Girls' High School, Kandy
Encyclopedia
Girls' High School is the oldest school for girls in Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...

, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...

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Girls' High School, Kandy: Homepage

Mission

Honouring the relationship with the environment to become disciplined responsible mature women who will be able to serve with humanity with but fear or favour be open to changes and to stand up to challenges be able to hold on to their belief while respecting the convictions of others.

Early years

In 1873, the need of a school in connection with Wesleyan Mission work was urged by Samuel Langdon
Samuel Langdon
Samuel Langdon was a American Congregational clergyman and educator. After serving as pastor in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, he was appointed president of Harvard University in 1774. He held that post until 1780....

 and so a Day and Boarding school was built in Katukele,Kandy Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...

.

The school was opened in 1879 at the Wesleyan school chapel adjoining the Girls' Boarding School, Katukele - Kandy, under the management of Mrs Langdon. Miss Payne, the next principal arrived in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...

 on 31 July 1879 but left the school in 1880. In May 1880 Miss Hay came from England and the school, which had 10 on the roll at its inception, increased to 70 and was registered to obtain a grant-in-aid from the government.

As numbers increased, in 1881 the school shifted to the more commodious precincts of the Mission in Brownrigg Street, but boarders remained at Katukele. Classes were held behind the church. Long desks and forms without backs and heavy pews from the church were moved weekly when classes had to take turn in writing. There were no games, Guiding, debating or netball, not even a library.

20th century

With the dawn of the 20th Century., under the guidance of Miss. Sansom who served for 19 years, Kandy High School became one of the leading educational instructions in Ceylon. On March 21, 1917 the First Company of Girl Guides was formed in the Island. Miss Sansom prepared the way for this and Miss Jane Calveriey, the Vice-Principal was the First Captain. This was followed by the 1st Brownie Company and the Ranger Company in 1918 and 1921. In June 1920 plunge broke out in Kandy and 262 students were ordered to leave the premises over-night. The kindergarten and Std 2 shifted to Trinity College, Std 3 and 4 were housed at the YWCA opposite the police station and the senior girls at the YWCA near the Kandy lake. Miss. Calveriey had a busy time cycling from one place to another supervising the classes, so she invested in a scooter which make her day easier.
In 1917 the first company of Girl Guides
The Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association
The Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association is the national Guiding organization of Sri Lanka. It serves 37,057 members...

 was formed on the island, and the school was the first to play netball in Sri Lanka.

The four houses

The four houses are Eaton, Langdon, Lawrance, and Sansom . Their respective house colours are, Light Blue,Green,Yellow and Dark Blue, .

Science Society

Ever since the establishment, the Science Society is a leading academic society of Girls' High School which enables all the science students to bloom up with their skills & talents.
The Science Society holds the supreme leadership over, Astronomical society, Drug prevention unit, Mihiruwa nature club, Globe Society, Yowun Gaveshakayo school organization.
All the educated and extra-curricular activities of all these societies and clubs are conducted under the unflinching, unutterable guidance of the science society of Girls' High School Kandy.
The main aim of Girls' High school is to produce professional and academics who can serve the country, mother Sri Lanka as leading personalities in the society. This un surpassed aim is followed by The Science Society. The Science society is proud to mention that most of the respectable academics that we see today, were the active members of the Science Society of Girls' High School kandy.
Astronomical Society

Since its official launch in 1997, The Astronomical Society has successfully contributed to many events, and has rendered many great endeavors not only to the School, but also to the whole nation, making the field of Astronomy more & more popular in Sri Lanka. Thus from its inception Girls' High School, The Astronomical society has become one of the few leading Astronomical societies in Sri Lanka.

From 1997 the society has arranged some activities work shops etc. to improve the knowledge in Astronomy.

The year 2001 was A special year for the society. Because the society organized a night camp called "Astro Eve 2001" for the first time in a Girls' school in Sri Lanka, with all island participation. The chief Guest was Dr
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...

 Chandana Jayarathne
Chandana Jayarathne
Dr Chandana Jayarathne is a Sri Lankan Physicists specialising in Physics . He is a Senior Lecturer in Physics at University of Colombo Sri Lanka and also current President of Institute of Physics, Sri Lanka.He is a product of Nalanda College Colombo and a graduate of University of Colombo with a...

.

In 2003 participated in the High School walk organized by the S.D.C & O.G.A

In 2005 The society organized a night camp called "Wishwaye nim walalu sisara". Through this camp the students could improve their knowledge in Astronomy and develop their observation skills . Also in 2005 the society conducted a successful stall in the educational exhibition " Elysium 2005" which was organized by the school.

Year 2006 was a very crucial year for the Astronomical Society of Girls' High School. Because the society organized a combined project to develop inter school Astronomy (CPDIA) together with Ranabima Royal College,Kandy.It was called "Oddessy has Begin"

In the year 2008, "THE INTIMATIONS OF THE INVISIBLE", The fist ever interschool Astronomical night organized entirely by a Girls' School was held successfully. The Society introduced the Ruth Allen challenge trophy. By coming first in the Astronomical quiz competition, Dharmaraja College won the Ruth Allen challenge Trophy.
In 2009, The Astronomical Society took the next step in the long journey towards the invisible by organizing the second Astronomical Night, "The Transition from the Invisible". Which was another achievement made by ladies of High school through many obstacles. The society introduced the "E.LABROOY" challenge trophy . It was held successfully with the participation of 14 schools. The Chief guests were Dr
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...

 Chandana Jayarathne
Chandana Jayarathne
Dr Chandana Jayarathne is a Sri Lankan Physicists specialising in Physics . He is a Senior Lecturer in Physics at University of Colombo Sri Lanka and also current President of Institute of Physics, Sri Lanka.He is a product of Nalanda College Colombo and a graduate of University of Colombo with a...

 and Dr. Sarath Bandaranayake. The E. LABROOY challenge trophy was won by Dharmaraja College.

In 2010 the Astronomically Society organized the third step of the journey towards the invisible. The third Astronomical Night organized by the society, "In Quest for Visibility" was held successfully.
The Drug Prevention Unit

The Drug Prevention Unit of Girls' High School is another active unit of the school.
In the year 2009, the DPU( Drug Prevention Unit)organized their DPU day which was called, "Tempora 2009". The programme was held very successfully with the participation of many other schools. The programme also consisted of a Personality Development Programme which was appreciated by all the participants.

Sports

  • Net Ball
  • Basket Ball
  • Badminton
  • Volleyball
  • Tennis
  • Table tennis
  • Swimming
  • Scrable
  • Athletics
  • Karate
  • Chess
  • Hockey
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