School type Private Patron saint(s) St. George Phone 040 2323 2213 | Denomination Anglican Staff ~40 Founded 1834 Average class size 40 | |
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Motto Perseverantia Omnia Vincit Accreditation | ||
St. George's Grammar School is a private school located at Abids, Hyderabad. It is the first modern English school in the city.
Contents
- History
- Background
- Motto
- Administration
- School uniform
- Morning assembly
- Hall system
- Games
- National Cadet Corps
- Sports day
- Patron saint
- Stream
- Notable alumni
- References
It is affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations.
History
The school was established in 1834 named "The Hyderabad Residency School" by the Church of England in the Hyderabad State. The school was created to cater to the educational needs of children of the British community in Hyderabad.
When India gained independence, the school was handed over to the Church of South India.
Background
St. George's Grammar School is located on Abid Road, Hyderabad. This school has completed its 180 years of establishment and is one of the oldest schools in India. It is divided into three campuses,
St. George's Church separates the Boys' School from the other two schools. The Preparatory school and the Girls' school are separated by just a wall. Both have their own playgrounds. (Sand base)
The Boys' School and the Girls' school has a concrete playground dedicated for basketball.
Motto
The school motto is Perseverantia Omnia Vincit, which is Latin for Perseverance Conquers All Things. The motto is embedded into the school's main building below the school's official emblem.
Administration
The Principals are
The school is under the Church of South India diocese of Medak.
School uniform
St. George's Boys wear grey shirts with shoulder flaps and grey trousers, grey socks, black shoes, black belt with the St. George logo, a maroon tie with white double-diagonal stripes and a white school badge bearing the St. George logo and school motto,. On Saturdays, a sports uniform is worn, consisting of a white shirt, white trousers, white socks and shoes and the school tie, belt and badge.
St. George's Girls wear white shirts, gray jumpers(tunics), white socks, black shoes, a maroon tie with white double-diagonal stripes and a white badge bearing the St. George logo and school motto. On physical training days, a sports uniform is worn. This consists of a white shirt, a maroon divider, white socks and shoes and the school badge.
The girls' uniform was designed by Nadine Gardner Year of 1966. Nadine, a House Captain for Williams House and President of the Debating Team 1966, went on to complete a Fashion Design and Production Degree and an Information Management Post Graduate Degree in Melbourne, Australia. Later she was Head of Department, Library Studies Ballarat University, and is also a published writer and poet.
Morning assembly
Students gather on the main ground and stand in single files according to class and section. The Morning Assembly commences at 8:15 am and is conducted by the school principal. The principal updates the students on the latest events and announcements of the school and the assembly is closed with the Morning Prayer.
Hall system
Certain students are chosen as Prefects from Classes 9th-12th to take the responsibility of the school discipline. Each prefect is awarded a name plate and a Prefect Badge. The prefectship is inspired by the words Honour, Duty and Loyalty. All the prefects are answerable to The Chief Prefect and The Deputy Chief Prefect and are allotted areas of the campus to monitor during the recess. The prefects help in the smooth running of the student crowd during recess, prevent undisciplinary behavior and in other daily activities of the school.
Games
Games and sports available are cricket,football,tennis,chess,basketball.
The school has official cricket and basketball teams which take part in inter-school tournaments every year.
National Cadet Corps
The Boys' school students have the facility to join 1 (Telangana) Air Sqn. (Technical) of the Air Wing NCC.
Sports day
The Annual Sports day is held once a year in November or December. The event is preceded by competitions in sports and games in which the students take part through the school's house system.
Original houses were colours Red, Blue, Green and Yellow. In 1968 the houses were named after early Headmasters Edwards-Red, Hume-Blue, Flynn-Green, Cooney-Yellow. These were changed again in the 1980s to Clarence (Blue House), Bellingham (Red House), Philips (Green House) and Patricks (Yellow House). The latter was probably named after Rev Henry Fitzpatick. Both Phillips (should be Phillip) and Patricks (should be Fitzpatrick) have been erroneously named.
The four houses for the Girls' school are named as Smith (Yellow), George (Red House), Davidson (Blue House), Williams (Green House). All four houses have been named after the school principals and wardens. Each house consists of a Captain and a Vice-Captain and the rest of the students are divided equally.
The competitions are held in track and field athletics, cricket, football, basketball, chess, carroms, badminton and table tennis. The winners of each event are awarded the gold, silver and bronze medals and each victory adds to their house's overall score.
On the day of the sports day, the event starts with an opening march past led by the Chief Prefect followed by the General Captain,Deputy Chief Prefect, The Red House, The Blue House, The Green House and The Yellow House. The Marchpast is immediately followed up with drills performed by all students.
The parents of the Chief Prefect, Dy. Chief Prefect and the General Captain are the guests of honor for the ceremony. The event progresses to the end with the Closing March Past which is followed by the declaration of the winning house, the principal's address, the chief guest's address and the closing prayer.
The winning house is awarded a shield and all the individual winners are awarded medals for their achievements.
The sports day 2014 as well as 180 years celebration was conducted as a single function at LB Stadium. Over 3000 people witnessed the ceremony. IPS Officer Aruna Bhagmati and Minister of Information Technology Kumar Taraka Rama Rao were invited.
Patron saint
St. George was promoted to patron saint in 1061 when a church in Doncaster was dedicated to him. But the first reference to him in history comes from the Anglo-Saxon prose writer, Aelfric, who reveres him in his Lives of the Saints (c.1000). George also appears in the Golden Legends, an English translation of Jacobus de Voragine's Saint's Lives published by Caxton in 1483.
The legend - in which George slays a fierce dragon, symbolising evil, and rescues an innocent maiden from death - is thought to have appeared as late as the 12th century and may have origins in the story of Perseus, who defended the virgin Andromeda against the monstrous Medusa. To Christians, George is a historical figure, an archetypal soldier made famous for tearing down Diocletian's edict against Christianity. For this act he is believed to have been beheaded in Lydda, Palestine (in AD 303), thus becoming an early Christian martyr.
At the Council of Oxford in 1222, St George's Day was declared a public holiday. It was Edward III who instituted the Order of St George and encouraged the battle cry 'St George for England!' St George's Day continued to grow in popularity and 23 April soon became an occasion for feasting in monasteries across England.
Stream
St. George's Grammar School follows the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education pattern. Examinations are conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations. Those completing their tenth grade through this school would be awarded the ICSE by the Council.
If one wishes to continue studies here up to the twelfth grade, then the Council awards the Indian School Certificate.
Subjects taught are: English language, English Literature, Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit (Till 7th grade), Telugu, History and Civics, Accounting, Commerce, Economics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Home Science and Socially Useful Productive Work (SUPW) [Games]