| 1813 December 29th | Dr. Thomas Cook with six young ministers leaves Portsmouth in a mission to establish Wesleyan Missionaries in India and Ceylon. (Dr. Cook and Mrs. Ault died during the journey.) |
| 1814 June 29th | Five ministers landed in Weligama. Rev. James Lynch and Rev. Thomas Squance proceeded to Jaffna. |
| 1814 August 10th | Arrival of Methodist Missionaries Rev. James Lynch and Rev. Thomas Squance in Jaffna. |
| 1816 | Jaffna English School (Boys’ school) was started on the present central college premises. |
| 1817 | A lengthy building of Commandant’s country residence in Dutch rule was bought at a public auction by Mr. James Mooyart, the Sub-Collector. |
| 1824 March 27th | The building was transferred to the Wesleyan Mission. The site of the building was known as “Vembadi Mission House” then, “Vembadi Veethi Mandapam” now. |
| 1825 | The boy’s school was shifted to Vembadi campus (There were 40 girls mostly Burghers in attendance taught by Mrs.Schrader). |
| 1834 | 1834 Synod minutes record that 5 girls, were being taught at the Mission House – the three daughters of Mr. Price and one Tamil and one Burgher girl – the first products of VembadiRev. Peter Percival is appointed as the Chairman of the district. Synod minutes state five girls study at the Vembadi Mission House. |
| 1835 | An excellent school was run by Mrs. Percival and Ms Aston. |
| 1836 | A Female Tamil Boarding School is established by Rev. Peter Percival. No. on roll – 6 adventurous Jaffna girls. Curriculum – a Christian education which emphasizes proficiency in book work and needle work as well. |
| 1837 | Mr. Percival has made provisions for girls education in Jaffna. |
| 1838 | Female boarding school is started with six Tamil girls as its first inmates. |
| 1839 | The Boarding School gets its first Lady Principal, Miss Twiddy. Sent out by the Society for Promoting Female Education in China and India. |
| 1841 | Arrival of Miss Isabel Vera Eacott to assist Miss Kilner – first appointment by the Methodist Women’s Auxiliary in England. |
| 1862 | Departure of Ms. Twiddy. The school is managed by the wife of the resident missionary for nearly 20 years. |
| 1868 | First classrooms for the school erected by a special contribution. |
| 1869 | Miss Maria Cartwright takes charge of the school. |
| 1870 | Government Grant Scheme is introduced. Vembadi opens its doors to inspectors (the thin end of the wedge) and qualifies for its first grant of 25 pounds. |
| 1875 | Miss, Cartwright’s departure. Arrival of Miss. Penny. Music and singing introduced into curriculum. Rooms for the Lady Principals built are built. |
| 1880 | Revised Code introduces 8 standards in school instead of 6 earlier. School officially titled as ‘Anglo-Vernacular School’, in synod minutes. |
| 1882 | Miss Kilner is appointed as Principal. Introduction of Tamil proficiency exams for Lady Principals. |
| 1883 | No. on roll – 112. Staff – 5. Salary scale for teachers – Head master Rs. 30/-, Trained Teacher Rs. 10/-, and untrained teacher Rs. 1/- to Rs. 3/-. |
| 1884 | School officially declared as the first “Girls boarding school” in the Island. |
| 1887 | Miss Kilner retires. Appointment of Miss Merrikin – whose enthusiasm for the study of Tamil at midnight often led her to be mistaken for a ghost. |
| 1888 | Miss.Annie Stephenson, Principal. Rev. Trimmer is appointed as the Chairman of the North Ceylon District – Mrs. Trimmer gets involved in the school and its welfare. |
| 1892 | Launching of extensive building scheme. Configuration of school compound to remain unaltered till 1925. |
| 1894 | First school picnic to Mandativu organised by Mrs. Trimmer. Weren’t those the good days? English class is formed to prepare girls for Cambridge local examination. School uniforms are planned at this time – white jacket and cloth for both pupils and teachers. |
| 1896 | Miss. Stephenson returns from England, with a new school bell. Beginning of regimentation |
| 1897 | A sister for the boarding School. Separate High School set up to cope with demand for English education is now developed into Vembadi Girls’ High School. Miss Ireson assumes duties as the first Principal. |
