Pupils break records, have fun during field trips

Narayana Group of Schools

It was a proud moment for 197 students of different branches of Narayana Group of Schools in the state as they clinched a "record" for becoming “the most number of participants to identify digital images of inventors and their inventions using the associative memory technique in 12 hours”. The children had to name the innovators and their inventions in record time.

The group of schools organised a citation ceremony for the 197 at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre on February 17.

It was a proud moment for all the parents and students involved. On the occasion, the institution also felicitated its boys and girls who got through phase one of JEE Mains, 2024.

The event started with lamp-lighting. The guests included Prem Sai Ponguru, director of the Narayana Group of Schools in the state, actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay, School of Chemical Sciences' senior professor Ayan Datta, Elite World Records CEO Lau Thien Poh, its adjudicator Archana Rajesh, Indian Records Academy's records manager K.R. Venkateswaran and state academic head of the Narayana Group of Schools Priyanka Mukherjee.

The children sang Banglar Maati Banglar Jol and other songs to welcome the guests.

Parambrata expressed his joy to be part of this historic moment.

Ayan Dutta said how getting into IIT is tougher than anything else. He congratulated the six students from the institution who scored 100 percentile (300/300) in phase one of JEE Mains, 2024. There were 54 students from all branches of the institution who passed the JEE mains exam (phase 1).

The students were called on stage and felicitated by the guests.

The 197 students who took part in the "world record" were also called upon stage, amidst a huge round of applause for the students.

The programme ended with Narayana Schools CEO in the state Debolina Saha giving her vote of thanks and singing the national anthem.

“We have set a world record today, and we are also felicitating the students who excelled in JEE exams recently. It is a huge moment for us. This will also serve as an inspiration for the students in the coming batches,” said Priyanka Mukherjee, state academic head of Narayana Group of Schools.

Julian Nursery School, Howrah

It was time for the little ones of Julian Nursery School, the primary section of Julien Day School, Howrah, to showcase their grooming so far. The school organised a walk-through for the parents at its auditorium recently, where the theme was Once Upon a Fairytale.

The walls of the corridors and classrooms were also decorated with artwork of children, bringing alive characters from the writings of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Charles Perrault, Hans Christian Anderson and many others.

Snow White, Sleeping Beauty adorned the walls of Julien Day School, Howrah, and gave the feel of Disneyland.

The school auditorium was filled with proud and excited parents, a few grandparents and aunts and uncles too. The little ones greeted their family members before singing, dancing, staging skits and reciting poems before them.

The music was provided by the school music teacher.

The entire Nursery school took part in the various events. Some children were dressed as teddy bears, there were Red Riding Hoods and the big bad wolves sharing the stage. The confidence displayed by the children made the audience cheer in delight. Another bunch danced to a soundtrack from the popular Disney hit, Moana.

Each guest was given a souvenir by the little host and hostess, and at the end of the programme, tea, coffee and refreshments were served to all. Each child from the Nursery department was also rewarded with a box of goodies.

The children made their parents and teachers equally proud.

“Around 80 children were part of the event. It was a delightful moment for all of us as the children recreated the world of fiction and fairytales. There were smiles on every face,” said principal Marynn Thorpe Smith.

Shri Shikshayatan School

Students of Shri Shikshayatan School organised a programme to mark National Youth Day on January 11, a day in advance.

The students of Class IX took part in a special morning assembly to pay tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his 162nd birth anniversary. National Youth Day is celebrated throughout the nation to remember Vivekananda and his inspiring words.

The celebrations started with the students delivering Swamiji’s famous speech at the Parliament of World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893. They iterated on how his message broke through the shackles of caste and creed and spoke of a language of universal brotherhood.

The students' speeches also highlighted how Vivekananda upheld India's values, culture and traditions to the West, bringing the oriental and the occidental closer.

The participating students spoke about the importance of youth in nation-building. They also performed the prayer song, Khandana Bhava Bandhana.

