NEWS: SMK Assunta launches golden jubilee celebrations

AFTER months of anticipation and anxiety over not having enough money, students and teachers of Assunta Secondary Girls School can now look with pride at their school’s new art centre.

“When we found out that the old art rooms were infested with termites and had to be torn down, we knew the time had come for the girls to have a new space for art, but the difficult part was raising the funds,” said Datin Kathleen Yeoh at the launch of the new building recently.

Proud moment: (Front row, from left) Puan Sri Kai Yeong Yeoh, Yeoh, Sister Enda, SMK Assunta headmistress Hong Yin Wah and SMK Assunta Alumni chairman Teresa Chan cutting the ribbon to mark the launch of the new art centre.

Nevertheless, they set about the task with a steely determination, and held various events to raise the needed money.

The new two-storey art centre, named after Yeoh, stands out with its modern outlook and design.

With the new art centre, the school authorities' dream of providing a holistic education in both arts and academia would become a reality, said Yeoh, who is the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman.

The RM1.2mil art centre houses four art rooms on the ground floor and a multipurpose hall on the first floor. The centre is equipped with information and communication technology (ICT) facilities to enhance the learning and teaching process.

Let there be music: The school orchestra performing during the launch of their golden jubilee celebration and the Datin Kathleen Art Centre.

SMK Assunta, the first all-girls’ school in Petaling Jaya, was founded by Datin Paduka Sister Enda Ryan of the Francis-can Missionaries of Mary.

Sister Enda, who is chairman of the school's board of governors and was also present at the ceremony, said she believed that the Datin Kathleen Art Centre would help develop the creative nature and skills of the students to meet the demands of tomorrow’s world.

The ceremony was the first of many events to come as the school is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

In conjunction with the anniversary joy, Sister Enda launched the Golden Jubilee Monument the same day.

Display space: The ample interior of the Datin Kathleen Art Centre is filled with artworks by the students.

SMK Assunta’s 50th gala dinner will be held on Aug 9. For details, visit assuntaalum-ni.com