PRESENTATION CONVENT KODAIKANAL
P.C.K 1916 – 2016
If i could be of service in saving souls in any part of the world i would willingly do in all my power (Nano Nagle)
Miss Teresa later called Sr. Xavier Murphy sailed to India in 1887, 18th March 1887. Frances her sister was born. She joined with Sr. Xavier Murphy in 1905. 1912 Training College was opened. Sr. Augustin Murphy was in charge of this college.
In 1916 Sr. Augustine accompanied Mother Xavier to Kodaikanal to study conditions with a view to opening a European High School. with the help of Dr. JohnBantha SJ Bishop of Thriyhirapally Fr. J.D.W. Sewell, Fr. Francis Baham Property was bought. It is a common knowledge how the sisters wandered about from Hillside to kenmure; to Mt. Pleasant; from Mt Pleasant back to Hillside and finally to Mt. Joseph which hence forth was to be Mother Augustine’s home.
A School opened with 12 children from the Church Park Convent. From this small beginning. Mother Augustine watched its growth, thinking out schemes and planning until she attained the compact group of buildings now standing to her memory “Far from the madding crowd”
“The annals says At Kodaikanal, a hill station of Madras, Mother Xavier made her “sublime act of folly” when she acquired property not possessing the purchase price. On the 21st of June 1916 the site for building purchased. . The difficulties were overcome and the establishment now comprises ST. Joseph’s boarding high school for European girls including some Indians of the parse caste. In 1917 1st of May the convent work completed, Bishop of Trichy inaugurated the building. In 1919 St. Xavier’s Tamil Mediums Primary School was started for the children whose parents worked in European School. In 1943 it was upgraded to Middle school and 1983 High school, 2002 to Higher Secondary school which is catering to thousands of Poor Children.
From 2016 onward, boys were admitted to Higher Secondary School. At present total number of students in Primary and Higher secondary school is 1058.
PCK Matriculation School
According to the request of the local people who desired to educate their children in English Medium, the Presentation Convent Matriculation School upgraded up to 6th Standard. In 2011 it was upgraded to High school and in 2018 it was upgraded to Higher Secondary School. At present the total number students is 406 (four hundred and six).
Integrated Development of Women
In 1994, the PCK centre for the Integrated Development of Women with the goal, Educate the Poor Women and Develop their Skill for their future was established. The courses on Computer skills, Typewriting in Tamil & English, Accounts and Tailoring are conducted. This Industrial School is recognized by the Department of Employment and Training in Chennai.
Nagle Hostel
With the emergence of PCK Integrated Development, many students from remote area, were accommodated in the hostel for furthering their skills in Vocational Training and from 1998 the hostel accommodation included school students from distant areas as well, providing opportunities to further their studies.
Social Development Centre
In 1999, PCK Rural Outreach Programme started evening coaching classes for the students who were living in very remote villages. From the year 2001 onwards the Social Welfare Centre began at Shamrock Cottage [a gift given by Ms Gibson, music teacher of the then PCK International School]. Women and children of many surrounding villages and in remote tribal villages are the target groups. Two full time staff engage in women and child rights in forty-nine Self Help Groups and Children’s Parliaments.