Moodubelle: Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of St. Lawrence High School Begins

By Victor DSouza
Pics by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 20 Dec: St. Lawrence High School, Moodubelle, Udupi, a leading educational institution in the region, well known for its excellent academic performance, on the occasion of completing the 60 glorious years, began the Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Friday 20 December 2019. In the two days event, the first day contained thanksgiving and nostalgic celebrations bringing together the old students of this institution from across the world. Preparations were made for this great celebration by the committee well in advance with an open invite to benefactors, well-wishers, ex-students, parents and others associated with the school, to save the date and partake in the gala celebration.

 

The celebration began with the thanksgiving mass held in the morning at 9.00 am in St. Lawrence Church Moodubelle. Rev Fr Clement Mascarenhas – Parish Priest of St Lawrence Church Moodubelle (who is also the Correspondent of St Lawrence Educational Institutions) was the celebrant of the mass. The mass was also attended by various guests, dignitaries, old students, school staff, students, parents and local parishioners.

 

After the thanksgiving mass the flag hoisting ceremony was held in the High School. Devaraya Shanbhag – Principal of St Lawrence High School welcomed the guests and the gathering. Students marched in smartly and took the salute as chief guest Ranjani Hegde – President of Belle Grama Panchayath hoisted the flag. Students sang the anthem. Rev Fr Clement Mascarenhas – Correspondent of St Lawrence Educational Institutions, Rev Fr Jitesh Castelino – Assistant Parish Priest of St Lawrence Church Moodubelle, other guests and dignitaries, staff and students were present on the occasion.

 

Later everyone moved into school hall and the morning stage program began at 10.00 am. The program was presided over by Rev Fr Clement Mascarenhas – Correspondent of St Lawrence Educational Institutions. The Diamond Jubilee celebration was inaugurated by Wilson Rodrigues – Member of Zilla Panchayath Udupi along with other guests and dignitaries on the dias by lighting the lamp. Chief guests of the program were Laxminarayana Saralaya - Hotel Entrepreneur in Karada Maharastra and Dr Shobha R. Prabhu – Asst Professor & Head of Physics Dept NMAM Institute of Technology Nitte. Other dignitaries on the dias were Devaraya Shanbhag – Principal of St Lawrence High School, Sujatha Suvarna – Member of Taluk Panchayath Udupi, Sunitha Kamath – Senior Teacher, Vincent Fernandes – Vice President of St Lawrence Church Pastoral Council, Dr Rajeshwari Koradkal, Belle Niranjana Rao, Jerald Fernandes – President of Parent – Teacher’s Association, Maxim DSa – Presidnet Old Student’s Association, Suraj Nayak – College Student Leader and Vyshnavi – School Student Leader.

 

In his speech Wilson Rogdrigues narrated the academic excellence of this high school throughout these 60 years and gave an example, years ago while he was a high school student in Shirva, in a particular year the exams were very tough and though most of all the schools scored badly, St Lawrence High School managed to score hundred percent results in that year, which reflects the standard this school maintained in any tough situation, he said.

 

In his presidential address Fr Clement Mascarenhas recalled on the past 60 glorious years the Institution has come through and the efforts made by the school management & teaching staff which took the school into new heights. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas thanked the teachers for their contribution and he also gave some tips to students.

 

On this occasion Dr Rajeshwari Koradkal and Dr. Shobha R. Prabhu were felicitated with shawl, fruits and flowers in recognition of their contribution to the society. Citation of their academic excelleance, various achievements and contributions were redout. In reply Dr Rajeshwari Koradkal thanked the organizing committee for the honour and explained the students on the importance of education.

 

Prize distribution was conducted and winning school students in annual sports, games, talent competition were given away prizes by the dignitaries on the dias. The stage program was compered by Sudheer. The morning session of celebration was concluded with fellowship lunch. 

 

Evening stage program began at 5.30 pm. The program was presided over by Most Rev Dr Jerald Isaac Lobo – Bishop of Udupi Diocease.  Chief guests present on the dias were Lalaji Mendon – MLA of Kaup Constituency, Rev Fr Vincent Crasta - Secretary Catholic Board of Education Udupi, Gopalakrishna Samaga Belle – Assistant General Manager Karnataka Bank Regional Office Udupi and Ranjani Hegde – President of Belle Grama Panchayath. Other dignitaries present on the dias were Devaraya Shanbhag – Principal of St Lawrence High School, Sunitha Kamath – Senior Teacher, William Aranha – Businessman & Philanthropist Qatar, Ganesh Poojary, Rakesh DSouza, Sabina Alva, Suraj Nayak – College Student Leader and Vyshnavi – School Student Leader.

