PRIMARY GREEN HOUSE DAY

The Primary School also had their Green House Day this morning after the assembly of the Secondary Section. The theme that the Green House of the Primary had was: 'Devotion to duty.'

They had a skit in which an episode from the life of Chacha Nehru was portrayed to the students. The youngsters in the audience were all ears listening to the dialogue and watching the remote car making it in.

There was a poem by a group and a song entitled Now or Never.

Fr. Rector in his talk mentioned to the students that we all need to do our duty and stick by what is expected following the example of Nehruji.

SECONDARY GREEN HOUSE DAY

This morning the Green House of the Secondary Section had their assembly and the theme for the morning was 'To Strive for Justice.'

They brought out a number of issues that dealt on 'Child Labour', 'School bullies,' 'Respect for senior citizens,' 'Exploitation, Powerlessness, Violence.

They asked the students if they could take up a social cause and call themselves the 'Young Crusaders of Dominic Savio'

It certainly would leave many of the youngsters thinking, a good way to start something, to give it a thought.

The compere reiterated the words of Fr. Rector from a previous assembly saying, 'If we do not stand for something, we will fall for everything.'

It is up to us my dear Savions to take the lead....and lead by example.

The Under 14 Football team with the trophy

8TH ALUMNI DAY OF THE PAST PUPILS

The 8th Alumni Day of the Past Pupils of the Andheri Unit was held on Sunday, 9th December at 7.00 pm in the school hall. Fr. Godfrey D'Souza the Rector of the Institute was the Chief Guest. Fr. Edwin Colaco the Delegate of the Past Pupils of the Institution was also present with Fr. Barnabe, the Director of Don Bosco Balprafulta.

A number of retired and present teachers were also present to make this a memorable day. There was a welcome to the guests with a floral tribute and a welcome song by the boarders. The Evening Study Girls put up a dance that rocked everyone in their seats.

The organizers then had a PPT on the activities that were held during the year and a short documentary on the Past Pupils who shared their thoughts, dreams and ideas on what the past pupils can do and how they can reach out in a bigger and better way.

Last year in its Alumni day they had decided to start a corpus for the retired teachers to assist them especially in their medical needs when required. In appreciation for their labour of love each of the retired teachers were presented with a cheque.

Fr. Godfrey together with a number of others in the documentary mentioned ways in which the past pupils could reach out to help the marginalized and the underprivileged.

There was the release of the brochure by Fr. Godfrey and each teacher present was given a copy of the brochure.

There was a hamper on auction and the proceeds would go to the Boarding fund to assist the boarders. The past pupils collected more than sixty thousand on that evening through the auction.

The dinner brought the night to a close and it was good to see past pupils of various batches coming together united as Savion for a cause to reach out to many more youngsters who would benefit in the years ahead.

We thank all the organizers of the event for making it a very memorable evening with the past pupils and their families.

We look forward to meeting you once again next year!

Mr. John Colaco the present President with Fr. Edwin the Delegate of the Past Pupils

SALESIAN FAMILY DAY & PROMISE

SALESIAN FAMILY DAY

On Saturday, the 8th December 2012, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of our Lady, the Salesian Cooperators of the Andheri Unit had its Salesian Family Day with a solemn mass in honour of our Blessed Mother. Fr. Wilfred D’Souza the Provincial Delegate for the Salesian Family was the main celebrant at the Eucharistic celebration and Frs. Rector, Fr. Edwin and Fr. Barnabe were also present.

On this day three of our teachers, Mrs. Andrea Gonsalves (primary teacher), Mrs. Dorothy Dias (Retired Primary Supervisor) and Mrs. Ellen Gonsalves (retired teacher) made their promise as Salesian Cooperators to imbibe the spirit of Don Bosco and to reach out to youngsters in need.

The boarders sang very well during the mass and made it very solemn. Fr. Wilfred in his homily explained the readings of the second Sunday of Advent and said that the season of Advent and the feast of our Blessed mother are very closely connected and God chose her to bring forth His Son into the world through a humble woman.

