‘I waited for a year but got my daughter enrolled only in Apeejay, Nerul’

Kshitija Anant Shinde, wife of Anant Kashinath Shinde, Vice President (Retail Banking) with HDFC Bank, Mumbai, is a homemaker and mother of Ananya Shinde, a class 2 student at Apeejay School, Nerul. In an interview she shares her reasons for choosing Apeejay Nerul, her daughter’s progress at school and how the teachers successfully maintain discipline and interest among the students during the online classes. Edited Excerpts:

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

We had heard a lot about Apeejay Nerul. It is a very well-established school. It is the first CBSE School in Navi Mumbai. We had heard a number of good reviews about Apeejay Nerul from a lot of people.  I always wanted a CBSE board school for Ananya. I didn’t prefer any other board. So, after searching among a lot of schools, we found Apeejay Nerul to be the best.

My daughter missed an academic year, as she couldn’t get admission in Apeejay Nerul due to her birth month falling in the other half of the year (September). I waited a few months but got her enrolled in Apeejay Nerul only. 

Please tell us about Ananya and take us through her progress at school?

Ananya is doing very well at school. She has gained a lot of confidence since joining Apeejay Nerul. Since class Nursery, she has been performing on-stage. From music, to dance, to anchoring, she participates and performs in a lot of activities. She has gained a lot of confidence through this.

The staff at Apeejay Nerul is very good. I would like to mention Mrs Tanuja Sarkar, her class teacher in Nursery. Even now, she guides us. Ananya is her favourite student and Ananya loves her a lot as well.

Ananya has a friendly nature. She likes to talk and explore the world around her. She loves to learn new things and wants to know everything about everything. She likes to learn about every subject in-depth. Therefore, she asks a lot of questions but her teachers answer her questions very patiently every time. Ananya is fond of studying English, Maths and Science. She is very good in drawing. She likes public speaking and also has a knack for writing, she has written many short poems.

Are the teachers engaging well with the students?

Yes, the teachers are teaching very well. I don’t think I have any complaints against any teacher. Even during the online lectures, all the teachers were teaching very well. They give attention to each and every child. They cater to every student.

I would like to mention Ananya’s former class teacher Ms Dalbeer Kaur and her current class teacher Ms Deepali Sawant. They are very good teachers.

What is the best thing about Apeejay Nerul?

The teachers are very sincere. The students enjoy the school environment. I don’t think I have ever received a complaint that Ananya cried at school. The staff handles all the children with a lot of care. The school activities, both scholastic as well as co-curricular, are very good and the competitions organised in school are also very nice. Since Nursery, they have taken very good care of their students.

What is your perception about the online classes?

The school is doing very well with regard to online classes. Since last year, when the pandemic started, online classes were started by the school so that students don’t lose an academic year.  

Akin to physical classes, the school has tried to maintain the same discipline in online classes as well. Students have to compulsorily wear the school uniform. The students are not bored with online classes. Rather they are excited during the online classes and are doing very well in it. They don’t feel that they are missing out on school. Even the parent-teachers meeting was held virtually. The school is conducting all the activities in online mode the way they were doing during the physical mode of classes.