By Alwyn Danthy
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Nov 29: The Mount Rosary English Medium School in Santhekatte, a premier institution located at the premises of Mount Rosary Church is celebrating its silver jubilee year. The silver jubilee celebrations will be held on December 1 and 2 in its premises.
Mount Rosary English medium school was established in 1997 by Fr Godfrey Saldanha, the then parish priest of Mount Rosary Church. The school has come a long way over the years. It was a herculean task for Fr Godfrey Saldanha to begin this institution as already there were established educational institutions around the vicinity of both Christian and non-Christian residents. But he knew that Mother Mary would never let them down in this mission. With the support of the parishioners, the parish pastoral committee Mount Rosary English Medium school started functioning from June 1, 1997. But the school didn’t receive ‘No objection certificate’ from the other schools in the vicinity and was also not granted permission by the Catholic Board of Education for certain reasons.
To tackle this problem and for the betterment of the school Fr Godfrey Saldanha established the Mount Rosary Education Trust. The school received permission from the department of public instruction. In 2003, the school came under the Catholic Education Board Mangaluru. Kindergarten to 4th standard classes were then conducted in the Rosary complex. The Mount Rosary Education Trust was very much instrumental in the development of the school. Parish priest was the president of the trust and Prof Ligory Aranha,vice president, Benedict Menezes, secretary, Jacob Menezes, Dominic Saldanha, Hubert Lewis, Cyril Quadrous and Treeza Fernandes were the members of this trust.
There were only 25 children and two teachers in the beginning. Sr Adrian Serrao, SRA was the founding headmistress of the school. It was a word of mouth publicity through which the school gained few admissions in the beginning. On March 14, 2003, the school was handed over to the Catholic Board of Education, Mangaluru by Fr. Joe Mary Shenoy. On October 7, 2003, under the leadership of Fr John Noronha, the foundation stone was laid for the new school building in the church premises. Renowned builder and managing director of Mandavi Real Estate Developers Dr Jerry Vincent Dias undertook the school building construction work without expecting anything in return and completed the first floor of the building by 2004. The second floor of the school building was built under the leadership of Fr Philip Neri Aranha in 2011. The third floor was donated by Baptist Dias, vice president, PPC and Gerald D’Souza in 2013. The third floor also included a hall.
As the years passed, admissions for the school also increased drastically. The quality education and disciplined teaching methods made parents believe in Mount Rosary English Medium School. There was a need for extra classrooms to accommodate the increased number of students. The hall was converted into classrooms and the church auditorium was used for conducting kindergarten classes. In 2015, the newly constructed Mount Rosary Church was inaugurated.
The growing number of students much needed the expanded infrastructure for the school. On December 5, 2016, Fr Lawrence D’Souza, secretary, Catholic Education Society, Udupi laid the foundation stone for the new block of the school. Fr Leslie Clifford D’Souza’s able leadership and his experience of managing the schools combined with the gracious donations from the donors and parishioners, a huge four-storeyed new school building was completed within two years. The new building includes spacious classrooms, a hall, library, computer and science labs. The old building was also renovated. New parking stand, dedicated walkway for the students and a new gate were also constructed. The new block was inaugurated on May 29, 2019 by Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, bishop of Udupi diocese.
Mount Rosary English medium school currently has 1528 students, 46 teachers and nine non-teaching staff. Along with education, the school also supports co-curricular activities like Cubs, Bul Bul, Scouts and Guides, extra curricular activities like Bharatnatyam, chess, drawing, Karate, band, abacus, speed maths, Yakshagana. School has secured 100% results eight times in the SSLC examinations. Every year 35-40 children excel with distinction. During 2021-22 SSLC examinations, two students secured 622/625 marks and bagged third and seventh rank in the state.
The students of Mount Rosary English Medium School have excelled in many fields in state and national levels. They have participated/won in the state and district level drawing, elocution, folk dance, singing competitions. The school has successfully organized hobali, taluk, district and state level sports and Pratibha Karanji inter school competitions also.
Currently Fr Dr Rock D’Souza is the correspondent of the institution. Sr Vandita Miranda, SRA is serving as headmistress.
School administration, silver jubilee celebrations committee, parishioners, students, alumni and parents are eagerly preparing for the celebration of silver jubilee of Mount Rosary English Medium School.
The silver jubilee celebrations will be held on December 1 and December 2. On December 1, Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, bishop, Diocese of Udupi will preside over the silver jubilee celebrations. Fr Godfrey Saldanha, founder and Shivaraj N K, deputy director, department of school education and literacy Udupi will be the chief guest for the program. Sr Juliet Lobo SRA, provincial superior, Missionary Sisters of Queen of the Apostles, D Jerry Vincent Dias, managing director, Mandavi Real Estate and Developers, Krishna S. president, Kalyanpura Gram Panchayat, Baptist Dias, vice president, Mount Rosary Church Dr Reeny Ravina Dias, alumna will be the guest of honor.
On December 2, Fr Vincent Robert Crasta, secretary, Catholic Education Society, Udupi diocese will preside over the program. Fr Valerian Mendonca, rector, Milagres Cathedral, Raghupathi Bhat, Udupi MLA, Ranganath K, BEO, Brahmavar will be the chief guest for the program. Former correspondents Fr John Noronha, Fr Philip Neri Aranha, Fr Dr Leslie C D’Souza and former headmistresses Sr Adrian Serrao SRA and Sr Marissa D’Souza SRA will be the guests of honor.
Fr Dr Roque D’Souza, correspondent Sr Vanditha, SRA, headmistress Baptist Dias, vice president, parish pastoral committee, president and members of parents teachers' association and alumni association have extended a cordial welcome to all for the Silver Jubilee celebrations.
Daijiworld.com will be live streaming the silver jubilee celebrations.