Year: 2016-17

1.INVESTITURE CEREMONY AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL [Top]

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. – John Quincy Adams.

Good leaders always lead their teams towards excellence, and Sanskriti School has always been fortunate to have had a good student council to guide and encourage their students. On the 23rd of June, fifteen vibrant and enthusiastic young leaders were inducted into the student council for the academic year 2016-2017.

The students were bestowed with their sashes and badges by the Founder-Director of Sanskriti School, Mrs. Devyani Mungali and the Principal, Mrs. Neha Teredesai. The newly appointed student council then took an oath to work as a team to uphold the excellent track record of the school, follow the rules and regulations of the school at all times and to discharge their duties to the best of their abilities. The ceremony concluded with the rendering of the National Anthem.

2.International Yoga Day celebrations at Sanskriti School, Pune [Top]

One of the fundamental principles of Yoga is – A small action done repeatedly can make an enormous difference. This was a promise the students made to themselves on the occasion of International Yoga Day which was celebrated with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm by the students and teachers of Sanskriti School, Bhukum on June 21, 2016.

Children from Pre-Primary to Class XII were seen carrying their yoga mats to practice the various asanas. The Sports teachers took the students through a series of yogasanas like Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Bhadrasana and Bhujangasana which culminated with the chanting of ‘Aumkar’. The children were refreshed and energized after the session, after all Yoga is a light which once lit never dim, the better your practice the brighter the flame

3.A Workshop on Value Education [Top]

On Saturday June 25, 2016, a seminar on Value Education was organised by ISKCON in Sanskriti School, Bhukum Campus. The session was conducted by Shri Sara Siromanidas for students of Class VIII.

The seminar began with a discussion on the need for Value Education followed by an interesting debate on the existence of God. To make the seminar more interesting and interactive games like ‘Kaun Banega Krishna Bhakt’ and Dumb Charades with scenes based on mythology were enacted.

The whole hearted participation by the students was appreciated by the organisers. The seminar ended with meditation. A lot of students could be seen engaged in deep discussions and at the end of the seminar it appeared that many of their religious concepts and ideologies were strengthened.

4.A VISIT TO THE AARK FOUNDATION [Top]

An Act of Random Kindness for Eternal Healing – is the motto of the AARK Foundation De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre on Sinhagad Road. The students of classes XI & XII, Sanskriti School, Bhukum Campus were taken to the rehabilitation centre on Wednesday, June 21, 2016, for a visit. The eye-opening experience enabled the students to see for themselves the process of identification, motivation, counseling, de-addiction, after-care and rehabilitation that the inmates go through to help them get rid of this malaise that destroys their lives.

The students were guided by Mr. Deepak Borale, a former addict and current staff member, who enlightened the students about the three month rehabilitation program. The students also interacted with an in-mate, who is currently undergoing treatment for alcohol de-addiction. He spoke about the hardships and difficulties faced not only by the addict, but also the family members because of the addiction.

The visit left the students speechless. They were struck by the harsh reality and impressed with the indomitable spirit of the patients who left no stone unturned in their struggle to rid themselves of this malaise and embrace a better future not only for themselves but for their family members as well.

5.Nature Walk for the Tiny Tots [Top]

Being close to nature is paramount for our kids in Sanskriti School, Lavale near Bhukum. The Children of LKG and UKG went on a nature walk amidst the hills and dales within the campus. The children of Nursery from Sanskriti Kids too, visited Sanskriti School (main branch) in Lavale, near Bhukum. It was the first ride in a school bus for some children. They were very excited and kept pointing out to the beautiful natural surroundings on the way to the main branch. They reached the school and walked down the pathway. They were shown all the plants and the birds in and around the campus. All the children were in great spirits and enjoyed the trip very much.

6.The Magic SpiceBox [Top]

Amongst the various competitions and seminars held on a regular basis in Sanskriti School, Bhukum (Lavale Campus), the students of Class IV had the pleasure of meeting the author of The Magic SpiceBox- Mrs. Namita Moolani Mehra. Her endearing smile captured the hearts of children who were listening to her with rapt attention as she gave them details of how she spent her early life in Pune before moving to New York and finally settled in Singapore where she currently lives. She spoke of the importance of illustrations in books. .She spoke about how she pursued writing passionately from a very young age and later went on to contribute articles for various magazines Children were amazed at the detailed variety of spices that the book housed information about. The story wrapped in a creative blanket of Shivam and Ananya’s world rendered magical because of the blend of spices made children curious enough to grab a copy of the book and discover the stories therein. How cooking skills help one in life ,was one of the key points highlighted by Mrs. Namita who has also written “Get Well Soon – Turmeric Soup”-a poem describing the qualities of turmeric or haldi popular for its medicinal properties. The learning that came along with the fun of understanding various “characters” such as cinnamon, red chilli, turmeric etc infused children with great joy and inspiration. Indeed it was an interaction that left an everlasting memory such as the aroma of spices do.

7.All the Better to Smile With… [Top]

Pajama Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm in the Pre-Primary section of Sanskriti School Pune, Bhukum campus. Children came to school in their pajamas. Some carried their toys and some their blankets. Dentists visited the school to familiarize our children with the importance of brushing, the right things to eat, and the problems when one does not brush their teeth etc in a very fun and interactive way. The aim was to remove the fear of a dentist that most children have. The children enjoyed the visit and the day culminated with a small nap for the children. They dozed off for a while listening to bedtime stories and rhymes.

8.Top Cop’s visit to Sanskriti School [Top]

On July 22, 2016 the students of Sanskriti School, Bhukum Campus had the rare honour of meeting the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Pune Ms. Rashmi Shukla. She was welcomed by the students in the traditional way with the blowing of the conch and the recitation of shlokas. After a short and meaningful speech on the beauty and culture of Pune, the innocence of childhood and the nostalgia she experienced on entering the portals of the school, she initiated the question and answer session. The students were very eager to know about her and asked a plethora of questions ranging from her childhood, the challenges she faced as a woman while discharging her duties, to the steps being taken by the police to curb the rising crime scenario in Pune. She stressed on the importance of hard work and determination being the only road to success. She also emphasized on the importance of following rules and regulations laid down by law. Her message to the students of Sanskriti was that being a woman should not in any way be a road block for anyone.

9.Slam Dunk, Three Points for UBA [Top]

Tuesday, 26th July was a memorable day for the students of Sanskriti School Bhukum, as they had been invited to watch the matches organized by the United Basketball Alliance (UBA) at Balewadi Stadium. The main aim of UBA is to promote the sport of Basketball at the grass root level in India. The UBA Pro Basketball League is the first in men’s professional basketball tournament in India .The students witnessed 2 matches between Haryana Gold & Punjab Steelers and Pune Peshwa & Chennai Slam. The students were riveted by the speed, accuracy and intensity with which the players moved on the court. A few students had the privilege of meeting the founder of UBA. The students enjoyed this outing thoroughly and are looking forward to many more such experiences.

10.Indradhanush 2016 [Top]

‘The ultimate victory in competition is derived from the satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best and that you have gotten the most out of what you had to give .’

‘Indradhanush’ the annual Inter-School competition hosted by Sanskriti School , Bhukum started with a bang. The fact that it has grown in stature and popularity over the years is evident from the fact that this year there were more than 21 schools participating in various competitions , because of which the competitions had to be conducted over a period of 10 days. It began on 26th July with the English Debate competition followed by Maths & Science Model Making , English Creative writing & Rangoli competition on the 30th of July. Various other competitions like Qawwali, Table-Tennis and Chess were conducted over the course of ten days. The final day saw a host of competitions like the English Language & Literature Quiz, innovative competitions like Quilling & Best out of Waste. The highlight of the show was a dance performance by the students of the Blind School. It was the opportunity for students to show case their talents & sills in a friendly competition. The overall champion was once again Sanskriti School, while City International School, Kothrud came in 2nd.. The students left with the message- To live daringly, boldly & fearlessly. To taste the relish to be found in competition and to take pride in having put forth the best within themselves.

11. Keeping our Heritage and Cleanliness alive…. [Top]

The students of Sanskriti School, Bhukum visited a Kolvan village near Tikona Fort to spread awareness among villagers and school children about cleanliness and preservation of heritage sites. The students of Class VI prepared slogans and explained them to the villagers. The students also presented and informative skit which talked about the same objective in front of primary school children from Zilla Parishad School.

The students were motivated and encouraged by the villagers. Students enjoyed learned through this hands on experience.

Let’s keep this drive alive and continue in our day to day life.

Year: 2015-16

1. DR. KIRAN BEDI INAUGURATES THE SPORTS COMPLEX AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL, WAGHOLI
2. ENVIRONMENT DAY REPORT
3. ADVENTURE ALL THE WAY....
4. INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY CELEBRATIONS
5. Space Camp at NASA
6. Sanskriti School organises a TED workshop With Emma Dawson
7. Sanskriti Celebrates ‘Indradhanush’- Learning beyond books
8. SANSKRITI CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY
9. SANSKRITI RECIEVES BRITISH COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AWARD
10.AEP Workshop
11.GOC in Chief, Southern Command visits Sanskriti School
12.Sanskriti School organizes a workshop for the helping staff
13.Eco Ganesha Project at Sanskriti School
14.Sanskrit Week celebration in Sanskriti School
15.Sanskriti School hindi diwas
16.LITTLE EFFORTS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
17.VISIT TO YMCA, NILSHI. An Adventurous Experience
18.Sanskriti School organises its Bi-Annual Educational Exhibition – ‘Kaleidoscope’

1.DR. KIRAN BEDI INAUGURATES THE SPORTS COMPLEX AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL, WAGHOLI [Top]

The State of the Art Sports Complex at Sanskriti School, Wagholi campus was inaugurated by the former IPS Officer and Social Activist, Dr. Kiran Bedi on April 20, 2015. She interacted with the parents and highlighted the importance and value of sports in the overall development of a child. She took a tour of the school and was enthralled by its clean and aesthetic ambience.

