Carmel Convent - Celebrating 60 years

Sr. Claribelle Arrives
The thirtieth year of the School began with the arrival of a new Principal. Sr. M. Claribelle A.C.,
whilst replicating the proven good practices of the previous three decades, introduced many new
initiatives. She came on board with an in-depth understanding of the education environment
having studied at St. Teresa’s Convent High School at Santa Cruz (another Order of Carmelite
Nuns). She reminisces that as a student in 1953, the Sisters at St. Teresa had asked them to pray
for the Mangalore Carmelites’ pioneering mission in Bandra which was going through a stressful
period. Later, she joined the Congregation of the Apostolic Carmel; and as School Principal,
memories flooded back to the time she joined her school mates and fervently prayed for the very School
she was now heading! She was indeed carrying on their legacy! When interviewed recently, she stated
with remarkable candor, “I gave my best to the children and I am reaping rich dividends from God and from others.”
In the eleven years of her tenure, the students developed their talents in diverse fields of Sports and Dramatics. In addition, the General Assemblies greatly encouraged and emboldened the students and gave them opportunities to participate in prayer services and stage events. Sr. Claribelle retired to Pune in August 1993 handing over charge to Sr. M. Theodomira A.C. to carry on the noble task of running her beloved School.
HEAD GIRLS
Cynthia D’Souza Sadhana Bhatnagar Naseem Merchant Alka Kanetkar Sarita Panjabi Urvashi Gunaji Vandana Bhatnagar Bharati Sethi
Carol Lobo Meera Srinivasan Hazel Nunes
1973 – 1974 1974 – 1975 1974 – 1975 1975 – 1976 1976 – 1977 1977 – 1978 1978 – 1979 1979 – 1980 1980 – 1981 1981 – 1982 1982 – 1983
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102
1983 - 93
Reaching out in love and service
Caring for the poor
Teachers' Day Celebrations
The Greater Bombay West Zone Science Exhibition
The Traveling Pope reaches Bombay


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The Helping Hands
of the P.T.A.
A Time of Crisis
An Updated Library
Weekly Canteens
Cookery Classes
A Visit to Sugarland


1983 - 93
A School For All
One of the missions of the Apostolic Carmel congregation is to provide education for all; irrespective of social class. Sr. Claribelle, noticing that some children from the neighbouring slums did not get school admissions, took them in and took a keen interest in their studies. She recalls a Std. VI child asking her if she was the Principal of the Poor. A startled Sr. Claribelle replied, “I thought I was the Principal of Apostolic Carmel High School, Bandra.” The girl explained, “You only ask some girls to come to you with your mark sheets but never once have you asked me.”
Sr. Claribelle (extreme left) visits the School on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee celebration in December 2002. Also seen are Supervisor Tr. Natalia de Souza, Principal Sr. Muriel Rita and ex-Principal Sr. Maria Rosa.
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Teacher Wilhelmina Lewis was a teacher with a strict demeanour but a heart of gold. Knowing that there were students too poor to afford lunch, she made it her duty to ensure that they were anonymously provided with the mid-day meal by their school-mates. Manuela Sequeira Nazare Saldanha recalls, “I remember Mrs. Lewis asking if any of us got pocket money from our parents. I raised my hand. She said, “There are many children who have just one meal a day. If you could keep some of your pocket money aside, it would help someone have that second meal.” So every day while we went home for lunch, she would arrange lunch for the poor students. Students would sponsor another’s lunch but they would never find out who the recipient of their charity was.” It made students aware that caring and sharing were prime virtues that would mould them into prospective citizens of tomorrow.
Mrs. Wilhelmina (Mina) Lewis taught at Apostolic Carmel for twenty-one years till her untimely demise in 1991 from cancer. Students fondly recall her unstinting support and encouragement in their endeavours.
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Margaret Gonsalves Miranda wished to study Medicine but was unsure of future success after all the effort and years of study she would undertake. When she expressed her doubts to Mrs. Lewis,
the lady replied, “Don’t worry. I will sit in your clinic
every day and people will think... This doctor has some patients. She must be good. That way, you will get your practice going.” Nearly forty years later and with a highly
successful practice, Bandra’s Dr. Margaret Miranda has not forgotten Mrs. Lewis words to her.


