‘Communication channels that the school uses to send regular updates are really good’

Mr. Sanjay Poojari is a Software and IT Consultant and his wife, Mrs Neelam Poojari, is a homemaker. Their son Neil Poojari is enrolled in class 5 at Apeejay School, Nerul. In an interview, Mr Poojari shares how both extra-curricular and academic activities have made his son well-rounded in many aspects.  Read edited excerpts:

What made you think Apeejay School, Nerul, would be the right choice for your child?

When Neil was old enough to join a school, we started searching for the best schools in Navi Mumbai. Right from the outset, it was very clear that Apeejay Nerul is the top school in the town. We got in touch with a few parents who already had their kids in the school. From their feedback we were sure that we wanted to get our son enrolled here. It was really a no-brainer for us. Of course, it was a bonus that we lived in Nerul.

Do you personally interact with the faculty on a regular basis?

Very much! Most of the faculties are available for direct interaction in school and also via phone and messaging. The fact is that the communication channels the school follows are really good. There are coordinators who are always ready to provide information to us on a regular basis. On our part, we have always made a point to attend all the PTMs that the school conducts on a regular basis. During the PTMs, we also meet the coordinators who are always open to giving us feedback on most aspects and also listening to our concerns.

Tell us what you think about the way teachers conduct classes.

The approach that teachers take has always been holistic. My son tell us that teachers use audio-visual mediums for teaching. The strict book-based rote learning approach that we detest is definitely something we have never encountered in the last 7 years. Solo and group activities, art integrated projects as well as assignments ensure the learning process is interesting and effective. We are very happy with it.

Have you noticed any particular improvement in your child?

Our child has always been very introverted and shy, but the confidence he has gained because of the school has changed his overall personality. Of course, his academic journey has also been really good as he has been in Apeejay right from Nursery. Apart from this, he regularly takes part in all the extra-curricular and academic activities as well as competitions, which are definitely helping to shape his well-rounded personality in many aspects.

How well does the school ensure children’s safety and security?

The school’s strict policies and protocols have always ensured that we never face any issues with our child’s safety and security. We have not encountered or even heard of any instance where the safety of any child got compromised. When the school resumed for physical classes after the lockdown, we used to go to pick up our son and we could see that teachers and the staff were very particular about the orderly dispersal of each child.

How are the teachers helping students on a personal level?

Neil always keeps telling us how all the teachers take a personal interest in his progress and success in class. We used to be very concerned that being shy he may not ask the teachers for help or even ask questions when needed. But the way teachers interact with children makes them very comfortable. They also pay attention to every student and Neil does not hesitate to ask for help when needed. We have also personally approached the teachers on many occasions and they have always been open and helpful in resolving all the concerns.

Are you working, if yes? Then how Apeejay is helping working parents?

Yes, I work as a Software and IT consultant. The communication channels that the school uses to send regular updates and alerts are really good. This ensures that we don’t have to worry about missing out on anything. The online portal that the school has developed ensures that we get all the study materials and other information related to projects on time.

The way everything is handled at the school, including overall education and teaching method is such that we don’t feel the need to ask a lot of questions. Everything works like a smooth machine and our child is able to learn on his own. We never even felt the need to send him to any extra tuition classes. We consistently track his progress and take put time to ensure that he is not behind on his studies as well as other activities. Thankfully, because of the approach the school and teachers take, it has been easy for us to do this while not compromising our own work commitments.