2022-23

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From Principal's Desk

As we approach the end of the academic year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the year which was not an ordinary one by any means. This year has been a testament to our resilience, perseverance, and dedication to learning. Despite the ongoing challenges, gaps caused by previous years’ pandemic, our teachers have shown incredible commitment in providing a reassuring and nurturing environment along with high quality academics to our students. With a lot of modifications, adjustments and with an open mind, everyone accommodated, accepted and supported each other. The response and support from our parents to our activities and programs was tremendous. As we look ahead to the next academic year, I am confident that we will continue to build on our strengths and utilise the opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we will continue to prioritise the well-being and growth of our students, making them feel valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. Thank you for your continued commitment and dedication to our mission, and I wish you all a very fruitful new academic year!

Sharada Rao Principal

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Activities And Celebrations A Session for Teachers (2nd January 2023)

The teaching staff attended a session on the topic, ‘Teaching is a performing Art’ by Keynote speaker, Dr. Sanjay Upadhye, Mentor and Chief Advisor, MIT WPU. The session was conducted at Sant Dnyaneshwar Hall, MIT World Peace University. The session was held to give insights for the teaching skills, enhance the perspective of teachers towards the teaching profession, improve the methodology of teaching - learning activities, discover the strategies to develop an interest among the students towards the subject and realise the importance of theatrics while teaching. The session was indeed beneficial as the speaker illustrated through various examples that it will help teachers to touch the innermost feelings of the students, build a perfect rapport with them and bring out the best in them.

Tech Week Celebrations (2nd to 6th January 2023) The school organised Tech Week with an array of activities that were self-guided. The ‘Hour of Code’ started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify ‘code’, to encourage all the students to learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. During Coding and Tech Week, we wanted to give every stu dent at MIT VGS th e opportu nity to discover coding and have fun while learning with it. Exposure at an early age can build a strong foundation for success in the 21st-century career path. Every student got the opportunity to learn and perform an hour of code activities. One code activity was assigned every day in which students were engaged in doing drag and drop programming for an hour. Two activities were conducted for grades I - IX. Grade I created story maps which helped them to think critically. Grades II-III learnt to program drones anda high tech sleigh with coding magic. Grades IV-V created role plays, time capsules using Scratch 3.0, Grades VI-VIII learnt the basics of 3D space and built the AR Solar System. The students of grade IX prepared a newsletter using Libre Office Writer. The week’s activities concluded with the display and presentation of best activities done by the students from grades I to IX. A special assembly for Technology Day was conducted where the students gave information about the importance of the day, news about the latest technologies and a skit about social networking sites. It helped students to recall their knowledge about information and communication technology, build their confidence and encouraged teamwork.

H C E T WEEK

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Activities And Celebrations Kids Carnival (7th January 2023) #FUN #GAMES #FOOD #MUSIC #FESTIVITIES

The much-awaited Winter Kids Carnival was held in the school premises. The celebrations began with the inauguration of the event by the Principal, Mrs. Sharada Rao. The carnival began with a rib-tickling session with the mascot, Tall man, welcoming the parents along with their children. The event was full of fun activities, competitions, an array of gastronomic delights, a puppet show, a fashion show, twinning with a non-MITian, music and zumba, a bouncy castle, pottery, selfie points, and entertainment that engaged the children along with their parents. The children were wonderstruck to see the intricate skills of coordination and balancing of puppetry artists. Dance and music lovers enjoyed the zumba session, grooved to the upbeat music, stretching their muscles and moving their bodies to the beats of hip-hop and salsa. Experiential learning activities like fun with numbers and shapes, memory games, face tattoos, hair braiding, and many more were tremendously enjoyed by parents and children alike. They participated wholeheartedly in the various games and had fun. Everyone visited the food stalls and enjoyed lip-smacking delicacies. There was a galore of participation for the students’ dance competition and fashion show. Zumba and a flash mob by the trained students were one of the main highlights of the carnival. The performers ignited the stage with their graceful movements and the fashion show was a great delight to the spectators. The carnival came to an end with the exciting prizes being announced including the lucky draw. The Principal handed over the prizes to the winners and thanked parents for not only spending their precious time but also encouraging the school in such activities. The school ground pulsated with scintillating music and a lively crowd. With everyone enjoying as one big family, the funfair was another feather in the cap of MIT VGS, Kothrud. The bright faces and happy smiles were ample proof that the Kids Carnival was a grand success.

Makar Sankranti Celebration - Kite Flying Activity (14th January 2023) The students celebrated Makar Sankranti in the school premises. The students brought kites from home and enjoyed flying them. It was a warm breezy morning which made the experience even more enjoyable. They brought kites of different kinds and hues. Flying the kites together with their friends was a wonderful experience. The sky was filled with colourful kites. Through this activity, the students were made aware about the significance of the festival. All the students and teachers thoroughly enjoyed the activity.

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Activities And Celebrations Republic Day (26th January 2023)

To honour the Constitution of India, the school, Kothrud celebrated the Republic Day with immense patriotic fervour and zeal. The unfurling of the national tricolour took place at the hands of Dr. Rohini Patwardhan, Principal of MIT Junior College which was followed by the National Anthem. The students pledged to abide by the constitution of their motherland and fulfil all their duties as responsible citizens. A plethora of activities was organised to infuse the spirit of unity, brotherhood, and patriotism among the students. The theme was ‘Nari shakti’ and women empowerment. The students delivered speeches encapsulating the significance of Republic Day and the contributions of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in drafting the Indian Constitution. The choir sang patriotic songs with a lot of passion, and confidence, which evoked patriotic feelings in all. The students presented a scintillating dance on some of the patriotic songs showcasing the vital aspects of India and its unity in diversity while depicting the power of women. The mesmerising dance performances kept the flame of patriotism alive. Accomplishments of women in diverse fields in pre-independence, post-independence, and the current scenario were showcased beautifully in the skit. An outstanding performance was given by the students to prove that competitiveness and progress play a vital role in a nation's progress and prosperity through an educational activity. Dr. Rohini Pathwardhan addressed the gathering and emphasised the selfless acts of various freedom fighters who fought for the country and contributed to framing the constitution, making India one of the largest democracies in the world. She also spoke about the role of individual responsibility in the transition to environmental sustainability. The atmosphere was filled with the aura of patriotism everywhere. The event was concluded with a vote of thanks.

Broadcast of Pariksha Pe Charcha 2023 (27th January 2023)

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India interacted with the students, teachers and parents in Delhi for the Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) 2023 at Talkatora Stadium. This programme was broadcasted live by video channels and other mediums like radio channels, live web streaming on websites of PMO, YouTube channel of MoE, Facebook Live, etc. Students, parents and teachers across the country actively participated in this programme online including the students of our school.

