அபௌட் மை ஸ்கூல்

A dream long cherished, to start an educational centre combining the virtues of a Temple of Art and Culture, a dedicated school that blends discipline with freedom, endeavoring to raise the integrated child, led me to start this Vidyashram in 1986 says the founder Dr.Meena Muthiah, Kumara Rani of Chettinad.

“The institution’s motto is ‘The Golden Mean:

• To attain discipline without distaste & to exercise freedom with a responsibility.
• To imbibe the wards with respect for our roots and nurture our ancient art, culture & tradition in all their purity & variety
• To lead them into future through a methodical dissemination of scientific knowledge.

In this endeavour, the school shapes every child into an integrated human being not dwarfed by caste, creed or community. They are instilled with a value system. They are encouraged to build their self confidence and a spirit of service. These noble tasks are achieved by the combined effort and earnest co-operation of the vibrant youth, dedicated educators and devoted parents and patrons.

The sanctity of an educational institution rests on the shoulders of the Head of the Academics of the Institution who is called either a PRINCIPAL or a HEAD MASTER. We all have heard of the poem ‘Village School Master’ by Oliver Goldsmith and the famous head master who is always on his rounds in ‘Tom Brown’s school days’. Every school is proud of it’s principal. It glorifies him as a Demigod. His whiplash words are acceptable to them and when he is silent and dignified he is more accepted. A Principal is also a teacher and his teachings, exhortations and his pedagogy are always light. Now, you wonder why these statements are made in an impersonal way. Well, let us become personal. We are talking about the principal of Chettinad Vidyashram,
Dr. S. Bhavanishankar. He is all this and more together.

KUMARA RANI’S CHETTINAD VIDYALAYA(The Pre - Primary section of Chettinad Vidyashram)

Human beings play an active role in their own programme for development (genetic material). The child actively interacts with the available environment to facilitate the implementation of her hereditary endowments. So the child depends on her parents, caretakers and teachers for the type of environment she/he is provided with. If we can provide age appropriate environment, stimulation and opportunities to learn and explore, the child has a better chance to develop the genetically determined potentials to the maximum.

Play plays an important role in the development of a child. Play connotes physical, mental and emotional development of a child. For example, let us see how a child uses the sliding board, First the child learns to climb the steps one by one. The child feels a great sense of accomplishment once it has reached the top. The elated feeling is fulfilled when sliding down cutting through, the air. Wow! What a feeling! And again it wants to experience the thrill of doing something independently and along with the peer group gurgling with laughter and incoherent happy sounds.

Chettinad Vidyalaya the montessori and the K.G.Section is founded on the ideal that a child’s early years are the most sensitive and crucial for laying the foundation to develop the faculties of his/her mind and intellect. Hence a conducive atmosphere is provided, where a child is allowed to progress in his/her own pace, thereby building a strong sense of self confidence.

Kumara Rani’s Chettinad Vidyalaya is one of the prestigious schools in chennai. Kumara Rani of Chettinad Dr.Meena Muthiah is the founder of this school. It was started in 1986. It is set amidst natural surroudings. The strength at the beginning was only 20. Now, it has risen to 1440 in Vidyalaya alone.

The correspondent and Secretary is Kumara Rani Meena Muthiah affectionately reffered to as Meena Aunty. The Principal is Dr. Bhavani Shankar the Vice Principal is Shri.G.S.Ganesan and the Headmistress is Mrs.Lakshmi Ashok.

We have, along with the regular Pre-KG, L.K.G and U.K.G, the Montessori section too comprising of Montessori I, II and III.

The children and teachers are divided into four houses with House Captains and Housemistress. The four houses are Emerald, Pearl, Ruby and Sapphire. This is to imbibe the qualities of team spirit and healthy competition.

Kumararaja M.A.M.Muthiah Chettiar Endowment Prize and Kumara Rani Smt.Meena Muthiah Endowment Prize are awarded to three best all rounders of each class from Pre-K.G. to STD.XII.

Individual Prizes are awarded to students for all Academic Co-Curricular activities.

Training is imparted to childern in the following Co-Curricular activities:

Swimming b) Dance and Music c) Pony Ride d)Playpen

e) Cycling f) Bunny, a feeder movement to scouts and Guides.

