JUMAIKELA: The Salesian Sisters, Jumaikela community celebrated Environmental Day on 5th July 2024 with the teachers and the students of Pradeep Chandra Primary School Jumaikela, Janta High Secondary School Jumaikela and the boarders of Vicuna Nivas Jumaikela. The theme of the celebration was the slogan of the Green Audit of the province: “Save nature, Save Humanity”. Many Gulmohar trees were planted around the campus with great joy and enthusiasm listening to the cry of the earth. The Teachers and students were very happy and carried the happiness to their homes promising to plant at least a sapling in their homes. The community tried to become a response to the cry of the earth.
AUXILIUM MIRIK: Environment Day was celebrated at Auxilium Convent School, Mirik with great enthusiasm. There was a short prayer service conducted during the school assembly. After this Sr. Anjana Rai explained the meaning of the Environment Day celebration. It was then followed by the various activities. All the classes Nursery – UKG had brought the Saplings to plant. Three main activities organized were cleaning of the school campus, planting of the saplings and drawing competition on nature. The children were very excited and participated dynamically in all the activities and sisters and teachers helped and guided the tiny tots to accomplish it. Through this event, children got the opportunity to take care of and protect Mother Earth, the only place where life flourishes.
KOLKATA SALESIAN SISTERS DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY: A workshop on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was conducted by Sr. Alma Bilung, the Kolkata Salesian Sisters Development Society coordinator of the province, and staff member Miss Suzzane Shaw. They delivered an enlightening awareness program for both teachers and students of two schools in the North Bengal Zone: Auxilium Convent School, New Chumta on 20 June 2024, and St. Anthony’s School, Jaigaon on 25 June 2024. The objectives of this training session were to create awareness, adapt and respond to the ecological crisis, and facilitate transformative learning, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making.
The session aimed to educate students about the SDGs, focusing on their importance and implementation. The origin of the SDGs was discussed, highlighting how it came into being as a result of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. All 17 SDGs were explained in detail to the participants, emphasizing their global significance and the role of individuals in achieving these goals for attaining peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and in the future.
After the session, the students were tasked with discussing and adopting any goal to contribute to the SDGs. Unanimously, the students concluded that addressing SDG 13 – Climate Action was an alarming and urgent need of the time. The participants engaged actively, presenting their ideas through colourful chart paper presentations. They proposed various action plans and highlighted promoting plastic-free zones, litter-less campaigns, and adopting the three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle. The club members will monitor and ensure that the disposal of waste is carried out systematically and promote the use of pool cars as a means of transport instead of personal cars. The students’ presentations were well-received and highlighted their understanding and commitment to tackling climate change through practical actions.
The workshop was a resounding success, fostering a sense of responsibility and action towards sustainable development among students. The activities not only educated but also inspired the entire school community to take meaningful steps towards a more sustainable future.
AUXILIUM, NEW CHUMTA: Auxilium Convent School, New Chumta recently celebrated Environmental Week 2024, marking the occasion with a series of events aimed at raising awareness about environmental conservation and sustainable development. The week was filled with various activities involving students and teachers, all centred around the theme of saving the Earth.
The festivities began with an impressive PowerPoint presentation by Class XII C. The presentation highlighted practical ways to protect the environment, offering insightful tips and strategies to the students. To engage the attendees further, the students concluded their presentation by posing a few thought-provoking questions, sparking a lively discussion on environmental issues.
Despite the rain on the second day, the commitment to the environment remained strong. Students took the opportunity to clean their classrooms, demonstrating the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy learning environment. This activity underscored the message that every small effort counts towards making a significant impact.
Throughout the week, a notice board display on the theme of the environment showcased various informative and inspiring materials. This visual display served as a constant reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and featured student artwork, facts, and tips on how to contribute to saving the planet.
Adding to the week’s events, Sr. Alma Bilung, the KSSDS co-ordinator of the province delivered an enlightening awareness program for both teachers and students. Her talk focused on sustainable development and practical measures to save the Earth. Sr. Alma Bilung’s presentation provided valuable insights and inspired the audience to adopt more eco-friendly practices in their daily lives.
The celebration continued with a compelling speech by Class IX students during the school assembly. Using props to illustrate their points, the students explained the “bone and bane” of the environment in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. Their creative approach made complex environmental issues accessible to everyone.
The week concluded on a high note with a tree-planting activity. Each class planted two saplings, resulting in around thirty new trees being added to the school grounds. This symbolic act of planting trees not only contributed to the environment but also served as a lasting reminder of the student’s commitment to protecting the planet.
Environmental Week at ACS New Chumta was a resounding success, fostering a sense of responsibility and action towards environmental conservation among students and staff alike. The activities not only educated but also inspired the entire school community to take meaningful steps towards a more sustainable future.
