September 2017 Reflections

Dear Parents, place in a school at Gurgaon. Apropos of that incident Capt. Raj Mohindra, member of the Board of Greetings from Niraj International School ! Governors, NIS, addressed a letter to all leading In line with the theme ?Connecting People to Nature?, English & regional newspapers. our students commenced their new term by It is our mission to promote learners to grow celebrating the World Environment Day 2017 by academically, socially and emotionally by developing planting the saplings and sowing the seeds in and and supporting them to become independent around the school campus. thinkers to enable them to strive for excellence in the The Founder?s Day remains a special day for the Niraj classroom and community. The opportunities community. On July 1, 2017 the IX Founder?s Day was provided at NIS are intended to allow every student graced by Chairperson of Niraj Educational Society, to grow as an individual as well as academically. We Dr. (Mrs) Jyothi Reddy who inspired the audience welcome and encourage your involvement, inputs with her speech filled with anecdotes on principles & and participation in making NIS the best educational values. experience possible for all our students. Our senior boys, won the Championship Trophy at Wishing you a happy ! the 6th B. Ramender Reddy Memorial Inter School Regards, Basketball Tournament held at NIS campus in July. Our boys repeated the feat by clinching the D. Ravikumar Championship trophy for the second consecutive Principal, year. Niraj International School

Last term also witnessed a whole host of celebrations ranging from national to international days: ?International Day of ?, ?Bastille Day?, ?Independence Day? and various festivals. The much awaited event: ?The Grandparents? Day? was celebrated with great enthusiasm on September 16 2017 by our PYP children who presented a cultural treat to their grandparents. A plethora of Inter-house & Intra-class literary activities were also held to provide a platform for the students to showcase their talents. Our congratulations to Kirtana Vottery of Gr. 7 on being invited by TED? Hyderabad on September 24th to present a talk on 'Saving Lakes from Pollution & Extinction?. The national concern on school safety was accentuated following a heinous crime that took Founder 's Day

?The foundation stones for a balanced It was followed by a skit based on mime and success are honesty, good character, integrity, physical theatre in which the budding actors faith, love and loyalty.? This is what Niraj of NIS expressed themselves through their International School believes in. The school body movements. observed its Founder?s Day on July 1, 2017. Addressing the students, Dr. Jyothi Reddy, Dr. Mrs. Jyothi Reddy, Chairperson of Niraj encouraged them to lead a successful, Educational Society, graced the occasion and meaningful and exemplary life. Laying was the chief guest. The program commenced emphasis on life, she said that one should with the lighting of the lamp followed by a imbibe the qualities that Nature provides welcome song on a wonderful and a universal which serve as the best teacher. She also theme: 'Save the Earth'. expressed her vision of making Niraj The foundation for the school was laid with a International School to bloom globally as a vision of making the school a place of light, of beautiful lotus. liberty and of learning. Conspicuous and The program concluded with the traditional noteworthy, the journey of NIS from 2009 to cutting of cake on the occasion and a vote of 2017 was highlighted in a video presentation, thanks by Head Girl, Komal of Grade 10.

Dr. Jyothi Reddy, Chairperson NES, lighting the lamp PYP students engrossed in a dance performance

CBSE students enacting a skit with body movements Cake cutting by Dr. Reddy. Also seen, Director, Principal & CBSE Head 6t h B. Ram ender Reddy Mem orial Int er School Basket ball Tournam ent

Niraj Public School and Niraj International School, the host team, lost to Sadhu Vaswani School, under the aegis of Niraj Educational International School in the semi final while Society, hosted the 6th B. Ramender Reddy Abhaya won against St. Joseph` s. The final Memorial Inter School Basketball Tournament match was played between Sadhu Vaswani (for girls & boys) at NIS Campus on July 27-29, International School & Abhaya with the 2017. former winning the tournament in the Girls The Guest of Honour was Dr. V. Bharath, category. alumnus of Lawrence School, Lovedale & a In the fixtures for boys, Gitanjali Devashala Basketball player who, in his time, led the defeated St. Peter` s International School school team in IPSC National Level while Niraj International School won against tournaments. St. Joseph` s (AG Palace) in the semi-final The participating schools of the tournament round. The final witnessed Niraj International were grouped in two pools respectively for School, the defending champions, girls and boys. convincingly winning the tournament against Gitanjali Devashala. The schools that participated were: Abhaya, Gitanjali Devshala, Global Indian International The three day tournament showcased School, Ivy League, Johnson Grammar School, amazing skills, endurance and strategies, Niraj International School, Niraj Public School, bringing to life the spirit of basketball. The Pallavi Model School, Sadhu Vaswani participating teams of both girls and boys International School, Shantiniketan, St. enjoyed the knock-out tournament. Playoffs Joseph?s, St. Peter?s International and Suchitra to decide the final position were held before a Academy. packed crowd. In the girls category, Niraj International Kudos to the winning teams!!!

