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old school’s promotion to India #1 to
         the high quality of its teachers. “I am
         very pleased that your sample respon-
         dents have awarded VVS the highest
         score under this parameter because a
         school is only as good as its teachers.
         We invest great effort and resources
         in our teacher enrichment programme
         and I am happy that this investment
         has paid off. I am also pleased about
         the high score we have been awarded
         under the parameter of students’ emo-
         tional and mental well-being which is
         directly connected with competence of
         faculty. Moreover we have introduced
         an innovative environment sustain-
         ability programme which includes
         better-to-bus and car-pooling pro-
         grammes to reduce children’s carbon
         footprints and a Japanese style ‘time-  Sishya’s Dr. Salim Thomas (centre right): everyday joyful learning priority
         to-tidy’ initiative under which chil-
         dren clean their classrooms before and   and sports education which ensures   says Thomas, an alumnus of the Law-
         after school. These  programmes have   that our children have a joyful learn-  rence School, Lovedale, Armed Forces
         received wide publicity and probably   ing experience everyday they come   Medical College, Pune and officer of
         account for our promotion this year,”   to school. The mental and emotional   the Indian Navy (1971-86) who came
         says Krishnan. Currently this CBSE   well-being of children is high priority   aboard SSA promoted and established
         and Cambridge International (UK)-  for us in SSA and I am gratified with   by his father, the legendary K.I. (‘Kit’)
         affiliated school sited on an eight-acre   our high score under this parameter.   Thomas in 1974.
         campus in the heart of South Delhi has   Awareness of the good work we are   Beyond the Top 10, several well-
         1,400 children mentored by 161 teach-  doing under these inter-connected   known and respected schools have
         ers on its muster rolls.         parameters of school excellence is be-  risen in esteem of the informed public
            Dr. Salim Joseph Thomas,      hind our big promotion this this year,”   and promoted into the Top 20. While
         president of the Kit Thomas Edu-                                    most of them have moved a notch up
         cation Society, promoter of the  LSA’s director Meena Kak (right) & principal Jaya   or down, the Lakshmipat Sing-
         Sishya School, Adyar (SSA),  Mishra: rightful rank                  hania Academy, Kolkata (LSA,
         Chennai which has moved for-                                        estb. 1996) has been awarded a huge
         ward to #8 nationally (16)  and                                     promotion by this year’s sample re-
         #1 Tamil Nadu and Chennai, is                                       spondents. Ranked a modest #33
         also  satisfied  that  this  59-year-                               in 2022-23, it has been vaulted to
         old school has been “restored to                                    #11 this year with excellent scores
         its natural position”. He is espe-                                  under the parameters of academic
         cially pleased that SSA has been                                    reputation, co-curricular and sports
         awarded high scores under the                                       education, parental involvement,
         parameters of teacher competen-                                     and value for money. Perhaps more
         cy, academic reputation, sports,                                    important, together with the Heri-
         individual attention to students,                                   tage School, LSA is co-ranked Kol-
         parental involvement and mental                                     kata and West Bengal’s #1 co-ed day
         and emotional well-being of chil-                                   school this year.
         dren.                                                                 “This is most welcome news.
            “The high scores awarded to                                      We  have been  waiting for years
         us under these parameters are                                       to be awarded our rightful rank
         mutually reinforcing. Competent                                     as Kolkata’s #1 co-ed day school,
         teachers ensure that children re-                                   even if we have to share the honour
         ceive holistic education compris-                                   this year. As indicated by the high
         ing good academic, co-curricular                                    scores awarded to LSA under the

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