March News letter Writeup

Every Leaf of Green

CELEBRATING 175 YEARS OF LORETO EDUCATION FOR GIRLS IN SOUTH ASIA

It was the thirtieth of December, Two Thousand and Sixteen when the inaugural celebrations to commemorate 175 years of the founding of Loreto education in South Asia brought together four hundred students from schools across the country for a creative dramatized presentation of the glorious history of the institution that has been the hallmark of quality and inclusive education of women.

Under the guidance of Sr. Anita Braganza, IBVM , Province Leader of South Asia and Sr. Beatrice, IBVM, was nurtured the concept of a collaborative endeavour where participation by all Loreto schools of the South Asian region in a single event would mark the 175th anniversary of the arrival of Mother Delphine Hart in Kolkata. Eleven pioneering sisters had sailed from Ireland bearing within them the spirit of the founder of the IBVM, The Venerable Mary Ward , with the objective of providing quality education to girls for to create women, who would, in times to come, do much. With distinguished service to the cause of education and empowerment of women that commenced in 1841 in Kolkata and presently spans the regions of Ranchi, Darjeeling, Shillong, Asansol, Lucknow, Shimla, Delhi, Nepal and Bangladesh, the Sisters bore hardship and faced innumerable challenges in the course of reaching out to innumerable families, touching lives and effecting enduring transformation. As a dedication to the sacrifice and dauntless spirit of the legendary women who have created the unparalleled educational heritage of Loreto, emerged the theme of Every Leaf of Green.

In Every Leaf of Green the story of our great heritage unfurls, intertwined with the lives of Amy and Ira who meet at boarding school in Darjeeling and their journey through life as the daughters of Mary Ward. Across the cities where Loreto has been a second home to many aspiring young girls, their paths diverge and meet again in the tale where there is both reminiscence and learning of life’s lessons. As we flow across centuries, strengthened by Loreto values that survive the test of time, we trace the vision of Mary Ward, the commitment of Mother Teresa Ball and the faithfulness of Mother Delphine Hart in three essential segments interwoven into the play. Glimpses of Mary Ward’s journey across the Alps to the shrine of Loreto, Teresa Ball’s Ireland and Delphine Hart’s arrival at Kolkata provide the essential connect with our founders and the principles to which we remain dedicated.

Through music, dance and choreography the audience is taken on this journey of accomplishments and gently brought to the realization of how Loreto has built a strong edifice in South Asia to help create compassionate, empathetic and dauntless individuals, who set out to make the world a better place with the ideals of our founders - Sincerity, Verity, Freedom and Joy.

The motif of Every Leaf of Green, connotative in the melodious rendering of the Sanskrit shlok by the students of Loreto College, marked the commencement of the cultural programme.

च्छायामन्यस्य कुर्वन्ति तिष्ठन्ति स्वयमातपे ।
फलान्यापि परार्थाय वृक्षाः सत्पुरुषाः इव ॥

The shlok translates into:

"Trees give shade to others while they bear the rigours of standing in the Sun themselves. The fruit of the trees is also for other people. Righteous people endure asperity, just as trees do, for the welfare of others."

Loreto House, the wellspring of virtuosity, held the audience in a thrall with the narrative of the three founders , sketching their indelible impression upon the shaping of a dream.

The characters of the story took us through Ranchi, where the theme of Faith, embodied in the Sadri song.

Khobrarna, was performed using traditional instruments as accompaniment and the dance elegantly choreographed in the traditional style to bring to the fore the significance of palm leaves; Darjeeling, where the students dance to an original composition of the endearing Don’t send me to school, Mum and the small children from Lolay, Darjeeling,Panighatta and Sadam stole hearts with their Nepali version of On this school your blessing, Lord; Shillong, where the students performed the tribal Shad Shuk resplendent in the yellow and red attire appropriate to the harvest song; Asansol, where the students danced to the lilting It is no secret what God can do; Shimla, where the students of Tara Hall performed the thrilling Irish tap dance; Lucknow, where the students of St Agnes Loreto Day School, Loreto Intermediate College, Pushpa and Jagriti schools performed the classic kathak to the bhajan Tu hi Ram hai in aesthetic pastel shades of chikankari to perfection; Delhi, where children performed to Every Mother’s Prayer and the soulful As we gather on this morn was rendered; Kolkata, where the students of Elliot Road performed to the original composition of Kololini Kolkata in an enchanting whirl of red and gold, the students of Sealdah performed Come as you are - depicting with great sensitivity the work of Sister Cyril in the opening of Rainbow Home; the children from Dharamtala performed a mesmerizing With you I shall go; the students of Bowbazaar, bedazzling in green and gold symbolic of the institution as a tree and every leaf of green were breathtaking in their performance that brought forth the message of The Power of One and to ‘Remember, Renew, Re-image’. The mellifluous strains of Cruci Dum Spiro Fido sung by the students of Loreto, Entally raised the ambient emotions and provided the ideal moment for the arrival of the pioneering sisters led by Mother Delphine Hart in the epilogue for this is where it all began – on the 30th of December 1841.

