Ms Hansa

Knowledgeable(Bangkok, Thailand)

My words of appreciation

In January 1999 when I made my first trip to India to look for a school for my son, I was introduced to Kotagiri and Ooty regions. After visiting over 10 schools, I decided upon St. Jude's public and Junior College. I admitted my son into the school and thus became the parent of this venerated institution.

It was a tough year for all of us who had admitted our children as the first Thai batch to school which had no experience in handling students from Thailand. Children were away from home in the boarding school, which was totally different in environment, culture, (city life to hill country side), discipline (very free to strict), language (with very little or no knowledge in English) and food (big concern for us). Parents back at home were concerned as to how our children would survive in the new environment. We started to share our worries and concern after we spoke to our children during the weekends. I decided to travel to school as often as I could during those 2 years of my son's education, to acquaint myself with the syllabus and the issues rising out of the conflicts in culture.

I was impressed by the school schedule and all the steps taken by the Management to help the new Thai students cope up with the rest of the students. Every minute detail was looked into to ensure that our students manage their new surrounding well. The strong ‘not giving up' attitude of Saro Mam, the Principal had helped all the students to settle down quite comfortably. I always returned home and shared my impression among parents and confirmed to them that we had made the right decision. I trusted that I had placed my own son in good hands.

As a former parent who has a sound experience and relationship with the Management, from 2001 till now, I act as representative of St. Jude's, recruiting students and consulting the parents about the quality of the School. Over these years we have about 110 students who have passed out and they still talk about the school with fond memories and wish to visit the school again. I am impressed with Saro Mam personally. We together, go through and solve many issues and unpleasant situations of our students. With her motherly mentality, she understands and accepts the difference in each of our students in the right positive way, which is very important for parents of students in a boarding school. I have seen many schools and have been working with more than 30 schools all over India, St. Jude's School will be the first school I recommend to any parents.