ABOUT US

Santhome School offers Co-education for students from VI to Plus Two level. We have both Tamil and English Medium Sections from Std. VI to Std X. In Std XI and XII and Medium of Instruction is English. Hindi and French is also taught at the Higher Secondary School Level. The school follows the State Board Uniform Syllabus prescribed by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

SANTHOME HR. SEC. SCHOOL – A PROFILE

Santhome Hr. Sec. School, one of the oldest Educational establishments in Chennai, is a Montfortian Institution. It was established in 1821 by Rev. Fr. Dom Drey Manuel De Ave Maria, the episcopcal administrator of the old Diocese of Mylapore.

Prior to it inception, an Orphanage and a Preparatory Seminary was started by the Diocese at the behest of Sir John De Monte, the great benefactor of the Diocese. The St. Francis Xavier’s Primary School established by Dom Frey was a support school to the Seminary and the Orphanage. In 1864 it was raised to the grade of Middle School and was popularly known as the “Anglo Vernacular School” having both English and Tamil as Medium of Instruction.

In 1871, a new building was put up by Fr. Amarante and was solemnly declared open by Lord Napier, the then Governor of Chennai (the Park near Periyar Bridge is still called Napier Park).

Simultaneously Ft. Amarante raised the School to the grade of a “high School’ and named it ‘San Thome High School’. In 1984, the Bishop of Mylapore, Rev. Dom Henry Reed De Silva obtained Governement Sanction and upgraded it to a Second Grade College, In 1906, the Government by G.O. ordered to separate the education of the Anglo Indian boys, and subsequently in 1907 an additional school (St.Bede’s) had to be opened for this purpose. This reduced the total number of students in San Thome and hence it lost the College Grade and became a High School once again.

In 1954, the Archbishop of Chennai – Mylapore entrusted the School to the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel. Till 1954, the School was run by the Diocesan Clergy, but it had Principals of different nationalities including Portuguese, Dutch and Jewish as well as Indians. In 1978 the school was raised to Hr. Sec. School. Montfort Preparatory School a feeder School for Santhome Hr. Sec. School was started in 1965 and now it’s upgraded to Matriculation Hr. Sec. School.

Today it has all the necessary infrastructure that an ideal school can dream of Spacious Classrooms, LCD Smart Classrooms, Library, Science Labs, Computer Labs, Data Automation, RO System-Water Plant.

ST. LOUIS GRIGNION DE MONTFORT

St. Louis Grignion de Montfort was born on 31st January 1673 in the small town of Montfort in France. Even from his childhood days he was virtuous and exhibited an extraordinary love for the poor. He loved and admired the mother of Jesus. He became a priest and worked ceaselessly for God and man. He went about from place to place with the message of God’s love. He taught poor people and championed their cause. His love for the abandoned and the beggars made him rugged, unpolished, savage and tempestuous.

He was a great scholar, a powerful speaker and an author of many spiritual works. His capacity to paint and carve long with his poetic skills, had made him a spiritual “Leonardo da Vinci”.

He never, bothered about the consequences of telling the ‘truth’ and doing what was right before the eyes of God. He was victimized by the world for his honesty and conviction.

As a result he died at an early age of 43 in 1716 on April 28th. He was acclaimed as a ‘Saint’ by the people and the Church authorities. He established many groups to carry on his good work, one such organization is the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel who are the helm of affairs in Santhome Hr. Sec. School.

The flame lit by this ‘Holy man’ continues to glow and shine greater intensity even after 300 years. Students and Staff who enter San Thome, share in our endeavour to pass on this ‘flame’ to the world all over.

OUR MOTTO “DUC NOS”

This Latin term inscribed in our emblem encludes the entire philosophy, aim and objectives of this institution as envisaged by our founding fathers.

“DUCE” in Italian means “Leader”. This term is taken from the Latin word ‘eDUCare’, which means, to bring up, to train and to discipline. The nearest English translation to ‘DUC NOS’ would be “LEAD US”. Some translate it as ‘TEACH US’. So, education is much more than just teaching or imparting some knowledge. For our ideal education set up, the educator must first lead, so that the educated too can lead others. This is indicated at the top portion of the emblem with the symbol which represents Christ, Our Leader. This is the reason why we have chosen the famous poem “Lead Kindly Light” composed by Cardinal Newman, as our school prayer song. This branches around this symbol stand for the distinction and glory associated who has immortalized San Thome by his martyrdom. It also tells of Montfortian concept of the ‘Cross’, a blessing is disguise. The torch embedded in the emblem suggests the ‘light’ we need in our path of progress. Education challenges us to be ‘torch bearers’ of ‘truth’ to all around us. The National bird on either side holding the coat of arms reminds us about the need for identifying ourselves with the culture and heritage of this beloved country of ours. Our emblem can offer more philosophical and theological reflections you have only to look deeper for further pleasure of such interpretations.