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Activities And Celebrations Sports Day - Culmination of Sports Week (2nd to 7th February 2023) Acknowledging the importance of sports in a child's life, Sports Week was celebrated from 2nd February 2023. The weeklong activities came to an end with a grand Sports Day which was organised on 7th February with great zeal and excitement. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Mrs. Amruta Deshpande, Assistant Director of Physical Education in COEP. The sports day was a fun-filled celebration for all the students as they participated in the finals of Tug of war which enhances physical development and mental ability. Well coordinated races helped the children to sharpen their reasoning and problem solving skills and the children simply loved all the games and sports. The day was full of fun, being physically active, so as to give the young students an opportunity to display their self confidence, patience and sportsmanship. Various drills and activities like March past, Yoga, Drills with colourful dupattas were held. The sports day was a culmination of all the activities conducted during the sports week. Throughout the week a plethora of activities were conducted which included races like running, relay, obstacle, skipping and langadi, dodgeball, tug of war, to name a few. It was a delight to see the smiles and content on the faces of the young students.

Birthday Celebration of Founder - Hon'ble Prof. Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad (3rd February 2023) To honour and celebrate the 82nd birthday of the Founder Trustee and Chief Patron of MAEER’s MIT Group of Institutions, hon’ble Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad, the school conducted activities. A special assembly was organised on 3rd February, 2023 in the school premises. The students of grade V Emerald led the assembly which commenced with the World Peace Prayer. The students then performed a skit depicting the humble beginnings of our beloved founder and portrayed his life during his childhood days. The Principal, Mrs. Sharada Rao gave a short speech on Sir’s journey to becoming the founder of the grand chain of MIT institutions. She ended her speech by wishing hon’ble Dr. Karad a long life and good health. The program continued with a recitation of shlokas wishing that sir has a healthy and happy life ahead. Since Dr. Karad is a devout follower of yoga, the students honoured him by performing a few yoga asanas and meditation including pranayam. A birthday always calls for some fun and celebration and to bring on the celebrations, a short and enchanting magic show by the famous magician, Jeetendra Raghuveer was organised. The program ended with the school song. The students shared wishes and birthday greeting cards to show their love and respect for the founder.

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Activities And Celebrations MIT VGS Kothrud bags ‘Best Political Party Award’ at Skool Sansad 2023

“Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth, those who care for and protect our people.” To help our future leaders understand the process of parliamentary system of government better, Deepastambha Charitable Trust, Pune organized a mock Parliament - Skool Sansad from 3rd to 5th February 2023. Aarushi Deshmukh (8 Gamma), Aarya Sharma (8 Beta) and Hrishikesh Nair (8 Gamma) represented the school at this competition. Students from our school were paired with students from Seth Ratilal Vitthaldas Gosilya High School, Sangli and they together formed a political party. At the Skool Sansad, students were referred to as ‘Members of Parliament’ and from their respective political parties had to elect 1 member each as a Cabinet Minister and a Prime Minister. These elected Cabinet Ministers and Prime Ministers from 24 different parties and belonging to different schools all over Maharashtra were given the opportunity to represent their political party and present a speech based on different political, social and economic issues. Apart from this, all participating ‘Members of Parliament’ were given the opportunity to gather support and contest for the elections. These activities helped them understand the election process more effectively. The students outdid themselves and were declared as the ‘Best Political Party’ at Skool Sansad 2023. Apart from introducing them to the procedures of Parliamentary Democracy, participation at the Skool Sansad helped students improve their scientific temperament and develop the attitude of taking responsibility through ownership. It will also help create independent thinkers who will be future leaders.

Grade 1 Field Trip (7th February 2023) The students of Grade 1 went for a field trip to the Fire Brigade museum and explored the safety measures taken after a fire breakout and any injury caused. The students got a chance to meet the people who actually fight the fires and create awareness about different equipment used to complete the task. This place has preserved a variety of authentic technology which was used in earlier days. Different equipment were displayed like walkie talkie, rope ladder, fire suits, nozzles, nuts and bolts, flashlights etc. The students learned about different fire alarms and how they respond towards any signal received for rescue operations. Firefighters explained how to maintain the fire station with proper safety to avoid any hazardous incidents. The session ended with a water sprinkler shown through the water pipe used to put out fire. From here, the students and teachers spent some time in the Raja Mantri Park where they enjoyed themselves and had their snacks. Indeed it was a great learning experience for the students which will help them to respond towards any incidents.

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Activities And Celebrations Grade 10 Farewell (8th February 2023) The students of grade IX organized a farewell program to bid a lively and joyful farewell to their seniors. The program commenced with the world peace prayer, followed by special intentions raised through prayer for the students of grade X, to keep anxiety and stress at bay during board exams, help them remember what they have learned and stay healthy and fit during their preparations and examinations. The teachers guided them and wished them for their upcoming board examinations and success in their future. The students of grade X expressed their gratitude towards their beloved teachers and the institution for being instrumental in shaping their personalities and providing them with stellar opportunities. Some of them delivered speeches relating to their experiences in the school, while some recited and expressed their views in the form of poems. The students got emotional, hearing from their teachers and peers. The program was followed by a video clip of memories of every event and special moments shared, taking them down memory lane prepared by students of grade IX. There was unlimited fun through the cultural program . It progressed with a beautiful solo song highlighting the years of camaraderie. The students showcased nostalgic images of the merry times experienced by the seniors at school in the form of dance. Few students put forth a graceful performance of a mash-up English song. The Principal, Mrs. Sharada Rao, as always, generously imparted her wisdom to her pupils and guided them toward the right path. She commended the seniors for being true role models and setting a remarkable example for their juniors despite different challenges that came their way. She concluded by wishing them happiness and success in all their future endeavours and inspired them to leave an indelible mark on society and make the school proud. The program concluded with a vote of thanks and was followed by a group photo session and refreshments. Memories of school days stay with the students for the rest of their lives.

Grade 3 - Field Visit to Students Traffic Park (8th February 2023) The students of Grade 3 went for a field visit to Students Traffic Park, near Aundh. The purpose of this visit was to introduce basic road safety rules to the students which was a part of their curriculum. The students eagerly listened and understood as the road safety rules were explained in detail. The facilitator at the park explained the rules with the help of bicycles and the students had to follow each and every rule, which they did with a lot of fun. This Traffic Park is equipped with traffic signs, road signs and road crossings. Here, all the students enjoyed learning about various aspects of road safety. They got hands-on experience of crossing the road independently, observing the traffic signals carefully and understanding its meanings. At the end students took the pledge about road safety. It was indeed a day full of fun and learning.

