News & Events
Paulines make it to the Selection Stage of the Frank Antony Interschool Debate Competition
Aaditya Pant and Tria Shares from Grade 10 were the winners of the All India Frank Antony Memorial Interschool Debate Competition 2024-25(Stage I-Pool B28) organized by CISCE and hosted by Nalanda International School, Vadodara. Thereafter, they got the opportunity to represent the school at the Selection Stage of the Competition held at The Heritage School, Dehradun where they competed with the winning students from eminent schools across the nation. The school is extremely proud of the talented duo. Best wishes to both of them for a bright future!
Frank Anthony Memorial All India Debate Competition hosted by the School
The Frank Anthony Memorial All India Inter School Debate Competition is a prestigious annual event that brings together some of the brightest young minds from the schools affiliated with the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). The preliminary round of this competition for Pool B37-Category 2(Classes 10 and below) was hosted by Saint Paul's School, Rajkot on 15th July, 2024 with participation from four distinguished schools:Anand Niketan School, Shilaj-Ahmedabad, Eklavya School, Ahmedabad, Jamnabai Narsee School, GIFT City-Gandhinagar and Nalanda International School, Vadodara.
The event began with a briefing by the Moderator, who outlined the rules and regulations. Each team consisted of two speakers, one speaking for the motion and the other against it. The speaking time for each participant was four minutes, followed by an interjection round.
The motion for the debate was: Exploring the new world is contention for no change. The jury comprised of three esteemed personalities from the field of education and public speaking -Mr. Minu Jasdanwala, well known author and social worker, Dr. Tisha Roy, HOD- English, Christ College Rajkot and Ms. Rutvi Shah - Young Poet and Winner of prestigious Public Speaking Contests.
The debate was engaging, with each participant presenting well-researched arguments. The speakers showcased exceptional oratory skills and understanding of the topic. The interjection round added an element of spontaneity, testing the participants' ability to think on their feet.
The judges commended the participants for their insightful arguments and eloquence. They appreciated their ability to present complex ideas clearly and persuasively.After careful deliberation, the jury announced the winners: Best Team: Nalanda International School-Vadodara, First Runner-Up Team: Jamnabai Narsee School, GIFT City-Gandhinagar, Best Speaker: Oorja Bhow- Nalanada International School, Vadodara and First Runner-Up Speaker: Yashvi Patel, Jamnabai Narsee School
The winners were awarded merit certificates in recognition of their outstanding performance.
Alumni Meet at Saint Paul’s School, Rajkot- Celebrating Legacy, Forging Connections
The much-anticipated SPAN MEET 2024-25, was held recently bringing together more than three hundred ex-students, teachers, and current students for a day filled with nostalgia, joy and camaraderie. The beautifully decorated venue buzzed with excitement as the alumni reconnected with their batch mates and teachers. Special message board and memory walls were created for the event.
The event commenced with a warm welcome from Miss Gujarat 2018 -Rushali Sagala, a former student and professional emcee, who set the tone for the day. This was followed by a soulful prayer song performed by the school choir. The melodious rendition reminded everyone of the values and ethos instilled by the school.
Rev. Fr. James, Principal, delivered an inspiring speech on the occasion highlighting the school’s achievements over the years and the importance of alumni contributions to the school and society.
The current students showcased their talent through a vibrant dance performance. Their energetic and well synchronized dance steps were met with enthusiastic applause by one and all.
Thereafter, the alumni shared their experiences and success stories. Each speaker expressed gratitude for the solid foundation laid by the school and reminisced about their school days. Their stories of personal and professional growth were both heartwarming and motivating.
Former and current teachers shared a poignant reflection on the evolution of the school and the lasting impressions left by various batches of students. A touching reminder of the enduring relationships between the teachers and students!
The stage was then taken over by a group of musically gifted alumni who performed a medley of songs. Their captivating performance evoked a wave of nostalgia besides demonstrating the enduring talents nurtured by the school.
The formal programme was followed by interactive sessions where the alumni mingled with the current students and teachers sharing experiences, offering suggestions and forging new connections. The event concluded with a delightful spread of refreshments.
