An educational excursion

Learning beyond the boundaries of four walls of the classrooms is one of the aspects of teaching methodology at Atmiya Vidya Mandir. To embark on the same path of learning, the students of grade 7 visited the Anjana Sewage Treatment Plant in Surat on 20 February 2015.

 

This excursion was to further aid their learning of the concepts of waste water management. Surprisingly, people are generally unaware about the source and destination of the water which they use daily. Such ignorance could very likely lead to less concern about the need as well as optimum utilization of such natural resources, furthermore unnecessarily contributing to the problem of scarcity of water resource in the future. Fortunately, AVM students of class 7 were exposed to this knowledge very closely by this visit.

Primary treatment and secondary treatment stages convert the collected waste water from its initial black colour due to the wastes present to transparent. Students were amazed to see this conversion happening in front of them! They understood how biogas was extracted from sludge and also learned how sludge was used as manure.

Furthermore, a surprise ice-cream treat in the plants garden gave a different flavour of excitement. Students had fun in their break time playing in the garden.

Overall, students were able to appreciate the efforts made by the government to purify water and simultaneously to keep our environment clean. They also became aware of their responsibility, as enlightened citizens, towards usage and prevention of waste of water.

The students were then taken for dinner and finally returned to school after a highly educative day

Written by: Anand Sir

A day out at a farm (Std 1 to 8)

Outing means a trip taken for pleasure,
especially one lasting a day or less.

But AVM students define it as –

Outing means – Lots of Fun
Outing means - a day full of enjoyment
Outing means – unlimited excitement
Outing means –a lot of laughter
Outing means – games, play, rides,....entertainment
What if cricket is added in it. It is like icing on the cake.

Outing helps us to imbibe some values also.

It helps us to come closer to each other.
 Outing gives us a chance to experience how much pleasure we get by giving, by sharing, and by caring each other.

For the students of Std. 4 to 6, swimming in the pool was enthralling and added more fun to the trip.

And thus outing fills us with the joy of contentment.
So, we did when we went to Capital Farm
for just half day outing.

Written by: Students of AVM

SARANSH: the Closing Ceremony of 2014-15

No sooner had the humdrum of prolonged study hours of February month settled in, amazingly, exhilaration extended its reaches and fatigue sneaked away. Hardly a few weeks after the recent sports fiesta, it was yet another gala time for AVM family members as they gathered to celebrate ‘SARANSH’ the closing ceremony of the year 2014-15.

 

On the evening of 14th Feb '15, all students, teachers and mentors assembled at the well-adorned ‘Atmiya Prarthana Hall’ to commemorate outstanding performances of students in academic and co-curricular activities throughout this year. The programme started with evoking God’s blessings through Thakorji’s pujan. Quite significantly, this year marked a change in the slogan of the programme: "We are ONE". Afterwards, the formal announcement of the closing of house activities (competitions) was made with the marching off by the student council members and office bearers. The evening grew extremely engaging as the school’s orchestra and choir group presented Naad Brahma, an enthralling musical treat to the audience. The amazing fusion of various musical instruments: octopad, drum-set, congo, daf, dholak and tabla being played by the students set the stage on fire. It was an incredible synchronization of various musical instruments attuned in a melodious rhythm. Hats off to the maestros Jaimin Sir and Himanshu Sir.

The excitement and fervour surged when the awards for individual categories were announced. The flourishing talents in singing, acting and dancing and the budding percussionists were honoured. These young artists (the winners) have showcased their distinctive flair in different competitions and cultural programmes held in the school during this academic year.

The nifty and sprightly hosts of the programme, Shubhbhai and Devarshibhai entertained the audience through their witty remarks and apt dialogues.

The ‘Atmiya Prarthana Hall’, the venue of the event, reverberated with much clamour and cheers when the awards for house activities were being announced. All the four houses: Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram and Suhradam bagged a prize in one or the other categories which included Best Sports House, Best Republic Parade, Best Debating House, Best Softboard Display and Best Creative Assembly.

Quite instantly, solemnity set in, as the audience listened with much attention the speeches of all four house captains and the Vice Headboy. Some of them shared their learning experiences and memorable events with their house members while the others extended their gratitude to their other house members and teachers for their support, encouragement and guidance.

The next category of award was the most prestigious (individual) award of the evening, the ‘Best Student of the Year’ award. Once again the lively students burst with cheers when these special awards were given to the students who had consistently demonstrated exemplary conduct in every aspect of their life.

Towards the end of the event, the prayer hall resonated with much more hullabaloo, applause and cheers when the name of the ‘Winning House of the Year’ was announced. The entire arena echoed with calls of ‘Sundaram’ as the members of this house were invited on stage to collect the coveted trophy. Thus, once again, fun and frolic spilled in abundance, once again AVM family got a reason to enjoy together, once again studies got an occasional dodge and once again feast followed the fest.

The awards won were as follows:

Students of the year:

• Darsh Darji (Std 5)
• Madhur Modi (Std 7)
• Dhwanit Tamboli (Std 10)

Debating Champions: Satyam House
Best Academic House: Satyam House
Best Sports House: Satyam House
Annual Athletic Meet Champions: Sundaram House
Best Softboard: Shivam House
Best Creative Assembly: Shivam House

House of the Year: SUNDARAM HOUSE

Truly! Atmiya Vidya Mandir is synonymous with celebration…

Learning by Farming!

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Ancient Chinese Proverb

Students of class 7 were exposed to yet another experiment in which they got involved themselves in the process of learning rather being mere spectators! In order to get some hands on experience on the concept of "vegetative propagation", they carried out the farming of potatoes themselves in the small botanical garden of Atmiya Vidya Mandir. Developing the same, it also provided them with the experience for a higher level concept of "crop production" that they will encounter in grade 8.

Each student participated in the process, from sowing till harvesting with soaring enthusiasm. Though less in quantity, the potato plants instilled in students a greater amount of responsibility. Responsibilities like taking care of plants, watering them in a timely manner and protecting them. These almost became a part of their daily routine! It went on for a couple of months starting from 12th December 2014 to 13th February 2015. All these activities were lovingly and willingly done by students.

Not only that, but the students also took joy in observing the daily growth of the plant, in touching the fresh leaves, measuring the height of their plants, guessing the size of the potatoes developing in the ground and so on. In turn, it resulted into an inquisitive process which led to the development of keen observation skills.

On the day of harvesting, these very excited students invited their other subject teachers also, to share their joy in relishing the fruits of their long and continuous efforts. Over all, they enjoyed the process of learning through doing.

Written by: Anand Sir