Devotion & dance
Students of Shri Shikshayatan School celebrated Saraswati Puja with music, dance and tributes. The celebration was held at the open-air theatre and the school's temple dais.
The marble idol of Maa Saraswati formed the focal point. The temple dais was decorated with marigold garlands, colourful handmade charts prepared by students, hanging posters and alpana designs drawn by teachers. The programme began with pushpanjali before the goddess of knowledge.
A cultural programme followed. The junior section (Nursery to Class V) danced first. Dressed in sarees and adorned with marigold garlands, they charmed everyone present with their enthusiasm and innocence.
The senior students (Classes VI to XII) then staged Kathak and Bharatanatyam performances.
The Kathak dancers — in yellow anarkalis — danced to Ayo re basant, displaying the joy of spring. The Bharatanatyam performers dressed in red and yellow sarees as they captured the flavour of the season.
"Saraswati Puja was observed with great reverence and enthusiasm in our school. The occasion marked the arrival of spring and celebrated knowledge and wisdom. Prayers created a serene atmosphere, followed by a colourful cultural programme featuring songs and graceful dance performances. Students and staff members took part wholeheartedly; many dressed in yellow and white," said principal Sangeeta Tandon.
In reverence
When Saraswati Puja aligned with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary, Bidya Bharati Girls’ High School turned the occasion into a celebration of reverence and national spirit through a thematic cultural programme.
The ceremony centred on the theme, From Anandamath to Independence: The Power of Vande Mataram.
The day began with Saraswati Puja rituals, followed by a cultural programme that traced the journey of Vande Mataram from its literary origins to its role in India’s freedom movement. Through music, dance and drama, students presented how the song inspired unity, courage and sacrifice during the struggle for Independence.
The event was attended by Swapna Roy, author and associate professor of the Bengali department of Vivekananda College for Women; Abantee Chatterjee, librarian at Behala College and member of the Library Advisory Committee and IQAC; and Sanghamitra Mukherjee, former rector of Gokhale Memorial Girls' School.
One of the highlights was a play, Rupe-Arupe Maa, by students of Classes IX and X, focusing on the role of women in India’s Independence movement. The relationship between Sister Nivedita and Sarada Devi was portrayed by Srinika Mukhopadhyay(Class X) and Bihangee Pramanick (Class IX).
The musical segment featured students of Classes VIII and IX. Singers dressed in yellow sarees and dancers in traditional Kerala cotton attire performed to Ogo ma sarada and Oi bhubonomohini ma.
"The cultural programme was celebrated with perfection, purity and holiness, aligning perfectly with the theme of the school exhibition," said headmistress Sharmistha Banerjee.
Up above the world
A lift full of parents and students excitedly discussed rovers, satellites and rockets. It was no ordinary day for them. The bunch was headed from the seventh-floor auditorium of Indus Valley World School to the erstwhile art room that had been turned into a space laboratory. The school inaugurated its first astronomy and space laboratory on March 23, as part of Isro's space tutor programme.
"I am obsessed with space science. Now I have a chance to explore various models and even make some myself," said Prisha Moitra of Class IX.
The 900sqft room had on display scaled-down models of Rohini and Geostationary Earth Orbit satellites, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and the Chandrayaan rover and lander, among others.
Students from Classes III to IX will now have a new period, as part of the curriculum, where they will learn about space science.
"The curriculum is part of the CBSE's skill programme," said Debashis Das, a representative of Navars Space Tech that has been installing the space labs at various schools in Calcutta and beyond, including Indus Valley World School.
The lab has four sections: satellite, rocketry, ancient and modern astronomy. It will also encourage students to create models and take part in exhibitions and contests.
The chief guest at the inauguration was T.K. Sundaramurthy, former mission director of Isro. He interacted with students. While the chief guest encouraged children to ask questions, he advised the attending parents not to impose their ideas on the children. "We should not let go of our traditions in the name of modern technology," he advised the audience.
Principal Reshma Bhattacharya addressed the students as "young explorers". "One of our earliest memories is looking up at the stars. The new laboratory is a bridge between imagination and reality," she said.
"The lab will facilitate hands-on learning, thus setting the tone for innovation and exploration. We are extremely excited about it," added vice-principal and administrator Madhumita Seal.
The programme ended with a hydro rocket (a model run on water and air pressure) launch on the school's football ground.
Movie fun
Brainiac Heritage School hosted its annual day, EXCELSIA 2K26, in January. The show was centred on the theme, 100 Years of Indian Cinema, bringing together music, dance and drama.
The chief guest was Keya Sinha, academic director of National Gems Academy. The guests of honour were Shyam Sundar Mishra, BDO of Diamond Harbour Block II, and youth empowerment speaker Shaleen Das.
The school management members — chairman Anser Daptary, secretary Rajia Sultana Daptary, director Nadim Anjum Shaikh, finance secretary Reshmi Daptary, president Imran Mallick, director Hanifa Mallick and senior management member Partha Banerjee — were also present.
The programme opened with a choir performance and lamp-lighting by the dignitaries.
