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COVID-19 was an unprecedented crisis that had an adverse impact on education. While lockdowns and health measures implemented to contain the spread of the pandemic helped contain the situation; it was school children who were hit the hardest. In such an environment, the onus of ensuring the mental, physical and academic well-being of students rested on the Education Fraternity. Rising to the occasion, Ms. Alka Kapur - Principal of Modern Public School, launched a series of activities and initiatives to boost the holistic development of students during the COVID-19 induced lockdown.
Her efforts have helped transform Modern Public School into an example for other educational institutions to learn how to turn setbacks into comebacks. She, along with her team, ensured that the academic and psychological needs of students were met in the best possible manner.
Mind Wars – Multiplatform Knowledge Programme with Zee Entertainment
COVID-19 was a tough time for students, especially when it comes to mental growth and well-being. With changes in the way they studied, lived, and interacted with people around them, young children needed some time to adjust to the ‘New Normal’. To help familiarize them with the same, Modern Public School Launched Mind Wars, a Multiplatform Knowledge Programme in collaboration with Zee Entertainment.
This first-of-its-kind initiative offered an open platform for students to benchmark themselves against their peers on a national scale using multi-platform testing platforms across three content segments – Curriculum, General Knowledge, and Current Affairs. These daily quizzes broadened the horizons and knowledge of every student during these unprecedented times.
Mental Health Webinars
Being cooped up within the 4 walls took a toll on the mental health of young students. To address this situation, Ms. Alka Kapur held a series of webinars on Education, Mental Health, and Mental Well Being. As part of this initiative, she also created a World Record for conducting the World’s largest Talk show with an assemblage of 6000 people by the World Book of Records, United Kingdom.
JOYBOX Drive
#JOYBOX Drive was organized under the aegis of Interact Club wherein students volunteered and prepared gift boxes containing food, clothes, toys, decorative items, and other articles. These Joy Boxes were then distributed among the needy and less privileged sections of society.
Adhyan – Readers and Writers Club
Adhyan- The Readers & Writers Club was launched in September 2020 to make the students realize how the Power of Pen is directly related to happiness and well-being. Since its inception, the online sessions are organized weekly wherein the students are free to express themselves and provide an outlet to their long-suppressed thoughts.
Utkarsh - Entrepreneur Club
During the pandemic, Modern Public School launched Utkarsh – the Entrepreneur Club, in a completely virtual or online format. The club was aimed at helping MPS students hone their entrepreneurship skills. The central premise for setting up a virtual entrepreneur club was to engage students in constructive tasks instead of regular and routine academic work.
Muskurahat – Student Helpline
COVID-19 Lockdown was a tough time for students. Confined to the four walls of their homes, students couldn’t find an avenue to talk, connect and interact with their peers. To provide such a space, Modern Public School Launched Muskurahat, the students’ Helpline. The helpline became an instant hit where students were free to express their thoughts, ideas, worries, and concerns without any preconceptions. The helpline helped build a strong bond between students and teachers which was important for their emotional and mental wellbeing as well as academic performance.
Skill-Based Learning
Skill-based learning is another area where ample time and resources are invested by Modern Public School. For middle school students, different clubs were introduced such as Science and Electronics Club, Eco Club, Interact Club, Performing and Visual Arts Club, Astronomy Club, etc. Students were invited to participate in different activities organized by these clubs based on their interests. In addition to this, counselling sessions were also held under the guidance of alumni to help students decode a vast ocean of opportunities to hone their skills.
Library On Wheels
During Covid when students were not able to reach the school, Ms. Alka Kapur ensured that the school library reached them instead. To do so, she introduced Library on Wheels, Science on Wheels initiatives, wherein school buses were used as mobile classrooms and theme-based learning activities were organized right at their doorsteps.
Student Development Activities
Along with regular academic sessions, Ms. Alka Kapur also held different sessions on Astronomy, ATL, MUNs, Performing, and Visual Arts to empower students emotionally. Apart from this regular yoga sessions, Aerobics, and other engaging activities are held to boost students’ kinesthesia. A virtual summer camp was organized by Modern Public School which brimmed with fun and frolic was organized for the students to retain smiles on their faces during testing times of Corona Pandemic. Other development activities for students included War of Words, Observing PoshaanMah, Hindi Diwas, that involved students for their better.
Faculty Development Activities
As the adage goes, a leader is only as good as their team; with this philosophy, Ms. Alka Kapur also laid prime emphasis on Faculty Development Activities on campus. As part of this, Modern Public Initiative organized regular training, webinar, and workshop for faculty development. The workshops focused on helping teachers in developing the core competencies of the students and evolving a nurturing environment for learning.
Faculty members at MPS were also given training on online tools and digital platforms that can be used to enrich their teaching pedagogy and improve learning outcomes. Even before the pandemic hit, faculty members at MPS were already well versed in holding virtual classes and online sessions via Microsoft Teams and holding virtual classes through flip teaching practices. This proactive approach allowed the stakeholders to adopt themselves to interact and collaborate even in remote learning scenarios
Ms. Alka Kapur is a finalist for the Outstanding Educational Leader Award Because… during COVID-19 she launched a series of innovative initiatives and measures to help students adapt to the new normal in times of crisis. She, along with her team, ensured that the holistic development of the students continued during and after the pandemic.
To Reach the Information Dossier Shared by Alka Kapur Click Here.