It's Christmas time!

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS

St. Joseph's High School,
Wadala,
16 Dec 2013

It's that time of the year that is eagerly awaited - for the Christmas tree, the Christmas crib, the festivities; above all the Christmas spirit of giving.  A detailed program has been planned for the entire school beginning from today - our little way of welcoming the baby Jesus at our place and into our hearts.

Christmas Celebrations 2013   (16^th - 20^th December, 2013 )

Teachers in charge: Ms. Joanna, Ms. Rina, Mrs. Pavita, Mrs. Cressieda

Christmas Message – all classes from (I –X) will prepare 2 Christmas messages on chart paper. These will be displayed on the notice boards and other places in the school. This should be submitted in the science lab in the 1^st period on Tuesday, December 17^th, 2013.

Christmas Spirit of Giving – Two standards will work together to support a different social work organization or activity through interaction and/or collection of materials required by them. I & II – A home for the destitute; III & IV – An Orphanage; V & VI – Mrs. Aranha’s Anganwadi; VII & VIII – CSA project against hunger and disease; IX & X – Study Class children

Prayer Partners – Prayer partners will be decided by drawing of lots in each class on Friday, December 13^th in the afternoon. Students will pray for the concerned classmate throughout the week.

Christmas bookmarks – These have to be prepared on Wednesday 18^th December, in the 6^th and 7^th periods using eco-friendly materials only. The size of the bookmark shouldn’t be more than 2 inches wide and 5 inches long. These will be judged, who will select the best 5. Class teachers may then return these to the students as they have to gift the bookmark to their respective prayer partners.

Good Deed Nosegays - Every student will have to pick out a flower from the Good Deed Nosegay kept near the class crib. The nosegay will be passed around each morning for students to pick a flower and read the good deed attached to it. After reading the suggested good deed for the day, the flower should be replaced in the nosegay. The student should attempt to practice that good deed during the day as his gift to Baby Jesus. This practice will continue throughout the week.

 

Star (Secondary – 6 students per class. Sticks will be provided.) Other eco-friendly materials have to be arranged by the class. Only eco-friendly materials and waste materials should be used. Time will be given from Monday to Wednesday, i.e. Dec. 16^th to 18^th for the preparation of stars. These will be judged for prizes.

Crib – This should be prepared in class on Monday, December 16^th and displayed on the class cupboard. The crib should be kept in the class cupboard every evening. The crib has to be made in a well lined plastic mesh tray which will be lent to the class for this purpose. Statues will be given to each class. 5 boys may be chosen for the same.

Christmas Party - On Friday, December 20^th each Class (I-X) will have its Christmas Party for about 1 hour in the classroom. In the spirit of sharing, arrange for small groups of students to bring in items (cake/chocolate/snack) that will be shared with the whole class thus, all will be contributing to the party in kind.

There are a few restrictions: Benches may not be shifted around in the classrooms. Cello-tape and double-sided sticking tape should not be used to fix decorations on the walls (or painted/polished surfaces). After the party, the class must be cleaned and restored to its normal state by the students.

As coloured clothes are permitted for the Christmas function, Students of Std. IX and X should wear long pants.  suitable shirts/t-shirts in any of the Christmas colors - red, white, green.

Carol Singing Competition -   Students are invited to form groups of 9 to 15 students across Std. V - X. Since this is an open competition students will form their own groups and conduct practices themselves. A rehearsal will be held on 17^th December. The group entries should be submitted to one of the teachers in charge by 13^th December. (List out on a sheet of paper, the names of the participants, name one student as the group leader and give the group a name.) The group name has to be selected in keeping with the spirit of Christmas. Students may select 3 to 5 carols. Each group will get a total of 2¹/₂ mins. to perform on stage

Dance Competition -   Students are invited to form groups of  6 to 10 students across Std. V - X. Since this is an open competition students will form their own groups and conduct practices themselves. A rehearsal will be held on 17^th December. The group entries should be submitted to one of the teachers in charge by 13^th December. (List out on a sheet of paper, the names of the participants, name one student as the group leader and give the group a name.) The group name has to be selected in keeping with the spirit of Christmas. Students may select a single song or a medley of Christmas related songs. Each group will get a total of 2¹/₂ mins. to perform on stage.

