It was 130 years back, the non-Goan Catholic Deacon named Fr. Lyons who established the first English High School of Goa, at Arpora Bardez, known as St. Joseph’s High School, Arpora. Because of its high standard, it was called as Collegio then and even on the Entrance Board during my time too when I was a student of this prestigious school, it was written as “Collegio Diocesan de St. Jose – Arpora”. To mark this occasion, a Science, Art and Cultural Exhibition was organized in the School premises from 17th to 19th of this month which was visited by the innumerable visitors not only from the ambient villages but also from distant places, among these visitors there were many ex students like me, too. It was something great and unique event made by the teachers and students of the current scholastic year. Such events were not done by us during our time and I take this opportunity to congratulate first the Headmistress Lona Da Silva, all other Teachers and all the Students.
This event was also organized to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the takeover of the school by the Diocesan Society of Education.
This school is known to produce the best students of Goa in all the fields, in education as well as in sports and other extra curricular activities. Some of the memorable photographs of the great students of this great school who achieved their greatness while studying in this school were displayed on the School Display Board, some of these photographs go back to the inception year of this school. Unfortunately neither these photographs are seen now nor the Display Board. There were many old items exhibited in this exhibition but not those photos. I was an individual champion of Goa and also the fastest runner of Goa while I was a student of this great school. Along with mine, there were photos of other great sportsmen too of the great students of this great school. It was the finest collection the school had but who spoiled it and who neglected and ignored it, God alone knows.
There were some of the finest exhibits displayed in this exhibition especially the Antiques of Goa. Below here on the photographs some of the Antiques are shown.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim.
The Bust of Fr. Deacon Lyons
Headmistress Lona Da Silva
One of the Teachers
Young boy imitating Mahatmah Gandhi
Some of the antique Goan items
Medicinal Plants of Goa
Some more antiques
Still more antiques