Director lights the lamp assisted by the Principal NIS Boys? basketball team pose as winners Parent Orient at ion - CBSE & PYP

?The only thing that is constant is CHANGE? - CBSE Head, Mrs. Usha Mangipudi. Heraclitus New initiatives such as introduction of Mind On Saturday, June 17, 2017 NIS organized an spark, TCY online tests and TCSion digital orientation programme for the parents of learning for all communication between students in Grades 6-10 to appraise them of school and parents were discussed. the change in the assessment pattern of CBSE The students were happy to speak about the Board from the academic year 2017-18. planting of saplings in the kitchen garden and The programme was led by Komal and Savya acquainted the parents about the use of of Grade 10 who presented the changes garden fresh vegetables and herbs for cooking brought by CBSE Board. It commenced with food in the NIS kitchen. the mention of the excellent performance of This was followed by question answer session the students in the last held board exam. The and some valuable suggestions by parents. It assessment pattern was discussed with was a very informative session for the parents parents and the details were shared by the who appreciated the work of students.

Head Girl Komal & Vice Head Girl Savya lead the program Academic Coordinator Mrs. U Mangipudi orienting the parents about CBSE

An orientation programme was conducted for The coordinator asserted that a student's the parents of Primary Years` Programme progress happens with holistic development (PYP) students on July 22, 2017. where the cooperative efforts of the teachers Mr. Ravi Kumar, Principal introduced our new and the parents are essential. IB-PYP coordinator, Ms. Suparna Das. She Parents were familiarised acquainted the parents about the philosophy with the characteristic and ethos of the PYP where a student's voice features of PYP so that is given precedence and teaching and learning they know what their takes place through an inquiry based wards would be exposed approach. She also highlighted the to in school. The session importance of being internationally minded left parents duly and webbing the PYP framework with the local reassured. needs. Ms. Suparna Das, IBPYP Coordinator Grandparent s' Day

The role of grandparents is special to every Students of Grade 3 and Grade 4 also child. Their knowledge, wisdom and enraptured everyone with their song and intellectual inputs are pivotal in the lives of contemporary dance performance, their grandchildren. Their contribution in respectively. The occasion concluded with family life is a way of transmitting history from Grade 5 students displaying a notable quality one generation to the other. Endorsing this for each alphabet of the word GRANDPARENT. sentiment, NIS, a strong believer in inculcating Special games were also organized for the moral values to the children, celebrated grandparents who participated Grandparents? Day on September 16, 2017. enthusiastically. It was certainly a treat to look The event started with a sterling dance at them as they enjoyed the festivities. performance by Telugu students of Grade 1 Everyone, including many parents who had and Grade 2. It was followed by a graced the occasion, seemed profoundly heart-touching dance performance by the content and delighted. It was a successful little cherubs of early years. Both the dance event, indeed, and we look forward to performances dazzled the audience. The tiny celebrating many more. tots of Grade 1 and Grade 2 dedicated an emotional poem to their grandparents.