HERE'S TO A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS PREPARATION!

A research based project

Researching to find solutions for problems in society

-Dvig Butkar (Std. IX A)

St. Joseph's High School,
Wadala
11th December 2013

Our team (Vismit Chavan, Atharva Chaturvedi, Mubarak Khalife, Dvig Butkar) worked on a project for the inter-school annual Science Exhibition that had two important aspects in consideration: (1) Mosquito menace and (2) Slums. The diseases spread by mosquitoes are well known - malaria and the dangerous dengue - which at times can be fatal.

We conducted a small research to find the conditions suitable for the laying of eggs by the mosquitoes.  We took white, red and green colored containers and on observation, noticed that the the mosquitoes avoided the green and were most attracted to red, and less to white. Bubbling air through the container to increase the oxygen content, we observed that no eggs were laid.

We arrived at the conclusion that well lit,  effectively ventilated and green colored areas were avoided by the mosquitoes (More research however has to be done on this).

In the slums, the houses are very close to each other, thus increasing the heat in the atmosphere and surroundings. We came upon the idea to cover the roof with a mat (which is easily available) with seeds sown in them.  This has two advantages: (1) The room is kept cool. (2) The plants grown could be sold thus increasing the meager income of the people.  Besides, being a green top, probably the mosquitoes will not be attracted to the place!

A 'zeer' refrigerator

A POT IN A POT

- Master Kshitij Kadam (Std. VII A)

St. Joseph's High School,
Wadala,
11th December 2013


The Science Exhibition held annually by the Education Department presents an opportunity to our budding scientists to create, experiment and innovate. Four of our students from Std. VII (Kshitij Kadam, Ayush Kamble, Yohan Mhatre, Anirudh Bhattacharya) have designed a 'pot in pot' refrigerator or 'zeer' (in Arabic) pot fridge.   It is an evaporative cooling refrigeration device which does not use electricity. It uses a porous outer earthernware pot, lined with wet sand, and an inner pot (which can be glazed to prevent penetration by the liquid) within which the food is placed - the evaporation of the outer liquid draws heat from the liquid. The device can be used to cool any substance.

The 'pot in a pot' cooling system, a kind of 'desert refrigerator', helps subsistence farmers by reducing the food spoilage and waste, and thus increasing their income and limiting the health hazards of decaying food. This device consists of two eartherware pots of different diameters, one placed inside the other.  The space between the two pots is filled with wet sand that is kept constantly moist, thereby keeping both pots damp. Fruits, vegetables and aerated drinks are put in the smaller inner pot, which is covered with a damp cloth.

A few examples of its effectivity:

- Tomatoes and apples lasted for three weeks or more.
- Green plants stayed fresh for 27 days instead of three.
- African spinach that usually spoils after a day, remained edible after 12 days when placed in the 'zeer' pot fridge.

Harvesting today means selling today:

1. Lack of electricity in most of the northern rural communities - without electricity there can be no           refrigerator.

2. The towns and cities too have erratic power supply that affects the refrigerator.

3. In an agriculture based populated area, the majority of people live in abject poverty to afford a refrigerator.

Hence a 'pot in pot' can grow popular and be marketed judiciously for its huge benefits:

1. Simple and effective use of the laws of thermodynamics.

2. Cheap and easy to build.

3. Needs simple innovation that can drastically change the lives of the poor.

4. It is a great way for those of us looking to live off the grid to keep some of the organic foods fresh for longer periods.

Time to innovate and live simple!

ONE NATION READING 2013

BRINGING BACK THE JOYS OF READING

St. Joseph’s High School

Wadala

03rd December 2013

One  Nation reading was launched by Scholastic in 2008 to celebrate the joys of  reading among students. They invited schools from all over India to spend a specific amount of time reading for fun and engaging in book-related activities.  Though the date for this event this year was fixed for 29th November 2013, our school got this organized a day prior to the scheduled date on account of the school Sports Festival on 29th Nov 2013.  The entire school (from Std. I to X) was immersed in this engaging activity from 12 noon to 12.45 pm.  The task was made simple through some meticulous planning and a detailed program for each of the classes.  This was how the program looked like:

Std. I      -              AV-aided Reading

The Class Teachers will get suitable stories in AV form for the students to read from the screen while viewing.

