PRINCIPAL’S PRIZE DAY REPORT
23rd June 2007 – 16th July 2008
Venerable Chairman,
Chief Guest Professor Nadarajasundaram,
The President, OBA, Mr N Kugathasan,
Distinguished Guests,
Old Boys, Parents & Friends
We at St John’s extend to you all a very warm and cordial welcome to our Annual Prize Giving. We are indeed gladdened and encouraged by your presence this morning. It is indeed a unique privilege to have in our midst, Professor M.Nadarajasundaram as our Chief Guest on this memorable occasion. We are much beholden to him for honouring us by his presence as Chief Guest this morning. We are certain that his academic and sports records will be an inspiration to our boys. He had his education at Hartley College Point Pedro where he had a bright and impressive career. He was Head Prefect of the College in 1964, and captained the Football and Cricket Teams in 1964 and ‘65 respectively. He won the Athletics Senior Champions and holds a Record in Hop-step & Jump. He was awarded the “Best Cricketer of the North” in 1965 by the Ceylon Daily News. He represented the Ceylon Schools Cricket XI against the All Indian Schools’ Boys Cricket XI in 1964, and scored 94 runs, which was the highest score made by a Sri Lankan school boy against this team. He was awarded the “Sportsman of the Year” twice in 1964 and 65, and Colours in Cricket, Football and Athletics. After a successful and distinguished career at school, he entered the University of Peradeniya. And here too made his mark in sports. He represented the All University Cricket XI from 1965 to 67, and was awarded University Colours in Cricket and Football in 1968. He successfully completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Arts - Economics Special - securing a Second Class Honours in 1970. He obtained his Master’s in Economics from the University of Jaffna, and his Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He served as the Head of the Department of Management Studies of the University of Jaffna from 1991 to 1999, and Dean, Faculty of Management Studies & Commerce from 1999 to 2005. He also served as the Academic Coordinator of the External Examination and Registration Unit; Academic Coordinator of the Northern Province Affiliated University College of the University of Jaffna, Vavuniya; Senate Representative to the Board of Management of the Vavuniya Campus; Chairman of the Sports Advisory Board of the University of Jaffna; and the Member of the Jaffna University Senate and the Jaffna University Council. He is the Academic Coordinator of the Sports Science Unit of the University. He has to his credit many articles and books on Management. He was awarded the “Sagithiya Mandala Award” by the North East Provincial Council for the best book in Management in 2002. He was conferred with an Honorary Appointment to the Research Board of Advisors by the Board of Management of the American Biographical Institute for his distinguished standing. He has been nominated as a Council Member of the Governing Council of the Sri Lanka Economic Association since 2007.
Sir, you are here before us as a distinguished personality and your career is an exemplar to our students. We consider it most privileged to have you as our Chief Guest today. Our students are eagerly waiting to receive their prizes from your hands. We thank you sincerely for accepting our invitation, and welcome you most warmly in our midst this morning.
Chairman Sir, We are greatly indebted to you for your abiding interest in our College. Your guidance and presence at all important events of the school have been a source of strength and encouragement to us. We thank you for taking the chair today.
The report I am presenting to you today covers the period from 23rd June 2007 to 16th July 2008.
PRIZE GIVING
The Annual Prize Giving is held separately for each section to ensure maximum presence of parents and students. In the Primary School Prize Giving & Parents’ Day (Grade 1-4), the number of students who will be receiving prizes is 154; in the Middle School & Junior Secondary Prize Giving & Parents’ Day (Grade 5-8):149; and today 238 from Grade 9-A/L; the total being 541 for the year 2007.
ENROLMENT
The number on roll as at present is 1916, the break up being 240 in the Lower Primary, 240 in the Upper Primary, 350 in the Middle School, 350 in the Junior Secondary, 350 in the Senior Secondary and 386 in the Collegiate Level.
STAFF - TUTORIAL & NON TUTORIAL
The total number of Tutorial staff is 97; 78 under the government cadre, and 19 on Associate Appointments.
