‘After my husband’s demise, my daughter’s teacher at Apeejay Kharghar gave her a lot of mental support’

With the beginning of the new academic session, Sushree Mohanty’s daughter Kiyara is thrilled about going back to her school Apeejay Kharghar and meeting her peers, the mother reveals. After her husband succumbed to Covid last year, Kiyara’s class teacher became her source of mental and emotional support. In an interview, Sushree, Branch Manager, IndusInd Bank, tells us more. Edited excerpts:

What made you choose Apeejay Kharghar for your daughter?

When I shifted to Kharghar after marriage, we took a flat right next to Apeejay; my bedroom overlooked the school playground. I would regularly see the students participating in various events, right from Sports Day to the Annual Day. I was impressed with the way teachers handled the students and the way the children conducted themselves. I had also heard that the school was very good in academics. So, right from the beginning, I was very clear that my child, be it son or daughter, would definitely study at Apeejay. Fortunately, Kiyara got selected in the first round of admissions.

Does the school facilitate 360-degree development?

Absolutely! That is exactly the kind of upbringing I wanted for my daughter. I am very happy with her improvement in terms of confidence, sincerity, and punctuality. She no longer hesitates to perform before the audience, which is a great development. She fluently speaks English, Hindi, and her mother tongue Odia.

How did Apeejay support you and your daughter in the pandemic?

My husband passed away last year in May after being diagnosed with Covid. It was a very difficult time. Kiyara’s class teacher Usha Ma’am called regularly to check on her and gave her a lot of mental support. Her teacher continues to ensure that Kiyara does not feel distressed or miss out on classes. I cannot thank her enough for supporting us so much.

The academic session has started today. How excited was Kiyara about going to school?

Kiyara was very excited to go to school. She was thrilled about getting to wear her school uniform after such a long time and meet her friends and teachers.

Does Apeejay promote inclusivity by giving students an understanding of our cultural diversity?

Apeejay Kharghar celebrates all kinds of Indian festivals. The kids dress up and perform, and in the process, they learn about our rich culture. Sometimes, they are made to represent a particular Indian state and talk about its food, clothes, and heritage. These are things you cannot just read from the books and that is where activity-based learning practices like these prove beneficial.

Besides, children also observe World Environment Day, National Safety Day, etc. Kiyara and her friend had prepared a performance based on road safety. They also had seminars on “good touch bad touch”.

In what ways do the teachers make sure students understand concepts clearly without cramming while keeping the classes interesting?

The best thing about Apeejay’s pedagogy is thematic learning. Whether it is Maths, English, Environmental Science, or Hindi, all the subjects being taught are based on one particular theme at a time which helps maintain continuity. Thematic learning is also effective in helping students understand all concepts clearly. What further helps is learning by doing through experiments and activities.