The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

SCHOOL BUZZ
Mira sings ‘Insaan Hain Hum’
Smriti Kak

Mira Model School, Janak Puri, under the aegis of Mira Centre for Arts, organised a musical presentation, ‘Insaan Hain Hum’ presented by Loknaad, an Ahmedabad-based NGO.

The objectives of the show were to build awareness about the increasing social and communal violence: to share experiences and encounters: to begin a process of reflection and dialogue rather than blaming the politicians for everything and to initiate a process of collective reflection and dialogue on the contemporary issues and strengthen the peace march.

The school also organised its fifth Inter-School Mira Padavali Gayan Pratiyogita. A total of 23 teams participated in the competition, which was inaugurated by Dr Madhu Malik of Jesus and Mary College. Each team comprised a teacher and a student, perpetuating the ‘guru shishya parampara’.

As part of their silver jubilee celebrations the Spic Macay organised a ‘History Walk’ in the school. Sixty students from the school were taken for a walk to the Jahapanha Begumphir Masjid. A Madhubani paintings craft workshop was also organised.

Founder’s Day

The students of Modern School, Vasant Vihar, receiving awards from Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

Modern School, Vasant Vihar, celebrated its Founder’s Day last week. Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit was the chief guest and gave away the prizes. Speaking to the students, she urged them not to go and settle in foreign countries adding that brain drain caused an irreparable loss to the country.

The students also presented a ballet, ‘Gatha Parcham Ki’, which depicted the evolution of the Indian Tricolour, highlighting the major historical events associated with it.

The junior school students sang the Founder’s Day song, written by the President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Azad. ‘Nritya Sangam’ a fusion dance was also presented by the students.

Divali Mela

Noted writer Kshama Sharma inaugurating the 'Divali Mela' at Bal Bhawan Public School, Laxmi Nagar.

Bal Bhawan Public school organised a Divali Mela. Noted writer Kshama Sharma inaugurated the mela. Praising the students she said, “I am happy to note that the kids are blessed with immense potential and talent. I thank the principal and the students for making this Divali memorable for me.”

The decorative items made by the students were the centre of attraction. These students made candles, diya, flowers and vases to perfection. The students were each gifted with a Divali thalis to educate them about the tradition and culture of the country.

Personality camp

GHPS, Loni Road, organised a three-day personality development camp, ‘Antodaya’. Mr B. R. Sharma, Secretary CBSE, lit the ceremonial lamp. Among those present were Mr S. S. Minhas, President, Delhi Sikh Public Schools Conference, Mr Varyam Singh and Mr G. S. Sabharwal.

A total of 135 students from 15 schools participated in the three-day programme. The student interacted with each other and took part in various creative exercises. The chief guest congratulated the Principal for organising the event and expressed hope that such personality development programmes will continue to be organised.

The school also organised a ‘Library Week’ to inculcate the habit of reading in the students. The Principal urged the students to adopt the habit of reading and highlighted the role of libraries.

DPS new branch

DPS has added another school to its society, the new school DPS International is being touted as a means of imparting global and futuristic education.

Dr, Shyama Chona, Director of the school, said, “It will be an institution that will be unique with multi-dimensions. The objectives will be to strive for excellence and provide an environment, which nurtures the pleasures of discovery, learning and communication thereby maximising the capacity and sensitivity of each student.”

The school will cater to the demand for international education and prepare students to seek admissions in premier educational institutes abroad.

A grand reunion

Tytler Alumni Association organised a grand reunion where students of the last 10 years’ batches poured into rekindle the memories of the past. After the traditional cake cutting and speeches the party let its hair down and danced with abandon.

Gift a toy

Mattel Toys India has decided to rope in little kids to raise gifts for the thousands of underprivileged children in the country. This Children’s Day they have invited kids to donate a toy in any of their collection centres in the city for those who have no access of toys. The centres in Delhi are at Shoppers Stop, Ebony and Toy Kemp. The programme ‘Gift a toy’ spread some joy is an initiative to make the children feel that they are making a valuable contribution to the lives of other children.

PRINCIPALSPEAKS
Add life to your years, not years to your life

A boy was drowning in a river and he shouted for help. A man passing by jumped in the river and saved the boy’s life. As the man was leaving the boy said, “Thank you”. The man asked, “For what?” The boy replied, “For saving my life”. The man looked into the boy’s eyes and said, “Son, make sure when you grow up that your life was worth saving.”

This is a wake-up call. One must live life to the full, making every minute of it meaningful and purposeful. Without these life is empty and unhappy regardless of how much prestige, money or degrees a person has. We should be guided by a clearly defined purpose and a philosophy based on a sound value system, which inculcate dependability, consistency, caring, empathy, a sense of duty, sincerity, character, integrity, loyalty, fairness, compassion and the larger interest of society.

Life is not a spectator sport. We cannot sit back and watch things happen. We need to be part of the sport. We need to find a purpose in order to make life meaningful and strive to achieve that purpose. Just adding years to your life does not mature you or make you wise. It is living with a purpose, experiencing the struggle to achieve it, striking the opportunities and turning them in your favour, taking chances and succeeding and serving selflessly which bring a sense of fulfilment.

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavour,” said Vincert Lambard.

One must strive for excellence in progress, because there is nothing that can’t be done better. People with character accept responsibilities. They make decisions and determine their own destiny in life. People who choose to stay in the comfort zone and live passive lives just drift through life, waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen. As we reach one goal, we must look for a new one and keep on climbing. This is what makes life interesting. Importantly, if you wish your years to bring the happiness you deserve, learn to love whatever you do!

Our life is like ‘potter’s clay’, which can be shaped into any form we want. Thus, we must make our choices with discernment. There are the good and the bad, there are sorrows and joys – the rain and sunshine. If we can handle adversity, it will only strengthen us. We may not be able to control all that happens in our lives, but we can control how we deal with them.

During our childhood we learn our lessons and form attitudes that last a lifetime. There are the things we learn. Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Clear up your own mess. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. Extend a helping hand’. We must nurture these lessons through our life for it is our worthiness that determines the quality of the journey of our life. Don’t just exist, live. Do more than touch – feel. Do more than look-observe. Do more than read – absorb. Do more than hear – listen. Do more than listen-understand.

Strive for excellence for that will give meaning to your life and bring a sense of fulfilment. And remember that in serving others, your gains are the greatest. The gold in your heart will make your life more valuable than the gold in your vault. It will fill your life with unbounded joys and make each year more meaningful and valuable.

Mrs Madhu Chandra, Principal, Birla Vidya Niketan