CHIJ Katong Convent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Motto | Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty |
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| Established | 1930 |
| Type | Autonomous Secondary, Single session |
| Principal | Ms Lam Ai Leen |
| MOE Code | 7008 |
| Colours | Blue, White |
| Locale | Marine Parade, Singapore |
| Enrollment | |
| Website | Link |
| Ministry of Education | |
 Republic of Singapore |
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CHIJ Katong Convent (Abbreviation: CHIJ - KC) is an autonomous all-girls Catholic secondary school in Singapore. The school is one of 11 Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) schools in Singapore.
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[edit] History
In the 1920s, the Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus acquired one of the private bungalows on the eastern coast of Singapore as a weekend holiday bungalow for the nuns and boarders of the convent.
In 1930, these rambling buildings were used as a private school and in 1932 the school was given a grant-in-aid status. The first set of students registered in January 1932 was mixed - 171 girls and 26 boys. Upon the completion of St Patrick's School in late 1932, these boys were transferred there. Katong Convent was no larger than a village school, consisting of 4 classes and a total enrolment of 197 students. Sister St Theodora was the first principal with a staff of only four teachers.
Under Sister St Vincent de Paul, the school building was extended in 1939 with 8 new classrooms. In 1941, just before the outbreak of the war, there were altogether 384 pupils - 60 in the secondary classes, 206 in the elementary and 118 in the primary. There were 4 nuns, including the principal and 8 local teachers.
[edit] Japanese Occupation
When the dark clouds of war were gathering in the East in 1941, the staff and students had to practise Air Raid Drills and true to expectation, the first bombs were dropped in Singapore in December 1941. Most parents kept their children at home when the school re-opened in January 1942 and their fears were confirmed, for in February 1942 Singapore surrendered to the Japanese. At the outbreak of war, the school building at Martia Road was taken over by the British and became a military centre and was subsequently used as an internment camp to house local Japanese civilians as prisoners-of-war.
During the Japanese occupation, the school was used as a Military Base.
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School reopened in May 1942 and Katong Convent functioned at St Hilda's School in Ceylon Road under the name of Ceylon Road Girls' School. The attendance was 102. There were 2 sessions - the morning session for girls and the afternoon session for boys from St Patrick's.
[edit] Post War Years
Peace came at last in August 1945, and when the school re-opened at St Hilda's in October 1945 in the afternoon - St Hilda's being in the morning, there were 12 classes, and 430 students were re-registered for Primary 1 to Standard 5.
In January 1946, there were 483 students and in October, the numbers increased to 747. It was also in October of the same year that there was great rejoicing among the staff and students when the school at Martia Road was restored and returned to the nuns. Prior to this, the building had been used by the British Military Administration as a rehabilitation centre for tuberculosis patients.
After the war, Sister Finbarr was appointed principal. The difficult task of re-organising the school, recruiting more staff, and bringing up academic standards fell on her shoulders.
In 1947, there were 17 classes with 755 students and in 1948, 18 classes with 688 students from Primary 1 to Standard 7. That year those who completed Standard 7 (i.e. Sec 2) had to complete 2 more years in the Convent at Victoria Street.
In 1949, a Standard 8 class was formed and in 1950, the school fielded its first Senior Cambridge candidates. In the same year, 5 new classrooms were built, opposite the oldest block and in 1951, part of this old building was renovated and converted into a Domestic Science classroom. After 8 years of devoted service, Sister Finbarr was transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Convent and left in May 1954.
That year there were morning and afternoon sessions. The morning session comprised Primary 1 to Form 5 (Sec 4), with a total enrolment of 890. The afternoon session comprised Primary 1 to Form 3 (Sec 2) and a special class known as Form 4 Commercial, with an enrolment of 655. The students who made the grade were transferred to the morning session, and the less successful ones were placed in the commercial class. In the following years, there was such an increase in the intake of students that it was necessary to build a branch school and for this purpose, the students and staff gave their all, in cash and hard work, to raise funds by running Fun Fairs and Lotteries. In 1959, the building was completed and a few teachers from the Primary Staff were transferred to the new Convent at Opera Estate. Also in the same year, the school welcomed Sister Finbarr back and sadly bade farewell to Sister Veronica.
From 1959 to her retirement in 1971, Sister Finbarr did all she could to improve the image that the school had gained all these years. She herself often said that without the backing of her loyal staff, she could not have achieved so much. The school continued to expand and it was again necessary to build a new wing. Again the staff and students worked feverishly to raise funds, this time at greater odds, because previously the Government had contributed half to any aided school extension scheme but now every cent was to be paid by the school. Undaunted, the school persevered, and in 1966, the new wing was completed. For the first time, the students had a proper tuckshop, library, sewing rooms and an Art room. Six new classrooms were also included.