At the end of the mass we had a felicitation for the best boarder in the last term. His behaviour, obedience, studies and discipline were taken into account and the prize went to Master Leyton D’Silva. Fr. Barnabe gave the gift away to Leyton.

The Salesian Cooperators assembled at the dining hall and we had a family meal together. The three teachers were called together to cut the cake and the group sang Congratulations to them.
It was indeed a wonderful Salesian Family Day.

DON BOSCO BALPRAFULTA CHARITY FILM

CHARITY FILM SHOW FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN

An Initiative of Don Bosco Balprafulta in collaboration with Cinemax Entertainment Ltd

ANDHERI-MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 26, 2012 :As a part of the Children’s Day celebration, Don Bosco Balprafulta, (Andheri) in association with Cinemax Entertainment Ltdorganized a screening of themovie ‘Delhi ki Safari’ on November 26, 2012.

A Special screening was held simultaneously across 10 cities including Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Delhi, Kolkotta, Cochin, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Guwahati and Baroda. More than 1500 vulnerable children from the slums and streets who otherwise would not get an opportunity to watch a movie in a big theater like Cinemax or celebrate Children’s Day and voice their views and opinions on their rights were given this golden opportunity.

Through this, Don Bosco Balprafulta aimed to create awareness among the people who directly or indirectly play a part in the developmental process with regard to issues of children. This move was also to disseminate information and knowledge to all sections of society on the rights of children and to motivate people to come forward to help children who are in difficult situations.

Along with the screening of the movie, a 15 sec. slide titled ‘My Education..My Right’ will be screened for few days across Cinemax theatres in India.

Children had a joyful experience of wearing 3D glasses to watch the show and of riding the escalators. Through the animated characters in the movie the message of protecting the wild life and conserving the environment was conveyed to the children.


Ms Gaelyn Mendonca , MTV VJ gave a good surprise to the children as she too joined the children and shared some good laughs with them at the movie. After the movie she interacted with the children on the importance of education.

Don Bosco National Forum for the Young at Risk (Delhi) and CinemaxEntertainment Ltd are committed to creating a child friendly society for our children.
About Don Bosco Balprafulta.

Don Bosco Balprafulta is a Salesian response to the desperate situation of marginalized children in the city of Mumbai. Balprafulta was established in April 2000 and from very beginning its focus was to enable children to procure their rights through state and civil participation. The focus remained on marginalized, exploited, vulnerable children but the attempt was to deal with them in a non institutional way. Balprafulta decided to move away from institutionalization and instead strengthen community systems, parenting, family systems and Juvenile Justice System.

ALTAR SERVERS RALLY

BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE # 3241

ALTAR SERVERS' RALLY 2012

Fr. Cleophas Braganza, sdb

MATUNGA-MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 26, 2012 : On Friday, the 23 of November,2012 Don Bosco Matunga saw its precincts full of children and youth, for two mega events: the Mela for children at risk organised by Shelter Don Bosco, and the Altar Servers' Rally coordinated by Don Bosco Youth Services and sponsored by the Shrine of Don Bosco's Madonna.

At 8:00 am already, 250 altar servers from fourteen salesian parishes in Mumbai, Vasai, Pune and Baroda were eagerly hopping around Don Bosco primary school grounds. Around thirty youth volunteers together with a team of salesian priests, brothers, sisters and aspirants were on hand to help them with the registration, handing over of rally material and to serve them breakfast.

The theme for this rally was that of World Youth Day 2013 “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28,19). Fr. Cletus D'Souza, the rector of Don Bosco Aspirantate – Lonavla helped the children understand how they, small as they were, could help “make disciples of all peoples”. He made them realise that they should build up their own faith through knowledge of the Word of God, through daily prayer and through acts of service and kindness.