The Nursery students danced to Barbie Girl, and the LKG ones presented a performance, Disneyland. A comic act based on Mr Bean by Class I kids and a fantasy presentation inspired by Harry Potter added variety. The highlight of the day was the performance based on the film Sholay by Classes IV to VII.
There were group dances to Chak doom doom, Zoobi doobi and Give me some sunshine and recitation of Rabindranath Tagore’s Aagomoni, among others. A mash-up of songs added to the fun.
The event also included the distribution of academic and co-curricular awards.
The programme concluded with a final performance by Classes III to VIII, celebrating unity in diversity.
“EXCELSIA 2K26 stands as a proud reflection of Brainiac Heritage School’s commitment to holistic education. Celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema was not merely about entertainment, but about honouring our rich cultural legacy and inspiring young minds,” said the institution's chairman.
Added principal Sugata D’Souza: “The annual day programme helped showcase students’ talents through cultural performances, speeches and awards. It portrayed creativity, confidence and teamwork among students.”
Looking back
Calcutta Boys' School (CBS) celebrated its 149th Founders’ Day at its SN Banerjee Road address on March 7. The occasion brought together members of the CBS family, including its students, teachers, alumni and guests. Besides the SN Banerjee Road premises, the school also has branches in Asansol, Beliaghata and Sonarpur.
The celebration began with floral tributes at a prayer service. The guests included Rev. K. Sardar, Rev. Roshan Hansda and others.
Raja McGee, principal and secretary of the Calcutta Boys’ School, gave a speech, expressing gratitude for the institute's journey. He thanked students and teachers — past and present. He mentioned how it was a time to remember the past and recommit to carrying on the legacy of the school.
Tributes were paid to the founders of the institution — JM Thoburn, Rev. G Henderson, Bishop FW Warne and Sir R Laidlaw, whose vision laid the groundwork for the school’s legacy.
The programme featured hymns and musical performances presented by students and teachers of different branches. The event also witnessed the presence of many former students and teachers, who shared memories of their days at the institution.
Former teachers were also honoured on the occasion.
The celebration concluded with a special Founders’ Day fellowship dinner.
"As Calcutta Boys' School marks 149 years, it has consistently upheld values of academic excellence, character building and holistic education, shaping generations to be remarkable men. As we are at the helm of completing a century and a half, I urge you to focus on 3Rs. Reflect on our enduring mission. Remember with gratitude towards those who laid the foundations of this great institution and recommit ourselves to thevalues of service, excellence, and integrity," said theprincipal-secretary of theinstitution.
Pillars of love
Prathama Ghosh, grandmother of Ishanvi Ghosh of Class I, got emotional as she watched her granddaughter create crafts for her. The event was a Grandparents’ Day celebration hosted by Birla High School, Mukundapur.
The event brought together students from Playgroup to Class II and their grandparents in a celebration designed to honour elders as sources of love, wisdom and traditional values.
Held in the school auditorium and classrooms, the programme began with a welcome where grandparents were presented with badges as tokens of appreciation.
The cultural segment featured songs, dances and recitations. There were interactive events too.
Following the cultural programme, the grandparents were escorted to classrooms, where students welcomed them with handmade bouquets and gifts.
The classroom sessions included games such as Ring the Cones, Spot the Difference, Balloon Tap Challenge, Pin Tumble Game and Ball in the Basket. Grandparents and grandchildren took part together, sharing moments of laughter and bonding.
“Grandparents’ Day at Birla High School, Mukundapur, was a warm and joyful occasion that celebrated the special bond across generations. Laughter, shared stories, games and performances filled the day with affection and pride. The wholehearted participation and heartfelt responses from grandparents made the celebration truly meaningful,” said headmistress RakheeH. Patel.
Little stars shine bright
The Nursery students of Sri Sri Academy perform at a musical, Sri Tarang – A Musical Morning, dressed as bears, birds and bees. Some students waved enthusiastically at their parents mid-performance; some paused briefly before catching up to the rhythm; and others performed with confidence.
The basement hall of the school came alive with colour, rhythm and laughter as the programme brought together music, movement and storytelling.
Pre-nursery and Nursery performed a sequence of musical pieces, including I Love Books, Down in the Jungle, It’s a Happy Day, Projapoti Projapoti, Chirp with the Birdies, Badal Baul, In the Toyland and the upbeat finale Doo Dee Doo Dee Dum Dum.
Students of Class V joined in as the choir.
The guest of honour was Pratima Nayar, principal of Calcutta International School (junior section).
She highlighted the importance of encouraging creativity, reading habits and free play during early childhood while maintaining a balanced approachto screen use.
“What stood out to me was the authenticity on stage. The children were not performing out of pressure,” she said.
Months of preparation went into the musical, with teachers guiding the children through rehearsals, building their confidence and ensuring that every child could take part. The event also promoted sustainability, as the stage decor and the props used were crafted from recycled materials.
“The most beautiful part of the day was watching the children perform without fear or self-doubt. Over the past months, we saw them grow in confidence, expression and independence with leaps and bounds,” said principal Gargi Banerjee.