Into The Wild

Our Grade VI students of both the CBSE & the CIE visited the ‘Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad’ to explore first-hand how animals are classified according to their eating habits. The Zoo is the first in India to have animals arranged in Zoological order, in open enclosures. Such open enclosures, as they have a natural ambience, make animals feel at home. Students enriched their knowledge about how eating habits determine classification by finding the answers to their questions through direct observation and inquiry. Students related their existing knowledge acquired during the lesson, ‘Food: Where does it come from?’ to their experiences in the field trip.

The students got the opportunity to observe different several indigenous animals like Asiatic Lions, Royal Bengal Tigers (Yellow & White), Panthers, Indian Rhino, Gaur, Several primates, Bears, Deers, Antelopes, Birds, Reptiles etc. Exotic animals like Giraffe, Iguanas, and Chimpanzee were also a treat to see.

Being one of the first zoos to open a Butterfly Park in the 90s, the students enjoyed spotting different species of butterflies in the Park. Several host plants have been specially planted in this park to attract the Butterflies. Aviaries with recently added birds was definitely an add-on attraction for our curious students as well.

The renovated Aquarium with its large fish tanks had several aquatic species on display. Both fresh water and marine aquatic life were studied closely by our students, who were fascinated by their colours and striations.

Dancing Our Way to Fitness!

As part of a new initiative in the Residential Wing, our hostel students enjoyed a workout of a very different kind in a Zumba dance class held this Saturday!

Part of the Zumba Dance Fitness Programme at DRS, the session with Ms Anukriti saw our kids begin with warm-ups including step-touch and basic arm movements that encouraged lower and upper body co-ordination. They then powered through some High Intensity Merengue, paced with Medium Intensity African rhythms, alternated by High Intensity Reggaeton and some power-packed Bollywood rhythms.

The session saw our students understand how they can infuse music and energy into their workout routines while not compromising on rigour!

Time-Travellers!

The Qutb Shahi dynasty (or Golconda Sultanate) has contributed vastly to the history of Hyderabad with their legendary patronage of arts, architecture and science. On the 26th and 27th of July, our students of Grades VII & VIII ventured out to the Golconda Fort for a field trip into the past! A detailed map of the fort showing the different entrances welcomed the curious students to explore the fort and all its secrets.

The guide at the fort, playfully explained the story and purpose behind each structure as well as the chronological order of the monarchy and the dynastic rule.The students tried to derive a logical sequence of every element of the fort, focusing on some in particular.

The fort of Golconda is well-known for its magical acoustic system and this fascinated the students. The highest point of the fort – the “Bala Hissar”, the palaces, factories, water supply system and the famous “Rahban” cannon, within the fort were all points for interest and discussion for the students. The students returned back to school with an the experience of an inspiring slice of history.

A Sprinkle of Yellow!

Our eager & enthusiastic kindergartners got together to give the colour of the month, ‘yellow’ the celebration it deserves! Dressed in every share of yellow imaginable, the children were visibly excited by the ambience and decor in the school…

In the special morning assembly, the children wowed onlookers with some ‘yellow’ themed performances & rhymes. IK 3 danced smartly to the Y-E-L-L-O-W song, while IK 2 and 1 followed with the ‘Yellow Bumblebee’ and ‘Sunflower Song’ with equal energy!

The students also created creative take-aways that challenged their fine motor skills. ‘Yellow’ Giraffe finger-puppets, a yellow popsicle stick fence and hand-print clowns ensured that our students took home a bit of the day with them!

Collaborating to Create!

Our students of the Secondary Wing joined their club members in collaborating to create! This club-meet was an eventful one with some of the clubs doing their bit to gear up for theDRSMUN 2K17 while others experimented with new ideas…

The Visual Arts Club members created lovely pendant lights using string art and a lot of creativity. Our Eco-sustainability club explored the concept of ‘e-waste’ through puzzles, a word search and comprehension exercises.

Meanwhile, the Literary Club took a stand by creating eye-catching posters about ‘Kindness towards Animals’ and ‘Clean & Green Hyderabad’. The Cuisine Club kicked things up a notch by make delectable dry fruit laddoos, with condensed milk, honey & cocoa powder.

With DRSMUN 2K17 around the corner, the Dance Club & Music Club pulled off some impressive rehearsals ahead of the big event. The MUN club itself, on the other hand, planned for a mock Intra-school MUN Event for the 29th! A collaborative meet, indeed!

Anti-Addiction Drive @ DRSIS

They say prevention is better than cure! As part of its ongoing preventive ‘Anti-Addiction’ Drive, DRS International School organized a guest lecture by Dr. Harish Reddy from Sahara Mind Clinic as well as an informative Poster Display to create awareness about types of addictions, their effects and coping strategies…

The interactive talk by Dr. Reddy shed light on the different types of drugs and the process of becoming an addict and the importance of staying vigilant and firm against peer pressure and gateway drugs. The Psychiatrist spoke at length about the physiological and social repercussions of drug abuse and sensitized the students about the importance of timely prevention and both social and professional intervention, besides support. The talk helped students find answers to their queries and also helped dispel many myths.

The Poster Display highlighted that addictions are not restricted to substance abuse but also extend to lesser-known addictions such as ludomania, gaming and shopping addictions. The Posters visually represented how the brain is hardwired into falling for the reward circuit and outlined steps for both prevention & rehabilitation. The anti-addiction drive was a success with students pledging to create further awareness in their own circles!

Planting Awareness!

As part of the third phase of the state-wide programme ‘Haritha Haram’, DRS International School held a plantation drive of its own in a bid to go more ‘green’. The plantation drive was led by Smt. Priyanka Varghese (IFS) and Dr. M. V. Reddy (IAS), Collector & District Magistrate of Medchal.

’Haritha Haram’ is a green initiative launched by the state government two years ago with the goal of increasing the state’s green cover to 33%. The event saw the dignitaries interact with our students to gauge their awareness of environmental causes and educate them further about the urgency of the need to collectively build our green cover. The guests also appreciated the school’s green campus and suggested the school, in partnership with the Mandal, adopt the approach roads in the locality and work on local afforestation needs. This welcome move was lauded by the students, especially when they were assured of their support and assistance.

The gathering took a collective ‘Haritha Haram’ pledge in which each individual present promised to do their best to contribute to the green cover by taking the initiative to not just plant but also to nurture saplings. The students were gifted saplings to help begin making their pledge a reality. Not letting the rain dampen their spirits, the gathering then proceeded to the grounds, where the first saplings were symbolically planted by the dignitaries and the students together.

Art Meets Spontaneity!

Our students of the Secondary Wing had a great time creating art at the ‘On the Spot’ Art Competition held at DRS! Working with a dry medium of their choice, such as colour pencils, crayons, and sketch pens, the students were inspired the themes assigned to them.

Students of Grades VI to VIII were given the theme ‘Childhood’ while the seniors were asked to create art that captured the essence of the ‘Monsoon’. The event was a truly creative one and inspired many beautiful works of art!