Daijiworld Media Network–Udupi (KR)
Pics: Jeevan D’Souza
Udupi, Nov 25: The inaugural and blessing ceremony of the newly-constructed second and third floors of St Mary’s English Medium School was held on Friday November 25 at Karnarpady. The school also celebrated its annual day on the same occasion.
Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop, diocese of Udupi blessed the newly-built floors, while Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes inaugurated them.
The programme started with an invocation led by the school choir. Raghupati Bhat, Fr Royson Fernandes, Fr Lawrence, Walter D’Souza honoured students who excelled in education, sports and extra-curricular activities. Students who participated in national-level competitions were also felicitated on the occasion.
Lancy Mascarenhas of Lancy Construction, Danny Pinto, architect, Prakash Andrade, electrical contractor, benefactors of second and third floors Nelson and Kavitha Mathias, Augustine and Benedicta Fernandes, Sunil and Sunila D’Souza, Robert Sequiera, Matpady, Alice Fernandes were felicitated by bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo.
Addressing the gathering, Oscar Fernandes congratulated the management on this achievement. "With CBSE scheme, students can get better exposure and excel at the national level. Some students can even do well at the international level. At the age of 62, I joined Kuchpudi dance classes and I asked the teacher about when I could get the certificate. She replied that I would get my certificate when I excelled in the dance form.
"I request the management to let 8th standard students be teachers for the first standard students which will definitely inspire the 8th standard students to be teachers and excel in their studies.
“We in parliament take classes for IAS, IPS and other high-ranked officers during their training period. If I get an opportunity to teach in school, I will definitely be a teacher and share my experience with the students," he said.
Former MLA Raghupati Bhat said, "Christian institutions have played a significant role in education and healthcare sectors. English and Kannada medium school of this institution used to be in one building in the heart of the city. But taking the future into consideration, the school has set up the new campus here.
"Today there is a huge demand for quality education at the PU level. As the late Dr V S Acharya used to say, educational institutions should be an educational complex where one can get education from KG to PG. St Mary’s School has taken the right step forward in this regard," he said.
Fr Lawrence D’Souza, secretary of CESU said, "Today we are celebrating three events together - inauguration of the two floors, commencement of PU section and annual day celebrations. We borrow from others with one purpose, that is, to impart a value-based education.
"Many allege that our institutions are involved in conversion. What we do here is to convert these students into leaders, excel in studies, excel in extra-curricular activities and above all, make them proud citizens of our nation who will build our country. May this institution strengthen and grow in the coming years."
In his presidential address, bishop Dr Gerald Lobo said, "We rejoice today for this achievement. I pray to God that all who contributed for this noble project be blessed.
"This insutution has become a school of excellence in education in and around Udupi. I congratulate the correspondent, the headmistress, the staff and the students on the high standard of discipline they maintain, and on the academic and the co-curricular activities conducted here.
"A wise Chinese proverb says ‘give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime’. Education at this institution teaches the children to think creatively and critically, thus forming them into persons of integrity and sound moral values," he said, adding, "I appreciate and congratulate the correspondent, the principal and the dedicated staff on their selfless service."
Fr Frederick Mascarenhas gave away mementos to guests as a token of appreciation.
The symbolic inauguration conveyed the message of a dream becoming a reality. The 'dream' was laid down in mud as a seed, later it grew spreading its roots, branches, leaves, flowers and fruits. It also depicted how the school was developed from a dream to a fruitful tree.
The bishop switched on the lights of star which was the 'dream'; Oscar Fernandes laid the seed and Fr Lawrence D’Souza its root. Fr Royson D’Souza inaugurated its branches while Walter D’Souza its leaves and Lancy Mascarenhas its flowers. Blossom Fernandes showed the fruits and Gratian Buthelo a rainbow which symbolically depicted development of the tree.
Principal Myrtle L F Lewis presented the school annual report.
Walter D’Souza, chairman, FIEO southern Region, Fr Royson Fernandes, assistant parish priest, Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi Gracetian Bothell, secretary, pastoral council, Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi, Fr Frederick Mascarenhas, correspondent, and Myrtle Lewis, principal, St Mary’s English Medium School, were present on the dais.
Fr Frederick Mascarenhas welcomed the gathering. Rita Quadros proposed the vote of thanks. Sathwik Joseph John and Jesvita Mathias compered the stage function while Aamir Sahin Khan and Rhea Dale Sequiera compered the cultural programme.
After the stage function, students from classes 6th to 11th performed various cultural events like American, African, Mexican and Hawaiian, Bharatanatyam, Chinese, Italian, Russian dances. Orchestra, Persian, Muderain, Mother Theresa Tableau, Waltz, Japnese, Rajasthani, Marathi, Gujrati, Punjabi dances were part of the cultural programme.