Saint Francis D'Assisi High School

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St. Francis D'Assisi High School (SFDHS)
File:Saint Francis D'Assisi High School logo.jpg
Sfhs1.jpg
The iconic St. Francis Chapel
Address
Mount Poinsur, SVP Road


, ,
400103

Coordinates19°14′39″N 72°51′11″E / 19.244136°N 72.853126°E / 19.244136; 72.853126Coordinates: 19°14′39″N 72°51′11″E / 19.244136°N 72.853126°E / 19.244136; 72.853126
Information
School typeGovernment Aided, Private secondary
Motto"Love And Service"
Religious affiliation(s)Christian
DenominationRoman Catholic
Patron saint(s)St.Francis of Assisi
Established1908
FounderPaulus Moritz
StatusOpen
School board
School districtMumbai Suburban
OversightFranciscan Missionary Brothers
School code1503
PrincipalRev. Bro. Backyanathan
Head of schoolPrincipal
Teaching staff70+
Grades1-10
GenderCo-ed
Number of students8000+
Average class size80
LanguageEnglish
Hours in school day6
CampusHill top
Campus size30 acres
Campus typeUrban
HousesBlue, Red, Green, Yellow
Colour(s)Blue and white as well as house wise T-Shirts [Red, Blue, Green, Yellow]
SloganLove and Service
SportsFootball, Cricket, Basketball, Hockey
NicknameAssisian
Websitesfsborivali.com

Saint Francis D'Assisi High School is a school located in IC Colony, Borivali West, Mumbai, India. It is managed by the Franciscan Missionary Brothers, a Catholic religious society founded by Rev. Bro. Paulus Moritz, a German Missionary. The school is recognized by the State Government of Maharashtra. It was established in 1908 and had its centenary celebrations in 2008 with former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as the chief guest. In 1985 when the school had completed 75 years the Guest of Honor was Shri Giani Zail Singh, the then President of India. It is one of the largest high schools in Maharashtra, India.

The school is particularly known for their sports teams especially their football team which is among the best in the city of Mumbai.

The high school has an average of 10000 students on its roster, from Standards 1 to 10. The curriculum followed in the school was that of the just the SSC exams earlier. The school now also has a separate wing which follows the ICSE curriculum. It was started in 2009 in place of the senior college that was supposed to be established. The SSC wing is an all boys school whereas the ICSE wing offers co-education.

The school is located on Mt. Poinsur, with a chapel located on the summit of this hill. Being a rather picturesque location, the school has featured in numerous Indian television series and soap. It has two large open air grounds on campus used for school assemblies, wedding ceremonies, cultural programs and movie shoots; and a sprawling 5 acre playground adjoining the adjacent Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Mt. Poinsur. The playground is one of the largest open air field grounds in Mumbai and among the only few in the city capable of holding functions with an excess of 20,000 attendants.

Apart from the high school and junior college, a boarding school is also present on campus. The school also runs an orphanage/residential institution for homeless children.

The school features several extra curricular activities such as the student council, RSP, Boys scouts and various sports.

The institute also has an engineering college under the University of Mumbai and runs a management wing off the main campus affiliated to Yashwantrao Chavan Open University.

History[edit]

The history of St. Francis D'assissi School and Orphanage dates back to 1908. Sebastian Pereira, Archbishop of Daman, who had his see at Colaba, Bombay and knew the Franciscan Missionary Brothers- CMSF, visited Bro.Paulus-Moritz, Superior General of the CMSF to start an apostolic activity for the welfare of the poor and neglected children of the Diocese of Bombay. He selected the location at Mt. Poinsur (known then as Mandpeshwar) in spite of it being a jungle. It was on this hillock, with the help of his brother companions that Bro. Mortiz took up residence in the rickety old balcony of the dilapidated church of the Immaculate Conception on 4 October 1908. It was no mean task to find a clearing in the forest and to set up a thatched hut that became a residence for the Brothers and the poor boys of the areas.

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