Spectaculum – St. Nicholas’ International College – Negombo
The fifteenth Anniversary celebrations
A glimpse into our past
Fifteen years ago, in June 2003, the first Catholic International School in Negombo, was born and christened St. Nicholas’ International school. Its birth took place in humble surroundings, in a rented out old house in Katuwapitiya, with just 54 students. This school was a concept rooted in the mind of the then Arch Bishop of Colombo, Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis. With unstinted support from one of our great Philanthropists Deshamanya Lalith Kotalawala, the Chairman of Ceylinco Group of companies, the project he embarked on was abundantly blessed by our Lord and soon proved to be a roaring success.
Mr. K. Anton Perera the founder principal, a person of rare calibre and a small staff of equally dedicated and committed teachers were ready to give their all to protect the little ones in the fledgling school and carry it forward. Their dedication bore ample fruit. The primary classes from 1 – 5 came up just 3 months later. The no. of students kept on increasing and the Junior school was built in 2008. St. Nicholas’ became the most sought after school in the area. Applications started pouring in for admissions from the catholic as well as non-Catholic students. The students achieved excellent Cambridge O Level results including a few world rankings.
In 2013, the church authorities took charge of the administration of the school and Rev. Frs. were appointed as Rectors. Everyone of them has contributed much to the pleasant physical environment of the college and the educational, social, spiritual and physical development of the students.
From the Past to the Present
The impact of the college on the vast catholic population in Negombo as well as the non-Catholics is most impressive as the ever increasing number seeking admission to St. Nicholas’ indicates.
We are 15 and going on 16
This year 2018, we are all set and ready to celebrate our 15th Anniversary, to felicitate our steady march of 15 years towards excellence.
Under the guidance of the wise and able leadership of the present Rector Rev. Fr. Anselm Shiran, who received the mantle of rectorship in June 2017, Nicholites are breaking new ground and speeding towards new horizons. His vision for fully digitalized classrooms for all the students in both Junior and Upper schools in the new academic year will be a first time and a historic event in the field of education in Sri Lanka. The new chapel built in the Junior school premises, was also a long felt need which the new Rector soon set about to rectify.
Spectaculum – our Exhibition
If you wish to see how amazingly mature Nicholites are at 15, visit our exhibition “Spectaculum” at the Junior school premises. Enter a wonder world of truly spectacular marvels, the glory of God’s creation and man’s spirit of adventure in reaching new frontiers making use of Science and Technology and see the wonders of nature in their beauty and variety.
Anniversary Walk
Join our Spectaculum walk, a pageant of colour, song and dance, a moment of sheer joy and celebration. Finally, we wish our Nicholite community, the past and the present pupils, the teachers, the parents and the well-wishers a blessed and joyful fifteenth Anniversary and many Happy Returns of the day.
SPECTACULUM
Celebrating 15 years of stellar achievements after weeks and months of hustle and bustle and the hectic rush that marks the preparation for a mega event, 13th June was upon us, with a bang with spectaculum ready for public view.
The day dawned bright and clear, promising benevolent weather, and an event that the city of Negombo will remember for a long time, The grand celebration and felicitation of the Nicholite community on it’s 15 years of unparalled excellence in the field of education.
Nicholites were the main participants at the event, with an exhibition show casing their god given talents at Art, Science, Craft, Technology and many other fields of study. Special priority was given to this academic area, much appreciated by the large no of students and teachers who visited us from schools far and near.
Adding much variety, quality and interest to our exhibition, were the contributions made by the Archeological Department, Arthur C Clark Centre, Sri Lanka Air force and Army, Kelaniya University and NARA, with their stalls, displaying amazing stuff, seen by many of us for the first time.
The photo booth and the souvenir shop were two busy places where the visitors sealed their memories of Spectaculum with selfies and souvenirs of the event.
The Haunted house was another major attraction, dark and eerie, filled with the presence of every evil creature, guaranteed to scare the wits out of anyone who dared to enter it. nevertheless judging by the long line of visitors waiting patiently for entry, suggested that the abode of Dracula with his attendant evil spirits had suddenly become quite positive attraction, not withstanding the screams, The sighs, The groans and the roars.
The exposition of dazzling diamond jewellery on display had a magnetic effect on all the ladies who had gathered around the Blue Diamond collection.
Kids had their own entertainment area, complete with a huge bumping house, car rides in a pool, games of skill, target shooting, pets on show and for sale and their favourite ice creams, sweets and drinks to keep them going.
The event that stole the show on each day was the army super canines in action, where both males and females gave a stunning performance exhibiting their intelligence, loyalty, bravery and maneuverability in action. There were crowds thronging around the ground, applauding and cheering their amazing antics. The first two days passed by with much attention paid to the academic and entertaining activities.
The third and the final day of Spectaculum arrived and our line up of events commenced with the Nicholite community, a grateful congregation guthered at St. Josheph’s church, Malwatta, to give thanks to the Lord for all His love and inneasurable blessings showered on St,Nicholas for 15 long years.
The first event of the day was a Concelebrated High Mass sun In Latin. Rev. Fr. Quintin Fernando, The Director of BCI was the chief celebrant and he was assisted by Rev. Fr. Anslem Shiran Rector of St. Nicholas’s, Fr. Sunil Weragoda, The Spiritual director and Rev. Fr. Shanaka Mendis the principal of the junior school.
The Solemn Mass was followed by the Nicholite walk, The highlight and the grand culmination of the celebration. It turned out to be a long colorful and musical pageant, A tapestry woven Spectaculum in with bands playing popular tunes, students carrying banners and waving flags, the college dance troupe performing and group of Nicholites in dazzling costumes of and head gear representing red Indians and other ethnic communities presented a fusion of color sound movement in perfect harmony. The parents, Friends and well wishes Nicholites line up the streets cheering and encouraging them.
The entertainment proper commenced around 5.00 pm with a live band Ajith with Branded and there was much singing, dancing and merry making in the ground until it was time For the raffle draw, Which proved to be another event that droved the crowd crazy as many of the prizes were won by Nicholites themselves. Bringing the curtain down on a much awaited and a much celebrated event, ‘Spectaculum”, the 15th anniversary celebrations of St. Nicholas International College reached a triumphant finale with pomp A pride and fanfare reminding us of the bard William Shakespeare’s much enacted dram “All’s well that’s ends well”.
All praise and thanks be to our Heavenly farther for him loving presence a with us guiding us at every step, protecting us and blessing all our efforts and making this event a monumental success.
