News Letter - March 2003

Note from the Editor…

I am delighted to touch base with the OBA friends again via this newsletter. It has been a while since a news letter has been circulated to the members. The new executive committee, elected at the last AGM, has decided to restart the News Letter, so that it can be used as the main medium to communication of matters of common interest with the members. We expect to publish three newsletters for the current year. This newsletter out lines the activity plan / details of  up coming events of the new committee, and gives details of current needs of the College.

Message from President Elect Ravi Emmanuel

It gives me great pleasure to send out this message to all members of St Michael's Alumni Association Australia Branch. Since the inception of the Australian branch, every committee has made a conscious effort to bring all members together and strengthen the unity and understanding among them. This will continue to be the top priority of the new committee as well.

As you all will be aware, the Association has hosted several events such as musical evenings, dinner dances, BBQ’s and other cultural events to encourage our Michaelites to get involved in sharing the College day memories and the spirit. Previous committees have contributed to the benefit of the college in numerous ways. The present committee has a firm commitment to assist the welfare of the present needs of the College to the best of our ability. We are in constant touch with the principal of St Michael’s College, Brother James Peris and understand that there are many requirements for the college.

We are organising a dinner dance to be held on 26 April 2003, to bring all members together once again. In the year 2003, we have decided to celebrate the college day in September. In December we propose to have an annual get-together.

Annual General Meeting and the Election of New Committee

The annual general meeting of the association was held on the 22^nd February 2003 at St Andrews Uniting Church Hall, Eastwood. About 25 members and their families attended the AGM. From the key note address of the president, and the secretaries annual report it was noted that the previous committee successfully organised a large gathering of members in December 2001, which was followed by couple of BBQs. The annual project of collecting and forwarding clothes to the people in need in Batticaloa was continued last year. Further, it was noted that the committee made a good progress in establishing good communication with the college, and had compiled a comprehensive list of its current needs.

During the meeting concerns were raised by some members and well wishers that the activities of the association has slowed down in recent times, and suggestions were made that it should be stimulated by the new committee. Following members have been elected for the new executive committee.

Following the election, a decision was made to host a get-together on the 26^th of April, in order to give a kick start to the activities of the new committee. In his acceptance speech elected President Ravi Emmanuel said that the new committee will make an action plan and will circulate it to the members, in the form of a newsletter. 

 

Calender of Activities of the Association Planned by the Elected Committee

Recent Visits to the College & Initiatives of Other Branches

Srithar Joseph and Sudha Sudharshan visited the College recently, and had discussions with the staff and past pupil. Both of them confessed that the visit helped them to revive their College days and shared the view that the people they met at the College appeal the members of the Australian Brach to assist the college in their current needs.

The North American (Canadian) branch recently subscribed for 5 news papers and magazines to the college library for one year at the cost of Can $ 200.00, and donated 9 foot balls and ten10 basket balls. The UK branch has donated Rs.85,000/- for volunteer teacher’s payments. Further Dr. H. G. Rajendram from the UK Branch donated Rs.6,000/- to buy class room equipment to the College.

Recent Achievements of the College Students

Education: College students continue to produce excellent results in GCE ordinary level and Advanced level examinations, and in year five scholarship examinations.

Sports:Athletics: At District level:- 28 first places / 21 second places/ 30 third places

Basketball: Winning at least one tournament for a year / under 15 Basket Ball team became group champions in the finals lost to St.Peters due to the injuries to two of our best players / Now preparing for Junior Nationals

Tennis: Pacel Kreeda - 2001 (School Games) – National level match – Bronze medal/ 2001 – Under 16 Runner up / 3 College students are in National Ceding i.e. Under 10 – No-1 / Under 12 – No-2 / Under 14 – No-8.

Tamil Day Competitions: 1st place in District and Provincial levels during 2001/02

English Drama: 1996 – MacBeth -1st place national level / 1997 – Hamlet 1st place national level / 1999 – Othello -1st place in national level / 2002 - Romeo & Juliet won national award

It should be noted that the above 1st places were won competing with about 13 best schools such as Royal, DSS, Trinity, St. Thomas’s etc.