-Master’s Degree 05;
-Graduates 36, of whom 22 are Postgraduate Diploma holders;
-Diplomas 03;
-Specialist Trained 28;
-GCE (A/L) and other qualifications 21
-Interns from the College of Education and English Language -Development Programme 06
-Teachers on study leave 04
Non Tutorial Staff 32, of whom Associate appointments 02
The following teachers resumed after having successfully completed their Teacher Training Courses:
Mr. N.Ananthasabesan (Primary Ed)
Mr. J.G.N.Ariyaratnam (English)
Mr. C.A.Pararajasingam (English)
Miss. J.P.Navanesan (Science)
Mr. S.Narendranathan left in December 2007 having served 23½ years. He taught Mathematics and English in the Advanced Level classes. He served as Hostel Master, and was Coach for Soccer and Hockey. He was Supervisor of the Collegiate Level-Science & Maths. We thank him for his services and wish him well.
Miss. S.Balaganeshan who was in the Primary School for the last 5½ years left in February 2008. We wish her a happy wedded life.
Miss. V.Thiyagarajah who was teaching English in the Junior and Senior Secondary Levels for the last 13 years left in July. We wish her a happy wedded life.
Mr. M.Bavananthan who was teaching English in the Senior Secondary and Collegiate Levels for 1½ years left in July to go abroad. We thank him for his services and wish him well.
Mrs. P.U.Karunairajah, Accountant, left the College in March. We thank her for her services and wish her a happy life.
We welcome Mr. N.Vakeesan, Mr. G.Prabaharan, Mr. S.Senthilraj, Miss. K.Kanagasabapathy, Miss. J.P.Nagamuthu, Mr.S.Roshan, Mr.V.D.Jeyaruban and Mr. G.A.Gracian who have been absorbed into the permanent Tutorial cadre.
Appointment
Mr. A.H.Gnanarajan was appointed Head Master, Primary School, from the 1st of January 2008. He is a graduate with English Literature as a main subject and holds Distinction Pass in the Postgraduate Diploma in Education Examination. We wish him well in his new office.
Jubilarians
We congratulate Mr. A.Augustine, Mr. S.Sriharan, Mr. B.Kasinathan and Mr. M.M.Alphons who have completed 25 years of devoted service at the school. We have at present 15 teachers in the galaxy of Silver Jubilarians. We thank them for their continuous service.
Retirement
Mr. D.J.Thevathason, who was the Head Master, Primary School, retired last year after serving his Alma Mater for 36 years. He was a loyal and dedicated teacher whose long experience was valuable to the teachers and students in the Primary School. We wish him a long and happy retired life.
BEYOND THE VEIL
Dr. E.S.Thevasagayam
Our former Principal Dr. E.S.Thevasagayam passed away on the 3rd of August 2007. He had a very lengthy association with St John's College. He was a student at our College from 1933 to 1943; teacher from 1947 to 1951 and Principal from 1988 to 1993. He was also the Chairman of the Governing Body from 1996 – 2001. He took up the reins of office as Principal in 1988 soon after the damages caused during the IPKF period. He repaired and renovated the buildings and restored them. The present Science Complex that houses the Botany, Zoology, Chemistry and Physics laboratories under one roof was envisaged by him. St John’s always remembers with gratitude our late Principal and his services to the school and the community. Mrs. Daisy Thevasagayam too was very much associated with the school. She helped us in the teaching of English in the primary classes. On behalf of the students and staff of St John’s College Jaffna, I express my deepest sympathies to Madam Daisy and the children Mahilranee, Mahilranjitham, Mahilrajan, Mahilravi, Mahilratha and their families. May the Lord be with them.
Mr. S.Chinnaiah, who was in charge of the College “Sick Room” from 1946 to 1985, passed away in May at the age of 83 in Colombo. He was a devoted staff who served the College for 39 years.
Mrs. G.Vararajasingam, who was a Teacher in the Primary School from 1960 to 1984 passed away last year in Australia. She was a versatile teacher and had an intimate knowledge of every pupil under her charge.
Mr. S.Manuelpillai, our former teacher, passed away in May. He was a successful teacher of English. As a Cricket Coach, and Master in Charge of Elocution, Dramatics & Chess, he made a remarkable contribution to the school. He served the College with dedication for 13 years.
Mr. T.Maheswaran, Member of Parliament, who was one of the distinguished Old Boys, died at the prime of life under an assassin’s bullet on 1st January 2008. He was a very active member of the OBA, and had a close association with his Alma Mater.
