Greenwood High donned a festive look on Saturday, 3rd February 2024 as the graduating class of 2023-24 were felicitated, for the culmination of years of hard work, growth, and shared experiences. A day that celebrates their academic milestone and future aspirations. The theme ‘Udaan’ was apt as the young graduands take flight into the future. The young graduands looked stunning draped in pink sarees and formal suits, the music divine and the stage was set.
The programme began with the traditional prayer led by our Principal, which was followed by the lamp lighting ceremony. Our High School Academic Coordinator, Ms Shruti Basak welcomed the gathering and set the context of the day. She emphasized the need to dream big and fly high, while uplifting the values learnt at school.
The graceful Invocation Dance and the melodious school choir enhanced the significance of the day. The melody – ‘I can climb, I can dance and touch the rainbow in the sky’ reverberated the notion that the sky is the limit for these young aspirants.
What better way to acknowledge the journey so far than a speech. These speeches are a golden opportunity to reflect on the collective journey, celebrate achievements, and inspire the graduating class as they step into the uncharted territory of the future.
Our Principal Sir struck a chord with his eloquent analogy of the butterfly that emerges from its cocoon. It needs time and perseverance for Nature to work its magic. Likewise, he urged the graduands to better themselves with patience, hard work and faith.
The second speech was from the perspective of a teacher. Mrs. Sikha Sharma spoke on the occasion about her reminiscence of the past five years with the batch. It brought a smile to all as she spoke of the graduands’ mischievousness and vibrancy. She commended their unique spirit and urged them to carry forth and never lose that spark in life.
Arnav Nama Manoj, the School Vice-Captain followed suit. In his speech, he dwelled on his memories of life at school and the impact the school has had on him. The bittersweet moments of triumphs and failures at tournaments; the planning of events; of friendships garnered; of classes and teachers – were some moments that he recalled with fondness.
All occasions call for an expression of music and dance, an artistic representation of one’s joy. Today was no exception. The group dance performed by grades IX added buoyancy to the flow of events and the melody of both the choir and the band were soulful treats.
The highlight of the day was the felicitation ceremony. All the graduands gladly took to the stage to receive their certificates of commendation, while their parents looked on with pride. In succession, was the Vote of Thanks delivered by Ms. Susan Roy Thomas, Dean of Academics, who applauded the students’ achievements and inspired them to scale new heights.
The ceremony ended with a gathering of the graduands with lighted candles in front of the stage to sing ‘go light your candle’. A candle that is symbolic of the passing on of knowledge and awareness of one’s infinite potential to heal the world.
As the event concluded, the graduands had a surprise – a PowerPoint presentation of candid moments with friends in school and on their foreign trips. A subtle salute to the year’s end!