The SPAN Meet was a resounding success, celebrating the legacy of the school, the achievements of its alumni and the reaffirmation of lifelong bonds!
Christmas Celebration-Sharing joy and love
Christmas celebration at the school was everything bright, nice and merry!
In true Christmas spirit, besides woollen clothes, the proceeds from the Food Fair organized in the school and old newspapers collected by the students and teachers were donated to an NGO for mentally challenged children. All the school notice boards and classrooms were decorated on the theme of Christmas by the students. The Primary School students had exciting activities like Christmas tree and candle decoration whereas the students of Middle School made Christmas Cards and unique life size Santa Puppets. The students of Grades 9 and 7 presented a spectacular Christmas Programme on the occasion which included Christmas messages, skit, dances and carols.
Saint Paul’s School MUN-Fostering diplomacy and dialogue
Saint Paul’s School, Rajkot hosted the 7th edition of its MUN Programme for the students of Classes 7 to 12 on 8th and 9th December 2023. The programme was organized by the school in association with SkillSphere Education.
The programme was inaugurated with the lighting of the lamp by the Chief Guest Prof. Arvind Akshan, HOD Physics, Christ College, Rajkot, Rev. Fr. James, Principal, Saint Paul’s School, Ms. Pranjali Magar from SkillSphere and one of the student representatives. In his speech, the Chief Guest congratulated the school for its initiative of organizing such a programme for the students of the city.
212 students from 6 reputed schools of Rajkot participated in the MUN under various committees like the United Nations Security Council, United Nations Environment Programme, UN Women, United Nations General Assembly and the Lok Sabha, as delegates representing different countries. The agenda of the programme was ‘Development and Equality beyond borders’.
During the conference, the delegates researched their assigned country’s policies and positions on the agenda. The stimulating MUN sessions saw the delegates utilize their skills of introduction, opinion development, debating, collaborative problem solving and drafting resolutions.
The dedicated involvement of the organizing committee, volunteers and the delegates was recognized during the closing ceremony. The winning delegates were given certificates by the Principal.
Navratri and Diwali Celebrations- Embracing the festive spirit!
Navratri, the longest festival of the world, is an integral part of the Indian culture. Keeping the tradition of Navratri alive, the school organized ' Garba Utsav' for the students and staff.
The celebration began with the conventional 'Aarti' led by Principal Rev. Fr. James, followed by specially choreographed traditional sheri garba, dandiya and classwise dance performances by the students.
The school courtyard transformed into a dance floor as the students and staff enjoyed swirling gracefully in sync with the rhythmic garba beats. The entire school campus reverberated with the sounds of the energetic garba performances of the students and staff on live music. The lovely garba decor and the traditional attires of the dancers added a splash of colour to the festive ambience!
The best dressed garba players and the best garba dance performers were recognized.
In view of the Diwali festival, a spirited enactment of Ramayan in the form of a dance drama was also presented by the students.
The celebrations, which brought everyone together, reiterated the importance of embracing traditions and the spirit of unity.
Youth Parliament- The Voice of Young India
The future of India lies in the hands of empowered youth! Youth Parliament, a customized simulation of the actual Indian Parliament Session, was conducted at Saint Paul’s School, Rajkot on 3rd October 2023 for the students of Grades 9 and 10 to provide a platform to ‘Young India’ to ideate on initiatives for social action and transformation.
Training sessions were organized for the students before the actual session by the SkillSphere Education team to familiarize them with the functioning of the Parliament Sessions.
The agenda for discussion during the mock Youth Parliament was ‘Challenges in the education system at Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary and Senior Secondary levels’. In groups, the students debated on the existing problems in the education system and proposed concrete solutions for the same. Parents were invited to watch the young leaders in action. The Youth Parliament Session helped the students understand the importance of discipline, tolerance of the views of others, practices and procedures of the Parliament and the power of democracy.
MERCADO 2024- Impacting Lives through Social Entrepreneurship!
MERCADO – a three days long social entrepreneurship programme cum trade fair was organized by the Commerce Department in the school from 18th to 20th October, 2024. Dr. Swati Doshi, Professor, Christ College inaugurated the trade fair. A shopping bazaar with around 40 stalls was set up by the students offering a wide range of products.