In her own words “Wonderful! It was one of the most memorable days of my life. Feel blessed to inaugurate the Sports Arena at the new campus of Sanskriti School at Wagholi”.

Thereafter she proceeded to Sanskriti School, Lavale Campus for the book release function of her book “Kiran Bedi – Making of the Top Cop” – an illustrated story book about the early years of Dr. Bedi’s life.

The air was full of excitement as she held an interactive session with the students and staff. The book has been written by sisters and the purpose for writing the book is to inspire young people and to share values that helped her to achieve success in her field. She acquainted the students with a part of her life not known to many and how she was groomed by her parents and teachers and how specific incidents shaped her life.

2.ENVIRONMENT DAY REPORT [Top]

For Years, Mother Earth has nurtured us. It's time to return the favour.' And mankind tries to return this favour by observing World Environmental Day on June 5th every year.

At Sanskriti School, World Environmental Day 2015 was celebrated not just for a day, but about a week was dedicated for the same. To make the students appreciate the importance and beauty of nature a trek to 'Tamhini Ghats' was arranged on June 5th. Tamhini Ghat is a mountain passage which cuts across the Sahyadri range to join Pune and the Kokan region. Located on the crest of the Sahyadris, it is famous for its natural beauty—with high mountains, green valleys, lakes and waterfalls. Tamhini Ghat and its surrounding forests are known for their rich biodiversity. Students of class IX with a group of teachers explored the scenic beauty of the Ghats and spent a day worthwhile by being closer to nature.

Thomas Fuller said, "He that plants trees loves others besides himself." Students of Sanskriti showcased their love for nature and the whole mankind by planting saplings in the school garden on 8th of June. A special assembly was organized on 10th of June where students of class IX presented a beautiful Hindi poem that called for the protection of mother earth. All these activities helped the students to realize the need for using our natural resources carefully to protect nature and thus adhere to the United Nation's Theme for World Environment Day this year - 'Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care.'

3.ADVENTURE ALL THE WAY.... [Top]

On 6th June 2015, students of Class 9 of Sanskriti School Pune visited Tamhini ghat for a trek in its beautiful hills. It was a one day trip and was enjoyed by all- teachers and student alike.

They started their journey early in the morning at 6 am and reached in about an hour. The scenery of the rolling hills set against sunrise was spectacular and breathtaking. Once they reached, the enthusiastic students and teachers took their gear and set off. On their way they saw many varieties of plant and animal species. There were different kinds of bushes, berries and birds. The highlights amongst these were the numerous butterflies they encountered. They also had fun scaling the steep slopes and the varied terrain. The trek was a little difficult but nonetheless, the students took it positively and overcame the many challenges they faced. They reached the summit to take in the grand view. At around noon, they had a fulfilling lunch after a long trek. Finally at 12:30 pm they left for the school.

This was one of the most fun, exciting and adventurous trips the students had had. Many of the students considered it to be the best trip the school had organized. It was overall an exceptional trip and was enjoyed by everyone.

Aadit Deshpande
IX A

Click on photo to enlarge

4.INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY CELEBRATIONS [Top]

The students and teachers at Sanskriti School celebrated the International Yoga Day with a lot of zest and enthusiasm on June 21, 2015.

The programme began at 7am in the morning in the school auditorium with the chanting of the divine “Om” followed by the recitation of shlokas.

The sports teachers took the students and teachers through a series of asanas in standing and sitting postures, ending the session with pranayam. The session culminated with everyone taking a pledge to work towards maintaining peace and harmony in the world. As Yoga Guru, BKS Iyengar once said, “Yoga is a light, which once lit, will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter the flame.”

5.Space Camp at NASA [Top]

Ms. Neha Teredesai Vice-Principal of Sanskriti School, Pune recently attended Space Camp at the U S Space and Rocket Center. NASA’s official Visitor Information Center for Marshall Space Flight Center. The educational programme promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), while training students and adults with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership and decision-making.

She was a part of the Space Academy for Educators Programme, which is designed for teachers who want to advance education in the STEM fields. Ms. Teredesai experienced astronaut simulators and took a virtual tour into space to save the International Space Station. Trainees also followed lesson plans based on NASA content (which is correlated to the National Science Education Standards) and received content and knowledge to pass on to their students in the classroom. Educators earn 45 hours of continuing education credit and can potentially earn graduate credit through the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

6.Sanskriti School organises a TED workshop With Emma Dawson [Top]

The students of Sanskriti witnessed an inspiring TED talk with an interactive presentation given by Ms. Emma Dawson Varughese on July 14, 2015. She enlightened the students of classes IX to XII about her work and gave them a brief glimpse of how to go beyond conformity and about accidental occurrences. Ms. Emma Dawson also organised a thought provoking workshop for classes XI and XII about world linguistic history wherein the students were given extracts from around the world and asked to identify their origins. The next part of the workshop dealt with a story from Uganda which was about child soldiers and the plight of Uganda during war. It also dwelt upon the pain one goes through during war.

The interactive session was very interesting and the students were enriched by the experience.

7.Sanskriti celebrates ‘Indradhanush’- Learning beyond books [Top]

Ideas took flight on July 25, 2015 as Sanskriti School hosted its annual extravaganza Indradhanush – Inter-School Competition. Sanskriti has always encouraged students to participate in various activities extending beyond the rigid realm of the classroom, encompassing art and culture, science and sports. Indradhanush is the brainchild of this thought and belief.

It was a huge and magnificent event where 23 schools from in and around Pune participated with zest and enthusiasm. ‘Indradhanush’ provided the students with myriad opportunities and a platform to demonstrate their talent and showcase their skills in a big way. Spell Bee, Heritage Quiz, Group Dance, English Recitation and Speech, Hasya Kavita, Face Painting, Shloka Recitation, On the spot drawing and colouring, Fancy Dress and many more events provided the contestants with motivation and determination to dig deep, find resources and explore ways to succeed. All the contestants did their best to bring glory to their school by winning a shiny trophy. Many were proud about the fact that they tried their utmost to stand out in every competition.

The highlight of the event was the zealous participation of the students of The Poona School and Home for Blind Girls. They were truly an example of undying spirit, ‘never give up’ attitude, dedication and perseverance. Their grace, rhythm and perfect synchronization bagged them the first position in the Group Dance Competition. They were an inspiration for all the other contestants.

All the winners were given trophies amidst applause and shouts of appreciation. It was indeed a spectacular event.

Hats off to Sanskriti...!!!

8.SANSKRITI CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY [Top]

Sanskriti School celebrated the 69th Independence Day with pomp and gaiety. The programme commenced with the unfurling of the tricolour by the Guest of Honour for the occasion, Ms. Lilu Kumar. This was followed by the singing of the National Anthem and the Pledge.

It was a day to remember our great leaders for their endless resistance against the foreign powers to give us the freedom that we enjoy today. An Inter-House group song Competition was organised where the students sung Hindi patriotic songs to pay homage to all those who had laid down their lives to make the country free from foreign dominance. After the competition the Chief Guest addressed the students and congratulated all the participants for their fabulous performances. In her message she emphasized on the sacrifice of the freedom fighters and reminded the students of their duties and responsibilities in safeguarding their hard earned freedom. The day was truly celebrated with pride and glory.

9.SANSKRITI RECIEVES BRITISH COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AWARD [Top]

Sanskriti School received the prestigious British Council International School Award where the school managed the rare achievement of receiving full marks in all the seven grading criterion used by the British Council.

Ivy Cabral – The Project Manager for the British Council wrote that “It was outstanding work by the school and it was a delight to assess the work done”.

The British Council also stated that the excerpts from the Sanskriti School dossier would be used in their website as a case study of an ideal programme.

The International School Award is given by the British Council based upon a detailed methodology which looks at the holistic educational and extra-curricular systems and processes of the school.

One of the most important criterion for the award is an international outlook of the school as well as a regular and meaningful dialogue between other leading schools in different countries.

Devyani Mungali – Founder of Sanskriti School stated that “A global outlook and readiness to operate in an increasingly integrated global community are an integral part of our pedagogical systems”.

10.AEP Workshop [Top]

Adolescence is a period of active growth and development. Issues of independence, identity, sexuality and relationships define this developmental stage.

As a part of “Adolescence Education Programme” a guest lecture and workshop was organised by Sanskriti School, Pune on August 19, 2015 for students of classes IX, X, XI and XII by Dr. Shalaka Shimpi, a gynaecologist and Dr. Aashish Pardeshi, a uro andrologist. Both the doctors addressed the students and explained the changes that take place during puberty and the ways to cope up with them in a healthy manner. The students asked them wide ranging questions related to biological changes during adolescence period.

The objective of the workshop was to ensure that every child was equipped with accurate information, knowledge and life skills to protect themselves from HIV and manage Adolescent Reproductive Sexual Health (ARSH) issues and concerns.

11.GOC in Chief, Southern Command visits Sanskriti School [Top]

Sanskriti School, Pune had the privilege of having the very distinguished General Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Command, Lt. Gen. Ashok Singh, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC visit its campus and interact with the students and teachers on August 26, 2015. He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Usha Singh.

Lt. Gen. Ashok Singh addressed the students and spoke about his distinguished career and his unique experiences during his service in the army. He talked to the students about armed forces as an attractive career option and stressed on the need and importance of being focussed in life. The students asked him wide ranging questions about the services in general and about his exemplary service tenure. The students were highly amused when the General shared some of his memories as a young school boy and a cadet in the NDA, Khadakwasla. Mr. Usha Singh also answered questions related to the challenges faced by an army officer’s wife. The interaction was informative and interesting.

