‘This school is so much more than just a concrete building’

A positive school environment is a cornerstone of a child’s educational journey. It provides the foundation for academic success, social development, and the cultivation of essential life skills. When schools prioritise creating a nurturing and supportive atmosphere, children are more likely to thrive and reach their full potential, propounds Sandeep Verma, father of Nalin Verma who is studying at Apeejay School, Noida.

Excerpts from the interview

How are you dealing with the stress regarding upcoming boards?

We, as parents, have always kept our expectations limited and never overburdened Nalin. We always encourage him to continue his gym and regular outings. There are no expectations for any achievement goal that we have set for him. Even my elder son, Manas is also a pass out from the same school and I have followed a similar approach with him too.

 How did you select Apeejay as an admission choice?

If you see academics and co-curricular activities you will know Apeejay is a complete institute in itself. This school holds a great legacy of providing the best of facilities to its students. Like any other parent, I wanted the best school for my child and after knowing all the greatness of Apeejay, I decided to put both my sons in the same school.

 How are the teachers at this school?

The kind of expert teachers Apeejay has, I feel very few schools in the city have it. Apart from the academic proficiency, the teachers in this school act as a total guardian for my child. They are aware of the hormonal changes a child goes through at this age and so they sensitise my child accordingly. They know how to handle the over expectations a child might have from themselves. I simply go gaga over this school because teachers act more like friends. Academic-wise whenever Nalin has any doubt about the coursework, he puts a message to the teachers and they reply instantly.

 What about the balance between co-curricular activities and studies?

My elder son is from a Commerce background and he was interested in robotics. When the teachers got to know this they encouraged Manas to study robotics along with Commerce. This helped my son pursue a field that is a mix of Commerce and Science. Nalin, my younger one, has done a case study on 355 students on the effects of digital gaming that has also been published in the International Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR). He is a part of the school band and other activities that interest him. All this helped both my sons to holistically develop.

 How has Apeejay impacted your child positively?

I would like to share an anecdote, during the COVID-19 period, Nalin got addicted to online games and it was then I had a word with the staff at the school and shared this plight. The teachers then started taking classes on how to minimise screen time and the harmful effects of online gaming. This is how I saw a transformation in Nalin from being an average student to doing exceedingly well in his studies. I attribute all this to the teachers’ efforts.  The school even taught him how to visit a bank and operate a bank account.

 How often do you interact with your child?

I have to tell you that the teachers of the school are more like parents for Nalin than his real ones – us. My son shares all his secrets and experiences with his teachers more than us. Though we do talk about things like music, gym, diets, food, yoga, and my business work.