| Convent Bukit Nanas SMK Convent Bukit Nanas 咖啡山修道院女中 |
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|---|---|
| Motto | Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty |
| Established | 1899 |
| Type | Government Non-boarding all-girls secondary School |
| Status | Cluster school of excellence |
| Affiliations | Malaysia Ministry Of Education |
| Founder | Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus |
| Grades | Form 1 - Form 6 |
| Location | Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia |
| Campus | Large School campus, at the city centre |
| Abbreviation | CBN |
| Website | http://cbn.edu.my/ |
Convent Bukit Nanas (CBN) is an all-girls secondary school located at Bukit Nanas in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Established in 1899 a few years after rivals BBGS (1893) and MGSKL (1896), it is one of the oldest schools in Kuala Lumpur and is widely known as CBN. Convent Bukit Nanas is distinguished as a Cluster School of Excellence by the Malaysian Ministry of Education.
CBN comprises a secondary school and two primary schools. Administration of the secondary and primary schools separated in 1958. CBN has classes from Form 1 through to Form Six for girls aged 12 to 18. Girls enter CBN after they have completed their primary education in SRK Convent Bukit Nanas School I and School II (Malay: Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Convent Bukit Nanas). These primary schools have classes from Year 1 through Year 6 for girls aged 6 to 12.
On 16 December 2008, Pos Malaysia issued a premium set of four commemorative stamps and first day cover, honoring four Premier Schools of Malaysia - Convent Bukit Nanas and Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, SMK St. Thomas in Kuching and SMK All Saints in Sabah.
In 1899, the last year before the dawn of a new century, three nuns stepped off the steamship anchored at Port Swettenham. It was 25 January 1899. Reverend Mother St. André, accompanied by Sister St. Sabine and Sister St, Madeleine, had come on a mission to establish a school in Kuala Lumpur.
The first Convent school was located in Nonya Ah Yok's garden shed, and the Sisters lived on the first floor of her country house by the River Gombak on Ampang Road. The site is directly opposite Bukit Nanas, future site of what would become the Mother of Conventsin Selangor. On 1 March 1899, the Convent School in Kuala Lumpur officially opened with a dozen children. Many of the early pupils were children of immigrants working on the railway lines. By the second year, there were 60 day pupils and orphans and not enough room at Nonya Ah Yok's house. The occasional hazard of crocodiles on the banks of the Gombak Rver made the move imperative.
To the rescue came Towkay Goh Ah Ngee who gave temporary residence to the Sisters and the children at his house in Semenyih. He also approached the Government for approval to start a lottery to enable the Sisters to buy Victoria Hotel in Brickfields. Towkay Goh, as one of the benefactors of the Convent, continued to help the Sisters, even providing a carriage and pony for their grocery shopping.
On 15 January 1901, Victoria Hotel- once the venue of annual general meetings of the United Planters' Association- became home to Reverend Mother St. André, 17 sisters, 60 orphans, 22 boarders and 100 day pupils. There was also a creche for 12 babies. Word of the Sisters' good work spread, and increasing numbers of pupils crammed the school. By 1911, there were 308 children, prompting the Inspector of Schools to recommend that new classrooms be built. Instead, the Sisters chose to move to Bukit Nanas, a prime location and one of the best settings for a school anywhere in the world.[1]
The Early Years
1899 Convent opened in Kuala Lumpur on 1 March. Two Tamil children for the orphanage in August. Three children entered in September- 'Two for the Attendance book, the other is too young to be entered in it.' Two Chinese children entered as boarders-'One is ten, the other eight years old. (Every month saw entries of new arrivals and their names entered in the book). Prize giving took place just before the school closed for Christmas holidays.
1900 The death of a day pupil was sadly noted in the Diary. 'The school closed at half past one to allow the children to go home and get ready for the funeral on 24 January. In December, the Federal Inspector of Schools congratulated the Sisters on the 'efficient state of the school' adding that he would be recommending the maximum grant for the Convent.
1901
1 March- Move to Victoria Hotel,Brickfields.
31 August- Convent Lottery was drawn amidst 'great excitement'.
1902
5 November- The Inspector of Schools FMS, J. Driver, approved the syllabus for Hygiene and Geography.
11 December- The Acting British Resident visited the Convent and its grounds to inspect the 'ruins of inundation'.[2]
1903June- The death of a boarder was again noted in the Diary. School closed earlier than usual for the funeral.
1904 The pupils wore for the first time a Convent uniform- a blue skirt and white blouse, sewn by Sr. Lawrence and Sr. Marie. Some of the boys left for the newly opened St. John's Institution.
