FOR THE RECORD -- 4::

A SCHOOL CALENDAR THAT EDUCATES ALL

BY P S SUNDAR

If one goes to a school even as a parent or a refugee for protection against floods, one should return wiser because school is a temple of learning. 

In that context, the 127 year-old prestigious institution of Nilgiris,  St Joseph’s Boy’s Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, has done a yeomen service of educating community through its colourful calendar for 2016 on the theme, “The Nilgiris – The Blue Mountains”. 

Printed on glazed sheets, each of 28 inches long and 19 inches wide, the calendar carries visual treat of 12 most loved picnic spots of Nilgiris with brief description for each.   These attractive visuals are on Avalanche, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Sim’s Park, Coonoor, Govt Botanical Garden, Ooty, Doddabetta, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Pykhara Lake, Kodanad Viewpoint, Ooty Lake, Lamb’s Rock, Coonoor, Dolphin’s Nose, Coonoor and Ooty Race Course.

There are references to other tourist attractions including Adams Fountain, Toda Tribal Huts, Kallar Bridge, Coonoor Railway station, Coonoor Bazaar, Emerald Lake, St Stephen’s Church and Nilgiri Tahr.

The initiative led by Principal Bro Ramesh Amalanathan gets value addition with Thirukkural in Tamil and English being juxtaposed in each date for all 365 days.

Librarian Andrew Joseph has enriched the calendar with snippets tracing the growth and contribution to overall education by the school since its birth in 1888.  An interesting snippet is remembering Gen K S Thimmayya, former Chief of Army Staff, as an alumnus, having studied in this school from 1912-17.

Among the recent illustrious visitors to the school are Governor Rosaiah and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

(response can also be sent to:: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

HAPPENING -- 13::

1,032 STUDENTS BECOME MEMBERS OF GOVT LIBRARIES

BY P S SUNDAR

Providence College for Women, Coonoor, has created a record with mass enrolment of 1,032 students as life members of Government libraries.

“This is the first time over thousand students of one institution have enrolled at one time in Nilgiris.   Guided by Nilgiris District Library officer Karthikeyan, we are now working on mass enrolment of students from other institutions”, Librarian, Kotagiri Library, T B Ravi told me.     

“This is part of our college’s on-going Golden Jubilee celebrations marking our students’ lifetime commitment to widespread reading”, said college Principal Sr Dr Sheela.

“Depending upon their home address, students have become members of Government Libraries in Coonoor, Ooty, Aruvankadu, Kotagiri, Manjur and Gudalur”, noted college Librarians Savio Sagayamary and Viswanathan.

Presidents of Readers’ Forums Belli (Coonoor) and Bhojan (Kotagiri), Nakkubetta Foundation founder Ramakrishnan and Providence teacher Sivalingan explained books availability in Government libraries.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

AWARD -- 6 :

GOOD SHEPHERD GETS TWO NATIONAL AWARDS

 BY P S SUNDAR

Good Shepherd International School Ooty has bagged two Awards of Education World ‘India School Rankings 2015’.

In the ‘International School’ category, it has been adjudged Rank No: 1 in Co-curricular Education, Infrastructure Provision and Pastoral Care.

In the ‘International Residential Schools’ category, it has been adjudged as Rank No: 1 in Tamil Nadu and Rank No: 2 in All-India.

The School’s Principal Dr P C Thomas, Senior Vice President Elsamma Thomas, Vice President Julie Pradeesh attended the award ceremony held in New Delhi.

A release from the school said, “the school has done Tamil Nadu and the Nilgiris proud by being adjudged the best international school in India”.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

BILLIARDS AND SNOOKER -- 4 ::

COONOOR GIRL TO PLAY FOR INDIA AT RUSSIA

BY P S SUNDAR

J Mariam Agnish (14), student of St Joseph's Girls' Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, will fly to Russia on Sep 30 to represent India at World Snooker under 18 championship to be conducted by International Billiards and Snooker Federation. 

Detailed articles on her achievements appear in this blog and, in particular, reference is drawn to her selection for this championship reachable by clicking ::  http://educationandsportthinktank.blogspot.in/2015/07/blog-post.html.

Mariam has become the first sportsperson from The Nilgiris to represent an international official snooker tourney  -- from the district where the rules of the Snooker game were posted at The Ootacamund Club way back in 1882. 

