Lovedale Tidings - September 2024
Onam 2024: A Joyous Celebration of Culture and Community at Our Girls' School
Onam, the vibrant and joyous festival celebrated in Kerala, marks the beginning of the harvest season. This year, the girls’ school embraced the spirit of Onam on September 15, 2024, coinciding with Thiruvonam Day, with a series of festive activities and games. The event aimed to foster cultural appreciation, enhance community bonding, and provide a platform for the residents to showcase their talents.
The hostel was beautifully decorated with colourful flower rangoli (Pookalam), traditional lamps, and festive garlands. A traditional feast was served on banana leaves, featuring an array of vegetarian dishes. In the afternoon, the girls came together to play several games, including musical chairs. Overall, it was a delightful and engaging event, blending tradition with community spirit. The success of this celebration suggests that similar cultural events would be beneficial in the future.
A Starry Night: Celebrating Friendship and Flavour
On the evening of September 14, 2024, the girls of the Girls' School enjoyed a delightful outdoor dinner on the hostel lawn, featuring a flavourful biryani feast complemented by raita and salad. As the sun set, the open-air environment allowed the residents to enjoy the pleasant breeze and natural surroundings. The evening was filled with lively conversations and laughter, fostering a strong sense of community. The overwhelming enthusiasm and positive feedback underscored the event’s success, highlighting the value of such gatherings in enhancing hostel life and camaraderie.
Senior School Inter House Art Competition
The Senior School Inter House Art Competition was held on 13th September 2024, with students from classes IX to XII showcasing their impressive artistic talents. Participants were divided into two groups, with each displaying remarkable creativity and skill across various mediums.
Group A results are as listed below:
First Position: Aiyana Singh
Second Position: Sinhayana Dilip Singh
Third Position: Nithivarshika S.A.
Group B results are as listed below:
First Position: Ghazal
Second Position: Shadric V.
Third Position: Yogasri R.
The House positions are as follows:
First Position: Vindhya House (119 points)
Second Position: Sumeru House (101 points)
Third Position: Aravalli House (98.5 points)
The competition fostered a spirit of creativity and house pride, with Vindhya House emerging as the overall winner.
Inter-School Badminton Tournament
The Inter-School Badminton Tournament was conducted on 11th and 12th of September 2024 at our school. The tournament was conducted under three age categories: Under 14, Under 17 and Under 19 for both boys and girls. The event witnessed the participation of various schools from across the Nilgiris. The badminton team from the Lawrence School, Lovedale put up a stellar performance to clinch the title in all the boys categories and both the U-14 and U-19 titles in the girls categories.
In nail-biting finales, both the U-14 and U-17 boys triumphed against Good Shepherd International School whereas the U-19 boys beat Laidlaw Memorial School to finish as winners. Similarly, the U-14 girls beat the team from Good Shepherd International School to secure the winners position. In yet another thrilling match, the U-19 girls team also secured the first position.
The tournament concluded with the awarding of mementos to the officiating team from the Nilgiri District Badminton Association and the felicitation of the winners by the Headmaster and Deputy Headmaster.Prithvi Ram, Namith D Puttachi, Nirmal Dev, Tanya and Kamalini Ramesh of the Lawrence school were adjudged as the best players in their respective categories.
CM’s Trophy Badminton Championship
The Chief Minister’s Trophy Badminton Championship was held at Anna Stadium, Ooty on 10th September 2024 and 14th September 2024 for boys and girls respectively. It was held for students aged between 12-19 years.
The championship was highly competitive and featured teams from all over the Nilgiris, including students from Gudalur. The Lawrence School clinched podium positions in both the boys and girls division. After an all-Lawrence final in the boys singles as well as doubles, Namith Puttachi emerged as the singles champion and Bimal Dev S finished second. Similarly, Namith Puttachi and Agnidipto Nanda won the boys doubles with Nirmal Dev S and Bimal Dev S emerging as runners-up.
In the girls division, Kamalini Ramesh and E.Nikita Rao finished as winners after defeating Nazareth School in a nail-biting finale. The girls singles witnessed another all-Lawrence final, with E.Nikita Rao and Kamalini Ramesh clinching first position and second position respectively.
The team from Lawrence School put yet another dominant display in the realm of badminton, securing spots in the Tamil Nadu State Championships to be held tentatively on 12th October 2024.
Under -19 Basketball Championship
The 10th Nilgiri District Under-19 Basketball Championship was held at the HADP Stadium, Ooty, from 7th to 9th September 2024. The event witnessed intense competition among top teams from the region. The Lawrence School, Lovedale girls' basketball team displayed an outstanding performance throughout the tournament.
