Picture this A grand five-story building stands tall It’s not just any building This is St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School in Bedok Singapore a place steeped in history and brimming with stories.
Established in 1879 as St Anna’s School it began humbly as a haven for poor parishioners. It started with six students and three teachers in a rented shop-house. The school’s location was in Middle Road. A new building was erected and it became St Anthony’s Boys’ and Girls’ School in 1886.
Fifteen years later the boys and girls parted ways. The girls’ school found a new home under the care of the Canossian Sisters. These devoted nuns arrived in 1894 They offered not only education but refuge to the needy and neglected. Younger girls attended classes. Older girls learned valuable skills like sewing and embroidery. The school evolved and became St Anthony’s Convent in 1906. A new chapel and quarters for the nuns were built. It even added a kindergarten and Junior Cambridge classes.
The school survived World War II and the Japanese occupation. The Japanese military used the building. The sisters were placed under house arrest. After the war the building housed war orphans. The old wooden convent was replaced with a new five-story building. This opened in 1953. Interestingly this same five-story building at 111 Middle Road still stands. It now houses the National Design Centre.
The school continued to thrive. It became a government-aided autonomous girls’ school in 2002. Sister Cecily Pavri the last Canossian nun principal handed over leadership to a lay principal Jennifer Loh. This marked a significant turning point in the school’s long history. The school earned recognition for its performing arts programs. It won the Ministry of Education’s Best Practice Teaching and Learning Award in 2007. It also received the School Distinction Award.
In 2011 the school underwent renovations. Classes were temporarily held in Changi. Today St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School continues to educate and inspire young women. Its legacy is a testament to its dedication to education. Its commitment to faith and community service is visible. It’s a school that has adapted to the changing times. It still upholds its commitment to nurturing young minds. This is St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School a place where history and tradition meet progress. Its story is one of perseverance adaptation and the enduring power of education.