Welcoming back the little learners

Teachers at Apeejay School, Noida know very well that for young minds to fall in love with learning, the process of education has to be made warm and loving. Hence, in a bid to welcome students after the long summer break, the School recently conducted numerous ‘Welcome Activities’ for students across classes 1 to 5.

The students of Class 1 participated in an activity named ‘Back to school’.  They made and decorated pencil toppers using paper cut outs and wrote the message: ‘We Missed You’. Teachers also expressed how much they missed the students during the vacations.

In a similar activity, class 2 students also made pencil toppers and expressed their excitement by writing the message, ‘We are ready to shine.’ The students of class 3 participated with great enthusiasm and revisited the mathematical concept of multiplication tables through a fun welcome activity. They wrote their favourite table and depicted their feelings of learning the same with the help of emoticons on coloured sheets.

An affirmation activity was conducted for Class 4 students in which they  made gratitude cards and took pleasure in colouring and decorating them. They expressed their gratitude towards their parents, school and teachers through their creation. Class 5 students too expressed their feelings on the first day to school with the help of emoticons and shared their feelings with their classmates. The day concluded on a cheerful note. 

The ‘Welcome Activities’ had a great impact on the students as it encouraged them to do wonders in education, after a rejuvenating summer break.  

On the next day, students of the primary department assembled for morning assembly as they got absorbed back in the school routine. Class 1 students enthusiastically sang the morning prayer setting a positive and peaceful tone for the day. Class 2 students gathered in the first-floor balcony while the students of Classes 3, 4 and 5 assembled in the courtyard of the primary department to commence their day with the recitation of the prayer. 

Primary Incharge, Ms.Smriti Samuel addressed the students and briefed them about the arrival and dispersal procedures and school gate rules and logistics. She ensured that each child was well-informed and prepared for a smooth and organised transition at the beginning and end of the school day. Lastly, she welcomed all students back and encouraged them to give their best in the new academic session. 

As the day commenced, a plethora of opportunities were organised by the teachers to get students reinvigorated in the joy of learning. A puppet show based on the story Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs was conducted by the teachers for class 1 students.  The tiny tots of class 2 had a delightful school field trip. They had a wonderful time observing different types of flowers including a vibrant display of periwinkle flowers in two enchanting colors: pink and white. The teachers also took the students to the science park and briefed about different models. Additionally, the students visited the swimming pool, boys’ hostel, football field and basketball courts.

The teachers of class 3 took their students for a nature walk in the school premises. The enthusiastic young learners got an opportunity to learn about nature’s wonders. They were excited to see ant hills, earthworms, snails and beautiful varieties of trees in the school compound. This activity provided experiential learning to the students who were able to build a strong bond with nature. 

Meanwhile, the young explorers of classes 4 and 5 embarked on a thrilling adventure to the science laboratory where they had the opportunity to learn about the presence of starch in various food items and were thrilled to learn beyond the book. This experience ignited their curiosity and enthusiasm and gave them an opportunity to gain a better knowledge and foster a love for scientific exploration.

Overall, these activities were carefully designed to provide the students with enriching experiences outside the traditional classroom setting. By engaging in diverse activities, the students had the opportunity to enhance their observational skills, foster their love for learning, and develop a deeper connection with the world around them.