Special Events and Celebrations

Session 2023-24

Farewell Ceremony Class XII (2023-24)

The Farewell Ceremony for Class XII students was held on 27th January 2024 in the school auditorium in the presence of teachers, parents and students of Class XII.
The programme commenced with a special assembly and the release of the Class of 2024 Yearbook by the Principal, Ms Esther Mani.

The Head Boy, Vikram Khanna, Head Girl Pranavi Jayanth and other student representatives of Class XII reminisced about their years in the school and expressed their gratitude to their teachers and peers. The Class Teachers shared memorable anecdotes of the last two years and acknowledged the special talents and contribution to class and school activities of various students. Some of the parents also shared their appreciation of how their children had grown and matured over the years and recognised the role of activity teachers, support staff and bus drivers in the growth journey of their wards.

Mementos were presented to the students by the Principal and the Class Teachers. The students of Class XI presented heart-warming songs and a special dance performance for their seniors. Some of the best moments of students’ life in school were revisited through a PPT presentation prepared by teachers especially for the occasion.
The Principal, Ms Esther Mani addressed the students and reminded them to respect themselves and have faith in their abilities. She urged them to practise honesty as they prepared to write their Board exams and wished them well for a successful life ahead.

The programme concluded with the solemn ceremony of the lighting of candles accompanied by the choir’s mellifluous rendering of the inspiring hymn, ‘Carry your candle…Go light your world’. A special prayer of blessing was said for the students and parents. The programme ended with the singing of the school song and the day came to an emotional close for Class XII batch of 2023-2024.

Republic Day-2024

The school celebrated the 75th Republic Day on 26th January, 2024, with the unfurling of the National Flag by the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani. The programme was attended by students, parents and staff members.

The Head Girl, Pranavi Jayanth, in her address, emphasised on the role of the students who as architects of the future, must lead the country with the right values and be vigilant custodians of our democracy. Students of Primary School presented an inspiring patriotic song promising to serve and protect the nation with education as their strength.

The Principal applauded the unwavering spirit of the Indian soldiers, farmers and all those who sacrifice comfort and work tirelessly for the progress and safety of the country. She encouraged everyone to embrace each moment of their life with positivity and be thankful for God’s abundant blessings.

SYNERGY 2023 – THE ANNUAL ATHLETIC MEET

The Annual Sports Meet of Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, Synergy 2023, was held on 7th and 8th December 2023 at the Commonwealth Games Village Sports Complex, on the theme of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals related to Climate Action and Good Health. The Chief Guest on Day 1 was Mrs Mary George, President of the Lott Carey Baptist Mission in India. On Day 2, we were honoured to have as Chief Guest, Dr Ranganai Matema, from UNICEF, India. The two-day event was attended by several distinguished guests, members of the Management, parents and alumni.

The Primary school events began on 7th December with the March Past led by the Head Boy and Head Girl of the Junior School and students of Class 5. The Senior school events held on 8th January commenced with a March past led by the Head Boy and Head Girl of the Senior School and students of Classes 10 and 12. The Sports Captains took the oath of fair play on behalf of the athletes. Meritorious sportspersons of the school participated in the Torch Run and lit the Synergy 2023 flame.

On both days, students performed a variety of drills and engaging field presentations that entertained the audience and also demonstrated the students’ fitness, coordination and discipline. The Taekwondo presentations were a visual treat as the students of the junior and senior school displayed their impressive martial art skills and gravity-defying pyramid formations.

The athletic events saw intense competition as participants from the four Houses vied with each other for the coveted medals in 100m, 200m, 400m and Relay races. The Best Athletes’ trophies in the Sub-Junior category were awarded to Pranaya Bhandari, VD (Ashoka House) and Tejas Manthan Singh,VB ( Ashoka House). The Best Athletes in the Junior Category were Ojaswi Dadwal,VIIE (Tagore House) and Aniket Beniwal, VIIIB ( Tagore House). The trophies for Best Athletes in the Senior category were won by Vishakha Chandran, XIA (Akbar House) and John Paul Jaison, XIIE (Tagore House).

The school also honoured students who had distinguished themselves at National and International events – Aarit Kapil, IIIC (Chess), Saaransh Pandey, VIIIA and Vaibhav Tiwari, VIIA (Badminton), Tejas Sharma, VIIIA, Ananya Prakash, XD and Vaanya Prakash, XC (Taekwondo).

Gandhi House won the trophy for the Best Marching Contingent and the trophy for the Best House in Sports was won by Ashoka House.

Senior School Christmas Programme 2023 – Report

The Senior School held Christmas celebrations on 20 December, 2023, in the school auditorium. The auditorium was beautifully decorated with banners, hand-made chandeliers and wreaths making the atmosphere joyful. Students from Classes VI to XII attended the programme.

The programme began with melodious Christmas songs sung by the choir, including solo, duet, trio and quartet performances. Students from Classes VII to IX enacted the Christmas story in the form of a news report – ‘Hope News: A Bethlehem Adventure Unfolds – by SSVE TV,’ showcasing reporters uncovering the mysterious tale of a new king’s arrival on earth via encounters with the innkeeper, shepherds, angels, King Herod, the three Wise men and Mary. The presentation also included a soulful lullaby sung by Mary and a spirited dance performance by students of Class VIII.
The audience joining the choir in singing Christmas carols, adding festivity to the celebrations.

SCINTILLATIONS 2023

Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, organised Scintillations, an Inter-School Science Competition on 3rd November 2023. The competition comprised two events -Scientopia and Technotopia.

Eight schools from East Delhi participated in the competition. The Chief Guest for the event was Mrs. Mary George, President, Lott Carey Baptist Mission in India. The event was judged by eminent judges,
Dr. U.K. Jetley, Vice Chairman, Lajpat Rai College Society, Dr. M. Salome John, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Ram Lal Anand College, DelhiUniversity and Dr. David Stephen Lall, Research Scientist in the field of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage at the National Centre of Excellence, IIT Bombay.

The topic for Scientopia was ‘Great Scientists of Yesteryears.’ Each team was represented by three participants from Classes IX and X. The event comprised a Quiz and a Caricature – cum talk competition based on six great scientists, Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Dmitri Mendeleev, Madam Marie Curie, Sir Isaac Newton and Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose.
The winner of Scientopia was Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave and First Runner-up was Somerville School, Greater Noida.

In Technotopia, participating students drawn from Classes XI and XII, presented a symposium on the topic, ‘Science in 2050’
The topics for the Symposium were:
1. Improving Human Health through Synthetic Biological Systems.
2. How do you envision Green Energy in the Domestic Context?
3. Pulverising Plastic Pollution with Chemistry of the future.

Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave bagged the First Position and the Runner-up team was from Somerville School, Noida.

Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave was declared the Overall Best Team. Being the host school, the trophy was awarded to the Runner-up team, Somerville School, Noida.

The Chief Guest, Mrs. Mary George addressed the gathering and emphasized the importance of scientific temper amongst students. Dr. David Lall motivated students to seek scientific knowledge beyond their textbooks. Mrs. Annapurani Balaji, PGT Chemistry delivered the vote of thanks.

GRANDPARENTS’ DAY

Grandparents are a family’s greatest treasure, the greatest storytellers and the keepers of traditions. To honour them, Grandparents’ Day was organized on 15th & 16th September 2023, to which grandparents of all the students of Pre School and Pre Primary were invited. The programme started with a prayer and a welcome song, ‘You are my sunshine’. It was followed by a speech by Noorvi Mittal, a student of Pre-Primary. The students dedicated a lovely poem to their grandparents followed by a dance performance. This was followed by activities in which the grandparents participated such as the game, ‘Identify the Song’ and a ramp walk in which they participated with great zeal and enthusiasm. Each winner was given a plant as a token of appreciation. The children also presented a souvenir made by them to their grandparents. The grandparents were touched and overwhelmed and some of them shared words of wisdom and appreciation for the school and the staff for organizing an event. The programme concluded with the clicking of pictures of the grandparents with their grandchild. The event was most memorable and a huge success.

SPIC MACAY VIRASAT 2023

Lecture Demonstration by Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori

Somerville School Vasundhara Enclave and SPIC MACAY, presented a santoor recital by the acclaimed santoor player, Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori, under the SPIC MACAY VIRASAT SERIES -2023, on 5th October2023, in the school. The programme was attended by the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, Vice Principal, Dr Pratima Margaret Lall, teachers and students.

Pandit Abhay Rustum Sopori, accompanied by Shri Chanchal Singh and Ms.Poushali Dutta, were welcomed by the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani and the Vice Principal, Dr. Pratima Margaret Lall. The programme commenced with the lighting of the lamp by the artists and the Principal, amidst chanting of Shlokas. This was followed by a short instrumental presentation by the school orchestra.

Panditji demonstrated the different parts of a santoor and explained how it is related to Shaivism. He also talked about its interesting history, and the contribution of the Sopori family to Indian classical music.

Pandit Abhay Soporiji began the recital with Alaap in Raag Bheem, followed by Jod- Jhala and the Gat. The audience also sang along with him, the Alankar, Sargam, Alaap and a souful Tarana. This opportunity helped them open their minds to the beautuful world of Indian Classical music . He introduced students to the rich tradition of India . The students learned how permutations and combinations in Mathematics can be effectively used to create combinations of swaras(musical notes). The students were completely mesmerised by the skilful and captivating performance by the artists.

As the programme concluded, Panditji interacted with the students and took questions from them, addressing their queries regarding their area of interest.

The vote of thanks was presented by the Principal. She thanked the artists for providing students a valuable learning experience and presented token of appreciation on behalf of the school.

Plantation Drive Report-28th August 2023

Van Mahotsav was celebrated by Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave on 28th August 2023. Around 45 students from Classes IX to XII participated in the event and planted 30 saplings of native trees such as Ziziphus (Ber), Cassia fistula (Amaltas), Saraca asoka (Ashoka), Butea monosperma (Palash) and Bauhinia variegata (Kachnar) in DDA park, Vasundhara Enclave. The drive was organised with the support of the Area Councillor, Ms. Muneesh Dedha, Vice Principal, Dr Pratima Margaret Lall, along with two teachers, Mr. Deepak Sharma and Ms. Anu Singh.

The students took the initiative to adopt the plants and pledged to take care of them. The activity helped the students to become more sensitive towards the environment and contribute towards the development of forest cover in urban areas.

Students carried colourful posters and banners prepared under the guidance of the Art and Craft Department to create awareness about the drive amongst the residents of the area.

