Annual Sports Meet @ SMIS

This maiden edition of the Sancta Maria Annual Sports Meet began with an eclectic mix of nerves, excitement and a culmination of days and nights of preparation by the sports team of Sancta Maria International School. Twelve teams from twelve schools around Hyderabad, making up a total of 230 young sports boys and girls alongside their coaches lined up on the soccer pitch on Tuesday, 26th August 2014, for the launching ceremony of the games.

One could savour the moment with a feeling of satisfaction as one as the Principal addresses the audience and welcomed the participating schools . The event was kick started when Captains of various teams co released a beautiful bunch of blue and white balloons. Enthusiasm and effervescence was rekindled as the participants watched the balloons scale the height of the SMIS buildings into the bright sky, announcing the start of the games. Competing in different sporting categories including the under 12 football boys; under 14 and 16 badminton boys and girls; under 14 and 16 lawn tennis boys; and the under 14, 17 and 19 table tennis boys, master pieces of talents could be seen skilfully executed across the different pitches on the SMIS campus.

For two days, deadlocks were broken, new champions established and new friends made. The flair of the games busted out in to a blast as the joy of winning bubbled through junior fans right up to the adults. The meet definitely provided a platform to build a sporting spirit in the students, an avenue to display their physical prowess and an opportunity for the SMIS sports team to show case their hands on experience in the organization of annual meets.

To crown it all, trophies, medals and certificates of participation were awarded to the winners and runners-up during the closing ceremony on Wednesday, 27th August 2014.

Independence Day Celebration!

On 11th August, the pre-primary section celebrated Independence day with much gusto as part of the third assembly of the academic year. The highlight of the day was the fashion show presented by the students.

The nursery students were charming when they transformed themselves into their favourite cartoon characters like Chota Bheem and Spiderman.

The PP-1 students who came before the nursery, stole the audience's hearts when they became who they want to be when they grow up. the future doctors, scientists, soldiers and astronauts marched proudly.

PP-2 students took everyone to the time when valour was of paramount importance. They owned the stage as the brave men and women who won the struggle for freedom. Quite a number of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Nehruji and local heroes like Alluri Sitaram Raju turned up on the stage, instilling patriotic fervour. The girls became the valiant queen of Jhansi, Laxmi Bai and Sarojini Naidu, Indira Gandhi et al.

The assembly came to a close with the crowd singing the national anthem in unison, paying tributes to all the past and present heroes of the nation.

-Shikha Pious, Shwetha

"Where the Mind is Without Fear"

“I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind.”

Where the mind is without fear

and the head is held high,

where knowledge is free.

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments

by narrow domestic walls.

Where words come out from the depth of truth, 

where tireless striving stretches its arms toward perfection.

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way

into the dreary desert sand of dead habit.

Where the mind is led forward by thee

into ever widening thought and action.

In to that heaven of freedom, my father,

LET MY COUNTRY AWAKE!

The poem, Where the Mind is Without Fear by Rabindranath Tagore, was written before India’s independence and shared his vision of a new, independent and awakened nation. The message of the poem is also applicable to our individual struggles for personal freedom and growth.

Rabindranath Tagore taught the world the beauty of his mother tongue – Bengali, but the message he conveyed was universal. His open-mindedness towards other cultures and nations, ardent fight against prejudice and injustice, and his progressive ideas made him an iconic figure in the Indian sub-continent with his legacy held in high esteem far beyond Indian boundaries. He was truly versatile with his contribution to the world not limited to poetry. He was a statesman, educationist, painter, composer and philosopher.

This poem is one of our all time favourite poems.

Despite the passage of time, in fact nearly a 100 years, each and every word still echoes our sentiments, what is in our hearts, in these trying times! Tagore's words weave their magic immaculately to finally take the form of this glorious poem. Free yourself right now, as the poem suggests. Accept and appreciate that this moment is as it is. Freedom arises the moment we truly accept and appreciate this present moment: without complaints, without dissatisfaction, without wishing that it was any way different than it is. So be kind to everyone you come into contact with, no matter what they do. Let go emotionally and mentally and have as much fun with life as you can. Whatever happens to you- use it as a lesson to practice accepting life and letting things go. Inner freedom is what you need. So give it to yourself right now and accept that your life is as it is. We are all part of a larger tapestry of life, so just relax and enjoy watching it unfold. Remember, the more you can relax and accept life the way it is, the more effortlessly life falls into place for you. It is only our resistance to the present moment that slows us down, so give yourself permission to relax and enjoy, watching this miracle we call life unfurl! Our purpose of writing this post is to remind you all about those philosophies, which can really transform your life.