Std. II    -              Read A Story Book

The children may bring their own books or books may be taken from the library for individual reading in a soft voice. 

Std. III   -              Read A Short Story and Draw A Picture related to it

Children will be given books with short stories for them to read and then illustrate. 

Std. IV   -              Read A Book Of Your Choice and write about it

The children may bring their own books to read.  Listed below are points that they may elaborate on in their English exercise books. 

Std. V    -              Reading A Story In Unison

Books of the same kind should be borrowed from the library for the students to read aloud in unison. 

Std. VI   -              Reading A Story In Unison

Books of the same kind should be borrowed from the library for the students to read aloud in unison. 

Std. VII -              Read A Book Of Your Choice and write about it

The children may bring their own books to read.  Listed below are points that they may elaborate on in their English exercise books. 

Std. VIII                -              Read A Book Of Your Choice and write about it The children may bring their own books to read.  Listed below are points that they may elaborate on in their English exercise books. 

Std. IX   -              Chorus Recitation and Enactment of a Poem, Making a Bookmark

A poem will be given to the class for group recitation and enactment. The students should then design a bookmark based on it. Students must carry with them materials needed for the bookmark. 

Std. X    -              Read A Book Of Your Choice and write about it

The students may bring their own books to read.  Listed below are points that they may elaborate on in their English exercise books. 

Points to write about:

A new word I learnt from the story is ….  It means ….

This book is about ….

My favourite character is …. because….

The part I liked the best is ….. because ….

Now isn’t this a fabulous activity! Surely an idea worth emulating not only for a day, but most of the days of the week!  

A sports fest to remember!

A MEMORABLE SPORTS FESTIVAL 2013

- Ms. Sunita D’Souza

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

29^th November 2013

29^th November.  8 a.m.  St. Joseph's High School, Wadala witnesses an awesome display of colour, creativity and charm! The 'sound' of water echoes in the air as the students participating in the class floats from the K.G., Primary and Secondary sections assemble on the school basketball court.  It’s the annual Sports Festival and through our theme, we have chosen to give thanks to God for His precious gift of water on this special day.

The Opening Ceremony began with the Guard of Honour welcoming the Chief Guest, Mr. Ramesh Dound (retired teacher of St. Joseph's, Wadala), who was accompanied by the Members of the Management, Rev. Fr. Godfrey D’Sa (Rector), Rev. Fr. Bernard Fernandes (Principal), Rev. Fr. Vivian D'Souza (counselor), Ms. Nicole Britto (Vice-Principal), Mrs. Sangita Bhattacharya (Secondary Supervisor) and Mrs. Matilda Fernandes (Primary Head teacher).  A warm welcome was accorded to the honoured guests by the comperes who goaded everyone into effecting the 'rain clap' applause.  Once the distinguished dignitaries took their places on the dais, the morning prayer was recited and the National Anthem sung with due reverence. The School Flag was then hoisted by the Chief Guest. The four house squads - blue, green, red and yellow marched past the audience in unison and gave a smart salute to the Chief Guest. This was followed by the recital of the Sportsman's Oath by the School Head boy, Master Moksh Jain and the Sportsman's Prayer by the Assistant Head boy, Master Nihar Chothani.

The Sports Festival Flame was then ceremoniously lit and carried around the stadium by the champion state representatives of St. Joseph's, Wadala in various sports - basketball, football, handball and gymnastics – together with student representatives from the Pre-Primary and Primary sections. The Chief Guest, Mr. Ramesh Dound then addressed the gathering. He expressed his happiness at coming back to school to witness and be a part of the Sports Festival.  Stating that 'Health Is Wealth' he reiterated that sport is a reminder that we need to take good care of our health.

