Bishop Cotton Girls School
Encyclopedia
Bishop Cotton Girls' School, also known as BCGS, is a private all-girls' school for boarders
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...

 and day scholars
Day pupil
Day pupils are students who attend boarding school but who are not boarders and who travel between home and school every day...

 in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...

, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. The school offers academic scholarships, which aid students from lower income backgrounds to afford tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...

 and boarding
Boarding
Boarding may refer to:*Temporarily residing somewhere, as in a boarding school or boarding house*Boarding , a naval term for the forcible attempt at capturing another naval vessel*Boarding , customs, coastguard etc...

  fees. It has been awarded the International School award by the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...

, and is regarded as one of Asia's leading academic institutions.

History

Founded in 1865, it is one of the oldest established boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...

s in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...

.

The school was named after Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton
George Edward Lynch Cotton
George Edward Lynch Cotton was an English educator and clergyman, known for his connections with British India and the public school system.-Life in England:...

, the son of an Army Captain, who died leading his Regiment in battle. He was a scholar of Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...

, and a graduate of Cambridge. In 1836 he was appointed Assistant Master at Rugby
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...

 by Doctor Thomas Arnold
Thomas Arnold
Dr Thomas Arnold was a British educator and historian. Arnold was an early supporter of the Broad Church Anglican movement...

, one of the founders of the British Public School System.
It was the proposal of this saintly Metropolitan of Calcutta, Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton, to create quality schools in India that resulted in the founding of Bishop Cotton’s on April 19, 1865. The institution was opened for both boys and girls in a sprawling bungalow named Westward Ho in High Grounds and went through many highs and lows till 1870. In 1871, the management acquired 14 acres of land on St. Mark’s Road and shifted the school, demarcating two different areas, one for the boys’ school and the other for the girls’ with a wall separating the two. In 1911, the management acquired Stafford House and its surrounding eight and a half acres with access to both Residency Road and St. Mark’s Road and shifted the school, giving Bishop Cotton Girls’ School an identity of its own. In 1915, money was sanctioned to construct the beautiful administration block and the now famous Quad. More buildings were constructed in the 50s and 60s including the Chapel of the Holy Family. The first Indian Principal to take charge of the grand legacy of the School was Mrs. CA (Acca) Joseph in July 1963. It is based on the ICSE
Indian Certificate of Secondary Education
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education or ICSE examination is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, a private, non-governmental board of school education in India, for class 10, i.e., grade 10...

 format of education, and has teaching facilities from Kindergarten, 1 to 10 (ICSE) as well as 11 and 12 (ISC). The school has grown from strength to strength since then, with successive principals contributing to the improvement of infrastructure and overall academic excellence of the school. The mission to provide the best all-round education for girls continues in the new millennium.

Bishop Cotton Girls School has extracurricular activities such as sports, debates, creative writing, dramatics, declamation, verse speaking and choir. Over 140 years old, it has been visited by eminent personalities, including former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...

.

It is affiliated with Bishop Cotton Boys School
Bishop Cotton Boys School
Bishop Cotton Boys' School, also referred to as the Eton of the East is an all-boys school for boarders and day scholars in Bangalore, Karnataka, India....

, which is situated nearby on St. Marks Road.

The School Motto

Nec Dextrorsum-Nec Sinistrosum

"Neither to the right nor to the left" the School motto reflects the spirit of the school. It is taken from a Latin translation of a phrase in the Old Testament of the Bible. The new leader Joshua is commissioned by God to be a true follower of His law, 'neither to the left nor to the right'.It repressnts the integrity and determination with which all Cottonians follow their goelas and pursue their dreams.

The School Sheild

The crest of the School Shield is the family crest of Bishop Cotton of Calcutta. The crest is divided vertically in the centre. The right side (dexter) has the arms of the Bishop of Calcutta. The Bishop's mitreon top is green ona white background and the staff and open Bible are in the bottom half on a red background. The left side (sinister) has three skeins of cotton and a Chevcon (inverted v) on a blue background. This side represents the ancient house to which Bishop Cotton belongede. The crest thus symbolises the godliness, service and courage for which the School stands.

The School song and Founder's Hymn

The Bishop Cotton school song
School song
A school song, alma mater, school hymn or school anthem is the patronal song of a school. In England, this tradition is particularly strong in public schools and grammar schools.-Australia:*Melbourne High School - Honour the Work...

 was penned by Rev. Herbert Pakenham-Walsh
Herbert Pakenham-Walsh
Rt. Rev. Herbert Pakenham-Walsh was an Anglican bishop, educator, scholar and lyricist.Pakenham-Walsh was the third son of the Rt Revd William Pakenham-Walsh, Anglican Bishop of Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin in Ireland from 1878 until 1897. He received a doctorate in divinity from Trinity College,...

