St Aloysius International School, Harihar, celebrated a significant milestone with its first-ever graduation ceremony for KG-2 students of the 2024-25 academic year. Graduation Day marks the successful completion of an important stage of learning. The event was held in grand style on Saturday, February 22, at the school campus in Harihar.
The ceremony began with a ceremonial march-past led by the school band and the Scouts and Guides. This was followed by an inter-religious prayer. The formal program commenced with the welcome and felicitation of the chief guests, additional superintendent of police Davangere Vijayakumar M Santhosh and advocate and journalist at Deccan Herald and Prajavani Inayat Ullah. The felicitation was conducted by Abdul Rehman, Kannada lecturer at the college.
The graduating students were welcomed to the dais, and the program was officially inaugurated with the lighting of the lamp. Students from classes 5 to 8 added enthusiasm to the event with a vibrant welcome dance. school principal Sr Shanti David FSI administered the oath to the children. The conferring of certificates followed, with the chief guests and institution director Fr Eric Matthias SJ presenting each child with a certificate and a memento in recognition of their uniqueness and contributions during the academic year. This segment was meticulously conducted by KG-2 class teacher Sr Malsila, assisted by kindergarten teachers Sharlet Matthias and Kirthi.
Chief guest Vijayakumar M Santhosh highlighted the importance of the pre-primary stage in a child’s all-round development. He also raised awareness among parents about the increasing instances of child abuse and crimes against children, offering guidance on addressing these concerns. Guest of honour Inayat Ullah spoke about the legacy of St Aloysius institutions, emphasizing that the mother institution in Mangaluru has been a beacon of quality education for students in the coastal region. He expressed pride that its sub-branch in Harihar is upholding the same educational standards, bringing excellence from the shores of Mangaluru to the banks of Harihar.
The graduating students shared their experiences on stage and sang the graduation song together. A group of school boys presented a lively dance performance. In his presidential address, director Fr Eric Matthias expressed gratitude to the parents for trusting the institution and enrolling their children in the school.
The event was compered by class 7 students Vaishnavi and Nandini G. The kindergarten students expressed their gratitude, while two parents shared their thoughts on the occasion, acknowledging the institution’s role in their children's holistic development.
Among the dignitaries present were school vice-principal Fr Vinod A J SJ, school administrative officer Fr John Baptist SJ, college principal Pushpalatha Urs, college vice-principals Mosin Ulla and Pascal Fernandes, program coordinator Sharlet, as well as teaching and non-teaching staff, children, and parents.
The program concluded with the national anthem, followed by refreshments.