The 16 little women actors of Delhi shone bright and achieved several firsts. The first to travel to Kolkata, perform at the prestigious Science City Auditorium and to perform multiple roles with aplomb. The youngest actor at 7 years and the eldest at 17 switched from one part to another with ease – a feat not easy by any standards. The depth they rendered in each role they portrayed, the learning of different dialogues, changes of costume, handling of microphones, training for speech in different voices and devoting themselves to the part and giving adequate space to those they shared the stage with. That’s a lot notched up on the actors’ scorecard! We are proud of each one:

S.No	Name	Class	Role 1	Role 2	Role 3	Role 4	Role 5	Role 6
1	Srishti	II A	Flower seller child	Daughter in Delhi
2	Urna Mitra Bhatnagar	II A	Little Amy	Mandy
3	Sheryll Singh	V C	Diya in Ranchi	Ira in Darjeeling	Student1 in Shillong	Vidya in Delhi
4	Anushruti Rawat	V B	Amy in Ranchi	Amy in Darjeeling	Maya in Delhi
5	Michelle Weikevi	VII A	Palki bearer Darjeeling	Child in Shillong& Asansol	Teacher in Lucknow
6	Anmol Raman	VII C	Amy senior	Mary Ward
7	Aashi Singh	VII B	Palki-bearer in Darjeeling	lady1 in Asansol	Teacher in Lucknow	Mother in Delhi
8	Kalyani Nambiar	VIII A	Sheila in Ranchi	Teacher in Shillong	lady2 in Asansol	Teacher in Lucknow
9	Gauri Sharma	VIII A	Aunt Emma
10	Anvita Patra	IX B	Pali in Ranchi	Chaplain in Darjeeling	Student1 in Shimla	Rani's mother in Delhi
11	Tarangini Bhalla	IX B	Mala in Ranchi	Mr. Barnes in Darjeeling	Man in Shillong& Asansol	Student 3 in Shimla	Teacher in Lucknow	Teacher in Delhi
12	Rewa Bhagat	XI C	Judge Loughnon	Man in Shillong & Asansol	Student in Shimla	Shop keeper in Lucknow	Grand mother in Delhi
13	Madonna	XI C	Sue	Amy senior
14	Muskaan Singh	XI C	Alan in Ranchi	Ira in Darjeeling & Shillong	Chef in Shimla	Ira in Kolkata
15	Angela Peter	XI C	Bishop Carew in Darjeeling	Editor in Shillong	Sister in Lucknow	Vidya's mother in Delhi
16	Teena Benjamin	XII B	Solo	Every Mother’s Prayer	As we gather

Every Leaf of Green is about thinking, feeling and dreaming a little more about what our institution stands for. Certainly, children view themselves in a new light. In this new real, may they be able to grow and give of themselves to all they undertake and for the transformation they have effected in themselves and others.

Bringing laurels to the school are the multi-faceted teachers who commendably provided their special touches to this production with loving care. Mr. Ashish directed the music for all 21 tracks, composed the music for two original numbers, sang and recorded the songs and with the additional recording of the introductory verses for the scenes, totted up a record of sorts. A mini recording studio was created in the Activity Hall from where strains of music emanated mingled with the sounds of children’s laughter - a delightful memory of the year gone by.

with the sounds of children’s laughter - a delightful memory of the year gone by. Ms. Kar directed the dances for all the participating schools providing the valuable expertise of her unique blend of the creative and the classical which always makes each performance distinct and charming. Ms. Kar also sang and recorded a bhajan in her dulcet, gentle voice with the bols she devised for the classical kathak performance by the students from Lucknow.