Mrs. and Lt. Gen. Ashok Singh appreciated the teaching methodology, the ambience, the infrastructure and the discipline of the students at Sanskriti School. He emphasized that such educational experiences lay the foundation for disciplined and productive citizens of India.

12.Sanskriti School organizes a workshop for the helping staff [Top]

Sanskriti School recently organised the third workshop of Dr. Vaishali Deshmukh for the drivers and lady attendants of the school buses.

The objective of the workshop was to guide the drivers and the lady attendants to understand the code of conduct and their responsibilities while transporting students.

The paediatrician Dr. Vaishali Deshmukh runs a clinic ‘Nine to Nineteen’ to the students in this age group. In the session she showed them some clippings about the behaviour of students all over the world. Through this she passed a strong message that one will always come across some students who will be difficult to handle so it is important to enhance our capability to keep them under our control without hurting their feelings.

The participants were asked to present their problems through role plays and through guided group discussions they arrived at the solutions to the problems.

As it was the third session with Dr. Deshmukh, our tais and kakas could interact more freely with her. They felt that reinforcement has helped them a lot.

13.Eco Ganesha Project at Sanskriti School [Top]

On September 3, 2015 Eco Ganesha Project was carried out by Rotary Club of Gandhi Bhavan for the students of Class V at Sanskriti School, Pune. The students enjoyed the activity and different forms of Ganesha using natural clay (shadu mati) which dissolves easily in the water unlike plaster of paris. The students participated with lot of zeal and enthusiasm

The volunteers sensitized the students how plaster of paris causes water pollution thereby harming the aquatic life.

We are happy that as a school, we have been able to take a small step towards curbing water pollution.

14.Sanskrit Week celebration in Sanskriti School [Top]

“Sanskrit is the unsurpassed Zenith in the whole development of languages yet known to us.” Wilhelm von Humboldt.

As a part of the celebration of ‘Sanskrit Week’, Sanskriti School had organized a ‘Poem Recitation Competition’ for Class X. The students composed the poems themselves and presented them beautifully. Class IX students also conducted a ‘Sanskrit Shloka Antakshari’, where the students were divided into two groups and each group participated with full enthusiasm.

The event was organized by Sanskrit Department of the School and the efforts of the students were appreciated by all.

15.Sanskriti School hindi diwas [Top]

Sanskriti School, Pune, celebrated Hindi Diwas with a lot of enthusiasm on Monday, 14th September’2015. Students from classes IX to XII presented poems that ranged from the Devotional age to the Modern age. The programme began with a puja to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge and learning. This was followed by a small presentation by the students, where they expressed their feelings towards the Hindi language innovatively using idioms and proverbs. The students of class X highlighted the significant role played by the Hindi Language in the world of entertainment. The programme ended with the teachers of the Hindi Department presenting a melodious song. The Principal of Sanskriti School, Mrs. Devyani Mungali and the Vice Principal, Mrs. Neha Teredesai attended the function. Mrs. Mungali addressed the students and quoting the example of the Late Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan, who was an English Professor in the Allahabad University as well as a noted Hindi poet and writer, she highlighted the importance of knowing both languages equally well.

The Hindi department will be organising different competitions and programmes in Hindi for different classes over the next two weeks to celebrate this occasion.

16. LITTLE EFFORTS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE… [Top]

The students of class 9 and 10 of Sanskriti School, Pune organized a cleanliness-awareness drive on 3rd December 2015 in the nearby villages of Sutarwadi and Kasar- Amboli. This campaign was specifically organized to emphasize on the need to keep our surroundings clean and conserve water in view of the current water scarcity.

The students started off the drive by cleaning in and around the local temple in Sutarwadi, followed by a visit to the Zila Parishad School. There, the students of class 9 presented an informative street play on environmental issues which was enjoyed by the village school students. The principal of the school appreciated the endeavor of the Sanskriti students, and praised their efforts to sensitize the villagers.

Then the students continued their drive at Kasar- Amboli, in a local residential area, where they gathered the residents and performed the street play once again.

Thus assured that they had spread enough awareness on the issue and satisfied that they had made a difference, the students returned to their school and talked to the children of classes 6 to 12, spreading awareness through posters made by the class 10th students. It was a successful and effective cleanliness drive.

17. VISIT TO YMCA, NILSHI. An Adventurous Experience [Top]

On the December 21, 2015 the students of Class XI and XII of Sanskriti School, Pune went for an overnight camp to the YMCA Camp site in Nilshi, on the outskirts of Pune. The bus ride, just like the destination was enchanting, but the camp itself awaited with a great deal of adventure and thrill.

The picturesque location of the camp impressed the students, but the best part came after, when they proceeded for the adventure activities. Tasks like swing-walking and rock climbing that seemed arduous at first, were done with zest and enthusiasm as the instructors pumped them with confidence and determination. A few group activities followed, and when they surrounded the welcome warmth of the bonfire, a few laughs were shared as they danced to the music being played in the chilled winter night. Kayaking was the activity that the students enjoyed the most. The lake lay invitingly in front of them and the kayaks were pushed into the water accompanied by shouts of joy and excitement. It was unanimously decided that this was the ultimate adventure they’d ever had, almost like an escapade away from the city into the arms of Nature!

18. Sanskriti School organises its Bi-Annual Educational Exhibition – ‘Kaleidoscope’ [Top]

“Colour is a human need like water and fire. It is a raw material indispensible to life”. We find colour everywhere as an integral part of the world – it makes life more exciting, more amazing and lively to behold. And this is certainly what Sanskriti School, Pune had in mind when it hosted its Bi-Annual Educational Exhibition – ‘Kaleidoscope’ on December 19, 2015. It was a day when all the students right from Pre-Primary to Class XII, showcased months of hard work to the eager parents and guests who flocked to the school. The exhibition was inaugurated by Air Vice Marshal S P Wagle, VM. He was highly impressed by the impeccable presentation by the students. In his own words “The visit of this wonderful school has impressed me especially the colourful displays and creativity of the school children”.

Different classes presented their unique exhibits but ‘colours’ was the thread that binded all these beads into one beautiful and sparkling necklace. Whether it was colours in fairy tales, songs, flags, cartoons, crafts, literature, architecture, food, light and much more, the students did a stellar job.

One of the major attractions was a street play performed by students of Class VIII which portrayed various issues related to women exploitation and the need for women empowerment. All this was beautifully depicted with the use of rich colours.

The ‘Kaleidoscope’ was certainly a bonanza of colours and it left all the parents and visitors spellbound.

Sanskriti School, Pune has done a fantastic job and the efforts of the students and the teachers- who put their heart and soul into it – along with heaps of colours, gave us a dazzling, vivid and yet another successful event. It was truly a ‘feast for the eyes’.

Year: 2014-15

1. BIRD WATCHING AT PASHAN LAKE
2.PROMOTING SALADS-THE ORIGINAL FAST FOOD
3. TO GREATER HEIGHTS
4. UP CLOSE WITH KIMBERLEY MCARTHUR AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL
5. INDRADHANUSH – A glowing rainbow of talents
6. Celebrating the Joy of Freedom
7. Dr. Jayant Vishnu Naralikar visits Sanskriti School, Pune
8. Sanskriti School Celebrates Sanskrit Week
9. HINDI BHASHA KA UJJWAL BHAVISHYA
10. REINFORCING SAFETY
11. ‘SWACHH BHARAT, SWACHH VIDYALAYA CAMPAIGN’ AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL, PUNE
12. NURSERY KIDS AT SANSKRITI, CELEBRATE "WORLD ANIMAL DAY"
13. FACE TO FACE with Liv Arnesen
14. Students Day Out on Children’s Day
15. IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CAMARADERIE AND SPORTSMANSHIP
16. JETSUNMA TENZIN PALMO VISITS SANSKRITI SCHOOL, PUNE
17. TIMES NIE FUN FEST AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL, WAGHOLI
18. PALETTES OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
19. AROUND THE WORLD IN 180 MINUTES AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL,PUNE !
20. IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM
21. Great Backyard Bird Count At Sanskriti

1.BIRD WATCHING AT PASHAN LAKE [Top]

It is often said that life largely depends on Mother Nature and the environment, her acts and creations, her pleasant or diabolical ways… World Environment Day, June 5th, is an annual event through which awareness about the environment and its enhancement is stimulated. While many organizations celebrate this day with activities including street rallies and parades, concerts, tree planting, and clean-up campaigns, our school decided to take classes nine, ten and eleven on a ‘bird-watching’ excursion to the Pashan lake, a breathtakingly beautiful wetland which is home to many water birds.
We reached our destination, equipped with cameras and binoculars to spot the birds and try to capture them in pictures. Cameras clicked away as the birds flapped their wings in water, swam in pairs and amazed us with their magnificence. Everything looked picture perfect with the trees swaying and the water rippling in the light of the setting sun.. As we walked along the wetland, we were given tips and information about birds and their habits by two experts in the field- Mr. Makrand and Mr. Shouri.
We particularly enjoyed identifying birds by their nests as now-a-days we hardly get to see their dwellings where they are supposed to be--on trees…! We were then briefed about how our careless and selfish actions have harmed the wildlife of our country, especially the birds that find shelter only in a few odd places today. It is said that, “Human beings are great in their own eyes, but are not much in the eyes of Nature.” We cannot afford to ignore this truth. If humans continue their harsh actions on Nature and its components, bird watching is sure to become a rare activity in the coming years…
However, this World Environment Day was very joyful as their bright colours and showy displays added enjoyment to our lives, and I find myself lucky to have been able to witness that!

