Smita & Ameya Naniwadekar — Parent

Dear Fr. Crispino, Meena Ma’am, As we looked at the latest Almanac, we realised that it’s almost a year since Covid disrupted the usual functioning of the school. This year has been a topsy turvy one, though one where we as parents got a nice glimpse of the classroom and experienced how DBIS went about responding to an unprecedented situation for which nobody in the world had a ready answer. We take a moment to share a small bit out of the many things we learnt, and we highlight the one thing that stood out above all. First and foremost, it was evident that DBIS was unfazed and responded with a lot of careful deliberation and planning. Challenges were met with ingenuity, experimentation and bold steps forward; such as the online communication and interaction portals which made sure that everyone moves ahead in step and beat.DBIS maintained a high bar in academics, added several wonderful new teachers to the team and was possibly among the few schools on this planet which earnestly continued with their sports programme against all odds, in order to provide children with the opportunity and encouragement to stay fit. There must have been several setbacks and surprises, but each was met with resilience and nimbleness as the school always found a way to bounce back. It was delightful to see DBIS not just stick to its core values and beliefs but use them as a compass to navigate in these tough times. And, we certainly discovered what our teachers are made of. While everyone struggled to keep their wits about them, our teachers maintained high professional standards – while also managing their own homes and children in this chaotic time. Dear Father, a couple of years ago, we remember you speaking about the strenna of ‘accompaniment’ and its importance. We saw it demonstrated beautifully this year! Our teachers were right next to our children, without letting physical or digital distance come in the way. They connected and showed immense patience in following through whenever more help was needed. They have not just been teachers, but true caregivers. A year like 2020 can deflate anybody and each child must have experienced moments that brought a slump in their morale and enthusiasm. However, the routine of the school provided an anchoring of normalcy and the optimism and die-hard enthusiasm of the teachers and school leadership provided the much needed emotional recharge for the children and helped them pull through. We will never really fathom how bad things could have become had there not been the daily presence of teachers and the comforting mood and tempo they provided to the day. Calamities test Character, and we can say proudly that not only did we pass the test but discovered several treasures of mind and spirit that DBIS possessed, which may have been hidden to the outside world. In this small way, we express our gratitude to this indomitable spirit of our teachers – which has kept the flame burning bright. We look forward to ending this year on a high and after a well-deserved summer break, see DBIS emerge stronger, nimbler and more spirited. May the experiences of this year boost us for years to come! Our Fondest Regards and Best wishes