ENROUTE 2023 – INTER SCHOOL COMMERCE COMPETITION

‘Comcord’, the Commerce Club of the school, hosted its fifth Inter-School Commerce Fest, ENROUTE 2023 on 25thAugust 2023, which saw keen and creative participation from Commerce and Economics students from 13 renowned schools of Delhi and the NCR region.
The Conveners of Enroute 2023 were Shriyanshi Aggarwal of Class XII C and Juliet Treesa Jose of Class XII B.
The event was inaugurated by Mr. Thomas T Roy, the Superintendent and Secretary/Treasurer of the LCBM in India.

Enroute 2023 comprised two competitive events.

1. Marketing Teaser- The Triple Connection – People, Prosperity and the Planet: Finding sustainable solutions keeping in mind the three P’s.
The participants competed to look beyond traditional endorsement practices and develop products with multi-promotional strategies keeping in mind the needs of the changing market.

This event was judged by Mr. George P Varghese, Art Director at Basic 4 Advertising Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. Bikash Anand, Business Head Ecommerce, Blue Dart-North.

The following schools won the Winner and the Runner-up positions:

POSITION NAME OF SCHOOL NAME OF PARTICIPANTS
WINNER Delhi Public School, Noida 1. Sonakshi Raghuwanshi
2. Angela Arora
3. Aditya Dube
4. Aanya Jina
5. Inika Girotra
RUNNER UP Somerville School, Noida 1. Rakshit Pant
2. Tadasha Shukla
3. Manya Dwivedi
4. Arnav Sharma
5. Sia Swaroop

2. Budget Colloquium- Green Growth
The participant schools acted as the Finance Secretary of the allotted state and were responsible for preparing a budget for that state. Based on the data set of the Union Budget estimates provided for next fiscal year, they came up with a “Best Case” proposal with justifications to get the maximum share of allocation in the Union Budget.

The event was judged by Dr. Esther N Ngaihte, a specialist in Health and Development Economics and Professor at Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University and Mr. K. Chandrashekhar, Chief Finance Officer at Elekta Medical Systems Private Limited.

The following schools won the top two positions in the event:

The Enroute 2023 Trophy for the Best School Team was awarded to Somerville School, Noida.

POSITION NAME OF SCHOOL NAME OF PARTICIPANTS
WINNER Somerville School, Noida. 1. Vansh Nayyar
2. Raima Kapoor
RUNNER UP Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave Delhi 1. Bhavya Dhingra
2. Aditya Mishra
Best Interjecting Team Somerville School, Noida 1.Managya Sinha
2. Navya Kumar

The event concluded with the prize distribution ceremony. The Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, and the judges presented trophies and certificates to the winners.
The Enroute 2023 Trophy for the Best School Team was awarded to Somerville School, Noida.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Independence Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm and patriotic spirit on 15th August 2023, in the school premises to mark 76 years of freedom. A special programme was organised to honour the legacy and greatness of our nation. The programme was attended by the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, Vice-Principal, Dr Pratima Margaret Lall, Primary Coordinator, Mrs Sulochna Cardoza, teachers, parents and students.

The Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, hoisted the national flag which was followed by the singing of the National Anthem.

Senior Head Boy, Vikram Khanna addressed the gathering and presented his thoughts about the values that led to India’s freedom and duties each citizen must fulfil to take the country to greater heights.

The Primary Head Girl, Jessa Mariya Martin, also expressed her views on the importance of being loyal towards the nation and to remember the sacrifices made by the heroes of the freedom struggle.

Students of Classes IV and V enthralled the audience with their melodious rendition of patriotic songs. A dance presentation depicting the power of India and how the country is progressing in various fields, evoked a feeling of pride.

Mrs Pratibha Poddar, TGT, Computer Science, encouraged the students to understand the value of freedom and the need to preserve it.

The programme concluded with a speech by the Vice-Principal, Dr Pratima Margaret Lall. She urged the students to work for the betterment of the country and be responsible citizens.

Felicitation Ceremony- 2022-23

A Felicitation Ceremony was held on 5th August 2023 to recognise the efforts of meritorious students of Classes X and XII in the CBSE Board examinations for the session 2022-23. Mrs. D. A. Tressler, Chairperson and Director, Somerville Schools, was the Chief Guest. The event was also attended by the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, Vice-Principal, Dr. Pratima Margaret Lall, Primary Coordinator, Mrs. Sulochna Cardoza, parents of the awardees, teachers and students.

Class X and XII school toppers were felicitated by Mrs D.A. Tressler and Ms. Esther Mani. Aadit Sewak topped the Class XII batch of 2022-23 with a brilliant 97.8% aggregate. Akshita Sehdev and Sanskriti Jain stood second with an aggregate of 96.6% and the third position was jointly bagged by Avani Mamgain and Lakshya Goyal with 95.6%.

Aadit Sewak (Science), Akshita Sehdev (Humanities) and Sanskriti Jain (Commerce) were also awarded trophies and certificates for scoring the highest marks in their respective streams.

Hardik Mirg scored the highest marks in Class X with an outstanding 97.8% aggregate and Shaurya Pandey secured the second position with an aggregate of 97.2%. Shaurya Thakur and Vaishnavi Negi jointly bagged the third position with an aggregate of 97%.

Students who scored highest marks in various subjects were awarded trophies and certificates by their respective subject teachers. Student with Special Needs, Vidita Singh, was commended for her excellent performance in the Class XII examinations

The newly introduced Somerville Ratna Award was presented to the students for their outstanding performance in co-curricular activities and sports. Aayush Kapoor of XII B and Vanshika Chauhan of XII A were felicitated for excellence in sports whereas Navya Pandey and Stanly Abraham of XII A were felicitated for their exceptional performance in co-curricular activities.

Avika Singh (X E), Aayush Durai of (X E) and Susanna Bagh (XII A) were felicitated for achieving full attendance in the academic session 2022-23.

The school toppers shared their insights with the audience, motivating everyone to give their best. They also expressed their gratitude towards the school, parents and teachers for all the guidance and support.

One of the highlights of the programme was a dance-drama presented by students on the theme, “Say No to Plastic” to create awareness about the harmful effects of plastic.

The Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, presented the Principal’s Award, to Aadit Sewak for his exceptional all-round performance throughout the session and appreciated him for being the role-model for other students.

The Chief Guest, Mrs. D.A Tressler, addressed the gathering and congratulated the awardees for their brilliant results. The vote of thanks was delivered by Mrs. Rita Nakra, PGT Commerce. The programme concluded with an inspiring message from the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani emphasising on the need of holistic development of the students.

BLESSING CEREMONY FOR RENOVATED INFRASTRUCTURE

The blessing and dedication ceremony for the newly constructed Playpen, the Basketball- cum-Handball Court and the renovated Classrooms for Std. VII and VIII, along with two newly purchased buses, was held on 30th June 2023 in the presence of Mrs Mary George, President, LCBM, Mr. Thomas T. Roy, Secretary-Treasurer of LCBM, Mrs. D. A. Tressler, Chairperson & Director of Somerville Schools, Mr Abraham Mathew, Manager, Somerville Schools, Principal, Ms Esther Mani and Vice Principal, Dr Pratima Margaret Lall.

The beautifully designed Playpen with skill-based equipment has been introduced to add significant benefit and fun to the learning of the young students of the school. It proposes to help and enhance their physical development in a secure environment.

The spacious Basketball and Handball Court will help improve motor coordination and endurance among children. They will get an opportunity to display their capabilities in these sports and develop confidence to compete with their counterparts at various levels.

The two new buses aim to accommodate more students and make commuting secure and safe for them. The newly renovated classrooms for students of Classes VII and VIII and the corridor on the third floor provides a fresh and bright environment for students to enjoy their time spent in school.

AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH – APRIL 2023

The month of April was observed as Autism Awareness Month. The following activities were conducted in school:

S.NO. EVENT BRIEF DESCRIPTION
1 SLOGAN WRITING /POSTER MAKING COMPETITION A Slogan Writing / Poster Making Competition was organised on 19th April 2023 for students of Classes VI to XII on the topic, “Leave No One Behind”. Children eagerly participated in the event and enhanced their knowledge and awareness about Autism.
2 DRAWING COMPETITION A Drawing Competition was organised on 20th April 2023 for the students of Classes I to V on the topic, “We All Are Different, but Still the Same” (Leave No One Behind). Children participated whole-heartedly in the event.
3 VIDEO PRESENTATION A video presentation was made during the Value Education period in all the classes to sensitize children towards the causes, symptoms and treatment of Autism. Class teachers addressed the queries of the students.
4 SPECIAL ASSEMBLY Special assemblies were conducted on 26th and 27th April 2023 by the students. Important facts regarding Autism were shared through an enactment by students of Class XI. A special song, ‘Anthem for Autism’ was performed by the students of Primary School.
5 DEBATE COMPETITION A Debate Competition was organised on 27th April 2023 for students of Class XII on the topic, “Leave no one Behind”. The students put forth their views regarding the challenges faced by children with Autism in school, the need for inclusive classrooms and the consequences and benefits of the same.
SESSION 2022-23
REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATIONS

The school celebrated India’s 74th Republic Day on 26th January, 2023 with the Principal hoisting the National Flag.

Special prayers were said for the country. Hymns and patriotic songs were presented by the Western and Indian Music Choirs. The skit, ‘The Journey of the Indian Constitution’ was performed by the students of the middle and senior school, under the guidance of the Social Science teachers. The students told the story of the Indian freedom until the drafting and acceptance of the Constitution of India.

Students also celebrated the diverse culture of India through a well-choreographed blend of classical, folk, and contemporary dances.

The Head Girl, Adity Manral’s speech focused on the importance of unity. The Head Boy, Aadit Sewak spoke about his understanding of patriotism as working actively towards the growth and development of our country. The Principal Ms. Esther Mani, encouraged the students not to be disturbed by fear, cynicism and uncertainty but to be busy doing good and meaningful work.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAMME

The Christmas celebrations were held on 19th and 20th December 2022 for the Primary and Senior students of the school.

The story of Christmas was told through plays, carols and dances. The students of the Primary wing sang the song, ‘I’m the happiest Christmas Tree’ and presented the nativity story through a short skit that included dances by the shepherds and angels. The students of the senior wing presented the play, ‘The Legend of the Fourth Wise Man’ through which they shared the message of giving sacrificially to others with a pure heart.

Aditya Menon of XI-D and Alisha Nair of X-B sang a special song and the students of the middle school presented a celebration dance to the Christmas wish, ‘Feliz Navidad’. The school choir presented special songs, ‘Follow that Star’ and ‘Sun Lo Moré Bhaiya’ and led the school in singing their favourite Christmas carols.

