Salesian Province of Mumbai

☼ DON BOSCO NERUL

BRIEF HISTORY :

In April 2000, the Bombay Salesian Society, signed an agreement with CIDCO, for a plot of land admeasuring 10,017 sq. mtrs., for a proposed Composite School in English & Marathi, at the upcoming Nerul Node of Navi Mumbai. The Provincial Council, debated for long on the necessity of starting a school here, where there did not seem to be a visible sign of the really poor and lower middle class.It was only in 2005 that the Salesians took up the project in earnest and began putting up the school building at Nerul, New Bombay. Fr. Boni D’Souza was appointed to start the school in June 2006, and to get the necessary permissions from the CBSC Boards and the other requirements from several Civil Organizations, in collaboration with the Economer’s office. The first batch of 245 students commenced their studies in earnest. We began with the Preparatory, K.G., Std. I and Std. V classes and gradually progressed down the years. There was a retired Headmistress, Mrs. Sylvia, who assisted Fr. Boni in drawing up the curriculum of studies and supervising the activities of the nascent school

We place on record the heroic and dynamic efforts put in by Fr. Boni and his collaborators, to set up the school, procure teachers and students, setting up a high standard in academics and co-curricular activities for the school, the leg work involved in getting numerous sanctions and permissions and the daily effort of traveling to the school and back to Matunga. His efforts, has indeed borne sweet fruits. This year the scholastic year began with the introduction of Std. IX. To date we have three divisions in each class upto Std. IV, two divisions for Std. V and one division till Std. IX, with a full fledged staff, staff rooms, library, Games rooms, laboratory, drawing room, computer laboratory etc. We also thank the Provincials and their Councils for the keen interest and financial backing in this project, together with the numerous permissions granted to see that the school had the necessary infrastructure and requirements by the CBSE Board in New Delhi. We are now in the process of securing the Affiliation of the school to the CBSE Board and the registration of our Std. IX students.

VISION STATEMENT

Don Bosco Senior Secondary School stands for the integral development of the student – to help develop the student’s spirit, mind and body.

MISSION STATEMENT :

Integral Education is the goal, to which Don Bosco Senior Secondary School is primarily committed and towards which it directs all its activities, energies and resources.

PRESENT SCHOOL STATISTICS :

Academic Education	No. of Ben.	Yr begun
School - Pre-Primary	354	2006
School Primary (I - V)	549	2006
School High (VI - X)	176	2007

Self-Help Groups	1	2009
Neig. apos. (Supervised Study )	65	2009
Salesian Cooperators	15	2009

						Staff/Employees
	Boys	Girls	% Cath.	SDB F.T.	SDB P.T	Lay Ch.	Non-Ch	%Women
K.G. / Nursery	197	157	19	1	-	5	12	100%
Primary (I - V)	307	242	21	1	2	6	19	80%
Secondarfy (VI - IX)	103	73	27	1	2	6	8	60%

SALESIAN COOPERATORS :

The Salesian Cooperator movement began in September 2009 with an initial membership of three ex-cooperators from our parishes of Wadala and Antophill, and their close acquaintances. His number gradually grew to the present 15 cooperators that meet every Second Friday in the school parlor. We have already begun studying our Rules and Regulations in view of making our Promises in the not so distant future. The group also faithfully attends the programs at the Provincial level. We had an outreach program last year and plan one this year too and also help in the evening guided study program.

NEIGHBOURHOOD APOSTOLATE

The Evening guided study program for the children of the village nearby, who go to the nearby Government run school, in conducted every evening on our premises. There are about 80 students on roll of which about 50-60 girls and boys come regularly. Fr. Monty himself conducts classes assisted by a paid teacher and a volunteer. Games, dance lessons, yoga are offered these students besides the facility for guided study. In a couple of months we will also offer them the facility of computer education. This program has completed one year of its existence.

Fr. Monty also has a Self-Help group in operation. It consists of some members of our class IV staff and women from the neighbouring village of Karave. They meet regularly once a month and this month they celebrate one year of existence. Fr. Monty also gives them a value based talk when they meet. From the money they save every month, they are able to avail of soft loans for the family.