SPECTRUM 2016-17

SPECTRUM 2016-17 ANNUAL SPORTS CUM CULTURAL MEET AND PRIZE DISTRIBUTION CEREMONY In keeping with the vision of creating progressive and caring adults of tomorrow, Vidhyashram International School celebrated ‘SPECTRUM’, its 14th Annual Day on 18 December 2016 by holding Sports Meet cum Cultural Programme and Prize Distribution Ceremony. The programme was also a tribute to celebrate 15 glorious years of excellence in education. Mr. Devendra Jhajharia, a two time Gold Medalist in the Paralympics presided over the function as the Chief Guest. Special Guest, Mr. S. K. Singh, Director, Airports Authority of India, Jodhpur, also graced the occasion with his presence. The programme was also attended by dignitaries from all walks of life. The ceremony commenced with the welcome of the chief guest and other invited guests who were honoured with bouquets and mementos. The chief guest hoisted the Sports flag and announced the Sports Meet open. The unfurling of the Sports flag by an accomplished sportsman was a proud moment for all present there. This was followed by the March Past beginning with the mounted parade led by the students. Immaculately dressed students could be seen moving ahead with the synchronized trot of horses carrying the school flag. In quick succession, the representatives of the four houses named after the holy rivers of India- Ganga, Yamuna, Krishna and Kaveri saluted the flag with great zeal and fervour. The participants of the cultural programme also marched down the tracks in a brilliantly hued costume parade. The sparkling rays of morning sun added shimmer to the faces of the young performers. Master Indrajeet Jakhar, ignited the torch to mark the symbolic beginning of the Sports Day. The run with the torch epitomized the light of spirit, knowledge, goodwill and life. It also signified the passing of sportsman spirit from one mind to another. Sports Captain and House Captains pledged that the event would be held in complete sportsman spirit and whole hearted participation. The activities for the day began with an array of races under the track and field events for the students of the Middle Wing. The audience could be seen cheering and encouraging the participants in the final rounds of the various races held on the day. The energy and gusto exhibited by the students was spine-tingling. In a smooth transition to the cultural events, the youngest members of the school, the Vidhyashram Kidz, traipsed onto the stage and presented an endearing dance with such aplomb. This was followed by a group of children with smiling faces and sunflowers in their hands dancing to greet the warm winter sun. As they danced off the stage, a group of children, dressed in folk attire took their place and performed a fascinating series of folk dances from around the globe. The audience could be seen tapping their feet in tune with the little artists on stage. In a quick leap back to Rajasthan, a team of students presented an energetic form of the Chari dance and then the Gangaur dance. The colours the children were draped in as they swayed to the music brought to mind the vibrant culture of the state of Rajasthan. The delight at seeing a modern rendition of familiar folk dance forms was evident on the faces of all the audience. The Founder Principal, Dr. (Mrs.) Bharti Swami, presented the School Report, wherein she spoke of the growth of the school from a fledgling primary school to a highly esteemed CBSE school in the region. She recounted numerous praise-worthy milestones the school achieved across the years spanning academic, sports and cultural fields. She shared the gratification of having earned the prestigious International School Award presented by the British Council and the ranking as the sixth best co-ed day school in Rajasthan by Education World. She also enumerated various other achievements of the school in the past and shared the plans conceived to take the school to a higher pinnacle of success. She thanked the parents for their unstinted support always and shared her confidence that they would continue as the wind beneath the wings of the school. This was followed by the track and field events of the children from the Primary wing. They were seen competing in the races with a strength of spirit and body that far belied their tender age. One could see that the school was already playing its part in the nation’s goal of creating of a pool of well-trained and greatly gifted sportspersons. Offering a balance to the raw energy exhibited by the children on the sports field was the next cultural programme, a short dance-drama based on the popular fairy tale, Cinderella. This showcased the delicate grace and poise of the students as they pirouetted across the stage in beautiful costumes. Building up the tempo after this, the dance was followed by a ‘party dance’ enhancing the festive atmosphere of the day. In a demonstration of the agility that most of us adults envy children for, the next group of students was seen dancing while skipping with such ease over skipping ropes without missing a single beat of the music. Seated in the audience, it was difficult to hold oneself back from clambering onto the stage to join in the frolic. Bringing the performance even closer to the audience, the next event in the series was a mass drill based on the Maharashtrian dance form of ‘Leizim’. This event also set the tone for the track and field events for the senior students that followed. ‘Sports is the greatest physical poetry’, someone said once. The lithe movements of the school’s senior athletes and sportspersons brought this saying to mind. The competitors were all so talented that it was but a hair breadth’s difference that marked the winners of the day. The chief guest, Mr. Devendra Jhajharia was invited to the stage to address the gathering. He expressed his pleasure at having witnessed such a magnificent display of athletic prowess and skills in sports. He praised the school for encouraging its students to participate in sports with full gusto. Mr. Jhajharia also applauded the flawless performance of the students right from the tiny tots up to the young ladies and gentlemen who came together to create a marvelous mosaic through this cultural spectacle. He was appreciative of the endeavors of the school in nurturing and developing talents of the students and exhorted the students to make the most of every opportunity that life brings before them. In the prize distribution ceremony, the chief guest and the guest of honour, gave away various awards for excellence in academics, sports and cultural activities. House trophies were also presented on the occasion. Krishna House (Senior Wing) and Ganga House (Junior Wing) were adjudged as overall champions on the basis of the students’ performance in the year round activities. Speaking on the occasion, the Special Guest, Mr. S K Singh, lauded the efforts of Vidhyashram in providing a platform for the wholesome development of students’ personality. He spoke to the students about how every individual should develop his/her own definition of success and motivated them to then work with diligence and determination to achieve this. Addressing the audience, Shri Vinay Kumar Jain, Chairman, Vidhyashram, said that the aim of the institution is to provide quality education and contribute in the building of a progressive nation. In a perfect celebration of the Sports day, the students of Vidhyashram Public School enlivened the stage with a presentation on every popular sports event that the children aspire to participate in. Bringing in light moments after this, a group of children, with a refreshing take on puppetry invaded the stage and had the audience amused with their synchronised antics. Right after this, the students presented a choreographed yoga session showcasing the perfect harmony of a tranquil mind and a supple body. In another display of physical dexterity and equilibrium, a large group of students performed a dance using gym balls as a prop. This was followed by a martial arts display by the senior students of the school. The display was able to demonstrate the mastery in martial arts acquired by the students through the martial arts training imparted to them in school. Offering another contrast, this mass display was followed by a solo Kathak performance by Shubham Pal. The grace in his movements and the enchanting expressions that moved across his face were so breathtaking that it was clear as to why this was the only solo performance of the day. The standing ovation he received after this was a testimony to his artistic gift. Bringing the programme to a rising climax, a large group of boys and girls performed a brilliantly choreographed Ganesh Vandana replete with difficult acrobatic moves and formations. The dance had the audience perched on the edge of their seats as they watched the children create pyramids and deftly climb up and down, all the while keeping time with the music. The programme ended with a grand finale where all the participants presented a spectrum of colour, joyousness and gusto by coming together and winning the hearts of the audience.