CLASS II ANNUAL DAY – LET’S GET MOVING

The students of Class II of Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi, celebrated their Annual Day on 3 rd , December 2022. The programme, “Let’s Get Moving” was based on the theme of fun and physical fitness. Physical activities were presented by the students in the form of dance, drills, yoga, Taekwondo and Zumba, displaying marvellous feats of coordination, balance and agility. The parents also participated in stretching and balancing exercises during the enjoyable and very engaging programme presented by the young children.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAMME

The festival of Christmas was celebrated with gaiety by students of Pre-school and Pre-Primary on 19.12.2022. The children of Pre School and Pre-Primary sang medley of melodious carols and Christmas songs in a very festive mood. To celebrate the rich fervor of Christmas the children danced on foot tapping songs. The children dressed in their bright outfits were a delight to watch and charmed everyone. A tableaux was presented depicting the birth of Jesus Christ, the ‘Three Kings’ bearing gifts and finally the entry of Santa Claus took everyone by surprise. To spread the message of love and good cheer, a child from Pre Primary A(Navya Iyer) spoke few lines highlighting the true meaning of the decorations like the ‘Christmas Tree’, Candy Cane, ‘Lights’, ‘Star and Bell’ that are used for decorating the Christmas tree. It was a day of fun and folic for the kids.

CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATION

Children’s Day was celebrated on 14th November 2022 with great enthusiasm and excitement. A magic show was organised for the students of Classes I to V which they enjoyed thoroughly. A PPT and a video highlighting the importance of Children’s Day celebration was also shown in all the classes. At the end of the day, each student received a chocolate which made their day more special.

CLASS I ANNUAL DAY: TALES OF WIT AND WISDOM

The students of Class I of Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi celebrated their Annual Day on 19th November 2022. The students enacted stories of Akbar and Birbal through the dramatic presentation, ‘Tales of Wit and Wisdom’. Birbal’s wit, and ability to solve problems was brought out through four stories which were told using dance, poetry and drama. The theatrical skills and the confidence with which the young thespians delivered their lines, amazed the audience.

Sarod-Lecture cum Demonstration By Pandit Biswajit Roy Chowdhury

The Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) and Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, organised Sarod Recital – a lecture cum demonstration by Pandit Biswajit Roy Chowdhury as part of ‘Viraasat- 2022’, on 14 th October 2022, in the school auditorium.

The programme commenced with traditional lighting of the lamp by Pandit Biswajit Roy Chowdhury, Shri Anurag Jha, Ms. Saraswati Subbu, Chairperson and State Coordinator of SPIC MACAY Delhi and NCR Chapter and thePrincipal, Ms. Esther Mani, amidst invocation to the Almighty through Sanskrit shlokas.

The sarod recital by Maestro Pandit Biswajit Roy Chowdhury, accompanied by Shri Anurag Jha and Shri. Abdul Rahman on tabla, left the students and teachers spellbound. Pandit ji mesmerized the audience with a soulful rendition of the morning raga, ‘Ahir Bhairav’.

Pandit ji interacted with the children and explained the nuances of Indian Classical music, especially the sarod, sharing interesting facts and valuable inputs. He also shared his experiences of learning Sarod from the legendary, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

The programme proved to be a golden opportunity for the young minds to learn
and appreciate the true essence of Hindustani Classical music.

TEACHER’S DAY CELEBRATION

The students of Somerville School celebrated Teacher’s Day with great zeal and enthusiasm, showing their love, affection and respect toward their teachers.

Students of Pre School and Pre Primary celebrated Teacher’s Day on the 2nd of September 2022 by presenting dances and singing melodious songs and rhymes. They made and gave beautiful cards to their teachers to show their love and respect.

The students of Classes I, II and III presented a colourful programme on the 4th of September 2022. It included dances, songs, poem recitation, a song presentation on synthesizer and a short skit with a meaningful message on teamwork.

The students of the senior school presented a cultural programme on the 5th of September 2022 to entertain the teachers. The programme started with the speeches of the Head Boy and the Head Girl followed by dance performances, a tabla presentation and group songs.
In the end, the Principal Ms Esther Mani thanked the students for their efforts. She also read out the beautiful and motivating messages for the teachers sent by the members of the management.

Scintillations 2022: Decarbonizing our Future

The Annual Inter-School Science Event, Scintillations, was organized on 26 th August, 2022 in the school. Students from thirteen schools of Delhi-NCR participated enthusiastically in aSymposium on the theme: ‘Decarbonizing our Future.’ The event was graced by special guests, Mr. Thomas Roy, Secretary Treasurer, LCBM in India, and Mr. Vinod Kumar Sibal, former Director General, Hydrocarbons, in the Directorate of Hydrocarbons. The panel of judges included eminent persons in the field of science.

The competing teams eloquently described the environmental challenges that threaten the planet due to rising carbon footprints, their consequences and ways to negate the challenge.They were articulate and creative in providing solutions to questions posed by the judges and the interjectors. The symposium was won by Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi represented by Aadit Sewak, Atulya Rajesh and Shreya Sharma. Being the host school, the winning trophy was awarded to the runner-up team from Somerville School, Noida. Father Agnel School, Noida, and team from Somerville International School, Greater Noida also won prizes at the event.

Mr. Sibal and the judges shared valuable insights with the audience and motivated the students to play an active role in tackling climate change issues. They also appreciated the students for their extensive research and presentation skills.

ENROUTE 2022

‘Comcord’, the Commerce Club of the school conducted ‘ENROUTE’22, the Somerville Inter- School Commerce Fest on 18 th August 2022.

The fest, attended by 12 renowned schools of Delhi and Noida, began with prayer and with the lighting of the lamp by Mrs D.A Tressler, Chairperson and Director, Somerville Schools.

The students competed fiercely in two events:

1. iNGenova- The Market Pitch, in which marketing strategies and concrete business plans to sell a specific product or service were created and presented by the teams.

The results of iNGenova were:

POSITION NAME OF SCHOOL NAME OF PARTICIPANTS
WINNER Delhi Public School,Noida 1. Avinika Saanvi
2. Pratyakash Jain
3. Sagalpreet Kaur
4. Niharika Malhotra
RUNNER UP Mother’s Global School,C-Block, Preet Vihar, Delhi 5. Krish Kohli
6. Akshat Garg
7. Navya Saxena
8. Manya Kapoor

2. Eaugmente-The Ecoboost, in which the teams spoke about the economic downturn and
presented reforms and policies to deal with the crisis faced by the specific economies allotted
to them.

The results of Eaugmente were:

POSITION NAME OF SCHOOL NAME OF PARTICIPANTS
WINNER Delhi Public School,Noida 1. Shakya Khatri
2. Arhaan Akmal
RUNNER UP Somerville School, Noida 1. MeghaSisodia
2. Tadasha Shukla
Best Interjecting Team Delhi Public School, Noida 1. Shakya Khatri
2. ArhaanAkmal

Prizes were awarded to the winning teams by Mrs. Mary George, President of Lott Carry Baptist Mission in India. The Enroute 2022 Winner’s Trophy was awarded to Delhi Public School, Noida

Felicitation of Class X and XII.

The academic achievers of Classes X and XII were felicitated for their performance in the Board Examinations in a special programme organised in school on Saturday, 6 August, 2022. The Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, presented the awards to Class X and XII school toppers and the subject teachers presented the awards to the subject toppers.

In Class X with an impressive percentage of 98%, Rishabh Gupta, was the school topper. Manasvi Gund secured 97.8% to bag the second position and Mahi Garg with 97.6% secured the third position.

The Class XII students were also felicitated for their outstanding performances in the AISSCE 2022 Examinations. This year, Sivaranjani Iyer topped the Class XII batch of 2021-22 with a brilliant 99.2%. Vithi Singh stood second with 98.6% and in third position was Sarah Jacob, who secured 98%. All the three toppers were from the Humanities Stream.

The stream toppers and subject toppers were also felicitated for their exceptional performances.

Rishabh Gupta, AISSE school topper addressed the gathering and shared his experience that helped him get ahead of the competition. Sivaranjani Iyer, AISSCE school topper highlighted the need to focus on self-actualization to realise one’s full potential.

In her address, the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, congratulated all the achievers and encouraged them to follow the twelve 21st Century skills to find success and satisfaction in their life and work.

Inauguration of Science Laboratories

The blessing and dedication of the newly renovated Chemistry laboratory was held on 4th October, 2021 in the presence of Mr. Thomas T. Roy, the Secretary-Treasurer of LCBM and Mrs. D. A. Tressler, Chairperson & Director of Somerville Schools.

The spacious and aesthetically designed laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art apparatus and materials to cater to the CBSE Chemistry curriculum. It will motivate students to learn the subject in greater depth by performing experiments in a safe and systematic manner.

The blessing and dedication of the newly renovated Physics and Biology laboratories took place on 30th June, 2022 in the presence of Mr Thomas T Roy, the Secretary-Treasurer of LCBM and Mrs D. A. Tressler, Chairperson & Director of Somerville Schools.

The Physics laboratory is spacious and well-equipped. It has been designed to generate and sustain interest in the study of Physics and to encourage scientific thinking among the students.

The beautifully designed Biology laboratory will motivate the students and help the teachers to create an environment of curiosity and interest. It will also help the students to study their subject with much better understanding.

INVESTITURE CEREMONY 2022-23 (SENIOR SCHOOL)

The Investiture Ceremony of the Student Council for the year 2022-23 was held on 12 May 2022 in the presence of the Vice Principal, Dr. Pratima Margaret Lall, teachers and students.

The ceremony began with a short prayer followed by the investiture of the Head Boy, Aadit Sewak and Head Girl, Adity Manral. The Head Boy and Head Girl received their badges and sashes from the Vice Principal and took their oaths of office.

Sports Captain, Gyanendra Kumar was conferred the symbols of authority by Ms. Poonam Choudhary, PGT, Physical Education.

The Academics Captain, Navya Pandey, Assembly Captain, Susanna Bagh, Cultural Captain, Atulya Rajesh and Discipline Captain, Aarushi Rai, took the oaths of office. The House Captains were also inducted in the Student Council by their respective House Incharges. This was followed by the investiture of the Council Members.

The Head Boy and the Head Girl shared their beliefs and aspirations with the audience. They pledged to lead the Student Council with supreme dedication and honesty.

The Vice-Principal, Dr. Pratima Margaret Lall, congratulated the winners and the newly-elected Student Council. She encouraged the Council members to be role models for their peers and fulfil their duties with utmost sincerity.

