Kerala, lovingly called “God’s own country” is truly a land of bliss and a tropical Eden with the mesmerizing beauty of its sun-bathed golden seashores edged with abundant coconut trees, the verdant hilly terrain of the Western Ghats, straggling plantations and paddy fields, fascinating bio-diversity of its flora and fauna. Kasaragod is the northernmost district of Kerala, bordering the State of Karnataka. Vorkady is a small village of Kasargod District with a Kannada speaking community as it is situated along the border of Karnataka and Kerala and only 30 kilometres away from Mangalore.
People of this area are quite literate. They are peace-loving and affectionate. The land where the institution stands was owned by Holy Face Convent, Vorkady. This Convent was one of the earliest communities started by the Congregation dating back to the year 1927. The dawn of St Mary’s Institutions began with the birth of St Mary’s Pre-Primary School started in the year 1993 with 19 students. Sisters Florine Vas and Martha D’Souza was the
pioneers.
There was no English medium school in the vicinity. If one wanted to study in an English medium school, one had to go to Mangalore. Thus St Mary’s School became a blessing to the parents. The Pre-Primary School became a part of Primary and High School. Sr Milburga D’Cunha took charge as the headmistress of the Nursery School. This School became the feeder school for St Mary’s English Medium School and continues to be so. At present Sr. Alice D’Souza is the Headmistress of this school and there are 122 students on the roll.
With 19 students in the academic year 1995-96 Class I was started. Sr. Barbara Franco was the first headmistress. The School was a blessing to the people of Vorkady since there were no English medium schools in the vicinity.
The school building was extended in the year 1999 when Sr. Benedicta D’Souza was the headmistress. Year after year classes were added in the normal course and in the academic year 2001-02 St Mary’s High School was started with 18 students.Sr Juliana Pais was appointed headmistress of the School in the year 2004. In 2004-2005 the first batch of 15 students completed SSLC. Since then nine batches of students have completed their high school studies with 100% results in SSLC. When the Government neither gave Recognition nor No-objection Certificate to affiliate to CBSE, the Management filed a case against the Government of Kerala in the High Court. Finally in the year 2012 Kerala Government issued a No Objection Certificate for the affiliation to CBSE.
In 2012 Sr Leena D’Souza was appointed the headmistress of the School. She continued the process for applying for Provisional Affiliation for Secondary Syllabus from the CBSE Board, Delhi. A miracle took place and God blessed the efforts of everyone involved. St. Mary’s English Medium School , Kaliyoor, Vorkady was affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi on 11th November 2014 with a Composite Provisional Affiliation up to Secondary Level . At present 551 students are pursuing their studies in the School.