Saint Francis D'Assisi High School
Saint Francis D'Assisi High School is a school located in IC Colony, Borivali West, Mumbai, India. It is managed by the Franciscan Missionary Brothers, a Catholic religious society founded by Rev. Bro. Paulus Moritz, a German Missionary. The school is recognized by the State Government of Maharashtra. It was established in 1908 and had its centenary celebrations in 2008 with former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as the chief guest. In 1985 when the school had completed 75 years the Guest of Honor was Shri Giani Zail Singh, the then President of India . It is one of the largest high schools in Maharashtra, India. The school is particularly known for their sports teams especially their football team which is among the best in the city of Mumbai. The high school has an average of 10,000 students on its roster, from Standards 1 to 10. The curriculum followed in the school was that of the just the SSC exams earlier. The school now also has a separate wing which follows the ICSE curriculum. It was started in 2009 in place of the senior college that was supposed to be established. The SSC wing is  an all boys school whereas the ICSE wing offers co-education. The school is located on Mt. Poinsur, with a chapel located on the summit of this hill. Being a rather picturesque location, the school has featured in numerous Indian television series and soap. It has two large open air grounds on campus used for school assemblies, wedding ceremonies, cultural programs and movie shoots; and a sprawling 5 acre playground adjoining the adjacent Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Mt. Poinsur. The playground is one of the largest open air field grounds in Mumbai and among the only few in  the city capable of holding functions with an excess of 20,000 attendants. Apart from the high school and junior college, a boarding school is also present on campus. The school also runs an orphanage/residential institution for homeless children. The school features several extra curricular activities such as the student council, RSP, Boys scouts and various sports. The institute also has an engineering college under the University of Mumbai and runs a management wing off the main campus affiliated to Yashwantrao Chavan Open University. History. The history of St. Francis D'assissi School and Orphanage dates back to 1908. Sebastian Pereira , Archbishop of Daman, who had his see at Colaba, Bombay and knew the Franciscan Missionary Brothers- CMSF, visited Bro.Paulus-Moritz, Superior General of the CMSF to start an apostolic activity for the welfare of the poor and neglected children of the Diocese of Bombay. He selected the location at Mt. Poinsur (known then as Mandpeshwar) in spite of it being a jungle. It was on this hillock, with the help of his brother companions that Bro. Mortiz took up residence in the rickety old balcony of the dilapidated church of the Immaculate Conception on 4 October 1908. It was  no mean task to find a clearing in the forest and to set up a thatched hut that became a residence for the Brothers and the poor boys of the areas.