The high school curriculum at Sri Kumaran Children's Academy was created with the learning needs of students in mind and is geared toward their complete development. It aims to shift away from rote learning and establish an environment in which students can learn, comprehend, and remember topics, as well as recall them accurately during exams.
English, Languages II and III, General Science, Social Science, Mathematics, Art, and Computer Education are among the subjects taught at the school. In Class V, Language III is introduced. During school hours, students participate in a variety of extracurricular activities such as yoga, life skills classes, the Global Awareness Program, hobby classes, and experiential learning.
The following are some of the key elements of our curriculum:
Class VIII
Class IX and X
We evaluate our students throughout the academic year to encourage continuous learning, rather than rote learning just before an exam. We use several activities to help students retain concepts. Projects and practical work are also given to ensure students learn concepts better.
Individual worksheets are given to students at regular intervals during the academic year. The goal is to assess the student's grasp of concepts and, if needed, to eliminate existing learning gaps.
Each year, four assessments are carried out (two per term). This includes grading classwork and homework, as well as the Detailed Assessment. Multiple evaluation methods include role-plays, dialogue writing, group discussions, quizzes, concept maps, debates, recitation, art-integrated projects, and sports-integrated activities.
These are end-of-term exams that are conducted twice a year (two per term). Students are taught how to assimilate and recollect topics learned during the academic year. They are also trained to handle larger portions of the syllabus. These exams aid in evaluating students' in-depth comprehension and skill acquisition. Students get to practice for their board exams while appearing for these exams.
Students are encouraged to keep a record of their work and select the best and not-so-best pages from their notebooks, as well as the best and not-so-best answers from their exam papers. They also note down their own reflections on their work. This enables them to assess their own work and evaluate how much they have learnt.
We want to instil a love of reading in our pupils from a young age. While they begin with weekly library periods in the early years, all students, regardless of which class they are in, have access to the library. Our library contains over 8,000 academic and non-academic volumes in its collection. Fiction, languages, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, physical education, philosophy, education, psychology, and religion are among the many topics covered in the diverse collection of books. The library has a wealth of information in the form of journals, periodicals, dictionaries, and encyclopaedias. We also have subscriptions to eight magazines and seven newspapers in various languages. The library's reference books are excellent resources for both teachers and students. Book Fairs held on school grounds allow students to browse a diverse range of books from various genres. We seek to inculcate the habit of reading in our students from a young age. While they begin with weekly library periods during the early years, all students have access to the library no matter which class they are in. For students, the calm and pleasant environment is a haven.
We included Information and Communication Technology as part of our curriculum because technology is becoming increasingly important in everyday activities. It was first launched in 2004 and amended in 2010 to provide secondary school pupils with the opportunity to primarily enhance their ICT skills and learn through a computer-assisted education process. Students learn how to communicate, create, disseminate, store, and manage information using a variety of ICT technologies at our school. It aids in the development of critical and analytical thinking skills, as well as creative problem-solving capabilities, for practical solutions.
Sri Kumaran Group of Institutions, in partnership with Arpitha Associates, conducts a programme named EQUBE - Enabling Evolutionary Excellence to provide students with a course that instils vital life skills and has the potential to assist them in the future. It is targeted toward pupils from Classes VI to X. Students participate in a variety of action-oriented classroom activities and life projects that are closely linked with the curriculum. Class X is taught SAP (Social Action Project), a project management and leadership module. It gives them a useful perspective on real-world issues and trains them to tackle them. Each student is encouraged to work on their own project and present it to a panel of experts who evaluate it independently. Thus, SAP provides a platform for students to reflect, introspect, and learn from life throughout the course of 24 sessions from June to February, allowing them to graduate as true change makers.
Because the concepts are presented through interesting approaches, math lab activities play an important part in enriching the students' learning experience. Using fun lab activities, math concepts are taught in a dynamic and engaging way. Such a method of training is made possible by our well-equipped math lab and faculty. These exercises are class-specific and are integrated into the curriculum. The hands-on activities assist students in seeing and comprehending abstract concepts. Factorisation of quadratic polynomials using paper cuttings, as well as deriving equations for volumes and surface areas of solids, are just a few examples.
