Rebuilding SMK St Teresa
A labour of love to rebuild school, which has produced many Teresians over the last 133 years
SMK St Teresa and its ParentTeacher Association (PTA) recently held a Let’s Rebuild St Teresa Grand Dinner 2018 with more than 500 guests in attendance.
It was an entertaining evening for all but more than anything else, the dinner highlighted the plight of the staff and students of SMK St Teresa in Kuching, Sarawak. They have endured so much hardship and yet continue to strive tirelessly for the school they love. The 10th oldest school in Malaysia, St Teresa’s has been producing many successful Teresians for the past 133 years.
Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin attended the event on behalf of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Other guests included SMK St Teresa principal Mary John, PTA chairman William Suip, the Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Simon Poh, Board of Management chairman Thomas Huo and Old Teresians’ Association president Masnoon Bujang.
On Oct 29, 2016, the SMK St Teresa assembly hall was destroyed in a devastating fire, which left students and staff without a hall, a staff room, library, sewing room, Living Skills workshop, music room, counselling room, surau, printing room and toilets.
Since then, students and teachers have been forced to use makeshift classrooms and staff rooms.
Teaching and learning sometimes are in open spaces such as the pavilion in front of the convent called The Baruk, as well as the canteen and school courtyard. It has been a long journey from the time of the devastation to the beginning of the actual rebuilding process.
The two-phase project will cost an estimated RM8,227,391.40. Phase One will start on Dec 16 and is expected to be completed by December 2019.
The construction of a new four-storey building that will house the administration block, six classrooms, the library and two laboratories falls under Phase One. The estimated cost is RM3,831,795 and funding for Phase One was obtained through generous contributions from the Sarawak state government amounting to RM1.5mil, jogger- thon proceeds and donations from ex-Teresians and the public collected via the Old Teresians’ Association, Association of Wives of Ministers and Assistant Ministers of Sarawak and the PTA. The school raised funds through various activities. The total raised stands at RM3,290,559.44, which will go towards the construction of phase one.
Phase Two is expected to start in December 2019 subject to funding. The projected cost for Phase Two is RM4,936,831.96, which the school still needs to raise. To this end, the staff, students and other concerned parties have been working tirelessly to raise funds.
The Let’s Rebuild St Teresa Grand Dinner 2018 is one such event and the school and PTA successfully raised RM110,105 from ticket sales, an art auction, personal donations and proceeds from a photo booth. There was a much appreciated boost to this figure during the dinner when Manyin announced that the state government would be contributing RM500,000 to the rebuilding project. This brings the state government’s contribution to a total of RM2mil.
School spirit
The dinner was an opportunity for Teresians, past and present, to gather under one roof to mingle and reminisce.
Former principals Sister Sylvia Cheong, Molly Chong, Anna Dreba and several retired teachers of SMK St Teresa were treated like celebrities as they were asked to pose in one group photo after another.
Many were moved by the multimedia presentation, which highlighted the fire and its consequences.
It also showcased the hope and spirit of Teresians as they rose from the ashes to work as one to raise money to rebuild their school.
Students and staff of the primary and secondary schools and the SMK St Teresa Symphonic Band performed at the dinner.
For more information, visit https://www.smkstteresa.com/contact-us/ or e-mail yfb1203@ moe.edu.my.
Contributions to the school can be made to SMK St Teresa School Rebuilding Fund, RHB Bank account 21121200031620.