A Brief History: 1882 - 1996

3 - The Present Era (1988 - Present)
The Mill Hill Era | The La Salle Era

1988 Jan. 12

Mr. Gerald Lee Leong Ai, a former Josephian, took over as the first lay Catholic Principal of St. Joseph's.

1990

A new two-storey, `5-Star' toilet block was built.

1992

Project "A Ringgit A Brick" was launched to raise funds for a new four-storey building to meet the need for more classrooms and better facilities. A total amount of RM 191,791.10 was raised.

1993

The student enrolment reached 1800.

1993 May 29

The four storey Josephian Block, costing approximately 1 million Malaysian dollars was declared open by YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abdul Taib bin Mahmud, the Chief Minister of Sarawak, a former of the school.

1995 January

The Datuk Polycarp Sim Stadium, a multi-purpose indoor stadium costing 1.1 million Malaysian dollars was declared open by the Chief Minister of Sarawak.

The Datuk Polycarp Sim Memorial Fund was launched to provide bursaries for deserving students.

1995 May

The Tan Sri Datuk William Tan Auditorium was reopened after having undergone extensive renovations to refurbish it and upgrade its facilities. The Auditorium is now fully carpeted and air- conditioned. Tan Sri Datuk William Tan, a student of the school from 1912-1922, officiated at the reopening ceremony.

A book entitled " A History Of St Joseph's School, Kuching, 1882- 1994, written by Bro.Hilary McGroary, a former Principal of St. Joseph's, was launched by Datuk Dr. George Chan, the Sarawak Minister of Finance and Public Utilities,a former student of SJS.

1995 December

The ground floor of the Mill Hill Block where the staff room, and offices of the Senior Assistants and Afternoon Supervisor are located, was renovated and air-conditioned.

1996 March St. Joseph's School went on-line.  In this picture, Tan Sri Datuk William Tan and YAB Datuk George Chan, Minister of Finance and Public Utilities, Sarawak, both former students of St. Joseph's, officiated the launch of the St. Joseph's website.

1996 May 3

Project "spare A Ringgit, Save Our Field" was launched to raise funds, to restore the playing fields of the school. A total of RM 150,461.23 was raised by July 1996.

1997 Jan

The School Diary was introduced.

1997 April

A new multi-media Resource Centre with "state of art" equipment will begin operating. 5 of the 20 computers will be linked to Internet. When fully functional, the Resource Centre will also be equipped with an LCD projector and scanner.

1997 July

Bro. Albinus O'Flaherty left Sarawak to take up a teaching post in China.

1997 August

Bro. Hilary McGroary and Bro. Columba Gleeson left Sarawak for permanent retirement in Ireland.

1997 November

St. Joseph's purchased a forty-seater, air-conditioned school bus.

1998 February

Rev. Bro. Adrian Gaule re-launched the SJS web site.

1998 June

The Mill Hill Block was renovated to accomate a chapel and surau, both air-conditioned, and a clinic for the Red Crescent on the ground floor of the right wing.

1998 July

Rev. Bro. Albinus returned from China.

1998 August

The AVA Studio in the La Salle Block was renovated, extended, refurnished, air-conditioned and renamed the 'Dewan Kuliah'.