| Baroda Diary | Indian Glimpses | From Viewers | Yahan Hai Hum | Chhupe Ho Kahan | Gift Section | Baroda Quiz | The City | Sightseeing | Photo Album | Movies | Impt. Phone Nos. | Trains/Flights/Hotels | Helpline/Feedback | Contact | Astro-Counselling | Home |

Vadodara, India
Gifts from Baroda-Online.gif

Menu.gif
Menu1.gif (9220 bytes)

EDITING SERVICES
OTHER WEBSITES

HOMOEOPATHY
MATRIMONIAL

HELPLINE/FEEDBACK
HOME

Newsletter
Navrachana International School
(To take a closer look at the enchanting world of Navrachana children
please visit http://www.navrachana.ac.in)



 


What's Happening ?

A Cool Dip To Beat The Heat

Take a bright sunny day, a cool blue swimming pool and scores of kids splashing around - and what you get is a smashing SWIM GALA organized by the Physical Education Department of NISV. On 8th of May,'08, a swimming gala was organized for Grades 3 to 12 at the NISV swimming pool, which consisted of 50m Free Stlye, TT Ball Collection and Obstacle race for Boys & Girls separately. The Gala started with a demonstration of Padma Asana in water by Mr. Nagin, the lifeguard at NISV, followed by the competition and the prize distribution. Principal, Mrs. Manju Gupta was very impressed by the efforts of all involved and encouraged the PE department to have more such events with staff and parent participation. Mr. Shiv Kumar Sen, Dy. Director, Sports gave the Vote of Thanks and promised to organise more such Galas, after the summer break!

IBDP Graduation Day (19th April)

'Fare well' in all your future endeavors.

This was our sincerest wish and prayer as we bid 'adieu' to our first batch of IBDP* students.

The Graduation day of outgoing IBDP students opened with the arrival of the Chief Guest - Dr. M.H.Mehta, ex- Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Agricultural University. The stage was then taken over by the present Grade 12 students and their Co-ordinator Ms. Sangita Mathur, who recited a poem written by her straight from the heart. An informal video of all IBDP students followed, which turned out to be a purely emotional experience for all present. The programme also included a musical interlude by students, reflections of the outgoing batch, Golden Moments with the Chief Guest and a vote of thanks. So it is with happy tears that we part, but with memories firmly in place - in our heart and mind. Good luck and God Bless!

* International Baccalaureate Diploma programme is an equivalent of +2 or Grade 11 & 12 of other Education Boards. It is recognized the world over for entry to undergraduate studies.

We Can Make A Difference

On 19th April, 2008 the little angels of our Pre-Primary section and Grade1 showed us how we can all make a difference to the environment by being just a little more responsible. The Annual Concert of our Pre-Primary Section, a much awaited programme, was inaugurated amongst a large gathering of parents and invitees by Chief Guest Ms. Amisha S. Gupt, Asst. Commissioner of Income Tax. What followed was a spectacular performance by the students, beautifully choreographed and compered by the Grade Tutors. The sequences, through song and dance, focused on environmental pollution and ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. The Concert concluded by Ms. Viraj Jhaveri, Pre-Primary Co-ordinator giving a vote of thanks. Mr. Rahul Amin, President, Navrachana Education Society, addressed the audience with encouraging words for saving the planet and was full of praise for the programme put up by Pre-Primary NISV. Ms. Amisha Gupt, expressed her good fortune on being invited for such a wonderful programme and the memories that she will cherish. Finally, all present took a pledge to do their best to save the Environment.

*


Exhibiting Art

Perhaps our highest assurance of the goodness of Providence lies in the plethora of colors around us, as we oft wonder - who colors the rose, dots the giraffe and lends gold to fish! These colors recreated by man find their way to the painter's palette to take form and we see them as an expression of the artist.

The expressions of NISV Art Students were put on display, as the school opened an exhibition - 'Treadings' - to encourage Art and talent within the school. This exhibition was inaugurated by H.H. Shri Ranjitsinh Gaekwad, an Art Connoisseur himself, amid the NISV community and visitors and remains open from 7th to 11th April at Welcome Hotel, Vadodara.

