What was I Thinking...

What was I thinking........?

that life’s gonna be like a cherry on a pie;

no worries, no tension and no one to question ‘why’;

that I’ll be smiling forever with no moments blue;

then hold on kid......you haven’t any clue.

What was I thinking........?

that parents and teachers are devils on earth-

their lessons and lectures aren’t any worth;

that I am ‘CEAT’- born tough;

then hold on kid......you haven’t met rough.

What was I thinking........?

that completing homework was my biggest task;

writing exams, which I wonder who asked;

that fights with friends were important issues;

then hold on kid.......you’ll be needing more tissues.

What was I thinking........?

when I was dreaming of a future so far;

missing out moments which were at par;

wanting desperately a life like a ‘movie star’

then hold on kid.......you’ll be needing a racing car.

Now that I have grown up, I realise how much I miss

those fun filled days, where not a worry did exist

travelling back in time, is what I wish

where life was at its extreme bliss.

But, what was I thinking........why in such hurry was I to grow up!!!!

Why in such hurry was I to join the ‘Big club’??

It’s been a long time since I have penned down my thoughts. Keya, a friend from my previous school always kept saying that I should not stop writing poems. But where is the time I kept wondering, life has become so hectic that we fail to create time to do what we love most. Then pops up this additional responsibility to write for the school blog- which people mostly would think as a burden, but I take it as an opportunity.

It was the last day, I completely forgot about the blog and I was running short of time- thousands of mental calculations, great dilemma- What should I write?? Out of nowhere this topic popped out- “What was I thinking….?”

It’s been over a decade, 12^th year exactly, I have been in this profession and I kept wondering- What is the reason?  Why am I in this profession? Why have  I not got bored yet? I guess its because, when I watch the kids playing and having fun, I get to relive my childhood.

‘Childhood ’- those golden days, I guess no one would deny that those were the days filled with happiness when we had no worries. But little did we know what future had in store for us. The only worry we had back then was when will we grow up. Now that we have grown, we know how much we have to struggle- busy planning and securing future and missing out on all the fun. I wish I could go down back in time, to relive those moments one more time.

-Laxmi Goyal

Gratitude

Quite a few people who have done remarkably well in their day have realized that we can truly be alive only in those moments when we are conscious of our blessings. By being grateful towards what we have, we are paving way to allow more into our lives. Those who have realized this became wonderful leaders by understanding, appreciating and valuing others. Here, in Sancta Maria, we believe in ‘Leadership through Gratitude’ and therefore observed, the 1^st to the 5^th of September as ‘Gratitude Week’. In doing the same we, both the students and teachers, learnt the importance of saying ‘thank you’.

The “movement” we began in our school reached its pinnacle when the pre-primary section conducted an assembly on 9^th September, based on the theme of gratitude. Through the assembly, the students honored the staff members which included the administrative staff, hospitality division, security and supporting staff like our didis and drivers. Selected students from all the four sections of PP2 delivered short speeches expressing their gratitude towards all those people who work to make the school a beautiful place. Students of PP1 excitedly distributed smiley badges to all the members of the staff as a token of their gratitude. The excitement was not any less on those faces who received the smileys. Many of the staff members, who were initially timid to join the proceedings later, became very enthusiastic when they realized their work is being valued and honored by the students. It is said that, joy is what happens to us when we express our gratitude, because however little, each gesture of gratitude, every ‘thank you’ matters!

By- Shwetha and Ashwini

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