The most attractive, impressive and significant part of the program was up next - the presentation of the class floats by the K.G., Primary and the Secondary sections. The little children from the Pre-Primary and the Primary kept all present spellbound through their unique and innovative styles of the display of their class floats. Every class float was briefly and eloquently introduced by the comperes. The students demonstrated the sources of water and focused on the need to save water, exhibited the water-cycle in action, basic sanitation, freshwater sources in North India and South India respectively. Each class float depicted ideas to convey the message that each one of us must do our bit to save water and use it carefully. The breathtaking secondary section class floats that followed the drill, yoga and karate displays continued with the theme of the day, ALL FOR WATER, WATER FOR ALL.  Their presentation was through drama, dances and beautiful banners.

The finalists of a few select events then took the field for the competition. The races began with the tiny tots from the K.G. Section and Primary Section and continued with the finals in football, basketball and handball finals for the Secondary Section. The much awaited event between the staff and the students – this time, a game of basketball – lived up to its billing as an exciting top drawer match. The staff prevailed! As the events of the day progressed, the prize winners from every category were felicitated simultaneously with medals and certificates by our staff members.

Before long, it was time for the Closing Ceremony. It began with the Prize Distribution where the champions in the midgets, sub-juniors and seniors categories were awarded their championship prizes.  The Green House outscored the other houses by an overwhelming margin to bag the prestigious trophy for the day - the winners for the Sports Festival!  The creative display by the students (and teachers) of Std. IV won them the best class float award in the I-IV category, while the joy of the students of Std. X knew no bounds when their class reps and teachers marched to the stage to receive their prize in the VIII-X section. The Blue house won the prize for the March past Display that was smart and elegant.  The vote of thanks was proposed by Fr. Bernard (Principal). He thanked everyone for contributing to the grand success of the school Sports Festival. A respectful silence descended upon the grounds as the torch bearers carried the Sports Festival Flame for one last time across the field and then had it extinguished to mark the solemn end of the sports extravaganza. The School Flag was then lowered and handed over to the Principal by the school head boy, Master Moksh Jain.

This brought to an end the Sports Festival that witnessed solemn occasions, exhilarating and emotional moments, hollering supporters, and impressionable class floats. The Sports Festival 2013 will live on in the minds and hearts of everyone present with the message 'All For Water For All' reverberating and causing a ripple effect in every home!

NCC training camp at Nashik

Naval treat for NCC cadets

-Cadet Yash Tirmalle

St. Joseph’s High School, Wadala

26^th November 2013

The N.C.C.A.T.C. (National Cadet Corps Annual Training Camp) was announced for the Diwali vacations beginning from 7^th November 2013 to 16^th November 2013 at K.T.H.M. College, Nashik.  Nine cadets from St. Joseph’s High School, Wadala, registered for this camp. On the day of the departure, the nine cadets together with the teacher-in-charge, Mr. Raj, gathered at the Dadar station to board the train to Nashik.

Once there, the cadets were allotted a room for their stay. There were close to 400 cadets from the other schools and colleges who had assembled for the training camp. We were clubbed together with another four cadets from Don Bosco High School, Matunga.  In the evening of the same day, the coordinating officer described the daily routine of the camp to the cadets assembled at the site- these instructions were duly followed right through the duration of the camp.  Many interesting activities and games were conducted right through the day that kept us on our toes – competitive games such as tug-of-war and volleyball tested our physical skills, while the quiz competition was a test of our knowledge. On one of the days, we were taken for a sightseeing tour on the mountains where were situated the caves built by the five Pandavas and a majestic temple of Lord Buddha. This was one of the most memorable and cherished moments of the training camp for all of us.

On children’s day, we were engaged in an interesting activity – the firing event. This event, as always, was enjoyed by the participants. On the penultimate day, there was an entertaining cultural program planned for us – there was singing, dancing and music. One of our cadets, Lokesh Wakhre was awarded the bronze medal at this cultural event for his amazing performance.

We returned back from the training camp not empty-handed, but with a prestigious award for the third place in the March past competition, and surely with a bag full of happy memories of the place and the event.

Champions at DBYS Sports Fest 2013

Heroes yet again!