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Activities And Celebrations Grade 4 Field Trip to Shaniwarwada and Lal Mahal (9th February 2023) The school organized a field trip for the students of grade 4 to Shaniwarwada and Lal Mahal. It was a pleasant journey and the students had fun with their friends. On reaching the heritage site, the students were briefed about the historical significance of Shaniwarwada and Lal Mahal. The Lal Mahal is one of the most famous monuments located in Pune. As the students were walking through the heritage site, the Social Science teacher, Mrs. Sangeeta Walunjkar narrated the famous event between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Shaista Khan. The students were eager to know about the different features of the fort at Shaniwar wada like the Dilli Darwaza, one of its four main gates, which faces north towards Delhi as well as its secret tunnels which were used by soldiers to escape, unseen by their foes. The students were happy to visit the heritage site with their peers as they had a lot to discuss, especially in regard to the history of the place. It was a fun and enriching experience for the students, the parent volunteers and teachers as well!

Appreciation Day (10th February 2023) Awards and accolades are pivotal in a student's life. Even the slightest recognition works as a great motivation for the students and encourages them to work even harder and more sincerely. The school celebrated appreciation day by recognizing students with awards and certificates making them and their work stand out, which again motivates them and attracts other students to work harder. The event witnessed a melange of ideas resonating through various artistic and aesthetic skills, and competitions held throughout the academic year. The competitions included Drama, One-act plays, Advertisements, Collage competitions, Powerpoint Presentations, International Olympiads, Awards for Annual Day Performances like Best Dance, Best Voice-over, Best Dancer, Best Actor, Best Choreographer, Inter-house competitions like Hindi Saptah, Drawing and Poster Making, just to name a few. The achievers were appreciated and the winners were announced from Grade 1-10, where the students received prizes, trophies, medals and certificates. Students and faculty also appreciated the people who toiled hard and put in their efforts for the smooth functioning of the school. They deserve a day dedicated to appreciating them. Any token of appreciation goes a long way in boosting their morale and performance too. The students showed their gratitude to all the help staff, including the peons, cleaning staff and gardeners. Surely these gestures shown by the students made all helpers feel that they are valued and respected. The school Principal, Mrs. Sharada Rao applauded the students for their astounding achievements in various fields, academic rigour, and co-curricular activities. She motivated the students to articulate their feelings at every step and express their gratitude.

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Activities And Celebrations

Grade 5 Field Trip to Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park (10th February 2023) A field trip was organised for the students of grade 5 to the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park. Commonly known as the Katraj Zoo, the zoological park is managed by the Pune Municipal Corporation. The zoo housed various reptiles, mammals and birds. The students were especially fascinated by the Snake Park which had a variety of snakes ranging from rock pythons to vipers. The students also got to observe a lioness, a tiger and a leopard taking their afternoon nap. Some students were excited to see the sloth bear, spotted deer, blackbucks, monkeys, vulture, a preening peacock and elephants. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and the students were overjoyed to see the animals and learn new information about them.

Grade 2 Field Visit to Chittaranjan Vatika (11th February 2023) The students of Grade 2 enjoyed their second field trip for the academic session to Chittaranjan Vatika, a park with a variety of trees and traffic signs. The students along with the teachers and volunteer parents took a long walk around the park using the pathway wherein they could see different huge trees, climbers and flowering plants. They appreciated the neat and systemati c arrangement of varied colourful plants. The teachers gave the students some additional information about the different trees that they saw. The traffic sign boards were really an attraction for the students. They listened to the explanation with interest. After that, they relished the food they had in their snack boxes. They were excited to play freely with each other in the open area. They also enjoyed the play area using the swings, slides, see - saw, jungle gyms,etc . By noon the buses reached school. The students were grateful for the wonderful day that they had with their friends and teachers. The volunteer parents, Mrs. Dipika Gatne, Mrs. Sushma Nalawade and Mrs. Gauri Chavan appreciated the planning and the day well spent with the students and teachers. It was a day well spent, full of fun and learning.

Grade 8 Field Trip to Katraj Dairy (13th February 2023) The students go twice a year on a field trip, once every term. The purpose of this is to give the students a day of fun, expose them to new things that they can’t normally experience at home and motivate them to dream further. In term 2, the students of Grade 8 visited Katraj Dairy. The staff of Katraj Dairy showed a brief video to give information about the dairy, its processes and working. The main plant of Katraj is equipped with a modern Pasteurizer, homogenizer, Cream separator, Ghee processing, Milk Clarifier, Condense Milk Plant, Automatic packing of milk and milk products and other quality testing devices and well-equipped labs. Each and every student was thrilled to see the processes performed on milk. At first, the students went to the open in-house cattle farm which had around 25 Gir cows. They were excited to touch the cows and feed them. Then they visited the steam generation department. The workers briefly explained the steam generation process. The manufacturing department was divided into various departments as per the processes conducted. Along with manufacturing, packaging, printing, bottling, sterilisation and pasteurisation takes place in the same building. All the processes were explained briefly. Students were surprised to see all the processes and were excited to taste the products. The students learnt that the milk collected from different villages is taken to the chilling centres and chilled at 4 degrees. Later it is brought to the Katraj plant for further processes. The Quality Control departments checks for the quality assurance and if satisfied with the quality, only then proceeds for further processing. The field trip concluded with a treat, eating ice cream.

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Activities And Celebrations Grade 6 Field Trip to Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park (14th February 2023) A field trip was organised for the students of grade 6 to the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park. Commonly known as the Katraj Zoo, the zoological park, located in Katraj, Pune, is managed by the Pune Municipal Corporation. The 130 acre zoo is divided into 3 parts, an animal orphanage, snake park, and a zoo which also includes Karaj Lake. The snake park had many varieties of snakes like cobra, vipers, python, rattlesnakes, etc. Students were excited to watch and get information on these animals. This park has over 300 animals living in their natural ecosystem. Leopards, crocodiles, sâmbhars, deer, white tiger, lion, wild dogs, giant squirrels were the attractions for the students. The students saw a variety of birds, including peacocks, vultures and eagles. The zoo has battery operated vehicles, for those who find it difficult to walk but the students of grade VI enjoyed walking with their friends and teachers. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. The students, teachers and parent volunteers were overjoyed to see the animals.

Grade 7 Field Trip to Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (16th February 2023) The students of grade 7 visited Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI). The institute was founded in 1917 and named after Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, the founder. The Institute is well known for its old Sanskrit and Prakrit books and manuscripts. The library there has more than 1,54,000 books and the manuscript library has more than 28,000 manuscripts. Many manuscripts are written in Sanskrit and few are in Prakrit. The oldest manuscript is from 906 C.E. and the oldest book from the library is from 1830 C.E. The books in the library are about Indian mythology like Ramayana and Mahabharata. Few manuscripts are carved on copper plates and stones. The field trip was an informative one and the students enjoyed looking back in time.