Ms. Priya extended herself over her duties as Coordinator in in curating over 125 slides that brought the production to life, giving it a distinct depth and added dimension. The largest ever repertoire created for a home concert, there is something to be said about the technical expertise of bringing several pictures to merge to create just the right feel as was done for creating the shrine of Loreto. Light design and operation of the snow machine was also in Ms. Priya’s charge. We are grateful to Sr. Elizabeth Cotter, IBVM for connecting us with Aine McHugh and Sr. Kathleen at the Loreto Archives in Ireland who were gracious in their assistance in providing us with rare photographs and video clips of our deep history.

Voluntary assistance came from Ms. Agarwal and Ms. Risa who compiled an elaborate list of props for which Loreto, Dharamtala stepped in with Ms. Ganguly and her team of teachers, 7 students and domestic staff, who provided back-stage support. At Loreto there is an ethos of respect for performance - both on the stage and behind the scenes. The students who helped with the props were also given an opportunity to come onto the stage as part of the scenes being performed. We continue to endeavour so that backstage help is accorded the respect it truly deserves.

Ms. Manchanda very kindly trained students for the Hindi segment; Ms. Jamesina enthusiastically marshaled the students to better pronunciation; Ms. Alice Rai kindly lent her voice to the songs that were recorded and sent for rehearsal purposes; Ms. Jaggi provided valuable guidance for costumes and her flair for colour and style helped enhance the stage presence of the little women actors. Her personal touch in creating a ‘look’ for each character encouraged the children to better step into their parts. Hand-crafting the pièce de résistance - a bracelet that bore three green stones generously donated by Ms. Agarwal in the shape of a shamrock - Mrs. Jaggi truly created an heirloom as was meant to be in the play.

The leaves of the shamrock bear with love our Irish heritage to the present day.

Every Leaf of Green was gently enriched by the guidance of Sr. Anita, Sr. Beatrice, Sr. Mercia, Ms. Kaveri Dutt and Ms. Gouri Basu providing the much-needed support to this epic stage journey which has a special sanctity. Their warmth, grace and wisdom flowed immeasurably making this event memorable.

A moment of euphoria for the alumnae brightened the day when special guest Mr. Derek O’Brien felicitated the alumnae for being there to strengthen their alma mater. He described the presence of alumnae at the commemorative event as a strong measure of the success of the institute. The Loreto Alumnae Association of Delhi (LAA Delhi) designed special cards for the conflux of all Loreto schools in Every Leaf of Green and gifted these charming mementos to the special invitees and the Sisters.

With gratitude to parents and all well-wishers for their unstinted support to this immense production, there is also pride for all members of the Loreto Delhi family in the privilege accorded to Loreto Delhi for coordinating this uniquely significant event. That which shall always be cherished is the creation of a circle of love with our wonderful students and esteemed members of the faculty. Ms. Vandana Grover (Every Leaf of Green: Script, Direction and co-ordination with schools)

The bright Saturday morning of 3 December 2016 witnessed a large crowd at the annual Loreto Carnival, ‘Loreto Fiesta 2016’. Over 40 stalls displaying SUPW items, games, food, rides etc. offered a great draw for students and their kith and kin. The games stalls were a great attraction and kept all the visitors engaged. Food stalls offered a variety of cuisine. The fete also had rides like Columbus, Break Dance, and Solumbo. SUPW items made by the students were well appreciated. The Treasure Trove Stall and the Christmas cake stall saw many footfalls. Even the Alumnae Association displayed and sold tee shirts and other paraphernalia. The Request stall and Jam Session added music and rhythm to the day.

Loreto Alumnae Association organized a reunion meet on 6 November 2016 in the school premises. The president of the association Sr. Mercia welcomed all present and spoke about the 175 years of Loreto presence in India. The music by Mr. Ashish and the Décor by "Paint My City Purple” added the perfect ambience to the theme of the evening, Retro-Hollywood/ Bollywood. Moreover, Stalls like “Kala Chowk” for ethnic jewellery, “Indian Art House” for home décor and “Lakme” for retro makeover saw many footfalls.

The stalls by “Ektara” and the NGO “Inspirations” had crocheted soft toys made by under privileged women and items made by mentally challenged children respectively. The refreshments for the evening were arranged through “Chayos”.

