Marymount Primary School - History

History

The school, originally known as Holy Spirit School, was founded by the Maryknoll Sisters, an American religious order, on 10 January 1927 in Hong Kong. Back then, the school was on Robinson Road in Central Mid-levels. There were only 8 classes of students sharing 4 tiny classrooms. In the 1930s, the school moved to a slightly larger building in Caine Road. There were seven classrooms, but conditions were still cramped by today’s standards. By 1941, the school was offering a complete course leading to matriculation, and so was one of only a small handful of schools at that time which prepared girls for university.

School Song

Verse 1
Oh praise our school with heart and voice,
in deeds her honour prove;
Of Marymount so proud are we,
Our loyal love we bring.
For Mary Queen, our school is named,
Her faithful children we
With her our guide in virtue's ways,
We follow Christ our King.

Verse 2
Truthful and kind prompt to obey,
these lessons here we learn.
To serve both God and men our aim,
by actions just and pure.
Each one of us a Christopher,
To bring to one and all.
God's truth and love and saving grace,
to win the world for Christ.

In 1941, Japanese forces invaded and occupied Hong Kong. The school was closed until 1948. When the school reopened, it was renamed Maryknoll School.

As the school continued to expand, a new building with better facilities became necessary. In October 1957, the school moved to its present location on the wooded slopes at the top of Blue Pool Road, overlooking Happy Valley. At the same time, it was renamed Maryknoll Sisters’ School. Initially, the building housed both Secondary and Primary Sections, but in 1961 the Primary School was relocated to the premises at Tai Hang Road, directly above the secondary school. During the school year 1978-79, the Maryknoll Sisters handed over the sponsorship of the school to the Columban Sisters.

In September 1983, the name of the school was changed to Marymount Primary School, and discontinued accepting male students. The sponsorship of the school was transferred by the Columban Sisters to the Christian Life Community in 1998.

In 2002, the school moved to 22 Cloud View Road, North Point and started operation of whole-day schooling. The old Tai Hang Road primary school was torn down and rebuilt. Marymount Primary School moved back to Tai Hang Road in September 2006.

For some times in the past, MPS has been a co-educational school. But now, both MPS and its secondary arm, Marymount Secondary School, are schools for girls only.

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