My Opinion - Class Assembly: Std. IV B

MY OPINION

- Ms. Sunita D’Souza

St. Joseph’s High School, Wadala

24^th July 2014

The backdrop held the words -'I Have The Right and I Have The Responsibility To Express My Opinion At The Right Time And Place And To Be Treated With Respect'.The compere warmly welcomed everyone on behalf of all the students of Std. IV B. The assembly began by seeking God's blessings on everyone and thanking Him for all that we have received through the words of the hymn, 'O Give Thanks To The Lord'. The skit that followed was based on the need to express our opinions (child's opinions in particular) at the right time and place. The students expressed their opinions about topics like prayer, homework, cleanliness, healthy food, class work, P.T. periods, computers, good manners, etc.  Next a power point presentation was conducted by two students to spread awareness about CRY (Child Rights and You), an organisation which focuses on striving to achieve the rights of every child. They elaborated on the rights that every child is entitled to.

A group of students dressed in formal attire expressively recited the poem 'IN MY OPINION' with each letter of the title pinned onto their shirts. They stated that they would express their opinions truthfully, being sensitive and genuine. They thanked everyone for listening to their opinions, for believing in them and for making them feel special! A troupe of dancers rhythmically, and through graceful movements,  portrayed their opinion about stopping child labour, as they danced to the song 'Bezubaan'. Each one of the dancers held a banner with a message depicting the rights and responsibilities of every child. The closing act in the dance highlighted the importance of every child labourer securing his right to education.

Fr. Bernard (Principal) then addressed the students. He congratulated the class and the class teacher for conducting the assembly well and appreciated the efforts taken to make the presentations colourful and vibrant.  He reiterated the need for every child to be able to express his opinions making everyone aware that opinions are formed at an early age and must be heard and respected. He also urged the children that they must be careful while forming an opinion about matters that concern them.

Certificates for the Friday weekly activity were then distributed. Mrs. Matilda announced the names of the winners and Fr. Principal congratulated them as he handed over their certificates!

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

Class assembly - Std. IV A

THE RIGHTS OF A CHILD

- Ms. Sunita D’Souza

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

10^th July 2013

The first assembly of the academic year in the Primary Section was conducted by the students of Std. IV A on the theme ‘Rights and Responsibilities'. There was a great emphasis on the right to be happy and to be treated with understanding. Greater was our responsibility to treat others with understanding - not to laugh at others, tease others, or try to hurt their feelings.

The compere warmly welcomed everyone to the class assembly of Std. IVA. God's blessings were implored on everyone present and His guidance sought through the words of the bhajan, 'Hum Ko Mann Ki Shakti Dena'. 

The students of Std. IVA expressed the right to be protected against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation. Some students enacted a skit to demonstrate the right to affection, love and understanding, especially the right to treat each other politely.  A group of students then held flashcards to focus on the rights and responsibilities thus making us aware of their value. Through the words of the poem, 'Children's Rights' some students wonderfully portrayed the rights entitled to every child.

In the power-point presentation based on 'Politeness' two students expressed ways in which we could practise politeness on a day-to-day basis. Out came the Golden Rule, 'Treat others how we would like to be treated', which summed up the gist of their message. 

Fr. Bernard then addressed the students and staff members. He congratulated the class and the class teacher, Mrs. Smitha Lewis for the beautiful, thought-provoking assembly. He drew the attention of the students to the need to practise politeness at all times keeping the 'Golden Rule' in mind, because every person has the right and responsibility to be treated with respect and treat others with respect too. He stressed that every child has the right to be spoken to politely and he in turn has the responsibility to speak politely with others. 

The students who won the 1st and 2nd places in the Clay Moulding competition were congratulated. The competition on the theme ‘Rain Creatures’ was held on 28th June 2013 as part of the Friday Activity for the students from Stds. I –IV.

The assembly concluded with the singing of the school anthem.       