After defeating St. Mary's School, Crescent School, and MSHSS Gudalur in the earlier rounds, our team advanced to the finals. In a thrilling final match, our girls' team triumphed over Laidlaw School, Ketti, emerging as the champions.
A special highlight of the event was Juhi from Class 10, who played exceptionally well and was honored with the Best Player Award for her brilliant performance and sportsmanship.
Report on the Prep School Outing
On the 8th of September, the entire Prep School was taken for an outing. The day passed but the memories made will be cherished forever.
We started the beautiful Sunday with dancing right away in our buses. The vibrant music along with enchanting scenic beauty set the tone for the ecstatic day ahead.
Our first stop was the benchmark tea and chocolate factory and truly, it really set the benchmark high. We witnessed the chocolate being manufactured and the tea being produced, we got to taste tea both before and after it was prepared, while the former was a bit harsh on our taste buds, the latter was delightful and made them dance with glee. With our taste buds still rejoicing, we left for our next stop, the Doddabetta peak.
The Doddabetta peak is the highest peak in southern India. The heights gave us a beautiful view of the life in hills around. Adding to this liveliness was the playful nature of the monkeys around us. With a new found sense of curiosity and some grumbling stomachs, we left for our final destination, Highland Ooty Resorts, the hospitality shown towards us left us astonished.
As soon as we entered they guided us to a garden with swings and a trampoline, an indoor game zone, a speaker that played beats. We danced and danced! Orange juice, the welcome drink was loved and adored by all.
They also provided us with a disco room that had to bear our thumping and stomping as we danced. After all the calories were burnt, we got to our favourite part – Lunch.
The food that served in the buffet was truly scrumptious, with a wide variety of cuisines, desserts (4 flavours of ice cream). We filled our hearts and stomachs to the fullest. As we turned to leave, we received the last token of love by the hotel, a pencil for each one of us.
We are grateful to the hotel, and most importantly, to our dear Prep School Staff who made this trip possible.
“A day well spent!”
Aarna Dhanraj and Ananya Singh of Class VIII
Report on Prep School Sumeru and Vindhya Fresher’s Evening held on 7th September
The Sumeru Fresher’s Evening was an engaging and vibrant event that celebrated the talents of the new students. The evening began with a harmonious choir performance by the boys, setting a lively and uplifting tone for the event. The choir performance was well-rehearsed, and their passion was evident, drawing applause from the audience. Following the choir, Sayuri graced the stage with a classical song that mesmerized the audience. Her powerful voice and perfect pitch brought the traditional tune to life, creating a serene and enchanting atmosphere. Niall’s poem recital was a heartfelt moment that added a literary touch to the evening. His expressive delivery and emotive words captured the audience’s attention. Tara’s piano performance was a soothing and elegant addition to the evening, highlighting her musical skill and dedication. The evening concluded with a vibrant group dance performance by the Sumeru girls. Their energetic dance was filled with dynamic movements adding a festive and joyful element to the event.
The Vindhya Fresher’s Evening was a splendid display of talent and coordination providing a platform for the new students to showcase their skills.
Founder’s Flashback: The programme began with a nostalgic segment titled “Founder’s Flashback,” which set the tone for the event. This segment served as a reminder of the busy schedule, flaws and enjoyment during the Founder’s practice sessions. The highlight of the evening was the poetry recitation by Ishaanvi, Abhijishya, and Zaina who had composed and recited their poems, captivating the audience with their creativity and expression. Their words beautifully conveyed themes of inspiration, relationships, and the essence of student life. The students also showcased parade practice and a Taekwondo demonstration. Abhijishya delivered a stunning piano recital, displaying her exceptional talent and passion for music. Zaina’s guitar performance added a soulful touch to the evening. Niharika’s solo performance was a captivating moment capturing the video on the IPSC Hockey winners celebrating their victory and hard work. This segment was not only a tribute to the players but also an inspiration for all students. The boys’ group song brought a lively and harmonious vibe to the event. Aanya’s Western dance performance was a dynamic and energetic and graceful movements.
The Sumeru and Vindhya Fresher’s Evening was a delightful showcase of talent and enthusiasm. The event successfully welcomed the freshers, leaving a lasting impression on all attendees including the Deputy Headmaster and the Headmaster who had thoroughly enjoyed the programme.
"SPLASH 2024": Prep School Inter- House Art Competition
The Prep School Inter House Art Competition, "SPLASH 2024," for Class V was held on 5th September, 2024, with a total of 24 participants showcasing their creativity and artistic talent. The event saw a wide variety of artistic expressions, ranging from sketches to paintings. The participants displayed their artistic talents through a variety of themes, showcasing creativity, originality, and technique. The competition provided a wonderful platform for students to express their artistic skills while fostering healthy inter-house rivalry.
