Moodubelle: Inauguration of the new academic year in Church Higher Primary School

By Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 31 May 2010: Under the cloudspread sky and slight drizzle, the enthusiastic students of Church Aided Higer Primary School, Moodubelle gathered for their first assembly in the new academic year 2010-2011 on Monday, 31st May 2010 at 10 am. Mr. Peter Raphael Aranha, Headmaster of the school, welcomed Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Correspondent of the school for the assembly. Thereafter, Fr. Joswey took the salute of the school leader and along with Mr. Peter Raphael Aranha hoisted the School Flag, symbolically inaugurating the new academic year.

Earlier, the Christian students of the school and teachers assembled in the Church at 9.15 am for the Holy Mass on the auspicious first day of the school to seek blessings form the Almighty God. Following the assembly, children, teachers and guests assembled in the school hall for the stage programme.

The school children, trained by Sr. Hilda, presented a beautiful and meaningful prayer session with skit, recitation of Sanskrit Shlokas and reading from the Gospel. Thereafter, Fr. Joswey Fernandes-President of the programme, chief guest, Mr. Gerald Fernandes-Membeer of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat and President of the Social Justice Committee, Dr. Eugene D’Souza- representative of Bellevision, and Mr. Peter Raphael Aranha, Headmaster of the school lighted the lamp symbolising the light of education.

Following the welcome dance by the school children, Mr. Sylvester Mathias one of the senior teachers welcomed the guests with flowers. Mr. Gerald Fernandes distributed the free text books provided by the Krnataka Government and distributed by the Udupi Zilla Panchayat to the students. Fr. Joswey and Dr. Eugene also distributed books to some students.

In his address to the students, Mr. Gerald Fernandes emphasised the importance of the Kannada medium schools and pointed out that many of the great persons who have achieved success in various fields had studied in the Kannada medium.

Bellevision had been supporting a number of poor students of Church Higher Primary School since 2006. This year also 20 students were given Poverty cum Progress Education Scholarship by Bellevision. These scholarships were handed over to the students by Dr. Eugene D’Souza as the representative of Bellevision and by Fr. Joswey Fernandes. In his brief message, Dr. Eugene D’Souza said that he himself is the old student of this school and urged the students to build their future with the foundation of education as for the poor and middle class people education is the only means to have a bright future.

In his Presidential address, Fr. Joswey Fernandes expressed his happiness at being present for the assembly and the inaugural programme of the new academic year. He said that by attending the Holy Mass the students have already sought the blessings of God for their new academic year. He further impressed upon the students that they should study well and achieve success in their lives.

The programme was compeered by Physical Education Teacher, Mr. Valerian Crasta and vote of thanks was presented by Mrs. Lilly Lobo. It was announced by Headmaster Mr. Peter Raphael Aranha that on the first day of the academic year, during the midday meal (Bisiuta) the ‘payasam’ was sponsored Melitia Mathias, the students who had passed the 7th standard this year and ‘laddu’ was sponsored by another old student M.K. Abhishek.

According to Mr. Peter Raphael Aranha, this year, 40 students have been enrolled for the First Standard and said that the number may increase. There are 350 students in the entire school with ten divisions and 10 teachers.