The educational landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting from a narrow focus on academic achievement to a more holistic approach. This shifting paradigm acknowledges that true educational success involves nurturing cognitive skills, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, creativity, and social abilities. By adopting this comprehensive approach, students are empowered to become well-rounded individuals ready to tackle the complexities of the 21century.
Amidst this shift, some institutions excel in integrating academic excellence with thorough personal development. The Cathedral and John Connon School stand out as a prime example of this integration. The school’s mission is to harmonize rigorous academic standards with a strong emphasis on personal growth and collaborative success.
Guided by the philosophy of “Win, win,” the school creates an environment where students are encouraged to approach challenges with a balanced perspective.
This philosophy promotes both individual achievement and collective success, upholding high standards of academic and personal excellence.
Nurturing Potential
The Cathedral and John Connon School distinguishes itself through its broad and balanced curriculum, delivered by dedicated educators who make each lesson impactful and memorable. The close-knit community, combined with extensive resources, ensures that each student receives personalized attention and support. This nurturing environment, alongside a commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy setting, reflects the school’s dedication to fostering both intellectual and personal development.
Under the leadership of Dr Sonal Parmar—Principal—The Cathedral and John Connon School remains committed to cultivating leaders who excel in all aspects of life, embodying the institution’s mission of excellence and holistic growth.
Academic Excellence and Inclusivity
Established in 1860 by the Anglo-Scottish Education Society in Mumbai, the Cathedral and John Connon School originally served as a grammar school for both boys and girls. In 1881, a new building named after Mr. John Connon was constructed on the Esplanade. The Girls’ School, overseen by Mrs. Evans, was founded in 1880 at the Old High Court.
In the 1960s, the school faced financial and organizational challenges, prompting the introduction of co-education. Despite initial resistance, this transition was successfully implemented.
Today, the school is structured into four divisions—the Senior School (Classes 8 to 10), Middle School (Classes 5 to 7), Junior School (Classes 2 to 4), and Malabar Hill School (Lower 1 and Upper 1).
The recent acquisition of the Thomas House Building has enabled the expansion to include Classes 11 and 12. The Cathedral and John Connon School is now a leading institution in India, celebrated for its academic excellence and commitment to inclusivity.
Developing a Global Perspective
The Cathedral and John Connon School was established to provide an international education that upholds Indian and Christian values, focusing on comprehensive character development. Its mission is to foster a passion for learning, adaptability to a changing world and a global perspective while maintaining a local focus. The school encourages international-mindedness and respects both individuality and shared humanity.
Its educational philosophy aims to bridge societal divides through learning, with core values such as personal integrity, compassion, inclusion, tolerance, altruism, and service. These principles are central to nurturing individual growth and fostering a strong sense of community.
Implementing Project-based Learning
The Cathedral and John Connon School distinguishes itself through a focus on practical knowledge and skill-based education, prioritizing real-world competencies over traditional textbook learning. The school employs methods such as project-based learning, flipped classrooms and Socratic seminars to foster critical thinking and student agency. Students have the freedom to choose their learning methods and topics, with differentiated assessments used to track individual progress.
Holistic development is encouraged through service projects and a variety of CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) clubs, which include activities in theatre, robotics and astronomy. The Innovation Hub nurtures creativity with resources for design thinking, 3D printing and basic electronics.
Additionally, the Advanced Program (AP), offered since 2004, provides rigorous college-level coursework. The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) supports students with resources and remediation, working closely with mainstream teachers to provide effective assistance.
Enhancing Collaboration and Communication with EdTech Tools
Technology is integral to the curriculum at Cathedral and John Connon School, with a progressive digital integration program in place. Each classroom is equipped with robust internet facilities and modern computer labs.
In the Pre-primary section, projectors, laptops and digital media enhance learning with videos and music. Teachers use digital resources to foster critical thinking and problem-solving. Staff receive training in Google Classroom, creative design and video editing.
