A Brief History Of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Puthuppally
Don Bosco Schools Puthuppally symbolizes commitment to the all-round educational excellence of all its students, whose God-given talents are recognized, nurtured and led to flourish and fructify.
His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Timotheos, the Archbishop of Thiruvalla, on the occasion of a CBCI meeting of all the Catholic Bishops of India at Shillong in the late 1980’s was highly impressed by the missionary work of the Salesians in Shillong and in the villages of Meghalaya. The Salesian institutions especially schools, technical schools and youth centres made so deep an impression on his Excellency that on his return he requested Rev. Fr. Thekkedath Joseph sdb, the then Provincial of the Sacred heart Province of Bangalore, a Salesian presence in the Archdiocese of Thiruvalla. On the instruction of Fr. Provincial, Fr. Thomas Myladoor sdb, the Vice Provincial and Fr. Oonupalathingal Joseph sdb, the Economer, paid a visit to the Bishop’s House. In Puthuppally, a Malankara Parish with 22 families and St. George English Medium Lower Primary School with its 5 acres of land, offered to the Salesians were accepted.
In 1991, Fr. Thomas Myladoor sdb, the then Provincial appointed Fr. Kavilpurayidathil Joseph sdb (K.D) as the Parish Priest and In – Charge of the presence at Puthuppally along with Fr. Vallicherry Mathew sdb (VG.)
The primary school, with its long strip of land just 100 feet wide and with a steep climb, faced several challenges for its upgradation. The arrival of the Salesians to establish a high school was also frowned upon. The religious sentiments of the time even among Christian denominations have not been favourable either.
The Bishop of Tiruvalla and the Salesians were deeply convinced that the way to peace was unity. Within a few weeks of arrival, a Youth Center was started, where mostly youngsters from other Christian denominations took active part. The youth were so delighted at their experience that the Salesians earned a reputation in Puthuppally.
The purchase of an adjacent piece of land was inevitable for the upgradation of the school. It has been through the instrumentality of Fr. George Thundiyil, that the owner of the adjacent land, Mr. Punnen finally agreed to sell 3.85 acres. God’s providence came through the instrumentality of Fr. Guezou sdb, who on his way back from Thekkady, accompanied by Fr. Philip Thayil visited Puthuppally on 1992. It was a Sunday. After the Mass and lunch, Fr. KD Joseph shared his view that quality education in a school was a “conditio sine qua non” for its students to earn a job. Hence a full-fledged High School was felt to be the need of the hour. Within less than 10 days, Fr. Guezou sent a considerable sum of money. The remaining financial assistance was extended by the province.
In consultation with the provincial and his council, the Salesian sisters were requested to assist in the school and the parish at Puthuppally. The sisters came to Puthuppally in May 1992. They resided in an old house in the newly bought property. Later, an acre of land was given to the sisters where they built a convent for their own.
A good parish church for the parish and school community to assemble and pray has been a felt need always. The foundation stone was laid by Fr. Thomas Panakezham sdb and it was completed and consecrated on 15th March 1997. Through the instrumentality of Fr. Thomas Panakezham sdb, the Rector Major, Fr. Egidius Vigano, gave a substantial donation. The provincial too extended a generous sum. Mr. Balan, a renowned artist was entrusted with the interior decoration and holy pictures inside the church. The church, built at the centre of the Don Bosco complex, is indeed a beautiful monument.
With a view to a good High School building, Fr. Jose Vettom sdb was requested to design a plan. He prepared a magnificent plan with well-ventilated classrooms, a library, a computer lab, a science lab and other necessary facilities. The foundation stone was blessed by Fr. Guezou and laid by Shri. Oommen Chandy on 3rd December 1994. The work was taken up by the provincial building commission under the Economer, Fr. C huravelikudilin Jose sdb, Fr. Jose Vettom sdb, the Engineer and Fr. George Kalangara sdb, the supervisor. The work was completed in 1999.
