Our Souvenir Book, a precious memento

 

When The Star newspapers published a feature titled, Celebrating a century of sisterhood on Friday, September 5, the alumni’s social media pages were abuzz with the exciting update, “We are in the news!”

 

A page from The Star newspaper on 5 Sept 2025

An eye-catching photograph of several alumni of the IJ Convent Johor Bahru at the grand celebration dinner, looking into a copy of our 100-Year Anniversary Souvenir Book, was featured with this published piece by staff writer, Venesa Devi.

 

The Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus in Johor Bahru celebrates 100 years since its founding (1925 to 2025) and this milestone achievement was marked by several fund-raising activities.

 

In addition to the Convent Fun Run – which was open to the public – and the grand celebration dinner with the alumni, a limited edition Souvenir Book was published to commemorate the school’s centenary celebration.

 

Our Souvenir Book was presented
to Tuan Haji Mohd Hanafi Samad
at the Convent Fun Run event

These Souvenir Books were sold at the Fun Run and the school’s dinner celebration with proceeds going into the Convent Association of Past Pupils (CAPP) fund that will be channeled to undertake maintenance projects in the school.

 

Alumni who had pre-ordered their copies of the Souvenir Books were able to collect their orders from the Fun Run and dinner events.

 

During the Convent Fun Run, a copy of this Souvenir Book was presented to Director of Johor State Education Department, Tuan Haji Mohd Hanafi Samad, the Guest-of-Honour for this event.

 

Many walked-in to buy the books at these events while alumni based locally and abroad but who were unable to join the school events where the books were being sold or collected, placed their book orders online for delivery by courier service. They patiently waited for their book orders by delivery service soon after the dinner event.

 

A stack of our limited edition
100-Year Anniversary Souvenir Books

For generations, many families in Johor chose to send their children for further education in higher institutes of education located across the Causeway and after completing their studies, many chose to remain in the neighbouring country.

 

It is no different for some alumni of IJ Convent Johor Bahru, who decided to pursue an education and continued to live and work in our neighbouring country, Singapore.

 

We received a number of book orders from alumni who are based there and one of them, Grace Wong, graciously volunteered to help with the distribution.

 

When we thanked her for her help to send the Souvenir Books to addresses in Singapore, she replied, “Thank you for presenting and publishing this memorable book. We do our part for the school we love.”

 

Individually bubble-wrapped
books, ready to be dispatched

After the books were dispatched by courier service, one by one, the messages to acknowledge safe receipt of the Souvenir Books, trickled in.

 

When I replied and asked them to take a read and share their comments about the book, one said: “I’m sure it is good.”

 

It was reassuring to receive such an encouraging reply even before she opened the book but as more alumni responded to my request, I am able to share some of their comments here:

 

“Congratulations and big thank you to the Book Team and contributors for publishing this incredible book that captures 100 years of school history in a warm, friendly and fun way.

 

The arrangement of the book into the various sections was done in a meaningful way, some serious (A Legacy Begins) and some fun (Snippets). A remarkable achievement indeed! I thoroughly enjoyed reading and will want to read over and over again!”

 

Facade of IJ Convent Johor Bahru 
located at Jalan Yahya Awal, Johor Bahru

Snippets is a section in this Limited Edition, Souvenir Book created to share brief thoughts and memories shared by the alumni about their school experiences.

 

As no names were mentioned here, the snippets fearlessly shared here are honest and real, boldly voicing out true experiences – both funny and sad – that most alumni can readily relate to.

 

Another unique section of this Book is what we call, Convent School Jargon, a list of words and phrases that both students and teachers used during our schooldays.

 

For instance, when we read the phrase, “Your Sunday is longer than your Monday,” Convent School alumni will nod and smile, recalling the days of, Petticoat Raids and other strange/amusing rules and regulations we had to obey back in those good-old-bad-old schooldays.

 

Signboard next to the entrance to
IJ Convent Johor Bahru

“Oh! I read the Souvenir Book. Wonderful memories. Thank you and the Book Team for all your hard work and passion in the compilation and write-ups.”

 

She was referring to the collection of fond memories contributed by alumni featured under, Voices of Convent Johor Bahru, while the section on, Teachers who shaped us, are a collection of personal stories about experiences with the teachers/Sisters.

 

The pieces contributed by alumni those whose mothers were part of the teaching team while they were students in the same school, made good reading as we gained better insight about their unique relationships in and out of school.

 

“My daughter, Ashley, was very impressed with our Book. She even Googled some of the former students featured and made me sing the School Song.”

 

Photo shared as proof
that the book was safely
received

This was because our Souvenir Book featured, Luminaries of the Johor Bahru Convent, alumni who have established a reputation in the community while another section dubbed, Global Footprints, featured alumni who have settled in other countries and are making significant contributions in the communities they live in.

 

“Thank you very much for your help. I have received the two books. It’s absolutely lovely. Deeply appreciate that.”

 

“I have received the book yesterday in good condition, just as seen in the picture that I have attached. Thank you very much.” (She also attached a photo of the book!)

 

I was rather impressed with the courier service for deliveries from Johor Bahru to destinations like Kuala Lumpur and Penang because the books were received the very next day after dispatch.

 

A global brand courier service was used for deliveries to addresses abroad and when I asked for an estimated time when the packages may be received, I was told two days later. And exactly two days later, I received messages that acknowledged safe receipt.

 

Another photo as proof that the
books was safely received

An alumna from the Class of 1980, now based in the US replied, “Confirming that I received the two books today and eagerly opened to flip through and read them! Well done to the crew and team for a truly lovely walk down memory lane!”

 

On August 25, 2025, I received a message from Germany which (in part) read like this: “It’s with great enthusiasm that I write to inquire about purchasing a copy of the 100 Years of IJ Convent book.”

 

Through a series of email exchanges between us, I learnt that her grandmother was an alumna of the IJ Convent Johor Bahru during its early years, around circa 1939.

 

Upon her request, I dispatched her book order by courier to Germany and on September 19, I received her message with photos to let me know that she had safely received the package I sent from Johor Bahru.

 

So it was not just the alumni but families with links to the Johor Bahru Convent who consider our 100-Year Anniversary Souvenir Book as a precious keepsake to add to their collection of memories of a bygone era of education and sports, youthful adventures and career dreams, documented along with achievements and a proud legacy of the work of the 100-year-old IJ Convent in Johor Bahru.

 

Happy 100-Years Anniversary, IJ Convent Johor Bahru (1925 – 2025) with best wishes for greater heights of achievement in the next 100 years and beyond.