HD Kote – ‘HeggadadevanaKote’ in its full form is the taluk headquarters, one of the most backward and poverty-stricken talukas of Mysore District. It is 53 kilometres south-west of Mysore. Majority of the people are Harijans, Parivaras, Kurubas and cobblers. They manage to survive on bare necessities. HD Kote has four reservoirs: the Kabini, Nugu, Hebbala and Taraka. Ironically, however, agriculture in this taluk is rain-fed mainly because the government has failed to harness the capacity of the reservoirs. Barring the Kabini reservoir, the other reservoirs are always dry. As a result, farmers who can otherwise raise three crops are hardly able to raise one crop and are perennially in debt. This is one of the main reasons for the economic backwardness of the taluk and distress migration to cities is the order of the day.
As the years passed by, the people of HD Kote came to know the importance of education. When they moved out to cities for jobs or professional studies they realized that lack of fluency in speaking English was their drawback. Sisters of St Mary’s Convent were their only recourse to address this situation. Therefore the Sisters started one parallel English medium section in the existing St Mary’s
Kannada Higher Primary School in the year 1992. The Department of Education too was supportive in this regard as there was no other English medium school around. In the year 1997, Sr Monthi Lobo, the headmistress of Higher Primary School succeeded in obtaining permission to start the English Medium Primary School.
Since both the schools were in the same campus the administration was managed by a single headmistress. Though it was a herculean task Sr Monthi (1992-99) and all the succeeding headmistresses namely Sr Benvita D’Souza (1999-2006) and Sr Jane Crasta (2006-2009) managed both the Schools efficiently. In the year 2009 the reins of English Medium School were given independently to Sr Sylvia Rita Lobo (2009-2013). She gave her best to get the best out of others. In the year 1994 the ground floor of the School was constructed by Sr Eva Pinto the Superior of St Mary’s Convent, which was financed by the Generalate. Later when the strength of the students increased additional classrooms were required. Sr Sylvia Rita Lobo with the financial assistance from the Mysore Province added the first floor in the year 2011. Due to certain reasons 8 th standard was closed down in the year 2014-15. But special permission was obtained on 12-02- 2015 and the class 8 th was started again in June 2015. A new block for the Nursery and a spacious stage was constructed and inaugurated on 04-06- 2016. In the year 2017-18 the Education Department granted Permission to start High School i.e. classes 9 th & 10 th and the order was obtained on 16-05- 2017. A dining hall for the students, sufficient toilets and compound wall were Constructed simultaneously for the students in the year 2016-17.
Sr. Jessy Fernandes is the headmistress at present. Newly started High School is well equipped with efficient and qualified staff. In the year 2017-18 total strength of the School is 806. In spite of the new schools coming up around, the School is heading forward in progress with the assistance of the Almighty.