Page 22 - DAIS Insignia 2021-2022

CONSULTANT work to provide students with differentiated support that ADMINISTRATION
addresses each student's specific needs, both academically
AND ADVISOR and socially. We also promote a safe and healthy lifestyle
and contribute effectively to the sustainability and
TO THE CHAIRPERSON conservation of our environment.
Back in 2019, we had initiated a feasibility study of different
curricula offered world wide. We called in experts from each
curriculum to give us detailed information about each
programme at the primary and middle school levels. I was
personally involved in leading this self-study with all
stakeholders connected to the primary and middle school.
We together collaborated and prepared, presented and
analyzed each programme to figure out which curriculum
best suited our present needs, especially in view of the new
Nita Mukesh Ambani Junior School Campus coming up,
with all its flexible learning spaces to take forward 21st
century skills development amongst our students.
After due deliberation, I am pleased to declare that Primary
Years Programme of the IB has been chosen as the new
curriculum for the Primary School and shortly thereafter we
will also be offering Middle Years Programme in the Middle
School. An update has already been disseminated to all
stakeholders at our Parent Teacher Association Executive
Ms. Zarene Munshi Committee Meeting, at the parent teacher association
general body meeting, as well as at individual parent
teacher orientations for each grade level.
Consultant and Advisor
to the Chairperson Parents play an important role in the education of their
children. We welcome all our parents to be active
“Children are the priority, participants in our school life. We always strive to build a
change is the reality and parent-teacher relationship, which is very important for the
success of our students.
collaboration is the strategy.“
We are very sure that with the help of all the stakeholders,
we will be able to take our school to the next highest level of
Education is a shared commitment between teachers, excellence.
students, and parents. Today, the role of a school is not only
to pursue academic excellence but also to motivate and 'Insignia', is a magazine that encompasses a wide spectrum
empower students to be lifelong learners, critical thinkers of creative skills ranging from writing to editing and even
and members of an ever-growing global society. designing the magazine. There is something for everyone
here. My congratulations to the entire Editorial Team for
Educating the mind, without educating the heart is no their hard work and dedication that has resulted in the
education at all. We, at DAIS, pride ourselves to help our publication of this issue of the school magazine.
students grow and develop into sensitive and responsible
citizens. Success for all students is ensured at our school by Let me end my report by stating I am truly honoured,
the delivery of an enriching, child-centered, and balanced humbled, and privileged to be a part of this wonderful
curriculum. There is a whole school focus on student organization and would like to take this opportunity to
welfare at all times. thank our Chairperson Mrs Nita Ambani and our Vice-
Chairperson Ms Isha Ambani Piramal for creating and
After two years of being online, DAIS has slowly but surely sustaining this wonderful temple of learning called
made the transition to regular on-school campus days. It is DHIRUBHAI AMBANI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL.
truly an exhilarating feeling to hear the laughter and excited
voices of the children in the corridors and on the With best wishes,
playground, as well as see the shining and twinkling eyes of
Zarene Munshi
the students as they happily go about their work. WELL-BEING
Consultant &
Teachers at DAIS are highly qualified and experienced and Advisor to the Chairperson
are committed to supporting each student's learning
experiences through high-quality instruction and guidance
that addresses the needs of the individual child. Teachers
20
The House Keeping Teams had to sanitize the classrooms,
offices, corridors and washrooms in addition to the school
vehicles, multiple times a day. They carried the large invisible
burden to perform beyond normal expectations.
To adapt to the adage that an army marches on its belly, initially
the Canteen only provided meals to the quarantined staff and to
a few teachers on request, while the students had to bring their
own meals and snacks. Open air spaces were created all over the
school, for all to enjoy their meals peacefully and safely.
Students had to come to school in their own cars. Hence, traffic
management and safety protocols for students coming in and
leaving simultaneously had to be organized by the Security
Teams to prevent traffic snarls. To further enhance the security
at school, we now have the armed policemen and CISF teams
Mr. Anil Chaudhary securing the outer perimeter.
Mr. Yassir Choonawalla The teaching activities were carried out in the hybrid mode and
Head, Administration Asst. Head, Administration students at home could join the live classes seamlessly with the
support of our IT teams. They have done a great job ensuring
that no class ever went unengaged.
