SCOUTING aims to support young children in physical, mental and spiritual development. The Scout movement is a method of education focusing on practical outdoor activities including hiking, camping, wood crafts and sports.
The Academic year 2018-19 saw about 100 students taking up Scouting as their subject and became a part of the school Scouts Group; the 41st East Bombay St. Mary’s (S.S.C.) Scouts Group. On most Sundays, the Cubs (students from 2nd to 4th) and Scouts (students from 5th to 10th) met on our school premises from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. where they learnt the history of scouting movement, survival skills like knotting, tent-pitching, make-shift gadget making , first-aid etc.
The first formal event for the year was the Annual Monsoon Hike which was a trek to the Karnala Fort, Panvel, held on the 29th July, 2018. The enthusiastic cubs and scouts accompanied by Teacher Kavita and Teacher Rochelle, rovers (ex-students of our school who have continued scouting) and scoutmasters gathered in their hiking gear in school all set for the hike. The climb was tiring but, enjoyable. The excited members enjoyed the experience in open nature and returned home with loads of joyful stories to tell.
The second event, which is the most awaited event of the year, the Annual Camp was conducted during the period of 5 days, from 12th December 2018 to 16th December 2018, at Camp Evergreen, Near Barvi Dam. After a full-day of school, scouts and cubs alike gathered in school on the 12th December, with their backpacks full of anticipation, to set off for the camp. They were accompanied by primary head-teacher Teacher Sandra and secondary ex-supervisor Teacher Mary Ann, Br.Conrad and of course the Rovers and Scouters. Over the period of the camp, the scouts learnt how to be independent by attempting to cookon open fire, improvising shelters and learnt other survival skills. Above all, they learnt soft skills like team-work and leadership. On the last day, awards were given to the best scout and cub at the camp and we all returned home with memories and longing for the next annual camp.
On the 3rd March 2019, cubs, scouts, rovers and scout’s masters participated in the East Bombay District Annual Athletics Meet held at the Mumbai University Grounds and emerged victorious once again by winning the Best Overall Competing Scouts & Guides Group of the Athletic Meet. In addition to several individual victories and certificates, we also won the Championships in Under-12 and Under-17 scouts category and the Best Scout Group in the U12,14 & 17 section. Best Athlete was awarded to Master Lyle Nunes . In addition, we also won the Tug-O-War Under-17 category.
The fourth edition of Jesuit Scouts Sammelan 2019 was organized by Brother Conrad Fonseca S.J. and our school scouts group the 41st East Bombay, over the weekend of 16th-17th March, 2019. Scouts from various Jesuit Institutions like St. Stanislaus, St. Mary’s (ICSE), St. Mary’s (SSC), St. Xavier’s Boys Academy and St Xavier’s School (Fort) participated for the event. Scouting knowledge was delivered and competitions were held to test their knowledge.
The last meeting for the academic year 2018-19 was held on 24th March 2019. All the cubs, scouts and rovers said their “so long” until the start of the next academic year.
