Academician & environmentalist

Shruthi Yalamalli Arun, Principal of VIBGYOR High – Electronic City talks about her passions, achievements in an interview with City 7 Days

Shruthi Yalamalli Arun, the young and dynamic Principal of VIBGYOR High, Electronic City, one of the leading international schools in India… She is a woman of the modern era, who firmly believes that every woman should work not only for financial independence, but also for her own identity, career goals and recognition, just like any man. Academician, environmentalist and an active marathon runner, these are some of the varied facets of her personality. Recently, she received the elite International School Award for her school from the Director, British Council.

Excerpts from the chat.

Q1. Tell our readers briefly about yourself.
A Bangalorean, I grew up in this IT hub, resisting the pressures to become either an engineer or a doctor. Early on, during my college and university days, I was actively involved in environmental projects of research and activism, working voluntarily with various NGOs. The foray into teaching was something that just happened, for lack of other opportunities during the postings of my husband, who was an officer in the Army then. Having started by teaching Post Graduate students, I eventually moved into school teaching and loved it. Although, this move was questioned by many, I chose to stick to what I liked doing, giving it my all and grew from strength to strength.

Q2. Was there a teacher/mentor that had a particular impact in shaping up your career?
Although there are many mentors who I would have drawn inspiration from and learnt from in big and small ways, I think no one has had greater impact on my career than my parents. My father has been an exemplary professional all his working life, and I get my zeal, sincerity and strong work ethic from him. My mother has largely shaped my personality in a way that greatly helps me be a good people manager ,which is imperative to a leadership role. She drilled into me from very early years, the need to find your own in a man’s world. Also, I wouldn’t have had the single-minded focus to go out there and build my career, if it wasn’t for her strong, bankable support in caring for my young son. The encouraging and no-demanding presence of my husband has helped too. And yes, naming a teacher who had a lasting impact on my life is something that I must do and that is this extremely gentle American teacher called Mr. Dennis Poland, who taught me for a few years that I spent out of the country, when I was in Primary School. He was extremely encouraging and led his students gently and yet, most effectively on the path of learning. He loved what he did. And that is most important for a successful career, to love what you do.

Q3. Can you tell us about the award which you received recently? What it means for you?
VIBGYOR High, Electronic City, along with four other branches of the Group of Schools,received the British Council International School Award (ISA) for the years 2015- 2018 for ‘Outstanding Development of the International Dimension in the Curriculum’. The ISA is an elite, globally recognised benchmarking scheme that accredits schools as having an outstanding level of support for nurturing global citizenship in students and enriching teaching and learning. Applying for the ISA was an initiative where we sought to acquire formal accreditation and recognition for VIBGYOR High’s philosophy, curriculum and teaching practices, which have always embraced internationalism. More than 2,000 schools across India, sought accreditation this year, of which 252 schools across India and only 17 schools from Bangalore have received it. So it was a moment of great pride for the entire VIBGYOR family when we received this most coveted Award. This is an important milestone in our journey and we look forward to take the school to the zenith of glory, as envisaged by our Director of Academics, Ms. Kavita Sahay, who has been a strong pillar of support and encouragement to us. I would also like to thank Mr. Rustom Kerawalla, Chairman and Managing Director, VIBGYOR High Chain of schools for empowering us with his vision.

Q4. As you are passionate about environmental issues, what is your view on environmental conservation education amongst children?
Environmentalism cannot be viewed as an activity in isolation. It has to be a way of life for conservation to be effective and meaningful. This is only possible if children learn its importance from very young and impressionable years. Tomorrow’s leaders need to be equipped for tomorrow’s challenges, and we must adequately prepare our children for the future they will inherit. That requires a commitment to providing children with environmental conservation education. In the long-term, creating awareness about conservation among children will pay off when they become decision-makers, managers and users.

Q5. Finally in your opinion how does VIBGYOR set itself apart from other international schools?
Founded in 2004, VIBGYOR High is one of the leading chains of schools in India, known for its quality holistic education. We cater to students from Pre-primary to Grade 12, with a teacher-student ratio of 1:10 on an average. A diverse, experiential and integrated learning programme that recognises the child as an active agent in his/her own learning is the key highlight of VIBGYOR’s curriculum. VIBGYOR High provides a mixed spectrum of national and international boards of education such as ICSE, CBSE and Cambridge International Examinations (IGCSE and A-levels) and is set to explore new horizons with 20 schools in six major cities, reaching out to more than 25,000 students nationwide.

