September’s birth flower is the charming ‘Forget-me-not’, and DPS Mihan has carved out a ‘Forget-me-not’ month, this September. The month has been full of activities, of application, accomplishments, and accolades. Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are. — GK Chesterton The juggernaut of activities commenced with Nutrition Week to ‘Celebrate a World of Flavours’. The school planned a weekly menu based on healthy and nutritious food. This was followed by PN-class II children who said: “The way you treat the food on your plate is a reflection of the way you treat people in your life.” Along with health benefits, children were also taught table manners so they could accord food the respect and etiquette it deserves; at the same time, assimilating a vital social skill. At the fireless cooking competition, the gourmet culinary skills displayed by class IX-X students proved that cooking is gender neutral, and can be a great platform for creativity, camaraderie, and accomplishment in addition to being a life skill. A book a day keeps ignorance away! World Literacy Day was celebrated on September 8. A riveting light and shadow musical by students extolled the importance of literacy. At DPS Mihan, we believe in the maxim: “A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read”. Keeping this in mind, DPS Mihan boasts a monumental library where students are encouraged to read and participate in stimulating discussions, the year round. The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. — Robert Swan At DPS Mihan, holistic education implies respect and responsibility for the environment. Therefore World Environment Day came as just one more occasion to celebrate nature; and off went the teachers and students to visit the verdant campus of The Rajbhavan Biodiversity Park that houses over 150 species of birds, 60 species of butterflies among other flora and fauna. Children went on a nature trail to discover varieties of bamboos and medicinal herbs before getting allured by the rose garden. Next came World Rhino Day on September 22. Children learned how poaching, climate change, deforestation and habitat loss has critically endangered this species. Several activities like animal spotting on a world map, origami animal art, and embellishing rhino figures with Gond art infused not just curiosity and conversation about the rhino but also introduced them to tribal artistry. Close on the heels of World Rhino Day was River Day which was also celebrated with great enthusiasm. The importance of rivers in environmental health can never be disputed and the need to save and salvage our rivers is of paramount importance. This was brought out effectively and emphatically through a dance ballet staged by our students. Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. — Albert Einstein World peace boils down to morality, and DPS Mihan strives to instil values and enthuse universal love and fellowship to ensure our future generations live in harmony. As part…
It isn’t easy for parents to watch their children struggle with things that most children learn instinctively. It is harder still being the child who watches everyone around him do things with ease, tasks they themselves take twice as much time to figure out while wondering why they aren’t able to do the same. Every day becomes a fight to keep up and succeed, chasing outof-reach or near-impossible expectations without help. Arjun (name changed), joined Vidyaniketan Academy (VNA) at the age of 14 with a fierce will to prove to his parents that he could study and would do well, despite failing Science and Math lessons at his previous school. It was evident to his teachers from day one that Arjun was exceptionally talented. He was skilled in every activity, particularly sports, and had an unparalleled drive. But he needed much help with spelling, found it difficult to follow structure, could be extremely impulsive and often talked endlessly out of his joy for life. Such children can be a challenge for teachers with many students to manage. In VNA, the teachers helped Arjun make space for himself in just a couple of months. He has now learnt to take responsibility for his actions, assumes leadership at each opportunity, supports his peers, and thrives in everything he does. Academically, he has pushed himself to reach new heights and enjoys a sense of pride at how well he is doing. For Arjun, this change was not easy but he overcame his challenges steadily. Karun’s (name changed) journey was different. He enrolled at VNA at age 10. He had been bullied for his stammer and lack of coordination. He was taunted for being unable to do well academically. Unlike Arjun, Karun took time to adapt to VNA. He started every class with the statement, “I don’t know how to do it. It’s too hard.” It was not uncommon to find him hiding under his desk before the next teacher walked in. The teachers worked with him individually, coaxing him to try even if it meant making a mistake and ensuring support if things went wrong. His lessons were simplified and activities scaffolded to give him time to learn at his own pace. Slowly but surely, Karun has grown to excel. He is now working towards his Senior Secondary certificate through the NIOS board — a feat even his family doubted he would ever reach. Karun and Arjun had different experiences and yet their stories are intertwined at VNA. They are a glimpse into the diverse needs that students have and how the right environment can help them flourish. Children with Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) grapple with issues that range from academic to motor skills to socioemotional development. Often, their struggles are silently borne in a world incapable of comprehending the true nature of their experiences. At VNA, special educators work intensively with no more than ten students in a class, providing individual attention and academic remediation, alongside…
