So one could say the theme for Year 1 of our blog was "Reconnection". The outcome was quite successful. We have linked more than 100 out of the cohort of 120.
George and others have recently been discussing how we can giving something back to our old school. The teachers and staff of St Joe have provided all of us a strong foundation for life, and for this we should be most grateful. Let's see if we can do our bit to ensure that present and future generations continue to enjoy all the good things that St Joe can provide.
When some of us visited the school on the morning of 23rd December, the day of our Grand Reunion, we had the opportunity to walk around the premises. There have been a number of changes - new blocks, auditoriums and other facilities (e.g. the gym). The external areas looked quite neat and well-maintained, with one notable exception.
We were a little taken aback by the interiors of some of the classrooms. Here's one of the photos I took of a classroom in the Form 4 and 5 block, which shows some of the deterioration ...
Some of the ideas we discussed included funding a renovation of certain classrooms, "adopting" a form perhaps, and getting involved in the upgrade of some of the school facilities. We should also take into consideration the learning needs of students in the digital age.
I'm sure you will contribute more ideas for us to discuss ...
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I totally agree, WJ.
ReplyDeleteWe do have some balance budget left over from the Grand Reunion, right? Can use this to start something maybe?
ReplyDeletemaybe we can start the Class of 74 & 76 Foundation, and build up a small fund.
ReplyDeleteThose of you who are NOT in Kuching, would you fly back from wherever you are, just to do some painting of the classrooms, etc, etc,??
ReplyDeleteI think in the end, the Kuching boys will do most of the work for the school.
Not very practical to me.
Let's be more practical here - it is very honourable for this thoughts and intentions however to refurbish the classrooms and others can become a big task/project...however......
ReplyDeleteWe can start something small, little projects, appoint project manager(s), wear your hard hats and oversee to the jobs in hand.
I doubt anyone of you need to break a sweat, except for the potential new project manager to "break ground" by using a golden paint brush with red ribbon to paint the first stroke on the first designated classroom wall. The rest of the work force will be done by the "cheap" labour from Indonesia!!!!! or use the readily available students to learn how to paint - those voluntered can get a pass mark for Arts!!!! DIY classes/lessons
Prior to that, the project manager needs to see if the School Board of governors will give the go ahead and by then there may be a new one appointed who lived not many miles in Singapore...with initials of JY.
There is still the other suggestions of getting hold of ex students who are now rich towkays, Datos, government ministers, etc who can easily contribute a few grands. Give them the incentives to bid for their contributions and their names can be put up in each class they "sponsored". Project manager can work out the cost per classroom and draw up a shopping list or "menu". Each sponsor's name may last for 5 years until the next re-paint job (if it is only painting you want) or contributions for table, chairs, etc. A list of sponsors can be put up in the main hall to honour their contributions - minimum say, $10,000 ringgit.
Therefore there should be no worry about no input from overseas. You need a good project manager(s) with the help of suggestions from the rest of you.
Sounds like a joke but can make it into a reality. Just think and look around you - SJS have churned out so many experts, professionals, builders, leaders, to name a few. Project like doing up the school - it's peanuts and child's work for these people.
maybe all this funding can also give some of the towkays a tax break ...
ReplyDeletemy goodness, why did they paint the walls green? i know the st joe colour is green but it's so awful looking on the classroom wall. why not plain white or off white? can make the place look more welcoming and even more spacious.
ReplyDelete@Pear Soap, don't be too sure about this JY character as project manager ;-) I'm sure there are other more aptly suited candidates living in Kuching itself ...
ReplyDeleteHi all,
ReplyDeleteThis morning, whilst I was having my breakfast at Merry Park in Tabuan Jaya, someone came up to my table, sat down and said, "George Lo, you don't recognise me, do you?"
I looked at this young lad in a baseball cap and could not figure out who the heck he was. Could be one of my son's friends but why is he not calling me 'uncle'?
Then he said, "I'm your old classmate" and it struck me immediately - Lau Suan Chye!
That guy does not look a day over 30 years old! He'd give our Robert Chin a good run for his money if we have a contest for the 'Youngest looking 50 year old from St Joe 1976'.
We spent a few minutes catching up but then he had to run. I was so surprised to see him that it did not occur to me to take a pic for our blog until after he had disappeared.