"MAG Initiatives”, a startup with seed funding from “DU” had their mathematical games and cards on display while the stall by “The Story Tellers” showcased their dolls and invited the people to share their stories for character design work shop.

This event became a means of a great connect with many past pupils thereby making the walk "Down the Memory Lane" a dream come true.

Students of class XII accompanied by their respective class teachers, Mrs. Jyoti Johri, Mrs. M. Alimchandani and Mrs. Bindu Jaggi undertook an educational trip to the city of lakes, Udaipur from 30 September to 03 October 2016.

They were exposed the rich historical and architectural grandeur at the City Palace, while the visit to Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal offered them a peep into the vibrant cultural heritage of the state. The students also explored the myriad flora and fauna of Rajasthan during their tour of the Sajjangarh Biological Park.

On 25 November 2016, twenty two students from classes V to XI visited the Yamuna Biodiversity Park at Wazirabad, Delhi. The park is spread over 457 acres of land on the Yamuna river bed. It is the first local government initiative in the world with the sustained efforts of scientific experts to be developed into a fully functional Nature Reserve on a once barren urban landscape.

The trip organized under the aegis of JPIC aimed to sensitize the students towards the recreation and preservation of the natural heritage and re-establishment of the life supporting landforms in Delhi.

The Yamuna Biodiversity Park conserves a wide variety of medicinal plants, butterflies and fruit plants. Its rich ecological nature attract a wide range of animal species enabling them to build viable population. The wet lands created in the park attract thousands of migratory ducks from Siberia, Central Asia, Europe and China in winters besides many resident birds.

On 1 December 2016, Psychology students of class XII C visited AADI (ACTION FOR ABILITY DEVELOPMENT AND INCLUSION) at Hauz Khas along with their Psychology teacher, Ms. Malti Naidu with a view to gain a practical understanding about concepts they have thus far studied about in their text book.

The students were engaged in a number of activities with disabled children as their group members. These helped them acknowledge that despite the challenges in motor coordination and physiological parity like Cerebral Palsy which a few inmates suffered from; their aspirations remain the same as those of healthy individuals.

A short documentary was also screened to acquaint the students with the objectives and endeavours of the organization.

Students brought with them poignant leanings about the edifice on which their own life stands.

The Walsh House week was celebrated from 26 to 28 October 2016. The Students of Walsh House celebrated the life and endeavors of their founder Mother Agnes Walsh through an enactment and a dance presented by the junior school students in their assembly conducted on 27 October 2016. Sr. Mercia too shared some of her recollections about her own interaction with Mother Agnes Walsh with the students.

A variety of activities like Story Telling, using masks and hand puppets, flower making and collage making were conducted for the students of the Junior School.

The winners of the various competitions organized for the Middle and Senior school were announced on 03 November 2016

Class	Group	Individual
V	V B	Manasa (V B) Hart House
VI	VI C	Praayashi (VI C) Walsh House
VII	VII C	Anmol Raman(VII C) Hart House

Inter-class Recitation Competition for classes V-VII : Theme- Inspirations from Nature
Inter- House Rangoli –Verse Competition
Theme- Girl Child ‘Ek Astitva Ek Kahani’
Best Team- Class VIII C
Inter- House Group Discussion ( Classes IX -X):
Theme- Prevention of Food Wastage
Best Team- Hart House
Inter- House Debate Competition (Classes XI and XII )
Theme -‘The Modern Indian Woman is still in Chains.’

Best Speaker for the motion	Akanksha Jha (Ward House)
Best Speaker against the motion	Kanika Mitharwal ( Walsh House)
Best Team	Ball House: Nirosha Tomy, Blessy Varghese, Avani Tripathi

19 November 2016 was celebrated as the Support Staff Day to honour the contribution of the school Domestic Staff. The day also marked the superannuation of Mr. Mangal Singh, who retired after almost four decades of service and whose family was also invited for this momentous milestone in his life.

A special prayer assembly was organized under the aegis of LTS, followed by an enthralling entertainment programme with a dance medley by the Junior school students, a short humorous play in Hindi and a song and dance medley by a combined team of Junior and Middle School students.