Marathi Bhasha Diwas (27th February 2023) Marathi Bhasha Diwas is celebrated in honour of the Marathi language. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dnyanpeeth award winner late poet V.V. Shirwadkar who is also known as Kusumagraj. Marathi being the official language of the State of Maharashtra, the main focus of this celebration was to promote Maharashtrian culture amongst the students. The assembly commenced with students performing the Rajya Geet of Maharashtra, following which they presented a skit on the significance of the day. The students of grades 3 to 5 recited a poem. The assembly concluded with a scintillating and stunning dance performance. We, at MIT Vishwashanti Gurukul Schools believe that exposing the students to multiple languages enhances their access to people and resources. For better communication and fruitful experiences imparting the learning of different languages, both native and foreign, facilitates students to gain a better understanding of varied cultures and unfamiliar customs. The assembly thus enabled the students and teachers to actively participate in the Marathi language day celebrations where they got an opportunity to display an appreciation of the multicultural world.

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Activities And Celebrations MIT VGS, Kothrud bags 1st Place at Inter School Elocution Competition Pune Climate Warriors conducted an inter school elocution competition on 10th December 2022. The results for the same were declared at the Prize distribution ceremony which was conducted on 25th February 2023. Three students from MIT VGS, Kothrud participated in this competition. Aditya Dandge from grade 6 Beta, Rudrani Hedaoo from grade 7 Beta and Apoorva Patil from grade 8 Gamma performed brilliantly on stage. Aditya Dandage bagged the first prize including a trophy, certificate and cash amount of Rs. 1500/- in the grade 6 category. The winning speech was delivered on the topic, ‘My Jungle Book’ . Mr. Ravindra Dhari a (Presi dent, Vanarai), Mr. Ankush Kakade (Former Mayor, Pune) and Mrs. Vandana Chavan (Founder ALERT, Member of Parliament-Rajya Sabha) graced the occasion and felicitated the winners. It was indeed a proud moment for our school. Out of 63 schools which participated in the different competitions and activities conducted by Pune Climate Warriors, 11 Lead Teachers were awarded for their outstanding performance. Our school teacher Mrs. Anita Purohit bagged the prize. Kudos to all the participants and winners.

National Science Day (28th February 2023) The day began with a special assembly where the students spoke about the importance of National Science Day. Some Students were dressed up like different scientists and spoke about their inventions. This was followed by a short skit on the periodic table by the students of the primary wing and a song on the theme, while the students from the secondary wing sang a song on nature. After the assembly, different activities including a Science Quiz and an exhibition on Science and Technology were conducted on working, non working models and posters. All students from grades I to VIII participated with enthusiasm. Another highlight of the day was when two awards were announced and presented to a student and teacher who participated in the Pune Climate Warriors inter school competition. Aditya Dandage bagged the first prize including a trophy, certificate and cash amount of Rs. 1500/- in the grade 6 category. Mrs. Anita Purohit was awarded for her outstanding performance as a Lead Teacher.

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Activities And Celebrations

Report Day and Parent Orientation (24th to 28th March 2023) Exams are an important part of our education system. Much of a student’s life revolves around preparing for exams, appearing for exams, and then patiently waiting for the results. The school successfully organised a report day followed by an orientation session. The teachers made use of this opportunity to discuss the student’s progress and ways to motivate them. It was a fruitful meeting, the parents appreciated the efforts put in by the school and the teachers for the betterment of the students. An orientation session was organised for the parents to familiarise them, as partners in progress , with the school's curriculum, rules, regulations, teaching methodologies, co-scholastic activities, and assessment. The parents were briefed about the rules and regulations of the school, followed by an overview of the various subjects and the activities which would be undertaken in the year ahead. Not to forget, the co-scholastic activities were also discussed which gave the parents an idea of the curriculum which is self-directed with hands-on learning activities that not only give students a medium to fully utilise their creative talents and energies but also help them in their all-round development. The Principal, in her address, discussed the benefits of effective communication between parents and teachers; emphasised a strong connection with the school patrons. She even sought support and suggestions from the parents to provide the best education and growth opportunities to the children of the school. The orientation program proved to be a sincere effort made by the school in educating the parents to look after and properly guide their children. It also helped in evolving a common teaching strategy and helped the parents identify suitable follow-up methods to reinforce their children's learning process. The session ended with the conclusion that the student's progress depends on the joint effort of both parents and teachers.

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Our Tiny Tots: PP activities New Year Celebrations (30th December 2022)

The pre-school section organised New Year Celebrations for the preschoolers. The arrival of the new year was welcomed with great passion and enthusiasm. The tiny tots looked beautiful in festive attire. Several activities like games, puppet show and dance were organised for the students in the school auditorium. Video presentation depicting the message of love, unity and a wish for New Year was shown to the students. Some students shared their New Year resolutions with everyone present. The students enjoyed the puppet show and colouring their New Year cards the most! The fun filled celebration concluded with special wishes for the year 2023.

Road Safety Week (9th to 13th January 2023) The students of the preschool section celebrated Road Safety Week from 9th to 13th January 2023 to raise awareness about traffic rules and to reduce the number of road accidents that occur daily. The students made an attempt to create awareness by sensitising each other towards the importance of safety while driving and walking on the roads. They discussed the importance of obeying traffic rules while travelling on the roads after watching a video presentation. On day 2 of the road safety week, a fun drawing activity, showing traffic signals and using zebra crossing to cross the road was conducted. On day 3 of the road safety week, students made flashcards of traffic signs. The students watched a PPT presentation to understand the significance of wearing seat belts and helmets on day 4. They thoroughly enjoyed learning the basic safety rules which must be followed on the roads to have a safe journey. On the last day, the students talked confidently on the topic ‘Safety on Roads’. The efforts of the students were appreciated by their teachers.

Republic Day Celebrations (25th January 2023) The kindergarten students celebrated Republic Day in the school auditorium with patriotic zeal. It is a day of National pride as we celebrate the day when the constitution of India came into effect. The students and teachers came dressed in white attire. The students took pride in glorifying and celebrating the spirit of patriotism and unity. A special program was organised for the tiny tots where students learnt the significance of the Republic Day and the constitution of India through a PowerPoint presentation and video presentation. Yana Rathod from Sr. KG welcomed everyone with her stunning speech. Sharvil Joshi from Sr. KG entertained everyone by playing "Saare Jahan Se Accha '' on his synthesiser. The students of Jr. and Sr. KG also danced to the tunes of patriotism. The dance performance showcased our rich historical, traditional and cultural heritage. All the students enjoyed colouring the National Flag and the paper crumpling and pasting craft activity. The program concluded with the rendition of the National Anthem. The teachers, with motivational words, told all the students to abide by the constitution of the motherland and fulfil all the duties as responsible citizens. No celebration is complete without making us feel proud of the fact that "Saare Jahan Se Achha, Hindustan Hamara."

