St. Thomas' Church School, Howrah
Encyclopedia
St. Thomas' Church School, founded between 1860 and 1865, by Rev. Dr. William Spencer, Chaplain of St. Thomas' Church, for education of Anglo-Indian children of Howrah, is one of the largest and most famous schools in Howrah. The School now admits children of all sections of society irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
The affairs of the school are controlled by a strong and influential Board of Governors, as determined by the Constitution of St. Thomas' Church School.
His Grace, the Bishop of Calcutta, is the Chairman of the Board of Governors.
After the tenth standard, there is a division in study stream. The choices being, Commerce and Science.
Regular uniform :
(a) Boys :
White -Terrycotton or cotton trousers (for classes VI upwards) Navy Blue Terrycotton or cotton short pants (up to Class V), White Cotton of Terrycotton Shirts (Half-sleeves), Black debry pattern shoes with laces (Bata Scouts or Wayfinders) white socks, School tie& house colour belts (III onwards).
Navy Blue Blazers (Mid-November to February only).
(b) Girls :
Navy Blue 'A' line skirt and White blouses Cotton or Terrycotton
Black Shoes, White socks & School tie & house colour bets (III onwards).
Navy Blue Blazers, (Mid-November to February only).
P.T. Uniform : Classes III-IX
Students are divided into 4 Houses. Leason, Spencer, Read and Higgs (Red, Blue, Green and Gold) and have their uniforms according to their respective Houses. Classes III_IX, who have P.T. classes, will be required to come to school in the P.T. uniforms. This is mandatory. Classes X-XII, must wear their House colours, for Sports, Athletics & other school function.
Girls :- Houses vests, White Shorts/Skirts, white socks and keds.
Boys :- Houses vests, white shorts, white socks and keds.
One of his family servants, Habib, used to bring his lunch every day to the school, which was laid out among stands of banana trees. Harry's best friend was a boy named Lal who spoke no English, and thus all of their conversations were in Hindi which he was being taught at school after some preliminary lessons from his father.
The affairs of the school are controlled by a strong and influential Board of Governors, as determined by the Constitution of St. Thomas' Church School.
His Grace, the Bishop of Calcutta, is the Chairman of the Board of Governors.
Buildings
The School campus covers an area of almost 6 Big18 Kathas. There are playgrounds and the buildings are spacious and airy. The School Buildings contain large classrooms, a library, staff rooms and laboratories for Physics, Chemistry and Biology.School terms and holidays
The school year consists of two terms. The first term extends from mid-April to mid September and the second term from October to March. In these terms are three Vacations-Summer, Puja and Christmas. A list of School holidays and co-curricular activities is issued every year in the School Calendar.Subjects taught
The subjects taught in the school are English Language, English Literature, Bengali, Hindi, History, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Art, Principles of Accounts, Structure of Commerce, Office Practice, Economics, Computer Science and Socially Useful Productive Work & Community Service.After the tenth standard, there is a division in study stream. The choices being, Commerce and Science.
Public examination
The School prepares students for the Indian School Certificate Examination and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education, in Science and Commerce subjects. This is a recognized examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi.Religious instruction
Catechism lessons are given by the clergy of the Church of North India, for students belonging to this denomination. Moral Instruction is taught to all students up to Class V. All students are required to attend Assembly.School uniform
The School endeavours to inculcate habits of cleanliness and neatness. Parents are requested, in the interests of their children and school, to see that their children are always smartly turned out - not only while attending school but also at any public place or whilst attending functions. It is compulsory for boys and girls to wear the following approved school uniforms :-Regular uniform :
(a) Boys :
White -Terrycotton or cotton trousers (for classes VI upwards) Navy Blue Terrycotton or cotton short pants (up to Class V), White Cotton of Terrycotton Shirts (Half-sleeves), Black debry pattern shoes with laces (Bata Scouts or Wayfinders) white socks, School tie& house colour belts (III onwards).
Navy Blue Blazers (Mid-November to February only).
(b) Girls :
Navy Blue 'A' line skirt and White blouses Cotton or Terrycotton
Black Shoes, White socks & School tie & house colour bets (III onwards).
Navy Blue Blazers, (Mid-November to February only).
P.T. Uniform : Classes III-IX
Students are divided into 4 Houses. Leason, Spencer, Read and Higgs (Red, Blue, Green and Gold) and have their uniforms according to their respective Houses. Classes III_IX, who have P.T. classes, will be required to come to school in the P.T. uniforms. This is mandatory. Classes X-XII, must wear their House colours, for Sports, Athletics & other school function.
Girls :- Houses vests, White Shorts/Skirts, white socks and keds.
Boys :- Houses vests, white shorts, white socks and keds.
Lesser Known Facts
Cliff Richard started school in September 1946, at St Thomas' Church School in Church Road, Howrah.One of his family servants, Habib, used to bring his lunch every day to the school, which was laid out among stands of banana trees. Harry's best friend was a boy named Lal who spoke no English, and thus all of their conversations were in Hindi which he was being taught at school after some preliminary lessons from his father.