Dear Friends,

From Dreamers to Compassionate Achievers: Re-imagining Education for our Children

Every child deserves a sanctuary – a space where dreams blossom, anxieties fade, and potential flourishes. In an ideal world, schools transform into such havens, fostering not just academic excellence, but nurturing the mind, body, and soul of each child. This vision, though seemingly Utopian, can become a reality through collective effort – a commitment from educators, parents, and the community at large.

The current state of education, however, paints a different picture. The weight of expectation often overshadows the joy of learning. Students grapple with a multitude of challenges – insecurities, anxieties, and the ever-present fear of failure. Coupled with societal pressures and environmental strains, these issues create a breeding ground for mental and emotional exhaustion, impacting not only students but educators and parents as well.

At the root of this lies a system that prioritizes rote learning and standardized tests over holistic development – a system that breeds indifference and overlooks the emotional well-being of our children. We, as stakeholders in their future, must strive to bridge this gap.

The path to a more compassionate and effective education system lies in a paradigm shift. Here’s a glimpse into what this transformation could look like:

1. Empowering Educators: Equipping teachers with the tools to identify and address student challenges is paramount. Professional training programs that prepare educators to handle delicate situations with sensitivity and empathy are crucial.

2. Beyond Marks: The Power of Skills: Shifting the focus from mark-oriented assessments to skill-based evaluations allows educators to identify and nurture a child’s unique strengths. This empowers students to discover their passions and chart their own course to success.

3. The Moral Compass: Rejuvenating Life Skills Education: Moral science classes and soft skills development hold immense potential in shaping well-rounded individuals. By prioritizing these, we can groom students with the values and ethics necessary to navigate the complexities of life.

4. Discipline with Kindness: Discipline is integral, but it should be instilled with a sense of positivity and gentleness. Promoting a supportive environment built on mutual respect allows students to thrive without the fear of punitive measures.

5. Nature as a Teacher: Connecting with nature is not just about appreciating its beauty; it’s about adopting a sense of responsibility towards its preservation. By incorporating outdoor activities and environmental awareness programs, we must nurture a generation of responsible stewards of our planet.

6. Digital Detox and Social Reconnection: Recognizing the detrimental effects of excessive screen time, schools must champion digital detox initiatives. By educating the students about healthy technology use, we can help rebuild genuine social connections. This approach can stimulate critical social skills and emotional intelligence, preparing students for a balanced life in our digital age.

This vision requires a collective commitment. Educators must be prepared to adapt and embrace new approaches, including strategies to combat digital addiction. Parents must be active partners in their child’s education, encouraging open communication, a supportive environment, and modelling healthy technology use at home. Finally, the community must play its part by providing resources and advocating for a holistic educational system.

The journey from dreamers to compassionate achievers begins with a single step. Let us walk the talk, together, and create a future where education empowers, uplifts, and nurtures the brightest minds of tomorrow – minds that are not just academically proficient, but also socially adept, emotionally balanced, and capable of thriving in both the digital and real worlds.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs.Anita Philip

Dear Don Bosco Family,

A Grateful Farewell

 As I sit here, at this very desk that has witnessed countless moments of decision-making, reflection, and quiet gratitude, I find myself treasuring the precious memories of my time at Don Bosco. For 26 years—24 as a science educator and the last 2 as principal—this school has been my identity, my purpose, my second home.

From my very first lesson, I knew this was more than just a profession—it was a calling. The joy of watching young minds illuminate with curiosity, the privilege of guiding them through challenges, and the quiet pride of seeing them grow into confident individuals—it has been a journey beyond measure.

Teaching science was never just about formulas and theories; it was about instilling a spirit of inquiry, making students believe in possibilities, showing them that learning isn’t about answers but about the courage to ask the right questions. When I transitioned to the role of principal, my commitment deepened—to ensure our school remained a nurturing space where every child felt seen, valued, and capable of greatness.

There is an indescribable joy in welcoming back former students, now as accomplished adults. Though faces may change over time, the connection remains undiminished—a bond of warmth, pride, and mutual respect that spans generations of Boscoites.

To my colleagues—you have been my strength and partners in this incredible journey. The senior teachers who mentored me, the peers who stood beside me through challenges, and the junior faculty who rekindled my own early enthusiasm—I hold immense gratitude for each of you. Our school thrives not through individual effort but through our collective commitment, and I have been blessed to work alongside the finest educators.

To the Rectors, former Principals, and the entire Salesian community—your leadership, wisdom, and unwavering faith have been the foundation of our institute. Your guidance ensured we never lost sight of Don Bosco’s mission—to educate not just for academic excellence, but for compassionate citizenship deeply rooted in enduring values.

To all the parents—your trust, support, and countless contributions to our school community have strengthened us immeasurably and will always be treasured.

To my family—who understood my extended hours, my occasional absences, my emotional investment in my students—thank you for standing by me, offering your silent support, allowing me to dedicate myself fully to this vocation.

Above all, to my God—my guide, my strength, my comforter. Through every challenge and moment of doubt, He was there, holding me steady, reminding me that this journey was never mine alone.

As I prepare to step away, I do so with a heart overflowing with gratitude. I will miss my children—their laughter echoing through corridors, their thoughtful questions, their boundless energy. I will miss our morning assemblies, the tentative hands raised in classrooms, and witnessing the quiet confidence that blossoms in each student over the years.

I leave knowing that Don Bosco Matunga will continue to thrive, guided by the same love and dedication that brought me here decades ago. My hope for this institution is that it continues to embrace its vision of empowering each child to become an ambassador of goodness in our world. My prayer is that every student who walks through these doors discovers not just education, but purpose, faith, and kindness.

God bless you all, my dear students! Keep growing, keep learning, and always believe in the power of goodness that St. John Bosco exemplified.

With deep gratitude and enduring affection,

Mrs. Anita Philip

Principal, Don Bosco High School, Matunga

…

Dear Don Bosco Family,

As we are in the beginning of a new year 2024, it’s a great time to reflect on our experiences. Growing as individuals is a transformative journey that requires determination, faith, humility and sustainability. By setting clear intentions and committing to this path, we open ourselves up to a world of peace and possibilities.

Our actions have a ripple effect that extends beyond our own lives. Each step we take and every word we speak becomes a roadmap for the dreams and goals of the lives we touch. We are not alone in this journey; we have a responsibility to create a culture that sustains, nurtures and guides those under our care and for those who follow after us.

Our purpose goes beyond self-discovery. It lies in the compassion we show, the values we embody, and the resilience we demonstrate. We are paving the way for a generation that is ready to thrive. They observe, absorb, and emulate the virtues and flaws they witness. Our deeds become blueprints that guide them towards a future we can only imagine. Our life’s journey then is not just a relic of the past, but a guiding light for a future built on empathy, wisdom, and sustainability.

To become a better version of ourselves this new year, let’s embark on a journey filled with hope, determination, faith, and humility. Hope that all of us embrace and follow the will of GOD.  Determination empowers us to set tough goals and navigate challenges with unwavering commitment. Faith becomes our guiding compass, instilling belief in ourselves and our ability to overcome limitations. And humility reminds us that growth is not linear, teaching us to learn from every experience and fostering empathy towards ourselves and others. In the new year, let’s intertwine these qualities to sculpt a resilient spirit that not only navigates the ups and downs of life but also nurtures a deeper, more compassionate essence within ourselves and around us.

                          Wishing you A Happy and Blessed New Year 2024!

Mrs. Anita Philip

Principal

….

Dear Don Bosco Family,

I find my heart brimming with gratitude and joy for the manifold blessings bestowed upon our school community. Together, we have navigated the currents of the 1st term, celebrated moments of togetherness in picnics, sports days, cultural days, retreats, educational field trips, troop camps, and vocation team camps. We are in the process of empowering the staff and sensitizing the parents across sections on the importance of mental wellbeing of our children and the need to integrate this into our school curriculum. I am continually grateful to our staff for their tireless effort towards the smooth running of the school in the true spirit of Don Bosco.

To our dear students of Grade X, as you reach the significant milestone of leaving our school, it’s with bittersweet emotions that we bid you farewell. Remember always to pursue excellence in everything you do. As you step into the world beyond these walls of school, remember to be the best version of yourselves. Have faith in God, stay humble, stay honest, and let your actions define your journey. Your time here will be missed, but your future holds endless promise. Wishing you success and glory always!

As we gather around the warmth of our homes and hearts this Christmas, let us take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of this joyous season—giving and sharing with those less fortunate. The spirit of Christmas is not just in the twinkling lights, festive carols, and joyful celebrations; it resides in the acts of kindness that define this magical time.

This year, as we come together as a community, our focus is on the transformative power of charity. In a world that sometimes seems to spin faster than ever, it’s our collective responsibility to slow down, reach out, and make a positive impact on the lives of those who need it the most.

Our Christmas charity supports two causes embodying Don Bosco’s ethos: the Don Bosco Oratory and Yuwa. The Oratory caters to 120 underprivileged students, fostering holistic development from 4 pm to 7 pm daily. Our mission is to empower them with structured programs, including recreation, study sessions, talks, and nutrition. Saturdays offer special activities, competitions, and classes.

Yuwa, our second beneficiary, empowers rural Jharkhand girls through sports and education. The non-profit instills confidence and leadership skills through sports teams, workshops, and an all-girls school led by female coaches. Regular visits and meetings ensure a holistic approach.

In a world sometimes forgetting education’s power, both the Don Bosco Oratory and Yuwa stand as beacons of hope, embodying the transformative impact of holistic education.

This Christmas, let us rally together in the true spirit of giving. Your contributions, whether big or small, will make a significant difference. As we celebrate the season of joy, let us extend our joy to those who need it most. May the magic of Christmas inspire us all to give generously, love unconditionally, and create a world where every child has the opportunity to dream, learn, and succeed.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas filled with love, compassion, and the joy of making a difference.

