Bangalore Province

As the number of students increased steadily in St Mary’s Primary School, the people of the locality became more and more aware of the need to upgrade the higher primary to High School.  Sr Agnella, the then Secretary of Bethany Educational Society and Sr Emerita, the Superior approached Bishop Alphonsus Mathias on 16 September 1971 and obtained permission to start the high School. Standard VIII was opened on 1 June 1972 as a result of the untiring efforts of Mr H S Siddappa, member of the Legislative Assembly, Mr K S Chandrashekar, Dr Subbarao, the Rotary President and a few other prominent citizens of Arsikere. Sr Therese was appointed as the first headmistress of the high school.
 
It became necessary to have an independent building for the high school to accommodate increasing number of students and classes.

Therefore the foundation was laid for the new high school building by Bishop Alphonsus Mathias. With the cooperation and support of the Congregation, benefactors and well-wishers it was possible for Sr Emerita to complete the high school building. Sr Therese served the nascent high school with unbounded energy and devotion to make it a premier institute of Arsikere for 11 years. In 1974, a parallel section with Kannada medium was introduced for the benefit of the students from the marginalized families. The school was admitted to grant- in- aid in 1977.  Permission for extension of the high school building was granted in May 1978. The classes were bifurcated in 1979 and an additional six classrooms were constructed on the first floor of the school building. Another wing was added to the high school with classrooms and a hall to provide space for the English medium additional sections which was inaugurated on 30^th May 1996.

St Mary’s High School flourished under the able leadership of Sr Therese (1972-1983), Sr Annette (1983-84), Sr Valentine (1984-90), Sr Elizabeth (1990-99), Sr Georgina (2000-2002), Sr Prakash (2002-2008), Sr Geetha Pinto (2008- 2010), Sr Jennifer (2010-12), Sr Joylet Rodrigues (2012-2016) and Sr Cynthia Pais (2016 ).

The school believes in quality education, stress on discipline and facilities for co-curricular activities. The students have scope to achieve academic excellence. The annual orientation for teachers, regular parent- teacher meets and co-operation from parents have helped both teachers and students to perform well in academic as well as extended activities.

 Sr Severine D Souza BS
Correspondent

Sr Joylet Rodrigues BS
Headmistress

School Building