History of Greengates School
Greengates
school was founded in 1951 in a rented house in Avenida Chapultepec 490.
It had two initial
founding partners, Edward Foulkes and
Frank Whitbourn with Henry Coelho joining
the school as a teacher. In the beginning there were just 60 students, 6 teachers,
one matron and one secretary.
The school had no uniform and only one school bus.
As the school grew steadily it moved several times over the next few years. Eventually in 1964 the present piece of land in San Mateo was bought.
The architect for the building was Innes Webster and the initial building work was finished in 1970. The school has been expanding ever since and includes a large Gymnasium, two libraries, a swimming pool and a playing field. At this point Andre Desouches also became a partner in the school.
By
comparison the school today has over 1000 students on role, employs 90 teachers,
1 nurse and over 15 administrative staff. There is school uniform for
the majority of pupils who are brought to school by 17 school buses!
The numbers
and site may have changed but Greengates still maintains a similar philosophy.
"...to provide an education for students which seeks not only to impart knowledge by the means of acquiring knowledge; to develop character and personality through self-discipline and service; to equip its pupils not only to earn their living but also to live creatively and happily in the world which they must inherit."
'Initial founding statement of Greengates School 1951''