AUXILIUM DUM DUM: Auxilium Convent School, Dum Dum, organized Auxi-Green Cultural Week from 19 June to 21 June, 2024. The Auxi-Green Cultural Week unfolded over an enchanting three-day period, featuring a vibrant array of inter-house performances and competitions. This celebration of culture was meticulously organized by the various clubs, showcasing the diverse talents and creativity of our students. Every student, teacher, and even non-participants were highly engrossed in the celebration. With every performance, the competition kept getting stronger; the participants were excellent at keeping the audience engaged, teachers proud, and the judges stunned, all the while maintaining an environment of healthy competition within their peers.
The commencement of the fest was marked by the Inaugural Ceremony by Rev. Father Irudaya Raj from St. Patrick’s Church, a renowned professor of canon law. It was followed by the lighting of the lamp by Rev. Father Irudaya Raj, Sr. Superior, Sr. Stella Davis, Sr. Principal, Sr. Aruna Kispotta, Sr. Vice-Principal, Sr. Sandhya Minj, and our High School Coordinator, Miss Sujata Harish. An Inaugural Dance performance by the high school students marked the end of the inauguration and the beginning of the Auxi-Green Cultural Week.
On June 19th, 2024, the Eastern Dance Club conducted a group classical and folk-dance competition with the theme “Elements of Nature,” where the Blue House got “Earth,” the Red House “Fire,” the Green House “Air,” and the Yellow House “Water.”
The Environmental Club organized inter-house competitions: Auxi Zero Waste Warriors (Best Out of Waste) and Auxi Saviours (Poster Making) for middle school, and Auxi Environmentalists (5-minute skit) for high school. The themes were “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle,” “Sustainable Development,” and “Dreams to Save Our Mother Earth,” respectively. The high school skit competition reflected the dreams and aspirations of young minds towards protecting and preserving our planet.
The Auxi-Chef Club hosted a series of events during Cultural Week, featuring Auxi-Organic Spread, Auxi-Concoction, and Auxi-Veggie Magic. Participants unleashed their creative skills in making salads, mocktails, and carving vegetables and fruits. The high school participants showcased their creativity by carving various items, while the middle school participants prepared different mocktails and salads. The judges complimented the initiative, promoting teamwork and creativity among the students.
The Auxi-Green Cultural Week concluded with the announcement of the well-deserved achievers and winners. The closing ceremony, held on June 21st, 2024, was witnessed by the entire Auxilium Convent School. Rev. Sr. Superior and Sr. Principal expressed their views on the students’ presentations and emphasized the importance of cultural activities. The high school coordinator, Miss Sujata Harish, announced the winning houses of each event, followed by the trophy distribution. The best house award was awarded to the meritorious Blue House, with Yellow House in second place, followed by Red and Green Houses. Rev. Sr. Principal delivered a closing speech, expressing gratitude to everyone involved in the successful execution of the Auxi-Green cultural week.
The festival provided an opportunity for students to participate, indulge in different activities, be the best version of themselves and above all have great love for Mother Earth. Take care of the plants, plant more trees, and save water and electricity.
The Auxilium Convent School, Dum Dum primary students celebrated Environment Day on 26 June 2024. The theme of the Environment Day Celebration was focused on inculcating in the students the habit of saving water and energy. The event consisted of an action song and a poem on nature. After the program, the students offered a plant to the teachers and sisters as a gesture of care for nature, the common home. They also pledged themselves to save water and energy, plant more trees and use CNG.
A student, Tiana Rajak of class 3A and Aahana Biswas of class 3B said after the function: “We will use a cycle or take a walk to go from one place to another place’. Aaditri Pan added: “Whenever she sees water flowing from the tap, she will close it”. Kiara Das and Aishika Nandi said, “While brushing they will not open the tap and brush”. Tejaswini convincingly said, ‘She will not use plastic articles.’ Other students affirmed that they will save electricity by switching off the lights and fans in the room when it is not in use. Anvi Kundu decided that she would not waste paper. Ahana Roy promised to pick up the plastics or rapers thrown on the road.
The celebration reminds us of the urgent need to protect our planet and encourages us to adopt more sustainable practices in our daily lives.
AUXILIUM BANDEL: Auxilium Convent School, Bandel organized a “Tree Plantation Drive” with the Past Pupils Association (Bandel Unit) and the Salesian Cooperators of Bandel. It is an initiative to plant around 3000 trees within 4 months. The inaugural ceremony of this noble task was held on 27 June 2024 in the School Hall of Auxilium Convent School, Bandel.
