‘Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park has left no stone unturned in preparing my daughter for board exams’

Kalpana Anil, mother of Nandini Saanchi and Sartaaj Sharma, is quite satisfied with her children’s overall personality growth facilitated by Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, not to mention their academic achievements. Having started the journey at Rhythms Kinderworld, Greater Kailash, her son is now in class 3. Her daughter studies in class 10. In an interview, Kalpana, lawyer and educator-spoken English trainer, tells us about the kind of exposure that the school offers children. Edited excerpts:

How did you decide to enroll your children Nandini and Sartaaj in Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park?

I have been associated with Apeejay for the past 12 years, ever since my elder daughter Nandini was enrolled there. We chose the school because of its proximity to our house. Apeejay offered just the kind of curriculum and atmosphere that I had wanted for my kids, including personal attention and interactive studies. Sartaaj, too, joined the school in class 1 following preschool education at Rhythms Kinderworld, GK.

Do you think Apeejay’s curriculum is at par with the modern standards of learning?

Absolutely, they are well-versed and abreast of each and everything that is happening around them. The activity-based curriculum is Apeejay’s forte, which I can vouch for being involved in academics myself.

How has activity-based learning helped your children?

Especially during the initial years, children look forward to these activities, which helps in concept-building. As a result, parents also do not feel much of a burden. Once the concept is clear, the child is not hesitant to learn more about a particular topic.

In terms of developing soft skills, how has the school helped?

The school promotes confidence-building by working on children’s public speaking skills and helping them do away with stage fear. The students participate in several activities, from festivities to special assemblies and celebrations. All extra-curricular activities like recitation, debate, presentations, etc, are going on at their own pace, except now they are being done virtually. I can confidently say that my children’s growth has not been hampered in any way. They have got very good exposure and have come a long way.

What kind of developments have you seen in Nandini and Sartaaj throughout the years?

My son is seven years old. As compared to children of his age from other schools, Sartaaj is way ahead in terms of his language skills, reading, writing, etc. Of course, I am also putting in equal effort. But I appreciate the motivation and support provided by the schoolteachers, which is of paramount importance.

Nandini, on the other hand, has always been a class topper. She has also been involved in extra-curricular activities although now the focus has shifted towards the board exams.

Is the school preparing Nandini well for the board exams?

Absolutely, the school has left no stone unturned to prepare the children well. Parents are part of several networking groups where we get ample information about everything happening in school-from the exam preparation to the mock tests and pre-tests.

Do you find teachers extending their support to working parents to keep them informed about all developments in school?

The school organises parent-teacher meetings at regular intervals. I know where my child stands and if I am required to do anything. In the wake of online classes, teachers are all the more approachable, thanks to WhatsApp, etc.

What do you think of Apeejay’s emphasis on value-based learning?

Apeejay has come up with awareness programmes that are organised weekly to focus on moral values, ethics, etc. These things should be instilled in a child at a very young age, and I think Apeejay is doing great work in that area.