LIST OF COUNCIL MEMBERS

POST STUDENTS CLASS
HEAD BOY AADIT SEWAK 12E
HEAD GIRL ADITY MANRAL 12A
CAPTAIN- SPORTS GYANENDRA KUMAR 12E
CAPTAIN -ACADEMICS NAVYA PANDEY 12A
CAPTAIN-CULTURAL ATULYA RAJESH 12D
CAPTAIN-DISCIPLINE AARUSHI RAI 12D
CAPTAIN-ASSEMBLY SUSANNA BAGH 12A
CAPTAIN-AKBAR HOUSE DIYA RAGHAVAN 12A
CAPTAIN-ASHOKA HOUSE ARUSHI SRIVASTAVA 12C
CAPTAIN-GANDHI HOUSE KRIPA WADHWA 12C
CATAIN-TAGORE HOUSE AVANI MAMGAIN 12A
COUNCIL MEMBERS
1 AADI GOYAL 12B
2 DIPRA GHAI 12B
3 HITESHI PANDE 12B
4 JASIS A. BINOJI 12B
5 LAKSHYA GOYAL 12B
6 ARJUN JUNEJA 12C
7 TANVI MALIK 12C
8 TIYA VINCENT 12C
9 AARUSHI SHRIVASTAVA 12D
10 JOSH JOJI 12D
11 MOHAMMAD ARMAN ANSARI 12D
12 VEDANT NINDRAJOG 12 E
13 TAARINI KUMAR 12E
14 ANANYA SANJEEV 12 E
15 SREYA JOHNSON 12 E
SESSION 2021-22
Farewell Ceremony for Mrs. Alka Jain

A heart -warming ceremony to bid farewell to Mrs. Alka Jain, PGT Commerce, was held on 31st of March 2022 on the occasion of her retirement. Mrs. Jain had completed 22 years of invaluable service to the school.

There were video presentations and reminiscences shared by students, alumni and colleagues to showcase Mrs. Jain’s remarkable journey as a teacher of this school. Students and colleagues appreciated her subject expertise and her positive attitude while dealing with all situations.

The Principal, Ms. Esther Mani commended Mrs. Alka Jain’s dedication towards her work and the warm relations she maintained with her students and teachers. She spoke highly of Mrs. Jain’s ability to explore, identify and synthesize ideas and information to solve problems.

Mrs Rita Nakra, PGT Commerce, spoke on behalf of the Commerce Department and appreciated Mrs. Alka Jain for being a role model for young teachers and wished her well for the coming years.

Republic Day 2022

The 73rd Republic Day was celebrated by students of Classes Pre-Primary to XII with enthusiasm and patriotic fervour. The celebrations began on 25th January 2022 with programmes held in all classes of the school.

An engaging skit presented by students of Classes VI to XII re-lived the days when the Constitution of the country was being written and the hopes with which it was given to the country by the early visionaries. The diverse culture of India was brought to life through Classical dance performances. Patriotic songs beautifully rendered by the students left the audience asking for more. Students were made aware of the contribution of the unsung heroes of our nation through a group discussion. They were encouraged to express their hopes and aspirations for the nation through poems and speeches.

The Flag-hoisting ceremony was organised in the school premises on 26th January 2022. Students, teachers and parents joined the celebrations online, through Microsoft Teams.

The school prayed for the nation, its leaders of the present and the past, and for our soldiers and paramilitary forces who protect the country and its borders.

Head Boy, Anshuman Bharadwaj, and Head Girl, Vithi Singh, in their addresses, encouraged everyone present to uphold the values of the Constitution.

The programme included a patriotic song by the choir and dance presentations by several students. The audience also learnt about the National War Memorial in Delhi.

Winners of the Veer Gatha Project were announced and applauded by all. The Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, addressed the audience and urged them to be committed to the responsibility of nation building by being law abiding and displaying integrity in their work and attitudes.

Free Covid Vaccination Camp for students

A free Covid Vaccination Camp was organised on Wednesday, 12 January 2022, for the administration of Covaxin to students of the school between the age group of 15-18 years.

The school organised the Vaccination Camp in coordination with the Directorate of Health Services, Government of Delhi, with the assistance of the local DGHS Dispensary in Vasundhara Enclave. 

A total of 138 students from Class VIII to XII received their first dose of vaccine at the Camp under the supervision of DoHS Officials, teachers, health care workers and support staff members. 

Covid appropriate behaviour and safety norms were followed strictly by students, parents, school staff, health care personnel and the government officials.

The systematic and meticulous organisation and conduct of the Covid vaccination camp was appreciated by parents and all who participated in the event.

Christmas Celebrations 2021-22

A special online Christmas Programme was organised for the students of Classes Pre-Primary to XII on Monday, 20 December 2021.

The festival of joy was celebrated with warmth and great enthusiasm. The celebrations began with prayers and gratitude to thank the Almighty for all His blessings. The message of Christmas was aptly depicted through a play presented by the students of Middle and Senior School. It reminded everyone that Christmas is all about caring for others and sharing our blessings with the less privileged.

Students and teachers sang Christmas carols along with the participants of Carol Singing Competition. Their voices reflected the true spirit of the season as they praised the Lord.

The Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, addressed the children and encouraged them to count their blessings and be grateful for all that they have been blessed with. She motivated the students to look at the positive aspect of each situation and be content within.

Students had a lot of fun participating in the various activities planned by their Class Teachers. They showed their talent by reciting poems, singing songs and solving puzzles. The programme ended with everyone bidding adieu to the year with a hope that the coming year would bring good health and happiness for one and all.

Farewell Ceremony-Ms. Bratati Mukherjee

Ms. Bratati Mukherjee, TGT Physics, was bid farewell on 30th September 2021 in a moving and poignant ceremony that celebrated her retirement after 25 years of invaluable service to the school.

Bratati Ma’am’s successful journey as a teacher of the school was showcased through video presentations and heartwarming reminiscences shared by students, alumni and colleagues. The students appreciated her subject expertise, high expectations and her maternal attitude in dealing with them.

The Principal, Ms. Esther Mani commended Bratati Ma’am’s dedication towards her work, her contribution to prize-winning science plays and exhibitions and the close connection she maintained with students. Her winning of the Delhi State Award for Teachers in 2015 was remembered with pride and applauded.

Mr. Priyank Kr Singhal, PGT Physics, on behalf of the Science department, expressed his gratitude to Bratati Ma’am for being a role model for young teachers and wished her well for the coming years.

Children’s Day 2021

Children’s Day Programme was organised for the students of Classes Pre- Primary to XII on 12th November 2021. The Class Teachers conducted the programme in their respective classes.

The celebrations began with prayers to the Almighty to thank Him for all the children in the world and seek His blessings for all. It turned out to be a very special day for the students as they got an opportunity to see their teachers in different roles. They enjoyed watching the teachers perform a humorous skit and sing some melodious songs. A special song and poem presentation by the members of the Student Council added to the festivities.

Students were also made aware of the significance of celebrating Children’s Day through an informative documentary about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his contribution towards the country’s welfare.

The students also participated enthusiastically in the exciting games and activities organised by their class teachers.

Independence Day Celebrations 2021

Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave celebrated Independence Day with great fervour and enthusiasm. A special programme was organised for the students of Classes VI to XII to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, under `Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiated by the Government of India. 

The celebrations were held online through MS Teams on 13th August 2021. The programme started with a special assembly. A documentary film depicting different phases and growth of the Indian National Movement was shown to the students. 

A Power Point Presentation which focused on the forgotten heroes of our Independence Movement and the country’s achievements in different sectors like Science, Technology and Sports was the highlight of the programme. 

Students delivered speeches on varied topics like the history of freedom struggle, the contribution of our unsung heroes and India’s development over the years. A few students drew a parallel between India’s freedom struggle and the challenges our country is facing due to the pandemic. They also appreciated the hard work put in by the frontline health care workers.

The students enjoyed glimpses of the Inter House Hindi Poetry Recitation and Folk- Dance Competitions.The programme ended with the singing of the National Anthem. 

The flag hoisting ceremony was held in the school premises on 15th August 2021.

FAREWELL – MR. SHAKTI PAUL (ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER)

Mr Shakti Paul, Administrative Officer of the school, was bid farewell on his superannuation on 31st July 2021 in a solemn ceremony held in the online and offline (hybrid) mode. The offline programme was held in the school auditorium and was attended by Mr Abraham Mathew, Manager of the school, Mr. Shakti Paul’s family, the Principal, Ms Esther Mani, Vice Principal, Dr Pratima M. Lall, and support staff. The teachers of the school joined the programme online through the Microsoft Teams platform.

The programme included an assembly, prayer, special songs and speeches by members of the teaching and support staff. Mr Shakti Paul’s long tenure of 38 years with the Lott Carey Baptist Mission and Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave was relived through a video presentation.

The staff members appreciated Mr Paul’s commitment to duty and his gentleness and humility in dealing with his colleagues and subordinates. The Principal, Ms Esther Mani spoke of Mr Paul’s invaluable contribution towards the smooth functioning of the school and how he was always ready to go the extra mile to solve problems that arose from time to time. Mr Paul was presented mementos and gifts from the management and members of staff.

NRITYANJALI 2021

Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave organised an Inter House Solo Dance Competition, ‘NRITYANJALI 2021’ for the students of Class IX on 7th August 2021. The event was conducted on Microsoft Teams.

The competition was divided into two rounds- Indian Classical Dances (Technical) and Folk Dances of India. The participants were judged on the basis of choreography, expressions, costume, clarity of movements and overall presentation.

Tejal Sharma of Class IX-A (Ashoka House), the winner of the Classical Dance Round, stole the show with her soulful performance of Kathak Dance. The Second Position was shared by Koshki Sharma of IX-A (Akbar House) and Arya Nair of IX-A (Tagore House).

In the Folk-Dance Round, Anugraha Anandan of Class IX-A (Ashoka House), gave a power packed performance of Malayalam Folk Dance and bagged the First Position. She was also declared the Best Dancer for her beautiful dance presentation that evoked strong patriotic feeling in the hearts of the audience.

The Second Position was won by Celine Susan Varghese of IX-A (Gandhi House) and Vishakha Chandra of IX-D (Akbar House).
Ashoka House was awarded the Best House for overall presentation.

First Position-Folk-Dance and Best Dancer Anugraha Anandan (IX-A, Ashoka House)

Second Position- Folk Dance Category- Celine Susan Varghese IX-A (Gandhi House) & Vishakha Chandra IX-D Akbar House)

Classical Dance Category- First Position Tejal Sharma (Ashoka House)

Classical Dance Category- Second Position, Koshki Sharma (Akbar House) and Arya Nair (Tagore House)

SESSION 2020- 21
72nd Anniversary of Gandhiji’s Martyrdom Inter-faith Prayer Meet and Musical Tribute by students at Gandhi Smriti on 30th January 2020

26 students of our school participated in a Musical tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at the Inter-Faith Prayer Meet organised on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Father of the Nation, on the evening of Thursday, 30th January, 2020 at Gandhi Smriti, Delhi. Our students had the honour of being part of the choir of 300 students drawn from various parts of the country. Gandhi Smriti is a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. It is the location where Gandhiji spent the last 144 days of his life and was assassinated on 30th January 1948.

