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“A Cultural Exchange is a bridge to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the people of different nations. It helps in creating a better world by teamwork, partnership and collaboration”.
In an attempt to know our friends better and strengthen our ties, the students of St. Mark’s World School were invited to Veres Peter Gimnazium, Budapest, to complete the second phase of the Student Exchange Programme. A delegation of 13 students of Class XII, escorted by their teacher coordinators, Ms. Anjali Handa and Ms. Sukriti Jain visited Budapest, Hungary, from 28 May to 5 June, 2024. Our delegation also got the opportunity to visit our other partner school in Budapest, Obudai Arpad Gimnazium. The main aim of the student exchange programme is to broaden the students' horizons from a cultural and linguistic point of view, and to promote their personality development.
Through this international collaboration, our students got acquainted with various aspects of the Hungarian culture and tradition through interactive sessions, group activities, presentations and guided tours of Budapest, Szentendre and Lake Balaton, under the assistance of the Hungarian teachers, Ms. Andrea Boncz and Ms. Erika Stark. Our students attended cooking as well as Hungarian folk dance and musical recitals, and showcased their culture by performing the traditional folk dance of Punjab, Gidda, for the Hungarian audience at school. The students and teachers also went for a guided tour of the Parliament of Hungary, the world’s third largest Parliament building and a night cruise on river Danube, which was a unique experience.
Thus, the homestay programme of the Indian students with Hungarian families taught our students tolerance and discipline, and lead to a better understanding of the diversity in culture. It has not only strengthened the relationship between our schools and the two countries, but also created a bond with the people of Hungary. |
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Class XI students of St. Mark's World School recently connected with students of Kaohsiung Cianjhen Senior High School, Taiwan via Zoom Meet to explore the world of food.
We shared insights on our culinary traditions, fostering a rich exchange of cultural experiences.
We gained a deeper appreciation for global cuisines and the cultural connections they forge, thanks to technology's role in bridging geographical gaps.
Our virtual exchange underscored the importance of cross-cultural learning and celebrating diversity in our interconnected world. |
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“Culture is this thing that we can exchange among ourselves as human beings to knock aside our differences and build upon our similarities. Cultural exchange is the ultimate exchange.” - Chuck D.
In yet another Global Exchange Program, we welcomed our friends from Budapest, Hungary to India. Our Vice Principal Dr. Sabina Shergill greeted teachers, Andrea Boncz and Erika Stark along with the students from Veres Peter Gimnazium School. The delegates were given a traditional welcome with garlands. The delegation marked their delightful presence from 15th January 2024 to 21st January 2024.
In order to make the Hungarians aware of our diverse culture and history, we organised traditional activities for them like Worli Art card making activity, Vedic Maths workshop and exciting Indian food cooking sessions. They were taken to popular historical sites like Iskcon temple, Buddhist Monastery, Lotus Temple, etc. To present our rich culture in a more meaningful way, the students from our school presented a beautiful amalgamation of cultures through Indian folk dances, Kathakali and Dandiya. The Hungarian students also took over the stage and exhibited their brilliant dancing skills. Among all these adventures, the highlight of their trip was “Dilli Darshan”. All the students treasured those captivating and timeless historical sites.
To give them a more memorable experience with us, our Principal Ms. Sheena Kalenga and esteemed dignitaries exchanged mementos and addressed the respected students and teachers from Hungary, thereby celebrating the bonds over boundaries. |
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Cultural Exchange is a bridge to enhance understanding and friendship between the people of different nations. It fosters understanding, appreciation and a celebration of our shared humanity. In an attempt to strengthen Indo-Bulgarian bond, a delegation of 8 students of Classes XI and XII along with Principal Nelly Kostova and 2 teacher coordinators, Ms. Veneta Velkova and Ms. Irina Andonova of 32 High Language, Sofia, Bulgaria visited St. Mark's World School from 10 to 16 January, 2024 for a student homestay programme.