St.Joseph’s High School,

Wadala

24^th November 2013

It was a tiring and energy-sapping, yet rewarding day for the Josephites in sports today. Our football and basketball teams participated in the inaugural DBYS (Don Bosco Youth Services) Sports Fest 2013 organized at Dominic Savio High School, Andheri.  In a well coordinated event that witnessed the cream of Don Bosco institutions from Mumbai and Pune, our teams excelled in their games and won accolades from the aficionados and well-wishers. The school u-16 Basketball ‘A’ team were drawn against their arch-rivals Don Bosco Matunga ‘A’ in the finals, and the players came up with a stellar performance to bring home the prestigious trophy. They won 19-15. Earlier on they defeated the second string teams from Andheri and Matunga without breaking a sweat.  Our B team – consisting mainly of our u-14 team players – played creditably to make the semi-final grade. 

In football, our unsung heroes gave the formidable Don Bosco Matunga team a run for their money in the finals played on the fast paced astro-turf. In fact, the game went down to the wire as the winners were decided via the tie-breaker – the full time score being tied one all.  Our boys lost 0-1 in the penalty shoot-out. In their march to the finals, they got the better of the teams from Dominic Savio, Andheri and Shelter Don Bosco. 

Two of our students capped the outstanding performance with their superb skills that won them the best player awards. Master Smith Shinde – who is also a Maharashtra state player - won the best player award in basketball for his amazing skills, while the agile Tej Bahadur won the best player award in football.  Both these players were also the highest scorers of the tournament in their respective disciplines. 

No trophy is won without the hard work of the silent achievers who never hog the limelight. They are our dedicated coaches who leave no stone unturned to exact the best from their players. Congratulations to Mr. Raju, Mr. Somnath and Mr. Ali – our coaches in basketball; Mr. Avinash, Mr. Tony and Mr. Michael – our skilled professionals in football. Truly St. Joseph’s rocks!

Management Day

 We Salute Our Dynamic Management Team and say, "THANK YOU'!

-Ms. Sunita D’Souza

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

30th October 2013

A special day is earmarked every year on the school calendar to felicitate the Management. This year the Management day coincided with the last day of class before the commencement of the Diwali vacations. The excitement of the last day of class however did not take the shine off the elaborate celebrations to wish the Management team: Rev. Fr. Godfrey D’Sa (Rector), Rev. Fr. Bernard Fernandes (Principal), Rev. Fr. Vivian D'Souza (Counsellor)), Rev. Fr. Allwyn Misquita (Administrator), Ms. Nicole Britto (Vice-Principal)  - the pillars of St. Joseph's High School, Wadala. 

A plethora of events and special items were line up by the staff and students of the Pre-Primary, Primary and the Secondary Sections to mark the occasion.  At the first program of the morning organized by the Pre-Primary and the Primary sections of the school, the Members of the Management team were accorded a warm welcome by the two little comperes of the ceremony and by all the staff and students. The backdrop bearing the names of each and every member of the Management team held the message 'We Love You All'.

A prayer dance with symbolic expressions of love and gratitude; a wonderful address by Master Ian D’Souza, the Headboy of the Primary Section, on behalf of the staff and students, expressing sentiments of love and gratitude; and a floral tribute in the form of handmade cards and fresh flowers to the Members of the Management as a token of love and appreciation; all bore a stamp of sincere affection.  Rev. Fr. Godfrey then addressed the gathering and urged everyone to give of themselves freely. The tiny tots of the Pre-Primary Section then, donning the clothes of the animals in the jungle, enthralled everyone with their cute rhythmic walk-cum-dance in the jungle! After a melodious rendition of the ‘Thank You Song’ by the Primary teachers, the serenade by the boys and ‘girls’ of the Primary section through some foot-tapping remix (medley) of popular Hindi movie songs, capped the proceedings.  Fr.Bernard then proposed the vote of thanks. He thanked everyone for all the efforts taken to make the Management Day celebration heartwarming, exciting and memorable!

The students and staff of the Secondary section were equally effusive in the showering of warmth and affection on the Management. A touch of variety lent humor and entertainment to the felicitation program. The homely address, a succinct power point presentation featuring the qualities of the members of the management team, energetic and thrilling dances, harmonious melodies in the form of songs, and humorous skits not only showcased the talents of the students but also served as a platform for a sincere display of gratitude and appreciation.

