Infant Jesus School Kollam
Encyclopedia
The Infant Jesus Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School is an educational institution affiliated to CISCE based in Kollam
city in the south Indian state of Kerala
. It was established in the year 1940 by the late Bishop Jerome M. Fernandez, the former Bishop
of Kollam
. The school is situated in Tangasseri
, which was a stronghold of western culture with a historical background of ancient Portuguese, Dutch and English settlements. The school was founded primarily to cater to the education of the Anglo Indian Community, the then predominant community of the region. It has the reputation of being the top ranked school in the district and among the few best in the State for many years.
It is one of the oldest schools which has a rich tradition and important links with history. This school is one of the very few institutions which introduced the English language to India in its original style. It was started by the Anglo Indian community (people who stayed back when British left India) to educate their children. It was later opened to the public in and around Kollam. The school attained its heights because of its dedicated teachers guided by eminent principals right from the inception and throghout its existence.
The institution is known for its strong Alumni which is very active in the Middle East, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, some European countries and other parts of the world. It is widely accepted that the school was able to nurture many doctors, researchers, businessmen, administrators, engineers, artists, etc. during its long history.
The major highlight of the institution was that apart from maintaining its academic standards it gave equal importance to sports and youth festivals. The two-day annual school sports meet is being conducted in a big way making it appear like a mini-Olympics for the students.
Many revolutionary steps were taken by the School management in the early 90's which include the introduction of the Language lab (the first in the state).
in Tangasseri itself, ironically just opposite to IJHS.The Inaugration was done by His Excellency Bishop Jerome M Fernandez, by offering a Holy Mass at the nearby Infant Jesus Pro-Cathedral (elevated as Cathedral on December 3, 2005) on January 8, 1940. At first there were 15 students and 2 staff members, but now the school has around 3,500 students and 110 staff members. Mrs. Mary Netto was the first principal, the first two students to gain admission were Frankpet and Dentlin.
Kollam
Kollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
city in the south Indian state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. It was established in the year 1940 by the late Bishop Jerome M. Fernandez, the former Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Kollam
Kollam
Kollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
. The school is situated in Tangasseri
Tangasseri
Thangasseri is a beach town on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Kollam city, Kerala, India.It is located around 5 km from the city center and 71 km form capital city Thiruvanthapuram.- History :...
, which was a stronghold of western culture with a historical background of ancient Portuguese, Dutch and English settlements. The school was founded primarily to cater to the education of the Anglo Indian Community, the then predominant community of the region. It has the reputation of being the top ranked school in the district and among the few best in the State for many years.
It is one of the oldest schools which has a rich tradition and important links with history. This school is one of the very few institutions which introduced the English language to India in its original style. It was started by the Anglo Indian community (people who stayed back when British left India) to educate their children. It was later opened to the public in and around Kollam. The school attained its heights because of its dedicated teachers guided by eminent principals right from the inception and throghout its existence.
The institution is known for its strong Alumni which is very active in the Middle East, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, some European countries and other parts of the world. It is widely accepted that the school was able to nurture many doctors, researchers, businessmen, administrators, engineers, artists, etc. during its long history.
The major highlight of the institution was that apart from maintaining its academic standards it gave equal importance to sports and youth festivals. The two-day annual school sports meet is being conducted in a big way making it appear like a mini-Olympics for the students.
Many revolutionary steps were taken by the School management in the early 90's which include the introduction of the Language lab (the first in the state).
Notable alumni
- Suresh BabuSuresh BabuSuresh Babu was an Indian long jumper from Kerala who had held the national titles in the long, triple, and high jump events, in addition to the decathlon...
- Olympic athlete - Errol De Clase - Olympic athlete
- Chandralal - boxing coach and winner of Dronacharya award
- Suresh Gopi(Malayalam actor) - National Award winning actor
- Mukesh - actor
- Alphonse Louis Erayil - former D.G.P of Kerala
- Jithesh John - IES
- S.Syamsundar - IPS
- Sunny Varkey Sunny VarkeySunny Varkey began the Varkey Group in 1980 with 'Our Own English High School'. Since 1980, the organisation has since evolved to include a number of schools internationally...
- Recipent `Padma Shree`, the world`s largest provider of pvt education. - Dr.Roy M. John-Renowned Cardiologist & philanthropist, -Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A
- Jacob Joshua - IAS
- Anil Xavier - IAS
- D Cruz - IPS
- Mohan SivanandMohan SivanandMohan Sivanand is an Indian journalist and artist. He is Editor of the India edition of Reader's Digest.Mohan started his art career while at college in Kerala, publishing his first cartoon in Shankar's Weekly, India's equivalent of Punch, in 1975...
- Editor, Readers Digest
History
The Infant Jesus Anglo-Indian Boys School was started with the view of educating the Anglo-Indian Boys in the locality as the girls of the society was educated at the Mount Carmel Convent Anglo-Indian Girls High SchoolMount Carmel Convent Anglo-Indian Girls High School
Mount Carmel Convent Anglo-Indian Girls High School was founded on July 22, 1885 in the Kollam District in the state of Kerala, India, by Mother Veronica of the Passion, the foundress of The Congregation of the Carmelite Religious...
in Tangasseri itself, ironically just opposite to IJHS.The Inaugration was done by His Excellency Bishop Jerome M Fernandez, by offering a Holy Mass at the nearby Infant Jesus Pro-Cathedral (elevated as Cathedral on December 3, 2005) on January 8, 1940. At first there were 15 students and 2 staff members, but now the school has around 3,500 students and 110 staff members. Mrs. Mary Netto was the first principal, the first two students to gain admission were Frankpet and Dentlin.
Principals
The principles of the Infant Jesus school:-- Mrs. Maryan Netto:Headmistress 1940
- Fr. Mathew FabianPh.D:1941-1955
- Fr. Gracian Fernandez:B.A.L.t. 1955-1958
- Fr. Stephen S. Gomez:B.A.1958-1963
- Fr. Elias Lopex,Bsc .B.Ed:1963 – 1966
- Miss Mary J.Camoens:B.A.L.T. 1958, 1966-1967
- Fr. Thomas Thundiyil,B.A.L.T: 1968-1970
- Fr. A. Varghese:1974-1975
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Dr. Ferdinand Kayavil:1975-2005
- Rev Sr Estelle Vas:2005-2010
- Rev. Fr. Silvie Antony:2010-present
Eminent Teachers
- Mrs Sheila D'Couto - English (Shakespeare)
- Mrs Zita Fernandez - English, History
- Ms Indrani Coreira - Chemistry
- Mr K.P.Abraham - Biology
- Mr Miranda Physics
- Mrs Moraes Mathematics
- Mr C.F Hickman-English