History

Our Heritage: A Legacy of Care and Education

Our story begins in 1662 with Nicolas Barré in France, who believed that every child regardless of background deserved access to education. Together with a group of dedicated women, he founded schools for the poor, laying the foundation for the Congregation of the Sisters of the Infant Jesus in 1666.

Guided by his conviction, “Love the children, especially the poor and teach them what they need to know for life,” the mission of the Sisters grew steadily. Despite the challenges of the French Revolution, their work expanded beyond France to Europe, the United States and Asia. 

Bringing the Mission to Southeast Asia

In the mid-1800s, Jean Marie Beurel invited the Sisters to establish a school for girls in Singapore. After a long journey from France, the Sisters first arrived in Penang before extending their work to Singapore in 1854.

They began humbly caring for orphans, supporting themselves through needlework and teaching a small group of children. Their dedication quickly earned the trust of the community, and the school grew in both size and reputation.

Our School Today: CHIJ (Katong) Primary

Founded in 1930, Katong Convent began as a small primary school and has since grown into CHIJ (Katong) Primary. Over the years, the school has evolved to meet the needs of each generation, including the opening of CHIJ Opera Estate and the eventual merger that formed our present school in 1990.

Today, we continue this proud legacy guided by the CHIJ motto:

Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty 

What This Means for Your Child

At CHIJ (Katong) Primary, each child becomes part of a long-standing tradition of holistic education, one that nurtures both the heart and the mind. We place strong emphasis on values, character and a deep sense of belonging.

We are committed to shaping every child into a Woman of Grace and Substance and confident in voice, compassionate in heart and purposeful in action, ready to make a meaningful difference in the world.