The students of KG-II at Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir sat for an interaction with Miss Disha Chakraborty, ex-student of this institution and the only student from India as well as Asia to be selected by NASA for a beginner astronaut trainee programme at their Huntsville Space Centre, Alabama, USA. She chatted with the children about her experience during the various phases and modules of her training and her stay at the Space Centre, showing videos and pictures. The children were quite excited to hear the anecdotes and watch the videos.
The Mother’s Birthday (Sri Ma Jayanti) – 21st February 2023
The Mother’s Birthday was observed with due solemnity on Tuesday 21st February (2023) at Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre, New Alipore, Kolkata. Students of the School – Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir came with parents, paid their respects to The Mother and received gifts. The evening programme began with inauguration of an exhibition of works of art and craft by the Art Section, followed by a talk on integral education by Ms. Deepanwita Sarkar, teacher of biology at St. Joseph & Mary’s School. New Alipore and devotional songs by Sri Sreedeep Mondal accompanied by Sri Sudip Chatterjee on the tabla. Teachers, present as well as ex-students of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir presented a drama based on the theme of joyful learning and thereafter, a dance recital depicting four aspects of The Mother – Maheswari, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali.
The Art Section of the Centre presented a cultural programme by their students the next day (Wednesday 22nd February) and a drama by the instructors of the same. Parents and guests visited the exhibition which remained open and watched the performance of the students and instructors.
An exploration into the world of pollinators – by Dr. Saikat Kumar Basu
On Friday, 17th February 2023, Dr. Saikat Kumar Basu, Executive Research Director, PFS, based in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, and a columnist, visited Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir and held a session with digital presentation for the children of KG-II, titled “an exploration into the world of pollinators (like bees) and why are they important for us” to establish the idea within them and make them aware to be sensitive towards the environment as responsible citizens of the future.
Children’s Day (2022) observed at Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir
On the occasion of Children’s Day (on 14th November 2022), the students of classes Nursery-A and Nursery-B went to the Kolkata Zoological Garden, Alipore, where they spent the morning watching animals with their teachers. Parents were also asked to accompany and a good outdoor session was held at the zoo. At the School, the students of KGI and KGII participated along with their teachers, in a set of activity competitions (moving a bit away from the usual sports competitions) which was a thoroughly enjoyable session for them.
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Year-end Notice 2022 – existing students
75th year of Independence and Sri Aurobindo’s 150th Birth Anniversary
Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre with its wings observed the 75th Independence Day and the 150th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo on 15th August 2022. Hoisting of the National Tricolour took place at 8.00 a.m. by the Principal of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir. The students presented the prayer “make of us hero warriors” sung to a tune and a synchronized drill. All students, including those of the Art Section, who were present were given cakes and chocolates. Meditation was held at the Shrine from 10.30 to 10.45 a.m. There was a cultural programme on the occasion, paying tribute to Sri Aurobindo on the occasion with song offerings by Smt. Sucharita Das, empanelled vocal artist in the Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal and a flute recital by Shri Debkumar Dey, empanelled artist in All India Radio and Doordarshan. Accompanying them on the tabla was Shri Sudip Chatterjee, an eminent tabla player, recipient of gold medal from H.E. the Governor of West Bengal. Prasad was distributed to devotees, guests and workers of the Institution in the end.
Teachers’ orientation programme – July 2022
Two groups of teachers from a rural primary school Sri Sri Ramakrishna Sishutirtha Nursery Vidyamandir of Khejuri (in East Midnapore) and a new school to be established in Chandannagar (Hooghly) participated in a three-day orientation programme at Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir. Conducted by the Principal and teachers of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir, the programme covered importance of integral education following the thoughts of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother and incorporation of such aspects in the school curriculum with demonstration of some activities for such practice amongst students, preparation of syllabus from pre-primary stages upto class four and lesson plans. The same was held at Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir from 25th to 27th July (2022) with nine participants.
Admission for session 2023 – Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir
Teachers’ Orientation (rural)
A two-day orientation programme covering areas like making learning interesting, use of art, drama, in day to day learning, use of digital medium according to their place and situation, etc. was conducted for a small group of teachers from a primary school of Banamalipur village near Lakshmikantapur and a non-formal school in K-plot, an island between the rivers Matla and Thakuraan,approachable from Patharpratima.
The orientation was conducted by teachers of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir on 17th and 18th November 2021.
Mental Health of Children
MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN
SEPTEMBER 2019
An awareness programme on mental health of children was held at Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir on 15th September 2019 with eminent psychiatrist Dr. Soumitra Basu as the resource person. Parents and guardians of KG classes attended. The session began with a general presentation on the important points parents must adhere to regarding mental health of children, followed by a long interactive session where parents discussed specific problems and received suggestions on ways to deal with them.
