St. Anne's College (Sri Lanka)

St. Anne's College – Kurunegala ශාන්ත ආනා විදුහල
School Crest Latin: POSSUMUS We can!
Address
St. Anne's Street 7°29′14″N 80°21′34″E / 7.487357°N 80.359527°E / 7.487357; 80.359527Coordinates: 7°29′14″N 80°21′34″E / 7.487357°N 80.359527°E / 7.487357; 80.359527 Kurunegala, North Western Sri Lanka
Information
School type	Public
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Founder	Brother Hugh Ferrington
Status	Open
Principal	Rev. Brother Ernest Tarcisius
Grades	Class 1 – 13
Gender	Boys
Age	6 to 19
Enrollment	3000+
Medium of language	Sinhala & English
Hours in school day	6
Classrooms	70+
Area	12 acres (49,000 m2)
Houses	De La Salle, Benildus, Solomon, Miguel
Colour(s)	Green, Gold & Blue
Song	Green Gold & Blue
Pupils	Annites
Website	sac-kuru.com
Main Building

St. Anne's College (also referred to as St. Anne's College Kurunegala, Kurunegala St.Anne's, or simply as St. Anne's ) is a Catholic boys' school located in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. Started by Rev. Bro. Hugh Ferrington in 1867. Students of St. Anne's College are known as Annites.

School

Location

Situated in central area of Kurunegala, It occupies 12 acres (49,000 m2) along St. Anne's street, boarded by Holy Family Convent to the east, St. Anne's Cathedral to the west and Maliyadeva College to the north.

Administration

The college is funded by Ministry of Education. The principal is the head of the school and is appointed by De La Salle Brothers. Principal is assisted by two vice principals and an assistant principal. The school is divided into primary school and upper school and primary school is coming under a deputy principal. The college educates close to 3000 students in both secondary and primary education. Administration of the college hostel is carried out by the Warden under supervision of the Principal.

Since its establishment the main medium of education had been English; however with Sinhala becoming the official language the medium of education was changed to Sinhala. Since 2002 English has been reintroduced as a medium of education at the College. Students may select one of the two mediums after grade 5 in which to conduct their studies.

Admission

Admission to the school is very competitive. Students who qualify requirements can enter to grade 1. Also students can enter through grade 5 government scholarship exam and GCE Ordinary Level in Sri Lanka.

Grounds

The school is located in an area of 12 acres (49,000 m2) where the primary school and the upper school are located. It is equipped with facilities such as science and computer laboratories, class rooms etc. This includes the 'La Salle Auditorium' which is one of the biggest auditorium in the area.

Sport plays a major part in school's activities. The school's facilities include a swimming pool and a modern cricket ground, basketball courts within the school premises.

History

The beginning

The name of St. Anne's College, Kurunegala, first appears in the Government Blue Book, in 1867. This was initiated during the term of Archbishop Bonjean by Fr. Dufo. The number of pupils on role in 1867 was 101.

It was on the invitation and recommendation of the late Chevalier C.L.W Perera that The De La Salle Brothers acceding to the request of then Archbishop, assumed duties at St' Anne's College on 1 December 1934 after purchasing the present land of 12 acres (49,000 m²) for Rs. 15,000/=. The arrival of the De La Salle Brothers to this royal city, paved the way for the awakening of both discipline and quality education.

Brother Hugh Ferrington, was the first Director of the institution. He formed the Old Boys Association in 1935 and on 9 June of the same year the old Boys Day was inaugurated and then on 1 March 1940,The President Of the Old Boys Association is Attorney at Law, Felician Perera. who is the son of Late Chevalier C.L.W Perera.The first prize giving was held in the open air under the directorship of Brother Casimir Ernest, a Czech Brother.

The foundation stone for the first building was laid in 1941, and the Brothers together with 360 boys and 50 boarders moved into the new uncompleted building in 1942. Brother Theoderet of Mary succeeded Brother Casimir on 20 August 1943. He set up a laboratory and started Science studies.

Golden era

Brother Alban Patrick assumed the directorship in 1946 when the golden era of St. Anne's begins. St. Anne's becomes a Grade 1 School, the only one in the North Western Province in 1947, the results of public examination continues to be the best in the province, the student population rises to 1340 by 1955, the science block is declared open in 1949, which was donated by Chevalier C.L.W. Perera an eminent criminal lawyer of the country who was also a benefactor of the school and who was honored by His holiness the pope by a Knight hood for the services rendered to the Catholic Church.In the same year the Main block is completed, a Cadet Corps is started in 1952, 1953 marks the rise of the two-storied primary block. By 1954 most of the buildings are completed and the school is in a solid footing.

Free education

The implementation of the Free Education Scheme in 1951 opened the door to the Secondary Education for the poorest boys. From 1950 to 1960 Annites did well at the University Entrance and students entered yearly to the various faculties of University.

Acquisition by the government

The School take over was in 1960. At first the school opted to remain private. But after struggling to maintain the status for few years the school was handed over to the Government in 1964 during the term of then Director, Brother Edwin Ambrose. Thus the College obtained the status of a Non Fee Levying School. Since then the succeeding Brother Principals attempted to keep up the rising standard of St. Anne's College in spite of the changing educational environment.

School Traditions

St. Anne's College Flag

The College motto is "Possumus", meaning "We Can" in Latin. Although the school is having affiliations with the Catholic Church, it is a secular school with students of all faiths admitted.

