Recent Happenings

Ready, Set, Go!!!

The beginning of spring brings with it the annual Sports Day celebrations at the Isha Vidhya schools. Sports Day, held in matriculation schools throughout India, presents an opportunity for students to demonstrate their prowess outside of the classroom in a variety of athletic events. The Isha Vidhya schools combined Sports Day this year with the Annual Day celebrations, in which the rich and diverse Indian culture is displayed through songs, dance and theatre performances.

Sandegounden Palayam School (Coimbatore) held their Sports Day and Annual Day over February 14th and 15th. The morning started off with a lighting of the Olympic Torch and bowl by chief guest of honor, Mrs. Maheshwari, principal of Isha Home School. The first events of the day were mass drills, performed by the students from 2nd and 3rd standards. Stepping with precision, the students twirled ribbon-laden batons while moving from one formation to another. Following the drills, the students dazzled the audience with a series of intricate human pyramids.

Students from each class competed in running races, with preliminary and final heats for each event. Second and third standard students also competed in the shot put. Teachers, staff and parents not only watched the events, but took their own turn at racing, with the students enthusiastically cheering them on. The first, second and third place winners in each event were called to the podium to be crowned and receive their medals.

The Perumapalayam School (Erode) held their Sports Day and Annual Day on the 21st of February. With over one hundred parents in attendance along with special invitees including local political and business leaders, the athletic field was packed! The day’s program began with a fusion dance by 1st and 2nd standard students and a western-style dance by the kindergarten students.

The sports events began with mass drills. Parents and special guests were amazed that even the kindergarten students were able to complete the marching formations with such accuracy. Students next competed in races including the Rabbit Race, the Balloon Race, the Three-Legged Race, and the Lemon and Spoon Race. Teachers, staff and parents also then took their turn at the competitions.

At the conclusion of the Perumapalayam Sports Day program, a short ceremony was held to symbolically distribute scholarships to seven of the 196 students at the school on scholarship. With tears in their eyes, parent after parent shared how the scholarships had touched the life of his or her child, opening the door for a future full of hope and opportunity. Included below is a translation of one of the parent’s words.

“I’m a barber by profession. Only because of the scholarship program is my daughter, Sunmathi, able to study in this type of English-medium school with computer facilities. She is the first one in my family to study in a matriculation school! I thank the Isha Institution for providing a scholarship to my daughter.”

Mr.Rangasami

To hear more about what parents, students and donors have to say about Isha Vidhya, please visit the Impressions page.

To view another recent Isha Vidhya news article, click on the following link: Isha Vidhya Bus Inauguration.