General Information

History

St Mary’s High School Samtoli, Simdega was started by Ranchi Jesuit Society in 1930. Simdega is situated about 196 km far from Ranchi in close vicinity of Odisha and Chhatisgarh boarder. This history tells us that the region was untrenchable and covered with forests and rivers, rivers without bridges, and the dusty roads meandering through thick forest and hilly terrain. The people were groping in the darkness of illiteracy and groaning under the clutches of landlords and moneylenders. Therefore, the need of a high school was felt very strongly for the liberation of the tribals, dalits and other backword classes. The dawn of St. Mary’s High School in this region in 1930 paved the way of literacy movement, economic development and social cocertainties before it could obtain the permanent recognition in 1932 and Minority status in 1968.

Since its inception St. Mary’s High School Samtoli has been a premier institution imparting quality education and establishing people in administrative jobs, technical and professional sectore. The school has also glorious history in the field of games and sports producing Olympians and international players like Syivanus Dungdung, Michael Kindo just to name a few. There has been a long list of achievements in the field of academic and co-scholastic areas recognized and awarded by the State Government.

The Jesuits of St. Mary’s Community as well as the Jesuits of the Ranchi Province made a serious reflection and deliberation to discern whether to start an Intermediate College here or not. They arrived at the conclusion that the Intermediate College will render great service to the large number of students who are unable to go to the cities for the pursuit of higher education. Hence the Society must provide quality education with personal care at the doorstep. Consequently, in 2003 the Intermediate College was started in St. Mary’s High School.

The Venture of academic journey did not stop here. In 2009 the Jesuits decided to start an English Medium School to empower our students and keep them at least at par with other students of English Medium Schools if not ahead of them. But our effort has always been to excell in imparting good education and we are making headway to achieve this goal. In 2020, 36 Students of the first batch appeared for the Board Exam.

Vision

St. Mary’s High School, Inter College and English Medium all draw inspiration from the life and teaching of Jesus Christ in general and particularly from the life of St. Ignatius’ of Loyola – the founder of the Society of Jesus and his vision of the world. After the name of Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus these three Institutions are named – ST. MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL, ST. MARY’S INTER COLLEGE and ST. MARY’S ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL, SAMTOLI, SIMDEGA.

Mission

St. Mary’s High School, Inter College and English Medium School Samtoli, Simdega are committed to impart quality education to our students so that they in turn become the agents of change – change for good and bring about self and social transformation. The school primarily upholds and promotes Christian values; however the doors are kept open for every caste, creed and gender. Nevertheless the emphasis is laid on promotion of human values, respect for every child and the defence of his / her dignity.

Objectives

To translate the vision into action with our collaborators and lead our students to :

Strive to produce intellectually, morally, socially and spiritually sound and committed men and women in the service of humanity and nation.
Empowering the less privileged students, particularly the Tribal and poor sections of the society.
All round development of the
Prepare students with sound doctrines of life and help them become man and woman of Character.
Encourage and accompany them to achieve MAGIS.
Understand own’s liberty and learn to use it creatively for harmonious living in the society.
Extend co-operation in the fundamental change of society where brotherhood, love mutual understanding, and justice reigns and equal opportunity is guaranteed for all.
Ensure all round development (physical, mental, spiritual, moral, psychological etc.) of our children.

Motto

The motto of this School is “ LOKAM PRAKASHYET” which means – “Lead us from darkness to light”.

Saint Ignatius Loyola The Founder of The Society of Jesus 1493-1556

St. Ignatius the Founder of the Society of Jesus, was borm at Loyla, in the Basque region of Northern Spain in 1491. He was a nobieman, a knight, in the service of the King os Spain. He received a severe leg injury in a battle against the French at Pamplona in 1521. This was how God entered in his life. For many months he was bedeidden till his leg was healed. He spent his time reading books of chivalry, and then, for want of other books, he read the lives of the saints and the life of Jesus. He felt great consolation and joy reading the latter, and sadness and dryness whilst reading the former.

He realized the emptiness of his life and resolved to follow Jesus in a most redical way. He set out on his pilgrimage in search of God. He spent one year at Manresa where he perfomed frightening penance and experienced a deep religious conversion. He was a changed man. He offered himself totally to God and set out for Jerusalem. He wanted to remain in the Holy Land “to live as Jesus lived”, but he was forbidden. He returned to Spain and started recruiting people of his way of life. Soon he realised the need of studies. He started learning Latin at the age of 33 and later went to the Universities in Spain. Being harassed by the inquisition, he went to Paris to complete his studies. He recruited six students and animated them with his vision and his burning love for God. This was the nucleus of the future of the Society of Jesus, individually they took their vow of poverty and chastity at Montmartre, a famous church in Paris and decided to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Because of the Turkish Pirates, they were unable to fulfil their vow, they deliberated. They decided to constitute an Order, chose lgnatius as their general and offered themselves to the Pope. Their aim was “to befriends in the new Lord and to work the salvation of souls”. Pope Paul Ill approved the new order in 1540. The Pope sent the companions all over the world…but lgnatius remained in Rome till his death, writing the constitutions and directing and inspiring his fiedging society. He grew steadily in union and familiarity with God and was gifted with extraordinary mystical graces. He died in Rome on July 31, 1556.

Jesuit Educational Aims

Jesuit education is inspired by the lgnatian world-vision of man, drawn from the life and teaching of Jesus Christ who has always been respected and admired by the people of India. Our aim is not simply to “teach” and develop good professionals in society, but St. Mary’s teachers in order to educate, to draw out the best that is in every person. The student is called upon to develop himself as a person, and he should know how to live in a community. Plans, programmes, methods, examinations etc. are all developed in accordance with this objective. The person we educate, must be able to live in community in solidarity with other men and women who are his brothers and sisters, specially with those who are in need.

We want our students to be “persons for others”. Egoism, deceit, craze for possessions, a consumerist-spirit, a spirit of competition which takes advantage of the weakness of others: these tendencies have no room in our educational purpose. Sadly, the society in which we live, and often the family itself, accepts these tendencies, without erflecting on the harm, they do to person, the family and society. Tocombat these harmful tendencies it is essential that every parents, teachers and students- be convinced and united in affirming the values of justice, equality, service, honesty, sincerity, generosity and respect for others.