Annual sports, meets highlight success and fun

Birla High School, Mukundapur

Birla High School, Mukundapur, hosted its 5th Spellympic Competition on December 16. The event was held to mark the school's Founder’s Day. The competition showcased a display of linguistic prowess and intellectual agility among the participants and aimed at celebrating language proficiency and creativity.

A diverse group of students from 17 schools in the city took part in this competition. Every candidate displayed grit and a lot of hard work. The participants from the host school — Shreyansh Mukhopadhyay of Class IV, Reyansh Prasad and Ditya Ray Chaudhuri of Class V — clinched the champion's trophy.

The event started with the preliminary rounds that saw 10 schools going up to the finals. The final competition started with the school choir singing the Saraswati Vandana, followed by the school song. The lamp of knowledge was lit by the dignitaries.

Major General V.N. Chaturvedi, secretary-general of the Vidya Mandir Society, addressed the audience, stressing on the importance of honing language skills, especially in this age of globalisation. Headmistress Rakhee Patel welcomed chief guest, academician Shabina N. Omar.

Raju Raman of the Calcutta Debating Circle was the moderator of the final rounds. He began by enumerating the rules of the competition. The event had five rounds — Spelling, Proverbs, Debugging, Wuzzles and the Online Round which consisted of a word maze. An audience round was conducted after each round on stage. The students from the audience, who gave away the correct answers, were given a word game.

The competition was a close one with four schools sharing the second spot. They were Birla High School for Boys, Mahadevi Birla World Academy, Garden High School and Sri Sri Academy.

The winners from the home team demonstrated exceptional spelling, linguistic and word-building skills. Gift hampers were handed over to each participant. In addition, the winners got a Kindle, story books, word-building books, medals and certificates. The schools securing the second position were given a cheque worth Rs 5,000 along with trophies, certificates and medals.

"Spellympic, the inter-school spelling and word-building contest for the junior section, occupies a very important place in our school almanac. In the junior school years, the emphasis on spelling and word-building should be of paramount importance. It cultivates a rich vocabulary, enabling students to articulate their thoughts with confidence," said principal Hira Prasad.

Purwanchal Vidyamandir

Purwanchal Vidyamandir organised an art and science exhibition at its auditorium on December 20 and 21.

The exhibition was inaugurated by chief guest Basab Chaudhuri, senior director of Kalyan Bharti Trust and principal of Heritage Institute of Technology.

The event was a celebration of the creativity and curiosity of young minds. It showcased craftwork, illustrations and models of both Primary and Senior schools.

The auditorium was transformed into a magical land of imagination and innovations. The walls showcased artwork and craftwork of students in myriad hues, that spoke of hours of hard work. Many were done with everyday recycled materials, conveying a message of sustainability.

Students crafted Santas with paper plates, farms out of plasticine clay, colourful lamps and other artefacts. Junior students created models on water conservation.

The science department brought to life the wonders of chemistry, physics and biology. Interactive science exhibits captivated visitors and questions poured in from them.

Senior students put up charts and working models of the human anatomy. The depiction of acid rain and its harmful consequences alerted viewers to the degradation of nature caused by humans. Models of anti-theft locker and a robotic car, made by the students, were much appreciated.

The commerce and economics department put up models and charts showing banking and currency. The geography department put up exhibits on earthquakes and the lifecycle of a river.

The International Dimension in Schools counter showcased all the exchange programmes that the school was part of. On display were greeting cards, gifts and letters that the school and its students had received from students in the UK, Taiwan, South Korea and Kazakhstan.

Principal Rani Jessica Gomes said: "Each project on display represented a journey of learning, a challenge overcome and a spark of genius ignited."

Khalsa Model Senior Secondary School

Khalsa Model Senior Secondary School organised its annual sports meet on December 15 and 16, with students participating enthusiastically.

Among the guests was esteemed academician Neena Gupta, an alumna of the school.

The event commenced with the melodious Shabad sung by the students. School president Sardar Devender Singh Benipal officially declared the meet open. Following this, there was an inter-house march past and an NCC parade.

Students from Classes I to V presented a welcome dance, while another group performed a dance on the theme of the G20 Summit. All athletes took part in an oath-taking ceremony before engaging in various track events. Parents, students and teachers present on the grounds also pledged to prioritise fitness.