During the visit, students of both the schools showcased the values, traditions and other aspects of their cultures through power point presentations and dance performances. The student teacher delegation had an opportunity to visit places Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, which are one of the most popular heritage sites of India. Our students also got an opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of Delhi by visiting Lotus Temple, Jamalikamali, Lodhi Garden, ISCKON Temple etc. In order to bid farewell to the student-teacher delegation from Bulgaria, our school organized a cultural program wherein Ms. Tsvetelina Gecheva, Deputy Chief of Mission, graced the occasion with her presence on behalf of the Embassy of Bulgaria. Principal Nelly Kostova and coordinators Ms. Veneta Velkova and Ms. Irina Andonova from 32 High Language School, Sofia, Bulgaria, too marked their presence in the cultural program, where everyone enjoyed the classical Bharat Natyam performance by Meenakshi Somnathan, followed by the Dandiya dance by Class IX students. The program concluded with the exchange of mememtos between our principal, Ms. Sheena Kalenga, Vice Principal, Dr. Sabina Shergill, and esteemed dignitaries, promising an everlasting friendship bond between the two countries. |
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The enduring friendship between India and Russia reached new heights during a remarkable chapter in our school's history. A student exchange program unfolded between our institution and School 525 with an Extensive Course of English in St. Petersburg, Russia, from December 10 to 18, 2023. A delegation of 10 students, accompanied by their Vice Principal, Ms. Tatiana Anatolievna, and the dedicated teacher coordinator, Ms. Victoria Kniazkova, graced our school with their presence. This cultural exchange provided them with a first hand experience of Indian traditions and unparalleled hospitality.
Throughout their stay, the Russian explored historical landmarks of Delhi, vibrant markets, and savored the diverse flavors of Indian cuisine. A highlight of their visit was the awe-inspiring trip to Agra, where they marveled at the majestic Taj Mahal.
Within the school premises, the exchange students actively participated in various activities. They engaged in lively games, learned the intricate art of Warli painting, and showcased their newfound skills in the bamboo dance. Additionally, they attended classes in subjects such as Political Science, Mathematics, English, and Psychology, fostering a cross-cultural academic exchange with their Indian counterparts. They all prepared Indian breakfast in the cooking session and relished it.
A captivating cultural program was organized to welcome the esteemed Russian delegation, comprising three distinguished diplomats from the Russian Embassy. Among them were Ms. Yulia Aryaeva, the esteemed Counsellor and Head of the Cultural Section; Ms. Yulia Golubkina, the accomplished Second Secretary; and Mr. Mikhail Antsiferov, the esteemed Attache. This diplomatic visit was orchestrated to witness and celebrate the burgeoning relationship between our schools.
As they bid farewell, the Russian students carried back with them not just memories of a vibrant and diverse country but also the warmth of cherished friendships. |
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The online meet between the students of St. Mark's World School and the School 525 with extensive course of English, Spb, Russia marked the beginning of a beautiful friendship, transcending geographical boundaries. As the saying goes, "True friends stay with you no matter the distance or time that separates you from them," these students embarked on a journey to nurture a sweet bond of friendship that defies the constraints of miles and time.
The students of St. Mark's took the initiative to foster a deeper connection by presenting a Power-Point that delved into the rich symbols and features of India. This thoughtful gesture was not merely an academic exercise but a genuine effort to familiarize their Russian friends with the cultural tapestry of their homeland. |
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“True friends stay with you no matter the distance or time that separates you from them” - Lance Reynald.
The Indo-Lankan bond continued to flourish when our student-teacher delegation from St. Marks World School visited Ladies’ College in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 6 to 14 October 2023, strengthening their friendship even more.
The delegation got a sponsorship from the India – Sri Lanka Foundation, and truly enjoyed their stay with the host buddies, and experienced a large variety of culture variations thus expanding their horizons in the outer world.
Our students were greeted with a heart warming welcome, dance and music, and were made to familiarise with their classrooms and infrastructure.
