Was it the American missionary William Decker who had a vision? He wanted to create Stewards Pooi Tun Secondary School. Stewards Pooi Tun Secondary School opened in 1974. Decker wanted to provide quality education for students.
Stewards Pooi Tun Secondary School is located in Kowloon. It is in the Wong Tai Sin District. The address is 162 Hammer Hill Road. The school is a co-educational secondary school. It is subsidized by the government.
Let’s talk about William Decker. He was born into a baker’s family in New Jersey. He had eleven siblings. Decker ranked tenth among them. A missionary sparked his passion for preaching. He attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He studied theology and missionary work. After graduating, he and his wife Viola went to China. They served as missionaries in the Pearl River area.
In the early 1970s Hong Kong lacked secondary school places. Decker saw many children unable to attend secondary school. He decided to found a school. The government allocated land on Hammer Hill Road. But Decker had to raise funds for site leveling and construction. He sought donations from churches. He even sold his possessions to fulfill his dream.
Today part of Decker’s ashes rest under a red shadow tree. This tree is in the Stewards Pooi Tun Secondary School playground. The school’s chapel is named after him.
Stewards Pooi Tun Secondary School has a team of 62 staff members. This includes the principal and vice-principals. There are also assistant principals and teachers. One teacher is a foreign English teacher. All teachers have teaching qualifications. Fifty-two percent hold master’s or doctoral degrees. Twenty percent have special education training.
The school’s motto is inspiring. It encourages students to shine like bright lights. They should show the path of life. The school emphasizes values. These include following Christ and showing gratitude. It also promotes kindness and environmental protection. Students are encouraged to be resilient.
Stewards Pooi Tun Secondary School uses Chinese as the major medium of instruction. It is estimated as Band 2B.
Stewards Pooi Tun Secondary School organizes many activities. These include the Student Union and various clubs. The school publishes a school magazine and literary collections. Stewards Pooi Tun Secondary School celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. A series of events marked this milestone. These events included a musical and a swimming gala. A thanksgiving service and a celebratory dinner were also held.
Stewards Pooi Tun Secondary School has produced many notable alumni. They have excelled in various fields. These include social work and accounting. Some have made significant contributions to the community. Others have achieved international recognition.
Stewards Pooi Tun Secondary School continues to uphold its founder’s vision. It provides students with a holistic education. It prepares them to be responsible and contributing members of society.