Commerce Department
“Commerce is the sum total of the processes which are engaged in the removal of hindrances of person (trade), places (transport and insurance) and time (warehousing) in the exchange (banking) of commodities. It is an organized system for the exchange of goods and services between the members of the industrial world.” --- James Stephenson

To teach this to the students of class 8, 9 and 10 was indeed a great experience for me especially class 9 and 10, as it was the 1st year of my teaching these classes. But the help and support rendered by the management, headmaster and other staff members gave me confidence to teach these higher classes. A reasonable amount of confidence in one's own powers is necessary for success.

Studying commerce without practical experience is incomplete. A right combination of studies and excursions or factory visits helps the students to learn and understand the subject well. These factory visits help them to understand the concepts of production, assembling, packaging, branding and many more. The students of 8, 9 and 10 had been to chikki-making factory, jewellery-making factory and Tejas milk factory. Making of chikkis, assembling of beads, pearls,
stones, etc to make jewellery, processing and purification of milk were spectacle to watch. These visits also help the students to make the projects as the syllabus demands for it.

Commerce helps to develop in students a perceptive, sensitive and critical response to the role of business in a simple way. To make the parents realize the importance of this subject, the school is going to conduct a seminar for all those respected parents who underestimate or do not have sufficient knowledge and information about the field and importance of commerce. It is rightly said, “Experience is the best way of learning.” This one year of experience in teaching commerce has improved my learning abilities and also built up my self-confidence.

Computer Department
I THINK……………. THEREFORE I AM …. (Descartes)
Computers have woven their way into our existence so intricately that life without them is quite unimaginable. With the extravagant use of computers, the need to be more than just computer literate is the demand of the hour. The Department of Computers at St. Peters is highly sensitive to this aspect and has ensured that change with the times would further thrust the the school upward in its quest to be the Best school in Panchgani.

The world is growing smaller and with the evolution of technology at its peak, computer software and hardware are soon becoming obsolete. The Computer department hence found the need to upgrade the existing computers as well as replaced the old monitors with brand new TFT monitors.
Internet is the fastest and cheapest mode of gathering / transmitting information, data and mails. Once again sensing the need of our children to communicate with the wide world outside, The Junior computer lab came into existence. 30 new computers with wireless Internet connection will be installed in the lab this year.

The Computer department also plans to introduce Teacher training programmes in its curriculum which would make our teachers gain more knowledge on the basics of computers and would also help them in their teaching.

On the whole there has been quite a development in the Computer Department in their pursuit to inculcate a thinking process within a child. Because we know well that an early interest towards this wonder machine could streamline many a career and more important develop a child's logical and reasoning power. Thus the year that went by has been than satisfactory and we look forward to a more promising year to come.

Mr.Prasanna Kelkar
(HOD – Computer Department)

English Department
As the English Department is the backbone of any institution, similarly our department plays a very vital role in the all round development of the learner. We have a very good set of
efficient, trained and hard working English teachers who help to imbibe and instill in the mind of the learner the 4 skills, namely reading, writing, speaking and listening.

The English teachers in the junior section and middle school are –Mrs.P.Pais, Mrs.Chavan, Ms.S.Dias,Mr. C.Reeves and Mr.J.Petersen The teachers in the senior section Mr. D.D'monte,
Mr. C. Gaynor and Mrs.S.James steer the ship ashore.

At present the English Department is conducting a Spelling Competition for all the class every Saturday. After supper on Saturday nights during the Entertainment Hour students will get
to air their views through Impromptu Speaking and it will be mandatory for all the students to participate. Very soon we will be purchasing a lot of new library books not only to update our
library but to encourage reading among our kids. We hope these small endeavours of ours will be a giant leap for our learners. Unfortunately Mrs. Choudhary left our department and school for better prospects.

“A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron”. - Horace Mann

Christopher Gaynor
Coordinator, English Department

E.V.E. Department
Teachers Names
1. Ms. Reetuparna Ganguly. (9B) – Co-ordinator.
2. Mr. Niteen Salvi. (9A & 10 B)
3. Mr. Craig Reeves. (8A & B and 10 A)
4. Mr. Shijo K.D. (7A & B)
5. Mrs. Ingrid Fernandes. (6A & B)
6. Mrs. Priya Chavan. (4A & 5A)
7. Ms. Shantu Dias. (4B & 5B)
8. Mrs. Priya Pais. (3)
Powerpoint presentations were used in regular teaching. Each class had an eco-camp once where curriculum related activities were organized for refining and extending of knowledge. Special care was taken in planning for camp for interdisciplinary and comprehensive learning. Apart from eco-camp field trips were also arranged. The lessons, projects, field trips and eco-camps were planned in the department meeting. In the last department meeting, the textbooks and syllabus were planned for the next academic year. The department meetings were held every month. In the meetings all the teachers gave suggestions which were taken into consideration according to feasibility. Thanks for continuous guidance and support from Mr. Peter Patrao.

