Loreto House
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| Loreto House | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
7, Middleton Row, Kolkata, India | |
| Information | |
| Type | Primary, Secondary |
| Established | 1842 |
| Gender | Female |
| Color(s) | Red, White and Blue |
| Athletics | Basketball, Throwball, Badminton, Cricket, Baseball, etc |
| Website | www |
Loreto House was established in 1842 by the Sisters of Loreto belonging to the institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the oldest and the first Loreto institution to be established in India and was one of the few all-girls Catholic schools of that time. The School started with 60 students who were taught at a house where nuns resided under Mother Delphine Hart, assisted by Sr. Teresa Mons and Sr. Martina McCann.[1]
There are two School buildings, one housing the Junior and Middle School (KG-VIII) and the other the Senior school (IX-XII).
Foundresses
- Mother Mary Ward (1585-1645)
- Mother Teresa Ball (1794-1861)
- Mother Delphine Hart (1818-1866)
Religious Affiliation
The School was initially established for the education of Catholic girls. However, it has long admitted students of many religious beliefs.[1]
Academic Affiliation
The School is affiliated to the "Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations" (which conducts the ICSE and the ISC exams in grades, i.e. classes X and XII respectively).
Uniform
Uniforms of classes KG-II consist of a White Dress with a Blue piping and two pockets. Uniforms of classes III-X consist of a White Blouse (with the LH symbol in Red thread on the pocket) and Skirt. Uniforms of classes of +2 consist of an Off-White Blouse (with the LH symbol in Blue thread on the pocket) and Royal Blue skirt. During Winter months, classes KG-II are permitted a Light Blue Sweater, classes III-X are permitted a full-sleeved Red Sweater (with White lining on the sleeves and on the bottom strip of the sweater) and classes XI and XII are permitted a Black Sweater. Girls of classes II-X, wear a pleated Red Skirt along with the same White Blouse on Days of Physical Education.
Footwear is Black Leather Ballerina shoes. However, on Days of Physical Education, they wear White Canvas Sport shoes instead.
A Metal Badge showing the School Crest along with the House Colour is worn by all students of classes VI-XII on the Left collar of their Blouse. The School and House Captains have badges that represent their designation. Students also wear badges of the different Clubs which they are a part of.
Curriculum
Students may choose to study Science (Physics, chemistry, Mathematics/Biology/Economics.), Commerce (Accounts, Commerce, Mathematics/Business studies, Economics.) or Humanities (History/Geography, Economics/Psychology, Mathematics/Home Sc., Political Sc.). Either Hindi/Bengali should be taken a compulsory subject
School Houses
Students are allocated their Houses in class VI. There are 6 different Houses, namely:-
- Gandhi (Brown), named after Mahatma Gandhi
- Keller (Red), named after Helen Keller
- Kennedy (Yellow), named after American President John F. Kennedy
- Mary Ward (Mauve), named after the School's founder, Mary Ward
- Naidu (Blue), named after Sarojini Naidu, and
- Tagore (Green), named after Rabindranath Tagore
Each house has a Captain, a Vice-Captain and a Prefect - generally of students of class XII. Each house is assisted by teachers or House Mistresses.
School Crest
The Crest is familiar to Loreto pupils worldwide. It is surmounted by words "Maria Regina Angelorum" which indicate the patronage of Our Lady, Queen of Angels. The emblem is rich in symbolism :-
- The Cross - Sign of our Salvation
- The Sacred Heart - Source of the Infinite Love of Jesus for each one of us
- The Heart of Mary - Our Human model and inspiration
- The Anchor - Symbol of Hope
This symbolism is summed up in the final scroll: "Cruci Dum Spiro Fido" - "Throughout my life, I shall place my hope in the cross".
School Song
Verse 1.
To East and West of that fair Isle
Where the first Loreto stands,
Loreto's banner now doth fly in many distant lands,
In sunny Spain, on Afric's strand and
Under the Southern Cross
And westward ho, where rainbow hued
Niagara's waters toss.
Chorus:
Loreto's banner gaily floats
In lands both East and West
Loreto's name each girl reveres
And holds it ever blest.
Verse 2.
But first Loreto found a home beneath our Indian skies
Where now o'er plain and mountain peak
The well loved banner flies.
Loreto's standard bearers we
In girlhood springtime gay
O may we e'er be loyal and true
To the school friends of today.
Chorus
Verse 3.
And when our school days ended are
And our varied paths divide
O may the ideals of our youth
Still ever be our guide;
High ideals of purity, of duty and of truth
Learnt while we bore Loreto's flag
In the sunny days of youth.
Chorus
See also
References
- ^ a b "Students Span - A Worl Viewer.com site Students Span, Global network of Students, Student Blogs, Articles, Personal Pages". www.studentsspan.com. Retrieved 2012-05-26.