Graduation Day 2015

On the evening of 23rd January 2015, St Joseph's Boys’ High school presented a warm and impressive Graduation Ceremony bidding adieu to the outgoing batch of the tenth and twelfth standard students for the academic year 2014-15.

Large screens, strategically located, beamed sharp images to the gathering, of a solemn procession of outgoing students led by their Principal Rev. Fr. Clifford Sequeira S.J. They walked down the red carpet not only to soulful music, but also into history as another batch of enthusiastic, brilliant and talented teenagers who made their own special, indelible mark on the sands of time in St Joseph's unfolding history.

A reverential tone was set for the evening by the invocation song sung by the outgoing students beseeching God's blessing on the events of the evening and their future lives. Fr. Principal led the school in prayer asking God to help the students be faithful to their core values and to pursue dreams beyond their grasp. Tony Fredrick read a prayer of thanksgiving for all the academic wisdom they had received, equipping them to strive after the best in the world. Rajiv prayed over their sporting activities pleading that they dream big, hone skills and work well in teams. Kenneth prayed for their co-curricular activities to be blessed helping them explore innate talent to reinvent their world.

Aditya prayed for strong values to lead them, making them responsible, disciplined and compassionate citizens of tomorrow. Niharika prayed for patriotism and for wisdom, love and compassion to guide current and future leaders. Shelwyn prayed for loyalty to the alma mater and for the trust to ‘leave their hands in God's hands whate'er the odds’. The lamp symbolising knowledge and wisdom was lit by the Principal and guests of honour.

The Principal delivered the Welcome Address and the Rector and guests of honour were presented bouquets of flowers in welcome.

The class twelve Valedictorian, Eshwar Hegde, delivered a stirring message reminiscing the best experiences at St Joseph's. He thanked the school on behalf of his batch for the chance to study in “the best place on earth, with the best people with the best teachers learning the best lessons of life beyond text books”. He thanked the parents for their unstinting love and support every day of their lives.

Vollin, Valedictorian of Class Ten expressed his sentiments of gratitude for making education at St Joseph's meaningful and enjoyable while thanking parents and teachers for their generous love, support and wisdom.

The solemn transfer of charge took place with the school band playing "Abide With Me' after which the school flag was lowered, folded and handed over to Mark D'souza and Alfred Mathew of Standard 11 and 9 respectively. The flag was then raised again symbolizing the juniors taking charge from their seniors.

Mark D'souza and Alfred Mathew of Standard 11 and 9 took turns to reply to the Valedictorians thanking them for their enthusiasm, labour and example as Josephites and wishing them well for their future. Alfred quoted from Shakespeare the words 'Goodbye, goodbye, parting is such sweet sorrow that I must say goodbye till it be morrow' as he expressed his sentiments of gratitude and farewell.

The Chief Guest of the evening, Mr Suresh Senapaty then addressed the students exhorting them to believe in their own unique dreams and to nourish multi dimensional talent, to seek excellence and to move in passion towards it… to be unafraid about losing the battle of criticism while winning the war of life. He urged them to balance friends, free time and money and to relish time when they work the hardest! He reminded them to adapt to learning and seek change to cope with issues that confront their future. He instructed them never to base their achievements on anything except integrity and ethics and to focus on educating their hearts for education of the heart was the heart of education!

The Rector, Fr Anthony Joseph then addressed the gathering asking the students to be true to the school motto of faith and toil as they embarked on life’s journey. He reminded them that they were the pride, joy and trophies of the institution and asked them to remember their alma mater as a home away from home; a home of love and nurturing rather than that of discipline and drudgery, as they sought to form themselves into men and women of love and loyalty, courage and confidence, tempered in the furnace of spirituality, to grow to be people of ideals, vision and compassion especially to the neediest. He said that if they had faith in God, in themselves and in others ‘all would be well’.

The Chief Guests, Mr. and Mrs. Senapaty and the other dignitaries presented the certificates and mementoes to the outgoing students. The school choir sang the farewell song ‘Whenever you Remember’. The tenth and twelfth standard students then sang ‘The Call’ and ‘The Time of your Life’ which was not only very enjoyable but also impressive.

The formal ceremony concluded poignantly with our students lighting their candles in the darkness of the evening symbolizing their promise to take their education as a gift, to light up the darkest corners of ignorance in their world. They formed a circle to the tune ‘Carry your Candle’ while teachers and parents went around the circle to congratulate them. The event concluded with dinner.

The Principal and Staff did a good job of refining the events of the evening and training the students for the occasion. Mrs Neha Shand compered the function with grace and confidence.