SFS News

SFS Students visit Ashraya Charitable Trust, Gandhinagar

Advent is the time when Angels visit the earth to proclaim the glories of the new-born Jesus. It’s the period when goodwill suffuses communities with forgiveness and peace.

That is why SFS students made a visit to the Ashraya Charitable Trust at Gandhinagar to share their goodwill and material goods with the inmates of the institution. The students had gathered some materials of daily use and a few dialysis kits, and handed them over to Sr Slomo, the Trust manager.

Fr Binod Puthanpurakkal gave the Xmas message. The students used the opportunity to visit the volunteer workers and inmates of the Trust and to share their camaraderie.

SFS students join hands in farming fest

The Nallpaadam workers at SFS Public School had a first-hand experience of farming operations when they joined hands with the first green army of Kerala, namely, the Pampakuda Agro Service workers, and the agricultural farmers of Peroor at the Thuruthi paadam fields. The students got the opportunity to learn first-hand the basic lessons of paddy cultivation under the guidance of Shri Ajaychandran Nair, a leading farmer from the region.

Fr Jose Parappillil, school manager, Dr P.K. Roy, school Principal, Fr Kelvin Olikkunnel, vice principal and Fr Binod Puthanpurackal, school administrator, were present to encourage the students.

A LIBRARY FOR COMRADES

The Nallapadam team at SFS School has been carrying out a reading-related project entitled “Aavolam Vaayana” [reading to one’s heart’s content]. As part of this promotional effort, reading corners have been set up in public places and in convenient nooks and classrooms at SFS School.

Taking the project to its logical conclusion, the Nallapadam workers considered creating a library for comrades. The aim is to arrange a small library at home in order to attract government school students to the magical world of books and reading. Ms Ganga C.S., a Grade IX student of Pampady Technical High School, is chosen to head the campaign.

A good number of books collected by SFS School students was handed over to Ms Ganga by SFS Principal Dr Roy P.K. Present on the occasion were Pampady Technical High School Superintendent in charge Shri Venugopal, academic in charge Shri Ravindra Varma, student counselor Smt Ranimol Thomas, SFS Vice Principal Fr Kelvin Olikkunnel, and School Administrator Fr Binod Puthanpurackal.

Additionally, SFS School Manager Fr Jose Parappillil also attended the function.

The Edu Expo 2024, titled Sciquest, took place on 24 October from 9.30 a.m. Students of Grades V upwards created and exhibited various projects, including still models, working models, charts, artworks, etc. in the school’s main quadrangle. It was a grand success

The School’s annual sports meet was held staggered on 29 & 30 October 2024. The Chief Guest was Dr Thankachan Mathew, retired Associate Professor, in the department of physical education at Alphonsa College, Pala. He hoisted the flag after a prayer song. The Fathers were actively present at the meet.

The closing ceremony was conducted on 30 October. The School Manager delivered an inspiring presidential address. An essay competition was held centred on the theme of police martyrdom. Sri Akhil Dev, Principal Sub Inspector of Police, Ettumanoor, distributed prizes to the winners of the competition. The Cygnus House was the overall champion in the sports meet. The first runner-up was the Centaur House, followed by the Phoenix House as the second. When the meet came to a close, Fr Jose Parappillil lowered the flag, marking the end of the show.

The annual sports meet of special schools children, titled Buoyancy, took place on October 10, 2024. The chief guest, Adv Francis George, MP, hoisted the flag and declared the meet open. A directory – Discover Your Path to Unique Smiles (Punchiri) was released during the event. Sri Jomichan Jose, chief sub editor, Malayala Manorama, felicitated the gathering.

A general dental medical camp, “Special Smiles from Caring Hands” was inaugurated by Fr Jose Parappillil. Dr Roy administered the oath to the participants of various field events which started at 10.30 a.m.

The awards presentation was held at 3.30 pm. Sri Vinod Nair, chief news editor at Malayala Manorama, released the magazine Spectrum of Talents. Handing over a fund to special schools, titled Aardram Expo, was done by Fr Jose Parappillil.

The overall champions this year was Santhinilayam Special School, Anthinadu. The Ashaniketan Special School, Ayamkudi, was second, and St John of God Special School was third. As many as 250 students from 22 different schools attended the meet.

The target of this project is to bring back to present-day farmers the culture and lifestyle of age-old farming techniques through the hands and minds of the younger generation. This was achieved on farmers’ day by the Nallapadam workers at the school. Shri Eby Abraham, patron of Bhumika Native Windows, officiated at the function. It caught the attention of the general public due to the presence of Athirampuzha Panchayat president Jose Ambalakulam, agricultural officer Dr Irene Elizabeth John, gram panchayat members, farmers, traders, social workers, students, teachers and others. The  Nallapaadam workers had assembled medicinal plants, vegetables, pulses, fruits, and other edibles for sale on the occasion. School manager Fr Jose Parappillil, Principal Dr Roy P.K., Vice principal Fr Kelvin Olikkunnel, and administrator Fr Binod Puthanpurackal guided the proceedings.

As a Nallapadam initiative, pothichoru distribution was conducted on 30 July, under the auspices of the English Dept. As many as 113 lunch packets were distributed at the Kottayam General Hospital. Despite heavy showers, students enthusiastically contributed to the venture. Fr  Binod, school Administrator, inaugurated the distribution.

SFS School students took the initiative to construct a second house for a destitute staff member of our school. The house which cost Rs 10 lakh was handed over to Thresiamma Mathew Plathottathil, a resident of the Athirampuzha Panchayat. While Fr Jose Parappillil handed the house key to Thresiamma, Fr Tony Koilparampil, Asst Parish Priest at Athirampuzha Church, blessed the house on July 15, 2024.Felicitation messages were delivered by Athirampuzha panchayat president Jose Ambalakulam and 7th ward member Babynas Ajas, in the presence of 1st ward member Jojo George, school principal Dr Roy P.K., vice principal Fr Kelvin Olikkunnel, administrator Fr Binod Puthanpurackal, and Nallapaadam workers.
The funding for this house came from Nallapadam workers, the NSS Unit at Amalagiri College, and the Chittilappally Foundation.

The investiture ceremony, codenamed AZIONARE – Lead, Serve & Inspire, marked a milestone in our academic calendar on July 01, 2024. Following the lamp lighting ceremony, Fr Jose Parappillil gave the presidential address. The event was preceded by the presentation of sashes and badges, symbolizing the assumption of responsibilities by the new student leaders.  The school flag was then presented to the school leaders.

The oath-taking was followed by a musical performance by students holding lighted candles. Sri C John, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Narcotic Cell, Kottayam, graced the occasion as the chief guest. Dr Roy then addressed the gathering. The event was a testament to the school’s commitment to nurturing leadership and fostering a sense of responsibility among its students.