St. Berchmans Higher Secondary School

St. Berchmans Higher Secondary School Changanasserry
Location
Changanassery , Kerala India
Coordinates	9.45373°N 76.54723°E / 9.45373; 76.54723
Information
Other name	SBHSS
Former name	SB English High School Changanasserry
Motto	Age Quod Agis (Do well whatever you do)
Religious affiliation(s)	Christian
Patron saint(s)	St John Berchmans
Established	1891
Founder	Mar Charles Lavigne
Sister school	St Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Changanasserry. (1895)
School board	State Council for Educational Research and Training, Kerala
Director	Fr Christo Neriamparambil
Principal	Dr Antony Mathews
Headmaster	Fr Rojy Valayil
Grades	5-12
Gender	Boys
Classes	18
Website	https://www.sbhss.in/

St. Berchmans Higher Secondary School[1][2] is an aided Catholic Residential School in Changanasserry of Kottayam district. Established by Mar Charles Lavigne SJ, the then Vicar Apostolic of Kottayam, in 1891, is one of the oldest Catholic schools in Kerala. The school is run by Syro Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanasserry. The school today has served its purpose producing many notable alumni especially in Catholic Church such as two Cardinals, Cardinal Antony Padiyara and Cardinal George Alencherryand Archbishops such as Mar Joseph Powathil and Mar Joseph Perumthottam.

Later, in 1922, A college was established on the cornerstone laid by Mar Charles Lavigne by Venerable Mar Thomas Kurialacherry on the same name, SB College Changanasserry, to provide higher education to the students of Malabar-Travancore region.

History

Mar Charles Lavigne

The boys' school was founded in 1891 by the French Jesuit Charles Lavigne, the first bishop of Changanacherry, as a residential (boarding) school on the wish of the commoners to provide their children access to primary education in English.[3] Until 1997, students were admitted to Grades 5 through 10. In the 1998–99 school year, the school expanded to include Grades 11 and 12. Now the school's higher secondary studies include four science batches and two commerce batches. Built on a 10-acre campus with more than 3,000 students, St. Berchmans is one of the largest schools in Changanacherry. The school is part of the corporate management of schools in the Archdiocese of Changanassery.[4]

Administration

Administration of SB HSS, Changanacherry

1	Cardinal Mar Raphael Thattil[5]	Patron, Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Church[6]
2	Mar Thomas Tharayil	Archbishop of Changanassery
3	Mar Joseph Powathil	Chairman, Inter-Church Council for Education
4	Joseph Mundakathil	Protosyncellus, Archdioces of Changanassery
5	James Palackal	Vicar General, Archdioces of Changanassery
6	Fr Manoj Karukayil	Corporate Manager
7	Fr Christo Neriamparambil	Manager
8	Dr Antony Mathews	Principal
9	Fr Rojy Vallayil	Headmaster

Facilities

Library

The school's library has more than 20,000 books and journals.

Career guidance cell

The career guidance cell of the school gives information to the students on education and career opportunities. Currently, St. Berchmans is the Kottayam district nodal center of student career and counseling.

Orientation program

All students attend an orientation program at the beginning of the academic year. Different batches of 100 students attend two-day seminars of various activities for the students to get to know one another and realize their potential. Parents also attend sessions.

Boarding house

St. Berchmans was founded as a residential school and continues to operate a boarding house for students whose families live far away.

References

1. "ST BERCHMANS HSS CHANGANASSERY". corporateschoolschry.org. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
2. "SB SCHOOL". sbhsschy.org. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
3. "SBHSS CHANGANACHERRY". Mathrubhumi Education. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
4. "Corporate Management of Schools : Archdiocese of changanacherry". corporateschoolschry.org. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
5. "Hearty Congratulations to Cardinal George Alencherry". maralencherry.smcim.org. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
6. "Syro Malabar Church::Syro-Malabar Catholic Church India::Second largest Eastern Catholic Church::Apostolic Church India". syromalabarchurch.in. Retrieved 2020-06-18.