‘Apeejay develops character, builds social and life skills’

Jayshree Shankar is a homemaker and holds a double Master’s degree in Sociology and English while her husband Rajeev Shankar runs a pharmacy business in Patna, Bihar. They are proud parents of Yashica and Yash. The former is studying in class 10 and the latter is an alumnus of Apeejay School, Greater Noida. In an informal chat, Jayshree said parents today are looking for schools that help their children develop a mindset for compassion and caring.

Why did you pick Apeejay for your children?

After my husband landed a new job, we decided to relocate from Noida to Greater Noida. That’s when we began frantically looking for a new school. We talked to a lot of parents from our friends circle and interacted with numerous students to pick the best school. Based on our survey, we found that Apeejay ticked all the right boxes. The parents spoke highly of the school and we could see the spark in the personalities of students from Apeejay and the respect they had for elders, signifying strong moral values. Without further ado, we got Yash enrolled in class 4 and Yashica in Nursery. I would also like to point out that the whole admission process was fair and transparent which is a rarity nowadays.  

You have been associated with the school for more than a decade now. Are you content with the progress made by Yash and Yashica?

One of the best things I liked about the school is that it pays special attention to weak students. The teachers don’t hesitate to give extra classes to students whose academic performance requires a boost. In all these years, I never had to worry about any aspect of my children’s learning. The former Principal of the school, Ms. Yashika Bhardwaj, shared an excellent rapport with the students and their parents. Even the current Principal, Ms. Sarita Pande, is no different. The focus of the school is not solely on academic excellence, Apeejay develops character, builds social and life skills. I believe producing students with impeccable grades is not enough for helping them lead a fruitful life.

Why do you think it’s important to promote character development in students?

Most of the children are growing up in a nuclear family where both parents are working and have little time to invest in character-building. That’s why the role of schools becomes critical in inculcating ethical beliefs in students. My children are brought up in such a way that whenever they see someone in crisis they are ready to lend a helping hand. The credit for it goes to the school as it makes students involved in a lot of community outreach programmes. The children of today are the future of tomorrow. It is vital to inculcate good values in them so that they make this world a better place.  

Share with us your most memorable moment.

On every Mother’s Day, the school makes every mom feel special. A host of performances are held to honour and appreciate all mothers. All performances exalt the mother as God, teacher, friend, philosopher and guide. It’s difficult to express my feelings in words. I also like the importance given by the school to parents. The teachers and other staff know us by our names.