Annual Concert and Prize Distribution Day
Apostolic Carmel High School's reputation for staging excellent plays was established right from its inception, thanks largely to Sisters Maria and Hildegarde. Through the years, the School continued to maintain this high standard of dramatics which was put on display every year at the Annual Concert held in August to celebrate Parents’ Day. Earlier held as a separate event, in the mid- eighties, Prize Distribution would be coupled with the Annual Concert; making it a grand event not to be missed by any parent.
The Chief Guest was usually chosen from the ranks of parents and ex-students who were honoured to preside over the function. Hazel Nunes Punde recalls, “In the early eighties, the School began giving out prizes after
the academic year had ended and they decided to invite a parent to give away the prizes. My mother’s name was picked through a lottery system and she was invited to give away the prizes along with Sr. Astrid. It was a moment of great honour for me as well as my mother. I remember walking up to the stage feeling a bit awkward to receive a prize from my mum – so much so that I forgot to walk in a lady-like fashion. Sr. Astrid sent me back and made me walk on to the stage again. I don’t know what got into me. I just ran up and onto the stage!”
As other activities took over, it became difficult for the teachers and students to consistently put in the effort required of such a grand event. The school now holds the Annual Day every other year while the Prize Distribution continues each year.
Teachers Natalia de Souza and Mina Lewis with a parent, Mrs. Pathak and students Erica D’Souza, Dilnaz Unwala, unknown, Meera Saldanha, Cheryl, Sujita Monteiro and Sharon Miranda on Parents’ Day, August 10, 1984. Of the play, Meera Saldanha D’Souza says, “While I cannot recall the name of the play, I do recall that it was heavy and serious. We rehearsed for weeks and for hours on end every Thursday. The make-up was done by Mr. Drego who worked with lms and parish plays. We even rented the costumes from a professional supplier.”
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Inside every book thoughtfully chosen by the P.T.A., was a Certi cate of Merit bearing the recepient's name and prize details.
Performed in 1989 by the High School students, this play was based in Bombay and had a social theme.
Neela Saldanha receives the prize for General Proficiency at the hands of Sr. Astrid (then the Provincial Superior). In the background is Principal Sr. Claribelle while Tr. Genevieve D’Souza is in the foreground. Along with a certificate for General Proficiency, students also received excellent General Knowledge books sponsored and thoughtfully chosen by the P.T.A.
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A reliquary, containing a cloth with a drop of Pope John Paul II’s blood, was presented to the Rector of Mount Mary’s Basilica on September 8, 2013
The Traveling Pope Reaches Bombay
February 08, 1986 marked
the visit of Pope John Paul
II to Bombay. The Hill Road
pavements were packed
with throngs waiting in
the hot sun for a glimpse of
this popular figure. Giselle
Castelino vividly recalls
standing on the pavement
in front of the School along
with the whole school. “We
were given little Indian
and Vatican paper flags
to wave. We held them
aloft in both hands and waved them like crazy as the Pope’s motorcade swept majestically down Hill Road and up to the Mount. The crowds cheered the visiting Pontiff lustily. ‘Long live our Holy Father’ rent the air in a deafening crescendo.” Jacqueline Tellis was chosen to welcome the Pope with the traditional aarti and tikka. Dressed in an Indian outfit, she along with classmate, Sasha D’Souza, waited for over an hour at the foot of the Mount. But all hopes of meeting the Holy Father face-to-face were dashed, when the motorcade appeared over an hour behind schedule and did not stop on its way to High Mass at the Basilica. However, from that vantage point, she had a far better view of him than the crowds lining Hill Road.
In April 2005, the School mourned the death of the Holy Father after an eventful papacy of twenty-seven years. Nothing deterred him as he travelled around the globe bridging gaps and cementing relationships. Carmelites took this opportunity to recall his visit to Bandra in 1986.
As part of his India tour in 1986, Pope John Paul II met Mother Teresa at Nirmal Hriday Ashram – Home for the Aged, on February 3
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An Updated Library
Up until the arrival of Sr. Claribelle, access to the Library was restricted for students. But the Library was her priority and she wanted them to have easy access to the books. To simplify this, she took it upon herself to get the books rearranged age-appropriately. She recalls, “Sr. Pearl-Anne was working as the librarian then. She, Teresa (Sequeira) and I took out the books to rearrange them and found the wooden cabinets eaten by white ants. We had to pull everything out and spray all the cabinets. We then put the books in class-wise. We also bought more books from Sudarshan Book House and St. Paul’s Book House and
hired a librarian.”
Trs. Mina Lewis, Natalia de Souza, Sr. Maria Pia and Shyama Kulkarni on Parents’ Day, August 10, 1984. Thanks to the encouragement of these English teachers, many of the students developed a life-long love of reading. While Lalita Almeida recalls Tr. Shyama encouraging her students to read Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist and Pickwick Papers; Manuela Nazare Sequeira Saldanha recalls how Mrs. Lewis would ensure entire series’ of books were available in the Library. She believed that if one book hooked the student’s attention, they would want to read more; thus developing the reading habit.
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With the arrival of cable television and easy Internet access, it is now an uphill task for librarian Christine Syiemiong to get the girls interested in the more than twenty-five thousand books so loved by the students earlier.
A dictionary-based activity
A geography-based activity – How to read an atlas
As part of her efforts to improve reading ability and general knowledge, Tr. Christine conducts regular activities in the Library and rewards the winners too. The activities, usually in the form of a quiz, revolve around several themes – geography, the English dictionary, popular authors, countries, the Universe.
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Mrs. Romila (Romy) Chilimbi
The Helping Hands of the P.T.A.
It was during Sr. Claribelle’s tenure as Principal that the Parent Teacher Association (P.T.A.) really came into its own. Started in the 1960s, it helped raise funds for the School whenever needed. No school venture would ever have been fruitful without the dedication of these willing souls. Comprising three teacher and ten parent representatives, the team would meet each month to discuss the status of their projects and resolve issues faced by the School. Teacher Natalia de Souza recalls, “No matter how late the hour, the parents would faithfully turn up. There were many fathers on the Committee – Mr. Felix Saldanha, Mr. Bangard of Hindustan Lever. They would come to the meeting tired after a day’s work. But they would turn up... faithful in their commitment to the school.” Annette Mascarenhas recalls, “I was on the P.T.A. from the time my daughter, Tara was in Std. I till she finished school. Romy (Chilimbi) and I used to be in the school almost daily. It became our second home. We roped in quite a few parents to help... Anita Soans, Manuela Reis, Mr. Shetty of Rachna Society, Suraiya Merchant, Jennifer Daji and many more.”
At that point in time, the School’s funds position was lamentably low, a fallout of the “free education” subsidy introduced by the Board of Education from class V to X and the sluggish inflow of funds receivable by way of Government grants. The school buildings and infra-
structure were in dire need of an overhaul. Through the concerted efforts of their newly formed Fund Raising Committee, the much needed funds were generated to put the School back into shape. Proceeds of a premier show at Eros, “The Goonies”, and proceeds of other fund-raisers, along with the enlisted help of the local MLA Mr. Salim Zakaria, really provided ballast in bolstering the funds.
Another one of the P.T.A. fund-raising initiatives was the weekly canteen. Held through the mid-eighties, these canteens were a super-hit. Each week, a class of students was designated to sell snacks during the short recess. To motivate them, the class raising the highest funds was treated to a picnic. Not only did these canteens provide the girls with nutritious snacks, it helped the P.T.A. in raising around five to six lakh rupees for the School Development Fund. Though it had its detractors, the canteen had the unstinting support of the School’s Principal and most parents.
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Mrs. Annette Mascarenhas


