Convent Bukit Nanas

Convent Bukit Nanas SMK Convent Bukit Nanas 咖啡山修道院女中
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, 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 13 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 7 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. ^{[citation needed]}

History

In 1899, the last year before the dawn of a new century, three Sisters of the Congregation of the Holy Infant Jesus stepped off the steamship anchored at Port Swettenham. It was 25 January 1899. Reverend Mother St Levine, accompanied by Sisters St Sabine and 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 insufficient room with Nonya Ah Yok. ^{[citation needed]}

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.^[1]

History

1899 The first principal, Reverend Mother St. Levine, was murdered. ^{[citation needed]} The murderer was founded dead in mysterious circumstances and police considered it as a murder-suicide. ^{[citation needed]}

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.

1902 5 November - The Inspector of Schools FMS, J. Driver, approved the syllabi for Hygiene and Geography.
11 December - The Acting British Resident visited the Convent and its grounds to inspect the 'ruins of inundation'.^[2]

1903 June - 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 Sisters Lawrence and Marie. Some 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)

1911 Mother St Matilde, revered founder of the HIJ Missions in Malaya, Singapore and Japan dies in Yokohama.^[4]

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 cared for orphans of whom there were 108 in the Convent at the present time.^[5]

1915 Chapel 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.

1922 Visit by Mother General St. Marguerite Mary, paying tribute to the Convent's Benefactor, Goh Ah Ngee, at the event officiated by Chief Secretary W E Maxwell.

1924 CBN's 25th Anniversary. Celebrations postponed until a year later. 700 pupils at the time.

1928 A new building to house the Klang Convent.^[6]

World War II (1941-1945)
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.^[7]

The End of War 1945
8 May The Sisters received confirmation of rumors that Germany had surrendered unconditionally to the Allied forces.
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.

1953 Science was introduced as part of the curriculum.

1957

• Rev Mother Xavier became headmistress.
• The art hall and laboratories were built.
• Economics was added to the curriculum.

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 current and previous headmistresses: 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. Sister 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" painted to commemorate the school's 85th anniversary.

1993 Mrs Vimala Mathews replaced Mrs Manuel upon the latter's retirement.

1999

• Both primary and secondary schools celebrated CBN’s 100th anniversary.
• The school band was founded.
• Mrs Alice George became Principal when Mrs. Vimala Matthews retired.

2004 Mrs Ann Khoo became principal upon Mrs George's retirement.

2008 Featured as one of four Premier Schools in commemorative stamps.

2009 CBN celebrates its 110th birthday.

2012 Mrs Mystrical Rose Frenandez succeeds Mrs Khoo

Location

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]

Architecture

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 Mothers and Principals

Reverend Mother St Levine February 1899-March 1899
Reverend Mother St Augustin 1900-1911
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 1993-1999
Mrs Alice George 1999-2004
Mrs Ann Khoo 2004-2011
Mrs Mystrical Rose Frenandez 2011-

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 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][12]

The Convent Creed

The School Badge and Motto
The 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.

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:

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 awareness of our duty to be of service to others.^[13]

School Song

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]

School clubs/societies

1. The Prefectorial Board
2. Sixth Form Council
3. Board of Librarians
4. School Career Guidance and Counseling Unit
5. The Co-operative Society
6. The Editorial Board (formerly known as the Magazine and Current Affairs Society)
7. Students Book Loan Scheme Society
8. Malay Language and Scrabble Society
9. English Language and Scrabble Society
10. Mathematics and Science Society
11. Cultural Club
12. Chinese Cultural Club
13. Indian Cultural Club
14. Catholic Society
15. Christian Fellowship
16. Islamic Youth Movement
17. Islamic Students Society
18. Red Crescent Society
19. The Rangers Society
20. English Literary, Debating and Drama Society
21. Music Society
22. School Cadets (Kadet Remaja Sekolah)
23. Police Cadets
24. Interact Club
25. Athletics Club
26. Tennis Club
27. Taekwando Club
28. Hockey and Hand Ball Club
29. Wushudao Club
30. Softball Club
31. Squash Club
32. Netball Club
33. Table Tennis Club
34. Badminton Club
35. Volleyball Club
36. Swimming Club
37. Quarter Masters Club
38. Living Skills and Recreation Club
39. Art Club
40. Photography Club
41. Chess Club
42. Inventors Club
43. Consumers Club
44. Computer and Internet Club
45. Cheer-leading Club
46. The School Choir
47. The School Band
48. Adele House
49. Aidan House
50. Pauline House
51. Xavier House ^[15]

The Old Girls' Association

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.^[16]

School Magazine

The school magazine, Marguerite, is published annually. The first edition was published in 1968. ^{[citation needed]}

The Centenary Book

The Centenary Book is the culmination of many months of research. 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, faxed, and telephoned hundreds of Old Girls (alumnae) - from Hong Kong to Australia to England to the United States of America - asking them to cull schoolgirl photographs from their albums.^[17]

The Board of Governors of Convent Bukit Nanas Secondary School

(Lembaga Pengelola Sekolah Menengah Convent Bukit Nanas)
With Merdeka, there came a major overhaul of the education system. School boards were introduced, following the recommendation of the Razak Report of 1956. They were given extensive powers; such as hiring and firing of teachers, supervision of school finances and administration of Mission Property. The Board comprised 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. ^{[citation needed]}

Chairpersons

1958-1966: Rev Mother Francis Xavier

1966-1976: Sister Denis

1976-1998: Sister Brede Forde

1998-present: Dr Indrani Manuel ^[18]

Presidents of the Parent- Teacher Association

(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 ^[19]

v t e Cluster Schools in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Methodist Boys' School St. John's Institution Technical Institute Kuala Lumpur Victoria Institution SMK Putrajaya Presint 8 (1) Johore English College Kedah Keat Hwa Secondary School (吉华国民型卓越华文中学) Sin Min Secondary School (新民国民型华文中学) Sekolah Menengah Teknik Alor Setar SMK Ibrahim Malacca SMK (A) Sharifah Rodziah Malacca High School Sekolah Menengah Sains Muzaffar Syah Negeri Sembilan King George V School SM Teknik Tuanku Ja'afar Sekolah Datuk Abdul Razak Penang Penang Free School SMK Bukit Jambul St. George's Girl School SMK (A) Al Mashoor Lelaki Jit Sin High School Chung Ling High School Penang Perak Ave Maria Convent Ipoh Malay College Kuala Kangsar Sabah Kota Kinabalu High School Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School (沙巴崇正中学) Sabah Science Secondary School Terengganu SMK Chukai SMK Mak Lagam SMK Bukit Mentok SMK Sultan Ismail SMK Seri Iman SMK Seri Geliga II Selangor SMK Bandar Puchong Utama Catholic High School (公教国民型华文中学) SMK Damansara Utama SMK (P) Sri Aman SMK Subang Utama Sekolah Menengah Sains Hulu Selangor SMK Damansara Jaya Pahang Sultan Abu Bakar School

References