Principal Speak: Preparing students to become agents of change within school

Education involves a right balance of academic and co-curricular activities. How is your institution providing this balance to students?

St Thomas’ School believes in designing their curriculum creatively, focusing on the overall developments of children. Preparing them to learn, lead and change and enabling them to grow in a positive environment where they can explore their scholastic and co scholastic capabilities.

What are the assessment practices used in your school?

School assessment plays a critical role in deciding where a student stands and helps teachers to identify the gaps in the student’s learning curve. The school has adopted a programme of Learning in Education and Development (LEAD). This programme is designed strategically to enhance quality learning. The assessments help students cover their learning gaps, before progressing to the next level or unit. These might be written or oral or both in the four units over the academic year.

Sports and co-curricular activities for students.

Sports and co-curricular activities complement each other in shaping the right personality of a child. The school has a strong NCC wing. We offer both outdoor and indoor sports, such as basket and volleyball, badminton, taekwondo, chess and carom. Shooting, grappling, boxing and skating and some sports which children love. The school has a dedicated ‘Art In Education’ department which encourages students to take up art forms where they explore rich culture and heritage of our country.

NEP-2020 has laid special emphasis on vocational skills and entrepreneurships. How is your school providing these two through curriculum?

NEP-2020 focuses on child-centred education, preparing the youth to be self-reliant. The school is a CBSE Hub for skill development programme and offers courses such as Data Entry Operations, Beauty and Wellness and Hospitality. The school also offers Mass Media and Production as a vocational subject in the secondary level. The school also encourages business skills of students by helping them explore various start-up schemes and empowering themselves through various skilling courses. The school has recently added a STEM and STEAM ‘Robotic Lab’, enhancing the curiosity skill in the students.

What is the motto of your school and how are students being trained to follow it?

The motto of our school is “By Love Serve One Another”. It is important for children to be sensitive to the needs of one another, the community and the world at large. The school has a Tourism Club under the Ministry of Tourism, where children are encouraged to promote global understanding and earth consciousness. To encourage appreciation of our national and cultural heritage to promote national integration the students are encouraged to join the NCC. The school is engaged with an NGO, Almighty Blessings, who serves langar for the attendants of cancer patients at the IGMC, Shimla. The children contribute roti and uncooked cereals at the NGO. The students are a part of a Y Deepa programme of the YWCA India.

As the head of this institution what is your vision and how you are making it a reality?

As an educationalist, I strongly believe in inclusive education. My vision is to empower maximum children who enter the portals of St Thomas’ School, to make the school a progressive learning centre, embracing children from all walks of life and making each one of them very special and working on their life skills to face different challenges. It is important to be abreast with new teaching methodologies, empowering each and every staff member to upgrade themselves through various teaching tools and above all, making the school vibrant happy and joyful place for learning and self-growth.

What measures has the school taken to help students cope with stress and to develop their EQ?

The school has dedicated 20-minute period every day, where the teachers conduct interactive sessions on topics such as peer pressure, gender sensitivity issues, issues relating to drugs and substance abuse, positive thinking, building self-esteem and career counselling. We encourage students to join hobby classes, sports activities and theatre. We prepare students to become agents of change within the school.