Sunita D'Souza
WADALA, MARCH 17, 2012: The journey began with a commitment at the beginning of the last scholastic year when the GreenLine extended a warm welcome to its group. And it continues… The reward to this cause came in the form of the Maschio Foundation Award for the Greenest School in the GreenLine Campaign 2011-12. It is indeed a proud moment for St. Joseph's to have climbed atop the 'Greenest' summit.
At the awards ceremony held on March 16, 2011 at Don Bosco Provincial House, Matunga, our students and teacher representatives were among a host of other schools' participants and eminent dignitaries. The Chief Guest, Dr. Shubhalaxmi, General Manager of the BNHS Conservation Education Centre, and the Guest of Honour Fr. Edwin D'Souza, Chairperson of the Maschio Foundation were introduced by Fr. Savio Silveira to the gathering. Dr. Shubhalaxmi, addressing the students in particular, urged them to reflect on the questions related to the environment for a better present leading to a promising future. Fr. Edwin D'Souza encouraged one and all to become 'GreenLine crusaders'.
It was a proud and privileged moment for our staff and students to receive the first prize (that included a cash prize of Rs. one lakh) in this campaign. Paying glowing tributes to the Management, staff and students of the school, the GreenLine team had this to say in their letter addressed to the school: "We are particularly impressed by the way in which the entire school got involved in this programme. Your weekly assemblies on environmental themes, and giving a 'green touch' to all the events celebrated in the school during the past academic year, is certainly commendable. The active participation of the students in the various activities suggested by the GreenLine, and the outcomes achieved, is also noteworthy. In particular, we are inspired by the fact that your green endeavours were led from the front by the school's Management and Staff."
There was much to be learnt from the presence of the other schools at the awards function, which through their initiatives did their bit to preserve our environment. The creativity of Sacred Heart Vashi that displayed a framed policy for the school, the environmental impact of St. Dominic Savio Andheri on the neighbourhood through their slogan 'Clean Mahakali, Green Mahakali', and the coastal clean up by St. Anne's Malad were indeed praiseworthy.
Our special thanks to the GreenLine team – Fr. Savio Silveira, Alden D'Silva, Ms. Jessica and Ms. Lyra, who kept our enthusiasm for the green project alive through their constant interaction, workshops and initiatives. The judges – Mr. Harshal Deshmukh, Ms. Stephanie and Ms. Orla, who visited our school prior to the awards ceremony, through their pointed questions and interventions, furnished us with additional tools and insights for future planning and projects.
Of all the trophies and accolades won and received by the school this scholastic year, this by far is the most cherished! And yes, as Fr. Savio Silveira, reminded us all at the awards ceremony, "With honour comes responsibility!" We are up to the challenge.