New arrivals
The new academic year amidst Covid 19 started with the arrival of four new Salesians to our community for 2020-2021. Fr. Anthonysamy SDB, Fr. Joseph Arulraj SDB, Fr. Arun Sebastian SDB and Br. Reymond SDB arrived on 01 June 2020. They were warmly welcomed by Fr. Francis Xavier SDB, Rector and the other community members. On the same day, the new community members wholeheartedly thanked the Salesians Fr. K.O Louis SDSB, Fr. John Bosco SDB, Fr. Martin Jeba William SDB, Fr. Selvakumar SDB, Br. Ajilash SDB and Br. Clan SDB who worked last year in the community and wished them all the very best for the new mission that they take up in their respective communities and bid an emotional farewell to them.
Monthly Recollection
On 20 June 2020, the community made its first monthly recollection at Don Bosco, Lalgudi, Tiruchy. A day was set apart for prayer, reflection and house assembly meetings. Fr. Felix Arulnathan SDB preached on ‘The Effectiveness in our Youth Ministry’. He, in his talk referred several times the Church documents, Scripture, Salesian Constitution and the very life-style and mission of Don Bosco. He exhorted us quoting from the Church document ‘To be fully alive as the Youth are alive, Christ is alive and who continues to accompany us in our life journey’. He emphasized on the message that we need to have a firm mind and a kind heart and allow the youth to challenge and question us.
Commemoration of mary help of christians
On 24 June 2020, we celebrated the feast of St. John the Baptist as well as the commemoration of Mary Help of Christians. As it is the custom of our house to commemorate the feast of Mary Help of Christians every 24 of the month, Fr. Joachim Anthonysamy SDB officiated and solemnized the Holy Mass. Rev. Fr. Maria Arockiam Kanaga SDB, who was on holidays at Varadarajanpet joined us in the Eucharistic celebration. People of the locality participated in the Holy Mass and received the blessings of Mary Help of Christians.
Planting of Saplings
On 03 July 2020, nearly 150 saplings were planted at Nettalakuruchy in view to mark the beginning of the 150 year of the Movement of Past Pupils of Don Bosco. The saplings were entirely sponsored by Mr. Pancras, B.T Staff and past pupil of DBHSS, Varadarajanpet. Rev. Fr. Maria Arockiam Kanaga SDB, former Regional of South Asia was the special invitee for the event. Fr. Sebastian Jacob SDB, Head Master, Fr. Anthonysamy SDB and Fr. Henry Dominic SDB were present. Along with them the local village president Mr. Sournderarajan, former president Mr. Paul joined for the planting of trees. Mr. Xavier Amalraj, the Don Bosco Past Pupil, Varadarajanpet Unit President with the executive members as well as Mr. John Joseph Jolly, Mr. Agavalan, National Executive members of Don Bosco Past Pupil movement were also present for the event.
Education Development Day (kalvi Valarchi Naal) - Kamaraj Day
On 15 July 2020, the state education development day was observed to mark the birth anniversary of maestro Mr. Kamarajar, the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu. On this day school text and note books were issued to the students with following up of the norms for Covid 19. Students came to the school wearing the school uniforms and proper face masks. Social distancing was followed up and the sanitizer was also made available in the school premises at the wake of the spread of the Corona virus.
Online Classes
Amidst Covid 19, online classes for the students of Frans Schlooz School of Excellence as well as for the students of English medium section of Don Bosco Hr. Sec. School (DBHSS) began with the direction given by the TN government. Fr. Francis Xavier SDB, Rector & Correspondent and Fr. Sebastian Jacob SDB, Head Master met the staff members and got their opinions with regard to starting of the online classes. The management and the staff felt the need to start the online classes keeping in mind the welfare of the students. The staff also expressed their willingness to take online classes and follow up the students. Fr. Charles Arulappan SDB, In charge of Frans Schlooz School of Excellence and English medium section of DBHSS was entrusted with the responsibility to guide the staff and to follow up the online classes. The Tamil medium section of DBHSS has also special whatapp groups seperately for all the sections of class XI and XII std. The students are followed up regularly by their respective class and subject teachers.
Spoken English Course
Two months of spoken English course was organized for the staff of the English medium section of Don Bosco Hr. Sec. School, Varadarajanpet. Fr. Henry Dominic SDB was entrusted with the responsibility and he planned the program with the assistance of Br. Reymond SDB, Br. Aldon SDB, Dn. Anantharaj SDB and Fr. Arun Sebastin SDB. The spoken English course was mainly focused on developing the English communication skills of the staff, with the view to make them to be more fluent and confident to speak and converse in English. The spoken English course comprised of classes on phonetics, speaking exercises, reading practices and basic grammar. The staff felt the course very useful and expressed that they gained confidence to communicate fluently in English.
Independence Day and Feast of assumption
On 15 August 2020 we had a solemn Holy Eucharist in the morning officiated by Fr. Francis Xavier SDB, to celebrate the feast of Assumption and to pray for the country. The Holy Mass was followed by hoisting of the National flag at the school to mark the 74 Independence Day of India. School staff both teaching and non-teaching members participated in the celebrations following the norms of Covid 19.