The programme commenced with a rendition of ‘Ekadash Vart’ (Ahimsa, Satya Astey). The second presentation was a bhajan (Om tatsat shri narayan tu), followed by a Sanskrit ‘bhajan’, Aadi Pujit, a song for humanity (Manav sae hum namrata ki aasha kerte hain) and the very famous, old movie song (Dedi hume aazadi bina kadag bina dhal,,,,Sabarmati ki sant tune kar diya kamaal). The final song presented was ‘Jo samar me ho gaya amar, hum unki yaad mein’.

After the presentation of the school children, there was an inter-faith prayer session, with prayers from different faiths, which included a Buddhist Prayer (Japanese), Buddhist Prayer (Tibetan), readings from the Holy Bible, a Zoroastrian Prayer, Bahai Prayer, Prayer from Judaism, reading from the Holy Quran, reading from the ‘Guru Granth Sahib’, Prayer from Jainism, Shabad Kirtan, and a reading from the ‘Bhagwad Gita’.

The prayer session drawn from eleven faiths was followed by ‘Bhakti Sangeet’ and ‘Ram Dhun’ presented by the renowned singer, ‘Sangeet Martand’ Padma Vibhushan, Pandit Jasraj.

The august gathering that attended the programme included the Hon’ble Vice President, the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers, diplomats and people from different sections of the society, who had gathered there to pay rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.

Christmas Programme

The Christmas programmewas organisedon 19th and 20th December 2019 for various classes of the school.

The students presented carols and dances celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. They also performed a Christmas play based on the relevance of Christmas in our lives, combining the nativity story with a contemporary situation.

In her Christmas message, the Vice Principal, Dr. Pratima M. Lall, spoke about sharing hope, joy and peace with others, especially with those less fortunate than we are.

Somerville Alumni Reunion 2019

The school hosted the Second Reunion of the Alumni of Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, on 16th November 2019. It was a happy and nostalgic homecoming for more than 300 former students who had been students of the school between 1975 and 2019.

The programme began with a school morning assembly, followed by songs, dances and reminiscences shared by several former students and some of the teachers of the school. The alumni shared how the values of compassion and discipline they learnt in school had stayed with them as they made their place in the world as scientists, bureaucrats, filmmakers, writers and leaders of people.

The Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, shared interesting anecdotes about some of the alumni when they were students of the school. She urged the alumni to get more involved with their alma mater by sharing their talents and abilities, such as by organising talks, workshops and skill-based training for the current students of the school.
The programme ended with the singing of the school song and former Head Boys and Head Girls from among the alumni cutting a cake.

SPIC MACAY VIRASAT 2019

PUPPETRY ARTS by MR. DADI D. PUDUMJEE

Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi and SPIC MACAY organised a lecture demonstration on 16th October 2019, by the acclaimed puppeteer, Dadi D Pudumjee as part of VIRAASAT 2019.

Mr Dadi D. Pudumjee, winner of the prestigious Padmashri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards and founder of the Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust, was assisted by Mr.Vivek Yadav, Ms.Kumari Yadav and Mr Ganesh Yadav.

During the hour-long programme, Mr Pudumjee and his aides demonstrated the power of the willing suspension of disbelief when they seemed to breathe life into ordinary objects such as bags, shoes and slippers and encouraged the audience develop their own stories about the characters they could imagine.
Mr. Pudumjee effortlessly led the audience to question their biases and helped them open their minds to creative, independent thinking.
He introduced students to the rich tradition of puppetry in India and across the world. The artistes showed how puppets can be created from ordinary objects and diverse materials. The students learned how puppets can be effectively animated to tell a story, communicate a difficult subject or express a controversial opinion.

The artistes interacted freely with students and answered questions from the audience touching upon their interests and the difficulties faced in their chosen field.

EN ROUTE 2019

‘Comcord’, the Commerce Club of our school hosted the Third Edition of the Inter School Commerce Fest ‘ENROUTE’ on 11th October 2019. This event provided an opportunity to students belonging to the Commerce Stream of various schools to compete in events based on Commerce and Economics.

The fest was attended by nine renowned schools of Delhi and NCR. The function began with the lighting of the lamp, prayer and Bible reading.

Two competitive events were organised in the Commerce Fest:

1. MANCHTANTRA (STREET PLAY):

In this event, participants showed great enthusiasm and creativity to convey their messages on social and economic issues. Seven schools competed for the trophy.

This event was judged by Mr. Rakesh Daksh (PGT Theatre in a school in Noida), Mr. Himanshu Kumar (Theatre actor and Director), Mrs. Latha Nandakumar (HOS/Vice Principal, Kerala School).

The results are as follows:

POSITION NAME OF SCHOOL NAMES OF PARTICIPANTS
WINNER Delhi Public School, Noida 1. Arpan Chadha
2. Vanya Kalyan
3. Kashish Manchanda
4. Rebanta Saha
5. Hemanya Dua
6. Ujjwal Anurag
7. Awiral A. Singh
RUNNER UP St. Mary School , Mayur Vihar Delhi 1.Arvind Achuthan
2. Suhani Gupta
3.Saima Talat
4.Steve Rozario
5. Ayush Juyal
6. Amanta Joseph
7. Shreya Suresh
8. Srishti Beni

2. INQUIZITIVE:
In a closely contested Quiz Competition, students from nine schools tested their knowledge and awareness on the content and application of economics. Mr. Satyabroto Roy, PGT Economics from Nirmal Bhartia School, Dwarka, was the Moderator for the event.

Results:

POSITION NAME OF SCHOOL NAME OF PARTICIPANTS
WINNER Ryan International School, Noida 1. Sanidhya Garg
2. Prakhar Tandon
RUNNER UP Modern School, Barakhamba Road Delhi 1. Arnav Mehra
2. G.Shiva

The day’s events ended with the prize distribution ceremony, where the Convener, Mehak Jain, XII B and Co- conveners, Stefna J.Sebastian, XII C and Adit Garg, XI C presented awards to the winning schools.

The EnRoute Rolling Trophy was won by Delhi Public School, Noida.

SCINTILLATIONS 2019

The Inter-School Science Competition, Scintillations’, was organized on 23rdAugust 2019. Students from six schools of the NCR region participated enthusiastically in a Turn Coat Debate on the motion: ‘The compelling frontier for exploration is the ocean and not space’. Six schools from East Delhi took part in the competition. The event was judged by eminent persons in the field of science, Dr. A.K. Sinha, Retired Senior Scientist of DRDO, Mr. Srinivasan Ramachandran, Senior Principal Scientist at the Institute of Genomics and Integrated Biology and Wing Commander Satyam Kushwaha.

The debate was won by Manasvi Kapoor XI D and Harleen Kaur, XI D the team from Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave. Being the host school, the winning trophy was awarded to the next highest scorer, the team from Somerville School, Noida. The First Runner-up position was won by Vishwa Bharati Public School, Noida and the team from Bal Bharati Public School, Noida took home the Second Runner-up trophy.

The Judges shared valuable insights with the audience and motivated the students to seek scientific knowledge beyond their text books. The Vice-Principal, Dr. Pratima.M.Lall, delivered the vote of thanks.

Independence Day Celebrations

The 73rd Independence Day was celebrated in the school on 15th August, 2019 with great enthusiasm and fervor.

The celebrations began with the flag hoisting by the Principal followed by a cultural programme. The Junior School Head Boy and Head Girl, Arjun Anand and Ching Nun Paal Guite, spoke eloquently about their vision for India. Students sang a patriotic song, “Har Kadam Vatan Mere Naaz Hai Tera” and recited inspirational poems on the occasion. Atharv Tiwari of Class III-C spoke of his desire to serve the nation and preserve its diversity. A skit titled ‘Real Freeedom’ presented the evils of pollution and plastic waste that pose great challenges for India today. The Headmistress, Ms. Shivon Mark Anthony addressed the gathering and urged everyone to contribute towards building a better society by taking care of the environment and becoming responsible citizens.

Taking forward the message of social contribution to preserve our environment, students were given recycled pencils made from newspaper and pencils with seed capsules. Each guest was given a tricolour flag made from GB waste cotton fiber with Tulsi seeds embedded in it. Parents were told to bury the special flag in soil so that the seeds in it could sprout into beautiful plants.

PLANTATION DRIVE

A Tree Plantation Drive was organised on Friday, 9th August 2019 as part of the initiative taken by our school to combat the problem of air pollution and to increase the green cover in the area. Around 110 saplings were planted within the school compound and 135 saplings were also planted in the herbal garden, maintained by the school’s Eco Club. The students of Eco Club actively participated in the drive.

Say No to Plastic

As per the instructions of ‘The Ministry of Environment and Forest’, Govt. of India, our school has taken the following initiatives to make our school free of Single Use Plastic.

Awareness generation activities were conducted in all classes of the school as per the details given below:

S.No Date Class Activity
1. 13- 07-19 VI-XII Assignment Of Class Monitors
2. 18-07-19
23-07-19
25-07-19
I-V Assembly on ‘Say No To Single -Use Plastic’
3. 22-07-19 I-V PPT on Discouraging the Use Of Single Use Plastic
4. 25-07-19 I-V Principal’s Address to Students & Nukkad Natak
5. 25-07-19 VI-XII PPT on Discouraging The Use Of Single Use Plastic
6. 26-07-19 I-V Activity: Reuse And Recycle Single  Use Plastic
7. 29-07-19 VI-XII Nukkad Natak

Furthermore the ‘Say No to Single Use Plastic’campaign will be carried on throughout the year to sensitise and make students aware of the harmful effects of using plastic and steps will be taken to make the school a plastic free environment.

FELICITATION CEREMONY

A Felicitation Ceremony was organised to honour the outstanding performers of the CBSE examinations 2018-19 on 20th July 2019. The Chief Guest for the function was Mrs. Mary George, President, LCBM in India. The school toppers, stream toppers and subject toppers were awarded merit certificates, trophies and books. The toppers of Class X and XII spoke about their academic journey and the lessons they learnt on the way. Parents also shared their thoughts and acknowledged the School’s contribution in the growth and success of their wards. The programme was enlivened by spectacular performances by the School Choir and the classical dance group. Mrs. Mary George and the Principal congratulated the students and advised them to excel in all walks of life.

