The Green Rangers...Greenline team meets the Josephites!

Josephites - The Green Rangers!

-Master Donnel Shibu and Ms. Sunita D’Souza

St. Joseph’s High School,

9^th July 2014

On 9th July, 2014 the eco-friendly Josephites had the first session of the Greenline Project for the year 2014-2015. The session began at 9.30 a.m. The GreenLine team comprised Kaustubh, Sonia and Shruti who were given a warm welcome by the Josephites. The monitors from Stds. IV-X took the lead on our green adventure with their presence and with their thinking caps, thinking green! The theme for this year is 'Tree Rangers'! Rev. Fr. Godfrey Desa (Principal) gave the Josephites a green pep talk to kickstart our adventure with nature, our friend.  Mrs. Pavita, Mrs. Cleopatra, Mrs. Saluja and Ms. Sunita along with the students forming the Green Brigade were ready to begin this new venture!

The session began with a prayer invoking God's blessings. Ms. Sonia conducted a session titled 'Who Am I?' drawing the attention of the students to the different kinds of trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and creepers, identification of trees, their size and shape, trunks, colour, pattern, texture, flowers, fruits, cones, different types of barks like flaking bark, fissured bark, smooth bark and thorny bark. The students were shown pictures of simple and compound leaves. The Greenline Team conducted an interesting game based on the kinds of leaves. The students were escorted by the Greenline Team into the 'World of Trees' and were introduced to the city's oldest trees like the Mahogany, Banyan, Gorakh Chinch and Boababi. They were taught how to plant trees, and the characteristics of certain new species of trees.

 

Ms. Sonia conducted an interesting quiz for the students who participated enthusiastically. The quiz was based on trees located in Mumbai City. The students guessed the names of the trees based on the sample leaves flashed on the screen, Both the teams performed extremely well. The students were told a few basic things that a Tree Ranger should do, to preserve, protect and love nature!

Ms. Shruti.then gave the Josephites a plan of action to start asap! She gave the students some challenging activities to complete. She briefed them on the steps needed to be taken to map trees by preparing an outline map of the school with the trees situated in the school campus. She suggested that the students take samples of the leaves of the trees in the school campus while recording their names, measure the girth, identify whether they are flowering or fruiting trees and record the trees visited in the tabular format presented and enlist these trees on the map. She encouraged the students to organise an exhibition and come up with their own ideas. 

Ms. Shruti then highlighted the pointers that would be taken for consideration while discerning and deciding the Best Green Awards at the end of the academic year. There would be one Green Champ selected from each school.Master Atharva Chaturvedi, the school head boy thanked the Greenline Team members and assured them that we would strive to live up to the promise that Mother Earth expects of us, by proving we are true 'Tree Rangers'. Some leaders of the higher classes then came forward with ideas that could be implemented to think green, see green and act green! The session ended at 10.30 a.m. with everyone present feeling energised, eco-sensitised to take on the mantle of 'Green Rangers'. 

Mother Earth, your 'Green Rangers' are here, to make you smile! Back in action! The action starts now!

Don Bosco, the role model for youth: Assembly by IV A

Don Bosco - The Role Model for the Youth

-Ms. Sunita D’Souza

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala

9^th July 2014

On 9th July, we had the first assembly in the Primary Section in honour of St. John Bosco, as we celebrate the bicentenary of his birth. The two comperes of Std. IV A warmly welcomed Fr. Godfrey Desa and Mrs. Matilda Fernandes and everyone present in the school hall. The backdrop held the words 'Don Bosco - Role Model For The Youth' along with the qualities he possessed - encourage, love, peace, joy, brotherhood and hope.'The assembly began by invoking God's blessings on our school by singing the hymn 'Bless Our School'. A group of students enacted the story based on Don Bosco's dream when he was 9 years old, which shaped his future and directed him to reach out to the youth, especially the poor and give them a brighter future with loving kindness.

Some students then came forward holding placards speaking about the qualities Don Bosco practised like hard work, perseverance, ambition, enthusiasm, faithfulness and honesty. The dance that followed was gracefully performed to the lyrics of the song 'Let's Celebrate Don Bosco'. The video-clip showcasing the works of Don Bosco and his interaction with the youth was then screened as the words of the hymn to Don Bosco was played seeking his blessings to guide us in all that we do. Fr. Godfrey addressed the students. He congratulated the students and the class teacher of Std. IV A for the marvelous assembly. He reiterated the values of Don Bosco and the way in which he practised what he preached. Certificates were distributed to the winners from Stds. I-IV for the Clay Moulding Competition which was the Friday weekly activity. The assembly concluded with the singing of the school anthem with due reverence. 

Guided by Don Bosco, we set forth on the journey he has set before us, to change and transform the world with loving kindness! 

Feast of St. Dominic Savio - Investiture Ceremony

Daring to lead like St. Dominic Savio

- Ms. Sunita D’Souza, Ms. Lidwina Mascarenhas

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala

14^th July 2014

At the first sign of dawn, on 4th June, 2014, excitement and exuberance filled the air as the family of St.Joseph's, Wadala, was eager to celebrate the feast of St. Dominic Savio.  Leading by example, St.Dominic Savio paved the way for young leaders to follow in his footsteps by the virtuous life he led, with the guidance and support of his teacher, St. John Bosco.