Children are always encouraged to attend classes throughout the Academic year. Special 100% Attendance Prizes are given to children from each section every year – right from Pre-K.G. to STD.XII.

A well-stocked Library is a great advantage enjoyed both by teachers and students. There is also a Kindergarten Lab for the perusal of children.

Computer training is also imparted to children of U.K.G and Montessori III. The Audio Visual Lab where stories and Science lessons are narrated with the help of a projector is greatly enjoyed by the children.

Prayers, Slokas and Bhajans are taught to inculcate a sense of religion in the young minds. National days of importance like Independence Day, Teacher’s Day, Gandhi Jayanthi and Festivals like Christmas, Dussehra, Id, Pongal, Onam are celebrated to make children aware of their importance.

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENTS

SLIDE : There are 2 plastic swings and two metallic ones

1. PLASTIC: Children enter through an arch (plastic) and climb two steps to start sliding down.

b) Metallic: Children climb metallic steps with metallic hand rails and then slide down.

1. SWING: There are two wooden (seats) swings and two rubber (seat) swings and two tweety shaped swings.
2. BARREL ROLL: This is a metallic roll covered with a plastic outer layer and fixed on a metal base. Children can either sit down and just enjoy a gentle rock back and forth or stand steadily while the barrel moves either way.
3. JUNGLE JIM: There are three Jungle Jims for the children. One small inverted U shaped and the other two are plain metallic cubical structures.
4. MERRY-GO-ROUND: There are two under this category. One is the metallic single seater in 4 plastic seats in a circle and also a metallic one with a circular wooden seat all around.
5. TYRE SWING: One tyre swing with a rubber tyre.
6. MINI – TENNIS: Court is available for the children throughout the academic year. One period per week is devoted to Mini-Tennis for all the UKG and Montessori III children.
7. There is BIRDIE SPRING ACTION PLAY EQUIPMENT which is a single seater.
8. A Metallic globe with 4 metallic chain ladders on all four sides is a favorite with children.
9. A metallic bus with a wooden platform and metallic wheel is available for children.
10. Cycling: This is the best form of exercise for all age group. Vidyalaya children enjoy one whole period (every week) doing cycling. Tricycles as well as bicycles
    are used.
11. Basketball equipment: There are two plastic basketball equipments for the benefit of children.

OUR MOTTO: “The Golden Mean”. We should strive for discipline without distaste, and for freedom within limits. We shall inculcate respect for our roots – a tie up with the past in art, tradition and culture in all their purity and variety. We shall also concentrate on a takeoff in to the future through methodical dissemination of scientific knowledge.

We shall endeavour to evolve an integrated human being not dwarfed by consideration of caste, creed, or community, with the earnest co-operation of the teachers, parents and well wishers.

In this, our endeavour is to wean our wards away from the ills that we see clouding our society and threatening to weaken our nation. Our wards will be helped to learn and build self-confidence and a spirit of service. This is not a challenge to be faced by one Founder; it is a common task to be translated by the energy of youth, dedication of the educators and devotion of all concerned.

“Service before Self” is our watchword. I invite you to join this adventure. The results will be rewarding.

AIM

1. The aim of the school is to prepare the children academically, train them physically and hone them mentally to enable them enter into any walk of
   life and to make them realize and respect the culture of our country.
   
   
2. Character, team spirit, dedication to purposes, discipline, self reliance, dignity of labour, patriotic outlook and a spirit to serve the country with zeal and efficiency are the qualities sought to be promoted through a programme of activities and instructions.
   
   
3. The school seeks :
   1. To develop in its students an intellectual curiosity, an eagerness for continued learning and the ability to use their knowledge for creative purposes.
   2. To help the students discover their potential and channelise them to make integrated personalities.
   3. To mould children of character, with conviction in moral values and courage in action.
      
      
4. In addition to the instruction of the three R’s the school is concerned with three ‘C’s of real education culture, creativity and camaraderie.
   
   
5. The school is intent upon developing a new technique in education, a method for drawing out the talents latent in the child. This would be achieved through promotion of creative activities encouraged by the teachers, fostered with love and kindness.