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Our Tiny Tots: PP activities Opposite Day Celebrations (25th January 2023)

The preschool section celebrated National Opposite Day, a day that is the best day to talk to the people close to you and have fun. Extra curricular activities are the best way of developing one's personality and reducing mental stress. At MIT VGS, we provide a spectrum of activities to promote the holistic development of the students. The students did an array of activities in a uniquely opposite way. They had to do actions opposite to what their teachers were doing, like wearing shoes on the opposite feet, walking backwards, writing names backward and doing opposite actions. All the students had a gala time as they enjoyed the goofiness of Opposite Day.

Pre-Primary Appreciation Day (13th February 2023) The students of the pre-primary section celebrated Appreciation Day in the school auditorium. The day focussed on appreciating the students for their efficient and enthusiastic work, recognizing the students with awards and certificates making them and their work stand out, which again motivates them and attracts other students to work harder. The students were recognised for their hard work put in throughout the year. The Principal, Mrs. Sharada Rao awarded the prizes and certificates to the winners. The students were bubbling with joy to receive the prizes.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti Celebrations (16th February 2023) The pre-school students celebrated Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti with gusto. Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the Maratha Emperor, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is celebrated with excitement in the state of Maharashtra every year. The tiny tots came dressed in traditional attire. The teachers elaborately described the life of Shivaji Maharaj with the help of a PowerPoint presentation. The program included songs and quotes by the students. The prime attraction of the celebration was the students of nursery and kindergarten singing a ‘powada’ about the history and valour of the Emperor. The students actively participated in the program with full enthusiasm.

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Our Tiny Tots: PP activities Student Led Conference and Graduation Day (25th February 2023)

The pre-school section organised the Graduation Day for the students of Sr. KG and Student Led Conference for the students of Nursery, Jr. and Sr. KG. The theme of the celebration was ‘Success’. Sr. KG Graduation is an exciting milestone for pre-primary children as it's their first step towards a future full of hopes and possibilities. It marks a new beginning to the journey they begin towards knowledge and education. The students performed different activities displaying what they had learnt. The program started with the peace prayer followed by a welcome speech. The students enthusiastically displayed what they learnt during the course of the year through speeches, songs, poems, dance and quiz. The activities inculcated confidence in the children and a visible growth was seen by all over the last year. The most important part of the day, the graduation ceremony started with the Sr. KG students dressed in graduation gowns and caps walking the stage. The Principal, Mrs. Sharada Rao handed over the certificates of graduation to the students dressed in graduation caps and gowns. She complimented the graduates on their achievement and the teachers for their dedication and hard work in shaping the students. The program ended with the vote of thanks. The formal programme Student Led Conference was appreciated by all gathered. The students' work was exhibited in the open auditorium for the parents to see. It was indeed a joyous and memorable day for all.

Marathi Bhasha Diwas (27th February 2023) The pre-school section celebrated Marathi Bhasha Diwas in honour of the Marathi language. It is celebrated every year to rejoice the birth anniversary of Gyanpeeth award winner, late poet V. V. Shirwadkar who is also known as ‘Kusumagraj.’ Marathi being the official language of the state of Maharashtra, the main focus of this celebration was to promote Maharashtrian culture among the students. The program commenced with the speech followed by Ganesh Vandana. The teacher explained the significance of Marathi Din to the students. The students of Nursery and Jr. KG participated in a song and poem recitation. The celebration concluded by singing a ‘powada’.

National Science Day (28th February 2023) National Science Day was celebrated by the students and teachers to remember the great invention by the Indian physicist Chandrashekhara Venkata Raman who discovered the "Raman Effect". The day began with the introduction of our scientist Dr. C. V. Raman through a PowerPoint presentation followed by simple experiments. The teachers showed the experiments like, how air supports burning, air has weight, soluble insoluble things and floating and sinking objects. The students also actively took part in explaining the experiment with the help of the teachers. The main Motto of the day was to spread a message about the importance of science used in the daily life of the people.

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Articles / Poems / Riddles / Jokes / Comic Strips

My Achievement It was a fine afternoon, we were just walking around the bazaar and mom asked if I wanted to buy something from the toy store. I jumped and screamed at the top of my voice, “YES!!” When we walked into the store, I wasn’t interested in most of the things I could see, but then I picked a rubik’s cube and when I handed it to mom, she asked me, “Are you sure you can solve it?”, to this I said confidently, “I will try!” We bought it and from that day on I was trying to solve it. A few days later I somehow managed to solve one side of the cube which was in itself a big achievement for me. Weeks passed and my dad told me that we were going to grandma’s house in Kerala. Our plan was to stay there for a few months, but due to the pandemic among other reasons, we ended up staying there for the whole year. I had two cousins there, and the older one of them knew how to solve the cube. I used to always bug him to teach me, but when he would, I would lose interest. I had some determination, but for me, to focus on something, I had to first get immersed into that thing, which kind of made me a slow learner. However, some weeks later, my younger cousin also learnt how to solve a cube from her brother. It didn’t bother me for a while, but then one day, I decided to learn. Now that I was immersed, I trained with her for many days. She told me everything about the manoeuvres, algorithms and many little aspects of the design in a rubik’s cube that could help me to excel in it. As time passed, I could finally solve it on my own, but I always needed a little slip of paper that had the algorithm to solve it. Nevertheless, after doing the same thing everyday, I had learnt it, I could remember all the formulae and recite it in my mind to solve it. It was raining one day and I got bored, and picked up my cube, and started to solve it, a while later I forgot that I didn’t have my little slip of paper but I still kept doing it, and I was so happy that day, that I could finally solve a 3x3 rubik's cube. Then it was a breeze, everyday I kept getting better and faster. Now, t h e m o t i o n a u to m a t i c a l ly c a m e wh e n n e e d e d a n d I s t a r te d g e t t i n g a m b i t i o u s . Then came the race. My cousin and I would scramble each other's cubes, and give it to each other as soon as the timer started. Sometimes I was in the lead and sometimes her. It used to fluctuate everyday. But then one fine day, I beat her by a big margin, and still to this day, I hold the record of shortest time taken to solve a cube between us, with a whopping 59 seconds! We both were so blown away by my record that she didn’t even think it was genuine and accused me of cheating! After a long argument we finally settled down and she accepted my record. It was one of my biggest achievements, I had always wanted to solve a cube, it was one of the highlights of the 1 year trip and it was astonishing and funny that my cousin who taught me to solve a cube in the first place lost to me! In all honesty, to this day, I respect her for teaching me the skill that I thought I could never achieve.

