Dear Students of St Mary's Convent School, Faridabad,

As we head into our winter break, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for the many joys we share each day. Our St Mary's community is remarkable as we embrace a deep love of learning and inquiry. And particularly at this time of year we see many acts of giving and gratitude. St Mary's is special!

This past fall we celebrated countless student and staff accomplishments. Our students proudly represented their character and talent on athletic fields and in performing arts venues, often with local and state recognition. What follows are a mere sampling of other accolades.  Two of our Champions secured international ranks in Abacus and Other students have garnered individual awards in Olympiad Examination. 

 Students on robotics teams are advancing to state competition. 

 Our own art teacher Asha Malhotra had work displayed in notable venues of our school during each occasion.
 Volleyball Trainer Ms Radha is going to start a volleyball camp during this winter break, and many joined for the same.  

This year has also seen the launch of Food for Hungry, an initiative to the wellness and life balance of the abandoned. We have recently received our results from the Competitive Exams administered to students in October and November. Our Team has met with the researchers to analyze the results and examine what we can include and in what way we can collaborate with coaching institutes for competitive and Entrance examinations from Grade Six.  Our team is looking forward to sharing the results with staff, students and parents in January. 
 
 Each one of you should take great pride in the impact you have made on this campus through your academic work, your interactions with your friends and professors, and the meaningful change you create for the school and our society. I am grateful for all that you bring to our St. Mary's.

For me, the break between two years offers a time for quiet contemplation and an opportunity to open up space to see the world and myself more clearly. I had an opportunity to begin this reflection last week as we were celebrating Christmas in school and decorating the Christmas trees, when we greeted and shared our fortune with your support to the abandoned in the nearby orphanages and Old Age Homes,  I found myself thinking about how I could choose to see the lights we wrapped around the branches and colorful glittered papers we used to decorate as more than simply a festive decoration–that I could choose to see them as a reminder that while the wintry darkness can often be discouraging or overwhelming, I have an opportunity to shine light on that darkness every day. Sometimes the transformative experience we often speak of here at St. Mary's means illuminating something that someone else may view as scary or strange, or having something illuminated for us so that we can see it in a new way.
 During the holidays, this symbolism can be seen all around us: in the lights emanating from the clay lamps of Diwali; and the stars lightened during this Christmas and New year Season. I hope you will never hesitate to shine light in the darkness, not only throughout the holiday season, but into the new year and beyond.

On behalf of everyone at St. Mary's, I want to offer you our best wishes for the holiday season and for a happy and healthy 2023. I hope that over the break you will make space to do what feels right to you to renew and recharge. I hope you have the opportunity to relax, reconnect with your friends and family, and enjoy this break in the academic calendar.
While school is in 
session, administrators, coordinators, teachers and staff continue to keep open doors should students need to talk.

Remember that both children and adults need breaks from the many demands of school life.  Let's support our students and staff in finding a healthy balance between school, work, and family.  To that end, I’ve reminded faculty that a less quantity of holiday homework shall be assigned over the break.  This also means staff may take a well-deserved break from emails, Messages and phone calls and wait until we return to respond.  We can all share in helping each other!

We look forward to welcoming back our students on January 10, 2023.

Warmly,
Sr Tomcy SIC
Principal