St. Xavier's Higher Secondary School is a privateCatholic secondary school located in Palayamkottai in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, India. The school was established by the Jesuits in 1880 and provides co-educational schooling for students from standards VI through XII.[1] The school includes a hostel for 300 boys and has an active alumni association, founded in 1990.[2]
Chronology
1898: recognition of school by the Director of Public Instructions
1899: boarding house established, that became a hostel with 10 boys in 1903
1980s: Centenary Block built; students secured first and second ranks in SSLC exam (1982); cultural week initiated
1990s: new outreach programs for underprivileged, rural, and refugee students (Loyola Study Centre, LASAC movement, STAAR charitable association run by students); modern biology lab; computer education from standard VI through XII
2000: Arrupe administrative block built; Fr. Y.S Yagoo SJ introduced more extracurricular activities and state level tournaments in football and hockey, receiving the Dr. Radhakrishnan award in 2010.[3]
2011: entrance enhanced with gardens and wider roads[4]
Activities
A thorough tour of the campus is provided online.[5] School activities include: Consumer Club, Eco Club, Arts & Crafts, Leveil Reading Club, Road Safety Patrol, Ignatian Band, Veeramamunivar Tamil Literary Association, Verdier Science Club, Arrupe Dispensary, and Arrupe Inter-Religious Centre.[6] The boys have won state championships in hockey, volleyball, football, and in individual events in swimming, athletics, and Silambam (second place).[7]