At the Infant School level, tools like Google Classroom, EdPuzzle and Nearpod facilitate communication and collaboration. Junior and Middle School students use platforms like Zoom, Kahoot and Canva, with coding introduced in Grade 2.
In Senior School, digital tools such as Mentimeter and Go Formative support assignments and presentations, while the Full STEAM Ahead (FSA) club promotes STEAM activities. Overall, technology enriches teaching and prepares students for a digital future.
Holistic Growth through Activities
To ensure holistic development, the Cathedral and John Connon School provide a wide array of extracurricular and co-curricular activities. In the primary section, students can engage in yoga, music, dance, FitKid classes, pottery, cooking, sandpit and water play, gardening, annual concert preparations, art, and puppet shows.
In the secondary section, students have access to yoga, gym, karate, dance, drama, piano, singing, art, and computer studies. After-school options include gym, football, basketball, speech, French, and choir. The school values student involvement and actively encourages participation in inter-school events, annual sports days and state and national competitions. Additional support for student engagement includes after-school training, inter-house activities and special concessions for those representing the school in sports.
Supporting Mental Health and Well-being
The Wellbeing Centre stands as a testament to this commitment, offering crucial counselling and small group assistance to support students’ emotional and physical well-being. By prioritizing both academic and personal development, The Cathedral and John Connon School prepares its students to become resilient and confident individuals, equipped to meet future challenges with ambition and honour.
The school has implemented comprehensive measures to support students’ mental health and well-being across all educational levels, from Pre-Primary to Senior School. Each section has dedicated personnel and departments to address a range of educational and emotional needs, ensuring individualized support for both academic and emotional development.
Early Intervention and Personalized Support
At the Infant School level, teachers are trained to identify early signs of difficulties and collaborate with Special Educators and Counselors to create Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for students who need specialized instruction. The Learning Resource Center (LRC) plays a crucial role in setting individualized goals, tracking progress and working with mainstream teachers to integrate support within the classroom.
Parental Involvement and Curriculum Integration
Parental involvement is actively encouraged, with communication facilitated through email or Google Classroom. The LRC also provides additional resources for home practice. Regular workshops for teachers enhance their skills in managing students’ learning and emotional challenges.
The curriculum includes Growth Mindset lessons to encourage viewing mistakes as opportunities for growth and mindfulness activities to build self-awareness and manage stress. Value Education fosters understanding, empathy, respect, and responsibility. Annual workshops on cyber safety educate students on maintaining a healthy digital presence. Together, these measures create a supportive, inclusive environment that prioritizes students’ mental health and well-being.
Engaging Parents for a Supportive Learning Environment
The Cathedral and John Connon School actively involves parents to foster a supportive and collaborative learning environment. Parents are encouraged to engage with teachers and the administration through the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and take on roles related to health, safety and nutrition.
Active Participation in School Activities
Parents play a vital role in various school activities, including festival celebrations, the Annual Project and organizing the Annual Fun Fair. This event supports underprivileged children and contributes to school maintenance. They also contribute to daily school life by participating in gate duty, preparing event snacks, storytelling in the library, and organizing health camps.
Educational Support and Community Collaboration
The school emphasizes parent education with talks on child development and well-being. Parents are involved in supervising food quality, assisting with outings, guest speakers, and post-examination activities. Their participation in educational trips, including accompanying students as needed, underscores the school’s commitment to creating a holistic and nurturing learning environment through active community collaboration.
Building a Strong Moral Framework
As the school enters the next decade, its focus is on advancing digital literacy while ensuring students gain proficiency in design thinking, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning. While continuing its tradition of academic and extracurricular excellence, the school will also place a strong emphasis on mental health and character-building.
The goal is to equip students with the skills necessary to navigate a global world with intellectual acumen, efficiency and a robust moral framework. Committed to making a positive impact on the community, country and world, the school aims to prepare students to face future challenges with a well-rounded skill set and a deep sense of responsibility.
