Winter Programs for the year 2007

Introduction

In most of the residential TCV schools, during winter holidays, the school seems to be filled with lifeless, dull and quiet atmosphere. The school looks lifeless blocks of buildings erected with the only sound of chilly, harsh and ice breaking wind and chirping sound of some common birds like sparrow could be heard. But it is not the same case in Suja School.

We believe this saying from our core of heart Idle mind is devils workshop; One has to keep ones mind occupied and active in engaging in something worthwhile activities all the time. From the beginning to the end of the session, the students are occupied fully in school activities and from all the sides they were supported by the staff members. They don't get free time to divert from negative thoughts and put them into action except a very few. We have a notion that those few are the ones who keep themselves aloof from the rest by idling away the precious time and ignore the whole bunch of interesting activities provided by the school besides classroom lessons.
Now the danger of spoiling the student is seen during the winter holidays, where they get much free time of their own. For this purpose the school has organized suitable activities according to the level of the students from the morning 9 a.m to evening 5.30p.m. And in the evenings, most of the time the responsible school prefects have organized some programs like debate, elocution and quiz contest and at times shown them documentary films and some entertaining movies. Thereby they don't get much time of their own mingling, loafing and idling away their precious time. In this way we are able to create sound and healthy environment and home away sweet home for those students staying at the school during the winter holidays.

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The remedial classes for X & O/C 1 starts at 8.45.a.m. with morning assembly.

They were given intensive tutoring. For class X, they are having normal classes from morning to evening and the subjects teachers of class X are compulsory to stay back with the students.
For O/C 1, those of the teachers staying back at the school during winter vacation are requested to take the classes. The students of O/C 1 are compulsory to attend the morning classes of three periods. They were given coaching classes of the coming year's syllabus. The coming year 2008 becomes so crucial in their lives, even they have peer coaching on the subject of their own choice in the afternoon. The coaching is given by the intellectual students of higher classes like student of class VII, VIII & IX. Such type of intensive coaching has benefited to such an extend that within a month if not all the students, then it is granted that almost 80% of the students have gone through such a drastic change in acquiring extra knowledge. We are sure to see the enormous difference in the result of the students staying back at the school and those who have gone for vacation in the coming year (2008).

Library:
The school library is opened from 9 a.m to 12.30 p.m.

The students are fully engrossed in reading the books of their choice peacefully.
Within this duration it is open for all the students of all the level. It is seen that the students of class IX, VIII, VII, and VI has used the library to the maximum. In the morning except a few students of class VII who are to repeat in the coming session, rest have no remedial class. As a single librarian surely one could face a tough time in issuing, collecting books and looking after the students. But seeing so many students rushing in the library gives her much joy and happiness as she relate later.

Computer lesson:

Computer coaching was given to class IX students. At the beginning Mr.Choegyal Tashi, the Headmaster and Mr. Tenzin Tharchin, together given some assistance to the eager students to revise what they have learnt so far during the regular computer classes. That time the computer instructors of the school were called to attend the computer workshop at TCV main school. Later the computer instructor has returned and it was so kind to take the responsibility to give side coaching to class IX students after lunch besides his lessons to class X. He was given helping hand by a volunteer from Germany called Marjin. We are very thankful to each one of them for their kind contribution in making this winter program a wonderful and successful one for those of the students staying back at the school especially with the view to gain such worthwhile knowledge.

The students are fully absorbed in the computer are not aware of the time.

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Tibetan Music

The music lessons were given to the students of class VI from both the sections. (Senior & Junior) As requested to multi-talented music teacher Mr. Thilay Namgyal , he took the full responsibility in giving music lessons (Tibetan) on the following instruments:- flute, yangchin , Tibetan Danyen, Mandolin and Phiwang for almost 50 students for full 2 hours daily in the afternoon. It is so wonderful to see them playing some songs.

