Shankerpura/Pangla: The Grand Finale of the Annual Day of St. John’s Academy and St. John’s Composite PU College highlighted Tulunadu Vaibhava and many other mesmerizing cultural dance performances that enthralled the audience on Thursday, December 8 from 3pm to 7:30pm.
The grand finale began with a warm welcome of the guests of honour namely Thomas Quadras (Principal of Glowinstar Academy Udupi and a resource person), Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Leslie D’Souza (Correspondence, St. John’s Academy), Rev. Fr. Vincent Coello (Principal-PU College), Gabriel F. Mascarenhas (HM-High School-English Medium) Sr. Winnie D’Souza (HM, Primary, Academy), John Rodrigues (PTA-Primary), Linet D’Souza (President PTA-High School-Academy) and Patkar(President PTA-High School). SPL of St. John’s Academy Renon D’Souza, Neil Barboza and Biraj Topno led the drum beats of St. John’s Band.
The evening program began with a musical orchestra by the students of Melody Music School Shankerpura and followed by various cultural dances beautifully presented by the little kids of Kushi Play School and by English Medium High School Students.
All the guests were then invited on the dais. Shaun D’Souza (PU College student) accorded a warm welcome to all the honorary guests on dais and felicitated them with floral bouquets. The annual reports of all three institutions of the St. John’s Academy (English Medium) were read by heads of the departments, namely, St. John’s Primary by Sr. Winnie D’Souza, High School Gabriel Mascarenhas and Principal of PU College Fr. Vincent Coello. They highlighted the various activities and initiatives taken by the respective departments to enhance the overall performances of the students in every field, be it educational, extracurricular activities or sports.
All the outstanding students who excelled in various competitions like literary, academic, art-craft and sports/overall champions were honoured with prizes and certificates.
The chief guest of the day, Thomas J Quadras addressing the parents said that utmost care should be taken in grooming the children. “A child is a gift of God and good care must be taken to bring up the child with good discipline, manners and love for God. A child from the age 6 to 15 needs strict discipline. Treat the child like a friend when it turns 16, so that the child will converse with its parents like friends and does not hide anything. The action of every child is 95 per cent sub-conscience and only 5 per cent in conscience. A child repeats what it is taught and what it observes. So the parents need to be very careful what they speak in front of their kids. Avoid family arguments and fights, avoid talking negative of relatives, neighbours and most importantly of teachers as every word what the parents utter is recorded permanently and the child will see the person negatively”.
Fr. Leslie in his presidential address said that he wants to speak to the parents and not students as students are always there but parents hardly meet. “Shankerpura is very famous for Jasmine flowers so as our students. The chief guest of the day today commanded our students for the quality of English speaking as to the pronunciation. I too agree with him and I want our children to speak like Oxford students. I guarantee you that our St. John’s School/Academy is not less than any other school in Udupi/ Dakshina Kannada District, be it in Education, talent, sports, it has excelled in every field. I’m very proud of my school, students and the parents. We never do anything for publicity but this time, we have arranged for live telecast so that the people from other areas and town know that this school in Shankerpura has excelled in every field. My heartfelt congratulations to all the teaching staff and auxiliary staff. May God Bless you”.
Loads of cultural, dances such as Yakshagana, Bollywood and classical performances followed thereafter mesmerizing the large number of students, parents and guests of the day. The final Tulunada Vaibhava was a wonderful half an hour performance by the students of PU College highlighting the art, culture, customs/traditions and religious practices and teachings of Tulunadu. The half an hour show was a treat to watch and enthralled the audience. The students presented one of the most memorable shows on the auspicious occasion of Annual School/College day celebrations.
The cultural events were compered by Venus Maben and Rashitha Patkar.
