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Principal’s Desk Update – October 2024

  • 8 October 2024

Dear Parents

I hope you are enjoying the autumn break with your children and the festivities. As October unfolds, we enter a vibrant new chapter in our academic journey. I’m excited to share some important updates and recent events at our school.

Global University Fair:
In the last week of September, we held our Global University Fair, open to all students and parents. Over 500 attendees connected with representatives from more than 50 world-class institutions across the USA, UK, India, China, Australia, Europe, Singapore, UAE, and Canada. This event provided valuable insights into trending career options, admission criteria, and scholarship opportunities for undergraduate programs. Participants also received tips on crafting standout applications.

Cast Away Leadership Camp Grades 9-12:
The Leadership Camp focused on developing leadership and self-management skills through a nature appreciation program. Participants experienced:

  • Culinary Exploration: They engaged with diverse cultures through recipes from various regions of India.
  • Adventure-Based Challenges: Students took part in various activities that required teamwork and physical fitness.
  • Sports and Traditional Games: Participants enjoyed indigenous games like Gilli Danda, Lagori, and Kabaddi, cultivating a deeper connection to local culture.
  • Tradition and Culture Immersions: The camp provided enriching experiences that instilled a sensitized perspective of the countryside and its traditions.

Through these activities, participants imbibed leadership values and increased their adaptive capacity, developing traits such as humility, compassion, empathy, and determination while exploring the wilderness and engaging in self-reflection.

National Trip (Grades 4-8):
Our students recently returned from an insightful trip to Bangalore, Mysore, and Coorg, exploring historically rich cities and majestic palaces. The journey offered a blend of fun and educational activities, promoting exploration and critical thinking.

Student Engagement:
Grade 11 and 12 Psychology students visited Lebenshilfe, a school for neurodiverse individuals, gaining insights into therapies and personal progress. A special thank you to our social impact team, which raised funds to support this visit and provided a generous grocery donation!

Wellbeing and Safeguarding:
A guest lecture titled “Good Touch, Bad Touch: Know the Difference!” Our EY2 learners benefited from an engaging session with Ms. Hyndavi from Pfizer Health Care, learning about personal boundaries through interactive props.

Health & Safety Update:
We conducted our first-ever lockdown drill at the school, marking an important step in our safety preparedness. To ensure everyone was well-informed, teachers participated in a separate induction session, followed by a dedicated session for students. After these inductions, we executed a mock drill. We were pleasantly surprised by the performance of our youngest students in Grade EY, who demonstrated remarkable understanding and maturity throughout the exercise.

Parent-Student Educator Meeting:
It was heartening to see great attendance from Early Years parents, facilitating valuable conversations. Thank you to the parents of Grade 12 CBSE for attending the PSEM. We have crafted personalized strategies to support student success.

Upcoming Events:

  • Internships: We are facilitating internships for Grades 9-12 students at GITAM University in Management, Law, and Design during the second week of October.
  • OISV MUN (November 8-10): Join us for the second edition of Youth for a Sustainable Future, a fully student-led event.

Thank you for your continued support.

Warm regards

Shaila Bhamidipati

Principal

Oakridge International School, Visakhapatnam