Feature

25 Years of Sunshine Grammar School and College

The morning of 14th January 1985 brought rays of smile and radiance for the small but ambitions starting of Sunshine Grammar School and a continuous process of progress and progression for the city of Chittagong. 40 students, five teachers and three staff in total stood for the assembly as the Sunshiners read the School Prayer and sang the National Anthem. Within a couple of months the number of attendance in the register reached 108 and there were students in all classes and three students preparing for taking O'level examination in May'1997.

Within months students were moved from the tiny classrooms to a spacious two-storied building. The atmosphere vibrated with joy amongst the teachers, cheerful students and other members of the School. Buildings were annexed, computing and science labs were set and Tamim Iqbal (now a player in the national team) was given the privilege to participate in cricket matches, skipping certain class tests. A free school for 27 destitute children was set up in the staff quarters of the School buildings. Debates began to be enjoyed and the School began to win the champion trophies in the city. Along with music, dance began to bring gold medals for many.

Growing leadership qualities among students being one of the major criteria of the school, the students got to be trained in running Sunshine Charity Services, Sunshine Book Club, Sunshine Debate Club, Sunshine Film Society, Sunshine Village, Wall Magazine and a variety of clubs and societies. Amongst the many distinctions earned in extra curricular activities few names have brought in laurels not only to the school but the country. Prema Das Gupta is a dance prodigy who not only earned national fame but was also invited by organizations in Europe and America. Another acclaimed dance talent of Sunshine is Tanzila Majumdar Drishti who attained a number of National and International awards. She is also a good actress and won laurels in this field as well. Sunshiner Tasnim Subah is another dance talent who won various prizes in both National and International competitions. She was also awarded by National Television and National Shishu Academy. Afrida Kaisari received gold medal in the 'National Gold Medal' music competition organized by Dhruba Porishod Bangladesh.

Sunshiner Mayesha Tarannum is a flair in art. She represented Bangladesh in an International Art Competition held in Egypt where students from all over the world participated and we are proud that Mayesha achieved Silver Medal. Mehweish Islam, the achiever of highest marks in O'Level English, won the 1st position in an essay competition arranged by the Indian High Commission.

After achieving academic excellence ex-sunshiners are now studying in various world famous universities. In the UK Sunshiners are presently graduates or students of Imperial College London, University College London, School of Oriental and African Studies, London School of Economics, Queen Mary, University of London, King's College London, Warwick University and many more. In the USA Sunshiners are found in MIT and Harvard, in Singapore by National University of Singapore and many other parts of the world. Within home Sunshiners have been successful in joining BUET, IBA, different engineering and medical colleges.

Apart from O Level and A Level education Sunshine also offer education in National Curriculum leading to SSC and HSC. Previous year Sunshine achieved 100% in SSC. Sunshine Grammar School & College contributed a great deal in the overall development of education, especially English Medium education in Chittagong. It is for the personal initiative of Sunshine Principal Safia Ghazi Rahman that British Council established Examination Centre in Chittagong which saves the students from the hazards of traveling all the way to Dhaka to sit for their O/A level exams. Sunshine provides its students of science with excellent lab facilities. Science Laboratories of Sunshine were selected by Edexcel as exam centre for 5 years. Eleven books, written by the Principal have been published and used widely all around the country. Sunshine Free Friday Clinic is funded for destitute people as a community service to participate in maintaining social harmony. Sunshine Village is a project undertaken by the school and its students to support poor and vulnerable communities to stand up to its own feet. The support is mainly transformed thorough donations, job creation through interest free loans and health care assistance. Voluntary Services is a very important aspect of Sunshine Grammar School. The school actively promotes students to become more involved with volunteering for its noble causes, to build a better society and therefore to understand the external environment (outside the routine of everyday life) better. This also enhances students experience in school and helps widen their horizon to get a better perspective in life.

The new campus of Sunshine Grammar School and College will soon be vibrating with life as a gift to the city of Chittagong. The 120,000 sq feet campus will consists of state of the art class rooms with all modern amenities. This campus will also feature a swimming pool, playground, indoor games facilities, assembly hall and many more.