“SLHS @ 50: Remembering, Thanking and Moving On” By Renita DSouza

Renita DSouza

Raise voices with praise and with pride for our school

A glorious past and the wisdom of time
We walk into the future with mountains yet to climb
Sing hail to our school
May she last ever more
Education freely given
Reaching to our core
You glow as a beacon with goodness so right
We say St. Lawrence High School, our shining light

Dubai, 17 December 2009: Glorious 50 years, what a feast, what a jubilee to celebrate Alma Mater’s Golden Anniversary. ‘Alma Mater’ means ‘nourishing mother’ in Latin and it is abundantly so as St. Lawrence High School of Moodubelle had nurtured our educational needs.

I am very glad and privileged to say that I too is an alumnus of this esteemed institution and had spent three wonderful years of my student life in the St. Lawrence High School campus that had shaped my future.

Here’s my attempt to bring to mind the sweet and bright memories of my Alma Mater. I joined the school in the year 1992 after passing out 7th grade from Belle Church Aided Higher Primary School. It was a great moment for me to step into a High School where we were given a friendly welcome by the revered principal, teachers and non-teaching staff members. As I recall the years that i had spent in the High School, i feel that it is not so long ago that i have left the school after completing the SSLC examination. It seems to be just yesterday.

I cherish the memories of my class sessions, play ground experiences and the annual day preparations and celebrations. I remember how our teachers encouraged us for healthy competition in studies and how we used to fight for each single mark in order to get the higher ranks on our marks card. To receive a general proficiency certificate on the annual day meant everything like winning a Nobel Prize at that time.

I truly respect my beloved teachers, Mrs. Precilla who taught Social Studies and English, Mrs. Sucharita and Mrs. sarojini, the  Social Studies teachers,  Mrs. Leena, Mr. Chandrashekar and Mr. Hameed, Science teachers, Ms. Chandrakala and Mr. Ballal who taught Kannada, Mr. D’Costa and Mr. Ramachandra, the Mathematics teachers,  Mr. Ananthrai, English teacher, Mr. Fredrick and Mr. Kamalakar, Hindi teachers and above all our Principal,  Mr. John Menezes who taught English. These teachers spared no efforts to teach and train us in their respective subjects.

During the rainy season we used to pray for a clear sky during our PT sessions so that we could be out in the play ground.  After the school hours we practiced volley ball for inter school tournaments. We were trained by our seniors and old  students under the supervision of our dear PT Sir, Mr. Immanuel Carnelio. We would eagerly wait for the Annual Sports Day where we could compete individually for the victory and medals. Climbing the prestigious  victory stand to the applause of our friends and other students was a great honour. We also would try hard to get additional points for our squad for an overall win.

While thinking about the Annual Day, the first flash of memory is that of  Mrs. Precilla teacher reciting 1, 2, 3, 4 (dance steps) that echoes in my ears even now. The way she used to train us along with Ms. Chandrakala teacher for dances, group songs and dramas was just amazing.  In our work experience session we had to do menial jobs like leveling the ground where now English medium school is situated, cleaning the school surroundings, playground and even the cemetery for the All Souls Day prior to 2nd November every year.

In the summer of 1995, I wrote my SSLC Board Exam and passed with flying colours and topped in school.  It was a great feeling to be the top scorer in the final year of the High School. I was very happy to see my parents so proud of me and of themselves.  My brother Roshan pursued the same dream and he too topped the High school merit list in 1997 batch.   At present living in Sharjah, U.A.E, leading a happy life with husband Gerald Mathias & daughter Gianne Eva.

As we remember what has been, we say thank you to our Alma Mater for what she has done for us, and we make the resolve to be active partners with our Alma Mater in the realization of her vision-mission-objectives for the years to come and beyond.