Mrs. Anita Philip

Principal

….

Dear Friends,

We are already in the middle of the first term and thanks to the Almighty we have begun well. The loss of our beloved Principal, Fr. Bernard Fernandes, is something we still have to come to terms with. His spirit will always be in the school, guiding and helping us as we continue to follow in his footsteps. His legacy, I’m certain, will last forever. My sincere thanks to all those involved in the loving tribute to Fr. Bernard on his 57^th birthday. 

We recently concluded the extraordinary visitation of our school by the Regional Rev. Fr. Biju Michael. He was happy with the achievements and growth of the school in the last six years and has guided us on the way forward for the next six years. His visit has been an inspiration, encouraging us to work together with one spirit and one mission of Don Bosco.

There is a lot of construction work going on in the school but hopefully and in all probability, the third floor of the secondary building will be complete by December. Soon, we will be having our own hall for the secondary section along with eight additional classrooms. The start of the year was really challenging as water seeped into the classrooms. I am grateful to the staff and students who adjusted despite all the inconvenience.

‘Love Liberates’ has been our theme for the year. The assemblies have very well brought out this theme. I wish and pray that we learn to love one another in spite of our differences. Then we will experience true freedom to work together as one Salesian family.

With warm wishes,

Yours in Don Bosco,

Fr. Crispino Dsouza

Rector & Principal

Dear friends,

As the academic year 2021-22 draws to a close, I wish to draw our attention to something that is happening presently in Ukraine since it is from the events unfolding here that I wish to draw my message. The TIME cover ‘Resilience of Ukraine’ March28/April 4 2022 has a striking and poignant image that summarizes the sad plight of the children affected by the war.

Since Russia’s invasion began, dozens of Ukraine’s 7.5 million children have been killed and thousands of others have left in search of safety. Among those thousands is 5-year-old Valeriia from Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown in central Ukraine. Her image—a smiling child, literally supported by her fellow Ukrainians—appears on the above dated TIME magazine issue’s cover. A drone was used to capture this cover image.

Valeriia appears shy, but at home, she commands attention. She loves the same things as many little girls—her stuffed bunny; her Elsa doll from Cold Heart and her pink backpack, which she had to leave behind as she fled her country. Valeriia also has big dreams: in particular, starting her first year of school on Sept. 1. It’s hard to say when and where Valeriia will be able to do so because presently she along with her mother have fled to Poland for safety, leaving the father and brother behind in Ukraine and are temporarily housed in a makeshift shelter. In an interview to TIME, the mother Taisiia explained her decision to leave home to keep her child safe. “I love everything about her,” she said. “She is my sunshine, my joy.”

I believe that’s the basic truth that the mother spoke of every child. Our children are our assets and our future. Anything affecting them worry us and hence we extend our support to them in every way possible.

Notwithstanding the many trials and challenges in the pandemic period, we at Don Bosco Matunga have strived to offer the best to our children within a limited setting and the safety norms. The country’s best school award, the parents’ choice award, and acclaim for emotional support and well-being of the children are testimonies to these our efforts.

We end the academic year with a prayer on our lips for a continued safe environment and a thirst always for enduring values!

Wish you a relaxed summer vacation.

Sincerely,

Fr. Bernard Fernandes

……

My dear friends,

What does it feel to be celebrating Christmas now? Guess the mood is of apprehension and irritation. Apprehension because the Covid pandemic still prowls and we are not yet in the clear. Experts warn that it is going to be here for a while. Then there is a sense of irritation since we return to a crisis just when we think we have overcome one and sailing through a normal.

And yet, Christmas is a season not of despondency. It is one of hope and inspiration. Take a look at the scene surrounding the birth of Jesus. Modern cribs and Christmas scenes may depict a glamorous and attractive model of the manger, but we know that a stable that shelters the cattle is far from this. Mary gave birth to Jesus in a simple ambient. Jesus, the Son of God, came to dwell among us in a lowly state and with humble beginnings. This ought to be our hope, this indeed is our inspiration.

We can relate this to Don Bosco, Matunga as it celebrates 80 years of its existence in Jan 2022. The beginnings were modest and challenging at the Tardeo Castle and then at Matunga in 1941-42. The Salesian pioneers labored hard and the boys under their care were rooted in faith. Daily struggles didn’t deter them, rather these were means to achieve greatness. Over the years, the mission of Don Bosco was not lost sight of, rather it kept evolving.  The testimonials and the memories shared by illustrious past pupils in the Episodes (screened on the School YouTube channel) to commemorate the 80 years of the school, speak volumes of this magnificent institution Don Bosco Matunga, standing tall today with accolades and national acclaim!

In Covid times, like everyone, we too are sailing in the same boat living in fear of the dreaded pandemic. Still, like others who are equally passionate, belief in God and one another has helped us remain resolute and steadfast in our striving for excellence in education and the all round growth of our students. Education has not stopped, and we pray that we will not fall short of our commitment to serve when it’s most needed.

We are happy to have our children back with us, even though small in number – presently only Stds VIII to X. The joy and relief on the faces of staff and children are visible. We did indeed miss each other for a long while!  We are eager to have all other children back with us. Surely, no better gift than this at Christimas!

Wish you all a happy and joyous Christmas!

With every good wish,

Fr. Bernard Fernandes,

..

Dear friends,

I am writing this article against the backdrop of a spectacular Bosco Kalautsav event held online in the school. In the second year of the pandemic when the morale is a bit low, here was something to warm the cockles of our hearts. Students parading their inborn yet honed talent – the lockdown appears to have worked wonders in this aspect – at music, art, elocution et al. The DBHS Matunga ship continues to sail to reach its destination mindful of the hindrances and Covid restrictions. Motivational writer Neeramitra Reddy says in one of his articles, “As humans, it’s natural to feel unmotivated from time to time. But choosing to keep going rather than giving up is what separates the winners from the losers.“ He quotes Dale Carnegie, “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”

Second year into the pandemic, and we are clueless as to what is in store for us. Is it that we have to yet again brace ourselves for a long haul? Only time will tell. In between, we motivate ourselves to keep going and accomplish our dreams and mission when there seems to be no hope at all.

The online teaching- learning option appears to have been well received and some appear to have embraced this comfort zone. Yet make no mistake that there is a constant apprehension lurking at the back of our mind of the huge loss of time in the growth process of our young children and that it will take a herculean effort to undo this learning loss. This is where the role of educators and teachers come into play. And one must confess that they have not given up hope and are burning the midnight oil to ensure a smooth transition from online learning to the normal classroom, whenever it happens. Passion for teaching and love for the children are the hallmarks of these our teachers, and on the occasion of Teacher’s day we have only affection and admiration for them. Keep going dear teachers… you are the need of the hour!

We welcome the new staff members in the campus while we wish a fond goodbye to those who retired or have moved to new workplaces. Our congratulations to our staff members who enter their silver jubilee year of service in the school and those who have reached the end of their service in this revered institution.

Don Bosco High School, Matunga enters its 80^th year of existence in this academic year, and we celebrate this milestone on 31^st January 2022. We indeed have many reasons to be proud and blessed!

With every good wish,

Fr. Bernard Fernandes

Principal

5^th September 2021

….

Dear parents and well wishers,

Welcome to a new scholastic year 2021-22! We are not yet through the Covid pandemic and we begin the proceedings not certain of how the academic year will be for all our stakeholders especially our children. However, we wish to assure you of our continued efforts for quality education notwithstanding the many obstacles that may present themselves on our academic journey this scholastic year.

We begin our new academic year on 14th June 2021 (for Std I and Sr Kg on 15^th June, Jr Kg on 16^th June) where we will continue with online instruction till things normalize for a physical reopening. Our theme for the year will be “A renewed journey moved by hope.” Hope is that which has carried us all thus far. At this moment of time, on behalf of the management and staff, I wish to extend our prayerful support and heartfelt condolences to those among you who have lost their loved ones at home and away due to the Covid pandemic.

This is a special year for Don Bosco High School, Matunga, as we celebrate its 80 years of existence in January 2022. God has been good to us and pray that He continues to bless us with renewed vigour and passion to carry on the mission and dream of Don Bosco.

I wish to introduce you to the members of the Management and the Heads/Supervisors of the institution. You need to know the members of this team that needs to be approached for official purposes and issues related to the smooth conduct of the school. The class teachers and the associate teachers will interact with you on a regular basis to keep you informed of your child’s progress and communicate any concerns when necessary.

Rector: Fr. Crispino D’Souza

Principal: Fr. Bernard Fernandes

Administrator: Fr. Orville Coutinho

Vice-Principal: Sir Cliff Richard D’Souza

Asst Headmistress: Mrs. Christina Mascarenhas

Secondary coordinator: Sir C. Rai

Head teacher – Primary: Mrs. Griselda Fernandes

KG Supervisor – Mrs. Shoba D’Souza

Secondary Supervisors:

IX- X: Mrs. Reshma Belgaonkar

VII-VIII: Mrs. Anita Philip

V-VI: Mrs. Elizabeth Soares

As is our tradition, we shall begin the new scholastic year with the inaugural mass for the staff and Catholic students of the school on Wed 16^th June 2021. We offer this mass as a thanksgiving to God for the academic year that has gone by and also an offering of the new scholastic year ahead of us seeking His protection and guidance in all that we do. Parents and well wishers are welcome for this mass that will be streamed live from the Shrine crypt, DB Matunga at 9 am on 16^th June. The link will be shared with you by the class teachers.

The PTA is an important body in the school and the executive body comprises the representatives of each class. In the last academic year (2020-21) that was affected by the pandemic, we continued with the class representatives of the academic year (2019-20). Given that this year too we foresee a long online instruction period, we will not be able to have the annual physical General body meetings of the PTA that are held at the beginning of the year, and these will be conducted online for every class by the class teacher on the day mentioned on the school handbook and which will be communicated to you by the Heads/Supervisors.

