At the heart of Singapore’s leafy Holland Road lies a quiet corner where generations of children took their very first steps into education – not just into academics, but into a life shaped by values, community, and compassion. For nearly seven decades, Maris Stella Kindergarten (MSK) served as a cornerstone of early childhood education in Singapore. Today, that legacy continues in both spirit and practice through St. Joseph’s Institution International Preschool (SJI International Preschool), which stands proudly on the same historic site, honouring its roots while embracing the future.
The story of Maris Stella Kindergarten began in the early 1950s when the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) recognised the need for a preschool to serve the many expatriate families living near Dempsey and Holland Road. It was international from the start, with around 21 student nationalities from all over the world.
“At that time, preschools were very rare in Singapore,” recalls Sister Marjorie Almodiel FMM, who was one of the pioneering educators and later the long-serving Principal of Maris Stella Kindergarten. “I was fortunate to be there from the beginning. The present SJI International Preschool building ‘Shalom House’ was the very first school, where we began. The lower floor housed the classes, the Sisters lived upstairs with a prayer room”.
Driven by a clear vision to offer not just education but formation, the sisters designed an experience centred around values. “We wanted the children to have these values, which we took from our Gospel as Christians, as Catholics… to help the parents educate their children, because sometimes it’s not just about academics, it’s the ‘living’ Sister Marjorie explains.
For those who attended MSK, the memories are vivid and cherished – dollhouses and block corners, African grey parrots, cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets in the bird aviaries, baking lessons, biscuits with sugar on top, concerts and chapel visits, and above all a palpable sense of belonging.
The preschool quickly grew in reputation, with families going to great lengths to secure a place – even queuing overnight in hopes of enrolling their children.
The relationship with parents and the wider community was deeply personal. “Even now we still maintain that bond with many of them. That speaks for itself,” says Sister Marjorie. Years later, it’s often the small, joyful memories that bring former students back to visit and many ask the same question “Sister, can I have that biscuit?” she laughs. “I ask which biscuit? The one with sugar on top.”
That enduring affection speaks volumes. Multiple generations of families passed through the doors of Maris Stella, and are now returning to the same site, bringing their own children to SJI International Preschool.
With the natural passing of time, it became difficult for the Sisters to continue running MSK. But the mission did not end, it evolved. In 2023, St. Joseph’s Institution International Preschool was established and took over the management of the preschool, with the full blessing and support of the FMM Sisters. Today, it is part of the Lasallian family of schools under St. Joseph’s Institution International (SJI International), guided by the same values of faith, service, community, excellence and respect.
The legacy of Maris Stella is not just in buildings or memories, it lives on in a shared mission,” reflects Brother Lawrence Humphrey, FSC, Brother President of SJI International. “The De La Salle Brothers and the FMM Sisters are united in our commitment to holistic, values-based education. The partnership between our communities continues through SJI International Preschool, where we honour the past and nurture the future with love, faith and service.”
Speaking of the Franciscan and Lasallian orders, Sister Elizabeth Tan, FMM and current member of the preschool’s Board of Governors shares “To see the SJI International Preschool continuing this mission of pre-school education is likened to an answered prayer. Both orders share a deep respect for kindness, gentleness, and love. To be part of the preschool’s governance allows me to help preserve and pass on these values.”
Sister Liza Tan, who served closely with the MSK community and continues to be part of SJI International Preschool today agrees. “The proverb ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is a constant reminder for all concerned,” she shares. “The family spirit is present among the leadership team, educators, staff, children and parents especially in the homely atmosphere of Shalom House.”
Today, SJI International Preschool is proud to uphold the heart and soul of Maris Stella’s legacy while meeting the needs of modern families. It continues to offer a holistic, play-based curriculum in a nature-rich environment.
“We are deeply honoured to continue the work started by the Sisters,” says Dr Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte, Head of School at SJI International Preschool – and herself a proud alumna of Maris Stella Kindergarten. “To inherit such a strong foundation is a privilege. We stand on the shoulders of giants – educators who believed in children, long before early childhood education was recognised as crucial. Sister Marjorie’s spirit, and that of all the FMM Sisters, lives on in every corner of SJI International Preschool.”
Today, SJI International brings its own tradition of academic excellence and character education to the story. The legacy of the FMM Sisters continue to shape daily life at the preschool, now supported by the broader educational expertise of the Lasallian family.
The campus itself has also been lovingly renewed. The original Shalom House has been thoughtfully restored, and a second phase of development – Santo Bambino – is currently underway, ensuring the environment continues to grow alongside the needs of the children it serves.
As the school looks to welcome new families, it also calls out to the many alumni of Maris Stella “You will always have a home here. And your children do too.”