Cuisine and dance forms being significant parts of one's culture, the students attended a cooking session and a Bharatnatyam class, familiarising with the Sri Lankan arts.
Ladies' College's Principal, Ms. Deepika Dassenaike taught our girls the ways of the traditional Kandyan attire, Osari. The students and our teachers had the extreme pleasure of enjoying dinner at her place, too.
Our students had the elite pleasure of visiting the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, Mr. Gopal Baglay and the opportunity to have an engaging conversation with him about their future and what awaits for them as they grow.
Not only did our students spent their time exploring the city and their lifestyle, they experienced the delight of trying new sports and activities like snooker, archery, karate and rowing too.
Our student-teacher delegation also had the chance of touring around Galle for a couple days. They visited the famous Galle Fort, the jungle beach and shopped around Peddler's street.
The students bid farewell on 14th October with laughters and cries, which will be remembered throughout their lives. But the students await to meet each other again! |
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“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller.
Cultural Exchange fosters understanding, appreciation and a celebration of our shared humanity. In an attempt to strengthen Indo-Bulgarian bond, a delegation of 10 students of Classes XI and XII along with 2 teachers, Ms. Anjali Handa and Ms. Divya Magotra of St.Mark's World School visited St. Kliment Ohridski School, Sofia, Bulgaria from 3 to 10 October, 2023 for a student homestay programme.
During the visit, students of both the schools showcased the values, traditions and other aspects of their cultures through powerpoint presentations and dance performances. Our delegation along with their hosting partners had an opportunity to visit places like Plovdiv and Rila Monastery, which are one of the most popular heritage sites of Bulgaria. Our students also got an opportunity to explorethe city of Sofia and visited historical monuments namely History of Sofia Museum, Science Museum and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Lastly, on the closing ceremony of the Indo-Bulgarian Cultural Exchange Programme, the Principal of St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia, Ms. Nelly Kostova motivated the students and teachers by giving them certificates of appreciation. Mementos were exchanged and keeping the pleasant memories of a lifetime in their heart, our students bid goodbye to their host families, promising to stay connected. |
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| Cultural Exchange Programs for school students are aimed to enhance student's intercultural skills and knowledge. Keeping the spirit high, a delegation of 10 students travelling to Bulgaria, met our Principal, Ms. Sheena Kalenga and Vice Principal, Ms. Sabina Shergill before departing. The students not only grasped a few tips on their code of conduct during the exchange program but also learnt how they can make this trip a rewarding and memorable experience. |
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“Remember that happiness is a way of travel - not a destination.” – Roy M. Goodman.
The students of Ladies College, Colombo had a wonderful experience in Agra, a city offering a discovery of the beautiful era. They explored our culture and visited a huge mausoleum Sikandra and the beautiful Taj Mahal that attracts a huge number of domestic and international tourists every year. All of them enjoyed a lot and had an exciting experience. |
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"Dancing is the loftiest, the most moving, the most beautiful of the arts, because it is no mere translation or abstraction from life; it is life itself." - Havelock Ellis.
The students of Ladies' College, Colombo had an exciting day with their host friends as they had a dance session in the school where they learnt folk dances like Garbha of Gujarat and Bamboo dance of Assam. They also had a hands on experience of Warli Art in their art workshop where they made cards for their parents. It was a fun-filled day where they learnt about India's rich culture. |
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The SriLankan delegates from Ladies' College along with our students visited the High Commission of Sri Lanka, New Delhi to meet the High Commissioner Mr. Milinda Moragoḍa.
The High Commissioner and the students had a productive exchange of views pertaining to the cultural similarities and differences between Sri Lanka and India and particularly on the ways and means to promote healthy ethnic relations through cultural exchange programs. It was an interactive session where students shared their reflections with the promise of continuing their friendship and strengthening the Indo-Lankan bond further. |
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Multi-culture is the real culture of the world- a pure race doesn't exist. - Keanu Reeves.