We have our own school website and social media platforms for communication. It is important that you are familiar with these so as to update yourself on the important news of the events happening in the school that concern your children.

School website   :www.donboscomatunga.com

Email: office@donboscomatunga-com.mydnscp.com

School facebook page: Don Bosco Matunga

School YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvnpFwcpW5gCx4IztfoSUAg?view_as=subscriber

Thanks

Fr. Bernard Fernandes

Principal

12^th June 2021

…….

Dear friends,

It’s hard to believe that an academic year has gone by without any physical classroom interaction between teachers and students happening in the school. The Covid pandemic has hit us hard. And how! The human emotions and growth dynamics related to touch, recreation, games and study smoldered slowly beneath a tense unrelenting surface of the pandemic. However hard and challenging it may have been, we can say that we at Don Bosco Matunga as with many other educational institutions, did not allow ourselves to be drawn into a mire of despair and inactivity. 

Regular programs and activities did happen, in most cases, albeit online, reflecting the unflagging zeal and passion of the staff, students and parents at DBHS Matunga for a well grounded education. Our assemblies, programs and important school functions recorded online and shared via the school YouTube links and Facebook page attracted accolades and worthy mention. Quipped our ex-HM, Mrs. Beatrice Pinto after watching the YouTube video of our Father-Son day celebration recently in the Primary section, “Each time I view a video of the school events, it reiterates the extent that the school goes through to provide holistic development of our students irrespective of the circumstances.” Indeed! With God’s grace and the protection of our Blessed Mother, Mary Help of Christians, our efforts bore fruit in effecting the execution of our planned activities, classroom instruction and other programs marked on the school handbook. 

What next? This is the question uppermost on the minds of all. Will things normalize, and when? Will the transition from at-home instruction to in-person learning at school take place at the beginning of the next academic year? Only time will tell. On our part we pray for a quick end to this ongoing pandemic and learn the lessons that it provided us. 

One of the staff on the campus placed an amazing book in my hands a couple of months back. The book is entitled ‘A man called Ove’ and it makes for an interesting read laced with some hard hitting life lessons.  There is an instance when Sonja, Ove’s wife, after a severe bus accident that killed their unborn child and maimed Sonja, remarks, “We can busy ourselves with living or with dying, Ove. We have to move on.” So it is with us. Mourn or rejoice, feast or abstain, laugh or weep … life has a way of balancing our needs, desires and wants. Time for each of us to move on gracefully trusting in God and His ways. 

Wish you all a safe, family bonding summer vacation!

With warm wishes,
Fr. Bernard Fernandes

………….

Dear friends,
Christmas is a birthday story that doesn’t make a happy narration since the events and circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus weren’t a comfortable experience for Mary and Joseph. Remember they travelled for close to seventy miles with Mary close to the end of her pregnancy. Then there was the refusal of the people to welcome them in their inn and homes. Jesus’ birth was in a manger; his welcome guests were the cattle in the manger and the shepherds in the nearby fields. Notwithstanding the external circumstances, the hearts of Mary and Joseph swelled in pride to welcome the Son of God in their family, and their happiness knew no bounds to hold this bundle of joy in their arms. Deep down, there was tremendous faith and trust of the parents of Jesus to submit to the will of God.
Listen to the story of the Zimmerman family. Derek and Sara Zimmerman, a young couple at a Bruderhof in New York, rushed to nearby clinic to welcome their first child into the world, knowing very well that it was also the beginning of a farewell. The baby was diagnosed for a serious heart defect several months earlier and was likely to be stillborn, and, if born alive, he was unlikely to live for more than a few hours. Within minutes of their arrival at Vassar Hospital, Luke was born – not only alive, but wide awake, and unusually alert, for a newborn.
In the weeks preceding Luke’s birth, his parents had repeatedly sought the advice of medical experts and had decided that, if Luke were born alive, they would sign him out of the hospital as soon as possible, so that they could spend whatever time they had with him in the peace and quiet of their home. Says Sara, “We spent the morning with him in our apartment. I nursed him, and we bathed him, held him, and talked and sang to him. All four of his grandparents took turns holding him, and so did his great-grandparents and others.” Around noon, however, Derek and Sara sensed that something was changing. In Derek’s words, “He moved less and less, and grew quieter. At first he looked up at us, but then he closed his eyes and gradually fell asleep. Then he took his last breath and was gone.” Luke was ten and a half hours old when he died. To say goodbye to their son was heartbreaking. But the main thing the parents felt was gratitude for the hours Luke spent with them were filled with happiness.
The Covid pandemic surrounding us has thrown normal life out of gear – no grand celebrations at birthdays and weddings, no parties and gatherings. Neither fond farewells at death nor succor in sickness. Yet, the harshness of external events and circumstances doesn’t necessarily mean a void in our heart or emptiness within. Life is much more than external celebrations or public displays of our emotions. Life is the moments lived with deep meaning, love and service. We have a beautiful opportunity to experience the richness of our life this Christmas. Let’s embrace it!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2021!
Warm wishes,
Fr. Bernard Fernandes

…

My dear friends,
We have completed the first term of the academic year 2020-21 under a lockdown and we are yet to begin our classes in the school. All this while, the online teaching and learning took place in your homes and we pray that the second term will bring us some much needed succor and a return to normalcy.
We never contemplated a scholastic year with uncertainties and challenges that we are experiencing presently. Our teachers, students, parents and non-teaching staff have lived up to the massive and unprecedented change in the mode of education and our lifestyle. While it is true that God has provided us many lessons in this pandemic such as simplicity, sacrifice, quiet reflection, service and quality family moments, we have been tested for patience, endurance, hope and faith. All of us have grown beyond measure in resilience, service, sharing and power of prayer. There are those among us who have lost our dear ones during the pandemic or experienced immense struggle and helplessness with the Covid sickness closer at home. Some were (and still are) in the frontline of the battle as caregivers and protectors, and we are immensely grateful and proud of these our brothers and sisters. We are still fighting a long battle and we keep praying for strength and solace sticking together in thick and thin

We have taken a short break for Diwali. And during this break we have two important events – the Diwali festival and the Children’s Day, both celebrated this year on 14th November. Children’s Day is a special event in any educational institution. The children are the prime focus in all our activities at school, and it is rather unfortunate that we celebrate Children’s Day without them. This year has been hard on them and our wish is that they continue to be moulded in love, generosity and service through these trying times.
Diwali is a festival of light. The festival symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness or good over evil. The Holy Father Pope Francis along with his team at Vatican has issued a message on the occasion of this festival encouraging a positive spirit and hope for the future. The message states that in the midst of the global crisis we strive to spread “the contagion of hope”, through gestures of care, affection, kindness, gentleness and compassion which are more contagious than the corona virus itself.
Wish you all a happy festival of Diwali and a restful mid-year break! And to our students a very happy Children’s Day. We miss you!
With every good wish,
Fr. Bernard Fernandes
Principal
14th November 2020

..
Dear friends,

Greetings for the new academic year 2020-21 that has up to now witnessed close to two and half months of online teaching and remote learning. As is our normal tradition, our first issue of the school magazine Don Bosco Courier is being released on the occasion of Teachers’ Day, albeit online.

Nowhere in our wild imagination did it ever envisage celebrating a day with teachers without them present in the school! And yet it is happening this year in our school, and across all schools in the country and the world. The Covid pandemic has hit us hard and there appears to be no sign of immediate relief from the ongoing plight.

As I write this article, I wish to share a beautiful reflection by Dr. Robert Antony, a child surgeon from Bangalore, talking as a parent and someone interested in the education of our children. He says that the online teaching has created a challenging situation for the teachers. With criticism from different stakeholders and under constant glaring watch and scrutiny, our teachers are under tremendous pressure to perform on an online platform that is new and demanding to most of them. Dr Antony says that the teachers need our support, our understanding and empathy when all of a sudden they have to deal with close to 40 students or more in an online class- each child from their own home and most children having a parent sitting next to him/her. It’s a different world for them. As a Principal, I second every point Dr Robert argues in favour of our teachers because I have watched closely our own staff who have sacrificed their all to train themselves and burnt the midnight oil to prepare for these online classes. They have the good of the children uppermost in their mind and as was rightly mentioned at the online assembly of Std. 6 A held in Aug 2020, the teachers are the society’s unsung warriors during this covid pandemic crisis. So on this Teachers’ Day, our respect and esteem for them is a notch higher and we salute them for their unstinted efforts to ensure no break in the quality education imparted to our students.

A note of gratitude to the students who have, and are, adjusting well to the new system that has befallen them. It’s hard on them too to sit before the screen, listen to the instructions of the teacher, take notes, adjust to the home environment and avoid distractions, and all this with no recreation in the open spaces that they are so used to at DB Matunga. Along with them, we commend the support by the parents to their children and to the school to ensure that the child is given the best in education and that we don’t compromise our values for a balanced growth of our children.

Closer home, I welcome our ex-Rector Fr. Orville Coutinho and Fr. Vincent Rasquinha to the community. It’s a home coming for them – Fr. Orville spent six years as a Rector and another few years as an Administrator, while Fr. Vincent is a past pupil of this school. Fr. Oriville and Fr. Vincent will be the DBIS student mentor and DBHS student mentor respectively. Our much loved and respected septuagenarian Sir C. Rai completes 50 years at DBHS Matunga this year. It is no mean feat for a person who is in the twilight of his educational career and yet delivers hundred percent to the institution and the boys, especially the weaker and the special students of our school. Congratulations to him on a tremendous journey at DBHS Matunaga having touched the lives of thousands of students!

I wish to welcome the new Supervisors, staff and students to the school this academic year while extending our heartfelt gratitude to the Supervisors in the Secondary section who have completed their term in office and to our retiring staff.

