OUR
HISTORY
Loreto
House School opened in 1842 at the request of the “
Ladies of the Nun Committee” who wanted education for
their daughters. It began with 60 pupils, in the house
that had been offered to the nuns as their residence. The
Superior was Mother Delphine Hart and she was assisted by
Sr. Teresa Mons and Sr.Martina McCann. There were day
pupils and some boarders .Besides the 3Rs, geography,
history French and needlework were taught, with drawing,
painting, dancing, music (including the harp) were extras.
Later St.Thomas’ House next to the church was bought to
provide extra classrooms and a room for Domestic Economy.
Mother
Gonzaga Joynt who was a boarder became a Loreto Sister in
1854 and received the Kaiser-I-Hind award in 1914 for her
work in the field of education.
In 1926 the
property at 8 Middleton Row was acquired to provide for
the increasing numbers and the present school buildings
were added over the years.
In 1870
Sr.Benedicta Chakravorty, became the first Bengali Loreto
Sister, and taught in Loreto House for most of her life
In 1938
Mother Dorothy Maher insisted on vernaculars being taught
and because the Anglo-Indian Code allowed only 25%
non-Anglo-Indian children to be admitted, opened a private
department within the school for other children above the
quota. When vacancies occurred these children were drafted
into the regular classes.
Two of the
present pupils are the 6th
generation of their family to attend this school .There
are many 3rd
generation pupils and some of 4th
and 5th
generation.