The students competed in multiple races such as hurdles, slow cycle, inter-house relay, 100m and 400m. Enthusiastic participation was witnessed from parents, managing committee members, teachers, former students and Group D staff members in various events. Baba Jujhar Singh Ji House (blue) emerged as the winner.

“We witnessed tremendous determination, dedication and effort on the sports day. The event was a team work and, I believe, teamwork makes the dream work,” said principal Gurmeet Kaur Arjani.

Bhavan’s Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir

The Foundation and Primary sections of Bhavan’s Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir (BGKV) took part in their annual sports on December 19 and 20.

Day I was for Pre-primary I, II and Classes I and II.

The guests at the event were Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan director G.V. Subramanian, Bhavan’s Institute of Management Sciences principal Shibo Prosad Mohapatro, BGKV principal Arun Dasgupta, vice-principal Monami Chattopadhyay, headmistress Suparna Chatterjee and assistant headmistress Chaitali Bhowmik.

The event began with the tots performing a welcome song and dance on the conservation of Mother Earth. The headmistress gave her welcome speech and the director declared the sports meet open.

Little ones took over the field in bright hues as they presented a lovely drill display. They took part in many races, flat race being the most popular. Also on the cards were some thematic races where the students used props. Everybody had fun on their field day.

Classes III, IV and V had theirs the next day. The guests were Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan chairman Bikram Sarkar (IAS officer retd), its director G.V. Subramanian, founder-secretary of green organisation Vinisha, BGKV principal and others. The programme started with a welcome dance dedicated to Lord Ganesh. This was followed by a parade. Assistant headmistress Chaitali Bhowmik delivered the welcome address while the chairman declared the meet open. This was followed by drills. Students took part in flat races, relays and thematic sprints.

“Our sports day is more than just a showcase of athletic abilities; it stands as a celebration of teamwork, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. At BGKV, our primary emphasis has always been on fostering the holistic development of our students and sports emerges as a vital element in realising this objective,” said the headmistress.

Seth Soorajmull Jalan Balika Vidyalaya

The Primary section of Seth Soorajmull Jalan Balika Vidyalaya organised a winter carnival from December 11 to 15 to spread Christmas cheer.

An exhibition was also organised on the occasion offering students of Nursery to Class V a platform to learn new things through creative activities, under the guidance of their teachers. The students exhibited artwork as well as delicious grub.

Tots from Pre-primary section and Classes I and II made snowmen, wall clocks, Christmas cards and clay models. Students of Class III and IV displayed paintings on canvas, pottery and Christmas tree decorations.

Students of Class V displayed wall hangings and made Santa Claus out of paper and cotton.

The food corner included tangy corn chaat, puffed balls of peanut butter, tasty sandwiches and cupcakes prepared by Pre-primary, Class IV and V students that they displayed with great pride.

On the final day of the carnival, Primary students showcased their creative artwork in an exhibition. On display were photo frames, wall clocks made out of matchsticks, cards and canvas paintings.

"At the end of the school year, the winter carnival came as a much-needed break for the students who were looking for fun activities after their final exams. Students collaborated with their peers and teachers to plan, create and exhibit a grand celebration," said Primary principal Annu Singh.

Apex Academy

Teachers and students of Apex Academy ended the year by attending a few workshops, in-house as well as those organised by other institutions.

All the teachers attended an in-house training on, Classroom Management and Discipline. It focused on some innovative techniques that will help manage the students better. The teachers were taught how to engage the shifting attention of students and make them disciplined without having to raise their voices.

There were some workshops for the students that gave wings to their creative side. Those with a flair for acting got to attend a Drama and Performing Act workshop held in the school. The session gave the participants an idea about performing arts such as play and its related fields and how they can enrich their performance even with few props. The workshop was not only fun but also gave the students a break from their regular classrooms.

English teachers from the school attended an academic workshop conducted by academician Hilda Peacock at Sri Sri Academy as well as one on Cognitive, Affective and Competency-Based Teaching in English Language organised by the Oxford University Press India at The Park Hotel.

“Workshops are useful for both teachers and students. They provide teachers an opportunity to learn about new methods, strategies and technologies. They give valuable insights and practical skills to the educators,” said principal Nayantara Roy.