From the Director's Desk

The end of the year is upon us, bringing to an end an eventful and very successful semester. Over these months there have been enormous changes though most transitions have happened so smoothly, that there have been minimal jarring changes. In the last 12 months the school population has gone up by thirty percent, twenty five new teachers joined and there were significant additions to the administrative team. What we hope has not changed as the school has grown, has been the attention to each child, an understanding of their needs and a commitment to educational quality.

Over the semester our students have had in various important experiences – from inter-school matches, new IPads in primary classrooms, guest speakers, public performances of music, dance and drama. Most senior school students are now sitting exams, Middle and Primary school are winding up units of work.

PYP Authorization Visit

As a part of the IB authorization of the Primary Years Programme we were happy to welcome the IB consultant who spent two days in the school, examining the teaching and learning, interviewing teachers, collecting evidence from students and parents on how the school is doing. We are delighted at her positive feedback. Her preliminary comments are as follows:  I truly enjoyed meeting your faculty and community. Your school has a parent, board and student community that is committed to being a PYP school, each group had only positive things to say about the school and especially the faculty. Your team has made great strides in being successful but like most schools in the first 2 years of PYP it is a reflective process. 

Reports

Teachers in the primary, middle and senior school are busy writing reports for the first semester. Grades reflect students work throughout the semester and in the case of students from Form 9-11 also include the semester-end examination. The final reports will be made available to parents in the week after school closes. These are created on Veracross and you will receive an email with a pdf version. New parents need to know that we do not provide hard copies. You may download and print them if you wish.

Fund Raiser & Sharing

Next week the student-run Interact club is hosting a fun fair, wholly run and organized by the students themselves. You will have received various communications and appeals for contributions from the Interact President in the Senior School or the Primary President.                        School didi's performing

The proceeds go to a recipient chosen by students themselves. Special invitees at the Fair are all the support staff of the school – bus drivers, cleaners, office boys and didis who will participate alongside. This will be followed by a langar lunch where everyone sits and eats together, served by senior students.

                                                             Langar

All the earnings from the Fun Fair will add to the splendid earnings from the Readathon which has already raised over 60,000 rupees.

All of these events focus on making our students learn to contribute to a culture of sharing and to appreciate the work done by others in making their lives easier.

Food Festival

The organizing group of parents for the Food Festival have been working really hard to make it a day worth remembering. The Core Group coordinated by Mr. Manish Gupta have been meeting, sharing recipes and planning the layout of the serving area. There is always something special for students to have their parents plan interesting menus and cook for them and this event is a perfect example of the community coming together to have fun.

December and January Schedule

This is the last newsletter for 2012. School closes for students on Thursday 20th December. School re-opens for students on Wednesday 16th January. As is our practice for January, school timings are from 9.30 am.

Thank you to all parents for your wonderful support over this semester. All good wishes to you and your loved ones for a very happy 2013.

Shalini Advani

School Director