Young Horizons School celebrated Founder’s Day on June 24, in the presence of their founder Shourabh Mukerji, board member Sangeeta Mukerji, principal Sharmistha Sen and vice-principal Sonali Bansal.

The programme began in the school’s EM Bypass branch with a prayer written for this auspicious day. Head boy Roshan Yadav and head girl Disha Chatterjee, both of Class XII, gave speeches, highlighting the contributions of the founder.

The students of the senior school also presented a song on the occasion. Earlier, the school organised a blood donation camp in association with Kothari Medical Centre.

The students also set up two booths near the school and offered glucose drinks to passersby.

The students of the Karaya Road branch had also planned activities on June 23 and 24.

On Day 1, the children distributed lemonade to the passersby and the local shopkeepers. The students had made paper bags and distributed them among the vendors. The next day, students of Class VII went to St Josephs Home for the elderly to perform and distribute gifts.

"We are extremely fortunate to have visionary Sourabh Mukerji as our founder, leading us in our thoughts and actions. As we follow his footsteps and move forward, let us promise to serve with care and compassion," said the principal.

Tough knocks and show of grit — M.C. Kejriwal Vidyapeeth (MCKV) got to see some great sporting spirit inside the boxing ring as it hosted, for the first time, the regional boxing tournament 2023 (Bengal and Northeast) on behalf of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations on July 1. Thirteen schools took part in the event.

The chief guest was Saurasish Lahiri, a cricketer and coach of the senior Bengal team. Sailesh Pandey, co-ordinator of the council's games and sports and principal of Ratnakar North Point School also attended the event. Other guests included Kishan Kumar Kejriwal, chairman of M.C. Kejriwal Vidyapeeth, Neelkantha Gupta, its director, principal Mallika Mukherjee and others.

The opening ceremony began with a parade by the young boxers. Kishan Kumar Kejriwal delivered the welcome address.

Sailesh Pandey in his speech encouraged the young boxers to make sports an integral part of their lives. Saurasish Lahiri formally declared the meet open.

The competition had players contesting in three categories — Under-14, Under-17 and Under-19.

MCKV was declared the overall champion and Agrasain Boys’ School (ABS) was adjudged the first runners-up.

Devaans Pareek of ABS bagged the best boxer (Under -14, 32-34kg) award and Pratyush Jaiswal of MCKV was declared the Most Promising Boxer (Under-14, 30-32kg).

"Boxing is a new event in our school. We never thought we would be able to host this event but it has become a huge success. Boxing puts a student's strength, stamina, skill, endurance and patience to the test. These attributes will not only help a student ace the game but also in his personal and professional lives," said the principal.

The little chefs of Lower Kindergarten and Kindergarten, M.P. Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School, put on their chef's hats and created innovative dishes without using fire.

A lot of dishes were laid out, including Smiley Vegetable Sandwiches and Biscuit Canapes.

Sayanika Chatterjee of KG made a sandwich biscuit of all her favourite things.

"I added cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, sauce...it was so much fun. I love playing chef too," said the girl, reliving the happy memories.

Many children drew inspiration from the tiffins that their mothers pack every day and added their own imagination to some known dishes.

Abhyansh Singh of UKG was thrilled to make two treats — jam crackers and cheese crackers. The day ended on a happy note for the kids. "I enjoyed making them. I was so excited that I made these treats again for my parents in the evening," he said, ready to try out many more toppings.

"Creativity in any form is encouraged in our school. Every Friday, we have hands-on activities for our LKG and KG students. Their response to the no-fire cooking event was overwhelming," said vice-principal Sravani Roychoudhury.

Two days, three fests and unlimited talent — Lakshmipat Singhania Academy hosted Iris, a psychology fest, Bullionaire, a business fest, and Abhilaksha, a creative fest, on two days in July to provide a platform for the students of Classes VI to XII to interact with their peers and showcase their expertise. More than 16 schools took part in the events.

The theme was Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family).

The event began with the opening ceremony where the school choir performed. A brief introduction to all the events followed.

Iris gave students a glimpse of the working of the human mind. Bullionaire ignited the spirit of entrepreneurship and put students' financial and commerce skills to the test.

