The past pupils of 13 Kandy schools will gather in the afternoon of February 24 at the CH and FC Grounds to celebrate yet another year of togetherness, cooperation and camaraderie. The day’s events start off at 3.30 p m and include, among other fun items, a netball match between ‘girls’ and ‘boys’!
The first Kandy Bash in 2007 saw around eight Kandy schools being represented by past pupils. The next year we had many more and this year we have the lucky number of 13 schools in the group. The annual bash is a blast! It’s so much fun with races, matches, performances, competitions, singing and dancing and to cap it all, a march past, with some schools having matronly old girls in school uniform! Proceedings start with the hoisting of the school flags by the respective Principals if they are present, or Presidents of the schools’ Past Pupils’ Associations. Unfailingly, with the hilarious fun and happy meeting of old friends, most probably, special ones from opposite-sex sister schools; there creeps in nostalgia as one remembers the days of youth in conservative Kandy.
This gathering of Kandy schools – seven girls’ schools and six boys’ colleges - represented by nominated members who form the Kandy Schools’ Past Pupils’ Association (KSPPA) - is certainly not fun and games only. Its primary aim is to strengthen the unity and cooperation among the schools and extend friendship irrespective of age, sex, cultural differences and college ties. There is the worthy sense of loyalty to parent schools and a desire to be of assistance. Thus, the organization of many events ranging from musical shows to a concert showcasing talents of past pupils, with the proceeds being utilized to set up and maintain a hostel to house teams from the Kandy schools coming to Colombo for matches and contests. Career guidance for the present students of Kandy schools has been a major target of the KSPPA, hence, the seminars and workshops held in Kandy.
The KSPPA Committee meets every month and keeps the association and its activities ticking. The schools represented (in alphabetic order) are: Dharmarajah, Girls’ High School, Good Shepherd Convent, Hillwood, Kingswood, Mahamaya, Pushpadana, Sri Sumangala (St Paul’s), St Anthony’s, St Scholastica’s, St Sylvester’s, Trinity and Vidyartha.
NPW