The word Arcanum means secret, or mystery. However, it was no mystery that the fest held, commemorating the decennial year at St. Joseph's School CBSE, on the 1st and 2nd of August, 2024 was a grand success. The fest featured diverse competitions and activities that captivated the participants and audience alike. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Mr. Ian Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, overseeing nine schools in the TEAM Multi-Academy Trust. His presence added immense value to the event, and his words of encouragement resonated with everyone.
The inter-school fest showcased the talents of students from well-renowned schools in Bangalore, through events such as Syntheto, a thrilling music competition where various school bands showcased their unique styles, energizing the audience with electrifying performances. Zenith Arc, where intense and competitive basketball matches highlighted participants' skills and teamwork and demonstrated their sportsmanship and dedication. Moot Court, where aspiring lawyers presented their arguments and honed their advocacy skills, impressing judges with their legal knowledge and articulation. Athlos is an educational event offering insights into managing and organizing sports, which was well-attended by students who aim for careers in sports management. Identity Theft, an event focused on critical thinking and public speaking, gave participants a chance to prove their mettle by showcasing their wit and problem-solving skills. Occulus, an engaging and interactive experience where participants solved clues and pieced together evidence, to bring "the killer" to justice. Four-Fifty-Six, inspired by the popular TV series Squid Game, featured competitive and strategic games, testing participants' physical and mental abilities. Code-X, a coding competition for tech enthusiasts to solve programming challenges, highlighting their coding prowess and analytical thinking. The enthusiasm and participation of the students were commendable, fostering camaraderie and community spirit.
"Not only was the event enjoyable, it also helped us develop many qualities that will help us in the future. Overall, the event was very interesting!" said Dhravin and Huzaifa, participants of Occulus. "This was my first personality event, for which I was quite nervous. It has set a high precedent and has made me want to participate in more events like this. Will come if there's a second edition of Arcanum!" said Deshna, a participant of Identity Theft. "This fest gave us good exposure and experience. We learned how to organize events, collaborate, and learnt team management skills" said Ishita and Sheana, two of our event heads. "It helped us interact with new people, and we learned to look at things from different perspectives. It also gave me an opportunity to become friends with a lot of new people" said Anyaa, another one of our event heads.
The overall champions, St. Joseph's Boys' High School mentioned that, for a first edition, Arcanum was conducted in a very professional manner and time was managed excellently. Mr. David Sagairaj - VP of St Joseph's University visited the campus today. The students have outperformed in their expectations, the events were held under great vigilance and were executed with a lot of spontaneity
The fest concluded on a high note, with a DJ night featuring DJ Rubz and DJ Paddy, open to all participants, parents, and students, leaving everyone looking forward to the next edition of this extraordinary Arcanum