VIBGYOR High School, Goregaon, celebrates double victory in the Don Bosco Inter School Basketball Tournament 2015

U-11 Boys and U-13 Girls Basketball teams of VIBGYOR High School, Goregaon, achieved remarkable success in the 2nd Don Bosco Inter-School Basketball tournament 2015 held on October 28, 2015. This is the second year of the tournament, which was organized by Don Bosco School, Matunga at its school premises.

The U-11 Boys team of VIBGYOR High School, Goregaon, won with an outstanding score of 31-19 against the Don Bosco Matunga School. Star player Arjav Shah, student of VIBGYOR High, was awarded the Best Player Trophy to appreciate his commendable performance in the tournament. Adding to the list of achievements of the school, Advait Jajodia, a part of U-13 Boys team, was awarded the Best Defensive Player of the tournament. In the final match, Arjav scored 10 points for the team, while Dev Premi, Kevin Chitania and Soham Jakhotia scored 4, 5 and 4 points respectively.

On the other hand, the U-13 Girls team of VIBGYOR High School, Goregaon, won with a score of 27-13 against St. Anthony School, Chembur. Champion player Tvisha Gala was also awarded with the Best Player Trophy for her exceptional performance in the tournament. Aakansha Jain, Tanya Shetty, Tvisha Gala and Anushka Bereja scored 10, 6, 4 and 4 points respectively achieving a glorious victory for the team.

VIBGYOR High has a specially designed curriculum for sports that provides professional training and guidance to the students imparted by skilled and expert coaches. The students are offered dedicated time-slots every week to enhance their athletic skills, helping them win at various sports competitions.

Creating reflexive and critical thinkers of tomorrow

By Ms. Kavita Sahay – Director, Schools and Academics, VIBGYOR High Group of Schools

Ms.-Kavita-Sahay
Today, meaningful, useful education is something all students need regardless of the career choices they will eventually make. Learning for the child takes place in many ways and the curriculum accords equal importance to what a child learns and the process by which he or she learns it. The curriculum recognizes that the child should be an active agent in his or her own learning and that the child’s existing knowledge and environmental experience should be the starting point for new knowledge. When children are accorded a positive school experience which includes development of their literacy, numeracy and communication skills, this in turn enhances their self-esteem and confidence and their motivation to learn is increased.

The main focus of our educational programme is on the HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT of the students, equipping them with the essential skills of the technically evolving 21st century. With this end in view, we have designed a unique curriculum that is based on the Principles of Integrated Learning and the Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

Our teaching methodology is an eclectic mix of cognitive and experiential and activity based learning strategies that cater to the three learning styles – VISUAL, AUDITORY and KINESTHETIC learners (VAK model). Our teaching modules are replete with Hands-on-learning activities, audio-visual aids, experimentations, investigations and research activities that form a part of the Enquiry-based and Project Based Learning Strategies.

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The above diagram represents the structure of the curriculum and the intervening methodologies that define the teaching pedagogy at VIBGYOR HIGH

Experiential Learning
Experiential learning is any learning that supports students in applying their knowledge and conceptual understanding to real-world problems or situations where the instructor directs and facilitates learning. This is a holistic perspective that combines experience, perception, cognition and behavior. Experiential learning teaches students the competencies they need for real-world success.

Enquiry based Learning
Enquiry-based approach to teaching and learning is its potential to increase intellectual engagement and foster deep understanding through the development of a hands-on, minds-on and ‘research-based disposition’ towards teaching and learning. Inquiry honours the complex, interconnected nature of knowledge construction, striving to provide opportunities for both teachers and students to collaboratively build, test and reflect on their learning.

Project Based Learning
The core idea of project-based learning is that real-world problems capture students’ interest and provoke serious thinking as the students acquire and apply new knowledge in a problem-solving context.

Multiple Intelligences
Multiple Intelligence forms the core of the teaching process at VIBGYOR High as we endeavour to create learning opportunities to cultivate each intelligence. A unit of study is approached from different perspectives in order to draw out the latent abilities of the student in each of the domains: Linguistic, Mathematical, Musical, Visual-Spatial, Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal and Naturalist.

Mind Maps
Mind Maps are based on the congnitivist approach to learning. This teaching methodology focuses on creating cognitive structures for learning that will facilitate understanding and easy recall. The use of mind maps train students to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and aids in studying and organizing information, solving problems and making decisions in their later years.

VAK Model
This model consists of creating different sensory experiences to aid Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic learning. Through this model, the concept is internalized through activities that generate visual auditories and Kinestethic memories that form the basis for future learning.

At VIBGYOR High, we recognize the importance of making real world connections between the subject taught, and the students’ experiences, through these teaching methodologies that encourage the students to become reflexive and critical thinkers and active participants in a dynamically changing world.

