Fond farewell for Std. IV

Dearest friends of Std. IV, We Will Miss You! We Love You!

-Ms. Sunita D’Souza

St. Joseph’s High School

Wadala

25^th March 2014

Saying goodbye is always hard to do. On 25th March, we bid farewell to the students of Std. IV with heavy hearts and warm smiles. They will continue to be in our prayers, thoughts hearts and minds! Fr. Bernard Fernandes (Principal) and Ms. Nicole Britto (Vice-Principal) were the special guests for the farewell. The farewell programme was wonderfully organised and executed by the teachers and students of Std. III. The students and teachers of all the classes contributed in their own unique way to make this a beautiful and memorable farewell for the students of Std. IV.

After the warm welcome by the two comperes, the students of Std. I sought God's blessings in a special way on the students of Std. IV to bless, guide, protect and be with them always through intentions addressed to God. The students of Std. II dressed as angels gracefully danced to the rhythm of the song 'I Have A Dream' praying that the dreams of the students of Std. IV their dreams to come true. The song Bind Us Together was sung to symbolise unity and a sense of belonging. The Std. III students performed a wonderful mesmerising dance to the medlley of popular Hindi songs which spread cheer and fun, and made everyone smile. The power-point presentation titled 'Memories' prepared by Std. III, brought back cherished memories of the students of Std. IV, as they walked down memory lane. The students of Std. IV with grateful hearts then sang an action song -the 'Thank You Song' to express their love and gratitude to all the teachers and students of the Primary Section, They formed a circle of love enveloping the precious moments they shared and enjoyed in the Primary Section.

Fr. Bernard addressed the students. He congratulated everyone for the wonderful and meaningful farewell for the Std. IV students. He asked them what they would take with them to the Secondary Section, to which some students responded: the teachers' care, knowledge, understanding and love! He then asked the other students what they wish to remember about the Std. IV students. Some students said that they were their friends who took care of them. This was indeed a special moment of precious relationships formed and cherished. Fr. Bernard congratulated the winners of the activities held on the previous Fridays, namely the Dodgeball Competitions (Stds. I-IV - Green House), G.K. Quiz Competitions (Stds. I-IV- Yellow House), Marathi Elocution Competition (Stds. I-IV- Std. IIIA) and English Choral Recitation (Std. I-IV - Std. IVB). Ms. Nicole then distributed the prizes to the winners of Greeting card competition-Red Cross, and the Marathi and English Elocution competitions.

The Farewell ended on a nostalgic note with fond memories and beautiful relationships. May God bless you always dearest students of Std. IV! Our wish for you: "Soar High!' God Bless You! We Love You!    

Celebrating the feast of our patron - St. Joseph

St.Joseph - Pray For Us

-Ms. Sunita D’Souza

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala

19^th March 2014

On 19th March, Wednesday, the entire family (students, teachers, past-pupils, parents and well-wishers) of St. Joseph's assembled in the Church of Our Lady of Dolours, Wadala for the Thanksgiving Mass at 9 a.m. Fr. Bernard Fernandes (Principal) was the main celebrant while Fr. Godfrey D’Sa (Rector) concelebrated at the Eucharistic celebration. It was indeed a precious moment for the Josephites as they gathered together to give thanks to the Patron of the school - St. Joseph.

Leading to the Feast of St. Joseph, there was a well-organised Earth- saving Novena which projected nine ways (for each day of the novena) of taking care of Mother Earth. The theme for the day was displayed on the special board exhibited in the church. The Masses on the days of the novena were well animated by the students and teachers of the school. Themes such as 'Save Electricity', 'Grow Vegetables - Urban Farming', 'Buy in Bulk', 'Don't Waste Food' etc. were highlighted wonderfully. Fr. Bernard thanked all the students and staff members for the prayerful and engaging animation during the novenas and urged everyone to continue practising the Earth Saving steps suggested during these days. He elicited the qualities of St. Joseph as J-just, O- obedient, S- simple, E – efficient, P - patient, and H- humble. He invoked the blessings of St. Joseph and stated that we in turn must imbibe his qualities. Fr. Rector talked of St. Joseph as a powerful saint and that we need to seek His intercession always and pray that he may guide and bless us.  

After Mass, there was a staff get-together in the school hall. Fr. Bernard warmly welcomed the staff members – past and present, PTA members and well-wishers for the family celebration on the occasion of the feast of our patron.  Fr. Godfrey then addressed the gathering and he focused on the qualities of obedience, hard work and the sense of duty and dedication which St. Joseph lived by, and urged everyone to follow in his footsteps.  The self-introduction round gave the staff members, both present and retired, a fantastic opportunity to get to know each other better and express their sentiments of gratitude on this auspicious occasion. Before the snacks and refreshments were served, Fr. Vivian led everyone in prayer offering our work in the hands of God, seeking the blessings of St. Joseph to be our protector and guide in all the work entrusted to us, so that we reflect his vision and mission wholeheartedly. It was an awesome fellowship gathering in which everyone could feel the true spirit of St. Joseph - a man who placed his trust in the Lord completely. 