A cultural programme highlighted the menace of global warming and climate change. The ceremony was presided over by Mrs. Anindita Mondal Rajbanshi the Ward Councillor for Ward 3, Hooghly Chinsurah Municipality, Principal Sr. Clara Saminathan, Salesian Cooperator representative Mr. Francis Mondal.
After the inauguration, all the eminent personalities of the day along with Office Bearers of the Past Pupil Association (Bandel Unit), 20 students, 30 Past Pupils and the Salesian Cooperators headed for Keota Sarat Park for the Plantation drive. The site was in a densely populated locality. Sr. Clara Saminathan along with student representative and Ms Anindita planted the first sapling. It was followed by all the others. A total of 6 saplings were planted and watered. The local people were very appreciative of this initiative taken. A gardener was also appointed to tend to the saplings in the days to come.
The day’s programme ended with a pledge to continue this noble task for the betterment of Mother Earth. The entire programme as well as this noble initiative has been covered by a local media house “Hooghly News” and telecast to raise social awareness among the people.
AUXILIUM, DUM DUM-KOLKATA: ‘Save a life, save nature our common home’. The parents of Kaira, a student of Auxilium Convent School, Dum Dum, took a great initiative to celebrate her birthday on 14 June 2024, in a unique and meaningful way. She had a ‘Laudato Si’ birthday celebration. The student offered a plant to all the sisters, the class teacher and her classmates. Seeing someone spreading such a positive message about nature and the importance of plants was heartwarming. Kaira’s understanding that plants give us oxygen shows a great level of awareness for someone her age. Kaira’s gesture of giving plants educated her peers about the vital role of plants in producing oxygen. This thoughtful act reflects a sense of responsibility towards nature and inspires others to consider similar eco-friendly practices. It is important to encourage such eco-friendly gestures and promote environmental consciousness from a young age.
Dum Dum – FMA Kolkata: ‘Let us become part of the solution, not the pollution.’ A venture was carried out for the sweepers and cleaners of wards 7,8,9,10,15,16 of Dum Dum Municipality area. It was held on 10 June 2024 at Auxilium Convent school hall heeding the invitation of Pope Francis in the encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ to heed the cry of the poor. The province of FMA Kolkata organised it under the leadership of Sr. Alma Bilung and Sr. Minimol Chettayil in collaboration with the Dum Dum Municipality authorities. The 40 invited sweepers and cleaners were appreciated and thanked for the noble work they render to society. Miss. Elizabeth Blake gave an enlightening talk to highlight the honourable works they carry out. Rev. Sr. Leelamma Palliparambil, the Provincial, acknowledged them for their hard work and selfless dedication to keeping the surroundings clean. She also emphasized that as they are serving society, they also must take care of themselves and their health, therefore, all the participants were given gumboots and gloves. Mr. Manish Kumar, the supervisor of Dum Dum Municipality expressed his gratitude to Sr. Provincial, Sr. Superior, and all the sisters on behalf of other staff, and the invited workers for organizing a memorable day for them. They were very grateful for being appreciated by the sisters. The event came to its conclusion with an offering of snacks.
DUM DUM: The perpetual profession of Sr. Ba-I-Thiang Sten, Sr. Binita Bara and Sr. Shashikanta Xalxo was held on 26 May 2024 at St. Patrick’s Church Dum Dum on the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Most Rev Thomas D’ Souza, the Archbishop of Calcutta officiated the Holy Eucharist along with eight Con-Celebrants. The theme of this celebration was taken from Isaiah 49:5 “I have carved you in the palm of my hand.” The Holy Mass commenced with an entrance dance led by the candidates. It was an incredibly inspiring and touching moment when their parents handed the would-be perpetuals to the provincial Rev. Sr. Leelamma Palliparambil FMA. She, in turn, offered them to the Lord.
This great and glorious event was witnessed by parents and relatives of our sisters, friends, parishioners, well-wishers and the special invitees. The event was also blessed by the graceful presence of Sr. Elizabeth George the provincial of Shillong Province.
In his homily, the Archbishop exhorted about the Trinitarian love and sacrifice. He then explained this love should be transmitted by all the baptized so, the Lord has chosen and called these sisters to share the love of God among His people by following the charism of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. Soon after the Mass Rev. Fr. Irudaya Raj the parish priest of St. Patrick parish and Archbishop Thomas D’ Souza congratulated and felicitated the perpetually professed sisters with a token of love. Dr. Utpal Goswami, Parish Pastoral Council Secretary, expressed the joy of witnessing the celebration and then he thanked Sr. Provincial and parish priest for hoisting the profession in the parish. It was indeed a great moment for all who were present for this occasion.
After which all proceeded to the community hall for a short cultural program which was performed by aspirants, parents and relatives of the perpetually professed. The rich culture of our country brings a variety of joy and enrichment. It was followed by a sumptuous meal served for all.
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