HISTORY OF LOURDES CENTRAL SCHOOL (1999-2023)
A dream remains a dream if not put to action. Our school was an outcome of such a dream. A seed planted 25 years ago that has grown into a tree spreading out its branches, leaving its own impression in the field of education while having its roots firmly set on the principles of providing quality and value-based education.
LCS began its journey under the mantel of our patroness, Our Lady of Lourdes and the able leadership of the founder Late Fr Bernard Dsouza, in the humble Church Commercial Complex on 2nd June 1999 with 230 students admitted to Kindergarten, Class I & II. The pioneer faculty of 12 members steered the school with their expertise and talents. It was housed the very next year in a campus of its own. The rapid renown of the school ensured a quick vertical and horizontal expansion. A new class was added every year with the forward progression of the first batch in Class XII. The school’s strength currently stands at 2136.
The location of the school in the serene and sylvan setting of Bejai Church makes LCS a beautiful learning space. The school emblem with images of an open book, a candle and a dove give symbolic expression of its motto “Peace through Knowledge.” The school anthem was especially composed by Dr Madame Louella Lobo Prabhu a noted poet and pianist.
Since the inception of Lourdes Central School in 1999, LCS has become synonymous with empowering young creative minds. As we go down the memory lane of LCS, we recount the contributions of all behind the success of this great institution.
Rev. Fr Bernard L D’Souza, Founder Manager (1999-2003)
LOURDES CENTRAL SCHOOL (LCS), an English Medium Co-educational School was founded by Late Rev. Fr Bernard L D’Souza in the year 1999. He was an educationist and a visionary who had an extensive experience in the field of education. His vision was to establish a school that would provide value-based education to the students to be upright citizens, honest and able administrators and politicians of tomorrow. He erected a magnificent school building to foster progressive education to the students and to complement the overall growth of the learners, he set up a new library and a play park for the kindergarten.
Rev. Fr Joseph Peter Tauro, Manager (2003-2010)
Rev. Fr J P Tauro, a very generous, thoughtful and optimistic personality took over as the Manager of LCS on 25th May 2003. In the course of his tenure requisite permissions were accorded to the school by the Govt of Karnataka. The affiliation of the school to the C.B.S.E, New Delhi was a major milestone. Growth mandates imperatives of spatial expansion and the improvement of facilities. Hence, modern infrastructure with a new administrative block, well equipped laboratories for mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry, two computer suites, a separate kindergarten and primary block and the facility of a cafeteria was made available for the benefit of students.
Rev. Dr Victor J Machado, Manager (2010-2014)
Rev. Dr Victor J Machado, an exuberant, meticulous and dynamic personality took over as the new Manager from 4th June 2010, with his innumerable achievements in the field of education. He is a voracious reader and has a passion for teaching. He is an ace speaker and a great thinker. Fr Victor Machado continued to take the school to greater heights and brought about overall uniformity and systematic organized academic excellence. An open-air stage was built, where all students could assemble together and have morning assemblies and other important school gatherings. A Majestic Arch for school entrance was built which added beauty to the overall appearance to the school.
Rev. Fr Wilson L Vitus D’Souza, Manager (2014-2020)
Rev. Fr Wilson Vitus D’Souza, intelligent and modest with his vast knowledge in the teaching field and administration took the school to exceptional levels of excellence. The much-needed Rooftop Auditorium was set up with a stage and other amenities, and a beautiful grotto of our Lady of Lourdes was constructed at the school entrance. As a true visionary he made tremendous efforts to acquire the prized land adjacent to the school. He accomplished his dream of obtaining 40 cents land for the school premises, which is used for the expansion of the school infrastructure.
Rev. Dr John Baptist Saldanha, Manager (2020- )
Rev. Dr John Baptist Saldanha, a courageous and adventurous personality took charge as the Manager of LCS in June 2020. The much-awaited project of extension of the school building was started by laying the foundation stone which was blessed by Msgr Lawrence Maxim Noronha, Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese on 11th February 2021, the feast day of our school Patroness – the Lady of Lourdes and the same was completed and inaugurated in the year 2022 by the Bishop of Mangalore. The Project on Solar Energy was implemented successfully to generate electricity, the fire safety equipments of the school were revamped and new auditorium was built behind the school lobby.
Ms Grace Noronha, First Principal (June 1999 to Oct 2011)
Ms Grace Noronha was the First Principal and had tenure of more than a decade. The tradition of welcoming the tiny tots of KG 1 and handing over each child to their respective class teacher by the principal was initiated then and is followed till date. Likewise, the school investiture ceremony, parliamentary sessions, Jyothi Pradhan LCS Samaritans – community service, fresher’s day and various monthly projects were initiated and are followed to date.
In 1999 on 24th December the First Newsletter, Voice of LCS was released and KG Little Graduate Day was celebrated. In 2000 on 1st of April, Maiden Awards Day was held. The Parent Teacher Association came into existence in 2003, and was instrumental in raising funds through ‘Christmas Fiesta’, for developmental work.
“Spectra 2004”-Fancy Fete was a huge success in the celebration of quinquennial year of Lourdes Central School. The school’s first ever souvenir “Lourdite-2005” was brought out. Up gradation to Senior Secondary Status offering Science Stream was made. International School Accreditation [ISA] was accorded by the British Council. A link was established with Global School Exchange Programme, twinning with Pilton Blue Coat Church of England Junior School, Devon – UK. Global School Partners from Devon, U.K., visited Lourdes Central School a reciprocal visit of the LCS team to UK was made from October 5th October 16th 2011. As a member of the Association of ICSE & CBSE schools, LCS hosted various inter-school competitions like ‘Quiz Par Excellence in 2008’, Declamation Competition on 2nd August 2011, Chess Tournament ‘Bright Spark’ on 13th September 2011.
