JB Convent: An urgent appeal for funds

 

With the monsoon season upon us, the rain was pouring steadily in the morning of Jan 2. I had arranged to pick Chairperson of the Secondary School Board of Governors, Mrs A. Oliveiro to meet with Elizabeth Anne Louis, Chairperson of the Primary School Board of Governors, at the Johor Baru Convent.

 

Elizabeth Anne Louis and Mrs A. Oliveiro
reading the plaque on the front of the marble
sculpture, a gift from Sultan Sir Ibrahim 

“We will proceed with the school visit today,” I said in a WhatsApp message to Mrs Oliveiro and added, “With the rain, we should get a better idea of where the leaks are.”

 

“Yup! Waiting for you,” was her prompt reply.

 

When we met Elizabeth in the hall for the Primary School at Infant Jesus Convent Johor Baru, our eyes were riveted to the cascading waterfall that was spilling into a section of the hall, splashing onto the staircase, the hall and a nearby corridor.

 

Elizabeth explained that while the roof of this hall was recently replaced, it was a challenge to seal up the sides and links to the roofing of the adjacent buildings.

 

Elizabeth and Mrs Oliveiro
observing rain water spilling into
the hall for the Primary School

This waterfall effect was probably caused by the damaged concrete rainwater gutter in the adjoining old buildings that cannot cope with the deluge of rain flowing down the roof.

 

With new additions and extensions done on a piecemeal basis throughout the building, it was not easy to fix the joints and seal the spaces in between the roofs to render it rain-proof.

 

Elizabeth carefully walked up the staircase to observe the water’s path and expressed her concern that the wet floors and steps would endanger staff and students who used this staircase.

 

This hall was relatively ‘new’ because it was not here during my tenure in this school.

 

Over the years, almost every space in the compound was turned into useful rooms and halls to meet the needs of the school, with a recent addition of a multi-purpose hall built on the field close to the back gate.

 

The rain water splashes down into
the hall, staircase and corridor

The row of old classrooms, where I went to Standard One Green in the top right corner unit, was still in use. When I walked around the block to look at the back gate, I saw that a window in this class was open. The glass panel was gone but only its frame remained.

 

[The back gate was our entry and exit point when my sisters and I used to walk to school from where we lived at our grandfather’s house, No. 154 Jalan Ngee Heng.]

 

 

Elizabeth then took me upstairs to a ‘new’ section of the Primary School where polycarbonate sheets were installed on the sides of the staircases as shields from the rain. But the wind had already brought puddles of water into the open corridor.

 

On the opposite end of this corridor, the ceiling was broken and rain was dripping onto the corridor and lower staircase, again posing a danger to the staff and students.

 

Broken roofs and ceilings with 
rain water falling into corridors
and staircase below

We picked our way gingerly down this wet staircase to join Mrs Oliveiro who was ready to lead the way down to the carpark in the Primary School.

 

Along our way, I caught sight of a sign above a door that read, Galeri Sejarah with English translation, Convent Gallery, and paused to tell them about my visit here.

 

Then I spotted a nearby notice board for Buletin Sekolah or School Bulletin and was pleasantly surprised to see my centerspread story published in Johor Streets entitled, Precious artefacts preserved in the Convent Gallery, posted there.

 

Wow! The school had kept my story, still posted up since 2011.

 

As we continued on our way, Elizabeth stopped to show me a narrow corridor to our left where the roof was damaged and rainwater was dripping through its wet ceiling.

 

My 2011 story was still posted on notice board

While Mrs Oliveiro and Elizabeth made their way to the sewerage/septic tank area, I went to the carpark for a better view of the old tree and its position close to the bank of septic tanks.

 

From where I stood, I could see that the concrete built around the septic tank had a wide crack, which could have been caused by the widespread roots of this old tree.

 

This old sewerage system is a major issue and cause for concern, and needed to be properly assessed by sewerage professionals to advise on the best possible solution.

 

A wide crack on the concrete built around the
sewerage/septic tanks

From the carpark, we walked to the front porch where the marble sculpture still held its pride of place in the school’s façade – now safely enclosed in a glass case.

 

We read from the plaque affixed in front, that it was presented by Sultan Sir Ibrahim in the 1940s. The next lines below recorded that this sculpture was refurbished by the Convent Association of Past Pupils in 2007 and by the Class of 5 Helen in 2020.

 

Once again, I was encouraged by the strong Convent bond and the spirit of giving, where past and present students always had a place in their hearts for their alma mater.

 

The septic tanks [Foreground]
with the old tree nearby

While the JB Convent was established with a tradition for excellence, the school has now earned a prestigious reputation as a Cluster School in 2009 and a High-Performance School in 2012 for achievements in education and co-curricular activities and produced countless successful professionals whose skills and talents are contributing positively to society. 

 

Bolstered by these thoughts, I followed Mrs Oliveiro and Elizabeth, who led the way up the centre staircase in the Primary School, from where we used to call the parlour, to the chapel.

 

With each step I took, I was overcome with sadness as I observed how the steps were badly stained by bat droppings. As the buildings were left vacant for months, these stubborn stains seemed to be permanent even after washing and scrubbing.

