FIFTY years after leaving the classrooms of St Nicholas Convent in Alor Setar, Kedah, former students from Class of 1976 reunited to celebrate decades of friendship and shared memories.
The golden jubilee reunion brought together 32 former students and their beloved art teacher, Chong Soo Yang.
Constance Wong said the gathering was a celebration of the enduring bonds formed during their school years.
“We are from different races, cultures, faiths and professions, but when we gather together, we are simply daughters of St Nicholas Convent – one muhibah family,” she said at the reunion in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
The classmates’ journey of reconnection began with a small gathering in Penang in 2016, followed by reunions in Kuala Lumpur in 2019, Penang in 2022 and Alor Setar in 2024.
Wong said each reunion brought back memories of their schooldays and strengthened friendships they had formed as young girls.
“The reunion was like a journey back in time.
“We remembered the corridors of our beloved convent, as well as the modest field where we played, competed and learned about sportsmanship, teamwork, resilience and respect,” she said.
The former students also reflected on the school motto, “Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty”.
Attendee Shirley Leong said the motto was more than just words on the school crest.
“It shaped our character, guided our choices and remained a steady compass through the different seasons of our lives,” she said.
The evening was filled with laughter, warm embraces and tales of teachers and classroom mischief as well as recollections of school concerts and sports days.
“Faces may have changed and hair may have greyed, but that familiar sparkle from our schooldays is still there,” Leong said.
The former students also paid tribute to their alma mater, noting that while the original buildings were gone, its spirit endured in the lives of those it touched.
As the reunion drew to a close, the attendees said the occasion was about reconnecting with the people who had shared an important chapter of their lives.
“True friendship is not measured by how often we meet, but by the certainty that we are always remembered, always welcomed and forever connected,” said Leong.
She said the reunion reaffirmed their belief that the bonds formed at St Nicholas Convent would continue across generations.
“Once a convent girl, always a convent girl,” she added.
