Burn Hall School is an all boys missionary school in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Its motto is "Industria Floremus - In Toil We Flourish". It is one of the oldest schools in the valley. The school celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in 2016.[1]
The Mill Hill Missionaries (MHM) first settled in the Kashmir area in 1884 to provide pastoral care to Catholic soldiers and began establishing a formal mission, including the construction of oldest Catholic Church in Jammu and Kashmir at Baramulla in 1891. On 6th July, 1887, Pope Leo XIII erected the Apostolic Prefecture of Kashmir and Kafirstan, whose territories extended from Kashmir to Kabul, and entrusted it to the Mill Hill Missionaries.[2][3][4] It were eventually the Mill Hill missionaries Fr. Thijssen and Fr. Jong who started this boys' school in Srinagar in 1942. "The Willows" building which housed the first Burn Hall School is now the Teachers' Training College.[5]
The Srinagar branch closed down temporarily following the Pakistani invasion that occurred during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, and it was restarted on 17 April 1956 with its first principal, Father J. Boerkamp.[6]
In reconstruction of the school premises, after a fire gutted down the building on March 27, 1956, Misereor and Dutch Lenten Campaign Foundation (Formerly Cebemo) had majorly helped with aid for new operations.
Location
Burn Hall School is located in Sonwar, Srinagar. It is neighboured by Ziarat Sharief of Syed Yaqoob Sahib, and Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium.
Administration
Burn Hall School is managed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jammu–Srinagar. It is directed by the Education Society of the Jammu-Srinagar Diocese. The school serves children from age 3 years through secondary school.[7]
Social status
According to Greater Kashmir, in 2015 District Development Commissioner Farooq Ahmed Shah praised Burn Hall for "spreading quality education".[8]Kashmir Observer said it is "a prestigious institution in the city, with one of the oldest schooling traditions".[9]
Affiliations
Registered as a charitable society, it is affiliated with Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education (JKBOSE) and recognized by the Education Department of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.[7] It follows the directions from the Directorate of School Education, Srinagar.[10]
Burn Hall School follows curriculum of the JKBOSE,[7] and as an English medium school, it places special emphasis on usage of English language in student-teacher and student-student interaction. Extra-curricular cultural and literary activities, as well as environment and science activities, provide experiential learning opportunities.[7]
The BHS Students' Council
In 2022, the school, the 1st Students' Council, headed by the Head Boy & his Deputy.
In 2023, the 2nd Students' Council was appointed.
Subsequently, the 3rd Students' Council was appointed on 9 May 2024. In an effort to encourage students' leadership qualities, the school increased the council's total capacity from 15 to 37.
The school is expected to appoint the 4th Students' Council in the next academic session in 2025. [12]
The BHS Editorial Board
The school operates a 'Student run" editorial team for the management and publishing of its Yearbook "The Burn Hall Blaze" and the monthly newsletter "The Burn Hall Flame."
Notable alumni
Omar Abdullah, politician, former chief minister J&K State, vice-president Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, 1st chief minister of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir
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