LIFE-SKILLS IN SCHOOL
While the school and the home work in tandem to attain what is best for the child, each has its own strategies to develop in the children qualities that make a good human being and a responsible citizen.
The school is like a mini representation of the country, where each individual plays a role in its progress. With students coming from diverse social and cultural backgrounds, tolerance and appreciation of others form an integral part of the school culture. A strong feeling of patriotism and pride in the nation are evident in all the programmes – curricular and co-curricular – of the school. Students are encouraged to be confident young achievers whose core competition is with their own selves where they aim to do their best in whatever task they undertake. Communication skills are encouraged in the regular interactions in the class wherein students are motivated to voice their views and feelings – a policy that has led to empowerment and accountability among the students. Students are given ample opportunity to develop and display responsibility not only through various appointments in the students council and prefectorial board but also as integral parts of the organizing committees of various events in the school. Empathy and a desire to improve the community are qualities inculcated through the SCOPE projects. Courtesy, social responsibility and etiquette are the hallmark of every single student of the school.
While students are encouraged to be self-motivated learners, a lot of group work encourages communication and collaboration, thus encouraging inter-personal skills such as empathy, cooperation, team work, openness and innovation – these are essential 21st century skills that develop as students learn to work as a part of a group.
Students who learn through a visual-spatial mode are very good at visualizing things be these in the forms of pictures, videos, graphs, charts etc.. The school provides for such talent through weekly art and craft and sculpture classes, that encourage creativity, innovation, expression and confidence.
Some students enjoy singing and playing musical instruments – in order to give the students an opportunity to explore their musical talents, the school has facilities for vocal and instrumental music, Indian and western dance and a pipe-band. Students learn how to make harmony in unison – they realize that individual talents can manifest themselves into a united pool of talents – the school has two rock bands that epitomize and promote this,
The core elements of kinesthetic intelligence include control of one’s body movements, performing well in physical actions. In order to encourage development of kinesthetic skills in the students, sports, games, dance, yoga, gymnastics have been incorporated as a part of the weekly curriculum. The school has a dedicated Montessori-lab where the students of the Pre-Primary can enhance their fine motor skills through experiential learning. Physical fitness, health and hygiene are encouraged through these classes.
The school has a very active environment club and its own vermi-composting project called ‘Vermies’. Students are encouraged to be responsible residents of planet Earth by following good practices such as Reduce and Re-use – the school is full of evidences of the recycling projects undertaken by the students.
