Convent of Child Jesus National School in Ratnapura is a well-disciplined girls’ school in Ratnapura District. The school is situated among the Samanala forest and it is surrounded by a range of mountain which gives a pleasant appearance to the school.
 In 1923, the first Bishop of Galle made a massive endeavour to piece together a Convent with a hostel and a girls’ school in Ratnapura district. As a result, the convent of Child Jesus was initiated in 1924 with the leadership of Rev. Mother Tiburee. The girls who studied at St. Aloysius’ College were transferred to this school. They operated as an English medium school up to 1945, and then changed over as a Sinhala medium school. The discipline and educational quality of this school focused the attention of the government to this school. They took over the school in 1974 and named it Convent of Child Jesus National School.
At present the school is categorized as a 1AB school and has a population with more than 1300 students including Tamil medium from grade six. Nearly hundred experienced staff is attached to the school and it is headed by the present principal Mrs. A.W. Kusum Adikari after the former principal Mrs.J.T. Subadra retired on January 6 this year.
“To enrich the nation with modest, intelligent, well-brought up and courageous girls who are able to face challenges, ” is the vision of the school.
 The staff of Child Jesus N.S. are assisting the pupils in development of aptitude skills which are a prerequisite to character building and good citizenship. They are very concerned in public examinations as well. The students bring reasonable success in order to show their gratitude to their teachers. In the Grade five scholarship examination to G.C.E.(A/L) examinations, they have produced some remarkable victories. In 2011 eighteen students of this school got through the Grade 5 scholarship examination.
The G.C.E (O/L) results have rapidly increased year by year. Presently 75% of the students get through the examination and qualify to continue their Advanced Level. The Advanced Level art stream was first established in 1958 and now they offer all the streams to the students. Annually more than 10 students enter university with more than five obtaining 3A’s.
Sports are given a prominent place and students are now involved in an array of sports activities such as football, badminton, chess and athletics. In recent years, they have done exceptionally well in football and emerged champions at the Zonal Girls’ Football tournament. H.B.A.B. Apoorwa Hettiarachi was placed second at the Ratnapura District School Chess Championship.
The Environmental Corps and the Girl Guides are very popular in the Convent of Child Jesus N.S. and they have over 50 corps. Each year several members of the corps have achieved the highest honour, and has brought in medals for their achievements.
 The Aesthetic Unit is the other successful section in the school which has fetched exceptional results to the school. In 2010, Pavani Navodyawas was judged the runner-up at the All Island School Art Competition. 2011 was another victorious year for the school which brought many awards and honours. The school Primary Radio singing group placed was placed first and the school drama troop won second place in the Ratnapura Zone Music and Drama Competition.
The students of Child Jesus N.S. are taught to be highly disciplined and to be generous. They are also taught to be well behaved. The school has taken enormous strides within its history span of 88 years to enter through the gate ways of fame to reach great pinnacles and carve its name in their quest to be a leading girls’ school in Sabaragamuwa Province.
Sujitha Miranda |
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