Present College Anthem

Come Boys for the honour of the GREEN, GOLD and BLUE
Sing we a song of St Anne's great and true
Come warm your hearts aglow with loyal love
And stand as firm as the rocks above

By duty's path, we faithfully steer
By God and Man we live sincere
Dauntless and daring in all fields we try
All in a voice we sing POSSUMUS our cry

Stand boys together by Your Alma Mater all
Clear is her clarion and fond is her call
Lush is the mead around our crowning peak
In virtue abiding life's glory we seek

By duty's path, we faithfully steer
By God and Man we live sincere
Dauntless and daring in all fields we try
All in a voice we sing POSSUMUS our cry

Sinhala College Anthem
විදුහල සන්තානා
මුතුයෙන් මිණියෙන්
මාල සදාලා
ගෙල පලඳිමු බැතිපා

දැණුමින් නුවණින් පළමුවැනි
සිරිතින් සරඹින් පළමුවැනි
මේ මුළු ලංකා නම කියවාවා
හේලි උතුම් මාතා

විදුකිරි උරවා නුවණ වඩා
සිසු දරුවන් මන නුවණ නිවා
ගිය ගිය හැම තැන කැපී පෙනේවා
හේලි උතුම් මාතා

Old College Anthem

Green, Gold and Blue was the very first College Anthem sung by the students of St.Anne’s College.Bro.Hugh Faringdon introduced this anthem on 21 May 1936.Bro.Director who was well versed in literature and music wrote the lyrics and composed the music of this anthem.

Green, Gold and Blue

Then join in the song of the Green, Gold and Blue
Shout aloud to your colours that you ever will be true
While e'er the sky's blue awning
O'erspreads Green fields and trees,
As they bathe in the garden sunshine
And dance in the resulting breeze.

W'll be loyal loving, grateful, and we'll fight the life's battle through.
Firm and straight, and for the honour of the Green, the Gold and the Blue

O the Green it is kind and gentle,
Spread profusely through our isle:
The Green trees nod o'er the mantle
Green, of the rippling fields that smile
And the Green, it ever minds us
To be kind and gentle too
For the honour of our colours,
The Green, the Gold and the Blue.

And the Gold, it is bright and cheery
Pouring down from the fiery sun,
Giving life and joy and beauty,
Shedding light on ev'ry one.
And the Gold is there to remind us
To be bright and cheery too,
For the honour of our colours,
The Green, the Gold and the Blue.

Houses

The House system was inaugurated on 10/06/1936 by Bro. Hugh Faringdon. St.John and St. De La Salle were the first two houses. House competition included games, conduct and studies.House Master,Captains,Prefects and Games Captains were elected annually.

The students are divided into four Houses:

•      – De La Salle House

Fr. John Baptist De La Salle was born on 30/04/1661 in Rheims, France.He founded the congregation of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (De La Salle Brothers) in 1680. He died on 07/04/1719. He was canonized on 24/05/1900 by Pope Leo XIII. On 15/05/1950 Pope Pius XII proclaimed him "Patron of all Teachers of Youth". His feast is held on 15 May.

•      – Benildus House

Benildus House was introduced by Bro. Alban Patrick in 1948 discontinuing John House. Bro Bénilde Romançon, F.S.C. was born on 14/06/1805 in Thuret, France. He did nothing extraordinary but carried out his daily tasks in the primary schools to perfection. He died on 13/08/1862. He was canonized on 29/10/1967 by Pope Paul VI. His feast is held on 13 August.

•      – Solomon House

Solomon House was introduced as the third House by Bro. Kasimir Arnost on 14/06/1938. Bro. Salomon Leclerc,F.S.C. was born on 14/11/1745 in Boulogne, France. He was Secretary General of the De La Salle Brothers. He was martyred on 02/09/1792.He was beatified on 17/10/1926 by Pope Pius XI. His feast is held on 2 September.

•      – Miguel House

Miguel House was introduced as the fourth House in 1985 by Bro. Augustine Brendon. Bro. Miguel Febres Cordero,F.S.C was born on 07/11/1854 in Cuenca Ecuador. He was a man of uncommon intelligence and incredible capacity to work. He died on 09/02/1910. He was canonized on 21/08/1984. His feast is held on 9 February.

Sports

Sport is a major part of College, with different sports played. Taking center stage of the annual sporting calendar are the Battle of the Rocks (Big Match).

Other sports played at St. Anne's include;

Sport Clubs

Battle of the Rocks

29th Annual Cricket Contest

Battle of the Rocks (Deva – Ana Big Match), the annual Cricket encounter is a prominent sporting event played between two schools in North Western province of Sri Lanka.

The cricket match is played between St. Annes & Maliyadeva College annually at the Welagedara Stadium, Kurunegala. The match is played over two days and the winner is presented with the Trophy. The two day match is followed by a one-day match between the two sides which started in 1992.

The encounter has a long history. However, in certain years, it was not played due to various reasons. The Year 2013 marked the 30th 2-day encounter and 18th limited overs version of Battle of the Rocks.

Extra Curricular

Clubs & Societies

Principals

Rev. Bro. Hugh Rerrington is the first principal and present principal is Rev.Bro. Ernest Tarcisius. Tradition is a De La Salle brother to become the principal.

St. Anne's and other schools

St. Anne's College's maintains an old rivalry with Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala and St. Anne's has a long familial relationship with Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala.

External links

• Official website
• Brothers of the Christian Schools. District of Colombo
• College Anthem