Daksha Sportathon - 2014

Daksha School celebrated its Sportathon on January 4, 2014. Anjali was participating in Yoga, Kung Fu, Aerobics and the March Past.

Daksha Kids Enjoying Themselves - Sheer Joy

As with all Daksha events, preparations were on full scale for a long time. If there is one thing that the kids will take away from here, it is to prepare well for anything which is a great lesson.

The Sportathon Invite depicting many sports on it

We dropped off Anjali at 330 p.m. at the slowly decaying Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reeddy stadium - weeds, fading exterior, narrow gates, old and dull security men. The interiors were fine though. Anyway we were to return at 445 p.m. Anjali warned us to be seated by 445 p.m. and not to take any pictures because a 'popular' photographer and videographer was coming along! Of course, teacher said so. Its amazing to see the awe they have of their teachers (and well deserved too from the snippets she shares).

All set to go

The yoga presentation really brought tears to many eyes as expressed by one grandparent later. Something about the seriousness with which the young tots performed such complicated asanas so well just touched a chord. They were brilliant - disciplined, focused and picture perfect. Anjali was in row one so it was easy to see her do her asanas.

Pleasing to the eye

The younger children presented many other environment related races - 'Duck Race' by Play Group, 'Race to Plant a Tree' by Nursery Chicks, 'Children are Here to Rock' by PPI Diamonds, 'It's My World' by Nursery Ponies and 'I Promise to Keep It Clean' Race, 'Aerobics' by PPI Emeralds, 'Race to Save Fuel' by Nursery Kittens, 'Kung Fu' presentation, 'Aerobics' by Sapphires, 'Let's Save Water Race' by Nursery Joeys, 'Unity In Nature' in Aerobics by PPI Rubies, 'No Plastic Race' by Nursery Cubs, 'Unity in Sports', 'Jai Ho' and March Past. It was great fun to see them laugh, compete and enjoy themselves.


Stylish!

The aerobics were brilliantly choreographed and executed. Midway through one program the power went off - unusual for such a huge stadium - for half and hour.

A colorful presentation

Everyone sat quietly in their place, the kids especially so. But Anita has this self-assured energy that indicates that everything is under control and everyone relaxes immediately - parents, children, staff. She's like MSD that way. For half an hour there was no light, no PA system but it was brilliantly handled without a word being spoken.

Race to save the environment

Once we started the show was all energy again. The Kung Fu presentation got everyone clapping and going wow. It was cute as hell as they showed off all that they learnt in their black Kung Fu clothes. In the aerobics Anjali's group did a version of Jai Ho which was again brilliantly choreographed and executed where the kids formed a DAKSHA in the end.

The D and A of Daksha formed - Anjali in the middle of the A

Annual Report and March past and then we were gone. It was almost 9 p.m. but the energy levels were still high. Anjali put up a confident and strong show and as promised I treated her to ice cream. Anita's annual report mentioned that in a couple of years she would move the school to a place where they have their own ground and the announcement was met with much cheer.

Another neat presentation

The sharing from parents was brilliant and brought much happiness as they spoke from their heart. Whether about the preparation of Daksha for these events, the care they take with the children, or even the character shown by the children during the power outage, were all valid and deserving points. The support teams were all introduced and they got a round of applause as well - deservedly.

Well done Anita and team. Radhika, Kamakshi, Chandana, Sunita, Shakuntala, Smita are some of the teachers I know. But here's to everyone who was involved in the making of the Sportathon. It was such a joy to be there.