2.PROMOTING SALADS-THE ORIGINAL FAST FOOD [Top]

Sanskriti School celebrated “Eat your vegetables” Day on July 17, 2014 by oraganising a Salad making and decoration competition for the students of classes VI to IX. A similar activity was held for the primary section too. The students participated with a lot of enthusiasm and vigour. They were eager to showcase their culinary skills and one must say that it was a successful attempt! The students came up with innovative and creative ideas to present their salads keeping in mind the taste and the nutritional value. It was a delight to the eyes and to the palate. We surely do have excellent chefs in the making!

3.TO GREATER HEIGHTS [Top]

Grit, determination, hardwork and a ‘never say die spirit’ – Sanskriti had the opportunity to witness all of these at one go on June 27, 2014 when the daring young mountaineer Krushnaa Patil visited the school.
J\Krushnaa started mountaineering in the year 2007 in the Nehru Institute of mountaineering and did her advance course in 2008. Mt. Satopanth in Garhwal Himalayas, one of the toughest mountains was climbed by her at the age of 18 and she became the youngest person to do so. She is the youngest Indian girl to climb the Mount Everest and one short of climbing the ‘seven summits’.
She was welcomed whole heartedly with flowers and beaming smiles. She shared her experiences of her climb and showed a presentation with pictures of the summits she had climbed and highlighted the difficulties encountered. This was followed by a question and answers session.
Life is a challenge – a challenge to be faced with open arms, and Krushnaa has proved this. In the real sense, she follows a motto which is well expressed by a quote:
“Ask yourself the easy questions and you’ll have a hard life,
Ask yourself the hard questions and you’ll have an easier life!”

4.UP CLOSE WITH KIMBERLEY MCARTHUR AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL [Top]

The children of classes 1, 2 and 3 of Sanskriti School were in for a treat when they came to school on the 10th of July, for they got to meet Ms.Kimberley McArthur, a writer par excellence of the ‘Me and We Series’- stories for children that weave life tips into lively ,everyday adventures. Her story -telling activity, with interesting actions and voice modulation, kept children entertained and involved throughout the session, It was a pleasure seeing them engrossed in the stories and also learning about various life-skills, morals and the right attitudes.
‘Kimmy aunty’ as she is fondly called in her books, also took a creative-writing workshop for the students of class 7and 8. As she had written her first novel at the age of 13, she felt that the best stories can be tapped at this age. She explained about the four essentials of story-writing, namely, Plot, Setting, Theme and Character and got the students to work out their ‘one-minute stories’ right there. Students learnt to experiment and create different possibilities for storylines and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. By the end of it all, many felt that they had the potential to give wings to their imaginations and create a magical world of stories.

5.INDRADHANUSH – A glowing rainbow of talents [Top]

Sanskriti School, Pune organised their Annual extravaganza ‘Indradhanush’-an Inter School Competition on July 26, 2014. Around 26 schools from across Pune and the neighbouring districts participated in the vent. The enthusiastic participation of The Poona School and Home for Blind Girls is worth mentioning here.

The programme commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the Principal, Mrs. Devyani Mungali and all the judges.

‘Indradhanush’ stands for the various colours in our life, the varied talents and cultures of people around us. It celebrates creativity, talent and above all the true spirit of competition. Likewise the event provided the students a bouquet of competitions like English Recitation, Shloka Recitation, Hindi Prepared Speeches, Slogan Writing, On the Spot Drawing, Collage Making, Salad Decoration, Solo Singing and a few indoor sports like Chess and Table Tennis, as a platform to showcase their strengths and talents.

All the students participated with great zeal. The judges were thoroughly impressed with the level of preparation of the participants. The major attraction of the day was the Math and Science Quiz for Classes 9 and 10. Around twelve schools participated in the preliminary round; out of which 4 teams were selected for the finals. The final round was conducted by the NIE Quiz Master Mr. Nico Francis. Mr. Nico Francis has been with the Times of India and NIE for the past 22 years. He is a well known compere and anchor, and hosts corporate and commercial events all around the country. His involvement in the quiz made it come alive. The quiz had some very innovative rounds like the live experiment round and the tangram round.

The day ended with the much awaited Prize Distribution Ceremony.

Through the events planned under Indradhanush, the students were given a chance to excel to give wings to their creativity and to bring out the best in them. It was a roaring success!

6.Celebrating the Joy of Freedom [Top]

On 15th of August 2014, Sanskriti School celebrated India’s 68th Independence Day with ‘josh’, passion, pride and glory. It was a day to rejoice in happiness and indulge in celebration saluting the ones who made it possible for us to be living in free India and to pledge to take care of it in every possible way.

The day commenced with the Flag Hoisting by the Chief Guest for the occasion, Mrs. Pradnya Ambre. It was followed by the Pledge and the National Anthem. The main attraction of the day was the Inter-House Dance Competition, where the students danced to a medley of patriotic numbers igniting the passion of patriotism in the heart of each and everyone present on the occasion.

The students also paid homage to the martyrs of the Kargil War with a skit and a dance, leaving the audience filled with a sense of pride and patriotic fervour.

The day was a befitting salute to our martyrs.

7.Dr. Jayant Vishnu Naralikar visits Sanskriti School, Pune [Top]

Sanskriti School was blessed by the visit of renowned scientist Padmabhushan Dr. Jayant Vishnu Naralikar on 14 August 2014. His wife Dr. Mangala Naralikar accompanied him.

Dr. J. V. Naralikar invested more than an hour of his interaction with students of Secondary and Higher Secondary. He started his address with the story of Newton and how he had persevered when solving the problem given to him by Bernoulli. He emphasized the importance of perseverance and hard work in life.

He narrated few episodes and anecdotes, each with a simple yet powerful message for the students. One such episode was about a table tennis match that he had played with Stephen Hawking, renowned scientist and author of ‘A Brief History of Time’, in Cambridge University.

Dr. Mangala Naralikar holds a Doctorate Degree in Mathematics, stimulated students interest by posing the problem of ‘Seven bridges of Koningsberg’ in the form of a puzzle. She also explained how Euler made the mathematical model and solved it, and thus invented ‘Graph Theory’. She dispelled the myth that ‘Mathematics means calculations’. Through the explanation of the seven bridge puzzle it was obvious that ‘Mathematics is an Art and not merely calculations’.

8.Sanskriti School Celebrates Sanskrit Week [Top]

// Bhashasu Mukhya Madhura Ramya Geervanabharati//

The above verse perfectly describes Sanskrit- the mother of all languages. Sanskrit is the oldest, the finest and the most perfect language, still popular all over the world. We find the most ancient literature and philosophical thoughts that have enchanted the whole world, in Sanskrit literature.

Sanskriti School, a perfect combination of ancient and modern thoughts and culture, gives immense importance to this ancient language. Therefore, the school celebrated ‘Sanskrit Week’ in the month of August. During this week, various competitions were organised in the school. Students from classes III to V participated in a recitation competition. A Quiz and Antyaxari competition were held for classes VI to X. Students from classes VI to X showcased their creativity in the form of charts on various topics such as Rutusamhara, Meghdhootam, Co- relation of Sanskrit and other languages etc.

The Sanskrit Week was celebrated with full enthusiasm to give the language its due respect and place in the curriculum.

9.HINDI BHASHA KA UJJWAL BHAVISHYA [Top]

In the modern world, while it is important to move with the times, it is equally important to remember our roots. On the occasion of Hindi Diwas, Sanskriti School organised different literary programmes from 10th to 16th September celebrating it as the Hindi Week.

It was organized as an effort to give the language its due respect and inculcate in the students a sense of belonging towards this language.

The students also presented a colourful cultural programme on 10Th September 2014. The programme commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the Chief Guest for the occasion, Mrs Lilu Kumar, The Chairperson of Sanskriti Trust. The ambience had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the amazing world of Hindi language through various songs, dances, street play and poetry recitation.

Some students spoke about the characteristics of Hindi language whereas some asked interesting and fun riddles to the audience. There was a lot of excitement in the air and the students thoroughly enjoyed the programme.

The Chief Guest and the Principal applauded the Department of Hindi for their dedicated efforts in making the day a success.

10.REINFORCING SAFETY [Top]

For Sanskriti School, the first and foremost priority is the safety and security of its students and staff. The school is committed to providing a safe environment for them. It uses a variety of practices and procedures intended to promote the safety of its students. Keeping this in mind, the Sanskriti School buses have been equipped with GPS and CCTV cameras. These security devices will enable the school authorities to be continually vigilant and monitor the activities and behaviour of the students while travelling in the bus, and also get ‘real time’ information about the movement of the bus. The school has taken this pioneering step of implementing this novel initiative towards ensuring the safety and security of its students. In addition to this, speed governors have been installed in the buses to prevent over-speeding. Each bus is also equipped with a fire extinguisher in case of an emergency. From the inception of the school special care has been taken to ensure that there are female attendants to accompany the children in the buses. The school building is also designed to make it immune to accidents as far as possible. For this lightning conductors are placed in the building. Extra care is taken for safe drinking water supply to the students. Water is first filtered and then again passed through the RO system before the children consume it.

Sanskriti strives to be proactive rather than reactive where safety is concerned.

11.‘SWACHH BHARAT, SWACHH VIDYALAYA CAMPAIGN’ AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL, PUNE [Top]

The students of Sanskriti School initiated the Swachh Bharat Campaign in its school campus on 2nd October 2014. The cleanliness drive was organised to create awareness amongst the students about the importance of living in clean and hygienic environment and surroundings. It was a mission keeping in mind the ideals of Gandhiji and to pay homage to one of his favourite tenets – ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’. All the students and the staff actively participated in the drive. Special assemblies were conducted by the primary children to spread the message of cleanliness through proverbs, songs and slogans on cleanliness. The students of classes VI to XI creatively presented their views on cleanliness through essays, poems, songs, posters, one act play and a ‘nukkad natak’ on saving the environment. The students also took upon themselves the task of cleaning the classrooms, laboratories, library, drinking water areas, playground, school garden and ‘kitchen patch’ and also the school buses with the assistance of the helping staff. The enthusiastic and dedicated participation of the students to spread the message of cleanliness made it a successful campaign.