Come 10 a.m. and the students would eagerly look out for the ‘Canteen Aunties’, Annette Mascarenhas and Romy Chilimbi, who would go from classroom to classroom selling little red, circular tokens... the approved currency for the canteen. Each token cost fifty paise and could fetch the user a glass of Rasna juice at the very least. Meanwhile, makeshift stalls, using spare classroom benches, would be set up on the basket-ball court and mothers would unpack the goodies, ready to meet the hungry brood. The sheer variety made it difficult to decide and if one took too long, the snack would have sold out. Bhel puri, medu wadas, idlis, chutney sandwiches, boiled gram, chole masala, ragda pattice, sliced cake, mini pizzas, ice-cream... the canteen had it all and rarely would there be left-overs by the time the recess ended. Dinah Saldanha, mother of Meera and Neela, remembers, “The canteens were so much fun. The parents had to cook something every week. My children were very particular that something good was made so that it was all sold. I remember making fried rice once and cake another time.”
As a token of gratitude for all hard work the teachers put in, the P.T.A. took it upon itself to celebrate Teachers’ Day. It was its way of saying Thank You and also an opportunity to interact with all of teachers outside the classroom. As funds were scarce, the P.T.A. members undertook the task of preparing the food in their own homes; before a more comfortable financial position enabled them to order food from a caterer. Games, skits, movies and outings were part of the agenda on this special day.
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The P.T.A. also expended a lot of energy and enthusiasm in introducing new initiatives like buying a microphone system for the School Hall and a television set for the Gallery classroom, implementing cookery classes for the students taught by parents and regular sports and athletics coaching. They also held educational programmes for children including sex education. Dr. Kiran Coelho, the reputed gynaecologist’s services were solicited to hold sessions for parents, teachers and children wherein embarrassing queries were unabashedly dealt with. It became the established practice for the School's administration to call the parents to the table to ideate and execute plans benefiting the students.
Insightful dialogues helped resolve issues cropping up from time to time, revitalizing the energy and spirit of the P.T.A. Workshops were organized - for parents by Dr Elaine Charles on “Building Bridges, not Walls” and for students by Shailya Mulay on careers.
A parent supervises a cookery class for the Middle School students
Teacher Mercy Isaac, who was the Honorary Secretary of the P.T.A. for twelve years reminisces “It was a delight to meet and interact with every single parent. They have been so supportive and co-operative... always there to help and support me.” Sr. Claribelle echoes, “I had a really good P.T.A. When we wanted to bring down the Pre- primary and put up a new building, the parents willingly helped out with their services. So we started collecting money, netting a comfortable amount from running canteens and a premiere show at Metro Cinema.”
Tr. Mercy Isaac taught at Apostolic Carmel High School from 1986 to 2012. Post her retirement; she was appointed Supervisor of the newly-opened Junior College.
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A Visit to Sugarland
One of the most exciting moments in the life of the Carmelites was when the little girls of Std. IV performed a dental hygiene skit for Magic Lamp – a popular children’s programme on Doordarshan II, in the pre-cable television era. This was the first time, the Carmel girls were show-casing their acting talents on a mass media platform.
Initially performed at the Annual Day in 1987, the play entitled ‘A Visit to Sugarland’ talked about the Five Golden Rules and the necessity of caring for one’s teeth. Tanya Mascarenhas, one of the performers remembers, “Sugarland was a land full of sweets...it was about a little girl, Mina, reluctant to brush her teeth, who was transported to this magical land. It was very informative because most of us were losing our teeth then!”
Fairy Happy Tooth arrives to introduce Mina (background, red dress) and her friend, Tina, to the merits of good dental hygiene
Presenting the Five Golden Rules for healthy teeth – 1. Do not eat sweets or sticky foods between meals; 2. Brush your teeth after every meal; 3. Use a good toothpaste and toothbrush; 4. Visit your dentist regularly (preferably every six months); 5. Eat foods with vitamins and minerals. In the background, to the left, is Demon Decay who rejoices when children develop dental caries.
This was all thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Maryanne D’Silva, a parent, who knew the producer of Magic Lamp, Mrs. Anushree Dutt. It was a grand team effort with Sisters, teachers and parents sparing no effort to ensure that the skit was a success when performed for television. The programme aired on February 23, 1988 and has gone down in the annals of the School as yet another ‘first’ for the Carmelites. Teacher Ruth D’Souza recalls,“We anxiously waited to tape the whole programme which we watch occasionally. Even now, when we refer to it, we say, “Remember our programme Sugarland?” Of course, I remember it. I was there!”
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The Greater Bombay West Zone Science Exhibition
In 1991, Sr. Claribelle was approached by the B.M.C.’s Education Department with a request to co-ordinate that year’s Science exhibition. This was no mean feat; with fifty schools of the H-ward participating. Despite the enormity of the task, Sr. Claribelle immediately agreed; knowing that she would have the whole-hearted support of her Staff. With the help of Science teachers Tessie Coutinho and Hamida Merchant, Art teacher Navita Jadal, and the P.T.A., the School not only succeeded in putting up its own exhibits but also walked away with the award for the Best Organized Centre in Greater Bombay!
Certi cate of Merit awarded to all students who participated in the Exhibition. Students Tanya Mascarenhas and Shraddha Bhurat recall their single-minded focus during those days of preparation – how they would spend every free minute of their school hours in the laboratories working on the projects to be displayed; much to the consternation of their teachers and peers.
Tr. Navita Jadal
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Tr. Tessie Coutinho
Tr. Hamida Merchant


