Dehradun: The chief guest for the occasion was Special Secretary Home and IG SDRF, Ma’am Ridhim Aggarwal IPS. Principal Rev. Bro. Jeyaseelan, Rev. Bro. Carroll and all the respective coordinators and the parents of the council members were also present. The ceremony began with a short prayer by Kindergarten Coordinator, Mrs. S. Lepcha. This was followed by the lighting of the lamp by the chief guest Ridhim Aggarwal IPS, Principal Rev. Bro. Jeyaseelan, Rev Bro. Carroll and the coordinators. Donning the mantle of responsibility, the newly elected 18- member Student Council leaders marched smartly towards the grand stage to the beats of the school drum while their parents and peers looked on with brimming pride.
The Investiture ceremony follows the tradition of selecting students from the four Houses- Bergin, Dooley, Duffy and Donovan- to lead by example, as young leaders who are capable of guiding fellow students on the right path, and excel. Junior School Coordinator, Mrs. Vimi Sondhi, administered the oath of office to the young leaders. Chief Guest Ridhim Aggarwal IPS and Principal Rev. Bro. Jeyaseelan pinned the badges on the Head Girl, Arsheen Kaur (class V ) and Head Boy, Maulik Bhatia ( class V ). The prefects and vice prefects were also given the honour of being bestowed with the ceremonial pins and sashes by their parents.
The ceremony had an array of dances and songs. The junior school choir pepped up the mood by singing “I have a dream” and “It takes courage “, which were affirmations to the grand day indeed being a glorious one. Class III jazzed up the mood with their hip-hop dance on Spanish number “Mi Gente” while Class V danced on ‘Thaan liya”. There was also an Audio-Visual presentation on the newly elected student council members.
The highlight of the ceremony was the handing over of candles to the newly appointed student council members by the upper kindergarten students as a symbolic gesture of it being guiding light for their path ahead. The majestic moment was sealed beautifully by the song “Go light the world”.
Chief Guest, Ridhim Aggarwal IPS, in her address to the gathering said the day was a proud one for the council members, their parents and the school.” You must be proud to be given such a responsibility and you may be ready to help other students but remember you have to face challenges and take on responsibilities entrusted upon you. Take your team ahead”, she told the new office bearers. She also had an encouraging message for the audience of students and told them to always see in themselves the potential of being great leaders.
Her motivational speech was met with great applause and she was presented a token of gratitude by Rev. Bro. Jeyaseelan. Speaking on the occasion, Principal Rev. Bro. Jeyaseelan congratulated the young office bearers. He said, “Today the students are standing here as student leaders after going through a round of selections. They always carry their responsibility with utmost sincerity”. He also congratulated their parents for being great motivators. The head boy and head girl proposed the vote of thanks. The ceremony concluded with every Josephite, singing with pride, the School Song.