| 1899 | Vembadi blazes the trail. For the first time in the history of Jaffna, girls entered for the Junior Cambridge and the Calcutta Entrance Exams. Nallamma Tambu is the first successful candidate in the Junior Cambridge. Nallamma Williams Murugesu passes Calcutta Entrance Exam in the first class and obtains the Keshub Chandra Sen Prize for being the girl candidate who stood first in all India and Ceylon. Well done Vembadi!. |
| 1900 | Government grant given to English school – Inspired by the previous years’ achievements, eh? |
| 1904 | First Old Girls Re-union held. First rumblings of the ‘Move Central’ cry heard – surprisingly enough supported by the boys as well. Govt insists that pupils should do Cambridge and London Exams and not Calcutta or Madras ones. Result – Tamil is now relegated to the back seat. |
| 1907 | Sick nursing classes are organized for pupils by Sisters from Puttur. Beginning of Domestic Science classes. |
| 1908 | Miss Hornby Principal. Miss Alphonso joins staff – to teach for 32 years. |
| 1909 | Junior Cambridge Classes have been started. |
| 1910 | Boy’s school crosses the road at last, to occupy new premises – How we miss them! Miss Lottis Spittel – first trained teacher to be appointed to the staff. |
| 1911 | Public meeting to welcome a distinguished Old Girl – Dr. Nallamma Murugesu – first Tamil Lady in Ceylon to obtain the L. M. S. and L. R. C. P. & S. in Scotland. |
| 1912 | Special classes set up for girls who have already graduated from the Boarding School and now want to learn English to enhance their prospects in the matrimonial market Unusual phenomenon of girls aged 20 or more taught by teachers of 17 MissT. de Silva appointed to the staff. |
| 1913 | Boarding School gets an “upstairs dormitory” – never heard of before in Jaffna, My Dear! Beginning of earliest log book-in Miss Ireson’s hand writing. |
| 1914 | Beginning of World War 1. Vembadi loyally plunges Into Red Cross work. |
| 1915 | Miss. Lythe Principal. Vembadi Girls’ High School is recognized by Director of Education as ‘an efficient elementary school with secondary department, working up to the Junior School Examination’. Infant Department is registered and grant assessed at the highest rate, because of the excellent work. |
| 1916 | March 13. Old Girls’ Association formed. |
| 1920 | Miss Lythe goes on furlough and for good. Miss Creedy, principal, she used to hang placards with ‘I can’ in all the classrooms. (This, later becomes motto of Creedy House). First Head Girl appointed – Jane Thamotheram. |
| 1921 | Third Jaffna Guide Company formed by Miss Creedy, 12 guides and 3 patrols. Miss Murgatroyd appointed Principal of Boarding School. |
| 1923 | Miss Pickard Principal. 10th Oct. Miss Scowcroft made Vice Principal of Vembadi – an appointment made for the first time in the history of the school. Senior Cambridge classes are organized. High School raised to Grade II. Netball pitch laid and cries of ‘defend’ and ‘pass the ball’ echo in the compound. Staging of “The Taming of the Shrew”. Reason for choice of the play – most suitable to Jaffna taste, as inculcating wifely submission. To maintain modesty of girls and so as not to hurt Jaffna’s susceptibilities, women in the cast clad in sarees, and the men in flowing robes. |
| 1924 February 7th | Vembadi is made into a Secondary School. |
| 1924 March 24th | Prize Giving. Principal Miss M. Pickard. Special Guest: Miss C. B. Horaby, Prize distribution: Miss E. P. Ireson. The House System is introduced. Three Houses, Lythe, Creedy and Hornby named after Past rincipals. Staff – Principal, Vice-Principal, one graduate, one trained teacher in the Kindergarten, one Tamil trained graduate and all the rest, unqualified teachers.First Inter – House Netball matches. A motto for the school – ‘Dare to do right’ |
| 1925 | Publishing school magazine “The Torch Bearer” for the first time, with Miss Scowcroft as editor. Brownie Pack has organised. Literary Association is founded. Opening of Domestic Science Block. |