The exhibition mainly showcases the Art work of IB DP Year 2 Visual Art students - Ms. Ektaa Patel, Ms. Athika Karolia, Ms. Prima Shah and also exhibits the art of other school students from the 10th April. The students have used various mediums like acrylic and oil, plaster of paris, watercolor, and mixed mediums on canvas to convey various themes.

The Art work sure left all agape and enthralled at the versatility and the intensity of the Artists!

 

Graduation Day
Celebrations at 'Expressions'
on NISV campus

 

As the academic year 2007-08 came to an end, and the students graduated to the higher grade, we celebrated their 'Graduation Day' with much fervor and excitement!

It was a unique presentation which showcased our community and students as global citizens transcending boundaries, race & religion.

Revolving around the theme - "Celebrating ourselves and our Commitments", the performances put up by students were an earnest attempt to bring to the fore serious issues like 'Global Warming' and hazards of modern day living. They were also an appeal to save and preserve the Environment and Mother Earth for generations to come and to commit ourselves to this cause.

Furthermore, performances depicting diverse cultures of the world were put up in the form of folk dances, songs, historical and
 geographical information.

Our celebrations continued for three consecutive days, each day marked by a ceremony of celebrating the student and parent by individually addressing and awarding certificates, an exhibition of 'Learning of Students', and Group Performances.

At NISV we recognize the importance of each student at each grade of learning. Thus three days saw Grades 2&3 graduate on 12 March 08, Grades 4&5 graduate on 13 March 08, and Grades 6 to 9 & 11 graduate on 14 March 08.

So, as the old adage... 'Ring in the new, ring out the old'- we bid adieu to a wonderful, fruitful year and now have our arms wide open to an even more exciting 2008-09!


Education Update



An Open House was organized on 29th April, 2008 at Hotel WelcomGroup Vadodara
for prospective parents.


Authorization Visit From IB Singapore
At Navarachana International School, Vadodara

Well, we have good news to share. Mr. Curtis Beaverford, MYP Associate Regional Manager, IB Asia Pacific, Singapore and Ms. Arden Tyoschia, MYP Co-ordinator, Nanjing International School, China visited NISV as Authorization Team members for authorizing the Middle Years Programme (MYP)* offered by NISV. Any school offering the International Baccalaureate programme, has to be officially authorized and needs its programme approval from IB. In their short visit from 28 to 30th April 08, both team members were fully occupied in meetings with the chairperson - Ms. Tejal Amin, Trustees, Principal - Ms. Manju Gupta, Deputy Principal - Mr. Louis Dias, HR Head - Mr. Theo D'Souza and other members of the Senior Management. Visits to the Science Lab and Library, classroom interaction and document approval followed.

An Open House was organized on 29th April, 08 at Hotel WelcomGroup, Vadodara in the evening, for prospective parents. It was an informative session where all queries & doubts regarding IB school education, were cleared by Mr. Curtis, Mr. Dias and Ms. Gupta.

Finally happy with the way the programme was being conducted, Mr. Curtis gave his approval and 'go ahead' to the MYP programme. Beaming with joy was the MYP Co-ordinator, Ms. Usha Singh, "Our sincere efforts and hard work have paid off." Kudos to the MYP department!

*NISV offers the complete IB programme i.e. PYP (Primary Years Programme), MYP (Middle  Years Programme), DP (Diploma Programme).

One World, One People

Navrachana International School of Vadodara (NISV) is now a 'Partner in Learning' in the DFID (Department for International Development) Global School Partnerships (DGSP) programme.

Delivered by a consortium of the British Council, Cambridge Education Foundation (CEF), UK One World Linking Association (UKOWLA) and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), the DGSP programme promotes partnerships between schools in the UK and schools in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. The aim is to increase young people's awareness of global development issues. The benefits to the schools are:
... A global dimension in the curriculum
... Exciting and innovative ways to motivate learning
... Opportunities to the schools and their students to participate as global citizens

As part of the first exchange visit from its partner, Ms Caroline Yuill of Begbrook Primary School in Bristol is Visiting NISV.

