How to Find A Balanced School For Your Child?

How do you choose a well-balanced school for your child? Careful planning is important, and we recommend preparing questions to ask and consider when choosing a school for your child. Here are a few steps and criteria we recommend when selecting a balanced school for your child, whether they are attending schools in Pune or elsewhere:

●        Write down five things that are most important to you. We recommend first writing down five school features that are most important to you as you consider the right and most well balanced school for your school.

●        Consider your child and your family. We recommend beginning your search for the right school by considering what you want a school to do for your child. For example, does your child have any special language or educational needs? Does your child need a more or less structured environment? Do they need more challenging work? How do they learn best? Do they prefer to work alone or learn in a group? You should also consider the location of the school. How far are you willing to either have your child bused to school or drive them to school? These are all important questions to ask and criteria to consider when choosing a school for your child.

●        Gather information about schools. If you were considering buying an expensive product for your home, like a refrigerator or a vacuum cleaner, you would probably do some research on the internet and speak to friends and family about your decision. The same goes for considering schools for your child. You should make phone calls, collect some written materials about different schools and look up information online about various schools. In addition to the curriculum and philosophy of the school, it is also crucial to learn about the school’s policies and services, as well as after-school programs, like sports, clubs, tutoring and academic enrichment.

●        Visit and observe schools. We also recommend contacting schools that you are interested in and making an appointment for a visit and school tour. We suggest touring the schools during regular school hours and visiting some classes if possible. In order to get the best sense of how the school runs and operates, do not visit the school during the first or last week of a school year or term. One of the best ways to have your questions answered is scheduling a one on one appointment with the principal of the school. We also recommend attending a parent-teacher meeting, open house or other school event that offers valuable information about the philosophies and attitudes of the school, staff, students and parents. Listen to what the teachers say about the school, because it is super important that the teachers are well prepared, dedicated to their jobs and happy in their work.

●        Apply to the schools you choose. Once you choose the schools that you think are the most well balanced and best for your child, you need to go through the process of applying to schools and enrolling your child in your top choice. We recommend applying to more than one school, just in case your child is not admitted to the first choice school.

Choosing the school where your little one will make friends, have fun, and get an education will require time and effort. Be diligent in your research so that you are able to choose the best school for your child. 

6 Myths About International Schools Debunked! Here’s Why You Should

In India myths about international schools are huge and many. There are many parents who have good opinions about international schools but there are many more who believe in a lot of myths or misconceptions. We thought of bursting a few of them:

Myth 1- International schools students are not accepted by Indian Universities.

There’s a common belief that International school students cannot get admissions to Indian universities which is not true. About 43% percent of the students belonging to international schools get admissions to universities in India. Even there are some Indian universities such as Shiv Nadar, Jindal, Ashoka, NMIMS, etc that provide special preference to students from international schools in Pune. Globally too international school programs open doors for many universities such as Australia, Canada, France USA, etc.

Myth 2- International schools are too new and untested 

It’s generally believed that international schools are very new and untested. But the fact is that the first international school in India was set up in 1976 and Cambridge international school has been providing quality education in India for over 50 years. The top schools in India such as Kodaikanal international, Woodstock, etc have provided international curriculum to their students for decades. However, it’s true that there has been a sharp increase in the popularity of international schools in India over the previous decade. Now even the Doon school that is the number one school in India offers an international curriculum.

Myth 3- There are no textbooks in international schools. They just keep doing projects.

It’s a common misconception that international schools don’t have textbooks. The fact is that international schools have prescribed textbooks. They have a prescribed curriculum that is followed around the year. Yes, they focus more on projects and activities because they believe that through experiential learning children can develop a strong sense of creativity. 

Myth 4- Curriculum of Indian boards are tougher than international board

The myth is not at all true in the actual sense. The international curriculum is as comprehensive and effective as any Indian curriculum. The international board also divides its curriculum into various subjects just like any Indian board but what differentiates the two boards is their approach to learning. Indian curriculums generally believe in going theoretical with textbooks and assessments but the international curriculums cover the syllabus via problem-solving skills, activities, projects, etc to give the student’s field exposure. They believe in interactive learning so that the students would relate to the text and understand better.