| 1926 | The beginning of a long rivalry in the field of games and sports First netball match between Chundikuli and Vembadi. Sad to say, Chundikuli won! Miss Wilson joins staff for three years. Mr. J. C. Thamotheram retires. No more men teachers at Vembadi, so they said. Miss Kuruvilla – first of many more Indian graduates – joins staff |
| 1927 | Miss Pickard leaves and Miss Scowcroft succeeds her. Introduction of Honours lists and Disorder Mark Books. Retirement of Mr. A. V. Charles from staff of Boarding School Unveiling of, the School Crest. The Torchbearers’ Fair brings in the princely sum of Rs. 1164/- .The Opening of Ireson Block -the new sick room |
| 1930 | Y.W. C. A. branch is started. |
| 1932 | Still another first! Election of Mrs. Nesam Sarawanamuttu – Old Girl to State Council. First Woman in Ceylon to receive this honour |
| 1933 | Miss. Dore Joins staff. Thangamma Akka ‘the mighty atom’ retires after years of devoted service as teacher and matron – Never again shall we see a person like her. |
| 1936 | Miss Barker joins staff for a period of 2 years. |
| 1937 | Forming Colombo Branch O. G. A. Staging “Quality Street”. All the characters include the men wear English costume of the period, and believe it or not!.A murmur of disapproval from Jaffna.The end of an era! Since two schools can no longer be housed in the same compound, to prevent Boarding School from going out of existence altogether, Synod decides to amalgamate it with the Bilingual School at Pt. Pedro. So, Exodus of staff, boarders and many day girls accompanied by Miss Murgatroyd, to Pt. Pedro, carrying with them the spirit and traditions of Vembadi. |
| 1938 | Building and compound of Boarding School handed over to High School, which now reigns supreme in Vembadi. The Tamil Preparatory is attached to the English Preparatory Dept. |
| 1938 August 12th -14th | CENTENERA CELEBRATIONS – Old Girls from all parts of the island come back to Vembadi to rejoice with her over a 100 years service to Jaffna women and girls – and should we also add, to their husbands! |
| 1939 July 25th | Miss Scowcroft’s dream comes true. “The Scowcroft House” is built at the then exorbitant sum of Rs. 57,000 is opened by Mr. R. Patrick, Asst. Director of Education. |
| 1940 August | Miss Scowcroft leaves on furlough, handing over reins of government to Miss Barker. Vembadi gradually gets accustomed to a principal who prefers tennis to embroidery. |
| 1942 January | We welcome back Miss Scowcroft and bid good bye to Miss Barker. |
| 1942 October 14th | The principal attends the first convocation of the University of Ceylon in Colombo. |
| 1943 February 1st | The School Council is revived. School officers given more responsibility, which certainly adds to their stature. |
| 1943 June 25th – 26th | 1ndra Ambal” first of the many plays written and produced by Mrs. C. K. Hoole. The Jaffna public seldom has such a treat! |
| 1943 October | Scowcroft Home is full – 60 boarders. No more rooms to let. |
| 1944 October 1st | A red letter day. We join the Free Education Scheme Swabasha in the Primary Department. (Reaping the benefits now.) |
| 1946 January | An unheard of thing – 2 divisions in Std. 4 (A & B) Fancy this. |
| 1946 November 3rd | 3rd Jaffna Guide Company – (our very own) celebrate their Silver Jubilee. Miss R. Thomas – Mistress of Ceremonies. |
| 1946 December 16th | Miss Scowcroft decides to leave Ceylon for good. Hard to think of Vembadi without her. Glad to have Miss Barker again. |
| 1947 February 25th | Miss R. Thomas is appointed Guide Commissioner for Jaffna. We rejoice with her. |
| 1947 August 1st | Inter House P.T. Competition held for the first time and the Creedyites win the Chandramalar Niles Cup. |
| 1947 October 6th | Department regulations penetrate the school. Christians and non-Christians meet in separate Assemblies for worship |
| 1948 May 1st | School raised from Grade III to Grade 11. |
| 1949 January 17th | A Fourth House is created. Name : Scoweroft, Colour: Blue, Motto : Aim High – We expect great things of it. |