The student delegation from Ladies' College along with our students visited Dilli Haat INA today, to explore the various cultures of our country. They had food from places like Maharsahtra and Punjab, and enjoyed the meal along with laughs and giggles. They shopped around and got gifts for themselves as well as their families, and with the help of our students were able to get things that explained the Indian culture so that it can be memorable when they reach back. The day was full of hearty conversations as our students got along. In all, they savoured today and soaked up the Indian culture. |
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Culture is the widening of the mind and spirit. - Jawaharlal Nehru.
The students of our school along with their buddies went on 'DILLI DARSHAN' for sight seeing around the capital. The students visited the Lotus Temple known for its attractive lotus-like shape and meditated there. It was followed by a trip to the beautiful Lodhi gardens where everyone had a little picnic and took their lunch. After that, they visited the famous Gandhi Smriti, where they got to know about Mahatma Gandhi's eternal journey and thereafter returned to school. The students of our school briefed the delegates about these cultural sites.It was a lovely day for all. |
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"Cultural exchange is a bridge to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between people and different nations." - Hu Jintao, former president of China.
St. Mark's World School heartily welcomed 10 students and 2 teachers from Ladies' College, Colombo, Sri Lanka on Thursday 10th August 2023 for a homestay program under the project INDO-LANKAN ETHNIC BOND. They were warmly welcomed with flowers by their host buddies and were taken home which is going to be their abode for the next 10 days. |
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May all who come as guests, leave as friends...
St. Mark's World School is hosting a Sri Lankan delegation from Ladies' College, Columbo.
The group of 10 students and 2 teachers were welcomed in a traditional Indian way with garlands and warmth.
Thereafter, the presentations on both the participating schools were presented, followed by a school tour, where the delegation was shown the library, laboratories, playgrounds, etc.
The delegates also attended a Mathematics workshop with Ms. Monika, where they participated in fun activities and learning on Vedic Maths.
This was followed by a paper recycling session in the in-school recycling room. The students were made aware about the procedures and their curiosity and attentiveness, made it a good experience. |
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One of the greatest means to achieve global peace and harmony is cultural exchange as it opens up the vistas of human understanding and further expands our universal consciousness.
With a firm belief in the same, ten students of Class IX of St. Mark’s World School interacted virtually with the students of Secondary School No. 525 with Extensive Course of English, St. Petersburg, Russia in order to become familiar with one another. The interaction was enjoyed by all the students as they shared their hobbies, skills and ideas. The interaction concluded with making the students at both the fronts waiting to meet each other outside the digital world. |
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“Culture is the widening of the mind and the spirit” - Pt. JawaharLal Nehru.
Exposing young minds to various cultures is so vital towards personal growth. To achieve this very end, a delegation of 14 students of Classes IX and XI along with 2 teachers, Ms. Anjali Handa and Ms. Himani Sharma of St. Mark's World School recently visited Obudai Arpad Gimnazium, Budapest, Hungary from 28 March to 05 April, 2023 to complete the second phase of the Student Exchange Programme. The main purpose of this homestay programme was promotion of cultural knowledge, creativity and intercultural understanding among the students and awareness towards the similarities and differences between the Asian and European culture.
Through this international collaboration, the students got an opportunity to expertise with each other’s educational system. They got acquainted with various aspects of the Hungarian culture and tradition through group activities, presentations and guided city tours of Budapest and Szentendre, under the assistance of the Hungarian teachers Ms. Kinga Belley and Ms. Kata Zarandy. Our students attended knitting and Hungarian music lessons. A cultural programme was displayed by our students which included a presentation on India and a folk dance performance.
The students went for a guided tour of the Parliament of Hungary, the world’s third largest Parliament building. In Szentendre, the students enjoyed a visit of the open-air Village Museum. A ship tour on river Danube, visit to Lake Balaton, a tour of Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden, the oldest zoological park in Hungary and one of the oldest in the world, all were a unique experience for our students.