Education for All – Adult Literacy Classes
Apostolic Carmel could be credited with being change agents in the community by introducing Literacy Classes for migrant workers and adult domestic helpers. With a view to empowering under-privileged and unlettered women with education and a chance to grow and facilitate better employment, these classes are run out of two classrooms on the School’s premises every weekday evening. The Kindergarten classroom has the most students as all students begin there while the students from Std. I to V are seated in the other classroom.
This effort was all thanks to a solitary nun, Sr. Leonie who took over the classes from the ladies at St. Andrew Parish in 1991. The programme is highly successful; from semi- literacy these students are transformed into a hive of con dence and pride.
The year 1992-93 will always stand out as the most ‘memorable’ year of our lives... we were enrolled at the Literacy Classes of Apostolic Carmel High School! Being first-generation learners, we were petrified... had never been to a school. As migrant workers, we only knew Telugu and moved with our parents and two younger siblings from site to site. Adult domestic helpers were being educated at this class. I was ten and my sister, Saroja a year older.
Sr. Leonie was very strict; her Assistant even more stern! We reluctantly attended class as anyone who came even a minute late to school was punished...made to stand outside for a while with a firm warning. Looking back we realise that Sr. Leonie instilled punctuality in us... something we were unaccustomed to in those days.
The subjects taught were Maths and English. Maths included tables and simple calculations and how to open and maintain a Savings Bank account. English included the Radiant Reader with emphasis on Reading, Spelling and Grammar (Tenses). The timings were from 4 to 6 p.m.
With Sr. Leonie, we enjoyed picnics to Hanging Gardens and other spots nearby, Teachers’ Day, Children’s Day and Christmas celebrations. We received gifts at each function and we also had a day when each student brought a gift for another! This was her novel idea of sharing. She also encouraged us to perform just about anything in front of the class; drama, dance, mimicry... whatever we knew. We, being the youngest in the class, did not feel very comfortable and kept aloof of Sister and her Assistant as well. Our parents were also very strict; they ensured that our homework was done daily. As a result, we were excellent in our studies.
A few years later, our parents got us admitted to Mt. Mary High School. Sr. Leonie was simply overjoyed and supported our parents’ decision. She also offered to help us in whatever way and mentioned that we were the first students from the Literacy Class to go ahead in life. We kept in touch with her and she was always thrilled to see our school reports and the progress we were making at our new school.
Today we are proud to say that we are independent and have very good jobs in our respective organisations and have educated our two younger sisters as well. All four of us have graduated. Our younger sister is pursuing her M.B.A. whilst the youngest one worked with an airline for a year before she thought it wiser to pursue an M.A. and simultaneously work in a reputed organization. Our lives were totally transformed because of one person... Sr. Leonie. God bless her soul !
- Maria Annagurti
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Sr. Leonie with her students at their annual picnic. In 1989, St. Andrew Parish began evening classes for domestics in the premises of Apostolic Carmel High School with a sister-in-charge and social workers. When Sr. Leonie of Christ the King returned to Bandra in 1991, she took up those classes with great dedication and love. She taught them not only English but Needlework, Art and Craft. Articles made by the students were put on display every December. Under her guidance, they also put up a Christmas play and sung carols. She passed on on October 29, 1994 at the age of eighty-five.
At another picnic, Maria stands at the back of the group, to the extreme left while Saroja is seated in the centre in a red dress
Saroja at her desk as the Business Development Manager of an IT company
Maria, Manager – Customer Relationship, at a company presentation
Saroja Annagurti’s report card from her first year as Sr. Leonie’s student
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A Time of Crisis
1992 – 93 was a year of turbulence, the effects of which were experienced by the students, school staff and parents. Riots, bomb blasts and an earthquake overshadowed the peace and tranquility of the school community. In the words of a parent, “A sense of security needed to be instilled in the minds of the children in the chaotic, hostile and violent situations that prevailed. The school did its best to foster this.”
For five days in December 1992 (December 7 – 11) and fifteen days in January 1993, Mumbai witnessed unprecedented riots and mob violence of great ferocity, resulting in the incidents of arson causing large–scale loss of lives and damage to property. Police had resorted to firing to quell the disturbances. The Army was also requisitioned to deal with the serious riots. As the situation was returning to normalcy after the riots, serial bomb blasts rocked the city on March 12, 1993. The students had, perhaps, their first encounter with the chaotic hostility of riots as they struggled to carry
on their daily routine in a beleaguered city awash with communal violence.
Sr. Claribelle remembered, “It was the first time anything like that happened. It was around 11 a.m. and the gates were open. We had a peon standing at the gates but people were just rushing in frantically.... the Provincial Superior saw the rush and phoned to find out what had happened. We came to know that parents had come to take their children home as communal riots had broken out. With the co-operation of the parents and teachers lending a helping hand, we managed to ensure that everyone was safe. The last girl went home around 5.30 p.m. that day.”
As the fourth decade came to an end, Sr. Claribelle, along with her Staff and students, gave thanks to God for having come through this ordeal physically unscathed and mentally stronger.
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HEAD GIRLS
Marissa Fernandes Michelle Andrade Dilnaz Unwalla Meera Saldanha Neela Saldanha Louella Mendanha Deepika Malhotra Liselle Cornelius Misti Paul
Surabhi Gupta
1983 – 1984 1984 – 1985 1985 – 1986 1986 – 1987 1987 – 1988 1988 – 1989 1989 – 1990 1990 – 1991 1991 – 1992 1992 – 1993
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1993 - 2003
A milestone achieved - Celebrating Gold
New Computer Laboratory
Interact Club
The King of All Ages
One-Act Plays
Fifty years of Independence


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Down the Ages –
Celebrating the New Millenium
A New Abode for Carmel Babies
Carmel - Lites 99
Fifty years of love and service
Concern for the Marginalised


1993 - 2003
Sr. Theodomira Takes Over
The forty-first year began with the arrival of a new Principal, Sr. M. Theodomira A.C., who was instrumental in propelling the School into the fast-moving, changing world of computer technology. A splendid streamlined Computer Laboratory was inaugurated on the first floor of the High School to provide computer learning. Orientation on “Computer Science” for high school students was held on a regular basis in a bid to make the School tech-savvy. Sr. Theodomira served in office for only two years before she was transferred.
Sr. M. Theodomira A.C. was the Principal at Apostolic Carmel High School, Bandra from 1993 to 1995 before her transfer to another school. She returned to Bandra in June 2014 as the Manager of the School.
Broadway at Apostolic Carmel
The first Inter-House Dramatics Competition was held on September 5, 1981, during the tenure of Sr. Astrid. While the School had always excelled at Elocution (English, Hindi and Marathi) and Debates, this competition showcased yet another dimension of talent. The plays generated plenty of interaction and excitement among the four Houses; particularly among the Std. X students. Held in the School Hall, the play had to be a single act completed within the stipulated time limit. Overshooting the limit earned the House penalty points, which could cost them the First Place. Judges were usually a mix of well-known theatre
personalities and English Literature lovers.
For weeks, perhaps months, prior to the event, the House Captains would comb all possible sources for a suitable play and submit it to the Teacher-in-charge. Then followed the all-important auditions and castings and lastly the rehearsals – morning, noon and evening, Sundays and holidays. Bands of loyal workers would work tirelessly in the background preparing costumes and stage props. With student life getting more and more hectic, the Competition took its last curtain call in 2004.
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The cast of My Wife’s Relations poses before their performance on stage. The play won the Sapphire House the Second Prize at the Inter-House Dramatics Competition in September 1993.
The play in progress with the Secondary School students and teachers as their audience
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An excited Tanya Mascarenhas hugs the play’s director, Mrs. Maria D’Souza (mother of classmate, Priya and Asst. Teacher at St. Stanislaus High School), after winning Best Supporting Actress as Mr. Muffin.
Tanya recalls, “How I loved acting and the One-Act Plays. It meant so much to me that I hunted this play down eventually getting it through my tuition teacher. I was Mr. Muffin with a nagging wife. One day she tells me her relatives are arriving soon and will stay with us. I pretend to be mad in the hope of driving them away. I loved comedy and my role. It was fun... meeting up for practices, costumes, props. I remember wearing foundation on my face rather than just lipstick and rouge. And I had short hair. So, at one point when I had to rumple my hair to look mad, I really did look mad and scary too. I borrowed my dad’s clothes... his huge pants and shirt.”