Co-curricular areas of study include financial education. This programme gives pupils an understanding of how society operates and thus prepares them for a more secure and prosperous future. During the session, students are expected to comprehend and internalise the knowledge that is tailored to their age and learning ability. Students can work at their own pace on the online modules, which are followed by an assessment. The school conducts the programme, created by experts, in partnership with Prep My Skills. Students learn about the importance of saving, wealth creation, and inflation, as well as indulgence vs. need. They also learn about credit and debit cards, banking instruments, and the importance of saving.
Our school recognises the importance of the overall development of our students and hence encourages them to pursue their interests under the supervision of professionals in each discipline. Hobby classes are held once a week during the school day for one hour. Students in Class VIII have the option of choosing a hobby they wish to explore. These classes are either led by school instructors or by outside resource people. Some of the classes offered by the school include theatre, aero modelling, art club and quiz club. They make a significant contribution to students' well-being by offering a break from their academic pursuits. They can hone their skills and gain abilities that will last a lifetime as a result of this process.
Detailed Assessment is a topic-wise testing tool that helps to inform teachers and students about misconceptions and performance deficits. These online assessments follow the school's curriculum and provide instant feedback on the performance of each student. The teacher receives a detailed report that aids in the quick remediation of the concepts.
Activities such as speaking and listening are used to instil confidence in the student. There are assessments that involve group activities such as role-play, projects, and dialogue writing. Art integrated projects and practical work are also assigned in order to help students better understand the topics.
The ancient practice of yoga has multiple benefits for the mind and the body. It is known to improve brain function, memory, and concentration while also keeping the body healthy. We hold weekly yoga classes for our students to enhance all aspects of their lives—mind, body, and mental wellbeing. Students practice asanas, pranayama, meditation, and yoga nidra. Each of these practices helps our students stay healthy physically, while also calming their minds and rejuvenating their spirits. We hold these classes in keeping with our policy of providing holistic growth for students.
Physical and health education is an essential component of the CBSE curriculum, and our school has taken numerous initiatives to make it engaging and fun for students. All pupils at the school must attend sports classes. During their weekly physical education hour, they participate in a variety of sporting activities.
The Sri Kumaran Children's Academy's physical education programme strives to promote game-related skills as well as fitness-based qualities such as endurance, speed, strength, agility, and flexibility. Students participate in outdoor activities such as table tennis, throwball, basketball, football, and volleyball, as well as indoor games such as chess and carom.
Students from Classes IV to VIII have one 3B activity and one period of games every week. Students from Classes V to VIII are taught the fundamentals to advanced levels (meant for school children) of a game of their choice from our curriculum.
The following are 3b activities for each class:
HPE is concerned with the total health of the learner. It is divided into four strands:
Students who want to train in certain sports or who are picked for the school team can opt to train after school hours at the school campus. Physical education teachers at the school and outside experts train students in a variety of sports. Students on the school team represent the school in a variety of inter-school events and CBSE cluster meets. Team coaching is offered to students from Classes V to X.
The following are the after-school sports activities held at the school:
At the Sri Kumaran Children’s Academy, we have annual literary fests that include a variety of events to provide excellent opportunities for students to demonstrate their talents. Children are encouraged to participate not only in team-building events such as group dancing, group songs, and Mad-ads, but also in events that foster individual participation such as solo songs and solo dances. In a nutshell, the literary festival is an excellent time to bring out the hidden talents of our students. Programmes such as debates and other speaking events allow students to hone their communication, critical thinking, and persuasion skills.
