Baldwin Girls' High School

Baldwin Girls' High School (BGHS), founded in 1882, is one of the oldest schools in Bangalore, India. The school follows the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education syllabus and has classes from pre-nursery to twelfth grade. The school has an enrollment of more than 5000 students and prepares them for the ICSE examinations in the tenth grade and ISC exam in the twelfth grade. Baldwin Girls' High School, a member of the Baldwin group of Institutions, is run by the Methodist Church in India under the Chairmanship of Bishop of the South India Regional Conference of the Methodist Church in India.

Baldwin Girls' High School
Address
90, Richmond Road,

Bangalore
,
Karnataka

India
Information
TypePrivate school, boarding school
MottoLoyalty and Service
Established1880 (1880)
FoundersMissionaries of The Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. J. Gordon, Rev. R. Firth
PrincipalMrs.Asha M Das.
Staff220 teachers and over 120 support staff
GenderGirls
Enrolmentapprox. 5750
Campus size9.5 acres (38,000 m2)
HousesBenthein, Delima, Fisher, Laura Gill, Stephen, Watson, Weston
Colour(s)Blue and white         
PublicationThe Baldwinian
Websitehttps://baldwingirls.edu.in/

The Baldwin Women's’ Degree College also shares the same campus. Baldwin Boys High School is the brother school of Baldwin Girls' High School and is a five-minute walk away up Richmond Road.

The school has an "Opportunity School" for specially gifted children. Baldwin Opportunity School is an institution in the field of Special Education, founded by Miss Anne Tillou, an American missionary, in 1964. It is an extension of the Baldwin Girls' High School and a Unit of Baldwin Methodist Education Society. The School is for children who are Intellectually Challenged in the mild and moderate category. The classes are divided into Pre-Primary, Primary, Intermediate, Senior I, Senior II, Learning Lab, Home Maker's Class and Pre-Vocational Unit.

History

The school was established by the Methodist Episcopal Church, with a monetary grant from John Baldwin, Ohio, United States.[1] It was known as the Episcopal Methodist School and was managed by a board of ICSE council. The school had an ISC Board for five years from 1997 to 2002, but this was discontinued due to lack of a student body and was replaced by the PUC college. The former principal of this school, Dr S.L Kashiram was the first Indian who was the recipient of the prestigious Derozio Awards awarded by the ICSE council. Due to increase in demand and competition, however, the school will resume ISC schooling from AY 2019–2020.

Extracurricular activities

The school was the first to open a swimming pool in Bangalore. It had the first all-girls gymnastic team back in the 1960s. In 2010, the Baldwin choir came in second place in the Jingle Jam conducted by Radio Indigo out of 500 schools. The choir of Baldwins has consistently been winning in the annual Basel Mission conducted at the Bangalore Town Hall. The school has the first ever all-female band to be formed in Bangalore. They are the only all-female band to have performed at Christmas for the Basel Mission. The school basketball team won the Nationals in 2010 and 2011. The school's Robotics team represented India at the Robocup Junior On Stage 2016 Leipzig. The school also takes part in various MUNs and other cultural and literary fests.

Commencement Exercise and the Baccalaureate Service

The Commencement exercises are carried out every year in January when the graduating students of class X walk up the aisle in traditional white sarees. Deserving graduates are given prestigious awards instituted by various donors. The mantle of responsibility (school banner) is handed over to their juniors and then the Principal and the guests invite them to participate in a solemn, meaningful candle lighting ceremony, as they take the oath to carry their light, ignited by their Alma Mater, into the dark world to shine and reach out to many in whatever situation they are placed in life.

The Baccalaureate service is organized specifically for the School leaving Class (Std. X), in the Richmond Town Methodist Church at which powerful spiritual leaders remind them of values learnt, advise the students and invoke God's blessing on them before they step out into the world, even as they leave the portals of their Alma Mater. Parents are also invited to attend this sacred service.

General Officers
  • School President.
  • Games Captain
  • School Junior Vice President (9th)
  • School Junior Games Captain (9th)

Leaders
  • Choir Prefect.
  • Choir Co-Prefect.
  • Drum Majorette.
  • Junior Drum Majorette.
  • Basketball Captain.
  • Hostel Prefect.

House Leaders
  • Captain.
  • Vice-Captain.
  • Torch Bearer.

General Leaders

This consists of the Class Leaders, starting from the 5th std going until the 10th.

  • Study Prefect
  • Discipline Prefect

Notable alumni

The Houses

The house system was introduced in 1932. The idea of house points for inter-house competitions came into being in 1937 and the March Past was instituted in 1940. In 1932, Benthien, Fisher, Stephen and Watson Houses were formed. In 1958, Weston House was added on. Delima House was established in 1963 and Laura Gill House was introduced in 1969.

Each house has been named after former Principals, benefactors and friends of the school, who contributed generously to its growth in the early years.

Miss Elizabeth Benthien was Principal of the school from 1907–1909. "Bend to Nothing" is the motto of this house with its emerald green flag.

Miss Edith De Lima did a double stint as Principal (1955–56 and 1957–59). "Forward Ever Backward Never" is the motto of this house.

Miss Fannie Fisher donated generously to the school in 1910. "Persevere to the End" is the motto inscribed on this purple flag.

Miss Grace Stephen, another friend of Baldwins, after whom Stephen house is named, supported the school through gifts and valuable advice in 1932. " Step up, Stephen" is the motto of this house.

Mis Laura Gill, devoted to the progress of the school, stayed on in the school till her death in the early 1960s. "To Greater Heights" is the motto of this house.

Miss Ella Watson contributed towards the building "Watson Hall", which housed the dormitory in the early years. "Flame of Hope" is the motto engraved on the banner of this house.

Miss Mae Weston was the Principal of the school from 1935–1955. The motto of Weston house is "Never Despair".

House songs, appropriately composed in keeping with each motto, ring out every Thursday during House chapel. Each house has a color. The High school girls (5std - 10std) houses (with motto) are:

  • Benthein - Green, Bend to nothing
  • Delima - Pink , Forward ever, backward never
  • Fisher - Purple, Persevere to the end
  • Laura Gill - Orange , To greater heights
  • Stephen - Red , Step up, Stephen
  • Watson - Blue , Flame of hope
  • Weston - Yellow, Never despair

Most of the houses were named after former principals.

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References
  1. Assad, Mary K. (2008). Baldwin-Wallace College. Arcadia Publishing. p. 122. ISBN 9780738551807.

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