The BG Block-based Apeejay School held its annual day cum prize distribution ceremony at Rabindra Sadan recently where along with certificates and books, toppers got scholarships of Rs 50,001.

The Class XII choir opened the show with the school anthem and we welcomed the chief guest Kartik Manna, chairman, Sarva Shiksha Mission. In his address to the students, parents and grandparents, he asked them to take up social work that would help others and mould themselves into better citizens. He praised our school for its inclusive environment.

Our principal, Rita Chatterjee, encouraged us too. “Learning, thinking and concentration are the prerequisites for overcoming obstacles in life. It is also important to dream,” she said.

Cash prize for toppers

The school gave out a plethora of awards to deserving candidates. Aadrit Banerjee of Class X won the prestigious Anand Paul Memorial Award for excellence in both scholastic and co-scholastic fields.

Archisman Ghosh of Class XII won the Jit Paul Memorial Award for practising essential human values in life. I was humbled and excited to receive the principal’s nominee award for outstanding contribution towards school initiatives.

Our school being inclusive, we recognised the efforts of students with special needs and the Each One Teach One Award went out to secondary school students who took time out to educate the less fortunate every Monday after school.

Dipjoy Roy and Ditipriya Sarkar of Class VI won the Vikram Memorial Award for their performance in our annual school sports day and others were feted in the social service — lending service to the community — category.

The highlight, however, was the Rs 50,001 cash prize given to our Board exam toppers. Debojyoti Kar, who won the Surrendra Paul Scholarship Awards for Science and Shivam Bhalotia, who won the Jit Paul Scholarship Awards for Commerce) got the scholarship this year. “This award is being given out for the last three years by the Apeejay Education Trust under the guidance of chairperson emeritus Shirin Paul and chairman of Apeejay Surrendra Group Karan Paul. Parents and students both appreciate this award,” said principal Chatterjee. “It helps motivate students to a great deal,” she said.

We have a dream

It was then time for some cultural events. Students danced to a Buddhist sloka on peace and harmony and to the Rabindra-sangeet Ai lobhinu sanga tabo.

The theme of the show this year was dream. The students conveyed the message that every dream begins with a dreamer and that if one can dream it, one can do it.

A dance drama unfolded the story of a physically challenged boy whose friends help him conquer his obstacles.

Draped in vibrant costumes, the participants from LKG to Class XI sang, danced and mimed to inspire the audience to treasure the moments of life and never give up, 

The programme concluded with the school choir returning to the stage to sing the national anthem.

— Jayabrato Chatterjee,

Class XII, Apeejay School