Our theme for this year is “Committed citizens rebuilding a fragile world.” It is a blend of the Strenna 2020 of our Rector Major Fr. Angel Fernandez to the Salesian world, “Good Christians and Committed Citizens” and the present fragile situation that has erupted with the pandemic crisis.

There is a great challenge awaiting us as we move ahead in this new academic year and experience a new normal in education. Let’s embrace it if we wish to stay relevant and effective.

With every good wish,

Fr. Bernard Fernandes

Principal

(05 September 2020)

…

25 June, 2020

Dear friends,

Welcome to the new scholastic year 2020-21!

It’s a very unusual situation where we ended the scholastic year 2019-20 and are beginning the academic year 2020-21 within a lockdown period. We aren’t certain of the nature and period of the partial lockdown that is presently on which doesn’t allow physical reopening of the school. Given the present pandemic situation and also our first experience with online teaching and remote learning we began the new scholastic year with a staggered reopening of our school with online classes on 15^th June 2020.

We are in the middle of the second week of the beginning of the new academic year via an online platform. It’s good to see the enthusiasm of our children as they interacted with their teachers and colleagues after a long break. Overall, it was a good start to our online teaching and interactions barring a few technical and connectivity issues which we did anticipate given the first experience of this kind and the big audience that we handle. I must also commend the parents for providing the necessary support, space and the environment for their children for this kind of learning. We pray that we succeed in sustaining this teaching-learning environment over a period of time as the situation demands of us.

The lockdown has been a trying period for us all –families, religious communities, the employed to those who lost out on jobs, the migrants, doctors, health workers and the administrative personnel. The list is elaborate. We as educators have been equally affected albeit in a different way. Many institutions stepped up their preparation for ‘Emergency Remote learning’ that is presently taking place in virtual classrooms called homes. This is something new to the majority of the teaching staff across the country.  Webinars, in-house virtual training sessions of staff, planning across states and Salesian schools have kept all and sundry busy with no break for vacation. We do not know where and how this will end. Yet, we cannot stop learning and reinventing for our sake and for the students entrusted to our care.

The much talked about term is the NEW NORMAL for schools where teachers and children can bridge the gaps created in these uncertain times. The NEW NORMAL which ensures firstly, that the foundational ideas for a healthy education aren’t compromised and made obsolete, and second, that we address the issues that merit urgent attention post lockdown considering the present scenario. Issues such as psychological and emotional support to children who have been impacted in direct and inconspicuous ways to enable them to get back into the rhythm of learning, inculcating a nurturing culture of our environment and eliminate the virus of ‘selfish-indifference’, creating a well planned and well designed accelerated learning program to cater to children who may have experienced extreme hardship, domestic violence, long journeys and seen the adults in their families fearful and distressed, build a strong support system that ensures that the weak and the vulnerable, do not drop out easily from being educated further.

Our theme for this year is “Committed citizens rebuilding a fragile world.” It is a blend of the Strenna 2020 of our Rector Major Fr. Angel Fernandez to the Salesian world, “Good Christians and Committed Citizens” and the present fragile situation that has erupted with the pandemic crisis.

I wish to welcome the new Supervisors, staff and students to the school this academic year while extending our heartfelt gratitude to the Supervisors in the Secondary section who have completed their term in office and to our retiring staff.

There is a great challenge awaiting us as we welcome a new academic year and experience a new normal in education. Let’s embrace it if we wish to stay relevant and effective.

With every good wish,

Fr. Bernard Fernandes sdb

Principal

(25^th June 2020)

..

6 April, 2020

The Principal Fr. Bernard Fernandes gives some tips for a healthy purposeful living during the days of the corona virus lockdown.

Link to the video message: https://youtu.be/PZ7eWu9GG98

Below is the text of the video message:

We are halfway through the lockdown period declared by India and the state of Maharashtra on account of the prevalent situation caused by the Corona virus pandemic.

A few points on the forced break that has befallen us. I am sure some of you would have already worked out ways and means to make the most of this opportunity rather than drown into a hopeless feeling of ‘sheer waste of time’.

I will share with you a few of my practices that have helped me tide over the initial phase of the lockdown. And for this my audience is the set of stakeholders of any educational institution but primarily it is our teachers, though the points that I mention hold good for any one – teacher, parent or student.

Firstly prepare a daily plan or schedule. It helps you focus and prioritize. This is what I told our weaker SSC students before they broke for their study leave. A plan helps shake off boredom, lethargy and idleness. It gives you a goal to achieve. A regular schedule would include time for prayer, hobby, recreation, work, rest and relationships. However we are beyond a regular schedule these days and we need to think out of the box. Look at it this way – you have more time, less distractions and minimum structured activity.

As a teacher who is asked to work from home, there is no better way than compiling the resources that are available in abundance. Look at these resources closely. You will not get an opportunity again later. Categorize them. Begin your own mini library and get yourself organized. It’s time to take a look at the data accumulated on your computer, laptop or even your mobile. It’s time to delete the mundane and organize the data that is precious.

Read. This is what we always tell our students and our children. Pick up the book you always wanted to but never had the time. If it is your own book, highlight and take notes. You will be surprised to see what ideas struck you when you revisit your library later!

Pick up writing skills. Write your own diary. Pen down your thoughts of the experiences of a lockdown. Years later, it may come in as a good resource for the future generations. On my part, besides my library or my diary, I do maintain the cut outs or prints of some important articles or circulars that go into the house chronicles. For example, the guidelines from the Cardinal Oswald Gracias for the celebration of mass, the Holy week and Easter week. It is something unusual that we have experienced in our lifetime. This will go down as my history, our history!

This is the best time to take a look at some of your old passions and hobbies which otherwise you will not get the necessary time. I have taken up to polishing my guitar skills and learning some finer points of music. I have prepared a plan to move on to advanced guitar chord progressions and I am enjoying this challenge. Some of the skills you acquire now may one day come in handy when you are given the responsibility to oversee a class assembly or a school program. These skills are never lost on us.

There are many more things that could be suggested. But I leave you with the last one which is dear to my heart and I believe it fits well into the Don Bosco’s Preventive system of education – keep connected. It will help prevent misunderstandings and misinterpretations; this system of regular communication will help forge bonds, create trust and openness. In one of my latest circulars to our staff at Don Bosco Matunga, I wrote: Do not stop your communication with parents (even if you have stopped sending homework and assignments). This is our moment to be of assistance and encouragement to them in engaging their children in useful and creative ventures. Given the lockdown and the lack of movement, many parents are on the edge and find it challenging to guide their children at home. As educators we need to provide them good resource material and tips to accompany their children in their growth.

So to all of you, wherever you are, stay Connected! In prayer and in deeds. And we will overcome this pandemic together.

God bless you!

..

2 April, 2020

Dear friends,

In the recently concluded ICC women’s T20 cricket final, one Australian woman cricketer stood between India and victory – not that the performance of the other team members wasn’t praiseworthy. It’s just that Alyssa Healy’s ruthless 75 paled into insignificance the handsome contribution of other Australian players and denied India a record victory to lift the ICC women’s World cup trophy for the first time.  Alyssa’s “extra push” helped her gain the momentum that was so very necessary in the World Cup final to completely outplay India in the match and help her country win the tournament. This ‘extra push’ or burst of energy is what separates champions from the ordinary. It is the elixir that provides the finesse and excellence to our works.

This was discernible in the year gone by, especially in the post-Christmas period with the completion of the Annual day celebrations that attracted accolades and praise from many. Then there were the Primary and Kindergarten cultural days that provided the extra spark of creativity and cheer, and of course the many exploits in sports as always. This year was extra special with our u-16 cricket team making it to the Harris shield finals (played on the haloed Brabourne stadium) for the first time in the history of Don Bosco Matunga.  The entire team at Matunga – management, staff, students and parents – can take pride in all that makes Don Bosco an institution prestigious and blessed.

Corona virus – the latest pandemic as declared by WHO – has hit us hard. Quarantines displacing and distancing families and loved ones, indefinite closures of world events and a hard hit economy are but some of the major blows received. One lesson that surely comes across forcefully is that life is fragile and needs to be treated with care. Bonds can be broken overnight, ties snapped and dreams shattered. The need for us to treasure life and not take it for granted. To live life to the full every moment.

As the year draws to a close after having ‘journeyed together in joy and holiness’ we are indeed privileged and honored for the mighty and the ordinary happenings, the special moments of bonding with family, school and friends.

The end of the year is a moment to relax and unwind. The summer vacation period will soon be upon us, and before long we would have dived into it. Use the vacation for recreation and leisure, bonding and growth.

Wish you the very best as we end the scholastic year and a happy summer vacation!

With every good wish,

Fr. Bernard Fernandes

Principal

……

18 October, 2019

Dear friends,

The closure of the first term exams marks the end of the initial half of the scholastic year and the beginning of the Diwali break. It’s a sojourn that’s much needed and welcome for our busy bodies and restless souls.

Without doubt the first term in the school has been defined by a plethora of programs and activities besides academics- the hallmark of a healthy teaching learning ambience. The joyous abandon of the children while at play or study, the renewed and passionate commitment of the staff and various stakeholders in our journey and the public recognition of our efforts at excellence are indicative of a steady growth in values and our mission. We are proud and overjoyed with the many individual and school awards at the city, state and national level that we have receive this year be it in sports, art, culture and academics. It has been the result of a continuous and consistent effort of the school team of leaders, staff and the stakeholders.

Everything around us is not perfect – and we will never experience an ideal situation that we wish. At the world level, we have been experiencing the struggles on climate action, environment protection and political balance. I came across this beautiful reflection in my daily inspiration mail. “At times God puts us through the discipline of darkness to teach us to heed him. Songbirds are taught to sing in the dark, and we are put into the shadow of God’s hand until we learn to hear him.…Are you in the dark just now in your circumstances, or in your life with God?…When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you get into the light.” I thought it is relevant to the situation and the festival that we are soon going to celebrate – Diwali.

