St. Anthony's Higher Secondary School, Shillong

St. Anthony’s Higher Secondary School, is an educational institution of the Catholic Church, belonging to and managed by the Salesians of Don Bosco Educational Society (registered as ‘St. Anthony’s Educational and Charitable Society’ under the Meghalaya Societies Registration Act 12 of 1983. no e. 16 (RS) 30/2001/374).Guided by the religious and educational philosophy of St. John Bosco, the school was founded to bring school education within the reach of the common man.HistoryThe present St. Anthony’s Higher Secondary school began as an orphanage in 1901 by the Salvatorian Fathers. Fr. Winkler SDS was the first director of the Orphanage. It was converted into a school in 1915 by the Jesuits. Fr. JU Lambergh SJ was the first Jesuit Director of the Orphanage and School. In the same year Bro Leo Brisson CSC became the Director.In 1922 when the Salesians first came to North East India, the orphanage and the school weres handed over to them. Fr. Bonardi SDB was the first Salesian to take over charge as headmaster. In 1928, Fr. Bacchiarello, was appointed Headmaster. Fr. J. Bacchiarello separated the Orphanage from the School. A separate school called Don Bosco Industrial School was also opened and it was placed under the then parish priest Fr. Vendrame SDB.The school received its recognition from the authorities on 19 August 1932. The school had students of theology as teachers till 1933. By 1933 all the students of theology were exempted from this extra activity.Fr. Joseph Bacchierello SDB started St. Anthony’s College in the year 1934. It began with the arts section and then a teacher’s training school. Fr. Bacchierello was succeeded by Fr. Ricaldone in 1935. Fr. Ricaldone put up the ground floor of the School building, which during the Second World War, was occupied by the Military. During those years, the school and the college functioned on shift basis. In 1940 Fr. Noel Joseph Kenny SDB joined the college as an English Professor. He was later appointed as warden of the hostel and the vice principal of the college. In 1943 and in 1959 Fr. Kenny was given additional charge of looking after the school.