It is a major event hosted by the Sri Kumaran Group of Institutions. The school day is traditionally held in November every two years. It is a special occasion since the students' parents and families are invited to watch them perform. Every year, a theme is chosen, and all the festivities revolve around that theme. School Day is a much-anticipated event, with everything from dance performances to plays and musical activities to speeches. It also demonstrates the arduous work of the teachers who plan, train, and execute all of the events. This is also another chance for pupils to showcase their abilities in front of a large audience. They get the chance to enhance their co-curricular skills and also gain life skills like public speaking and performing on stage.
Special assemblies are held during morning assembly sessions and feature a special programme. Throughout the academic year, special assemblies are usually organised to honour significant anniversaries and occasions such as World Environment Day, International Yoga Day, Independence Day, Republic Day, and Kannada Rajyotsava. Special assemblies are also scheduled for the Investiture ceremony and Seva Day, which commemorates the death anniversary of the school's former director, Smt. Meenakshi Balakrishnan. For these events, selected students work with teachers to develop skits, speeches, mime acts, group songs, and group dances. The purpose of the special assembly programme is to raise student awareness of specific occasions while also teaching students about culture and values. Students learn teamwork, how to be entrepreneurial, and how to improve their public speaking skills through the activities.
The colourful bulletin boards that line the corridor walls of Sri Kumaran Children's Academy provide a glimpse into the school's latest "happenings." They are used to spark the interest of students and increase their awareness of certain topics. These bulletin boards provide information on a number of themes, such as current affairs, major events, and important dates. They also serve as a showcase for the pupils' artistic abilities. Sometimes, it is just a way of informing students of other classes about a project being done by the students. It is yet another activity that supplements pupils' learning in addition to academics. The bulletin boards are a reflection of the Sri Kumaran Group of Institutions' culture.
The cover pages of our students' notebooks and workbooks are a true testament to their creativity. The school is committed to providing all children with a holistic learning experience. Every year, we hold a theme-based cover page design competition for Classes I through X to foster students' creativity and artistic talents. Collages, pencil sketches, and colour sketches are submitted by students. The chosen artworks will be used as cover page designs in the notebooks and workbooks that students will use in the coming school year.
The Kumaran's Students Editorial Entity, or SEEK, publishes our school magazine, Gnanamanthanam, every year. SEEK is a group of handpicked students who oversee the full magazine publishing process. This entails obtaining content and artwork, and designing and editing the magazine. The SEEK team members work hard, with the help of the teaching faculty, to make this magazine interesting and entertaining. It is an excellent opportunity for these students to gain life skills such as coordination, planning, and leadership. It also provides students from all Kumaran schools with the opportunity to contribute original works of art, creative writing such as poems and stories, and reports.The magazine includes reports on numerous events held throughout the academic year.
At Sri Kumaran Children's Academy, we make a concerted effort to teach our students the value of environmental preservation. We teach by example. One of them is waste segregation. Students and faculty are educated on garbage separation. Bins with suitable labelling – biodegradable and non-biodegradable – are kept in various locations throughout the campus. The student council is in charge of educating the younger students. Many areas on the school grounds feature colour-coded bins for collecting various types of waste. Students are reminded of it on a daily basis in order to instil the practice in them. Biodegradable trash generated at the school is composted on-site and used in the gardens.
The student council monitors food waste during lunch break and urges all students to eat their meals without wasting any of it in order to instil the habit of not wasting food among their peers. Members of the student council organise campaigns, special assemblies, and skits to stress the theme of 'Zero Food Waste.' The initiatives of the student council have greatly decreased food waste during breakfast and lunch. The amount of food wasted each day is noted on the canteen board. The goal of the recording method is to show students how much food is thrown away. As a result, students' attitudes regarding food waste have evolved.
Kumarans offers Robotics, Coding & Electronics club activities for students of 5th to 10th standards in collaboration with team JUST ROBOTICS! JUST ROBOTICS has over 11 years of experience and has mentored more than 8000 students
The primary aim of the course is to understand the importance of astronomy in nature and different phenomena exhibited by objects like the sun, earth and moon. The course aims at inculcating a qualitative interest and attempts to satisfy the curiosity of the young minds.
