JOHOR BARU: Some 400 former students of Sultan Ibrahim Girls School or SIGS returned to their alma mater for a hi-tea reunion and also to mark the school's 83rd anniversary.
A massive show of force and bonding saw former school principals, teachers and old students coming together with current staff.
Event task force alumni Zanariah Othman said so many former students, teachers and principals at the hi-tea gathering in the school hall reflected their love for and appreciation to their alma mater.
She thanked her committee members and the school for hosting the event and also to all past girls of SIGS for taking time off to attend the event.
She said today's reunion was an opportunity to catch up with each other and to revisit their alma mater and see how it has grown over the years.
"We cannot deny that the former principals and teachers have left an indelible mark on all of us and that their sacrifices and services will always be remembered," said Zanariah.
She said teachers during their time had a different mentality and methods of teaching.
"They did not just teach what was in the textbook, but also other things that are important for students, including values such as respect and understanding," she said.
Meanwhile, alumni members made a collection and donated RM140,000 to the school.
In her speech, school principal Rosliza Taib said the aim of the hi-tea was to bring closer members of the alumni and be a strategic partner in sharing the school's performance and achievements.
"It's also a time for former students and teachers to meet and share their beautiful memories, strengthen friendships, fellowship, get to know one another and contribute to the school," she said.
On the school's digitalisation programme, she said it was in line with the Education Ministry's desire for all students to be digitally skilled and fluent.
Various performances were put up by the current students, much to the delight of the audience.
The girls burst into cheers as the school's former principals and teachers made their entry into the hall.
At the gathering, alumni members recalled memories through presentations with a projector.
Conversation soon turned to fond memories spent in the classroom and on the school field.
The girls were also taken on a tour of the school by the school principal and shown the digital classroom, library, archives room, Japanese language room and the band studio. They were amazed at how many things had changed positively.
The girls enjoyed swapping tales from the old school days. Many recalled the time when they played games like hopscotch in the playground, five-stones, skipping rope, hide and seek and hula hoop.
"It was a day of nostalgia as old memories came flooding back. Gathering will help build a bridge with the alma mater," said former student and oldest attendee Maimunah A. Majid, 69.
The reunion, she said, was wonderful, and she was thrilled to have met up with her schoolmates, some of whom she met for the first time after leaving school.
Former SIGS school teacher Fatimah Mohamed, 79, said she was delighted to note that many of her former students with children and grandchildren had an opportunity to catch up.
"It was nice to see former students come and hug you saying, "Teacher we still remember you as you were the one who taught us Bahasa Malaysia," she said.
True to its motto: "Producing capable and versatile leaders", the school has been prolific in winning academic honours in tandem with awards for extra-curricular activities.
Of the latter assortment, a myriad awards for best school-band and best choir decorate the notice boards of the school like testimonials on the walls of a doctor's clinic.
In recent years, a spate of Sekolah Harapan and Sekolah Cemerlang prizes for academic distinction has burnished the school's standing as outstanding.
The school has taken enormous strides in its span of 83 years to enter the gateway of fame to carve its name in the annals of a leading girls' school in Johor.
