St Joseph's College, Bandarawela

St. Joseph's College is a national school located in Bandarawela, Uva, Sri Lanka. It is also known as Bandarawela St. Joseph's National School.[1] Established in 1909,[2] the school provides primary and secondary education to students in the Badulla District.

St. Joseph's College
Address
Badulla Road

Bandarawela

Bandarawela
,
Uva
,
90100

Sri Lanka
Coordinates6.828757°N 80.995014°E / 6.828757; 80.995014
Information
TypeNational school
MottoSemper Fidelis
Established1909
FounderRev. Brother Lewis
PrincipalR. M. Laksiri / J. Ranasinghe
Staff126
Teaching staff110
GradesClass 1-13
GenderMix
Age6 to 19
Enrollment2,500
Colour(s)Blue and gold
  
Websitewww.bdstjosephs.sch.lk

The campus occupies 2.0 hectares (5 acres) on a section of Badulla Road which is part of the A16 highway.

History

In 1909, St. Joseph's School was established by the De La Salle Brothers. Seventeen boys were admitted on the first day. The first principal was an Irishman, Patrick Purchell, known as Brother Simon Mathew. However, the land on which the school was situated was sold in 1914.[2]

The land was repurchased in 1928 by the Marist Brothers. In this second stage, the first principal was known as the Reverend Brother Lewis. By the time of his departure in 1934, there were 250 students.[2]

St. Joseph's remained a private school until 1961, when it became a government school. The first principal under the new system was Arthur Deegalle.[2]

In 1974, the primary section was added and girls were admitted, making it a mixed school. In 1981, the school was recognised as a National School by the Ministry of Education, and it was graded a 1 AB school in 1999.[1]

  • Old picture of the campus
    Old picture of the campus
  • Old photograph of staff
    Old photograph of staff
  • Present morning assembly
    Present morning assembly

Organisation

The principal is the head of the administration of the college and is assisted by a Vice Principal. The school is divided into three sections: the primary school (the former St. Joseph's College Preparatory School), middle school and the upper school, each coming under a deputy principal.

The college educates close to 3,000 students.

Activities

Houses

St. Joseph's College assigns its students to one of four houses to encourage cooperation and friendly competition:

  •   Blue House
  •   Gold House
  •   Green House
  •   Maroon House

Annually, the college organizes inter-house athletic games to improve the athletic skills of the students as well as their team spirit.

Sports
  • Rugby Captain
    Rugby Captain
  • Our Rugby Team
    Our Rugby Team
  • 2009 Road Race
    2009 Road Race
  • 2010 Inter House Sport Meet
    2010 Inter House Sport Meet

Battle of the Golds Uva

St. Joseph's College has a standing rivalry with Bandarawela Central College and have engaged in an annual cricket match titled the "Battle of the Golds Uva" since 1996.[1] This is a revival of an older tradition of competition between these two schools that had been dormant since 1972.

Principals
Title Name Period Image
Rev. Father Simon Mathew (First Principal) 1909-1913
Rev. Brother Benjamin Lewis 1928-1933
Rev. Brother Elarius 1934-1938
Rev. Brother Onorius 1939-1951
Rev. Brother James 1952-1952
Rev. Brother Rudolph 1959-1961
Mr. W. M. de Silva (Acting Principal) 1962-1963
Mr. A. Deegalla 1963-1964
Mr. Pereliya K. Harschandra 1964-1967
Mr. S. W. Fernando 1967-1975
Mr. C. W. L. Mendis 1975-1978
Ven. Kanumuldeniye Ganaratana thera 1978-1994
Mr. H.M. Weerasekare (Acting Principal) 1994-1995
Mr. R. M. A. Rathnayake 1995-1996
Mr. A. M. Jayasekare (Acting Principal) 1996
Mr. D. M. Gunaratna 1996-2001
Mr. W. M. Karunasena 2001-2005
Mr. Withanage Wijesinghe (Acting Principal) 2005-2006
Mr. K. H. P. Jayatissa 2006-2011
Mr. Y. M. Amarasinghe (Acting Principal )
Mr. W.M. Bandula Wijesundara
Mr. Somarathne (Acting Principal)
Mr. R.W.M. Chandrasena(Acting Principal )
Mr. R.M. Laksiri J. Ranasinghe (Present Principal) 10-06-2021 onwards

References
  1. Sujitha Miranda (October 30, 2011). "A Cornerstone of Upcountry Education" (PDF). The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  2. "Pride of Uva, that completes a centenary". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). February 1, 2009. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
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