Talent fest & forging a stronger bond with nature

H.M. Education Centre

Little ones got a chance to be creative in a talent hunt contest organised by H.M. Education Centre in August end. The next day, the Pre-primary tots celebrated Graduation Day as they moved to the next level.

The talent contest was open to children from Nursery to Upper Infant. The event got an overwhelming response, and kids from other schools signed up for various categories. Children showcased their interest in music, dance, mask-making, quiz, origami, recitation and painting among others.

The students got to perform in the school auditorium, which gave them a huge confidence boost. The audience were left thrilled by some of the performances. The judges had a tough time deciding the winners.

Children in red cloaks and hats made a pretty picture on Graduation Day. The occasion marked the movement of Pre-primary section students to the Primary level. The children were very excited to be part of the event that aimed to make them more responsible as they move on in life.

"The talent hunt competition organised by H.M. Education Centre was a step taken to promote the joy of integrated learning through participation in various events that involved critical thinking, creativity, artistry and the skills of performing arts. The school prepares students to carve a niche for themselves in any field they desire. To nurture myriad talents in children it is essential that the students get a platform to explore, express and improvise. The Graduation Day made the tender minds realise that they are about to delve into a new world of countless opportunities and responsibilities that would shape and groom their personalities and make them future-ready," said rector Sudipta Bose.

"The talent hunt provided a platform for the students from various schools to showcase their talents and compete with each other with a spirit of enthusiasm. A panel discussion on The Key Role of Parents in Shaping the Future of Students provided young parents with some necessary guidelines for bringing up their kids. The Graduation Day programme was as important. The plunge of the students into mainstream education was marked by awarding them with the red cloak and the red cap. It was a spectacular moment, which these students would cherish throughout their lives," said principal Sonita Roy.

Delhi Public School, Howrah

Students of Delhi Public School, Howrah, organised a campaign, Saraswati River Cleaning Abhiyan in a bid to save the river from gradual extinction and educate people about its cultural and socio-economic importance. The campaign is part of their annual drive.

Students made slogans and posters to spread awareness among the local community in Ankurhati. They also cleaned up the area to promote the value of cleanliness.

Besides their effort to save the river, the students are also associated with various other projects to protect River Ganga.

“We take our roles very seriously," said principal Sunita Arora.

This initiative was inspired by green activist Subhash Dutta, who has been spreading awareness about the current state of Saraswati that is on the brink of extinction.

The students began the campaign hoping to Saraswati back to health and its former glory. Today, she is just a narrow stream or a disappearing one. The students believe that if they carry on with their effort, the river will be saved.

"We are responsible for building future citizens of the country. We must do all that we can, to instill environmental awareness among them for the sake of our nation," said the principal.

The Apeejay Schools

Students of Park Street and Salt Lake branches of The Apeejay Schools got creative at a science exhibition organised on September 2.

The theme of the exhibition, held simultaneously in both the schools, was "The Scientist in Me". The participants were Classes I to XI in the Salt Lake school and Classes VI to XI in the Park Street one.

The chief guest at Park Street was Sudip Majumder, a scientific officer at the International Institute of Innovation and Technology. Majumder said such exhibition provide the right platform for interdisciplinary and experiential learning.

Both the schools exhibited a range of models, charts and creative projects. Students explored contemporary issues and created models on water conservation, climate change, energy conservation, sustainable development, among others. Some students spoke about health issues.

"The event was designed by our young learners — budding scientists — to instill critical thinking, creativity and scientific temperament. This exhibition has been designed to inculcate environmental awareness, sustainability and social responsibility," said Anindita Banerjee, principal of Salt Lake branch.

"At Apeejay Schools, we encourage the students to be curious and aware about their surroundings. The projects and models are a reflection of it as they talked about sustainable development," said Paromita Guha Ray, principal of Park Street branch.

Mount Litera Zee School, Jangipur

Mount Litera Zee School, Jangipur, organised a talent show that saw students from Classes I to V putting their most creative selves forward.

There was a vibrant atmosphere in the school as the children got ready to showcase various skills at the talent hunt contest. They excelled in drawing, dance, music, recitation, speech-making, indoor and outdoor games, yoga and karate demonstration, exhibiting youthful exuberance in every activity.

The event kicked off with art. The young artists wielded their brushes like pros as they told myriad tales through colours. Many artworks reflected the participant's eye for detail and creativity.

The budding dancers and music enthusiasts among the participating children set the stage on fire. The students' graceful dance moves and choice of songs had the audience cheering. Their performances were a testament to the hours of dedication and practice that the children put in.

Many children also delivered interesting speeches and recited poems that tugged at the audience's heart. Voice modulation and confidence on stage earned some brownie points.

The sporting events were also a great hit, showcasing teamwork and camaraderie over and above agility and skill.

The effort put in by each participant was the ultimate winner in this event. They were also guided by their mentors in school.

The event fostered an environment of healthy competition, creativity and self-expression.

"The talent hunt competition was conducted for the students from Class I to V to give wings to the children to pursue their dreams and bring out their hidden talents. Students exhibited various skills through dance, songs, recitation, skating, karate, yoga demonstration, painting and so on. The event was much loved and was worth all the appreciation that it got," said principal Md Imtazul Hussain.

St Sebastian’s School

Students of St Sebastian’s School took part in a Go Green initiative to mark Van Mahotsav. The event aimed to make students more aware of the environment and the depleting green cover.

The programme began with a simple but effective address to the importance of trees and their socio-economic effects. Few students highlighted the emotional impact of planting trees and their role in the environment.

Principal M.P. Rozario spoke about the importance of planting more saplings and tending to them to prevent global warming, reducing pollution and promoting rainfall.

“Forests give a lot to our health. It helps in purifying water, cleaning the air, reducing carbon percentage to ensure our well-being. It is important to keep our environment green and healthy,” he said.

The enthusiastic students joined their principal, teachers and non-academic staff members in planting saplings on the school grounds. They were curious to learn the different names of trees and create a change. The event instilled social responsibility in the students.

"We plan to celebrate Van Mahotsav every year and make our students get into the habit of planting saplings and tending to them," added Rozario.

Bidya Bharati School, Behala

Painting pots to develop a love for plants — that was the aim of Bidya Bharati School, Behala, as it organised an inter-house sapling pot-painting competition, as part of Van Mahotsav activity.

The event was meant for students of Class III and IV to make them aware of the environment and its issues through art and craft.

The little ones were excited as they transformed mundane clay pots into colourful ones. They came out with patterns of their own to paint on the pots. Within an hour, the colourful pots had beautiful geometric designs, human figures, animals, birds, flowers and stars gleaming on them — that made them look so attractive.

The children had a blast and the judges found it difficult to choose the winners. Finally, Robin House (red) was adjudged the winner.

Teacher-in-charge Moutushi Chakraborty said: "This event was part of a weeklong celebration to make students conscious of the environment. The children painted the pots and also planted saplings on the school grounds. We wanted them to get into the habit of planting saplings and looking after them."