South City International School
Sports, fun and integration — that was South City International School’s annual inter-house athletic meet in a nutshell. Held on the school grounds over January 13 and 14, the event not only included all the students from the host school but also those from Premasree, a home for the visually-impaired, and from Future Hope.
On Day I, the Pre-primary section (morning), Classes I, II, VI, VII and VIII were involved, while on Day 2, the Pre-primary section (afternoon) and Classes III, IV, V, IX, X, XI and XII took part. The chief guest was archer Dola Banerjee on January 13 and former cricketer Ashok Malhotra the next day. Besides, there were theme races such as Tabby Plays Cricket, Pop Goes Polly, Baloo Becomes Sporty and Peppa Goes to School for the toddlers. The events on Day I also included a drill by Classes I and II. There were hurdles for Classes VII and VIII followed by karate display by Class VI.
Children of Premasree, between seven and 14 years, took part in a marble race and a 60m sprint. There were also relays for Classes VI, VII and VIII. There were races for parents as well.
On Day II, there were many track and field events for the Primary students. Class V took part in a 60m Obstacle Race. The athletes of the four houses — Achiever, Innovator, Philosopher and Creator — were cheered by the students. A torch was carried around the field by the students representing endeavour and struggle for victory. The march past of the houses was led by school captain Arushi Dubey and the scouts team.
Other events included a drill display by the students of Classes III and IV. Hurdles, a touch rugby game with Future Hope children, a race for the former students and a karate display were all on the list. There were also relay races for Classes V, IX, X, XI and XII.
The Creator house got the champion’s trophy.
“I wanted our students to understand that they are truly blessed and that one has to work hard to realise his or her dreams. The children of Premashree and Future Hope showed them just that. Parents in the audience were bowled over by the determination of the visually-challenged pupils of Premasree, who took part in the races and sang for us. There is nothing that a child cannot achieve provided he or she has the confidence to do so,” said principal John Bagul.
I.P. Memorial School, Liluah
I.P. Memorial School in Liluah set up a new social service wing, IPMS Justice Cell, last year. It was founded by the students of Class X to promote a safe community by conducting awareness campaigns. Their first campaign was on bullying, where they reached out to students of Classes VI and above.
The students used research to evaluate everyone and provide a grievance redressal forum for complaints. They also spoke to senior students on pertinent mental health issues.
They have also conducted summer camps for underprivileged students, teaching vocational skills to over 50.
“The idea of a justice cell was formed last summer when the students ran a summer camp for the marginalised kids. They started helping them with homework and got involved in many other social services,” said principal Mandira Singh.
Calcutta Public School, Bidhan Park
The classrooms were decorated with lights, stockings, Santa hats, wreaths, garlands, tinsels, balls, bells and stars.
Teachers and students gathered around the Christmas tree, sang carols and exchanged gifts. There was an air of happiness all around.
That’s how the students of Calcutta Public School, Bidhan Park, celebrated Christmas on December 21, before the school closed for the holidays.
Principal Protichi Lahiri Sengupta gave a speech covering the essence of Christmas — love, peace and joy. Everyone was dressed in crimson, giving off the yuletide vibe.
Students from all the classes decorated their school together with trees and streamers. Classes X and XII spent what was the last working day with their friends, enjoying to the fullest, their sounds of laughter filling the hallways. Food was shared with eagerness as were jokes and memories.
To spread the spirit of charity and empathy, teachers and students dropped in at Ashiyana Happy Home in Rabindra Nagar to spend time with the children of the orphanage. They also gifted them winter garments and other stuff and interacted with the children.
“A society is successful only when it focuses on working for the underprivileged. It is the social and moral responsibility of the schools to nurture empathy among students. Calcutta Public School leads by example. The visit to Ashiyana Happy Home, for the homeless, was a small but sure step towards our dream of a perfect society,” said principal Protichi Lahiri Sengupta.
Delhi Public School, Ruby Park
Delhi Public School, Ruby Park, organised its annual art exhibition at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations from January 6 to 8.