Investiture Ceremony – Senior Student Council (2019-2020)

The Investiture Ceremony of the Student Council for the Academic Session 2019-20 was on 13th May, 2019.
The Head Girl, Stefna J. Sebastian, Head Boy, Sankalp Gautam, Sports Captain, Khushi Khanna and Sports Vice Captain, Shourya Yashbir Mohan took their oaths of office.

The Captains for Cultural Activities – Aaliya Sharma, Academics – Aditi Garg, Discipline – Aryamaan Bhardwaj and Assemblies – Aleena Anne Sajeev were sworn in next.
The House Captains and Vice Captains of the four Houses received their badges, sashes and flags from their House Coordinators.

The Student Council Members were administered their oath of office by the Head Boy and the Head Girl.
The Head Boy, Sankalp Gautam and the Head Girl, Stefna J. Sebastian, addressed the school and promised to work diligently at their duties and live up to the trust reposed in them.

The Vice Principal congratulated the newly appointed members of the Student Council. The Head Girl led the Student Council and the audience in singing the School Song.

OFFICE BEARERS
S. NO. NAME CLASS POSITION
1 STEFNA J. SEBASTIAN XII C HEAD GIRL
2 SANKALP GAUTAM XII E HEAD BOY
3 KHUSHI KHANNA XII B SPORTS CAPTAIN
4 SHOURYA YASHBIR MOHAN XI C SPORTS VICE CAPTAIN
5 ARYAMAAN BHARDWAJ XII A CAPTAIN – DISCIPLINE
6 AALIYA SHARMA XII A CAPTAIN – CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
7 ADITI GARG XII E CAPTAIN- ACADEMICS
8 ALEENA ANNE SAJEEV XII A CAPTAIN – ASSEMBLIES
9 KHUSHI MATHUR XII C CAPTAIN – AKBAR HOUSE
10 ANSHIKA SHARMA XI C VICE CAPTAIN – AKBAR HOUSE
11 SHUBHAM LOVE XII D CAPTAIN – ASHOKA HOUSE
12  SIMRAN GOEL XI E VICE CAPTAIN – ASHOKA HOUSE
13 ARPIT MAKKAR XII B CAPTAIN – GANDHI HOUSE
14 NEHEL MENDIRATTA XI B VICE CAPTAIN – GANDHI HOUSE
15 ADITYA DHAMIJA XII B CAPTAIN – TAGORE HOUSE
16 NANDINI JHAMB XI B VICE CAPTAIN – TAGORE HOUSE
INVESTITURE CEREMONY – JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL 2019-20

The Investiture ceremony of the Junior School Student Council was held on 13th May 2019.

The Head Boy, Arjun Anand and the Head Girl, Ching Nun Paal Guite, took their oaths of office. The Sports Captains, Aditri Bahuguna and Arith Aggarwal were sworn in next and received their badges.

The four House Captains of Akbar, Ashoka, Gandhi and Tagore House, took their oaths of office and were conferred their badges and sashes by their respective House Coordinators.
The Student Council prefects promised to discharge their duties earnestly and diligently.

The Headmistress advised the Student Council to lead by example and work together with integrity and commitment.

S.NO NAME DESIGNATION
1 ARJUN ANAND HEAD BOY
2 CHING NUN PAAL GUITE HEAD GIRL
3 NAETHAN LEO CAPTAIN – TAGORE HOUSE
4 JASMINE SAJI CAPTAIN – GANDHI HOUSE
5 VRINDA SHARMA CAPTAIN – AKBAR HOUSE
6 KAIRAV WADHWA CAPTAIN – ASHOKA HOUSE
7 ADITRI BAHUGUNA SPORTS CAPTAIN
8 ARITH AGGARWAL SPORTS CAPTAIN
9 MERLIN MARIAM JOHN CAPTAIN – ASSEMBLIES
10 MYRA SHARMA CAPTAIN – ASSEMBLIES
11 BHAVIKA ARORA CAPTAIN – DISCIPLINE
12 MITANSH DAR CAPTAIN – DISCIPLINE
13 ANANT GARG CAPTAIN – ACADEMICS
14 SORINA CAPTAIN – ACADEMICS
15 AARYAN CHOUHAN CAPTAIN – CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
16 KANISHKA SHARMA CAPTAIN – CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Farewell Ceremony – Mr Devendra, PGT Commerce

One of our most senior teachers, Mr. Devendra, PGT Commerce, retired from service on 30th April 2019 after a long and distinguished tenure of almost 30 years in the school. He was bid a warm farewell at a special programme organised for him by the students and teachers. The Principal, teachers, students and former students paid glowing tributes to his dedication to teaching and his versatile talents. His colleagues spoke highly of Mr. Devendra’s interests in diverse fields, particularly his contrasting accomplishments as an artist and an accountant. Former student, Ms. Prerna Jain (Session………….) recalled the interest Mr. Devendra could infuse in his lectures by relating topics to real- life situations.

The students of Classes XI and XII enthralled all present by presenting a medley of songs. The highlight of the programme was a portrait of Mr. Devendra, drawn on-the-spot by Samridhi Uniyal of Class XII A.

Mr. Devendra, in his farewell address, encouraged teachers and students to become avid readers. The Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, praised his integrity and dedication towards his profession. A proficient artist and a voracious reader, Mr. Devendra will be remembered for his succinct and accurate observations on current issues that constantly found reflection in his Business Studies classes.

Chrysalis 2018
The Annual Day of Somerville School Vasundhara Enclave

Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, held its Annual Day, ‘Chrysalis 2018’ at the Siri Fort Auditorium on 7 December 2018. The cultural extravaganza showcased the talents of over six hundred students.

The occasion was graced by the honourable members of the Board of Management; Mrs. Mary George, President of the Lott Carey Baptist Mission in India, Mr. Thomas T. Roy, the Secretary/ Treasurer of the LCBM in India, Mrs. D.A.Tressler, the Chairperson & Director, Somerville Schools, Mr. Abraham Mathew, the Manager of the school, members of the Managing Committee, parents and well-wishers.

The programme commenced with a word of prayer followed by a melodious presentation ‘Swaranjali’, by the Indian Music Choir and orchestra. The harmonious blend of soulful voices and rhythmic beats left the audience mesmerised. The musical journey continued with another electrifying presentation ‘Eclectricity- Music Beyond Boundaries’ which was an impressive blend of Rock, Pop and Light music.

The Hindi Hasya Kavita ‘Apni Dafli, Apna Raag’ had the audience in splits with its humorous representation of the conflict of three generations, especially on the themes of technology and education.
The school also felicitated the staff members who had completed 25 years of service in the institution. Mrs. Mary Cherian (T.G.T Social Science), Mrs. Sulochana Cardoza (PRT) and Mr. Ram Naresh (Support Staff) were presented shawls and mementos by the distinguished members of the Management for their invaluable service.

The highlight of the evening was `Fiddler on the Roof’, the acclaimed musical presented by the students of Classes VI to XII.Directed by Ms. Shagufta Jamal and choreographed by Ms. Sharmishtha Arora, the stage adaptation presented the enduring and endearing tale of Tevye and his five daughters. The play unfolded with powerful performances by Anshumaan Bhardwaj (IXA) as the likeable Tevye and Stefna J. Sebastian (XIC) as his harried wife, Golde, Shreya Kaul (XIIA) as the irrepressible Matchmaker, Navyashree Bhat (IXE), Yashika Gupta (IXA) and Vithi Singh(IXA) as the tradition-challenging daughters, Asna Ali (XIA) as the ghost, Fruma Sarah. With a supporting cast of over 360 students, this enchanting tale presented a perfect blend of humour and heart-tugging pathos. The musical left the audience spellbound with beautifully choreographed dances that were a blend of traditional ballet and contemporary dance forms, performed to live music by the school choir.

The programme concluded with the vote of thanks presented by the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani.

ANNUAL DAY – CLASSES I TO III

The students of Classes I, II and III presented the play, ‘Charlotte’s Web’ on 27th October, 2018. The story, based on the classic novel by E.B. White, is about Wilbur, a pig, and his friendship with Fern Arable, the little girl who adopts him, Charlotte, the spider and other barnyard animals. The message of living together in peace and friendship, in spite of our differences, was delivered by the students in a beautiful manner through the story set in the wonderful world of make- believe, where animals and creatures could talk and where awesome things happened, like spiders knowing how to write.

The programme began with a prayer and a welcome song by the choir.

578 students participated in the play, depicting various roles as farmers, farmyard animals and other creatures, dancing, acting and adding to the spectacular visual imagery. The students learned and delivered their dialogues impeccably while the choir enthralled the audience with their enthusiastically rendered songs about the antics of the various characters.

The parents enjoyed and appreciated the efforts of the students and teachers.

The programme ended with a vote of thanks by the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani.

SPIC MACAY VIRASAT 2018

LECTURE DEMONSTRATION BY PT. VISHWA MOHAN BHATT (MOHAN VEENA)

Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi and SPIC MACAY were privileged to organise Mohan Veena lecture demonstration by the acclaimed Mohan Veena (slide guitar) player and Grammy Award winner Padma Bhushan Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt on 26th October 2018.

The children witnessed a stirring performance by the maestro Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt who was brilliantly supported by Pandit Ram Kumar Mishra and his son Rahul Kumar Mishra. The music they created was mesmerising.

Through lecture and demonstration, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt also introduced the students to the seven basic musical notes or swara. In his interaction with the audience, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt answered the questions posed to him on his invention of the Mohan Veena, the composition that achieved him the Grammy and about classical music.

It was an educative and meaningful experience for the students and teachers of the school.

ENROUTE 2018

‘Comcord’, the Commerce Club of our school hosted its Second Inter School Commerce Fest ‘ENROUTE’18 on 16th October 2018. This event provided an opportunity to the students belonging to the Commerce Stream to meet, discuss and compete in a series of events based on Commerce and Economics.

The fest was attended by 13 renowned schools of Delhi and Noida. The function began with the lighting of the lamp and a word of prayer.

Enroute comprised three competitive events.

1. FACE TO FACE

This event was judged by Mrs. Indu Bhan (Legal Reporter, Writer, Assistant Editor, Financial Express), Mr. Pradeep Kumar (Assistant Director at National Cooperative Developmental Corporation) and Mr. Harvinder Singh, Head of the Commerce Department DAV Dayanand Vihar.

The participants competed to effectively portray eminent personalities in a meaningful discussion related to economic issues. Thirteen schools participated in this competition.

