Academic Calendar

World class education at your doorstep ...

KATHA PUBLIC SCHOOL

Building a bright future for your child!

Imagine a school which offers quality education at a price you can afford. Imagine a school that will dream with you and your child to see new careers and new opportunities in Delhi ... India ... the world! Imagine a school that

allows your child to gain admission into some of Delhi’s best colleges.

works with the best universities in the US – MIT, University of Texas at Austin, University of Chicago!

brings the best mentors from across the city, help your teenage child find summer jobs and apprenticeships as training with the best organizations in Delhi

has fifty computers and computer education for every child above the age of three! And the best computer education that money can buy.

Now all this is there for your child as a neighbourhood school in Govindpuri, New Delhi. We re-invent education that is challlenging, exciting and relevant.

The Management of the School is done by Katha, a world renown nonprofit organization, under the executive directorship of Geeta Dharmarajan and a fine team of professionals and teachers with up to fifteen years of experience in delivering quality and caring education to children.

A New School
What is Taught and How Classes are Arranged
How Caring and Guidance are Organised
Opportunities Outside Lessons
Admission Arrangements
School Clothing
Behaviour
Attendance and Absence
Other Information
School Terms and Holidays 2001/2002

WHAT WE OFFER

Katha Public School is a welcoming and caring school. Our mission statement says clearly what we are committed to: Creating value for the community, the city, the country. We pledge to make learning fun, relevant and a lifelong happening.

We offer your child challenging and exciting learning environments. And ample opportunities to discover the best in herself/himself

avenues for future growth that will take her/him out of the slum and into the wide open world outside

education that will make her/him a caring member of your family, fostering a sense of community even while striving to become a global citizen

focussed education with English, maths, sciences and the arts – each tailored to individual potential and interest.

Grades 1-12. Creche. The Katha Information Technology and eCommerce School (KITES). The Intel Computer Clubhouse.

Languages. In the junior school, Bangla, English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu. Main education after this will be in Hindi and English.

FEES

Katha, as a concerned and committed partner for progress with the community, offers quality education at affordable fees. Also many scholarships are available, at all levels, for creative, regular, sincere and cooperative students. Please talk to the Head teachers in case you would like to apply for a full/partial scholarship for your child.

Junior school: Rs 100/month. Every child can get up to Rs 80 in refund, so you will not have to pay more than Rs 20/month, if your child is regular, helpful to teacher/students, performing well scholastically, brings in another child into the school. All girl children get a Rs 20/month special scholarship.

Senior School: Rs 200/month. Every child can get up to Rs 80 in refund, so you will not have to pay more than Rs 20/month, if your child is regular, helpful to teacher/students, performing well scholastically, brings in another child into the school. All girl children get a Rs 20/month special scholarship.

OUR PARTNERS FOR EXCELLENCE, INTER ALIA, ARE

• the Delhi Administration,
• the Government of India,
• the National Open School (NOS),
• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU),
• Delhi University,
• the Boston Museum of Science,
• MIT Media Lab, MIT, Boston, USA,
• British Telecom,
• ActionAid
• The M & s Dell Foundation
• The Tata Group of Hotels
• Soon we will also have business houses, technology industries, public schools and other educational institutions with us -–all helping make the best opportunities for your child.

THE FACILITIES OF THE SCHOOL

Housed in a well-designed building within easy reach of all homes in the community, the school houses science, social studies and language labs; computer labs with the latest and best computers; classrooms, workshops, dance, music, arts classes; a good sports training programme – Katha JOSH! A community library and a Lifelong Learning Centre for members of Bapu Mandal and Ma Mandal.

Through the years the school has flourished. It is popular, successful and as a consequence has government schools asking for help from us. Whilst we have fought hard and, as a staff, have voluntarily increased our work load in order to maintain reasonable class sizes - no more than 30 in each classroom – we are conscious of the number of children in our community who need help to carve out a bright future for themselves. Our hope is to help as many children as possible – working, non-working – to prepare for a future that will bring in money, satisfaction, creativity and a great sense of achievement to each and every student graduating out of Katha!

SCHOOL WORKINGS

The school follows a three-semester pattern, followed by most management school in India. Special Tutorial periods will be offered by the Katha Student Support Centre from January 2002, for students who need extra help.

Timings: For scholars, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, with two hours in between for lunch and club activities. For KSSC students, in two shifts: 9:00 – 11:00 am. 2:00- 4:00 pm.

Subjects offered in the 40 period week:

Junior School: English 5, Maths 5, Science 4, Languages 4, Computers 4, yoga/meditation 2, History 3, Geography 3, PT 4, Music/dance 2, Hamara Gaon 2, Art 2

Class 4 Academy: Same as above, with great emphasis on Hindi, English, science, maths.

Class 8 Academy: English 5, Maths 5, Science 5, Languages 6, Computers 4, yoga/meditation 2, History 2, Geography 2, PT 4, Music/dance 2, Hamara Gaon 2, Art 1

Senior School: In years 9, 10, 11 and 12 all pupils study for the National Open School (NOS) and take their accreditation examination. Theatre Studies is a special subject being offered to students in Career Pathways. Katha is also trying for CBSE recognition.