Suan Chye said he does check up on our blog regularly but he could not make it to our Grand Reunion as he was outstation.
Suan Chye, if you read this, drop us a line to say hi. Hopefully, I will see you again, same time, same place, one of these mornings. Then we will take a photo for the blog.
Peter Tiong has kindly offered to help in any design needs. Right, Pete?
ReplyDeletejimmy, sure; no problemo. we'll slip in some time in between work
ReplyDeleteGreat! What's next WJ ?
ReplyDeleteRealistically speaking, renovating classrooms and upgrading some of the school facilities require cold hard cash.
ReplyDelete35 years ago, we used to contribute RM12.00 annually for Building Fund.
Would it now be too much to ask from those of you who really want to give back to our beloved school to chip in RM1200.00 annually to set up a special fund pertaining to activities for school improvement?
I believe that amount of money is, to many of you, nothing but pocket change.
Hopefully the noble intention of giving back to our beloved St.Joe does not eventually fizzle out into NATO ( No Action Talk Only ).
I'm sure the current students also contribute some building fund or fees of some sort, but still the condition of the classrooms is pretty bad.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to make two points:
(1) I think it's not just a matter to paying for the renovation. For that I'm quite sure we can get the funds, and once we have a certain amount, some of our accountants can help us invest it and hopefully in time it will self-sustain to cover for future renovations. And anyway we're not talking about doing up every classroom. At least I don't have that in mind. My view is that we can adopt one set of classrooms for one form, say 3-4 classrooms used by Form 5 students. Our funding goes towards that. We can put up a plaque in those rooms to say that these classrooms are "adopted" by the Class of 76 or something like that. My hope is that other batches of former students will like the idea and also come in and adopt other sets of classrooms.
(2) Once the classrooms are done up, how do we nurture a sense of pride and ownership among the students presently using those classrooms? If you don't have that, then the condition of the classrooom (Some of us saw some creative artwork carved on the desks when we were there, tho' I'm sure it was a small handful of students who'd do something like that!) will quickly revert to the current state.
I have some ideas, but would like to hear others' thoughts.
Yes, WJ we r with you. Let's keep up the momentum guys. Vote our WJ into the OBA as president!
ReplyDeleteso WJ, Georgie boy, where are we with this project?
ReplyDeleteya. don't let this fizzle out like Anon Feb 4 said. let's start something.
ReplyDeleteDun worry, Project WJ for OBA President is still on. Those who are for it, say 'AYE' here.
ReplyDeleteAYE
'Aye' vote by Anonymous cannot be counted. Please state your name. Only former Josephians can vote. Afterall, it's the OBA!
ReplyDeleteA BIG "AYE".
ReplyDeleteA Y E
ReplyDeleteIt takes a great character with a magnanimous heart to do charity work without any hidden agendas.
ReplyDeleteSee ... that rules me out. NAY NAY NAY.
ReplyDelete(1) Set up a Foundation-of-some-sort
ReplyDelete(2) Any person can deposit any sum with the Foundation
(3) The deposits from everyone will be parked in an interest bearing account with a bank
(4) The bank interest can be withdrawn and be used to maintain and upkeep the school
(5) The deposit is "capital guaranteed". The depositor can withdraw his original sum anytime. In this sense, the contributor still owns the money. He feels safe and if he disagrees with the way the interest is being used, he can withdraw his original sum anytime.
(6) A committee will be set up to decide on projects to undertake each year.
I understand from a friendly party that this scheme is operating in a school and is working. Will try to find out which school. Apparently, the old boys in this school are very rich and depositing spare change of RM1 million is not a problem. The money still belongs to them. It is only the interest that they are "sacrificing".
A FOUNDATION sounds like the right idea. Let's do it. What shall we call it? "Class of 1976 Foundation"? Other suggestions?
ReplyDeleteIt may be premature to expect that our funds will be hefty enough that the interest alone can pay for what we want to do, but who knows.
So while we're thinking of a nice name, I'd like to invite people to pledge some funds to this foundation. No need to fork up any money at this stage. We'd like to have a sense of how forthcoming people are to this idea. We'll revert on your pledge later once the administrative stuff is set up.
Hey guys,
ReplyDeleteSo what's next from here?
And no pledges forthcoming yet?
Can I start with a 5000 meso pledge?