12.NURSERY KIDS AT SANSKRITI, CELEBRATE ‘’WORLD ANIMAL DAY’’ [Top]

The ‘World Animal Day’ was celebrated by the Nursery kids of Sanskriti School on 11th October, 2014. This day was celebrated as a mission to appreciate animal life in all its forms and to acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives and the humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom.

For the occasion, the children were dressed up in cute and colourful animal costumes and they swayed to the tunes of songs like “We’re going to the zoo’’ and “Animal Boogie’’. Inspite of being their first time on stage, the kids stole the hearts of the audience with their smiles and dance movements. The parents and the grandparents encouraged them with a huge applause. The reason the teachers at Sanskriti thought of Nursery children to perform on ‘World Animal Day’ is their sheer innocence and love towards animals. Just like our four legged friends, our tiny tots too have complete faith in this beautiful planet.

13.FACE TO FACE with Liv Arnesen [Top]

Sanskriti School had the privilege of the visit of Ms Liv Arnesen- the world renowned cross country skier and an adventure enthusiast and guide- on 8th November 2014. Among her many achievements she has been internationally recognized for being the first woman in the world to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole- a 50 day expedition covering 1200 kms- in 1994. She was accompanied with the famous young mountaineer Krushna Patil.

There was an air of complete excitement and thrill in the school the moment the students learnt about the visit. The esteemed visitors were welcomed traditionally with the chanting of the Sanskrit Shlokas and escorted to the School Auditorium where the students had gathered and were eagerly waiting to meet them.

Ms Arnesen addressed the children and showed a breathtaking presentation of the expeditions she had undertaken. She motivated the students towards adventure sport and activities encouraging them to ‘dare to dream’ and nurture that dream and sincerely work towards fulfilling it. The students put up their queries and questions to her which she answered very patiently satisfying their curiosity.

After interacting with the students Ms Arnesen took a round of the school and was thoroughly impressed by the beautiful and classy ambience, cleanliness maintained and the latest facilities provided to the students.

It was an enriching experience for the students and truly a visit to cherish for a long time.

14.Students Day Out on Children’s Day [Top]

Children’s Day is not just a day to let the future generation have its say but it’s time to celebrate the happy, innocent, carefree and notorious childhood!

Fun and enjoyment marked the Children’s Day celebration at Sanskriti School on 14 November, 2014. This day was made special by organizing a fun filled picnic amidst nature- at the Girivan Resort.

The Children were buzzing with excitement and joy as the school buses took them to the resort. The action packed day stated with a warm welcome and a sumptuous breakfast. The picturesque backdrop of the beautiful valley made their eyes twinkle and their smiles reach their ears. There was no stopping them after that! The students were free to explore the lovely grounds of the resort, run, play and have fun. The teachers joined them keeping a watchful eye. Later the students of classes V to XI were taken for adventure sport activities organised by the resort. They were shown a demo of the ‘Flying Fox’ and the experts answered their queries satisfying their curiosity. They experienced a mixed feeling of fear and fun while crossing the thrilling ‘Burma Bridge’.

The Students were also taken to see the vermicomposting done in the Resort grounds.

All this built up a ravenous appetite and the children enjoyed their lunch and had their fill.

Post lunch the younger children enjoyed a Magic Show and a Puppet Show organised for them. And then it was time to simply let their hair down- dancing. They danced and danced till they dropped.

They say that all good things come to an end and so the fun filled day also came to an end. Holding on to their evening snacks the children dragged their feet to their buses to go home.

Their eyes still twinkled, the joy in their heart intact, hoping that the year files past quickly and they have another memorable Children’s Day soon.

15.IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CAMARADERIE AND SPORTSMANSHIP [Top]

Sanskriti School conducted their Annual Sports Meet on December 20, 2014. It was a day for students to showcase their skills and display their competitive spirit on the tracks. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Dr. G S Mungali.

The event formally commenced with the ‘Torch Run’, where the sports torch was carried by the ‘sports stars’ of Sanskriti and the sports captain, symbolising ‘harmony and goodwill’ which represents the ideals of any sports event. This was followed by the Oath Taking Ceremony. The oath was taken by the Sports Captain. The students solemnly pledged to uphold the spirit of true sportsmanship. The Chief Guest then officially declared the sports meet open by hoisting the school flag. Next was the March Past by all the four houses – Bhabha, Bose, Kalam and Raman. Watching the students march in perfect synchronisation was a treat to the eye.

The events for the day included the track events, relay race and yoga display. The main attraction for the day was the daring bicycle display which drew a hearty applause from the crowd. All the events exhibited discipline, sportsmanship and hardcore practice of the students.

The Sports Day culminated with the award ceremony where the winners were awarded certificates and medals by the Chief Guest. The day came to an end with the singing of the ‘Vande Mataram’.

16.JETSUNMA TENZIN PALMO VISITS SANSKRITI SCHOOL, PUNE [Top]

Sanskriti School had the privilege of the visit of Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo – the renowned Buddhist nun.

She is an author, teacher and founder of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh.

There was an air of complete excitement and thrill in the school the moment the students learnt about the visit. It was perhaps the first time in the lives of most of the students to come face to face with the Buddhist nun and listen to her talk. The esteemed visitor was welcomed traditionally with the chanting of the Sanskrit shlokas and escorted to the school auditorium where the students had gathered and were eagerly waiting to meet her.

She spoke to the children about different aspects of life and on how to achieve happiness and contentment. The students put up their queries and questions to her which she answered patiently. The children were highly motivated by her thought provoking and inspirational words.

It was an enriching experience for the students and truly a visit to reflect upon for a long time.

17.TIMES NIE FUN FEST AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL, WAGHOLI [Top]

Times NIE in association with Sanskriti School, Pune hosted a Fun Fest on January 10, 2015 at Sanskriti School, Wagholi Campus. It was Pune’s first ever educational and sports fest. It was a unique event with an equal emphasis on fun and education as Sanskriti School has always believed in imparting holistic education to its students where academics and sports go hand in hand. The fair was complimentary for Times NIE member schools.

It was a day full of fun and excitement. The school campus turned into a fair ground with large number of activities being conducted all around. The game stalls, tattoo and face painting corners, Helen ‘O’ Grady’s fun with theatre, the lip smacking food stalls drew large crowds. The children happily flaunted their tattoos and the ‘different strokes’ of colours painted on their faces. The family treasure hunt was another major attraction of the day where the families participated with full josh and enthusiasm racking their brains to crack the clues and puzzles to reach the treasure. Attractive hampers were given to the winners.

There was an exclusive stall put up by Enlit – a chain of unique bookstore in Pune with developmental products for children upto 16.

Horse riding, Football, Cricket, Golf and the Athletics Arena saw a huge number of children queued up waiting for their turn. Students qualifying in four or more athletics events were the proud recipients of certificates of excellence. The Aeromodelling stall displayed models of gliders and kite type aeroplanes with live demonstration of how to fly them. The students of PES Modern College of Engineering Pune displayed different types of blue tooth and remote controlled models made by them in their Robotic stall. Both the stalls were a huge success and would be an integral part of the curriculum at the Wagholi Campus. The grand finale of the fest was the musical evening with live music performance of western and Indian music organised by the students of Class IX of Sanskriti School, Lavale Campus. The musical prowess of the students had the crowd up on their feet cheering for them.

The day came to an end with the setting of the sun and people leaving with hopes in their heart that such fun filled events would be more regularly organised for the people of Pune.

18.PALETTES OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES [Top]

As part of Sanskriti School’s endeavour to regularly incorporate the cultures of the world in the school curriculum, it has taken up various projects with an international theme as a part of the ISA process.

In this regard, an art exhibition was held which showcased art work from different countries done by students of the countries done by student of the school. Different art styles of countries were beautifully highlighted like Balinese art, native art of the Tivi Islands, Japanese lanterns, Warli art, Gond and Madhubani art, as well as 3D figures and clay models made by students.

19.AROUND THE WORLD IN 180 MINUTES AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL,PUNE ! [Top]

“VASUDHEV KUTUMBHKAM “ - which means the whole world is one big family, was the theme which was aesthetically portrayed by the primary students of Sanskriti School during their Annual Function on 23rd January, 2015. The noted TV film maker and writer Dr. Manjari Prabhu graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The comperes for the show were the children dressed up as the popular fairy tale characters – Alladin and Jasmine with the all time favourite Genie, who took the audience on a mesmerizing tour around the world.

The welcome dance, which was an exotic blend of Kathak, Bharatnatyam and the different folk dances of India, set the mood for the evening.

Thereafter the students of class I presented dances from Nepal, Thailand, China, Spain and the Hawain Islands. All the dances were executed flawlessly and brought out the true glorious culture of that country. The traditional attires and the props enthralled the audience. It was truly a majestic display of colours. Class II students left the spectators spell bound with their dance drama ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin’ The story was presented with a twist and the audience had the rare opportunity of a rendezvous with all the popular fairytale characters.

The major attraction of the day was the spectacular portrayal of the ‘Lion King’ by the students of classes III, IV, and V. The dialogues, music and the extravagant costumes made the ‘Jungles of Africa’ come alive on stage.

The programme concluded with the exuberant grand finale performance on the song ‘Jai Ho’ had the crowd cheering and applauding, followed by the instrumental recital of the National Anthem. The entire programme was a true display of sheer talent and hard work of the ‘little ones’.