1906 December- The annual examination.
72 children were presented for the exam; 25 in Standard One, 18 in Standard Two, 6 in the Third, 7 in the Fourth, 9 in the Fifth, 2 in the Sixth Forms, and three for the Queen's Scholarship. Enrollment was 154.
1907 The school got its first grand piano, donated by Milly O' Hara Music lessons introduced by Rev Mother St. Augustin. Rev Mother St André, after a recuperative period in France, was transferred to Taiping Convent.
1908 School excursions to Kajang and Klang. School closed for mid summer holidays (mid July to mid August) to coincide with summer in England.[3]
1909 The Inspector of Schools in his report noted that the Infant class was well supplied with kindergarten material. The lower Elementary classes used writing books with double lines, and the 'writing' in consequence was better'. F. A. Vanrenen also noted that 'pains was being taken with the pronunciation and the reading throughout was most satisfactory. Composition of Standard IV was fair'. He recommended that each student in the Higher Elementary Standards be provided with an atlas or map of reference for the Geography lesson. (The Inspector of Schools made frequent visits to the Convent School- in March, May and September)
1910 The Lady Superior made a stylish change in the school curriculum by inserting in the time- tables a ten minute interval for play in all the classes- from 10.20 to 10.30.
1911 Mother St Matilde, revered founder of the HIJ Missions in Malaya, Singapore and Japan dies in Yokohama, 1911.[4]
Convent Bukit Nanas- The Top
1912
2 December- Convent Bukit Nanas or The Top as it came to be called by the Sisters, was opened officially by Edward Lewis Brockman, Chief Secretary to Government. E.L. Brockman said in his opening address that he felt confident of the Sister's ability to raise the $26,000 that would be required to pay for the school building and extension. Their benefactors knew that the money would be 'well lid out' for besides 'offering a sound education to children of all classes and creeds, the Sisters also cared for orphans of whom there were 108 in the Convent at the present time.[5]
1915The Chapel was built. Blessed by Monsignor Barillon on 27 September, it would be a sacred place of prayer and reflection for generations of students. CBN gets electricity.
1922Visit by Mother General St. Marguerite Mary. She paid tribute to the Convent's Benefactor, Goh Ah Ngee, whose son-in-law was present at the event officiated by Chief Secretary W. E. Maxwell.
1924 CBN's 25th Anniversary. Celebrations postponed to a year later. There were 700 pupils.
1928 A new building to house the Klang Convent.[6]
The War Years 1941-45
The Japanese landed in Kota Bahru on 8 December 1941. Penang was bombarded by 85 Japanese dive bombers on 12 December. Kuala Lumpur was occupied on 13 January 1942, and Singapore fell to the Japanese on 11 February 1942. The Convent Bukit Nanas became a temporary sanctuary for hundreds of cicilian refugees, and a home for even more orphans and abandoned babies. The Sisters grew vegetables on two acres in Kajang, drew water from a well in the courtyard, and looked after 400 refugees throughout the Japanese Occupation. Thirty three Holy Infant Jesus Sisters of Malaya and Singapore died during the War. The Sisters continued writing their Annals entries. Perhaps it was the drama that surrounds war that made the Annals covering the War Years particularly readable.[7]
The End of War 1945
8 May The Sisters received confirmation of rumors that Germany had surrendered unconditionally to the Allied forces. They rejoiced at the thought of being reunited with their Mother General, with the Institute in Europe.
28 August Graduation ceremony of the last group of Sisters in the Shihan Gakko.
15 September Convent Bukit Nanas re-opened.[8]
1945 After the Japanese Occupation, Rev. Mother Adele returned CBN to its original state with the help of the British Military Administration(BMA).
1947 The Nazareth Building, formerly the house of the Chief Justice, became part of the school. This addition was granted by the Government.
1951 Rev Mother Pauline became headmistress and introduced physical education (PE) to the school. During PE, students wore bloomers.
1953 Science was introduced as part of the curriculum.
1957
1958 The primary school and secondary school were separated.
1961 Form 6 classes began.
1963 The Form 4 block of classes was built.
1965 Rev Mother Aidan became headmistress and the four Houses were formed. The Houses took the names of the current and previous headmistress Aidan(Red), Pauline(Blue), Adele(Yellow) and Xavier(Green).
1966 Rev Mother St. Brede became headmistress.
1968 Students were required to join and be active in extra-curricular activities.
1973 The school's Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) was established.
1976 Mrs. Chee Phui Lay became the school's first lay person Principal. Sr. Anne started the Counseling Program.
1979 Mrs. Indrani Manuel became Principal. The school office moved to a new location close to the Upper Secondary School.
