My Dear Students,
As you break for your summer vacation this year I’m sure most of you are all geared up to travel back to your home country after a long gap of two years.
My dear students, today all over the world we are experiencing the consequences for our failure to care for the earth. Or to put it in other words, we have failed to administer with integrity the property (earth) that God has entrusted to us. Hence it is not difficult to see that the natural calamities are nothing but the result of what we are doing to the environment today. The question of survival and the possibility of an environmental catastrophe is just around the corner because we as human beings have not act responsibly with that which God has given to us.
Sometime ago I read somewhere that the ozone layer, that wonderful protective shield high above us, that God created to protect us from some of the rays of the sun, is thinning three times faster than expected. And if present trends continue, it will mean thousands of more deaths from cancer, say nothing of other complications. We, who live with our chloro-fluorocarbons (CFC’s) from air conditioners, aerosol sprays and refrigerators, have contributed the most to this ozone crisis. And the effect of our action is spreading over the whole globe. We have discovered a large hole in the ozone shield over Antarctica. And the question many are asking: Is it too late?
Now add to that the greenhouse effect caused by too much carbon dioxide in the air. Temperatures on the earth are higher than they were a few decades ago, and it is rapidly increasing. The warming is much faster than predicted. Glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, sea water levels are rising etc. And that is a serious issue. We are headed in the wrong direction. And if we continue, we are in trouble concerning this beautiful creation God has given us to enjoy. We can no longer procrastinate in doing something about it.
So is it too late? Maybe not; because, there are signs of hope around us. There are things we can do to change the situation. And as a family, a global community if each of us in our individual capacity do our little bit to reverse the present scenario, then yes, it is not too late.
So many industries and large corporations are doing things to reverse the trend of environmental destruction. Encouraging things are happening in the world. Certain countries around the globe are making important changes in the area of environmental protection. Young people are becoming activists in their concern for the future of the created world. It is encouraging to see how in our very school we have taken up this issue seriously and so many of our students and parents are making a conscious effort to make this earth a better place to live in.
While it is good on one hand for us to applaud them for their efforts, It will be good also on the other hand, for us to play an active part, especially during these holiday, to look for ways and means how we can help to make a difference, to heal this planet God has entrusted to us.
So don’t lose heart. It’s not to late. Start today and you will enjoy not just these holidays but all the holidays to come in the future because with your efforts , planet earth will definitely be a better place to live in.
Bon voyage to all those travelling, and I wish you all my dear students, a restful and happy holidays.
Stay Blessed, and see you again soon.
Director
Fr. Derrick Misquitta SDB
Dear Parents,
Greetings from the Indian English Academy, Kuwait!
Greetings to all.
The Indian English Academy School in Salmiya, Kuwait, is a Don Bosco Institution. The theme for the academic year, 2022-2023 is “Do everything with love, nothing out of constraint”.
The school is administered by the Salesians of Don Bosco belonging to the Mumbai Province in India.
One man a CEO (proud of being a professional), once decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, “What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his/her best option in life was to become a teacher?”
He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” To stress his point he said to another guest; “You’re a teacher, Pooja. Be honest. What do you make?”
Pooja who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, “You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then replied …).
“Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Olympic Bronze medal. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class when their parents can’t make them sit for 5 without an I pod, game cube, or movie rental. You want to know what I make?” (She paused again and looked at every person at the table.) “I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn’t everything. I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique personal identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.” (Pooja paused one last time and then continued.) “Then when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn’t everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant … You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE… What do you make Mr. CEO?” His jaw dropped, he went silent.
At IEAS We believe in making a difference to those entrusted with our care.
The goals of education are to teach for understanding, to help students to learn to use knowledge to solve unexpected problems rather than to simply recite back facts; and to develop a culture of thinking in the classroom so that students think critically and creatively thereby gaining intellectual empowerment.
Wishing you all a very pleasant stay at IEAS. Stay blessed.
Kind regards,
Fr. Bosco D’Mello sdb