 

Stubborn stains from bat droppings

This section in the Primary School which housed the chapel, was originally used as the living quarters for the nuns but when the last nuns here retired and left JB, this section was converted into classrooms and an art room. 

 

When Mrs Oliveiro turned on the lights in the chapel, it was the light switches which caught my attention. Next to the modern switches for the ceiling fans, these switches were ancient and definitely due for an upgrade.

 

They told me that since their last visit, the chapel and staircases had been cleaned so I did not get to witness the dreadful sight of months of bat dropping collected here.

 

These unwelcome guests have, however, left their footprints – or rather paw prints – distinctly seen on the chapel walls. The bat invasion here was not only unsightly but also very unhealthy.

 

Light switches from a bygone era

During the lockdown, these creatures had a free run of the chapel and upstairs classrooms (evident from their droppings!) and a solution must be found to keep them out.

 

In a walk through the other rooms that were once used as living quarters, we discovered that besides classrooms, some rooms were also used for Counselling and storerooms for old documents.

 

Some of the original windows had fallen off their rusted hinges and the other windows seemed to be on the verge of disintegrating. In many parts of the roof, plants had taken root and grown into the ceiling, walls and gutter pipes.

 

Plants have taken root in the roof and ceiling

From light switches to door knobs and windows, I was again reminded that this section was part of the original building which was almost 100 years old.

 

At the Secondary School, I saw that the space which used to be the bookshop (with the Audio-Visual Room located in the rear), was now the School Office. Emblazoned high on its wall was the school motto: Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty.

 

When we walked upstairs, we passed the staircase landing and saw posters, photographs and display cupboards that showcased trophies and souvenirs, along with samples of the school uniforms.

 

Mrs Oliveiro pointing to a sign that
warned, Awas Lantai Licin or
Caution Wet Floor

On Level One, we met with Principal, Puan Ande Noor Munawara, who escorted us to the areas in the corridor, Science Lab and rooms where rainwater would puddle from leaks in the roof.

 

She explained that as the classrooms on Level Two were bordered by an open corridor, bats could conveniently enter and exit, and leave their dropping on the walls, staircases and corridors.

 

Meanwhile, Mrs Oliveiro and I were curious to find out if the school uniform collection here included the original Blue uniform which once distinguished the proud identity of Convent students, and Pn Ande graciously showed it to us.

 

It was pure nostalgia to see this traditional Convent School uniform – a smart Blue box-pleated pinafore teamed with a white short-sleeve blouse and belted at the waist – that was worn with white socks and white canvas shoes.

 

Puan Ande and Mrs Oliveiro with
the traditional Convent Blue uniform

Over the years, many students have established a tradition in sending their children and grandchildren for a JB Convent education and in some families, up to five generations had received their education here.

 

As we made our way out of the school, I must confess that this tour of the premises had left me feeling depressed because it was not quite the way I remembered it.

 

In the past 90 over years, this old building had indeed been through a great deal. If its walls could speak, I am sure they would have many stories to tell…

 

In fact, during World War Two, the nuns were forced to leave when the school building was requisitioned by the military. When the war was over, the nuns returned and by 1948, the school was restored to its former grandeur. 

 

Members of the Primary and Secondary School Board of Governors, and the Parents-Teachers Association, are aware of the state of disrepair in the school and in on-going discussions to seek solutions in a concerted effort to rectify the issues that involved the buildings of both the schools. And for every task, funds are needed to meet these necessary expenses.

 

Door-knob on a door upstairs in
the Primary School

I saw the dire needs in our alma mater and am sharing my experience with you to encourage you to give generously towards this genuine need. We learnt in Peribahasa that, Sedikit-sedikit lama-lama menjadi bukit so any amount is welcome, as long it is a sincere response to the Call of Convent.

 

This call for financial support goes out to past and present students, well-wishers, corporations and generous benefactors, who are encouraged to contribute towards the appeal for RM1 million in funds to meet the estimated cost of restoration work required in the Primary and Secondary Schools.

 

Contributions (non-tax deductible) should be made in favour of the JB Convent Association of Past Pupils who would then disburse the required sums to the Board of Governors in the Primary and Secondary Schools for the necessary work.

 

Bank Account Name: Persatuan Bekas Penuntut Sekolah IJC JB

Maybank Account Number: 501123120629

Swift Code: MBBEMYKL

Reference (Transfer Slip): Convent Calls

 

Donors are required to send proof of online transfers by WhatsApp to the Treasurer, Ms Song Eng Fong at Tel: +6017 – 790 1530. Upon request, donations will be acknowledged with an Official Receipt.

 

A section of the chapel upstairs

In just three more years, the Johor Baru Convent would turn 100 years old, a most meaningful milestone event to share in detail, how benefactors have come alongside to help restore this heritage building to a measure of its former splendour as the school continues to provide quality education to girls and shape them into fine young women.

 

Stay in touch with updates that will be posted regularly on the JB Convent Association of Past Pupils’ official Facebook page. The Johor Baru Convent wishes to thank you in advance, for your kind generosity.

 

The Johor Baru Convent or SK Infant Jesus Convent Johor Baru (Primary School) and SMK Infant Jesus Convent Johor Baru (Secondary School) is located at Jalan Yahya Awal, 80000 Johor Baru, Johor.