Western music
This time for the change and seeing the less number of girls playing guitar during the cultural competition every year by the well experienced house master Mr. Dawa Dhondup, he has taken responsibility of giving basic guitar lesson to seven girls. The selection of the girls was done very fairly by lottery system. The lucky ones got the chance as the number of guitars is limited for seven. They practice one and half hours everyday except Sunday and Saturday in the afternoon. In the mornings Mr.Dawa Dhondup is fully engaged in taking lessons to the students of class VII students.

Knitting practice
Knitting is a kind of skill especially for the girls to pass time and at the same time to develop sound body and mind coordination. It is another source of recreation where one can achieve great satisfaction. One can vent their creativity and envelops passion and who knows ones achievement in this field.

We are also so proud to have such teachers who are available at any time to give assistance if needed. She has been taking classes in the morning and in the afternoon she has spent her precious time with a group of seven girls from class VI in practicing this life skill of knitting. The materials for the same was collect by herself. In the end of the month each girl has finished with enough product. The teacher was so kind to let the girls have the materials to be used in the cold winter.

They have learnt to knit warm woolen anklet socks, full socks, gloves and hats.

Environmental care is one of the worldwide issue that we are also so much aware of. To inculcate such awareness in the young and energetic future citizens of Tibet, Miss Tenzin Choedon has collected a few girl students from class VI and VII. They have collected the empty milk containers. They cut the containers into strips of different designs. The faces of two strips are tucked to each other to make them strong. The end of each strip is tied with a piece of colorful thread. They made some designs on it to make it more colourful and decorative. In the end each strip resulted to a fine handsome hand made book marks very similar to the ones that were sold in the market. This program is just a simple contribution from which we can make something out of the waste. This is just to encourage the students not to burn such type of trash which could result to air pollution. Such type of reusing the trash is a simple example for the students. They were highly encouraged to use their own creativity in reusing trash and waste to make a small contribution to the society.

In the end they were able to display their long and hard work in a simple manner. It has surely given some ideas to the rest of the students that reusing simple trash can be resulted to an incredible and wonderful things. The only thing is one needs patience and creativity.

Their small contribution is appreciated by many and it has set an example to be put in practice by the rest. In this way, we can develop civic sense in the younger generation through simple activities.
Peer coaching

For this purpose the school prefects have chosen efficient and intellectual students from the higher classes to guide the students of class O/C 1. They are mainly suggested to help the weaker students in developing very basic skills (Tibetan & English Language)in writing, reading, speaking and comprehension . The peer coaching starts from 2 p.m and last till 4 p.m. It was so effective that the student teacher and the students work to gather with sheer joy. For the student teachers they gain a new experience in teaching and thereby it helps to build their confidence and earn respect from the juniors. They were trying their best to impress the juniors and enjoys to act like a real teacher. For the learners they experience learning from their own friend of higher classes. Thereby they learn to respect them and seen them so loyal and obedient. They take the lessons very seriously.

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Games - Football and Basketball
This is the most exciting and enjoyable program where the maximum students are involved despite the sex. It starts after the 4 pm. It was solely organized by the responsible school prefects assisted by some interested and passionate students in the field of games. Even a basketball team from staff is included in the tournament.

For the organizers:-
Ø They gained experience in organizing such type of programs.
Ø They have learnt to deal with ease of manner with the higher authorities of the school in asking for suggestions and required materials.
Ø For the next year's prefects, this is the first hand experience in carrying out such responsibilities.
Ø Develop leadership qualities.
For the assistants of the school prefects:-
§ They got opportunity to work with sheer joy in their own interested field.
§ They gained experience in managing the matches by refereeing.
§ Learn to tackle critical situations at the time of playing matches.
§ Gained confidence in controlling and decision making during the disputes between two teams.