St.Joseph - pray for us and bless us always!

'We Are Born For Greater Things!' is the motto of St. Joseph's High School, Wadala. Like St. Joseph, may we the Josephites constantly and consistently live up to this motto!      

FIELD TRIP TO BYCULLA FIRE BRIGADE

-Mrs. Sharmila & Mrs. Rachal

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala

26^th Feb 2014

The students of Stds IIA & IIB visited the Fire Brigade Station at Byculla. The boys were curious to know more about this place.  After a short prayer by Mrs. Matilda for a safe trip, we boarded the bus that dropped us at the venue. The officer in charge Mr. Amul Mulik gave us the relevant information about the various equipments, specialized machines, engines, fire fighters, breathing apparatus set and sky lift A 42 machine, etc.

We were given a demonstration by the concerned personnel on the breathing apparatus set to illustrate how the oxygen marks works to rescue any victims. Later, the fire engines with special sirens were also shown to the students. The children noted down the important information in their notebooks. There was another demonstration for the children – this time on the hose pipe… to help indicate the water pressure level.  The teachers too guided the students with proper input regarding the various equipments and working projects.

We returned at 12.15 pm after a very informative and educative trip. We came back armed with some important emergency numbers given to us - 101- FIRE. 102- AMBULANCE, 103- SENIOR CITIZEN CRIME & 112 – SPECIAL EMERGENCY CALL NUMBER.

We thank one and all for this wonderful trip, in particular, the parents, Mrs. Sheryl Rodrigues and Mrs. Razia Khan, who accompanied us and helped maintain discipline as also record memories of the trip on their video cameras. 

Social concern: Socially disabled

SPECIALLY ABLED – WE LOVE THEM!

-Ms. Sunita D’Souza

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

18^th February 2014

At the very outset, the two comperes warmly welcomed everyone in the school hall. Ms. Nicole Britto (Vice-Principal), and Mrs. Matilda Fernandes (Head teacher of the Primary Section) were the special guests. The theme for the class assembly of Std.II A was 'Social Concern - Disability'. The assembly began with a meaningful skit which highlighted examples of people who cope successfully with disabilities and emerge triumphant. In the skit, students took the roles of Nick Vujicic (physically challenged), Helen Keller (blind and deaf), Sudha Chandran (physically challenged), and another autistic child and a mentally challenged child – people who accepted their disabilities and achieved success on their own terms. A group of students dressed as angels then danced to the rhythm of the song' I Have A Dream' - the dreams cherished by each disabled person in the world, and the hopes and dreams which they have fulfilled by mere faith in God and in themselves.

Groups of students then represented different organizations ('Missionaries of Charity', 'Shelter Don Bosco', NGO's, etc.) that reach out and render service to the specially abled. They enacted the kind of support, care and guidance provided by these organizations to people and children with special needs.  In the poem, 'I'm Still A Person' two groups of students wonderfully recited the poem that stressed emphasis on the importance of treating everyone equally including those who are specially abled.  The specially abled have their senses just like ours, the only difference being that they may not be able to 'see', 'hear','speak' or 'move' like us. In fact their senses are better attuned. They are persons who need to be treated with acceptance, love and respect, like any of us. Two students held a banner with the message to treat everyone kindly and respectfully. There was a power-point presentation on the life of Nick Vujicic who is a living example of a man who loves life and is happy. He has accepted his physical disability and has mastered various skills through sheer perseverance and faith in God. He has learnt skills such as cooking, speaking on the mobile, working on the computer (typing), inserting a video CD in a video player, walking his dog, moving on his wheel chair, surfing, swimming, etc. The disabilities were no longer seen as disabilities but as abilities accomplished with strong will power and regular practice, never giving up!

Ms. Nicole congratulated the class teacher and the students of Std. IIA for the beautiful, informative assembly. She reiterated the message that people who face disabilities are not disabled, they are differently abled and specially abled. The winners of the Friday weekly activity (Stds.I & II – Langdi, Stds. III & IV - Kho-Kho competitions) were then felicitated at the assembly. The assembly concluded with the singing of the school anthem.       

Field trip - Std. III

Field Trip to Chatrapati Shivaji Maharai Vastu Sangralaya

-Mrs. Mamta Bale

St. Joseph’s High School

Wadala

20^th Feb 2014

The field trip for Std. III to Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangralaya was scheduled for 20^th February, 2014.  102 students and two class teachers set out on this day to experience learning through fun, play and activity. The field trip served as a means to improve the skill of observation and to know about the history of early man.

The huge royal structure of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangralaya (Prince of Wales Museum) amazed the children. There were many articles, paintings, pictures and carvings that were centuries old. The articles exhibited ranged from tiny fishing hooks to huge stuffed animals and birds that are extinct today. There were ornaments and furniture used in those days by the kings and queens. Along with these were exhibited the personal arms and ammunition used by the kings and their soldiers. The students witnessed a demonstration on how birds and animals are stuffed and preserved. Observing the marvelous progress made by man over the years astonished us.

Once at the museum, the time flew so quickly that before long we found ourselves transported from the time zone of the early man to that of the modern day – our classrooms!