Isha Vidhya

Kabish is thankful that his P.E. teacher constantly encourages him to raise the bar and manage his free time optimally for sports. He is eager to participate in marathons and numerous athletic events and follow in the footsteps of many relatives who are marine engineers.

At Isha Vidhya, we blend dynamic academics with athletic zeal! Our students shine in both arenas. Get inspired by the stories of their sporting achievements and aspirations in our latest blog here https://consciousplanet.org/en/isha-vidhya/blog/sporting-students.

Isha Vidhya Newsletter – April 2024
Discover how volunteering to enhance the learning process of our students has helped our academic volunteers refine their teaching skills at isha.co/April24NL.

Saving to Donate
Class 7 students of Isha Vidhya Tuticorin regularly contributed from their lean pocket money to their class' piggy bank and donated Rs.250/- at the end of the year to the school's principal. This new initiative taught students to save and spend money thriftily.

Nandhini, an alumna from Isha Vidhya Coimbatore says, “When I was a peer leader in Class 8, it helped me understand the concepts better, taught me to teach and share things with my peers, and developed my spoken English skills.”

Nishanth topped his school in Class 10 and is pursuing bio-math in Class 11. He has already begun preparing for JEE (Joint Entrance Examination – for programs in engineering) to steer his dreams to fruition.

Sivaprakash has kept all his prizes in his cupboard and says they are a motivation to achieve his goals in sports: surpassing Usain Bolt’s records, becoming world-famous, and standing on his own two feet.

Muthupandi studied on a scholarship at school and did odd jobs to support his family while studying B.A. At school, he did well in sports and kept up his training, which crucially helped him land a place in the Border Security Force. His family can now live a better life.

Experiencing Virtual Reality (VR)
In the Atal Tinkering Lab at Isha Vidhya Cuddalore, Class 7 students viewed Earth and the Moon through a VR headset and were excited to become simulated spacewalkers. This immersive experience made learning engaging and memorable. Exploring new and remote places from the comfort of their classroom will surely ignite a vigorous interest in academics.

Students learn the meaning of “camouflage,” a commonly used French word meaning “to blend into the environment,” with an artistic activity. They explore the design, colors, and textures of a chosen picture, and then skillfully mask it by creatively painting an extension to it. This activity sharpens their observation skills and fosters creative expression.

Exploring Dairy Delights

On a visit to Aavin’s dairy, Class 4 students of Isha Vidhya Villupuram learned how ice cream, kulfi, butter, and cheese are made with milk. The tour catered to their curiosity and helped them understand the vital role of dairy products in our daily diet.

Vignesh studied on a scholarship, did well, especially in high school, and attributes the support and guidance of his teachers to the clarity it lent to his college education. His pet business supports his family and keeps him contented and satisfied.

Celebrating World Water Day

KG students thoroughly enjoyed splashing around with balls and balloons in a makeshift pool specially constructed for the day. Besides enhancing the students’ social skills, this activity encouraged collaboration and taught them new English words like empty, full, shallow, deep, etc., as well as scientific concepts such as floating objects.

Take a look at some exuberant lessons that our students revel in at isha.co/March24NL

Discover the inspiring stories of Isha Vidhya alumni who are carving their own entrepreneurial paths and transforming passions into successful businesses at https://consciousplanet.org/en/isha-vidhya/blog/exploring-new-possibilities

Students begin experimenting with greeting card designs from Class 1, and by Class 6, they learn to make pop-up cards with Origami – the Japanese art of paper folding. The students are always thrilled to learn this new art form and love their colorful pop-up creations.

Pep Talk
Volunteers of Ullas Trust, a Polaris Foundation social initiative focused on academic excellence, awarded Rs.1,000 to ten Class 9 and 10 toppers of Isha Vidhya Erode, suggested ways to set goals and achieve them, and narrated many inspiring real-life stories to motivate our students.
Thank you, Ullas!

Celebrating Birthdays

Isha Vidhya Villupuram teachers adorn their classrooms with theme-based charts displaying photos of students who celebrate their birthday that month. Students experience a sense of belonging and anticipation when they see their photo there, and it transforms the classrooms into welcoming environments where every student feels important and appreciated.

Niveha Sree's excellent class 10 scores secured her a merit scholarship in classes 11 and 12, which was a windfall for her father, who is a tailor. Seeing her father working late into the night to make ends meet strengthened her resolve to study well and achieve her goals.

Bravo to Priya Vaidyanathan for running the 50km Tata Ultra Marathon on the undulating slopes of the Sahyadris to fundraise for Isha Vidhya students.

Priya says running gives her immense joy and fulfilment, but a smiling Isha Vidhya student makes her happier as many of them are first-generation school-goers.

The demanding run was so inspiring that Priya penned a poem to commemorate her journey.

Running Night and Day

The full moon shining brightly
amidst all the small bright twinkling stars

The cool crisp mist, never-ending rolling hills, and winding roads,
no screeching buses or noisy cars

Only the footsteps and your breath
breaking the silence of the night

Every single runner focused on the present moment,
headlamps like glow-worms shedding more light

The rustle of the leaves in the breeze and
volunteers cheering everyone on

The well-equipped aid stations providing a respite
and much needed fuel as we run, jog or walk on

The dawn breaks into myriad colors of
crimson red, orange, blue, and yellow

A friendly wave, a simple hello or a warm hug
helping each one of us to prod along with the flow

The breathtaking beauty of the Sahyadris
is experienced at its rawest and pristine best

The Tata Ultra Marathon with its challenging terrain definitely breaks barriers putting every runner to test.

Class 2 onward, our students learn Papier-Mache, a craft that originated in France but has also been traditionally practiced in Tamil Nadu. Students display their skills in a final 3-part lesson - they make Papier-Mache mash, shape it into a mask, and paint the dried form.

Praveen studied B.Sc. in IT at Pope’s College, Sawyerpuram, and worked at ICICI Bank in the back-end team for a year. Concurrently, he took government exams and was selected for general duty in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force. Both his desires and those of his parents for a secure future have come true.