Udupi/M’Belle: Old Students Association celebrates annual day with various programmes

By Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 03, Jan 2015: The Old Students Association of Church Aided Higher Primary School, Moodubelle that was revived in anticipation of the school centenary (2013) celebrated its annual day with various programmes in the school ground on Friday, 2 January 2015.

 

The main stage programme was held in the evening at 7.30 pm. Rajendra Shetty-President of Belle Grama Panchayat who is also the President of the Old Students Association presided over the programme. Dr. Jayaprakash Bhat, MD of KMC Manipal was the chief guest. Other guests of honour included Mrs. Ida Gibba D’Souza, member of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat, Devdas Hebbar, member of Udupi Taluk Panchayat, Gerald Fernandes, President of Parents-Teachers Association, B. Nagaraj Kamath, businessman and A.K. Alva-Vice President of  Parish Pastoral Council. Besides these dignitaries Sylvester Mathais, headmaster and Secretary of the Old Students Association and Mrs. Delma Castelino, Treasurer were on the dais.

 

Following the welcome by Sylvester Mathais and introductory address by Gerald Fernandes, Dr. Jayaprakash Bhat inaugurated the function, first by lighting the lamp and then by unfurling of the ‘pingara’.

 

In his address, Dr. Jayaprakash Bhat narrated his experience as an old student of the school and said that thousands of students who have had their higher primary education in the school have done well in the lives and career. Further he said that Kannada medium schools are facing problems for lack of students, but those students who had studied in Kannada medium schools are in no way less than those who have studied in English medium Schools. He wished that his alma mater which had completed 100 years recently would continue for another hundred years.

 

On this occasion five eminent old students of the school were honoured. These included William D’Sa-former teacher of the school and also recipient of Rajya Prashasthi, Boggu Parava-APMC member and winner of Zilla Rajyotsava Prashasthi, Gururaj Hebbar-proprietor of Kattingeri Hebbar Chemicals, Mumbai(on his behalf, his brother Devdas Hebbar received the honour), Dr. Margaret Lavina Fernandes-who was recently conferred with Ph.D. degree in Social Work and Shreya Acharya-who was part of the  Karnataka State Schools Volleyball team at national level.

 

William D’Sa and Devdas Hebbar speaking on behalf of the honoured persons thanked the Old Students Association for recognizing and honouring the old students.

 

In his presidential message, Rajendra Shetty said that last year the Centenary of the school was  celebrated with great success. He further said that in order to make the Old Students Association more relevant and active it was decided to celebrate the annual day and try to bring on board more and more old students.

 

Mrs. Delma Castelino proposed the vote of thanks. The entire programme was anchored by Maxim D’Sa and Ashwin Lawrence.

 

Soon after the stage programme hilarious Tulu play “Yir Undara...?” was presented which was enjoyed by the capacity audience. The play was written and directed by Ln. Devdas Kapikad who also acted in the play.

 

 

Before the commencement of the stage programme, the school children and children from the Anganwadi presented various cultural programmes. The school children ably trained by professional Yakshagana artists  presented "Panchajnya". 

 

Earlier, in the morning, Rajendra Shetty, President of the Old Students Association inaugurated the days programmes by unfurling the national flag at 9.30 am in the presence of the school children, St. Lawrence College students and teachers from both the institutions. Many old students were also present during the morning programme.

In the General Body Meeting of the Old Students Association that was held in the school hall, by unanimous decision the former office bearers of the association were requested to continue for the next year. These included: Rajendra Shetty-President, Sylvester Mathias-Secretary and Mrs. Delma Castelino-Treasurer. Two more office bearers were unanimously chosen during the meeting. These were: Vincent Fernandes as Vice President and Sudhakar Poojary as Joint Secretary.

 

Prizes were distributed to school children who were winners in various games conducted by the school in the morning.