November 2024

Running competitions
On two weekends in November, some students took part in a 10-kilometer run. All of them reached the finish line and a student from grade 4 ran away from everyone else in her age group in both races and came first.

Exam 2024
While the tenth graders will be sitting down to write their exam papers on November 18th, 2024, the written and oral exams for the other students will start on November 21st, 2024. We keep our fingers crossed that everyone will pass the exam. The certificates will be handed out at the beginning of December as part of a school graduation ceremony.

October 2024

Stephanie Lücking (1st chairwoman) and Guido Uhlenberg (advisory member) spent two weeks in India to see for themselves how our school project was developing on site. In addition to many organizational tasks, the focus was of course on meeting the students, the teachers and the parents. There were also four events that we were able to attend as guests of honor.
Of course, in addition to all the additional activities, we were also able to experience everyday teaching in the classrooms. We were excited to see the commitment of our teaching staff and the motivation of the students. This inspires us every year to continue our voluntary work as board members.

Farewell party
A recurring highlight in the fall for the last three years has been the farewell of the tenth graders, who take the exam at our school at the beginning of December and then take the central exam next spring, which, if passed, entitles them to attend the 11th and 12th grades. The students from all classes – from kindergarten to grade 9 – had once again rehearsed a colorful program. The dance performances and a fashion show by the elementary school children are a must in every program. There were also singing performances and speeches by the tenth graders, who spoke very emotionally about their school careers so far at St. Anthony’s School. Of course, there were a few tears – and not just from the students.

Picnic
The next day, in glorious weather, a picnic took place with around 80 pupils from grades 2 to 10 in a park above Darjeeling’s city centre. Against a magnificent mountain backdrop – the third highest mountain in the world, Kanchenjunga, was within reach – everyone had a lot of fun playing various games. Stephanie Lücking, who teaches at a secondary school here in Germany, is always amazed at how quickly the pupils understand the games, follow the rules and enthusiastically take part in the new games with their teachers. At the end, everyone spread out the treats they had brought with them and there was an excellent picnic, with ice cream for dessert.

Sports festival
The next highlight for the students was the sports festival, which could not take place last year due to bad weather conditions. The schoolyard was decorated with flags, and a sports motif made of colored sand was scattered on the ground. The options in the small (already quite large for Darjeeling conditions) schoolyard are limited. It was all the more astonishing for us how a relay race could take place in such a small area. Every student took part in at least one competition such as sack racing, balancing, three-legged races, rope skipping, etc. The entire team gets the winning points. These fixed teams (so-called red house, blue house, green house, yellow house) are made up of students from different grades and compete in many competitions over the course of the year such as dance, singing, quiz competitions, etc. The winners of the individual competitions also received medals and certificates, which were proudly accepted.

Inauguration of the computer room
Thanks to a dedicated donation, two computers, a battery and a control unit were purchased. The control unit and battery are necessary to protect the devices during the frequent power outages. Thanks to the battery, all classrooms now have continuous light. The students were excited to see our homepage with their pictures on the screens and can hardly wait for the next computer science lesson. So far, the lessons have been limited to theoretical knowledge about the use of computers and programs. In the next few years, we will gradually increase the number of computers.

September 2024

Teachers‘ Day
On September 5th the annual Teachers‘ Day took place in India. Our students honored and celebrated our teachers with many performances in a big celebration.

Quiz between the houses
In September there was also a quiz between the individual houses. In addition to their colors (red, blue, yellow and green), the houses also had different well-known mountain names (Everest, K2, Lhotse and of course Kanch).

August 2024

Independence Day
On August 14th, our school was invited to an early Independence Day celebration at Darjeeling railway station. A group of students performed there.

On August 15th, India’s official Independence Day, a big celebration with many performances took place at our school. More pictures and videos of this can be seen on the Facebook page: St. Anthony’s School Darjeeling.

June 2024

Father’s Day A father plays the most significant role in everyone’s life. They are the guiding lights whose love shows us the way. So to celebrate their invaluable role in shaping our lives and society as a whole St.Anthony’s celebrated Father’s Day for the very first time on June 13th 2024 (Thursday). The program started from 10:30 a.m.. The event commenced with a formal address by Miss Nilu the host for the event who welcomed the special guests of the day, the Great Dads. Each class starting from Nursery to X had prepared a variety of show for their fathers. The children embraced and hugged them as they wished them a Happy Father’s Day. All the dads were delighted to see their children perform and cheered them up. Whether it’s a small gesture or a grand celebration, Father’s Day is a reminder to all the children  that is father who sacrifices himself for the happiness of his children. The entire celebration was truly heart touching and conveyed the importance of fathers in their child’s life.