The game zone and the food courts saw a beeline of visitors enjoying themselves.
Rev. Fr. James Francis, Principal, says, “The idea behind MERCADO is to provide an opportunity to the students to utilize their networking and communication skills to approach businesses and vendors for sponsorship and their logistic skills for stall openings. The entire proceedings of the event have been donated to an AIDS Centre in Kutch, thereby making the students understand the importance and social responsibility and community impact”.
The event, which was huge success, saw a footfall of more than 3000 visitors.
Teacher’s Day-Celebrating the beacons of knowledge
It is rightly said by Guy Kawasaki, “If you have to put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are society’s heroes”.
A plethora of activities were conducted across all the grades to celebrate the Teacher’s Day in the school.
The students of Primary School conducted a special assembly to express their love for their teachers. They also made gratitude cards for the teachers thanking them for shaping their lives.
The students of Middle School decorated the notice boards with messages for their teachers.
The students of Senior School presented a programme dedicated to the teachers which included dance, poems, speeches and a thought provoking skit.
Career Counselling Seminars- Mission Margadarshan
Career Counselling Seminars were organized by the school in association with Brainberg Knowledge Solutions, Pune from 21st to 24th August 2023.
Psychometric tests were conducted for the students of Grades 8 to 10 by experts to help students identify their top abilities, interests and dominant personality trait and provide them the most suitable job or career recommendations accordingly. The findings of the test will also be used to give tips to the students to improve their study habits. A joint session for the students and parents was conducted wherein guidance was provided regarding various courses available, top educational institutions offering these courses and the eligibility criteria for the same. Some of the teachers of the school were trained to become certified career counsellors who will carry forward the initiative.
Vigyantram- Project Based Workshops by Abhyuday IIT Bombay-Decoding Technology
Abhyuday IIT Bombay conducted three different hands on workshops in the school on 2nd and 3rd August 2023.
The AI and Robotics Workshop for Grades 8 and 9 focused on the fundamentals of algorithms, python programming, coding concepts, data science, machine learning and computer vision. Wake up application, secret agent app, space invaders game, doctor’s app and get the gold game were covered during the Mobile and Game Development Workshop for Grades 6 to 8. A separate workshop on Autonomous Robots was conducted for Grades 6 to 9 in which the students learnt about visitor counter system, blind stick, android mobile control robots and object detection robots. The students with the best performance during the workshops were awarded.
Developmental Drama Workshops- Bringing Theatre into Education
Theatre as an educational medium emphasizes on learning through role play and drama in an environment of research, inquiry, exploration and creativity. Renowned theatre coaches from Bangalore, Mr. Sibu Vaz and Ms.Soundhary Vaz along with their team members conducted a series of workshops for our students and teachers of the Middle School.
During the workshops, the students and teachers participated in many lively theatre activities and learnt about the basic drama tools. The sessions helped bring an overall positive change in the students, their thought processes, perspective and way of communication. The teachers also ideated on how different drama techniques can be integrated within the curriculum to make learning more engaging for the students.
Independence Day – Saluting our Heroes, Celebrating our Diversity
A colourful programme was organized in the school to mark the 78th Independence Day of our nation. The programme began with the hoisting of the tri-colour by Chief Guest Dr. Divya Singh, HOD, Onco-Radiology, Rajkot Cancer Society.This was followed by a spectacular parade by the School Captains marching to the beats of the school band.
A replica of the Amar Jawan Jyoti was created in the school to pay tribute to the Param Vir Chakra Awardees for their supreme sacrifices.
The cultural events included beautiful dances depicting women empowerment and the rich cultural diversity of India. One of the attractions of the programme was a thought provoking dance drama performed by the students, highlighting the true meaning of patriotism, the sacrifices of the farmers and soldiers. National pride and patriotic fervour were evident in the medley of songs presented by the students on the occasion.
Special Class Assemblies, Shows and activities were also conducted prior to 15th August 2024 as part of week-long Independence Day celebrations in the school.