Each member of the support staff was felicitated with cash gifts and a handmade card as a token of appreciation and gratitude from the school management. Mr. Mangal was greeted with handmade cards and flowers by students from all classes, besides a token amount presented to him in cash by the principal, Sr. Mercia. His colleagues garlanded him and led him out with great fanfare. After refreshments, the movie ‘Dhoni’ was screened for the support staff members .The day culminated with students of all classes cleaning their respective classrooms thereby giving them a break from their daily schedule.

The school staff and students bid farewell to Mrs. Vijaya Chatterjee in a special assembly organized on 02 March 2017. She is proceeding on superannuation after 21 years of dedicated service as a Science teacher in Middle School.

The students from classes V to XI expressed gratitude to the Almighty for the gift of Mrs. Chatterjee and her immense contribution to the school over the years. Student representatives from each class shared their reminiscences about the tutelage and unique qualities of Mrs. Chatterjee .They presented her with handmade flowers and cards as tokens of appreciation.

The Principal, Sr. Mercia, acknowledged, with sincere and heartfelt gratitude, the selfless service rendered by Mrs. Chatterjee to the institution. An overwhelmed Mrs. Chatterjee said that she felt lucky to be a part of this esteemed institution and motivated the students to always put their best efforts in all their endeavours.

On 11 November, the students of the Junior school were in for a pleasant surprise when their teachers put up an assembly to mark the ‘Children’s Day’. Their deliberately unsynchronized moves while performing PE drill and the reprimands for their misplaced mannerisms greatly amused their students. The teachers also put up a ‘Nukkad Natak’ on this occasion to reiterate the ill effects of television and junk food. An impressive medley of popular songs by the teachers left the students enthralled. Sr. Mercia lauded the efforts of the teachers and encouraged the children to focus on acquiring healthy habits.

The staff of the Middle and Senior School organized a special prayer assembly for their students on 15 November 2016 seeking Almighty’s grace on their students. The mellifluous rendition of the popular number of Zara Larson and David Guetta “This one’s for you” by the teachers had the students applauding in appreciation.

Students and staff members of Classes I- IV and V - XI took a break from the mundane school routine with a picnic at the Eco Adventure Park in Najafgarh on 15 November and 21 November 2016 respectively. The venue offered adventure activities like Commando Crawl, Rappelling, Rock Climbing, Flying Fox, Obstacle Course etc which were performed under the supervision of the trained staff at the adventure park. The day long outing offered sumptuous meals besides rides on the tractor, bullock cart and the camel cart. Students also enjoyed the rural chores like the potter’s wheel, spinning wheel and churning butter among other activities. The picnic offered a great opportunity and indulgence for more bonding among students and staff.

30 January commemorates our founder Mother Mary Ward and is celebrated as Loreto Day worldwide to mark the birth of Loreto Schools across the globe. At Loreto Convent School, Delhi celebrations began with a special prayer service to highlight her exemplary life. After the assembly, Sr. Mercia addressed the students and urged them to imbibe and exude the values that Loreto epitomizes. Various activities were conducted at the Junior, Middle and Senior School to mark this occasion.

The teachers of the Junior School organized a Mini Fete for their students where they put up food and game stalls with attractive gifts and prizes. A special "Loreto Delhi" cake was cut by Sr. Sanjyoti as the students sang the song “Happy Feast”. It was then followed by a day filled with fun and frolic. Sweets were also distributed among the Junior School students.

An Elocution Competition was organized for the students of class IX where a team of three students from each section spoke on the topic ‘My vision of Loreto at 200 in 2041’. In response to the ‘One Billion Rising Revolution’, the students of Class XI, in teams, created paintings to depict women empowerment. Such opportunities stimulate the students’ thinking and help create a collective consciousness inspiring students to become instruments of change.

The Ward House celebrations commenced with a presentation on the life of Mary Ward put up by the students of the Junior school during their assembly. Students from classes Prep to IV recited her maxims in unison and a short quiz was conducted subsequently to ascertain their recall and assimilation. Interactive activities like colouring, photo-frame making, essay writing and collage making on the maxims of Mary Ward were also conducted.

A special assembly to celebrate the life and vision of their founder , Mother Mary Ward was conducted by the Ward House students from the Senior school A short movie ‘Nurturing to freedom’ which traced 175 years of Loreto presence in South Asia was screened for students of classes V to XII.

