Four plays, an youth fest and lifeskill upgrade

Douglas Memorial Higher Secondary School

Tiny tots of the Prep and Primary section of Douglas Memorial Higher Secondary School recently took part in an annual day extravaganza, Reverie. The event showcased multiple performances — Farmilia, Land of Cards (a representation of Tagore's Tasher Desh), Sashwata Gange and The Lion King.

The chief guest was Suman Sood, director and principal of B.D. Memorial Junior. Rector Wilson Gidla welcomed her. Other guests included principal Sonia Gidla and CEO Shashikant Gidla.

The tale of Farmilia transported the auditorium into a land of rhymes, antics, fun and frolic. The Prep section played farm animals and told stories of ideal picnics.

Land of Cards (Tasher Desh) took all to the world of cards. The Primary students played the regal king, graceful queen, mischievous joker and the steadfast ace with elan.

Through vibrant dance routines and short acts in between, they wove a tale of alliances and rivalry in the card kingdom.

Sashwata Gange emphasised on the importance of preserving our environment and cherishing our natural resources. The Primary students portrayed the journey of a river from its pure and untamed beginning to its polluted state. The message of sustainability and the need for responsible actions resonated through their act.

The Lion King brought to life the story of Simba, the lion cub destined to be the king. With energy and fervour, the young talents showcased their acting prowess as they recreated the iconic scenes from the beloved film.

The timeless classic, Circle of Life, came alive on stage as the embodiment of friendship, courage and leadership, leaving the audience both entertained and inspired.

Countless hours of rehearsals, costume fittings and collaborative brainstorming sessions culminated in a grand spectacle that left the audience in awe.

"Reverie brings out the hidden fantasies of children which are also well connected to life’s reality. From Farmilia to Lion King, we tried to bring art and life together. The River Ganga Project was a beautiful portrayal of the dual sides of Mother Nature — the benevolent and malevolent," said the principal.

B.D.M. International

B.D.M. International spread goodness and cheer by donating goodie bags to members of two non-government organisations in the city in the run-up to the festive season.

The students of the school's interact club and its scouts and guides celebrated Daan Utsaav (Joy of Giving) on October 5. The event was meant to encourage the students to start their own journey of charity and volunteering for social causes.

Each year, the school celebrates Daan Utsav with various organisations, philanthropists, social activists and children.

The drive was planned weeks in advance. Students and staff members of the school were encouraged to donate for the cause.

Interact club members, teacher representatives, scouts and guides first dropped in at Sarala Punyashram. The members of the shelter home were given clothes and stationery items. The students also spent quality time with them.

The next stop was Uttar Kalikata Ananda Mandir Club, where the NGO members were provided with chairs and goodie bags containing clothes and stationery items.

The students also arranged various interactive games for the NGO members. Everybody had a great time as new friendships bloomed.

"We encourage our students to fulfil their social responsibility. Some of them have written exams for the blind in the past. During the festive season, we wanted everyone to have clothes and goodies as we buy for ourselves," said principal Madhumita Sengupta.

G.D. Goenka Public School, Siliguri

A flurry of activities marked the CBSE Far East Zone Yoga Championship that had been held at G.D. Goenka Public School, Siliguri, from October 13 to 15.

Participants signed up from Assam (17), Chhattisgarh (1), Odisha (8), Tripura (4) and Bengal (25). There were a total of 214 participants from 55 schools.

The chief guest was S.S. Agarwal, president of the North Bengal Sahodaya School Complex. Other guests included Ajay Kumar Shastri, president of the State Yoga and Sports Association, Delhi, and a CBSE observer, Taposhi Pal Banik, secretary of the North Bengal Sahodaya School Complex, and Mantu Ghosh, former table tennis player.

The event commenced with director-principal Sonika Sharma welcoming the guests. The chief guest declared the event open. The contests were held across three venues. On the second day, there were some live music and dance performances by the participating schools. The chief guest for prize distribution was Jaideep Arya, secretary of the General Yogasana Bharat.

