‘Outside school too, people acknowledge how well my daughters have been groomed by Apeejay’

A former secondary teacher at an international school, Minakshi Paul says she feels “blessed” that her daughters Anuksha and Atreyee are being educated at Apeejay School, Kharghar. Anuksha has been promoted to class 7 this year and Atreyee to class 4. In an interview, the mother talks about the wonderful relationship that the teachers share with the students and parents. Edited excerpts:

What made you choose Apeejay School, Kharghar?

We shifted to Mumbai from Gurgaon in 2013. We were looking for a CBSE school that promoted holistic development. That is when I heard from my peers about the school. Many of my neighbours’ kids were also studying in Apeejay. I was very impressed with how smart and well-mannered these children were. I decided to apply at Apeejay. But Anuksha was only three then and was not eligible for nursery. We finally enrolled her the following year. When it was Atreyee’s turn to join school, we already knew this would be the best institution for her.

Do you find your daughters developing holistically?

It has been fabulous. Right from the time my daughters joined school, their teachers have been very friendly and supportive. I had never imagined that a teacher-parent relationship could be so wonderful. In her kindergarten days, Anuksha could recite 50 rhymes and she has only shown progress over the years.

Atreyee, as a young child, was a little different. She was cranky and wanted me to be with her at all times. But I saw remarkable changes in her after spending a year at school, thanks to her then-class teacher Savita Ma’am. Soon, she started writing, reading, combining sounds, and more. She also started participating in several co-curricular activities like recitation, dance, and so on.

In what ways do the teachers facilitate children’s progress?

Let me give you an example. When the online classes started, I thought of attending them with my daughter assuming she would need my help. To my surprise, I found her to be quite at ease. From showing videos to PPTs and drawings, the teachers used every possible method to make the learning process easy and interesting for the students. She gave every child the chance to answer questions in class which increased the overall involvement level. The final exam report is proof of how well she grasped all the concepts; she has done exceptionally well.

Outside school too, people recognise how well my daughters have been groomed. They find the girls really smart.

How do Apeejay management and the teachers support working parents?

Apeejay is very approachable. Never have I felt that the management is not supportive, whether it is the fee structure or the pedagogy. Sometimes, children may miss the deadline for a particular submission but not for once have the teachers blamed their parents. Instead, they themselves take the initiative to help out the students. Not just my elder one, even my younger daughter was quick to take responsibility for her assignments and complete them on time. She is quite independent now and the credit for that goes to the teachers.

Is the education offered at Apeejay restricted to the syllabus?

Up to class 5, the school follows thematic learning. Each and every topic simultaneously teaches some value. The children have developed respect towards others, how to keep their surroundings clean, precautions for Covid, and so on. Besides, they celebrate various Indian festivals which is a good way to enhance their understanding of our diverse culture while promoting unity. So, their knowledge is definitely not restricted to the standard syllabus.