Little Rock Indian School

History

Little Rock Indian School was founded by Dr. C.T Abraham in Chanthar, Brahmavar, in 1982. Despite financial constraints due to the school being entirely self-funded. It was the idea of Prof. Mathew C. Ninan, son-in-law of Dr.Abraham,to start an English medium school as there were hardly any near by in those days. Dr. Abraham did not give up on the idea and soon Crossland College was set up in 1984, affiliated to Mangalore University. The Indian Theological Seminary and an orphanage, known as Heidi Home, were started on the same campus soon after.

Campus and Student Life

The Campus is located in a very small village called Chantar. The Campus hosts the school, administration block, a degree college, the Indian Theological Seminary, a bank, an orphanage and hostels for the students of the school and the degree college.

The learning at school is very intense. The students are expected to be best at every thing. The institution offers starting from play home to Class 12. The academic blocks are separate for the Kindergartens, Class 1-4, Class 5-6, Class 7-8, Class 9-10 and Class 11-12. The seating arrangement till class 4 is mixed but as the students reach class 5, the boys and girls are made to sit separately.

There are two sets of uniform subscribed to be worn on alternative days. Saturday is generally an off but several activities like Art and Crafts Club, Music Club, Eco Club, Guides and Scouts, NCC are conducted. They also hold remedial classes on Saturday for the students who don't score well in their regular tests.

Alumni network

An alumni website is under development called Little Rockers

There is a loose network of alumni groups on Yahoo! Groups.

Alumni have come together to maintain the Little Rocker - an alumni blog.

LRIS had its first Silver Jubilee alumni reunion in December 2006.

Administration

Managed by Prof. Mathew C. Ninan.

Prof. Mathew C. Ninan (born 1950) is the Principal of the reputed Little Rock Indian School in Brahmavar, Udupi District in Karnataka. He is the recipient of the Kannada Rajyotsava Award for Education from the Udupi District in 2014.

Prof. Ninan had his early education in Kerala, schooling in CMS UP School, and High School, Kodukulanji and his collegiate education in Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara and St. Joseph’s College, Kozhikode.

He did his MA (English Language & Literature) under the renowned Professor C A Sheppard, in the Calicut University. Thereafter he started his career in teaching as a Lecturer in English at SMS Junior College, Brahmavar in Karnataka. Then he moved to St. Aloysius College, Mangalore and lectured there till he was appointed Principal of newly started SMS College, Brahmavar. He served as its Principal for seven years. During this period, Dr. C.T. Abraham his father-in-law came to Brahmavar and established the Priority One India, a charitable organization. It was Professor Ninan’s dream to start a progressive, central school in Brahmavar. There was only a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Mangalore those days. Thus in 1982 the Little Rock Indian School, affiliated to CBSE was started. Little Rock was the first school affiliated to a central board in the private sector in southern Karnataka.

During an interregnum between his collegiate service and transition to School education, he completed his MEd (Educational Management) in the University of Bath, UK in 1989. “This became the turning point of my life” says Professor Ninan. He became a self-confessed votary of children’s rights and a strong advocate of student-friendly school. No doubt Little Rock has become synonymous with quality progressive education.

Distinctions/Awards

Awards from Manipal Jaycees (1985), Future Schools, Bangalore (2003,) Brahmavar-Barkur Citizens’ Forum (2007), Lions Club International, Udupi Region (2013), Udupi Dist Rajyotsava Award for distinguished service in the field of ‘Education’ (2014).

Publication: Published a book on school education, Soliloquies of a Principal Professional Interests : Attended many national and international conferences in India and in foreign countries.

Ninan has conducted numerous faculty development seminars for Principals, teachers and parents in different parts of the country. Presented papers at several national level seminars. Topics of interest are School Climate, School Effectiveness, Leadership, Inter-personal relationships, Classroom Management, Classroom Communication, Classroom teaching strategies, Parenting etc.

He is also engaged in an honorary capacity as the Director of the Little Rock Institute for Educational Leadership which is established to help schools/colleges in their faculty development programmes.

1.Computer Literacy Excellence Award in 2002 instituted by the IT Ministry, Govt of India, for having the best IT facilities amongst the Schools in Karnataka State. The Award was presented by the Hon’ble President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on August 29, 2002 at New Delhi.

2.State Championship in 2003, 2004, 2012 and 2014 in Rural IT Quiz conducted by the IT ministry, Govt of Karnataka and TATA Consultancy Services, Bangalore. Little Rock received the State Runners-up in 2006, 2007 and 2011. Once again the National Runners-up in 2012.The school has also won the national rural it quiz 2015.

3.Verbattle – Statewide English Debate Competition winners (Junior Category) - 2012.

4.National School Sanitation Award in 2012 (awarded to 100 select schools from all over India by the HRD ministry, Govt of India)

5.Best School Award for the last 23 years consecutively from the Rotary Udupi, based on a General Knowledge Test conducted for the schools of Udupi District.

6.Little Rock has conducted three international conferences – in 2004, 2006 and 2014. More than 800 School Principals and senior faculty from all over South India have participated in these conferences. Such conferences are rarely conducted by Schools in India.

LRIS follows the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and uses English as the medium of instruction. With 3,000 students, it is one of the largest schools in the region and is optionally residential. School buses transport children and staff from a radius of 25 to 30 km daily to and from the School. The School owns 39 buses.

Achievements

Computer Literacy Excellence Award 2002

National recognition to Little Rock came in the form of the Computer Literacy Excellence Award of the Ministry of Information Technology, government of India. Little Rock was adjudged the best school in computer education in Karnataka State. The President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam presented the award to the Principal in August 2002. The school itself has won "National school sanitation award" an award from the HRD ministry, Govt. of India. The HRD minister Dr.Pallam Raju presented the award to the vice principal on 28 November 2012 at a glittering function in New Delhi.

Infrastructure

Extra-curricular

The school has a community room called The Beehive for students performances. An hour is set aside (called The Family Hour) where students perform skits, music, mimicry, plays and songs.

The school has a mess where hostelers and day scholars can have their food. Rice, Sambhar, vegetables and buttermilk is normally served on week days. However, special lunches are served on festivals.

The school playground has facilities for cricket, volleyball,throwball, basketball, handball and football. The school basketball and handball teams have brought laurels at CBSE meets.