"This was the first time our school hosted such a big championship. Yoga is very important in our school, and every class is trained in it," said school administrator Pravash Dey.

Delhi Public School, New Town

Students of Delhi Public School, New Town, hosted their annual inter-school youth fest, Yuvakarshan, on October 4, 10 and 11.

The chief guest for the opening ceremony was astrophysicist Debiprosad Duari. Schools from all over Calcutta signed up for various events up for grabs. Those included music, dance, digital art exhibitions, science fair, RJ hunt, stock market crash crisis management, film-making and fashion show.

Each event was conceptualised in a creative way. Nutrimmune, the culinary event at the fest, required participants to come up with recipes that were not only tasty, but also nutritious.

The digital art event, Pixie Brush, celebrated the modern mediums of art. The theme for Runway Reverie or the fashion show was "Gothic or Vintage in the Victorian Era".

Students presented their short films in the event, Visualista.

Dancer Tanushree Shankar was the chief guest. The host school became the winner in the fest, but the trophy was passed on to The Heritage School. Delhi Public School, Megacity, followed close behind.

Principal Sonali Sen said: “The themes were planned keeping in mind various themes that attract the youth today. From topical discussions at Distress Dialogue to a fun-filled Antakshari, from coding and finance to music and sports, the events were a blend of serious and fun. It is very encouraging to see how our students planned every little detail of the fest.”

Griffins International School, Kharagpur

Griffins International School, Kharagpur, clinched second place in the CBSE National Coding Challenge 2023 held recently.

A two-member team, Samparka Manna and Ritesh Sau of Class VII, represented the school in the competition. The team was called Robo Pirates. The theme of the contest was AI for Good, and the students tried to address the issue of heavy school bags — a concern. Carrying excessive weight can lead to various health issues, including back pain and poor posture.

The Robo Pirates developed a smart backpack that uses smart technology to distribute weight evenly and reduce strain on the students' backs. The boys named the project Heavy School Bag Alert. By utilising artificial intelligence, the boys created an alarm that would provide real-time alerts to students, notifying them when their bags would exceed a certain weight limit.

The winners presented a three-minute video presentation, highlighting how their project can tackle the issue of heavy school bags. Their creativity and effective communication skills left a lasting impression on the judges.

Samparka Manna and Ritesh Sau began their project in May. They continued to upgrade their project, ultimately clinching second place in the final rounds.

Their computer teacher Mohammad Alfesani and robotics teacher Suroj mentored the participants.

"I am pleasantly surprised with the achievements of our students. They were well supported by their teachers. I am proud of the hardworking team and hope they inspire many more," said principal Renu Aneja.

St Augustine's Day School, Barrackpore

St Augustine's Day School, Barrackpore, organised a career counselling programme, Augusto Career Fair 2023, on October 7.

The day-long event witnessed professionals from various fields offering their insights to guide students toward a brighter future.

Principal Shweta Ray kick-started the programme with her speech. She stressed on the need to prepare every child for the future.

Educators Amrita Basu and Rajib Dasgupta were some of the first speakers. Other speakers and guests included scriptwriter Kallol Lahiri and artiste Saptarshi Mullick, who enriched the students' understanding of performing arts.

The senior school students also underwent a psychometric examination, and the school counsellor meticulously scrutinised the outcomes. The test results gave the students clarity and guidance, giving them time to reconsider their chosen career paths.

The students of the senior section also performed a musical do on the occasion. There was also a panel discussion in the later half of the day on hospitality management and business administration. Astrophysicist Debiprosad Duari also gave a talk on the enigmatic world of space technology.

An alumnus, Ankit Dutta, shared insights on photography and the challenges in the career.

Among the other speakers were lawyers Arindam Ganguli (civil) and Achin Jana (criminal). They delved into the functioning of a court and the judiciary system.

The musical performance of the day was by guest exponent Lopamudra Mitra.

"The Augusto Career Fair is an annual event of our school for the senior school students. The speakers we invite share insights on various career options, so that our students are able to make an informed decision. The psychometric tests also help the children and parents to understand someone's aptitude in different fields," said principal Shweta Ray.