Ferguson High School (Sinhala: ෆර්ගසන් උසස් විද්යාලය) is a National School in Sri Lanka affiliated with the Sri Lanka Baptist Sangamaya located in Ratnapura District. School has two sections - the Primary section, which serves students from Grade 1 to Grade 5, and the Secondary section, which serves students from Grade 6 to Grade 13.
History
1917 : Founded as a "Baptist Missionary English School" by the Baptist Missionary Society of British Ceylon. It was started with only three girls, in the premises of Baptist Church in Ratnapura.
1919 : The classroom was moved to the thatched-roofed spacious hall at the hilltop to accommodate the increasing number of 36 students.
1921 : The school was registered as a 'Grant-in-aid English School'
1924 : The school hostel was started.
1925 : Girl Guide Association was pioneered by C. Balasooriya.
1928 : The school known as Baptist Missionary English School was renamed as Ferguson High School in memory Mr. John Ferguson who helped the Baptist Missionary Society in Ceylon.
1932 : The system of school houses was introduced by the acting principal W. F. Gadge.
1933 : The Old Girls Association was initiated by Miss. Allsop.
1958 : School prize giving was held by the Chief guest Madam Sirimavo Bandaranayaka who was a former student of the school.
1960 : Became a Director Managed Government School and no longer a Christian assisted school
1993 : The school was recognized as a National school and 75th Birthday was celebrated with the participation of President Ranasinghe Premadasa
2010 : “Wisdom 2010” educational and Trade exhibition was held.
2017 : 100th anniversary of the school was celebrated with the participation President Maithripala Sirisena. A souvenir stamp was issued
School Crest Symbolic Representations
Motto - Taken from "Idylls of the King" by Lord Tennyson Hills - 3 peaks seen from the school (Sri Padha and two attendant peaks) Double headed Eagle - High soaring free bird looking back with Thankfulness and looking forward with Hope CBC - Ceylon Baptist Council (Founders of School) Gems - School houses. Lamp - Intelligence Book - Knowledge
Drawn by Nalini Gunasekara, the art teacher of the school in 1953 and adopted unanimously
School song Written by Venetia Stemba, with music by Consy Jayasekara
Houses Students are divided into four houses. AmethystSincerityGarnetFraternityRubySerenitySapphirePurity
Sports
Athletics Chess Table Tennis Taekwondo Karate Swimming Netball Basketball Volleyball Cricket Badminton
Clubs and extracurricular activities
Girl Guide Association Science Association Drama club Media club Photography club Announcing club Chess club Astronomical Association
Principals
PeriodName1917-1922 J.D. Radley1922 - 1949Evelyn A. Allsop1949 - 1960F. Aurora Brook1956 - 1971Pearl Bright Perera1972 - 1974Malini Wijenayake1974 - 1975Mallika Thambiah1976 - 1980Pearl Bright Perera1981 - 1982Buddhi Bamunusinghe1983 - 1986S. Subasinghe1987 - 1995Buddhi Bamunusinghe1995 - 1999Malani Kothalawala2000 - 2003B. Rani Dariju2003U. V. Leelakanthi Nissanka2004 - 2012B. V. R. C. Bandarawatta2012 to presentMercy Galagama
Notable alumni Past pupils of Ferguson High School Ratnapura are called Fergusonites. Following is a list of some notable alumni: NameNotabilitySirimavo BandaranayakaPrime Minister of Sri Lanka (1960 - 1965, 1970 - 1977, 1994 - 2000) - world's first non-hereditary female head of government in modern historyThalatha AtukoralePolitician, Member of Parliament of Sri LankaRosy SenanayakePolitician, Mayor of Colombo, Mrs. World 1984
References
External links