| Date of foundation of the school: 17 February 1919
Some interesting facts concerning the foundation:
It started out as follows:
Governess Maria do Carmo Lins e Melo from an old-established family in Pernambuco opened the institute Nossa Senhora do Carmo on 17 February 1919. Her aim was to establish a primary school which was meant to help with spreading the Christian message of faith. Later courses for the education of female teachers and catechists and courses on commercialism were added.
With her health deteriorating, Ms Maria do Carmo could not stay on as headmistress of the institute, which was located in "Visconde de Goiana"-Street. So the Missionary Benedictine Nuns took over. In February 1943, Sr. Fortunata Danner with 11 sisters took charge of the school, which at the time had 280 boarders and day students.
In the course of the years the number of students increased and extensions had to be built: new classrooms, a chapel, and various premises. In 1973, a huge gymnasium with an additional swimming-park (to some extent Olympic) was erected, which opened up new possibilites especially for physical education.
Today the institute is situated at "Barão de São Borja"-Street and works with a modern and successful pedagogical concept.
Departments in school:
- Kindergarten
- Primary school: for the first four years in school, 6 to 10-year-old children.
- Secondary school: from year 5 to year 8, 11 to 14-year-old students
- further school years that entitle to go to university
Religious activities:
- Religious instructions - part of the curriculum
- Extra curricular: catechesis for first Communion and Confirmation
- Well attended days of reflection for teaching staff and students (seperate)
Social activities:
- Project "Hands of Friends": classes in school support slums in town with various kinds of assistance
There are about 30 students per class.
The students' social status:
The students' families belong to the lower middle class. Parents face difficulty in raising the school fees. Some of them cannot pay anything at allde.
Former students:
Contact between former students and the school is good. Once a year we have a big meeting, which is organized by a group of former students and the school.
Contact with other schools:
Just on the level of sports. There are two traditional highlights a year: a competition in indoors soccer and a swimming competition. The eight most successful schools are allowed to participate. | 