Feast of St. Dominic Savio and Installation of leaders of school

Installation of leaders

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

7^th July 2013

It’s that time of the scholastic year when the leaders look forward with great enthusiasm and anticipation.  It’s their ‘installation day’.  The feast of Dominic Savio is the moment specially chosen to install our leaders, for the saint provides the right motivation, inspiration and exemplary holiness.

A special Eucharistic banquet celebrated by the charismatic Fr. Allwyn Misquitta set the tone for the day’s proceedings.  All the leaders who were to be sworn-in at the installation ceremony during the day were present for the mass in their elegant attire, as also a large gathering of students, parents and well-wishers.

The first group to march in for the installation ceremony was the primary section.  A prayerful beginning followed by the investiture of the primary section captain and vice-captain by the Principal, Fr. Bernard Fernandes, set the pace for the others to follow.  The house captains and vice-captains were installed by the Principal, Fr. Bernard F, the Vice-Principal, Ms. Nicole Britto, and the head teacher of the Primary section, Mrs. Matilda Fernandes. Thereafter it was the turn of the class teachers to install the monitors of their respective classes.   The leaders, looking graceful and smart, promised under oath, to be helpful, honest and diligent in fulfilling their tasks.

The installation ceremony of the leaders of the secondary section was a well-orchestrated event under the able guidance of Ms. Cressieda, Ms. Rina and Mr. Raj.  The guests of honour, Fr. Bernard Fernandes (Principal), Ms. Nicole Britto (Vice-Principal/Headmistress) and Mrs. Sangita Bhattacharya (Supervisor) were escorted to the dais by the dapper looking and disciplined guard of honor. With a sprightly spring in their walk, the leaders, beginning with the head boy and the assistant head boy, trooped in to take their oath and receive their flag/sashes from the guests of honor.  Following the captains and vice-captains of the houses, it was the turn of the class monitors to be installed by their respective class teachers.  The impressive ceremony drew to a close with a message and a vote of thanks by the Principal, Fr. Bernard Fernandes.  A clarion call was given to the leaders to be respectful, loyal, efficient and exemplary, while the assembly was encouraged to obey and cooperate with the newly installed leaders to take the school to even greater heights!

SETS program underway!

The SETS program is happening!

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

2^nd July 2013

The SETS (Special Education Teacher Support) program designed to assist the learning disabled students is underway in our school this scholastic year.   The forty students from Stds. II and III, carefully chosen through a process of observation, testing and diagnosis by their class teachers during the last scholastic year, will be placed in a specifically devised classroom under a specially trained teacher.  The focus will be on the development of skills in English and Mathematics.  A trained resource person will oversee the preparation of IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) for the students designed to help them reach the same level of proficiency as the other students of their class over a period of time.

A brief orientation program was conducted for the parents of these students on 28^th June 2013 to help them understand their child better and assist us in this educative process.  Fr. Edward D’Souza sdb, briefed the parents through an effective power-point presentation on the specific learning disability in a child, and the procedures planned to implement the SETS program in the school.  Present at the meeting were Fr. Bernard Fernandes (Principal), Ms. Nicole Britto (Vice-Principal), Mrs. Matilda Fernandes (Head teacher of the Primary section), Mrs. Manjusha (SETS teacher) and Ms. Nisha (resource person).

The parents could not thank the Management and the support team enough for this wonderful gesture and initiative that will help their children see through this difficult yet challenging phase and bloom into successful individuals.

An enriching student leadership programme

ADHYAYAAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

-          Ms. Cressieda Murzello

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

29^th June 2013

What started as a rainy day for Mumbaikars on 10^th June 2013 proved to be a day to cherish for the leaders of St. Joseph's High School, Wadala and Don Bosco High School, Matunga. All thanks to the Adhyayan Organization for their interesting, creative and innovative eight-day workshop for the leaders of the four Salesian schools in Mumbai (simultaneously, a similar leadership program was on for the leaders of Don Bosco High School, Borivili and Dominic Savio High School, Andheri). 

