The annual sports meet ‘Auxzeal – 2018’ was held on 17^th November at the Lichubagan Sports Ground, Dum Dum. This auspicious event was graced by Dr. Partha Chatterjee, the Hon’ble Minister of Education, West Bengal and Prof. Dr. Manjusha Tarafdar, the Vice-chancellor of Seacom Skills University, Shantiniketan, as the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour respectively. The three-hour long sporting bonanza was attended by all the students, their parents, the school management, and the teaching and the non-teaching staff of ACS, Dum Dum. This year’s event was covered by drone cameras which captured, from above, all the fascinating moments of the day, including the drill formations.

Prof. Tarafdar was felicitated by a bouquet of flowers after being accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by the prefects of the school. Sr. Superior and Vice-provincial of the Kolkata Province, Sr. Teresa Adampakallel was also felicitated by the neutral prefects. Sr. Elizabeth Makil, the first principal of the school, as well as many other superannuated teachers attended the meet. The sports flame was lit to mark the beginning of the day’s events. As the Guest of Honour hoisted the sports flag and declared the sports meet open, she was cheered on by the children as well as the numerous invitees. Dr. Chatterjee, having arrived a little afterwards, was also received amidst a lot of fanfare and ceremony. In keeping with the tradition of the school, this year’s march past and the drills too were judged for their precision and performances. The three esteemed judges from St. Mary’s Orphanage and Day School, Auxilium Convent School, Barasat, and  Don Bosco School, Liluah were felicitated and suitably positioned for judging the March Past and the House drills.

The four houses of the school, led by their Captains and Vice-captains put their best foot forward in a spectacular march past. The perfectly co-ordinated march past reflected the team spirit and the bolstered morale of the participants. The primary children enlivened the event by matching their little steps with high school students. The children welcomed the dignitaries with a spectacular welcome dance: ‘Suswagatam’. Beautifully dressed Nursery and K.G. Children performed the drill ‘The Darling Rose Buds’. They were the very picture of sweet innocence and glowing exuberance. The Karate Champs performed a few ‘Katas’ to the collective amazement of the audience. That self-defence skills are held extremely important at ACS, Dum Dum, was proved when black-belt ‘Karatekas’ like Himika Singha Roy of Class VII and others performed daring stunts in front of the audience. The Classes I and II children swayed their bodies to the foot-tapping rhythm of music in their drill: ‘The Fluttering Butterflies’. The children of III to V showed their jaw-dropping expertise with hoopla rings.

The four houses presented four brilliantly choreographed drills on the theme of nature conservation. The Red House drill called ‘The Winds of Change’ brought about the eternal conflict between oxygen and carbon dioxide to win over the earth and how things could be changed for better in the future. ‘Live Mother Earth’ was the Green House Drill which portrayed the importance of the motto ‘Save Earth, Save Mankind’. The Yellow House children reflected the overwhelming influence of fire in shaping the destiny of human civilization in their drill ‘The Fiery Blaze’. The Blue House, on the other hand, showcased how our oceans are being polluted by hazardous and non-biodegradable waste by humans. All the four house drills reinstated the importance of ‘Reuse, Reduce and Recycle’ and how the Auxilians have contributed to this effect in their own little ways.

Interspersing these performances were the sports events like: Care for Trees, skipping race, 100 meter flat race, the cycle race, and the relay race. The winners were recognised for their agility and endurance by a presentation of medals and certificates which were handed over by Sr. Superior and Sr. Principal. The Grand Finale of the day’s events was the mass drill performed by each and every student of the school. The glorious spectacle of a few hundred girls performing, in unison, brought to culmination a couple of week’s intense practices for the sports meet.

Principal Sr. Esther Rani C.A welcomed the Chief Guest, at his arrival, and the other dignitaries in her welcome address touching upon the salient features of the school and the sports meet. She extended her heartfelt gratitude to the dignitaries for having encouraged her students in their endeavours. The Chief Guest, Dr. Chatterjee, expressed his admiration for the way the Auxilians had maintained discipline at the sports ground. He commended one and all for the stellar performances. He also appreciated the school authorities for providing quality, all-round education to girls and also for ensuring a safe environment for them. The Guest of Honour congratulated the students for excelling in sports as well as giving due importance to academics and moral development.

