Introduction - Late Dr. Appa Pendse, founder of Jnana Prabodhini used to address 5th Std. students as youths. That is, the journey of education began during their 5th-grade. At this age, they possess a well-developed sense of discernment. We can imbibe good values and inculcate disciplined habits. The inspiration to serve the country, God, and religion can be instilled in this age group. From this view, various educational experiments have been successfully conducted in secondary schools. In 1989.
Objectives - The primary goal is to ensure that students not only achieve academic excellence but also develop essential life skills, awareness of various social issues, and imbibe leadership qualities. They should be aware of various social issues and should have motivation to work on them.
Educational Features - The focus is on holistic development, nurturing the physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of students. The school offers extracurricular activities like sports, character building, lectures, personal interactions, debates, discussions, and meditation to foster personal growth. Science and Maths workshops, competitive exam preparation, self-study skills training, and subject-specific workshops aim to enhance students’ intellectual growth. Project work enhances motivation for scientific research and creative thinking. Daily prayer, recitation of the Bhagavad Gita, and meditation, along with the worship of Gayatri and Shakti mantras on Saturdays, are aimed at boosting the students' spiritual strength. Additionally, various programs are organized to instill a sense of patriotic duty.
School Structure and Admission -
- The school follows the curriculum prescribed by the Maharashtra State Government.
- It offers education from the 5th to the 10th grade in the Semi-English medium.
- There are two divisions for each grade.
- Each division accommodates a maximum of 40 students.
- Total number of teachers is 20.
- Admission starts at the 5th grade.
Teaching Methods - Teaching methods at the school aim to improve students' comprehension, memory, study skills, and love towards subjects. A variety of teaching methods are used to cater to individual learning needs. Under the project method, students select subjects from text-books and environment for study. Students gather related information from sources. This information is classified and analyzed by students. Then they present it as per objectives and concludes. Self-study includes extensive reading, topic summarization, and a focus on vocabulary. Visual and computer-assisted teaching methods strengthen the subjects' concepts.
Special Programs –
Social Awareness Program : The Social Awareness Program aims to make students aware of various societal issues, understand social situations, and appreciate cultural aspects and community life. Students, teachers, staff, young volunteers, and enthusiastic parents participate actively in this program. Under this program, students visit different organizations, learn about various social components. Activities such as studying Vivekananda's thoughts for awakening patriotism are organized. There are cleanliness campaigns, dialogues with sanitation workers, helping child labour to come to mainstream of education and introducing the multicultural aspects of families are included.
Vidya Vrat Sanskar for Personality Development : Vidya Vrat is an important aspect of educational culture introduced by Jnana Prabodhini. It aims toward attitude formation and stimulating patriotism in Vidya Vrat, students make commitment to develop their character and skills, to use their capabilities for the benefit of their family, society, and the nation. This is done through lectures, workshops, camps, trips, discussions, interviews etc.
Expressive Arts Period : The aim for the Expressive Arts Group is to encourage students to express their latent talents and cultivate artistic skills. This period includes music, dance, drama, and fine arts. Renowned artists from the city guide students. Only a limited number of students are enrolled in each arts group.
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Special Camps and Workshops :
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Adventure Camp – For 9th-grade students, an adventure camp is organized to develop self-reliance and adaptive skills. Activities include self-cooking, teamwork, reaching remote areas on bicycles, and camping outdoors with tents. Adventure activities like horse riding, boating, rock climbing, snake handling, and river crossing are organized during these camps.
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Leadership Program – This program is for 9th-grade students aimed at leadership development. Leadership qualities like initiative decision making and other skills are taught in various workshops and students are given responsibilities in different programs.
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Life Skills Camp – To develop life skills for daily living, a 3-day residential Practical Life Camp is conducted for 7th-grade students. In this camp, students learn small and big life skills – like cooking, cleaning cloths and vessels, basic first aid.
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Self-Study Camp – A Self-Study Camp of 3 days is conducted for 10th-grade students to enhance self-study skills.
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Project Camps –Planned project camps for 5th to 8th-grade students, where students do comprehensive, scientific, and observational projects.
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Electronics Workshops –Five workshops are conducted annually for 8th and 9th-grade students introducing various applications of Electronics.
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Teacher Training Workshops –Various subject-specific teacher training workshops are organized to enhance the quality of teaching.
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Co curricular Day –This day is organized to focus on co- curricular activities that can’t be taught in the school. It is designed to emphasize co-relation of academic study with worldly things. This program includes visits to various industries, meetings with personalities, visits to nature's wealth, art appreciation, museum visits, and visits to government organizations.
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Trips / Study tours:
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Educational Excursions: For students in grades 5 to 7, educational excursions are organized within the local environment. These excursions include exploring nature, experts introductions and activity introductions.
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Trekking : This adventure activity is organized for 8th-grade students.
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Motherland Introduction Excursions : For 10th-grade students. Students gain insight into the cultures of different regions within the country or states by visiting different areas of the country.
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Cycling Excursion :Long distance cycling for 9th-grade students.
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Sports and Physical Education :
Daily one hour sports period is conducted. It includes running, strengthening and relaxing exercise and various games. Games include Kho-Kho, Foot Ball, Kabaddi, Volley Ball, Yoga, wrestling etc.
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Group Prayer and Worship :
On the occasion of the Ashadi Ekadashi festival, students from grades 8 to 10 participate in group devotional singing programs.
Facilities –
Multimedia-Enabled Classrooms : Equipped with LCD screens, projectors, computers, and internet access to provide students with an enriched learning experience.
Computer Lab: 20 computers with an internet connection and whiteboards.
Music Room: Equipped with musical instruments like Tabla, Harmonium, Flute, Guitar and others.
Art Room: Provides a space for drawing, coloring, and displaying artwork.
Well-Equipped Science Labs: Independent laboratories for chemistry, physics, and biology allowing up to 40 students to conduct experiments at a time.
Gurudev R. D. Ranade Library: Contains more than 12,000 books on various subjects, including reference materials for all levels of study. It offers open access, a subject-wise book arrangement, and availability of question papers.
Reading Programs: Reading programs like "Vachakveer Yojana," intra-school book introduction competitions, and reading inspiration camps.
Head of the Department - Sunita Chakot