Prompted by the zeal of spreading the light of knowledge in the most backward area of South Canara, the Founder of Bethany Congregation, Mgr RFC Mascarenhas, embarked upon an educational institution to provide facilities for primary education in the virgin soil of Puttur. Mother Martha, the first Superior General of the Congregation, under the direction of the Founder, opened a Primary School for boys on June 29, 1925 and named it after St. Francis Xavier who came to India to spread the Good News of Christ in the Konkani Region. The medium of instruction was Kannada to make education accessible to the poorest of the poor.

The current campaign for the education of women had taken roots in the visionary mind of the Founder in 1920s, and therefore for the girls another Primary School was opened on June 1, 1928 and named after another great missionary of the 19th century, St Therese of Lisieux, popularly known as the Little Flower of Jesus, Thus in the same campus the twin schools St Francis Xavier’s School and Little Flower School existed side by side. The Founder nurtured these twin institutions as the apple of his eye. A grade was added each year and the Department granted recognition to both the schools by 1932 On 18th February 1950 Silver Jubilee of St Francis Xavier school and On January 25th 1953 Silver Jubilee of Little Flower school was celebrated. Though the strength increased and the standard of education improved, the Higher Primary grades could not be introduced for 40 years after their foundation. It was only in 1971 that the authorities concerned granted permission to upgrade the schools. By then two new school buildings had been put up, one for St Francis Xavier’s School which was inaugurated in 1968 and the other for Little Flower School in the following year. These twin schools were amalgamated in 1985 for better administration.

The school stands out in both curricular and co-curricular activities especially students excel in Sports and Scout guides cub bulbul activities. The memorable glimpses of this sanctuary of knowledge, founded in the quarter of the century, will no doubt leave an indelible impression on the generations entering the portals of this institution. At present though many English medium schools exist in our surroundings our school has having highest number of students. The school also has a computer Lab containing 50 Computers.

Right from the beginning the following Headmistresses served: Sr Lourdes, Sr Margaret, Sr Catherine, Sr Anunciata, Sr Gabriel, Sr Luveeza, Sr Celine, Sr Barchmens, Sr Gemma, Sr Aloysia, Sr Silvia, Sr Gonsaga, Sr Anysia, Sr Pauline, Sr Lydia, Sr Bernard, Sr Alfreeda, Sr Gretta, Sr Jecintha, Sr Johnina, Sr Emilia, Sr Emilda, Sr Ima, Sr Agnetta, Sr Selma, Sr Lioba, Sr Felsy Cutinho, Sr Helen Mary, Sr Doris, Sr Sybil, Sr Arun Savio, Sr Prashanthi, Sr Lilly Gonsalves, Sr Lilly D’Souza, Sr Prashanthi, and Sr Venisha.

Pioneer HM  : Sr M Catharine BS
Name of the present HM  : Sr M Venisha BS