It is a call not for passive acceptance to the bleak situation around us but an invitation to be perceptive listeners and doers of the divine will. It is a call to faith, trust and action; above all to find God. To quote again from the daily inspiration notes, ‘Who is God, and how can we find him? One answer to this question is that something of the light of God already lies deep in each of our hearts. At times, this is to be felt only in a deep longing for goodness, justice, purity, or faithfulness. But if such a longing turns to faith, we will find God.’

May we find this God, people and mother earth in the festival of Lights that we celebrate this Diwali!

Happy Diwali!

Warm wishes,

Fr. Bernard Fernandes

Principal

………………………..

8 September,2019

Dear friends,
The first issue of the school magazine in the new scholastic year is dedicated to the teacher. So let me begin with a teacher’s anecdote. The June 2019 issue of Scoonews titled ‘Teacher warriors 2019 – Big Hearts that shape little minds’ covered the life-stories of some amazing individuals who are raising the bar of education for underprivileged children across India. One of these is Mrs. K R Ushakumari teaching in the Kunnathumala school for the last 16 years, encouraging children to learn and equip themselves for jobs to lead better lives. Listen to her story.
At 7 am on weekdays, K R Ushakumari gets ready to work. Her journey to school is not the same as that of a teacher in the city. She rides her scooter (she brought the scooter recently that has helped her escape a long walk) from her house in Amboori for 25 minutes and parks it on the Kumbikkal Kadavu river bank. Then she gets on a boat and rows across the river, often with a boatman. And that is only half the journey to school. After the boat ride, she then treks through the hills of Kunnathumala for four km to reach the school. She is the lone teacher at Agasthya Ega Adhyapaka Vidyalaya, Kunnathumala, in the Biosphere where tribal children come to learn from their dear teacher. She says that P N Panicker, the Father of the Library movement in Kerala is her mentor and inspiration. ‘He inspired me to go to villages to teach children who did not have access to schools.’ The difficult terrain to reach school and being the lone teacher in charge of classes I to IV are her biggest challenges. Her pride and satisfaction are her students who are working now and settled with good careers. ‘Some have done TTC, some BSc and some have got government jobs. When I joined the school, there was not even one student who had passed 10 grade but today they all manage to pass class 10 exams,’ Ushaskumari says proudly.
That’s the passion and the delight of a teacher –to ensure the growth of her student and see him/her succeed in the greatest challenge called life. Wish our committed teachers here at Don Bosco Matunga and teachers elsewhere a happy day that is theirs to cherish!
In school, we have achieved a hundred per cent at the March 2019 SSC examination, and this at a time when we noticed a drop of 12% pass percentage at the city and state level. This again is a reflection of a team effort – staff, parents and the students who worked together to address the challenges of the weaker pupils and that of a new curriculum. My hearty congratulations to all our SSC students and wishes for an absorbing and fulfilling career!
We are already two and half months in the new scholastic year, and the grind –that is part of the syllabus structure – and flexibility gel well to spark creativity and vigour. The extracurricular programs and the evolving infrastructural developments provide the boost to the curriculum that boasts of an all round development of the child. The recognition and awards for the school are testimony to the robust curriculum design and passionate staff. Yet again on 24thJuly 2019, our school was awarded the MSSA instituted ‘Mr. Niranjan R. Ganjawalla Challenge Trophy for the Best All Round Boys School in Sports’ in Mumbai.
To our great family, we welcome our new administrator Fr. Elson Barretto and the other new staff members. We bid a fond adieu to our outgoing Vice-Principal and administrator Fr. Roy Noronha. His contribution to the growth of this institution has been immense and we are deeply indebted to him.
Let’s continue working in unison and embrace this new academic year with trust and belief in God’s benevolence. Together let’s march towards greater glory and excellence!
Fond wishes,

Fr. Bernard Fernandes
Principal

..

1 July, 2019

We journey together this year!
I wish to begin this message with the title of this article that reflects the theme of this new scholastic year, ‘Journeying together in joy and holiness.’ It’s not that we have not journeyed together before in our mission and vision. In fact, this institution and its values stand tall because of the labour of love of people who came together for a common cause. However, this year we are called to reflect deeper into this aspect of unity and bonding in joyous sanctity. We are called to be joyful, to be holy. Someone has said it beautifully, “Your holiness makes you as conspicuous as the sun in the sky.“ You cannot hide your godly character. Love cannot be hidden any more than light. Least of all, it cannot be hidden when it shines forth in action.
So then, why are we waiting? The passing away of one of our dear students of Std X, Saideep Rapolu (who answered SSC in March 2019, and passed when the SSC results were declared in June 2019) is a harsh yet tangible reminder of our imminent exit from this earthly life, sudden or otherwise. We are sad that this had to happen to a young student who was on the threshold of a bright and challenging career. God’s ways are not ours to question. However, difficult and inconsolable family moments such as these make us sit up and take notice of the shortness of our life. We have to act and we need to make a difference today. By being humane and compassionate. By reaching out in service of others. That’s where holiness lies. As Don Bosco said, ‘Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way!”
In school, we have achieved a hundred per cent this year at the SSC examination, and this at a time when we noticed a drop of 12% pass percentage at the city and state level. This again is a reflection of a team effort – staff, parents and the students who came together to address the challenges of the weaker students and that of a new curriculum. My hearty congratulations to all our SSC students and wishes to them for an absorbing and fulfilling career!
Our students have come back to school with enthusiasm after a long restful summer vacation. There are many surprises in store for them by way of extracurricular programs and infrastructural developments. Sometimes they will have to be ready for a grind for that is part of the syllabus structure and curriculum. Isn’t this a part of our life too? However, flexibility is also a part of us, and we know that such moments spark creativity and vigour. The committed staff at Don Bosco Matunga is equipped for an engaging and eventful year with our energetic and evolving young minds. To our great family, we welcome our new administrator Fr. Elson Barretto and the other new staff members. We bid a fond adieu to our outgoing Vice-Principal and administrator Fr. Roy Noronha. His contribution to the growth of this institution has been immense and we are deeply indebted to him.
My wish for each of us to embrace this new academic year with trust and belief in God’s benevolence. Together let’s march towards greater glory and excellence!
-Fr. Bernard Fernandes
Principal

..

2 April, 2019

Dear friends,

Good bye to another scholastic year 2018-19!

With the closing of any event is associated the many happenings and memories. Here at DB Matunga the list is inexhaustible with the unfolding of innumerable programs – big and small, glamorous and staid, media driven and class focused- round the year. In all this we need to be grateful and be wary of (using Pope Francis’ term) ‘losing our memory’. We need to guard against ingratitude and indifference- two attitudes that kill our soul and deny healthy enthusiasm for learning and growth; more, we lose our way!

Addressing the Christian faithful at the beginning of Lenten season, Pope Francis says, ‘Well-being, even spiritual well-being, has this danger: the danger of a certain amnesia, a lack of memory. I feel good like that, and I forget what God has done in my life, all the graces He has given us, and I believe that it is my own merit, and I go on like that. And then the heart begins to turn away, because it doesn’t listen to the voice of the heart itself: memory. The grace of memory.’

I will attempt now to refresh our memories of the wonderful happenings here at DB Matunga- I’m sure you will have many more! In recent memory, the grand Annual thanksgiving day that brought together the past and the present (pupils, staff, parents, well  wishers and Salesians) besides the unbridled expression of the abundant talent on the campus. Coupled with this were the cultural days of the Kg and the Primary section, and the Primary activity annual day where every child made it to the stage. The mega Christmas Panorama event that attracted us to a spirit of giving and sharing- our beneficiaries this year being the needy school children of Don Bosco Nepal. The safe and enjoyable outings of the students and the staff that ensured deeper bonding and camaraderie. The numerous awards of public recognition to the esteemed institution and for excellence in sports; and of late a sustained excellence in Science research. The sports facilities that have multiplied in the campus with the addition of two new turfs – one for football and the other for hockey- this year. The SSC results that have been outstanding and the school academic results equally laudable. Classroom instruction and activities beyond academics which have evolved and that are noticeable in the progress made by our students.

There are many other blessings to remember! Suffice to say that we were magnificently blessed and rewarded. With a grateful heart we thank God, our Madonna Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco for watching over us, guiding us and protecting us.

We break for a summer vacation to relax and reinvigorate, so as to return in the new academic year without letting our resolve slip to pursue greater excellence and wisdom. Wishing you all a well deserved summer holiday!

Warm wishes,

Fr Bernard Fernandes

Principal

..

21 December, 2018

Dear friends,

An Ohio neighbourhood celebrated Christmas early this year in September. The reason – a two year toddler with brain cancer was given just another two months to live and would not live to see the Christmas Day.

When they got the diagnosis that their son  Brody would likely not live to Dec. 25, Brody’s parents Shilo and Todd Allen decided to move their family’s Christmas up to September. They put up a Christmas tree and decorations. However they soon realized that they needed more decorations and there weren’t many for sale in September. So they started a Facebook page called Team Brody and asked neighbors for help. The community responded and help started pouring in. Neighbors put up lights, Santas, and giant snow globes on their front lawns. But the support didn’t stop there. Christmas cards started arriving at the Allens’ home.

“In his mind it is just Christmas,” said McKenzie Allen, 21, Brody’s sister. “He woke up one day and the Christmas tree was out. He doesn’t know it isn’t really Christmas. He is just enjoying it.”

On 23 September Brody got a Christmas parade, a party and a Rozzi fireworks show Sunday, and he couldn’t have been happier. Some people dressed up in Christmas regalia. There was Christmas music, Christmas lights, Christmas trees and Christmas snow.

