Respected Mr Danial Muthusamy, Mr. Narayanan, Ladies and gentlemen,
I am glad to present the 27th annual report before you.
The year in retrospect is a watershed year for our school in several
respects and let me take this opportunity to explain them in brief:
To Improve comprehension and standard:
Our school obtained Internet access during this year and I am proud
to state that we were the first to be granted Internet access in Karaikudi,
with The chief general manager of Tamilnadu Telecommunication circle
Sri Saranathan releasing the password. Later Dr K Rukmani, Vice Chancellor
of Alagappa University inaugurated this facility in our school. Now Internet
is part of the timetable and students of almost all classes have been using
Internet for learning specific areas of Physics, chemistry and biology.
Internet access has also helped our school communicate with institutions
abroad. This has helped improve the methods of teaching. I am one of the
Principals who participate in the deliberations through Email moderated
by Education world- An internet based organisation solely existing for
the purpose of education. More such participation by individual teachers
is foreseen in the next year and I am sure that this would go a long way
in making our school on par with the best schools in the world.
Under the Teaching Abroad program our school has 2 teachers from the UK for teaching conversational English . This has generated great enthusiasm among the students and parents. Looking at the popularity of this program, we have sought extension of this program for a longer term and I am glad to inform you that they have agreed to our request.
Our aim to improve comprehension of students has been appreciated by many educationists and as stated in the last annual report we have been using multimedia as a teaching aid and it has really increased the interest of students in learning science in general and biology in particular. This will continue in future too with our constant effort to upgrade.
As usual we conducted the Science exhibition this year along with Rotary
club of Karaikudi and many dignitaries visited the same including Dr K
Rukmani, Vice chancellor of Alagappa University and
Mr Senthamarai Kannan, Deputy General Manager, Telecom, Karaikudi.
A science exhibition entirely conducted by the primary class students was
widely appreciated.
Senior professors from Alagappa Arts college conducted special lectures in Mathematics, Physics and chemistry for the XII students on a trial basis.
We have already introduced "show and talk" in some primary classes and we are proposing to extend this to all classes from KG to 5th next year. "Observe and Write" which is a standard method adapted in the US will be introduced from the next year.
We are in the process of getting our KG teachers trained in true Montessori method of teaching this year. Once this training is complete we are contemplating full-fledged Montessori method of teaching for Kindergarten classes.
We inaugurated English Literary association and Science forum this year
and I am sure that these forums, along with Tamil literary association,
will go a long way in improving the students' proficiency in these areas.
Efforts to improve the weak students:
During the hour between 3.30 and 4.30 in the evening, group study has been introduced whereby the students are divided in to several groups and the strong in the group has been teaching the weak in the group. This system was introduced in the first term and continued up to the end of the second term. On the basis of their performance in the second terminal examination, the weak students have been isolated for special coaching by the teachers, while the strong students are given assignment/test during that hour. In order to teach the out station students some teachers are even coming to the school at 8.30 in the morning and coach the weak students. This has had significant effect on their recent performance.
Continuing our tradition of making even the weak students get through
the examination, we have been conducting daily tests and follow up coaching
for 10th and 12th class students in general and weak students in particular.
With the efforts taken by the teachers and cooperation from students, we
hope to achieve good results in the forthcoming public examinations.
Discipline:
This has been a thrust area this year. Since we want voluntary compliance of rules of school, prefect system has been introduced. Under this system, volunteers from classes 7 up to 11 numbering 36 have been selected. These prefects assist the discipline board constituted for the purpose. The effect of this has been remarkable.
This year has also seen constant and continuous interaction between
teachers and parents and the parents are now aware of the problems of their
son/daughter with in a short response time.
Infrastructure:
One more computer has been added this year taking the number of computers in our school to 8 including 4 with multimedia capabilities, and 3 with internet access.
Laboratories have been upgraded so that the lab equipment to student ration is kept at the optimum level commensurate with the increase in the number of students.
Construction of additional toilet for girls was completed this year.
A children's' park has been created for KG and primary students.
Apart from the school bus facility, responding to request from parents,
Van facility was introduced this year for the primary class students from
Karaikudi.
New Group:
In order to cater to the humanities stream of students our school got
approval of the department of education for a new group comprising History,
Geography, Economics and Political Science. This group dovetails with several
graduate courses offered by some autonomous colleges in History or Geography,
which in turn are designed as stepping stones for the administrative examinations.