Mr. B.R.R.Sinniah, one of our grand Old Boys, passed away in January in Colombo.
We convey our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
185TH ANNIVERSARY AND PREFECT CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
The 185th Anniversary and Prefect Centenary Celebrations were held on the 2nd & 3rd of May 2008. An exhibition was organised on both days which was declared open by the Jaffna Zonal Director of Education, Mrs. A.Vedanayagam. Students from neighbouring schools, parents and Old Boys viewed the exhibits. The Centenary function with cultural programme was held on the 3rd of May. Mr.S.Kokulathasan who was Senior Prefect in1971 delivered the keynote address. Past Senior Prefects and members who were 50 years of age or above were honoured. Soccer and Cricket matches were played between our Prefects and those of Jaffna Central College on the 3rd and 12th respectively.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Year 5 Scholarship Examination – 2007
At the above Examination, 64 students appeared and 16 qualified for scholarship, the percentage being 25%.
01. Jeyaruban Volta Jebaprashaanth
02. Chandramouleesan Gowribalan
03. Tharmasanthiran Brahman
04. Gangaatharan Dhuhinthan
05. Thanendrakumar Lavanjan
06. Paramporul Sahiththiyan
07. Jesunayagam Aransan
08. Vimalathasan Piravin
09. Shanthakumar Praveenshan
10. Jeyakumar Kishanthujan
11. Dorington Ruberd Nijanthan
12. Thayalan Janarth
13. Thileeban Sukirthan
14. Thiravianathan Gajavathanan
15. Gopithasan Gunesh
16. Stanislas Mithushan
G.C.E. (O/L) December 2007
At the above Examination, 135 students appeared and 111 qualified for Advanced Level, the percentage being 82%.
Ten Distinctions – 03
01. Santhirakumar Menan
02. Pararajasingam Sujeevan
03. Sritharan Tharugash
Nine Distinctions – 05
01. Panchalingam Theepatharan
02. Sivapalan Gawsalyan*
03. Sethuraja Niruparan*
04. Sivakumar Gowthaman*
05. Balachandren Thuciyanthan*
Eight Distinctions - 06
01. Maheswaran Ajanthan
02. Ratnananthan Peranantharuban*
03. Panchanathan Tharsan*
04. Kandasamy Ubamanyu*
05. Joseph Antony Joy Subyson*
06. Easwarakantha Gajandran
Seven Distinctions - 06
01. Manoharan Thuvarahan
02. Tharmakunasingam Jaiprakash*
03. Ramasamy Howthaman
04. Thillainathan Aravinthan*
05. Mahendran Amilthan*
06. Pushparatnam Abithan*
Six Distinctions - 03
01. Arunakirinathan Vajeeran*
02. Sivakumar Sivashankar
03. Edwin Peiris Mithurshanan*
(*offered English Literature)
G.C.E. (A/L) – August 2007
At the above Examination, 159 students appeared and 92 of them are eligible for University entrance, the percentage being 57%.
-04 students obtained 3A’s
-10 students obtained 2A & B or C
-02 students obtained A & 2B
-01 student obtained 3B and
-07 students obtained 2B & C
Commendable achievements:
- R.Anushangan and S.Sivamynthan obtained 3A’s in the Commerce stream and were placed 1st & 11th in the District respectively.
- K.Mathevathanan obtained 3A’s in the Bio stream and was placed 11th in the District.
- B.Shiyanthan obtained 3A’s in the Maths stream and was placed 18th in the District.
University Admissions – 2007
Medicine 04
Engineering 05
Management 04
Unani Medicine 02
Siddha Medicine 03
Agriculture 01
Surveying Science 02
Physical Science 02
Ayurvedic Medicine 01
Information & Communication Technology 03
Industrial & Information Technology 03
Facilities Management 01
Mass Media 01
Tea Technology & value Addition 01
Arts 02
Drama &Theatre 01
Total entering University 36
Percentage entering University 39.13%
Besides this, B.Jayaprakas and K.Piratheep gained admission to the Engineering and Medical Faculties respectively in the third sitting, and they were honoured with a Gold Medal by the College on the OBA Day. Congratulations to the above students and all the teachers who worked hard.
