Cyber crime talk and the magic of 'Arabian Nights'

Sri Sri Academy

Twenty-three students and two faculty co-ordinators of Sri Sri Academy had an educational experience during a trip to Malaysia. The students took off for a week on January 6 to learn from the culture and heritage of a new nation and interact with its student community and leaders.

The first destination was Putrajaya, the nation’s administrative capital and the seat of the famous Putra Mosque.

The students attended an official welcome session in the evening that was hosted by the ministry of economy.

The first learning experience happened at Planetarium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, where the students got to study detailed models of the solar system and periodic tables. They also watched a 3D film, We Are Astronomers.

At the Bank Negara Museum, the young learners got to see the range of global currencies.

The evenings were about having fun at Times Square.

Other sites visited during the trip were the National Science Centre in Kuala Lumpur, where the students enjoyed gaming and exploring some practical applications of scientific concepts.

The students also had an interaction with a political leader getting an insight into Malaysia’s political landscape. They discussed educational, economic and industrial policies with him.

They also took part in discussions on Sustainable Development Goals at the Sunway University and the University of Malaya as well as checked out higher education options there.

The students did a lot of shopping at Chinatown. From local music to food, they sampled a lot of exotic fare. They also appreciated the iconic KLCC Twin Towers and visited the Batu Caves and the Indoor Theme Park.

A visit to the Royal Selangor factory taught them the pewter-making process. The students ended their journey with a visit to Beryl’s Chocolate Factory, where they sampled a delightful assortment of chocolates.

“This was a carefully curated excursion, aimed to extend the boundaries of classroom learning by integrating real-world experiences with academic curriculum. The selection of destinations for this trip, ranging from historical landmarks to natural wonders, was intentional, crafted to ignite curiosity and deepen the students’ understanding of global cultures and environments,” said principal Gargi Banerjee.

 Indus Valley World School

Students of Indus Valley World School got educated on some safe road and Internet practices at a session taken by deputy commissioner of police (traffic) south, Amit Shaw.

The IPS officer made the school students aware of the traffic rules to be followed for safely commuting on roads.

The aim was to build a safer community of students in terms of cyber alertness.

The top cop also discussed relevant points on general cyber awareness, including issues such as password hacking, hazards of tracking someone on social media, downloading dubious links and sharing the OTPs with fraudsters.

Shaw asked the students to pass the knowledge on to the senior citizens in their homes.

Students discussed various issues faced by them. They were informed about the Bondhu app of Calcutta police through which they can contact the nearest police station, if in trouble, with real-time tracking of the location from the place of crime. The students were told to "dial 100 for an emergency".

Officials of the Purba Jadavpur traffic guard and Panchasayar police station were also present at the session.

"Calcutta police are doing exemplary work to raise awareness among school students regarding the importance of safety on the streets as well as in cyberspace. The importance of such sessions can never be overstated, especially for students who spend long hours on their phones," said director Amita Prasad.

Divya Arya Vidya Public School

Divya Arya Vidya Public School organised their annual day, Euphoria, with much fanfare on December 17.

A cultural programme was organised on the occasion. It started with Saraswati Vandana by the school choir. The guests included principal Ashes Maity, former district session judge Chandrama Singh, educator Manan Ojha, former senior superintendent of central excise and customs Jai Shankar Prasad, chairperson Uma Shankar Prasad and secretary Pankaj Gupta. They lit the inaugural lamp. Next, Classes V to XI presented a dance on Lord Shiv.

The kids of Lower Nursery, Upper Nursery and Kindergarten danced to nursery rhymes. There was also a performance by some special children of different classes and their educators.

Students of Classes V to VIII presented a dance on plastic pollution, while Classes II and III recited Rabindranath Tagore’s poem, Dui Pakhi.

The students paid homage to the revolutionary Bhagat Singh through a dance drama, highlighting his contributions to India’s struggle for freedom. Merit certificates were distributed to all class toppers in an award ceremony that followed.

The main attraction of the evening was Ghore Ferar Gaan, a drama highlighting the loneliness of parents when their children fly the nest to pursue their careers. The play left many moist-eyed.

A power-packed retro dance and music performance followed where the school choir group and performers left the audience spellbound.

"Our annual day celebration is the reflection of vibrant educational and co-curricular accomplishments achieved so far. The commendable performance of our students indicates our school's holistic development approach," said principal Ashes Maiti.

Don Bosco School, Liluah

Students of Don Bosco School, Liluah, took part in an inter-class cricket tournament, Bosco Premier League, organised for the first time by the school's sports club on January 12.

The tournament was highly appreciated and many students took part in it.

The 10-over matches were played between various sections of Classes VI and VII. Each one lasted around 40 minutes. The event started at 9.30am with all the players ready to give their best.

For both Classes VI and VII, the finals were between Section B and Section E. For Class VI, Team Section E was given a target of 80 runs and the students emerged winners with 2 wickets.

For Class VII, Team Section B emerged winners with 8 wickets, chasing 70 runs.

The tournament wrapped up by 12.30pm. It was a great experience for all the cricket lovers, and fans kept cheering their favourite players throughout the matches.

"The cricket tournament aimed to inculcate virtues of teamwork. It was a tremendous success by all means, and we look forward to having more such tournaments," said principal Fr Manoj Jose SDB.

Julien Day School, Calcutta

Music, magic and humour — the annual Christmas concert of Julien Day School, Calcutta, was all about making the audience relax and rejuvenate. The flagship event was held on the group's Howrah branch grounds.

The cultural programme catered to every taste. It began with a welcome dance by senior students. The main attraction of the evening was a musical inspired from The Arabian Nights, focusing on the tale of Aladdin, among others. The musical was a hit, the result of months of practice put up by the students and teachers.

After the hypnotic music of The Arabian Nights, the school band took over and impressed all with their performance. Many among the audience also began dancing as the band played on.

Next, it was time for some humour. The Bengali department staged a play, Wildstone, that had the audience in splits. The Bengali play was followed by a fusion dance by the junior and senior sections, mixing the best of various cultures, philosophies and experiences.

A surprise was in store for the audience after the vote of thanks by principal Siddharth Dey. Chairman of the Julien Day group of schools J.G. Broughton and his band Julientes went up on stage and performed, leaving the audience cheering.

The curtains went down to a nativity play performed by the students of Classes IV and V.

"It was a delight to witness our talented students perform confidently and express themselves. Their performance also showcased the encouragement and mentoring by the teachers, who are committed to bringing out the best in the students," said the principal.

Birla Bharati

Birla Bharati organised its annual sports day on December 21. The day started with an opening ceremony.

The chief guest at the event was cricketer-coach Arun Lal and the guest of honour was Isro scientist and Birla Bharati alumni Sourav Maji, who was associated with Chandrayaan-3.

Other guests included footballers Manas Bhattacharya, Syed Rahim Nabi and Rotarian Tanu Roy.

A march past by the four houses — Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire and Topaz — followed. The students marched to the school band in synchronised beats.

The dignitaries hoisted the school flag and the sports flag and the sports torch was lit by the students. Finally, principal Apala Datta declared the meet open.

The programme began with a drill display by the Pre-primary department. There were theme-based track events for the junior section. This was followed by a martial arts display. The middle and senior school sports included numerous races where the participants of all the four houses competed.

The day ended with the prize distribution ceremony. Topaz House emerged the overall winners.

"Birla Bharati believes not only in academic development but also in the physical and emotional welfare of students. Involvement in sports activities builds self-esteem, promotes confidence, develops leadership qualities and team management. Our annual sports showcases the talents and skills of our young athletes to the fullest," said the principal.