Pre-Primary Annual Day 2022

In the cycle of life, childhood has its special moments of celebration.

On 17 December, 2022, joy and fun rolled onto the stage as the Pre-Primary section took up their places. Contentment, written large on their faces, the audience of parents, siblings, friends and well-wishers filled the auditorium of St Joseph’s Boys’ High School.

The Chief Guests for the LKG. and UKG. programmes were retired staff of SJBHS, former Vice Principal Mrs. Miriam Angelo and former Coordinator Mrs. Jessy Virginia Mariappa respectively. The Guests of Honour were the Jesuit Fathers Fr Michael John SJ, Fr Sunith Prabhu SJ and Fr Oswald Mascarenhas SJ. The OBA President and Secretary, the PTA Vice President and Secretary received and escorted the dignitaries into the venue along with the Principal Fr Sunil Fernandes SJ, Vice Principal Mr. Brian McKertish, Primary School Administrator Fr Vishal D’Souza SJ and the Pre-Primary Coordinator Mrs. Nichelle Pinto.

Fr. Vishal warmly welcomed the dignitaries and the parents. In his message, he said that the depth and profound beauty of our Motherland, the talent and innocence of the young Josephites and the uniqueness and diversity of our culture would be showcased through dance and music aptly themed ‘Rhythm of India’. Mr. Brian introduced the esteemed Chief Guests and reiterated their immense contribution in taking SJBHS to greater heights of glory, mainly through their hard work and dedication.

Mrs. Miriam and Mrs. Jessy Virginia, both felt that it was an honour and pleasure to be back in the school where they had spent so many years. As for their advice to the parents, it was all about spending quality time with the young ones; saying no to excessive gadgetry; and sowing in them the seeds of kindness and the spirit of generosity to give back to the society.

Fr Sunil threw light on the three pillars of Jesuit education which entailed character formation, social concern and academic excellence. He re-iterated the all-round development of the child at SJBHS. The Principal thanked the teachers of the Pre-Primary section as well as the admin and support staff for their tremendous energy, whole hearted dedication and sincere hard work.

The ‘Annual Report’ that followed Fr Sunil’s message, re-enforced the kind of education received at SJBHS. The myriad activities of the previous year illuminated the fact that the school kept the child at the very centre of education and ingrained in them the values that would hold them in good stead. The cultural part of the programme drew on India’s diversity with traditional robes from Gujarat and Maharashtra, the western attire of Goa; the Bihu dance of Assam and the Bhangra of Punjab to the dances of Karnataka, Kerala, Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The young students showcased it all – taking the audience on a cultural tour of the length and breadth of the country and the synchrony of ‘Rhythm of India’! The Christmas tableau of the live crib, a reminder of the very first Christmas, re-created the essence of the season, the spirit of joy and cheer and concluded the Annual Day programme on a festive note. SJBHS checked the boxes for another Annual Day done, another batch of students trained to overcome stage fear and another milestone in the lives of the young students and their parents as they carried cherished memories of fun, frolic and fiesta!