On Oct 19, 2018 Brody lost his battle to cancer aged two. “He did not suffer. He was surrounded by his family and I have no doubt many angels. While our sadness is immeasurable and we will miss his smiling beautiful soul, we are also comforted in knowing that today our son has touched the face of God.” wrote his dad on Facebook

A heartwarming Christmas celebration isn’t it? It teaches us important life lessons. I pick up two from here. One, we do not have to wait for Christmas to make it happen in our hearts and in our neighborhood. Christmas joy and giving can happen anytime. The spontaneous celebration of Christmas in the community in Ohio must have been the sweetest and most purposeful of all for Brody’s neighbors. Is this not what we have set out to achieve in a big way this year as a school community with our theme ‘My neighbour, my responsibility’? The Care and Share Christmas Panorama program this December is our commitment to the education of the needy children in our Salesian school in Nepal. Earlier on, there was a spontaneous outpouring of assistance to the flood affected people in Kerala and the generous monetary contribution to our soldiers at Flag Day collection. These organized outreach programs are much needed exercises in charity, and they should train us to sensitivity to the needs of others as it happened in Brody’s neighbourhood. A few days back, the US and the world mourned the loss of George H W Bush Sr, ex-President of USA. At the eulogy his son Bush Jr, also ex-US President, said his father taught him public service was noble and necessary. Said he, “He strongly believed it was important to give back to the community and country… he recognised serving others enriched the giver’s soul.” All us may not end up in public service, but surely each one of us, in our own little way, can be magnanimous and kind to a fault always.

The second point that seems insignificant in the story, but that which tugs at our heartstrings is the ability of a child to bring together a community of people with varied likes and dispositions, who otherwise would have been oblivious to each other’s presence, to celebrate love at Christmas. The story of Christmas is about a babe that brought freedom to the captives and mighty to their feet. Christ’s birth heralded peace and joy, happiness and warmth, love and forgiveness. The nativity drew together shepherds and kings, sheep and angels. Slowly but surely this baby Jesus would later bond nations and people’s in love, peace and freedom.

My dear friends, I wish you this warmth of bonding and bliss of giving at Christmas…and always!

Have a joy filled Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Fr. Bernard Fernandes

Principal

..

6 November, 2018.

Dear friends,

The first term has breezed by and the Diwali Vacation is upon us. Deepavali- the Festival of Lights – is a joyous festival and we wish each other light and wisdom during this festive season. Light to brighten the path made obscure by greed, power, intolerance and hatred. Wisdom to brave decisions to overcome greed with generosity, power with service, intolerance with acceptance and hatred with goodness. At schools, homes and neighborhood we have committed ourselves to bold resolutions to ensure a safe and green Diwali to protect our degrading environment. May all of us be blessed with fortitude and resolve to pursue these decisions.

The school is a home away from home for our children. Here abiding values and habits are learnt and reinforced, relationships and habits nourished and strengthened, physical and emotional well being are provided for, and intellectual maturity is a relentless pursuit. The first term of the scholastic year was an exercise in all these and much more. Awards in sporting excellence, green values, academics and all round progress are but indicators of the invigorating atmosphere prevalent on the campus. They are but reminders of what education can achieve.

Aretha Louise Franklin was an American singer, songwriter, civil rights activist, actress, and pianist. She died on Aug 16 this year and the world mourned her loss. Paying tribute to Aretha, former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama had this to say, “America has no royalty. But we do have a chance to earn something more enduring. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade — our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect.”“She helped us feel more connected to each other,” they wrote, “more hopeful, more human. And sometimes she helped us just forget about everything else and dance.”

Each of us long and strive for this lasting, yet at times, evasive bond of collective humanity. In schools we work towards this connect and values. The festival of Diwali provides the graced opportunity to extend the connect and experience something more enduring – a culture and history worth a retell!

Happy Diwali!

Warm regards,

Fr Bernard Fernandes

Principal

4 September, 2018

Dear friends,

With the advent of a new scholastic year much has happened on the world stage that caught our attention and influenced our thinking and growth. The FIFA World Cup with its absorbing matches and silent heroes drew us to the TV screens with a lesson or two in passion, team work and self belief. The Thai cave rescue of the twelve boys and their soccer coach gripped our attention with narratives of human valor, enduring spirit and sacrifice. The fury of the monsoons had a telling effect on our city of Mumbai and of late caused an unprecedented damage to the people and habitat of Kerala. The forest fires, floods and earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and collapse of ice glaciers the world over indicate that all is not well with the climate and the life we are living.

In the school, the inauguration and blessing of the new football turf on 20 Aug has set the pace for greater sporting developments and provision of the best facilities for our children. At the SSC Board examination, more than the cent percent result, the outstanding grades of our students are a cause for celebration and applause. There is a noticeable passion for greater excellence among the stakeholders- staff, students and parents – who strive to work together assiduously towards a common goal. Achieving better and significant outcomes in reading, writing, speech and drama, developing a deeper understanding of concepts in the knowledge of Science and English, building a concerned outlook towards environment, and fostering deeper values of tolerance, outreach and acceptance in society are some of the focal points this year where we wish to further spell out our mission and vision.

We have the release of the first issue of our school magazine DB Courier this new academic year that coincides with the Teachers day celebration. In an age when the teacher’s role is debated and which at times pales into insignificance with the inundation of online resources and technology, it’s time we go back to our roots and understand the irreplaceable human bonding element in a guru-shisya and teacher-pupil relationship. I wish to relate it to an article ‘Ground beneath our feet’ (the Hindu -Sunday 29 July 2018). It speaks about ‘grounding’, or ‘earthing’, which is a new-age therapy that is fast gaining ground. Its proponents argue that when the bare skin of our feet connects with the electric charge of the earth, we are ‘grounded’, that is to say, the free radicals creating havoc in our bodies are neutralized. The result is emotional and physical health. Modern lifestyle factors such as life in high-rise buildings, sleep on elevated cots (as different from beds spread on the floor) and the wearing of shoes with rubber soles have contributed to our lack of direct skin connection with the earth’s surface. Electrons from the earth may be the best source of antioxidants for our bodies and they have zero negative secondary effects, because our bodies have evolved over eons of physical contact with the ground. Our modern lifestyles have broken this natural connection with the ground and taken our immune system by surprise, depriving it of its primordial source of energy. Perhaps a barefoot walk in the park or a roll on the beach is just what we need to realize the effects — and re-establish our connection with the Earth.

This theory may be raw, debatable and researched further. However the point cannot be missed. We need to get connected once again with our roots and tradition if we wish to remain healthy in the field of education. May the teacher’s day remind us to return to our traditional and eternal values of respect and esteem for the educator if we wish to be grounded in our endeavor for a deeper bonding in our schools. Our teachers care and wish to be cared in return. Let’s not disregard this opportunity to shower them with our deepest affection.

Happy teacher’s day!

Fond wishes,

Fr. Bernard Fernandes

Principal

04 September 2018

..

17 June, 2018

Dear staff, students and parents,

Welcome to a new scholastic year 2018-19! It is a coincidence that the school reopens alongside the kick off of the FIFA World Cup in Russia. We at DB Matunga, a sporting giant in sport in the city of Mumbai and the state, look forward to this sporting spectacle with excitement and enthusiasm because it offers us learning experiences and models in sport and life. Each of us will have, and identify with, our own soccer heroes and hope that they lift the coveted World Cup. At the time of penning this article Christiano Ronaldo of Portugal has set the quality bar for the tournament scoring a superlative hat trick in the match against mighty Spain. The press has gone gaga over his creditable performance and has extolled his prodigious performance. The BBC news correspondent wrote: Ronaldo continues relentless pursuit of greatness. This speaks volumes about one of the world’s greatest players and his focused drive for excellence. It is a challenge to each of us this new academic year in our sphere of work and duty. It is a call not to settle for mediocrity and seek the path of least resistance, but be relentless in our search for excellence.

The school SSC results this year has been a case in point. It proved that goals are achievable and that excellence is within our reach. If only we set our minds and hearts to this task! A record 215/289 students achieved distinction this year in the 100% SSC results. Of these 53 scored over 90%. We congratulate our students on this commendable performance and salute their mentors and guides.

The Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation provides a Strenna every year – it is a message to pervade our works and energies with an underlying theme. This year Fr Angel Fernandez’s exhortation reads, “LET US CULTIVATE THE ART OF LISTENING AND ACCOMPANIMENT.” It is a call in a special way for educators to accompany young people and discern their generous hearts. The theme for us in our school this year ‘My neighbour, my responsibility’ embraces the Rector Major’s message. With large and tolerant hearts let’s welcome each other’s beliefs and differences. That’s the way forward for us today.

I end with a quote from Pope Francis to reinforce the point I stressed earlier in my opening remarks. “The greatest challenge in life” he said is “to avoid being mediocre and fainthearted: if a young person settles for a life of bland mediocrity…he or she will not live a full and authentic existence.

We must ask God to give today’s youth the gift of healthy restlessness. Restless to hunger for a life of fulfillment and beauty.”

My wishes to all for a memorable and significant academic year ahead. Let’s be restless to dream the impossible and pursue the relentless march to greatness!

Warm wishes.

