KUCHING: Teachers from both SK St Joseph (SSJ) and St Joseph’s Private Primary School (SJPPS) witnessed the official handing back of the SSJ building at Jalan Were to SJPPS by SSJ’s outgoing headmaster to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Most Reverend Simon Poh on Tuesday.
An official letter addressed to the director of the Sarawak Education Department (JPNS) with the historic date of Dec 22 to designate the handing back of the school building was presented by Archbishop Poh to SSJ headmaster Richard Kawi.
In his letter to the director, Poh expressed his gratitude to JPNS and the Education Ministry (MoE) for having provided quality education through SSJ since 1963.
He also thanked Kawi, teachers, and staff who had served at the school.
“I have fond memories of having studied in this school from 1970 to 1975. Today with gratitude, I still hold this school in my heart for the educational opportunities and formation that I have received.
“Likewise, I invited all teachers who have taught at SSJ to keep the wonderful memory during their time of service in the school,” said Archbishop Poh.
He expressed confidence that with the handing over of the premises, SJPPS will continue to educate the young and ensure that the Josephian spirit will continue to live on with the school.
SSJ stopped receiving Primary One students in 2015. The last cohort of Primary Six students studying in SSJ completed their primary education on Dec 18 this year.
Over the years since 2015, SJPPS has been using parts of the building for their classes.
Also present to witness the handing back of the school building were the chief executive officer of St Joseph’s Family of Schools Christopher Chua; headmistress of SJPPS Shirley Chong; chairperson of the Parent-Teacher Association of SSJ Khairuddin Abdul Kadir; and senior assistant of SSJ Roseline Rongi.