1982 Bahasa Malaysia became the medium for study and instruction for all subjects.
1984 'The Facade' was painted to commemorate the school's 85th anniversary.
1993 Mrs. Vimala Matthews replaced Mrs. Indrani Manuel upon her retirement.
1999
2004 Mrs. Ann Khoo became principal upon Mrs. Alice George’s retirement.
2006 Selected as a cluster school.
2008 Featured as one of four Premier Schools in commemorative stamps. 2009 CBN celebrates it's 110th birthday.
On top of a hill planted with pineapple and coffee, and only a stone's throw from St. John's Institution and Cathedral, the site at Bukit Nanas was truly godsend. The Sisters bought the land for $40,000 and sold the old Convent property in Brickfields Road to the Government for $60,000. The new Convent building cost another $26,000. The shortfall was paid for with some help from the public.[9]
English Gothic architecture
Nazareth
Built around 1898, this house has undergone several transformations. Once the house of the Chief Justice, 'Nazareth' was requisitioned during the Japanese Occupation as the Domestic Science School for Girls. With the rapid increase in enrollment, there was a shortage of trained teachers in the country. In 1957, the Sisters acquired Nazareth to house a Teacher's Training College. In the 12 years, Nazareth provided over 300 teachers who fanned out to teach not only at Convent Bukit Nanas but at 50 Convents situated in all parts of the Peninsula. Afte 1970, Nazareth became the Sixth Form Wing of Convent Bukit Nanas.[10]
Reverend Mother St Andre 1899- 1907
Reverend Mother St Augustin 1907- 1911
Reverend Mother St Tarcisius 1911- 1923
Reverend Mother St Adele 1923- 1951
Reverend Mother St Pauline 1951- 1957
Reverend Mother St Francis Xavier 1957- 1965
Reverend Mother St Aidan 1965-1966
Reverend Mother St Brede 1966- 1976
Mrs Chee Phui Lay 1976- 1979
Mrs Indrani Manuel 1979- 1993
Mrs Vimala Matthews 1993-
The continued rapid annual increase in enrollment at CBN necessitated change. The primary and secondary schools became separate entities in 1958. Nine years later, it was again time for reorganization. In 1967, the secondary school came under a separate administration. CBN continued with the practice of having Sister Superiors as coordinators of the various aspects of the Convent.
Sister St. Aida, Sister Superior 1967- 1969
Sister St. Lawrence, Sister Superior 1969- 1974
Sister St. Therese Barra, Sister Superior 1974- 1978
CBN also continued with the tradition of teaching Sisters who included Sister Bernadette, Sister Dorothy O Keeffe, Sister Bernadine Singleton, Sister Claire Wee, Sister M. Michael, Sister Angele Sih, Sister James Netto and Sister Fidelis.[11]
Heads of PRIMARY SCHOOl I
Miss Monica Rozario 1958- 1962
Sister Elizabeth McSweeney 1962- 1965
Sister Louise Marie 1965- 1968
Sister Jeanne D' Arc 1968- 1973
Miss Mary Anne Fernando 1973- 1983
Mrs Rosie Low Eng Leong 1983- 1989
Puan Sharifah bt Ibrahim 1989-1994
Mrs Yeoh Soh Tat 1994-
Heads of PRIMARY SCHOOL II
Sister John Berchmans 1958- 1962
Miss Monica Rozario 1962- 1963
Mrs Susan Chan Kok Kim 1963- 1980
Mrs N. Nayagampillay 1980- 1981
Mrs Lyn O' Hara 1981- 1988
Sister Anne- Marie Lopez 1989- 1991
Mrs M. M. Pickering 1992- 1994
Puan Siti Mariam bt Tan Tan Sri Mustaffa 1994- 1997
Puan Hasnah bt Md Yusof 1997- [12]
The School Cadge and Motto
Our school badge of the Convents of the Infant Jesus, is an international one used by students on five continents- in places as far apart as Bolivia, France, Peru, Italy, Singapore, Spain, England, Ireland, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia. The symbolism of the badge is as relevant today as it has been over the centuries.
