Moodubelle: Diamond Jubilee Celebration of St. Lawrence High School Concludes

By Victor DSouza
Pics by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 21 December 2019: Continuing with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of St Lawrence High School on the second day, Saturday 21 December 2019, the program for old students began in the late afternoon with verity of sports, games and fancy dress competitions. These competitions were entertaining and kept the laughter throughout among the audience. This was followed by refreshments.

 

Evening stage program began at 5.30 pm. The program was presided over by Rev Fr Clement Mascarenhas – Correspondent of St Lawrence Educational Institutions. Chief guests present on the occasion were Wilfred Menezes – CEO of Omnitek Group Dubai-UAE and Prashanth Shetty – Entrepreneur Shanthala Padubettu Moodubelle. Other dignitaries present on the dias were William Aranha – Businessman & Philanthropist Qatar, Rev Fr Dr Sunil DSouza, Rev Fr Jitesh Castelino – Assistant Parish Priest of St Lawrence Church, Vincent Fernandes – Vice President of St Lawrence Church Pastoral Council, Devaraya Shanbhag – Principal of St Lawrence P.U. College, Sunitha Kamath – Senior Teacher, Jerald Fernandes – President of Parent – Teacher’s Association and Maxim DSa – President Old Student’s Association.

 

Maxim DSa welcomed all the guests and the gathering. All the guests and dignitaries on the dias were given flower bouquet as a token of love and respect. Sudhir Poojary – Secretary of Old Students Association read the annual report of the Old Students Association, which narrated the association’s involvement in various school sports and social activities and also the involvement with local associations such as Lions Club in carrying out community services.

 

It was then time for the old students to honour and respect all the retired and current teaching and non-teaching staff of the institution in “Guru Vandana” program. Padmanabh Hegde and Lloyd Rebello called upon those retired teaching and non-teaching staff on the dias briefing on their career path and invited them on the dias to take their seat to honour them.

 

 

The honoured retired teaching and non-teaching staff were P.D. Kamath, Baptist Miranda, Emmanuel Carnelio, Alfonse DCosta, Jerome Saldanha, K. Hameed, Suchalatha, Precilla Lobo, Hilda Aranha, Sarojini Kamath, Shrinivas Ballal and Leena DSilva, Chandrakala B.E., B. Padmanabha Nayak, Jochim Lobo, Charles Quadros and Francis Lobo. They were honoured with shawl, flowers, fruits and mementos. Also the names of retired teaching and non-teaching staff John Menezes, Rev Fr Paul Sequeira, Victor Rebello, P, Snehalatha, Y. Chandrashekar Rao, K. Laxminarayana Bhat, Yashwant Shenoy, Sister Hezel, Fr Arun, Albert Noronha were called and their career path was briefed, but due to unavoidable circumstances they were unable to attend this event.

 

Leena DSa called upon the current teaching and non-teaching staff of the institution and invited them on the dias to take their seat to honour them. The honoured current teaching and non-teaching staff were; High School – Sunitha Kamath, John Castelino, Herald, Valerian Castelino, Sudhir Nayak, Stany Menezes, Robert Menezes, Steven DSouza and P.U. College - Devaraya Shanbhag – Principal, Jacintha Lobo, Naveen Corea, Edward DSouza, Janabharatha Sharma, Joseph DSouza, Sudha Bhat, Dilip Kumar, Alveena DSouza, Rashmi Shetty, Jacintha Danti, Raghuram Nayak, Pamitha Veera DSouza, Saritha, Winnie Wilson, Christine Fernandes, Edward Noronha, Alwyn Noronha, Anitha Quadros.

 

On behalf of the honoured teachers P.D. Kamath, Hilda Aranha, Naveen Corea and Chandraleka B.E. spoke and thanked the organizing committee and school management for celebrating this event in such grand manner. They also thanked the old students for remembering them and honouring.

 

P.D. Kamath recalled the good but difficult old days of the institution which had his involvement or presence through these 60 years. He remembered Fr. A.F. DSouza, Fr V.G.F. Rego and FR Alexander Lobo who were the former Correspondents of the institution with whom he was closely associated. He said the Old Students Association needs to be strengthened by adding new members.

 

Hilda Aranha appreciated the organizing committee for the well organized program and thanked them for honouring. She stressed on Kannada medium schools suffering due shortage of students as they are more attracted towards English medium schools. However that will not stop the excelling and achievement of Kannada medium schools. She said teaching profession is best among all professions because the teachers build the lives of students. Advising the students she said that winning or loosing, both should be taken positively. Patience and hard work will help in achieving the goals in life, she said.

 

Naveen Corea on behalf of all teachers thanked the Old Students Association. He said the teachers feel happy and contended when the students succeed and make achievement in their life. Chandralekha B.E. thanked for honouring the teachers and remembered Fr Alexander Lobo the dynamic Correspondent during her time as teacher. Giving tips to students she asked the children to keep away form mobile phone as it distracts their concentration in studies.

