Notre Dame School Vasai, Mumbai
September 30th 2003 will remain a red letter day in the history of the diocese of Vasai, Maharashtra. Rev. Dr. Bishop Thomas Dabre the Bishop of Vasai officially welcomed Sr. Anima, Provincial Superior to begin our mission and ministry at St. Thomas Parish, Sandoor, Vasai. On surveying and analyzing the needs of the parishioners, after a year under the pioneership of Sr. Sneha, Sr. Anisha, and Sr. Namrata, Notre Dame School began its humble beginnings in two classrooms at St. Thomas High School, Devatalo on 14th June 2004. Sr. Mary Sneha, the first principal of the school (2004-2005), along with the two supportive sisters and two lay staff members opened wide the doors of the school to 83 young children who enrolled that year. The classrooms were well prepared and equipped with attractive Montessori materials.
The busy hum of activities, creative teaching and friendly learning environment did not take long to attract more admissions every academic year. The remarkable increase in the student strength necessitated a second shift of the school premises to St. Thomas Primary School in 2007. During Sr. Vidhya’s term as a principal (2005-2007), the students not only excelled in academics but also in co-curricular activities. After four years of arduous, regular and persistent knocking on the doors of land owners by Sisters Sneha and Jaya and the property committee members, Notre Dame acquired land. In a simple, yet official ceremony on 13th January 2008, Rev. Dr. Bishop Dabre, Sisters Jayanti, Jaya, Sneha and Julile laid the foundation stone of Notre Dame School, Vasai. Almost two years later on December 20th 2009 Notre Dame finally had her own premises to move into. Along with her 630 students, parents, sisters, fathers and well-wishers, the Corner Stone was blessed by Rev. Arch Bishop Felix Machado, Bishop of Vasai and Rev. Bishop Thomas Dabre, Bishop of Poona. This was followed by a well attended Holy Mass on the school ground.
For the third and final time the school joyously made the transition to the newly constructed school building to the location it occupies. The school has continued to grow from strength to strength under the leadership of Sr. Julie (2007-2012). Parents have whole-heartedly appreciated the efficient and qualified management and staff under whose guidance students have shown significant progress both in scholastic and co- scholastic areas. The annual sports days, parents’ days, Intra and interschool competitions, excursions, outreach programmes etc. have enhanced students’ social and interpersonal skills.
Sr. Chetana, the new principal continues to uphold the Notre Dame Educational Principles and emphasizes on the all around development of the students. Notre Dame School aims and aspires to produce students who will be agents of change in the society through their deep faith in God, unselfish leadership and academic values.