On the first day, the leaders were greeted by Mr. Michael and Ms. Sophia from the Central School of Speech and Drama, London . The workshop began with an energetic exercise of rhythmic exercise that was followed by 'The Penguin Song', a weird yet an interesting and innovative concept . Then ensued a host of invigorating activities in groups as ice-breakers and value-discovery exercises. 

On day two, the participants were engaged in a blindfold game advocating ‘trust’, and an absorbing treasure map task that drilled in the impact of leadership qualities in managing one’s team. The end of the day saw all rocking to the song, “I say boom chicka rocka chicka boom”.  The amusing banana song sung by the leaders on a conjectured lonely island following a plane crash was the day’s first activity on the third day of the workshop.  The tough ‘mother hawk’ game and the ‘man monster cum survivors’ team game took us to the end of yet another entertaining day. 

Following a break of four days, the workshop resumed on 17^th June with some enthusiastic tasks for the leaders.  The qualities of teamwork were best put to use during the construction of the longest tower with the help of straws.  Thereafter, a ‘Democratic System of Student Council’ was explained to the students by Ms. Shagun.  The students met in smaller groups to work on the formation of the Students’ council for the school, and discussed the problems and the issues that could be addressed and solved through this forum.  This important activity was continued right through the next day.  On the fifth day, the leaders thoroughly enjoyed the game called ‘THE ULTIMATE NINJA’ – which was soon to become a hit- that taught them a great lesson: to survive and succeed one has to listen to his leaders. The students then worked on charts to present their plan to conduct school council meetings. 

On the second last day of the workshop, after the preliminaries of songs and games, the students got down to their task of defining the goals of the Student Council, and nearly created a 'CONSTITUTION' for our very own country-like school.  Later the student leaders were given a lesson in the conduct of a Student Council through a role play activity – Chair, Vice Chair and the Scribe. On 21^st June, being the last day of the leadership camp, the boys marched in with abundant energy and enthusiasm.  Energetic exercises, the games SPLAT and ‘the cat and the mouse’ were the prelude to the STUDENT COUNCIL MEETING.  The issues of the meeting that featured ‘change in uniform’ and ‘cleanliness around the school’ were selected by the Chair and the Vice Chair appointed by Mr. Michael and Ms. Sophie . 

This was sadly the last session at the camp. The students of St. Joseph’s presented Ms. Sophie and Mr. Michael a ‘thank you’ card and a photograph as their token of appreciation for them. We have just begun a new scholastic year – may these inputs prove to be fruitful and productive for the entire school community.

Teachers' Training Program - The 4 Salesian Schools of Mumbai

BE THAT CHANGE

-Ms. Sunita D’Souza

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala

26^th June 2013

The Adhyayan Team, Quality Education Services Pvt. Ltd. was at the forefront yet again of another major educational program involving the four Salesian schools of Mumbai.  This time around it was the Teachers' Training Programme for the Salesian schools (A Beginning of Term Workshop for Teachers of Salesian Schools).  The teachers from Dominic Savio High School (Andheri), Don Bosco High School (Matunga), Don Bosco High School (Borivali) and St. Joseph's High School (Wadala) assembled at St. Joseph’s High School, Wadala for a two-day seminar on 10th and 11th June 2013.  A torrential downpour that stopped Mumbai in its tracks delayed the scheduled inaugural session by over an hour.

Having enrolled themselves at the registration counter and armed with special folders and writing materials – and yes, after relishing a sumptuous breakfast - the participants marched into the auditorium for the inaugural session. After a short prayer-service, Ms. Nicole Britto (Vice-Principal) of St. Joseph’s, Wadala warmly welcomed the gathering, with Fr. Crispino D’Souza (Principal, Dominic Savio, Andheri)  introducing the resource personnel (Adhyayan group of seven members headed by Ms.Kavita) to the assembly.  Mrs. Kavita addressed the teachers and spelt out the Adhyayan mission: 'To Support the Growth and Development of Leading Teachers.' 