Thus, the homestay programme of the Indian students with Hungarian families has developed a better understanding of the diversity in culture and appreciation of one’s own culture and nation, thereby strengthening the relationship between the two schools and the two countries. |
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Bonds Beyond Boundaries . . .
Cultural Exchange Programmes not only propel students to appreciate the diversity of the country, but also make them understand how to co-exist and feel compassion for different communities around.
To accomplish this, a delegation of 15 students from Obudai Arpad Gimnazium, Budapest, Hungary headed by Ms. Kinga Belley and Ms. Kata Zarandy, visited St. Mark's World School, Meera Bagh, New Delhi from 20 January to 26 January, 2023 for the first phase of the Student Exchange Programme. Our school was delighted to once again host their old partner school from Hungary. The delegates were received with great warmth by a traditional welcome at school by our Vice Principal, Ms. Sabina Shergill. The students coming from Hungary stayed with host buddies thus getting exposed to the lifestyle of Indian families. They enjoyed the hospitality and warmth showered on them by their Indian host families.
The guests witnessed our rich cultural and historical heritage during their visit to Gandhi Smriti, India Gate, Lotus Temple, Bangla Sahib and Lodhi Garden. To have the flavour of ethnicity of our country, they visited Dilli Haat, where they were amazed to see the variety of handicrafts indigenous to India and enjoyed shopping. The Hungarian delegation participated actively in art and craft workshop, yoga, sports, dance and paper recycling session. They also got an opportunity to attend lessons in English, Mathematics and History as well as a cooking session to understand Indian cuisine. The program concluded with the exchange of mementos and certificate giving ceremony. The entire group was appreciative of the school's efforts to provide them a comfortable and a meaningful stay.
Dressing up in traditional Indian attire, applying henna on hands, tasting the delicacies of Indian cuisine, and exploring the heritage of Agra, Jaipur and Amritsar gave them a glimpse of colourful India in a short time span.
The goodbye was a promise to stay connected and grow the bonds of friendship stronger. |
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VIDEO CONFERENCE SESSION WITH NOTRE DAME DE LA PROVIDENCE, VINCENNES - PARIS.
Our school has always been active in enhancing interaction among students at international level. Another step in this authentic practice was taken when a video conference was organised for students of Class IX through Zoom Meet. The session was organised by Ms. Anjali Handa and Ms. Disha Vij with Ms. Muriel along with her students from Notre Dame de la Providence, situated in Vincennes - Paris.
Students from both the schools indulged in self introduction and healthy discussions on Hinduism, Bollywood, Mahatma Gandhi, Social Castes, Education, Food, etc. The students participated enthusiastically in this interactive event and they look forward to have more such sessions which will strengthen the bond between the two schools. |
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The essence of intercultural education is the acquisition of empathy-the ability to see the world as others see it, and to allow for the possibility that others may see something we have failed to see, or may see it more accurately. The simple purpose of the exchange program is to erode the culturally rooted mistrust that sets nations against one another. The exchange program is not a panacea but an avenue of hope. - J. William Fulbright.
The second round of online cultural exchange between St. Mark’s World School and Nanyang Girls’ High School, Singapore was conducted to learn more about each other’s cultures. The students of the same age group, between 14 and 16 years had a zoom session and shared about each other’s regular life.
The Singaporean students gave an insight into their school life by providing a virtual tour of their campus. The Indian students shared about the festivals celebrated in October.
Both the groups enjoyed learning about one another and promised to meet again soon. |
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Cultural exchange programmes not only propel students to understand the diversity of their country but also make them learn how to co-exist and feel compassion for different communities. The students of St. Mark’s World School got an opportunity to interact via zoom meeting with the students of Nanyang Girls High School, Singapore.