"To observe Swami Vivekananda’s 162nd birth anniversary, the students put up a wonderful morning assembly. The students took turns to speak about the challenges young persons face in their journey towards adulthood. They emphasised on how Swamiji felt that the philosophy behind all religions is true, and they all spread the same message," said principal Sangeeta Tandon.

Seth Soorajmull Jalan Balika Vidyalaya

Seth Soorajmull Jalan Balika Vidyalaya (Primary section) organised an excursion for all its classes — Lower Nursery to Class V — on different days in January. The aim was to encourage the children to learn through experiences and practical lessons.

The excited children packed their bags with games and treats and took off on the day trips or picnics, ready to make many memories.

The students of Classs II and III were taken to Science City on January 15. The sprawling amusement park, 3D theatre and aquarium left them spellbound.

On January 16, a picnic was organised for the students of Lower Nursery, Upper Nursery and Class I. The little ones were taken to Victoria Memorial Hall for a fun day where they toured the grounds, snacked and played games.

The students of Class IV and V visited the Indian Museum on January 18. The children were very excited to visit the 200-year-old museum, its grand architecture leaving them gaping. They enjoyed touring the different galleries, inspecting the invertebrates, preserved sea animals, old-aged coins and weapons of different metals with undivided attention.

"It is very important to give our students exposure to the richness of our heritage. At the same time, educational trips are the best way to expand our students' knowledge base," said Primary section principal Annu Singh.

"School excursions are an excellent opportunity for students to learn outside the classroom setting. It was an enriching experience for all," said Sumera Sajjad, assistant academic head.

Lakshmipat Singhania Academy

Lakshmipat Singhania Academy conducted the Project Citizen Competition, an inter-disciplinary programme for its middle, secondary and post-secondary students. The aim was to groom the participants into competent and responsible citizens, who attempt to find solutions to social and political issues.

The programme was meant to help students learn how to monitor and influence public policy and prepare them to be vigilant citizens who are aware of their rights and duties towards their country.

It was an inter-house competition for the students of Classes VI to IX and XI. Members of four houses — Jal, Vayu, Agni and Prithvi — had to choose a topic on their own and come up with practical solutions.

The competition was judged by teachers Kanak Shankar Mukherji and Ronita Biswas. Each house was divided into four sub-groups and chose a topic each.

Agni House chose to work on "Waste Management", Prithvi House took up the issue of "Unmasking The Web of Misinformation", Vayu House worked on "Displacement: Breaching Human Rights" while Jal House took up "Maltreatment of Young Girls".

The team members explained the problem, elaborated on government policies and outlined steps taken by the government to solve the problem. The students also suggested additional steps for the effective implementation of the policies. Finally, an action plan was presented. Vayu House secured the first position followed by a tie between Agni House and Prithvi House. Jal House came third.

"Every year through Project Citizen, the school prepares capable and competent citizens who will be able to take care of the society in future," said director Meena Kak.

Don Bosco School, Liluah

Don Bosco School, Liluah, organised an educational trip to Dooars last year. The students went on a four-day trip, accompanied by their teachers, to get away from city life and enjoy nature. The boys also appreciated the wealth of natural resources in the state.

Dooars is a floodplain at the foothills of the Himalayas, located at a distance of approximately 60km from Siliguri with an average altitude of 4,500 feet.

At Dooars, the students learnt to spend a few days amidst nature and peace, developed some life skills and learnt through myriad experiences.

On Day I, the young explorers went to visit the banks of River Jayanti where they had a good time. Post lunch, they embarked on a short trek. The day ended with a visit to the tea gardens.

The next day started with a much-awaited jungle safari in the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. The boys spotted several peacocks and elephants. They were also lucky to catch a glimpse of a one-horned rhinoceros. Finally, they took off to Lataguri. The evenings were about having fun and dancing that the teachers had organised.

On the final day, the students went to the Bindu Dam. Everyone clicked several pictures and made memories.

"The educational retreat to Dooars was a masterstroke as it has enabled our students to learn more and to become inquisitive about nature. I welcome the opportunity to plan yet another one in future," said principal Fr Manoj Jose SDB.