Fr. Bernard Fernandes

Principal

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2 April, 2018

Dear staff, students, parents and well-wishers,

This January I had the good fortune to sit in the hallowed Wankhede stadium and watch our u-14 cricket boys play their finals against Rizvi School in the Giles shield finals. It was a dream come true for many of our young cricketers to play on the turf where their idols won the World Cup for India, and also dished out some memorable record breaking performances. Dreams don’t happen by chance; we need to make it happen. Leafing through the “Democracy’s XI” – a cricket memoir worth a read – I came across the author Rajdeep Sardesai speaking about his father Dilip Sardesai. I quote: Dilip would practise on the terrace of his building. In the monsoon months, he would get other boys in the area to throw him a wet tennis ball to improve his reflexes. ‘We would bowl and Dilip would bat till late in the night under the lights on the terrace,’ recalls Mayuresh, a neighbour from those days. The terrace training taught my father a useful lesson imbibed by the batsmen of that generation: keep hitting the ball along the ground to avoid getting out. ‘It was on the terrace that I perfected the art of batting straight because if I hit the ball in the air; then I had to go down four floors to get the ball and then climb up again!’ my father pointed out. The wet tennis ball practice would also become part of the informal coaching manual of many an Indian batsman in the future. Dilip’s story is our story – at different levels of intensity. It will be interesting for each of us to ask ourselves how much self-discipline we exercised through this year to ‘keep hitting the ball along the ground’, to go through the rigors of the ordinary and the routine to achieve the extraordinary; to remain focused on our goal! The scholastic year 2017-18 draws to a close. It was our platinum jubilee year. We had our aspirations and targets to make it a memorable and cherished one. I must confess that we did achieve our goal and we feel elated that it happened. So many memories. We rode waves of emotions. Found ourselves adept to entertaining and colourful celebrations. And without doubt the abiding memory of the visit of our Rector Major Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime has to be placed high up there. Thanks to the Jubilee celebrations we had a plethora of events that opened our campus and unfolded the Salesian educative system to wider audiences. It was a reciprocal learning experience for students and educators of the different institutions. Alongside ran also the mundane and the routine, the day-to-day calendar events of study, recreation, activity and sports that is so much a Salesian trademark. Indeed there is never a dull moment here at Don Bosco, Matunga. We never tire of acknowledging the immense sacrifices and labour of the pioneers of this place to gift us this institution and along with it the countless facilities. We remind ourselves too that we do not grow complacent, drag our feet and settle for the mediocre. Behind the grandeur and the accolades could be momentary lapses and failings. An honest appraisal as individuals and as an institution will provide us the checklist for growth and excellence. The end of the year is the right opportunity gifted to us! Wish you all a happy, relaxed and well deserved summer vacation! Warm regards, Fr. Bernard Fernandes Principal

2 January, 2018

Dear Friends,

In the annals of Don Bosco High School, Matunga, a milestone has been completed. 75 years of the iconic institution … and counting! We move on … to greater heights, newer challenges and dreams. The jubilee celebrations that spanned over a year – the culmination saw the visit of our dear Rector Major, Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime – were befitting of a glorious institution as Don Bosco’s. The task to carry forward the legacy is even more exciting and challenging. We end the year 2017 and look ahead to 2018. We do not close a chapter in our life, but rather continue the story built over many years with fresh lessons of the past year. An interesting Ted-talk episode entitled ‘How to get better at the things you care about’ speaks of moving beyond stagnation in whatever we do. The speaker presents a research of effective people who alternate between two zones – learning zone and performance zone. The learning zone is when our goal is to improve. Then we do activities designed for improvement, concentrating on what we haven’t mastered yet, which means we have to expect to make mistakes, knowing that we will learn from them. That is very different from what we do when we’re in our performance zone, which is when our goal is to do something as best as we can, to execute. Then we concentrate on what we have already mastered and we try to minimize mistakes. The danger, the speaker says, is to remain in our performance zone, where we become sluggish and stay trapped in our own comfort zone. We need to move beyond our immediate performances and through learning, maximize our future performances. He cites the example of the star singer Beyonce. When Beyoncé is on tour, during the concert, she’s in her performance zone, but every night when she gets back to the hotel room, she goes right back into her learning zone. She watches a video of the show that just ended. She identifies opportunities for improvement for herself, her dancers and her camera staff. And the next morning, everyone receives pages of notes with what to adjust, which they then work on during the day before the next performance. It’s a spiral to ever-increasing capabilities, but we need to know when we seek to learn, and when we seek to perform, and while we want to spend time doing both, the more time we spend in the learning zone, the more we’ll improve. May the New Year present us the opportunities, notes and desire to move into zones of learning, adventure and sustained performance.

Happy New Year 2018! Affectionately,

Fr. Bernard Fernandes

Principal

18 December, 2017

Dear Friends, Sudha Murty of Infosys foundation, makes a bold narration in her latest book ‘Three thousand stitches’ of an incident that shaped her dreams and career. Growing up in Dharwad, Karnataka, Ms. Murthy says she was determined to become an engineer, but the concept of a girl doing so was unheard of. “If girls had to study then people thought that they should either pursue an MBBS and become a doctor or pursue mathematics and go for teaching. the idea that a girl wanted to be an engineer was as surprising as a lion walking onto this stage, for instance.” The operative phrase of course, was the question of who would possibly want to marry a girl who was an engineer. Even her father – a doctor himself – felt engineering was a man’s domain. She persisted, however, and the principal of the local engineering college told her father that while he could not deny her a seat on merit, he was unsure how the boys would react to seeing a girl the class. “Tell her that since we’ve never had a girl here, there are no toilet facilities for girls in the college.” She said, “I decided to do it anyway. I said I will train my body and from 7 am to 11 am, after I had walked from home to college, I wouldn’t drink water at all. I would come back home in the afternoon and then may be drink a litre of water.” Those days of intense focus impacted her deeply. “I realised from those years what it meant to have a toilet, and that’s why the Infosys foundation (which she heads) has made sanitation a priority, building over 14,000 toilets. Ms. Murty was allowed a seat in college on three conditions: that she would always wear a sari, never visit the canteen and never talk to boys.  She followed the first two, but not the third, reasoning that it would not be right to go through years without speaking to her 149 male counterparts. Eventually, she found that anything they could do, she could do better, finally finishing at the top of the class. The story of Christmas began with moments of rejection – Joseph and Mary turned away from every inn at the time of the birth of Jesus, and King Herod putting a price on the head of baby Jesus for fear of losing his kingly throne. However, Joseph and Mary made the best of the slightest and slender means and opportunities before them – a stable for Christ’s birth, and flight into Egypt at the behest of an angel in a dream. Rejection turned into blessings with angels singing the praises and glory of God at the birth of Jesus, shepherds praising and glorifying God for all they had heard and seen, and Jesus returning to rule every heart. Rejection from friends, rebuffs from colleagues and missed opportunities at school and workplaces. I am sure some of us must have had our plates full. However, these same moments can be our blessings. Often when we lose Hope and think this is the end God smiles and says, ‘Relax child, it’s just a bend, not the end!’ To notice the bend calls for deep humility, simplicity and grace. The baby Jesus in the stable provides all these, and much more, in abundance. We approach the manger with trust and child-like confidence this Christmas. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2018 to all of you.

Affectionate wishes,

Fr. Bernard Fernandes

Principal

June 30, 2017

We are into the third week of the new scholastic year and the novelty seems to be losing its sheen already. Or is it? There is no cause for alarm though. For newness, if embedded in deep rooted beliefs and conviction can help bypass the routine and the mundane. Our institution is constantly evolving to effect excellence and create healthy learning environment. Presently the Science and the English departments of the Secondary section – the other faculties will follow suit in the coming years – are putting on their thinking caps to devise a curriculum that would assist the students in their thinking skills, creativity and practical applications, as also achieve the desired learning outcomes.  Speech and drama have been integrated in the curriculum and this gains more significance with the introduction of professional training program – ACE productions of the Raell Padamsee group – in speech and theatre for students of Stds. I to VI this academic year. Differentiated learning in the classroom continues to be the focus of our teaching and learning styles, and the Platinum Jubilee Project ‘Mental Health Program of the school’ aims at giving the additional impetus needed to motivate and assist the weak and needy child in the classroom. The SSC results of the school this year has been a shot in the arm for the educators, students and parents. Besides the 100% this year (306/306), 67% of the students secured a distinction and that is commendable. It is an affirmation of the efforts and sacrifice of the staff and the students over these years. We welcome our new Rector, Fr. Crispino D’souza, to this institution. He is no stranger to the happenings and developments on the campus for he has served this institution as a Principal for eight long years from 2001-2009. We wish him a homely stay among us. I take this occasion to thank the outgoing Rector, Fr. Wilfred D’Souza, now transferred to Don Bosco, Borivili, for his role and efforts in guiding our institution over the last five years. Last year, we initiated the platinum jubilee celebrations of the school, and we are proud to have showcased the immense treasures and memories of the school through the events organized during the academic year. We conclude the celebrations this year in November in the presence of our beloved Rector Major Angel Fernandez Artime. The momentous occasion cannot be more memorable and blessed than this! Wishing all of us a happy and enriching year ahead!

