between the 'local' and 'global'. Through the various projects that we have planned for them, over the past few years, the students were able to -
Maria's Public School, Guwahati Address: Birkuchi, Narengi, Guwaha – 781026, Assam, India Phone No. +91- 8383968702, +91- 9864068171 E-mail: principal@mariaspublicschool.org Website: h p://mariaspublicschool.org/ Over the years, Maria's Public School has accomplished innumerable accolades, victories, successes as well as healthy failures. One true reason that has contributed to this is the Marian Vision - 'Learning Beyond the Classroom' envisaged by the Founder Managing Trustee, Nellie Ahmed, ever since the school was established in 1988. This vision has not provided just one single pla orm but various other portals have opened up for the students and educators to demonstrate their academic, crea ve and co-scholas c capabili es. From the primary level, children get opportuni es to engage in real life learning experiences, adhering to a curriculum that balances academics and experien al learning. Ac vi es like Nature Walks, Biodiversity Awareness and Conserva on Educa on Programmes are organized each year. One par cular avenue that we always focus on and believe in providing value is the cultural exchange; every year we provide an opportunity to students as well as teachers to visit countries abroad, and contribute to the Interna onal Cultural Exchange Programmes. It has benefited our students tremendously to evolve as responsible and sensi ve individuals, with the same respect for other cultures as their own. It has also helped to foster a feeling of Global Competence and a sense of Global Ci zenship. The Marian Educa onal fraternity ac vely par cipates in songs, dramas and organizes street plays and skits which represent our true tradi on and history, which connects adheres students to their 'roots'. MPS now basks in the light of the learning outcomes through its affilia ons to various Na onal and Interna onal Organiza ons - AFS, Round Square, The Green Schools Alliance, TAISI, to name a few, which further enhances the learning modules, enabling the Students
- Learn firsthand about the impact of culture on values and the decisions they make - Gain the ability to be er see themselves through the eyes of others - Challenge assump ons - Broaden their views on stereotypes and global issues - Gain understanding on how to shi perspec ves effec vely, appropriately and authen cally - Create innova ve solu ons to resolve real-world challenges - Develop the prac cal 21st century skills, knowledge and understanding needed to become ac ve global ci zens There have been instances when our students, in true spirit of celebra ng our very own fes val 'Bihu', had visited the nearby Police sta on to not only honour the bravery of the people of the law enforcement, but also make them feel special. As part of the school's community outreach program, our students have visited mental health awareness centres and interacted with the most vulnerable and unique of our social strata. The experience helped the students to understand the nuances of social inclusion and the need for inclusivity and sustainable development that works for all, not just a few. Community connec on is imbibed in the curriculum and educa onal ac on plans of MPS and the students are connected to Local Communi es around the School, located in Birkuchi, Narengi, Guwaha , Assam. Resource sharing cons tutes most of the ac vi es, where the students explore a bond through lessons, artworks, cra and gardening. MPS has also been suppor ng communi es located in remote areas in the States of Meghalaya and Rajasthan, where the students have connected with fellow students coming from mountain and forest communi es. Through its own Conserva on Educa on and Community Interac on Camp located at Gailpur, Rajasthan - the Maria's Braveheart, the students explore Global Paradigms of Community Interac on and Service by a ending programmes twice every year. A latest addi on to our ventures took place in Sept, 2018 when we joined hands with AFS and became part of their extended family. We cannot hope to confront the climate emergency without the meaningful par cipa on of all stakeholders involved and to that effect, AFS is a truly wonderful pla orm to mobilize opinions for affirma ve ac on, and most importantly to design an organized, collabora ve student-teacher task force that would address Local and Global Problems, throw per nent ques ons to get the right answers and explore possibili es for collec ve solu on which is the need of the 21st century. Page 03 | October 2020 | Newsle er | AFS India
