About Our School
The International Section was inaugurated at St. Mary’s School, Mumbai, on July 1, 2024, during the 160th year of the foundation of the school.
This day marks the beginning of a new era of holistic Cambridge Education, rooted in the ethical and moral values of the Jesuit system and aligned with modern pedagogy, aimed at the upliftment of young minds.
The solemn occasion began with an invocation of the divine presence through prayerful petitions led by the Director of St. Mary’s School ICSE, Fr. Yohan Alphonso. This was followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the classroom and school office, conducted by the Former Director of St. Mary’s School ICSE, Fr. Dr. Francis Swamy. Later, a prayer service was held, attended by the management, teachers, and parents. The dignitaries of the event, Fr. Francis Swamy, Mr. Montwyn D’Costa, Fr. Yohan Alphonso, Ms. Clementine Monteiro, Fr. Jude, Ms. Mary Dias, and Ms. Sandra Fernandes, were invited to light the traditional lamp as a symbol of hope and optimism.
As the Chief Guest, Fr. Francis Swamy shared his words of wisdom about this new venture in the field of education. His dedication, hard work, and perseverance were key to ensuring the success of this new chapter in the history of the school. Heartfelt gratitude was extended to Mr. Montwyn D’Costa for his support and guidance during the initial stages of this project.
The celebration concluded on a joyful note, with each attendee being thanked for their presence on this auspicious day. St. Mary’s International School is truly a dream brought to life through unwavering commitment, and it shall stand as a symbol of progress and innovation for years to come.
Our Legacy
St. Mary’s School, ICSE, was founded in 1864 and is 160 years old. It is a Jesuit institution and a member of the Catholic Archdiocesan Board of Education, affiliated with the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi.
Its location on Nesbit Road traces back to the philanthropist couple Andrew and Rose Nesbit. The Nesbit Trust indirectly paved the way for the growth of St. Mary’s. The school began as an orphanage and later opened as a school for non-orphans at Parel on December 14, 1852.
In 1860, and even earlier, the Jesuit Fathers had been seriously considering building a permanent school of their own. On June 7, 1864, the building was ready for possession. Built out of blue stone, the structure is 108 feet long and 37 feet wide, with an upper story for classrooms and a dormitory along its entire length, covered by a solid corrugated iron roof. This forms the oldest part of St. Mary’s, which has only ever needed minor repairs.
Under the Spanish Fathers’ management, St. Mary’s European High School thrived in academics, sports, theatre, and its school band, which gained commendation and performed on the Bombay Radio Station.
In 1939, the school celebrated its 75th Anniversary (1864-1939) with great pomp. The 150th Anniversary Celebrations were inaugurated by one of its most famous alumni, world-renowned music conductor, Zubin Mehta. He graduated from the school in 1951 and returned after decades to launch the year-long celebrations on September 11, 2014 by unveiling a logo specially created for the occasion.
Mr. Mehta expressed great pride in being an alumnus of the institution and fondly remembered his school days. Inaugurating the 150-year celebration was a double honor for him and the school. The hallmark of the institution is not just the accomplishments of its brightest students but the extent to which every student realizes their full potential.
Director’s Message
Dear Staff, Students and Parents,
It gives me great pleasure to have been appointed Director of St. Mary’s School, ICSE, ISC and INTERNATIONAL. I hope that under my leadership and with the help and support of an efficient staff, enlightened parents and enthusiastic students, St. Mary’s School can reach greater heights of glory and achievement carrying with it a rich legacy of 160 years.
St. Mary’s school was founded in 1864 by members of the Jesuit Community. The school began as a Catholic School of Education and Military Orphanage. The foundation stone of the main building was laid by Lord Linlithgow, the former Viceroy of India. The school has come a long way since then, and today provides quality education to a large number of students from varied backgrounds. At the core system of its education policy, the school follows the Ignatian paradigm which emphasises the development of the whole person focussing on experience and reflection to mould students into kind and compassionate - ‘men for others’. As an educational institution, St. Mary’s School is constantly evolving and changing to keep up with time, bringing in the newest technologies and methodologies to enrich classroom teaching.
The school expanded the building to open the ISC wing in 2020 which offers Commerce and Science streams to students. This provides an opportunity for the students to remain under the tutelage of an extremely qualified and experienced staff who prepare them for the highly competitive world outside.
We are delighted to announce the introduction of the Co-educational International Wing of St. Mary’s School this year for Class 1 affiliated to the IGCSE Curriculum with immediate plans to extend admissions to Junior Kg and Class 2. The IGCSE Curriculum is committed to the core values of excellence and integrity provided by a highly trained and experienced staff. We seek to provide an inquiry-based, holistic education which encourages critical thinking in students and develop problem -solving skills in them using a creative approach to learning. This would prepare students to undertake higher education in all International Boards such as the IB Diploma and be at par with education systems all across the world. We have already received an overwhelming response from parents of this school and we hope to open our doors to students from other schools.