Following thorough deliberation, the judges awarded the top honors as follows:
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First Place: Siddhanth Ilampirayan V (Vindhya House)
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Second Place: Inosa Das (Aravalli House)
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Third Place: Hansika Agarwala (Aravalli House)
The winners were appreciated for their exceptional artwork, which stood out for its creativity and attention to detail. The competition was a great success, providing a platform for students to display their artistic abilities and fostering a spirit of healthy competition.
Lawrence School Celebrates Success at IPSC U-14 Girls' Hockey: National Selections and Best Goalkeeper Award
The Under-14 Girls' Hockey team participated in the IPSC Hockey Tournament at Daly College, Indore, from 30th August to 6th September 2024. The Lawrence School's hockey team secured 3rd position.
It is a matter of great pride that two talented girls have been selected to represent IPSC at the SGFI nationals.
Best Goalkeeper Award:
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Sayuri Singh
Students selected for SGFI:
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Deveshi Parihar
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Ariaana Bhatia
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Sayuri Singh
Standbys:
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Gaurika Rathore
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Tanya Doris
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Jasmine
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Divyanshi Singh
“Mathemagic”: Prep School Inter House Maths Quiz 2024
On September 4, 2024, the Prep School Large Hall served as the venue for the highly anticipated Inter-House Math Quiz which featured 16 students. This event brought together students from four competing houses—Nilgiri, Vindhya, Aravalli, and Sumeru—in an academic contest designed to assess their mathematical skills and problem-solving abilities.
The event was honoured by the presence of distinguished guests, including the Head Master, the Deputy Head Master, and the Mistress in Charge (MIC) of Prep School. The quiz comprised five rounds, with formats ranging from rapid fire segment to logic-focused round.
The House positions are as under:
First position - Nilgiri and Vindhya
Second position - Aravalli
Third position -Sumeru
The quiz fostered a spirit of curiosity and collaboration, leaving everyone inspired for future opportunities to engage in intellectual challenges.
A Tribute to Teachers: Celebrating Teachers' Day at The Lawrence School, Lovedale
On September 5, 2024, The Lawrence School, Lovedale, enthusiastically celebrated Teachers' Day, a day dedicated to honoring the invaluable contributions of educators and commemorating the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. As is tradition, this year’s celebration featured the students of Class XII taking on the roles of teachers, conducting classes for their juniors. This initiative not only fostered a deeper appreciation for the teaching profession but also allowed students to experience the responsibilities of educators first-hand.
The festivities also included exciting matches of badminton and cricket, where students eagerly faced off against their teachers. These friendly games provided an excellent opportunity for building rapport between students and faculty, blending competition with camaraderie.
The evening culminated in a grand cultural show, showcasing the students’ creativity and talent. The event was a heartfelt tribute to the teachers, who were honored for their dedication and impact on students’ lives. Overall, the celebration underscored the invaluable role of
teachers in shaping the future, leaving a lasting impression on both students and staff alike.
Trek to Red Hills: A Day of Adventure and Scenic Beauty
On September 1, 2024, the girls of Classes 9 and 11 embarked on an exhilarating trek to Red Hills, accompanied by the Headmaster. The expedition, which included sixty students and four teachers, began in the morning with the group setting out from the school at 10:30 AM. The trek covered diverse terrains, from lush forests to rugged paths, which the students navigated with enthusiasm. Along the way, they enjoyed the scenic beauty and the fresh mountain air. Upon reaching the summit, the group was rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. After descending, the students enjoyed a sumptuous meal before heading back to school.
Class 12 Girls’ Cycling Trip to Valley View Point
On the morning of Sunday, September 1, 2024, the girls of Class 12 embarked on an invigorating cycling trip to Valley View Point. The group of 15 students, accompanied by two teachers, gathered at the school gate at 6:30 AM, excited and ready for the day’s adventure. The cyclists set off promptly, navigating through the streets before reaching the scenic viewpoint. The route, known for its picturesque landscapes, offered a refreshing change from their usual surroundings. As they pedalled through lush greenery and rolling hills, the students enjoyed both the physical challenge and the opportunity to appreciate nature.
Girls' Hostel Cultural Evening: A Night of Talent and Joy
On September 1, 2024, the Girls' Hostel hosted an exhilarating Cultural Evening. The event featured vibrant folk dances, including Punjabi Bhangra and Garba, alongside dynamic Western dance routines like Hip-Hop and Contemporary. Musical performances included both solo acts and a group choir. The evening was an overwhelming success, showcasing the residents' diverse talents and fostering a strong sense of community.