Myth 5- International schools are meant for those who want to go abroad for studies

There are many students who aspire to go abroad. For many students, studying in universities in Europe or America is a dream. But the fact is that many students studying in different boards go abroad for higher studies and many students studying in international boards study in universities in India. It’s true that the students who have got an education with an international curriculum are far more equipped to handle international studies. This is because in international schools students are taught qualities like time management, leadership skills, analytical skills, independent thinking, etc.

Myth 6- International schools are for foreigners and NRI’s

This is the biggest myth surrounding international schools by far. However, the proliferation of international schools in India has directly flown in the face of this myth.

Top 3 CBSE Schools In Pune

Pune, also known as the Oxford of the East due to the presence of a multi-range of educational institutions. The city has emerged as the major educational hub in recent times. It offers everything that a prospective student might desire ranging from options in Graduation colleges to PG colleges, affordable education, and safety of students which can be one of the biggest concerns for parents.

Pune has one of the best CBSE schools in the country which offers the best of the education as well as the facilities to its students. Below is the the list :

Global Indian International School, Pune – With its two campuses located at Balewadi and Hadapsar, GIIS Is among the top 10 CBSE board schools of Maharashtra. At GIIS  students are taught with a unique approach towards education.

They have a rigorous curriculum, which is well supported by the teachers to provide students with educational experiences that inspire them to grow academically and personally. The school offers facilities like Digital classrooms, Smartboards, Virtual classrooms so that the students can get benefitted from the lectures of the teachers across the globe. The school provides a unique exposure to the students which helps them to understand the education system worldwide and prepare them for the challenges students might face tomorrow. The school also pays attention to the overall personality growth of the kids by ensuring various outdoor, indoor and sports activities. 

Air Force School, Pune – Located at Air Force Campus, Viman Nagar, Air Force School is one of the most prestigious schools in India. The school is affiliated with CBSE Board and is registered with IAF Educational and Cultural Society.

The school offers its students an updated and huge library, computer facility. The teachers use the Edunet system Technical Aid to teach students. A kit that houses a hardware card on which Audio and video broadcasts can be made through headphones from the teacher machine to all the other machines. The primary objective of the school is to impart quality education to the wards of Service personnel. The school also caters to the requirements of the wards of the civilian personnel residing in Viman Nagar, Pune.

Army Public School, Pune – It is located at Southern Command and is among the top CBSE schools in Pune. The school is affiliated to CBSE board of education and helps in instill self-confidence in students and provide high standard education to the wards of Defense personnel.

The school provides facilities like an art room to help students improve upon their creative potentials, a basketball court, facilities for outdoor activities,  well equipped Gym, Science laboratories, Smart classrooms, Computer labs, and a Library. APS ensures that your kid gets and all-round development in academics as well as in physical activities.

There are many other CBSE schools in Pune, that provides good moral education with academics and other extra-curricular activities. A second home for the students, these schools build self-esteem in the right way aiding their foundation for progress.

Best School In Pune

School life is the best phase of one’s life.  Remember yours?

Doesn’t matter if it was spent in the 80s, 90s, or the first decade of the new millennium, it was special.  

They say that the more things change, the more they remain the same.  

Childhood and teenage remain the same today as well.  The innocence, aspirations, and imaginations associated with them remain the same too.  The expectations of the world & the degree of readiness wanted has changed though.  But then, that’s what evolution is all about.

Institutions that are known to be the best schools in Pune approach the above challenge differently.  Unfortunately, while most have been going through the same rote learning highway to forcibly prepare mugging expert robotic students, there are schools like GIIS (Global Indian International School) that have taken the game to another level amidst the best school in Pune. 

Practical learning is the mantra they swear by.  Successful case studies exchange hands between sister GIIS schools of India, Japan, Singapore, UAE, and many more countries.  You only have to meet a GIIS student’s parent to see how much premium the school places on imbibing a culture of entrepreneurship, skill development (both hard & soft) for their children to make a mark in the real world confidently.  

Inter-schools’ competitions are a great place to separate the wheat from the chaff.  Armed with critical thinking, you’ll find a GIIS student leading a debate in her own special way.   Pulling back from an imminent defeat in the final few seconds of a sporting event would mostly be a GIIS sportsperson.  Enthralling the audience with fine western vocals and then the same student playing the sitar in the Indian classical music contest displays the respect her uniqueness got her from her school GIIS.  

Yes, children are still the same.  The foremost thing they need is your ears to listen to them and a firm pat on the back.  They’ll create magic on their own.