Anticipating a fun fund-raising celebration!

 

When a photograph of that cuddly teddy bear was posted on Facebook, dressed in an outfit that resembled the Convent school uniform of a Blue box-pleated pinafore matched with a short-sleeve White blouse, the feed in the Comments section quickly filled up with responses like, “So cute,” “Is this for sale?” and “How to buy this cutie?”

 

Teddy bear dressed in the
Convent school uniform

Posted in the Facebook page for the Convent Johor Bahru 100^th Year Celebration, this photo garnered much interest probably because this outfit triggered off pangs of nostalgia among alumni who fondly remembers the original Convent school uniform.

 

In 1951, uniforms were introduced for Convent students in the country, distinguished by a smart Blue box-pleated pinafore worn with a White short-sleeve blouse and belted at the waist, teamed with White canvas shoes and socks.

 

To the Chinese, students of the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus in Johor Bahru were simply known as, larm kwan, a Cantonese phrase meaning, Blue skirts.

 

Speaking of skirts, we observed from vintage photographs that the length of the belted uniform skirts ended somewhere at calf-length. As years passed and fashion trends changed, the length of the skirts reduced to knee-length. By the late 1960s, uniform skirt lengths further reduced to match the prevailing trend of mini-skirts.

 

Convent students proudly donned their school uniforms that were distinctly different from the school uniforms of the other all-girls school in Johor Bahru, known as the Green skirts. To many – by comparison – the Blue skirts were considered elite.

 

This teddy bear in Convent school
uniform was posted on Facebook

Then in 1971, the HIJ Convent identity in the Blue uniform was replaced by the common pinafores introduced by the Ministry of Education for Primary and Secondary schools.

 

So the sight of this cute and cuddly teddy bear wearing a version of the original school uniform, created quite a stir among alumni who clearly missed their old uniform and had a string of curious questions about how to get one of their own.

 

I learnt that among the items planned for the 100-Year Anniversary celebration of the Convent school in Johor Bahru were a fund-raising celebration dinner, the Convent Fun-Run, Centenary Celebration T-Shirts with design versions for students as well as for adults/alumni and a 100-Year Anniversary Souvenir Book.

 

The sale of the tickets to this grand dinner celebration, the Fun-Run, T-shirts and the Souvenir Book, all aim to raise funds that will go towards the school’s maintenance projects.

 

I recall that fund-raising has always been a tradition in the Johor Bahru Convent and the school was where I learnt to “buy Raffle,” an activity which entailed buying a ticket as a form of charitable fund-raising.

 

As Secondary school students learned to cook and bake in Home Science classes, Upper-Secondary classes took turns to host Food Sales and used to compete against each other to raise the highest sums that would go towards the school fund.

The Convent school fund-raising tradition continues to live on for the 100-Year Anniversary celebrations, in an effort to raise funds that will go towards much-needed repairs and replacements in the school’s old buildings, fixtures and fittings.

 

Then I found out that buying a ticket for the Raffle – at the dinner event – will be another way to contribute towards the school fund with a chance to win that cute teddy bear dressed in the school uniform, in not one but two opportunities.

 

Raffle tickets, priced at RM5 each or RM50 per booklet of tickets, will be sold at the celebration dinner for the alumni to win and take home these teddy bears.

 

But that was not all. In addition to the top prizes of the two teddy bears wearing the original Convent school uniform, there are more teddy bears to win.

 

But at this point, I must leave you in suspense. Suffice to say that these teddy bear prizes will certainly evoke nostalgia and pride in the timeless Convent spirit.

 

Presenting the mockup book to
Mrs O and Mrs A Y Lim for review

Recently, when Sunita S Sothi and I met with the two former teachers who represent the Convent Association of Past Pupils (CAPP) to let them review the mock-up version of the 100-Year Anniversary Souvenir Book.

 

It was the first time that Mrs O and Mrs A Y Lim saw the book, complete with its cover designed in solid Blue and White colours that are reminiscent of the Blue and White uniforms introduced in 1951 as a proud identity for Convent students in the country.

 

We explained that these classic colours honour the memory and glory days when Convent students were proudly distinguished by a smart Blue box-pleated pinafore worn with a White short-sleeve blouse and belted at the waist, teamed with White canvas shoes and socks.

 

A series of class photos that run from the
front cover to the back that reflects a sense of
continuity, integrity, education and progress

The Convent school uniform has evolved over the past 100 years, depicted in the series of vintage to modern class photographs that run in a continuous band, flowing from front cover to the back that reflects a sense of continuity, integrity, education and progress.

