Tan Sri Dato Amar Leo Moggie unveiling the school plaque

(Top & right) A teacher with children in class

Archbishop giving homily at Mass

Children singing school anthem

Sr Catherine with childrenSJP Secondary school students

(Left to right) Fr Colin Tan, Sr Rose Ting, Sr Odilia Ngui, Archbishop John Ha, Fr

Stephen Lim and Sr Adriana Tiong

Archbishop John Ha presenting token to Dato Henry Law

The Archdiocese of Kuching witnessed the historic soft opening of the St Joseph’s Private Primary and Secondary Schools (SJPPSS) on the 6th January 2012. These will be the very first catholic private schools in Kuching initiated by ex-Josephians and Yayasan Lasallian Kuching with the blessing of Archbishop John Ha.

The new private schools promise to provide a holistic education to enrich the lives of her students and with a mission to create opportunities and provide a conducive environment to enable every child to realize his/her potential in the spirit of the school motto “Ora Et Labora” (Pray and Work).

The church draws on the vast experience of the Jesuits and the sisters of St Francis in the field of education. The secondary school will be managed by the Jesuits, with a Jesuit priest Fr Francis Lim as Principal; while a Franciscan nun Sr Odillia Ngui heads the primary school. They are ably assisted by a team of trained and experienced teachers specially selected to set up the school.

Currently there are 30 students in Primary One, 8 in Primary 2 and 105 students in Form One.

Soft Opening of SJPPSS at its temporary building

Tan Sri Dato Amar Leo Moggie

St Joseph’s Private Primary & Secondary Schools, Kuching

Education beyond the ordinaryNEWS & UPDATES ISSUE NO.1 JANUARY 2012

Archbishop John Ha presenting token to

Children singing school anthem

SJP Secondary school students

(Left to right) Fr Colin Tan, Sr Rose Ting, Sr Catherine with children

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St Joseph’s Private Primary & Secondary Schools, Kuching

Education beyond the ordinaryContinued ISSUE NO.1 JANUARY 2012

The new building being constructed at the St Joseph’s rugby field, upgrading costs of the former St Bernadette’s to house the temporary SJPS was estimated to cost RM13 million. Still falling short of the estimated costs it is hoped that more generous

donors will come forward to complete this project by January 2013.

WE would like to appeal to you to consider supporting this worthwhile endeavour. Please make your donation in the form of cheque or bank draft payable to “St Joseph’s Private School Building Fund” and send it to:

The Archbishop’s Office, P. O. Box 940, 93718 Kuching, Sarawak

Progress so far... foundation laid

Archbishop John Ha prays for the Lord’s blessing on the site with a symbolic steer of the excavator. In attendance were members of the working committee and the Director of Liandar Construction Sdn Bhd Mr John Ting.

“We intend to focus on the ethos, character and tradition of our Christian Schools which has been sidelined over the years in the pursuit of academic excellence. We hope that St. Joseph’s Private will one day be noted for its academic excellence, excellence in extra-curricular activities, strict discipline and high moral values.”

Gerald Lee (Director)

“Our aim is not to present an academic boast about bringing up children, but to have our students grounded in the strong foundational values especially God-centredness; moral character and good resources on child development and family life are the main concern of our school.”

Sr Adriana Tiong(Superior General of SSFS)

“...education should help every child to develop a spirit of love, service and respect; to fully respond to his/her God given potential... We also aspire that at the end of the 6 years course, the children will have the correct attitudes and good manners, so that they can stand tall in society later on in life.”

Sr Odilia Ngui

“A breath of fresh air in christian education. With the direct involvement of the church and the presence of the religious, it will be a institution of hope, love and joy.”

Dominic Pan(Protem Principal)

21 November 2011... Blessing of site at Jalan Nagor

Excerpts from interview:

SJPS building construction along Jalan Nagor, Kuching21 November 2011... Blessing of site at Jalan Nagor21 November 2011... Blessing of site at Jalan Nagor

Private will one day be noted for its academic Private will one day be noted for its academic

(Principal of St Joseph’s Private Primary School)