[edit] The Seventies
In 1971, Sister Finbarr was given a rousing farewell at her retirement. A senior member of the staff, Mrs Marie Bong was appointed headmistress in her place. On her fell the task of carrying on the good work of her predecessors. Under her leadership and guidance, the school became well-known for choral speaking, creative writing and Shakespearean productions.
[edit] The Eighties
In 1982, plans were afoot to upgrade the facilities of the school. The timely offer by the Ministry of Education of a piece of land at Marine Parade in exchange for the site of Opera Estate Convent enabled the secondary school to move to a brand new premise, whilst the primary school was merged with Opera Estate Convent and was relocated to the renovated building at Martia Road.
At the end of 1986, after many months of careful planning, supervision and arduous fun-raising, the school moved into its attractive new building with Mrs Karen Oei at the helm. In 1990, the Primary section returned to the former site at Martia Road and Katong Convent became a single session secondary school.
[edit] The Nineties
In 1999, the school won the Sustained Achievement Award - Academic Value-Added, for having provided value-added education to both the Express and Normal Academic students for ten consecutive years (1996-2006). Plans were made to further improve both the facilities in the school as well as the education provided for the convent girls.
[edit] 2000 and beyond
Katong Convent celebrated its 70th anniversary in the year 2000. With it soon came the autonomy status which was granted by the Ministry of Education.
[edit] Founder
Father Barre was born in Amiens, France on 21 October 1621. At the age of 19, he joined the Religious Order of the Minims of St Francis of Paola. He became a renowned preacher and educator.
17th Century France was in dire need of education. The poor were neglected, exploited and illiterate.
Father Barre responded to their plight. In 1662, he gathered a group of dedicated young women to educate the poor, especially the girls, in free schools which he established.
This marked the beginning of the Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus and the I.J. Convent Schools.
Father Barre died in France on 31 May 1686 and was beatified on 7 March 1999.
[edit] School Crest
The School Badge which IJ girls wear on their uniforms marks off as a pupil of Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus. It is the badge of the IJ schools all over the world.
The red shield has a silver band edged in gold. On the right is the Book of the Gospels with a silver rosary, on the left a golden distaff and spindle. The shield, surmounted by a gold cross is encircled by a garland of marguerites. The motto on the badge in English is as follows: 'Simple in Virtue - Steadfast in Duty.' The gospel representing the teaching of Christ is a guide for your life. Live by it and you will attain peace and happiness.
The Rosary of the Virgin Mary symbolises - communication with God. Cultivate it and you will grow in the Knowledge of God. The distaff and spindle are symbols of womanly labour. A life without labour is wearisome - a life with it, is meaningful and satisfying. The Garland of Marguerites speaks of simplicity, the most charming trait in young girlhood.
Virtue is a good habit of the soul. It is a personal possession which no one can take from you against your will. It leads you to God with childlike confidence; it just goes out to your neighbour with spontaneous warmth; it judges you with humble honest.
'Steadfast in Duty' stresses the importance of a sense of personal responsibility - an essential trait for everyone preparing for adulthood.
[edit] Affiliation
CHIJ KC is affiliated to:
- CHIJ (Katong) Primary
- Catholic Junior College
[edit] Notable Alumnæ
Notable Peoples
Professor Chan Heng Chee (Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the U.S.)
Noeleen Heyzer (UNIFEM Executive Director, nominee for 2005 Nobel Peace Prize)
In the Entertainment Industry
Andrea de Cruz (actress)
Melody Chen (actress)
Neo Swee Lin (actress)
Michelle Saram (actress)
Koh Chieng Mun (actress)
Lydia Look (actress)
Adeline Fernandez (actress)
Charmaine Hahn (model)
Cheryl Fox (news anchor)
Glenda Chong (news anchor)
Zahara Lateef (news anchor)
Diana Koh (reporter)
Teresa Tseng (Campus Superstar Season 1 Female Winner; 1st Runner-up)
Seah Huixian (Campus Superstar Season 2 Female Category 2nd Runner-up)
Others
Tammy Wong (artistic director)
Georgina Chang (programme director, 98.7 FM)
Suchen Christine Lim (writer)
Yap Su-Yin (correspondent, The Straits Times)
Jennifer Lewis (editor, Straits Times TV)
Jacqueline Chin (Singapore's first woman Rhodes scholar)
Jean Francis (lawyer)
Ursula Quah
Bernadette Foong
