Convent Datuk Keramat

Convent Datuk Keramat 槟城柑仔园修道院
Address
421, Jalan Dato Keramat George Town, Penang, Malaysia, 10150 Malaysia
Coordinates	5°24′43″N 100°19′4″E / 5.41194°N 100.31778°E / 5.41194; 100.31778
Information
School type	All-girls Chinese-language primary and secondary school
Motto	Chinese: 纯朴于德行, 勇毅于任务 (Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty)
Religious affiliation(s)	Christian
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Established	1935 (Primary) 1947 (Secondary)
Founder	Rev. Mother Tarcisius
School code	PEB1098
Chairman	Mr. Lee Boon Hoe (李文和先生)
Head of school	Miss Chia Lay Lay (谢丽丽女士)
Grades	Standard 1 - 6 Form 1 - 6
Gender	Female
Average class size	35 students
Classrooms	38
Song	我们珍惜光阴，服从格言，我们皈依贞洁，广播真诚种子，啊！真诚赋予勇敢，我校庇荫幸福，快快乐乐渡此日。我们永离污俗，供奉我圣，我们心怀慈爱，化虚伪为贞洁，啊！贞洁鼓励向前，我校启迪智慧，欢欢喜喜祝万年。
Athletics conference	3
Feeder schools	SJK (C) Convent Datuk Keramat SMJK Convent Datuk Keramat
Affiliation	Ministry of Education (Malaysia)
Website	SMJK Convent Datuk Keramat Homepage

Convent Datuk Keramat (Chinese: 槟城柑仔园修道院) is a school located in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. The school^[1] is an all-girls Chinese school with primary and secondary school within the same compound. The Primary School is one of the 40 Convent primary schools in Malaysia while the Secondary School is one of the 30 Convent secondary schools in Malaysia. Among these schools, there are only 3 Chinese schools in Peninsular Malaysia, namely one in Penang, one in Ipoh and one in Malacca. (all with Primary and Secondary Schools)

Location

SRJK (C) and SMJK Convent Datuk Keramat is situated at 421, Dato Keramat Road, 10150 Georgetown, Penang.

The geographical coordinates of the school is 5N 24' 43.00", 100E 19' 4.00" or N 5.4119444, E 100.31777777777778 in decimal degree.

History

The school of Convent Datuk Keramat was founded by Rev. Mother Tarcisius on 14 January 1935. Rev. Mother Tarcisius believed that education should not be limited to English only but should be provided according to the needs of the society. Hence the school was opened as the Convent Chinese School with 12 kindergarten and primary students at a house in Dato Keramat Road. Within six months, the number of students increased to 75 and was split to 3 classes. The teachers at the time were Sr. St. Henry, Sr. St. Agnes and Ms. Chang Zhi Qing (Chinese: 张志清女士).^[2]

In 1938, the school bought a building which became no. 421, Dato Keramat Road of today. By 1940, the school had 300 students. The school expanded the building of that time to 14 more classrooms to accommodate the increasing number of students and created classes for the students primary education.

In 1941, Japanese soldiers took over Penang and all Chinese schools were forced to close. After a tough 3 years and 8 months, World War II ended in 1945 and schools reopened. However, Convent Chinese School did not accept boys any more and became the all-girls school of today.

Front View of SMJK Convent Datuk Keramat secondary school from Datuk Keramat Road

In 1947, the school created a secondary school from some of the primary school building which is now known as SMJK Convent Datuk Keramat. Both schools shared the same compound and school canteen.

In 1950, the school introduced education in English and business subject classes.

In 1954, 12 classrooms were built behind the compound of the school for the use of the secondary school. It is then that the primary and secondary school administration was separated, and Sr. John of the Cross was given the administration of the secondary school.

In 1959, a multipurpose hall, art and living skills classrooms, secondary science classrooms and staff office were built. By then, the school had 1,200 primary students and 1,100 secondary students.

In 1976, the primary school old building since 1954 was refurbished to a three-storey centre block while the two-storey wing building remained unchanged.

In 1984, a four-storey building for the secondary school was added. The building houses a canteen, a larger multipurpose hall, more classrooms and a library. By this time, the secondary school had 1093 students, 57 teachers and 50 classrooms.

In 2007, the old double-storey secondary school building which was built in 1954 was demolished and reconstructed with a four-storey building that comprises a big meeting hall, a multi-purpose recreational activity area, 24 new classrooms, 8 science laboratories/cooking classrooms/social science classrooms.

In 2016, a new fifth level that comprises ten classrooms was added at the existing four-storey building. Two units of 15-passenger high-tech lifts were constructed between the two buildings. A new basketball/volleyball court with illuminations was also constructed in the middle of the Secondary School field.

School Logo

The school logo is of the Convents of the Infant Jesus. The symbolism of the badge is as relevant today as it has been over the centuries. We are proud to be linked to the thousands of girls of a different culture, age and time who have passed on to us a noble tradition. The centre of the badge with Chinese character of Convent in short form is red in colour. Red colour traditionally conveys the message of love. Each of us today has her own part to play, manually and intellectually in the creative work of building a harmonious world. The shield is surmounted by a five pointed golden star and encircled by a garland of Marguerites with our motto – SIMPLE IN VIRTUE, STEADFAST IN DUTY. This star is a shining and guiding light which encourages us to live up to the vision of our ideals and the five pointed star represents the five principles of the Rukun Negara:^[3] 

BELIEF IN GOD

LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY

UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION

RESPECT OF THE LAW

GOOD BEHAVIOUR AND MORALITY  

The garland of marguerites is symbolic of purity and simplicity towards God, our neighbours and ourselves. Our logo is therefore a mark of honour for it shows the characteristic spirit of the Infant Jesus Convent girls around the world.

Motto

Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty (Chinese: 纯朴于德行, 勇毅于任务)

Principals (Secondary School)

Chairpersons (Board of Governors Secondary School)

Co-curriculum

See also

• Education in Penang
• Convent school
• SMK Convent Bukit Nanas
• Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, Singapore

External links

• Official website

References

1. ↑ "SMJK CONVENT DATUK KERAMAT - PULAU PINANG - Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-04-09. 
2. ↑ "SMJK School Portal - SMJK CONVENT DATUK KERAMAT, PULAU PINANG". www.smjk.edu.my. Retrieved 2017-04-09. 
3. ↑ "Rukun Negara Club (KRN) | Official Portal of the Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN)". www.jpnin.gov.my. Retrieved 2017-04-09. 

Schools in Penang
This list is incomplete. Only notable all-day and full-time schools should be listed.
Northeast Penang Island District	Convent Datuk Keramat Chinese Taipei School Chung Ling High School Dalat International School Heng Ee High School Methodist Boys' School Methodist Girls' School Penang Chinese Girls' High School Penang Free School St. George's Girls' School St. Xavier's Institution Tenby International School Uplands International School
Southwest Penang Island District	MRSM Balik Pulau
North Seberang Perai District	MRSM Kepala Batas SMS Kepala Batas
Central Seberang Perai District	SMS Tun Syed Sheh Shahabuddin
South Seberang Perai District	MRSM Transkrian
Italic denotes the school is under construction.