Rain Fails to Dampen Josephite Spirit!

Seniors After a night of torrential downpour, inundation and destruction of the SJBHS grounds, it took the indomitable Josephite spirit and hard work of the management, staff and students to get the grounds ready for the most awaited day in the calendar, 1st September, 2017. There were many volunteers who descended on the grounds mopping and levelling the flooded field, working as a team with only one purpose in mind – to ensure nothing spoilt Sports Day!

Our Chief Guest for the day was Mr Arvind Mani, Old Boy, International Swimmer and Ekalavya Awardee. He was escorted along with our Guest of Honour, Rector of St. Joseph’s Institutions Rev. Fr. Anthony Joseph SJ, by our Principal Rev. Fr. Clifford Sequeira SJ, Vice Principal of SJBHS Mrs Miriam Angelo, the Administrator of the Primary School Rev. Fr. Robert Rodrigues SJ, the President of the OBA Mr Shashi Lewis, Secretary of the OBA Mr Brian D’Lima and the Secretary of the PTA Mr Anthony Praveen. The traditional Josephite Guard of Honour received the guests as they were led to the dais.

In keeping with Josephite tradition, the school flag was unfurled and the seniors of the four houses – namely St. Andrews, St. David’s, St. George’s and St. Patrick’s – marched in formation as the Chief Guest took the salute.

What was not according to tradition but perhaps has set a precedent for the future generations, was the march by the Old Boys of the Batch of 1992 who descending on SJBHS to commemorate the silver jubilee of their graduation. A touching and meaningful march indeed!

The Coordinator of the High School, Mr Uday Kumar, introduced the guests, welcomed the gathering and advised the students to compete in the spirit of sportsmanship for the glory of sports. Rev. Fr. Anthony Joseph SJ lauded the opportunities given by the school to bring out the best in the students. He said: “Sports has multidimensional benefits teaching valuable lessons of teamwork, the ability to feel a part of something and an immense vehicle for development. Sports does not build character but reveals it.”

The Chief Guest advised his brother Josephites to harvest their energies in the form of sports and games as his meteoric rise to fame was through sports. He reiterated the famous quote: “Dream with all your mind, believe with all your heart and achieve with all your might”. He then declared the Meet open.

Reliving the first games held at Athens, the torch bearers of SJBHS lit the fire and took the Oath symbolising fair play, the spirit of sportsmanship and healthy competition. The Prize distribution and the Vote of Thanks that followed brought to a close the Opening Ceremony. The events were set to begin.

The Chief Guests for the Closing Ceremony were Dr. Gerard V. Aranha, Old Boy and Specialist in General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Loyola University Medical Centre, USA, and his wife Mrs Rose Aranha, and the Guest of Honour was our Rector of St. Joseph’s Institutions Rev. Fr. Anthony Joseph SJ. The dais was shared by the Principal of SJBHS Rev. Fr. Clifford Sequeira SJ, Vice Principal of SJBHS Mrs Miriam Angelo, the Administrator of the Primary School Rev. Fr. Robert Rodrigues SJ, the President of the OBA Mr Shashi Lewis, the Vice President of the OBA Mr George Ollapally, the Vice President of the PTA Mr Srinivas Vardha and the Secretary of the PTA Mrs Sudeshna Ghosh.

The blue and white Danube Flag Drill by the students of Stds V & VI, the dance by the students of Std VII and the drill by the students of Std VIII culminating in the formation of five blooming lotuses depicting the Indian national flower formed a package encompassing rhythm, vigour, talent and harmony. The crowning glory, however, executed with panache was the Club Swinging Display by the students of Stds IX and X. Not a step went amiss and not a club was dropped to end in the formation of SJBHS 2017.

The Closing March Past signalled the end of weeks of practice as the boys stood in coordinated silence to listen to the Principal welcoming the gathering and the Chief Guest who revisited his days at SJBHS and asked them to envision a conscious dream for the future, move towards their goal, accept failures as part of the learning and march forwards to a life time of success.

The Vote of Thanks was followed by the school band’s rendition of ‘Abide with Me’. The School flag was ceremoniously folded by the Captains of the four houses and handed to the Principal signalling the end of the games as well as the close of another red lettered day in the school calendar – the day dedicated to athletic fitness, comradeship and many other valuable lessons of life!

‘Friendships born on the field of athletic strife are the real gold of competition. Awards become corroded but friends gather no dust.’
Jesse Owens