Rev. Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves, Principal (Nov 2011 to May 2013)
Rev. Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves with his experience and skill was a beneficial addition to the Lourdite family. Although he had a short tenure yet the school saw greater heights by bagging the International School Award for the second time and the school secured good results under his leadership. His cheerful presence in the school kept things going smoothly.
Rev. Fr Michael Lobo, Principal (June 2013 to May 2015)
Rev. Fr Michael Lobo, during his tenure built the new “Audio Visual Room” on the ground floor with all modern amenities. “Forte”, Global Music and Dance Concert a mega event, under the theme “East meets west” was held on 14th November 2014. He established the resource center in school that aided research work for teaching-learning activities.
Rev. Fr Robert D’Souza, Principal (2015 onwards)
In line with our Founder’s dream to establish a school with a difference, our dynamic and versatile Principal Rev. Fr Robert D’Souza took charge in 2015. A man of vision, he was quick to put his plans into action. Fr Robert D’Souza always wanted to beautify the campus and enhance its greenery to provide a healthy environment suited for academics. The shift from physical to online classes provided the much-needed time to transform his vision into reality. The greenery in the campus was increased with new plants bearing colorful flowers. LCS received the International School Award by the British Council, UK for the year 2015-18.
In the history of LCS, Rev. Fr Robert D’souza was the first Principal to become the president of AICS association. He not only attended the AICS conference but also had the opportunity to host it. LCS always takes pride in hosting AICS inter school tournaments such as Shuttle Badminton ‘Bedazzle’ in the year 2015, 2017, 2019, Basketball ‘Blaze’ in the year 2016, 2022, Chess ‘Bright Spark’ in the year 2018 &2023
Students’ educational trip to NASA-USA in 2016 with 39 students, a trip to Japan was organized in 2019 for 22 students and trip to UK in 2023 for 28 students was organized and were accompanied by the Principal Rev Fr Robert D’Souza and the Vice Principal Ms. Belita Mascarenhas.
‘Swachhta Pakhwada’ a Programme initiated by the CBSE Board was organized from 2nd September to 15th September 2017 under the leadership of Rev. Fr Robert D’Souza.
Our school commemorated the beginning of 20 years of its establishment by celebrating the inauguration of Vicennial Year on 23rd June 2018.
Rev Fr Robert D’Souza introduced and popularized the collection drive in order to sensitize our students about the suffering of people.
A collection drive on a large scale was organized to reach out to the flood affected people of Kerala and Coorg. LCS staff generously contributed their one day’s salary for this noble cause and all students donated items generously. Rs. 1, 30,000 in cash and things worth Rs. 2, 50,000 collected from the students were donated.
The management gave a contribution of mite to a total of 75 drivers in the form of ‘food kits’ during the pandemic.
‘Old Shoes Collection Programme’ as a part of Crusaders for a Greener Environment was conducted in our school. This Programme is focused on ‘No Child Should Go Barefoot’ and collaborated with Bata. For every old pair of shoes donated, Bata exchanged a new pair and provided it to the needy children.
Planning for the ISA Activity began in the month of August 2018. Principal Rev Fr Robert Dsouza formed an ISA committee along with the Vice Principal and two coordinators. The project was submitted in June 2019 and school was affiliated to the British Council. The International School Award ceremony was held on 6th December 2019 at New Delhi.
A workshop on fire safety was organized on 26th March 2022. Personnel from the Karnataka Fire & Emergency Services, Kadri Fire Station delivered a talk on fire safety and things that need to be done in case of a fire outbreak. The Programme concluded with a mock-drill.
Days of significance are observed and celebrated at LCS, a few them are-World Environment Day, Fresher’s Day, Punctuality Day, International Yoga Day, Konkani Manyata Divas, National Sports Day, international girl child day, Rastriya Ekta Divas, community helpers’ day, constitution day.
To foster teaching-learning activity, weeks are dedicated to various languages and subjects like Reading week (mission), vanamahotsava, Hindi week, health week, English week, Independence week, Library week, Science week – LCS pro science (2022), Social Science week, Math week.
Novel programmes like LCS Summit, LCS Colloquium, Lourdes Melodies , LCS Regale, LCS Hall of Fame, LCS Day of preparation, Academic Support Classes, Crusaders for a Greener Environment, LCS Talent Search, LCS spell bee competition, Run for Unity, Cleanliness Drive, Aatidonji Dina, meetings with private van drivers, keeping student safety in the forefront , one to one counseling sessions for students, adolescent health programmes, training on road safety, social skills training programmes, AICS Accelerator English Language workshop, motivational talks by eminent resource persons, career guidance and workshop on stress management, periodic Parent-Teacher interactive sessions, staff enrichment programmes are organized for the all-round development of staff and students.
LCS has always been maintaining high standard of education by ushering innovative ideas to make the system of education conducive for the wholesome development of the students. The school will continue to lay emphasis on the spirit of healthy competition, to go forward by striving hard for excellence, yearning for knowledge bereft of stress and strain, without resorting to unbridled competitiveness.
The LCS family has come a long way from its humble beginnings in the year 1999.The past 25 years weren’t easy. We have travelled through peaks and valleys to reach the position we command today. Lourdes Central School, under the able leadership of our Manager, Rev. Fr J B Saldanha and our dynamic Principal, Rev. Fr Robert D’souza continues to shine as beacon of light for all in search of fine education.
We are ever grateful to all those who have led us and were a part of our family. We deeply remember those whom we missed along the path. All the good work of the school has been possible with the cooperation of all its stake holders.
As we celebrate the silver jubilee, we fondly remember our Founder Late Rev. Fr Bernard D’Souza, all the Managers, Principals, the management, parents and the staff who have been torch bearers and the driving force to move towards greater heights.
Long live LCS!!!