The Sri Kumaran Children's Academy, in cooperation with Woody Adventure, organises tours to present its students with exciting opportunities for exploration. These expeditions provide scope for personal growth through outdoor experience and challenge. Students learn to be self-sufficient, responsible, team players, confident, and compassionate. They are also taught about environmental and community sustainability. Students at the Kumarans have had the opportunity to see the lush Western Ghats and go on a Himalayan trek to see Dzongri in Sikkim as part of the programme. This programme is optional.
Our students always look forward to field trips. Field trips are arranged to extend the academic curriculum beyond the four walls of the classroom and to enhance students' educational experiences. These field trips are an excellent method for pupils to engage with our art, culture, and history, all of which they study in school.
Landscape paintings are works of art that depict scenes from nature. This includes mountains, lakes, gardens, rivers, ancient temple architecture, and any other type of picturesque vista. Students go on an excursion to master the fundamentals of landscape drawing. They are taught to draw and paint from life rather than from photographs.
Our middle school and primary students are working on an exciting project called the Butterfly Garden. About 15 students conducted research on 'Butterfly Diversity and Abundance,' and they observed butterfly behaviour. The children noticed 'the solar panel phenomenon' among the butterflies. These little winged creatures are not only beautiful to look at, but they also play a crucial part in biodiversity conservation.
Our students take art classes to improve their talents and explore their creative sides. A child's overall development is aided by art education, which helps them develop critical thinking, communication skills, aesthetic sensitivity, and cultural awareness. The following types of art are taught at the Sri Kumaran Children's Academy:
The Kumarans Model United Nations (KMUN) is a three-day high school international relations simulation designed to educate participants about current events, international relations, conflicts, and diplomacy. Students act as diplomats for a particular country and attend simulated United Nations sessions such as the General Assembly, Security Council, or any other committee conducted by the alumni of the school. Delegates at KMUN get the opportunity to gain an understanding of how the United Nations works by playing the roles of international organisations and national cabinets. Through debate sessions, participants work on international issues and find answers to global problems. Overall, KMUN participants gain hands-on experience in public speaking, group discussion, negotiation, conflict resolution, note-taking, and technical writing.
We mark Seva Day on October 1st, the death anniversary of our former director, SmtMeenakshiBalakrishnan, affectionately known as 'Mother.' Her motto was, "Service to man is service to God." She always believed in helping the less fortunate and sought to instil these values among the students of the school. We strive to continue her legacy and inculcate among our students the principles she stood for. Students are urged to show their appreciation to the support staff by cleaning their respective classrooms on the anniversary of her passing. Brooms, dustpans, mops, water, and floor disinfectant are provided to students. Teachers instruct students on how to clean their classrooms and common areas, and they are also encouraged to thank their support staff for their continuous efforts to keep the school clean. This teaches our students the value of giving back to society while also learning to respect all kinds of work.
Another way we motivate our pupils to aid the less fortunate is through our annual donation drive. At the end of the school year, cartons are placed in classrooms. Students are encouraged to donate their textbooks for the upcoming academic year to juniors. Students are also urged to donate extra notebooks and stationery, which are then distributed to the less privileged.
External examinations provide students with first-hand experience of taking competitive exams. They are used to assess students' knowledge and skills outside of the classroom. They compete against pupils from other schools, giving them a sense of the competitive conditions they may face in the future. These tests help to strengthen children's intellects and fine-tune their application skills. The school facilitates the process and encourages pupils to take a variety of external examinations. The ASSET examination is a diagnostic instrument for evaluating learning that is compulsory for all students. They can also participate in the Olympiads and the Green Olympiads. The school also conducts the National Genius Search Examination (NGSE) and the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) for pupils in order for them to assess themselves at the national level.
The International Award for Young People was established in the United Kingdom in 1956 as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Students participate in non-competitive voluntary self-development activities as part of the programme. It aspires to make a substantial difference in the lives of those transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. The premise of the programme is an individual challenge, with young people being provided with a balanced, non-competitive schedule of voluntary activities that foster personal discovery and advancement, self-reliance, perseverance, a duty to themselves, and community service.
