By Glacxy Ferrao for BIS Mumbai

Books have the power to inspire, spark imagination and open young minds to endless possibilities. Celebrating the magic of literature, St Dominic Savio High School, Andheri hosted Reuphoria Festival on September 23, 2026, transforming the campus into a world of stories, words, creativity and fun.

The celebration began with the Reuphoria Memory Board, taking students through the festival’s history since its inception in 2015. The Bibliomania Reading Club added to the excitement with a Reading Tank inspired by the book Noddy, encouraging students to dive into the joy of books.

The festival was formally declared open by Rector and Manager, Fr Francisco Pereira, during the inaugural assembly. His words set the tone for a day where language, imagination and learning took centre stage.

The Secondary Section buzzed with excitement. Students of Standards V to VII showcased their talent in Hindi Poetry Recitation, while Standards VIII to X participated in the Marathi Elocution Competition, expressing their ideas with confidence. A Maths and Science Quiz for Standards V and VI demonstrated the interdisciplinary nature of learning. The Inspirer Session for Standards VIII to X featured alumnus Dr Sanjith Saseedharan, Director of Critical Care at S. L. Raheja Hospital. Sharing his journey from school to medicine, he encouraged students to love what they do and recognise the value of their professions.

Creativity took centre stage with Classic Tales with a Twist, where Standards V–VII crafted imaginative story endings, and Once Upon an Object, where Standards VII–VIII transformed everyday objects into characters. The 21st M. R. Pai Memorial English Elocution Competition gave Standards IX–X a platform to showcase their oratory skills. The day concluded with Vocabingo, an engaging intercom word game conducted by Principal Ms Valerie Mascarenhas for Standards V–X.

In the Primary Section, language came alive in Standards I and II through storytelling, character parades, sequencing activities, bingo, music and movement. Standards III and IV explored Proverbs in Action and Idioms Come Alive through Proverb Detectives, Idiom Jars and Idiom Bingo, developing vocabulary, comprehension and teamwork.

The Pre-Primary Section enjoyed a two-day celebration with grandparents enchanting the children with stories, while storytelling, drawing, colouring competitions kept the little Savions engaged. On Day Two, parents of Jr KG and Sr KG brought stories to life through enactments centred on kindness, honesty and environmental awareness. As the Book Fairy announced DEAR Time (Drop Everything and Read), the little Savions settled into cosy reading corners with their favourite toys and books. Nursery too joined the celebration with a Story Day, where teachers and parents narrated stories while children arrived dressed as story characters.

A secondary student, Master Ross Salis shared that the festival inspired him to move beyond the social-media craze and rediscover the joy of books.

Reuphoria 2026 ended on a high note, highlighting how stories can make learning engaging and open young minds to new possibilities.