St. Xavier's Collegiate School

St. Xaviers's Collegiate School
Motto: "Nihil Ultra" - "Nothing Beyond"
Location
30, Mother Teresa Sarani (formerly Park Street)
Kolkata, India

Information
Type Primary, Secondary
Established 1860
Headmaster Father K.K. Devassy
Faculty 83
Gender Male
Number of students 2300
Color(s) Blue, white
Athletics Football, cricket, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, track and field.
Information +91 33 2280 5197
+91 33 2280 5198
Amulni Association ALSOC [1]
Website

St. Xavier's Collegiate School was established in 1860 in Kolkata, India by missionaries of the Society of Jesus. The school is named after St. Francis Xavier. The School, whose alumni range from the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore to the former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, is widely regarded as one of India's most prestigious institutions, and has been described by the British writer Dennison Berwick as the "Harrow on the Hooghly".[1]. In 2010, St Xavier's completed 150 years.

There are two school buildings separated by a street, one for the Primary School (grades K - 5) and the other for the Secondary School (grades 6 - 12). The secondary school building shares the campus with the St. Xavier's College building and one of the college hostels. The two institutions were established by the same Christian order, but have independent administrations.

Contents

Religious affiliation

The school was established for the education of Catholic boys. However, it has long admitted students of any religious belief. In fact, most classes (with the exception of Kindergarten) are made up of primarily non-Christian students.

Academic affiliation

The school is affiliated to the "Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations" (which conducts the ICSE and ISC exams in grades, i.e. classes 10 and 12 respectively) as well as the "West Bengal Board of Secondary Education" (which holds the Madhyamik exams after grade 10). The students are given a choice of following either board up to standard 10 but must follow the Indian Council's board for classes 11 and 12. However due to a lower number of students opting for the West Bengal board, classes are held only for ICSE board, and the ISC board for the 11th and 12th standard.

School session

The school session is from April to March. Saturday is the normal weekly holiday (in addition to Sunday).

Uniform

The primary school uniform is dark grey shorts and white shirt while secondary school students wear white shorts/trousers with white shirt. A colored monogram on the shirt pocket has been introduced from April 2011. During winter months a dark blue pullover is permitted in both schools. Secondary school students also have the option of wearing a blue blazer.

A metal badge which shows the house name and colors is worn by the students on the top left side of the shirt. The house captains and vice-captains have badges that denote their designations along with the house colors.

Footwear is black leather shoes with laces. On days when students have Physical Training in school, they wear white canvas sport shoes , alongwith the vests of their respective house colours, Blue for Loyola, Green for Gonzaga,Yellow for Berchmans and Red for Britto.

The school tie is dark blue with white slanting stripes. It is not compulsory every day but required on important events.

Curriculum

Students may choose to follow either the ICSE or Madhyamik curriculum till class 10. In classes 11 and 12, however, they must follow the ISC curriculum, but may choose to study either Science (Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology/Computer Science) or Commerce (Commerce, Accounts, Economics and Maths). An Indian Language is optional in classes 11 and 12.

House system

The secondary school students are grouped into four houses named after Jesuit saints. The primary section used to have a house system, but it was discontinued for a couple of years, but it has been reinstated from the Academic year 2011-12. The houses are:

Each house has a House Captain and a House Vice Captain - generally students of grades 12 and 11 respectively. Reporting to them are the House Representatives - one for each of the other grades. These executive members are selected by voting amongst the students belonging to each house.

The houses compete against each other in sports and academics. On the annual sports day, the winning house is declared on the basis of points earned by its students throughout the year.

Other clubs

The school also has many active clubs, which are aimed at building leadership qualities in the students at the school level. The clubs comprise

The Debate Club has several notable victories to its credit. Shourya Dasgupta, a student of Class X was adjudged the Best Speaker of the Frank Anthony Memorial Debate National Finals of 2011( organised by the ICSE council). Dasgupta has previously won the regional rounds of this competition, in addition to winning the St.Lawrence Old Boy's Association Debate.

Notable alumni

See also

References