“The only constant in life is CHANGE.”- Heraclitus. We are As the Covid-19 restrictions were reduced, many changes
living in a very fast paced dynamic world and we have to keep ensued. We started the school bus services with additional
up with these dynamic changes. 2020-21 will forever be safety precautions for the students. We must congratulate the
remembered for the challenges it posed: the transition of Transport Team because from day one, students were brought
to school without a hitch or a glitch. The school canteen
students and teachers to online teaching & learning, effect on services were also made fully operational. To bring more
the life of students due to the schools' closures; movement
constraints, and the onset of unprecedented acceleration in normalcy to the school, few class trips were permitted and
digital adoption. It challenged the readiness of institutions to students were allowed to commence various events such as
adapt and move forward. As the year 2022 dawned, our Student Council Investiture Ceremony, Sports Day, Art
exhibition, Science exhibition, Year 10 & 12 farewell parties,
efforts to prepare the campus to reopen the school paid off.
Slowly and steadily, all classes were added step by step, to bring Longevity Awards Ceremony and the Graduation Day in
life back to some normalcy in the lives of students. school. To add to these, we had the General body PTA meeting
Needless to mention that the unprecedented times threw up at the Jio World Centre. When we looked at the enthusiasm
many challenges, but more importantly, it was very gratifying and excitement on the faces of the students, their parents and
the staff, we realised that providing logistic and administrative
to see our ability to move swiftly, together as a team, to support to these events was rather emotional and
overcome these challenging circumstances. We welcomed our
staff and students back to school in a very safe, healthy, and overwhelming, instead of tiring and challenging. It was a very
satisfying and fulfilling experience and we take pride in sharing
secure environment. All our decisions and actions revolved that all the events were organized safely and successfully.
around and centred on the safety and well-being of our
students, staff and their families. We have gone to great We express our profound gratitude to Reliance Industries Limited,
lengths to provide a safe learning environment by devising a HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Seven Hills Hospital, Jio World
careful strategy to smoothen the transition of children and Centre and Swadeshi Complex, which wholly supported us to
teachers back to school. It has been a great year of learning, of commence full operations at the school, ensuring the safety of our
enhanced vigilance to avoid disruption in the smooth workings students, staff and their families at all times.
of the school's academic and co-curricular activities. We would also like to take a pause and convey our deep
Re-opening schools, even in a phased manner, required the gratitude and appreciation to all our Support and
establishment of various new protocols to reinforce old Administrative Staff, who have shown incredible resilience and
systems. We had to double our efforts to build a resilient good spirit while stepping up magnificently to keep the school
system for handling the new normal. The school was equipped running efficiently in these challenging times, always ensuring
with UV enabled air-purifiers, UV systems in air-conditioning the best safety and hygiene standards. We are proud of you all
ducts, sanitizing equipment, signages, masks and other such for what you have accomplished.
important aspects that ensured safety. We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank and
To start with, basic maintenance teams from transport,
housekeeping, security, IT, plumbing, electrical, air express our profound gratitude to our respected Chairperson
Smt. Nita Ambani and Vice-Chairperson Ms. Isha Ambani
conditioning, gardening, canteen were quarantined. Piramal for their inspirational and visionary leadership,
invaluable guidance and for constantly motivating us to strive
As public transport for staff was not permitted, our Transport beyond the impossible. We also want to thank them for their
Team pitched to bring in as well as drop staff to all four corners
of the city. The team ferried 5074 staff, fronting the risk to keep unconditional and continued support during the pandemic.
everyone safe. With optimism, wishing for better and safe times to come, we
The Medical Teams had to test staff and students multiple times sum up this report with a prayer and a promise in our heart that
and hence we had to bolster the medical team with a doctor this journey of operational excellence will continue for years
and 2 more full-time nurses. They were supported by the and years to come.
Administration Team as our school organized the periodical With best and warmest regards,
RTPCR and RAT testing of students and staff, which has been a Yassir Choonawalla WELL-BEING
major initiative that we had undertaken. We also facilitated the Head of Administration
vaccination of 431 students and 428 staff and their family
members, and administered 558 booster doses since Anil Chaudhary
reopening school. Asst. Head of Administration
21