Thank you!

Ms. Kausiki Das (Co-curricular Teacher) & Ms.Joanna (Science Teacher)

Being a Teacher

It’s a universal truth that a doctor wants his child to become a doctor...

an engineer wants his child to become an engineer…

a businessman wants his child to become a CEO…

             

but…a TEACHER also wants his child to become one of them, as well!

Nobody wants to become a teacher BY CHOICE…

Very sad, but that’s the truth…

Today, after about a decade and a half years of my experience as a school teacher, I feel immensely proud that my mother, who was also a teacher for almost three decades, encouraged me and gave me the liberty to pursue my passion as my profession which provides me with ample opportunities not only to help my students excel in the academics but also help them become better human beings.

Recently, I came across the following occurrence which reaffirmed my faith and conviction that eventually I did make the RIGHT CHOICE.

-Shalini Singh Hamilton

Pre-Primary Assembly on July 14 - Eid Celebration!

In July, we conducted the second assembly of the academic session. It was dedicated to Eid, as part of the month of Ramzan, to familiarize the students with the concept and the spirit of the festival.

The pre-primary teachers presented an informative skit to demonstrate the significant details of Eid, which held the rapt attention of the students. Two students each from all four sections of PP-2 were selected to hold placards and read out lines on Eid, attired in traditional kurta-pyjamas.

The assembly came to a close with a beautiful singing performance by all the students of PP-1, highlighting Eid. Later in the day, dates were distributed as part of the celebration. The assembly proved to be both informative and colourful experience to the students.

-Shwetha and Shikha

Pre-Primary

Pre-Primary Assembly on June 20 – Fathers' Day Celebration

Ensuring the surge of enthusiasm and energy- that is what the first assembly of the new academic year did. It was very important to the teachers and the students of the pre-primary to kick-off the year with a bang. Therefore, the theme for the assembly was an easy choice, Father’s Day- a celebration that was quite different yet important.

 Invites were sent out to the fathers of the students beforehand and the turn up on the assembly morning was quite big and surprising. The students had eagerly made hand-prints on cards that bore the beautiful lyrics of “You Raise Me Up When I am On Your Shoulders”.

 These souvenirs were distributed to the fathers in the assembly along with ‘My Dad My Hero’ badges. It was truly a moment of pride for the fathers when they received the handiwork of their children as a gift. Students of PP2-A presented two songs dedicated to all the fathers and later, Tvarita Tomer of PP2A and Om Bhogu of PP2-B shared their experiences with their fathers. Our first assembly thus had a little something for everyone to take back.

-Shwetha and Shikha

Pre-Primary

Teddy Bear Picnic!

Ever since we sent out invites of the Teddy Bear picnic, the students were counting days enthusiastically. Teddy Bear picnic is the first outing of the academic year for pre-primary students. They were taken to KBR National Park to learn more about nature and environment along with having a fun time.

 We set out to the park around 9 am on 11^th July, Friday after a light snack. Excitement was at its peak when the students were showing off their teddy bears to their friends and teachers. A flight of school buses promptly dropped the picnic party at the National Park in Jubilee Hills with the help of teachers and other supporting staff. The 40 minute ride to the park was punctuated by songs that set mood to the trip. The students smartly clad in their caps were happily cuddling their toys throughout the ride.

At the entrance of the park, we were greeted by a flock of pigeons which made the students even more excited. The trip to the park made the children quite hungry, but luckily for the snacks and juice we brought along soon the growling tummies were happy.

After the snacks, we took to walking around the park in groups. The sultry weather could not bring down the excitement as we climbed on top of rocks and up above the tree house. During the nature walk, the students observed the huge trees that gave us shade and also learnt about various animals found in the park. Some lucky ones even spotted peacocks basking in their grandeur.

After the walk, the KOOH Sports team who accompanied us was ready to refresh the children with games like Tisket & Tasket. Packed boxes of rice and parathas were soon served to the students on long carpets, were they sat together to have a perfect picnic lunch. Though tired, the students were hesitant to leave the park and on the bus ride back, all the teachers were met with the same question, “When is our next picnic!?” 

-Shwetha and Shikha
Pre - Primary