SCHOOL BUZZ
A clarion call to reinvigorate hockey at the grassroot
Smriti Kak

SPORTS fields in schools are the breeding ground for talent. Encouragement and instruction during the formative years, added to the zeal and the dedication to perform are the formula for churning out a sportsperson. To search for talent in the country’s sheer number may not be so difficult, should the authorities get down to the task honestly.

In an attempt to revive hockey, a game that has fetched the country accolades in the past, the captain of the Indian hockey team, Dhanraj Pillai, has taken on the mantle of promoting and reinvigorating the sport in public schools in the country.

At a ceremony held in Heritage School, Gurgaon, the Indian captain announced the start of six-a-side invitational hockey tournament for schools in Delhi to nurture hockey talent at the grassroots.

Speaking on the occasion, Pillai said, “I feel overwhelmed with joy to see these young talented students from Heritage School take up this sport, which has brought laurels to India. I hope and ask all Indian schools to come forward and rebuild Indian hockey by providing support at the junior level”.

American educators on voyage of discovery

A group of 30 teachers and administrators from schools and colleges in the United Sates began a month-long programme in India to learn more about the art, culture, religion and society and the present state of Indo-US relations.

The programme, which began here yesterday under the aegis of the Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad Programme is hosted by the USFI. The participants include about 14 community college professors and 16 educators from community high schools and colleges.

The academic programme will be devoted to the study of India and will follow a multi-disciplinary approach involving formal lectures, interviews and discussions with prominent scholars and personalities.

The academic component will be followed by field visits, which will help the participants know more about the regional as well as geographic diversities of India.

Carnival at Mother’s Dream

Children participating in a carnival organised by Mother’s Dream pre-nursery school, Arihant Nagar.

Mother’s Dream pre-nursery school, Arihant Nagar, organised a carnival in which more than 500 children took part in various activities.

Children competed with each other in events like fancy dress, drawing competition and dance contest.

A smart and active baby contest was organised to assess the IQ of the children. Art and craft exhibitions were organised and the children took part in dance and song numbers.

Talent search at summer camp

A talent competition was organised by Brooklyn School, Noida, for children enrolled in the summer hobby camp. More than 400 students between the age of three and 12 years participated in the events, which included a fashion show, drawing and colouring, fancy dress and a quiz contest. The children also performed folk dances and students from the arts and crafts class put on show their creations. Speaking at the prize distribution ceremony, the school principal, Ms Anand, advised the parents to encourage their children to participate in creative activities.

Child Care Plan for meritorious children

Prudential ICICI has introduced a Child Care Plan wherein meritorious children will be eligible for financial assistance up to Rs one lakh to pursue higher education.

A trust, known as the Prudential ICICI Young Students Education Trust, has been specially set up for evaluating eligible applicants and awarding merit based scholarships.

This year 16 students have been chosen for the scholarship from across the country on the basis of their performance. The plan has two features, a girl plan for those between the age of one and 13 years and a study plan for those between the age of 13 and 17 years.

Step by step learning Step by Step nursery school in Pitampura concluded its summer classes by hosting a grand function. The chief guest, Union Minister Sahib Singh Verma gave away the prizes and praised the efforts put in by the students. A special memento was presented to Mr Verma by Mr L. D. Kukreja, the founder of the school. The children put up various events including cultural shows on the occasion. Union Minister Sahib Singh Verma at a prize distribution function organised by Step by Step nursery school in Pitampura.

PRINCIPAL SPEAK
Channelling the youths’ energy through meditation

YOUNGSTERS have tremendous energy, which needs to be drawn together and channelled in the right direction to help them realise their constructive potential, build power of concentration to face challenges and override all difficulties to reach the pinnacle of success. Often, this wonderful energy gets dissipated in fruitless chatter, aggressive acts and mindless activities that bring short-lived satisfaction but leave a vacuum in terms of meaningful growth. Thus, in the process of growing up and assuming responsibilities, when they are called upon to focus and put in hard work, they feel stressed and worn out.

Also, caught in a vortex of rapid change, heartless competition and uncertain values, they are bewildered and seek stability. Meditation is an answer to their call. It is a good stress reliever not only for youngsters but for everyone. It arrests restlessness and is able to calm the flitting mind. It calms the senses, makes the mind inactive and the body passive. One can meditate on an object or even on one’s own rhythm of breath. Meditation involves turning your alteration inward, away from activity and preoccupation outside. In this process, you make a simple but significant shift, from thinking and doing to just being. Thus, it helps us to understand our own selves. With practice, the mind begins to settle down. It becomes relaxed and peaceful. This promotes the cultivation of true awareness.

Meditation increases the ability of the mental muscle to concentrate longer on the breath, body, a mantra or a sound, all of which have a powerful impact on our lives. It helps to calm worries, gently leading the mind away from its painful or frightening pre-occupation towards the present. Thus, mediation leads to a person remaining focused and stable.

Regular practice helps to create an inner space so that one does not feel pressurised in mind and heart. It does not require any special preparation. In fact one does not have to sit cross-legged either. One can meditate while kneeling, sitting on a chair, lying down or even walking. Its purpose is mental and physical awareness and peace. This is the more important aspect.

The ability to ponder and inquire quietly within, uncovering and understanding the ways of our psyche, will make us more understanding and tolerant. This positive result will manifest itself in our relationships. Not only this, meditation will help us to achieve a desirable objectivity and detachment even while we are deeply involved in pursuing our goals and work. Meditation is indeed a true healer. It helps to detoxify the body and stimulate the immune systems. It calms restlessness and eliminates negative thoughts and awakens true joy. It makes a person compassionate, kind and loving. Religious mantra-based meditation assists in communion with God.

Meditation empowers us to gain control over our body, mind and emotions and thus over our lives. Its benefits are amazing. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation every day will bring about a remarkable change in your life.

 — Mrs. Madhu Chandra, Principal, Birla Vidya Niketan

Faridabad drive to induct more students in
primary schools
Our Correspondent

Faridabad, June 29
Aiming to provide education to all, the district administration has set a target to enrol 893 more students in the primary classes this year.

For this, the education department has announced to launch a special drive in the Hathin block of the district. At a meeting held recently, the district authorities called upon the officials and participants of the 'Sarva Siksha Abhiyan’ to work with more dedication to bring the desired results.

The campaign aims to ensure enrolment of every child, aged between 6 and 14 years, in a school for education. But it is reported that much success has not been met so far, as a large number of children of this age group have either not been enrolled or are not attending the schools regularly.

While the authorities propose to hold several interactive meetings with people at many villages, the residents of Mewat region, which is considered to be one of the most backward areas, were reportedly not taking proper interest.

The region is also known for not responding to `Pulse Polio’ Campaign. The district has 594 government primary schools, which had 1,24,107 students last year.

According to authorities, the target for the current year is 1,25,000 students.