Library Department
“Books are the quietest and most constatnt of friends.
They are more accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. "

Library is the heart of any school. All students love to read. They spend a good deal of their leisure time with novels, magazines, encyclopedias or with books and manuals connected with their particular fields of interest, psychology and photography.

H.W. BEECHER says, “Books are the windows through which the soul looks out.” So in that way a Library helps children to inculcate habits of reading from childhood only. It plays a vital role in one's life to develop his own responsibility. “Reading well is one of the greatest pleasures solitude can offer you.”

This year our school has taken major steps to improve the reading habits of the students. One of them was the Scholastic Book Exhibition. This book fair was held for the students to start building up their reading habits, the different varieties of books gave the students an opportunity to select a book which they would read.
We have been successful in our objectives as:-
1) The students have started taking interest in reading.
2) The library is visited regularly by students.
3) Some of them have also started reading Hindi books to improve their language.
4) The students also refer to the reference books for their project work.

On behalf of the student body I thank Mr. D'Monte for organizing this book exhibition.
Another notable feature of this year is that our school has enrolled as a member of the British Library, Pune. This was initiated by our Headmaster, Mr. D'Monte and backed by our
school management. This membership benefits the students and the staff to have an easy access to certain books which are not available in our library. The British Library provides online
resources especially for the staff.

We are highly obliged to some parents and ex-students who have voluntarily come forward to contribute more books to enhance the students reading habits. Through the Phoenix I take the opportunity to thank -
1) Mr. E. Lazaras, Hon. Secretary
2) Father Joe Saldhana
3) Mr. and Mrs. Noel
4) Mr. Aman Rai
5) Mr. Aggarwal.
6) Mr. Amikat
7) Mr. Menon
8) Mr. Kirti Rathod
9) Miss Jane kane
10) Mr. and Mrs. Suvarna Sunil

“A good book contains more real wealth than a good bank. "

“Reading is to the mind” said Sir Richard Steele, great literary figure of the 18th century. “What exercise is to the body, the teachers while mind needs daily exercise and if done in the right spirit and in a healthy manner, reading will help keep your mind fresh and active always, the more efficiently you read, the more you will tend to read.” The more you read the more you grow in
knowledge and interests. This is the reading cycle. Once you begin the cycle, you can barely predict, how far it is a point to enjoy your reading rather than take it as a task to be accomplished.
This year many new story-books have been added to our school library. And for that on behalf of all the students, I thank our management and Headmaster, Mr. D'Monte who have promoted this gesture.
Last but not the least I thank Karan Butala (School Librarian) and Vipul Haralkar (Vice-School Librarian) for their helping hands towards updating the school library.

Mrs. Sandhya M. Choudhary
(Librarian)

Mathematics Department
Co-ordinator :- Mr. Sunil Mane
As we say mathematics is the queen of all the subjects, St Peter's Mathematics department always maintains minimum level of learning mathematics.
To create interest in maths, we always try different methods like organizing many competitive exams like maths Olympiad on different levels and quizzes. Senior maths club run by Mr. Mane tries to develop different skills of maths among the children . Part of Vedic Maths is also taught during Maths club. Department has Mrs. Priya Pias , Ms. Shantu Dias , Mrs. Priya Chavan , Mr. Vijay Kale as primary and middle section maths Mr. N. Khan and Mr. Sunil Mane handle senior section .

Maths co-ordinators office is like mini library for maths, also our main library has many reference books on mathematics.

St. Peter's is one of the rare Schools to establish maths lab to increase teaching learning skills among the pupils . Maths lab is established with the help of ' RAMANUJAN MUSEUM & MATH EDUCATION CENTRE CHENNAI .

School always sends Maths teachers to attennd work shops ,conferences to different places to improve their skills and knowledge.

Maths Olympiad
Department of Mathematics organized an Olympiad on 3rd September, 2007 which was conducted by Mr. Mane(coordinator) of Maths department and the other teachers. The purpose of conducting this Olympiad was to spur interest in Mathematics within the students and to develop
problem solving through the excitement of friendly competition in a timed format.

Around 220 students of St. Peter's School from class III to class X participated in this Olympiad. Master Yasin Cutpiecewala from class IV A stood 22nd in rank among these schools. Certificates and medals were given to these students during the special assembly in our school.

Thus by conducting this Olympiad the mathematical capabilities of identifying, recognizing and rewarding excellence in Mathematics has been strengthened among the students.

We hope that our Maths department will be one of the best department of the school.