by DaliusLL
Sandakan: On the morning of Friday, 10 February, St. Mary Secondary School, Sandakan held their Excellence and Recognition awards, where the celebration of exceptional academics, co-curriculum activities and leadership accomplishments of students takes place.
The Headmistress, Myrene Gidung in her welcoming speech expressed her gratitude towards her teachers for their dedication. She understood, how challenging it is for the teacher’s task to educate in an all boys’ school like St. Mary, but their hard work and effort is not without paying off, proven by producing outstanding students’ achievements in co-academic and co-curriculum in the district, state and national level. The school also can be proud of when one her student even managed to go as far as to compete at the international level (bronze medalist in Tae Kwan Do tournament).
Among others, she reckoned that 21st century education development will be in a fast lane and more challenging for the teachers of St. Mary Secondary. This award ceremony will be the avenue for the students to be more competitive and strive to be better in all aspects. This is in-line with the Education Ministry concept in producing higher order thinking skills of students.
Rev. Fr. Raymond Lee Seng Huat, in representing the church officiated the event. In accompanying him were the members of School Board of Governors (BOG) and Parent-Teachers Association committee. Also present included the Police Department Liaison officer of the school, contributors of prizes, as well as some parents of the students. In his congratulatory address, Fr. Raymond hoped that this award ceremony will prompt the awardees to excel more in their studies and become an inspiration and motivation for the other students. In the same note, he expressed his appreciation for the teachers who have worked so hard in producing these excellent students despite facing the disruption in their line of duty due to the pandemic Covid-19. He concluded by urging the parents not to solely dependent on the teachers in educating their children but to play their role as well in taking interest in their education. He called on teachers and parents to work together for the betterment of their children, and he hoped that through this cooperation will realize the school as well as the national vision.
The excellence awards were categorised from Form 1 – Form 5 academic achievements, co-curriculum activities and outstanding achievement SPM result in 2022. This year also saw the recipient of special recognition outstanding student Award (Murid Mithali) goes to Chrisly Albert Liow of form 5 student. Some highlights of the ceremony include performances from the student which delighted the audiences.
The ceremony concluded with all the teachers and invited guest adjourned to the school canteen for luncheon. Thereafter Fr. Raymond was ushered to the Headmistress’ room, accompanied by the BOG for the rite of prayer and continued with the buildings blessing around the school compound.
The Headmistress herself being a staunch catholic will see that all her catholic students attended the monthly student mass in St. Joseph Church, which is only a walking distance from the school. She encourages the weekly Christian movement in the school and even allocates room for their weekly activities. She is also a promoter of the bible knowledge and thought this subject. She is not only a school educator but she even goes further in taking interest in the spiritual life of her Christian students. She even allowed for the church to use the school hall for mass (e.g. Holy Week) during the pandemic because of the limitation attendance directives by the government for worship at church. She has been very supportive to the church and work closely with the BOG in taking care of the school. St. Mary Secondary School, Sandakan is a mission school established in 1954 that their history can be traced way back in 1883 through the Mill Hill Missionary in North Borneo.