History of My School

SMK St. Joseph was founded by Father M. Jansen, a Mill Hills Priest, in 1932.  Known as St. Joseph’s school at its inception, it offered classes from kindergarten to primary three. Although the school was open to both boys and girls, gender segregated lessons were conducted in different buildings. During the Second World War, a large part of the school was destroyed by heavy bombing, and it was forced to be closed in December 1941. 

In September 1945, the school was reopened despite the absence of a proper school building.  Lessons were conducted in the old St. Joseph’s church.  A serious lack of chalkboards compelled the teachers to write on the floor. In 1953, the school moved to a more conducive environment provided by Gymkhana Club Miri. To help relieve the school of its ever-growing student populace, the New Century Cinema and some old Shell quarters were used as makeshift classrooms in 1954. The situation was ameliorated when a concrete building was erected at Angsana Road in the same year.

In 1961, the school opened a form four class on the borrowed premises of St. Columba’s school. Two years later, all the secondary school students of St. Joseph’s transferred to a newly built school at Brighton Road, the location where the present school stands.  The building was officiated by an education officer from Kuching on 31 May 1964.  In the same year, St. Joseph’s first batch of form five students sat for the Senior Cambridge Examinations.

To accommodate the burgeoning number of students, Block D and Block E were built in 1987 and 1993.  In 1996, four reading huts were built in the northwest and the southwest of Block C, a building that housed the staffroom. A year later, a new roofed corridor was built to connect Block D with the other school blocks.  In 1998, the wired fence around the perimeter of the school was replaced by a concrete one.  In 2000, the decrepit Block C was demolished and rebuilt.  In 2001, it was officiated by Yang Berhormat Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak.

In an effort to beautify the school, an elaborate rock garden featuring a water-spouting seahorse was built near the school’s main gate in 2004.  In 2005, a pillar was built opposite the rock garden.  In the same year, the crack-ridden Block D was sealed off for everyone’s safety.

In 2007, Block F was built and officiated by Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui, Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water.  In 2008, the repairs of Block D were completed and it was officiated by the same minister.

In March 2010, the rebuilding of Block B, an old building that originally housed two science laboratories, was completed and it was turned into the inclusive education block.  In the same year, the St. Joseph’s corporation store was established.  In 2011, a small block was built to house the corporation store.  For good measure the spaces along the school concrete fence were turned into parking lots. 

The names of Josephian principals and their periods of service are:

1.      Rev. Fr. John Dekker(1964-1966)

2.      Rev. Fr. Edmund Slowey(1966-1969)

3.      Rev.Fr. Keogan(1969-1973)

4.      Rev. Fr. McClorey(1974-1976)

5.      Richard Tan(1976-1978)

6.      Nicholas Yii(1978-1993)

7.      Mr. Ng Chen Soo –acting principal(1994)

8.      Marcus Hugo(1995)

9.      Marcus Gau Lian(1996 - 2011)

10.  Miss Gan Chia Ling –acting principal(2012)

11.  Mr. Ng Meng Hiong(Present)

SMK St. Joseph Miri has produced many outstanding leaders of Sarawak. Among them are Chief Minister of Sarawak,Yang Amat Berhormat Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud. Former Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. George Chan Hong Nam. N65 Senadin Assemblyman, Yang Berhormat Mr Lee Kim Shin, N63 Piasau Assemblyman, Yang Berhormat Ling Sie Kiong and Yang Berhormat Andy Chia Chu Fatt.

 
The eighty-one year old school plays a key role in educating today’s youth. It has garnered numerous prestigious awards locally and internationally. It will continue striving for excellence.