20.IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM [Top]

Sanskriti School celebrated the 66th Republic Day on 26 January, 2015 with a lot of vigour and enthusiasm. The day formally commenced with the chief guest, Col Mungali, hoisting the Tricolour followed by the singing of the National Anthem. The students solemnly pledged to uphold the spirit of patriotism and brotherhood. The students performed Suryanamaskar - a combination of 12 different yogasanas showcasing their flexibility and balance.

It was an eventful day for the helping staff wherein exciting events were planned for them. The ‘Tais’ had a ‘fun time’ wracking their brains to unsolve a puzzle of jumbled words to make famous Marathi proverbs. They also got an opportunity to showcase their ‘balancing skills’ trying to balance a book on their head and race 100 metres. The ‘Kakas’ geared up to sprint 100 metres and each one pulled up their socks and ran to make a place for themselves on the victory stand. The day concluded with the rendition of the Vande Mataram by the studentsS and the distribution of sweets.

21.Great Backyard Bird Count At Sanskriti [Top]

Sanskriti School, Lavale, supported the annual global initiative titled 'Great Backyard Bird Count' to introduce the students to the documentation process. Bird Count India, a consortium studying bird distribution, is undertaken every year between February 13 and 16. Active involvement in conservation activities helps to re-establish the connection with nature, which is fast getting eroded with changing lifestyles and priorities. In the four-day event, which is open to everyone, hundreds of birdwatchers from all over the country observe birds and document the information online.

"The Great Backyard Bird Count is an exciting opportunity for all nature enthusiasts in the country to help document India's birds. Proper documentation is important for long-term conservation planning for birds. Large number of campuses across the country sign up for campus bird count in an effort to document the birds seen in educational campuses. The students of classes 7 and 8 of Sanskriti School were taken in and around the beautiful school campus for the bird count on February 13,2015, and they were lucky to witness 14 different species of birds.

It was a wonderful opportunity for them to understand the distribution and population of birds in their school vicinity.

Year: 2013-14

1. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE ‘DOOSRA’ KIND
2.‘MISSION KISHORE UDAY’ FLAGGED OFF AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL
3.FACE TO FACE with Deepak Dalal
4.RENEWING OUR FAITH IN HINDI-CELEBRATING HINDI DIWAS
5.Celebration of Gandhi Jayanti at Sanskriti School
6.Celebrating the Victory of Good over Evil
7.SAY CHEESE All the Way
8.'ASTRO NIGHT’ AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL, PUNE
9.KALEIDOSCOPE 2013
10.SAVING THE ‘SPOTS’ FOR TOMORROW -SANSKRITI SCHOOL ADOPTS A LEOPARD ‘KIRTI’

1.CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE ‘DOOSRA’ KIND [Top]

Sanskriti School students were lucky to get a chance to meet the man behind the ‘doosra’ of cricket – Mr. Muttiah Muralitharan, the famous Sri Lankan off-Spinner, on Saturday June 8, 2013. The event, which was organised by Mont Vert, to launch their new project, provided a wonderful opportunity for the students of Class V to X, to interact with Muralitharan and get a live demonstration of his famous off-spin. He fielded the questions posed by the students with equal alacrity, reiterating that the game of cricket must not be sullied by a few rotten apples and it should remain ‘a gentleman’s game’. Some of the children from the school got a chance to bowl in front of him and he applauded their efforts wholeheartedly.
It was truly a wonderful experience for the students to get us close and personal with a star of cricket and a true gentleman.

2. ‘MISSION KISHORE UDAY’ FLAGGED OFF AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL [Top]

Just on the very day that the sun decided to peep out from behind the dark clouds that have kept the city of Pune under its wet spell, Sanskriti School was the venue for the inauguration of the ‘Mission Kishore Uday’ programme. Launched by the doctors of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Pune Chapter, it is a countrywide programme that seeks to address the issues of adolescent health, immunization and general welfare.
On 3rd August, a team of several doctors from the IAP, Pune led by Dr.J.S.Tuteja, President of the Adolescent Health Academy, were given a warm and traditional welcome to the school with a tikka and chanting of shlokas. The programme was officially inaugurated by the lighting of the lamp by Dr.Tuteja and the Principal, Devyani Mungali, in the hope that just as the motto of the school states-‘sa vidya ya vimuktaye’ or knowledge is that which liberates us from ignorance , prejudices, fears and narrow-mindedness, this multipronged approach to dealing with adolescent education will improve the fabric of society as a whole and equip our adolescents with the right mindsets and skill sets to deal with conflicts and failures as well as success.
In this regard, a workshop was conducted by Dr. Jog, Dr. Vaishal Deshmukh and the team of doctors for students of classes VIII, IX and X and the parents and teachers of the school to sensitize them about key issues relevant to the adolescents. With this initiative in place, the school aims to support this programme wholeheartedly.

3. FACE TO FACE with Deepak Dalal [Top]

On 4 September 2013, the renowned author, Mr. Deepak Dalal paid a visit to Sanskriti School, Pune. A home of excitement and happiness spread across the students on his arrival. It was a golden opportunity for them to come face to face with one of their favourite author. Mr. Dalal was welcomed whole heartedly with flowers and beaming smiles.
Mr. Dalal, chemical engineer by profession gave up his career as one to pursue his passion for writing adventure books for children. He, very much like his character is an avid nature and wildlife lover. He displayed to the students the pictures taken by him of his trails through the adventures. Most of the students were familiar with his work and hence were enthusiastic about having an interactive session with him where he would answer their queries about his books. He answered the students’ questions which enlightened them on his journey to become such a reputed and well loved author. It was a great experience for the students who learnt what had inspired him to take up writing books. The visit concluded with Mr.Dalal showing the students a self shot video of his tracking the Snow Leopard. It was an amazing experience for all of the budding writers in the school, and a cherishable memory for the rest.

4. RENEWING OUR FAITH IN HINDI-CELEBRATING HINDI DIWAS [Top]

Inspite of being the language of national importance, it is unfortunate that in the present scenario Hindi Language is given a step-sisterly treatment and not given its due as compared to English and regional languages. It is high time that our students realise and give Hindi the importance and respect it rightly deserves.
Keeping this in mind ‘Hindi Diwas’ was celebrated at Sanskriti School on 13th September, 2013. The programme commenced with the lighting of the lamp by the Chief Guest for the occasion, Mrs. Lilu Kumar, and the School Principal, Mrs. Devyani Mungali. The students presented a variety of entertaining programmes highlighting the theme ‘The History of Hindi Literature and The Importance of Hindi Language’. The performances included songs, dances, plays and recitation of poems. The event was a suitable platform for the students to showcase their immense talent. The programme concluded with the Chief Guest applauding and congratulating the students and the teachers for their efforts in putting up a flawless show and doing their bit in promoting Hindi.

5. Celebration of Gandhi Jayanti at Sanskriti School [Top]

On October 1, 2013, Sanskriti School celebrated Gandhi Jayanti and made it memorable for all.
The journey of ‘Bapu’ from Mohandas to Mahatma was full of struggle. He undertook many movements; one of them was the ‘Salt Satyagraha’. Using the picturesque location of the school as the backdrop, students of class IV recreated the episode of the ‘Dandi March’ and took us back to the chapter of Struggle of Indian Independence.
The skit began with the speech given by Gandhiji at Sabarmati Ashram. The abridged version of important events in each city was presented one after the other. Children also sang some bhajans of Gandhiji.
Children were impressed with the philosophy of Ahimsa.
The programme ended with the presentation of the song Dedi Hamain Azadi.

6. Celebrating the Victory of Good over Evil [Top]

Durga Puja is the biggest festival in Bengal. This autumnal festival popularly known as Sharodotsav, recalls the power of female Shakti symbolized by the Goddess Durga who slays Asura to reestablish peace and sanctity on earth again. It refers to all the ten days observed as Mahalaya, prothoma, dwitiya, tritiya, chaturthi, panchami, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. Saptami is the seventh day of Navratras and technically is the first day when the Durga Puja rituals start with full gusto. The day begins with a ritual called Kola Bou or Nabapatrika, which is an ancient ritual of worshiping nine types of plants. They are together worshiped as a symbol of the goddess. The nine plants comprising Nabapatrika are: the Banana plant, the Colacassia plant, the Turmeric plant, the Jayanti tree, the Wood apple tree, the Pomegranate tree, the Arum plant, the Rice plant and the Ashoka tree. Kolabou is popularly known as Lord Ganesh's wife.
The students and teachers of Sanskriti School created a display of the Durga idol along with all the accompanying Gods: Ganesha, Kartika, Laskhmi, Saraswati and Kolabou. The students put up a dance on the song “Jago Durga”, which is a part of the Mahalaya recital. They also put up a small skit on Ram Leela focusing on how the festival of Dussehra is celebrated in North India.
The pre- primary children also visited a Golu display to know how the festival is celebrated in South India, consisting of dolls depicting the different mythological themes as well as scenes from their daily life. Thus students were given a cross cultural perspective of Indian festivals.

7. SAY CHEESE All the Way [Top]

It was an eventful day for the students of classes 5 to 8 of Sanskriti School wherein the school organized an educational trip to “Govardhan Cheese Factory” and ‘Pride of Cows’ Bottling and Milking Unit near Manchar, on 11 October 2013. The excitement in the air was almost tangible as the children boarded the buses which would take them to the Govardhan Cheese Factory-the largest cheese plant in Asia.
After two hours of fun-food and frolic in the bus, the students reached the site. The factory was very impressive indeed! The students were shown a short presentation on the production of cheese and the milking of cows. They were then taken on an inside tour of the factory where the students ‘processed’ every word uttered by the guide. Once the amazing tour was over, they were all treated to a scrumptious lunch at a restaurant near the factory.
It was then time to pay a visit to the ‘Pride of Cows’ Bottling and Milking plant, which was an incredible experience. And then, snack time! The students were taken back to the factory and greeted with an array of pizzas, nachos, sandwiches and a selection of various cheeses. After munching away to their hearts content and delighted over their gift hampers, it was time to head back to Pune. It was truly a field trip to remember!