A quiz based on inputs from the content in the school diary, the biography of Mary Ward and the movie screened a day prior was conducted for students of classes V to XI. It was pitched at two levels, the Middle School and Senior School respectively. Class assemblies conducted on 24 and 27 January 2017 were also planned to endorse two of Mother Mary Ward’s maxims.

In the following week, various Inter-House competitions were organized for the Middle, Senior and Senior Secondary School. The week culminated on 31 January 2017 with the announcement of results for the various Inter-House competitions conducted during the week.

Inter- House Collage Making Competition (Classes V-VII): Theme- Maxims of Mary Ward

Position	House	Participants
First	VI B (Ward House)	Diya, Dolly, Druhi, Khushboo Aastha, Kairya
Second	VII C (Ward House)	Akshpreet, Navya , Amrit, Ishita, Megha, Devanshi
Third	VII B (Walsh House)	Harneer, Taveesha, Poorvika, Rakshita, Ayesha, Sakshi

Inter- House Street Play Competition (Classes VIII- X) : Theme- Nari abla nahi, sabla Best Performance- Ball House and Hart House

On the Spot Power Point Presentation Making Competition (Class XI) Theme- 175 years of Loreto presence in India

Position	House	Participants
First	Ball	Nancy, Rewa and Anisha
Second	Hart	Saundarya, Vedika and Kalash
Third	Ward	Sharon, Carol and Evelyn

A special prayer service was conducted on 25 Jan 2017 to mark the Republic Day .The choir expressed gratitude to the Lord by singing a special hymn ‘O God our help in ages past’. In her address, the principal, Sr. Mercia, reiterated the need for all students to recommit themselves to the service of the nation. She also applauded the daring feat of two Loreto students from Darjeeling who have received the Geeta Chopra Bravery Award from the Prime Minister on Republic Day this year. They foiled the attempts of a gang at human trafficking. She implored the students to emulate and imbibe the values of integrity and courage. The programme culminated with the National Anthem.

Sr. Mercia and Community invited all staff members with their spouses to a social evening on 28 January 2017. The Mary Ward Auditorium was the venue for this joyous celebration of 175 years of Loreto presence in India. In her welcome address, Sr. Mercia thanked the faculty members for all their endeavours and contribution to the school and also their counterparts for their unconditional support in enabling them to do so. The evening was very engaging with games, special performances and a jam session which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Community of Loreto sisters too had planned surprise prizes for those seated on the ‘Lucky Chair’. The guests proceeded for a sumptuous dinner in the Open Hall and appreciated the warm hospitality offered by Sr. Mercia and Community.

The National Mathematics Day was celebrated on 22 December 2016. The celebrations commenced with a prayer service which was followed by a number dance by students of classes III and IV. A skit “Powerful Magic moves of Numbers” based on the invention of the game of Chess by the Indian sage named Sissa was staged by the Senior school students. Tushita Jaiswal of IX- C recited the value of Pi up to hundred places of decimal from her memory. On this occasion, Sr. Mercia inaugurated the School Math Lab where the project works attempted by the Middle and Senior school students were on display.

The Junior School Sports Day held on 18 February 2017 was a celebration of the spirit of sport and a display of teamwork and skill. Col (Dr) Sonali Verma, an alumna of Loreto Convent Delhi, who was the Head Girl of the Batch of 1986-87, graced the event with her presence. She also has the unique distinction of being the first lady sky diver and the third lady paratrooper of the Indian Army.

Our principal, Sr. Mercia and the Chief Guest declared the meet open with the release of balloons, symbolic of joie the vivre.. The event commenced with the young student leaders taking an oath to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play intrinsic to the event. The well coordinated mass drills like the Parachute drill, Spectrum of Colours ,Fan drill and Pack the Punch were performed with panache by the students of various classes adding a lot of colour and rhythm to the event.

The tiny tots of class Prep won the hearts of the audience with their yoga performance, done to perfection, as they brought alive the story of the ‘Hungry Caterpillar’ through their asanas. The drills were interspersed with Inter-House Relays and innovative races which brought a smile to the audience and had them applauding for the participants.

The call to invite parents for a race saw an overwhelming response .The Countries Race tested both the speed and recall of Social Science lessons for the parents and had them chasing the finish line holding aloft flags of countries, amidst loud cheers from their wards.