Article by Ms. Kavita Sahay published in Career 360 magazine

VIBGYOR High School, Lucknow launches VIBGYOR High Greeders Club

A CBSE affiliated, VIBGYOR High School, Lucknow, launched VIBGYOR High Greeders Club (VHGC). The event was held in the school premises on Saturday, October 17, 2015. This club is specially designed for the students of Grade 5 to 7. VIBGYOR High Greeders Club is a Literary Club which aims to help students develop their reading skills further and this serves to enhance vocabulary, improve writing skills, and thereby enabling students to express thoughts and opinions creatively.

Ms. Sameena Shaikh, an entrepreneur and author/publisher of an educational children’s book – ‘Adventures of Donna the Dolphin: The Challenge’, inaugurated the Club. She also conducted a reading session of her book along with students to encourage the habit of reading among them. The school will continue to undertake various activities like book reading sessions by an author, screening of a movie based on a book, quiz, games, book discussion, analysis and a lot more, as a part of this Club.

Commenting on the initiative, Ms. Rashmi Singh, Principal, VIBGYOR High Lucknow School said, “At VIBGYOR High, we encourage the reading of literary novels as a part of our curriculum starting from Grade 1 onwards and also promote early reading amongst preschool students. VIBGYOR High Greeders Club is an additional activity undertaken, which will help students further develop their interest in reading and enhance their literacy skills.”

As a part of the activity, Ms. Sameena Shaikh said, “My mission through my books is to revive and refresh the book reading habit among children and to enhance their vocabulary skills. I am glad to be associated with VIBGYOR High who is taking such initiatives to inculcate the joy of reading amongst children at a young age.”

Daan Utsav – The Joy of Giving Charity Festival at VIBGYOR Group of Schools

Daan Utsav, called the Joy of Giving Week, is celebrated from October 5 to 9. It is one of India’s largest festivals to celebrate the joys of giving. VIBGYOR High celebrated this joyous week in their unique way by:

  • Sandwich making (For Grades 4 & 5) – with ingredients brought from home, the students prepared some yummy and healthy sandwiches in just 45 minutes! These sandwiches were then packaged with apples and biscuits with personalised messages to be distributed to the children of Kudlu Government School.
  • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (For Grades 6 to 9) – The children started with participating in cleaning the school’s surroundings. The students made posters and walked the streets shouting slogans on cleanliness. Donations like gloves, masks, sanitizers, and beverages were made to show solidarity for the cause. Narayana Multispecialty Hospital, HSR presented 3 First Aid Kits and caps for all the students and had a First Aid Tent put up as well. Doctors from Sakra Hospital inducted the students on health hazards and safety and gifted a First Aid Kit.
  • Piggybank (All grades) – A piggybank was put up in a common area in the school and students were encouraged to give whatever amount of money they wish. At the end of the week, the money collected will be given to blind schools.
  • Wish tree (For Grade 1) – Each student was given a wish tag with a smiley to write the things they wish to contribute. These were put up on a plant created in the school allowing the children to grant the wishes and replace the wish tag with a smiley. Materials contributed will be distributed to orphanages and old age homes.

The students enthusiastically participated in all the activities and were happy to help in whatever way they could.

VIBGYOR High School, Goregaon students to represent Maharashtra State in U-14 Girls DSO Basketball at National level

Two students, Vedika Sud and Tvisha Gala of Grade VIII, ICSE from VIBGYOR High School, Goregaon are selected to represent Maharashtra State at the National Level Basketball Tournament. The selection took place based on their outstanding performance at the DSO U-14 State Level Basketball Tournament 2015, held at Shivaji Nagar Gymkhana, Dharampeth, Nagpur, from October 3rd to 6th, this year. The event witnessed participation various schools of Maharashtra, across different categories.

Expressing his views, Mr. Shim Mathew, Principal of VIBGYOR High Goregaon School said, “Both, Vedika and Tvisha are very hard working and talented students and I would like to congratulate them on behalf of the entire school. I would also like to congratulate and thank our coaches for providing extensive training and guidance to our students, allowing them to excel in the sphere of sports.”

VIBGYOR High School, Goregaon has been winning numerous trophies at State levels across various sports like Basketball, Judo, Lawn Tennis, Swimming, Skating and Gymnastics. VIBGYOR High has a specially designed sports training curriculum for its students that helps identify and nurture athletic abilities. Students are offered dedicated time-slots every week to practice and further strengthen their skills in the sport. The training and guidance by professional coaches, best in-class infrastructure, appropriate equipments and a host of other sport enrichment activities further add an advantage to the students’ development in sports.