A range of events were organised on the two days.

Emotique brought the stage alive with miming performances. Mask-off, a makeup event, brought out the students' creativity as they painted one-half of a participant’s face to bring out their personality. Cognizance tested the participants' knowledge of psychological disorders.

In Dynamo, the teams presented smart sales pitches. The participants had to persuade the judges why their product deserved the spotlight over their competitors'. Student teams were also engaged in an auction to buy resources and make them profitable through strategic exchanges, fund analysis and calculated decisions to optimise their gains.

Fusion dance or Rhythm, exclusively for Classes IX to XII was a favourite the next day. Participants combined Indian classical and folk dance with western dance forms such as freestyle, ballet, jazz, hip-hop and contemporary.

There were also events that tested a student's culinary, acting and poetry-writing skills, among others.

"Fests are a great way to understand one's culture. Our theme was Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. These fests provide students with team-building knowledge and lead to a holistic development of one's self and talents," said director Meena Kak.

The Bhawanipur Gujarati Education Society (BGES) School conducted an eye camp for its students on June 15 and 16. The camp was organised with the help of Dr Divyesh Shah, under the Sight For Kids project of Lion’s Club International.

This camp is organised in the school every year for all the students. It was held in the second-floor hall on both days. The event began with a follow-up check on students, who were diagnosed with some eye problems the year before and referred to ophthalmologists for treatment.

Students from Nursery to Class VI were checked on Day I and the rest on the next day.

The camp had four eye specialists holding forth. More than 700 students were checked. Thirty-one students, who were diagnosed with weak eyesight, were given free spectacles that are environmentally friendly and biodegradable.

The event also spread awareness about eye disorders and refractive errors among schoolchildren.

"Eyes are our window to this wonderful world. It stands out as the most delicate organ that we living creatures possess. One must protect his or her eyes. Good health and good habits are very important for children," said principal Brij Bhushan Singh.

For The Akshar School, July 4 was a special day. It marked a milestone in the school's journey. As it turned 25, the inclusive institution celebrated the occasion by organising a cultural programme and hosting a prize day for both the senior and junior sections.

This year, the celebration theme was "Indigo". The students had researched about the evils surrounding the indigo plantation in India since the British time. Through their performances, the students wanted consumers to make informed choices, question where their food and clothes came from. The event connected history, science, arts, environmental study and geography and thus brought alive the classroom lessons for all.

The school had conducted several activities for all classes pertaining to indigo throughout the year. Bappaditya Biswas, co-owner of a handloom store in the city, and Sanjay Pramik, a farmer, had visited the school to help raise awareness regarding indigo. The duo shared experiences of growing indigo and using it to dye clothes. The students also worked on several projects related to indigo round the year, thus getting educated about the plant and the dyeing process.

The junior prize day started off with the opening speech. The choir sang Swagatam Shubha Swagatam and Mangalam. It included the alumni members as well. The singers wore traces of blue in their outfits.

The students received prizes for their academic achievements and other accomplishments. Nishtha Thakkar of Class XI got an award for her courage, determination and unwavering spirit. Ahmed Monem and Yatharth Seth, who passed from the school this year, won the Rajpal Khullar Memorial Trust Award for their single-minded determination and exemplary behaviour.

The junior skit, Our Nature Club, was set in the classroom with the teacher and students singing songs, reciting poems and rapping lyrics on nature. The play was short and helped the viewer understand the importance of nature.

The senior school also presented a play, Indigo Revolt, on the uprising that took place in 1859 in Bengal. It concludes with a fashion show where the students wore clothes designed by Biswas and walked the ramp. The play tried to reverse the stigma attached to growing indigo.

"The event turned out to be a learning process. We have read about the indigo plantation in history but not in such great detail. We also did not realise the advantages of growing indigo," said Totini Mukherjee of Class XI.

"With a profound sense of gratitude and pride, we commemorate and celebrate The Akshar School's remarkable 25-year journey. This occasion is not merely an opportunity for festivity; it is a moment for us to reflect on our accomplishments, acknowledge our roots and express appreciation for the visionaries, who paved the way for our success," said principal Kavneet Khullar.