The privilege of a good education is one of the greatest gifts of God offered through devoted individuals to those in need. Without educators, who are visionaries, it is impossible to build a great institution. In 1886, the prime movers and the leading lights, Bishop Coadou with the persistent efforts of Fr. Jansoone authorized St. Joseph of Tarbes to take over the St. Francis Xavier Primary school.

Sisters Anna Marie, Julie Marie, Marie Henrietta, Marie Dolores, and Marie Beatrice after qualifying for their teaching apostolate in England, took up the baton and metamorphosed into the architects of St. Francis Xavier’s parish school on 3rd June 1889. Thus a voyage rooted in faith and sacrifice commenced and what ensued was a story for generations to remember.

The sisters met with tremendous difficulties which they faced with profound conviction and enormous sacrifice, all the while never complaining and in efforts never waning. 

In the early years, the sisters admitted only European and Eurasian girls. The beginnings were marked by the seal of suffering. There were many restrictions imposed on the sisters. The school would remain a lower secondary school. No music lessons were to be given and no boarders were to be taken. 

Sr. Julie Marie was appointed Head Mistress on 9th Sept 1890. The original site soon proved too small for the rapidly growing school. Rev. Mother Anselm and Bishop Kleiner of Mysore with Fr. Jasoone, Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier church, looked for a more suitable place. A large plot opposite St. Johns church was purchased in 1891 and the foundation for the new school was laid on 24th Feb 1892. Fr.Bareille supervised the construction of the building until its completion. The cost of the two-storey building was Rs. 12190/-. All the wood needed for the building was obtained from the government by Mr. Thamboo Chetty. 

The building was completed by the end of 1893. The number of pupils was 47. There were three teachers, Head Mistress, Mary Powell, teachers Elizabeth Buckley and Harriet Buckley. On 9th September 1890, Sr. Julie Marie was appointed the Headmistress of SFX School. She asked for the grant-in-aid received from 1882, to be raised from Rs. 23 to Rs.100 per month. The grant of Rs.50/- was sanctioned with effect from 1st April 1893. There were 124 pupils on the roll. Twelve of them were in middle school. There was a staff of 5 European teachers and two assistants.

A school that was started on 3rd June 1889 with 60 pupils soon grew in numbers. In 1916 it was raised to a High school and on 5th Oct 1917 it was affiliated with the Board of Education following the ICSE. The number of students then was 1050. Permission to open the SFX boarding was given on 21st August 1923. This was a school mainly intended to provide education for the European and Anglo-Indian children of the Cantonment area. A free primary school built by the Govt. was later attached to SFX where the Anglo-Indian children who could not pay fees were educated. They were later admitted to the High school. By the end of 1947 the European character of the school faded giving way to predominantly Indian students. Yet the policy of the sisters of SJT was to take special care of Anglo-Indian children whose mother tongue was English. We still have children from this community.

From 1923 till date the school has grown by leaps and bounds. We have also added new building blocks to accommodate more students. We are backed by a team of highly qualified staff, from the Preparatory to the ISC section. We admit children from all sections irrespective of class, caste, or religion. The total number of students at present is 2220. 

Being the first institution of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes in India, SFXGHS has marked 135 years of its existence as well as its service to society in the field of education. It is a standing testimony to a rich and long tradition of selfless service to society and the nation at large. 

SFX is a tree, a jocund congregation of green symbolizing renewal, growth, and hope. Its slender but strong branches are its teachers facing ever upward towards a brighter tomorrow. Its massive upstanding trunk is its infrastructure. And every single one of our children is one among its many lush green leaves dancing to the moves choreographed by the gust of knowledge. 

Today, this Tree of knowledge has indeed reached inconceivable heights.

The congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph Of Tarbes has lived in communion and staunch faith in God ever since its conception in 1843. Over the years, they became sensitive to the needs of the people around them and responded enthusiastically to their call to educate children, care for the sick, and to undertake many other forms of service according to the needs of the people around them. Their main aim in education was to ensure the Christian formation of youth and to instruct the poor.

The Charism of the Sisters of St Joseph of Tarbes has always been, “Rooted in the love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit we are called together, to be for God and to be for others, to live and build Communion in our communities and in the world.”

Today the congregation has 480 sisters in India in two Provinces and one Region – Province of Bangalore, Province of Mysore and Region of Jeevan Maithri. In the Province of Bangalore there are 216 sisters who are selflessly engaged in various educational, medical, social and pastoral work.