On Wednesday, Maris Stella High School announced that its iconic blue-and-white gate will be demolished on 31 May due to the development of the Bidadari housing estate.
The school encouraged its alumni to come down and take a picture with the gate before it’s gone forever so they can relive the memories of their secondary school days.
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But some people don’t want to say goodbye.
People Have Started Petition to Save Maris Stella High School’s Iconic Gate
That’s why Harold Yeo, presumably an alumnus, started a petition to save the iconic school gate from the wrecking ball.
He proposed building a replicate of the structure at a new location, and to shift all words, symbols, and the blue tiles to the new gate.
At the time of writing, his petition has garnered 4,210 signatures. He hopes to reach 5,000.
Gate Holds a Dear Place in Former Students’ Hearts
Netizens certainly agreed with Yeo, with one addressing a comment directly to the Housing and Development Board (HDB).
“Dear HDB. To you, Maris Stella may just yet be another school, with a gate no different from many others. Perhaps the plans to demolish this gate may be indeed for the better good, to give people a place to call home,” he said.
“But to us, this gate is where 55 years of students, past and present alike, has called home. This very gate holds a dear place in many of our hearts, serving as an iconic structure that serves as a reminder that we are back to our second home.”
“This structure and its culture resides in our hearts and souls. It reminds us of the days many years ago where we had yet to have a place to call home. where we had to shift to more than 5 different campuses in 3 years, and how far we have come together as a school, and more importantly as a Maris family,” he added.
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“To us, this is home. Please reconsider.”
Several others who signed the petition urged the authorities to preserve the gate as well.
New Archway to be Constructed
According to the school’s Facebook post, the iconic gate was erected in 1997 when the school re-opened after extensive redevelopment.
Students past and present will be familiar with the gates intricate line patterns, striking blue-tiled roofs, and the cross adorning its top.
If the demolition goes through as planned, a new archway will be constructed within the school once the school’s new entrance at Bartley Walk is completed.
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“As with so many things in Singapore, change is ever constant; but through this, the Marist Spirit continues to prevail,” the school said.
Featured Image: Facebook (Maris Stella High School – Singapore)
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