Grand finale of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of St. Lawrence High School

Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 31 December 2009: It was the most befitting finale of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of St. Lawrence High School that kept a  large number of people glued to their chairs right from the beginning of the final day’s evening function on Wednesday, 30th December 2009  that started sharp at 5.30 PM and ended with the melodrama “Panandhe Padhrad” that ended exactly at 2AM on Thursday, 31st December 2009.

The moon with all its brightness that was shining on the top of the PU College building as the function progressed could be seen in its same glory in the sky above the original building of St. Lawrence High School building that just celebrated its Golden Jubilee, while the St. Lawrence Educational Institution’s flag was lowered and handed over by Mr. Devdas Hebbar, President of the Old Student’s Association handed it over ceremonially to Fr. Paul Sequeira, Principal of St. Lawrence Composite PU College, thus marking the grand finale of the three days Golden Jubilee celebrations of St. Lawrence High School. It was an emotional moment for all old and new students, staff and people of Moodubelle in general that all the functions associated with the jubilee celebrations went off very well.

The evening function, ‘Alumni and Parent-Teachers Association Day’ began at 5.30 PM with conducting the guests to the dais in procession from the entrance of the PU College to the accompaniment of the band of St. Lawrence English medium School and Scouts and Guides marching in front.

Fr. Joswey Fernandes presided over the function. Rev. Sr. Eugene D’Souza, General, Holy Cross Sisters Chavanod, Switzerland was the chief guest. Other honourable guests were: Fr. Paul Sequeira, Mr. Lakshminarayan Bhat, Civil Judge (Junior Division), JMFC, Mr. Valerian Alva, president of Bellevision,UAE and Mr. William Aranha, a generous donor from Canada.  Except Fr. Joswey and Fr. Paul, the rest of the dignitaries mentioned above were the old students of St. Lawrence High school, Moodubelle. After the prayer song rendered beautifully by Anita Alva and Adlin Mathias, Mr. Devdas Hebbar welcomed the guests who were honoured by floral bouquets.

Rev. Sr. Eugene D’Souza in her address as the chief guest recalled her student years in the high school and said that there was close relation between the teachers and the students. She said that the teachers were dedicated, hard working and sacrificing. Along with studies, Sr. Eugene claimed that she caught values in the high school which influenced her to join the religious congregation. She was happy to return to her Alma Mater on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Mr. Lakshminarayan Bhat, who hails from Kodangala, appreciating the role of teachers in moulding the character and personality of the students compared them with the sculptors who could bring out beautiful statues from blocks of rock or wood. He paid rich tribute to St. Lawrence High School and its teachers for their service in the field of education and other activities.

As it was Old Students’ and Parent-Teachers Day, the past students who have shown merit and excellence in the field of their choice, all the top scorers in the SSLC examinations from 1962 to 2008 and few parents were felicitated. Dr. Norbert Lobo read out the list of these achievers. First of all, Mr. Philip D’Souza who had secured the first rank in the Karnataka State in the year 1969 was felicitated with a shawl, garland, bouquet and fruits. On behalf of Mr. Sigfred D’Souza, the Webmaster of Bellevision.Com, his father, Mr. Fredrick D’Souza was also honoured in similar way. Fr. Paul Sequeira, was felicitated for the excellent work that he has been doing for the institutions and for successfully conducting all the programmes associated with the Golden Jubilee celebrations. In all his humility, Fr. Paul dedicated his honour to all his staff-teaching as well as non-teaching who have been cooperating with him in all activities of the institutions.

Following the felicitation ceremony, Mr. William Aranha from Canada who visited Moodubelle with his family after ten years for the Golden Jubilee function of his Alma Mater, explained the circumstances that led him to make a huge amount of donation to the high school after reading an appeal in Bellevision.com, which Fr. Paul claims as a miracle and Divine dispensation when he was in dire need of funds while renovating the College Hall.

Mr. Philip D’Souza, the first ever student of St. Lawrence High school to secure the top position in the state appreciated the good work that the institution has been doing under Principal, Fr. Paul Sequeira and promised to make good the deficit amount in the Fund with the target of 5 lacs of rupees meant for the benefit of the poorer students of the high school.

Mr. Devdas Hebbar, president of the Old Students Association and Mrs. Meera Lobo, president of the Parents-Teachers Association jointly handed over the cheque to Fr. Paul with an amount of Rs. One lac that they had collected by staging a Tulu play in November 2009 for the Fund meant for helping the poor students.

Fr. Joswey Fernandes in his presidential message greatly appreciated the support given by the old students to various causes of the institutions. He said that the old students are pillars of strength to the institutions and the gathering resembled like that of a family get-together.
Following the vote of thanks by Mr. Valerian Alva, president of Bellevision, the new and improved website of Bellevision was inaugurated by Mr. Philip D’Souza which was welcomed by the people with great applause.

Then started the grand entertainment programme that the huge crowd that had gathered in the quadrangle was waiting to enjoy with a big bang. The ‘Rasa Manjari’ presented by the Rhythm Udupi and sponsored by Bellevision kept the crowd spellbound by reputed singers-Ravindra Prabhu, Rayan rodrigues, Godwin D’Souza, Loraine and Vidya Cornelio. There were also few dances by small children. The earlier and Rasa Manjari programme was displayed effectively on the screen placed on the right side of the stage. On the left side of the stage another screen displayed the power point presentation depicting the history of the high school, list of achievers and top scorers and names of donors.

The Tulu Play that followed the Rasa Manjari , “Panandhe Padhrad” kept the people laughing and also serious as two story lines woven into the play made it melodramatic. The comic roles played by Emmanuel Cornelio, Ranjan Shetty, Satish, Harish Kamat and Henry Alva and the Sub Inspector and police role kept the ribs of the audience tickled while the acting of other actors-Sujatat Suvarna, Krishna, Amit, Shankar Suvarna, Sujata Suvarna and Sunita Nayak was excellent. People enjoyed the play till the end without knowing that it was already 2 AM on the next day, 31st December 2009.

At the end of the three days Golden Jubilee celebrations, the St. Lawrence Educational Institutions Flag that was hoisted on 28th December 2009 in the morning by Commodore Jerome Castelino marking the inauguration of the three days long celebrations was lowered by Principal Fr. Paul Sequeira along with Mr. Devdas Hebbar and Mrs. Meera Lobo. In a formal way, Mr. Devdas Hebbar handed over the flag to Fr. Paul Sequeira, thus symbolically concluding the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The last three days have been a wonderful experience to all the people associated with St. Lawrence High School and College-old and present students, staff, management, principal and finally all the people of Moodubelle.

Dear Bellevision readers we thank for your continued interest in Bellevision.com. With the re-launching of the website you will have additional and exciting reading and viewing experience. We depend on your goodwill and support.

Bellevision Team Wish you A Very Happy New Year-2010.