Calling all Canossians

Hi There!

‘KANE-OSA’. This is the logo on the court of arms of the noble Canossa family, to which St. Magdalene belonged and after which she named the great Institute, she started more than 200 years ago.

Simply translated this means that as long as the dog has its bone (you and I know this means forever), the name of Canossa shall prevail. Countless have been the saplings that have received tender nurturing at Canossa High School, Mahim. Today they take their place in society as confident, courageous, well informed young women, ready to take on the world. The name ‘Canossa’ has, does and will continue to open doors in the world for these young girls and women that otherwise might have remained shut for them.

Our Alma Mater asks for nothing in return save that we acknowledge her existence, bond with, enrich and strengthen one another as members of a recognized alumni. In doing so, we would certainly end up making a difference to society. So come Canossians, far and wide, young and old, youth, mothers and grandmothers alike. Get that spirit moving and sign up for ESAC (Ex-students Association of Canossa) if you have not already done so. The signature line says it all : “Strengthening the bond we share”.

With an Organizing Committee in place, we plan to have an array of events for which we need your support as either active or dormant members of the association. Even if you are not around for a ‘Hands-on’ effort it does not matter. You can certainly help out by spreading awareness about ESAC, passing on information and updating members who are abroad via the internet, encouraging the younger generation to share their ideas and talents and above all making the effort to be present at events that are organized, if you are living in Mumbai.

I sign off convinced that I have kindled the fire ‘To Belong’ in every Canossian worth the name.

Ninette D’Souza

Vice President - ESAC

28th October, 2010

Invitation

On Saturday, 30th October, 2010, all Canossian Ex-students i.e. the young girls and adult women (maybe some senior too!!) who recognize Canossa High School, Mahim, as their Alma Mater were invited to bond together, enrich one another and participate in a brain storming session for a grand Alumni Day to be held in December, 2010.

Venue of the meeting : School Hall (2nd Floor)
Time : 1 p.m.

Please note: Registration to sign up for ESAC has opened. Life Membership is Rs.100/- Forms are with Ms. Sameksha at the School reception desk from Monday to Saturday between 8.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m

We hope to see you in large numbers in the future for a wonderful sharing of ideas and unrestrained pooling in of talents.

Ninette
ESAC-VP

Minutes of meeting - 23rd October, 2010

Minutes of the meeting of Ex-Students held on 23rd/October/2010
The current active ESAC committee members, Ms. Edith D'Souza and Ms. Seema Patole appraised the attendees of the objectives with which ESAC was formed and the activities of ESAC until date. Presently, ESAC is dormant and needs revival.

New office bearers were selected as below:

• Sr. Audrey - President
• Ms. Ninette D'Souza - Vice President
• Ms. Seema Patole - Secretary
• Ms. Punit D'Souza - Joint Secretary
• Ms. Prajakta Naik - Treasurer
• Ms. Amelia Noronha - Joint Treasurer
• Ms. Saloni Jain - Brand Ambassador (Youth Icon)

The following decisions were made:

1. Each office bearer to put in efforts to create awareness of ESAC and rope in Ex-Students to become members of ESAC.
2. ESAC office bearers to meet on every last Saturday of the month.
3. The Vice President to put out a letter on the internet (Facebook, Orkut and ESAC Blog) calling for suggestions to take ESAC forwarwd.
4. Alumni day to be held in December 2010.
5. Notice board for ESAC to be provided by Ms. Andrea Pereira.

The next meeting of all Ex-Students to be held on October 30th, 2010 at 13:00 hours in the School Hall, to plan and brainstorm the upcoming December 2010 Alumni Day. This meeting is open to all Ex-Students of Canossa, Mahim. Request you Girlies to attend so that we can have a rocking Alumni Day. :-)

Annual Social 2009

Season's Greetings from the Managing Committee of ESAC! You all will remember what a lovely time we had at the last Annual Get-together.

This is just to announce about our Annual Social. We are planning to organize the same on 1^st February, 2009 at Canossa High School Hall at 5.30 pm which would be followed by Dinner. So do keep yourselves free on this day. We are sure you all will appreciate the advance intimation.

We earnestly appeal to each and every member to be present to make this event a success. This time we have decided to invite you along with your family members. We assure you all of a lot of fun and games. Maybe you could spread the word around and get new members enrolled. We would be grateful for this gesture.

Admission rate for the event is Rs. 150/- per head. Invites will be available with the following Committee members:

· Mrs. Seema Patole – 9821252923

· Mrs. Luisa Pereira – 9821037535

· Mrs. Gregorina Mitra – 9819528944

The last date for collecting your invites is 25^th January, 2009.

