Sir Sivaswami Kalalaya

Sir Sivaswami Kalalaya Senior Secondary School

Sir Sivaswami Kalalaya is a co-educational school and Affiliated to C.B.S.E. school located in Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

History

Sir P.S. Sivaswami Ayyar is a great legend in the sphere of education; he gave all that he had to promote, sustain and perpetuate a school for boys at Tirukkattupalli, Thanjavur, and a school for girls at Mylapore-Lady Sivaswami Ayyar Girls' Higher Secondary School. Although how he financed these institutions is well-known, it is worth noting that he gave away his magnificent palatial house to finance the Girls' School at Mylapore and lived in a rented house in the evening years of his life. On 7 February 1989, the National Boys' and Girls' Education Society celebrated the 125th year of his birth in a fitting manner. The Society also decided to set another milestone in his memory by starting a new school - Sir Sivaswami Kalalaya at “Sudharma” the building constructed to commemorate his birth centenary.

Aims and objectives

The school was started in 1989 with the objective of igniting young minds and paving a way for their future. It has a proud tradition of academic excellence and a commitment to nurturing each child’s character and spirit. Kalalaya believes in “shaping the holistic development of the students' personality by maintaining the right balance between tradition and modernity, with a judicious blend of - the Head, the Heart and the Hands.

The school aims to provide:

Sir Sivaswami Kalalaya is unique when compared to any other schools around the city. It stands out, with the determination to think up and implement new ideas. They achieve academic excellence through our comprehensive program and exceptional faculty and staff help students discover, develop, and enjoy their unique talents. Our campus provides unique learning spaces such as a science labs, computer lab, math lab and indoor auditorium. The School is proud of their deeply committed parent community ! They know that a healthy, respectful partnership between home and school is a critical element of a solid education.

The single unique factor that the Kalalayans value and cherish is the most intangible : the school atmosphere. The children have a feeling of security and a sense of belonging that makes them feel at home. The Atmosphere is such that they move about the school without fear, with confidence and ease and communicate with one another even when within the hearing range of teachers.

Infrastructure and Facilities

Computer Lab

The school has a well-equipped computer lab.The computer labs have all the software required for academic purposes. Hardware and Software will continuously be upgraded to cope with the latest technology and trend. It is equipped with Multi Media and Internet facilities.A spacious air-conditioned UPS supported computer lab with 25 computers for Classes XI – XII.A spacious Junior Computer lab with 25 computers for Classes I – X.Students from class II upwards are introduced to the basics of computers and encouraged to attain mastery through practice. A separate graded curriculum is used for each level.

Science Lab

Separate laboratories are available for Physics, Chemistry, Biology .Well equipped laboratories with specimen collections have been provided for the students.

Math Lab

Mathematics is no longer the forte of a few. The complexity of learning it as a discipline in school has increased over time and the school has focused on the discovery method of grasping concepts with the usage of numerous Maths Kits, activity notebooks and practical sessions. Pupils are urged to think independently and an environment of self-learning is created by adoption of these methods.

General Classes

A noteworthy aspect of the school's educational philosophy is the GCL (General Classes). These are held once a week and are wholly devoted to kindling and promoting utmost reverence as well as understanding of the wisdom and tradition of our culture. Students from classes III to VIII are taught to sing patriotic or thematic songs and recite shlokas with emphasis on stress, pronunciation and precise articulation.

Art and Craft

Students are taught drawing, painting, water colour techniques, still-life composition and charcoal-based art work. The school has taken the initiative of providing exclusive training to the students in Folk Art, Madhubani and Warli. In fact, it is the only school in Chennai currently, to cater to this segment which is a unique distinction. Moreover,the school also organizes 'craft bazaar' (an art and craft exhibition on a yearly basis) to encourage young artists.

Music Classes

The school provides in-depth training to the students in music. Children are encouraged to participate in a host of competitions and have consistently won innumerable laurels by their mellifluous renderings.

