Saint Anthony's Canossian Secondary School
Encyclopedia
St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School (Abbreviation: SACSS) is an girls' secondary school
located in Bedok
, Singapore
. It is part of the Canossian
family of Catholic girls' schools in Singapore.
The school buildings survived the war
and Japanese Occupation
. The Japanese military police took over the school and the sisters were placed under house arrest. When the war ended, the buildings were used to house war orphans. In 1952, the wooden convent was demolished and a 5-storey building constructed in its place. The following year, the new school was officially opened.
In 2002, the School introduced a brand new uniform to commemorate its first year of being a government-aided autonomous girls' school. The year 2002 ended with a watershed historical event of the handover of stewardship of St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School to its first lay principal in its 108-year history. Sr. Cecily Pavri, being the last Canossian nun to lead the school, handed over the reins of leadership to vice-principal Mrs Jennifer Loh on January 1, 2003.
programme. Construction is slated to be completed by the end of 2012. Classes are held at temporary premises in Changi
.
To be a passionate learning community renowned for its spirit of innovation and excellence within a culture of compassion.
Mission
To nurture and empower Canossians through a holistic education, to be persons of integrity committed to serving God and others.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located in Bedok
Bedok
Bedok is a neighbourhood in the eastern part of Singapore. Bedok New Town is the fifth Housing and Development Board new town; its development started in April 1973 and continued over some 15 years....
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. It is part of the Canossian
Canossians
The Canossians is a family of five Catholic religious institutions tracing their origin or inspiration to Magdalen of Canossa who was declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church in 1988.-Canossian Family:1...
family of Catholic girls' schools in Singapore.
History
In August 1879, Fr Jose Pedro Santa Anna de Cunha of St Joseph's Church started a school for poor parishioners. As a result, the St. Anna's School with an enrolment of 6 students opened in Middle Road. In 1886, the school became known as St. Anthony's Boys' & Girls' School. The boys' and girls' school split 15 years later. The first four Canossian sisters arrived to run the Portuguese Mission school, and there the poor and neglected found refuge. The younger girls attended school while the older ones learned sewing and embroidery. The 1900s marked the beginning of a new era for the school. St. Anthony's Girls' School was renamed St. Anthony's Convent in 1906. Subsequently, a new chapel, quarters for the nuns, a kindergarten and first Junior Cambridge class (equivalent to Secondary 3 or 4) were added.The school buildings survived the war
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
and Japanese Occupation
Japanese Occupation of Singapore
The Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II occurred between about 1942 and 1945 after the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. Military forces of the Empire of Japan occupied Singapore after defeating the combined Australian, British, Indian and Malayan garrison in the Battle of Singapore...
. The Japanese military police took over the school and the sisters were placed under house arrest. When the war ended, the buildings were used to house war orphans. In 1952, the wooden convent was demolished and a 5-storey building constructed in its place. The following year, the new school was officially opened.
In 2002, the School introduced a brand new uniform to commemorate its first year of being a government-aided autonomous girls' school. The year 2002 ended with a watershed historical event of the handover of stewardship of St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School to its first lay principal in its 108-year history. Sr. Cecily Pavri, being the last Canossian nun to lead the school, handed over the reins of leadership to vice-principal Mrs Jennifer Loh on January 1, 2003.
Present-day
In January 2011, St. Anthony's underwent renovations through the PRIMEProgramme For Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schools
Programme for Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schools is a programme initiated by the Ministry of Education in 1999 to upgrade and rebuild school buildings in Singapore.-Flexible School Infrastructure :...
programme. Construction is slated to be completed by the end of 2012. Classes are held at temporary premises in Changi
Changi
Changi is an area at the eastern end of Singapore. It is now the site of Singapore Changi Airport/Changi Air Base, Changi Naval Base and is also home to Changi Prison, site of the former Japanese Prisoner of War Camp during World War II which held Allied prisoners captured in Singapore and Malaysia...
.
Vision and Mission
VisionTo be a passionate learning community renowned for its spirit of innovation and excellence within a culture of compassion.
Mission
To nurture and empower Canossians through a holistic education, to be persons of integrity committed to serving God and others.
Notable alumnae
- Belinda Huang - Award Winning Architect, The Pinnacle@Duxton
- Ivy -Singh Lim- Entrepreneur, Bollywood Veggies
- Dr. Sylvia Goh- Doctor, Public Service Medal 2008,
- Belinda LeeBelinda LeeBelinda Lee was an English actress.Born in Budleigh Salterton, England, Lee was signed to a film contract in 1954 by the Rank Studios after being seen performing as a student of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art...
, Actress/Host, MediacorpMediaCorpMedia Corporation of Singapore, better known as MediaCorp, is a group of commercial media companies in Singapore, with business interests in television and radio broadcasting, interactive media, and, to a lesser extent, print publishing and film-making.... - Cynthia KohCynthia KohCynthia Koh is a Singaporean Chinese actress, appearing in MediaCorp drama serials.-Early life and education:Born in 1974, Koh has one younger sister. Her father works in the Singapore Civil Defence Force while her mother is a housewife...
, Actress, MediacorpMediaCorpMedia Corporation of Singapore, better known as MediaCorp, is a group of commercial media companies in Singapore, with business interests in television and radio broadcasting, interactive media, and, to a lesser extent, print publishing and film-making.... - Dawn Yip - Former singer; Co-owner, Jean Yip Hairdressing
- Jamie Teo - Former actress/host; Former Miss Singapore UniverseMiss Singapore UniverseMiss Singapore Universe is an annual beauty contest held in Singapore and organised by Derrol Stepenny Promotions to select the country's representative to the Miss Universe pageant. Between 2001 and 2007, the contest was telecast 'live' by the local television station Mediacorp's Channel 5...
Affiliation
SACSS is affiliated to:- Canossa Convent Primary School
- Saint Anthony's Canossian Primary School
- Catholic Junior CollegeCatholic Junior CollegeCatholic Junior College is a junior college in Singapore, offering a two-year course for pre-university students leading up to GCE 'A' Level examination. Founded in 1975, CJC was the third junior college established in Singapore...
Ministry of Education Awards
- MOE School Distinction Award 2008
- MOE Best Practice Teaching and Learning Award 2007
- MOE Sustained Value Added Award (Acacdemic) 9th award (2010)
- MOE Sustained Value Added Award (Aesthetics)2nd Award (2009)
- MOE Character Development Award 2010
- Singapore Quality Class Award 2009
Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) Achievements
- President's Girl Guide Award Recipients: 12
- SYF Results 2011
- Gold With Hons: Choir, Drama, Indian Dance
- Gold : Guitar, Angklung
- Silver : Concert Band, Chinese Orchestra, Modern Dance
- SDMA : Singapore Digital Media Awards 2011 - GOLD
- SJAB : St. John Ambulance Brigade Achievement Award 2011 - GOLD
External links
- School Website
- Alumni Facebook Page
- Profile on MOEMinistry of Education (Singapore)The Ministry Of Education is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that directs the formulation and implementation of policies related to education in Singapore.-Statutory boards:...
website