A very Good Evening to our Chief Guest Jawahar, IAS, Chief Election Commissioner cum Development Commissioner, Govt. of Puducherry; Guest of Honour Rev. Sr. Lorraine Pinto, Provincial, Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, South East Province; Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Albert, Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, Villianur; Rev. Sr. Emiliana, our Superior & Correspondent; Rev. Fathers, Sisters, Staff, Parents & Well Wishers. I do hope you are enjoying this evening with us.

“We rise by raising others.” The theme of today’s Annual Day Celebration, aptly describes the growth of our school.

St. Joseph of Cluny School – CBSE, was established in 2015 with 4 sisters, 16 teachers, a few non-teaching staff and 326 students from Grade 1 to 4. With the blessings of God and support of parents, we have reached Grade XII. At present we have 116 teachers and 2371 students, 32 sub-staff and classes from Pre-Kg to Grade XII. This academic year we will have our first batch of Senior Secondary students going for their Board Exam. The infrastructure has grown to double its size with the latest digital classrooms in place.

Some of our activities through the year:
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” — John F. Kennedy
We train our teaching staff continually to keep pace with the latest learning technology through seminars and sessions conducted by highly trained and experienced resource persons. The teaching faculty had training sessions on various topics like “Competency based Education”, “Communication Skills”, “Importance of Value Education”, “21st century skills”, “Multiple Intelligence”, etc. at regular intervals throughout the year.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” — Henry Ford
We had training, awareness and guidance sessions for the parents too, on how to mold children in a better way. Training programmes for students on various academic subjects, career guidance, spiritual formation, etc. were conducted through the academic year for the holistic development of every child. Through field trips and outreach programmes we inculcate the values of respect for elders, empathy, gratitude and generosity.

Our vision is to liberate and empower the youth to think differently, act differently amidst challenges with the motivating dictum “The task ahead of you is never as great as the power within you” and our mission is to develop value based, intellectually enlightened, spiritually inspired, emotionally balanced, morally upright, socially committed and accomplished youth who will be agents of social transformation and leaders of integrity for the society.

“On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
In order to achieve our mission, a number of seminars, debates, celebrations, intra and inter school competitions, outreach programmes, sports and fine arts activities are conducted throughout the year for the all round development of the students. The academic, personal, and professional growth of students that occur due to the integration of extra-curricular, co-curricular and academic learning is evident in the outcome of their activities.

Human relationships are primary in all of living. When the gusty winds blow and shake our lives, if we know that people care about us, we may bend with the wind … but we won’t break. Fred Rogers

Open Days are organized regularly to build up teacher-parent relationships in order to encourage and co-ordinate the academic growth of the child as a team. Challenges are voiced and solutions are sought during these one-on-one meetings.

Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate.”
Religious, cultural and national festivals are celebrated which enhance team spirit, patriotism and secularism. The school is the ground where real life experiences of Unity in diversity are practiced.

“True Leaders understand that leadership is not about them but about those they serve. It is not about exalting themselves but about lifting others up.” – Sheri L. Dew
Leadership and taking responsibility takes precedence in shaping the self-confidence and decorum of a student. They learn that rights and duties are two sides of the same coin. We need to be responsible in order to live with dignity. The students also experience women empowerment in the right sense of the word, that empowering oneself means being responsible and committed to the larger welfare. The school pupil leader with her assistants, group leaders and class leaders work hand in hand.

“A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.”
Here are a few highlights of the academic year 2022 – 23:
● The Grade X Board Exam results were announced with all 64 of our students passing in first class.
● A magnificent sports extravaganza CLASP – 2022 was organized on 3rd September last year, manifesting the Sustainable Development Goals.
● Our school won the outstanding concrete structure in the Infrastructure Category awarded by ICI – Ultratech Awards 2022-23.
● We also won the first prize for the best ornamental garden awarded by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare at the Farm Fest 2023 cum 33rd Flower, Vegetable and Fruit Show.

