The heavy rush for admissions in St.P aul School, Hamirpur, made Fr. Thomas to think about the possibilities of opening another school in Rourkela. Fr. Thomas, the Principal of St.Paul School, along with Fr. Symphorian Kujur and Fr. Cherian took the initiative to begin a new school as a branch of St.Paul's school. Of course, we can say this school is the brain child of Fr.K.C. Thomas. To materiali
ze this dream 9 acres of land was purchased at Jhartarang, near Vedvyas, Rourkela . Fr, Joseph Topno, the Provincial Superior, INE Province, laid the foundation stone on September 8th 2007 in the presence of a large number of well wishers. Construction of the School building began on 9th October 2007. Symphorian Kujur, as its Principal and Fr. Tomi George as Treasurer, reached Jhartarang on 7th of April 2008. The school began on 10th of April 2008. The official inauguration of the school took place on the 19th of April, 2008. The Additional District Magistrate of Rourkela inaugurated the school building. Most Rev. Bp. John Barwa, SVD, the bishop of Rourkela blessed the school. We had nearly 500 students during the first year including Preparatory and classes were upto std V. Second year started on 23rd of March, 2009. The total strength of our students rose 975 and classes reached up to 7th standard. There were total 42 in the staff. Thomas took charge as the new principal of the school on 1st of July 2009. 24th July, 2009, which marked a significant day in the history of St. Arnold's. The third year of our school began on 17th of March, 2010. with a total strength of 1290 students and 55 members in the staff including non-teaching staff and maintenance staff. That year we had up to class VIII. The new session, 2011-12, began on 9th of March, 2011. The total strength of the school reached up to 1580. The School received No Objection Certificate from the Government of Orissa and also was affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi. Within a short period of time much has been done by the hard work of the Principal and staff. Already class IX students are registered with the CBSE Board for 2013 Board Examination. It is the first mission managed CBSE School in Orissa. To provide holistic education to students, we have activity classes which include dance, music, Casio, art and craft, yoga and meditation and karate. We have two computer labs and computer education is imparted to all students from standard one. We have audio-visual room to provide better learning experiences through audio-visual aids. We have physics and chemistry labs for conducting experiments. Two basket ball courts and three badminton courts are already ready. To provide better learning experiences, the school imparts smart classes by the Educomp Group and the K.G. park becomes an attraction to the tiny-tots. Our teachers provide quality education. They guide and direct through the path of knowledge and truth. They impart moral and religious education through moral and religion classes. They impart good education to make the students good citizens of India and God's children. We hope the students who pass out of the portals of this institution would be well integrated persons, synthesizing their mind and heart with high and creative thinking for the moulding of a better society.