In the afternoon, the members of the staff gathered around the management team for a fellowship meal. In a show of strength, the entire gathering, with hands held together, formed a circle of love, and praised and thanked God for all the blessings.  The Members of the Management were thanked personally for their meticulous planning, dedication, unstinted efforts, hard work, passion for excellence and love. They were appreciated for helping St. Joseph's reach greater heights, through their effective leadership, networking, encouragement, support and guidance. Fr. Godfrey, Fr. Bernard, Fr. Vivian, Fr. Allwyn and Ms. Nicole were presented with a token of our affection, gratitude, love and fond remembrance.  The Management team in turn thanked the staff for their dedication, cooperation and commitment.  

May Don Bosco continue to bless us all!

Dengue Awareness Campaign

DENGUE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala

29^th October 2013

The sickness is indeed a cause for concern in the city of Mumbai, the state of Maharastra and our country India. Dengue has taken its toll on the health of unsuspecting ordinary citizens, and if not checked, can prove to be fatal, as is happening with the people in our country.

It is indeed praiseworthy to notice the resoluteness of the government and Education department to conscientize the public and fight the sickness. Our school teacher representatives were part of the Dengue Awareness program that was organized by the Education Department for the staff of the many schools in Mumbai. The knowledge gained at this seminar was shared by the teachers with the entire school staff community at a staff meeting. 

The focus of the campaign has now shifted to the students of the school who are made aware of the causes and ill-effects of this dreaded sickness.  The Primary section and the Secondary section are given inputs in groups by our staff members Mrs. Manjusha, Ms. Sagaya Rani, and Mr. Somnath.  The students gather either in the AV hall or the school hall for an AV presentation that highlights the meaning of the term, the mosquito that is the carrier of this sickness, the breeding places of this mosquito, the remedies for sickness, solutions to protect ourselves, and above all the need to keep our surrounding clean. The explanation was well documented and supported by striking pictures and images.  A discussion would follow the AV presentation where the students would resolve to take the necessary measures to spread awareness of the dengue sickness and also the means that need to be taken for prevention and cleanliness.

A specially designed handout enumerating the do’s and don’t’s to safeguard against this dreaded disease has been prepared by the teachers to be handed over to every student – a small step to take forward this campaign and keep Mumbai safe!

Let the light of God touch us – the Diwali Prayer service

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

28^th Oct 2013

The conclusion of the first session of the scholastic year marks not only the beginning of a well-deserved mid-year break but also allows time of preparation for the festive Deepavali season.  The secondary section of the school today ushered in this beautiful festival of lights through a quiet and meaningful prayer service.

The mood in the hall was just right – sober stage-lighting and a calm prayerful ambience.  The guests – Fr. Godfrey D’Sa (Rector), Fr. Bernard Fernandes (Principal) and Ms. Nicole Britto (Vice-Principal) lit the samay (lamp) as a devotional bhajan played in the background.  The readings from the holy books – the Bible, the Koran and the Bhagavad gita were read and this was interspersed with some rich commentary and insights by the leader, Ms. Joanna Fernandes. 

Fr. Godfrey D’Sa, in his address to the assembly, touched on the salient aspects of the Diwali festival – the return of Rama from exile, the victory of Krishna, and Laxmi pujan – all of which signify the triumph of good over evil.  He exhorted the gathering to allow the light of God to touch and transform them this Diwali season. 

A beautiful dance – that was also performed earlier on at the inter-school dance competition ‘Festival of Love’ – by our students showed that love is still the answer for peace and harmony in the world.  A heartfelt rendition of the profound hymn ‘Make me a channel of your peace’ by the entire assembly summarized the mood at the prayer-service.  The environment and its care and protection are something that will always be close to our heart.  Master Vismit Chavan shared a few green initiatives that could be practiced by each of us this Diwali season, making it thus an even meaningful and a bright shining festival.

A remarkable prayer service to mark the festival of Diwali, and a commendable team effort by Ms. Joanna Fernandes, Ms. Cressieda Murzello and students to get it organized! Thanks.

Happy Diwali!

