It was a homecoming of sorts for over 200 Old Students of RSK Higher Secondary School as the Old Students� Association of RSK organized Old Students� Celebration At RSK, or, OSCAR 2004 on August 13 and 14, 2004. OSCAR was two days of colour, with programmes on four streams, and a Grand Reunion to top it all.

The four streams included a Cultural Extravaganza involving Inter-school cultural competitions, a Career Guidance Counselling Session for the students of Classes IX and X, an Open House on Career related issues for the students of XI and XII standards, and a special event called Model United Nations Assembly. 16 schools from in and around Trichy participated in the events, and many events were totally new and innovative.

The OSA had redefined the purpose of OSCAR 2004, and hence to add value to their contribution to the cause of School students, they brought out the three special programmes � Career Guidance, Open House and MUNA, alongside the Culturals. The message of OSCAR 2004 was to change the world, and lead it away from the brink of disaster where it is in now. Gauging from the reception from the crowd, it looks like this message was well received.

OSCAR 2004 began with a grand Inauguration by Mrs Barbara Samuel, the first teacher to be appointed in RSK, in 1964, and also the first teacher to retire from service on super-annuation. While Mrs Samuel and the Principal of the School were being escorted to the dais, all the Old students gathered at the campus, numbering around 100, walked behind the dignitaries as the song �Coming Home Now� by Boyzone played in the background. It was a touching scene as all the current students of the school clapped their hands in joy! The OSA should be commended for a touching Inauguration ceremony despite the fact that many of those who were directly involved were miles away, in Madras, Bangalore, Hyderabad and some even in the USA, and had not met before until the Inauguration day. Yet, the Inauguration went on without a glitch as though it had been rehearsed a hundred times before. Vijay Premkumar, one of the more active Old Students of the School, compered the Inauguration which had the OSCAR message read by the Secretary of OSA, Karthikeyan. The highlight of OSCAR 2004 was the OSCAR theme song, also called �Coming Home Now�, composed and performed by Karthikeyan and penned by Vijay Premkumar. The song had the crowd demanding the performances again and again.

The Cultural Extravaganza involved competitions in the following events � Admad, Manoranjan, Pot Pourri, Tamil Poetry, Tamil Pot-Pourri, Art events (combining Pencil sketching, Painting and Collage into one event of 3 arts), Quiz and JAM. With special judges invited from outside, and with eminent personalities like Prof. Garnet Fernandes of the St Joseph College conducting JAM, the events were top class. There were close contests between schools in Manoranjan, Quiz and Admad. At the end of the Cultural Extravaganza, RSK emerged the top team winning 67 points and clinched the overall trophy. The second place was shared between St Joseph�s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School and Sri Akilandeshwari Vidyalaya. ER Higher Secondary School came a close third.

So that the OSA gave more to students than an opportunity to showcase their talents, OSCAR had a Career Guidance Course for the IX and X Std students. These sessions were handled by Old Students who are now in eminent positions. Accordingly, Dr Jagaram, a leading doctor in the city handled an informative session on medicine as a career, Nisha handled a session on Visual Communications and Media, a session which was very well received, and Vijay Premkumar handled a session which introduced students to the counselling needs. A session on entrepreneurship had also been planned, but could not be staged due to lack of time. The feedback generally received was that the sessions were very useful.

In order to answer the many questions that would be troubling the minds of the students, an Open House discussion was planned for the XI and XII Std students. This discussion was attended by a panel of Old students from various streams. Questions ranging from preparing for Board Exams and Entrance Exams, to Career options were discussed. The OSA also has started two email ID�s which have been provided to the Students. Students could email the OSA representatives at these ID�s for emotional assistance as well as when they need technical guidance. This was the most appreciated branch of the 4 sessions at OSCAR.

So that these social services are not just for the students of RSK, the Career Guidance and Open House sessions were open for visiting schools too.

The 4th session, and the Special Session at OSCAR was the Model United Nations Assembly. Seven schools participated in this event which aimed at simulating a UN General Assembly session in order to drive to the students the points of time management, people management and resource management. The MUNA message was to Heal the world and to change the world, the answer for which is blowing in the wind. The schools represented various countries � Nepal (St James Matriculation), Sri Lanka (Campion), Pakistan (RSK), Israel (St Joseph Anglo Indian Girls), USA (Sri Akilandeshwari Vidyalaya), UK (ER) and China (St Little Flower Matriculation) � and some teams were very professional in their approach, complete to their costumes, flags, etc., The teams from Israel, Nepal, UK and the USA were very impressive in that they had done excellent research on the costumes worn by people of those countries, and had come dressed in them. The topic discussed was �War On Terror�, and after the MUNA Message Song of �Heal The World� by Michael Jackson and the MUNA Theme Song, �Blowing In The Wind� by Bob Dylan were played, the Secretary General for the session, Neetha (Class of 96) set the ball rolling with her �War On Terror� speech. This was followed by the various delegates speaking their �countries� point of view. A Question and Answer session followed when the various countries could question other countries. A General Speech session and a Group Discussion (where topics were given on the spot) were also held. At the end, St Joseph�s Anglo Indian girls bagged the first prize in MUNA as the best team which also saw three other special prizes (School bags sponsored by the Class of 96) being given to the Best Speaker in the General Assembly Speech (St Joseph Anglo Indian), the Best Speaker in the General Speech (St Little Flower Matriculation) and Best Speaker in Group Discussion (ER Higher Secondary). The session ended with the OSA providing tips to the participants on effective Group Discussions and also on effective writing. Writing Assessment for MUNA was also held, where the topic was why the participants� respective schools should be voted the best school in the city. The teams had to present one write-up each on the topic, and the best write-ups were from St Joseph�s Anglo Indian Girls School and St Little Flower Matriculation.

The Valediction of OSCAR was as grand as the Inauguration. With Bro Dhanaraj, Provincial of Trichy, Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel, as the Chief Guest, the Valediction saw the prizes being handed over to the various winners. A special guest performance by OSA of popular Western and Indian songs was also well received, especially as they all came with no practice sessions held before. The OSCAR Theme song was played again, for the last time, and the entire crowd joined in. With inspiring words of advice from the Chief Guest, just as Mrs Barbara�s were on the previous day, and an address of support from the Principal of RSK, Bro Mariannan, OSCAR�s curtains were drawn down. Yamini, the Treasurer of OSA presented the OSCAR 2004 Report. A touching PowerPoint presentation was held which aimed at stressing the need for World peace and how children were being affected due to the lack of it. As the presentation slides came up, Michael Jackson�s �The Lost Children� made it an excellent backdrop, and the presentation drew excellent applause. The highlight of the 2 days came when Vijay, the compere for the valediction also, called on stage all the Old Students to sing the School Song. An entire crowd of 200 old students climbed the stage to sing RSK�s School song. While the present students looked on in wonder, it was a very touching moment for the Old students. As soon as the song was sung, many could be seen hugging each other in joy.

While the strains of the Sound Of Music song �So Long, Farewell� song sounded, the crowd dispersed as the Old students assembled for a Grand Reunion, the grandest in the last few years, with around 200 Old students making it to the event. New Secretary and Treasurer and other committee members were elected, and the Old students also felicitated the teachers with a meal session.

Two days ran by as though they were a couple of minutes. The OSA has promised that OSCAR would be back next year� soon!