This is a fitting title for CLS, the founding of which led to the setting up of 40 more convent schools across the country by the French nuns of the Holy Infant Jesus mission.

From operating a school in an attap hut on Church Street here in 1852, the Sisters went on to buy a seven-acre plot of land, where Government House was located, seven years later as enrolment increased. The house was essentially the office of the British East India Company.

CLS, with its building greeting those entering Light Street from Farquhar Street, soon became an elite school in the region.

It has an open courtyard with cloisters, an English garden and a full view of the sea. Classrooms are well ventilated, with louvres channelling fresh breeze from the sea. If only the walls could speak.

Its students have ranged from orphans to children of royalty, many of whom later became leaders and luminaries.

A newspaper article in 1965 said the convent beat the entire country by having the highest passing rate for the Cambridge and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia exams with 89% passes.

The esprit de corps among students and alumni remain strong, united by their proud academic achievements and contributions to society.

Not too long ago, news broke that CLS would leave the national education system it has followed for decades to adopt a private, British-based syllabus system.

FMT spoke to some of CLS’s “old girls” on their memories of their alma mater, and also to the operators of the future private school, who happen to be former students as well.

Ng Poh Tip (1951 to 1962), ex-group chief editor of The Star and Alumni CLS chief since 2002.

Ng, the first female chief editor of a major Malaysian newspaper, comes from a Cantonese-speaking home. She recalled how she picked up English.

“I remember there was this clever little classmate, May, in Primary 1 who had attended kindergarten in CLS and who came from an English-speaking family.

“Our class teacher, a kind and gentle Eurasian nun, would get May to translate some words for the class once in a while.

“May would go up to the front of the class, turn to face us and give the translation – in Hokkien. And being a Cantonese, I didn’t understand what she was saying and the teacher was none the wiser,” she said.

Ng, who became a head prefect in 1962, said her English improved over time. She said she loved her teachers, who were dedicated, although some were “fierce”.

“Once, a girl fell asleep in class. Miss Teoh didn’t wake her up and instead motioned to us not to make too much noise. She said she would let the girl sleep, for, who knows what problem she might have had at home. How’s that for a caring teacher?

“As for other teachers, Mrs Yeoh introduced us to Readers’ Digest, and Mrs Khor encouraged us to take an interest in current affairs by reading the newspapers. I must have developed my love for newspapers back then,” she said.

“Never was there a day when I felt I didn’t want to go to school. I consider being sent by my father to Convent Light Street at the age of seven as one of the more fortunate milestones in my life.

“I am grateful to CLS, the Sisters and all my teachers for preparing me for life,” she said.

Tan Leh Sah, former lawyer, printing company owner and Alumni CLS vice-president.

Tan, 72, said she was proud of CLS producing luminaries over the years like PG Lim, the first woman to become an ambassador.

“I always say that CLS is not just a regular school. It is a whole complex of schools, as good as a university campus. We had a kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, boarders, and a place for orphans.

“It also had a private school for those who failed Form Three, which also taught commercial subjects such as shorthand and accounting. It is complex in the truest sense of the word and has become an elite school, with very strict admission.

“The school building itself was energy efficient, we did not need fans as the sea breeze was good enough.

“We have to thank the French nuns who braved the seas to set up a school here and begged young girls to study, turning it to what it is today.”

Selene Yeap (1990 to 2001), marketing executive.

Yeap, 36, said the nuns who once ran the school prioritised the use of good English.

She said another character inculcated among Colistrians (a term used to refer to CLS students) was discipline. She remembers the “terror” brought by some Sisters who held canes, walking around to spot noisy students.

She also recalled her English literature teacher, Gurjeet Kaur, who made sure all took her lessons seriously or faced humiliation.

“Puan Gurjeet was also our physical education teacher. At times, our English literature class would extend into the PE periods. So, all in all, we would have four periods of English literature.

“I remember when we could not recite or paraphrase poems as instructed, she would make us stand until the class ends. Looking back, the tenacity of the teachers has made me who I am today, for which I am grateful,” she said.

Phuah Wen Li (1990 to 2001), budding cooking show YouTuber

Phuah, 36, said she enjoyed schooling in CLS from kindergarten to secondary level and enjoyed the beautiful setting, including taking breaks in the garden.

She said the school celebrated two major functions yearly – Teachers’ Day and Thanksgiving. During those days, teachers and students would take part in performances, besides having good food.

Another feature, she said, was the school’s support system called OCAC (Once a Colistrian, Always a Colistrian) Camp, where former students would share their work experiences with Form Four and Five students who were about to graduate from school.

However, because of difficulties finding enough organisers for the yearly event, the camp later turned into a biennial affair and was later stopped.

“Still, I have fond memories of this OCAC camp,” she said.

Anne and Melinda Lim, founders of Sri Emas International School and ACE EdVenture, the company picked to run CLS’s future private school.

The Lim sisters, who came from a family of Colistrians, were excited when the Sisters chose them to take their alma mater through a new phase.

Anne said the new CLS would essentially be Penang’s first entrepreneurial school teaching the UK syllabus. She said it would almost be devoid of rote learning in tapping into creative ways in teaching students.

She said the most important aspect of the new CLS would be returning to its original roots, which was to provide quality education to all.

Anne said the school fees would be affordable thanks to the concessions made by the Sisters. She said most of the school fees would go to paying the salaries of top-notch teachers.

“It is not about money for us. We want to bring top-notch education to Penang and what a better place than our own CLS. We are excited to be part of the change,” she said.

Ace EdVenture runs two international schools in the Klang Valley – Sri Emas and Dwi Emas -and two specialised tuition centres.

The Lim sisters are confident the new CLS would be revolutionary yet deeply planted in the “old purpose” of the school.