17^th November, celebrating Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 544^th Prakash Purab, local Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara observed Annual Shabad-Kirtan Recitation and Turban Typing Competition organized by ‘Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle’.

The event, organized by Bhai Javinder Singh (Cheema Sahib) and Gurdwara Sahib’s Prabhandhak Committee’s special effort saw participation of around 200 Akal Academy students; it was a spectacular event to witness the young students’ devotional performances especially when they showed up in beautiful turbans.

The program initiated with a special performance of “Deh Shiva Bar Mohe Ehe” shabad recitation. The Pradhan (President) of the Gurdwara, S. Kuldeep Singh welcomed all the participants and event in – charges. In the event, S. Pritam Singh Johal, additional D.C. Sangrur, was also present as the Chief Guest.

During the Shabad Kirtan performance, the students enshrined the audience by their recitation of Shabad as per the Ragas prescribed in the Guru Granth Sahib. The Turban typing competition was conducted under S. Charan Singh’s charge with around 100 students participating in the event. The competitions were held amongst the junior and senior level groups, judged by S. Amritpal Singh, S. Maninder Singh Sahni and S. Ravinder Singh.

Laabh Singh Ji, whilst sharing details about the competition, thanked everyone present at the event. In the competitions held, Akal Academy Balverha, Mander and Kaudiwada won 1^st three positions respectively whilst Bhadaud and Cheema Sahib (English) received appreciation awards in the Shabad-Kirtan Recitation Competition.

In Junior Turban Tying Competition, Sukhbir Singh, Jaspreet Singh (Balbehra), Kamaldeep Singh (FatehGarh Channa), Davinder Singh and Jaspreet Singh (Bhadaur) won 1^st three places respectively. In senior group competitions, Givanpreet Singh (Bhadaud), Maninder Singh, Manveer Singh (FatehGarh Channa) won the 1^st three places respectively whereas Sultan Singh (Balbehra ) and Amandeep Singh (Cheema Sahib Punjabi Medium) won appreciation awards. All in all, the event saw a great success with happy winners and happier competitors all motivated to win the next time!

Hail the efforts and help us in our program of Rural Transformation – http://barusahib.org/donate/

~ Deeksha Singh
~ New Delhi, 30th Nov ’13

The Kindergarten Teachers of Akal Academy located at village Dhanal Kalan recently received teaching – techniques upgrade from popular expert education consultant Ms. Shobha Mathur during Kindergarten Workshops observed at the academy last week.

The kindergarten teachers acquired some new and innovative teaching upgrades; Ms. Shobha Mathru explicated some interesting live demonstration learning techniques that were lauded by all the teachers. The skills update obtained during the workshop sessions will make learning a more absorbing, interesting and quick-grasping experience for the young children.

The workshop started with a Shabad Recitation by Grade 1 students followed by a welcome song by  K.G students; students also gave a floral welcome to the Resource Person – Education specialist Ms Shobha Mathur .

Principal of the Akal Academy, Dhanal Kalan – Ms Harpreet Kaur, welcomed Ms.Mathur alongside all the other guests and delegates who were also present during the event, which was held at the conference hall of the academy. In her welcome speech she motivated all the delegates to participate actively and further implement the new methodologies in their real classroom teaching.

All 129 Akal Academies and Institutes, in their relentless pursuit of proving A – class learning and schooling experience to the rural kids, observe similar teaching technique upgrade workshops on a regular basis.

~ Ramandeep Singh
~ New Delhi, 30th Nov ’13

These mighty students of village Akal Academy located at village Ranno, mesmerized everyone adding spark to celebrations with their delightful set of performances on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Prakash Utsav past week.

The day only went brighter with the high spirit performances of the young village aces of Akal Academy; firstly ‘twas the divine shabad kirtan performance by the kids that enshrined everyone mind with divine vibes, then some students presented lovingly prepared poetry for Guru Nanak Dev Ji in their innocent tone which melted hearts of everyone at the holy congregation.

The fervent day of splendid celebrations concluded with a special langar-feat, where all the members of the staff including school teachers, Students alongside their parents & also several of the native village localities, who were present during the celebrations, savored the meal with blessings of the almighty.

~ Ramandeep Singh
~ New Delhi, 23rd Nov ’13

The day of Children, 14^th November, is a day that can infuse fervor into each one of us; for joy of celebrating & cherishing carefree days of childhood, nothing can match watching the little young doing what they do the best – frolicking and smiling, for reasons that we, as adults, can only try recalling and relating; bringing us a reasonless smile, a sense of enjoyment, as our ‘sense-full’ minds fails to derive meaning behind their subtle pleasures of innocence.

This Children’s Day, the past weekend, took us to a virtual ride to the land of wonders where we alongside teachers, staff members & young little kids of village Akal Academy Gomti, almost lost our confined senses & has sheer fun and did amazing ‘masti’ while playing some crazzzy games and doing some ‘fundoo’ activities.

The Teachers invented some, well, differently creative bunch of activities for the children’s fest

Some highlights:

– The ‘Jalebi’ Grab Race – a Race where kids had to (Quickly) literally Gulp a suspended Jalebi half way down the race.
– The Kela (Banana) Hogger Try-Outs – the name speaks for itself.
– Mr. Balloons-Run  – run to one end, grab balloons & stash them in the other corner.
– The Tri-Cycle Battle – watch the kids drive-race what possibly each one of us drove in our childhood and can never fit one anymore.

~ Ramandeep Singh
~ New Delhi, 23rd Nov ’13