ORIENTATION PROGRAMME AT ST. JOSEPH'S PU COLLEGE, HASSAN

Date: 20 June 2026
Venue: St. Joseph's PU College, Hassan,
Organized by: Karnataka Jesuit Educational Society (KJES) in collaboration with St. Joseph's PU College, Hassan

Objective of the Activity:

The Orientation Programme was organized with the objective of welcoming the I PUC and II PUC students and guiding them towards holistic development. From our college SJEC, Mangaluru 2 students Vinisha Dias and Jeston D'Souza participated. It aimed to introduce students to Jesuit values and the identity of being a Josephite, develop leadership qualities, enhance communication skills, encourage a balanced study–life approach and ethical use of digital media. The programme also intended to motivate students to become disciplined, value-based, and socially responsible individuals.

Description of the Activity:
As part of the IGNITOR initiative of the Karnataka Jesuit Educational Society (KJES), an Orientation Programme was conducted on 20 June 2026 at St. Joseph's PU College, Hassan for both I PUC and II PUC students. The programme was facilitated by the IGNITOR Youth Animators—Jessica Santhmayor, Jeston D'Souza, Merwin Mathias, Vinisha Dias, and Neema.

The morning session was conducted for around 160 I PUC students. The programme commenced with a formal inauguration ceremony, followed by a prayer song, a welcome dance, and the welcome address delivered by Fr. Felix Anand SJ. The dignitaries were respectfully welcomed by presenting them with roses as a token of appreciation.

Following the inaugural ceremony, the students were divided into twelve groups. Each group actively participated by presenting a Thought for the Day and performing an action song, which created a lively, interactive, and engaging atmosphere.

A one-hour session was conducted by Jessica Santhmayor on the topic “Jesuit Institutions, What It Means to Be a Josephite, and Leadership.” She introduced the students to the Jesuit educational system and its values. She explained the concept of leadership through inspiring real-life examples, including Thalapathy Vijay , Margaret Alva, and several other prominent leaders. She emphasized qualities such as service, responsibility, discipline, and compassion as essential aspects of leadership.

This was followed by a short tea break. After the break, Merwin Mathias conducted an interactivesession on Communication and Digital lifestyle. He explained the importance of balancing academic and personal life.

He further elaborated on communication, its meaning, types (verbal, non-verbal, written, and visual), and its importance in daily life. He discussed the influence of the “WhatsApp generation”, explaining both its advantages and disadvantages, and encouraged students to use digital platforms wisely and meaningfully.

Afternoon Session (II PUC Students):
The afternoon orientation programme was conducted from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the II PUC students. The Commerce stream, consisting of around 80–90 students, was guided by Jessica Santhmayor and Neema. The Science stream, consisting of around 50 students, was guided by Merwin Mathias, Vinisha Dias and Jeston D'Souza.

The same topics covered during the morning session were also presented in the afternoon session, ensuring consistency in orientation for both I PUC and II PUC students. Throughout both sessions, the students actively participated and engaged enthusiastically in discussions and activities, making the programme highly interactive and meaningful.

A formal vote of thanks was delivered at the end of the programme, expressing gratitude to the resource persons, management, staff, and students for their cooperation and participation. The programme concluded on a positive and successful note.

Conclusion:
The Orientation Programme proved to be a valuable and enriching experience for all students. It successfully introduced them to Jesuit values, strengthened their understanding of leadership and communication, and created awareness about responsible digital practices. The programme played an important role in motivating students to begin the academic year with confidence, discipline, and a positive outlook towards life and learning.