Hrishikesh Anil Nair VIII Gamma

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Articles / Poems / Riddles / Jokes / Comic Strips The Candle Wick Flickers of candles And drapes of curtains The night peeks in through the drapes To see the candle waving its arms Beckoning the darkness to come in

My Sister

The dark scurries away From the fire on the wick Like a child, afraid of the light Come, let us dance The flame calls out to the dark Crackling an invitation

I have a sister, When she has a chore for me, She yells “Hey Mister!” She is a great teacher, I’m her clay, she’s my potter. We always fight, But make it good before the night, After all, she is my sister, And I will always love her.

The dark does not reply, Only stays hidden from the light And on that night The dark stayed watching Peering at the candle Watching it swayWithout the sweet hymn of music And when morning came, The dark disappeared And the candle snuffed out, And the two waited together For when the night would come And they would see each other yet again

Arnav Deshpande VI Gamma

Shree Gadkari IX Beta

MY SUCCESS STORY! Few months back, I met with a small accident, and I was isolated in the house for 2 weeks, as I couldn’t go to school and my studies were getting hampered. When I resumed my school all my friends and teachers helped me cope with my curriculum, this helped me to prepare well for the upcoming unit exam. Even though I was not present in school for many days, I studied hard and got good marks in the unit 1 exam. After scoring good marks in Unit 1 exam because of my hard work I got gold medals in IEO and IMO Olympiads. The cherry on the top was that because of my disciplined behaviour and hard work I got the ‘The Best Student Award’ in grade . In the Rangotsav celebration I got the ‘Golden Art Merit Award’. THIS WAS MY SUCCESS! Finally, I would like to say, “If your life is disciplined, you can achieve your goal in any circumstances!” Radhika Kulkarni V Amethyst

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Articles / Poems / Riddles / Jokes / Comic Strips Crochet: A soothing way to engage oneself

It was the 24th of December 2022, I was having my breakfast and suddenly I remembered that it’s exactly been a year since I first learned how to crochet. Such days when a new chapter of life begins are very easy to remember and especially when you try doing something that you really wanted to do over the years. I must say crochet is an excellent art through which one expresses the inner self. It has no limits; the project can be as long as you want or as tiny as a finger cuticle. Once a person learns crochet, it is the only thing that they feel like doing all day. It’s such a medium that any human being can access because all you need is a ball of yarn, a hook and your will to crochet. Crochet has taught me two very important lessons. It can only be learnt if you concentrate and keep your mind focused during the process. Thinking about other things while crocheting is not a cakewalk as you need to focus on the count of stitches and pattern too. The lessons that I learnt are the importance of the basics and patience. When I first learnt how to crochet chains, it was very repetitive for me to keep practising it. But when I began making my first crochet project I could understand the importance of exercising chains consecutively for those 3 days. Chains are the foundation of crochet, if you know how to chain you are halfway through the journey. It’s the same with life, if we know the fundamental things in our life like good deeds and consistency; which is following a specific routine daily or maintaining a habit is of infinite significance. The second lesson which I learnt was about patience. In the initial stages of learning almost anything, we realise the importance of patience. As you may recollect, it used to be quite boring when we were told to write alphabets and spellings repeatedly, but now we can understand why we were asked to do so. Crochet is a hobby which asks for patience as its prime factor. But if a person doesn’t possess the quality, crochet also assists to develop and build it. When we say ‘crochet’ the first thing many think about is an old lady sitting on a rest chair and crocheting with a very unenthusiastic face. This is a fallacious stereotype created by society which can not be accepted. Crochet is a way of expressing our emotions artistically, and it’s a great art form to practise as a hobby. So, I appeal to all, let us lose those stereotypes. “Crochet is not for the people who have a lot of spare time, it’s for the people who want to make the right use of limited time”. Over the past year, I have learnt a lot through this hobby. It is just the tip of the iceberg as the journey is never-ending!

Hemashree Dixit VIII Gamma

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Articles / Poems / Riddles / Jokes / Comic Strips YouTube Manipulation Nowadays, we are wasting lots of time on social media. Screen time, on our mobile phones, has increased a lot during the pandemic. Instead of wasting our time on social media, we can be manipulated to own our knowledge, education, new skills, social issues, facts and current affairs. As a student, we use youtube a lot for entertainment. It has affected our studies and mental power to learn something new. To each one, every minute of our time is valuable. Starting to acquire new skills is a continuous process and beneficial for personal and professional growth. If we do spend our time on YouTube, let us do so by subscribing to channels which share content on social and current affairs which will help build our knowledge. It is up to each one of us to use our time effectively, to improve our general knowledge including law and social issues. When papers, books, magazines, leaflets and pamphlets were first published, it was a source of communication for common man. They would read using these sources and many of them also shared their opinions regarding all kinds of issues like social, political and economic which slowly led to the movement for social change. We can manipulate our YouTube recommendations and lead to social change in the future with a steady pace.

Sairaj S. Muchalamkar VIII Gamma

True Sense of Achievement The All India 8th Cultural National Dance Contest & Festival, ‘Nrutya Sanskruti’ organised by Akhil Natrajam Aantar Sanskrutik Sangh, organised a dance competition on 14th of February 2023 at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Sabhagruha, Reshimbag, Nagpur. There were participants from all over India representing different classical dance forms like Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam, Bharatnatyam, Kathak, etc. Each dance was unique in its own way and the audience appreciated the event. "A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work." Our handwork and dedication paid off as we gave our best. The experience was truly out of this world. I participated in a duet and group dance (junior category) competition. There were 20 entries in our category. We bagged 4 awards, 1st prize in duet - junior category, 1st place in group dance - junior category, as well as Best performance of the day Best performance of the session! I will definitely continue to participate in such competitions ahead.