Ever since the Salesians landed here, attempts were on to upgrade this school to High School. The person who made this dream a reality was Mr. Oommen Chandy the then MLA, and later the finance minister of Kerala. It was a long and tedious work. Unable to upgrade the LP School straight away into a High School due to some technical issues. So, it was decided to upgrade the St. George LP School into St. George UP School and freshly applied for a new High School under a new name Don Bosco High School. Both the applications were approved on 23rd June 1995 and permission was given to upgrade St. George UP School and start Don Bosco High School. Later, the entire school was named as Don Bosco School, Puthuppally.
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ABOUT US
Don Bosco Schools have as their guiding principles the gospel values of Jesus Christ. They are animated and administered by the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), who are religious who live a life of renunciation and total dedication to the cause of education, particularly of the poorer youth.
We strive to achieve the total development of our youngsters and to make them persons of faith and honest citizens. We follow the preventive system of St. John Bosco, which is based on reason, religion and above all, on loving kindness. It brings together educators and youngsters in a family experience of trust and dialogue. As educational institutions of a minority community, these schools enjoy all the relevant rights and duties enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
DON BOSCO SCHOOL
WHO WE ARE
Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Puthuppally founded in 1982 is run by the Salesians of Don Bosco. It is a Christian minority school working in the Malankara Catholic Diocese of Thiruvalla. It is recognised by the Kerala Education Department and the students appear for the Kerala S.S.L.C and Higher Secondary Examination. The medium of instruction is English.
WHAT WE DO
We strive to achieve the total development of our youngsters and to make them persons of faith and honest citizens. We follow the preventive system of St. John Bosco, which is based on reason, religion and above all, on loving kindness. It brings together educators and youngsters in a family experience of trust and dialogue. As educational institutions of a minority community, these schools enjoy all the relevant rights and duties enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
WHY US?
Don Bosco School strives to realize the nation’s ideals. This does involve several demands, even sacrifices. All teachers join together in working for the common goal of helping to form the youth into good citizens, worthy of God and worthy of our nation.
Don Bosco School is non-elitist and decidedly affirms its option for the most needy youth. A full time school, it aims at blending work and study with artistic, recreational, cultural, religious and .social activities, adopting the latest educational innovations with a view to helping pupils keep abreast of the cultural and technological progress in the contemporary world. In collaboration with other schools in the country, the Don Bosco School strives to realize the ideals of a complete education as epitomized by so many sages of our homeland.
Some typical characteristics of Don Bosco Schools:
- Don Bosco School realizes the goal of the integral education of its pupils following the method of education of Don Bosco, which is based on the Christian vision of the human person, of life and of the world. It strives to enable youth to be active participants in the transformation and progress of society.
- Called by God to work for youth like their founder Don Bosco, the Salesians and all those working with them find themselves face to face with a really exciting enterprise. They accept the youth at their own stage of development and see how they can help to accelerate their complete growth.
- Don Bosco School is non-elitist and decidedly affirms its option for the most needy youth. A full time school, it aims at blending work and study with artistic, recreational, cultural, religious and .social activities, adopting the latest educational innovations with a view to helping pupils keep abreast of the cultural and technological progress in the contemporary world. In collaboration with other schools in the country, the Don Bosco School strives to realize the ideals of a complete education as epitomized by so many sages of our homeland.
- Don Bosco School strives to realize the nation's ideals. This does involve several demands, even sacrifices. All teachers join together in working for the common goal of helping to form the youth into good citizens, worthy of God and worthy of our nation.
- Don Bosco School fosters the overall growth and maturity of its pupils primarily by
- Helping each pupil to discover and improve his/her physical, intellectual and emotional gifts and developing his/her ethical sensitivity and sense of the transcendent.
- Inculcating an appreciation of cultural values through exposure to our Indian cultural heritage, and arousing social awareness with a view to helping youth to function in a responsible and constructive manner.
- Emphasizing liberty, justice, solidarity and peace, which are urgent, personal and social needs.
- Instilling religious values to help our pupils develop into mature persons who are able to achieve harmonious integration between religion and life.
- Inculcating a healthy respect for all religions. Helping the pupils to discover and realize their own goals in life.
