Education Symposium @ Sancta Maria

Sancta Maria International School co-hosted 2013 K12 Education Symposium – TALK FUTURE TODAY along with Amoeba Education. The symposium aimed at providing a knowledge platform for K12 education experts, share  and explore the future trends in education under the background of globalization. The theme of this sumposium was “Talk Future Today.” It was supported by educators, innovators and mentors like Ms. Geeta Narayan, the founder Director of the Shrishti School of Art Design and Technology and its sister institution, the Mallya Aditi International School and Mr.Hari Krishna. Some very interesting videos shared by these eminent educators were the highlight of the event and inspiring suggestions for the teachers which could really be useful for “MODERN DAY” learning was another added brightness.Keen participation from Principals, Directors and Teachers from schools of the twin cities was seen.

 Education Symposium K12 - Talk Future Today

 Inauguration of the ceremony by Mr. M. Reddy

 Mr. M. Reddy welcoming the guests

 Ms. Geeta Narayan addressing the gathering

Engrossed audience

Knowing our green friends- Plants

Children are learning about the different types of plants!

The topic of the month for PP2 children in February 2013 was “Plants”. For them, it was a very interesting topic in many aspects. The reason for choosing this topic was, for the children to understand the importance of plants and their relationship to how plants aid our everyday environment. When we started the initial topic discussion with a video presentation of a ‘tiny seed’ and later explained to them how each seed ‘has a tiny little plant inside’, they were awestruck.

Plant sprouts out from the seed! 

WOW! Such  big leaves.

To ensure they understood the entire germination process, each child sowed seeds, watered them and exposed them to sunlight every day (for 2 weeks) for a better understanding of how plants make their food (concept of photosynthesis) and grow big. To aid their understanding further, the difficult photosynthesis process was demonstrated to them with the help of a simple kitchen experiment. 

Exploring the shrubs!

Another learning experience for them was that plants are of many types, e.g. trees, herbs, creepers, shrubs, climbers etc. with different physical characteristics. They learnt this by doing a nature walk and actually experimenting through touch and feel. To aid them in learning faster about plants, we organized several hands-on activities, such as art & craft, games, songs, storytelling, picture stories narration, videos presentations etc.

The highlight of all the activities conducted was the vegetable shop. In the play area, we put up a vegetable shop with almost 30 different varieties of vegetables with a price tag on each of them. The children were then given play money for real life experience of vegetable purchases. They were introduced to each and every vegetable with a recap of where each of those vegetables grew. Then they were instructed that they need to buy at least one vegetable from each category like an herb, tree product, underground vegetable etc. The activity further had the children put the ‘purchased’ vegetables in the basket and they had to pay for it. It was an enthralling experience for the children since; each of them experienced the actual ‘purchase’ of the vegetables. This real life ‘simulation’ of vegetable purchase was very engrossing for them, as the children were paired together. One partner was responsible for picking up vegetables by calling out its name loudly and the other partner acknowledging the purchase. Then the second partner was responsible for taking out the play money and paying for the purchased vegetables. This was an absolutely delightful experience for the children as they experienced looking around, calling out the vegetables by name and making the final purchase themselves.

As teachers, the most fulfilling experience for us was to watch the satisfied expressions on the faces of the children after they made the purchase of the vegetables ‘themselves’. They each felt that they had ‘achieved something great in world’ in their little way, by doing ‘real world’ transactions during purchase of the vegetables. The expression on each child’s face itself was perhaps a ‘Kodak moment’. For us, the teachers, these expressions were ‘priceless’. We would love to share with you some of these ‘Kodak Moments’. Trust you will all enjoy seeing these pictures.

-Asha and Rakhi

Chinese Lantern Festival @ Sancta Maria

"celebration  and joviality is in the air"

Our jovial hunter....n super energetic birdie:)

 (Jade Emperor) “They killed my bird and now 

they all shall die and burn in my wrath”

 daughter warned the inhabitants ....

 This is how we get to celebrate Chinese lantern festival!!!!!

It feels so great to be an Emperor:)

Home Coming...

 After a short break of 3 months, I came back to Hyderabad and rejoined the Sancta Maria School as Student Affairs Officer & Counselor.  

During those months I missed  Hyderabad with its daily routine,  I missed my work and school activities,   interaction with my  colleagues, students and parents.  And at one point of time I had decided that I should come back!  As the saying goes, “Your home is where your heart is”.  I feel my heart is here….  in Hyderabad… in my school….

I am happy and excited to see how our school has grown in strength during these three months. I am also glad to see new students and colleagues who joined recently and still joining. The new  sections are opening to accommodate new enrollees.

I am eagerly waiting for coming academic year when our school introduces AS and A Levels (equivalent to 11 and 12 grades).

So, I am back and looking forward to meet you all!  

By: Olga Suri

Pre Primary Sports Day @ Sancta Maria (2013)

Our school motto is ‘No Child Left Behind’…and although we encourage a healthy competitive spirit, we do not believe in pitting the strengths of one child against the other…At Sancta Maria, students do not compete against each other, but with themselves – pushing themselves to achieve the highest, and so the sky is the limit!Today, the Pre-Primary students are here to enjoy exhibiting their motor skills….and we are here to encourage each stride they take….

 Ms. Nisha Bhakar, Principal, addresses the gathering...

 Audience await the track events to commence....

 PP 1 Perform a Drill to the tune of 'Waka Waka'

 Nursery paired balloon race

 An intriguing game - Blast the Balloon and Run...!!

 'Metamorphosis Race' [PP 1]- Caterpillars crawl their way only to...... 

 ......turn into Gorgeous Butterflies...!!!

 First lap of Relay Race - Ducks touch the pair...three-legged race begins....

 ......kids bobbing along....

 Aerobics by PP 2

 Medals Galore!

 Presentation of medals to Nursery by Mrs. Mary Reddy,
Sect., St. Mary's Education Society.

 Presentation of medals to students of PP 1 by Mr. Mainder Reddy, 

Director, Sancta Maria International School.

The Pre - Primary Sports Day ends with all joining in a dance.

An Introduction of Golf @ Sancta Maria

 Students of Grade 3 and above gather up to learn about golfing.

 Students are familiarized to golfing equipment.....

 Students watch carefully....

 Learning to handle the golf equipment....

 Demonstrating the correct manner to golf....

 Students break up into smaller groups to get a practical experience on using golf sticks.

 Lined up and ready to strike!!!

The Preferred Manner....