Fifty Years of Independence
In the year 1997, the School joined the rest of the Nation in celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Indian independence. The Primary and Secondary School sections sang patriotic songs that filled one and all with a deep sense of pride in their country’s achievements, fervently pledging their support towards her growth and prosperity. The Annual Sports Day held that year featured a grand March Past that highlighted a figure formation depicting fifty years of independence. This golden jubilee was celebrated with a difference in the precincts of the school. The Chief Guest for the function was Sukhmani Grewal of Std. II. Her impressive speech
echoed the sentiment which foretold that Carmel’s
young ones are well on
their way to becoming
the Nation’s pride.
The students of Apostolic Carmel High School also participated in city-wide inter-school festival to celebrate fifty years of independence
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The Arrival of Sr. Muriel Rita
The onset of academic year 1995 – 96 brought with it, the School’s seventh Principal, Sr. Muriel Rita A.C. from Carmel Convent School, New Delhi. Her goal: To raise the standard of Apostolic Carmel High School, Bandra to new heights. With a firm belief in the all-round development of the students, she began activities like Debates, Quizzing, Music Club, Interact Club and Bulletin Boards. To her also goes the credit of renovating the Primary and Secondary school building; as well as raising a new Pre-Primary block. She was aptly described as a “missionary with a vision and a visionary with a mission”.
Sr. Muriel Rita A.C.


The King of All Ages
Sr. Muriel Rita had a dream – to celebrate Christ, especially in the two thousandth year of his birth – a replay of the first Christmas in Bethlehem. Fired by this all-consuming desire, she lost no time and left no stone unturned in staging a spectacular operetta entitled “The King of All Ages”.
In the form of scintillating dances from around the world, beautiful renditions by an amazing eighty-strong choir, a cast of about six hundred students and prologues provided by a very articulate narrator, the operetta enthralled and audience of over three thousand five hundred spectators on December 12 and 13, 1997. While Fr. Cleophas Fernandes, Parish Priest, St. Andrew Church did the honours as Chief Guest on December 12, Sr. Ezilda A.C., Provincial Superior, Western Province, Apostolic Carmel was the Chief Guest the following day.
The twenty-two feet x thirty-four feet stage with its brilliant setting and lighting provided the cutting edge with the entire arena resembling a fairyland. The stage performances were interspersed with much-loved and familiar carols to usher in the mood for Christmas. This mega event was a roaring success in addition to being spiritually
motivating and culturally enriching.
Various scenes from the King of All Ages
Jesus is acknowledged as the King of All Ages
Candles and sweet voices put the audience in the mood
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Clapping and stamping to the rhythm of the vivacious Spanish dancers
The Thai dancers bend and sway gracefully
The energetic Kolis are happy with their catch
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The Kindergarten students (S.S.C. Class of 1995) pose for their annual photograph with their class teacher, Mrs. Myrtle Remedios
A New Abode for Carmel Babies
The nursery rhyme, “Sugar and spice and everything nice”, can be epitomized in just one peek into the Nursery or Kindergarten classes. The Nursery was earlier housed in the old building, the erstwhile residence of the Farias and Dossal families, whilst the Kindergarten was in the refurbished Sunday Circle building. Whereas the buildings may have been old, they nonetheless provided a stimulating environment with basic child-centric amenities. After all, it is at this age with the unencumbered vigour of childhood that the real conditioning takes place in their young lives – cursive writing, straight lines, sleeping lines, swing and bounce patterns, chalks and slates. The little ones’ writing skills are honed to perfection for their debut into Std. I.
Mrs. Hazel Nunes Punde had the unique distinction of having been a toddler, later the School’s head girl and subsequently, a teacher in the School. She recalls, “I was a very carefree and happy little girl. I loved playing outdoors with the pebbles and stones on the tiles leading up to the K.G. classes. My first friend was Ramona George and I vividly remember playing in the mud with her.”
Teacher Marilyn Michael lauds the teaching protocol. “It is very heartening to see the children come to Std. I with knowledge of three letter words learnt in the K.G. and then gradually pick up bigger words. The step from the KG to Std. I is indeed a big challenge.”
At a Pre-Primary Annual Concert, the Kindergarten students (S.S.C. Class of 1994) perform ‘Which came first - the chicken or the egg?’
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At the Pre-Primary Christmas party in 1984
It was during Sr. Muriel Rita’s tenure that the new Pre-Primary block was finally constructed. To her fell the task of raising sufficient funds, finalizing blueprints, demolishing the old building and raising the new one. A fantastic dream was realized when an imposing structure of two floors rose to comfortably accommodate all the Pre-Primary students in addition to a much-needed canteen and a lunchroom-cum-open hall. The little ones were thrilled to attend this school whose shining windows and attractive nursery rhyme murals beckoned them to enter and begin a journey that would take them through twelve years of Carmel life.
Thus, on July 4, 1998 the demolition of the old building commenced and on October 1, 1998 the ground breaking ceremony took place. Fr. Peter Drego, the Parish Priest of St. Andrew Church blessed the ground and the medals. The Provincial Superior, Sr. Ezilda A.C. did the ceremonial digging and placed a medal in the mud. Sr. Muriel Rita then placed two medals in the ground. In less than two years’ time, the new Pre-Primary building was ready for use. It bears eloquent testimony to the support and dedicated zeal of the School’s well-wishers.
The new Pre-Primary block comprising classrooms, an open hall-cum- lunchroom and a canteen was ready in less than two years from the time the old building was demolished. It was inaugurated on May 2, 2000 by Provincial Superior, Sr. Ezilda A.C. while Fr. Peter Drego, Parish Priest, St. Andrew Church blessed the building. Sr. Muriel Rita praised and thanked God for enabling the School to complete the project on schedule.
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As part of its fund-raising efforts, the School hosted a Fun Fair during the Diwali vacation of 1999. Came October 30, the school grounds resonated with fun and frolic for two days after nearly four decades as the Carmel-Lites Fete was inaugurated by Archbishop Ivan Dias. Parents and teachers volunteered to help run the fete with a bit of professional help. A unique feature at this Fun Fair was that the family as a whole had a chance of participating in an Ideal Family Competition. Celebrities like Arbaaz Khan and Shivangi Parikh added glitz and glamour to this fund-raiser. On the whole, the Fete was a huge success as it drew people by the hundreds. The grounds were packed to capacity on both days.
Winners of an open group dance competition pose with judge for the event, Arbaaz Khan
Mrs. Cynthia Pereira (mother of student, Cliantha), one of the judges, with the finalists and winners of Carmel Prince and Carmel Princess
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Archbishop Ivan Dias inaugurates the fete. The fete was named Carmel-Lites in keeping with the spirit of the season of Diwali.


