The newly constructed school building of St. Joseph’s English Medium School at Sankarakhol was inaugurated on 26th October 2019 by Mr. Munna Khan, Minister of State, Department of SC, ST, Minority, and OBC Govt. of Odisha amidst a function held in the school premises. Thereafter a solemn blessing of the school building was done by Most
Rev. Archbishop John Barwa SVD of Cuttack Bhubaneswar Diocese.
Government officials, priests, religious and people of Sankarakhol. Provincial Sr. Linette SJA, Former Superior General Sr. Pauline SJA, Fr. Richard Vaz SVD, Shri Laxmidhar Behera – Additional District Education Officer – Kandhamal, Zilla Parishat Mrs. Agangya Pradhan, Block Chairperson, Mr. Shaikh Mustafa – Vice President, Mr. Md. YasinBaig- State General Secretary, Mr. Farique Muhammad- State Secretary, Mr. Jayananda Nayak – District President Minority cell. Mr. Bimal Kumar Nayak – Dist. Secretary Minority cell felicitated this significant episode.
The program commenced with a traditional and spectacular welcome by the staff, students, and SHG women from and around Sankarakhol. The performance of the lovely kids from various classes from LKG to class IV was a treat to the eyes of the viewers. The school acknowledged the benign presence of the esteemed guests during a felicitation ceremony.
The bust of the Founder Fr. Jean Pierre Medaille is placed on the one side of the portico of this school; on the other side, we have the statue of our patron saint St. Joseph. After the blessing and unveiling of these, Provincial Sr. Linette officially announced that ‘the St. Joseph’s English Medium School at Sankarakhol is placed under the protection and care of our Patron St. Joseph and founder Fr. Jean Peirre Medaille; dedicated to the people of Sankarakhol’.
The milestone for this construction was laid in 2017, the month of December. Completion of this building is a positive commencement to various ongoing programs and development of Kandhamal District itself.
The newly constructed two stories school building has spacious classrooms for Play School to class X with the allotment of rooms for good Library, computer lab, science lab, Maths lab, washrooms, drinking water facilities, solar and lavatories. The school aims to provide a holistic education for transformation. A school with such an infrastructure and facilities
for the all-round development of the children was a dream of the people of Sankarakhol and it has come to its realization with the cooperative venture of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Annecy, Bhubaneswar Province, Archdiocese of Cuttack- Bhubaneswar, and Fr. Richard Vaz SVD.
Mrs. Rita and family, Mr. Percy and family, Dive Word Missionaries at Techny- Chicago have repeatedly played a key role in our success story. Their financial support is to be placed on record and words do not seem enough to say how much we appreciate their moral and financial backing in making this citadel of learning a reality. Their kindness helped our dreams take flight. Their continuous efforts and sacrifices have tipped our scales to success. We realize “Volunteers like them can change the world”. We are thankful to them for making many lives richer and meaningful with their heartfelt commitment and ongoing support.
And today the school has one hundred students from Play School to Class IV. The parents and the public are now cooperative with the sisters here and are recognizing our contribution to society. 26th October 2019 can truly be described as a “dream come true”. This dream of dedicating newly built St. Joseph’s English Medium School, to the people of Kandh
amal, has come about to its fullest finale after many years of diligent, determined, hard work of many.
The Sisters of Bhubaneswar Province have taken up the challenge to provide an improved learning environment with value-based education and competency to their children to face the fast-changing demands of society. The school has obtained COR in the month of May 2019. This citadel of education radiates light and hope to the people of Kandhamal.