Scholarships from AidtoSchools

     AidToSchools is a non-profit organization operating from the United Kingdom, trying to build a bridge between rural schools in Sri Lanka and expatriate Sri Lankan community in the UK and elsewhere in the world.  We came across this organization in the internet and requested them to visit our blog and see if our school meets their criteria for assistance. 

They promptly responded to our email and informed that they have recently  launched a scholarship program to assist needy school children in Sri Lanka, and that they could offer a few scholarships to our school too if the criteria matches with any of our students.

Initially, the scholarship will pay Rs. 1000/= each per month for a period of 24 months for the selected children.  AidToSchools strongly believes in the Principal's recommendation as a key deciding factor and the child should come from a needy family and have good educational achievements - i.e. Grade 5 Scholarship Examination, G.C.E. (O/L) Examination etc.

Although many of our students come from needy families, 07 students have been selected for the first round from Grade 6 – 13 classes with the help of the Class Teachers. 

Mr. Sujeeva Wijeratne, our Deputy Principal,  organizes this project with the help of Mrs. K.W.C. Jayanthi, the Class Teacher of Grade 8, who has volunteered to assist him.  Selection of students, filling forms, record keeping etc. will be handled by her in consultation with the other Class Teachers.  Further information on this project will follow soon.

Girls' Handball

Under 19 Antonian girls (wearing yellow) emerged Cup First Runner Up at the Sri Lanka Inter School Handball Championship - 2012 held in Colombo.  We owe our gratitude to Mr. Chae Geon -Su and Mr. Senarath Senanayake of Handball Federation of Sri Lanka who helped us in training these girls.  Our thanks are also due to Mr. Sujeeva Wijeratne, our Deputy Principal for without his courage and dedication our girls wouldn't have come this far.  

Help Wanted

The main building of the Primary Section which was built over 50 years ago needs to be repaired soon.  It houses over 100 students whose parents are not in a position to bear the costs of the repair as they have a greater battle to fight.  That is to earn the daily bread.  Most of the mothers work in the middle-east as housemaids for a monthly income of 10 to 15 thousand rupees.  Any kind-hearted individual or an institution  willing to help us repair this building is welcome to contact us at gemisaviya@gmail.com or The Principal, St. Anthony's High School, Wasalakotte - 21160, Central Province, Sri Lanka.  

Shoes from ECS

ECS World, USA has generously donated shoes to the students of the Primary Section this year.  Over 100 girls and boys received shoes under this program.  We're very thankful to Mrs. Srini Perera and her family for caring to share their resources with our students. Mr. Sujeeva Wijeratne, the Deputy Principal of the school coordinated this event.

Annual Trip

 

Dannish Volunteers

We have had the privilege of getting the services of volunteers from Denmark to teach English at our school through the kind coordination of Service Civil International - Sri Lanka.  We are very thankful to Mr. Gunadasa Jayawickrema for assisting us on this project.  This project was coordinated by Mr. Sujeeva Wijeratne, the Deputy Principal of the school.

Introduction

St. Anthony’s High School, Wasalakotte, established in 1825, by late Rev. Father Jeranimo Michael, an Italian missionary priest, is a unique school with an enviable reputation.  Although the school was handed over to government administration in 1961, the close relationship with the nearby church, the National Shrine of St. Anthony, has not been affected.  Today, the school is attached to Galewela Education Office of the Central Province. 

There are about 400 students in classes from Grade 1 to 13.  In the Advanced Level classes only arts and commerce subjects are taught.  The majority of the students are Catholics from Wasalakotte, and the majority of the teachers are Buddhists from the neighboring villages. Most students come from farming families.  There is a large number of students whose mothers work abroad.  Also there are students who come from the orphanage attached to the shrine.  The staff consists of a principal, a deputy principal, 28 teachers, a financial assistant and an office assistant.

The facilities include a science laboratory, a computer unit, a library and an English Books Only library.  Although there are facilities for athletics, basketball, volleyball and netball only handball is taken seriously and dedicatedly by the students.  As a result, the school has been able to rock the school sports in Sri Lanka by winning many handball championships in 2012.