During the fortnight preceding the Golden Jubilee of Goa’s liberation,
Pope John XXIII School organized a series of programmes, viz., (1) Fancy Dress Competition for the students
of Std. I to IV on the theme: Goa’s Freedom Fighters; (2) Poster Competition
for Std. V to VII on the theme: Goa Then and Now; (3) Singing Competition for
Std. VIII to X on the theme of Social Awareness; and (4) Elocution Competition
on the topic: Contemporary Issues affecting Goa for the students of the higher
secondary.
In the evening of December 18th the staff and students of
the higher secondary took out a commemorative ‘Mashaal Yatra’. Waving banners
and placards, the students marched through the town of Quepem to the cadence of
patriotic songs and slogans. The procession made a halt at the ‘smarak’ of
local freedom fighter, the late Shri Bharatkar Hedge Dessai, where floral
tributes were offered. Not to be
outdone, the students of the high school conducted a ‘Prabhat Pheri’ in the wee
hours of December 19th.
At an impressive school ceremony on the 19th, the tricolor
was hoisted by our SDPO, Shri Rohidas K. Patre, who was Chief Guest on the
occasion. Fr. Savio Gomes, the Principal
spoke on contemporary issues like rampant corruption, illegal mining and
irresponsible tourism and urged the students to learn to say NO to corruption
at their own personal level.
The Chief Guest, Mr.
Patre in his speech to the assembled students, exhorted them to remember the
sacrifices of the freedom fighters and emulate their dedication to the nation.
After the function, he graciously posed for a photograph with the winners of
the jubilee competitions.
Come Christmas and the ambiance at Don Bosco Quepem is suffused with
festive nostalgia as the various sectors of the institution vie with one
another to celebrate the feast of Christ’s birth in all pomp and pageantry.
Students of the primary school, the high school, the higher secondary
and the open school celebrated with gusto, singing traditional carols and
dancing enthusiastically to vibrant Christmas music. The icing on the cake, of
course, was the arrival of Santa Claus with goodies for the young and old. 
Bro. Anthony Rocha was the surprise Chief Guest at the open school programme. In his Christmas message, Fr. Anisio Mota asked the students not to
get caught up only in festivities, but to strive sincerely to bring Christ back
into Christmas.