Says Ms. Sangita Mathur, DP Co-ordinator, "It all began as an e-link of the French teachers and students and blossomed into this exchange." Ms. Caroline, obviously excited, says, "Though the contrast between the two places could not be greater, I have fallen in love with India. The little taste that I have got from this visit has surely opened new doors we would like to explore. The common project we had identified was water. So here, I have been interviewing villagers and studying the water requirements, problems and irrigation styles and also the modern facilities that the school has. I have also noted the differences in water facilities available to people within the same city. I have brought from Bristol our programmes on water preservation. I will take back so much from here and so we will mutually help each other in developing Water as a part of the Global Curriculum. I am also exploring and sharing our common environment issues in classes. Since I teach French and Global citizenship, I am giving my inputs for the same. Well, I am also discovering the amazing art and culture of this country and of course the cuisine! The other day I visited Jambugoda and devoured on Makke Ki Roti and onion! I am learning some dance steps and also trying some cooking. It's been fantastic!"

Mrs. Manju Gupta, Principal, feels that "Education needs to be relevant. It should take into consideration the current as well as future needs and the communities and environments of the future. These partnerships bring the 'global dimension' in education and bring the world to the school, changing perceptions."

A reciprocal visit from NISV will follow later this year funded by the DGSP, with the possibility of the two schools entering into a Global Curriculum Project. This is called opening new doors to learning and understanding and broadening horizons.

Workshops and Training. Training and Workshops!
This is the success 'mantra' for all our Tutors at NISV.

The 26th and 27th of March 2008 saw a workshop on Asset Assessment for PYP (Primary Years Programme) and MYP (Middle Years Programme) teachers by Ms. Urmila Oza, Educationist & Teacher Trainer from Educational Initiatives - Ahmedabad.

 This was basically for:
... Assessing the performances of students of NISV in Asset Assessment programme in English, Math and Science and to find out where they stand in National Performance.
... Analysing the Results, that is, the possible reasons for selecting correct and incorrect options like the ability to apply knowledge in unfamiliar situations and ability to comprehend questions in restricted time.
... Using the Analysis to modify teaching strategies and designing Assessment Tasks.

The importance of Rubrics and Descriptors was emphasized as they tell us what has been achieved and what needs to be achieved.

Overall, the purpose of the workshop was met as all teachers felt that it helped them
... To understand the importance of standardized assessment
... To enrich and modify their teaching strategies
... To recognize the importance of sharing experiences
... To find solutions for behavioral problems in students
... To modify or strengthen their assessment plans
So, kudos to all of us for keeping abreast and in pace with world trends!


Big Burden On Small Shoulders

It was just yesterday that I was chatting up a friend when our talk steered towards school and school bags. And when she told me what went into the bag of her Class 4 son, it sure was a revelation to me! With the TOI campaign - BAG OR BURDEN ? - fresh in my mind, I took it on me as a parent to help other parents realize the seriousness and implications of the burden of an overloaded bag.

Fortunately for me, I am one of the community of parents who can throw caution to the wind where bags are concerned. My son, in Grade 3 carries only a single diary in a customized bag provided by the school. The bag itself is very light and has a wide comfortable strap. All sports equipment resides in the school and he will start carrying books only from Grade 6. Since much depends on the school curriculum and methodology adopted by the school, one cannot change the system of carrying books, if at all. But we can ensure that our children do not bring back muscle fatigue and spine problems. If you're a mother of a school going child or know one, do keep in mind the following:

... Charity begins at home. Check your child's bag to see what extra is being carried. Encourage her/him to take only required books.

... Approach the school authorities if time-tables are not being followed and children are asked to bring all books.

... Give a sensible water bottle. The weight of the water bottle also contributes to shoulder pain and muscle tension.

... Deposit all sports equipment to be carried from home in school. If this is not being followed, approach the authorities. A sensible solution can always be arrived at for a genuine problem.

... Lockers in school are for use, not to be locked empty. Higher classes require so much extra that using lockers becomes imperative if bag burden has to be minimized.

... A bag of approximately 15 % of the body weight is considered safe to carry and does not pose health threats.

Don't succumb to your child's demands which may be due to peer pressure.
 
Gopali Gokak
(The writer is the parent of a student of Navarachana International School Vadodara)
 

| Baroda Diary | Indian Glimpses | From Viewers | Yahan Hai Hum | Chhupe Ho Kahan | Gift Section | Baroda Quiz | The City | Sightseeing | Photo Album | Movies | Impt. Phone Nos. | Trains/Flights/Hotels | Helpline/Feedback | Contact | Astro-Counselling | Home |

Visitors since April 4, 2008
Website Hit Counters
Hit Counters