Jules Verne treat, brain games and tech show

Delhi Public School, Durgapur

The auditorium of Delhi Public School, Durgapur, sported a festive look as the students celebrated their eighth annual day and prize distribution ceremony, Reverence 2023, on September 30.

Almost 650 students presented a performance that was enriched by music, colourful costumes and some creative choreography.

After the ceremonial lamp-lighting, the school choir presented a welcome song. The in-house orchestra followed it up with a power-packed performance, Fusion.

Principal Umesh Chand Jaiswal gave his welcome address and felicitated the chief guest and other dignitaries. The guests included school president S.S. Agarwal. The chief guest was IAS officer Akanksha Bhaskar, CEO of the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority. Bhaskar enumerated how co-curricular activities help in the overall personality development of students.

The annual school magazine, Shades, was released on the occasion. The principal then presented the annual report. Some students were also felicitated.

The main performance was a play, Around the World in Eighty Days, based on Jules Verne's classic by the same name.

The event ended with vote of thanks by senior coordinator Vivekananda Mukherjee.

"On our annual prize day, the students' performance takes centre stage, showcasing their hard work and dedication. This special event is a time to celebrate their academic and non-academic achievements. It's a moment when students are recognised for their excellence in various fields, such as academics, sports, arts, leadership and community service. This is a proud moment for teachers and parents as well. I would like to congratulate all achievers," said the principal.

B.D.M. International

More than 23 schools took part in an inter-school chess tournament, Shatranj, organised by B.D.M. International on September 27.

The institution's CEO S.L. Gupta, principal Madhumita Sengupta and vice-principal Madhumita Seal inaugurated the event.

The tournament was divided into three categories — Knight's King (under-11), Heroic Horses (under-14) and Rook's Revenge (under-19).

There were around 181 young chess players, who signed up for various events. The chief guest was International Master Aronyak Ghosh. His words inspired all those who had attended the meet.

The chief arbiter for the tournament was Asit Baran Choudhury, who is celebrated for his contribution in the chess fraternity. Choudhury praised the participants for their grit and enthusiasm.

The tournament was divided into four segments. The winners in the Knight's King category was DPS, Rupy Park, with Lakshmipat Singhania Academy coming second. The Heroic Horses winner was Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, and the host school came second. South Point High School became the Rook’s Revenge champ with Aditya Academy Senior Secondary coming second.

"The transition from online studies during Covid days to regular school now has not been easy for students. Many still remain withdrawn. We organised a chess and yoga fest on the same day to perk students up and give their brains exercise. Both mind and body need to work out," said the principal.

K.E. Carmel School, Amtala

A vibrant cultural programme was the highpoint of the Teachers’ Day celebrations at K.E. Carmel School, Amtala.

The guests included principal Rev Fr Paul Thamarachery CMI, vice-principal Rev Fr Joseph Parappally CMI, school coordinators Monami Roy and Rituparna Bose, staff secretary Tanumoy Bera, teachers, office staff members and others. They were ushered in on the red carpet and welcomed with chandan tika, flowers and the sound of conch shells.

The school captains were handed over the golden and silver keys by the principal and his deputy, signifying that the students would take charge for the day.

A choir of Class XI students kicked off the programme with a medley of songs. There was also a beat-boxing performance. A skit that followed depicted the tireless efforts of educators with a touch of humour.

There were also group dance performances to Bengali and Bollywood numbers.

The celebrations also included a roleplay where the senior students got a chance to step into the shoes of the teachers and teach junior classes their favourite topics.

“The impeccable performances and the shower of love and talent by our beloved students was extraordinary. It felt so heartwarming to be a part of the grand celebration," said the principal.

Purushottam Bhagchandka Academic School

Hard work, concentration and teamwork — the inter-house basketball tournament among the four houses of Purushottam Bhagchandka Academic School saw these qualities come to the fore.

Young athletes of Subhash (red), Teresa (blue), Gandhi (yellow) and Tagore (green) put up a fight on the school grounds on September 16. Cheering them on were hordes of eager students, supporters and spectators.

The school had hosted the event to encourage students to take up a sport and foster a spirit of healthy competition among them.

Tagore house came third, and it was Subhash against Teresa in the finals. Players from both houses were in their best shape and tried hard to stump the opposition. Everybody had put in hours of practice before the matches.

In the end, Subhash house emerged winners with their player Ayushman Nandi of Class XI being adjudged the man of the match.

The tournament was a success, and students are now waiting for the next one.

“Our inter-house basketball meet was a celebration of athleticism, teamwork and school spirit. It is events like these that contribute to the holistic development of our students, teaching them valuable life lessons that extend beyond the court,” said principal Madhuparna Andrews.

M.P. Birla Foundation H.S. School

Primary section of M.P. Birla Foundation H.S. School hosted an inter-school fest, Vibgyor 2023, for Classes IV and V on September 27. Fourteen schools took part in the event.

The school auditorium was decorated with flowers and flags, in keeping with the title of the fest. The programme began with students singing the school anthem, followed by the lamp-lighting by principal Purnima Chattopadhyay, vice-principal Sravani Roychoudhury, CEO S.K. Singh and the judges of various events.

The Primary section of the host school performed a welcome song and dance recital. For the competitive events, each school was allotted a code and the names of the institutions were not disclosed for unbiased judging.

The first on-stage event of the day was Reminiscence, a creative dance competition. The theme was “Dreams”. Students presented dances on a variety of topics such as Chandrayaan-3, education and mythology.

Art events — Crafty Creations and Toon Times — were held simultaneously.

The second on-stage event was music or eco-essence. The theme was “Save Mother Nature”, and most songs performed were original compositions.

The students showcased their linguistic prowess at an elocution event. They performed in English, Hindi and Bengali in categories creatively named Expressive Fusion, Udyam and Mojar Muluk, respectively.

Then was western dance or Twist and Turn. It showcased rhythmic moves to joyful beats. Colourful costumes, catchy tunes and lively choreography made it the highlight of the day.

The fest concluded with prize distribution. The champions were the host school. The BSS School came second and South Point High School third. The trophy was handed over to The BSS School.

"Vibgyor began in 2012. We found that most of the fests are centred on high-school children, and there were hardly any that catered to this age group. In the beginning, we got a tremendous response. The idea was to get Primary students on stage and give them that much-needed confidence," said the principal.

"This was our 10th year of Vibgyor. It was a huge success. Sometimes I really repent that in our primary days, we did not get such a platform to showcase our talents. We were absolutely overwhelmed seeing the children perform so well," added the vice-principal.

Delhi Public School, Howrah

Delhi Public School, Howrah, hosted its first STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Fair recently. The event showcased projects and experiments that were both informative and inspiring.

The fair, aimed to foster scientific curiosity, was full of experiences for the participating students.

Class VIII students attempted to debunk superstitions by demonstrating the rationale behind "stones drinking milk" and "fire without ignition". They integrated artificial intelligence to develop a soil moisture sensor that will help agriculture. There were projects to address the issue of bridge damage during heavy rainfall and focussed on the efficient reuse of rainwater.

Class IX students created a 3D hologram projector. Class XII students explored the science behind magic tricks, including the secret behind vanishing ink. Besides, there were projects on farming sensors, remote-controlled cars and optical illusions.

"The fair reflects our commitment to fostering the future generation of scientists and innovators. It highlights our students’ passion for STEM, and I take pride in their accomplishments,” said principal Sunita Arora.