The annual sports day is one of the many events held by the Sri Kumaran Group of Institutions. While sports are part of the school curriculum, this event provides a platform for the students to showcase the sporting talents they have acquired. Students especially practice for sports day and enthusiastically participate in inter-house tournaments and competitions. The aim of the event is to impart lessons on sportsmanship and camaraderie to students. It is not just about winning or losing, but participation. It teaches them the value of healthy competition. The march past, accompanied by the school band; a yoga display; 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m running races; and the relay race are some of the highlights of the sports day. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students. The winners of the tournament receive trophies. It is attended by the principals of all the schools, parents, and teachers, and a special guest is also invited.
Multiple exhibitions conducted on school grounds provide a tremendous platform for pupils to employ their imagination and think beyond the box. Every year, exhibitions are held, and all students enthusiastically participate.
Hobby Day is the culmination of the hobby classes students take up during the academic year. It is an exciting event celebrated in February when the school opens its doors to parents and other family members. Students gladly display the talents they developed in the hobby classes during the academic year. Our pupils are able to express themselves as bright, resourceful, and sensitive individuals through theatre and western dance performances. Aeromodelling and art groups highlight their scientific and artistic creativity. The Nature Club appeals to those who enjoy being outside. It is a fun-filled day for the entire school community.
Graduation Day is a ceremonial event that awards the first formal degree of the academic year. The graduation day at the Sri Kumaran Children’s Academy is a crucial milestone in the academic journey of the Class X students as they transition to Class XI. The event is organised by the school. The Sri Kumaran Group of Institutions wishes the students well for their future as they continue to reach bigger milestones and carry the ideals instilled in them by the school. The gathering is a bittersweet one, with the teachers celebrating the students’ accomplishments while also saying farewell to one another. To mark the occasion, the graduating students dress in their finest formal attire.
Parent-teacher meetings allow both parents and teachers to discuss a student's academic achievements. We hold these sessions after every test and the parents are appraised of their ward’s progress. We inform parents about their child's performance in the exams and inside the classroom, highlight areas for improvement, and provide suggestions on how to do so. Parents can also discuss any concerns that may arise.
In today's world, it is critical to take care of one's mental health. Our students can seek help from our team of certified and professional counsellors for their mental and emotional well-being. Students are counselled in individual or group sessions. The counselling sessions sometimes also include a tripartite and collaborative approach involving the students, parents, and school, as and when needed. Counselling provides students with a safe, confidential setting in which they can express themselves without fear of being judged. Having an empathic counsellor who listens to you, understands you and helps you process your thoughts, helps in the healing process and provides the much-needed clarity to face difficulties. The counsellors also regularly hold class talks on building resilience, screen time, study skills, and creative expression. The counselling services can help students adjust, adapt, and develop self-esteem, healthy expression, and communication skills. Gender Sensitisation workshops are held for senior secondary students as part of the Breaking Barriers Campaign to foster inclusiveness, break down gender stereotypes, and better comprehend gender identity and sexual orientation. Various workshops are held at regular intervals by specialists such as Dr.KeerthiKamat and Ms.AartiRajaratnam for parents and students to obtain updated insights into better communication, parenting methods, and coping with situations like the Covid-19 pandemic. Teacher workshops are also held on a regular basis to enhance sensitivity and awareness among them. Counsellors are also members of the school's Child Protection Committee.
For students in their senior school years, choosing the right professional path is critical. The school offers career counselling to pupils in order to help them discover their calling and assess their potential. The Promise Foundation, a pioneer in career and livelihood planning and research, collaborates with the school to provide an aptitude test to students. Career reports are sent to career coordinators who have been trained to analyse each report in individual sessions with students. The school hosts a Careers Day when students meet with various professionals to learn about careers in defence, aviation, clinical psychology, biotechnology, law, wildlife, and journalism and media. These interactions also support learners in determining which profession they wish to pursue in the future.