8. 'ASTRO NIGHT’ AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL, PUNE [Top]

I’ll show you the stars and teach you how to reach them. The stars millions of them twinkling up in the night sky.
It was an “OUT OF THE WORLD” experience for Sanskriti School children, as ‘ASTRO NIGHT’, a star-gazing programme, was organised in the school premises on the night of December 13, 2013. The middle and senior school children got an opportunity to gaze at the stars through two powerful telescopes. Our school, being situated on a hillside, provided ample space and an ideal location to set up the telescopes. Also, problems like ‘light-pollution’ and ‘high-rises’, which usually hinder star-gazing, were naturally done away with.
In the quiet of the night, as the chilly breeze stroked everyone’s face, the students huddled together pulling their woollens tighter. They waited for their turn to see through the two powerful lenses. With only the moonlight to support their vision, they took turns to look at the world, which is always so far and yet so near. The Moon, with all its beauty, seemed just at an arm’s length away. Venus, the rising star, was a crescent-shaped fire ball. North Star (the guiding light), ‘Sapt Rishi’ (the seven sages), the Orion’s Belt (the soldier with a sword) and a gaseous ‘womb’ where new stars are born, could all be seen through the telescopes. Jupiter, along with four of its moons and a cyclone which has been active on its surface for the last three hundred years, was a treat to everyone’s oh-so-star-hungry-eyes.
Students’ thoughts and curiosity grew wings and with each ‘flight’ came a barrage of questions. The resource people Mr. Abhra Ray and Mr. Parimal Dave were kind enough to answer all their astronomy-related questions.
Then it was time to go home. Though late in the night, it appeared as if the night had just begun. Still high in spirits and ‘hot Bournvita’ in their hands, the assemblage returned home STARRY-EYED.

9.KALEIDOSCOPE 2013 [Top]

It’s said that children learn best by doing. Believing in this philosophy, Sanskriti School Pune, organised ‘Kaleidoscope’ – an educational exhibition - on 21st Dec. 2013. The exhibition was an amalgamation of various subjects – both curricular and co curricular – covering all the aspects of the school curriculum.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr. Vasant Vaidya (IAS). He was very much impressed by the exhibits and the impeccable presentation by the students.
The pre primary section displayed an array of colours. These tiny tots enthusiastically explained things to all the visitors. The primary section prepared various games, still and working models and quizzes. The bioscope made by Class V was a big attraction among all the visitors. The exhibits of the secondary section were no less. Every project was well thought of and was prepared keeping specific learning objectives in mind. The history of the English language, the electro games, tea coasters made by students to depict Napier Bones, a working model of a rocket launcher, a projector and a city layout of the Indus Valley Civilisation were a few eye catchers in the exhibition.
The items prepared by the Art and Craft department were exquisite, and were put up for sale. The exhibition was a huge success, and was appreciated by all the guests.
It was followed by a musical evening, presented by Class IX students. They presented varied shades of music, from devotional to rock. The song ‘mile sur mere tumhara’ held the audience spellbound. Mesmerising music and the backdrop of hills and valleys, was the perfect finale of this wonderful day.

10. SAVING THE ‘SPOTS’ FOR TOMORROW -SANSKRITI SCHOOL ADOPTS A LEOPARD ‘KIRTI’ [Top]

As a part of its constant endeavour to promote a sense of responsibility towards the environment, Sanskriti School, Pune has adopted ‘Kirti’, leopard at the Katraj Zoo, for two months. Besides a visiting the zoo, the students of Sanskriti participated in a variety of activities related to leopards.
All the students watched ‘Duma’, the movie. The primary students showcased their talent and knowledge through story-telling, colouring activities, designing wristbands, poster making and creative writing. The senior classes participated in story-telling, making posters, book-mark designing and making power point presentations focused on leopards, their habitats, threats to their survival and the steps that have been and can be taken to conserve this endangered species.
The Class IX students, along with their teachers, attended a two day workshop conducted by the Zoo authorities. Based on this enriching experience, they have planned to carry out various activities, with leopard as their primary focus and environmental concerns as a broader area of focus.

Year: 2012-13

1. MAGICAL MOMENTS
2. SOARING HIGH AT SANSKRITI
3. TRIP TO RELIANCE FRESH
4. VISIT TO HONEY BEE RESEARCH & TRAINING INSTITUTE
5. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH A WORDSMITH – DR. KEN SPILLMAN
6. VISIT TO SAKAAL PRINTING PRESS
7. JANAMASTHAMI CELEBRATION
8. PATRIOTIC FERVOUR AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL
9. 'SUPRABHAT’
10. T.R.A.S.H IS FUN
11. SANSKRITI SCHOOL CELEBRATES DUSSEHRA
12. ‘FOOTBALL FEVER’ GRIPS SANSKRITI SCHOOL, PUNE
13. THE TIGER BURNING BRIGHT AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL
14. SANSKRITI SCHOOL CELEBRATES ITS ANNUAL FUNCTION ‘UDAAN’ ON FEBRUARY 8, 2013

1.MAGICAL MOMENTS [Top]

The eleventh day of June brought our ‘chirping twittering birdies’ back to school after a long and much-needed summer break. Bubbling with excitement, they assembled in the school auditorium where class IX and X welcomed them with the song ‘School Chale Hum’. The new teachers who joined the Sanskriti family introduced themselves to the students.
What a better way to start another magical academic year, than with a magic show. The magician swung his magic wand in the air and cast a magic spell on our young audience. From nowhere appeared a hat of cards, a spoon turned into a fork and to top it all a burning candle turned into a dove. With each snap of fingers, a new magic trick was unveiled. Birthday boys and girls felt special on becoming a part of the tricks.
An hour-long ‘ABRA-KA-DABRA’ left the children asking for more!
A warm and pleasant start to a new academic year!!!

2. SOARING HIGH AT SANSKRITI [Top]

There’s always an unforgettable first time, and what a FIRST it was for SANSKRITI SCHOOL, PUNE. The first batch of Class X children who had appeared for the CBSE Board Examinations, passed out with flying colours. They have done not only the parents but also the school very proud. All of the ten students have passed with a distinction, with three of them scoring a perfect 10. Their names would always find a special mention in the history of SANSKRITI SCHOOL.
In appreciation of their hard work, a felicitation ceremony was organized on June 16, 2012 in the school auditorium. Lt. Gen. Moti Dar, AVSM, PVSM, who is not only a decorated soldier, but also an acclaimed artist and environmentalist, graced the occasion with his presence as the Chief Guest. Our young achievers were all present with their parents. They were awarded Gold medals for their outstanding performance.
In appreciation of their efforts the school choir sang ‘Hum Mei Hai Hero’, for truly, each one is a Hero in our eyes. As they now spread their wings and take their first flight into the azure, we wish each and every one of them all the very best in life.
Also on this occasion, five of our students who have been a part of a music album featuring ‘Hanuman Stotras’, under the able guidance of music director, Mr. Jeevan Dharmadhikari, were awarded certificates of appreciation. Their music album would be released shortly in the market and we are sure that it will be well received.

3. TRIP TO RELIANCE FRESH [Top]

Places like a market are very important and useful in our lives. With the objective of helping children understand their utility, a short educational trip was organized for students of class III to ‘Reliance Fresh’, Bavdhan, on June 22, 2012. The teachers carried jute shopping bags with them to the store, to point out their utility and the hazards of plastic bags to the children. The children keenly observed the different sections in the store, neatly stacked with similar items. They were amazed to learn that a variety of pears and apples came from Italy. Kiwis from New Zealand caught everyone’s eye. For most of the children the favourite shelves in the store turned out to be those of ‘Maggi’ and ‘Chocolates’.
The staff at the store was most co-operative and polite and answered the childrens’ queries patiently. At the end of the visit, the store treated the children to chocolates, which put a smile on every child’s face. It was surely one excursion that the children would love to repeat!

4. VISIT TO HONEY BEE RESEARCH & TRAINING INSTITUTE [Top]

The children of Classes IV and V visited ‘The Honey Bee Research and Training Institute, Model Colony’, on July 24,2012. They were shown a few colonies of bees at close distance. The children watched the honey combs in awe. The queen bee was the star attraction. The honey in the combs, certainly made the children’s mouth water. The museum at the institute helped the children in understanding everything about the bees even more. The most pleasant surprise of the visit was unveiled in the conference room, where the children were shown two short films on the life cycle of a honey bee and honey extraction techniques.
When the children had entered the premises, they were worried about getting stung by the bees but by the end of the trip the bees appeared as sweet as nectar to them.

5. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH A WORDSMITH – DR. KEN SPILLMAN [Top]

Mr. Ken Spillman, a reputed Australian author who has written more than thirty books of varied genres visited Sanskriti School on July 31,2012 to interact with the children of class III to V. Initiated by Scholastic India, to promote his books on ‘Jake Series’, he was given a warm traditional welcome with Kumkum tikka, Puneri Pagadi and the chanting of ‘shlokas’. Even the torrential rain could not dampen the children’s enthusiasm at having him amongst them.
Mr. Spillman enthusiastically mimicked the characters in his stories which kept the children spellbound. He asked the children to further explore ‘the magic of books and imagination’. The excited children asked questions to the author, who in turn gave an equally absorbing response to each one of them. They listened attentively to all that was said by him and felt honoured when they had their personal copy of his books autographed by him. It was a very different yet enriching experience for the children of Sanskriti School.

