St Clare School Akuluto in CEDOK Inter School Competitions at HOLY
CROSS, Dimapur & Visit to HISTORICAL PLACES
St Clare School participated in Inter school competitions conducted by
the Commission for Education, Diocese of Kohima (CEDOK) under the
leadership of Fr Jacob Charalel Secretary of CEDOK. Most Rev. Dr. James
Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima and Shri Charles Nosazol, State Information
Commissioner, Nagaland, were Special guests for the day. 500 students
from 38 Catholic Schools participated in the two days event held at Holy
Cross Hr. Sec. School, Dimapur from 11 to 12 October 2023. The
participants were divided into categories of Juniors (Classes 5-7),
Intermediates (Classes 8-10) and Seniors (Classes 11-12). All three
categories competed in Solo, Duet and Drawing, besides the juniors in
Story Telling, Intermediates in Prepared Speech, Seniors in Extempore
Speech and open to all Fancy Dress. The competitions, besides providing
opportunities for students to compete with their counterparts from all
over the state, facilitated interaction with each other from all regions
of the state to enrich themselves with new experiences, knowing each
other and making friends from across the state. The children, especially
from Eastern Nagaland were very excited and enthusiastic in
participating in the events, as it gave them wonderful experience coming
to Dimapur and seeing the progress taking place in the state. Though
they had to spend long hours on road, some of them even up to 16 hours,
to reach the venue, it did not dampen their spirit.
Speaking on the occasion, Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima
reminded the students that the competitions are held to provide them
opportunities to come together, know each other, learn from each other
and grow together to build up unity among various tribes of Nagaland. As
children are present from urban and rural, rich and poor backgrounds, he
told the children that the wealth of the world is sufficient for the
need of all but not for the greed of all. Hence, they should learn to
share with each other to build up an equalitarian society. He also
hailed the role of teachers in sacrificing their own comforts to build
up a progressive society. Shri. Charles Nosazol, State Information
Commissioner, in his message, exhorted the students to grab every
opportunity given to them, especially events like inter school
competitions, and learn something useful and meaningful for their life.
He asked the students to work hard since very often; hard work bears
better result and success than the talents. He described teachers as
diagnosticians of children to diagnose the abilities in them to nurture
it to growth as well as to diagnose the weaker areas of the students and
correct and guide them to overcome the defects to be better persons in
the society.
10 students of St Clare School participated in this great event. The
students left to Dimapur on 11th morning at 8 am in two vehicles, one
belonging to St Clare Catholic Church and a Bolero belonging to the
fathers. Fr Stephen Dsouza and Sir Vikram were driving the vehicles. It
was a long journey almost covering 8 hours of the day. The students had
meal in the afternoon in a Sumi hotel and reached the destination at 5
pm to Holy Cross Dimapur. Students had the accommodation at holy cross
school in a class room and on 12th Students participated in the
competitions. Infact they couldn’t win the prizes but they won the
hearts of everyone by giving their best. In the evening all students
were accommodated in Capuchin House, Half Nagarjun. The next day all
began their journey towards Akuluto town. On this occasion the students
had opportunity to visit the Historical places like World War cemetery
and Kohima Cathedral. All reached the destination at 8 pm. It was infact
a tiredsome journey but fruitful one, as students learnt through their
experience by being with students of other tribes and through their
visit to historical places. Special thanks to Catholic community for
helping out the school by granting the church vehicle for the travel and
also thanks to Sir Vikram for accompanying the students to Dimapur.
