Students show creativity, care & crisis skills

Art for the sake of fun

Birla Divya Jyoti School

Choral recitations, spellings and debates — the inter-house literary meet of Birla Divya Jyoti School saw Jal (blue), Vayu (yellow), Prithvi (green) and Agni (red) houses battling it out in creative events.

The festival of arts was held for students of Primary, Middle and Senior sections on different days.

Every event was meant to sharpen the blooming talents of the children.

The Primary literary fest was held on July 25. It saw students from Classes II to V taking part in various competitions.

The inter-class choral recitation was a high point. Section A of Classes II, III and IV and section B of Class V won this round.

At the inter-house Spell Bee competition, Vayu House emerged winners. They also won the Show and Tell event meant for Classes II and III.

For the older students in Classes IV and V, there was a storytelling competition that Jal House won. The quiz competition, organised by Quizzora, was a highlight of the fest with Agni House securing the top position.

The middle school held its first-ever fest on August 8. It was for Classes VI to IX. The inter-class choral recitation event was a major attraction, with section A of Classes VI, VII, and VIII and section B of Class IX winning in their respective grades.

There were also inter-house music competitions with Prithvi House winning Rhythm and Reflection. Jal House clinched the Living Newspaper (news-reading) event.

The debate competition saw Prithvi House at the top and the quiz ended with Jal House in first place. The events were a learning experience for the middle school students with a lot of fun in between.

The senior school (Classes X to XII) took part in an inter-house debate on August 23. Jal House emerged victorious.

“I am proud of the enthusiasm and talent displayed by our students during this year’s literary fest. The events were a true celebration of creativity, intellect and teamwork, reflecting the dedication and hard work of both our students and teachers. This fest not only showcased the remarkable abilities of our young minds but also reinforced the values of healthy competition and collaboration,” said principal Shweta Tiwari.

Freedom festival

Bidya Bharati Girls’ High School

Bidya Bharati Girls’ High School celebrated Independence Day with a cultural programme and exhibition. Students from Classes V to XII contributed on the occasion.

The programme began with flag-hoisting before the school gate followed by yoga performances by the students from Classes VIII to XI.

The guests for the event were educators Pradipta Bandyopadhyay and Prasanta Par and members of the school’s managing committee. They were welcomed with a rendition of Vande Mataram sung by the students.

An exhibition on India’s heritage and the contribution of freedom fighters was inaugurated on the occasion. Students of Classes VIII to XI contributed to the exhibition, integrating their regular lessons into it.

The cultural programme began with a group of students from Classes VII to X, giving a speech on India’s freedom struggle. Students also danced to patriotic songs.

A group of 15 students sang patriotic songs such as Jai bharati bande bharati, Jago nari jago and Aji notun ratane, as the music teachers played the violin, tabla and the synthesiser.

Another highlight was a skit performed by the students on the lives of freedom fighters such as Sarojini Naidu, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Masterda Surya Sen and others. The soul-stirring tales left the audience emotional.

Students from Classes VI to X performed a dance drama on Jhansi Ki Rani.

“This day is precious for all of us. We dedicated our exhibition and cultural programme to the freedom fighters who had devoted their lives to leading our country to the modern era. Our students also paid homage to great women freedom fighters such as Lakshmi Bai, Pritilata Waddedar and Captain Lakshmi Sehgal who have been forerunners in inspiring our women to join the Indian Army,” said principal Sharmistha Banerjee.

Empathy & enthusiasm

St Augustine’s Day School for Girls

Students and staff members of St Augustine’s Day School for Girls celebrated the birth anniversary of Mother Teresa on August 26. The event was marked by a series of activities aimed at instilling kindness, empathy and love for service in the students.

The celebration began with a special assembly and floral tribute to the Nobel laureate’s portrait. Students also took part in a role-play exercise.

The choir presented a performance that was much appreciated. Students were shown a video that highlighted the journey of the nun from Albania to India, her work for the poor in Calcutta and her eventual recognition as a global symbol of charity and love.

Principal Jhuma Biswas delivered a speech, emphasising the importance of Mother Teresa’s teachings today. “Mother Teresa taught us that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. Let us carry forward her legacy by helping those in need and spreading love wherever we go,” she said.

The school also organised a charity drive, encouraging students to donate food, clothing and other essentials that were distributed to marginalised children.

“Students left the event feeling inspired to follow in the footsteps of the Nobel Peace Prize winner, with many expressing a renewed commitment to serving their communities,” said school coordinator Babita Chakraborty.

Myriad talents 

Hariyana Vidya Mandir

The song, Tumio hete dekho Kolkata... reverberated around the auditorium; boys and girls walked about in traditional wear, bringing alive the colonial era; flags of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal added to the charm...

A dance drama, Kolkatar Bibartan, staged by the students of Hariyana Vidya Mandir, showcased the best of Calcutta pre and post-Independence. The performance was part of the school’s annual day, held at their auditorium on August 31.

More than 300 students presented a range of performances on the theme — kaleidoscope. The chief guest was Sujit Bose, minister of fire and emergency services of the state. The guests of honour were Rajesh Chirimar, mayor-in-council, Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, industrialist Lalit Beriwal and Swami Ishtavratananda from the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark. Students began with a dance on Hanuman’s devotion to Ram.

A prize distribution ceremony followed. Students were awarded for academic excellence and extra-curricular achievements.

Nineteen students staged a musical performance, where they belted out 20 retro songs of the 60s and 70s. The performance paid tribute to legends such as Salil Chowdhury, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle and others.

A Hindi play followed. A highlight of the day was a Bengali play Gupi Bagha, a rendition of Upendrakishore Ray’s masterpiece, which was later filmed by Satyajit Ray. Fifty-eight students were part of the 40-minute play. Subhojoy Saha of Class VIII and Anubhav Saha of Class VIII played Gupi and Bagha, respectively.Students also staged a portion of the play, As You Like It with Torsha Chakraborty of Class XII reciting Seven Ages Of Man.

“I was very proud of my teachers and students, as the programme was the result of their dedication, hard work and efforts,” said principal Sanghamitra Banerjee.

Green fingers and small steps towards sustainability

KG II students of Young Horizons School turn biodegradable materials into craftwork as part of a week-long Van Mahotsav celebrations. The school celebrated the festival of trees by taking part in many awareness drives from July 29 to August 2.

The students of Classes IV, V and VI took part in an organic farming activity. They made organic manure using vegetable peels and egg shells and planted saplings on the school premises. The children also used dried neem leaves as a natural pesticide.

At another session, the students interacted with nature photographer and conservationist Nirmalya Chakraborty on the importance of saving tigers.

They also tried their hands at flameless cooking to emphasise the need to save fuel.

A cultural programme was organised on August 2. Principal Sarmistha Sen planted a sapling to take the green drive forward. “By spreading awareness and working together, we can protect biodiversity and ensure a healthy planet for future generations. The choices we make today will determine the future of our only home,” she told the students.

The students presented dance, music and recitation performances. They also showcased a PowerPoint presentation on the steps they have taken to create a sustainable future.