Next, the whole army of altar servers, volunteers and salesian animators trooped into the Shrine for a Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Godfrey D'Souza, the Rector of Don Bosco Andheri. He too urged the altar servers to bear witness to Jesus and his Gospel through their lives in order to be effective bearers of the good news to all. At the end of the Mass, the whole assembly crowded into the sanctuary for a group photo.

Lunch followed, and the children enjoyed it sitting on the primary school lawn together with their animators. Each parish had prepared a short presentation on the life of a saint (St. Peter, St. Francis Xavier, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Bl. Theresa of Calcutta, Archbishop Romero and others) who carried the Gospel message to others in his/her own way. It was evident that the altar servers and their animators had put a lot of enthusiasm, time and energy into preparing these presentations.

Last on the program was a Bible Quiz for which the children had been eagerly waiting. The organisers prepared several rounds and various modes of questions in which the groups competed with one another. Our hearty congratulations to the group from Don Bosco Parish, Baroda that picked up the first prize.

Around 4:30 pm, the children had tea and returned home, tired but happy. Thanks are due to Fr. Edwin D'Souza – Rector of the Shrine, Fr. Ajoy Fernandes – Vice-provincial of the Mumbai province, Fr. Allwyn Misquitta who sponsored some mementos, and the entire team of Salesian Youth Animators from the parishes, together with the volunteers and the animating team of Don Bosco Youth Services.

WORLD CHILDRENS' DAY

"We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has always been and will continue to be the most universally cherished aspiration of humankind."

— WE THE CHILDREN

Childhood is about innocence, playfulness, joy and freedom. On World Children’s Day- 20th November 2012, Don Bosco Balprafulta (Andheri) organised a fun filled event based on the theme – My Education, My Right. This event was organized for more than 1,000 children, both girls and boys from various NGOs, CBOs (Community Based Organisations) and other marginalized communities. 

The Chief Guest Ms. Tanuja Sant (CDO) K-East Ward and Mr.Navenath Shinde (Chief Officer, Childrens’ Aid Society) while speaking on the importance of Education reiterated that we need to give each child their Right to Education but also educate them to their responsibility and duty to study and become good and honest citizens of our country. This occasion was an opportunity for children to experience the spirit of celebration. 

The first part of the celebration included classroom activities where the children participated in different fun games. Through a craft kit, children used their imagination to create various works of art. In the second part children enjoyed stage performances which included a mix of dance, live music and skit performed by the children from different participating communities. Each child enjoyed the wholesome meals given. Every child went home with smiles and happy memories of a joyful day. 

This date, 20th November marks the anniversary of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1959. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was signed on this same date in 1989. This convention has been sanctioned by 191countries, including India.

About Don Bosco Balprfulta 

Don Bosco Balprafulta is a Salesian response to the desperate situation of marginalized children in the city of Mumbai. Involved with promoting Child Rights since 2000, Don Bosco Balprafulta’s focus is to enable children procure their rights through State and Civil participation. 

Although ‘The Shelter’ and ‘Bosco Boys’ Home’ catered to several hundred youngsters, the city of Mumbai still had a very large number of youngsters in need of care and protection. It was felt that setting up an institution, would always limit the number of deprived children that could be helped. So the question arose- why not go to the streets instead of bringing children into the institution? Why not go into places where children are neglected and exploited, use the mechanisms of the State, and thus reach out to a larger group of children? Thus in the year 2000 Don Bosco Balprafulta was born with a vision to promote child rights through the care, protection, treatment and opportunities for the development of children in all walks of life, especially the lower-socio, economic and politically disadvantaged, through state, market and civil society participation.

Let’s give our children wings to fly high in the sky of Life!