The chief guest Col (Dr) Sonali Verma appreciated the programme and lauded the relentless efforts of the students and teachers which were evident in the exemplary performance put up by the children. The winners of the various races were felicitated with medals and certificates.

A special assembly on " No Food Wastage Day" was conducted on 20 October 2016 by the students of class I. The important message of not to waste food at home or during any outing was conveyed through a short skit.

Ayesha Malik of class IV B won the First Prize at the Aloysius Inter School English Recitation Competition organized by Mount St. Mary's School, Delhi Cantt. on 5 November 2016

An Inter- House "Space Quiz" was conducted on 22 December 2016 for students of class IV, offering a great opportunity and exposure for all present, to the fascinating world of space. The teams were tested for their knowledge of the Universe, the Solar System, famous Astronauts, Space Research and various space missions. The Team from Walsh house emerged as the winners of this competition.

The new school auditorium, christened as the Mary Ward Auditorium was the venue for the Annual Christmas programme which was held on Sunday, 18 December 2016 for the Christian students and their parents.

The programme commenced with the blessing of the auditorium followed by the celebration of Holy Eucharist by His Grace Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, Fr A.David, Secretary to the Bishop and Fr.Arnold David, Parish Priest of St.Paul’s Church, Delhi Cantt.

The Principal, Sr. Mercia welcomed the parents and acquainted them with the commencement of the celebrations to mark 175 years of Loreto presence in India .The Nativity play staged by the students of the Junior School brought out the true meaning of Christmas that of Sharing , reaching out to the poor and educating the less fortunate. It also traced the contribution of Loreto Sisters in the field of education and the yeoman service rendered by them to the poor and the needy .The students of the Middle School were the choir to the play.

Ms. A. D’Lima presented a report on the Catechetical Activities of the Academic year 2016-17.The toppers of the Diocesan Level Bible Quiz were felicitated by the Bishop .Mr. Philip Abraham proposed the vote of thanks on behalf of the parents. Students of the senior school created a perfect ambience with the melodious rendition of Christmas carols as refreshments were served for the guests in the Open Hall.

On 01 October, on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, the students of the Junior School recalled and reaffirmed his contribution through an enactment of landmark moments of his life and the Indian freedom struggle. A student dressed as the iconic leader reiterated the message of peace and non violence. Students of class V also visited Gandhi Smriti on 20 October 2016. It was here that Gandhi ji had spent the last 144 days of his life before being assassinated on 30 January 1948.

The Archdiocese of Delhi conducted a group singing competition on 21 October 2016, Friday at Vishwas Kiran Catechetical Center and the school team comprising of students of classes II- V, Magdalene L Lhou, Catherine C Khongsai, Dawn Maria Everson, Nilofer, Aleena Alex, Rachel Singh, Zen Thian, Angela Domingo, Catherine Seinnunne Haokip, Stuti Jadam, Ngaimunhoih and Eanna Johnson secured the Second position.

The Junior School bid adieu to the students of Class IV, who now step into the Middle School, by holding a Prayer Service for them. Sr. Mercia encouraged the young graduates of Class IV to always uphold the values which they imbibed in the Junior School.

Sr. Mercia and the teachers of the Junior School blessed the students as they continue their school journey in the Middle School. The program culminated with a rendition of a melodious song by students of Class III .

On 16 March 2017, the students of class IV organized a solemn prayer service to thank God for the abundant opportunities and blessings bestowed upon them during the last academic year.

Sr. Mercia in her address encouraged them to continue to work hard and strive to do their best in the coming year. She also gave away the Overall trophy for the Best House to Hart House amidst jubilation by the students and housemistresses of the winning house. The trophy for the most immaculate class was jointly shared by classes I A and III B. The latter also bagged the trophy for the class in the most impeccable uniform through the year.

The assembly concluded with the students singing the hymn ‘Carry your candle’ as they now move to the Middle school.

The outgoing batch of 2016-17 was bid farewell by the students of class XI in a solemn Farewell Assembly organized on 2 February in the Mary Ward Auditorium. Thereafter, the Student Council members handed back their badges and house flags to Sr. Mercia.

In an Awards Ceremony that followed, the trophy for the Best House in Sports was bagged by the Ward House and the trophy for the overall Best House was claimed by the Ball House. Thereafter, the student representatives of the passing out batch shared vignettes of their school days and thanked their Alma Mater and teachers for mentoring and nurturing them during their school years.

