Sirumalar International School

Aditional Information

SIRUMALAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Sirumalar International School, Sirumalai Nagar, Maiyanur, is a first grade International, Christian minority, co-educational institution, which aims through moral and academic excellence, to produce ENLIGHTENED leaders of social transformation imbued with the spirit of service to mankind. In the words of Swami Vivekananda Sirumalar provides the education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one’s own feet. This prestigious institution aims to produce many ENLIGHTENED Leaders, Academicians, Educators, Scientists, Artists, Poets, Administrators, Entrepreneurs, Social Workers and National Players. The Sirumalar campus is a 'home away from home', an architect-designed villa located in a picturesque location of Sirumalai Nagar. The campus has modern infrastructure with an attractive learning environment that stimulates student-student and student-faculty interaction. Sirumalar is inspired by the vision of making learning a creative and enjoyable experience. Through a blend of nationally and globally acclaimed educational opportunities, the school seeks to encourage children to reach their full potential while discovering themselves. The accent is on developing innovative and critical thinking skills, compassion, respect for one's own culture, and a global outlook. The school is not international by virtue of having foreign natives on their staff or student body or by bringing in value systems that are alien to the Indian educational tradition in a contrived manner. Sirumalar provides a cutting edge academic programme for the rural students, who acquire excellent education in a completely Indian rural context, grow up being rooted in our traditional core values and emerge equipped in scholastics and in character to take on the changing world’s challenging demands. This makes Sirumalar international. The school is located in a natural atmosphere that is absolutely pollution-free, satisfying a crucial need in today’s world for students to be able to learn, observe, introspect and contemplate in a most desirable environment. VISION STATEMENT We, the family of Sirumalar International School, inspired by the “little way” of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus and fundamental human values, following the educative system of Don Bosco, are committed to the creation of an ENLIGHTENED PROSPEROUS SOCIETY, by imparting world class education to the rural children enabling them towards integral human development. MISSION STATEMENT We are the leader in offering the best educational opportunities, and services blending academic excellence, character formation and integral human growth, leading towards an enlightened way of life. MOTTO “LIVE IN LOVE” is the motto of Sirumalar International School. Every student passing through the portals of this institution will be prepared to have a childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and experiences of life and to find fulfilment in the little things of everyday life. PEDAGOGY Working closely with the parents, we ensure that every child receives the support and encouragement, needed to be a happy, confident and motivated learner. All children will be encouraged to set goals, strive hard and believe in their own ability. Sirumalar follows the “Preventive System of Education” enunciated by Don Bosco. The basic principles of Preventive System are Reason, Religion (Spirituality) and Loving Kindness. It believes that the heart of every human person can be touched by unconditional love, not by rules and sanctions. The educator appeals to the reason of the student and to the inner presence of the Divine and human being’s spiritual nature. Following this system, Sirumalar runs in an atmosphere of family where mutual trust and care make education of the heart and mind possible. Sirumalar, in every possible way, focuses more on learning rather than teaching. So all activities at Sirumalar are carefully planned and designed to learn, teach, provoke thinking, conversation, reflection and wonder. Sirumalar has revived Khel-Katha - the ancient and vibrant Indian technique of learning through storytelling and games. Using a 21st Century approach, stories from the Panchatantra and around the world are adapted from the verbal to role-play, dance, art projects and multimedia lessons. Sirumalar carefully chooses or creates stories for their appeal to young children and converts them into leaning units that incorporate math, science, social studies, language and arts. CURRICULUM Sirumalar follows a curriculum that is a broad and multi-textured tapestry of ideas, books, culture, tradition and relationships, explored with an inspired energy and purposeful engagement. Sirumalar combines an ambitious academic program and a rich range of extracurricular activities within a Christian values framework that draws on a variety of cultures and prepares students for global citizenship. In today’s competitive world, fearless thinkers and first movers are likely to have an edge over the others and to facilitate this, Sirumalar has wisely chosen to pursue the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) syllabus known for its depth and spectrum of knowledge. Beyond the oft touted goal of excellence in education, Sirumalar strives for meaning, quality and contemporary relevance. While not overlooking preparation for a distant future, the School strives for discernable worth in the work which students and faculty engage each day. The learning sessions involve team-based and individual projects. Classes involve audio-visual presentations, group discussions, debates that result in construction of knowledge. Students are encouraged to take up knowledge search, information analysis and presentations. Learning derived from this environment is translated into a repository of knowledge and skills for decision support in the future. Sirumalar focuses on each student as an individual and works towards providing an environment that enhances overall development with skills to 'think creatively, reason critically, and communicate effectively'. It aims to inculcate sound values in students like self-discipline, self-control, social sensitivity and responsibility. Learning while having fun, positive thinking, responsibility towards the community and the nation are some of the areas that are given special attention. Regular workshops for students and teachers are held to bring about social, emotional and physical awareness, to tackle varied problems and keeping abreast with the latest happenings is also encompassed in these workshops. The medium of instruction is English. French and Hindi are offered as second languages. The school offers a co-educational non-sectarian program which prepares students to enter colleges and universities all over the world. In preparing its curriculum, the school has sought out the best practices in national and international teaching programmes and examination boards. Sirumalar