Down the Ages – Celebrating the New Millenium
There was hardly any dearth of experiences that the School did not encounter as it grew in age and wisdom. Along with the rest of the world, it waited with bated breath for the dawn of the new millennium. It was a time to reflect on the past and plan for the future.
Sr. Muriel Rita in her message to the School in the run- up to the Millennium said “My heart is overwhelmed when I consider the bounteous blessings showered on
us Carmelites down through this century where every seed sown has blossomed and bloomed into a beautiful Carmel garden with its fragrance spreading across the globe.” To celebrate this momentous occasion, a musical operetta “Down the Ages” was performed on a magnificent stage set up on the school grounds on December 14 and 15, 1999 with Sr. M. Vincent A.C., the then Superior General of Apostolic Carmel, as the Chief Guest on the first day.
Concern for the Marginalised
While fund-raisers and operettas were taking place, the students were also doing their bit for the poor and downtrodden. The year 2001 was declared ‘The Year of the Volunteer’ by the United Nations. Thus, the pledge of the School for that year was “to serve with love”. The prime objective was two-fold: (1) To conscientize and sensitize the students, teachers and parents to adopt a healthy and charitable attitude towards the under-privileged and (2) To be available with their God-given gifts of time and talent for the benefit of their fellow beings.
Teachers, high school students as well as the young children of the Primary, enthusiastically visited orphanages, homes for the aged, balwadis and homes for street children. Besides looking forward to these outreach programs, they contributed generously in cash and kind. Of her visit to Kherwadi, teacher Ruth D’Souza, in the Voice of Carmel
2000 – 2001 says, “The street children were so happy. They felt that they were truly accepted and cared for in society. It helped our children understand how fortunate they are as they have all the basic necessities in life and that it is their duty to reach out to the poor and needy.”
The School, once again, lived up to this pledge in the aftermath of the Gujarat earthquake in January 2001 by reaching out to their suffering brethren in the devastated cities of Kutch and Bhuj. The killer earthquake that struck on January 26, 2001, India’s fifty-second Republic Day, swallowed many lives in just a few seconds and left many more homeless, handicapped and destitute. It was a potent reminder of the transient nature of life, how fragile and precious it is. In the words of Sr. Muriel Rita, “a revelation that God is Sovereign and that we are here to reach out to one another in love and compassion.”
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Y2K


Interact is Rotary International's service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact Clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary Clubs which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting.
The Interact Club
Another initiative focussing on the less fortunate in society was the Interact Club which made its presence felt in Apostolic Carmel High School, Bandra in the year 2000 thanks to the encouragement and support of a former P.T.A. member, Dr. Fali Driver. It is an extension of the Rotary Club at the school level and encourages students to involve themselves in various programmes aimed at reaching out to the less privileged. Students raise funds for their various projects through newspaper drives, voluntary contributions, etc. Not only do they visit and interact with the inmates of homes for the aged, orphanages and schools for the physically challenged; but they also participate in cultural and educational programmes organised by the Rotary Club from time to time. It is a forum where students are exposed to activities apart from those in their own school environment and thus, instils in them greater confidence and experience in dealing with situations in the world outside.
Outgoing President, Nivedita Ravishankar, addresses the audience. From left to right: Rotarian Dr. Fali Driver, Principal Sr. Muriel Rita, President - Rotary Club of Bombay Juhu, Hon. Secretary - Rotary Club of Bombay Juhu, Moderator Tr. Mercy Isaac, Moderator Tr. Nancy Fernandes
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Celebrating ‘Gold’
The year 2003 marked a monumental milestone in the history of the School.
It was a time to celebrate fifty golden years of the School’s presence in Bandra. The high point of these celebrations was December 2002 when long hours of hard practice went into the preparations and everyone gave of their best.
The celebration began on December 12, 2002 on the flower bedecked grounds where Bishop Agnelo Gracias was the main celebrant at the solemn High Mass. This was followed by a graceful prayer dance by students in deep red and gold traditional attire which added traditional flavour. Behind them the wide expanse of the white backdrop proclaimed the theme “Here I am, Lord, the clay in your hands”. The congregation included many important religious personages from Bandra and beyond as well as parents and well-wishers. This memorable evening of prayer was an auspicious start to the festivities of the next few days.
The beautiful stage all set for the Inaugural Mass on December 12, 2002
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The choir, trained by Mr. Felix Flor and others, lifted the congregation in song at the Inaugural Mass
Bishop Agnelo Gracias (centre) with (left to right) Sr. Claribelle, Sr. Lisetta, Sr. Lira, Sr. Muriel Rita and Sr. Maria Rosa awaits the cutting of the Jubilee Cake.
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Carmelights began with the flickering candles of tiny students on a hushed and darkened stage
The three brave nuns arrive to start the school that would soon become one of the most sought after in the suburbs of Mumbai
December 13 and 14 hosted a spectacular musical extravaganza, ‘Carmelights’, wherein the arrival of the three nuns from Mangalore to start a new school was conveyed by the students through music and dance on a hushed and darkened stage. It evoked nostalgic memories of a school growing over the years – From 1953 till the present time when students enjoy all the activities that make school life so unforgettable.
The Spirit of the Tree and Mrs. Santa were some of the characters who made an appearance on stage


I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Alumni from each decade, from the 50s to the 90s, shook a leg to popular tunes from their era
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Que Sera
Thriller
YMCA
Wannabe


Another highlight of the celebrations was an exhibition artistically arranged and organised by Tr. Navita Jadal and her team. Inaugurated by Sr. Lira Morais A.C., the then Provincial Superior, it not only briefed the visitors on the history of the Apostolic Carmel order and the School but also acquainted them with various Science and Geography projects as well as trophies won through the years.
Sr. Maria Rosa lights the lamp at the inauguration of the exhibition
A pictorial depiction of the life of Mother Veronica formed part of the exhibition
Science exhibit on modes of transport and communication
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The Souvenir Committee comprising three parents and teachers Marilyn Michael, Althea de Andrade, Anita Frank, Serena (Sherry) Albuquerque and Erminda (Amy) Heredia
The four-day celebration concluded with a grand reunion of alumni, parents and staff; wherein a Grand March, games, dancing and a sumptuous buffet made it a memorable evening with ample time to relax and enjoy the fruits of one’s labour in the company of friends.
Fifty years of love and service
Fifty glorious years of Apostolic Carmel High School, Bandra left an indelible impression on the ethos of Bandra for every street, lane and by-lane of Bandra was redolent with the vivacity, optimism and joie de vivre of a Carmelite. It was an inexpressible feeling of joy and fulfilment that pervaded the air as the fiftieth year drew to a close.
The old rain tree, a mute witness to the naissance and growth of the School (and which continues to spread its kindly shade around), is deeply symbolic of the School which has nurtured, guided and shaped thousands of girls and grown to become one of the premier institutions in the Archdiocese of Mumbai.
HEAD GIRLS
Tanya Mascarenhas Monisha Fernandes Maria Linda Rebello Sheetal Asrani Anoopa Shetty Mansi Desai Priyanka Gopal Sangeetha Joseph Hema Latha Naidu Manshi Chheda
1993 – 1994
1994 – 1995
1995 – 1996
1996 – 1997
1997 – 1998
1998 – 1999
1999 – 2000
2000 – 2001
2001 – 2002
2002 – 2003 137