Assembly - IV B

Working Together With The Local Community

- Ms. Sunita D’Souza

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

1^st October 2013

The two comperes of Std. IVB warmly welcomed everyone in the school hall. They highlighted the theme for the class assembly viz. to make everyone aware of the rights and responsibilities they are entitled to, and which must be put into action. The backdrop held the words depicting the theme for the class assembly. The Chief Guest for the assembly, Fr. Bernard Fernandes, was escorted in the school hall by Mrs. Matilda Fernandes (the Headmistress of the Primary Section).

A prayerful beginning was followed by the song 'People Over The World' sung by a group of students dressed in ‘global’ costumes. The song reflected their desire for universal brotherhood, peace, sharing, understanding and love. A group of students with hands held together with a display of unity marched on the stage singing melodiously the action song, 'Bind Us Together' imploring peace and unity.

Charged with the theme of cleanliness, tidiness and modesty, some students then performed a lively dance with brooms and mops. It portrayed the joy in one’s work and pride in wearing the school uniform - dignity of labour as well as the expression of love for the school they call their second home!  The dance, the banners with the messages based on cleanliness, tidiness and modesty, and the unfurling of the paper rolls to reveal the words - 'We Love You' 'St. Joseph's High School, Wadala', all had a touch of creativity.

It was now time for the members of the local community to take the stage. The students dressed in the costumes of the members of the local community they represented - Greenline Team, Don Bosco Shelter, Safe Kids Foundation, Doctors, Traffic Police, Parishioners, Municipality and the School Canteen- spoke about the ways in which they reach out to our school. One student in turn emphasized how they as students could help the local community by following the rules and becoming good citizens. In the power-point presentation that followed, three students had the words 'cleanliness, 'tidiness' and 'modesty' pinned onto their costumes. They conducted the power-point presentation with an express desire to entreat cleanliness, tidiness and modesty.

Fr. Bernard then addressed the students. He thanked the students and their class teacher, and praised them for the innovative and informative presentation on the theme for their class assembly. He reinforced the theme on cleanliness, tidiness and modesty through a series of questions and answers. Later, the winners of the Friday competitions were awarded their certificates. Fr. Bernard congratulated the winners of the ‘Best Out Of Waste’ competition and complimented them for the fantastic works of art they created out of waste material.    

The assembly concluded with the singing of the school anthem with due reverence.

A Day in the Sun (and Water) – Class Picnics!

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

18^th October 2013

The excitement was palpable; the atmosphere charged and laden with anticipation of the unfolding of the exciting activity of the day. The restless birds had trooped in as early as 5.30 am.  By 6.30 am, the Adventure tour buses were lined up on the quiet lanes of Nathalal Parekh road and the adjoining flyover leading to Wadala (E) to transport the eager students to their class picnic destinations. The energetic volunteers of the Adventure tours sporting red t-shirts and caps stood ready to escort their charges to the awaiting marked vehicles.

The entire school (including the Kindergarten students) had the itinerary chalked out for the day’s class picnics.  The Jr. and Sr. Kg. were to visit the sprawling Patwardhan gardens at Bandra (W); the Primary section opted for the scenic Panormic Resort at Karnala, Panvel; the picturesque Silent Resort, Manor was the destination for the lively group of students from Stds. V to VIII; the students of Std. IX took the long ride to their picnic spot, Sargam Water Park, Vasai; while the batch of Std. X chose to spend some quality time at Suraj Water Park, Thane.

After a common prayer at the start of the day at school, there was a beeline to the main gates of the school to board the vehicles specially arranged for the occasion. The bus journey – to and fro – though a little long, provided enough mirth and entertainment for the picnickers as there were wise-cracks, shayaris, songs and the like.  The picnic spots and swimming pools offered ample moments for fun, relaxation, swims, games and the usual banter associated with such excursions.  The delicious food and snacks capped the thrill of the fabulous outing.

 Thanks to the management for a special day set aside for the class picnics, as also the meticulous planning for the same; to the staff for their cheerful, yet mindful presence among us; and to the excellent support staff and volunteers of Adventure tours who left no stone unturned to give us the best.  Signing off feeling invigorated yet grateful!