ADHYAYAN CHECKS IN FOR QUALITY STANDARDS

ADHYAYAN CHECKS IN FOR QUALITY STANDARDS AT THE FOUR MUMBAI SALESIAN SCHOOLS

MATUNGA-MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 10, 2012 : The times they are a-changing...so goes an old song. Technology has evolved – and is evolving – and so is education. A reluctant step forward, you are not in sync; a false step, you lose the race; and, a missed step, you have lost it altogether. The growing demands for excellence, accountability and consistency necessitated an audit from an external agency in the four Salesian schools of Mumbai: Don Bosco, Matunga, St. Joseph’s, Wadala, Dominic Savio, Andheri and Don Bosco, Borivili.

A chance meeting with the team leading Adhyayan Quality Education Services set in motion a process for a qualitative review of the four schools. The Adhyayan School Self-Review and Evaluation (SSRE) diagnostic has been developed around internationally recognized standards of schooling and is rooted in years of experience of conducting school audits globally. The diagnostic assesses schools on 6 Key Performance Areas (KPAs):

1. Leadership and Management
2. Teaching and Learning
3. The Child
4. The Curriculum
5. The Community and Partnerships
6. Infrastructure and Resources

The Adhyayan School Self-Review and Evaluation (SSRE) is an important component of the Qualitative assessment. It is a structured practical reflection by the school community, based on the Adhyayan Quality Standard (AQS). It is the belief that there is an equal importance and value of the school self-review sitting alongside external verification and inspection. ‘Know thyself’ is the key to any school’s journey to achieving high quality, internationally accredited education standards. Hence the Adhyayan SSRE model deliberately has two complementary elements: school self-review and external evaluation.

The AQS has 4 tiers for evaluation: International, National (the 4 Salesian schools opted for this), State and Local. In all cases, the schools are evaluated with the same rigor as the international standard and use the same criteria.

To begin with, a time-table of the description of activity to undertake the SSRE for the 4 schools was sent to the respective Principals. The time period: Oct 29 to Nov. 9, 2012. This activity included:

· The Orientation session for the School’s SSRE team (10-12 leaders identified from the Management, staff –teaching and non teaching, parents, students, alumni) led by Adhyayan Lead Assessors. They introduced the SSRE Model and Diagnostic to the leaders.

· The schools SSRE team undertakes its own review (with no intervention by the Adhyayan).

· External Evaluation by Adhyayan Lead Assessors.

· Award (Platinum, Gold, Silver or Star) followed by Quality Dialogue and Action Plan for School Improvement with the school SSRE team.

· Joint Conference (Adhyayan Lead Assessors and the 4 Principals) to have a shared understanding of their success stories and challenges.

The activity generated enthusiasm and a tremendous interest in the entire process of evaluation. Parents and students worked alongside the management and the staff for long hours of the day that always stretched beyond the schedule time, while the Adhyayan Lead Assessors led by the strapping and erudite Irishman, Mr. Spokey Wheeler, and curricula management guru, Ms. Kavita Anand provided the impetus for the animated discussions at the training sessions and meetings. The self-review was an exercise in introspection and honest dialogues, class observations and interactions, Learning Walks and Book Looks.

The quality dialogues that followed the evaluation by the Adhyayan Lead Assessors, were engaging – at times negotiations bordering on parleys (after all the leaders representing the school were passionate about their institution)-perky and riveting. It was time for action plans and targets, and the enthusiastic school band seemed equal to the task.

The joint conference of the Adhyayan lead assessors and the Principals was a forum to exchange the success stories, evaluate procedures, strategize and carry the action plan forward. The Adhyayan team has indeed left behind in their wake a string of success stories to celebrate, yet many other areas that need an honest reflection for change and excellence.

PRIMARY DIWALI CELEBRATIONS

On Saturday the 10th November the children of the Primary School celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights. The teachers had a short prayer service invoking the blessings of the gods and the offering of sweets that the kids brought along and then shared with one and all. After the brief service, the boys had a dancing session where they could vent their energy dancing to Bollywood music and wish each other a Happy Diwali.

Fr. Rector in his talk to the kids told them that during the holidays each of them had to light up and brighten the life of another little lad so that someone else is happy in the world.