The results are as follows:

POSITION NAME OF SCHOOL NAME OF PARTICIPANTS
WINNER ASN Sr. Sec. School Mayur Vihar Ph-1 Delhi 1. Nishad Baburaj
2. Prashant Sharma
RUNNER UP Fr. Agnel School ,Noida 1. Priyanshi Bhatnagar
2. Aditi Ananya
2. Bulls & Bears

In this event, participants from thirteen schools tested their expertise in understanding the dynamics of the Share Market.
The results are as follows:

POSITION NAME OF SCHOOL NAME OF PARTICIPANTS
Winner Modern School, Barakhamba Road, Delhi 1. Arnav Gupta
2. SanatDayani
RUNNER UP Somerville School, Noida 1. Ishaan Kavishwar
2. Prerana Rana
3. BUSINOMICS

Students from thirteen schools tested their knowledge and awareness on the content and application of economics. Mr. Amit Arora (PGT Economics, South Delhi Public School) was the moderator for the event.

Results:

POSITION NAME OF SCHOOL NAME OF PARTICIPANTS
WINNER Somerville School, Noida. 1. Ayush Pandey
2. Karan Upadhyay
RUNNER UP Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave Delhi 1. Bhavya Dhingra
2. Palak Nehra

The day’s events ended with the prize distribution ceremony where the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani and Mr. Amit Arora awarded the winners and runners up of various events.

The Somerville School, Noida and Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave were tied in the top spot and the EnRoute 2018 Rolling Trophy was awarded to Somerville School, Noida.

CBSE CENTRAL ZONE GIRLS’ FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT HELD AT SOMERVILLE SCHOOL, DELHI

Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi hosted the CBSE Inter School Girls Football Tournament, Central Zone, Delhi region. The school was a hub of activities from 1st October 2018 to 6th October 2018 with cluster matches scheduled in Under 19 and Under 17 categories for girls. The meet was declared open by Mr. J.K.Yadav, Regional Officer, CBSE, Delhi.

In the Under 17 category, out of 13 participating schools, the Vasant Valley School, Vasant Vihar won the championship in a keenly contested competition. D.P.S. R.K. Puram was declared the Runners Up team while the host school, Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave and Sprindales School, Pusa Road jointly shared the third place.

In the Under 19 category, out of seven schools that participated, Modern School, Vasant Vihar played with great agility and zeal to emerge victorious and Ahlcon Public School, Mayur Vihar Phase 1,won the Runners Up medals. Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave and Sanskriti School, Chanakyapuri won the bronze medal.

TEACHER’S DAY CELEBRATION

The students of Classes I, II and III presented a special programme on 5thSeptember 2018 to celebrate ‘Teacher’s Day’. The programme began with a short assembly followed by choral recitation by students of Class I on “Why God made teachers”. This was followed by a colourful dance presentation “Ghoomar” by students of Class II. Students of Class III expressed their love and gratitude for their teachers by singing “I think you’re wonderful”. The teachers too participated in the programme by presenting a special song called “Diamonds”. The programme ended with the Principal addressing the students and teachers on this special day.

MASS PLANTATION DRIVE

A Mass Tree Plantation Drive was organised on Saturday, 8th September 2018 as part of the initiative of the Chief Minister of Delhi, Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, to combat the problem of air pollution in the city. More than 5 lakh saplings were planted all over Delhi, at about 600 sites. Our school also actively participated in the drive. Students, accompanied by two teachers, planted saplings near Usmaan Pur, Garhi Mendu.

Sports Closing Ceremony 2018-19

The Closing Ceremony for Sports Activities was held on 18th August 2018. This marked the culmination of the Inter House Sports Competitions for the session 2018-2019. The ceremony began with a short assembly. The four Houses marched to the rousing tunes played by the school band.
The students competed enthusiastically in 4×100 Relay Races in Sub Junior, Junior and Senior categories.
Medals were awarded to winners of Track and Field events held over the course of the month.

Awards were presented to the Best Athletes for the session 2018-19.
Best Athlete (Sub Junior Girls) – Aditri Bahuguna 4 C (Gandhi)
Best Athlete (Sub Junior Boys) – Neev Gulati 5 B (Ashoka)
Best Athlete (Junior Girls) — Vanshika Chauhan 8 C (Gandhi)
Best Athlete (Junior Boys) _ Stanly Abraham 8 C (Akbar)
Best Athlete (Senior Girls) — Kushi Gupta 10 B (Ashoka)
Best Athlete (Senior Boys) – Rohit Bhargava 12 C (Akbar)

The overall House positions at the culmination of all the Sports events stood as follows:
1st Position    Ashoka House
2nd Position    Akbar House
3rd Position    Gandhi House

After the Prize Distribution Ceremony, the Principal declared the Sports activities Closed for the session 2018-2019.

Independence Day Programme

Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave celebrated the 72nd Independence Day on 15th August 2018 with great enthusiasm. The celebration commenced with the flag hoisting ceremony by the Principal followed by a special assembly. The students of the primary wing sang a patriotic song and presented a skit, “Bhaarat ke Badalte Roop” and paid tribute to our soldiers through a special dance performance. The Head Girl, Manasvi Sharma, and the Head Boy, Advik Aggarwal spoke eloquently about their vision for India. The Headmistress, Ms. Shivon Mark Anthony addressed the gathering of students, parents and teachers and urged them to contribute towards building a better society.

SCINTILLATIONS 2018

As part of ‘Scintillations 2018’, our school organised an Inter-School Symposium –‘Crisis of the Blue Marble’, on 2ndAugust 2018. The event was organised by the senior students of the Science department, under the supervision of Science teachers.

The topics for Symposium were based on environmental concerns: –

  • Pollution caused due to polymeric wastes and its impact on water and air
  • Biodiversity and various concerns on the eco system
  • Light Pollution

The event saw intense competition among the ten participating schools drawn from Delhi and the NCR. The students drew on their depth of scientific knowledge and their understanding of current affairs while expressing their opinions on these grave environmental concerns with eloquence and skill.

The trophy for the Best Team at Scintillations 2018 was won by Amity International School, Mayur Vihar, Delhi. Following close behind on points were Somerville School, Greater Noida, which won the Trophy for the First Runner-up team while the team from St. Thomas School, Mandir Marg, Delhi stood Third at the event.

Felicitation Programme for Classes X and XII

The academic achievers of Classes X and XII were felicitated for their performance in a special programme organised in school on Saturday, 21 July 2018. The Principal, Ms.Esther Mani, the Vice Principal, Dr. Pratima M. Lall and the Headmistress, Ms. Shivon Mark Anthony presented the awards to Class X and XII school toppers, as well as the subject toppers.

The ceremony began with the felicitation of Class X academic achievers. This was the first batch of students that wrote an All India Secondary School Exam after the Board Exams were brought back for Class X.

Their achievements were lauded by the gathering. In Class X, Aashwin Sharma, with a percentage of 96.8%, was the School Topper. Krish Pathak secured 94.6% to bag the Second Position.

Trophies, Books and certificates were also awarded to Class XII students for their outstanding performances in the AISSCE 2018. Vishesh Malhotra topped the Class XII batch of 2017-18 with 96 %. Ridhav Kapoor stood second with 95.8 %. In the Third Position was Vishesh Bansal, who secured 95.6%.

The stream toppers and Subject toppers were also felicitated.

Sarthak Kumar from Class XII was appreciated for maintaining a consistent record of 100 per cent attendance for the last seven years.
The toppers addressed the gathering and shared the experiences that helped them get ahead of the competition. Anagha Menon, the Humanities stream topper highlighted the need to focus on self-actualization to realise one’s full potential.

In her address, the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, congratulated all the achievers and encouraged them to become avid readers. She emphasized the importance of strength, integrity and faith in pursuit of knowledge.

HAND WASHING ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS

Young children come into contact with germs everyday and washing hands in the proper manner can help to stop the spread of many diseases –from the common cold to more serious illnesses like Hepatitis. The students of our school carried out Hand Washing Activities on 20th July, 2018 to create the awareness about the importance of cleanliness, personal hygiene and the role of hand washing in the prevention of various infections.

The Sanitation Club had organised a special assembly in which a talk on personal hygiene and hand washing was presented. A PPT on the importance of and the proper method of Hand Washing was shown in all the classes through the Smart Board. A demonstration of Hand Washing was also given in the Primary and Senior classes.

Opening Ceremony for Sports Activities (2018-2019)

The Opening Ceremony for Sports Activities (2018-2019) was held on 21st April 2018. The Sports Vice-Captain, Dhairya Arora, led the parade consisting of Vice Captains and sportspersons from the four Houses. The school bagpipe band preceded the marching contingents playing inspiring tunes such as ‘Hum Honge Kamyab’, ‘Shaurya’ and the National Anthem.

The torch was lit by the Principal and the Best Athletes in various categories from the previous year’s Sports Day performed the torch run and lit the flame. The torch bearers were Yash Menon, Best Athlete Male (Jr.), Ananya Arora, Best Athlete Female (Jr.) and Hema Sri, Best Athlete (Sr.) The Sports Vice-Captain, Dhairya Arora, administered the oath of fair play to the Vice Captains and sportspersons of the four Houses.

The Principal, in her address, highlighted the importance of mental fitness, along with physical fitness and declared the Sports activities for the Session open.

FAREWELL TEACHERS

The school bid adieu to Mrs. Fatima Napolean, TGT Science, and Mrs. Anuradha Khemka, PRT, on 28th March 2018 as they retired after long years of distinguished service.

Members of the Staff recounted their association with the two teachers and spoke highly of Mrs. Fatima Napolean and Mrs. Anuradha Khemka. The highlight of the programme was a lively medley of songs presented by the teachers’ choir.

The Principal, Ms. Esther Mani praised the two teachers for their integrity, hard work and dedication towards their work and their loyalty to the school.

Session 2017-18

Pre School & Pre Primary Annual Day

The students of Pre School and Pre Primary celebrated their Annual Day on 24th February 2018 with their presentation of the classic fairytale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The programme began with a welcome address by the Headmistress, Mrs. Shivon Mark Anthony, a prayer and a welcome song presented by the choir. The students were encouraged by the presence of Mrs. D.A. Tressler, Chairperson and Director, Somerville Schools.

412 students from the Pre School and Pre Primary classes participated in this stage presentation. The students enacted with great confidence and panache, the fairy tale of Snow White and her experiences in the castle and the forest, with the story interspersed with songs and dances. The beautiful sets and props created by the teachers of the school added to the grandeur of the presentation.

The programme ended with words of encouragement and appreciation by the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani.