The Singaporean students shared about their culture, political systems, lifestyles, and tourist attractions in Singapore. They also shared their school life. The students of both the schools became friends quickly and invited each other to pay a visit to their respective countries. |
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Cultural differences should not separate us from each other, but rather cultural diversity brings a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity.
The idea behind the international Project called – Virtual Calendar, which is successfully running for the last three months is also to understand various cultural diversity and to appreciate the essence of all of them in bringing unity amongst all.
The third session of the online meeting on Zoom, brought the students and teachers of Hungary, Romania and India to continue discussing the interesting festivals of one’s native land.
The meeting began with Kanishka Jha, our student of Class 12 welcoming the students and teachers of Hungary and Romania.
In the previous meeting, the students from Hungary and India demonstrated their presentations on the festivals of their respective countries. As a continuation of these, more students from Hungary and Romania had prepared presentations. These included Easter in Hungary, Luca Day and traditional Romanian customs.
The first presentation was about Easter in Hungary describing the marvellous festival and the tradition of painting eggs on a specific day. Then, they moved forward to Luca Day which marks Hungary's annual Winter Solstice. And finally, the Marchy spring traditions of Romania were described through a video presentation. Interaction between students of the countries involved asking questions about the festivals, knowing more about them, etc. It was a wonderful session and in the future, more such would be continued. |
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The greatness of a culture lies in its festivals for festivals promote diversity, they bring neighbours into dialogue, they increase creativity, they offer opportunities for civic pride, they improve our general psychological well-being.
This is a sentiment that finds deep roots at St. Mark's World School. We truly believe that sharing awareness about as well as celebrating our diverse festivals with our international partner schools can further enhance not only our understanding of each other's culture but also enhance our happiness and joy. Thus, an online project named 'Virtual Calendar' was initiated by us with schools from Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Singapore and Russia.
In the first session of this initiative, the student participants of Hungary shared with our pupils their festival celebration called St. Stephen’s Day, and our students Priyanshi Arora and Pooja Yadav of Class XII helped their counterparts know about the vibrant festival of Pongal. |
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Soil degradation is the physical, chemical and biological decline of soil quality caused by unabated deforestation, urbanisation, pollution, etc. This loss threatens food quality and supply, water security and biodiversity, and leads to loss of livelihoods, conflicts and migration.
SMWS took an initiative in joining hands with its international partners to start an online project named –‘Save Soil’. The introductory session was held on 28 April 2022. Janvi Chhabra of Class 12 introduced the topic and shared her concern regarding poor soil quality and appealed to all the participants to act soon.
Our global partners H. S. Don Bosco and S I F A l Fikri of Indonesia, S. M. K. Jeram Selangor and S. M. Sains Alan Shah of Malaysia and, Elchk Lutheran Secondary School of Hong Kong have agreed to walk with us in this endeavour. |
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Interaction with French
An interactive Zoom session was organised on 5 April 2022 with the students and teacher, Ms. Muriel of Notre Dame de la Providence, Vincennes, Paris. It was attended by the students of Classes XI and XII along with their teachers, Ms. Anjali Handa and Ms. Disha Vij. The meeting started with warm greetings and introduction. As a part of their International Week celebration, the French students sang some popular English poems and a song in French with everyone cheering and enjoying the performances. Students from India were curious to know more about French language and their culture, while the students of France asked questions about life in Delhi, the capital city of India.
Overall, it was a memorable and fun session for everyone. |
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“Keep your language. Love its sounds, its modulation, its rhythm.But try to march together with men of different languages, remote from your own, who wish like you for a more just and human world." - Hélder Câmara.
Celebrating the International Fiesta on account of Friendship Week, our school collaborated with students from some schools internationally, that is, Russia, Hungary, Singapore and France to talk all things about physical health, sports, exercise, dance and art. On day 1, it was all about Yoga and physical fitness, day 2 we discussed Performing Arts and day 3 was dedicated to Visual Art forms of different countries. Our students talked about the age old practice of yoga and meditation, the various visual and performing art forms highlighting the beautiful and colourful art forms and demonstrated the same by videos and live presentations. Students from other countries also gave certain insights into the fitness practices, dance and art forms. The participants enjoyed learning the variety of forms each country displayed and appreciated the richness of cultures. What better an exchange than appreciating and identifying the cultures of one another. |
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Paolo Coelho once said, “Culture makes people understand each other better. And if they understand each other better in their soul, it is easier to overcome barriers."