 

Fr Clement Mascarenhas welcomed all the guests and the gathering. He also thanked them for taking time and gracing this event with their presence. In the introductory note Sunitha Kamath said that the organizing and souvenir committee has put up lot of hard work in contacting all the old students and well wishers and gathered funds on the occasion of Diamond Jubilee. After the celebrations are over, the left over amount will become school fund for the further development of the institution to continue to provide excellent education to the future generation of the society. In order to make this possible the fund needs to grow and Sunitha Kamath called upon all the old students to contribute a small part of their earnings towards this fund.

 

Devaraya Shanbhag presented the detailed Diamond Jubilee and Annual report. He narrated the brief history ever since the establishment of this school, 60 years ago and its growth. He also provided the figures of the results, strength of the school, overall performance, NSS activities and sports activities.  

 

Prize distribution program was conducted. John Castelino – Teacher, readout the name list of top scoring high school students and the prize sponsors. Dignitaries on the dias Vincent Fernandes, Ranjani Hegde and Ganesh Poojary handed over the prizes to the winning students.

 

Janabharatha Sharma – Teacher, readout the name list of top scoring PU college students and the prize sponsors. Dignitaries on the dias Maxim DSa and Fr Jitesh Castelino handed over the prizes to the winning students.

 

Valerian Sequeira – Physical Education Teacher of high school, readout the name list of winning high school students in athletics & sports competitions and the prize sponsors. Dignitary on the dias Sobina Alva handed over the prizes to the winning students.

 

Joseph DSouza – Physical Education Teacher of PU college, readout the name list of winning PU college students in athletics & sports competitions and the prize sponsors. Dignitary on the dias Rakesh DSouza handed over the prizes to the winning students.

 

Gopalakrishna Samaga who is also an old student of this institution in his speech recalled the old days while he was a student. He said while the Silver Jubilee of this high school was celebrated he was a student and was sitting in the audience watching the program. But today after 35 years while the Diamond Jubilee is celebrated he has been invited as the guest on the dias. Hence being part of this celebration in this situation seems a great occasion in my life, said Gopalakrishna Samaga.

 

It was then time to release the Diamond Jubilee Souvenir “Vajra Varna”. Chief Editor of the Souvenir Sudha Bhat – Teacher, briefed on compiling all the details into the Souvenir and thanked the Editorial Committee for their contribution on completing this task and hoping it meets the expectations. Since the printing of copies could not be completed, they will be distributed later once ready she said. The Diamond Jubilee Souvenir “Vajra Varna” was released by Lalaji Mendon along with other dignitaries on the dias.

 

Upadyaya Moodubelle who designed the cover page of the Diamond Jubilee Souvenir “Vajra Varna” was honoured on the dias with shawl, fruits and flowers. Citation of his excellence, various achievements and contributions were redout. Speaking on the occasion MLA Lalaji Mendon appreciated the school management for organizing the event and also for the contributions of this institution to the society in the field of education. He also conveyed his advance greetings to all the gathered on the occasion of Christmas and New Year.

 

 

The donors who donated from Rs 5,000 upto Rs 25,000 were called upon the dias and honoured with flower and memento by the dignitaries on the dias Fr Vincent Crasta and Fr Clement Mascarenhas. The donors who donated above Rs 25,000 were honoured on the dias with shawl, fruits, flowers and memento. The list of donors was readout by Noveen Corea – Principal of PU College. Donors on the dias handed over an symbolic cheque to the Institution Correspondent Fr. Clement Mascarenhas as an expression of their support to the institution.

 

On behalf of the donors William Aranha spoke and thanked the high school for providing the basic education which is a foundation and from where all the old students moved on to various routes and excelled in their lives. It is because of the school what we are today, he said. The donors are contributing not because they have excess, but because of their love towards the institution, said William Aranha. He thanked the committee for organizing this event and also for inviting all old students and well wishers. Along with his wife, William Aranha handed over a cheque to Institution Correspondent Fr. Clement Mascarenhas as his contribution to school fund.

 

Jerald Fernandes spoke on the occasion and said that the high school has grown step by step regularly to new heights with the continuous supports of old students and the hard work of all the Correspondents and School management & staff. He thanked everyone who contributed towards the success of this celebration.

 

In his presidential address Bishop Jerald Lobo said that it is not just the knowledge a good educational institution should provide, but the overall development of the human being. Only the value education can transform a human being into a good citizen of the country. For the long-lasting fruit provide value education he said. Though the Christian population is as less as 2 percent in the country, their contribution in the field of education is over 20 percent said Bishop Jerald Lobo.

 

Jacintha Nathalia Lobo – Teacher, proposed vote of thanks. Edward Larsen compered the entire evening stage program. After the stage program, cultural programs were conducted. Students put up a great show and rocked the stage. There were group singing and group dancing with colourful dresses and costumes. At the end the PU college students performed an English play with a message “say no to drugs”. Later the students sang Christmas Carols and then the Santa Clause arrived. The cultural program enthralled the audience.