Hindustan Times e-Paper - Hindustan Times (Gurgaon) - 18 May 2014 - Page #56 Page 1 of 1

The Sagar School is a blend of tech-nology with state-of-the-art infra-structure and facilities at par withinternational standards. In aconversation with Director SharmisthaJulka, the opportunities within theclassroom and outside are discussed

PROVIDING OVERALLDEVELOPMENT..

Tell us about your journey so farThe Sagar School is a thriving co-educational board-ing eBSE SchooL a two hours drive from New Delhiairport, 4.5 hoursorfve from daipur.Jocated on a pic-turesque 160 acre campus.

Today we have more than 300 students on the rollsin classes IV to XII with an optimum buill·in capacityof 450 siuoents. Which was ones an undulating bar-ren land is now an oasis, replete with more than 2500beautiful flowering trees, over 10,000 shrubs and fruitorchards-each planted with immense planning andcare. With an excellent teacher-student ratio of 1:8,and students from 20 states across India and manyother countries, studying in classes IV 10XII, TheSagar School is now acknowledged as one of India'sleading boarding schools (top 30) and has beendeclared as number 1 co-educational boardingschool in Rajasthan by Education World rankings.

How did your school/institution came into ex-istente?The Sagar School was founded in the year 2000 bythe late Or. Vidya Sagar, an icon in the field 01corpo-rate and intellectual property law. The school was adream proj(!d of this visionary whO in his own child-hood was sponsored for his education and later as hegrew up and became successful in life. aspired to setup a boarding school away from the city lile for girlsand boys to grow up as independent individuals withrife skills and values to sustain them for the 21stcen-turylMng.

His dream came true when his efforts bore fruitwith the combined perseverance and zest of theDirector and founding member Sbarmlstha Julka.Consequently, the Foundation Stone of The SagarSchool was laid on November 30, t997 by hisaccomplished daughter Rosemary Sagar who is f"IOW

the Chairperson of the School. The institution wasdedicated to the nation on February 17.2001 byHelga Sagar (wile of Or. Vidya Sagar). in the pres-ence 01 the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, AshokGehlot.

What is the pllilosophy of yourinstitution!s<hool?The philosophy the school is to provide a home away.from home and to function as a 'crucible of democra-cy' in a 'green campus' where a child can grow up asa self -awere, well rounded and well adjusted inafVid-ual who can productively engage with other peopleand thereby attain self- eciuausauon.

How did you adapt: technology to impart quali-ty education?Technofogy is wen blended at the campus and main-tains a balance between the tradiUonal aesthetics 01teaching and the latest hi-teen computer aided edu-cation:

• The infrastructure incorporates computer- aidedteaching classrooms with projectors that are con-nected to the schoolLAN and internet broadbandconnectivity. The school has two fulJy equippedcomputer laboratories with 24 computers each.Students are allowed to use Internet under supervi-sion with proper cyber security in place.

• E-Ieaching-Icarning material supports ctassroomteaching with online education, e-tutoring, e-leam-ing. assessment and guidance. Computer softwareto facilitate geospalial studies and language devel-opment is in place.

• The library is automated with the Oewey decimalclassification system and bar code.

• There are lully developed separate and adequatelyequipped labs for each of the pure sciences andalso for applied sciences.

• A state-of-the-art observatory with a research levelcelestron telescope allows for study and researchin astronomy.

What initiatives are being taken by you to pro-vide students international exposure?The school is chaired by Rosemary Sagar who hascarried on the vision of her illustrious father Dr. VidyaSagar, who from his vast lifetime experiences in Indiaand abroad, envisioned this school with an mtema-ncnat emcs.

It was built by the internationally acclaimed archi-tects - Stein. Mani. Chowfla (also the architects of the

SHARMISTHA JULKADIRECTOR. THE SAGAR SCHOOL

One thing people don't knowabout you: Everyone may not knowthat the school has adopted theneighbouring village Malliyer nunaras its social out-reach endeavour andthe students are involved intensivelyin developmental activities.

