Mr Lee Geok Ai, Chairman of our board of Governors set up this whatapps group with 11 members. The name of the group defined the purpose - to upgrade SMK Convent Sentul. The time frame for upgrading to be completed? December 2014. What a challenge! So December 2014 has been very exciting and inspiring because of the single minded determination of 11 men and their teams. They used their expertise and sacrificed their time and energy to upgrade SMK Convent Sentul in this short time.
Mr Lee first sent me this photo and asked me if I was agreeable to this human sized colonial bird cage gazebo being placed in the school grounds. Agreeable? I loved it! Of course I consulted with my team of administrators. A unanimous resounding YES!
Next Mr Yap, Mr Lee and Ryan measured the area where we could place this beautiful structure. On the spot, Mr Yap Kok Keong of Delico hand drew the following plan and asked if we like it! I was over the moon!
The gazebo is up and they are doing the pebble wash on its flooring. It has 4 benches. I dream of a "Sound of Music" scene where the song " I am 16 going on 17" was sung in the Austrian summer gazebo. I wonder if my girls will dance in this gazebo like in the scene from the movie. We have chosen golden thryallis vine creepers. I wait impatiently for the plants to adorn the gazebo.
Since the gazebo blocks out the old signage, the old signage has been removed. Mr Leong and team from Golden Lion climbed the scaffolding to fix the new signage high above the gazebo. What a beautiful glorious sight! They also fixed the new signage to various locations in different parts of the school.
Meanwhile, the prefects' old locker cabinet have been relocated. The prefects' room now has a brand new locker cabinet designed by Mr Jason. There is a new table for the computer and an air conditioner has been fitted. The room has been given a new coat of paint FOC by Mr Tan the painter. We are waiting for the roller blinds proposed by Melvin to complete the new look. See and savor the smile playing on Komal's lips as she takes a photo of the upgraded prefects' room.
Our 67 years old piano has received a new breath of life. It has been repaired and re-varnished. The benches in the foyer were also re-varnished.
Greg, our charming landscaper has proposed a stretch in front of the new classrooms where the sunflower bed will be planted. Wow! I wait for this and hope what will be planted will look like this. There will also be beautiful landscaping around the gazebo. The assembly area has already been planted with trees with branches that sway softly to the breeze. They lend a feathery look to the assembly area.
Mr Yap has installed about 70 pots' hangers all along our covered walkway. Soon the school will be like a garden with plants everywhere, We will also have a vertical garden near the girls' toilets.
En. Najib's long standing toilet has been demolished. In its place, 3 VIP toilets are being built. At this time, the toilets are being tiled. Soon the VIP toilets will be ready. Ryan's men work steadily in rain and shine ( mostly rain in this very wet month of December) They also do the repairs to the cracked flooring and road surfaces. Ryan is a great blessing because he coordinates all the work.
It took Mr Tan and his team almost 3 weeks to strip the many layers of paint on the doors. We discovered in this process there had been layers of dark blue, light grey, maroon red,several shades of yellow and the brown paint you see at the top. 75 years is a long time and these antique doors still stand strong. They are painted the original beautiful blue.
Melvin will do the ID for the heritage room. We have fitted a old style blackboard ( green board actually) in the room for nostalgic sake. Jeremy has done the electrical works for the new toilets, the heritage room, the spot light for the gazebo and the prefects' room. Peter of CGV has re-located our giant gas tanks away.
The speed with which Mr Lee galvanized the men to work is amazing. His instructions are almost immediately answered to the minute. His directives are followed by " Yes Sir!" Sometimes in the space of 15 minutes, I see whatapps messages to as many 7 people with replies as to what will be done. At the end of each day, the team send photos of what has been accomplished for the day.
I enjoy playing my small part in photographing what is done. Once I photographed the drains with the string near to it. Immediately Mr Lee spotted that the drain's edge were not very straight. Directives were given. When I next approached the drain section, the guys were leveling the drain's edge with a right angled gadget to keep the drain straight. They told me " Boss kata - tak lurus" Haha!
Thank you kind gentlemen for lending your expertise, time, energy to transform the landscape of SMK Convent Sentul. You have made the school beautiful. "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." ( John Keats) I pray the beauty of CS will add serenity and peace to all who enter her grounds. Shalom.
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