‘Teachers at Apeejay make every child participate in extracurricular activities’

Amritpal Kaur is a homemaker while her spouse Gurneet Singh is Chief engineer with the Merchant Navy. They are proud parents of Pehlaj Sarna, a class 9 student of Apeejay Mahavir Marg and Ruhin Sarna, a class 3 student of Apeejay Model Town. In a candid interview, she explains how Apeejay contributes to the holistic growth of students. Edited excerpts:

What made you pick Apeejay?

I live in a joint family and every member in our home shares a special bond with the school. My husband is an Apeejay alumnus and his brother and sister have also studied from Apeejay. My brother-in-law is an advocate whereas my sister-in-law is settled in London. All three are doing extremely well in life and have great overall personality and communication skills. My brother-in-law’s two kids are also studying in Apeejay. His son is in class 2 of Apeejay Model Town and his daughter is in Apeejay Rhythms. Therefore, it was obvious for us to pick Apeejay. We had no second thoughts.

How has your experience been so far?

I couldn’t be happier. The thrust of Apeejay is to contribute to the all-round development of students. The focus is not just on academics, but on extracurricular activities as well. Every festival and special day is celebrated with utmost enthusiasm and the students are encouraged to deliver speeches on such days. This really chisels their communication skills and takes confidence to new heights. What’s worth appreciating is that teachersmake every child participate in extracurricular activities. They are extremely motivating and encouraging, as a result, the students of Apeejay are confident public speakers and can express themselves freely in a packed auditorium. For instance, Pehlaj keenly participates in debates, declamations, plays, science exhibitions, etc. Academically too, the curriculum is taught in a way that there’s no pressure on students. A lot of emphasis is placed on practicals.

Why do parents nowadays give massive importance to extracurricular activities?

Marks are no longer the basis on which you can differentiate one student from another. It’s the extracurriculars that give you an edge when you apply to foreign universities or face interviews. It also helps students to learn about themselves and develop and use their skills and knowledge in different contexts.  I am in constant touch with mothers whose children are studying in other schools, and based on my interaction with them, I found that Apeejay’s emphasis on extracurricular activities is unrivalled.

Tell us about the teachers.

They are genuinely concerned about the well-being of students and have a special bond with them. I would like to specially thank them for supporting me during tough times. I have had some health issues in the recent past and when I informed the teachers about the same and requested them to give special attention to my kids, they stood rock-solid behind me. They have proved the adage ‘Teacher is the second mother’.  They are extremely cooperative, polite, and like students, share an excellent rapport with parents.

Share with us your most memorable moment.

I adore the way the school celebrates Mother’s Day every year. The bond of a mother and her child is inexplicable and to celebrate it in high spirits and merriment brings cheers to every Mom. It’s not just mothers, the school also involves dads and grandparents in engaging activities. You feel like a part of a big family.