St. Joseph's Convent School, Panchgani
St. Joseph's Convent School, Panchgani is an all-girls boarding school in Panchgani, Maharashtra. The school was started by The Daughters of the Cross in October 1895.[1]
History
After 1857, the British were consolidating their hold on their Indian Empire. The hill stations were developed and Panchgani's bracing climate made it a popular health resort and an educational centre. The St. Joseph’s Convent School was started towards the end of 1895 under the patronage of His Lordship the Bishop of Poona and the Roman Catholic order of nuns, known as the Daughters of the Cross. It is one of the oldest existing schools in Panchgani. It incorporated all the best elements of British education of that era, making it much better than other schools in India.
Academics
10th grade students take the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education examination.
The subjects that are offered are divided into three groups. Group I includes Compulsory Subjects - English, History, Civics & Geography, and Indian Language, Group II which includes any two from Mathematics, Science, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Agricultural Science, Commercial Studies, Technical Drawing, A Modern Foreign Language, A Classical Language and Economics, and Group III has any one from Computer Applications, Economic Applications, Commercial Applications, Art, Performing Arts, Home Science, Cookery, Fashion Designing, Physical Education, Technical Drawing Applications, Yoga, and Environmental Applications. All subjects have components of internal assessment, that are carried out by schools, on the basis of assignments/project work, practicals and coursework. There is 20% weightage for internal assessment in group I and II and 50% weightage for group III.
Co-curricular activities
Sports at the school include basketball, table tennis, volleyball, hockey, badminton, etc. Students are required to take part in sports. Performing arts include Western and Indian music, choirs, solo singing, and traditional and modern instruments.
Notable alumni
- Nutan - Indian Film Actress
- Kajol - Indian Film Actress
- Zeenat Aman - Indian Film Actress
- Reita Faria - Miss World 1966
- Prachi Desai - Indian Film Actress
- Kim Sharma - Indian Film Actress