Thanksgiving Week

On the occasion of Thanksgiving Week, special assemblies were held for the Primary School and Senior School on 18th and 19th December 2017 respectively. The assemblies began with a brief talk about the significance of Thanksgiving. Prayers were read out by teachers thanking God for His blessings throughout the year. The Junior and Senior Western Music choirs presented special hymns. The students from the Middle and Senior School presented a dance, ‘Give Thanks to a Grateful Heart’. The assemblies concluded with the Principal and Vice Principal thanking the students for making a generous donation of grocery items for the underprivileged during the Thanksgiving Week.

REPORT ON REPUBLIC DAY

A special programme was organised in the school on the occasion of Republic Day, which was attended by a large number of parents, students and teachers. The Principal Ms. Esther Mani hoisted the flag at 8:00 am. This was followed by the singing of the National Anthem.

The programme commenced with a prayer. The Indian Music Choir presented a patriotic song. This was followed by a skit ‘Call from the Past’ which was written and directed by the students of Class XI: Shreya Kaul, Sanchita Sahoo and Dhairya Arora

The Head Boy, Archit Sarin and Head Girl, Daphne P. Edwin addressed the audience. The students of Class VI-VII presented a dance ‘Sare Jahan Se Achcha’. The members of the audience were mesmerised by the creative depiction of our National Symbols by the dancers.

The Principal addressed the audience and appreciated the efforts put in by the students and teachers. She particularly appreciated the message conveyed in the skit and stated that the future of the country was in safe hands as long as its young citizens continued to express themselves without fear and rose above the bigotry and fear that exists around us. The programme concluded with the Vote of Thanks delivered by the Vice-Principal, Dr. Pratima M.Lall, who thanked all the participants for having put up such an excellent and meaningful programme.

Class XII Farewell

A solemn programme was organised on 31st January 2018 to bid farewell to students of Class XII. The programme began with a special prayer for their success in the forthcoming Board exams and in all their future ventures.

Students from Class XI presented an interesting mix of music; dance and a stand-upcomedy routine with a healthy dose of humour.The programme included the launch of the Yearbook 2017 by the Principal. Each student from the outgoing batch of Class XII was given a special badge with a unique title selected by the students of Class XI. The students also received mementos and the Yearbook from the Principal, Vice Principal and the Headmistress.

The Class Teachers in their messages recalled the special qualities of the students and prayed for their bright future. Student representatives from each section of Class XII read out farewell messages recalling the contributions made in their lives by all their teachers and support staff from Nursery to the senior-most classes. Two exceptional students from each section of Class XII were bestowed with the titles of ‘Renaissance Man’ and ‘Renaissance Woman’. The Head Boy,Archit Sarin and the Head Girl, Daphne P.Edwin paid glowing tributes to their school and teachers.

In her message to the students, the Principal advised the students to recognise the value of honesty and integrity in realising their full potential. Narrating the inspiring story of Eddie O’Hare and his son Capt. Bucky O’ Hare, whose gallantry during Second World War made him a war hero despite his father’s criminal past, she urged students to honour and live by the values they had imbibed in school.

Students from all five sections lit‘diyas’symbolising the light of knowledge that has and will continue to guide their paths. The audience were also treated to a trip down memory lane, as they watched a PowerPoint Presentation created especially for the outgoing batch of Class XII. The programme ended with the cutting of the cake.

Christmas Celebrations

Special programmes to celebrate the joyous occasion of Christmas were organised in the school. The highlight of the celebrations organised by the Primary Section on 20th December 2017, was a short play ‘Somerville’s Got Talent’, in which students from Classes IV & V participated. In the play, which was loosely based on the nativity theme, people from different walks of life presented the different talents that they had been bestowed with, as their gifts for baby Jesus. The play included a dance, special songs and a presentation on the significance of the Christmas tree. The celebrations also included a magic show and carols presented by the Junior Western Music Choir.

On 21st December 2017, a special programme was presented by students from Classes VI-XII. The programme started with a short assembly. This was followed by a short play based on the novel ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens, with a cast of 25 students from Classes VI to X.
The play showcased how the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future visited a miser, Mr. Scrooge, and helped him to understand the true meaning of Christmas. The celebrations ended with the Western Music Choir presenting a medley of popular Christmas carols, followed by some solo and duet songs.

SPIC MACAY: Virasat 2017

Lecture-Demonstration at Somerville School by Pandit Ronu Majumdar (Flute)

Flautist Ranendranath Majumdar, popularly known as Pt Ronu Majumdar, mesmerised the students of Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave with his spellbinding performance on the bansuri at Virasat 2017 held in association with SPICMACAY on Thursday, 17August 2017.

Pandit Majumdar was accompanied by Shri Pranshu Chaturlal on the tabla and Shri Kalpesh Sachala on the flute.

Pandit Majumdar introduced to students the basic seven swaras of Hindustani classical music. His bansuri renditions of Raag Mangal Bhairav and Vande Mataram left the students enthralled. The students, 500 in number, sat in silent meditation while Pandit Majumdar played the Alaap on his flute. The jugalbandi between him and Pranshu Chaturlal on the table drew resounding appreciation.

During the interaction with the ace flautist, the students learnt that while the celebrated song Saare Jahan Se Achcha was written by the poet Iqbal, its music was composed by the legendary Pandit Ravi Shankar. They also learnt about Pandit Majumdar’s early years, the discipline with which he practised his craft and also some special tips on playing the bansuri.

Pandit Majumdar concluded the lecture demonstration with a folk tune from the banks of Ganges, Kajri, that drew gasps and continuous applause from the captivated audience.

INVESTITURE CEREMONY 2017-18

The Investiture Ceremony of the Student Council was held on 16th May 2017.The ceremony began with a prayer to invoke blessings of the Almighty.

The first to take the oath were Archit Sarin (Head Boy) and Daphne Prathna Edwin (Head Girl) who pledged their service to the school and to uphold the school motto ´Love One Another’.

Then the Sports Captain (Diya Goyal) and Vice Sports Captain (Dhairya Arora) pledged to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.

Following them were the Cultural in Charge (Mayuri Sen), Assembly In Charge (Annie Sam), Academic In Charge (Shreyan Das) and Discipline In Charge (Jaya Mahajan), who were sworn in.

The House Captains and Vice Captains pledged their services to the school through their respective Houses and received their badges and sashes from their House In Charges.

The House Captains and Vice Captains who were sworn in are:
Mandira Bisht (Captain) and Sanskriti Kaushik (Vice-Captain) of Akbar House;
Suneimya Bagh (Captain) and Chirag Gupta (Vice-Captain) of Ashoka House;
Anshita Khandelwal (Captain) and Charu Damor (Vice-Captain) from Gandhi House;
Jhanvi Bisht (Captain) and Gauri Sharma (Vice-Captain) from Tagore House

Finally, the rest of the Council Members, selected from Classes XI & XII, took the oath to strive hard and work in harmony with their fellow students to maintain discipline and assist in all the activities of the school.

The Principal, Ms. Esther Mani, addressed the newly appointed Council, congratulated them and encouraged them to work sincerely and inspire others.

The Sports Activities Opening Meet (2017-2018)

The Sports Activities Opening Meet (2017-2018) was held on 1st May 2017. Mr. Jayashankar Menon, a National level basket ball player was the Special Guest on this occasion. Mr. Menon had represented the Indian Basketball team for eleven years. He had been bestowed with the ‘Outstanding Sports Person Award’ and ‘Most Valuable Player Award’. Mr. Menon was welcomed by the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani and Vice Principal, Dr. Pratima M. Lall.

The Guard of Honour, led by the school Marching Band, was presented by all the Vice Captains and the House members. The torch, which was lit by the Chief Guest, was carried by the Sports Vice Captain, Diya Goyal and passed on to Garima Negi, Meghna Chauhan and John Paul. The other torch bearers were Yash Menon, Khushi Gupta, the Best Athletes for the session 2016-17 from the Junior School and Mouli Khanna and Mandira Bisht, the Best Athletes for the session 2016- 17 from the Senior School.

The Vice Captains, along with members of their respective Houses, took the oath of fair play. The Chief Guest declared the Sports activities for the session 2017-2018, open.

Felicitation Ceremony

In order to honour and applaud the efforts of the meritorious students from Classes VI -IX and XI, a Felicitation Ceremony was held on 22nd April2017. The occasion was made special by the presence of the proud parents of the awardees.

The programme began with a word of prayer, followed by a hymn, the Lord’s Prayer and Bible Reading.

Trophies, prizes and merit certificates were awarded to the students by the Principal, Ms. Esther Mani. The toppers of different subjects were also felicitated by the Vice Principal, Dr. Pratima Lal and the Headmistress, Mrs. Shivon Mark Anthony.

Regularity Awards were given by Mrs. Shivon Mark Anthony to the students who had 100% attendance. The Western Music Choir captivated the audience with an inspiring song, ‘Stand Up for the Champions’.

The programme concluded with a message by the Principal, Ms Esther Mani, who lauded the achievements of the students and urged the students and parents to celebrate every accomplishment.

Somerville School felicitates Staff Members

A special programme held on 8th March 2017 to felicitate four members of Staff on their completion of 25 years of service in the school.

The staff members who were honoured were:

  • Mr. Rajesh Kumar Balmiki, Service Staff
  • Mrs. Sapna Sharma, PRT Music
  • Mrs. Sunita Mudgil, PRT Hindi
  • Mrs. Rashmi Anand, TGT Science
  • Ms. Vinita Peter, PGT English

Members from the Management, Mrs. Mary George, President of the LCBM in India, Mr. Thomas T. Roy, Manager of our school & Secretary/ Treasurer of the LCBM in India, and Mrs D.A. Tressler, Chairperson & Director, Somerville Schools, graced the occasion and presented tokens of appreciation to the staff members.

The staff members thanked the School for reposing faith in their abilities. They appreciated the role of the school in enriching their lives. Mrs. Rashmi Anand, though reaching superannuation, expressed her readiness to serve another 25 years; Ms Vinita Peter, State Teacher Award winner (2013), highlighted the opportunities the school had provided to her to hone her skills as a teacher.

The Principal acknowledged the contributions of each staff member who was honoured and lauded their commitment towards making the school a place of excellence.

World Health Day

As part of the initiative taken by the Directorate of Education, Delhi, World Health Day was observed in our school on 7th April 2017. The purpose of this initiative was to educate children about the general principles of health and hygiene. A brief presentation was made in the morning assembly to highlight the importance of maintaining good health and practising regular physical exercises.

Students participated in debates and made posters during the Value Education class to highlight the importance of immunisation and preventive actions needed to avoid communicable diseases that afflict the residents of Delhi. Students learned how to keep themselves safe from such diseases as Dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria, etc.