The Rajkumar College, Rajkot makes mark at Round Square Annual Regional Meeting 2024
On November 8, 2024, The Rajkumar College Rajkot’s esteemed delegation, comprising Head of School Mr. Yash Saxena, and Round Square Representatives Ms. Jyotis Jacob and Mrs. Kirnesh Jhala, attended the prestigious Annual Round Square Forum at Indian High School, Al Ghubra. This two-day gathering converged prominent schools from the South Asia and Gulf Region, fostering collaborative exchange and innovation.
The forum commenced with an engaging carousel of workshops, where delegates delved into best practices and cutting-edge strategies employed by renowned institutions. Inspirational presentations showcased exemplary schools’ success stories, highlighting impactful initiatives and pedagogical approaches that nurture students’ holistic growth.
Day two witnessed vibrant participation and artistic expression as attendees engaged in interactive sessions. Distinguished representatives from Modern School, Sunbeam School Lahartara, The British School, Amman Baccalaureate School, The Rajkumar College Rajkot, and The Shri Ram School, among others, delivered compelling presentations. These shared experiences and insights underscored the collective commitment to transformative education.
This regional meeting reinforced The Rajkumar College Rajkot’s dedication to Round Square’s ideals, cementing its position as a trailblazer in student-centered learning and community engagement.
“ The Rajkumar College, Rajkot Hosts Round Square Director for Five-Year Reflections”
On October 21, 2024, Rajkumar College, Rajkot, had the privilege of hosting Mrs. Rajbir Sandhu, Director of Round Square Schools Support for the South Asia & Gulf region, for a comprehensive review of the school’s progress over the past five years. The visit provided a unique opportunity for reflection, celebration, and strategic planning.
Mrs. Sandhu was warmly welcomed by the school community and was impressed by the palpable enthusiasm and commitment to student development through the IDEALS of Round Square. During her visit, she engaged with key stakeholders, including the student committee, teacher mentors, and senior leadership team, to gain a deeper understanding of the school’s achievements and challenges.
A highlight of the visit was a meeting with His Highness Mandhatasinhji Jadeja of Rajkot, President of the Board of Trustees, who shared his vision for the school’s future growth and development. The Admissions team and a group of enthusiastic parents also had the opportunity to interact with Mrs. Sandhu, showcasing the school’s strong sense of community and collaboration.
The visit culminated in a comprehensive review of the school’s progress, acknowledging the significant achievements made under the leadership of the Principal. The school’s commitment to the Round Square IDEALS and its impact on student development were particularly commended. The meeting also provided a platform for discussing future plans and strategies to maintain the school’s momentum and continue to provide a world-class education to its students.
Overall, Mrs. Sandhu’s visit was a mega success, providing a valuable opportunity for reflection, celebration, and planning for the future. The Rajkumar College looks forward to continuing its partnership with Round Square and to further embedding the IDEALS into its educational philosophy.
Round Square Conference at The Pathways World School, Gurgaon from 15th to 19th February 2024
A Round Square Conference was held at Pathways World School, Gurgaon from 15th to 19th February 2024, the theme of which was “Myriad Cultures, One Beautiful World” where almost 200 delegates joined from across India as well as abroad. The student delegates Kavya Kardani, Nishtha Karotra, Radha Saradava, Sanskruti Khapandi, Banshi Jivani, and Devraj Raval of Form 7 were accompanied by teacher escort Mrs Pheba Varghese.
The Conference began with a keynote speech on Internationalism by Dr. Pramath Sinha, founder of Ashoka University. This was followed by Baraza sessions where they redefined “Internationalism” through critical thinking. Participants visited Vishalgarh farms to learn about Haryanvi culture through fashion, food, dance, and other forms of entertainment. The adventure continued with obstacle rides, zip lining, and fun activities at Vishalgarh farms, creating unforgettable memories.
On the second day of the Conference, music and laughter filled the campus field as the participants engaged in a lively game of musical chairs. Keynote speaker Mr. Prateek Jain explained the difference between globalization and internationalism. In the evening delegates took part in a Cultural Gala where RKCians represented the Spanish culture in the form of a dance, Flamenco.
On the third day of the Conference, participants immersed in a variety of activities, fostering creativity, collaboration and built a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives. Participants were engaged in varied workshops on pottery, visual art, dance, theatre and product design. In the evening the delegates gathered for a movie screening of the film ‘Crude’.
On the final day, participants bid farewell with a heavy heart to their new friends and days of learning and cultural exchange, but returned back to Rajkot enlightened and rejuvenated.
