Lions Calcutta (Greater) Vidyamandir
Seventy students of Lions Calcutta (Greater) Vidyamandir got tabs and some more got financial help in two drives during the pandemic.
The school authorities had conducted a survey on the number of students who could not attend online classes and the reason behind it.
It was found that the children, who had failed to attend the classes, did not have smartphones of their own.
The school helped 36 such children from Kindergarten to Class XII by giving them tablets for free.
“We have tried to substantially reduce the fees of some students and also offered free education to a few kids. Sewing machines were given away to the mothers of those, who have lost their fathers or main breadwinners. We wanted all our students to continue with their education,” said principal Kakoli Ghosh.
The school’s managing committee president Pramod Chandak said he regularly took stock of children’s attendance.
“Many a time, families have one smartphone that is available to the children only at night. Sometimes two siblings share a phone and can only attend half the classes. There are many who have suffered major financial crises in this pandemic. We have tried to help as many children as possible,” said Chandak.
Aditya Academy Senior Secondary School, Dum Dum
Students from the junior and senior sections of Aditya Academy Senior Secondary School, Dum Dum, recently came together to express their gratitude towards grandparents.
The students of classes I to V engaged in a plethora of virtual activities to showcase love for their grandparents.
From dressing up as grandma and wearing her sari to walking with grandfather’s walking cane, the kids had a wonderful time on this day as they tried their best to act and sound like their grandparents.
Teachers of the junior section arranged activities where both grandchildren and grandparents could be involved. Cultural performances and some do-it-yourself activities occupied the centre stage of the event.
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The students of the senior section visited old age homes such as Sandhya Mita and Natun Ghar.
Students sang, danced and recited poems with and for the inmates.
They gifted art and craft items made out of waste materials to residents of the old age homes.
“Nowadays, it is mostly nuclear families. We wanted children to learn that grandparents hold a major part of our lives and they should be respected in every means. The visit to old age homes by the senior students was a step in that direction,” said headmistress Saheli Das.
Principal Sonali Sarkar said: “Grandparents’ Day is a great time to remind ourselves about the unconditional, selfless and limitless love of our grandparents for us. They play a pivotal role in grooming young minds. We also take this opportunity to sensitise our children about elderly people who are destitute, sick or abandoned from their families in old-age homes.”
Shri Shikshayatan School
Shri Shikshayatan School recently lent a helping hand to grassroots organisations that are working with victims affected by cyclone Yaas in the Sunderbans and surrounding areas.
The school requested parents to contribute and help organisations such as Society 5-O in Kolkata, Emmanuel Hostel in Gosaba, Ekal Vidyalaya in Bhantuali village of Falta, and Swapnopuron Welfare Society in Hingalganj.
Soon contributions in the form of rice, pulses, groceries and dry food poured in.
Teachers contributed to the cause as well.
“Our school believes in educating its young learners about social responsibility by involving them in community service work. Hence, after Yaas, the students contributed rice, potato, onions and cereals for the victims. Most of the items were ordered online. We hope to teach the important lesson of sharing and caring to our children through these activities,” said principal Sangeeta Tandon.
Shri Shikshayatan School and Foundation’s secretary general Bratati Bhattacharyya said: “We consider community service as part of learning. We were happy to help out cyclone victims, especially students. We also ensured the latter’s education continued.”
DPS Howrah
It was showtime for fathers and children at DPS Howrah as the school celebrated Father’s Day recently.
Students from Nursery to Class V took part in various live and pre-recorded events held virtually on the occasion.
The live events included non-fire cooking and ramp walk. The pre-corded ones included radio jockeying, storytelling, music and dance.
The pre-recorded videos showed the various ways children and daddies liked to chill in their spare time. What made the event special were the student judges from Class XII who graded each performance.
The fun event ended up creating many memories for both parents and children. IT professional Sameer Sohail walked the ramp with daughter Mysha for the first time ever.
“The theme was sustainable fashionable fashion. I wore a shirt made of newspaper. My daughter wore a poncho stitched from a gunny bag with pompoms and mirrors on it. My wife Asifa Khan conceptualised the whole thing and shot us together. It was great fun for us as a family,” said the proud father whose daughter studies in Class II.
“It was a treat to watch fathers and kids taking part in fashion shows or cooking up a storm in their kitchen. The pre-recorded videos focused on the bond between the children and their dads. The Class XII children also did a fine job as judges. The event made me feel nostalgic,” added principal Sunita Arora.
Delhi Public School-Megacity
The perils of cutting down trees and the challenges of climate change — children of two nations discussed all that and more at an online interactive session recently.
The participants were students of Nursery to Class V of Delhi Public School (DPS) Megacity and those of Cambusbarron Primary School in Stirling, Scotland.
The event was part of the environment month celebrated by DPS Megacity.
The students began by speaking about their school. DPS Megacity principal Indrani Sanyal addressed the session, expressing concern about the hazards of climate change.
She inspired the young ones to be more responsible in future.
This was followed by a skit, The March of the Animals, performed by the Megacity kids on the plight of the wild animals when forests are destroyed.
The performance ended on a note of hope for better days and peaceful co-existence.
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Students also shared with each other how they were trying to make a difference in their personal lives.
“Activities and awareness videos have taught our children how to stop littering, avoid using plastic, segregate waste and stop wasting water and power at home. Our children are a more aware lot than we were at their age, and this consciousness for the environment is growing,” said the principal.
The pre-primary children also took part in activities that educated them on aquatic life. They also recited rhymes and outlined some similarities and differences between underwater creatures in India and Scotland.