The third virtual session between St. Mark’s Girls Sr. Sec. School and Nanyang Girls High School, Singapore took place online. In the Zoom session, the students of the Singaporean school shared a part of their culture through a presentation showcasing their food habits, their festivals, their choices of music etc. Our students discovered that our traditions might be very different, yet so similar.
Next, the students of our school shared their Diwali experiences, the most important and jovius festival of the Indian culture. The students shared glimpses of their celebration through the rangoli patterns, and decorations and also shared how this time the celebration was different from the last time. It was, indeed, an enriching session where both the schools explored a lot about each other's country. |
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“Ensuring gender equality is crucial to build peaceful, prosperous & sustainable societies.”
To promote gender equitable classrooms among school communities, the Asia - Europe Foundation (ASEF) has planned 2021 ASEFClassNet School Collaboration project on “Gender Equality and the SDGs". This school collaboration welcomes teachers to engage in different activities to discuss gender equality from diverse cultural perspectives.
ASEF team organised its first project meeting which was attended by Ms. Anjali Handa and Ms. Hardeep Kaur from our school. In the introductory session we got to know the Project Facilitators, the ASEF ClassNet team and other Participants from Asia and Europe and got a good overview of the background and framework of the ASEF ClassNet project series. The facilitators organised an interesting ice-breaking session for the participating teachers and provided the necessary information on the overall project objectives & expected outcomes to better understand our engagements during & after the project. With their joint expertise & experiences, we are hopeful to make our project a truly inspiring and engaging endeavour. |
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“Speakers who talk about what life has taught them never fail to keep the attention of their listeners” - Dale Carnegie.
Our International Linkages Head, Ms. Anjali Handa, had an interactive session with students of grade 7 and 9 of SMP Don Bosco III, Indonesia during their Public Speaking Class on 26 August 2021. She not only talked about the Education System in India, but also shared her experiences as an educator at St. Mark’s Girls Sr. Sec. School. Discussions were held related to online teaching during the pandemic, and the online project “Rhythm of Life” planned for the students of SMGS and Don Bosco.
This ice-breaking session was organized by the Indonesian teacher, Ms. Florentina Esti keeping in mind that their students will learn to open mind and heart to global issues and develop empathy for others in this pandemic era. |
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”Culture is a window reflecting the history, culture and spiritual world of a nation and cultural exchange is a bridge to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the people of different nations”.
We at St. Mark’s Girls Sr. Sec. School had the second round of virtual student exchange programme with Nanyang Girls High School, Singapore. The programme was hosted by Singaporean school with online session that took place on 24 august 2021. Students of both schools shared their culture through different handicrafts, each teaching the other their own culture’s handicrafts. The students made bookmarks with Warli art design, made Chatterbox and also played games on Charades, Scribbl.io etc. – in different break out rooms of the Zoom session. This helped the students of both schools to appreciate the beauty of each other’s diverse culture.
The student also showed their handicraft work and shared their experiences. The meet concluded with introduction of TLE Site and UN project on environment conservation, which will be the topic of discussion in the third session between the two school participants. |
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Nothing Succeeds like Success.
It all started a year back when, students of 5 countries including ours started with an online project called, “Mythical Lores” with the sole aim of creating a brand new E-story. The student-members of the project linked the characters from distinct cultural myths into their own chronicle.
The story was started by the participating students of St. Mark’s Girls Sr. Sec. School and then successively handed over to the students of France, Greece, Hungary, and Malaysia, who moulded it into a fascinating narrative. It was a grand honour to collaborate with everyone indeed.
