St. Anselm's Ajmer

St. Anselm's Ajmer was established in 1904 by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Fortunatus Henry Caumont O.F.M. (1871–1930). He was born on December 10, 1871 in France, and came to Ajmer to start modern education. It is located in the city of Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. St. Anselm's Ajmer was among the first institutions of higher learning set up during the British Raj. It offers senior secondary courses.

History

The Catholic employees in the railway workshops around Ajmer had asked the head of the Catholic mission to open a high school for their boys and girls. The Convent High school, which had been established some ten years before, would admit boys only up to Standard II. The boys had either to attend the European railway school teaching up to the high school exam; the Allahabad University; or had to join the boarding schools at Agra to the northeast, Nagpur to the southeast, Bombay to the south, and Karachi to the west.

The Prefect Apostolic of Rajputana (Rt. Rev. Fr. Fortunatus, later the first Bishop of Ajmer) decided to start a Catholic school and accordingly, on 4 February 1904, St. Anselm's was opened as a boarding and day school, with Rev. Fr. Pius as its head. There were about 50 pupils, a dozen being boarders. The new school was the "Boys" section of the Convent.

For three years it was considered as a section of the Convent; in January 1907 the school took a corporate existence. Rev. Fr. Pius become its First Rector and Rev. Fr. Augustine and Gervais continued on the staff, with Fr. Gervais taking over the additional duties as Prefect of Discipline. Boys were prepared for the examination of the Allahabad University till about 1912, when the Cambridge syllabus was adopted.

At the beginning everything was contained in one building: the Fathers' quarters, the boarder's dormitory, a study hall, a dining room, as well as the classrooms. The school had no playground. In 1910, a piece of land suitable for the purpose was bought on the Mayo College road and games were then possible.

Boys flocked to St. Anselm's from Bombay, Lahore, Hyderabad (Sind), Karachi, Delhi, Rewari, Bandikui, Jaipur, Phulera, Mhow, Ratlam, Neemuch etc. and in time to come even from the Persian Gulf.

In 1958, the school was affiliated to the Rajasthan Board of Education. On two occasions the school was awarded the State award (Madan Mohan Verma Award) for the best results and all round performance. In 1972, the school was affiliated to the Central Board of Education. The hostel which housed students from all over India was closed down in 1985.

The school is a senior secondary school, affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi, though it has seen phases of being attached to boards and university and being an intercollege.

Organization

Houses

The student body is divided into four houses:

• Red
• Blue
• Green
• Gold

The houses compete against each other in academic and sporting disciplines, each contributing toward house points which count toward the "Best House" awarded to the champion house for the year. In 2011, Gold house won the award for best parade on Independence Day.

House tutors

Each house master is selected on the basis of his ability in sports, studies, and extracurricular activities. They have to select boys from different classes, at least 10-15 boys from each class. They have to change their group every year.

Prefects

Prefects are appointed by the class teacher after consultation with class, as their representative. Prefects have authority and privileges.

Curriculum

St. Anselm's Ajmer designs and implements its own curriculum for classes nursery to VIII. Classes IX to XII follow the CBSE syllabi. Work is done in the library or outside the classroom and this is enhanced by the Council's own recommended structures. Every boy goes on for tertiary education for helping children with special needs.

Admission

Admissions are open to all boys irrespective of caste or creed. Boys who are in the age group of between 2 years 8 month and 3 years 6 month will be admitted in nursery class. A corresponding age scale is fixed for the succeeding classes.

Sessions

The scholastic year begins on 1 July and ends on the 30 June. The year is divided into two sessions or terms separated by the winter vacation. The summer vacation is from mid-May to 30 June.

Admission to Class XI

Students who have passed Xth class fill in a registration form for admission to faculties in XIth class. The subject-wise grouping in the streams is as under:

• Science: Compulsory - English Core, Physics, Chemistry. Optional - Maths/Economics, Computer / Biology.
• Commerce: Compulsory - English Core, Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics. Optional - Geography/Maths/Computer (Informatics Practices).
• Humanities: Compulsory - English Core, Political Sc., Geography, Economics. Optional - Hindi Core/Sociology.

Uniform

On class days and at school functions the boys wear uniforms.

Summer uniform

Light blue shirt (short sleeves), dark blue shorts (trousers for VI-X); white shirts with full sleeves and white pants for Classes XI and XII, white socks, black laced shoes and school tie.

Winter uniform

Classes K.G. to VII: V-neck blue woolen pullover and dark blue or worsted (dark) grey trousers. Classes VIII to XII: Navy blue blazer with school crest and worsted (dark) grey trousers.

Prayer assembly

The school begins every day's program and work with the prayer assembly. All children participate. The assembly commences with a prayer to the Almighty to shower abundant blessings on the students, staff and parents and on the day's studies and work. During the assembly students are taught how to pray and experience God. Moral instructions for character formation are given with beside the general announcements.

Co-curricular activities

Students take part in games and athletics. Coaching is given in cricket, hockey, football, Table tennis, basketball, badminton and gymnastics. Every year players are selected for games at the state and national levels. Students are encouraged to join NCC (Air Wing) and Boys Scouts to develop their leadership skills.

Notable alumni

• Naseeruddin Shah: Bollywood actor, director
• Rajeev Paul: Indian television actor
• Rakesh Paul: Indian television actor
• Arhaan Behl: Indian television actor
• Vish Dhamija: Crime fiction writer
• Hitesh lachhwani: Dubai business