To enthuse the students, this year five trophies were awarded for various achievements. The Yellow House received the Best House-Drill trophy, the Green House received the Best March-Past trophy, the Red House received the Best Disciplined House trophy and the Blue House received the Best Athletic as well as the ‘Best House of the Year’ trophies. The trophies were announced by Sister Principal and awarded by the hon’ble Minister of Education, Dr. Partha Chatterjee, amidst thunderous applause and a lot of cheering.

Ms. Sujata Harish, senior English teacher, delivered the vote of thanks. The sports flag was lowered and the auxi-flame doused. Sister Principal brought a close to this year’s sporting extravaganza by announcing the event close. The assembly dispersed after the national anthem.

Over all, this year’s sports meet was a stupendous success and the congratulations and credits were shared by all members of the Auxilium family equally.

Ms. Raka Bhattacharya

The Annual Sports Day 2018 showcased the attractive qualities of speed, strength and concentration of the students of Auxilium Convent School, Barasat. Victorious cries and sighs of defeat rang through the grounds as the students displayed their true spirit of sportsmanship. The events of the momentous day began with welcoming of the Chief Guest, Shri P.Sudhakar, Superintendent of Police, and the Guest of Honour, Shri Dipankar Bhattacharya, Inspector In Charge of Barasat Police Station. The dignitaries were hailed with “Guard of Honour” by the Guides Team of Scouts and Guides wing of Auxilium Convent School, Barasat.

Students of Primary School presented a colourful Inaugural Dance which spread the aura of enthusiasm, setting the perfect ambience for the day. To add to the day’s spark, the students joined in unison and impeccable synchronisation to the drumbeats in the Inter House March Past Competition, a highly competitive event where the Four House eyed for the first place. This was followed by Lighting of the Torch by the members of all the four Houses in pairs, symbolising harmony, peace and flame of sportsmanship. With their head high up, the voices of Auxilians could be heard taking the oath with zeal and enthusiasm , led by the School Captain. This was entailed by the unfurling of the School Flag and declaration of the Sports Meet open by the Chief  Guest. The entire school rose up to sing the School Anthem with pride. Spectators were mesmerized to visualise the students of Middle School performing Inter School Drill Competition in their colourful costumes and props which glimmered with morning sun.

The agile and swift members from the four Houses competed against each other in the Relay Race. A majestic show of strength was put forward by the strongest of the members from all the Houses in the Tug Of War. The patrons of Mary Mazzarello (Blue House) were declared the winners of March Past. The Vicuna (Yellow House) and the Mazzarello (Blue House) won the trophy for Drill. The Savio House (Green House)  was declared winner for maximum win in Sports Events of the year. Mazzarello House (Blue House) and Bosco House (Red House)were jointly declared The Best House. The day came to a close with words of praise and appreciation for display of team spirit from honourable Chief Guest. He encouraged students to lead a simple life and instructed them to restrain from temptations of material world. He advised parents to curtail the extravagant demands from their children’s life.

After the proposal of Vote of Thanks, the day came to a solemn end with the ‘Flag Down Ceremony’. The  National Anthem finally heralded the closing of the Sports Meet 2018.

Ms.Karatoa Banerjee

Auxilium School, Kalyani celebrated Sports Day in view of the feast of St. John Bosco. The day commenced with a meaningful prayer moment which included the enactment of the first dream of Don Bosco. Sr. Geraldine in her message to the children said, ‘Don Bosco’s large heart was filled with mercy and compassion for his vagabonds that turned them from sinners to saints. This was his only and one great mission- to give him souls and take away the rest’. She exhorted them to live the Year of Mercy in their own small way. At 9 am the sports events kicked off. With the hoisting of the Bicentenary flag of St. John Bosco the Sports day was declared open. It was a very exciting and a happy moment for all to see the little ones waiting in eager anticipation for their respective event such as balloon race, ring race, flower girls, sack race, garlanding the bride, getting ready for school , obstacle races etc. Prizes were awarded to the winners. The day ended with a note of joy, happiness and contentment.

