By Fr Blany Pinto for BISMumbai

The Annual Day of Don Bosco High School and Junior College, Lonavla, was celebrated on 27 and 28 January 2024, under the theme ‘Dreams Alive’, thus commemorating the bicentenary of Don Bosco's dream at the age of nine. 

The distinguished chief guests, Shri Satya Sai Karthik and Fr Joyston Machado, shared inspiring anecdotes from their journeys of pursuing dreams and urged students to persevere in achieving their goals. The Don Bosco Band, led by Cl. Alfred Menezes, delighted the audience with a performance of 'Edelweiss’. Following this, the Rector, Fr Blany Pinto, welcomed the audience and shared the impact of Don Bosco's childhood dream on the world. The top performers in the 2023 Board Examinations and their parents were felicitated and prizes were distributed to the deserving students. This was followed by the presentation of the School's Annual Report.

The musical "Dreams Alive" was presented after the recounting of Don Bosco's childhood dream of guiding troubled youth from straying from the wrong path. The musical depicted a king's dream of a peaceful kingdom, which was realised through the efforts of his subjects and children. Through song, dance and drama, the musical emphasised ethical decision-making and the value of empowering youth to envision positive changes. The king's transformation emphasised the importance of recognising and supporting the dreams of young people. Emmanuel Dias, one of the lead vocalists, remarked, “It provided an excellent platform to showcase our musical talents and constructively utilize our abilities.” Austin Adhav, a dancer, said, “Participating in the musical is a memorable experience for me.” Approximately 360 students participated in the musical, with auditions and casting conducted before the Christmas holidays and practices commencing on 15 January for two weeks.

The school is grateful to the team that guided the students in the staging of the musical, which included Mendoza Muzikals, choreographers Mahesh Gole and Anil Chawariya, who creatively choreographed the dances; Ms Nellita Goes, who wrote the script and lyrics and managed the speech, drama, and diction; and Mr Joseph Mendonza, the Creative Head, Choirmaster, and Director of the musical.