St Paul's School, Rourkela
History:
In 1964, Fr. Thomas Morris, SVD, an Irish priest, who was working in a parish in the Sundergarh district, was entrusted with this new venture at Rourkela. While returning from his home visit in England, in 1963, Fr. Morris met an elderly British lady, Mrs. Ethel Brown, a war widow who was his co-traveller in the same ship. He took her under his charge and gave her accommodation at Rourkela. She consented to assist Fr. Morris with the running of this English Medium School. The school began with a strength of about 50, and had Stds. 4, 5 and 6 in a tin shed by the side of a small church. Fr. Morris had to go personally in his motorcar to collect the students every morning. Every year a lower and a higher class was added and in no time the school had classes from Std. I to X. Armed with funds from the Society of the Divine Word and the building plan from Britain, the construction of the first school building was started with full earnestness. Within a few years, the building took shape to accommodate students from Std. I to X. It had office rooms as well as lab facilities.
Fr. Morris had dedicated and loyal friends like Mrs. Brown, Fr. Wollcot, and Mrs. Florrie Alvaraz, to help him in the beginning, to make this school well known. He had on his staff, Mr. Nair, a physical education teacher who trained the students in discipline and fitness; Rodericks and Stevens, two Canadian youth who were on a student exchange programme, to teach English to classes X and Senior Cambridge; Mr. Behera for Biology; Fr. Felix for Physics and Mr. T.S. Tripathy for Mathematics. Mr. Tripathy is a strong pillar and support to the school management to this day. There was Mr. Varghese too, a clerk in the office, who was extremely efficient in handling all official business.
The school had, since inception a vision for extra curricular activities and to support that was Mr. V.B.Nair, an ex-serviceman entrusted with Physical Training of the students.Recently,the 1983 batch set up a trust in his name and instituted awards to the meritorious as well as economically weaker students of the school.
The first batch of STD X and the last batch of the Senior Cambridge appeared for the public exams in 1969 winning accolades. Then on, there was no looking back, so, academic laurels were achieved year after year. The strength of students increased to a great extent in the 70s. Fr. Joseph Mannamparambil, SVD became the Principal. This period was marked by growth and consolidation. A building, exclusive for STDs. XI & XII was put-up. The first batch of students for Std. XI was admitted in the year 1987 with both boys and girls. The demand for Pre-Primary education was so high, that Fr. Joe had to start the Pre-Primary sections in 1994–1995. He was a very good principal and was very important for the success of the school .
The building with the auditorium on the first floor and the Pre-Primary section on the ground floor was made ready in no time. The 18 years that Fr. Joe was at the helm, gave him the onerous task of guiding and leading the school into the 21st century.From 1999 till 2009, Dr. Rev. K.C. Thomas, SVD took over the operations. Dr. Rev. K.C.Thomas who has spent ten years in the States has a wide perspective regarding education. His rich experience helps him with farsightedness and a modern outlook. He emphasizes the need for extra curricular activities along with academics, so as to help the development of personality and character building in the students. He has only seen students’ growth in the school. Now its one of the largest schools in Eastern India.He is now the principal of the new school St.Arnolds in Jhartharang,the sister campus of st.paul's.The new principal of this school is Fr. S.Joseph who has took charge of this school from June 2009.