Aarya Nagine VIII Alpha

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Articles / Poems / Riddles / Jokes / Comic Strips Importance of Mental Health for Teenagers

As a teenager, it’s normal to feel stressed from time to time. Between school, extracurricular activities, and the pressure to succeed, it can be overwhelming. However, it’s important to recognize the importance of mental health and take steps to manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Here are a few tips to help you cope with stress and build resilience:

Prioritise self-care- Make time for activities that you enjoy and that help you relax, such as exercise, meditation, or spending time with friends and family. It’s important to take care of yourself physically and emotionally, so don’t be afraid to do things that make you feel good. Practise good time management- Make a schedule and try to stick to it as much as possible. This will help you stay organised and avoid feeling overwhelmed. It’s also a good idea to set aside specific times for homework, studying, and leisure activities, so you can balance your responsibilities and have some leisure time. Communicate with others- Talk to your friends and family about how you’re feeling and seek support when you need it. It’s also a good idea to talk to a mental health professional if you’re struggling to manage your stress on your own. Sometimes, just having someone to listen and offer advice can make a big difference. Take breaks and practise mindfulness- It’s important to take regular breaks and to be present in the moment. This can help you to relax and recharge, and can also improve your focus and productivity. Try practising mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing or mindfulness meditation, to help you stay calm and focused. Build resilience- Resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges and setbacks. You can build resilience by setting goals for yourself, learning from your mistakes, and seeking out new experiences. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow, so don’t be afraid to take on new challenges and learn from them. Remember, it’s okay to feel stressed from time to time. It is a normal part of life. By taking care of your mental health and practising good stress management, you can better navigate the challenges of being a teenager and set yourself up for success in the future. Don’t be afraid to reach out for support if you need it – you don’t have to go through it alone

Hrishikesh Anil Nair VIII Gamma

Amazing Field trip I am extremely grateful to our school and Principal ma’am for organising two field trips this year. Recently our class went on a field trip to Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, commonly called Katraj zoo. In the first term we visited Gram Sanskruti Udyan, a theme park in Pune which represents the rural lifestyle of India. Both the places were amazing and we had a truly mesmerising experience. Looking forward to exciting field trips in grade 7.

Atharva Upalekar VI Alpha

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Art Corner

Samruddhi Girase

Prathamesh Shelar

Grade VII Gamma

Grade VII Alpha

Tanmay Phatak Grade VIII Gamma

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Art Corner

Sara Sawant

Sejal Gharge

Grade V

Grade VIII Gamma

Arnav Ghale

Aarya Parnaik

Grade VIII Gamma

Grade VIII Gamma

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Art Corner

Devesh Bhosale

Stuti Pawar

Grade VII Alpha

Grade VII Alpha

Shreeyash Ubhe Grade VI Beta

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Teachers Corner - Articles / Poems / Riddles Why Can’t we be real?

T I M E Time is an eternal truth, Which stands as a counting booth.

Why Can’t we be real? Why? Why can’t we be real? Real and realistic, Masking ourselves pretentiously. We conceal everything, Refusing to be appreciative. Without any warmth, We are busy being diplomatic, Being overly critical, Portraying ourselves, What we are not in reality. Why can't we be real? Losing out on the smallest joys, We crave to attain the unreal, Disassociating ourselves, From the inner peace. Why? Why can’t we be real?

For every single deed of yours, For sure you have to pay the results. A good for good, though it may get late, Noone can take away your fate. A conscious act, a loving pat, A share given with a hearty thought. Isn't it fantastic that you are paid, Instantly or later, as perfectly said. The one who pays heed to the call, Those are the ones who care for all. They reach the stage to be with God, If you agree, please give it a nod! You need to remember, you need to know, Positively it will be there, when you feel very low.

Vishwas S. Keskar

Swapnali Kulkarni

SST teacher

English teacher

Inhale Courage & Exhale Fear When in doubt, don't shed a tear Just inhale courage & exhale fear You shall always find me near The endless thoughts - crystal clear A drop in ocean like a smear Dripping down without a gear Racing against the odds, I cheer Tackling tantrums thrown by dear Waving sharply tingling tear Love and care - I spread here Icing hopes that all could bear A poignant exit and then swear To live by values, learn as seer Together shall cherish when I disappear The fun we had with cubes and sphere Hanging upright a chandelier Of quest & yearning to know what's queer

Nurturing oneself to join frontier Rekindling memories of this year Aiming high - my pupils sincere Ignited enough to themselves rear A fleet of ships - ready to hear The glorious victory of PIONEER When in doubt, don't shed a tear Just Inhale courage & exhale fear You shall always find me near The endless thoughts - crystal clear

Nishu Tyagi Science teacher

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Teachers Corner - Articles / Poems / Riddles

Why is Reading Important? When you think of the importance of reading, what comes to mind? Reading is something we all do every day. It's an activity that has been around since humans began communicating with each other and sharing stories It is a skill that can be learned by anyone who wants it, but it takes practice and dedication to become good at it. It helps children to develop vocabulary, writing and critical thinking skills. Today, children are spending less time reading than ever before. The decline in reading has been linked with technology because these devices give immediate access to information which makes it much easier for them not only to find what they want, but also save time too since there won't be any need to go through all those pages before finding what they are looking for. Reading helps to improve vocabulary and spelling, as well as the ability to understand complex ideas. It can improve your emotional health, too! When you read fiction or nonfiction books, it will make you feel happier and more relaxed because books allow us to escape from our daily lives into another world. It also gives us insight into other people's experiences through stories written by authors who have experienced similar imits on screen time, especially before bedtime. Online temptations are a major obstacle to reading. The internet has become an integral part of our culture and it's hard to imagine life without it. Parents can help reduce the impact of online temptations by setting things themselves, this makes us more empathetic towards others' feelings. Organizing reading time is the first step to making sure our children are reading. Reading is an important part of the curriculum and should be scheduled into the day as regularly as possible. There are many strategies for making this happen, but they all have one thing in common: consistency. If we want our children to have a positive experience with reading, then it's crucial that we set aside time every day or week, so they can do so without interruption. Technology has a role to play in reading and learning. Digital tools can support children’s ability to read, but they also allow them to access information on their own terms. For example, if a child wants to learn more about a topic that interests them, they can do so by using Google Scholar or other search engines that allow users the ability to find academic journals related to their interests. This allows children who may not have access otherwise without having any barriers placed between them and what they want. In conclusion, reading is an important part of our society today, and it will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Reading helps us learn about the world around us and how we can make it a better place for everyone. It also helps us expand our knowledge base so that we can become more knowledgeable people who can contribute positively in their communities.

Vinayak Wadekar Social Science Teacher

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Parents Corner & Upcoming Events Fieldtrip Feedback I attended the educational field trip to Children's Traffic Park, Aundh as a parent volunteer. The trip taught the students about traffic signals and driving awareness. It was a really nice experience with the children, to see them learning while playing. All the staff members of the school were so nice to them and also with me. The staff cares for the children and are so gentle with them just like us (parents). The children enjoyed the learning process and were filled with lots of happiness on this playful date. Accompanying the students and teachers of grade 3 and seeing them like this was a delight.