These are the four basic subjects which a candidate is expected to have
full understanding while appearing for such competitive examinations.
Sports:
Our sports day was celebrated on 22nd instant and Lt Col Gopakumar presided over the function in the presence of Mr Swamikkannu, Regional Inspector of Physical Education. Mr Muthiah Ramu, president of the Lions club of Karaikudi Cosmos gave away the prizes.
Our school participated in several sports events conducted by the district, pre division, division and state level athletic meets. Our student N.Vinoth Kumar participated in triple jump and broad jump at the state level meet for students as also in the open meet at state level. Our school also participated in several other competitions and won several awards.
Awards:
a) Rs 1000 each for S.Sivasubramanian and P.Yogalaxmi for having secured the first marks in the XII and X public examinations held last year. This has been contributed by the trustees of Kamban Trust. This was distributed by Mr Senthamarai Kannan Deputy General Manager, Telecom, Karaikudi on the Independence day.
b) C.R Alamelu award of Rs 500 each for two best students, one from the XI standard and one from the IX standard is being given to Yogalaxmi of XI standard and R.Dharini of IX standard. This award is based not only on their proficiency in studies but also on their performance in other co curricular activities.
c) Prof.Shanmugam award for top rankers was given to Siva Subramanian of XII standard and Yoga Laxmi for X standard. This year too Prof Shanmugam has been kind enough announce the following awards for the students appearing for X and XII public examinations this year:
a) X Standard:
Rs 100 for the top ranker of our school in X
Rs 75 for the second ranker of our school in X
b) XII Standard:
Rs 150 for the top ranker of our school in XII
Rs 100 for the second ranker of our school in XII
Rs 75 for the third ranker of our school in XII
Provided that there shall be a minimum of one award for each
group.
c) Common to both X and XII
Rs 250 each for each centum scored.
Rs 250 each for every student securing 85% in the aggregate.
Future:
We have introduced several systems and procedures that are akin to ISO
9002 quality standards. By doing so, we are gradually shifting from people
dependent approach to systems dependent approach. Introduction of more
systems is on the anvil.
During the ensuing summer holidays, we are commencing a training program
for our students for MCSE examination conducted by Microsoft, with the
assistance of Nexus Computers Ltd, Madurai. This training is going to be
offered free, except for the cost of study materials.
We are organising a summer program on spoken English for our students during the month of April.
We are planning to commence coaching classes for the combined entrance
examinations exclusively for our students from next year-end.
Other Highlights of the year:
This year marks the beginning of the planned publication of our school souvenir "Kamban".
We are in the process of setting up Kamban Alumnis' Trust or Old Students Association responding to numerous requests from our old students.
Student strength has increased by 23 % last year to 730 and teachers strength has gone up to 32.Our student to teacher ratio is still one of the best.
This year too the students organised the Teachers' day with out any
assistance from the teachers amplifying their leadership qualities.
Acknowledgements:
I thank the trustees of Kamban Trust, members of the school committee, members of the interview committee, Correspondent, Vice Correspondent and all the philanthropists who have contributed to the growth of this great institution.
I thank Prof.S.Shanmugam for his interest in improving the competetive edge of our students by providing encouragement and granting the awards.
I thank Mrs C.RM. Alamelu, wife of our Trustee Sri PR.C.Ramasamy Ambalam for having granted the best student awards.
I am grateful to the family of Mr Muralidharan for having provided accommodation to the teachers who have come to our school under teaching abroad program.
I am thankful to Dr M.Meyyappan, Prof.C.S.Nachiappan and Prof.Vairavan for having given special lectures for our XII standard students.
I am thankful to Prof.N.P.Manickam for having assisted the school in the interviews.
I am grateful to Nexus computers and its director Mr R.Meenakshi Sundaram for having agreed to spare a team of 4 MCSE certified Engineers for the MCSE training program.
I thank all the teachers, without whose dedication and support, we could not have achieved what we have achieved.
Our thanks are also due to the parents who have shown keen interest in our activities and have actively participated in the growth of our school.
I also thank all of you who are present here having kindly accepted our invitation.
I am sure that the interest you have shown in the growth of this institution will continue in the years to come.
Thank you
J.Nalinakumari
Principal