‘Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, was always the first preference for our daughter’

Ranju Kohli, General Manager, Occasion Xperts Pvt Ltd, says that her daughter Yana’s admission to Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park this year in nursery, was not only a well-thought-out choice but also an emotional one. That is because her husband Nipun, who is the Director at her firm, is also an alumnus of the same school, and wanted his daughter to have a similar upbringing. In an interview, the mother shares what she likes best about Apeejay School, the benefits of activity-based learning, her daughter’s progress, and more. Edited excerpts:

What made you choose Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, for your daughter?

Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, was always our first preference. Yana’s father Nipun Kohli is an alumnus of the school, and he wanted our child to grow up in the same environment that he was once part of. Besides, the school is just walking distance from our home, which further encouraged us to opt for it.

What is it about the school that you like the most?

We find the school to be perfect in every sense. Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, has made its mark as one of the top institutions in the city; it has won plenty of awards. Besides, the pedagogy with its emphasis on a child’s overall development is very impressive. From Nipun’s experience, we knew how the school encourages extra-curricular activities, from music to dance or sports. So, we had no questions about whether or not to admit our daughter to the school.

Apeejay focuses on extra-curricular activities as much as academics. Is your daughter getting the required exposure?

Yana participates in a lot of such activities such as fancy-dress competition, elocution, some inter-school competitions, etc. Her class teacher always encourages and supports all the students. For instance, even if they are not able to learn all the lines of a passage or poem, she pushes them to try as much as possible, which is good. These are young children, who tend to get nervous during a performance, but the teacher makes sure they never feel demotivated.

Tell us about your first visit to the school.

We visited the school with Yana around the time of admission. We met and interacted with the teachers and the principal, which was a good experience overall.

What do you think of the online classes?

Yana’s class teacher takes equal care of all children. If someone is distracted in class or not looking at the camera, she makes sure to draw their attention. She is extremely dedicated to her work.

How does thematic learning which is followed at Apeejay help your child learn?

Whether it is phonics or mathematics, the teacher practices unique methods of teaching. Thematic learning is a great way for students to grasp the concepts. Yana is always excited to learn something new each day. In the long term, thematic learning will help immensely.

Apeejay School also promotes activity-based learning. Do you think it is important?

Of course! These activities are what keep them engaged in a class, which otherwise becomes difficult given their young age. Activities are a must and the best way to learn.

The curriculum is known to give equal emphasis to teaching students about their culture and traditions. Do you agree?

The school organises various events to educate the kids about their heritage. My daughter was recently part of a project where they were taught about Punjabi culture and tradition. They also recently celebrated Christmas and New Year, where they learned about these festivals as well.

Tell us about your daughter’s progress in the past few months.

Yana has developed good speaking skills and her confidence level has improved. She is always eager to engage with her teacher or answer her questions. She likes to participate in the art and dance classes as well.

How well do teachers support working parents?

Teachers are aware of the fact that most of us are working parents. So, they are quite considerate and helpful. We are also provided a weekly planner to prepare for upcoming classes and events in advance.