Orientation Programmes for Parents-Building Partnerships
Collaboration between parents and teachers is the key to unlock a child’s potential. We, at Saint Paul’s School, believe in working in tandem with the parents as our partners in the progress of the children. Therefore, the school organized series of Orientation Programmes in the months of June and July 2024 for the parents of Pre KG to Grade 12.
The parents were briefed about the policies, rules and regulations of the school by the respective Class Co-ordinators. They also gave to the parents, an overview of NEP besides the curriculum, teaching methodologies, assessment schedules, co-scholastic activities and the new initiatives of the school.
The Orientation Programmes helped evolve a common strategy between the school and the parents for the growth of the children. They also aided the parents in identifying suitable follow up methods to reinforce the learning process of their children.
Saint Paul’s Day- Counting Blessings, Expressing Gratitude
“I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us, and we change things.” This quote of Mother Teressa reminds us how powerful prayers can be!
For an auspicious beginning to the Academic Year 2024-25, prayer services led by the students and teachers of Grades 5, 7 and 11 were held in the school auditorium. Rev. Fr. James, Principal, the students and teachers sought blessings of God in the journey ahead with grateful hearts. The school hall reverberated with the divine notes of prayer songs from holy scriptures and devotional dances presented by the students! SPS core values were reiterated on the occasion and a slideshow of the important milestones of the school was presented to commemorate the silver jubilee year of the school.
Leaders in the Making
The Prefectorial Council of Saint Paul’s School, Rajkot is a platform for young leaders to contribute to the discipline of the school and share their ideas for the progress of the school. Elections were held for the positions of Junior Prefect and Vice Prefect wherein the students of Grades 6 to 8 cast their votes to select their favourite candidates! The Senior Prefect, Vice Prefect, House Captains and Vice House Captains were selected from Grades 9 to 12 after rigorous rounds of interviews by the Selection Committee comprising of the teachers and the Principal. Both the Senior and Junior Prefectorial Council members were officially vested with their duties and responsibilities and conferred their badges during special Investiture Ceremonies held on 2nd and 3rd July, 2024. Ms. Kabita Agrawal, Principal Director-Mount Litera Zee School, Jamshedpur, Chartered Accountant and QCI NABET Assessor for School Accreditation, was the Chief Guest during the Investiture Ceremony held on 2nd July, 2024. She motivated the young leaders to develop qualities of collaboration and integrity and uphold the culture and traditions of the school. Rev. Fr. James, Principal, administered the oath to the young leaders who pledged to work for the betterment of the school and take it to greater heights.
Students pledge to ‘Say No to Drugs, Yes to Life’
Substance abuse, especially among the youth, is on the rise. ‘World Narcotics Day’ is observed every year on 26th June to spread awareness about this global issue. In view of this, the school organized an Awareness Session on ‘Harmful effects of Drugs and Narcotics’ for the students of Grades 11 and 12.
The Resource Persons for the Session were well known educationist, Mr. Minu Jasdanwala and Police Sub-Inspector Mr. A.V. Kher.
The statistics provided by the Guest Speakers regarding the alarming number of drugs cases made the students aware about the gravity of the issue. The Session focussed on pertinent questions like-How do the drug dealers trap people? How can one avoid falling into such traps? What are the physiological and psychological effects of drugs? Who should be approached for help?
It was indeed an eye-opening session which convinced the students to pledge to ‘Say no to Drugs, Yes to Life’.
Yoga for Well-being
Yoga, originating from our country, is not just a physical exercise but a holistic practice that encompasses the mind, body and spirit. Yoga has transcended time and borders to bring harmony and well-being to millions of people around the world! In recognition of this, 21st June has been declared as ‘International Yoga Day’ by the United Nations.
We, at Saint Paul’s School, celebrate ‘International Yoga Day’ every year to keep our students connected with the ancient Indian disciplines and inculcate healthy practices among them from an early age. On the occasion of ‘International Yoga Day 2024’, the students enthusiastically performed various yogasanas like vrikshasana, tadasana, padmasana followed by suryanamskar under the guidance of their Sports teachers. The excitement of our young learners was palpable as they sat on their colourful yoga mats and demonstrated the various yoga poses taught to them with ease!