REPRESENTING DAD: Vincent Lau (left) shares a moment with Sia Sze Hung, daughter of the late Joseph Sia Ming Moi, at a reunion dinner for Sacred Heart and St Elizabeth's. Looking on is Robert Lau.
SIBU: The completion of a new school block will enable SMK Sacred Heart to return to conducting single session classes as in the days of old.
Currently, classes are held in the morning and afternoon to accommodate the increasing student population.
Chairman of the school’s development committee, Temenggong Vincent Lau announced on Saturday during an old students’ reunion night for Sacred Heart and St Elizabeth’s that afternoon classes would be closed when the new school block comprising 24 classrooms, two science labs and two
lecture rooms got completed next year.
“The RM4 million new block will change the face of not only Sacred Heart School but SMK St Elizabeth after the expansion of the two mission schools commenced some years back.”
He hoped former students working outstation who returned home would drop in to feel the change in the school environment.
“Even those who have not been home, I believe have heard of the major changes at the two schools.”
Lau said the school still lacked funds for expansion so hoped former students would chip in to complete the project.
The school reunion last Saturday night was co-hosted by former students of both schools.
Chairman of Sacred Heart Old Students’ Association, Robert Lau said this was the first time former students of both schools co-hosted the event.
“We used to host individual annual dinners but from now on, we shall co-host the event.”
Lau said they would fix next year’s dinner for March 30, before the Ching Ming Festival, when locals working outstation would be home to pay homage to dead ancestors.
The chairman paid tribute to Catholic missionaries — the Mill Hill priests and the La Salle brothers — who ran the school for nearly a century since 1901.
“From this gathering, we feel those taught by the religious order were more patriotic towards the school. We concluded this was because of the dedication of these missionaries.”
He said the class of 1962 was still hosting their own reunion.
“The students who are granddads now are coming with their grandchildren. This is the spirit that holds the school together.”
The old students’ chairman said they would set up a mini museum for the school from old photographs and other school items collected.
“We shall create an archive of these photographs so those who return to visit the school can walk down memory lane.”
Among the contributors was former school lab assistant Chew Chong Hui, who had taken and collected thousands of photographs.
Meanwhile in her speech as chairperson of St Elizabeth’s Old Students Association, Teresa Lau said their association was formed in the 80s to bring former students together.
She said they used to present gifts to teachers who were retiring, and study awards to students who excelled in academics.
Lau said former students of both schools were proud of their schools’ achievements.
At the dinner, Vincent presented a souvenir to Sia Sze Hung, whose late father Joseph Sia Ming Moi, a member of the Old Students’ Association, had contributed to the association and school.