Finally, the story is ready for your perusal and we are proud to share the flipbook of the E- story, “DROWNED IN LOTUSES”.
Hope you will enjoy reading, just the way we enjoyed weaving it.
We earnestly thank Ms. Laurence Barbier (France), Ms. Foteini Veneti (Greece), Ms. Kinga Belley (Hungary), and Ms. Santhi Jeyaraman (Malaysia) for their guidance and efforts.
To view the e-book - "Drowned in Lotuses" : Click here - https://online.flippingbook.com/view/722344042/ |
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The Beginning of a Virtual Cultural Exchange.
William Buttler Yeats once said, “There are no strangers, only friends you haven’t met.”
St. Mark’s Girls Sr. Sec. School has begun a virtual student exchange programme with Nanyang Girls High School, Singapore. The programme, hosted by the Singaporean school, will be spread across six months.
The online ice-breaking session took place on 24 May 2021.
Students of Classes 9 to 11 got an opportunity to make new friends from another part of the globe. In the first session, students from both schools played various fun games – a quiz on online platform Kahoot, ‘Bingo’ and ‘2 truths 1 lie’ – in different break-out rooms on Zoom. This led to an enriching exchange of information on Singapore and the fellow Asian country’s culture.
The meet concluded with students and teachers sharing their experience of holding the first session of the virtual cultural exchange being held amidst the pandemic. |
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Culture is a strong part of people's lives. It influences their views, their values, their hopes, their loyalties, and their worries and fears. Working with people of myriad cultures and building bonds with them, helps in better understanding of cultural diversity.
Thus, exposing young minds to various cultures is vital towards personal growth. Resonating with this thought, we often give opportunities to our students to interact and collaborate with students in different parts of the world. One such joint venture that we initiated virtually this year was with our buddies in Lithuania. The project provided the students with an exposure to learn and explore the rich cultural lineage of our friends beyond borders. We present to you the team working on the project ePals India-Lithuania. |
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| Zoom Meet With Partner School in Lithuania |
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You relate better when you talk face to face....
A Zoom Meet was organised for the students of Class VII and VIII, with their ePals from Lithuania. The students were delighted to meet their jovial partners as well as the Lithuanian teacher facilitator from Vilnius Waldorf Green School, Ms. Lolita Kucinskiene. It was a brief face-to-face online interactive session which started with a cordial tete-e-tete and concluded with a happy exchange of ideas. |
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The World is a book and those who do not Travel read only one page. - St. Augustine.
St. Mark’s Girls Sr. Sec. School believes in the above mentioned thought and has always promoted travelling among the students through student- exchange programs. In these pandemic times, since physical movement is not possible, a project based on virtual tour was initiated.
An online project named, “Virtual Tour of my country” between Russia, Slovakia, Indonesia, Singapore and our school was started in the month of February 2021, so that the students can know more about these countries through virtual presentations shared. Interesting facts on geography, climatic conditions, important places to visit, cuisines, culture and festivals etc were discussed.
On 19 March, Russia, Slovakia, and Singapore presented their presentations on Zoom and all the others viewed it with enthusiasm. It was followed by the presentations given by Indonesia and India on 27 March. Overall, it was an informative and interactive project. Life is short and the world is wide and one should always make use of any opportunity to gain knowledge about this beautiful world. |
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The name of the online project is - Mythical Lores.
’Life is beautiful not because of the things we see or do. Life is beautiful because of the people we meet’’. - Simon Sinek.
Believing in the same the student participants of the online project - Mythical Lores from St. Mark’s Girls Sr. Sec. School and SM SAINS SELANGOR, Malaysia took part in an online meeting on zoom to share insights on how to move further and complete the e-chain story that had been initiated by the Indian students and which travelled to France, where it took a beautiful turn and then reached Greece and has now reached Hungary. The next in the line, the Malaysian school is now responsible to complete the e- story. |
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