 

Winners of variety of sports, games and fancy dress competitions held earlier were given away the prizes on the dias. Lloyd Rebello readout the list of winners and the prizes were handed over by the dignitaries on the dias.

 

Wilfred Menezes an old student of the institution and currently the CEO of Omnitek group of companies was honoured with royal peta, shawl, memento, flowers and fruits. Citation of his academic excelleance, various achievements and contributions were redout by Jerald Fernandes. Being a close friend, class mate and next door neighbor to Wilfred Menezes, Jerald Fernandes briefed about his family and achievements. Wilfred Minezes’s wife Reena and their three children were with him while receiving the hobour from the dignitaries on the dias.

 

Speaking on the occasion Wilfred Menezes said that 36 years ago he was a student of this institution, but never climbed the stage and this is the first time he is on this school dias, that too being a guest. He said he is fortunate to take part in the silver jubilee, golden jubilee and now diamond jubilee of this institution. We were young naughty kids while we were students. It is our teachers, who corrected, guided, shaped and blessed us. It is their doing what we are today, he said. The quality of education is the result of commitment of teachers. Yesterday’s program is an live example of what these teachers can extract from the students, because the students presented fantastic stage programs last night, said Wilfred Menezes. He also remembered the elderly people in old days who sacrificed so much to establish and support this institution. Appealing to all the old students he said by contributing whatever possible we can continue our supports whenever the institution needs.

 

Three old students Rev Fr Dr Sunil DSouza, Dr Laveena Fernandes and Dr Paul Castelino were honoured on the dias with shawl, memento, flowers and fruits for their excellence. Citation of their academic excellence, various achievements and contributions were readout by Sumalatha, Prema Rose and Mangala respectively.

 

Dr Sunil DSouza spoke and said that the life is a fight, but with the help of teachers and fellow students we can become strong to fight it. While away from home town sometimes he gets to read in news papers or hear from others about the achievements of St. Lawrence Institution, which makes him feel proud said Dr Sunil. He thanked the old students and the teachers for making this happen.

 

Dr Laveena Fernandes recalled the names of all the teachers who taught her and said that she learned a lot from each one of them. It is the extra curricular activities in the school that helped her development. She called upon the students to grab every opportunity that come across, because it is the key to success. After losing her father at very young age it was her mother who stood by her, supported her and gave her the freedom she deserves, for this, she thanked her mother who was in the audience.

 

Prashanth Shetty an Entrepreneur was honoured on the dias with shawl, memento, flowers and fruits for his excellence. Citation of his excellence, various achievements and contributions were readout by Ranjani Hegde – President of Belle Panchayath. Ranjani Hegde an old student of this institution was also the classmate of Prashanth Shetty. She briefed about his family and the career and business path in which he excelled.

 

Sunitha Kamath – Senior teacher who led the Diamond Jubillee celebration committee was honoured on the dias with shawl, memento, flowers and fruits. Devdas Hebbar – Former Udupi Taluk Panchayath Presidnet and also the old student of this institution readout the citation on the hard work, planning and leadership that produced this successful celebration event.

 

Rev Fr Clement Mascarenhas – Correspondent of St Lawrence Educational Institutions was honoured with royal peta, shawl, memento, flowers and fruits. Citation of his excellence, various achievements and contributions were redout by Charles Quadros.

 

Sunitha Kamath speaking on the occasion said that all credits of the successful celebration of Diamond Jubilee go to Fr Clement because he was always there to support and guide. With his blessings we never had any set back and we always moved forward, she said. Also it was the old students who supported and this celebration became possible, she said. Sunitha Kamath also called upon the old students to contribute whatever possible into school fund so that it will help the future students.

 

In his presidential address Fr Clement Mascarenhas said that he is happy to see the old students and dignitaries on the dias and their affection towards this institution where they studied. He said Moodubelle is beautiful place because all the people, the men and women are all beautiful in their heart too. Whenever there is good work to be done I get the encouragement from the people saying we are there to support, he said. Fr Clement credited the success of Diamond Jubilee celebration to Sunitha Kamath, Devaraya Shanbhag and the entire team. Though he guided and supported them, it is their hard work that made this possible he said.

 

The entire stage program was compered by Charles Quadros and Devdas Hebbar. Edward Noronha proposed vote of thanks.

 

After the stage program it was time for the final event, the Tulu comedy drama. Valerian Alva, Belle Charitable Trust had sponsored this drama. In his absence his brother Ronald Alva was honoured with shawl, memento, flowers and fruits.      

 

The spectacular celebration event concluded with Tulu comedy drama “Eee Daye Patheruja” which enthralled the packed audience. The drama was produced by by Dinesh Acharya Puttur. Directed by Kalavykhari Prabhakar Acharya Moodubelle. Music by Pravin Bakkigudde. Acting cast included local artists and old students who delivered wonderful performance.