St. Joseph’s School, Bangalore celebrates Decennial Year with La Feria - A gamut of vibes and

By Ashita Amora Lasrado
Bellevision Media Network

Bangalore: St Joseph’s School celebrated its Decennial year in style, pomp and gaiety on 19 December 2024. The School carnival named - ‘La Feria’ was a fun-filled philanthropic event that brought together students, teachers and parents for an exciting day of games, food and entertainment. It was a vibrant celebration of culture, community, and creativity,  a symphony of colours, flavour, and traditions, where the spirit of togetherness resonated through every event, performance and fun rides. This carnival stood as a testament to the celebration of diversity, art and culture with boundless creativity combining the Decennial Year, the celebration of Christmas, the colourful Creative Splash and an enthralling Annual Day —a festivity where every moment became a cherished memory. In a true carnival spirit, the dignitaries made a grand entrance in a colourfully decorated truck, adding a touch of spectacle to our festivities.  A graceful prayer dance set the tone for the spectacular day. Mr B Shivaswamy, KAS- the Joint Secretary to Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka and M D of KMF was the Chief Guest for the Inaugural Ceremony. Mr Harsha Vardhan Umre IRS Former Commissioner of Customs and GST, Mr Keerthan Kumar CEO, Soundarya Group of Institutions & Director of FKCCI, Mr Babu C Joseph President SJIIAA, Bangalore, Mr Anand Govind Swamy - Director, Lahari Music were the Guest of honours. Rev. Fr. Joseph D’Souza, Rector of St Joseph’s Indian Institutions was the President of the Ceremony. Rev. Fr. Rohan D’Almeida Principal of SJS, Rev. Fr. Vishal Pinto Finance Officer of SJII, Rev. Fr. Royston Pinto, Finance officer of SJS, Rev. Fr. Jason Martis, Principal of St. Joseph’s Skills Academy, Sr Jain Benitta, Head Mistress of SJIPS, Sr Sheena Joseph, Vice Principal of SJS graced the occasion.

 

Mr B Shivaswamy, KAS, the Chief Guest for the Inaugural addressed the parents and said, ’Identify and nurture the potential in your children, and success will follow.’ He emphasized the importance of education in shaping humane and responsible citizens and to join hands to empower our students and build a brighter future for our nation. Mr Harsh Vardhan Umre, IRS  spoke on this occasion and said that the ten years is not just a milestone, but a testimony to excellence in academics. He exhorted the students to dream big and work hard.

 

Mr Keerthan Kumar, guest of honour commended the school’s initiative to support underprivileged students in North Karnataka through this fundraiser event. He emphasized the importance of developing entrepreneurial skills, cultural involvement, and sports participation in students. 

 

Rev Fr Joseph D’Souza, Rector of SJII was full of gratitude and said, “Let us acknowledge God’s blessings and guidance as we strive to form men and women who serve others.” He commended our dynamic Principal, Fr. Rohan D’Almeida, for his tireless efforts in steering our school to excellence.

 

The cultural extravaganza presented by our tiny tots with a spectacular line-up of performances to entertain us starting with various forms of dance to accentuate the six continents of the world was a mesmerizing journey across the world through the universal language of dance. 

We were fortunate to have Tzeitel Band from Sweden, their repertoire, enriched with intricate rhythms and evocative melodies brought to life an unparalleled precision and heartfelt passion. With their fusion of Latin grooves, Samba, Reggae, and Indian Folk music, Swahaa band’s beats transcended borders and brought pure magic to the audience by their electrifying energy and unmatched musical brilliance. Sangeetha Ravindranath, a distinguished Indian playback singer, renowned for her powerful and versatile voice, captivated audiences with her soulful rendition and mesmerized the audience who grooved to her songs. It was a treat to the eyes to see the rhythmic grace, and culture brought to life by the talented performers from Advaya. Each performance was a journey, delivered with dynamic sensitivity and a magnetic energy that resonated deeply, leaving audiences spellbound and moved. The different forms of dance, representing the diversity and energy made this carnival so special and vibrant.

 

Opinions of students: Tryphena S Rosario: “Mesmerizing dance performances featuring breakdance, belly dance, tap dance, flamenco, hip hop, and salsa! Fun rides, game stalls, and food stalls added to the excitement! Incredible energy, unforgettable moments, and smiles all around!” Yet another student, Larren Pinto shared that La Feria, a philanthropic carnival was a perfect blend of fun, food and cultural performances, all for a good cause. A celebration of community, culture, and giving back!

 

Ms Sunitha Paul, PTA opined that it was a Carnival to Remember! A perfect blend of entertainment, food, rides, and stalls for all ages! Hats off to the organizing team and staff for a fantastic event! 

 

Vijaya P. Michael, a parent shared her heartfelt review: “La Feria -10th-anniversary celebration was an absolute delight! From savoring delicious food to discovering handmade goods and enjoying live music, it was a treat for the senses.What stood out most was the sense of community and joy.”

 

The Closing Ceremony on December 20, 2024 saw a plethora of events. It was the culmination of the school’s  decade of excellence, growth, and community spirit. The evening was abuzz with fun, fiesta and food. The programme began with the School Anthem and a graceful prayer dance by our students. The Chief Guest for the Closing Ceremony was Dr K M Vasundhara, Managing Director, LIDKAR, Government of Karnataka. Mr Praveen Peter, Contestant of Teachers’ Constituency was the guest of honour, Rev Fr Joseph D’Souza was the President of the Ceremonial event. All the heads of various units of SJII graced the occasion. Speaking about her own experience as a student, Chief Guest Ms Vasundhara K M S appreciated the festive atmosphere, acknowledging the school’s resemblance to a vibrant village fair. Ms. Vasundhara commended Christian missionaries for their selfless contributions to education and praised our philanthropic efforts in supporting economically disadvantaged students in North Karnataka.

 

With great appreciation the school acknowledged the efforts and vision of former Principals and also the benefactors and donors whose generosity had been pivotal in our success. Their support has enabled us to achieve milestones and advance our mission.

 

The much-awaited lucky draw of the raffle tickets was announced as excitement filled the air. To reminisce a monumental occasion of the decennial — a decade of brilliance, passion, and unforgettable moments, students of Class 9 & 11 put up a splendid performance and the declaration of closing of the decennial year was proclaimed by our Principal Rev Fr Rohan D’Almeida. As a symbolic gesture of our hopes, dreams, and aspirations for the future, the dignitaries released lanterns representing not just a light in the sky, but the brilliance within each of us—guiding us towards greater horizons.

 

To sum it up, an electrifying performance by DJ Teri Miko, DJ Ravetek, and DJ Troison added a high voltage energy and enthusiasm to the culmination of the splendid event.