The day began with a special morning prayer led by Ms. Nicole highlighting the virtues of St. Dominic Savio, who was an extraordinary student of St. John Bosco. Simultaneously, there was a special mass for the Catholic students from Stds. III - X in the parish church.  Rev. Fr. Vivian D'Souza celebrated the thanksgiving mass unfurling the day on a spiritual note. The school choir comprising our students and budding guitarist. Master Cleo Braganza, and guided by Bro. Kiran Salve, added a bright spark and melody to the proceedings.

On this day, the students of Sr. Kg. of St. Dominic Savio Kindergarten had an enjoyable time in their classes, celebrating their feast with a short film on St. Dominic Savio and some interesting games organized by their teachers.

The words on the backdrop in the school hall were indeed inspiring and inviting - ' A Leader Knows The Way, Goes The Way and Shows The Way.' At 10 a.m., the Primary Section assembled in the school hall as the leaders sprung into action taking their positions like little soldiers ready to welcome our Chief Guest for the Investiture Ceremony, Rev. Fr. Salvador D'Souza.  The newly appointed leaders forming the guard of honour briskly ushered in the Chief Guest who was accompanied by Rev. Fr. Vivian D'Souza, the Vice-Rector, Ms. Nicole Britto, the Vice-Principal, and Mrs. Matilda Fernandes, the Primary Head Teacher. The two comperes, dressed in traditional attire, warmly welcomed the dignitaries. Rev. Fr. Vivian then introduced the Chief Guest to the gathering who was then presented with a bouquet of flowers. A group of students then reverently invoked the blessings of St. Dominic Savio through prayers.

Fr. Salvador began the Investiture Ceremony by investing the Head Boy of the Primary Section, Master Umang Achalia and the Asst. Head Boy, Master Shaurya Shetty. The House Captains and Vice-Captains of the four houses received their flags and ties from Fr. Salvador. The class house captains were then invested in turn by Fr. Vivian, Ms. Nicole and Mrs. Matilda. The little leaders were wreathed in smiles as they received their ties, symbolising leadership, co-operation and teamwork. The class teachers of Stds. I to IV invested the Class Monitors and the Asst. Class Monitors of their respective classes. All the leaders in turn pledged to carry out their duties to the best of their ability. Fr. Salvador then addressed the leaders congratulating them for assuming their newly appointed roles of leadership. He encouraged them to work together as they fulfill their duties, take care of the students and perform their duty with love. He urged them to become better leaders as they progressed in life and become responsible citizens of the community. Ms. Nicole then proposed the vote of thanks and the programme drew to a close at 10.40 a.m. with the singing of the school anthem. 

During the short break, the staff members partook of some tasty refreshments wonderfullspecially organized by the teachers of St. Dominic Savio kindergarten. Chocolates were distributed to all the students to celebrate the feast of St. Dominic Savio! 

After the break, the Secondary Section assembled in the hall for its Investiture Ceremony. Once again, Fr. Salvador D’Souza did the honours as the Chief Guest. The hall resounded with a thunderous applause as Master Atharva Chaturvedi was installed as the Head Boy and Master Varun Tirthani as the Asst. Head Boy. The rest of the school leaders and class leaders were invested in turn by Fr. Vivian, Ms. Nicole, Mrs. Sangita ending with the class teachers investing their Monitors and Assistant Monitors. The NCC and RSP captains were also installed as leaders at this solemn ceremony. The ceremony ended with the students singing the school anthem with gusto.

The leaders drawing inspiration from St. Dominic Savio, honorably received their ties and are now all set, in body, mind and spirit to do his bidding! They now set forth to accomplish the greater glory of God, following in the footsteps of St. Dominic Savio, propelled by the school motto 'I am born for greater things!'        

Leadership Program

Be the change you want to see

-Atharva Chaturvedi

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala

26^th June, 2014

                        As it is rightly said that many hands make light work, the students of St. Joseph’s High School, Wadala, and Don Bosco, Matunga, imbibed this lesson in their leadership workshop conducted by the Adhyayan team at Don Bosco, Matunga. This camp was held on the 21^st, 23^rd, 24^th and the 25^th of June 2014, by three gems of the Adhyayan team - Christian, Holley and Alice. There were about 45 students who gave their all for this camp, thereby learning valuable lessons. 

                        On Saturday, the 21^st of June, the day began with some amusing activities which helped the students to get pumped up for the rest of the program. These activities also helped the neophytes to enhance their listening skills. After the session of games, the students were asked to prepare charts depicting their likes and dislikes of their alma mater. The first day was a rather vigorous day for all the students where many good values were imparted to them. On the second day, the students were given different roles to enact a perfect court scene which certainly boosted the counseling abilities of the novices. The students earnestly assimilated all the ideals from this session. The session also rendered all the qualities of a ‘Perfect Leader’ on this day.

                        The students gained knowledge about the quality of conviction on the third day when they actually tried to convince the audience that they are the BEST! They also prepared a list of points which they felt should be implemented or changed in their school. On the last day, the students attended an assembly conducted by X-E which was indeed elegant and graceful. The students then proceeded to present their apprehension about the problems that they face in school, to their respective Principals. The effort put in by the students was indeed remarkable! At the end of all presentations, Fr. Godfrey D’Sa, the Principal of St. Joseph’s High School, Wadala, gave a motivational speech to the students present there. It provided the necessary stimulation to the leaders to strive for a better tomorrow!