Page 5 - Special_Edition_2020
P. 5

Special Edition | Issue 085 | 25th July 2020                                  Special Edition | Issue 085 | 25th July 2020


           The  benefits  of  this  experience  have  been      residential  schools  that  even  after  detailed
           exponential. I would emphatically state that our Staff   deliberations, with many Principals, we have not able
           members have acquired tremendous value addition to   to  come  to  terms  with  a  definite  plan.  It  is  quite
           their technological and pedagogical proficiencies. Our   obvious,  that  the  Govt  will  attempt  to  restart  day-
           teachers had risen to the challenges flawlessly, while   schools, a few months down the line. For the moment, I
           many others were still trying to come to grip with the   can promise you that we shall endeavour and teach
           situation, they march on….. to make the experience   our children, online, so proficiently that they shall be
           unforgettable. The resultant benefit, for the children   ready to attempt even the Final Examinations with
           too, was immense. They were gainfully engaged and   ease.  The  slogan  is  “If  anyone  can  do  it,  so  can
           no longer wasted their time in front of the TV or other   Pinegrove…”. All I request and seek is some help
           gadgets and had a formal school schedule to follow at   from  you.  Without  your  complete  indulgence  and
           home.                                               involvement, it will be 'nearly impossible' to deliver.

           In enabling us to face this challenge, I shall be failing   I conclude by saying, let not the efforts of our teachers
           in my duty if I do not put in a word of appreciation for   go in vain. Do involve yourself with the education of
           our IT-Dept Staff who have unfailingly come up with   your  children  wholeheartedly.  Encourage  them  to
 It is naturally understandable, that teaching your own   To overcome the envisaged difficulties, all our staff   ingeniously brilliant efforts and have provided a safe   involve  themselves  completely  in  the  teaching-
 section  of  a  few  children,  is  far  easier,  vis-à-vis   members  underwent  a  10-day  rigorous  training  on   and secure platform, for all the students and faculty. We   learning process. Give the children a small nudge, once
 teaching 100-150 students live online, in the presence   “Learning  to  Teach  Online”  certified  by  the   are  still  continuously  learning  and  trying  to   in  a  while,  to  help  them  press  ahead  towards  their
 of  their  parents,  (even  some  of  their  brothers  and   University  of  New  South  Wales,  Australia  before   incorporate better practices.  potential.  Encourage the children to be honest and
 sisters studying in other schools), being recorded live   going online on 01 April 2020.For a majority of our   fair  while  giving  class  tests  and  exams,  for  all
           To help us in this effort to make the Online Teaching
 on camera with no re-takes, in the presence of two-  teachers, who in their advanced age were not so tech-  knowledge is in vain if values are not instilled in our
           even more fruitful, we implore you to please assist us
 three other subject teachers and off and on having to   savvy,  all  these  tasks  were  not  only  new  and  time   children. In true Grovian spirit, do not compare your
           in eliminating the use of unfair means when online
 deal with the HTs and the ED's frequent interventions.   consuming, but added was the pressure of completing   child  with  others;  rather  encourage  him/her  to
           testing is in progress. This is for the sole benefit of
 All this, without the physical presence and comfort of   these tasks in a specific time-frame. They even learnt to   compare with themselves.
           your children.
 their own dear students, was truly an overwhelmingly   make  and  share  teaching  aids  on  completely  'alien
                                                               This issue of “The Grapevine” is being brought out to
 frightening and unnerving. Infact, the challenge was   virtual platforms' that too in a very short span of time,   Pinegrove is grateful to all those parents who took out
                                                               apprise you all about what all was happening at School
 even greater for Pinegrove's teachers… because many   even if it meant toiling upward through the night, at the   the  time  to  write  to  us  giving  feedback,  about  our
                                                               when  the  children  were  at  home.  The  pictures  will
 of the students had never been taught by them, there   cost of their own health. It resulted in increased cases   online classes and encouraging us to push ourselves   speak  for  themselves.  I  am  sure  it  will  give  you  a
 were  many  new  faces,  no  connection  or  bonding   of hypertensions, cervical pain, shoulder aches, eye   and  improve  further.  Together  with  trust,  spirit,
                                                               reflection how the School was running with over 300
 existed. Teachers were petrified of the fact that they   strain  and  redness  in  many  of  our  teachers,  who   dedication,  persistence  and  resilience  we  shall
                                                               staff and support staff members, in self quarantine, just
 couldn't  afford  to  make  a  mistakes  while  teaching,   continued  to  perform  relentlessly,  with  grit  and   overcome the challenges, the world faces and prove the
                                                               to ensure that the Grovians who are at home continue to
 needed  to  use  appropriate  voice  modulation,  were   determination. It wouldn't be out of place to address   actual meaning of “By Toil to Stars”.
                                                               learn and benefit, from their efforts.
 expected  to  be  extraordinarily  patient  and  tolerant,   our  faculty  members  as  Multi-Tasking-Unsung-
           Old parents are well-aware that Pinegrove School is
 whilst ensuring effective dissemination and discipline   Corona-Warriors. Not content with just teaching, they   We all, parents, students and School have to join hands
 too. Just imagine! It can be truly traumatic, To deliver   introduced MCQ quizzes, HW uploading and started   always  keen  to  obtain  an  unbiased  anonymous   in keeping ourselves and those around us safe in this
 such perfect lectures with an audience which, at times   Class Tests too. Latest was the Unit Test which was   feedback, which is a great statistical resource to study,   unexpected and disastrous global pandemic. We need
 could  be  critical,  rather  than  appreciative  was   added too to the itinerary and we have successfully   analyze  and  evaluate.  It  is  requested  to  please   to  teach  our  children  that  our  ancestors  and  our
 intimidating. Their experienced reputations were at   conducted our first Online Science Practicals, as well,   participate in the Online Feedback, which we will be   forefathers have seen far more difficult, tougher and
 stake.  Hence  they  were  all  thrown  out  of  our   for  the  Senior  Secondary  Classes.  The  faculty   sent to you, in the near future.   challenging times. We need to hold each other's hand
 “Comfort  Zone”,  naturally  causing  high  levels  of   members have not only sacrificed the comfort of their   and not be afraid.
           What the future holds for us as a school is totally
 anxiety, worry and unease resulting in the abundant   homes and families to stay put on the campus, locked-
           undefined  at  the  moment.  Social  Distancing  in  a
 release of stress hormones. We are proud of the fact   down, for the benefit of their students, but have risen to   Together we shall come out victorious.
           hostel, with all students present and all activities and   Stay Home! Stay Safe! Stay Well! Stay Blessed!
 that each and every one of our Staff Members chose   the  occasion  and  continued  to  assist  each  other  in
           sports in progress, will be next to impossible. Whether   Take care and God be with you always.
 to stand and face the challenge and changed 'reaction'   practice, experimentation and in learning to adapt the
           schools will reopen with a reduced strength, recalling
 into 'response'.  new  methodology  of  teaching  almost  overnight.   Sd/-
           students  from  Green  Zones  only  or  from  Senior  or
 Thereby, setting an example for their pupils to learn         Capt Aj Singh,
           Board Classes or volunteers only, is totally unclear.
 to face challenges head-on and adapt to changing              Executive Director
           The  ambiguity  of  the  lockdown  is  so  blurred  for
 scenarios, proficiently, successfully and quickly.
 04                                                         05
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10