Hebron School

Hebron School
Address
Hebron School, Lushington Hall Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu 643001 Republic of India
Information
Type	Private International School Christian School
Motto	Deo Supremo ("God First")
Established	1899
Principal	Mr. Howard Oldcorn
Grades	Class Preschool - 13
Number of students	8 pre-school 77 elementary school 62 junior high school 225 senior high school
Campus	Rural, 22 acres (89,000 m2)
Colour(s)	Blue and Gold
Publication	Zenith Hebron Highlights
Former pupils	Hebronites
Website	www.hebronooty.org

Hebron School is a co-educational day and boarding independent international Christian school in Ootacamund, the hill station also known as Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India. The school is a boarding school operated by a Protestant/Christian trust to educate the children of Christian workers and business families living predominantly in India, but also in other parts of the world.

The school is non-denominational.

History

The school traces its origin to 1899 when a group of Protestant missionaries, who had come to the hills on vacation and were staying at Brooklands Christian Guest Home in nearby Coonoor, decided it would be of benefit to their children to live year round in the temperate and clean surroundings of the Nilgiri hills. Due to the high altitude — Ooty being at 2300 m (7500 ft) above sea level — these hills enjoy year-round cool temperatures and abundant rainfall, and their climate has often been compared to Europe. Initially the school operated as a type of boarding house where children would stay, and either be home-educated in house or sent to one of the local schools. It was named Hebron School in 1902.

In February 1961, Lushington Boys School was started at Lushington Hall, Ooty - these premises had formerly been a hostel for boys from Breeks Memorial School. Hebron School, Lushington Hall's sister school for girls, was situated at the Silverdale campus in Coonoor, approximately 20 km away. As time progressed it was decided that co-education would be more beneficial to the children, and in 1974 the two schools were amalgamated, with the senior school at Lushington Hall Ooty (the senior girls were housed separately at Selborne) and the junior school at Coonoor. In 1977(?) the junior school moved to Ooty so that the whole school could be together. The Silverdale campus (often referred to as Hebron Coonoor or Titch Heb) was sold to Christian Mission Service and is now a children's home and industrial training institute.

Campus

The present amalgamated school is known as "Hebron School" and is situated in 20 acres (81,000 m²) of woodland around the former stately home of Lushington Hall. The Ooty Government Botanical Gardens and the school share a common entrance. It is sometimes known as "Hebron International School", as it was at least for some time recognised by the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) and because there are students from over 25 nationalities studying at the school.

The school is very small by Indian standards and consists of around 375 students.

The student body represents 26 countries and many cultural and religious backgrounds. 39% of present students are Indian and 61% are other nationalities. 90% of the students are boarders.

Many, but not all of students are Protestants. The school is not restricted to the children of Christian workers in India alone, but is open to those of Christian workers worldwide, with a special emphasis on Asia and Africa, as well as children of "business parents" based in India.

Academics

Students follow the International British school system and study for IGCSE's and eventually A and AS levels. These examinations are generally assessed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) board and by Edexcel, London.^[1]

Residential care

There are 15 dorms (‘dormitories’) arranged by age and sex. All dorms are single-sex. All boys’ dorms are on the Lushington campus along with the youngest girls’ dorms (Stds. 5/6, around 9/10 years of age). The girls’ dorms (Std.7 upwards) are on the Selborne campus (about 1 km from Lushington), and girls travel to school by bus or on foot (older girls). ^[2]

Activities

Music

Every year students are eligible to be entered for the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM) grade exams. Examiners from the United Kingdom conduct the exams at the school. In November 2006 12 students received distinctions and 25 received merits, in 2007 90 students were entered for exams and in 2008 73 students again received 12 distinctions and 25 merits. Several students also received the Majolly Rolling Trophy in Singing for the most outstanding musicians in south India and the Admiral Dawson Rolling Trophy for grades 6 – 8 for the most promising musicians in South India.^[1]

Sport

Athletics (track and field), swimming, cross-country running, football (soccer), field and indoor hockey, cricket, volleyball, basketball, badminton, table tennis, tennis, squash, softball and touch rugby are all sports offered at the school.^[1]

Drama

The school's annual Drama Festival consists of students from classes 7, 9, 11, 13 participating in the art of theatre. Often, inter-school competitions within the Nilgiris are held.^[1]

Christian activities

These are voluntary activities that include regular Bible Studies, retreats and youth fellowships that help students discover the faith.^[1]

Student Council

Students are encouraged to take up leadership roles that will not only serve as a means to benefit themselves, but also to act as the role models of the students. There are two major student-run events during the academic year. There are also a significant amount of fund-raising activities during the year. Community service-related projects are almost always of top priority among the Student Council. Peace Choi and Sahil Durr are currently the Co-Presidents.^[1]

International Guest Scheme

• Hebron School runs an International Guest (IG) system. The program takes on young people across the globe, primarily recently graduated students, and provides them with free lodging in exchange for their service. Usually IGs are responsible for helping in a particular dormitory and are given other subject related duties. IGs almost always commit to a single semester (6 months) in the school.
• Senior persons occasionally join the scheme, but are more often referred to as 'Senior Volunteers' than IGs.

Administration

• As of the start of the Monsoon Term in 2015, Mr. Howard Oldcorn has replaced Dr. John Barclay as the principal of Hebron School. Senior Management and School Council serve as the main decision-making bodies.^[1]
• Mrs. Joy Sundaram has taken over as Head of Middle School and Mrs. Ruth Allen has taken the position of Head of Senior School.

Notable alumni

• Karan Faridoon Bilimoria, Baron Bilimoria of Chelsea, CBE, DL (born 1961) — founder member and Chairman of Cobra Beer^[3]
• Kalki Koechlin (born 1983) — French-Indian Hindi film actress ^[4]
• Serena Kern (born 1988) — Swiss-Indian singer and songwriter^[5]
• Pranav Mohanlal (born 1990) — Indian Malayalam film actor
• Gautham Karthik (born 1990) — Indian Tamil film actor

Notable Attendees

• Philip, Timothy and Esther Staines — the children of Australian Christian Missionary, Dr. Graham Staines

Leavers' Service Speakers

• 2007 — Sir Richard Stagg KCMG — British diplomat, the then British High Commissioner to India^[6]

See also

• St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Ooty
• St. Joseph's Boys School, Coonoor
• Breeks Memorial School, Ooty
• The Laidlaw Memorial School and Junior College, Ketti, Ooty
• Lawrence School, Lovedale, Ooty
• Woodside School, Ooty
• Stanes Hr.Sec. School, Coonoor
• Good Shepherd International School, Ooty
• Brindavan Public School, Coonoor

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hebron School.

• Official website
• Alumni section
• Unofficial website and past students photo album

Coordinates: 11°25′07″N 76°42′50″E / 11.418605°N 76.713973°E / 11.418605; 76.713973