Partition tale, tech mind and freedom from fears

Bidya Bharati Girls' High School

Bidya Bharati Girls' High School organised two seminars for different classes on physics and life science in July.

Students of Classes XI and XII took part in the physics seminar while Classes VIII and IX were part of the life science discussion.

The physics seminar had students of Class XI discussing thermal expansion whereas Class XII students dealt with electromagnetism.

Class XI girls in their PowerPoint presentation explained the concept of thermal expansion, including solid and liquid expansion and anomalous expansion of water.

Students of Class XII focussed on Gauss’s Law and its application, conservation of charge, electric fields and others while discussing electromagnetism. There was a question-answer session at the end.

The students of Class VIII and IX deftly hosted the biology seminar a few days later. Class VIII based their presentation on microbes, while Class IX spoke on the origin of life.

The students focused on symbiosis, parasites, disease causing microbes(pathogens) and others related topics while discussing microbes. They also explained how antibiotics are made as well as the vaccines that are meant to prevent deadly diseases. A student spoke about the role of microbes in food production.

Class IX students explained the Microsphere Model and Coacervate Model while discussing the origin of life. They also explained the process of evolution and defined protocells, among others.

"We want our girls to learn beyond their textbooks. This seminar made them engage in research and they also got comfortable with modes of digital presentation, that is very necessary now. The seminar also ensured the students speak well. They were 50-miinute sessions held in between school. We had invited parents as well who were very impressed," said headmistress Sharmistha Banerjee.

Lakshmipat Singhania Academy

Students of Lakshmipat Singhania Academy took part in a two-day robotics festival and competition on their school grounds on August 10 and 11. The event, titled Robotricks, had students trying out Morse coding and telegraphy. It was organised by a learning platform, Get Set Learn, in association with Lakshmipat Singhania Academy from 10am to 1pm.

The event was part of a bigger event exeBit.

Morse code is considered an excellent tool for transmitting messages, particularly in situations where traditional communication methods might not be available or practical. It uses dots and dashes to represent letters and numbers. It is also a great educational tool.

Students from 20 city schools took part in the event. They also attended workshops on STEM (an acronym for science, technology, engineering and maths) conducted by experts and got to apply engineering principles and develop coding skills.

The competitions were followed by a Morse Coding-Robotics showcase. Participants were given certificates for their effort.

"We are glad that the students could learn more about Morse coding and telegraphy through this workshop. Not to forget that with the advancement of technology, the torchbearers of communication are again in the spotlight," said Meena Kak, director of Lakshmipat Singhania Academy.

Bhavan’s Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir

The 77th Independence Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm by the students of Bhavan’s Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir.

The day began for the students at 7.30am with a prabhat pheri or morning round in Salt Lake, led by the school pipe band. Students sang patriotic songs as they walked through the streets. School director G.V. Subramanian, principal Arun Dasgupta, his deputy Monami Chattopadhyay, teachers and parents all joined in.

The school had organised a short cultural programme on the occasion. The students of the Bhavans Institute of Management Science College also joined in. The school ground was decorated with flowers and flags.

At 9, the Tricolour was hoisted.

The cultural programme began with a group recitation of Sukanta Bhattacharya's Sipahi Bidraho by the Primary section kids. The Secondary students also recited poems and sang songs.

The students of Class XII gave a presentation on the G-20 Summit and the nation’s involvement in it. The day ended with saplings being distributed among all students and parents to fulfil the vision of a greener India.

"Independence Day is an auspicious day to remember and express our gratitude towards the brave freedom fighters, who sacrificed their lives to set India free from the British rule. Being the privileged citizens of a free country, we must pledge on this historical day to ensure unity, prosperity and progress of India and our countrymen," said the principal.

Delhi Public School, Ruby Park

More than 150 students, teachers and staff members of Delhi Public School, Ruby Park, celebrated Independence Day on the school premises with great enthusiasm.

Students showcased their pride for the nation through a series of dance and musical performances.

The celebrations began with flag-hoisting and singing of the national anthem. The cultural programme took off with a performance by the school choir — a medley offering tribute to the bravehearts of the country.

Principal Joyoti Chaudhuri gave an inspiring speech. Next, the bulbuls (junior girl scouts) of the school staged a performance, Happiness is Freedom.

The students also put together a skit on Recollections from the Past: Independence and Partition of India, 1947. It highlighted the cruelty of partition that has changed the course of history forever. The skit concluded with a dance medley, projecting unity and cultural amalgamation.

Brigadier N.S. Mukherjee was the chief guest on the occasion. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by head girl Kaavya Mahajan.

"We worked hard to make the event a success. Practice began almost a month ago. More than 150 students took part in the celebrations. The students narrated the partition story, thereby understanding the pain that their forefathers had gone through. The focus was also on the progress the nation has made over the years. It was a learning experience for the students," said the principal.

Delhi Public School, New Town

Students of Delhi Public School, New Town, gave their grandparents a special treat on August 18.

The Pre-primary section performed a musical, The Power Within, an adaptation from the tale, The Wizard of Oz. The message behind the play was to defy fears, fight against adversities and enjoy a new kind of freedom. Actor Sabyasachi Chakraborty was the chief guest.

As the children performed in colourful costumes for their proud grandparents, they also learnt to value their inner strength.

The musical saw a beautiful blend of art, music, dance, narration and acting skills. It was presented, produced and directed by the subject teachers as well as the art, music and dance departments of the school.

The performance was a learning experience for the participants. The occasion also made the children appreciate the older generation and value their wisdom, experience and stories.

"Our Grandparents’ Day celebrations strive to inculcate in students a deep love and respect for the elderly. We want our children to admire their grandparents' achievements, appreciate their opinions and understand that they need to look out for their grans. Through this event, we send out a message to the children, that will stay with them lifelong and make them confident and sensitive citizens," said principal Sonali Sen.

Don Bosco School, Liluah

Students connect to the world of Shakespeare even today — students of Don Bosco School, Liluah, offered a new peek into the bard's world as they hosted their first-ever inter-school literary meet recently. The event was organised by the school’s in-house Literary Club with enthusiasm and planning.

Eight schools staged short one-act performances in the school’s auditorium. Academician Satyendra Dinda was the chief guest on the occasion and teachers Ignatius Lall and Ritarekha Dutta were the judges.

The theme was The Relevance of Shakespeare in Today’s Society.

The participating schools were asked to present a modern skit, highlighting contemporary issues, based on any Shakespeare’s work.

The students drew parallels from immortal tragedies such as Hamlet, Macbeth and Julius Caesar, among others, and showcased how relevant ad contemporary Shakespeare’s protagonists still are.

The dialogues, light-and-sound effect and PowerPoint presentations spoke of every school’s hard work and research.

The host school won, while Don Bosco School, Bandel, came second.

“This is the first time a literary fest has been conducted on our school grounds. We hope to return next year with more interesting additions to the fest,” said principal Fr Manoj Jose SDB.