If you nurture your child well, he will become the nation’s pride.
● Utmost importance is given to the health and safety of students and as such awareness programmes on health and safety are arranged from time to time for the students along with inoculation of vaccines in the respective classes.
● A spirit of enquiry is inculcated in the young minds through various inter school and intra school scientific exhibitions and competitions.

“I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday.” Eleanor Roosevelt
● Students are encouraged to make wealth out of waste through innovative projects.
● Two of our students participated in the Regional Level Science Exhibition 2022 on the theme “Technology and Toys” conducted by the Directorate of School Education. Poojasri R @ Ellammal of Grade VII exhibited a Smart Traffic Controller Working Model and Sunandhaa Sri M. of Grade IV exhibited a static model named “Dengue-The Killer”.
● The Students of Grade XI won the second prize for their role play on Traffic Rules as part of Children’s Day Zonal Level Competition 2022.
● Reach out programmes were organised on several occasions through which the students reached out to the economically weaker sections of society. The HRP (Hand Full of Rice Project) is part and parcel of our monthly school activity through which we remind ourselves to remember those in need.
● Art exhibitions are opportunities organised for students to exhibit their handmade crafts using recycled or waste materials.

“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” — Denis Waitley

These are our State Level Sports Stars:
● Sharmila Kumari of Grade VI – participated in the State Level Open Athletics Championship (3rd place in under 10 girls 200m running event), State Level Karate Championship (1st place), State Level Roller Skating Championship (2nd place).
● Kanishka of Grade VIII participated in State Level Roller Skating Championship (3rd place in Road 04 and Ring 03 categories)
● Kathrina of Grade VIII participated in the State Level School Games Championship 2023 and secured 2nd place in High Jump.
● Prathiksha P of Grade III participated in the State Level Silambam Tournament under the Junior Category. She performed the single stick silambam and won Gold Medal.
● The following students participated in the State Level Athletics Championship 2022-23, organised by Pondicherry Amateur Athletic Association:
Under 12 Category: Mahita Shree – Grade VI – 3rd in 60 mts event
Mahita Shree, Hari Chinmayi, Sharmila Kumari of Grade VI and Gelsey Joanna of Grade VII secured 2nd prize in 4×100 mts relay.
Under 14 Category Kathrina of Grade VIII – 1st prize in High Jump
Kanchana of Grade VIII – 3rd prize in Shot Put
Under 17 Category Madhoumidha of Grade IX – 1st prize in 300mts and 100mts.
Madhoumidha also participated in the State School Athletics Championship – 2023 Under 17 girls category organised by the Directorate of School Education and was placed first in 100 mts and 200 mts, third place in 400 mts, and second place in 4×100 mts and was awarded trophies and a cash prize of Rs. 4000/-. She also created a state record by running 200 mts in just 26.25 seconds breaking the previous record of 27 seconds in the year 2019-2020.

She secured first prize in 100 mts and 300 mts event in Under 17 girls category and was awarded Gold Medal in the 36th Annual State Athletics Championships sponsored by Puducherry State Sports Council and organized by Pondicherry Amateur Athletics Association.
She won second prize in 100 mts run and third prize in 200 mts run in the under 17 category of the CBSE Cluster VI Athletic Meet.

National Level Participation:
Hemasri of Grade VIII participated in the Second National Fin swimming Championship and Kanishka of Grade IX won second place in the 60th National Roller Skating Championships.
Madhumidha of Grade IX participated in the 33rd South Zone Junior National Athletics Championship 2022
Nashithaa M of Grade VIII was placed second in the 4th National Silambam Tournament 2022. She also won second place in the first World Union Silambam Federation.

We were able to achieve, develop and grow because of the hard work of the teachers and students and the co-operation and support of the parents. Thank you dear teachers, students and parents.

Do not educate children to be rich. Educate them to be happy so that when they grow up, they will know the value of things and not just the price.

On this note, I conclude the Annual Report of the academic year April 2022-2023.