Your Success Mantra: Nature andNurture!Your Role Model: Our FounderLate Or. VidyaSagar_Vision: We embody the vision of thefounder, late Dr. Vidya Saqar-"Throughout my life, I have beendeeply influenced by the values andcultural heritage of India, Europe andthe far east. This school is aculmination of my vision to merge thefin~t educational practices of theseworlds. Here, each Sagarian isencouraged to become confident.inquisitive and independent minded,while acquiring the virtues ofexcellence, discipline and respect.U5P: The unique selling propositionof The Sagar School is theunparalleled infrastructure withworld-class facilities, a greenphilosophy and having arguably theonly in-built high school observatoryin the country.Visual and Performing Arts:

• Vocal and instrumental music -bothIndian and western

• Dance-both contemporary andclassical forms

• Theatre• Art. clay modelling. sculpture. tie &dye. paper rnache' and painting

• hosting Spicmacay programmes

Clubs & societies:Astronomy, Aeru-modellinq,Carpentry, Cookery, Debating,Equestrian. Gardening, JewelleryDesigning, Photography. Vedic Math

Indian International Centre in New Delhi). Adit Pal,now based in California, is the person behind mebeautiful landscaping and gardening concepts.

The school believes in a true multi ettmic, eueroe-tional culture blended into the national curriculumwith students coming from different countries. Theschool is the recipient of me prestigiouS InternationalSchool A'o'./8fds(2010-13). affRiated to the BritishCouncil and as such celebration of international daysand festivals is woven in. the annual calendar ofevents. Foreign studenl-exchange programmes withGermany. Japan and the NASA programme at USAis an annual event. Foreign tourist destinationsindude Egypt and Mauritius. The young students alsoenrol for tile International Awards fOI'Young People(IAYP awards- formerly Ooke of Edinburgh) andunder this international programme students under-take community service, physical recreason. skill andadventure journeys.Tell US about the role of your institution forholistic growth of students.The school will always prove itself to be the placewhere everyone is precious and appreciated for his orher intrinsic Qualities. In other words, the atmosphereover here will constantly endeavour to focus 011 thecomplete potential of each and every student and willstrive to foster in each one an undying enthusiasm forlifelong learning. The school strives to forever be theplace where staff members, parents and other slakeholders synergise their resources and creativity toenrich the learning environment in which. the childrencan ho~stically and fully develop their physical. intel-lectual. emotional, social and spiritual capacities,How is your institution committed towardsmaking future leaders?We are committed in creating leaders who firmlybelieve that dreams can be transformed into reality.Therefore, we encourage students to believe invision, trust, teamwork and the power of relation-ships. The future leaders and global citizens are chis-elled through the various literary, cultural and sportingactivities planned in school. through conscious deci-sion making and governance by the students guidedby the Student Council and the menu committeemembers, healthy competitions at inter-school levelsand exploring beyond the campus through an the ISAand IAYP activities.

~~

- Affiliated to the Central Board ofSecondary Education and a memberof the Gurgaon Progressive SchoolCouncil and also the Atwarsencdeve.

- First and only youth EngagingSociety (YES) centre for IAYPinRajasthan.

- Recipient of the InternationalSchool Award, British Council- 2010-\3.

ACHIEVEMENTS- The Sagar School has been rankedNo-I co-ed boarding school inRaiasthan by Education World inSeptember 2013 and is amongst thetop 30 resldentiel educational msti-tutesin India.

PERSONAL GOALBuild up Tbe Sagar School to:- Be the leader among educational

institutions- Not providing instruction but pro-

ducinglearning- Ensuring that school curriculum is

atways synchronised with the evolv-ing demands of the work place

- Propagate the noons, atmosphereand temperament of Inclusive esu-cation

- Fulfil the aspirations of the NationalCurriculum Framework

- To fulfill aspirations of parents /stake-holders in providing the high-est Quality educational experienceis available to their child in a stressfree and safe environment withmanifold educational choices

ACADEMICS AND BEYOND- Two academic blocks with spacious

classrooms and lecture roomsequipped with computers and pro-jectors

- Science block with laboratories foreach branch of science.and alsoapplied sciences

- El'lSUring that school curriculum isalways synchronised with the evolv-ing demands of the wcrkplace

- Multimedia centre with a well-stocked library

- lWn well-equipped computer labo-ratories with broadbandconneclivi·ty

- Performing and Creative ArtsCentre with studios. acousticallydesigned music rooms and a danceroom with wooden floor and mIrrorwalls

- Observatory with 14.5 inch researchlevel CClewOR telescope

- Well-equipped auditorium andamphitheatre