The center of the badge is red with a silver band fringed with gold. Red traditionally conveys the message of love, God's Spirit of Love embracing the world. On the right is the Holy Book. To the Christians, this is the Bible; to the Muslims, the Quran; to the Hindus the Bhagavadgita; to the Buddhists, the Dharmapada- whatever the teachings which are the guiding principles of the Rukunegara:
'Belief in God
Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan'
On the left, is the Distaff and Spindle. This is the symbol of labor. In our ideal of work, we are proud to be linked to the thousands of girls of different culture, age and time, who have embodied this noble tradition. Each of us today has her own part to play in creating a harmonious world. In Malaysia, the Shield is surmounted by a Golden Star and encircled by a garland of Marguerites with the motto:
SIMPLE IN VIRTUE
STEADFAST IN DUTY
Tulus dengan Fadilah
Azam dengan Bakti
The Motto is brief but deep in meaning. To be 'Simple in Virtue' means being open and honest with others so that we can live in a spirit of family togetherness. To be 'Steadfast in Duty' means an awareness of our duty to be of service to others. The garland of Marguerites is symbolic of purity and simplicity of God and neighbor.[13]
The school song is sung with the accompaniment of a piano. The music score was composed by Lee Swee Yin.
English version
CBN
The shining star of my life
You will always glow within me
And through me you will shine forth
A new light others will follow.
CBN
With us your memory will stay
You will always light the way
Show us our strengths and our hopes,
CBN, our star forever more.
So hear our song sung with spirits strong
We, the girls of CBN today
Will lift up our motto and strive to be
Simple in virtue, steadfast in duty
So hear our song sung with spirits strong
We the girls of CBN today
The youth of tomorrow, we promise to be true
For CBN, we love you.
- English Lyrics by Eileen Lau
Malay Version
CBN
Sinar bintang hidupku
Bercahaya di sanubari
Sering bergemerlapan
Pancar sinar untuk semua.
CBN
Ingatan'kan bersemi
Kerana kau penyuluh hidup
Tunjukkan harapan teguh
CBN,bintang abadiku.
Dengarlah suara semangat waja
Kami insan CBN kini
Teruskan cita dan usaha
Tulus dengan fadilah, azam dengan bakti
Dengarlah suara semangat waja
Kami insan CBN kini
Bakal pemudi harapan negara
Kerana CBN kau tercinta.
- Bahasa Malaysia lyrics by Puteri Zalina [14]
SMK CBN believes that active societies are the training field for leadership. Each has an adviser staff member, but initiative, implementation and decision- making are left to the students. Given the scope to experiment, succeed or fail and thus gain valuable experience, CBN's clubs reflect the broad interest of the girls. They form the means of linking school and society.
The traditional body of prefects is responsible for the establishment of greater discipline among the students. Prefects also monitor the cleanliness of the school and make sure the girls observe the 'no littering, no loitering' rule. Prefects on duty at morning assembly, tuckshop and afternoon sessions learn the value of monitoring peers "without fear or favor'. SMK CBN practices a truly democratic process by which prefects are elected by the students. All candidates are allowed to campaign with posters, slogans and campaign speeches. Voting then took place after a period of campaigning by secret balloting.
The Head Girls of CBN Secondary School
1956 Sim Hooi Guat
1958 Lalitha Raj
1959 Wynne Gow
1960 Monica Yoong (First elected Head Girl)
1962 Josephine Ayudurai
1963 Tan Mei Ling
1964 Patricia Tan
1965 Hung Hin Ping
1966 Ho Sook Yin
1967 Elaine Morais
1968 Khoo Gaik Hong
1969 Ng Bee Nor
1970 Lim Gim Kim
1971 Yvonne Antoine
1972 Jasmine Kandiah
1973 Woo Sook Yee
1975 Ambiga Sreenevasan
1976 Jessie De Bruyne
1977 Pushparani Moothatamby
1978 Virginie Peterson
1979 Christiane Goonting
1980 Vickneswari Ayadurai
1981 Suja Anne Joseph
1982 Sita Subramony
1983 Caroline Marie Ghanu
1984 Ng Cheng Yii
1985 Harjit Kaur
1986 Loo Goong Meng
1987 Sharina Intan Abdullah
1988 Man Kein Seong
1989 Karen Kaur Bal
1990 Maimunah Ahmad
1991 Ngeow Swee Jian
1992 Lim Yen Hsia
1993 Seah Su Ying
1994 Choo Pei Ping
1995 Koh Siew Ling
1996 Yeow Pooi Ling
1997 Rebecca Jeyanthi Selvaraj
1998 Lim Pek Yen [16]
Originally called the Past Pupils Association, the first meeting was on Saturday 12 June 1951. About 140 old girls elected Mrs. T. H. Ho as the President, Mrs. D. Martin as Vice President, Miss Yvonne Pun as Secretary and Miss Cho Seen Chok as Treasurer. Their first activity was the organization of the Mammoth Fun Fair on 4 August 1951 to raise funds for the Science Laboratory and Domestic Science Class. Somewhat defunct now as an Association, individual Old Girls now help the School in their personal capacity. Thereby continuing the tradition of steadfast duty to Convent Bukit Nanas.[17]
The school magazine, Marguerite, is published annually. The first edition was published in 1968.
