| South Point Group of Schools, Kolkata | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| South Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
|
| Information | |
| Established | 1 April, 1954 |
| Founder | Satikanta Guha |
| Affiliation | WBBSE & WBCHSE, CBSE |
| Website | http://southpoint.edu.in/ |
South Point School is Kolkata's first coeducational school.[1] In 1992, South Point group of schools, consisting of the junior and senior divisions, made an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest educational institute in the world. The existing South Point school in Kolkata of the M.P Birla Group, which was, till recently, managed by R S Lodha, has around 13,500 regular students on its rolls, and is reported to be the second-largest school in the world.
The group now plans to set up a second institute between Rajarhat and Ruby General hospital on the EM Bypass with a similar capacity for which it is looking for a suitable site near Kolkata.
The school is English medium with Bengali and Hindi taught as vernaculars. Subjects taught as per the norms of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education and the Central Board of Secondary Education.
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South Point School was founded by Late Satikanta Guha on April 1, 1954 at 10, Hindustan Road, Kolkata- 700 019, with Smt. Pritylata Guha as Associate Founder.Later it was shifted to 16, Mandeville Gardens, Kolkata- 700 019 It started with only 20 children and soon made legendary progress in the field of Education Society and its affairs are managed by a Managing Committee.
South Point High School, also run by the Society and managed by a separate Managing Committee, obtained affiliation to the Board of Secondary Education, West Bengal from January, 1957. This year the high School has also obtained affiliation with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), making it among the few privileged schools having such parallel affiliation. Students of choice amongst the two boards for continuing their studies under their preferred for board for the academic session 2011-12. Most of the applying students received this successfully.
The school is divided into two campuses located close by:
Classes between nursery and class five are taught in the junior section, while classes between six and twelve are conducted at the high school campus.
Having started with only 20 children, the school has 13,500 students in up to 15 sections divided between morning and afternoon sessions for every standard. It has 405 teachers, and 245 members of non-teaching staff. The campuses are under CCTV surveillance with thirty-two cameras installed covering all the gates and the corridors. South Point held the record for being the world’s largest school from 1984 to 1994 according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Others who were instrumental to the success of this institution are Ashutosh Mukherjee, better known as "Ashu Babu", Prithwish Kumar Kar, Anjan Das Gupta (Anjan Babu), Prof. J. P. Bose, Prof. Biswanath Chatterjee and Gaur Hari Khara. The Bengali film and theater actor, Utpal Dutta was, at one time during his long career, a teacher of the English language at SPS. The quizzer, Barry O'Brien was in charge as assistant principal of South Point High School for seven years.[2]
The school motto is Courage to Know, as illustrated in the school's emblem. This is printed on all school shirts, sweaters, blazers, laboratory coats and Physical Education uniforms as well as school satchels and athletic uniforms. This is the pride which every student carries on his/her heart.
We'll never stop, Pointers one and all
We have work at hand, and that is our call
We will never turn away from those in need
We'll help everyone, that is our creed.
We are the Pointers, ready to grow
We are the Pointers, with "Courage to Know"
We are the Pointers, challenges we'll face
We'll make our mark in the human race.
Dear God,
Thank you for everything;
Bless me and help me to be good,
And to do my studies well.
The two songs of South Point
Sharing:
Sharing, If we would all keep sharing, Sharing all the things we have Oh! What joy, what peace And contentment, if we would Keep sharing all we have
Our god bids us shine:
Our god bids us shine with a pure clear light, Like a little candle burning in the night; In this world of darkness sooo we must shine, You in your small corner and I in mine!
Our God bids us shine, First of all for him; When he sees and knows it if our lights grow dim, He looks down from heaven, tooo see us shine, You in your small corner and I in mine!
The school magazine, "Ascent" is published annually by the South Point Education Society. Poems, articles and paintings of students of all classes are published in it.
The Newsletter of the school is called the "Pointer", which contains news of developments, picnics, and records of alumni.
Its a three day arts fair that is held every year in mid December. All students are encouraged to take part and contribute their works for public display.
The Annual Prize Distribution takes place every year at the Science City Auditorium on the 4th of July. Students of all classes securing the first ten ranks and the highest scorers in subjects receive the awards. The school also recognizes pupils who have shown talent in spheres apart from the school curriculum. The MP Birla Smarak Kosh provides scholarships and recognition to deserving pupils. This is followed by a cultural program put up by the junior and the high schools students.
The school organizes trips and sports events. An athletic meet is held in winter. The athletic meet and art exhibition occur alternately.
Independence day is celebrated every year on the 15th of August in the school premises and so is the school's foundation day on the 1st of April. Christmas, Teacher's Day, Children's Day and Saraswati Puja are also celebrated.
Summer and Durga Puja vacations are about a month each and are in May-June and September-October, respectively. Winter recess is in the last week of December, just after the three day annual arts and crafts exhibition in mid December.
White shirts with the school emblem on the pocket, navy blue pants and a black school shoe. An navy blue tie with the school emblem and sweater or blazer is additional for winter.
Special uniforms in white and a house color are worn for P.E. and special events.
The houses and their colors are:
For the students of classes 9 and 10, the shirt is white with wide dark blue pin stripes and the emblem on the pocket. For the students of classes 11 and 12, the shirt is again a white one with navy blue pin stripes and the emblem on the pocket.
Souvik Bandyopadhyay, Economist & Poet