By Ms Diana Jimmy for BIS Mumbai

The Middle School Section of Don Bosco Senior Secondary School, Nerul, organised a Value Education Recollection for students of Classes VI to VIII on September 9, 2026. The recollection was conducted by Fr Allwyn Misquitta, Fr Jeswin Mastan, and Fr Velasli Bandya. The programme focused on character formation, personal growth, faith, responsible choices, and the values needed to become caring and responsible individuals.

For the students of Class VI of other faith Fr Jeswin Mastan conducted a session on “Living the Five Miracle Words” – Please, Thank You, Sorry, Excuse Me, and Pardon Me. Through anecdotes, everyday school situations, and reflective questions, the students explored the values behind these simple expressions. “Please” was presented as an expression of humility and respect, while “Thank You” encouraged gratitude for the everyday acts of care and kindness received from family members, teachers, support staff, and peers.

The reflection on “Sorry” helped students understand the importance of accepting responsibility for their actions and making efforts to repair relationships. “Excuse Me” drew attention to respecting the time, space, and boundaries of others, while “Pardon Me” highlighted forgiveness, understanding, and giving others a second chance. The session concluded with a reflection encouraging students to practise these five words in their daily interactions.

Students of Classes VII and VIII from other faiths participated in a session led by Fr Allwyn Misquitta on character building and personal growth inspired by the values of Don Bosco. Beginning with the question, “What kind of human being do you want to become?”, the session introduced students to the Bosco Character Code, which emphasised gratitude, honesty, discipline, respect, responsibility, resilience, service, fraternity, forgiveness, and social responsibility.

The session also presented practical action plans for students, including setting goals, managing time, developing regular study habits, maintaining integrity, respecting others, caring for physical and mental well-being, using technology wisely, building healthy relationships, serving others, and practising gratitude. Students were encouraged to recognise that academic achievement alone does not define success and that personal growth requires effort, character, and a spirit of service.

The Catholic students participated in a recollection on “Dreams” led by Fr Velasli Bandya. Fr Bandya began the session with an interactive jigsaw puzzle activity. The students worked in groups to assemble the pieces, identify the personality represented in the completed puzzle, and write a few lines about the person. The activity helped the students reflect on the lives and aspirations of the personalities they had identified and how their dreams had influenced their journeys.

Fr Bandya then connected the activity to the life of Don Bosco, who was also a dreamer. He spoke about Don Bosco’s dream at the age of nine and reflected on how the dream shaped his life and mission. The students were invited to consider that, just as every piece of a jigsaw puzzle has a purpose and contributes to the complete picture, each person has a purpose and a place in God’s dream. The simple activity thus became a reflection on identity, purpose and the direction of one’s life.

Fr Bandya reminded the students that true happiness lies in making God’s dream their own and allowing their lives to reflect qualities such as kindness, love, compassion and goodness. The students were encouraged to look beyond personal ambitions and consider how their choices and actions could contribute to becoming the persons they are called to be.

The reflection concluded with the thought, “May God’s dream be our dream, and may our life become a beautiful reality of His dream.” The recollection was followed by a holy Mass celebrated by Fr Velasli Bandya and Fr Joyston Machado, bringing together the themes of reflection, faith and personal growth.