ATL & THE SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
The Youth of today are the changemakers and innovators of the future. Nurturing the ideas that spring up in the young minds thereby enhancing their ability to make an impact that would ultimately bring a tremendous change for the world is what we aspire.
The ATL( Atal tinkering laboratory) is an initiative of the Central Government of India who has teamed up with the AIM(Atal innovation mission) and NITI Aayog to help create a space and environment for children of varied age groups to help them develop the spirit of creativity and innovation.
It lays emphasis on S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) which focusses primarily on the all-round development of the child, thus enabling a child to dream, tinker, create, and build.
The Science Association aims to promote curiosity, creativity among students and to inculcate scientific temperament and innovation among them by organizing various competitions, workshops, science exhibitions and field trips.
ATL Inaugural function
The ATL Teacher-members and students organised the Inaugural function of the Atal Tinkering Laboratory on the 13th of July 2023 in the St. Joseph Vaz Auditorium at 9:00 a.m. The function began with invoking God’s blessings through a short prayer by a student. The Principal, Madam Victoria De Souza, then welcomed the gathering followed by the reading of the ATL Committee report of 2022 – 2023 by Ms. Brenda Pereira. The resource person for the day was Dr. Efram D’Sa, former Asst. Professor in Physics at Carmel College, Nuvem. He spoke on the topic “Role of Physics and Mathematics in the field of Innovation”, and motivated students to develop their individual talents in Science and kindle their skills of experimentation by using the available resources. The guest speaker was formally introduced to the gathering by Ms. Maria Auxillia and was felicitated with a potted plant and a token of appreciation. The function concluded at 10:30 a.m. with the School Anthem by the students of 12th Science and a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Anjali Naik.
Activties in 2023-2024
Vedic mathematics
As one of the activity of ATL of St. Xavier’s Hr. S. school, Mapusa Goa a session on vedic mathematics was conducted by Mr. Sagar Ram Sakordekar from SRS vedic mathematics academy on 17/07/2023, in St. Joseph Vaz auditorium of innovation block at St. Xavier’s Hr. secondary school, Mapusa Bardez Goa. The Guest speaker was welcomed by Mrs. Maria Auxillia, convenor of ATL. Guest speaker taught around 70 students and teachers various methods of calculations like, multiplication, division, finding squares, cube roots etc. in easier and faster way by using various sutras of vedic mathematics. It had lot of positive effect on students as they actively participated in calculations. This session was attended by ATL student members and teachers. The session began at 11.00 a. m. and ended at 12.15 p. m.
“Explore the wonders of science”
The annual science exhibition cum competition of St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School, Mapusa, was held on the theme “Explore the wonders of science” for its students as well as its super school complex students by the ATL committee in collaboration with the science association. The event was held on Thursday, the 17th of August, 2023 in the St. Joseph Vaz Auditorium of the Innovation Block at the St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School, Mapusa.
Dr. Kaustubh Priolkar, Dean of Physical and Applied Sciences at Goa University was the chief guest for the function. The function began by invoking God’s blessings. The Principal, Madam Victoria De Souza, welcomed the gathering, which was followed by a short introduction of the jury panel, given by the ATL committee members. Mr. Shiva Krishna J, Assistant Professor at Agnel Institute of Technology and Design, Assagao Goa, Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Bhat, former Biology teacher of St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School, Mapusa, and Mrs. Martha Braganza, former Chemistry teacher of St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School, Mapusa were the judges for the competition.
WORKSHOP ON VEDIC MATHEMATICS
As one of the activity of ATL of St. Xavier’s Hr. Secondary school, Mapusa Goa a workshop on vedic mathematics (part 2) was conducted by Mr. Sagar Ram Sakordekar from SRS vedic mathematics academy from 19th October 23 to 21st October 23, in Room number 201, at St. Xavier’s Hr. secondary school, Mapusa Bardez Goa. The Guest speaker was welcomed by Mrs. Maria Auxillia, convenor of ATL.
Guest speaker taught in detail 48 students various methods of calculations like, multiplication, division, finding squares, cube roots etc. in easier and faster way by using various sutras of vedic mathematics. It had lot of positive effect on students as they actively participated in calculations. This session ended on 21st October. Every student was awarded a certificate of participation. Mr. Shivaji Gaonkar from mathematics department worked as a coordinator for this workshop
SKY WATCHING PROGRAM
A night sky watching program was conducted on 25th October, 2023 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School, Mapusa – Goa.
Mr. Satish Nayak, an expert from the Association of Friends of Astronomy, was the resource person for the program. The Vice Principal, Rev. Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, welcomed the gathering, while Ms. Maria Auxilia proposed the vote of thanks.
Mr. Satish Nayak presented a lively lecture on astronomy at the St. Joseph Vaz Auditorium which was followed by a sky watching session at the Fr. Nicolau Pereira Sky Observatory.
The celestial bodies projected through the telescope were the Moon and the planet Saturn.
Around 50 students attended the session. The program was co-ordinated by the ATL Committee members.
EDUCATIONAL TRIP TO BITS PILANI ,VASCO
An educational trip to BITS , for XII Sc students was organised by the heads and ATL committee teachers of St. Xavier’s Hr. Sec School, Mapusa. This trip was arranged on 06.11.2023, Monday. Around 140 students had come for the trip and we are proud of our students because they have taken part in different competitions conducted by different departments at BITS on the same day and won prizes.
They won prizes in quiz conducted by Computer science department, and Chemistry department, they also won first and third place in the ‘Bridge Design Competition’ conducted by the Department of Mechanical Engineering.They had very effective and intellectual sessions conducted by MATLAB and finally we left the BITS at 5pm .