, of the Brotherhood of St. Peter, Warden of the school from 1907 to 1913, later to become Bishop. The words were set to music by N.M. Saunders, Esq..
With its refrain "On, Straight, On", it follows the spirit of the School Motto, "Nec Dextrorsum Nec Sinistrorsum", Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

 for "Neither to the Right Nor to the Left". The tradition of singing the school song and the Founder's Hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...

 in the Chapel or in assemblies held in the School Auditorium continues to this day.

Academics

The school, administered along the lines of Junior, Middle and Senior School, works through three school terms, each ending with examinations. Students of Class X appear for the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ICSE) by the beginning of March. Students of Class XII take up the Indian School Certificate Examination (ISC). The ISC examination is an equivalent to the Pre- University examination conducted by the respective state boards of education. For further details, one can look up the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (the body that conducts the ICSE and ISC examinations) using their website, www.cisce.org.

Subjects taught at the ICSE level include English, An Indian or foreign language, History, Civics and Geography, Environmental Education, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and a choice between Home Science, Computer Applications, Fine Arts and Physical Education. At the ISC level, the school has three main streams, the Science stream, the Commerce stream and the Arts stream. It is mandatory for both streams to take up English and Environmental Education.
For the Science stream, the subjects offered are English, Environmental Education, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Home Science and a choice between Economics, Biotechnology, Computer Science, Hindi, Kannada, Fine Arts, Biology and Environmental Science. For the Commerce stream, the subjects offered are Accountancy and Commerce and a choice between Business Studies, Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, Fine Arts,Environmental Science and Physical Education. For the Arts stream the subjects offered are English, Environmental Education and History along with choices among Literature in English, Second Language, Environmental Science, Physical Education, Economics, Computer Science, Fine Art, Mathematics, Home Science, Business Studies, Political Science and Psychology.

The school offers several language options keeping in mind the cultural and linguistic diversity of Indian society. The options are: Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Nepali, French and German.

Sports

Organized games includes the inter-school games competitions.

1. Cottonian Shield - Basketball

2. Cottonian Shield - Hockey

Principals

1. Miss F Elmes (1913 - 1934) The first Principal of the Bishop Cotton Girls' School. She expanded the building adjoining Stafford House.

2. Miss R.M. Waller (1935 - 1944) is remembered for her intellectual and administrative talents. During her tenure she served the School faithfully and set it on firm ground.

3. Miss M.E. Hardy (1945 -1952), a good sports woman and disciplinarian, came to Cottons after years of service as a missionary in Burma. The Church of South India (CSI) came into existence during this period.

4. Mrs. C.M. Gaughan (1952 - 1954) steered the School through this turbulent period with her calm, wise and courageous leadership.

5. Miss C.B. Schiff (1954 -1957) strengthened the involvement of parents and encouraged cultural activities, especially Music and Art. The building of the Art Room and the extension of the Staff Room were accomplished during her tenure.

6. Miss C.M. Millington (1958 - 1962) had been on the Staff of the school before she took over as Principal. The Raman Science Block and the Chapel of the Holy Family were constructed during this time. The Examination system changed over from the Cambridge Certificate to the Indian School Certificate Examination (ISC).

7. Mrs. Acca Joseph (1963 - 1972) took over as the first Indian Principal in 1963. Her able administration helped this School to establish itself strongly as a self sufficient unit. The Centenary Year was celebrated with great enthusiasm. Distinguished personalities like Mr. V.V. Giri and Mrs. Indira Gandhi visited the School. The School Library was inaugurated and the New Boarding Block was built. Indian Culture was intricately woven into the fabric of the education system. A strict disciplinarian herself, she demanded high standards from her Staff and Students.

8. Miss Grace Samuel (1972 - 1973) came to Cotton's after nine years in the U.S.A. A warm and gentle person, her primary concern was to help the students to achieve academic excellence. She introduced audio-visual aids and urged the teachers to improve their approach through self-evaluation and adoption of fresh methods of teaching.

9. Mrs. V.M. Chandran (1973 - 1978) a member of the Staff from 1959, took over as Principal in 1973. Her outstanding achievement was the construction of the School Auditorium, the best of its kind in the city. Although she did not stay to witness its completion, it was her enthusiasm and hard work that made it possible. The Parents' Block was inaugurated during this period. Mrs. Chandran's affection for the children and sympathetic understanding of the Staff and Parents endeared her to one and all.

10. Mrs. G. Clarke (1978 -1988) initiated the introduction of two new Houses - Elmes and Waller - to the existing Barton, Foley and Maiden Houses, as the number of Students had increased. The pale green tunics changed to dark green. In keeping with the times, Computer studies were introduced. The strength of the School went from 700 to 3000. Six additional classrooms were built and the shift system was introduced. The work on the Auditorium was completed and a new Dining Hall for the Boarders was planned. The Bishop Cotton Women's' Christian College was started in 1985, the first of its kind in the Diocese.

