Our Journey

The Canossian School started as a boarding school, called Canossian School for the Deaf in 1956. It was situated at 1 Sallim Road. Before that, it was known as Fatimah House which housed children with varying special needs. Later, some of the children were channelled to the other institutions for their education as it was not ideal to cater to such varied needs under one roof.

In 1970, the school moved to Jalan Merbok catering to deaf girls. Within three years, the boarding school was closed, thereby allowing both boys and girls to be admitted to the school.

Despite the relocation, the school was still considered part of Canossa Convent Primary School in Sallim Road. Sr Margherita was Principal of both campuses of the school. In 1979, the Canossian School for the Deaf became independent. Sr Angela Garavaglia became the ﬁrst Principal with St Helen Fernandez as the Acting Principal.

OUR JOURNEY

1983

In 1983, was appointed Principal. In 1984, the school joined the Community Chest of Singapore. Prior to that the school depended heavily on the Mission and direct donations from the public.

1986

Between 1986 and 1988, it focussed on improving the auditory and speech skills of the pupils. Overseas trainers and consultants conducted staff training. The school adopted a new name, Canossian School for the Hearing Impaired, to reﬂect a new understanding of deafness.

1989

In 1989, special education came under the Ministry of Education (MOE) and its operating costs were jointly funded by MOE and the Community Chest of Singapore. This enabled the staff to focus on education and service improvements.

1999

In 1999, the school moved back to 1 Sallim Road. The relocation enabled pupils the opportunity to be integrated into a mainstream school via the first version of an integration model for special education in Singapore. In 2000, Sr Geraldine Lirn was appointed Principal of the Canossian School for the Hearing Impaired. With the development of the Canossian Eduplex, children with hearing loss enjoyed more opportunities for integration at different levels.

2002

In 2002, Ms Joan Chua took over as the ﬁrst lay Principal of the school. In 2003, full integration of preschoolers at Magdalene’s Kindergarten started. In the same year, Canossian School for the Hearing Impaired changed its name to Canossian School.

2005

In 2005, Mrs Marcia Yong was appointed Principal. In 2006, Canossian School established a partnership with MacPherson Primary School where upper primary boys were integrated.

2008

In 2008, Ms Terry Theseira was appointed Principal.

2009

In 2009, the Ministry of Education afﬁrmed the school’s efforts in promoting integration in the Framework for Satellite Partnerships between Mainstream and Special Schools. The integration programme with Canossa Convent Primary School and MacPherson Primary School is a model in which pupils are integrated at multiple levels across the school. The integration goes beyond learning and the pupils are integrated in areas like CCAs and social emotional learning.

2010

In 2010, Canossian School embarked on a full integration programme in which all pupils were given the opportunity to learn alongside their mainstream peers at Canossa Convent Primary School and MacPherson Primary School.

2017

In 2017, Ms Christina Michael took over as Principal.

“May St. Magdalene, our model educator, inspire and guide us into the future.

May the ﬁre of her love continue to burn in our hearts!”

Sr. Marilyn Lirn, FDCC