I wonder who is empowering or getting empowered as we look at the
progress made by all involved in the Founders Day Musical, “The Lion King”.
We
knew that it is a mammoth task to get a musical together and also the diverse
resources we would need but it’s all happened, most of all our students have
grown during this journey at school. As
we go through the last lap of rehearsals, I am amazed at the personal growth I
see in each child. Whether it is the Kindergarten and Form 1 scene, where the
students are taking instructions or working on stage and collectively involved
in getting the scene right. This morning I watched Ms. Aneesha giving a command
to 132 children together on stage and all of them visibly listening to the
command. When she asked all the giraffes to raise their hands, they were
happily doing it and others were waiting quietly for their turn. Students are
taking on responsibility for themselves and also for those who are forgetting
their roles; we can see other children giving them quiet cues.
One of the challenges all schools face is maintaining the balance
where academics takes a lower focus but this year as I walk through classes, I
see the students engaged in the inquiry and academic work more as they seem to
know how to pack their day with many things that are vibrating in their life
currently.
Form 5 has well linked their inquiry on technology with their
involvement with the musicals. Form 4 have been intensely involved with Media
and inquired on the role of media on the popularity of Lion King World over.
Form 3 chose to enquire on “expressions through Art and closely engaged with
the professional mask makers from Ujjain who have been working on animal masks
within the school campus. Form 2 enquired on organizations and is currently
reflecting on good organizational skills to put together a big musical in
school. Form 1 and KG have read and reread the musical story of the lion King
and are thrilled to watch it come alive during rehearsal time. Nursery and
Pre-nursery are engaging with the form of the Lion king and have been gleefully
painting him and Nala too.
It is certainly very satisfying to see the students engage so well
with different areas of the Lion King and to watch them speak their lines. Dear
parents do keep your 31st free to come in and enjoy the musical at Pathways.
For us the journey has been very fulfilling and I am very sure that you will
enjoy the final production.
Mrs. Usha Lamba
Primary School Principal