Welcome dance by Grade 1 Grade 5 students reciting notable qualities of GRANDPARENT

Grandparents participating in the ?chef? game Special Assem blies for Fest ivals

Special Assemblies were organized to mark the various festivals which inculcate ?International Mindedness?. The stage was decorated as per the respective relevant theme of the occasion. On every such occasion, the assemblies began with the Morning Prayer, words of wisdom and current headlines, followed by the festivities outlined below: Int ernat ional Yoga Day/ World Music Day ?Yoga for Health? highlights that yoga helps in a Fête de la Musique or World Music Day, that was healthy union of mind and body. Keeping this first initiated in France and later adopted in mind, the students took part in various across the globe, was also observed at NIS on breathing exercises and ` asanas` on the the same day, June 21, 2017. There was a occasion of International Yoga Day. As a part of musical programme put up by the students as collaborative learning experience, students of well as teachers to mark the day ? the Sunflower Vedic School were invited to perform beginning of summer solstice. Combining yogic exercises along with our students unique blend of ` taal` and ` musical showcasing an amalgamation of peace and notations` within the genre of western music tranquility. evoked positive emotions of the audience. Int ernat ional Yoga Day / World Music Day

Yoga being performed Musical performance by the students Eid-ul-Fit r

The festival that marks the end of Ramadan, a period during which the believers refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours; was celebrated and children took part in various cultural events. Students of Grade 3B presented a skit on the festival of Eid to highlight its importance. This was followed by a presentation by Grade 10 students on the significance of Eid. Grade 7 students performed a dance on the concept of Eid. The children took part with great Students greeting each other in traditional attire enthusiasm and enjoyed the show. Special Assem blies for Fest ivals

Guru Purnim a & Bonalu

Guru and Bonalu were celebrated on Bonalu is an annual folk festival of Telangana July 7, 2017. Guru Purmima is celebrated with celebrated in the month of Ashada Masam, ritualistic respect to the spiritual and academic where Goddess Mahakali is worshipped. As a guide referred to as Guru. The word Guru is token of thanksgiving to the Goddess for derived from the Sanskrit words: ` gu` meaning fulfillment of vows, women prepare rice cooked ` darkness or ignorance` and ` ru` denoting with milk and jaggery in a new Brass or earthen ` the remover of that darkness` . Buddhists pot adorned with Neem leaves, turmeric, celebrate in honor of Buddha` s first sermon on vermilion and a lit lamp on the top of the Pot. this day. The day is also celebrated as They carry the pots on their heads and make delivered his first discourse on yoga to the an offering of Bonam (Telugu word for . The great sage , regarded as Bhojanam) to the Goddess across the temples. the greatest Guru in ancient Hindu traditions, is Significance of the auspicious occasions was said to have been born on this day. Words of showcased by the students, culminating in a praise to the teachers were the highlight. dance by CBSE students.

Significance of Guru Purnima being enacted Devotees offering rice cooked with milk and jaggery to Goddess Mahakali

Bast ille Day

On July 14, France celebrates its national day, La Fête Nationale Française, also known as Bastille Day. To learn more about this day, the French Department organized a skit which explained the significance of the day and French culture. French songs by the CBSE students and a beautiful French folk dance performed by the IB-PYP children added charmé to the skit. The programme concluded with the French National

Anthem. French folk dance by students Special Assem blies for Fest ivals

Rakshabandhan

Rakshabandhan, the festival that celebrates the ` Rakhi` to King Bali. Depicting traditional love and duty between brothers and sisters, celebrations from all over , students from was celebrated on August 4, 2017 by the PYP PYP used dramatic movements set to a poem and CBSE Wings. The students spoke about the describing the fabric of relationship that binds significance of the festival narrating different brothers and sisters. The performance was an stories surrounding it. Dressed in traditional energetic and powerful piece of choral attire, the students of CBSE performed a skit to speaking. portray the story of Goddess Lakshmi tying

Janam asht am i

On August 10, 2017 Janamashtami, a festival in dance performance. This was followed by two celebration of the earthly advent of Lord other laudable dance performances by the Krishna, was celebrated. The students of the students. The celebration ended with the PYP spoke in English and Telugu on the customary ritual of ?Matka Breaking?. The event sIingntifeicranncae t oiof nJaanml Yasohgtaam iD aandy /D aWsaovartaldra .M uwsasi ca tDtenadyed by Mr. Nanda Kumar, member of The Pre-Primary children came dressed as little the Board of Governors of NIS and Mrs. Nanda Krishnas and Radhas and lit up the stage and Kumar. captivated the audience with their refreshing

Explaining the significance of Rakshabandhan

Customary ritual of ?Matka Breaking?'