Article in The New Indian Express -- Sep 23, 2015::

(response can also be sent to: pssudnar.coonoor@gmail.com)

SCHOOL SPORTS -- 5:

CRESCENT HOCKEY TEAM – TO NATIONALS

BY P S SUNDAR

The Junior Boys hockey team of Crescent Castle Public School, Ooty, have done the Nilgiris and their school proud by getting selected to represent Tamil Nadu at the National Meet of Association of Schools of Indian School Certificate (ASISC).

“This follows our winning at the ASISC Tamil Nadu Sports Meet held at Coimbatore.   Our Juniors will vie for the Nationals title in Jalandhar of Punjab next month”, Crescent Correspondent  G Umar Farouk said after complimenting the players and the coach.

“We are imparting necessary higher level training to our players to hone up their skills to bag the Nationals title”, he added. 

Crescent has the credit of motivating its students with legends from various fields.  That way, Dhanraj Pillai had motivated hockey players of the school sharing his experiences. 

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com).

AWARD -- 5 ::

NILGIRI EDUCATIONIST GETS ‘WOMEN EMPOWERMENT’ AWARD

BY P S SUNDAR

The venue is the same where Swami Vivekananda delivered his world famous address at ‘World Religious Conference’ in Chicago in 1893.   The date is also the same – September 11.  Once again, the elite of the world have congregated.  The occasion now is ‘Replica of 1893 conference to carry the vision forward’, an international conference organised by ‘Integrating Spirituality and Organisational Leadership Foundation’ (ISOL).

The conference was conducted after US President Barrack Obama acknowledged the impact of Swami Vivekananda’s contribution for global awakening. 

The Nilgiris received an international acclaim at the conference when Vasukie, Chairperson, Gurukulam Matriculation School in Agalar village in the Nilgiris, was honoured with the prestigious award for ‘2015 Women Empowerment’.

“Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was scheduled to present the award but following his demise, Chicago Mayor Thulasi Gabbard presented it”, Gurukulam Correspondent N Arjjunan told me.

The citation said that the award was presented to Vasukie in recognition of her ‘incredible contribution towards empowering under-privileged children with education through unique curriculum where traditional knowledge is enriched with ancient wisdom’. 

Sharing her experience at the conference, Vasukie said that besides all affiliation legally required in India, Gurukulam School is affiliated to World Institute for Scientific Experience (WISE), a wing of the world-famous Harvard University of USA.   Based on its guidance, the school has been imparting lessons on Indian traditional systems including Ayurveda, Yoga, Carnatic Music and runs a ‘Mooligai Kudil (Herbal Hut) where children are given orientation to growing and using hundreds of herbs, Vasukie detailed.

During the 150^th Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, 367 students of Gurukulam School presented themselves in the attire of the Swamiji which helped the school gain an entry for the event in the Book of India Records and Limca Book of Records

The school located amidst natural beauty in a rural ambiance holds ISO certification as well.   Its ‘One Student One Tree’ and ‘Save Serve and Earth’ concepts are leaving lasting impressions in the minds of children to live in consonance with nature. 

These are in addition to posting excellent academic record in public exams.

Vasukie is rightfully happy that she addressed the gathering at the same venue where Swami Vivekananda spoke.   “I dedicate this honour to every individual and every impressive incident which inspired me and had been a driving force to this highest state”, an excited Vasukie told the Assembly.

 (response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com).

SCHOOL SPORTS -- 4 ::

ST JOSEPH’S EMERGE CHAMPIONS

BY P S SUNDAR

St Joseph’s Boys’ Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, which had excelled many years in the inter-school Athletic competitions, has emerged champion in the 66^th Athletic Meet conducted by Association of English Speaking Schools.

Our path to overall championship was created by our winning championship in inter, junior and sub-junior divisions”, Principal Bro Ramesh Amalanathan said after complimenting athletes, Superior Bro Gubendiran, Physical Director Sagayanathan and Physical Education Teachers Prakasan and Vijayanand. 

“Our athlete N Sanjay created new record in long jump sub-junior covering 4.18 metres and winning individual championship.  Our seniors and inter relay team set new record in 4 x 400 metres race”, Sports Secretary Bro Anup Kiro added. 

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)