OSC celebrates 57 years

Friday, 3 October 2014 04:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Overseas School of Colombo celebrated 57 years of education on 19 September. OSC is the oldest, the first and the only international school in Sri Lanka to offer the complete IB program from Preschool to Grade 12. In September 1957, The Colombo School for Overseas Children welcomed its very first nine students. The school, soon thereafter became officially known as The Overseas Children’s School and it was located in the former Royal Naval School premises in Fort just off Queen’s street on the approach to Galle Face Green.

In September 1961, the school leased its new premises known as ‘Rippleworth’ at Dharmapala Mawatha. The younger children remained at Fort while the older children, Class 5 and above, moved to Rippleworth. By August of 1963, the lower school at Fort enrolled 100 children and the upper school in Rippleworth had an enrolment of 72 children. In October 1967, The Overseas Children’s School became a member of the International Schools Association based in Geneva. It was a distinctive honour signifying “schools with the highest professional standards in teaching and education and welcomed pupils of all nationalities”. Around this time OCS was also recognised by the Office of Overseas Schools, an educational support office within the US Department of State with a mission to support overseas schools serving the US diplomatic and business communities abroad. By March 1982 the school’s enrolment had grown to 559 students and the International Baccalaureate (IB) DP program was initiated. It was also at this time that the school hired its first guidance counsellor in support of the students and their college admissions. The first IB Diploma was awarded in June 1984. In October 1982, the campus at Muttiah Road had to move as the landlord wanted to develop the property. This unfortunate incident prompted a very fortunate decision to acquire land in the new administrative capital area of Pelawatte and build its

current beautiful facility designed by the renowned Sri Lankan architectural firm of Kahawita de Silva Associates. The foundation stone for this current site was laid on 9 January 1984. OSC celebrated its 30th anniversary in September1987. In 1992 a new large gymnasium was built and in 1995 a swimming pool. In 1996 the Overseas Children’s School was formally renamed as the Overseas School of Colombo. In 1998 the IB Middle Years program was initiated, and later on in 2002, the IB Primary Years Program was added, allowing OSC to become an ‘IB World School’ that offers all three IB programs. In addition, OSC says it is proud to have over 200 years of combined teaching experience. Its long-term faculty and staff are the pillars of the school.