The fixtures of the tournaments are arranged very systematically and tournaments are carried out in a league system. So that the teams will get chance to play more matches. In the process of the matches at times the weather was quite rough by showering heavy rainfall. But the boys and girls equally enjoyed playing in the rain on the muddy ground. In the end the finals were played and prize distributions were carried out with a small informal function.
From the tournaments the boys gained much confidence. Thereby they have formed two football teams. The two teams took part in the Losar tournament held every year in Bir settlement organized by the local boys. One of the teams was able to come to the finals and lost to the Monks team of Zonsar.
The location of our football ground in the school is so unique and perfect that the spectators can enjoy the games freely and comfortably from all sides. On top of that the crowd, football lovers is large that the ground will be filled with cheers even for a miner matches between two classes.

Literacy activities in the hall

In the evenings there will be a short prayer session followed by some literacy competitions like debate, elocution and quiz contest. At times for the sake of entertainment they were
shown selected movies.
One of the most exciting moment of evening programs is talent - nite or it is more like musical talent. Any one can take part in it. Most of them have performed Tibetan traditional dance, Hindi dance and western acrobatic or sang songs ( including solo, duet, group). They are totally independent to choose their items and their group and practice. Not a single teacher's hand is involved in it. Many new faces could be seen This program is one of the major programs which give a way to a numerous students a chance to stand in front of the large crowd and show their own talents. Lots of creativity and art work can be seen on the stage decoration. The anchor of such types gains experience in exposure and orientation skills. In the end according to the unanimous decision of the judges the prizes were distributed to the most deserved ones. The judges are most of the time requested to the music teachers and those of the well experience house masters.

Community service

One uniqueness of our school is its high spirit and liveliness in doing social service. It is sheer joy and voluntary contrition of a group of responsible students. They clean the school campus every Sunday mornings. They visit each staff quarters' door to collect the trash. The heap of trash is stored near the duping or disposal trash. Then the trash is separated them into decomposable and non decomposable. Those of the non-decomposable are packed properly in the strong empty sacks. It is later thrown at the duping site near by the school which are picked up by the Indian trash collectors to earn their daily bread by selling to the recycling factories.
This is one of the best ways the students are utilizing their extra energy in a socially acceptable manner. There by their contribution in a society is highly valued and appreciated. As an individual staff member, it solves the burden of throwing garbage for ever. Their willingness in collecting the trash from every door has no bound of joy and happiness. Hope this group will keep up with the good work.

End note:

From the very beginning of the winter holidays, with the kind and generous support of the School Director Mr. Ngoedup Wangdue and systematic planning of smart and creative Principal Mr.Sonam Sichoe, programs are set for the benefit of the students staying back at the school. Aforesaid programs were given to the in charge Mr.Tenzin Tharchin and accordingly carried out to the end with sincerity and dedication. With due respect the in charge would like to thank the school director and the principal for showering constant support and valuing ones abilities and responsibilities. My special thanks goes to the talented and willing teachers mentioned below who are involved in the program for their kind co-operation without which the success could be out of reach.
Mr.Choegyal Tashi for supervising the smooth flow of the program, Mrs.Tenzin Pelzom La opening the school library, Mr.Pema Tseten and Mr. Marjin for giving computer lessons, Mr.Thrinlay Namgyal and Mr.Dawa Dhondup for giving music lessons, Miss.Tenzin Choedon for waste to wealth, Miss.Tenzin Yangkyi for knitting lessons, Mr. Tsering Chungdak(X-student presently doing TTC) for helping a few students to develop language skills. And not to mention names of all the students who are involved in taking peer coaching classes and of course to the responsible school prefects for their untiring strong support. In the absence of the Principal, Mr. Tenzin Pelbar was the one who was always encouraging and willing to give any necessary suggestions and helping hand.
It is all due to his constant inspiration to printout the report in colour printer for filing which encouraged to try ones level best with the limited knowledge in the computer to make this report a presentable one.
This is the third year since the school authorities have planned such programs for the students staying back at the school during Winter Holidays. I individually feel that such type of programs are very effective in developing some skills and especially it paves a stepping stone for many students to shine themselves if they seriously take part in any program of their level.

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