‘During admission, the school faculty candidly answered all our questions’

Jayant Raghavan, CA, and his wife Sridevi Ramachandran, freelance scientific editor, enrolled their son Shrihaan Jayant in Apeejay School, Kharghar, last year. Now in KG, the young boy is already showing a lot of development, the parents say. In an interview, they tell us how Apeejay has lived up to their expectations. Excerpts:

Why did you pick Apeejay School, Kharghar?

Jayant: We had initially made a list of the top 10 schools in Kharghar. After visiting each of them, we found Apeejay to be one of our top choices. We met Basabdutta Barui, coordinator, pre-primary section, who was very transparent and answered all the questions I had about the school.

Also Read: ‘Apeejay Kharghar keeps introducing new activities for the holistic development of the child’

My brother, whose children are also studying at Apeejay School, Nerul, gave a positive review of the school. Moreover, Apeejay School, Kharghar, is very close to both my home and that of Shrihaan’s grandparents. Based on these factors, we decided to enroll our child in the school.

What were some of your major concerns when you were looking for a school for Shrihaan’s foundational years of learning?

Jayant: The quality of education was most important. The second criterion was the number of students in the school. The CBSE syllabus followed by the school was also one of the deciding factors. We also wanted a school that would inculcate soft skills in my child.

How is the school promoting Shrihaan’s overall development?

Jayant: Shrihaan has begun mixing with other children, which was missing earlier while he was stuck at home during Covid. He is learning to write the alphabet in Hindi and English. He is also communicating in English pretty well. Gradually, he is also picking up Hindi words.

Academics aside, our son is learning punctuality; he understands he has to reach school on time. He also understands how to maintain personal hygiene and dress properly for school.

Sridevi: This year, he participated in storytelling, recitation, and other competitions. These boost the confidence of the child while helping them learn new skills.

What kind of interactive methods do the teachers use in class?

Sridevi: For instance, Shrihaan was taught the alphabet using cuttings of animals and objects. This makes the process of learning very interesting for the child. Simultaneously, they are able to connect with the teacher, who, in turn, tries to give personalised attention to all students. Shrihaan’s class teacher in KG is very cooperative and understands each and every child very well. She also gives us periodic feedback. As Shrihaan moves up to the higher classes, I hope to continue getting daily updates on the topics covered in class.

Jayant: The student-teacher ratio plays a very important role in ensuring each child gets due attention and that’s what we expect from Apeejay too.

Can you share some tips for parents looking to enroll their children in a good school?

Jayant: During the interaction, Shrihaan was asked some basic questions about objects, colours, and animals. But throughout, the teacher kept tracking his body language and how he responded to the questions.

To other parents, I will say you have to start preparing your child early. You need to teach them some basic things which will help in the interview. If you want to get into a good school like Apeejay, the child must have some basic foundation to be at par with peers. So, prepare yourself well before approaching a good school.