You all will appreciate that there are a lot of teething problems for anything new. Our Association is no exception. It is only with the support of the members that we can sail through, and so our earnest request to each one of you is to help your Association to grow with a little extra contribution from your end. You could send in the same by cheque/draft drawn in favour of "Canossa High School Ex-Students Association" along with the attached Donation* Form duly filled in, to the address given below:

ESAC,

Canossa High School,

M.M. Chotani Marg,

Mahim (W), Mumbai – 400 016.

Besides liquid funds, we also need you members to volunteer your services in organizing this event. If you wish to do so, please contact the Committee members mentioned above.

You will agree from experience, that such associations can play great dividends in human networking which in turn can help in a multitude of areas like professional and intellectual growth. We look forward to your response.

Here's wishing you and your family a Happy, Safe and Prosperous New Year!

*Find the donation form attached in the email sent by ESAC

Stress Relief!!!

ESAC is organizing a workshop on "Stress Relief through Dance Movements" on the 7th of September, 2008 from 4.30 to 7.00 pm. All ex-Canossians as well as family and friends are invited. The registration fee is Rs. 50 per head. You can register on the 31st of August, 2008 at Canossa High School, Mahim between 4.30 - 5.00 pm or on the day of the workshop. Hope to see you all in large numbers.

Picnic at Arnala Beach Resort

6:45 am sharp on Sunday the 8^th of June, a group of Ex-Canossians were gathered at the Canossa High School gate, Mahim. Inspite of the heavy rains they looked all excited and ready to go for the ESAC (Ex-Students’ Association of Canossa) picnic to Arnala Beach Resort at Arnala. During the two and a half hour bus ride, all of us, first, introduced ourselves. Ex-students from the batch of 1967 to the youngest batch of 2008 were present. Then, of course everyone played the good old antakshari and the rapid fire version of it too.

On arrival at the Arnala Beach Resort, we were welcomed with a sumptuous breakfast. We then got into the swimming pool. We spent our pool time on the water slides, dunking each other in, playing throwball, splashing around and dancing in the water. The rain dance was indeed great fun, with the DJ keeping up a continuous stream of latesht filmy gaane! There was an artificial waterfall too. The ESAC members were in and out of the water coming for rounds of their share of the unlimited popcorn, ice candy and candy floss. A heavy, much awaited lunch was served at 1:00 pm; after which all of us changed into dry clothes and settled down in the rustic wood shed overlooking the swimming pool. After a short nap, all of us played group games – kacchi papayi, pakki papayi; clap at seven, dumb charades and so on. The winners were well rewarded during an elaborate felicitation ceremony J. The all time favourite monsoon snack of tea and hot bhajiyas was served at 5:15 pm.

Ending the day at the resort with a group photograph, we got into the bus for the return journey. We had all had a lot of fun, but had thoroughly missed one thing – an adventure! So our bus readily obliged us. One rear tyre came off and the other one got punctured on a deserted stretch of the highway, near Vasai. During the one and a half hour while the tyre was being repaired, the rain clouds darkened outside and stories of ghosts, split personalities and other psychologically creepy phenomena started going around in the bus. When the bus started, boy were we glad!

Back to the Canossa gate at 11:00 pm, we heaved a big hussha! I have to quote the words of an ex-student Varsha Kurdekar, ‘It was a well rounded trip’. A memorable, adventurous and absolutely fantastic first ESAC picnic. The first of many, many more to come. See you at the next one!!!

Samiksha Neroorkar
Batch of 2001

An Invitation from the Principal

This is an open invitation that the Principal, Sr. Jessie, has made to all the ex-students. It goes like this...

It is with great joy that we, the Management, Prinicpal, Staff & Students of Canossa High School, Mahim, Mumbai invite you to our bicentennial celebration (1808 - 2008) cum Parents' Day which will be held on 21st & 22nd Dec, 2007 at 5.30 pm on the School grounds.

21st Dec

• Chief Guest: Dr. (Mrs.) Elaine Charles [Ex-Student]
• Guests of Honour:

1. Fr. Hugh Fonseca, Parish Priest of St. Michael's Church
2. Sr. Nancy Vaz, Provincial Superior of the Canossian Daughters of Charity [Ex-Student]

22nd Dec

• Chief Guest: Mrs. Norma Alvares, MA, LLB and recepient of the Padmashri Award [Ex-Student]
• Guests of Honour:

1. Dr. (Mrs.) Joyce Sequeira [Ex-Student]
2. Mrs. Sandhya Balakrishnan, Principal of Avabai Petit Girls High School [Ex-Student]

Those who would like to attend the event, please contact Edith D'Souza at bondwithesac@gmail.com for entry passes, giving details of which day you will be attending and how many passes you need. We hope that the ex-students will attend this event in large numbers.