Rani Ardak Parent of Urvee Ardak, III Amethyst

Upcoming Events School commences for the academic year 2023-24 The students of grades PP to VIII will begin a new academic year in April. School will commence for grades I to VIII on April 3, 2023; for grade Sr. KG on April 4, 2023 and for grades Nursery and Jr. KG on April 5, 2023.

World Art Day To honour Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday, World Art Day is celebrated on April 15. To nurture creativity and innovation among the children, various activities and competitions will be conducted on the occasion. A special assembly will help students understand the importance of Art in their day-to-day lives.

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Upcoming Events

World Heritage Day To spread awareness about the cultural heritage and diversity on the planet, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) celebrates World Heritage Day every year on April 18. It will be celebrated in school with a special assembly to create awareness about the role of heritage in the present times.

World Earth Day To honour the achievements of the environmental movements and to raise awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations, World Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22. To encourage students to engage students in meaningful conversations concerning the protection of the planet, a special assembly will be conducted.

International Dance Day and Dance Week The International Dance Day is celebrated on April 29. It aims to celebrate dance, remove all political, cultural, and ethical barriers and bring people together with a common language – Dance. Dance Week will be celebrated with an array of activities from April 24 to April 29.

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Laurels And Accolades

Ambitious Footballer Nilay Khopkar from V Ruby led his team to win the silver medal in a U-10 football tournament organised by Arise International School, Bhosari. Great going, Nilay!

Melodious Musician Sai Likhite from III Ruby got first class in a classical vocal exam conducted by Bharatiya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal. She also got first class in the harmonium exam conducted by the same institute. Excellent Sai! We are proud of you!

Best Political Party Award’ at Skool Sansad 2023 Aarushi Deshmukh (8 Gamma), Aarya Sharma (8 Beta) and Hrishikesh Nair (8 Gamma) represented the school at the Skool Sansad 2023 competition. The students outdid themselves and were declared as the ‘Best Political Party’ at Skool Sansad 2023. Kudos students, keep the spirit going!

1st Place at Inter School Elocution Competition Three of our students participated and performed brilliantly in the inter school elocution competition conducted by Pune Climate Warriors. Aditya Dandage bagged the first prize including a trophy, certificate and cash amount of Rs. 1500/- in the grade 6 category. Our school teacher, Mrs. Anita Purohit was awarded for her outstanding performance as a Lead Teacher. Kudos to all the participants and winners.

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Laurels And Accolades Run is Fun Arush Kadam from VIII Alpha received bronze medals in the 5km and 10 km Marathon organised by Lokmat group. Congratulations Arush, keep it up!

Junior International Cricket Player Jinansh Shah from VIII Beta visited Sri Lanka for a Cricket tournament. There he took 8 wickets and bagged the ‘Performer’ trophy. Congratulations Jinansh, well done!

Budding Boxer Dhruv Shanbhag from VI Beta played club matches which were conducted at IIMS Marunji, organised by Pimpri Chinchwad City Boxing Association and won a silver medal. Keep it up, Dhruv!

Multifaceted Swimmer Abhishek Patil from IX Beta bagged 4 gold medals in swimming under the categories - 100 metres butterfly, 50 metres butterfly, 100 metres freestyle, 50 metres freestyle and 2 silver medals in 50 metres breaststroke and 50 metres backstroke. Congratulations on your victory, Abhishek! We are proud of you!

Dedicated Dancer Aarya Nagine from VIII Alpha participated in a duet and group dance (junior category) competition in the All India 8th Cultural National Dance Contest & Festival, ‘Nrutya Sanskruti’ organised by Akhil Natrajam Aantar Sanskrutik Sangh. There were 20 entries in the category. She bagged 4 awards, 1st prize in duet - junior category, 1st place in group dance - junior category, as well as Best performance of the day Best performance of the session! Kudos Aarya! Keep up your passion!

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Language Corner

JwS‹ r nm‹ S dm

Preeti Betkar Mother of Vardhan Betkar, X Gamma)

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Language Corner

Seema Kulkarni Grandparent of Radhika kulkarni, V Amethyst

Nishu Tyagi Science Teacher

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Mental well being Story Telling Storytelling is the oldest form of teaching. It is an important part of the early childhood learning program. Most of the time stories define us, shape us and control us. Stories teach us about life, about yourself and also about others. Storytelling develops understanding, empathy, respect and appreciation for other cultures. It improves a child's listening skills. It motivates language learners and also improves vocabulary. Children can also increase their memory by asking them various questions. If parents read the stories emotionally, it will enhance their emotional quotient. Reading and telling stories with your babies and children promotes brain development and imagination while strengthening relationships. It also helps to learn differences between real and make believe. Few tips for storytelling 1. Plan your story 2. Use simple language 3. Maintain eye contact 4. Modulate your voice 5. Plan pauses at critical moments 6. Visualise the story 7. Begin with actions or dialogues 8. Be expressive 9. Involve the listener / audience 10. Ask engaging questions It is proved that storytelling provides an alternative and powerful way of accessing experiential and traditional knowledge, interrogating issues, expressing values and shaping behaviour. Albert Einstein once said, “If you want your children to be smart, tell them stories. If you want them to be brilliant, tell them more stories.” I urge each parent to spend more time with their children telling them stories, because it not only strengthens bonds but also helps teach valuable lessons.

Asmita Kulkarni School Counsellor

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From The Editorial Team

From the Editorial Team This academic session has been phenomenal! It is hard to believe that it has already come to an end. I am grateful for so many things that have been a part of this session. The students, teachers, parents, all the events and learnings. All of it has amazed me in so many ways. I have been lucky to have been part of the joys in many people’s lives this session. Thank you for sharing with me the triumphs and sometimes even the trivial and frivolous moments that have made me laugh. Others have shared heartbreaking experiences that have made me more empathetic and a better person, while sharing a tear or two. I am so proud of all the contributors to the Gurukul Times, be it the artwork, poems, reports, crossword puzzles. Each one of you has really poured your thoughts and feelings into your writing, and for that I am grateful.

I consider myself blessed to see so many students that I have interacted with change into better human beings. Some have discovered themselves this year, some have become leaders. Some have excelled at helping others, while some are still finding a unique place in the world, and that is an achievement too.

This academic year, all of us, as a unit and part of the MIT VGS family, have made progress in some way. To me, that is what matters most, having a truly enriching experience!

As we move ahead to the next academic year, let us continue to believe in ourselves and others. Let us set our goals to accomplish great things that life has in store for us. Let our fears not hold us back. Let us do better, be better and be successful! Wishing each one all the very best for the next academic year 2023-24!

Raisa Braganza Chief Editor