A colourful procession by hundreds of students of Karthika Thirunal Government Vocational and Higher Secondary School for Girls, Manacaud, kicked off the platinum jubilee celebrations of the school on Friday morning.
At the head of the procession, taken out from the Putharikandam grounds, was a Kerala percussion ensemble. Students on roller skates followed.
Then came dancers in traditional costumes, students dressed in white frocks, Kerala saris and ‘pattu pavada,’ National Cadet Corps cadets and National Service Scheme volunteers. Many carried coloured flags and ribbons, a few came dressed as peacocks.
Cheers and claps
As the procession wound its way to the school, it was greeted with cheers and claps. O. Rajagopal, MLA, inaugurated the cultural programmes that followed. He urged the students to focus not only on academics but also on games and extracurricular activities for their holistic development. “Do not turn into bookworms,” he told them.
As the school was in the heart of the city, and its student strength was on the rise, there was a lot of potential for its growth. However, the lack of infrastructure was obvious, he said.
Mr. Rajagopal appealed to the local MP and MLA to do their utmost to develop the school.
The inaugural function was followed by a cultural programme staged by the students. Sivastuthi, platinum jubilee theme song, Thiruvathirakkali, fusion dances, aerobics, nadan paattu dedicated to artiste Kalabhavan Mani, kathaprasagam, and patriotic songs were part of the event.
HSS Principal Satheeshchandran M.R., VHSE Principal Jotilla Joys, HS Headmaster S. Rajendran, ward councillor R. Mini, and PTA president R. Rajkumar were present on the occasion.
The school, which started on June 12, 1942, is celebrating the jubilee with monthly programmes that include rural products’ sale, organic farming, medical camps, and film festival.
