Important to promote co-curriculars with holistic development: IPS

A starry evening adorned with the hard work, determination and positive spirit of students and teachers. Such is the description of the recent celebration by a Mumbai school which boasts of a legacy of excellence.

Truly, for this institution, merit is paramount and continuous. And so, to celebrate their efforts, Apeejay School, Nerul in Navi Mumbai commemorated its Annual Appreciation Day – Colofalco ’23 on April 28. The Chief Guest of the day was Mr Milind Bharambe (IPS), Commissioner of Police, Navi Mumbai. To mark the beginning of the programme, Mr Bharambe lit the ceremonial lamp amidst soulful rendition of ‘shlokas’. He was accompanied by the school’s Principal, Mr P. Subash.

Shortly, the institution paid a floral tribute to Dr Stya Paul, the late Founder-Chairman of Apeejay Education. He was a beacon of light whose vision of holistic and valued-based education guides Apeejay till date. Once his dream, today stands as a living testimony as 26 institutions pan-India under the aegis of Apeejay Education. To motivate one and all at the function, an inspiring quote by Dr Stya Paul was shared, ‘Life should be immeasurable like the sky’.

Currently, Sir’s legacy is being carried forward by his only daughter Madam Sushma Paul Berlia. She is a leading industrialist, educationist and philanthropist who is working towards his vision of man-making and nation-building powered by a global footprint.

Addressing the gathering at the event, Mr Bharambe said, “Congratulations to all students! The most important role of developing a child lies in the hands of teachers. And, in this busy world, we (parents) are so occupied with our professions, we hardly get the time to groom and nurture our children. So, most of that work is done by the school and its educators. Therefore, I also commend the teachers of Apeejay, Nerul who aided students in attaining laurels on this big day.”

Further, he appreciated the vision of Dr Stya Paul and emphasised upon the need to build strong curricular ability and skills to equip children to become global citizens. “It is equally important to promote co-curricular activities and holistic development,” he said.

He continued, “At present, most new professionals hope to attain good quality of life, above all. And this Gen Z is more action-oriented. This won’t be possible without the right kind of exposure and education. As the youth knows their mind and are specific about their choices today, it is, therefore, the role of everyone (elders and educators) to guide them appropriately. Sometimes, the discovery of one’s interests comes early on, at other times, passions surface much later in life. Hence, we need to focus and identify the passion of every child.”

In addition to this, he highlighted the role of inculcating ‘sanskaar’ (values) in children. “Good principles and right values will take them far. I believe that there is no dearth of it in our Indian value system. However, we need to realise the richness of our culture and imbibe these qualities. Only then, we will become global citizens in the truest sense of the term,” he said.

“Alongside, we also need to accentuate the national character in our students. Such is already exemplified and promoted by our forefathers. Simply put, conservation of nature, water, cleanliness, and traffic discipline are crucial before one interacts with the global fora. These are moments where one needs to represent our culture appropriately. Further, I wish to underline that good co-curricular activities, positive outlook towards life and ‘sanskaars’ make us a holistic being. Lastly, I am happy to note that all educators at Apeejay, Nerul are well-versed with these concepts. Thank you for having me here today!”

After his speech, Mr. Subash extended his gratitude to Mr Nishant Berlia, Co-Promoter Apeejay Stya and Svran Group and Co-Founder and Pro-Chancellor of Apeejay Stya University, Mr Aditya Berlia, Co-Promoter Apeejay Stya and Svran Group and Co-Founder and Pro-Chancellor of Apeejay Stya University, and Dr Neha Berlia, Co-Promoter of Apeejay Stya and Svran Group for their support and guidance in the show.

He also read out a special message from Madam Berlia which reinforced the vision and values of Apeejay Education. In her note, Madam congratulated all those who bagged prizes at the function and those too who have shown immense hard work and grit throughout the year. She encouraged young learners to never give upon their dreams and attain the success they deserve. She also thanked the parent community for the faith and trust in Apeejay and appreciated the educators of the school, naming them ‘the anchors behind its excellence.’

According to Mr Subash, “The best of schools have achieved a great mark due to the cooperation of parents. So, they (parents) must understand the value of education and know how their children are going to be equipped for the future. Apeejay’s curriculum is aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 to prepare them to be part of the global workforce. In addition to this, we nurture them with soft skills, leadership qualities, ability to work in teams, and much more.”

To emphasise upon the need to push oneself out of their comfort zone in order to attain brilliance, Mr Subash narrated a story at the function. It consisted of a king with two falcons, out of which one ‘soared high’ and the other kept sitting on a tree. Eventually, the king summoned a farmer who cut the branch of the tree. After which, the other falcon too began to fly high. Through this, Mr Subash appealed to parents to inculcate the spirit of working hard in their children and allow them to move out of conventional thinking.

Followed by his address, the school showcased its annual report highlighting the genius of students in a range of fields such as academics, sports and extra-curricular activities. After this, the much-awaited prize distribution ceremony was held for session 2022-2023. It was anchored by Ms Shakuntala Singh, the academic coordinator of the school. “Awarding the achievers not only serves to motivate them but also enthuses their peers to do well,” she said.

On the Annual day, the second edition of the school’s e-newsletter was launched. The document displayed events, achievements and accolades of the school in a handy and accessible format.

To add to the charm of the evening, students presented a delightful dance to seek the blessings of the elephant headed god, Ganesha, the Hindu symbol of wisdom, understanding and perfection. Next in line was a power-packed show called ‘Into the Woods’. It was a musical intended to teach and delight one and all. The show consisted of love and adventure with several fantasy-based characters in search of their deepest wishes and choices. The mesmerising drama was nothing less than dreamy as students successfully transported everyone into a new realm through their elegant speech and remarkable talent.  

And that’s not all! Last but not the least was a fireworks show by students based on India and its beauty. Through it, they reminded everyone to keep the values of our nation close to their hearts and minds. Young learners spread the message of love and respect towards the motherland and motivated youth to make a difference with their strong vision and determination.

Closing the show, the Head Girl of the school, Zara Jahangir, proposed the Vote of Thanks. She thanked all the guests, teachers, non-teaching staff, grandparents, parents and students for their presence and participation. The event finally concluded with the National Anthem.