HISTORY OF ST. MARY'S HIGH SCHOOL, PONDA

ST. MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL, PONDA – GOA.


The roots of our school can be traced down to the little parochial school that functioned during the Portuguese regime in the parish house of St. Anne’s Church, Ponda at the time of late Rev. Fr. Pascoal Lobo. It was a primary school where a few classes of Portuguese were taught. After the liberation there came a need to switch over to English. In 1962 the Ponda Parish was entrusted to the Franciscan (Order of Friars Minor) with Rev. Fr. Gaspar Mendes as its first vicar. He worked hard for the upliftment and up-grading of this school. In the words of late Rev. Fr. Paul Fernandes (OFM) who succeeded him as the next vicar “Fr. Gaspar went to the highways and by-ways and compelled all children of school going age to enter his school or any other school”. At that time as compared to other cities/towns of Goa, Ponda was very much backward in the fields of educational, cultural, social and moral spheres.

By the end of the year there were about 100 children enrolled in the school. Due to insufficient space in the church porch and verandah to accommodate more students the priests were forced to shift this school in the presbytery of Mt. Carmel’s Chapel, Ponda. Fr. Gaspar was assisted first by Fr. Leo Remedios (OFM) followed by Fr. Leopold Vaz (OFM) and last but not the least Fr. Blaise Lobo (OFM) who really worked hard for improvement of the infrastructure, staff and bring discipline in the school. The teachers who taught in the school are namely Mr. Agustine Fernandes, Mr. Minguel Rodrigues, Georgina D’Souza, Zelia Cardozo and Bernadete Aguiar. These noble souls along with the above named priests deserve the title as Pioneers in laying a firm foundation for this school.

In 1965 the Friars handed over this school to the sisters (Daughters of Mary Imaculate of Regina Pacis, Bombay) who were kind enough to come to their aid by agreeing to accept as part of their work, the burden of the ill-equipped and inadequately under-staffed school with all its deficiencies and drawbacks. Since the strength of students of this school had already swelled and soon it could boast of eight standards, the sisters rented a house of Lamartino Cardozo family at Tiska, Ponda which was vacant and shifted the school there.

The first principal of the school was Rev. Mother Superior Margaret who was a real mother to everyone. In the beginning the sisters has a very tough time in convincing the parents of the children of Ponda. There were only some shops and houses here and there and the rest all was a forest area. The only other school in Ponda at that time was the A.J.de Almeida High School. Most of the parents were illiterate and economically poor. The Franciscan fathers and the sisters had to go to all the nooks and corners making door to door visits begging and pleading with the parents to send their children to the school. The children were given mid-day meals in the form of porridge. There were no separate staff members for office work but all the work was done with the help of dedicated teaching staff members who functioned as one family.

The proudest moment for the school came on 2nd February, 1968 when His Excellency the Administrator Apostolic Msgr. Francisco da Piedade Rebelo blessed the foundation stone of St. Mary’s own school building on the land provided by the Fabrica of St. Anne’s Church at a nominal price as this institution will be imparting educational and social service for the future generations to come. The principals who followed Mother Margaret were Srs. Rosa and Lina till the management of the school changed hands and the Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate Conception purchased the property from the Daughters of Mary Immaculate of Regina Pacis, Bombay.

The management of the school was taken over by the Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate Conception on 10th November, 1980 after necessary legal negotiations with the Daughters of Mary Immaculate of Regina Pacis, Bombay with Sr. Clara Fernandez as its first principal. This Institution under Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters has played a vital role in the human formation and education of young boys and girls, from near and far, leaving a distinct mark in the lives of those who passed out through its portals all along these last 31 years. The other principals who followed Sr. Clara Fernandez were Srs. Effiie D’Souza, Teresa Fernandes, Josephine Carvalho, Piola Fernandes, Philomena Connor, Agnes Daisy Firmin, Annie Paul and again Sr. Agnes Daisy Firmin and Sr. Annie Paul (the present Principal).

From its humble beginnings, St. Mary’s High School has travelled a long way to towering heights of name, fame and popularity as an educational institution of repute not only in Ponda Taluka but also in the entire State of Goa. The school gained its momentum during the tenure of present management. But it is our bounden duty to acknowledge the contribution made by the previous management (Daughters of Mary Immaculate of Regina Pacis).

St. Mary’s school is a building that has four walls with tomorrow inside, hence emphasis is laid on Faith formation, Patriotism, Secularism, Personality development, Multiple intelligence, Social, Civic, Personal, Cultural, Physical, Community, Spiritual and Emotional values in the students by conducting innumerable curricular and co-curricular activities in the school as well as by participating at the inter school level throughout the academic year. Our students have excelled in all the activities and brought laurels to the school, to their parents and to themselves. I congratulate each one of them for their noteworthy performance.

It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts. The staff and the management in the spirit of a family who heartedly work for the well being of the students round the clock. Organizations change, facts change, discoveries are made, method become outdated. Our world is wired for knowledge – staying informed is essential, for life is an information highway. The staff keep them updated by attending the workshops, Seminars, Talks and Orientation programmes organized by various Institutions.

