Pre-Primary Students’ Post Pandemic Visit to School

On the 22 and 23 March, 2022, the staff of the pre-primary department of SJBHS welcomed the students of L.KG and U.KG. These were the students who had never experienced school life, yet, had completed two years of education without peer interaction and the fun of being a Josephite! With the contagion showing signs of easing, the management of SJBHS thought it prudent to invite the little ones to the school. According to the students, this decision was the best one ever!

The teachers were delighted to see the boys walking into their respective classrooms. The parents, too, were overwhelmed with excitement and enthusiasm. They were heartily welcomed by Principal, Fr Sunil Fernandes SJ; Primary School Administrator, Fr Vishal D’Souza SJ; Vice Principal, Mr. Uday Kumar; the Pre-Primary Coordinator, Ms Nichelle Pinto; and the teachers.

While the students were in the class with their teachers, the parents were directed to the auditorium. The programme for the parents commenced with an invocation to the Almighty followed by a prayer song. Fr Sunil, in his message, extended his gratitude to the parents and assured them that any learning gaps, created due to the pandemic, would be bridged in due course. Fr Vishal welcomed the parents and thanked them for their unprecedented support during the pandemic by playing the dual role of parents and teachers.

The Vice Principal advised the parents on the correct dietary habits for their wards and stressed the importance of inculcating the right values in the future generation. The parents were given a brief on the origin of SJBHS with its rich heritage as well as an insight into the tenets of Jesuit education. Ms Shanida, the school counselor spoke on the emotional well-being of the students. The session was brought to an end by the pre- primary coordinator as she, once again, thanked the parents for their unconditional support and cooperation.

In the meanwhile, it was fun times for the students. There were super hero cut-outs for the boys to put their faces through, balloons being molded into colourful flowers and animals and mascots of the Disney characters walking the corridors. In the class rooms, the students sang action songs and interacted with their class teachers. The classrooms were filled with happiness and joy. The students of L.KG. and U.KG. were super pleased with the fridge magnets, made by their teachers, as remembrance of their day in school. Another reminder of their day out would be the pictures that were clicked in the photo-booths, erected in strategic sites in the campus.

The Josephites went home that day, happy and content that school was a great place indeed! The efforts of the staff were well rewarded as the transition from online to offline education could not have been smoother!