All the items on display were created by the students from indigenous products.
Sculptor Bimal Kundu and art historian and critic Prasanta Daw were the guests of honour at the inauguration.
Utkarsh Agarwal of Class VI bagged the Bikash Bhattacharjee Award for best pastel colour work. Kinjal Majumdar of Class VII got the Abanindranath Tagore Award for best watercolour. Anushka Senapati of Class IX got the Raja Ravi Barma Award for best acrylic and mix-media on canvas. Piyush Rakshit of Class VIII got the Harendra Narayan Das Award for best lino printing and Anubhav Sanyal of Class XI bagged the DPS Ruby Park Art Award for the best exhibit.
“This is the first time that we organised an art exhibitionon such a grand scale at ICCR. We wanted a larger audience to appreciate our student’s talents,” said principal Joyoti Chaudhuri.
M.C. Kejriwal Vidyapeeth
M.C. Kejriwal Vidyapeeth Mandira Singh. organised Junior Olympiad 2023, a sports event for the children of Pre-Nursery to Class II on January 7 on the school grounds.
The chief guest was George Allen John, assistant commissioner of police, North Howrah. This was followed by an address by school chairman Kishan Kumar Kejriwal.
The chief guest and the children released colourful balloons. It was followed by the march past and the oath-taking ceremony.
The junior choir sang the school anthem, and the meet was declared open.
The event began with a vibrant fancy walk by the students of Nursery and Kindergarten.
The Nursery kids wore outfits, depicting various electronic devices and different elements of nature, spreading the message of climate change and our responsibility.
The Kindergarten presented a pageant, Unity in Diversity, their attires representing the various states of India.
The tiny tots of Pre-Nursery got dressed up as the characters of popular nursery rhymes.
The children took place in a variety of races such as My Partner in a Box, Dragging the Ball, Balancing the Shuttlecock, Balloon Bursting and others.
“It was heartwarming to see the children running, jumping, taking part in so many outdoor games and doing all that they missed doing in the last couple of years,” said chairman Kishan Kumar Kejriwal.
Shri Shikshayatan School
The junior section of Shri Shikshayatan School celebrated Christmas with great enthusiasm on December 20 and 21, while its senior section celebrated it on December 23.
The students of Lower Kindergarten and Upper Kindergarten had dressed up according to the Christmas theme. They decorated their classrooms and held class parties.
Children sang and danced with their Santa caps on. Children from Classes I and II presented a small skit, Santa is in Town, at a special assembly. The play conveyed the message of kindness and generosity.
Students from Classes III to IV took part in a singing competition on December 20. The Vishakha House was declared the winner.
Students of the senior section also turned up in red caps. The coordinator and teachers were also clad in red and white. There was a positive vibe all around.
The students staged a nativity play. Students of visual and performing art also sang Christmas carols. The girl guides spent the day at The Little Sisters of the Poor and served the residents cake, baked by them.
The students were thrilled when head girl Fiona Raj and her assistant Khushi Kothari tossed candies at them in the garb of Santa Claus.
The programme ended with principal Sangeeta Tandon’s speech.
“Our celebrations began with students carrying gifts for the children of an NGO in Thakurpukur. Fifty-two cakes were baked by the senior section and gifted to the Little Sisters of the Poor, an old-age home. The girl guides sang Christmas carols for them. The Pre-primary kids had dressed beautifully on the occasion. On December 23, more than a thousand students from Classes VI to IX gathered on the school grounds to celebrate Christmas. There was an unlimited joy as head girl Fiona Raj and assistant head girl Khushi Kothari turned up dressed as Santa Claus with gifts,” said principal Sangeeta Tandon.
“Like every festival, we celebrate Christmas, the festival of love and joy. Our students took the initiative of baking cakes for the residents of an old-age home. A Christmas tree was set up that emitted purity and love,” said the Shikshayatan Foundation’s secretary-general and CEO Bratati Bhattacharyya.