| 1949 September 6th – 7th | Farewell to Miss Barker. Welcome to Miss Mabel Thambiah – Our first national Principal. |
| 1950 January 17th | Miss R. Thomas is appointed as Vice – Principal. |
| 1950 January | The first land mark in Miss Thambiah’s rgime. We started H. S.C. Arts & University Entrance classes |
| 1950 May 25th | We seek contact with the Homes. Inaugural meeting of the Parent Teachers Association. |
| 1950 August 12th | The school sends a Relay Team and 2 athletes to take part in the Inter-club Athletic Meet in Jaffna. What’s more, they win the Relay Cup and 1st place in the 100 metres flat race |
| 1951 September 7th | More revolting from Jaffna girls! One of our athletes take part in the 100 and 200 meters flat race in the Junior A. A. meet in Colombo. |
| 1951 October 9th | We stage “Barets of Wimpole Street.” A great success. |
| 1952 January | School raised from Grade 11 to Grade 1. Miss G. Vadivelu appointed Lower School Supervisor. |
| 1952 June | School and Old Girls bid farewell to Mrs. C. K. Hoole and Miss T De Silva. |
| 1952 July 11th – 12th | “Mid summer revels” in Vembadi. |
| 1953 September 25th | “Sarasangi” adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Cymeline’ is staged at the Town Hall. |
| 1954 July 16th – 17th | “Northern Light” twinkle in Vembadi |
| 1954 December | Our first venture into a giddy social life. The first H.S.C. Union dinner. What will they say? We get our first male member on the staff (permanent) What’s more, He’s young. |
| 1955 | H.S. C. Science classes started. |
| 1955 February | Prefects take their oath at a solemn installation ceremony. |
| 1955 September | Another dream comes true. A new block is put up to house Home Science and Science Laboratories, the Library, the Geography room and any odd classes that wander around homeless. Vembadi becomes the meeting place of the Nations. World Industrial Fair organised by the Education Department. We run the French stall, and what chic French women we make. |
| 1956 | Tremendous attempt to keep pace with modern educational methods. We get a new tape recorder and film projector for the school – and use them regularly. |
| 1957 | Pottery classes are started. We begin to cater for the more practical minded in our school. |
| 1958 | Those from behind the Iron curtain visit those behind the Cadjan Curtains. We welcome the Cultural delegation and a group of teachers from the U. S. S. R. |
| 1958 September 6th | Our Jeans – clad P. T. Squad marches off with challenge cup awarded by Lankadipa for the All Island P. T. Competition, held at the Oval. |
| 1958 September 29th | The ‘Australian Crusaders’ meet the Jaffna Schools, Net ball Team on our grounds. |
| 1960 | National Education bill passed and Vembadi becomes a Director Managed School. |
| 1961 | The school was vested with the Government. |
| 1962 | Vembadi was selected as the only “All Island School for Girls” in the North. The Senior P. T. Squad took part in the all Island P. T. Competition and came 2nd, winning the Asia Foundation Challenge Trophy.The “Ireson Block” is converted into the “Principal’s Bungalow”.Inauguration of the Hindu Association. Saraswathy Pooja is celebrated for the first time. |
| 1968 | Gandhi Centenary. Sri Jeyaprakash Narayanan and Srimathi Vijayalakshrny Pandit visited the school and the inauguration of t he Sakthi Senai Group of senior girls. The school is reorganized into two sections with Miss G. T. Vadivelu as Principal of the Kanishta School. Staging of the dance drama “Suganya”The School Western Band is formed. They won the First place in the first all island band competition. |
| 1969 | Completion of the five class rooms and three Science laboratories in the Mabel Thambiah Block. |
| 1970 | Completion of Mabel Thambiah Block with an Assembly Hall. |
| 1971 | Opening of Mabel Thambiah Hall by Dr. P. Udagama, Director General of the Education Department and Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Education. |
| 1971 March 22nd | Ms.Mabel Thambiah retires and Miss Pathmasany Arumugam assumes duties as Principal |