Later, in a poignant Candle Light Ceremony Sr Mercia and the teachers of the Senior Secondary School imparted valuable lessons for life to the students of Class XII who now stand poised to embark upon a new phase of their lives. The outgoing batch passed on the light of their candles and with it symbolically the onus of responsibility to uphold the Loreto values to the students of class XI, amidst the rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

Finally the students of class XII bid adieu to their school life amidst much cheer and celebrations that marked the farewell social organized by the students of class XI on 4 February 2017. The energetic performances and games followed by a sumptuous lunch made for a perfect finale.

A ‘Social’ was hosted by Loreto Convent School for its students of Class XII with the young gentlemen of St. Columbas School on 26 November 2016. The event was graced by the principal of St Columbas, Br. Miranda and faculty members of the Senior Secondary School. It provided an opportunity to the students for sharing bonhomie as they interacted over games and fun activities. The dance floor saw great dance moves and the students grooved to popular chartbusters. It was certainly a memorable day for students of both schools in their last year of school life.

On 18 October 2016, the students of class IX participated in the 'Drum out Poverty' campaign at the Children's Museum which was organized under the aegis of Nine Is Mine. The endeavour aimed at fielding for the cause of sanitation and healthcare facilities in the rural and slum areas.

The event sensitized the participating students to the plight of innumerable children from the rural areas and slums who were denied basic human amenities and education. The performances by the marginalized children at drums, uni-cycling and juggling were inspiring for all those who attended the event which culminated with the rendition of the National Anthem in sign language.

The Counseling and Guidance Cell invited Ms. Chitwan Singh and Ms. Geetika Virdi, Counseling psychologists with Fortis Hospitals for interactive sessions with students of class XII and their parents respectively. Conducted on 15 October 2016, the sessions primed students on techniques to prepare for exams and parents to be facilitators in their efforts.

The students of classes IX –XII and the staff were privileged to interact with Sr. Elizabeth from IBVM, Ireland on 18 October 2016. She spoke about the personal challenges and charitable ideals of Mother Mary Ward, the founder of IBVM for whose canonization she is proactively crusading across the world.

On 9 November 2016, a workshop was organized in collaboration with experts from Fortis health for the entire staff of Loreto Convent School. The resource person, Ms. Mihika Mehrotra and Ms. Geetika Virdi, both psychologists with Fortis Health acquainted the teachers with the giveaway behavioral patterns of students with learning disabilities that would help identify them in their classes. Children with Learning Difficulties and common behavioral issues such as Oppositional Defiant Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD and conduct issues such as bullying etc were also discussed. The teachers were appraised about their role in the whole process of identification of symptoms and further referral to the school counselors. Based upon case discussions, few strategies to handle these issues in the class room setting were also discussed.

On 01 October 2016, Ms. Leena Job Mathew and Ms. Purnima Bhatti attended a workshop on" Methodology of teaching Mathematics for Classes XI and XII conducted at Pragati Public School, Dwarka.

The following Teachers of Senior School attended CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOPS organized by the CBSE at various levels at their Centre of Excellence, Gurugram.

Name	Dates	Subject
1. Ms. SeemaVats	25– 26 October 2016	Strategy for improving classroom transitions and learning styles of the students
2. Ms. Bindu Jaggi	10-11 November 2016	Enhancing Core Skills for English (Core) for classes XI - XII.
3. Ms. Sheela Jamesina	16-17 November 2016	Evaluation criteria and performance descriptors of the speaking and listening tests (ASL) for Classes IX-XII
4. Mrs. Ratna Ranjan	17 - 18 January 2017	Capacity Building Programme on teaching Mathematics to IX - X

CBSE NATIONAL AEROBICS CHAMPIONSHIP
Name of Students	Medal Won	Category
Natasha Chacko, Vedika Bhardwaj and Yashika Agase	Gold	4 X 100 mt Relay
Deepali Gandotra	Silver	100 and 200 mt
Teena Sangwan	Bronze	Discuss Throw

CLASS	NAME OF STUDENT	POSITION
VI	Alicia Elizabeth John	I
IX	Remya Saji	I
X	Rebecca Jose	III
XI	Maria Saji	I
XI	Angel Susan John	II
XII	Shilpa Mary Abraham	I
XII	Teena Benjamin	II