110-year-old school celebrates 'journey across the century'

On the morning of November 18, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School held a ceremony to celebrate its 110th anniversary. This is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in Ho Chi Minh City, having gone through three periods: Ao Tim - Gia Long - Minh Khai. Currently, the school always has the highest admission scores in each 10th grade admission season and has a 100% admission rate for 12th graders to universities in the country and around the world.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Chuong, Principal of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School, commented that the 110-year-old school has a rich tradition of good teaching, good learning, strict discipline, and a long history with many generations of patriotic students. "The school is currently promoting digital transformation in expertise and management, equipping teachers and students with many soft skills necessary to develop the capacity to become global citizens. We also promote the socialization of education so that students can access advances in science and technology," Ms. Chuong shared.

At the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee (third from right), presented the Government's Emulation Flag to Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School. On this occasion, the school also received the traditional flag of 110 years of establishment and development from the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School started construction on November 6, 1913. When it was founded, the school was named "Collège des Jeunes filles Indigènes", meaning High School for Native Girls. Two years later, on October 19, 1915, at the inauguration ceremony, the school chose purple as the color of the ao dai uniform for female students. The name "Purple Ao Dai School" was born from that time.

In 1940, the Department of Education changed the school's name to Collège Gia Long. In 1946, the primary level was abolished, leaving only secondary school classes. The school changed its name again, becoming Lycée Gia Long, or Gia Long Girls' High School. From 1951, the Vietnamese language education program replaced the French language program. From then on, the school's board of directors, teachers, supervisors, and general supervisors were all Vietnamese. In 1953, the purple uniform was replaced by a white one with a five-petal yellow apricot flower insignia.

After the country's reunification in 1975, the school was renamed after the heroic female revolutionary martyr Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and was called Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Secondary and High School. In the 1978-1979 school year, the secondary school was dissolved, leaving only the high school and recruiting male students. From then on, the school was officially named Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School.

A special mark is that many families have 3 generations studying at the school, such as the case of Luu An Nhien, class 11A6. Nhien's maternal grandmother, paternal grandmother and parents are all former students of Gia Long - Minh Khai. "Minh Khai in the words of my parents is not much different from Minh Khai today. The school is still ancient, very 'emotional' and full of poetry", Nhien assessed. Meanwhile, after decades, Mr. Luu Anh Tuan and Ms. Tran Ngoc Lien, Nhien's parents, are still full of pride for studying at the school with the most strict entrance conditions in Ho Chi Minh City.

Visiting the school during the anniversary celebration, Dr. Nhan Cam Tri, Vice Principal of the University of Economics and Finance, Ho Chi Minh City, could not help but be moved when recalling the literature lectures, extracurricular classes and picnics with campfires filled with warm teacher-student and friend relationships at the 110-year-old school. "The lectures of the teachers are the material and luggage for me to confidently move forward and become a citizen with a positive attitude in today's society," said the former student of the 1991-1994 school year.

Students and teachers joined together to sing the song "Journey Through the Century", a composition to celebrate the school's 110th anniversary written by musician Sy Luan, a former student of the 1997-2000 school year.

The ceremony also welcomed and honored many generations of teachers who are former teachers and former principals of the 3-generation school Ao Tim - Gia Long - Minh Khai.

The event also featured many activities introducing the school's history and creating opportunities for generations of students to leave their mark, such as the 110-year Ao Tim - Gia Long - Minh Khai photo exhibition, the memorial wall...

At the end of the ceremony, students and guests continued to enter the festival with many activities such as selling booths, games with prizes... attracting hundreds of participants in the vibrant atmosphere of "homegrown" performances.

Grilled meat, mixed rice paper or even the recently "feverish" drink, hand-pounded lemon tea, were "introduced" by students at the booths. Not to mention, former students in their flower years also brought to the festival eye-catching hand-embroidered products with the spirit of connecting generations.

Previously, on the occasion of its 110th anniversary, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School also inaugurated the tradition room and Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space on campus. These projects are all aimed at digital transformation and educating students about the school's history in connection with the history of the country and people.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/ngoi-truong-110-nam-tuoi-ky-niem-hanh-trinh-xuyen-the-ky-185231118175246022.htm