By Marcus Bai
Grade 11 A & DBTSS School Captain
Kokopo, PNG, 1 November 2020 -- Don Bosco T.S.S held its 27th Commencement celebration on this day when we honor All the Saints in heaven. The Graduation celebration had as theme: Bosconian: Holy and Upright. The Ceremony started with the celebration of the holy Eucharist presided over by Fr. Albert with Fr. Moïse and Fr. Albert as Concelebrants. The mass started by 9 AM with a solemn marching in of our 53 Grade 12 and 136 Trainee two Candidates for graduation and the entrance singsing from our New Island Province boys. In his homely Fr. Albert asked the candidates and their parents to be grateful to the Lord. To the bosconians graduating he reminded them to look to the future with courage and hope. He also invited them to have continue to dream big, to believe in themselves in order for them to achieve what they have been striving for.
Straight after the Mass the graduation ceremony proper took place. Excited at their achievement, the candidates could not move because they were eagerly waiting for this day. The event was honored with the presence of the delegate from the office of the Member for Kokopo, honorable minister Emil Tamur, Mr. Albert Buanga; the president for Vunadidir LLG and provincial minister for health; on behalf of business stakeholders, dame Sandra Lau; the Salesian Sisters, Salesian Cooperators and friends of Don Bosco; The ENB acting Education Adviser and Planer, Mr. Alkan Mararang; the ENB Secondary School principals’ representative; the PCTA chairperson, Mr. Jeffery Singer; local Ward Councilors for Bitagalip, Palnakaur and Ramale.
In their messages respectively, Dame Sandra Lau highlighted the good spirit and respect she maintains with the Salesians and the Don Bosco management. And she invited the graduates not to bring the name of Don Bosco down even if they have gradated, they are still considered and labeled as Don Bosco students. Moreover, on his note as representative of Honorable Emil Tamul, Mr. Albert Buanga encouraged the boys to dream high and cherish the privileges they have got to be educated in Don Bosco school.
Then followed the recognition of students who made it this year to the list of awardees. Thirty-five (35) graduates were awarded as best in Academic (Science and Humanities), in Technical (Electrical, MFM, Carpentry and Motor Vehicle Mechanic), in Deportment, in Religion. The Highest award, the Don Bosco award, for this year 2020 went to Jules Binta, a Grade 12 Social Science Graduate. After this all the rest of graduates were solemnly handed their statements of achievement and other documents. On behalf of the graduates, Luther Kangol, of a Grade 12 Science graduate and awardee, gave an emotional speech. He presented his gratitude to the salesians, teachers, parents and his companions for their achievement and for their readiness to face the great challenges ahead now that the teacher is life and not in Don Bosco any more.
Fr. Moïse Paluku, SBD Rector and Parish Priest, concluded the graduation with his word of gratitude to the guests, Salesian sisters, Salesian cooperators, teachers, parents and graduates, and the neighboring communities for their presence and great response to the invitations. He notified that the graduation has been shortly notified to the parents and students and mostly to sponsors due to some reasons. However, people have generously responded with love and kindness to the appeal and invitation. He also told the Graduates bosconians that much they have received more is expected from them. And that the entire school believe in them that they have chosen the best and will achieve the best. The program ended by lunch with shared meal by class while the invited guests where hosted in the Salesian residence.