Soccer tournament 
On June 7th a soccer tournament for boys and girls took place.

World Environment Day 2024
On June 5th, 2024, St. Anthony’s School joined millions around the globe in celebrating World Environment Day. This year’s theme, „Restore Our Earth,“ focused on sustainable living and the importance of taking collective action to protect our planet. The school organized a series of events and activities to raise awareness among students and staff about environmental conservation and sustainability.
Environmental Activities and Community Engagement
The activities commenced at 9 AM with students eagerly participating in various hands-on activities designed to foster environmental stewardship and community involvement.
1. Planting Activities:
Participants: Students from Standards V to X
Activity: Students brought plants and saplings from home and planted them around the school premises. This activity aimed to enhance the school’s green spaces and instill a sense of responsibility towards nature.

2. School Site Clean-Up:
Participants: Junior standard students
Activity: The younger students took part in cleaning the school premises. They collected litter and ensured that the school along with its surrounding area, was tidy and welcoming.

3. Community Awareness and Clean-Up Drive:
Participants: Senior students
Activity: Senior students carried placards with environmental awareness quotes and slogans and marched through Chowrasta, a prominent area in Darjeeling. They engaged with the community, spreading messages about the importance of maintaining a clean and green environment. The students then proceeded to clean Chowrasta and the nearby Mall Road area, picking up litter and removing unwanted foliage.

4. Heritage Site Conservation:
Activity:
The students moved to the Darjeeling Railway Station, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and undertook a clean-up drive. They removed unwanted waste and foliage, contributing to the preservation of this historic location. The students‘ efforts were aimed at highlighting the importance of protecting and maintaining heritage sites for future generations.

World Environment Day 2024 at St. Anthony’s School was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impact on the students and staff. The day’s events not only raised awareness about critical environmental issues but also inspired the school community to take tangible steps towards a greener, more sustainable future. By fostering a culture of environmental stewardship, St. Anthony’s School continues to lead by example, nurturing the next generation of eco-conscious citizens.

May 2024

Good news from our graduating students 2023. All of them have passed the central exams with very good results. Congratulations!

April 2024

„Handwriting is the mirror of knowledge“
A good handwriting contributes to reading fluency because it activates visual perception of letters.A beautiful and neat handwriting is a skill that should be developed to improve fine motor skills.It is an essential part of identity and a tool for communication.Hence a handwriting competition was organized on 29th.April.2024 providing and opportunity for the students to display their beautiful handwriting.The competition was organized in their respective classes.This competition was made compulsory for all the students.Every student was encouraged to present their best handwriting.The students participated in the competition with a lot of excitement and passion.

February/March 2024

Climate change causes school year to start earlier in 2024 For most students in Darjeeling, the school year started earlier than before. Many schools are now opening in mid/late February (and not at the beginning of March as usual), as winter is saying goodbye earlier and earlier and teaching in the school building (without heating, but with the help of some sunshine) seems possible for the older children. Our students from grades 1 – 10 were also welcomed in mid-February. The kindergarten children started at the beginning of March. We are very pleased that 115 children are now filling our school building with life again. Unfortunately, two students left our school due to moving. Ten children were newly registered.

The students in our last grade 10 have already written the exams for the central exam and are waiting for the results. We hope that our second year, which started school in the Nursery kindergarten class in 2010, will also successfully pass the exam. The 115 students are taught by 15 teachers in three kindergarten groups and grades 1-10. The teachers of the kindergarten children are supported by three helpers. The staff also includes our caretaker and another good soul who takes care of the milk and snack project. For many years, students have received a cup of milk and a small snack such as nuts, an egg or a piece of fruit (thanks to a dedicated donation).

The tailor has taken measurements and the books and notebooks have been distributed. The classroom routine returns, but with some new ideas. This year’s annual motto is: „Work today for a better tomorrow“ and is to be implemented through various activities, projects and events. Another news: The morning meeting will be led by our dedicated sports instructor with a 5-minute Zumba program (a mix of fitness – and dance program) opened to start the school day dynamically and with a lot of enthusiasm.

Celebration of International Women’s Day
The first festival of the new school year finally took place on March 8th. Our headmaster invited all students and their parents to report on the planned events and special features of our school, but also to point out parental obligations. International Women’s Day was then celebrated with lectures, dances and songs.

Painting competition
Of course, monthly competitions such as dance/singing/quiz recitation competitions, etc., which are so popular with students, will also be organized again.
The painting competition started at the end of March.