The Model United Indian States (MUIS) conference was organised by Gitanjali Devashray on January 10. The conference was officially opened by chief guest Madhavi Chandra, principal of Gitanjali Devshala. After inaugurating the programme, Ms. Madhavi Chandra spoke about it being a great initiative by the school to have such a forum.
It was an opportunity for all the students to open widen horizon and learn more about India. She said that this was a great way for students to enhance their abilities and understand the problems faced by different States of India at the grassroot level.
This would help mould them into becoming better citizens. The main objective was to give class 6 students of Gitanjali Schools an opportunity to understand and provide solutions to some of the crucial problems and issues faced by the country.
The committees of the MUIS included Children Welfare Council (CWC), Committee on Human Rights (CHR), Council for Environmental Status (CES) and Natural Resources Preservation Council (NRPC). Thus, the MUIS was conceived to accomplish its motto ‘to acquaint the students with the working of the model united States, to enhance their debating skills and make them better future citizens’.
Helping hands
Students of Delhi Public School, Mahindra Hills, were part of a project initiated by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in collaboration with Handprint Project run by the Centre for Environmental Education, Telangana. Themed ‘Young in green action’, the project’s mission was to sensitise and educate children about the importance of sustenance in all forms.
It was an action towards sustainability. In the beginning, the students were given lectures on the importance of food. Later, project ‘Helping Hands’ began. They took part in a survey where they identified the areas where food was being wasted.
They also participated in ‘Share and care week’. This was aimed at instilling a sense of belonging and kindness among the students. They collected clothes, dry ration, stationery, toys and other items and donated them to the needy at Kamalamma Welfare Organisation and Missionaries of Charity.
As part of their sensitisation towards food security and sustenance, a guest lecture was also organised which was conducted by Jersey Milk where they learned about the nutrition value of milk. Later, they served ‘langar’ to the worshippers at MCEME Gurudwara as part of Karseva.
The school also conducted a drawing competition themed ‘Unity in diversity’ emphasising communal harmony, following which funds were raised and donated to National Foundation for Communal Harmony. Supplementing the project, students would be performing a street play Sthirtha as well.
Rangoli, kite-flying contest
Gitanjali Devakul organised a rangoli competition and kite flying festival for parents on the eve of Sankranti. The school ground was filled with enthusiastic parents along with their children. Rangoli patterns were praise-worthy that made it difficult for the judges to pick a winner. The kite-flyers battled with the wind to make their kites soar. Prizes were awarded to the winners and participants as well.
National Youth Day
Gitanjali Devakul celebrated National Youth Day on January 12 on the eve of Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary. Students from class 3 to 8 read the stories and messages of Vivekananda and presented the same in the assembly. Students of class 9 and 10 read out various quotes of Swami Vivekananda and discussed the relevance of those messages in the contemporary world.
Annual Sports Day
Gitanjali Devakul celebrated its Annual Sports Day on January 7. The chief guest, Paladugu Venkateswara Rao, international volley ball player, and guest of honour V.M. Shankar Reddy, oncologist at Yashoda Hospitals, graced the occasion. The welcome dance, The Hawaiin Drill , relay races by pre-primary and primary children, a classical fusion presented by girls were the highlight of the day. Winners of the various sports events were honoured with medals and cups. School chairman Uma Karan and founder director Gita Karan presented the Sports Championship Trophy to Ruby House and the Overall Championship Trophy to Topaz House.
Sankranti celebrated
On January 12, Pallavi Model School, Alwal, celebrated the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. It also celebrated Sankranti and Lohri with great fervour. On the occasion, students showcased the importance of cattle and re-lived the traditional values of the festival. The principal lit the Lohri bonfire with the senior head girl and head boy wishing everyone. Teachers along with the principal sang the traditional L ohri song. The day ended with colourful beautiful kites being flown high in the sky.
Women’s polo trophy
After a Successful week at Nasr Polo, Hyderabad, the first chapter of the Polo Yatra, 2017.
The International Women’s Polo Trophy, played for the MP Cup, was won by Nasr-India Polo team against Team USPA.
It was a gruelling match which kept the audience glued to their seats with the score changing at a fast pace. The Patron Nasr Polo, Nawab Mir Khutubuddin Khan, from the Royal House of Surat, honoured MP K. Kavitha and the US Council General, Hyderabad, Catherine on the occasion.
The Indian players who were featured for this event were Sonia Jabbar from Delhi, Namrata from Chennai with Rajvi Rao and Chaya from Hyderabad. All the Indian girls were part of the Polo Clinic with the youngest polo player Aparna Dhulipala.
The tour was part of a United States Polo Association (USPA)-led initiative to support, promote and develop women’s polo in India.
A tribute
Sister Nivedita School, primary wing, celebrated Thyagaraja Utsav on the occasion of 170th birth anniversary of Saint Thyagaraja. The music teachers sang pancharatna kirtanas in praise of the great poet. The students also paid tribute to the saint by rendering his compositions. The main objective was to encourage the students to be devoted towards their work like the great saint.
Farewell
The students of class 12 of Gitanjali Senior School were in a contemplative mood as their juniors bid them adieu on December 22. They were downcast realising that they had to leave their second home. To lighten the mood, the students of class 11 presented an enthralling dance performance, followed by a mesmerising song by the school band.
After going through several rounds of question-answer sessions, the coveted titles of Mr. and Miss Gitanjali were given to Sahil Shah and Smriti Rao respectively, while Viraaj Kaza and Prithvi Sharma emerged runners up.