Katha School of Entrepreneurship offers training in vocational skills and in entrepreneurship. Compulsory for all students, with Junior School students getting pre-entrepreneurship skills training in the C9 Lab.

KITES: Our computer school offers professional training and other courses leading to pro status through specially designed courses. All levels.

Computer Clubhouse @ Katha is a special programme, starting December 2001, for all students. Exciting opportunities to learn with some of the best experts and professionals from Delhi, India and USA.

OUR CHALLENGE: Finding the right curricular balance for each individual child within the time available is of great importance. We spend a large part of the Spring Term in Class 9, working with pupils and their parents, the options available and helping them to arrive at a balanced choice.

The grouping of pupils varies from cluster to cluster, with integrated learning happening in Science, Mathematics and in several other areas that create strong job opportunities.
A two week programme of Work Experience is provided for all Y10 pupils at the end of the Summer Term.

We lay great emphasis upon the quality of guidance and support given to our students applying for Universities including Delhi University and IGNOU.

Hamara Gaon. All students are encouraged to participate in Community work and Work Experience/Shadowing. At least five sincere years of input into Hamara Gaon earns qualifying students, strong chances to win full scholarship to colleges/professional courses and to job placements.

Senior students have a measure of freedom commensurate with their age. They are, in consequence, expected to take a much greater responsibility for their own work, and to make effective use of their private study periods as also to help teachers and younger students to achieve their goals.

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES OF KPS
Careers Guidance is given in the Career Pathways sessions to each class.In Class 10 much of the work relating to self-awareness, decision making and transition skills is very closely linked to the Record of Achievement and preparation for work experience. All pupils have the opportunity of undertaking a two-week work placement in a wide range of placements in local industry/commerce/community and of gaining a Certificate of Accreditation if certain outcomes are successfully completed.
Everyone in Class 11 will have contact with a Careers Adviser who help by:
? giving advice and information about career choice
? discussing courses/training programmes/jobs
? giving information about job vacancies and other opportunities

Communicating with Parents. The Ma Mandal meets regularly so that you as parent can understand how your child is doing and share in the shaping of her/his future. A detailed report on academic progress is sent home every year . In addition, of course, parents are very welcome to visit the school if they wish, to discuss any matter concerning their child. But please do fix up an appointment so your child’s teacher and head teacher set aside time for full attention.

Recording Achievement and Experience. Each year students are assessed within subjects and teachers comment on progress and try to identify areas for improvement. Students set targets for themselves at this time and review their progress at regular intervals. In addition, pupils record and discuss with their class teacher/s things they are proud of having achieved, whether taking part in Hamara Gaon or representing the school at sport.
In senior school all pupils maintain their own file/folder. They will be shown how to maintain these files, their records of achievement and experience, so that they have a full portfolio when they go for a jobn.

OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE LESSONS
There is not space here adequately to do justice to the range and number of extra-curricular activities at the school, and with many, of course, there will be changes from year to year as interests and availability of personnel vary. Please talk to your child’s teacher about learning activities outside school hours available to your child. These could include music, dance, drama/theatre, film appreciation activities amongst others. We are tremendously proud of the achievement of our young people and of the energy and commitment shown by our staff.

Sport: A range of activities is offered including cricket, football. Children from the community are also invited to form teams and presently Katha has six senior and junior cricket teams. Where appropriate, these clubs produce representative teams to compete in competitions at various age groups.

Other Activities iinclude the Mensa Club for math training and excellence, Technology, Computers, Art, Pottery, Newspapers, Tamasha’s World, GreDI, Creative Writing and Sanskrit.

Katha Bank: There is also a school savings bank which operates on one lunch time each week/cluster. Students are encouraged to save small amounts of money. Each student will be started off on their saving spree with Rs 10/ from Katha.

The Library is open every lunchtime and after school for children to read, use the research computer or the Internet or just have somewhere quiet to do their homework.

The Dharmaraja Aiyer Award Scheme. A college scholarship scheme, open to students in class 9 and above.

For working children, a chance to achieve a school leaving certificate that will improve the students chances in the job market. The Katha School Leaving Certificate (KSLC) is available at two levels, each requiring weekly attendance. Please ask the vice principal in charge for details.

Educational Visits and Excursions are part of the curriculum at Katha where we see the city as a classroom.

Integrated Learning for Children with Special Needs. Katha has a special progrtamme for children who are mentally or physically challenged with a trained teacher in charge.

Homework
It is the policy of the school to set homework for pupils and we value parental co-operation in seeing that homework is completed at the appropriate times. Young people appreciate the interest which parents take in this aspect of their school life. It is most helpful if parents can provide reasonable facilities at home for homework to be done in a quiet atmosphere at regular times. If possible, a time free from such distraction as television is advisable. Children can work in and use the facilities of the School Library which opens at 8.30 each morning and closes at 5.30 p.m.

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