St. Xavier's Higher Secondary School, Palayamkottai

St. Xavier's Higher Secondary School is a private Catholic secondary school located in Palayamkottai in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, India. The school was established by the Jesuits in 1880 and provides co-educational schooling for students from standards VI through XII.[1] The school includes a hostel for 300 boys and has an active alumni association, founded in 1990.[2]

St. Xavier's Higher Secondary School, Palayamkottai
Location
Map
,
India
Information
TypePrivate secondary school
MottoLatin: Veritate Lumen et Vita
(Life and Light through Truth)
Religious affiliation(s)Catholicism
DenominationJesuits
Established1880; 144 years ago (1880)
RectorFr. Britto Vincent, SJ
HeadmasterFr. Agastin Jhon Peter, SJ
GenderBoys[clarification needed]
Websitestxaviershsspalay.com

Chronology

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  • 1898: recognition of school by the Director of Public Instructions
  • 1899: boarding house established, that became a hostel with 10 boys in 1903
  • 1910: Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) scheme adopted
  • 1917: new high school building inaugurated
  • 1922: newly built hostel inaugurated, today's Sacred Heart Hostel
  • 1935: Scouting movement introduced
  • 1940s: introduction of school magazine, literary and debating societies, Hindi in curriculum, National Cadet Corps
  • 1950s: lunch for needy students; co-operative and credit union for teachers; engineering course; described as "glory years"; former teacher John P. Leonard SJ consecrated archbishop of Madurai; teacher Rajarethinam A. Sundaram consecrated bishop of Tanjore; graduate Peter Fernando would later become archbishop of Madurai; Our Lady of the Assumption church on campus consecrated in 1959
  • 1980s: Centenary Block built; students secured first and second ranks in SSLC exam (1982); cultural week initiated
  • 1990s: new outreach programs for underprivileged, rural, and refugee students (Loyola Study Centre, LASAC movement, STAAR charitable association run by students); modern biology lab; computer education from standard VI through XII
  • 2000: Arrupe administrative block built; Fr. Y.S Yagoo SJ introduced more extracurricular activities and state level tournaments in football and hockey, receiving the Dr. Radhakrishnan award in 2010.[3]
  • 2011: entrance enhanced with gardens and wider roads[4]

Activities

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A thorough tour of the campus is provided online.[5] School activities include: Consumer Club, Eco Club, Arts & Crafts, Leveil Reading Club, Road Safety Patrol, Ignatian Band, Veeramamunivar Tamil Literary Association, Verdier Science Club, Arrupe Dispensary, and Arrupe Inter-Religious Centre.[6] The boys have won state championships in hockey, volleyball, football, and in individual events in swimming, athletics, and Silambam (second place).[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Sacred Heart Hostel - ST.XAVIERS HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL". St.Xaviers School. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  2. ^ "St. Xavier's Hr. Sec. School Alumni Association". St.Xaviers School. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Dr. Radhakrishnan Awards presented to teachers". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Footprints (1880 – 2012) - ST.XAVIERS HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL". St.Xaviers School. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  5. ^ Ignacy SJ (2 May 2012), St.Xavier's Hr Sec School Palayamkottai - School Virtual Tour, retrieved 23 August 2017
  6. ^ "English Medium EMS - ST.XAVIERS HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL". St.Xaviers School. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Achievements Since 1962 - ST.XAVIERS HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL". St.Xaviers School. Retrieved 24 August 2017.