si Yuan School of the Precious Blood took the grand prize for the Senior group. He used a “lucky wheel” concept to introduce the animals and their natural habitats  (Photo 2). (Details of the entries by the runner-ups are also attached)
 
Ocean Park will display a selection of the works around Amazing Asian Animals, while other selections will be used by Ocean Park’s education arm, Ocean Park Academy, which will integrate some of the ideas into the existing teaching materials.
 
The judging panel of the contest consisted of Ocean Park Chairman Dr. Allan Zeman, Ocean Park’s Executive Director for Design & Planning, Mr. Alex Chu, Vice-President of the Hong Kong Society for Education, Mr. Tsang Kui Woon, and the representative from the Hong Kong Society for Education in Art, Ms. Catherine Leung. (Photo 3)
 
Amazing Asian Animals is the first major area to be completed under  Ocean Park’s HK$5.55 billion Master Redevelopment Plan. The area features eight unique attractions including Giant Panda Adventure, an impressive habitat for rare species such as the giant panda, red panda, Chinese giant salamander, Asian small-clawed otter and Chinese alligator. Meanwhile, the stand-alone exhibit, Goldfish Treasures, features exclusively over 300 goldfish collection of all shapes, sizes and colours, including the largest goldfish variety in the world. The Amazing Bird Show will also return with a new façade. Opening in the summer will be Emerald Trail and the Suspension Bridge.
 
To give guests a totally immersive experience in this area, Amazing Asian Animals will also present the future Waterfront (currently the Lowland) area’s first dining and banquet facility – Panda Café – which features a host of popular Southeast Asian dishes, including signature Sichuan cuisines, and the Park’s first themed and largest signature souvenir shop, Panda Kingdom Shop, which is brimming with over 5,000 animal-themed items in over 350 styles.

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