Wishes and prayers,

Fr. Bernard Fernandes

Principal

Dear friends, Harry Belafonte the affable Carribean singer is one of my favourites. Lately I was reading a beautiful article Harry and Sidney: Soul Brothers. It was written on the occasion of Sidney Poitier’s 90th birthday in February. Coincidentally Harry Belafonte turned 90 on 1st March 2017. It was an ode to and appreciation of the friendship between two Hollywood royals. Poitier and Belafonte didn’t meet until they were 20 years old, and yet Belafonte still considered Poitier his first real friend in life. As Belafonte put it, he lived a “nomadic” life as a child, shuttling back and forth between New York and islands of the Caribbean with his mother as she searched for work. “I did not get rooted long enough to develop what many people have the joy of experiencing, and that is childhood friends.” The two men met at the American Negro Theatre, where Poitier worked as a janitor while studying with the company and where Belafonte worked as a stagehand. This was where they became performers. The two men quickly broke through to each other, in part because they had so much in common. Not only were they the same age, they were both born to parents of West Indian heritage. They shared the charmingly ordinary experiences that young friends share, like sneaking into the theatre on the same ticket, each seeing half of a show, then filling each other in afterward on the half the other had missed. They called it “sharing the burden and the joy.” And yet, by leaning on each other, supporting each other, pushing each other, and yes, competing with each other, they would both find tremendous popular success. Each man often took roles that the other had turned down or didn’t get. There are varied reasons I wish to narrate this story over here as we end yet another scholastic year. If we look back, we have achieved much during the year holding each other’s hand, nudging one another, leaning on each other. Above the din of myriads of activities at Don Bosco Matunga – study, sports, jubilee celebrations, inter school competitions – we need to remember that something precious was happening in the quiet background. There occurred nurturing of friendships, cementing of bonds (educator-pupil, pupil-pupil, parent-educator, parent-pupil), and evolvement of stakeholders in stature, strength and wisdom. These experiences have left behind in their wake countless stories of success and challenges. We were happy to “share our burden and our joy” with each other. The annual day celebrations that witnessed ‘Our story’ warmed the cockles of our hearts. Just sitting and reminiscing the past, listening to glorious testimonies of one’s association with the institution- some choked with emotion, others elated at sharing their experiences while still others who just revelled in all the richness on offer with pride and gratitude, and rejoiced at their bonding with this large family called Don Bosco. Don Bosco is a brand that is peerless, and our association with it make us famed and coveted – and many will vouch for this fact. However, the converse is true too. By our deeds and example, we make Don Bosco great. When tennis ace Roger Federer won the Australian Open for his 18th Grand Slam title in January this year defeating Nadal a headline caught my attention “Roger Federer is peerless but he and Rafael Nadal have made each other great.” Don Bosco is unparalleled. However we can be wonderful ambassadors as much as champions to take forward the Salesian educative legacy and make Don Bosco greater. To this end, each of us at Don Bosco Matunga have tried to play our role and did our bit. Succeed to a great extent we did, and we thank God for the graces received to achieve our goal and live our vision. We march ahead with a spring in our step, firm belief in our potential and proud of our ‘Bosco’ inheritance! Happy and a relaxed summer vacation to all! With every good wish, Fr. Bernard Fernandes Principal       30 January, 2017 Dear Friends, At the onset of a new year – or for that matter, any new venture – each of us nurse a secret anxiety: What’s in store for me this time around? We sure do have our plans, our dreams, our resolutions and expectations. Yet the disquiet lingers. Here at Don Bosco High School, Matunga, we have our goals and targets defined for the new year. Part of these lie in the plethora of activities and events lined up to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of the school before the curtain is brought down on the celebrations in November 2017. The Jubilee year is a special and significant one for us here at Don Bosco, and we are fortunate to be a part of the celebrations to mark the 75 years of the presence of the institution at Matunga, Mumbai. The school embarked on the Jubilee celebrations on 16^th Nov 2016 at a grand curtain raiser that featured a number of students and the entire staff of the school. The Chief Guest at the program, Fr. Godfrey D’Souza, Provincial of the Salesian Mumbai Province, acquainting the students and the gathering with the 75-year long history of the school said’ “In classrooms, the destiny of the nation is shaped. Schools create self-dependent adults and enlightened citizens.” Don Bosco Matunga upholds this belief. I wish to go back to where I started. Our dreams. Our hopes. Our plans. A short account will not be out of place. We may not be as strong or as resolute in our approach to the new year and new beginnings as the prompting goes. But it may help us to stop and think. In a powerful letter, poet Calvin Smith pens his hopes, dreams for his future black son. He speaks about unequal opportunities and biased beliefs. Yet he says to his boy, “This world was built, it can be rebuilt. Use everything that you accrue to reimagine the world… I hope the world you inherit is one in which you may love whomever you choose. I hope you read and write and laugh and sing and dance and build and cry and do all of the things a child should do.” Each of us need to script our story for this year. A story with a difference. A story that is noteworthy and deserving a recall. A story that believes in others and feels for others. The world around us provides us a landscape of opportunities to go beyond the mundane and the ordinary and celebrate our potential to the fullest. Time for us to create new beginnings by picking up the gauntlet …or are we a tad too anxious? An eventful and adventurous journey into the New Year 2017! Sincerely, Fr. Bernard Fernandes         31 August, 2016   Dear friends,

I wish to begin with the story of a photographer because his passion reminds me of the delights of a dedicated teacher and of the lessons we can all draw if we follow closely and wisely our life’s calling. 

For Pulitzer-winning Jerusalem born photographer Muhammed Muheisen, trust is the most important part of his job – perhaps even more important than his camera. “Trust is not something you can buy, or get in no time,” he says. “It’s a long-term investment. It’s a feeling I work hard to earn.” Lately, he was awarded the $10,000 Oliver S Gramling award for journalism for his remarkable images of refugee children – images that are largely the result of his ability to connect with his subjects. “I have spent four years walking, talking and asking, with no language except respect and curiosity, about the lives of the people I photographed,” he says. “Day by day, I felt their trust growing, just as I saw the children growing before my eyes. I became part of their lives, as they became part of mine.”

Does this ring a bell? For teachers called to a noble profession nothing can me more satisfying and fulfilling than the sight of their students grow before their very eyes and become a part of them. The number of students the teacher encounters are numerous. Yet each one is special and unique. And each one has a special place in a teacher’s heart. The bond is strong and indeed powerful. That’s intrinsic to the noble teaching profession. It’s increasingly becoming a challenge though. With increasing demands on time and an avalanche of social media platforms, the quality moments spent for and with one another are indeed a cause for concern. It is disheartening yet not hopeless. Somewhere we need to inject a passion for renewed vigour, create a boundless desire to teach and learn, and rediscover the joys of a classroom. All this can come about with a firm belief and conviction that we can meet the challenges head on.

75 years is indeed a memorable milestone in the annals of our school. Thousands of students have passed within its hallowed portals, and an even greater band of proud and dedicated teachers have graced it with their presence. The imposing and majestic structure bears witness to the many exemplars of love, service and sacrifice. We, on our part wish to celebrate, albeit in a small way, this spirited presence of Don Bosco Matunga for three quarters of a century. Our effort may not reflect the depth and volume of the works over these past glorious years, but surely it is a symbolic gesture of gratitude to the Almighty and the pioneers for this wonderful marvel of history.

I come back to the man of our story. When asked the most important thing he has gleaned from his time in challenging places and risky situations, Muheisen says: “I have learned to feel lucky and appreciate everything I have in my life. When I see how happy people can be from the limited resources they have, when I hear children laugh and I walk towards them to find out what magic has made them happy … We don’t need much to be happy; that is what I have learned.”

Surely God has gifted us in abundance. The resources are plentiful and at times we are spoilt for choice. Praise the institution that is Don Bosco, and be happy that we have been privileged to be a part of its illustrious story! To our teachers- in particular those who are going to retire this academic year: our AHM, Ms. Beatrice; Primary Head teacher, Ms. Winifred and Secondary Assistant teacher, Mr. V.K. –  many thanks! Happy Teacher’s day!

With much affection,   Fr. Bernard Fernandes sdb       Dear friends, DON BOSCO LIVES ON… Welcome to the new scholastic year. It’s been a long vacation this summer and we now get back to a much needed normal routine of school life. While you were away, these were some of the developments on the campus:

• An entire new block of the Kg section on the mezzanine floor of the residential building.

• A makeover of the corridor walls facing the quadrangle.

• A restructuring and re-cabling of the 2 computer labs to accommodate the newly introduced online Career guidance program for Stds. VII to X.

This scholastic year is special since we celebrate the platinum jubilee – seventy-five years – of Don Bosco High School, Matunga. We are grateful and proud that Don Bosco came to this part of Mumbai way back in 1940’s from where it was able to spread its wings of cheerful presence and hope to thousands of youngsters in different parts of the city, state and the country – Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka… We thank the pioneers who sacrificed their time, energy and talents to live their vision and mission – to educate the masses; especially the poor and needy of the neighbourhood. We now continue reliving and redefining the dreams of our visionaries and predecessors. For this we have to express our goals and identify our passions. Someone gave this useful advice and I quote: Instead of the oft used and mouthed ‘follow your passion’ it is important to ‘foster your passion’. We need to understand this more closely. What does it mean to be passionate? Passion is not a one-off activity. Rather it needs to be nurtured and fostered. There are three suggestions to practice this: • Move towards what interests you • Seek purpose • Finish strong I believe the first step is quite uncomplicated. However, we need to invest in time and guidance to identify something that interests us. It’s the second step that needs a paradigm shift in our outlook and thought. In seeking purpose, I need to ask myself: ‘In what way do I wish the world were different? What problems can I help solve?’ We notice that this is different from the question we repeat to ourselves and others so often, ‘What do I want to be when I grow up?’ Now, to seek a purpose is a tough ask. For most of the time we are taught at home and in school to choose a career that will help maintain our status in society, be famous and secure in life. Yet, if at a very young age, we know the difference between gratification of personal desires and caring for others, receiving and service, ‘my’ world and ‘our’ world, then we will begin to work towards a better and different world. We will be more passionate. Study shows that those who have an enduring passion answer affirmatively to the statements, ‘In choosing what to do, I always take into account whether it will benefit other people’ and ‘I have the responsibility to make the world a better place.’ Lastly finish strong. Work as hard on your last day as on your first. Do not throw in the towel at the first hurdle. This is because your commitment to a goal is of paramount importance. No matter where you go next, you have an opportunity to make the most of where you are now. For ‘every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward.’ Let’s build our goals and dreams for this year – goals that will be driven by an enduring passion for truth, love and beauty around us. Goals that have the imprint of the great educator we hold so dear, Don Bosco! 75 years for an institution is a long period, and Don Bosco High School, Matunga, has withstood the test of time. We have come thus far, and my dear staff, students and friends, this is where we are now presently – no matter where we move next. We have a job at hand, a goal to achieve – to let DON BOSCO LIVE ON! Gratefully yours, Fr. Bernard Fernandes Principal Older messages Archived Principal’s Message – 1 Principal’s Desk Archive 2