Good morning teachers and students. Each year, our farewell to class 12 and class 10 students are held on separate days. This was when things seemed hunky-dory, but this year it’s being held together. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. My message to you will be in the form of this story that I narrate to you. So, I just need your undivided attention for a couple of minutes. Last year, in 2020, the entire world turned topsy turvy with the virus. Schools, offices, and businesses were completely shut and life came to an absolute standstill. The loss of life, economic losses, and emotional losses too, was huge. Nobody could ever fathom such a situation. The virus seems to have its own mind multiplying into different cousins and is terrifying the world even today. Life has become frustrating for everyone globally.
In the beginning of the academic year of 2020, we started the year on a high note. It began with the orientation of our teaching faculty to make them better educators. It was followed by the investiture ceremony to introduce new student leaders in our school, The Board examinations had started smoothly and then, suddenly, we were told by the government to shut down. So, with half the Board examinations still pending, we were forced to send our students home. Everybody panicked as it swept us like a cold wind from the north. It covered everything in its path. Our country took preventive measures; a nationwide lockdown was declared. Only essential suppliers such as those of food and medicine were allowed to remain open.
Teaching shifted from offline education to online mediums -- Whatsapp, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, YouTube videos. We all resorted to electronic media. We used whatever we felt comfortable with. It was challenging to teach and evaluate. It was a daunting task, no doubt, but most of us reinvented ourselves.
This is my first message to you. As George Lopez said “When things are bad, it’s the best time to reinvent yourself.” We would have to see ourselves in a different avatar doing the same things in a different way. If you want to connect with your teacher, then you just turn on your computer. It is as easy as surfing movies on Netflix.
While staying at home, you started to discover yourself slowly settling into a routine. You will have found your interests, in the hobbies which you have a knack for or discovering the latent talent in you. When time is not of the essence, you have lots of time to discover where your true interests lie.
For me personally, I always liked to walk. And so I walked endlessly, completely surrendering myself to nature. I never had an interest for badminton in particular but started learning. And by now, I might not participate or win any tournaments, but I sure can play well to my utmost satisfaction. I am always trying to improve my skills at badminton. And this is my second message to you. Hobbies are great distractions from the worries and troubles that plague our daily living. Once we immerse ourselves in playing sports or music, daily stressors hold less significance.
Towards the later part of the year, our short walks and playing took us on a long trek. We completed the whole Singalila trek of 82 kms. It took us four days to reach high up in the mountains amid perfect vistas -- of snow-capped mountains, beautiful rolling hills and tranquillity everywhere. It was kind of a good retreat and reality with oneself. High up in the mountains, the sky seems so much nearer, with billions of twinkling stars. Even more, the sun rising in the horizon and lighting up the entire mountain range is a sight to behold. As Angie Weilands says “In the soulful place where earth and sky meet, nature embraces one divine heartbeat.” It was truly a magical experience.
And this is my third message. When you are so close to Nature, you feel that you are just a tiny speck in this conundrum of cosmic drama. Not one of our lives holds true in front of Nature’s spectacle. So, visit the mountains every chance you can for they will teach you humility.
The year 2019 started with the sad loss of our beloved Teacher Peter Achilles. He was a family to us and the school his home. We are saddened and dearly miss his absence but life must go on.
The School session started on mid February with children reporting and once again bringing vibrancy with their presence.
The School came to life with teaching and other various activities . It has been three decade of the Institution's existence and it has grown right in front of my eyes.
I as a happy father feel excited to see my child grow. Many students have passed out from this Institution. We see them seek out their destination with a lot of zeal and vigour. Some of these students come back to share their journey and some of them send us their write-up in print. It’s heartening to read their stories. I am proud that we are doing a good work.
In years to come there will be lots of stories which this Institution will share with the younger generation. Till then happy reading.
We at St. Anthony’s (Girls’) strive to ensure Intellectual excellence and promote positive belief that every child has in her the ability to excel.
We give lot of importance to make discipline a core value and ensure students emotional growth and seek to develop and nurture the different facets of a child. From academics to dance, music and a variety of sports. We focus on developing both the mental and physical activities of a student. From interactive teaching methods to a healthy teacher student relationship we work around making studies effortless as possible.
Finally I want to ensure you that the management and our team of committed and experienced teachers shall ensure that our students become modest, humble and disciplined as they achieve success in their career and make a mark as smart and confident citizen in global world.