A Garden of Glory – Lyceum International School
An exquisitely beautiful garden, filled with a profusion of colour and fragrant with the perfume of young, innocent hearts. The vibrant hues depicting the innate beauty of character and soul. The leafy greens echoing their freshness and natural quality; the pristine whites whispering of their purity and innocence; the vibrant oranges proclaiming their abundant energy; the mellow browns declaring the fact that they are in the process of maturing; the sombre blacks reminding us that even though they are still children, they are aware of the tragedy and pathos in this world.
Twenty – two years ago, this garden was established as the culmination of a dream which had been born in the mind of our Founder, Mr. Mohan Lal Grero. As a teacher for over 2 decades, he had always nurtured a desire to give back some of the wisdom he had gained, to the children of our country.
Lyceum began in an extremely humble manner __ with just 4 teachers and 7 students. Owing to the unceasing devotion and dedication of our Founder, Mr. Mohan Lal Grero and our Coordinating Principal, Mrs. Kumari Grero, Lyceum International School is now blooming and flourishing.
Today, the School has a student population of 18000 and employs 2300 staff members. The parent school is at Nugegoda and branches have commenced at Kandana, Panadura, Wattala, Ratnapura, Gampaha, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura and from September 2016 in Kurunegala and Bandarawela.
This school, Lyceum is founded very firmly on strong and abiding principles. The first and foremost is the bond of LOVE which forms the core of our existence, here at Lyceum. The closely knit community is bound by strands of affection and compassion, to such a degree that there are no barriers of status or rank among us. We are all one entity __ from the smiling security guard at the gate to the benign Director – Mr. Nikitha Grero and our Principal – Ms. Wenuri Hettiarachchi. Workers, staff and students form the various arteries, through which flows the valuable life-blood of this institution.
The next guiding principle is DISCIPLINE. As our Vision is __ To produce global citizens who will reshape the future of their motherland and our Mission is __ To enhance the potential of every young soul that passes through our halls, empowering them to be the best they can be, all the attributes of a disciplined life are inculcated into our children’s lives. There is a tremendous effort to synthesise loving kindness with discipline, in order to mould them into complete human beings. HEALTH and all its beneficial traits are taught through the medium of Sports. There are Athletic and football fields, cricket grounds and nets, basketball courts and swimming pools. Tennis, badminton and netball courts and karate also feature prominently, not forgetting the star sport - cricket. We have participated in and won many championships, thereby affording the children a valuable lesson in team spirit and unity.
With all the various aspects of school life we cannot and never have forgotten the most important responsibility of a school ___ Academics. In the realm of Academics our students have soared to unbelievable heights with excellent results both in the Cambridge O/ L and A/ L Examinations and in the National Examinations. A number of our students from the National Stream have obtained admission into medical college, the engineering faculty, the faculty of Law and others.
At the root of all progressive activity should lie a genuine sense of MORAL ETHICS, and this is a vital and all – pervading principle that is highlighted here at Lyceum. It has and always will be a strong belief here, that what actually builds a fortified social structure is creative, inventive, vital activity, fuelled by integrity of mind and purpose, a spirit of tolerance and devoted service. Therefore, as our children are many, their aspirations numerous, their problems seemingly insurmountable, the school strives to awaken in their hearts, this unifying spirit of humanity, which rises above all distinctions of caste, creed and culture.
In addition to the teaching staff, we also have a teacher empowerment unit which tries to uplift the quality of education. In addition, Lyceum has its own Teacher Training Academy where Pre School, Primary School and Secondary School programmes are carried out. Teachers can communicate with each other over Skype in order to maintain uniformity in curriculum and exams. Our Special Needs section also caters to differently abled children in order to ensure that they also obtain the opportunity to benefit to the maximum.
This mammoth organization is welded together by the gentle and gracious individuals at the top__ Mr. and Mrs. Grero. They carry the Lyceum Group of Schools into a new era with vigour and vitality. Their service and dedication can be explicitly put forth in: “To teach, on rapid wings, the curious soul To search the mystic cause of things, To guide fluctuating youth Firm in the sacred paths of moral truth, To regulate the mind’s disordered frame, And quench the passions kindling into flame.”
-JAMNA PADMANABAN