Media Release
Mangaluru, Feb 9: The birth of Lourdes Central School was the beginning of a major epoch in the history of Bejai parish. Keeping in mind the need for a CBSE co-educational English medium school, founder the late Fr Bernard L D’Souza envisaged a school with a difference. The generosity and support of the Bejai church parishioners enabled him to take up this unfathomable pioneering venture into the somewhat known, and unknown path. With much grit and determination Lourdes Central came in existence in 1999. The school began classes in the Bejai church complex. They began with 230 students in the Bejai church complex with classes from KG to class 2 with 12 staff members. With a pioneering principal Grace Noronha, today the school has over 2,250 students and 110 staff members. Many come seeking admission but due to the lack of seats, the school has to turn down several of them. The school has carved a niche in society as being the pioneer school in various activities.
Fr Bernard D Souza, founder LCS
Grace Noronha, founder principal LCS
Fr Joseph Peter Tauro, manager LCS
Dr Victor Machado, manager LCS
Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves, principal LCS
Fr Wilson L Vitus D’Souza, manager LCS
Fr Michael Lobo, principal LCS
Fr Robert D’Souza, present principal LCS
Dr John Baptist Saldanha, present manager LCS
Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, president, CBE
Msgr Maxim L Noronha, vice president, CBE
Fr Antony M Shera, secretary, CBE
In the year 2000, the new school building was inaugurated by the then Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza.
In 2001, a new library was setup which helped students to read various books.
In 2002, a beautiful recreation park was built for KG students.
In 2003, the late Fr Joseph Peter Tauro took over as the manager of LCS and state-of-the-art modern science labs, computer labs and school canteen was started.
In 2004, the first parent teacher executive committee was formed. ‘Souvenir Lourdite’ was also released.
In 2005, the school received its affiliation from Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Also, the new administrative block was inaugurated.
In 2006, the school website www.lourdescentralschool.com was setup and the quinquennial celebrations were also held.
In 2007, a separate KG, junior and primary block was setup. It was blessed by Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu. Mathgenius Math Lab was setup.
The year 2008 was an eventful year as they heralded and paved the way for receiving the International School Accreditation by the British Council. They also established a link with Global School Exchange Programme. The first batch of Class X students achieved 100 % results in 2008 conducted by the CBSE Delhi and continues this tradition year after year. And the school was upgraded to senior secondary status offering science stream adding commerce stream later on.
The decennial year, 2009, saw many activities. The mega project on rain water harvesting was taken up by LCS, the main theme of the project being ‘Save Water, Save Life’.
In 2010, Fr Victor Machado took over as the manager of the school. The first batch of class XII AISSE achieved 100% result.
In 2011, Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves took charge as a principal. The British Council officially announced LCS as the British Council Ambassador School and entrusted it with the responsibility to bring in many schools under the flagship of the British Council. The LCS school team visited UK in connection with Global School Partnership.
An interschool chess tournament Bright Spark was introduced and conducted in the year 2018 also.
In 2012, the school bagged International School Award and became the first school in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada (DK) districts to receive the ISA award. A badminton tournament ‘Bedazzle’ was introduced and it was successively conducted in the years 2016, 2018 and 2019.
In 2013, Fr Wilson L Vitus D’Souza took charge as the new manager of LCS. Fr Michal Lobo took charge as the principal. A resource centre for advance learning was setup. A table tennis tournament for DK and Udupi schools was held. Commerce stream for classes XI and XII was introduced.
In 2014, a musical carnival, a Gala event of Music was held. A throw ball tournament was organized.
In 2015, Fr Robert D’Souza took over as the principal. The roof top was revamped into a spacious auditorium. Grotto of mother of Lourdes was built. ‘LCS Regale’, the mega event for family of Lourdites was introduced.
In 2016, the school bagged International School Award again. A badminton tournament Blaze was also held.
In 2017, AICS-Chemistry workshop organized. An educational trip to NASA-USA (The first school in DK–Udupi to organise, 40 Lourdites visited USA) was held. Also, a badminton tournament was organised.
In 2018, AICS principals’ meet was held where 48 CBSE/ICSE school participated.
In 2019, the vicennial year was inaugurated. A collection drive for flood affected areas of Coorg and Kerala was organised. DK district level eco-friendly yellow school award was conferred on the school.
In 2020, Dr John Baptist Saldanha took over as the manager. LCS hosted a badminton tournament Blaze. A educational trip to Japan for 30 Lourdites was held. Fr Robert D’Souza received the ISA award on behalf of the school in Delhi.
In 2021, a webinar on NEP 2020 was organised to highlight the New Educational Policy. As many as 75 auto and van drivers associated with the school were gifted twice with food kits in the time of the pandemic. The foundation stone was laid of the new block for higher and senior secondary section.
The school went on online mode to facilitate learning during the pandemic.
In 2022, the school was conferred with Swach Vidhyalay Award from DK zilla panchayat. The higher & senior secondary classes were inaugurated in the new block.
LCS students have participated in local, national and international levels of community projects and brought laurels to the school. The numerous alumni who have passed out from the school have reached prominent positions in the society. They too, look up to their school with much admiration and pride. They continue to spread the motto of the school ‘Peace through Knowledge’ wherever they are throughout the globe. The faculty also has kept on updating their knowledge to be in power with the present trend.
The past 24 years were momentous and all the good work of the school has been possible with dedicated father managers, principals and staff. The management committee of the school has been its driving force throughout and with cooperation and co-ordination of parents and the dedicated staff, there is no doubt that the school will further climb the steps of glory and shine as the brightest star where numerous students will walk through the distinguished campus of Lourdes Central School.