 

Simply titled, - Not just education, but a proud legacy - this Souvenir Book to commemorate the 100-Year Anniversary of the Infant Jesus Convent in Johor Bahru presents a glimpse into how the school had impacted lives as alumni share personal anecdotes on how they were shaped by the education they received and inspired by the Sisters, teachers and school experiences.

 

As this book was presented to the two teachers, page-by-page, we were pleased to observe their receptive attitude and agreed that with more time, more could be done. But with the limited time to get the book ready before the celebration events planned for August, this was deemed a very good effort.

 

Paper napkin at Pekin Restaurant

Before the discussion moved on to the procedure to order and pay for the books, Mrs Lim said that a date was fixed for a food-tasting lunch of the menu arranged for the celebration dinner held at the Pekin Daiman 18 Restaurant and that we were cordially invited to join the CAPP team for this.

 

Pekin Daiman 18, as its name suggests, is located within the Daiman Golf Club in Taman Johor Jaya, not to be mistaken for the other Pekin Restaurant in Johor Jaya.

 

We were delighted to accept, so when Sunita and I headed there for the food-tasting lunch, it was easy to see that Pekin Daiman 18 was located within a fenced area and the restaurant was linked to the golf clubhouse.

 

Having attended several events hosted here, I am familiar with the carparking facilities located adjacent to the banquet hall and in anticipation of the dinner event planned for August 30, I would encourage alumni to carpool. This will free up more space in the carpark and save you (precious!) time that could be better shared with former schoolmates.

 

A serving of the Five Combination Cold Dish

It was good to meet with members of the CAPP organizing committee at the food-tasting lunch with an opportunity to discuss further details about the dinner event. Except for former teachers, Mrs O, Mrs A Y Lim and Pn Emilda, I was only familiar with our Book Team members present here.

 

In the course of conversation, it was interesting to discover the many generations of IJ Convent Johor Bahru alumni who were working together in this organizing committee – former students with former teachers – with a shared history in the school.

 

Pekin is an established Chinese banquet restaurant brand with outlets opened in various locations in Johor Bahru while the Pekin Daiman 18 restaurant caters to a wider clientele and serves a Muslim-friendly menu of Chinese dishes.

 

A traditional broth made with
vegetarian sharks' fins

In the tradition of Chinese banquets, the menu started with a serving of a Five-Combination Cold Dish that comprised four warm items and one fresh salad. This was followed by soup, a traditional broth made with (vegetarian) Japanese sharks' fins, best savoured with a splash of dark vinegar and a dash of white pepper.

 

The menu continued with servings of dishes for a whole fish, whole roasted chicken, prawns, vegetables and flavoured Rice wrapped in Lotus Leaves. The meal ended sweetly with refreshing dessert of chilled Lemon Jelly with Lychee fruits.

 

As we enjoyed the food and fellowship over lunch, my thoughts strayed to that coming evening on August 30 when the restaurant will replicate this menu for the almost-100 banquet tables arranged for the school’s 100-Year Anniversary celebration dinner.

 

In addition to the Raffle draw where the cute teddy bears were the coveted prizes, there will be live music and dance entertainment presented in an interesting programme.

 

We know that whenever former schoolmates meet again, there will be so much chatting and catching-up with each other, that (I guess!) many may not pay much attention to the menu that was being served. Considering all the exciting activities being lined up, I can safely conclude that it will be an evening when, “It’s not about the food but it will be all about the fellowship.”

 

Let's go Back-to-School!

In fact, there will be a photo booth as well as a video booth for alumni to capture special photos and create unique videos with their former schoolmates, teachers and friends.

 

Also do come prepared with your e-wallets as cashless payments are encouraged for the purchase of the Centenary Celebration T-shirts and the Limited Edition, 100-Year Anniversary Souvenir Books.

 

While many alumni will be coming from abroad as well as from outstation to join the dinner celebration in Johor Bahru on the evening of August 30, there is no better way to spend that morning than to have a walk-about together in the school. Agree?

 

Discussions are on-going about the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for a safe and orderly Back-to-School visit on August 30 morning. So please WAIT for more details that will be shared closer to that date. Meanwhile, get your gang together for breakfast that morning with a plan to head over to the school for that proverbial, Walk Down Memory Lane. Happy 100^th Anniversary IJ Convent Johor Bahru!