In the first session, The RTE (Right To Education) and NCF (National Curriculum Framework) were highlighted by Ms. Kavita.  Working in small groups, the teachers acquainted themselves with one another through a game ‘Human Bingo’, and thereafter got down to serious business dissecting and comprehending the central ideas of the RTE and NCF.  An activity to grasp the finer points of the intriguing and widely embraced Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences was up next.  The teachers were presented with the description of the seven multiple intelligences viz. linguistic, logistic/mathematical, musical, bodily/ kinesthetic, spatial/visual, interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences - their typical roles, preferences, potential in society, related tasks, activities or tests in the classroom, and the preferred learning styles in school. There were lively and creative presentations by groups – based entirely on the specific multiple intelligences that further reinforced the theory and its practice.

 

Interspersed were lunch break and tea sessions where the teachers got an opportunity to interact with one another and share notes on their profession, hobbies and families.

On day two, the teachers were served piping hot breakfast upon their arrival.  The session that followed began with a prayer, and a talk by Mrs. Kavita that outlined the goals as leading teachers and how we could work towards achieving them. The two key skills of learning, i.e. planning and problem solving as an opportunity to do things differently were also highlighted.  The teachers were then grouped together to discuss certain key issues pertaining to education.  Before long, it was time for lunch.  After a splendid meal (and ice-cream too!), the group leaders presented – in their unique style - the key issues pertaining to education that came up for discussion in their respective groups. An in-depth analysis made in the groups relating to issues such as absence of punishment and failure, student-teacher ratio, teacher ability, systems and time constraints were a feature of the presentations by the group representatives.  

During the last session of the seminar, which was again a group activity, each teacher made a personal commitment to introduce change in his/her classroom teaching methods. The teachers shared in groups their own personal commitments that they felt would suit and foster learning in class.  At a feedback session that followed, the teachers thanked the Adhyayan team for their guidance and expertise that would assist them make learning a 'quality defined' process.

Fr. Bosco (Principal of Don Bosco High School, Matunga) and the Adhyayan team thanked the management of the host school, Fr. Bernard Fernandes (recuperating from an illness), Fr. Allwyn Misquitta, and Ms. Nicole who ensured a smooth sailing of this programme!  Ms. Meera from the Adhyayan Team was impressed by the spirited participation of the entire group of teachers.  Ms. Kavita wished the teachers a fruitful, fun-filled and quality-based interactive 'teaching and learning' journey ahead! And that’s where we are headed for this year!  

Inaugural prayer service to begin a new scholastic year

Into Your Hands O Lord

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

25^th June 2013

A new beginning replete with possibilities, dreams, projects and challenges, also serves as a reminder that there is a God above, the centre of our lives, who directs, guides and blesses our every step.  No beginning – or end – is complete without God’s grace.

The inaugural prayer service conducted meaningfully by Ms. Joanna on 24^th June 2013 for the secondary school assembly was indeed a significant occasion for the staff and students to surrender the new scholastic year into God’s hands and be guided and protected by the Divine. The lighting of the lamp by Fr. Rector, the scripture reading from the Bible, the symbolic presentations and petitions accounted for a steady diet for spiritual nourishment, as also a serene atmosphere at the assembly. The inspirational video clipping ‘Life Vest’ challenged the gathering to reach out in love and service.

Fr. Godfrey D’Sa, our Rector, in his speech, reminded those present that the key to one’s happiness and joy lies inside of one’s heart – it is the individual who shapes his/her growth and destiny through responses to life situations.  He welcomed the new staff members – Fr. Allwyn Misquitta, Ms. Niveta and Ms. Saghayarani – to the family of St. Joseph’s, Wadala.  With a bouquet in his hand, and in his own inimitable manner, Fr. Allwyn Misquitta, illustrated his message vividly: “If you cannot be a flower, do not be a thorn!”

In conclusion, Fr. Bernard Fernandes, the Principal, once again welcomed the new staff and thanked the Management team for their supportive presence.  He applauded the efforts of Ms. Joanna and the support team of staff and students for a devout and purposeful prayer service that ought to set the tone for an adventurous academic year ahead.