2003 - 2013
A renewed commitment to God
and humanity
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Apostolic Carmel Alumni Bandra
Carmel Girl
football is introduced
Keeping pace with technolog y
dAYARAM, cHANGOOR, kARAN - tHE eND OF AN ERA


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The Four Houses are dedicated to Saints
Apostolic Carmel Junior College
Diamond Jubilee- Outreach Programmes
The School Band
The Mother Veronica Year


2003 - 2013
A Change of Guard
In October 2006, the School bade farewell to Sr. Muriel Rita who had stood like a pillar of strength for more than eleven years – an inspiration and a guiding star to every Carmelite. Her farewell words will linger on: “A Carmelite has a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eyes.”
Sr. M. Pearl-Anne A.C. who took over the baton from Sr. Muriel Rita was the newest star in that trail-blazing brigade of seven Principals since the School’s inception in 1953; each Principal having left footprints in the School’s sands of time.
To describe Sr. Pearl-Anne as a mere Principal does not begin to encompass her formidable persona as an all-rounder and a catalyst for constructive change. She epitomizes versatility; is a perfectionist but still comes across as a warm person, easy to interact with. As the head of the Institution, she radiates energy and has put the School on a new trajectory. She is responsible for realising Apostolic Carmel High School’s dream of opening their own all girls’ Junior College – a first in the suburbs. With Sr. Pearl-Anne at the helm of affairs, the School continues to progress and excel in every area of curricular and co-curricular activities.
Sr. Pearl-Anne (Seated sixth from left) with Vice-Principal Sr. Sushma, Headmistress Sr. Sushmita, Manager Sr. Lisetta and the Staff of the entire School during her first year in office
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The class photograph, taken in 1966, which set Nancy off on a quest to locate all her batch mates
The Class of 1966 Reunites
Days after taking office, Sr. Pearl-Anne received an extra- ordinary request. Could the Class of 1966 hold their first reunion in the School Hall? Amazed at the story that preceded this request, she instantly acquiesced.
In the year 2003, Nancy D’Souza da Costa visited her childhood home in Bandra after twenty-five years. Chatting with family one evening, whilst she leafed through old photographs, she chanced upon an old school snapshot – a bunch of prim, young girls standing self-consciously. The nostalgia evoked was the genesis of an unusual quest. Nancy set out to locate all the girls who finished school with her in June 1966; not an easy task given that they were now scattered across the globe. Ably aided by her batch-mate Mildred Remedios Castelino, they traced every single batch-
mate; a task that took almost three years. Calling themselves ‘The Gals of ’66’, the girls soon planned a reunion; no mean feat given that twenty of them lived abroad.
The day of the anticipated get-together finally arrived and The Gals of ’66 came face to face with each other after nearly forty years. The evening was a resounding success. Every girl entering the hall, made her debut to accompanying squeals of joy and hoots of recognition. Barring a few and given a couple of extra inches, almost everyone was instantly recognisable. The joy in having found each other, reigned supreme during that memorable evening. They reminisced about their schooldays and generally revelled in just being reunited with each other in the evening of their lives.
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Forty years later minus five batch-mates who had passed on; with two nuns, a doctor and several bankers in their midst, the Class of 1966 meets for the first time
Dressed as Carmel girls, in uniforms bursting at the seams, Nancy D’Souza da Costa (extreme left) and two of her batchmates mimic their teachers much to the glee of their audience
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An Alumni Association for Apostolic Carmel High School
All through the decades, the school staff, especially the Principals, viewed the annual stream of outbound students with enormous pride, yet tinged with nostalgia, for many a student left the school portals never to return, lost in the labyrinth of life. These erstwhile Principals and students cherished the idea of forming an alumni association which might have perpetuated a life-long bond with outgoing legions of girls. Alas! No one got down to accomplishing anything. Genuine helplessness inundated the well- meaning aspirations that surfaced from time to time.
After the roaring success of the reunion of the Class of 1966, Sr. Pearl-Anne contemplated and mulled over ideas and views for months on end. She was nowhere near a solution until one day in June 2008 two ex-students, Anjali Heredia and Tanya Mascarenhas walked into her room and gave her what she was looking for – the assurance that
they would work with her to set up an alumni association. Another well-wisher came along in the form of Major Leon Fonseca, a stalwart of the St. Stanislaus Ex-Students’ Association (SSESA), who offered to guide the formation of the alumni association.
On July 19, 2008 the old school hall resounded with the steady murmur of happy excited voices of one hundred and seventy ex-students – from grey haired women in their sixties to trendy young damsels just out of school, not forgetting the ranks of the “in-between” age groups. There seemed to be a kindred spirit in the air despite the wide diversity of age. Needless to add, Sr. Pearl-Anne presided over this gathering with an alacrity born out of a sense of fulfilment. It took a brainstorming session of just twenty minutes and there emerged a wealth of robust ideas and plans for the association.
Ex-student, Rita Mascarenhas, lights the lamp after Sr. Pearl-Anne while Maryann Lobo Pereira (ex-student and then Asst. Teacher) and Teresa Sequeira (Ex-student and then Head Clerk) look on
Sr. Pearl-Anne greets the oldest ex-student present, Christobelle D'Souza Lobo
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The thrill of singing ‘A Happy Band’ is visible on every ex-student’s face
The alumni association, now formally known as Apostolic Carmel Alumni Bandra or ACAB pledged to provide a vibrant forum to establish a link between the School and the generations of students who had passed through its portals. They expressed the need to build a community of students and ex-students in which initiative, creativity and the involvement of all members would be valued.
The rst ever Reunion took place on December 27, 2008. It was a roaring success. Whether it was the six hundred strong high-spirited Carmelites straddling ve-and-a-half decades or the retired teaching sorority; there was delight, jubilation and gaiety writ large on everyone’s face that evening. Maria Mascarenhas Fermie in the 2008 – 09 edition of ‘Voice of Carmel’ reminisced, “To see each other after almost forty years seemed too good to be true. Before long we were engaged in intense conversation with each other, desperately trying to catch up, as if we would never meet again. Sitting together in such a familiar setting, reminiscing on the thousands of hours we spent together and the nostalgia of returning to where life for all of us began was indeed overwhelming.”
Logo of Apostolic Carmel Alumni Bandra. While the elements of the lamp, Cross and stars remained constant, the flame of the lamp was enlarged; instructing the Carmelite to continue to strive for excellence even after her school-days have ended. The alumni chose to adopt the School’s motto: God is my strength.
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Principal, Sr. Pearl-Anne with Manager, Sr. Thelma welcome the ex-students