College Band: College now has an Eastern Band and a Western Band, and it is the best band in the district. (Band lacks equipment and require urgent donations of equipment).

Scouts: College scouts have been participating in every possible national Jamborees and other events at provincial and national level.

 

Note from the Desk of the Principal Rev. Bro. James Peris

Thanks for the gift of sports equipment donated to the College from the past pupil who live around the World. We are very much indebted to you all for your concern towards the present students of the College. I have given below some events of interests to you in the College, and a list of current needs of the College. I kindly request all of you to make an attempt to fulfil them to the best of your ability;

 

• Our College reopened for the first term on the 6th January 2003 and the Grade one Kids were welcomed on the 9th January 2003. We tried our best to limit the number of students to 140 for four parallel classes but now it has exceeded 175. There is a big demand for admissions to our College. Controlling admission is rather a difficult task.

   

• The annual prize giving will be held on the 8of April 2003

   

• We have introduced English medium to Grade - 6 and for advanced level. There are 47 students in the year 6 in that Class and they are very keen in learning their subjects in English medium.

   

• Number of members of our Alumni Associations from overseas and from the South visited the College recently as peace prevails in the country, and they refresh their pleasant memories of College day life.

God bless you.

Bro.James Peris Principal

List of the College Needs Noted Above By the Principal:-

1. A video camera and a good photographic camera is required to video/ photograph the student activities and study bench marking performances of students from other schools.

2. A 10KV Generator to light up the basket ball court at night time as the students are now prepared to come for practice after 6.30pm.

3. Multimedia projector: It is the need of the time for the curricular and extracurricular activities This can be used to project written material directly to the screen, and will minimise time required by teachers to prepare material

4. The following are required for the photocopier donated by the Australian Branch:- Some funds to cover the running costs of such as servicing and toners. A power stabiliser is required to continue to use the copier during periods of power drops.

5. Following equipment are urgently required as teaching aids for the College; Portable cassette players, which can be used in class rooms, . VCR and 24” Colour TV Non-electronic items:- white boards and pens, packets of blue tags, story books (used ones) etc. for use of secondary and A/L students (taking English as a subject).

6. Equipments Required for the College Band:- Trumpets and other equipment were bought during the 1980’s and require replacement (Base Drum recently donated by the Batticaloa Branch, and equipment worth Rs.50,000 donated by the Ministry of Rehabilitation), Eastern band require more equipment such as Naathaswaram, Thavil etc. (At present the band borrows some equipment from other schools for practice and other events).

7. A public addressing system and a floor polisher are required for the college auditorium

8. Needs of College Scouts:- Tents and other camping equipment, funds for camping and other activities.

9. Fund to employ a minor employee required for the maintenance of college premises – Estimated cost Rs.2,500/- per month.

10. We require some technical assistance from past pupil living overseas to develop a web page for the College. This can serve as an effective medium of communication between the College, the past pupil and the well-wishers.

11. A bus for the college is an absolute necessity for college as we spends more Rs.160,000 on travelling every year. This can greatly contribute to the better performance of the College students in various events. A combined effort of Michaelites, who live overseas is necessary in this regard. Estimated cost of this is about Rs. 1,000,000/- ( approximately Aus $ 25,000).

12. Assistance required from past pupil living overseas to improve performance standard of the College English Drama group:- to develop contacts with drama groups overseas ,Video clippings, books and other aids which could help the students to get themselves train better, Opportunities for overseas training.

Members of the OBA of St. Michael’s College in Australia are welcome to contact any of the committee members, if you wish to contribute to any of the above needs. Name of people who wish to donate items to the College will be published in the up coming newsletter and will be announced during the dinner dance.

Participants welcome for Children’s Event to be performed at the Dinner Dance:-

Mr & Mrs. Sivaseelan is presenting a music/dance event at the upcoming dinner dance on 26 April 2003. They require a few young children between the age of 4 –15. If you like your child to participate in this event, please contact Mrs. Malathy Sivaseelan immediately on the following Nos. Ph 98631183/ 0402105173

General Remarks

The College Science Laboratory has to be up graded.

Hatton National Bank has started a Bank within the College to encourage saving habit among students.