The 8th All Goa Inter-Higher Secondary English Elocution Competition was organized by St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, Aldona on 30th September, 2023. It was held on the occasion of the Founder’s Day commemorating the 61st Death Anniversary of Fr. Peter Mermier who is the founder of the Missionaries of St. Francis the Sales, the congregation that manages the St. Thomas Educational Complex.
In total Twenty-one higher secondary schools participated in the competition, the topics for which were: ‘AI or Human Intelligence: The Future of Mankind’ and ‘Mhadei: The Lifeline of Goa’. Fr. Johnson Gonsalves, the Provincial of the MSFS Pune Province, was the Chief Guest, while Mr. Nicholas D’souza, Ms. Sarita D’souza and Mr. Agnelo Pereira were the judges for the competition. The following students were declared as winners: 1st Place – Aarya Da Costa, Kings School, Margao; 2nd Place – Joneza Pinto, Harmal Panchakroshi HSS and Institute of Vocational Studies, Pernem; 3rd Place – Oren Pacheco, Rosary HSS, Navelim; 1st Consolation – Muskan Chapparband, Dnyanprakash Mandal Bicholim HSS, Mulgao; 2nd Consolation – Puneet Manohar Talawanekar, Govt. HSS., Pernem. Cash Prizes, trophies and certificates were awarded to the winners.
On the occasion a prayer Service and a presentation on the Founder Fr. Peter Merry Mermier was presented by the students.A special dance performance by the students of the host school highlighted the virtues of the founder. The Chief Guest in his address elucidated on Fr. Mermier’s quote, “The Education of the Heart is the Heart of Education.” The Manager Fr. Jerard Sahayaraj welcomed the gathering; the Principal Ms. Angelica Fernandes declared the results; while senior faculty member Tr. Amarnath Panjikar proposed the vote of thanks. The programme concluded with the melodious singing of the school anthem.
