SCHOOL BUZZ
A host of edutainment events
Smriti Kak

Students of DPS Ibtida performing Rajasthani folk dance.

TALENT Fiesta, a potpourri of events, was organised by Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. Various schools from the national Capital participated in the 35 events, which included debates, quiz, skill-based competitions and performing arts.

A ‘Creativity Day’ was also organised. Inaugurated by the president of the DPS Society, Mr Salman Khurshid, it showcased the talent of the children in putting up models of various gadgets, exhibits like cooking without a fire, photography and philately.

Among the judges for the various contests were dancer and bureaucrat Shovana Narayan, former Miss India Naina Balsaver and Kavita Sharma, Principal of Hindu College.

DPS Society vice-chairman Ashok Chandra giving away the trophy to the students of DPS R K Puram.

Amala Chatterjee Inter-School Debate for middle classes saw students express their views on, ‘Rebellion for the youth spells doom’, while the senior students debated on, ‘The winner in today’s rat race is nothing but a rat’.

The host school bagged the overall trophy while DPS Noida and DPS Vasant Kunj came second and third, respectively. The prizes were distributed by Mr Narendra Kumar, Chairman, DPS Society.

A valedictory function was also organised for teachers participating in the In-Service Teachers Education Programme for teachers from Afghanistan. The programme was held under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs for six weeks.

Mr Arun Singh, Joint Secretary, MEA, presented CD lessons and a set of books to Afghan delegates.

Health project

‘Health Mela’ organised by Darshan Academy.

Darshan Academy organised a Health Project Week on the theme, ‘Health Awareness’. The programme was held under ‘The Clean City Campaign’, launched by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Diskhit.

Through the campaign students were made aware of various aspects of health and how to stay fit. Doctors and area experts were called into share their experiences with the students.

The students, on their part, conducted surveys and interviews and presented skits and puppet shows, using them as a tool for creating awareness.

A health mela was also organised on the school premises; visitors had an opportunity to enjoy health foods and games and watch performances put up on the occasion. It also included camps for drug, tobacco and alcohol addicts.

A meditation hall, where people could learn the basics of meditation under the guidance of Sant Rajinder Singh, was also part of the mela.

Talent festival

The YMCA organised a three-day inter-school talent festival from October 15 to 17. As many as 500 students from more than 17 schools participated in the events, which included Western vocals, folk dance, western dance, on-the-spot-painting and one-act play.

E-spice

DPS Noida organised a computer competition, ‘E-spice.’ The occasion saw the students competing against each other in events like movie-making and group discussions.

Movie-making, which was introduced this year, required the students to make a five-minute film on a given theme. Gaming, which included a speed as well as a strategic game, was also popular. The event was organised in association with HCL Beanstalk and Microsoft Windows XP.

Dengue drive

To create awareness about dengue and to educate the people on its prevention, students of Children’s Valley School, Preet Vihar, organised a ‘Dengue Drive’. More than 100 students participated in the rally, which visited nearby localities and, armed with placards and posters, spread awareness about the dreaded diseases, which has gripped the Capital.

For poor pre-schoolers

Doing their bit for society, IBM India has launched ‘IBM Kidsmart Early Learning Programme’, aimed at introducing technology at pre-school level. It is designed to help pre-schoolers from underprivileged sections to get a head start on their academic development through the use of appropriate software developed by IBM.

The programme will also focus on the professional development of teachers. The schools targeted include Aanganwadis, government-runs schools, army and navy schools and those run by the corporation.

Pre-Divali bash

Victorinox organised a pre-Divali bash for children from various NGOs, including Prayas and Salaam Balak. The event held in the Capital was also attended by war widows, Brig Khetrapal, Maj-Gen Ian Cardozo and Joint Commissioner of Police, Maxwell Pereira.

The event included a 10-minute explicit fireworks show and tips from the Delhi Fire Department on safe ways to light crackers. The children were also given Divali gifts and refreshments.

PRINCIPALSPEAK
The true success story

That man is a success, who has lived well,

Laughed often and loved much …

Who leaves the world better than he found it,

Who looks for the best in others and

Gives the best he has.

It is men of character, of integrity and courage who make a difference in this world with their evolved perceptions of life. In today’s rat race for money, power and status, which translates as success for most, there seems to be no place for integrity, honesty, ethics, conscience, compassion, mental toughness, courage and consistency. There is erosion of values, and people have lost their soul in pursuit of dubious goals in a commercially-driven world. Yet, we know there are elevated men, who redeem the world with the strength of their character and for whom integrity is a way of life.

Their visions are lofty and go much beyond the, I, me, mine. They are compassionate, kind and humane and fill sunshine into the darkened life of others. Their wisdom often comes from their own suffering.

Aircraft designer Alexander de Seversky, who had lost a leg in World War I, was on one of his visits to service hospitals during World War II. One day while trying to cheer patients in a ward, he told them that there was at least one advantage in having an artificial leg – that one can’t feel it, if it is hit.

To demonstrate it, he gave his cane to one of the men, saying, “Hit me in the leg as hard as you like.” The man took a vast swing and whacked the designer across the leg. “You see!” said de Seversky, laughing “I didn’t feel a thing!” His laughter was infectious, and the whole ward rocked with laughter.

Still wearing a broad grin, he waved good-bye and came out into the corridor with the officer, who was accompanying him. In the corridor, his grin vanished and, wincing with pain, he rubbed his legs vigorously. “What’s wrong?” asked the officer, puzzled. “He hit the wrong leg,” groaned Seversky. He suffered the pain silently and put a smile on the face of suffering. People like him have true wealth and are truly successful for they have character, which is not up for sale. For such people money and power are not an end in themselves, but lubricants in life’s journey.

Bill Gates is one of the richest men in the world today, but the tender smile that lights up his face, as he reaches out to the poor children in Africa, speaks volumes about his character. Such people embody the philosophy that we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. These are the success stories, which give the rat race a human face.

We are all engaged in an eternal quest for that ‘something else’, which might bring happiness and fulfilment. Success seems elusive for we do not know what we are seeking. This fruitless pursuit can end only when our faith in God empowers us; when we realise that other’s problems are greater than ours; when in giving you realise you are truly enriched. When the pursuit for excellence is directed towards building a strong moral personality, who would respond to the needs of an evolving society. They value achievement over success, reputation over celebrity and create wealth for society and only then enrich themselves. Such are men with a vision.

Madhu Chandra, Principal, Birla Vidya Niketan