Dance Classes

Students of Kalalaya are taught qunitessential meanings embedded in age-old Samskrit shlokas before these are externalised in the form of captivating mudras. A special feature that deserves mention is that the theory pertaining to dance acquired by a professional through years of dedicated practice is imparted to the students right from UKG onwards. At each step, dance thus becomes a thrilling discovery and the possibilities seem endless.

Sports

The school offers coaching facilities in Karate, Basketball, Cricket and Gymnastics in addition to mass physical training.

Indoor Auditorium

Large spacious Auditorium with fully equipped audio system for conducting Dance, Music (Vocal & Instrumental) programmes with a seating capacity of 200.

Library

The school has a well-stocked library which is constantly being upgraded and managed by a qualified librarian. Students can enjoy the twin pleasures of reading for delight and reading for acquisition of knowledge and staying abreast with the latest trends worldwide.

Playground

The School has a Cement Basket Ball Court and a spacious Playground with a stadium.

Transport

Transport facility on approved bus routes is available for the students. The safe boarding and return of every student is ensured.

Drinking Water

Protected drinking water facility (Aqua guard) is provided for students and staffs in each of the floors. The house keeping department of the school ensures cleanliness of drinking water in the campus.

Sanitary Facilities

The housekeeping department of the school ensures effective, clean maintenance of campus. Adequate number of tiled wash rooms with modern sanitary fitting are located in each of the floors.

Crèche Facility

Students of Kalalaya can avail this facility from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on all days except second Saturdays and Sundays.The crèche also provides delicious lunch to students and staff during the lunch break at a nominal cost of 30 RS per share. The creche provides juice for a very nominal cost of rs.6

Counselling Service

The school has a full-time counsellor to discuss issues / concerns that may be faced by the parents/students. The school, also avails the facility of a few external trained counsellors in case of need.

Educational and Vocational Guidance

The counselling service also provide for educational and vocational guidance. People from different walks of life are invited to come and speak to the students on the courses, the institutes that offer the courses, the aptitude and attitude needed as well as career options.

Educational Trips

Students are regularly taken out for field trips, mostly coinciding with the curricular content. It provides an opportunity to learn beyond the classroom.In addition, excursions are arranged for a period of 3 to 6 days for students of classes VI-XII to places of regular tourist haunts where they will be escorted by teachers at a very nominal cost.The monbey paid includes train fee, accommodation, food, transportation and sight seeing.

International School Award

Sir Sivaswami Kalalaya Senior Secondary School, in collaboration with the British Council (London, UK), is working towards receiving the International School Award (ISA). In this direction various projects and events have been orchestrated by the different departments of the school inviting foreigners to the school campus and involving students of Classes 7, 8, 9 and 10. The events are mainly aimed at initiating sharing of ideas, tradition, culture, heritage and experiences across the globe. Each Department took up one aspect of life and created a participatory and interactive program based on it.

ACTIVITIES BY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE

The Science Department took up ‘Festivals’ as its topic and conducted events relating Dasara, Deepavali, Christmas and highlighted the commonness between the way Indians and the rest of the countries celebrate different festivals. For example Hina matsuri (doll festival) is a Japanese festival quite similar to our Dasara in India, Chinese Lantern Festival (Festival of lights) shares similarities with our Diwali. Sir Sivaswami Kalalaya thus aims at establishing more global interaction and sharing of knowledge, experience and ideas through this ISA-British Council collaboration.

ACHIEVEMENTS :

Aakash.C, Eswara Krishnan.V, Vishhvak Srinivasan of classes 9 (Currently in 10 A), Participated and won the 3rd Prize in AMM Matriculation Higher Secondary School, and received a cup, and a certificate each, as their reward. Sneha.R of the same class (a deaf and mute person) has been getting a lot of medals,certificates and championships since her childhood for her flawless swimming talents. Recently an article about her was published on The Times Of India (main edition) in the sports column on the 11th of April 2013. For more details regarding admissions, Management, Staff, and Achievements, please visit - www.sirsivaswamikalalaya.org