Ferguson High School, Ratnapura
{{Prose|date=October 2023}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Ferguson High School - Ratnapura
| native_name = ෆර්ගසන් උසස් විද්යාලය - රත්නපුර
| logo = Ferguson_High_School_Crest.png
| logo_size = 150
| pushpin_map = Sri Lanka
| motto = Live Pure : Speak True : Right Wrong
| city = Ratnapura
| zipcode = 70000
| country = Sri Lanka
| coordinates = {{Coord|6.6827135|80.3986365|display=inline,title}}
| type = National School
| established = {{Start date and age|17|03|1917|df=yes}}
| principal = Mercy Galagama
| teaching_staff = 180
| grades = 1–13
| gender = Girls (Grade 1-13)
Boys (Grade 1-5)
| students = 4,700
| medium_of_language = Sinhala, English, Tamil
| school_colors = Dark green and silver
{{color box|#013220}} {{Color box|#c0c0c0}}
| alumni = Fergusonites
| website = {{URL|http://www.fergusonhighschool.net/}}
}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://dmb.moe.gov.lk/EduStat/Publication/2017/01/01_PDF/Tbl20170101.pdf|title=Educational Data and Information|date=2017|website=Ministry of Education. Sri Lanka}} 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'{{Cite news|url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2017/03/26/features/100-years-outstanding-performance|title=100 years of outstanding performance|date=26 March 2017|work=Sunday Observer}}
1924 : The school hostel was started.
1925 : Girl Guide Association was pioneered by C. Balasooriya.{{Cite web|url=https://92fhs.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_25.html|title=The History of Ferguson High school|website=FERGUSON HIGH SCHOOL-1992 GROUP}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fergusonhighschool.net/index.php/history|title=History|website=Ferguson High School|access-date=2020-03-26}}
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{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2017/03/29/local/111880/schoolchildren-have-responsibility-win-next-century-%E2%80%93-president|title=Schoolchildren have responsibility to win the next century – President|website=Daily News|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}
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{{Cite book|title=Memoirs of a Century ෆර්ගසන් සුභාවිතය|isbn=9789557353005}}
School song
Houses
Students are divided into four houses.
| Amethyst
!{{color box|purple| |
|---|
|Sincerity
|-
|Garnet
|{{color box|yellow||}}
|Fraternity
|-
|Ruby
|{{color box|red||}}
|Serenity
|-
|Sapphire
|{{color box|blue||}}
|Purity
|}
Sports
- Athletics
- Chess{{Cite news|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/160807/funday-times/chess-winner-203547.html|title=Chess winner|date=7 August 2016|work=Sunday Times}}
- Table Tennis
- Taekwondo{{Cite web|url=http://www.fergusonhighschool.net/|title=Home|website=www.fergusonhighschool.net|access-date=2020-03-30}}
- Karate
- Swimming
- Netball
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Cricket
- Badminton
Clubs and extracurricular activities
- Girl Guide Association
- Science Association{{Cite book|title=Vidu Liya|publisher=Science Association of Ferguson High School|year=2004}}
- Drama club
- Media club
- Photography club
- Announcing club
- Chess club
- Astronomical Association {{Cite book|title=Twitter page @Ferguson_Astro |publisher= Astronomical Association of Ferguson High school}}
Principals
| class="wikitable"
!Period !Name |
| 1917-1922
|J.D. Radley |
| 1922 - 1949
|Evelyn A. Allsop |
| 1949 - 1960
|F. Aurora Brook |
| 1956 - 1971
|Pearl Bright Perera |
| 1972 - 1974
|Malini Wijenayake |
| 1974 - 1975
|Mallika Thambiah |
| 1976 - 1980
|Pearl Bright Perera |
| 1981 - 1982
|Buddhi Bamunusinghe |
| 1983 - 1986
|S. Subasinghe |
| 1987 - 1995
|Buddhi Bamunusinghe |
| 1995 - 1999
|Malani Kothalawala |
| 2000 - 2003
|B. Rani Dariju |
| 2003
|U. V. Leelakanthi Nissanka |
| 2004 - 2012
|B. V. R. C. Bandarawatta |
| 2012 to present
|Mercy Galagama |
Notable alumni
Past pupils of Ferguson High School Ratnapura are called Fergusonites. Following is a list of some notable alumni:
References
External links
- {{official website|http://www.fergusonhighschool.net/}}
Category:1917 establishments in Ceylon
Category:Educational institutions established in 1917