- Our new KG Block was blessed by Rev. Fr. Simon Pinto, OFM and inaugurated by Mr. Inacio Gracias, Social Worker on 17 June 1989.
- Our teacher Mr. N.D. Nagarali was presented with the National Teachers Award for valuable contribution and service to Education for the year 1989-90 by the Centre of Cultural Resources and Training, Delhi.
- Computer instruction was introduced in the school for Computer education for Std III to Std X.
- The extension of the KG Building was blessed by Rev. Fr. Paul Fernandes, OFM and inaugurated by Sr. Musela Nunes, Provincial Superior on 2nd February, 1996.
- The third floor of the K.G building was blessed by Fr. Nicholas OFM in the year 2009.
- Scouts and Guides Installation Ceremony for the students of Std. VIII was introduced and Camps are being held every year since then.
- A Workshop on Sex education and HIV/AIDS for the teachers of St. Mary’s is conducted every year.
- UCMAS (Maths) Classes for students of Std III, IV, V, and VI were conducted.
- The Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the Franciscan Hospittaler Sisters of Immaculate Conception since taking over this Institution on 11/11/1990 was celebrated. Arch-Bishop Rev. Dr. Filipe Neri Ferrao blesses the new foundation for ‘Sneha Sadan’, a loving home for destitute girl children.
- Mid-Day-Meals for Primary Class students were started from 15th July, 2006 and it was continued for the students upto std VIII.
- A Vermicompost Project was implemented by the school in collaboration with Agriculture Department, Govt. of Goa.
- Environmental Education as a subject was introduced in the school curriculum from 2006-07 onwards.
- The revived YCS meeting was introduced in the school in 2005 with an aim to prepare the students for future leadership.
- Our school secured first place for the 5th consecutive year in the Taluka level March Past Competition organized by Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs.
- Extra coaching classes for weaker students of Std X has been the priority of the school in order to help all the students complete successfully the Board examinations.
- The PTA which as defunct since many years was revived from 2006-07.
- Ex-students Association was started in the year 2009.
- A Workshop on ECOLOGY for teachers of St. Mary’s was conducted.
- All Goa General Knowledge Quiz Competition is being organized by St. Mary’s High School in collaboration with PTA every year.
- Whenever the Generals, General Councilors, Provincial Superiors, the Provincial Councilors visited the sisters of St. Mary’s Convent, always paid a visit to the school and interacted with the staff members.
- Miss Velanie Fernandes studying in Std VII was felicitated by the Home Minister Mr. Ravi Naik for her several achievements by presenting her a trophy and a shawl.
- She attended a camp at Sai Kerala.
- She played for India in U-13 Football Festival in Colombo.
- She was selected for the U-16 football team to tour Jordan.
- She represented Goa in the U-15 National Football tournament in Uttarakhand.
- Participated in the 56th National Football tournament at Chandigarh. Goa secured the 3rd place and Velanie was judged the fastest goal scorer of India.
- Attended the India Camp which was held at Lucknow, UP.
- She was chosen as captain of the U-14 football girls team to go to Tamilnadu for the football tournament. After which she was selected as the captain of India girls U-14 and India won the 1st place in the football festival at Sri Lanka.
- She represented Goa U-14 in the school National games at Fatorda.
- She was awarded the 1st place in skills.
- At the National level football tournament our outstanding sportsperson Miss Velanie Fernandes was felicitated by Govt of Goa, Directorate of sports and youth affairs, Panaji. She was given a Titan watch as a prize.
- Master Shayne Rodrigues of std VIII has been taking part in football tournament from std Vth onwards. He has been taking part in the interhouse football tournaments and secured many prizes. At the taluka level St. Mary’s High School, they were the champions in which he scored many goals. At the state level he has secured prizes and certificates in the athletic meet organised by the Directorate of sports and youth affairs, Panaji. He participated in the U-13 football tournament in Tamil Nadu. He scored 2 goals as the team defeated Gujarat in the football festival in Tamil Nadu.
- At the State Level Master Kunal Sharma of std IV secured 4 silver medals and one Bronze medal in the Taekwondo Championship and his sister Sneha Sharma of std II secured one gold and one Bronze medal in Taekwondo Championship at the State Level.
- At the State Level Master Hrishikesh Naik of Std VIII participated in the Drawing competition organised by Govt. of Goa and he was awarded the 3rd prize and he was selected at the national level at New Delhi and he was awarded consolation prize. At the Interschool and state level he secured 1st prize in Drawing Competition organised by “Lokmat” on the topic “ Sapno ka Goa”.
- Master Suraj Kumar Singh won 3 silver medals and 1 bronze medal at the State Level Karate Championship.
- Master Ansan Dias won a trophy at the MaRRs International Spelling Bee competition at the state level and was selected to participate at the national level.
- 5 students won cash prizes at the state level Talent Search Programme in music.
- Our boys under -14 football team and the girls under 14 football team were the Taluka level Champions
- Master Ashish Nair won the 2nd prize at the All Goa Elocution Competition.
- Our students participated in the under-14 Athletic meet and won 9 medals, gold, silver and bronze for securing first, second and third place while in the under -17 category they won 2 metals.
- Our students won 4 medals at the district level athletic meet.
- Master Sohail Sayed and Master Revant Bhatia was awarded a Trophy each in the All Goa Dance competition for being the best dancers in the Junior and Senior category
- The girls team won the U-13 finals in the Taluka level football tournament.
- Miss Divyanka Borkar was awarded a silver medal for securing distinction in Bharatnetyam dance.
- Tr. Nellie D’Costa and student Sulaksha Gaunkar won cash prize for securing the 1st place in the Essay writing competition organised by Goa Science Centre.
- Government of Goa awarded Rajiv Gandhi Meritorious Scholarship cash prizes to the 1st three rankers of the school.

St. Mary’s have achieved great heights and it is still doing so. My thanks to Mr. Vikas Chodenkar and Mr. John Aguiar who came forward to begin the Alumni of our Institution by forming our Ex-Students Association and extend a helping hand to give much needed fill-up to their parent institution in order to enable her to march forward.

Our school continue to rise as a shining star under the tireless efforts of our Principals and our staff members in equipping our students to face courageously the challenges of our Society moving towards globalization. The School has 1320 students for the academic year 2011-12.