It was Aristotle who said, “it is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Prescient words those. They drove the Jesuits of Mangalore, already pioneers of education from Kindergarten to Post Graduation in the city, to set up a CBSE School on the St. Aloysius campus 2012. Six years on, the St. Aloysius Gonzaga School (SAGS) is on the verge of a new milestone – the inauguration of its own modern school premises in the same campus. The inaugural is slated for the 5th of December 2018.
The new five storied SAGS building has 52 spacious classrooms, well equipped physics, chemistry, biology labs, a mathematics lab, two Computer suites with 80 computers, spacious music, drama and theatre classrooms, a spacious playground with a separate area for the tiny tots, a multi-activity Gonzaga hall, a well-stocked library, and facilities for smart classes.
A grand event it will be, with the newly anointed Bishop of Mangalore, the Rt. Rev. Peter Paul Saldanha, blessing the new building after its inaugural by Rev. Dr. Stanislaus D’Souza SJ, Provincial, Karnataka Jesuit Province.
Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Govt. of Karnataka, U. T. Khader, D. Vedavyasa Kamath, MLA, S. L. Boje Gowda, MLC, Ivan D’Souza, MLC, B. M. Farooq, MLC, Bhaskar K, Mayor, Mangaluru City Corporation, J. R. Lobo, former MLA, Y. Shivaramaiah DDPI, Mangaluru, Smt. K. L. Manjula BEO, Mangaluru, Fr. Denzil Lobo, Former Rector St. Aloysius Institutions, Director AIMIT and Secretary, Mangaluru Jesuit Educational Society and Rev. Fr. J. B. Mendonca SJ Former Headmaster of the St. Aloysius High School, Mangaluru will also grace the event as special invitees.
The Man Booker Prize Awardee and former alumnus of St. Aloysius, writer Aravind Adiga, Prof. Mathew Ninan, Director, Little Rock Indian School, Brahmavar, Udupi and Michael D’Souza, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist are also expected to grace the event.
The inauguration of the new building will be followed the school’s Annual Day at which Prof. Mathew Ninan, Director, Little Rock Indian School will be the Chief Guest and Rev. Dr. Stanislaus D’Souza SJ, Provincial, Karnataka Jesuit Province will preside.
Speaking to Newskarnataka, the manager of the school, Fr. Melwin Mendonca SJ, who represents the Jesuit Educational Society, the owners of the school, and is proactive in his support for the school and its principal, whether it is in terms of planning or execution had this to say on the eve of the inauguration of its own swank and modern school building, “ The St. Aloysius Gonzaga School is 7 years old, and is a Jesuit school which gives all round education and prepares students to face the challenges of life. As a Jesuit educational institution, our focus is to prepare men and women for and with others.”
It’s amazing – the story of the St. Aloysius Gonzaga CBSE School
The story of the St. Aloysius Gonzaga CBSE School may have begun with Aristotle’s words in 2012, but it is Grace Noronha, the Principal of the school since its inception, who has translated those words into action.
At its inception, the school had 83 students and 7 teachers. Today 6 years later, the school has 740 students, 35 teachers and its own modern school premises which has modern audiovisual equipment including Skype facilities in every classroom to facilitate modern teaching methodologies and greater exposure to outside learning. It is also the most sought after CBSE School among parents, not just because of the St. Aloysius name tag, but because of its constant and consistent quest for excellence.
The proof of the pudding is always in the eating. This school, gender neutral and affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education saw its first graduation ceremony last year. 28 students passed out of the 10th standard, with 2 toppers at over 97%, 10 attaining a distinction, and the balance attaining first class marks.
Not just academics
Grace Noronha, the principal, who has vast experience in the profession, told Newskarnataka that the school is focussed on the children in every way, not just academics. It seeks to build global citizenship among its students.
She said that extracurricular activities are as important as academics and the school provides opportunities to learn swimming, karate, roller skating, music, dance and even take part in skill-based events like Olympiads besides the usual sports activities. This is its USP. She told Newskarnataka, “the school seeks to develop the all-round personality of the student through international tie-ups with schools in Europe and activity-based learning, training in life skills which is part of the curriculum and sports”.
Fr. Melwyn Mendonca SJ echoed those sentiments. “Besides the regular academics, there are extra-curricular activities which help students to build team spirit, grow in mutual respect for each other, appreciate nature, and to work for the welfare of the society. Co-curricular activities in the school include Cubs, Bulbuls, Scouts, Guides, and the Bunny movement. Special attention is paid to the communication ability of students. The school conducts special classes for English communication and public speaking and graded examinations for spoken English (GESE) by Trinity, London. It has embedded Internationalism in its curriculum and collaborates with schools across the globe”.
Going beyond teaching
Teachers too are trained in modern teaching methodologies and other education-related skills regularly by the Jesuit Education Society, private agencies and the CBSE. The teachers in fact only recently underwent a rigorous 7-day workshop under the aegis of the CBSE, the principal said, adding that many of the teachers are achievers in their fields of education and the students benefit from their teaching, training and interaction. “Many of them are role models for students. Agnes Saldanha our PT teacher won gold in the 400 and 800 metres races and silver in the Long jump event at the 5thSrilanka Masters Athletics championships recently while our art teacher is internationally trained, and our music teacher is the music director for a Konkani film. We have a national kabaddi referee too on our rolls. So the teachers set high standards, and the students are inspired to follow suit”. The principal herself recently attended a 5-day workshop on Leadership in Education at Switzerland.
British Council International Schools accreditation
Uniquely, the school has been twice accredited, each for 3 year term, once at inception in 2012 and the second time in 2016 by the British Council of International Schools.
The British Council International School Award (ISA) is a benchmarking scheme that accredits schools as having an outstanding level of support for nurturing global citizenship in young people and enriching teaching and learning.
ISA was introduced in India in the year 2003 and nearly 2500 schools across the country have joined this exciting journey since then. The range of schools participating in the International School Award varies from the well-resourced private schools to government schools from rural areas and schools for the less advantaged communities. The International School Award now has a presence in 31 countries worldwide.
In fact, the principal herself is a brand ambassador for British Council International Schoolsaccreditationin India which is a feather in the cap of the school.
