Democracy Day: On 2nd of September Tibetan Democracy day was celebrated in Mussoorie. The student and staff members of Tibetan Homes Foundation participated in the formal program organized by Bhod Rangwang Denpai Legul where everyone paid their obeisance to H.H. the Dalai Lama in transforming the Tibetan Polity into a genuine democracy. The message from Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamsala was read during the formal program and our School children entertained the gathering with Tibetan dance and music. Teachers Day celebrated at THF as Staff Day: The birth anniversary of late Dr. Radhakrishnan is celebrated as teachers day throughout India on 5th September. Here at THF this day is celebrated as Staff day and children wait for this day anxiously to express their gratitude towards all staff members. The highlight of this day is the variety of dances, songs and skit played by children. This year too there was outstanding performance from the children.
10th InterSchool Programmme: Tibetan Homes Foundation hosted the 10thInterSchool program from September 22nd to 27th. The program was organized by Foundation for Universal Responsibility of H.H. the Dalai Lama with the basic idea to bring together the Indian and Tibetan students and to share the rich cultural heritage of both the communities. Senior students from seven nearby schools with their escorts participated in the program that involved debates, meditation, interactions, and talks on basic tenets of different faiths by eminent scholars. The student also visited different cultural and educational institutions in and around DoonValley. A Farewell dinner was organized on the concluding day of the program with Mrs. Heide Meyer, Chairman GAT, Germany as the chief guest on the occasion. The participants were presented with certificates and cultural presentation by THF students and participants was performed.
Career Exhibition: The School's career counselor Mr. Sonam Dhakpa la organized a career exhibition in the month of September and October in the two Schools at Mussoorie and Rajpur respectively. Students from Class V to XII were invited to the exhibition. The exhibition gave information to children on the different career opportunities available. Inter House Annual Athletic Meet: The 19th Inter house annual athletic meet took place on 16th of October with Mr. Austine Eapen, D.I.G. of Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Mussoorie as the Chief Guest. The meet began with the Chief Guest taking the guard of honor from the members of the five houses followed with the hoisting of the meet flag. The School band performed brilliantly leading the March Past. This was followed with a children's mass Yoga display - Surya Namaskar. Through the day the children competed in various events of races, throws and jumps. The children strived hard and performed well keeping the spectators glued till the end. Ultimately TRISONG house were the overall winners for year 2009.
Book Week: The book week was organized by our School Library from 2nd to 7th November with different activities. An entire week display of different books was held with the help of a bookstore called "Book World" from Dehradun. Impressive talks on topic - Five great authors and the functions of School library were covered during the school assembly on 5th and 6th of November. The book week was enhanced with an interesting talk by Mr. G.P.Singh, Teacher and author of book - An ode to H.H. the XIVth Dalai Lama - to the senior students.
Workshop at CIHTS, Sarah: Eight of our junior teachers, 4 each from THF Mussoorie and Rajpur participated in seven days workshop at College for Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarah, Dharamsala. The topics covered were New Education Policy and Specialization and benefits of Yoga, exercise to attain physical and spiritual well-being.
Debate on New Education Policy: A day long debate on the "New Education Policy" practiced on all the CTA run schools was held on 7th of November, in the THF auditorium. All the staffs were given the opportunity to express their views regarding the new policy.Simultaneously, One hour daily prayer from November 8th - 16th was held for the long life of H.H. the Dalai Lama and for World peace.
Children's Day: On 14th November Children's Day was celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and happiness. Mothers, home parents, teachers and co-workers began practicing their roles of acting and dancing much before the big day. And it was all what the children waited for, the dances and songs by staff members left the children in bouts of laughter. All children were also presented pocket money made available from the salary of the staff members.
Environment Meet: The School Environment Club organized a conservation and awareness meet on November 17th. Three resource persons were invited covering the topic: "Global climate change and its Impact on Tibet". On this occasion, we had the privilege of knowing the present environmental status of Tibet under communist invasion from Mrs. Tsering Yangkey, Founder Director of "Tesi Environmental Awareness Movement (TEAM).This was followed by two documentary films on conservation and awareness.
Graduation Day of Vocational Training Centre: The graduation day of the vocational training centre was held on December 16th. Mr. Yonten, in-charge of the centre made a welcome speech with an annual report on the year. This was followed by awarding of prizes to position holders and distribution of graduation gifts. A total of 14 students graduated from the centre, 3 from tailoring section, 9 from Thanka painting section, and 2 from Oil painting section. After the prize distribution the General Secretary gave a speech, emphasizing on the importance of vocational studies, he then congratulated the graduates and wished them a bright future.
Final Examination and School Closing Day: The final examination of the School for Mussoorie was held from December 5 to 12th. The final school academic results were declared on 18th December, 2009 and subsequently children were allowed to leave for winter holidays. The main school in Mussoorie scored a pass percentage of 89.65% while the Montessori section had a 100% pass result. The new academic year 2010 will begin on March 1st.
20th Anniversary celebrations of Noble Peace prize to His Holiness The Dalai Lama : On 10th December we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Early morning everyone gathered at the Dalai Hill, raised prayer flags and offered prayers for long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This was followed with the formal program of the celebrations at CentralSchool for Tibetans. The Assistant Secretary of THF and Principal of CST addressed the gathering on the occasion. The children of the two schools and the home parents presented colorful Tibetan dances. The day was also marked with awarding of prizes from Department of Education, Dharamsala to 2 staff members, Mrs. Dawa Dolma (home mother) and Ms. Tsering Yangzom (nurse) of Tibetan Homes Foundation who had completed 25 years of service. The Best Boy and Girl awards from Department of Education was presented to the two captains of the School Master Takla and Miss Kalsang Dolma.
Educational Tour December 15 to 20th of December 2009:127 grade XI students with 5 staff members including one dispensary staff left for the annual educational tour on 15th December. The five day tour was extremely busy & interesting for the students. Our students were able to visit famous historical places in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and in Delhi. Important historical subjects like Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Tomb of King Akbar at Sikander were the first places covered by our group. Thereafter they also visited NationalGandhiMuseum known for its largest collection of Books, Relics, journals, Photographs, Audiovisual materials on Late Mahatma Gandhi, NationalMuseum, National Railway museum & Nehru memorial museum. Other famous historical places visited in Delhi were National Science Centre, India Gate, NorthDelhiUniversityCampus & JawaharlalNehruUniversity. Our group also visited the two famous forts Qutab Minar and Iron pillar. On 20th December the group reached back to Mussoorie.
Extra Coaching for the Board Classes: The School organized the extra coaching classes for the board students of grade X and XII from December 24th. The classes will be held for one month and thereafter the students will start their self study before appearing for the Board exams in March, 2010. A total of 81 and 106 students are to appear for the board exams of grade X and XII respectively.
5th General Conference on Education at Dharamsala: Twenty two members from Tibetan Homes Foundation involving administrators and teachers participated in the 5th general conference on education organized by Department of Education, CTA at Dharamsala from 27th to 31st December. The first three days of the conference was discussion on the improvement of Tibetan Language, English language, students moral ethics and code of conduct at the School level and on motivation of students towards specialized study and courses. The final two days was seminar on education where eminent Scholars and academicians as resource persons highlighted the importance of education with their presentations.
