At Apeejay Pitampura even a Nursery kid knows about the water cycle

Mrs Shaktibala is a scientist. She is working as scientist– C at National Informatics Centre, currently posted in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. She is the mother of Aadya Pandey, nursery student at Apeejay School, Pitampura. Her husband, Mr Rakesh Kumar Pandey is the General Manager at Times Internet. In an exclusive interview, she shares her reasons for choosing the school for her daughter, her daughter’s progress at the school and her perception about the online classes. Edited Excerpts:  

Why did you choose Apeejay Pitampura over other schools for your child’s admission?

My elder daughter Aarna Pandey is a class 4 student at Apeejay Pitampura. She had joined the school in Nursery grade. Looking at her time in the school, I was overwhelmed with the school’s progress. In the tenure of Veena Maa’m (the school’s Principal) the school has excelled in all the ways possible, academics, sports and extra-curricular activities. So there was no doubt about choosing Apeejay Pitampura for Aadya as well. The teachers, the school authorities, the school building, school campus everything was so much more than what I could expect from a school. I had a wonderful experience with my elder daughter. I wanted the same holistic experience for Aadya as well. Apeejay Pitampura was the first school which came up with the idea of online classes once the pandemic began last year. The school focuses on the over-all development of the student. The special assemblies, special occasion celebrations everything has been conducted during the digital classes. That speaks for itself.  

Please tell us a bit about Aadya and take us through her progress at school?

Aadya is a bit of an introvert as a child. It is only after she meets someone 5-6 times does she mix with them. It initially took me a bit of an effort, she was cranky and didn’t want to attend the classes. I spoke to her class teacher Shailja ma’am. She gave her so much love and made her feel very comfortable. Now she is excited to attend the class and has even made a few friends in the class.

Aadya likes singing, dancing and she loves drawing. I give her simple figures and she copies them exactly. She loves to take part in the special assemblies at school. In her subjects, she likes Maths, I think. It’s quicker for them to grasp concepts at this age.

When I talk about a nursery class kid, it always comes to my mind that they will be learning alphabets, numbers or some rhymes. But here at Apeejay Pitampura, Aadya has learned to read three letter words and the academic session hasn’t even ended yet. At such a tender age, the Nursery class students at Apeejay Pitampura know about water cycle and even some mathematical concepts. I didn’t know all this at her age. It’s a great thing for a four year old.

Are the teachers engaging well with the students?

Superbly well. For a ten or fourteen year old child not going to the school is different from a four year old child who has not even seen the school once.

Aadya has never been to school physically due to the pandemic. So she never got to see the school or her teachers. But even in the online classes, the teachers give attention to each and every student in the class. They are so loving. I am a working parent, I am not there most of the time but whenever I get to see her classes, I see the teacher reaching out to each and every child.  They make sure that they name each and every child in the class, so that no child feels left out because little children are very sensitive you see. Ms Shailja Tyagi, her class teacher and Ms Sulekha, her art teacher are taking special care of each and every child. It is very difficult to keep the kids engaged for a 45 minute class. They are so small. But they keep them engaged. It is only due to the magic of love and care that these kids have bonded up so well with their teachers. Aadya is always excited after waking up. She is eager to attend the class. It’s a big progress. It’s only the magic of love and care by the teachers.

What is the best thing about Apeejay Pitampura?

Everything is best! it’s difficult for me to point out one thing. As I said the teachers are truly hard working. They take care of each and every student. It is one of the top ranked schools in Delhi. All the school authorities, Veena ma’am and all the teachers are giving their best to every student. Making the children interested in a virtual class is so tough but they have done it superbly well. As a working parent, I don’t get much time but I have seen so much improvement in Aadya. She can read, write. She has learnt all the alphabets and even so many rhymes. Even during the pandemic, the special assemblies, all the special occasions, singing of the school song basically everything has been conducted, so that the child doesn’t miss out on the school life experience. Soaring high is the motto of the school and undoubtedly Apeejay Pitampura has soared higher as an institution.

What is your perception about the online classes?

Aadya has been engaging very well in the online classes. I think it is all due to the efforts of her teachers. We don’t have any other choice currently in the pandemic. We as parents would love to send her to the school and the teachers are also missing the students. The teachers keep them engrossed in so many interesting activities in the online classes, which is a big help for a working parent. So, I would say, it is all good!