Goethals Memorial School is situated at an elevation of 1674 metres (5500 feet) in the middle of a beautiful forest about 5 kms from the small town of Kurseong on the road connecting Siliguri and Darjeeling. It is a Boarding School run by the Congregation of Christian Brothers. The school was founded in the year 1907 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta to commemorate the memory of Paul Goethals, Jesuit Archbishop of Calcutta. It was Sir John Woodroffe, Advocate General of the Calcutta High Court, who wished for a memorial to be erected in the name of the late Archbishop Goethals. He also wanted to move all the European boys out of the Moorghihatta Orphanage (Calcutta) and bring them into healthier surroundings. In a meeting with the brothers, it was sought out to build a new school in some hill region. The Brothers had only one school in the hills at Nainital and it was insufficient for their increasing numbers. Br. Fabian Kenneally took up the responsibility to back the project. A beautiful location in a forest 5 km (3 miles) from Kurseong town was donated by the Maharaja of Bardhaman. In September 1903, Brother Stanislaus O’Brien was sent to Kurseong for the building and equipping of the new establishment, and he became its first Superior. In February 1907 classes started in the building erected by the first Principal, Br. M. S. O’Brien (1907-1914). The number of boys in residence was 110. The official opening took place on 30 April 1907. A two years engineering course was started at first as the school was initially affiliated with the Shibpur Engineering College, Calcutta, but the course did not fit the needs of the pupils and was dropped in favour of the Cambridge Locals. The Cambridge Exams continued until the 1970s when the school got affiliated with the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education curriculum. At present, there are over 750 students attending as boarders and day scholars. The school’s motto is Omnia Bene Facere (Do All Things Well).