Prioritise scientific research, adopt new technologies: CDO Tej Pratap Mishra tells students

On Christmas eve, Apeejay International School, Greater Noida, welcomed the Yuletide season with a gala celebration to congratulate students for their exemplary achievements in the academic year 2022-23. Called ‘Anvarat’ or unceasing, the Annual Appreciation Day witnessed an impressive gathering of a large number of students, parents, teachers, and other school staff, along with eminent dignitaries.

The grand show began with a ceremonial lighting of the lamp by chief guest Tej Pratap Mishra, chief development officer (CDO), Gautam Buddh Nagar, along with guest of honour Pushkar Vohra, joint secretary, Academics, CBSE Delhi, and high jumper and guest of the day Varun Singh Bhati, Arjuna Awardee (2017). The guests were accompanied by N N Nayyar, senior education officer, Apeejay Education, and Sharad Tiwari, education officer, Apeejay Education. The guests were felicitated by school principal Dr Sarita Pande.

Addressing the gathering, the chief guest urged parents and students to prioritise health and well-being, which is central to achieving anything in life. Conservation of the environment is essential if we want to breathe good quality air, he said. He also advised everyone to follow Covid protocols and take necessary precautions.

To students, he talked about the importance of education, with special emphasis on adopting new technologies to keep up with the changing times. Students should take an active interest in scientific research and learning, he stated. Furthermore, he stressed the need to do good and honest work that would benefit society.

The guest of honour went on to congratulate students for the accolades they won. A former teacher himself, he highlighted in his speech the selfless contributions of teachers in moulding students. He told parents, “Whenever you step inside the school, ensure you come up with a solution and think about ways to achieve a goal. Remember, nothing can be achieved overnight. Hats off to the teachers for managing your children; they are shaping the future of your kids, so give them their due respect.”

Varun Singh Bhati, a para-athlete, who has won several medals including a bronze at 2016 Summer Paralympics Games and 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, also took the stage to share words of inspiration. “Parents must ask children what their passion is; school is the best time to explore one’s talents. Second, they should find out what their child is doing about his or her passion and how you as a parent can offer support.”

Simultaneously, parents should be true critics of their children’s actions instead of just being their blind supporters, the athlete pointed out. “This will help children identify and work on their weaknesses.”

The guests personally awarded the top achievers for their outstanding scholastic and non-scholastic achievements throughout the year. Apart from enumerating the numerous success stories, the school principal also mentioned significant initiatives undertaken by the school in line with Apeejay’s vision of meeting global educational standards while fostering the holistic development of India’s youth. These included Sambhav- a community outreach programme, the Awakening Programme by Ramkrishna Mission, Budding Author Programme, and more.

“This academic year was no less than a challenge. The conjoined effort of the members of the Apeejay family helped us sail through,” said Dr Pande. She paid tribute to founder chairman Dr Stya Paul, a “true karmayogi”.  She also thanked his daughter and current president Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia and the Apeejay management as well as the parents for their constant support. “We assure you we will continue to achieve and soar higher. We at Apeejay truly believe the foundation of a strong nation lies in its youth. All the achievements and activities are a reflection of how much we have learnt through the year.”

It is the alumni who exemplify the values that an educational institute stands for. Apeejay International School alumnus Ayush Tyagi, who was also invited as a guest at the event, reiterated the incomparable efforts undertaken by his school teachers in shaping him while expressing his gratitude to the school. “This is a moment of great pride for me. I will always be thankful to my school for contributing so much to my life, for shaping us into good human beings before anything else,” he remarked.

A total of 377 students participated in the grand show. Decked in bright costumes, the students displayed their brilliant talent through mesmerising music and dance presentations. Dev Goyal, one of the students, presented a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem on electric guitar. From an instrumental extravaganza by the school orchestra to a divine Sufi dance performance and a thought-provoking play, the students put up an eclectic programme, leaving the audience enchanted.

The grand event came to a close with a formal vote of thanks by Jasjit Kaur, a teacher at Apeejay International School.