Being editor-in-chief of the Marguerite is indeed an honor. A list of former editors-in-chief follows.
1968 - Bernadette Choi 1972 - Fracesca Lee 1975 - Sara Ahmad 1976 - Jessie De Bryune Hayati Abdullah 1977 - Roslina Ariff 1979 - Norraha Abdul Rahman 1981 - Azlina Ahmad 1982 - Elizabeth Yap Mariella Puerto 1983 - Liew Su - lin Azlina Aziz 1984 - Rekha Naraindas 1986 - Ku Yun Chet Rozita Omar 1987 - Tong Lai Ling Anita Daud 1988 - Kunaveni Durairajanayagam 1989 - Kunaveni Durairajanayagam 1990 - Jacqueline Foo Su - Ling Pauline Lim 1991 - Tan Sui Lim Azrinawati bt. Yunus 1992 - Norarliza Nadzri 1993 - Jennifer H. Rusdi 1994 - Nitya Kalyani 1995 - Janice Oh 1996 - Lalitha Paul 1997 - Ann Azix bt. Abdul Aziz 1998 - Jocelynn Liu Wye Tynn 1999 - Seah Sook Leen 2000 - Dharmini Thuraisingam 2001 - Christine Chan Pui Ling 2002 - Amy Koid Ern Chze 2003 - Lee Wen Xin, Vivienne 2004 - Rebecca Lim Sim Ming 2005 - Loh Wai Yen 2006 - Nuraini Daud Ali 2007 - Sheela Ratnam 2008 - Renee Ewe Ai Li
The Centenary Book Committee
The Centenary Book is the culmination of many months of research. Without fail, the Centenary Book Committee were motivated to produce this Centenary Book- as a tribute to the Sisters and Teachers who taught them to read and appreciate poetry, to reason and to count their blessings. For the Sisters and the Teachers, the Committee turned to libraries and archives to uncover information that would help place the School in its proper historical perspective. The Committee wrote to, faxed, telephoned hundreds of old girls- from Hong Kong to Australia to England to the United States of America- asking them to cull schoolgirl photographs from their albums.[18]
(Lembaga Pengelola Sekolah Menengah Convent Bukit Nanas)
With Merdeka, there came a major overhaul of the education system. In the move to integrate the various school traditions into a single national school system it was recognized that there was something beneficial, even highly enriching within particular school traditions, such as the Convent Schools.
School Boards were introduced following the recommendation of the Razak Report of 1956. They were given extensive powers- from the hiring and firing of teachers, supervision of school finances and administration of Mission Property. The Board was made up of three representatives each from the Mission, parent body and the local education office and past students.
While the new Boards worked to safeguard Mission interests, they represented a radical change from the traditional administration model under which the Reverend Mother Principal had full control, answerable to her Provincial and the local Education Officer.
Chairpersons
1958- 1966 Reverend Mother Francis Xavier
1966- 1976 Sister Denis
1976- 1998 Sister Brede Forde
1998- Dr. Indrani Manuel [19]
(Yang Di- Pertua Persatuan Ibu- Bapa dan Guru- Guru Sekolah Menengah Convent Bukit Nanas)
1973- 1974 Professor Ahmad bin Mohd Ibrahim
1974- 1976 Mr Joseph Liew
1976- 1978 Yang Arif Tun Azmi bin Mohamed
1978- 1979 Yang Arif Dato' Azmi bin Kamarrudin
1979- 1983 Yang Arif Tan Sri Datuk Hj Mohd Salleh bin Abas
1983- 1984 Dr Ariffin bin Mohd Ismail
1984- 1985 Encik Mohtar Abdullah
1985- 1987 Yang Arif Tan Sri Datuk Abdul Hamid bin Hj Omar
1987- 1989 Yang Arif Dato' Mohtar Abdullah
1989- 1990 Yang Berbahagia Datin Naimah Sulaiman Hasbi
1990- 1993 Yang Berbahagia Puan Sri Dr. Rohana Zubir
1993- 1994 Tuan Haji Sulaiman bin Hj Mohd Yusof
1994- 1997 Yang Arif Justice Dato' K.C. Vohrah
1997- Yang Arif Justice Dato' T. Selventhiranathan [20]
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