Maintaining the 1Malaysia spirit

Nov 21, 2014

By Percy D’Cruz
Malaysians generally use festive seasons to strengthen inter-racial and inter-religious harmony. Likewise, the young pupils enrolled at the Sacred Heart Kindergarten (SHK) Banda Hilir have maintained cordial bonds and friendships throughout the learning years in their mixed enrolment.

Among the pre-schoolers are a large number of Malays, along with Chinese, Indian, Sikh and Eurasian children. Their togetherness in class and play reinforces the true 1Malaysia spirit. Parents also adopt a similar relationship with one another.

This outlook was evident at the SHK year end concert on November 8. Nellysha Amy Saravanan, Qistina Balqis Rizwan, Muhammad Yasin Ayim and Hema Ashwinee Shangar were accorded the honour of delivering the welcome address. The four spoke confidently in fluent English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil respectively, much to the applause of all present.

This opening was followed by the 80-strong kindergarten choir, in traditional attire, rendering the national and state anthems (Negara Ku and Melaka Maju Jaya) with everyone in attendance joining in enthusiastically.

Armed with cameras and video cam-recorders, parents and senior family members captured the two-hour proceedings. The children staged an 18-item programme at the packed Kindergarten Hall in Jalan Banda Hilir. The costumes were specially sewn by the parents so the whole affair was most colourful and entertaining.

The SHK is under the helm of Colleen Webber, with Canossian Sisters Theresa Yong and Roslin Zaccharius coordinating.

As Sr Yong aptly put it, “We walk the talk by cultivating love and respect for their respective cultures as well as those parents and senior family members who regularly turn up during class sessions. We offer an integral education including fun and play activities, which prepare the young ones to meet the challenges of their future school going days.

“Basically, we teach the children a rich, meaningful and balanced curriculum of skills and information through age-appropriate activities which encourage them to want to learn more. Over the years, we have adopted intellectual, social, creative and physical learning modes where ethnic, traditional, cultural and religious values are always brought into focus and respected.”