| St. George's Girls' School | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam (If There's a Will, There's Always a Way) |
| Established | 1884 |
| Type | Public (Premier School) |
| Principal | Shariffah Afifah Syed Abbas |
| Students | ±1300 |
| Location | Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia |
| Colors | Red, White |
| Website | http://www.smkpstgeorge.edu.my/ |
St. George's Girls' School, is a premier secondary school for girls located at Jalan Macalister, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. Established in 1884, the school currently caters to approximately 1300 students from Form 1 to Form 6 (Ages 13 to 19). The abbreviated name for the school is SGGS with the pupils known as Georgians.
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The St. George's Girls' School (or SGGS), nowadays known as SMK (Perempuan) St. George in Malay (or SMKPSG), is a school for girls founded by Anglican missionaries. St. George's Girls' School traces its history to informal classes conducted by Mrs. Biggs, wife of Reverend L.C. Biggs, the Anglican missionary in Penang, Malaysia. At that time, classes were held at their home called "The Manse", located at Farquhar Street.
Mrs. Biggs taught for a year before a formal school was established for girls. It was named after St. George, the patron saint of English, whose name is often used throughout the British Empire for schools and churches established by Anglican missionaries. The first classes were held on 7 January 1885, and the school headmistress was Miss R.A. Shackleford.
In the early days of St. George's Girls' School, the pupils mostly come from well-to-do families. They often come to class on trishaws, shielded from public view by a curtain, ferried right up to the school entrance. In those Victorian age, it was considered indecent for unmarried ladies - especially those of well-to-do families - to be seen in public. While in exile, Sun Yat-Sen brought his family to Penang and so his daughters Sun Yan and Sun Wan attended the school in 1910-11.
In 1888, a bungalow was constructed next to the reverend's residence, and classes were relocated there. The building, now in a dilapidated state, is still standing, next to E&O Hotel. In 1909, the British government took over the running of the school, and renamed it Government Girls' School. In 1916, the government attempted to turn Government Girls' School into a co-educational school, but the idea was shortlived.
In 1920, the school was handed back to the Anglican church, at which time it reverted to its original name of St. George's Girls' School. With further expansion and student intake, the school relocated to new premises along Northam Road (Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah). In 1954, it moved to its present location on Macalister Road.
Iris G.J. Parfitt, who was principal of St. George's Girls School from 1946 to 1949, had taught at the school before the Japanese Occupation. Interned at Changi Jail and Sime Road Camp, she was made chairman of the entertainment committee. Her collection of watercolours and pen-and-ink drawings produced while in prison were published in 1947 under the title Jail-Bird Jottings. The Straits Times acclaimed it 'far the best record of the internment that has yet been published'.
The St. George's Girls' School emblem is a red crest of St. George on a horse slaying a dragon, as painted by Gustave Moreau. It is coloured in red and white, which are the two colours of the school. Red represents bravery while white is for purity. On the top part of the emblem writes the name of the school in Malay, Sek. Men. Keb. (P) St. George, while at the bottom of the emblem writes the motto of the school, Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam (If There's a Will, There's Always a Way). Pulau Pinang is the state where the school is located in Malaysia.
The SGGS emblem can be seen almost everywhere around the school, as well as on the students' exercise books, lab books, sports shirt etc. It is a school regulation that the students of SGGS must have the school emblem pinned on their school uniforms. This is to show acknowledgement and honour that the students belong to SGGS.
SGGS School Anthem
Seniors and juniors all gathered here,
Together we march on without a fear,
Goodwill and happiness we want to spread,
Every day's a challenge let's go right ahead.
Onwards we move towards the light,
Resolved are we to face the fight,
Giving our best from day to day,
If there's a will, there's always a way.
Around the bends of life we'll have to turn,
Near and far fond thoughts will always burn.
St. George's, St. George's,
We'll ever proclaim,
Honour and uphold you,
Forever praise your name,
St. George's, St. George's,
We'll always be true,
Our dear St. George's Girls' School.