Holy Cross ConventPrimary & Pre-Primary

Principal's Desk

60 years is a long time in the history of a school, a history that cannot be measured merely in terms of numbers of past mile stones. The sixty years of Holy Cross Convent Primary and Pre-Primary School, Akola is a living chronicle about the shaping of minds, the building of careers and the moulding of character of the thousand young boys and girls who have passed through its portals. In the year 1959, a tiny seed was sown by Mother Estelle in Jatharpeth, Akola that has become a fruit and flower bearing tree to-day. We began our Primary and Pre-Primary school just with 69 students. With good leadership the school has become a leading school in the area. In the year 1962, the primary school got its permanent recognition from the government of Maharashtra. Director of public instruction raised Holy Cross Primary School to the status of a high school in the year 1963. Due to lack of funds the school was having a shift system till the year 2011. In the year 2009 the foundation stone for a separate primary school was laid with generous contribution from parents and well-wishers. A suitable and spacious structure was erected in 2011. On 13.10.2011 the primary and Pre-Primary school was shifted to its new premises and was having shift system in the new building. Later the management felt the need to have two separate buildings for pre-primary and primary. The foundation stone was laid for this in the year 2015. On 3rd Oct 2016, the pre-primary building was inaugurated by Rev. Fr Cyriac, in the presence of the sisters, staff and students from high, primary and pre-primary. Pre-Primary school was then shifted to the new building. On the same day foundation stone for a new open stage was also laid. We are proud to say that today we have a separate primary, pre-primary school and an open stage with more than 1100 students studying in this worthy institution. All work hard to further its ideals. At this moment, I would like to thank the almighty who made impossible, possible for us. I also thank our architect, engineers and our contractor, supervisors who worked tirelessly along with those artisans, labourers, electricians and plumbers who did their job skillfully. It is all their effort and the co-operation of our parents and the timely guidance received from the management that made all the things possible for us. I owe my gratitude to all these people who play a vital role in serving humanity. “All labour that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance” says Martin Luther king. All of us are grateful to God for the present management, devoted staff members of Holy Cross Primary and Pre-Primary under whose guidance the school has become thecenter of excellence in the field of school education.

Noteworthy Achievements of our school since Golden jubilee to Diamond jubilee.

1. Two separate buildings for Primary and Pre-Primary.
2. Children’s park
3. Open stage
4. Spacious ground with pavers
5. New toilet blocks
6. Fees collected through Banking system
7. Class rooms with language lab and smart board.
8. E-Library
9. Activity basedschool curriculum.
10. Cub-bulbul movement.
11. Olympiad exams for primary and pre-primary students etc, are some of the initiatives that are helping to mould the life of our students.
12. Cabinet System.

This year’s calendar of events

Primary students took part in the Olympiad exams conducted by Global Competitive Society, Delhi. This year for the first time pre-primary students participated in the Olympiad exams.

Various competitions like decoration of the bulletin boards, recitation, elocution, Debate, fancy dress, Rangoli, patriotic song, card making, drawing, painting, dancing etc, held in the school help us to train the young minds in the proper direction.Value based assemblies, national festivals, teachers day, children’s day, Balmela, Sports day, Foundres’s Day and annual day, give children a platform to showcase their various talents. We keep in mind that every child is a gift of God and have the potentials within them to blossom fully. Hence teachers train them well to get the best out of them.

Seminars and orientations were arranged for the staff members occasionally. On 17th July 2018 an orientation programmewas conducted by Rev. Fr. Henry D’Souza. Dr Ameen Syed conducted a workshop for our staff members were in to train them to use certain skills to effectively deal with the slow learners and specially abled children, who are struggling to cope up with others.

In these times of changing social and technological norms, it is reassuring to have trusted partners in you, parents on our academic journey. Most of you co-operate with us whole-heartedly. At this moment, I would like to share my concerns, fears and challenges with you. With the existing rules of the Government, which compel us not to use any disciplinary measures against the students, children are becoming very hard to manage. Hence we need to work together to create a healthy atmosphere in the school. Otherwise, I am afraid children may go out of our control which may lead to destructive tendencies in the kids. We are eager to continue on this journey of academic excellence and providing an all-round development of the students. We look for positivity around us, and appreciate the good in people.

Finally I want to conclude this report by thanking God the almighty who guided us all through these years. Our success comes from God. Every morning the staff members gather to ask God’s blessings before we go for the morning assembly. Our president and manager take keen interest in every detail of our Institutions. Prayer by our senior sisters who continuously intercede for our school and team work by our devoted staff are commendable. I also feel indebted to our office and support staff who are always behind the curtains who keep our surrounding clean and tidy.I can truly say that all of you are a blessing to us.

We are committed to, where we intent to go, while being open to all the many ways of getting there. We stay focused on the goal, on the destination. We truly believe in the words of Adlai E.Stevenson who said,” it is not the years in your life, but the life in your years that counts”. So we dare to be our best as we can at all times.

May God bless you’ll ! Sr. Lily
Headmistress

The Preamble

"l came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10). Jesus came with great dream for building a new society, a new world, through a new set of values and new relationship. The Church and its related institutions continue that same mission of Jesus and carry it forward in the context of our times with the Spirit of the Founders through its various ministries.

Educational Goals of Holy Cross School The Holy Cross School strives to realize the National Goals of Education. But it does so with its own Spirit and Vision. Our thrust " Education For Social Change" requires that we pursue the following goals and objectives:

1 . Option for the poor
Whether we teach the rich of the poor, all our educational institutions make a preferential option for the poor, which is a gospel imperative. This was also the option of our Founders. In the spirit of the Gospel and in fidelity to the teaching of the Church and our traditions, we give priority to the cause of the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized. (Rule of Life 5.2)

2. Personal Developments
We seek to promote growth of the students by imparting an integral formation. Integral development is not only the transition from less human conditions to those which are more human, but the development of the human person that enables him/ her to improve and transform his/ her surroundings. - We adopt a methodology that will facilitate the development of self - confidence, creative and critical thinking, skills of application and analysis.

- We adopt the "grading system" in keeping with the National policy of Education. This will shift the emphasis from narrow competition to greater participation and co-operation and improvement of educational achievements. Building a school climate, wherein the students are motivated and encouraged to practise values.
- Religious and moral instructions are imparted to help them grow within their culture as integrated persons.

3.Social Commitment
As disciples of Christ we make his compassion our own, which led him to participate in our human history. In all our apostolic activities, we are called to be instruments of social change for justice and respect of persons.(Rule of Life 5.2) We are required to create a suitable environment, where the backward class of students we opt for, feel at home. Therefore, there is a great need to promote inculturation in our schools. Excursions and trips must lead the students to social awareness and social action. The school maintains simplicity in uniform and celebrations of Annual days. Our Annual days offer maximum scope for a large scale participation of students. All School honours, awards and positions of leadership have as one essential criteria of eligibility, the social activity of the students. Every out-going student should participate : - In out-reach programmes outside school viz. literacy drive, open schools, social service programmes, adult education etc.