Lord Krishna with the Gopis Special Assem blies for Fest ivals

Ganesh Chat hurt hi

Ganesh Chathurthi - the birthday of Lord Lord Ganesha?s childhood was staged. The skit Ganesha, son of Lord Shiva and Parvati was gave a strong message to the students to be celebrated with due reverence on August 24, obedient, respectful and caring to their 2017. The festival which epitomises wisdom parents. Mr. Gavish Reddy, the Director of NIS, and prosperity, was originally given a boost by laid emphasis on how the devotees regard Lord Bal Gangadhar Tilak and was subsequently Ganesha as the destroyer of obstacles. nationally. The program started with a welcome dance. The students of both PYP and CBSE showcased dances, songs and a skit based on

Dussehra

Keeping the festival spirit alive, the students the PYP students of grade 5 in a graceful and staff celebrated Dussehra on September manner where they showcased the victory of 1In9, t e20r1n7a twiiothn agrle aYt ozgeaal Daandy /g uWsto. rlTdhe M uthsei c DGoadydess Durga over the demon significance of this festival has many stories but Mahishasura. Colorful attires worn by the the prevailing story is of the ` triumph of good students were eye-catching. The Principal Mr. over evil` . With anchoring by the 9th graders, Ravi Kumar lauded the participants and the the students spoke about the significance of teachers who ensured that the programme was the festival and how it is celebrated across the wonderful. country. A traditional dance was performed by

Classical dance performance by our PYP students Contemporary dance by Grade 6 students

Traditional dance by the students Independence Day

Niraj International School was abuzz with light on the struggle of the freedom fighters to Independence Day preparations much in achieve liberty from the shackles of slavery. The advance. The school celebrated the 71st Principal spoke with patriotic nostalgia and Independence Day with fervor and spirit of extended good wishes to one and all. patriotism. The program began with the No celebration is complete without the cultural unfurling of tricolor flag by the Principal Mr. D. program. A day earlier, the students put up a Ravi Kumar followed by a March-past that show that included a melodious number inspired a sense of dignity and pride. exhibiting patriotic feelings and a mesmerizing The Head Girl, Komal of Grade 10, talked about dance. The program ended with the the significance of Independence Day throwing distribution of sweets.

Teachers' Day

Teachers` Day, a day to mark the birthday of The students put up a cultural programme one of the pioneers of educational where three dance presentations were development in India, Dr. Sarvepalli showcased followed by games organised for Radhakrishnan, also the first Vice President of the teachers ranging from testing of their India, was celebrated on September 6, 2017. vocabulary and also musical skills. It was NIS believes in the strong principles of thoroughly enjoyed by the teachers who were education and the role of teachers as the overwhelmed by the love and respect torch-bearers to guide the students - showered on them by the students. tomorrow?s nation-builders.

Skit by CBSE students Principal unfurls the national flag Int ra Class Com pet it ions - PYP

Competitions are the best way to build stories as their genre. Emphasis was laid on confidence in children. Keeping this in mind, parameters such as narration, use of props, the PYPians had organized ?Intra Class imagination, expression and gestures and Competitions? on September 12, 13 and 14, pace and tone of voice. We were surprised at 2017. the active involvement of all our students. The senior kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 Inspiring speech topics for children in Grade 1 students had their recitation competition on and 2 were chosen for the ?Pick and Speak? September, 12. The purpose for organizing competition that was held on September 14. this competition was to instill love for poetry We had topics like ` My perfect holiday` , ` The and enhance the oratory skills amongst our happiest day in my life` , ` My favourite pet` , little ones. Participation of all our students etc. These stimulating and interesting topics was mandatory. prompted them to talk about the subject September 13 was set for our story-telling closest to their heart. competition. The Grade 3 students had to These competition series were designed narrate a fable, the Grade 4 students had to specifically to make the students develop an come up with a humorous story and the inclination towards relishing English Grade 5 students had humorous or horror language.