| 1972 | The primary Section of the School is terminated. Pre -vocational subjects are introduced in the curriculum. |
| 1973 | Construction of the Saraswathy Block and the Chemistry Laboratory. Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the 3rd Jaffna Girl Guide Company of Vembadi Girls’ High School |
| 1974 | New look is given to the class rooms along Vembadi road and named as Vembadi Veethy Mandapam |
| 1975 December | The first batch of students under the new educational reforms were inaugurated in 1972 sat the NCGE Exam. |
| 1976 | Sri Lanka hosted an International Conference. The Non – aligned Summit Conference. Our school band, both Eastern and Western participated in the events to welcome State guests. |
| 1981 | Miss P. Arumugam retires and Mrs. A. Rajaratnam takes over as Principal. The introduction of the Non Formal Education Unit. Stenography Course for school leavers. |
| 1983 | Prize Giving held after a long period. |
| 1984 | Vembadi reaches the coveted status of being made the First National School for Girls in the North. |
| 1985 | Year 6 is reintroduced at Vembadi |
| 1986 | Difficult years for the school |
| 1987 | Due to its proximity to the Fort, Vembadi was also one of the targets of shelling and bombing. We bravely decided to remain in the premises despite frantic suggestions to leave our premises for security reasons. We have saved our traditions of 150 years old |
| 1988 | The completion of the 3 storyed “Ariamalar Rajaratnam Block”. Frantic moves to repair the damaged buildings and re-equip laboratories. Our Library lost most of its valuable books – a colossal loss. |
| 1988 June 28th – 29th | “150th ANNIVERSARYCelebrations”. |
| 1989 | Miss Ratneswary Rajaratman takes over |
| 1993 | Mrs .S. Skandarajah is appointed as Principal |
| 1995 October | Mass exodus from Jaffna. Vembadi was no exception |
| 1996 February 1st | Mrs.K.Ponnampalam assumes duty as Principal of Majestic Vembadi in the corridors of Chavakachari Ladies College |
| 1996 May 13th | Back at Vembadi. Pathetic to see our grand old lady in ruins. Buildings damaged, Loss of furniture and equipment and priceless literature and photographic records. |
| 1997 | Mabel Thambiah hall was reconstructed and now the hall stands majestically |
| 1999 | A decision was taken to build a 3 storey building in place of the shattered ‘Vembadi veethy mandapam’. It was erected and named as ‘Kamaleswary Ponnampalam’ block in recognition of the principal’s strenuous effort. |
| 2000 | Basket ball court was constructed to promote the sports skills of our students. |
| 2003 March | With funds received from the Ministry of rehabilitation , ‘Rev. Peter Percival’ block was built and is used as ‘library’ & ‘General Science laboratory’ now.Peter Perceval Block and Library and learning resource centre was constructed in ground floor to reading materials to students. |
| 2003 August – 2004 August | A project was carried out at Vembadi by Japanese Internaional Co-operation Agency. We received the 1st runner-up award for Best pilot school among the 25 schools islandwide. We came first among Tamil medium schools and second among Island wide schools. |
| 2004 | The teachers and students corner was formed to enhance the talents of students in various fields such as sports, quiz and other extra curricular programmes. |
| 2005 | The Saraswathy statue was erected.Saraswathy is the god of knowledge and wisdom. Her presence in our school will radiate the minds of our students. |
| 2007 | The playground had been renovated to enrich the physical skills of our students. Our students are trained here throughout the whole year. |
| 2008 | The Basket ball court had been renovated. We always have good teams which scored several places in the competitions. |
| 2009 | Vembadi entrance gate had been renovated with grandeur elegance. It provides a majestic look to our school. Also a new learning centre has been attached with our students corner now. This centre promotes the skills of our students and also provides ample opportunities to practice in the life. |
Vembadi Old Girls' Association, Sydney, NSW, Australia