The Alma Mater's Call
Brother Paul Ho, Principal and Dr. Annie Foo, the Chairperson, Parents-Teachers Association (PIBG) of St. Xavier's Institution, Penang jointly call on all Xaverians far and near to strongly support the event "Heritage Walk By Night", a walkathon with a theme spearheaded by the PIBG.
The history of Penang goes back to the year 1786 when Captain Francis Light established the first British trading post on the island for trade between India, China and the archipelago.
Heritage culture and buildings in the island are among the most valued assets in Malaysia, consisting of a jumble of old temples, churches and mosques, white stucco colonial mansions, rows of tiled Chinese and Muslim Indian shophouses, and ornate clan houses guarded by stone lions and dragons. Walking through its narrow old streets within the Georgetown’s inner city alone carries anyone through the relics of time with stories waiting to be told.
It is therefore highly relevant and appropriate that the fund-raising project to be held on 4 August, 2006, initiated by the PIBG of SXI be called the Heritage Walk By Night. According to Dr. Annie Foo, Chairperson of the school’s PIBG, “It is in a form of walkathon but one with a theme, taking the students through the streets around the heritage enclave surrounding SXI, which is itself a heritage site.”
The Parents-teachers association is spear-heading the project and it hopes to raise enough (RM200,000 to 300,000) for rectifying the drainage system around the school compound and for providing proper writing desks and chairs to the classrooms. Dr. Foo further commented that currently the desks in some classes are full of "pot-holes" that make writing difficult. Usually "new" furniture are obtained through the goodness of private colleges when they want to change their furniture periodically. “I would like to seek the goodness and kindness of all of you out there, Xaverians and other fellow-Lasallians to support this project.” She added. All donations in cash or cheques are to be made payable to: PIBG SEKOLAH MENENGAH ST XAVIER and sent to: Brother Paul Ho FSC Sekolah Menengah St. Xavier, Lebuh Farquhar, 10200 Pulau Pinang. The Alma Mater has sounded her call. She has every confidence that Xaverians who can be reached through networking will “promptly respond to your duty’s sweet call”, words as contained in the School Rally which Xaverians continue to sing aloud long after they passed through the portals of SXI.
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