Showers of blessing

SINGAPORE - It rained on their parade yesterday.

But it did not dampen their spirits and excitement at finally being able to return to their renovated school.

In November 2012, the pupils and staff of Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) Primary (Toa Payoh) walked from the school to a temporary site that would be their new home for the next 1½ years.

Yesterday, the school planned to take a 30-minute memorial walk back to the school. It was meant to celebrate the school's 160th Anniversary and Founder's Day. But the event had to be cancelled because of rain.

The school's principal, Mrs Margaret Tan, who is in her 50s, said: "The showers of blessing for the school definitely did not dampen our spirits."

Instead, staff and pupils celebrated their return in the school hall where a torch-bearing ceremony was held.

The renovation, which was part of the Peri (Primary Education Review and Implementation) Upgrading Project to improve school facilities, cost $11 million.

At the holding site, about 700m from the school at Toa Payoh Lorong 1, the 1,400 pupils and teaching staff had to make do with less-than-ideal facilities.

For instance, the dance classes were held in containers, away from their main building, where they had to put up with mosquitoes.

Jaime Lee, a Primary 5 pupil, was thrilled to find out yesterday that the renovated dance studio is more spacious.

TOO ROUGH TO DANCE

She said: "We had difficulties with our ballet shoes on the rough floor of the old dance studio (in the container)."

Other facilities include a new indoor sports hall for volleyball, tennis and badminton, and an air-conditioned auditorium that seats 250.

The school's niche co-curricular activities are mostly in the arts and the auditorium provides extra space for their performing arts group to practise.

Flexi-classrooms have also been created to provide an open space that the school can use for inter-class learning activities.

There are also more sheltered pathways for the girls to get to their classrooms on rainy days. A new general office and staff room are also in place.

Mrs Tan said: "I'm grateful for the community spirit that has helped me through this upgrading.

"The school had to raise funds through the central parent council and the parent volunteers together with the children and the staff."

She said the new facilities would provide a better learning environment for her pupils.

A former pupil and now parent of two girls studying in the school, who declined to be named, was happy with what she saw.

"The holding site did not have certain facilities and it touches my heart to see the girls get so excited over the new campus. They are getting much better learning opportunities.

"It's good to come back here and see this building. It's a nice homecoming."

This article was first published on May 31, 2014.
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