Loreto House

Loreto House

Location
7, Middleton Row, Kolkata, India
Information
Type	Primary, Secondary
Established	1842
Principal	Sr. Phyllis Morris
Gender	Female
Color(s)	Red, White and Blue
Athletics	Basketball, Throwball, Badminton, Cricket, Baseball, etc
Website	www.loretohousekolkata.com

Loreto House was established in 1842 by the Sisters of Loreto belonging to the institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the oldest and the first Loreto institution to be established in India and was one of the few all-girls Catholic schools of that time. The School started with 60 students who were taught at a house where nuns resided under Mother Delphine Hart, assisted by Sr. Teresa Mons and Sr. Martina McCann.^[1]

There are two School buildings, one housing the Junior and Middle School (KG-VIII) and the other the Senior school (IX-XII).

Foundresses

Mother Mary Ward (1585-1645)
Mother Teresa Ball (1794-1861)
Mother Delphine Hart (1818-1866)

Religious Affiliation

The School was initially established for the education of Catholic girls. However, it has long admitted students of many religious beliefs.^[1]

Academic Affiliation

The School is affiliated to the "Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations" (which conducts the ICSE and the ISC exams in grades, i.e. classes X and XII respectively).

Uniform

Uniforms of classes KG-II consist of a White Dress with a Blue piping and two pockets. Uniforms of classes III-X consist of a White Blouse (with the LH symbol in Red thread on the pocket) and Skirt. Uniforms of classes of +2 consist of an Off-White Blouse (with the LH symbol in Blue thread on the pocket) and Royal Blue skirt. During Winter months, classes KG-II are permitted a Light Blue Sweater, classes III-X are permitted a full-sleeved Red Sweater (with White lining on the sleeves and on the bottom strip of the sweater) and classes XI and XII are permitted a Black Sweater. Girls of classes II-X, wear a pleated Red Skirt along with the same White Blouse on Days of Physical Education.

Footwear is Black Leather Ballerina shoes. However, on Days of Physical Education, they wear White Canvas Sport shoes instead.

A Metal Badge showing the School Crest along with the House Colour is worn by all students of classes VI-XII on the Left collar of their Blouse. The School and House Captains have badges that represent their designation. Students also wear badges of the different Clubs which they are a part of.

Curriculum

Students may choose to study Science (Physics, chemistry, Mathematics/Biology/Economics.), Commerce (Accounts, Commerce, Mathematics/Business studies, Economics.) or Humanities (History/Geography, Economics/Psychology, Mathematics/Home Sc., Political Sc.). Either Hindi/Bengali should be taken a compulsory subject

School Houses

Mary Ward

Students are allocated their Houses in class VI. There are 6 different Houses, namely:-

Gandhi (Brown), named after Mahatma Gandhi
Keller (Red), named after Helen Keller
Kennedy (Yellow), named after American President John F. Kennedy
Mary Ward (Mauve), named after the School's founder, Mary Ward
Naidu (Blue), named after Sarojini Naidu, and
Tagore (Green), named after Rabindranath Tagore

Each house has a Captain, a Vice-Captain and a Prefect - generally of students of class XII. Each house is assisted by teachers or House Mistresses.

School Crest

The Crest is familiar to Loreto pupils worldwide. It is surmounted by words "Maria Regina Angelorum" which indicate the patronage of Our Lady, Queen of Angels. The emblem is rich in symbolism :-

The Cross - Sign of our Salvation
The Sacred Heart - Source of the Infinite Love of Jesus for each one of us
The Heart of Mary - Our Human model and inspiration
The Anchor - Symbol of Hope

This symbolism is summed up in the final scroll: "Cruci Dum Spiro Fido" - "Throughout my life, I shall place my hope in the cross".

School Song

Verse 1.

 To East and West of that fair Isle

 Where the first Loreto stands,

 Loreto's banner now doth fly in many distant lands,

 In sunny Spain, on Afric's strand and

 Under the Southern Cross

 And westward ho, where rainbow hued

 Niagara's waters toss.

Chorus:

 Loreto's banner gaily floats

 In lands both East and West

 Loreto's name each girl reveres

 And holds it ever blest.

Verse 2.

 But first Loreto found a home beneath our Indian skies

 Where now o'er plain and mountain peak

 The well loved banner flies.

 Loreto's standard bearers we

 In girlhood springtime gay

 O may we e'er be loyal and true

 To the school friends of today.

Chorus

Verse 3.

 And when our school days ended are

 And our varied paths divide

 O may the ideals of our youth

 Still ever be our guide;

 High ideals of purity, of duty and of truth

 Learnt while we bore Loreto's flag

 In the sunny days of youth.