Auxzeal 2015, the sports meet of Auxilium Convent School, Dum Dum opened amidst a lot of interest and fanfare on the 11^th December 2015, at Lichubagan Grounds, in Dum Dum, Kolkata. The first day of the two-day extravaganza was graced by the honourable Chief Guest, Most Rev. Thomas D’Souza, Archbishop of Kolkata and our Guest of Honour, Shri Harendra Singh, the Chairman of Dum Dum Municipality. The dignitaries were ushered in from the main gate to the dais by a group of Auxilians who gave them a ceremonial guard of honour. They were accompanied by Superior Sr. Teresa A. and Principal Sister Esther Rani. The august guests on the stage as well as parents and the other invitees were formally welcomed by Sister Principal who also emphasized the need of sports in the lives of modern youngsters and how sports can inculcate discipline and the spirit of sportsmanship in every individual. The guests were felicitated by our students who presented them with bouquet of flowers as mark of our gratitude and love.

After the welcome dance the, the primary pupils of Auxilium Convent School, Dum Dum, spread their angelic innocence through a number of items which included: the Honey Bunny Drill (Nursery), the Colourful Hands Drill (K.G), karate (class IV), Aerobics (class III), Lovely Little Flowers and finally the Mass Drill that brought together each and every student of the primary section. These presentations were interspersed with track and field events that witnessed faltering, fumbling tiny tots getting up in all seriousness and determination to complete their respective races. Mrs. Leena Raha was felicitated by Sister Superior for her contributions as a dance teacher in the school and helping out children in competing in numerous events. The earnestness of their efforts warmed every heart present. The same emotion was voiced by the Chief Guest in his speech at the end of events. The day came to an end with a Christmas message and singing of the national anthem.

The second day of Auxzeal 2015 began with a lot of excitement and anticipation. The Chief Guest Prof. Maria Fernandes, the Vice- Chairperson of W. B. Minorities Commission, along with the Guest of honour Rev. Sister Rose Ezarath FMA, Provincial of Salesian Sisters, Kolkata and Superior Sister Teresa A.was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour and later felicitation.

In her welcome address, Sister Principal Esther not just welcomed the guests but also informed the august assembly of the equal priority given to sports and co-curricular activities in Auxilium Convent School, Dum Dum. Sister Esther reiterated that such a momentous occasion as that required careful planning for months, attention to details, remarkable coordination and above all intense practice.

The March past, and drills by the four houses- Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red, which were competitive this year, showcased all the points mentioned by her.

After the declaration of the sports meet open by the Chief Guest, the Lichubagan  Grounds, the venue for the meet, was occupied by one presentation after the other- the Welcome Dance (Suswagatam), Karate (classes VI and VII), House Drills based on different themes, and finally  the Mass Drill. In between there were track and field events which reflected the energy and enthusiasm of students to excel. The meticulous execution of these events brought about loud applause and cheer from the audience.

The Christmas message reminded everybody of the virtues of love and sacrifice in keeping with the festive season associated with Jesus’ birth.

Our Sister Superior, in a surprise announcement, felicitated Chandraja Guha of XII C and her parents for her cent percent attendance in the school since nursery. With this initiative, the Management of ACS, Dum Dum, seeks to inspire students to be regular and punctual in attending school as well as be active participants in all events in the school calendar. The Auxiband kept rhythm to the entire proceedings of the day.

The Chief Guest, in her speech, expressed her wonder at the performances hoping that parents would realize that only such a holistic vision of child development, as followed in ACS, Dum Dum, can ensure a steady future and equip girls proficiently in modern world. The scintillating programme came to a culmination after the vote of thanks and the national anthem. The participation of each and every student of the school, in some capacity or the other, ensured the success of Auxzeal, 2015.

Mrs. Raka Bhattacharya