This year, we also celebrated the tenth edition of Immaculata, the school festival hosted by St. Mary’s School, ICSE. Immaculata was conceived 10 years ago by some students of St. Mary’s to celebrate its 150th year. The idea was to have a school fest with a difference. It was to be planned and executed by the students and was to provide a platform for schools to showcase their talents. Marians would be the organisers - conceiving, planning, and creating events for participants of other schools. During the preparation weeks leading to Immaculata, St. Mary’s School becomes a cauldron of creative energy, drive and enthusiasm and the all-pervading atmosphere is one of infectious happiness and joy. And true to the Jesuit concept of ‘Magis’, Marians strive to make the festival bigger and better each year.
At St. Mary’s School, we believe in drawing out the fullest potential of every student. Students are encouraged to hone their talents, be it in Sports, Music, Public Speaking, Art or Academics. Marians are encouraged to participate in Inter-School and Inter-House events and also participate in events at National and International levels. Our Exchange Programmes with schools in France and Nepal help the students to be connected to world cultures and events. St. Mary’s is proud to be the Alma Mater to a glorious Alumni, Zubin Mehta, Justice Vahanvati, Boman Irani, Suraj Barjatya, Azim Premji, Adil Sumariwala who have excelled in various fields.
As Director of this prestigious institution, it will be my mission to carry on the rich legacy of the school. I would like to emphasise the importance of imparting value-based education so that our Marians become torch bearers spreading the message of love, tolerance and brotherhood to the world, making it a better place.
"The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but that makes our life in harmony with all existence” - Rabindranath Tagore
I look forward to your constant support and co-operation.
Fr. Yohan Alphonso S.J.,
Director
Jesuit Education
Jesuit Education calls for human excellence and the fullest possible development of all human qualities. It encourages critical thinking and disciplined study, developing the whole person - mind, heart, intellect, and emotions.
Jesuit Education integrates methods from various sources, contributing to the intellectual, social, moral, and religious formation of individuals. It teaches academic subjects through a human-centered approach, focusing on uncovering and exploring patterns, relationships, facts, questions, insights, conclusions, problems, and solutions, all related to what it means to be human.
This education system encourages students to continuously develop their imagination, emotions, conscience, and intellect, using new experiences as opportunities for growth. Learners are inspired to see service to others as more fulfilling than personal success or prosperity.
Jesuit Education goes beyond rote learning to foster complex skills such as understanding, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
Jesuit Schools in Mumbai
Campion High School (ICSE – Colaba)
St. Xavier’s High School (Fort)
St. Xavier’s Boys’ Academy (New Marine Lines)
St. Mary’s High School (SSC, Mazagaon)
St. Mary’s School (ICSE, Mazagaon)
St. Stanislaus High School (SSC Bandra)
St. Stanislaus International School (IGCSE Bandra)
Holy Family High School (Andheri)
St. Xavier’s High School (Vasai)
Badge & Crest
The School Badge has an azure and white background. Blue symbolizes peace, harmony, and serenity. The education imparted at St. Mary’s aims to help students lead lives in harmony with their experiences. This inner peace comes from a well-ordered life, in harmony with the Divine Will. The Blessed Virgin Mary, under whose patronage the school is placed, embodied this inner peace and harmony with God’s Divine Plan. Her monogram in gold against the white background symbolizes Mary’s perfect commitment and total consecration to God.
The Golden Crown signifies a victorious life, symbolizing triumph after intense pain and suffering, reflecting the victory of her Risen Son, Jesus. The monogram of the Society of Jesus, on the left, is a reminder that St. Mary’s is run by Jesuit Fathers, who believe in a personalized system of holistic education with a focus on compassion for the less-privileged. Students are nurtured to become "Men for Others" dedicated to helping the poor and needy.
The Three Small Ships localize St. Mary’s as a school in Mumbai, a bustling metropolis with an excellent harbor, serving as the "Gateway" to modern India. They represent the moral, intellectual, and physical development offered by St. Mary’s, navigating through the challenges of a busy, modern city.
The school motto, "Immaculata," translates to "Perfect Commitment" or "Total Loyalty" and encapsulates the ideals St. Mary’s wishes to see in its students as they leave school and enter the broader world.
Core Purpose,Values and Vision of
St. Mary's International School
CORE PURPOSE OF ST. MARY'S SCHOOL
To create a collaborative learning community where each student
grows holistically into being a man for others and a responsible
citizen of the world.
CORE VALUES OF ST. MARY'S SCHOOL
'Magis'.... Be ready to walk the extra mile,
reach out to others, integrity and justice,
holistic development and human excellence,
love and respect for nature, lateral thinking and multi-
disciplinary approach for child-centred learning.
CORE VISION OF ST. MARY'S SCHOOL
To be the most preferred school in India,
catering to students of all strata,
providing the best holistic education with a child centred
learning approach for the development of human excellence.
Faculty & Staff
Our team consists of experienced and dynamic individuals, who drive the institution with a passion to impart quality education and are committed to the overall development of the students at St. Mary's.
Mr. Montwyn D'costa
Resource Person
Ms. Sandra Fernandes
Supervisor
Ms. Neilette Barboza
Teacher