offers a Holistic education that encompasses development of the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains. Each student is assessed on the various parameters of each of the three domains. Simultaneously, through our tutorial system each teacher mentors 8 to 9 students round the year to ensure that regular coaching and counselling is available to them. EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES A substantial number of hours in the timetable, and ample opportunity after school, are dedicated to encouraging children to explore the world of creative arts. The extra-curricular offerings at Sirumalar include Sports, Music, Drama, Dance, Painting, Craft, Home Economics, Carpentry, Debate, Elocution, Student Government, Field trips, Pottery, Woodwork, Art Animation, Computer Programming, Internet, Photography, Nature Education, Yoga, Meditation, Karate, School Magazine Project, Wilderness Camp, Scouts and Guides, Junior Red Cross, Scrabble, Cookery, Chess, Debating, Quizzing and Basic Life Skills. Newspaper-in-Education (NIE) and Media-in-Education (MIE) are two programmes integrated in the School curriculum. Specialist teachers for these subjects, working in the areas designed for their activities, ensure that the pleasures and rewards of creative work complement academic study. FACULTY Faculty and members of staff undergo a thorough training program in the latest teaching techniques and the use of graphics, video and presentation software. This ensures the imbibing of ideas in a lively and interactive classroom atmosphere or in an engaging laboratory experience. Training also stresses on the emotional and spiritual development, so essential in winning the hearts and minds of young people. Sirumalar positions the teacher at the pinnacle of the learning process-but with a difference. The teacher is no longer the provider of all knowledge. He or she is a facilitator, who uses the new technology to motivate the students to explore for themselves the world of knowledge. Motivated and inspired, by the opportunity of learning to innovate, and Innovating to Learn, the teacher at Sirumalar continuously renews and updates subject knowledge & pedagogy. The teacher is a leader and motivator; role model and mentor; learner and innovator; Leading by example. Comfortable with convergence technologies, as tools for learning and evaluation, the teachers extensively use multi-media and audiovisual classroom aids. The teacher at Sirumalar, in varying capacities of subject teacher, house tutor, house mentor or activity guide or a fellow sportsperson, develops with the limited number of students under his/her charge a close rapport & relationship that comforts and inspires the student to learn and grow in an atmosphere of affection, warmth, trust, togetherness and openness. Keeping in view the rigorous demands of our curriculum and pedagogy, teacher training and capacity and competence building are at the core of the learning processes deployed by Sirumalar. About 45 days in a year (during the holidays) is devoted to faculty development programmes (FDP) to update and continuously realign subject content and pedagogy. The school is also exploring the possibility of exchange programs with some of the leading schools worldwide. Teachers from the participating schools will spend 4 to 6 weeks at each other’s school to study their school systems and adapt the best learning practices. FACILITIES Set in a region known for its rugged beauty and cool temperate climate, Sirumalar is equipped with facilities that support excellence in all areas. The infrastructure has been suitably planned to accommodate learning and all round development of the child. Facilities include the following: • Beautiful aesthetically designed campus • Airy, well-lit, smart "Technology Enabled" classrooms • State-of-the-art Computer Labs with multimedia and internet • Computer Aided Learning • Audio-visual Theatre • Well equipped Labs (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Life Sciences, Languages, Social Sciences, History & Geography museum) • Resource Centre with latest books, Internet access & DVD library, educational cassettes • Toy Library, Art & Craft Studio • Science Park • Music & Dance Room, Montessori Room • Sports such as Lawn Tennis, Badminton, Hockey, Football, Handball, Volley Ball, Cricket • Aerobics, Martial Arts, Skating, Mini Golf field, Swimming Pool, Athletics, Horse Riding, Play Swings. • Fitness Centre / Health Gym, Table Tennis, Chess & other indoor games. • Regular health check-ups • Counselling & orientation programme for students, parents and staff • Cultural Resource Centre • Community Service Centre • Separate Hostel for boys and girls • Green house • Cafeteria TRANSPORT Sirumalar provides door-to-door transport on request to students living within a 20 km radius of the campus. A fleet of cars, minivans and the School Bus transports children each morning and evening to and from their homes. Commuting times vary on average from 15-45 minutes each way. Chaperones accompany the children in Sirumalar vehicles. MEDICAL ATTENTION The school has well-equipped First Aid Centre and trained medical staff to cater to emergencies. Each Student’s medical record is maintained up-to-date for ready reference in case of emergencies. GENERAL DISCIPLINE 1. The school expects students to do serious and sustained hard work and to make maximum use of the facilities offered for their all-round development. 2. The campus language is English. Hence the staff and students are expected to converse and correspond only in English. 3. Students whose attendance, or progress is not satisfactory are liable to be asked to leave the school. 4. Students are required to wear Identity Cards certified up-to-date, on their person at all times within the campus. 5. Students must maintain a sense of decorum and discipline inside the School and in the public places. NOTE FOR THE PARENTS Parents are reminded that they are not absolved of their responsibility once their sons/daughters are admitted to the School. The School expects parents or guardians to cooperate with the School authorities in the education of their children or wards. They should follow the students’ progress in studies and his/her general conduct in and outside the School. Their cooperation is solicited especially to ensure regular attendance. They are expected to come and see whenever they are called by the Principal. ADMISSION POLICY Sirumalar does not accept capitation fee or donation for admission. If anyone promises admission to the School on a consideration of donation, the matter should be brought to the notice of the Correspondent immediately. Canvassing in any form including recommendation letters and offering donations will disqualify a student from admission. ADMISSION PROCEDURE Application for admission should be made in the prescribed form which can be obtained from the School Office. The form duly filled and completed should be sent to the Principal, by 31st January. Incomplete forms will be rejected.