Our Community - Doing things together

Sharing a campus brings about a community spirit. Learning to keep this community harmonious involves respect for all individuals concerned, the environment and the shared facilities. This harmony is very special for us and is fostered from a young age. The vertically age-grouped environments at the Primary level indirectly reveal how different individuals understand similar concepts according to their own developmental milestones and that this is perfectly acceptable. They also bring about respect for differing strengths and areas of weakness, encouraging collaboration and teamwork. Every child and every team member is part of the composite whole in our community.

Commuting/Journeying
We truly believe that learning begins on the school bus at the start of the day. Children and faculty board our buses from different parts of the city and travel together (the use of private transportation is not permitted, except under medical conditions). Our students are encouraged to manage themselves in the buses and may use this time to mix with children of different age groups or simply enjoy the journey by reflecting. Journeying together teaches valuable lessons with regard to courtesy, sharing the ride, being accommodating and looking out for each other. The last stretch of about fifteen minutes before reaching school, is our ‘quiet time’, when all aboard observe silence, preparing for the day ahead. It is a time of calm and composure. Similarly, while departing from our campus in the afternoon, a quiet time is observed for reflection and thought on how the day was.

Eating together
Sharing a common meal fosters a special kind of bonding. Our school kitchen prepares fresh vegetarian meals and snacks every day and these are shared by all on the campus. If a child can learn to accept one meal a day, he/she will learn to accept many realities in the future. Eating together and sharing the menu prepared for everyone brings in a valuable community spirit. This meal service is integral to our philosophy and a very important part of the school vision. Everyday, a roster of duties is planned and children, along with their class teachers, prepare the dining hall and serve the community. After lunch, students and faculty/team members wash their own plates.

NOTE: If a child has medical/dietary restrictions the same can be discussed with our Co-ordinators.

Caring for our environment
The environment we live and work in is a precious space-one which we value and strive to preserve for the good of all. Whether it is our classrooms or common areas, our gardens or playgrounds, their maintenance and preservation is important for each and every one of us. Recycling of waste is an integral part of the Head Start culture/philosophy. Children collect the vegetable waste from the kitchen and also dried leaves and flowers from the garden. They layer them alternately in suitable containers and after a month, the earthy compost is ready to go back into the soil. A young child said, “ The waste from the vegetables is going back into the soil to help us grow more vegetables. This cycle goes on and on.”

Excursions and field trips
Travel and field trips are planned regularly, guided by our senior staff. We think of such excursions as learning experiences that complement what we have done in the classroom. Being away from home and familiar environs during travel does provoke deep learning. In seeing new places and faces, children understand the diversity and wonder of the world. Travel is fundamentally soulful and energising.

Day field trips are organised for Grades 1 and 2. Grade 3 are introduced to their first overnight trip. Grades 4 and above have longer excursions to different parts of the country which are connected to various fields of research and study undertaken by our children. They learn to take responsibility for themselves during these excursions, handle different situations, understand group dynamics and look out for each other.

Uniforms
Our school uniforms are designed to be functional and can be used for all purposes and activities in school. The uniforms are of different colours and offer options that are explained when they are issued.

Parent/Teacher Interaction
We greatly value meaningful interaction with our parents. While we organise specific times for such communication twice a year, parents are welcome to ask questions or discuss anything concerning their child/children when or if the need arises. In such circumstances we request you to make an appointment so that we can be available at the time you come. Just as parents may request a meeting, the school may schedule additional meetings if necessary.

Class Placement
Keeping in mind group dynamics, needs and interactive skills, all decisions regarding class placements rest with the school. The individual child’s emotional, social and academic development, learning style and temperament are considered. In some instances, circumstances may require the Headmistress and academic team to plan a schedule for a particular child which is different to the usual routine. This would be discussed with the parents in relation to the individual child and planned accordingly.

Child/Staff Privacy
Head Start keeps personal information confidential, respecting the privacy of each child and his/her family. The school will not give out phone numbers or addresses of families. Similarly we greatly value the privacy of our staff. The office will not give out their personal phone numbers or addresses.

Other Information
All school books and notebooks are provided by the school and parents need not purchase or provide for these unless asked to do so, for example, in the exam classes.

Illness
If a child is unwell and unable to take part in his/her usual school activities, please do not send him/her to school. Recovery is usually quicker at home and infection of other children and adults at school can be avoided. The school is not equipped to take care of sick children on a long term basis.

If a child becomes unwell after coming to school, he/she will be attended to in the infirmary by the school nurse until someone from home can pick him/her up. The school must be able to reach a parent at any time during the course of the day. Parents are requested to keep their child’s information up to date on our integrated online platform, SriToni and bear in mind that changes in addresses, email IDs, telephone or mobile numbers, must be communicated  immediately.

Absences
Please call our Communication Officers/Office whenever your child will not be attending school. In case of long absences kindly send a letter accordingly, addressed to the Principal. We do get concerned if we don’t see children for a protracted period of time and would like to be informed about their well-being. Regular attendance is extremely important for a child’s development. Although every child works at his/her own pace, consistency is a key factor. Irregular attendance affects the child’s routine and comfort levels at school.