The ‘Mistress of Ceremonies’, the School’s own Charmaine Vessoaker D’Lima, attempts to silence the throngs of excited girls so the Reunion could formally be declared open
Sr. Pearl-Anne with Chief Guests for the evening, Major Leon Fonseca and Mrs. Eulalie Fonseca. It was thanks to his guidance that the alumni association started out on a strong footing.
The excited ex-students singing ‘A Happy Band’. For some, it was after nearly fifty years but the lyrics were not forgotten
First Managing Committee Members
Member Batch
Ms. Alice D'Souza 1974 Ms. Anjali Heredia 1994 Ms. Chantal-Ann de Souza 1989 Ms. Christine Cardinho 1999 Ms. Edith D'Souza 1966 Ms. Jacqueline Tellis - Andrade 1994 Ms. Loretta Pereira 1974 Ms. Marina Dharmai 1971
Member Batch
Ms. Mildred Castelino 1966 Ms. Petra Fernandes 1982 Ms. Rachel Gonsalves 1969 Ms. Rochelle Vaz 1997 Ms.ShaliniMascarenhas 1992 Ms. Tanya Mascarenhas 1994 Ms. Teresa Sequeira 1969 Sr. Pearl-Anne A.C.
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The awardees of the Class of 2009 with Sr. Pearl-Anne. Fifteen awards were given out; from Miss Artistic and Miss Nightingale to Miss Generous and Miss Concerned. Only one student was conferred the title of Carmel Girl.
Carmel Girl
The farewell party held in January 2008 for the outgoing Std. X saw a twist to an old tradition. Started in March 1980 by Principal Sr. Astrid, the title of Carmel Queen was bestowed on three students (one from each division) displaying all-round excellence; not only in academics but also in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. Sr. Pearl-Anne and her teaching staff took the concept a step further. No longer was it necessary to crown three Carmel girls; instead, any students, who were the embodiment of any outstanding qualities, were suitably crowned that year. Thus, Miss Compassion, Miss Conscientious, Miss Magnanimous, Miss Resilient, Miss Voracious Reader, etc. came to be.
The awardees of the
Class of 2011 with
their Principal and
teachers. From left
to right: Tr. Anita
Frank, Tr. Saroja
Karanam, Carmel
Miss Dependable
Sonja Khot, Carmel Miss Serene Tasleem Sayed, Carmel Miss Optimistic Neha Kapadia, Carmel Miss Responsible Tejasvi Lad, Sr. Pearl-Anne, Carmel Girls – Ankita Bangui (X B), Nirmohi Puthedthmannil (X C), Antra Mathur (X A) and Tr. Mercy Isaac.
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Football
In November 2008, the School achieved yet another distinction in sport. Four students, all from the suburbs of Mumbai, were selected for the National under-seventeen football team. That all four were from the same school was indeed a matter of pride for all concerned especially their Principal, Sr. Pearl-Anne and Coach, Mr. Cosmas Vaz who had been coaching the team from its inception.
Cosmas ‘Cosy Sir’ Vaz with the four students chosen for the National team. Clockwise from left: Greeshma Shetty, Trishella Saldanha, Steffi Lewis and Cara D’Souza. In an interview with Westside Plus (a supplement of The Times of India) dated November 16, 2008, the youngest of the four, Steffi Lewis, aged thirteen, said, “It was the happiest moment of my life to have been chosen as I am the youngest in the team. There were one hundred and ten students from across the country competing and to be chosen from amongst them is an awesome feeling.”
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The School Band
Erstwhile Principals had all dreamed of having a School Band but it took the “never-say-die” resilience of Sr. Pearl-Anne to accomplish this feat. She enlisted the support of two bandmasters from Kerala, Mr. Raju and Mr. Paul, to begin serious and earnest training for the band. The two gentlemen went around the three divisions of Std. VI and picked out thirty students who would be part of the band for the next five years. What surprised everyone was the ease with which the two masters gelled with the students despite the language barriers. They knew only Malayalam! It was indeed encouraging and amusing to see Mr. Raju communicate in signs and gestures and a bit of Hindi and English which he had learnt.
Two months of intense hard work, persistence and regular hours of practice paid off when the band marched down resplendent in their sparkling uniforms to the rapturous applause of a very appreciative audience at the Annual Sports Day in 2008.
The unveiling of the School Band at a grand Annual Sports Day held on December 4, 2008
Manager, Sr. Thelma and the teachers are treated to a sneak preview of the band’s performance on Teacher’s Day – September 5, 2008
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Keeping Pace With Technology
Thanks to the initiative and vision of the Principal and the computer teachers, a new computer lab accommodating sixty computers was inaugurated in 2009. Member of Parliament Smt. Priya Dutt assisted in securing some of these computers and did the honours of inaugurating them on Children’s Day.
Ms. Priya Dutt inaugurates the new computers donated to the School under the aegis of the Nargis Dutt Memorial Charitable Trust
Come academic year 2012 – 13 and students were greeted with computers in every classroom. The School had invested in this technology through Educomp - an education solutions provider in a bid to make classroom teaching more engaging. It is a counterfoil to purely text-book based learning; the bug-bear of all S.S.C. schools.
Teacher training sessions in progress. The Educomp system allows the teachers to go beyond text-book based learning and upload relevant and interesting subject-based information sourced mainly from the Internet.
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The Four Houses Are Dedicated to Saints
In 2009, the Saints returned to the portals of Apostolic Carmel High School after forty years. The four houses were re- named St. Agnes (red), St. Alphonsa (green), St. Thérèse of Lisieux (yellow) and St. Joan of Arc (Blue). After initially resisting this change, the students and teachers now enthusiastically celebrate each Saint’s Feast Day with a General Assembly and chocolates distributed to one and all.
St. Alphonsa House was the first to celebrate its patron saint’s feast on July 28, 2009. St. Alphonsa, a Syro-Malabar Catholic Franciscan nun, known for joy despite her suffering, was the first native Indian to be canonised in 2008.
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