Participants of the Storytelling competition

SKG students who participated in the Recitation competition CBSE Lit erary Week

Learning correct spellings of words and their Science builds and organizes knowledge in the usage is the most important part of any form of explanations and predictions. To language. Spell Bee Competition in schools for check the knowledge on Science CBSE wing of English language is very important and NIS organized a Science Quiz as a part of necessary to enable the students to increase inter-house activity for Grades 8, 9 and 10. their vocabulary and develop correct usage Students from all the four Houses which in turn allows them to excel at writing enthusiastically participated in the quiz. There and reading. were five rounds in the quiz which included Niraj International School conducted questions from all the streams of science Inter-house Spell Bee Competition on August enabling the participants to think critically, 30, 2017 amongst four houses: Amazon, research and apply what they have learnt so Ganga, Mississippi and Nile. The students far. The quiz was very informative for the participated with a notable competitive spirit. participants as well as the attendees. The winners for Grades 8 and 9 were Nile House followed by Amazon House while the winners for Grades 6 and 7 were Ganga House followed by Nile House.

The final Inter house Debate competition for The highlight of the debate was the rebuttal Grade 6 and 7 was held on September 9, 2017. round. All the participants rose to the occasion Semi finalists, Mississippi House and Ganga to defend their arguments. They presented House debated on the topic: ?Cell Phones - the ideas in an effective manner which drew Boon or Bane? for and against the motion others to their way of thinking and convince respectively to vie for the final round of the listeners that their side of proposition was debate. right. Finally, the Ganga team was declared All the participants exhibited remarkable winners of the debate. oratorical skills and had a healthy debate on the given topic. The Mississippi team who NIS initiated a Math Quiz on September 2, spoke for the motion emphasised on the point 2017. The Quiz had seven rounds consisting that Science has made a tremendous progress of: ` Who?s First` , ` Visual round` , ` Guess the and it all depends on the way it is used. age` , ` Sudoku` , ` Tangram` , ` Rapid fire Ganga, the team that spoke against the round on formulae` and ` Math stick puzzle` motion said that students use cell phones Students participated in each round with excessively which often results in loss of enthusiasm. Winners of the Math Quiz were concentration and brings distractions of all Amazon House with 27 points and runners up kinds. were Nile House with 22 points. CBSE Lit erary Week

Debate competition in progress

Participants of the Spell Bee St udent Corner

Jishnu Grade 7

Yuvraj, Grade 6

Nikhileshwar , Grade 5

Aditi, Grade 7 A Let t er by Capt . Raj Mohindra

We reproduce below a letter which was addressed by Capt. Raj Mohindra (Retd), Member of the Board of Governors, NIS on behalf of Raj Mohindra Consultants to several frontline newspapers in India, both in English and vernacular:

? India had a famed system of private Dear Sir, education which was the envy of Asia. This has been systematically destroyed through The recent ghastly murder of a 7-year old some unimaginative legislation by the State child at Ryan International School, Gurugram, and the Central governments in the recent has stirred the conscience of the nation. The past. Not many promoters would now media is on an overdrive in quest of the arrest consider investing in private education in and trial of the owners of the school Dr and India. Understandably, they are petrified Mrs Ryan Pinto and their son. The Central and beyond words. State governments and the police have raised their own concerns. Capt. Raj Mohindra Amid all the emotional outbursts, it would be " unfair to lose track of the commendable work done by the Ryans in having set up more than 135 institutions spread across the country and abroad. Cumulatively, nearly 30,000 students pass out of these schools every year. The Ryans have made an immense contribution to school education in the country over the years. While it is their bounden duty to cooperate fully and with complete honesty in the investigations, the insulting manner in which mud has been slung at them by the media is grossly unfair. Last year the owner of another chain of schools in India was arrested because of a case of molestation of a student within the premises of his school. Crass sensationalism has given the unfortunate event an unduly ugly touch. St udent Council: 2017-18

TEDx Hyderabad

Kum. Kirtana Vottery of Grade 7 represented SAHE (Society for Advancement of Human Endeavour, Live the Lakes) at the TEDx Hyderabad experience zone at Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad on September 24, 2017. She spoke on how human activity has resulted in the depletion and pollution of our lakes. She spoke with specific reference to the lake at RK Puram and the pollution caused by the release of untreated sewage and Kirtana et al. at TEDx industrial effluents into it.

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