6. VISIT TO SAKAAL PRINTING PRESS [Top]

Newspapers are an integral part of our lives, yet not many of us really know what goes into printing one! How is it that news from all around the world reaches millions of us without fail, everyday?
To find answers to these questions and more, the students of classes IX and X were taken for an educational tour of the Sakaal Printing Press in Pune.
Right from the moment they stepped into the premises of the press, the students were dumbstruck by the levels of automation and efficiency. Gone are the days of laborious inking and printing by hand. Today everything is accomplished by the touch of a button-right from the making of the plates for printing in four colours, feeding the newsprint to the printing towers, the actual printing which is done by four rollers, to the folding and sorting of the papers- everything is computerized and auto mated. It was real eye-opener for the students and they will certainly look at a newspaper now with much more respect and a whole new understanding about how it is made.

7. JANAMASTHAMI CELEBRATION [Top]

The ninth day of August brought added joy and laughter to the Sanskriti School children, when the school celebrated the festival of Janamashtami with great fervor. Little Kanhas’ and ‘Gopis’ danced merrily to different tunes, while ‘Yashoda Maiya’ found it hard to take her eyes off her beloved ‘Nandkishore’. Can we think of ‘Natkhat Krishna’, and not think of the pranks he played on the ‘Brijvasi’s’? The ‘Makhanchor’ reached out for the ‘dahi handi’ and did what he does best – broke it with the other ‘gopis’. A tableau depicting the birth of Lord Krishna was also arranged in the school premises for all to see. On this occasion an inter-house Rangoli Competition was also conducted, where Krishna took form in different shapes and colours.

8. PATRIOTIC FERVOUR AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL [Top]

Independence Day was celebrated in the school on August 15 with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Mrs. Anuradha Prabhakar Deshmukh, a social activist and educator who believes in working to bring in change at the grass-root level. Having worked to improve the life of rural women and helping village Lodhavade to win the award for being a model village, she is an ideal role model for the youth of today. She attended the Flag Hoisting Ceremony and the cultural programme prepared by the students. Further, speaking to the students she asked them to work to spread education and reform in the villages and root out evils like illiteracy, corruption and narrow-mindedness.
Sweets were distributed to all and a drawing competition was also organized for the children on this occasion.
Another year crossed, another milestone reached- but the children left with the firm resolve to do their bit for the nation, for the struggle to keep the flag flying high continues even today.

9. ‘SUPRABHAT’ [Top]

“Hindi Ko Naman” echoed in Sanskriti School on September 14, 2012 when the school celebrated ‘Hindi Diwas’. The celebration started with the lighting of the lamp by the Principal, Mrs. Devyani Mungali. She shared her noble thoughts with the children. The students and teachers of Sanskriti enacted skits, recited poetry and sang songs in Hindi. The celebration put forth the message that though we speak different languages, Hindi binds us all together.
What better way to conclude the celebrations than a pleasant surprise from Hindi teachers - an exuberantly sung song.

10. T.R.A.S.H IS FUN [Top]

The educating youth for sustainable development division of Teri, a non profitable research organization in collaboration with Tetra Pak initiated a programme called SEARCH (Sensitisation, Education, Awareness and Recycling for cleaner habitat).
The project aimed at creating awareness amongst school students, teachers and the community at large about recycling and waste management.
A number of activities and competitions were conducted for the students and teachers. Tej Patel (X), Srushti Borkar (X) and Deepatanshu Navangul (VI) of Sanskriti School won the first prize in this years T.R.A.S.H Festival 2012 and brought laurels to the school. They used empty tetra pak cartons to make a table, table lamp, desk organizer and used the technique of weaving to weave a mat. These items were greatly appreciated by one and all.
As part of this project, the schools were to collect dry recyclable waste including empty tetra pak cartons which were to be recycled into useful products such as note books, drawing sheets, roofing sheets and furniture.

11. SANSKRITI SCHOOL CELEBRATES DUSSEHRA [Top]

On the occasion of Vijaya Dashmi, Sanskriti School celebrated the victory of good over evil, by burning an effigy of the ten-headed demon God – Ravana. The effigy, made totally out of waste paper material was prepared in the school by the teachers. As a student dressed as Sri Rama aimed his arrows at the demon god, children shouted ’Jai Shree Ram ‘ enacting the epic moment from Ramayana.
The burning of the effigy of Ravana symbolized not only the victory of good over evil but also, an occasion to burn all the demons that reside within us. For this, the children wrote out their weaknesses and shortcomings on bits of paper and put them in a bag around Ravana’s neck and set fire to it, in the hope that the future will be free from all evils and shortcomings.

12. ‘FOOTBALL FEVER’ GRIPS SANSKRITI SCHOOL, PUNE [Top]

Nestled among the beautiful hills surrounding Pune, Sanskriti School aims to provide a safe haven for children, where they learn and grow in the knowledge of being loved for just being themselves, where education seeks to rise above the mundane and routine and becomes an exciting journey for them.
Inaugurated by Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam in the year 2009, Sanskriti School is affiliated to the CBSE .With an aesthetically designed building, set amidst natural beauty, providing open spaces for children to play and explore, away from the pollution and noise of the city, the school focuses on all-round holistic development of a child with a special emphasis on fitness and sports activities. For this, the school offers ample scope in the form of a large playground, a football field, indoor Badminton and Table-Tennis facilities and recently a basketball court has also been added to its resources. Extra –curricular activities like Karate and Archery and opportunities to participate in intra- and inter-school athletics ensures that children develop physically while learning key attributes like concentration, team spirit and sportsman spirit. Besides, emphasis on multi-sensory development through the use of music, dance and audio-visual aids and an ideal student-teacher ratio per class ensures a rich and unique learning experience for each child. Sanskriti School believes that visits by eminent personalities like ace footballer, coach and co-owner of team United Sikkim Bhaichung Bhutia, exposes the children to different professions and ideas.
Bhaichung Bhutia, the most famous and popular football player India has ever produced and also known as the “First Poster Boy of Indian Football”, has contributed a lot to making the game popular among the young crowds of the nation. For his immense contribution to the game of football, he has been awarded the Sikkim State Award, Arjuna Award and the Padmashree Award. After a long and illustrious career with the National team, he has co- founded the United Sikkim team with the Dubai- based Fidelis World and singer Shankar Mahadevan.
On 26th November, 2012, Bhaichung Bhutia, along with the members of his United Sikkim team visited Sanskriti School, Pune. They were given a warm welcome by the students who were lined up along the path leading to the school and a traditional ‘tikka’ to the chanting of shlokas at the entrance foyer. They were then escorted to the auditorium, which had been decorated with colourful prayer flags, where they interacted with the students in an informal question-answer session. Bhaichung Bhutia in his address said-“Sanskriti School is a part of my life, it is always an honour to be here.” He congratulated the school on its brilliant result in the CBSE class X examination and also appreciated the efforts taken by the school to promote sports, which was essential to develop as a person and a responsible citizen. He then distributed medals and certificates to all participants of the CBSE Cluster Athletic Meet. He and his team members were felicitated by the school Principal, Mrs. Devyani Mungali. She said “Our endeavour is to give our children opportunities to meet the right role models who inspire them, we want our children to excel in all fields be at academics, fine arts or sports. Mr. Bhaichung Bhutia’s visit is a part of our initiative to improve the sports infrastructure at Sanskriti. We realize that most children live in apartments with little or no space to play and unwind. We hope to change this at Sanskriti School.”
After that they were escorted to the playground where Mr. Bhutia inaugurated the school’s new Basketball court and his team, United Sikkim, also played a friendly soccer match with the school team.
Indeed, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the budding sports enthusiasts of the school, to be able to interact, play and get first-hand tips about the game from the master himself - an experience they will cherish dearly.

13. THE TIGER BURNING BRIGHT AT SANSKRITI SCHOOL [Top]

Sanskriti School, Pune believes in learning by doing. In today’s scenario, where our National animal, the Tiger is fighting against all odds for its survival, the children of Sanskriti School have extended their helping hand by adopting a white tiger, Jagir at the Katraj Zoo. This will not only bring them closer to the issue at hand, namely, saving the tiger, but also educate them and make them more sensitive to the environment as a whole.
This month long campaign includes various activities revolving around the tiger, which have been incorporated into the curriculum, like workshops at the Katraj Zoo, talks by wildlife experts, story telling sessions, book-reading sessions, dialogue writing, poetry writing, skits and craft activities like mask making, poster making etc. Each class would be researching on some aspect related to the tiger – its habitat, size, habits, the laws made to protect the tiger, how tiger pugmarks are recorded for census, etc.
All the research and activities conducted will be showcased in a special assembly so that each age group can show what they have imbibed through this unique endeavour to save the big cat.
Man, in his bid to mark his territory has created concrete jungles that have pushed the inhabitants of the real jungles to the brink of extinction. Taking on the responsibility for the food and upkeep of ‘Jagir” for one month, is only a small drop in the ocean. But Sanskriti School is geared up to do its bit to save the environment and its king- the Tiger so that years from now, we can still proudly say –‘Tyger Tyger burning bright…’

14. SANSKRITI SCHOOL CELEBRATES ITS ANNUAL FUNCTION ‘UDAAN’ ON FEBRUARY 8, 2013 [Top]

Sanskriti School celebrated its Annual Function ‘UDAAN’ a unique flight where children expressed their dreams and aspirations - to fly high and reach the stars. They took the parents and guests on a magical flight sharing their dreams, hopes & wishes for a better tomorrow, a better India.
The audience appreciated the Hindi Skit, Qawwali, Dances, Songs and mini show put up by the children and warmly applauded the children’s talents & creativity.
Mr P.V. Patil, Director Education & Mrs Kamala Bisht, CEO Education ______ addressed the children and parents lauding the efforts of the budding artistes and praised the Sanskriti School teachers & Staff for putting up a show which saw 100% participation of all students.
It was truly a magical flight with a message for adults to leave their pettiness, anxieties and baser instincts & fly high to fulfill their dreams.