11. Mrs. Elizabeth Joseph M.A., B.Ed (1988 - 1999) a member of the Staff from 1971, took over as Principal in September 1988. Several structural extensions and additions were made during this period. The School Auditorium was renovated, the mezzanine floor and stage built with co-ordinating interiors and the lighting system. The Hostel side of the campus acquired a multi-purpose Dining Hall with the Staff Quarters built above it.

12. Dr. Mrs. Stella Samuel M.A., M.Ed., Ph.D (1999 - 2005 ) a member of the Staff since 1974, took over as Principal in June 1999. The Adminstrative block was renovated which is a wonderful blend of the old structure and and ultramodern interior including a board room. The new ISC block took shape under her guidance. An efficient School transport system in collaboration with BMTC was introduced. To keep pace with the progressive world, Internet, Intranet, Fax, Email have been installed.

13. Mrs. Princess Franklyn (2005-2010)

14. Mrs. Lydia Joshua (2010-present) Her distinguished career as a teacher has been recognized by the School Management of the Bishop Cotton Boys' School by awarding her the Best Teacher Award in the year 2000.

The internationally renowned Stanford University, USA, has recognized the contribution of Mrs. Lydia Joshua to the student community by awarding her a "Teacher Tribute" which reads as follows:

"Stanford University wishes to recognize Lydia Joshua for exceptional teaching. Your dedication to the field of education has contributed greatly to the future of your students, Stanford University and your community."

Signed by JOHN L HENNESSY, President and ROBIN G MAMLET, (Dean of Admission & Financial Aid). Year 2003

Old Cottonians

Alumni of the school are known as Old Girls or Old Cottonians, or OCs.

A small group of dedicated Old Girls who studied in every decade starting in the 1960s maintain a website.

Notable alumni

  • Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
    Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
    Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw' is an Indian entrepreneur. She is the Chairman & Managing Director of Biocon Limited a biotechnology company based in Bangalore , India.- Profile :Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw was born on March 23, 1953 in Bangalore, India...

    , Chairman and Managing Director of Biocon
    Biocon
    Biocon Limited is a global biopharmaceutical company with products and research services ranging from pre-clinical to clinical development through to commercialization. Within biopharmaceuticals, the Company manufactures generic active pharmaceutical ingredients like Statins and...

     Ltd., and India's richest woman in 2004
  • Jayalalitha
    J. Jayalalithaa
    Jayalalithaa Jayaram ; born 24 February 1948) commonly referred to as J. Jayalalitha, is the Chief Minister of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. She is the incumbent general secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian party. She is called Amma and Puratchi Thalaivi by her...

    , actress turned politician, and former Chief Minister
    Chief Minister
    A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...

     of Tamil Nadu
    Tamil Nadu
    Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...

    , India
    India
    India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

  • Nafisa Joseph
    Nafisa Joseph
    Nafisa Joseph was an Indian model and MTV video jockey. She was the winner of Miss India Universe 1997 and was a semi-finalist in the Miss Universe pageant.- Biography :Nafisa Joseph was brought up in the city of Bangalore...

    , Miss India
    Miss India
    Miss India or Femina Miss India is a national beauty pageant in India, one of the most recognized contests to produce international beauty queens in the 90s, which annually selects three winners to compete globally. It is organized by Femina, a women's magazine published by Bennett, Coleman & Co...

     Universe 1997, successful model
    Model (person)
    A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....

    , and an animal rights activist
  • Diana Hayden, Miss World
    Miss World
    The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...

     1997, actress, and host of the History Channel's "Biography" series in India
  • Rani Jeyraj, Miss India
    Miss India
    Miss India or Femina Miss India is a national beauty pageant in India, one of the most recognized contests to produce international beauty queens in the 90s, which annually selects three winners to compete globally. It is organized by Femina, a women's magazine published by Bennett, Coleman & Co...

     first runner-up 1996
  • Nicole Faria
    Nicole Faria
    Nicole Estelle Faria ) is an Indian model from Bangalore and beauty pageant titleholder who won the titles of Femina Miss India Earth 2010 and Miss Earth 2010. Faria is the first woman from India to win Miss Earth.-Career:...

    , Miss Earth
    Miss Earth
    Miss Earth is an annual international beauty pageant promoting environmental awareness. Miss Earth is also one of the most publicized beauty contests in the world....

     winner 2010
  • Sharmila Nicollet, Ranked India No.1 in golf
  • Jacqueline Kunnath, Athlete
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