A Blast from the Past at Books and Music Week
Classes suspended for 3 days. An Ancient Roman #OOTD (Outfit of Those Days) Fashion Parade showcasing costumes designed by students. A class performing an adaption of Les Miserables’ ‘Do You Hear The People Sing’. The air was abuzz with excitement amidst songs and dance. The conception of former Principal of CHIJ Katong Convent (KC), Mrs Marie Bong, Books and Music Week (BMW) is a highly anticipated yearly event for Katong girls to shine and showcase their remarkable talents! It is a beloved tradition spoken of fondly by all who have lived and breathed this magical experience. BMW is a time where the KC family gathers together to be awed by the high standards the school has achieved in the areas of language, literature, literary arts and music. BMW traditions include choral speaking, busking, debates and quizzes.
The theme for this year’s BMW is ‘Historical World’ and what better way can students make sense of the present if not by understanding their past? That’s how we come in – the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame (SWHF) offers an opportunity for students to take a step back, and retrace the footsteps of the women who were once in their shoes. Katong girls who, once upon time, dared to dream of a better future and aimed to make an impactful and lasting change. The SWHF did a talk at BMW’s Opening Ceremony and introduced the amazing stories of notable Honourees from KC which include Bridget Tan, Noeleen Heyzer, Suchen Christine Lim, Eleanor Clunies-Ross, Janet Jesudason and Ivy Singh-Lim. The talk aims to inspire students to create their own legacies using these women as sources of inspiration. A staff member pointed out that “It was encouraging and eye-opening to see how women contributed to nation building as well, as one usually hears of the men being the sole contributors.”
SWHF organises outreach programs to schools and the public to inspire, celebrate the achievements and tell the often untold stories of Singapore’s phenomenal women. If you would like this travelling exhibition to come to your school or organisation, drop us an email at info@swhf.sg.