Birthday of Fr.Francis Xavier SDB
On 25 August 2020 the Community of Varadarajanpet together with the staff members celebrated the Birthday of the Rector and Correspondent Rev. Fr. Francis Xavier SDB. There was a special morning prayer and Holy Mass organize in the morning followed by cutting of the cake and birthday wishes. There was also a special staff meeting and tea-party organinzed to felicitate Fr. Francis on his birthday. Staff members expressed their love and good wishes to Fr. Francis through birthday songs and address.
Teachers Day Celebration
On 05 September 2020, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Varadarajanpet honoured its staff members on the occasion of Teachers Day. The influence of a good teacher can never be erased. As the dictum goes, ‘A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge and wisdom in the students’. Both the teaching and non-teaching staff of the school participated in the special Holy Mass celebrated to pray for our school teachers. The Mass was officiated by Fr. Anthonyamy SDB. There was a tea-party followed by a short felicitation program organized to honour the teachers. All the staff members were adorned with ‘Ponnadai’. Fr. Francis sdb, Rector and Correspondent gave his blessings and wished the teachers all success in their teaching career and exhorted them to update their knowledge of their particular subjects using the lockdown days. Fr. Sebastian Jacob, Head Master gave his wishes and gave the instructions to the staffs to follow up the students personally through whatsapp and on-line classes.
Don Bosco Youth Group Activities
The Don Bosco youth group along with their regular sports programs, from time to time plan various activities for the betterment of themselves as well as their village. Under the able direction of Fr. Joseph Arulraj SDB Youth Director, the members organized palm seeds planting program networking with the Don Bosco Green Alliance Unit. Nearly five hundred Palm seeds were planted in the banks of Arockiapuram Lake, Varadarajanpet on 09 September 2020. The activity was organized with the view to increase ground water level. The residents of the locality were very cooperative and they welcomed the efforts made by the group. Prior to planting the seeds the youth group members also cleaned the lake and planted saplings near the lake. The youth group has also a football team which participated in the football tournament organized at Variangaval, Ariyalur Dt and won third prize.
Planting of 5000 Palmyra Palm Seeds
On 07 October 2020 the Green Alliance Unit of Don Bosco Varadarajanpetalong with the support and cooperation of Mr. Rajaji, village president of Periyakrishnapuram planted nearly 5000 palmyra palm seeds in the vicinity of Periyakrishnapuram Panchyat. Mrs. Thenmozhi, VOA of Andimadam, Mr. Muhammed Ithrish, Inspector of Andimadam along with Fr. Francis Xavier SDB, Recotor and Correspondent, Fr. Sebastian Jacob SDB, Headmaster, together with the other Salesians, Staff, NCC, NSS students of Don Bosco-Varadarajanpet participated in the event and planted the palm seeds. Fr. Francis SDB, Rector and Mr. Muhammed Ithrish, Inspector of Andimadam spoke on the importance of planting trees and to nurture and safeguard the environment. Prior to the program Fr. Sebastian Jacob SDB, welcomed the participants and at the end Mr. Pankiras, staff member thanked everyone who participated in the event.
Initial Visit of Rev. Fr. Agilan SDB, Provincial
On 26 October 2020, Rev. Fr. Agilan Sarprasadam SDB, Provincial along with Fr. Amaladass SDB, Provincial Economer came to our community for the initial visit of the house. They came for breakfast and were welcomed warmly by Fr. Francis SDB, Rector together with the other Salesians. After the breakfast, the newly built water underground sump was blessed by Fr. Agilan SDB, Provincial. Then the Provincial and Economer with the Salesians of the community paid a visit to the CBSE School building which is under construction. Fr. Provincial took stock of the building construction which is under progress. Then the Provincial and Economer met the house assembly and house council members separately and discussed with them the various activities and the mission of the house. After lunch they too paid a visit to the land and house donated by Fr. Arulanandam SDB, Province of Chennai and also to the 19 acres of land at Thanchavaranchavadi.
Green Alliance Unit Activities
Don Bosco Green Alliance contributes to the environmental action, thought and policy. It creates an environment that is safe and caring for all life on the planet, while building up a new generation of environmentally committed citizens and leaders. The Green Alliance Unit of Don Bosco, Varadarajanpet aims to fulfill the same mission in its own way to care and protect the environment and to impact the lives of young people whom we educate, to be more environment focused and in turn to become lovers of nature. To this end, the green alliance unit of Don Bosco, Varadarajanpet organized a number of activities on gathering of palmyra palm seeds and planting them, like wise collecting of different saplings such as Jamun, Banyan, Punga and planting them, were planned and executed in the months of July, August, September, October and November 2020 in and around Varadarajanpet, in places such as Poovanipattu, Anikuthichan, Kandiankuppam, Nettalakuruchi, Periyakrishnapuram, Thennur and Varadarajanpet. These activities were made possible with the able guidance and direction of Fr. Sebastian Jacob SDB, Headmaster, NCC, NSS students and Staff members of Don Bosco Hr. Sec. School, Varadarajanpet along with the support and cooperation of the local panchayat leaders and villagers.