Calling all Convent Johor Bahru alumni...

 

“Here’s a rousing cheer for our Convent dear, in fair Johor Bahru…” This simply sounds familiar to alumni of the Johor Bahru Convent school because it is the first line of the School Song.

 

The last time I quoted this familiar line was in January 2022 in a blog post to document a meeting with Mrs. A. Oliveiro in her home to verify information about the Johor Bahru Convent school in my manuscript.

 

My story about the school was documented in My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the third installment that completed the trilogy of My Johor Stories, a book that was launched in December 2022.

 

Mrs O was my go-to-person to discuss about the school as she is the Chairperson of the Secondary School Board and also the Chairperson of the Convent Association of Past Pupils (CAPP).

 

Aerial view of the Johor Bahru Convent, 1970's

Also present at this meeting were Elizabeth Anne Louis, Chairperson of the Primary School Board and fellow alumnae, Yvonne Loh, a Member of the Secondary School Board of Governors.

 

Our appointment was delayed due to the Covid-19 global pandemic and lockdowns, so it was significant that we had the opportunity to finally have a physical meet-up.

 

Meanwhile, I was already aware of a fund-raising initiative to help the school with necessary repair and replacement projects. The building was old and over the lockdown years, the premises had fallen into a sad state of disrepair. So this meeting was also an opportunity to discuss about these maintenance projects in detail.

 

After my manuscript was reviewed, I learnt more about the depressing condition of the school building, particularly in the Primary School, premises that were virtually left abandoned during the long periods of lockdown in the past two years.

 

As I listened to the dire needs outlined in the discussion, I decided to join Mrs O and Elizabeth on a visit to the school to see the situation before writing an appeal for funds.

 

“At our lofty building on the hill

Where Malaysian sunshine smiles…”

 

Wooden windows [Right] were being 
replaced in December 2024

When we arrived at the school on that unforgettable morning, the above familiar lines in our School Song simply did not ring true because the building looked forlorn in the persistent monsoon rain.

 

With funds slowly trickling in an on-going fund-raising process, it was encouraging to see the school premises gradually being upgraded step-by-step, from electrical wiring systems, deep cleaning, repairs and replacements.

 

I regularly pass the school on my way to the city and often stop to look at that lofty building on the hill to see the changes to its façade but one thing remains consistent – the grandeur of the old building with its landmark marble sculpture – carefully preserved through generations.

 

When the sculpture of the Virgin Mary was refurbished in 2007, it was covered by a glass casing to protect the marble sculpture from the elements.

 

The wooden windows have been replaced
by glass panel windows

In December 2024, I observed that the upstairs wooden windows – that were literally falling off its hinges – were being replaced by glass-panel windows.

 

Recently, I was pleased to see from the building façade that the job was completed and all the upstairs windows have already been replaced.

 

Just like many of our alumni, generations in the family, ranging from grandmothers and mothers to aunts, cousins and sisters, all share a common bond of enjoying an education in the only Convent school in Johor Bahru.

 

While I was contributing Johor news in the mainstream media, I had the privilege to publish pieces about the school and some teachers, often in cover and centerspread features.

 

Plaque in front of the school with
the present-day school badge design

One of the earliest features, published in October 2008, shared my experience of witnessing the school’s annual Christmas pageant. I can recall how we used to start to practice singing Christmas carols as early as October and that students of all races enjoyed taking part in this annual event.

 

In 2012, I was in the school again, not for any fun event but to witness an extremely serious dialogue between relevant people concerning the proposal to relocate the Convent Primary School to Iskandar Puteri, a district then known as Nusajaya.

 

Parents, teachers and students heaved a huge sigh of relieve when the Johor Sultan, His Highness Sultan Ibrahim, stepped in to say the final word that the Johor Bahru Convent will remain where it is.

 

Fast-forward to 2025 which marks 100 years since the Johor Bahru Convent was established on a piece of land gifted by then Johor Ruler, Sultan Sir Ibrahim and his consort, Sultanah Rogayah, to build the school at Jalan Yahya Awal in Johor Bahru.

 

School Motto on the school badge
in its original design

From its inception in 1925, the Johor Bahru Convent has been blessed by Johor Royal support to run a school that not only provides academic but an all-round education to mould and mentor young girls into confident ladies who can successfully contribute to the community. 

 

To celebrate the school’s 100^th anniversary, a series of activities are lined up to bring the alumni together, if not possible physically – due to distance – but virtually through social media.

 

Dubbed the Convent Johor Bahru 100^th Celebration, alumni are invited to join the official Facebook social media page by the same name to stay updated on the activities happening throughout the year.

 

Among the activities planned is a Reunion Dinner with members of the Convent Association of Past Pupils (CAPP) and school alumni. This dinner will be hosted for 100 banquet tables at Restaurant Pekin Daiman 18, Johor Jaya, on August 30, 2025.

 

The school's iconic sculpture of
Virgin Mary was refurbished and
protected within a glass case

Tickets are rapidly being taken up while a few tables are still available. Ticket bookings are welcome through the official Facebook page.

 

It will be pretty unique for multi-generational alumni to participate in the Centenary Celebrations so do not hesitate to share this with your family and friends.

 

One of the souvenirs planned for this celebration is the publication of a 100^th Anniversary coffee table book that documents interesting information about the school through the years with sections for Memories and a Photo Gallery.

 

Work on the manuscript is in rapid progress and alumni are invited to contribute Memories about:

 

1] Your experience with Principals and Teachers that highlights the teachers and principals who have impacted your lives and to shine the light on how they have nurtured students. And/or,

2] An interesting experience in the school – your own or what you saw – that inspired you on a career choice or inculcated a moral value that you still apply to this day in your work and family.

 

Memories of 500 to 700 words max should be sent as attachments in a Word document by email with your Full name and Form Five year.

 

If you have clear photographs that capture fond memories of schooldays in the Johor Bahru Convent, do submit your photos with brief caption with date/year that describe contents of the photos.

 

Photos should be sent as attachments by email in .jpg format with your Full name and Form Five year, for photos to be credited to you.

 

Please submit your contributions by email to: write2jbconvent@gmail.com

Due to a very tight work schedule, submissions must be received strictly, on or before 10 May 2025.

 

Now turn back the pages of your mind for fond Memories and dig through your photo albums to find interesting Photos captured in your schooldays.

 

This 100^th Anniversary coffee table book will be sold as a souvenir and valuable collectible to raise funds that will go towards the school maintenance projects.

 

Feel free to share this with Johor Bahru Convent alumni in your contact list as we welcome alumni contributions from every generation to be a part of this 100-Year Anniversary souvenir book.

 

Together, we can make the 100^th Anniversary celebration of the Johor Bahru Convent a meaningful and memorable milestone in the school’s history.