SBC:A guiding light hundred years

By Naomi Gunasekara

February 1, 2002: Generations of Bridgeteens, past and present, gathered around the school hockey field to witness the centenary St. Bridget's Day celebrations as the traditional words of appreciation and gratitude spoken at every school day celebration reverberated in the air, bringing back many fond memories of the days gone by.

It was in the year 1902 that Rev. Dr. T. A. Melizan, the then Archbishop of Colombo, saw his long entertained dream of establishing a Roman Catholic school for young ladies become a reality, when the Irish Good Shepherd Sisters founded St. Bridget's Convent with over 15 boys and girls. 

A rented house down Turret Road known as 'The Firs' marked the beginning of this majestic school that has shaped many a young life over the years. 

And during the 100 years that passed since its establishment, St. Bridget's Convent seems to have made a gentle but firm mark in the history of education in Sri Lanka by producing many a disciplined and responsible scholar, by guiding her children towards the correct path in life.

Traditional

In keeping with tradition, the centenary school day celebrations began with a Eucharistic celebration. Over 2,500 students along with chief celebrant Rev. Dr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando, Archbishop, Principal of the Collegiate School, Rev. St. Mary Francine, Mother Superior Rev. St. Thomas Acquinas, members of the staff, past pupils, parents and other well-wishers, stood as testimony to the 100-year success of a school that fashioned lives, moulded characters and shaped destinies. 

A member represented the Eucharistic celebration from each segment including the labourers. So it was a glorious moment for V. S. Dharmalingam, who represented the minor staff at the celebration, for he had witnessed many a change during his nearly 40-year service at St. Bridget's Convent. 

"I am so happy," he beamed with delight. "I educated my children with what I earned here. And two of my daughters are teachers today. Although I am in the minor staff I was always made to feel a part of this school. The mothers are very kind and I am so happy that the school has developed so much," he said.

Dharmalingam has seen the end of the governing regime of the "sudhu motherla" or the Irish nuns whom he recalls to be strict disciplinarians. "They were concerned about religious education and discipline. It was Mother Emaculate, St. Thomas, St. Rohini and St. Francine who developed and expanded the school to what it is today." 

As the celebrations continued, with the blessing of the commemorative plaque, march past and investiture of prefects, the school did not fail to recognise its past head prefects. 

Jazaya Khaleel, a former head prefect and a mother of two, was proud that her daughter attends St. Bridget's; "It was very important that my daughter studied in the same school. We were taught to respect our elders and religious leaders despite religious differences. I still stand up whenever a sister passes me. That was the kind of upbringing I got and I definitely want my daughter to be brought up the same way." 

No discrimination

According Ms. Khaleel, the unity of the students and the equal treatment received by them despite their religious, class and caste differences was what made St. Bridget's Convent special to her. "I never felt discriminated against for being a Muslim. I got my due and I was supported by the school throughout, so much so that it has become a second home to me," she said.

Cinnamon Gardens

In 1912, St. Bridget's Convent was shifted to Cinnamon Gardens to accommodate the growing Bridgeteen family. Since then the convent has withstood the tests of time to mould the characters of over 5,000 past Bridgeteens.

Ms. Lucy de Mel, who entered school in 1928 along with her three sisters, and a classmate of late Ms. Srimavo Bandaranaike, was delighted to go down memory lane and recall her school days; "The opening of the new school was the event of our lives. We had a parade from the lower school to the upper school. We were allowed to wear anything we wanted. It was so lovely." 

Coming from a family of five girls Ms. De Mel had been a mischievous student; "I was in everybody's bad books. But the nuns were so kind. They were the most adaptable people I've ever come across. When we asked them for a uniform they gave us one. And when we asked if we could replace the black stockings with white, they let us. They were strict disciplinarians. But they were so kind," she said.

Happy days

For her contemporary, Ms. Britto Muttunayagam, the oldest living past president of the Past Pupils' Association, the centenary celebrations were extra-special because her granddaughter Divya was the outgoing head prefect. "It was lovely to come back and see all those years roll before your eyes; to go back to the carefree, irresponsible, happy days of my youth. 

We have progressed so much from one white building to a number of buildings. Most of all I'm proud that the high standards of discipline are maintained even today," she said.

According to Ms. Chandrani de S. Kulasiri, a past pupil and a teacher who has counted nearly 45 years of service, the activities of school have improved tremendously over the years. And the students perform extremely well at government examinations. "We don't have hundreds of students sitting the O/L or A/L examination. Every year we have just above hundred and they do extremely well. One of our girls who entered Medical College last year was placed 5th in the island," she pointed out.

Although a limited number of subjects like geography, history, literature and Catholicism had been taught at the beginning, the school teaches a number of new subjects like computer and statistics in keeping with the times, according to Ms. Kulasiri. "There is also a lot of emphasis on religious education. We have mass every first Friday and the non-Christian students have their own religious services during that time," she said.

Hence, as Bridgeteens joined their centenary celebrations to sing; "Wave the green and white forever, float its message far and wide, dear St. Bridget Erin's glory, be thro' life thy children's guide..." with a sense of pride, it was clear that despite the many changes that have taken place through the years the love of Bridgeteens towards their alma mater remained the same. For all Bridgeteens seemed to sing loud with the conviction that to be a Bridgeteen was to be someone special. 

The Centenary Souvenir volume of St. Bridget's Convent will be launched on Sunday, February 17, 2002 at the Convent Theatre hall at 6 p.m. A tableau depicting important events in the history of the school over the past hundred years will be the highlight of the occasion.

The Centenary Souvenir, contains 272 pages filled with a variety of features including the history of the school, current activities, articles and achievements of past and present pupils and tributes to teachers. It will be available for sale at Rs. 100 per copy at the school from February 18 onwards.