Round Square Conference at The Emerald International Heights School, Indore 3rd January, 2024 to 7th January, 2024
A delegation of nine students of Form 6 comprising of Manav Vora, Khameer Keshwala, Prisa Nandani, Vansh Parekh, Aarav Sanghvi, Diya Doshi, Viha Parekh, Eshaan Vadesa, and Yashvi Satani accompanied by the teacher delegate Ms. Vaishali Tandon participated in a Round Square Conference held at the Emerald Heights International School, Indore from 3rd January to 7th January 2024. This conference led the children to collaborate and experience many tenets of Round Square namely Environmental Stewardship, Service, Adventure, and Democracy.
The Baraza sessions were creatively crafted to expose the young minds to think sustainably. Students enthusiastically indulged in activities like bird watching, community service, cultural show etc. and had four wonderful days living it up to the theme of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.
The SAMMAAN Project – hosted by Modern School, Barakhamba Road and Mayo College Ajmer from 5th to 11th December 2023
The SAMMAAN Project, hosted by Modern School, Barakhamba Road, and Mayo College Ajmer, was held from 5th to 11th December 2023, hosting 10 schools from India and the Gulf region. The Rajkumar College, Rajkot sent a team of 6 students: Brinda Katira, Dhvani Nathvani, Heer Vaishnav, Hetvi Mehta, Jensi Bhalsod, Resham Vadesa and Escort Mrs. Bhavna Sorathiya. In Delhi, the team enjoyed a vibrant start, including a stimulating ice-breaking session, an enthralling equestrian show, and a project orientation. The visit to child welfare organisations and a thought-provoking town hall discussion on elder care further enriched their experience at Modern School. The transition to Mayo College in Ajmer brought a focus on two old age homes, Apna Ghar and Jai Ambe, where students not only undertook construction projects but also built meaningful connections with the elderly residents. The Ajmer phase included cultural programs, horse riding sessions, and visits to local landmarks, concluding with a reflection on the positive impact of the project.
Throughout this journey, the students learned the value of effective teamwork and the innate acts of kindness. Spending time with the elderly highlighted the joy found in simple conversations and understanding, fostering a collective realisation that contributing to society doesn’t always demand elaborate efforts. The students expressed deep gratitude to their school’s support system, including teachers and the Principal, for enabling them to be part of this meaningful journey. The SAMMAAN Project was indeed a milestone for shaping a compassionate mindset within the delegates.
ROUND SQUARE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2023 – KENYA
On 8th October 2023, five student delegates from Form XII namely Niyatiba Zala, Rhea Kureekat, Adnan Unawala, Tanishq Narania and Prince Ram arrived at the Brookhouse School accompanied by two adult delegates, the RS Head of school Mr Yash Saxena and RS Representative Ms Jyotis Jacob to attend the Round Square International Conference 2023 – The New Africa – in Nairobi, Kenya. Registrations were done by a total of about 1,200 delegates from 160 schools from across the RS community.
On days 3-5 of the Conference, the delegates split into three carousels which were spread across the Karen and Runda campuses, enabling students and adults to mix. Each carousel experienced the same three days in a different order: Democracy Day, on which they heard from guest panellists, keynote speakers, and participated in Baraza discussions before heading to their homestay for a taste of Kenyan hospitality; Adventure Day, on which delegates ventured into Nairobi’s National Park for a mini safari and overnight camp; and Service Day in which delegates worked at Brookhouse’s community partner schools in the Nairobi area, refurbishing classrooms, gardening, and playing sports with the children and the day ended with enjoying cultural performances from many of the delegate schools.
The Conference ended on 13th October with a Keynote address by Paralympic Athlete Henry Wanyoike, followed by a closing ceremony. The delegates packed their bags for the journey back to Rajkumar College on 14th October. Overall, the Conference was a fantastic experience for the students and would forever be a cherished memory in their hearts and minds.
Annual Round Square Forum for schools in the South Asia and Gulf Region 2023 – DUBAI
On 17th November 2023, the Round Square Head of School Mr Yash Saxena along with Round Square Representative Ms Jyotis Jacob and Round Square Associate Representative Mrs Kirnesh Jhala arrived to attend the Annual Round Square Forum for schools in the South Asia and Gulf Region at the Indian High School, Dubai. The forum lasted for three days over the weekend where a fantastic carousel of workshops was organised for the delegates. Presentations on good practices adopted by various eminent schools around the region were a great delight to attend on Day 2 as schools shared their success stories along with the steps and practices that they have imbibed to make a lasting impact on their students’ lives. The next day on Sunday, everyone participated with great enthusiasm and artistic flair in the RS Heroes sessions, and another set of wonderful presentations were made by representatives from various schools like Mayo College, Sunbeam School Lahartara, and Shiv Nadar School among others who have all effectively adopted the RS Heroes and RS Discoveries framework in their school’s curriculum. The experience was truly a memorable one and our delegates soon after returned to Rajkumar College with a renewed fervour to drive forward the positive impact on our students’ minds by finding a way to navigate the RS Ideals and RS Heroes in our school’s curriculum in the near future.