Multi-tasking is rapidly being acknowledged as a necessary skill.
At the Doon School, our students learn very early to focus, prioritize and effectively juggle preparations for their upcoming class tests, train for soccer matches, and allocate time for the multimedia contest they have signed up for, as well as practise the sitar for the music competition!
Our students take pride in a job well done, however small it may be. The school provides a wealth of opportunities for extracurricular pursuits. Boys find their niche and at the same time enjoy exploring uncharted domains. In the process, without their being aware of it, a different aspect of their personality emerges and is honed.
Midterm
The term has a five-day break structured into the calendar. The entire school, including teachers, trek and camp at various predetermined routes chalked out in the Garhwal Himalayas. A love for nature, a deep seated concern for the environment and a yearning for adventure are often the rewards harvested during these bi-annual midterms.
The Doon School is largely responsible for pioneering the ‘midterm’ concept, which is today avidly followed by quality boarding schools in India.
Mountaineering
Tradition often sets the benchmark for the younger generation. Everest base camp expeditions and scaling peaks like Jogin III stoke the students’ desire to emulate their seniors and teachers. Selected boys are sent every year to the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) at Uttarkashi and the Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering at Gulmarg or Auli. The school takes pride in the fact that we were one of the first educational institutions, way back in the 1930s, that placed such activities at par with the academic curriculum.
In the 1930s and 1940s, staff and students mounted many of the first climbs in the region, going upto heights of over 20,000 ft.
Clubs and Societies
Those with special interests become active members of specific societies: The Debating Society, The Historical Circle, the Astronomical Society, The Scientific Society, The Nature Club, to name a few.
Doon pioneered the idea of an elected School Council consisting of students, teachers and the Headmaster. The School Council is a key administrative body that debates various issues concerning the daily lives of the students. An early initiation into the decision-making process indeed!
Recent News:
Boys see Chevrolet plant in Pune
Boys were very lucky to be admitted on the adult only assembly-line at the Chevrolet plant at Pune in the winter holidays. Seventeen boys, part of the Motor Mechanics Club, gained knowledge of professional engine design and manufacture. This club is an excellent way for boys who are interested in engineering and who wish to study engineering at university.
Doscos first to hear about the Higgs-Boson particle discovery
On their visit to CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) in Geneva. Boys saw a mock up of the Large Hadron Collider tunnel and the six particle detector experiments. However, Doscos were first with the news that CERN had discovered the Higgs-Boson particles ahead of its global announcement. This trip has proved inspirational for scientists at school who are keen to pursue their interest at university.
The Doon School, first school in India for Thar Desert Trek
Doscos were told they were the first school pupils, from a school in India to make the trek across the Thar Desert Trek, a one hundred and sixty-five kilometres. The team started from Mehrasar to Sanchu Indo- Pak border. This has been the most extraordinary adventure, test of endurance and team work. Boys have been able to see the geographical and natural landscape in a unique manner.
Congratulations to all boys who were involved.
Learning opportunities Winter 2011
The Doon School has offered its most comprehensive and wide ranging trips and tours programme, yet in this winter holidays.
Across almost all aspects of the curriculum and for all ages. Some events have included:
1. Round Square events and conferences in India and in Bangladesh and Brookhouse School, Kenya in April 2012
2. Jaipur Literary Festival
3. Visit to the Large Hadron Collider at CERN for keen scientists
4. Trekking in the Thar desert
5. Humanities Department visit to Turkey
6. U17 Cricket Tour to Calcutta
7. Golf tour to Dubai
8. Model United Nations visit to Harvard
Doon School wins the 2nd Shriram Bansidhar Inter School Chess Tournament, 7th October 2011
The Doon School won the Chess Tournament against twelve other schools.
Congratulations to the winning team.
Chuckerbutty Debate success for Doon 2011
Doon won the Chuckerbutty Debates 2011. Competing were schools from all over India and Dubai. This was the fifty-fifth Chuckerbutty Debate held at the Doon School and the final was played between Doon School and La Martiniere for Boys, Kolkata.
Intensive RLSS (life saving) training camp at Doon
This year the course was conducted by Admiral Sharma, President of the RLSS. Eighteen boys qualified as Life Savers. This is the highest number of boys in the last two years to have completed this course, which took place over several days. As Agni Raj Singh, said ‘We also had our endurance, CPR and written tests on the same day which almost everyone did well in and attained the standard of ‘Lifesaver’. Finally, we all took the Lifesaving Oath in which we swore to help anyone in need and live up to the duties that we had trained for so hard.’
Indian Polar Explorer at Doon
The Doon School welcomed Mr Ajeet Bajaj to school to talk to D and C form and other interested boys. He is the only Indian to have completed expeditions to the North and South Poles and enthralled the boys with his talk about the experiences he s had and the different challenges faced by both expeditions.
IAYP: Dosco one of four from India chosen
Anshuman Bhargava, from Hyderabad House, has been chosen as one of four students to represent India at an international IAYP conference in Jerusalem in December. Mr. Michael James was also nominated to accompany the delegation as the teacher-representative.
Dosco one of four from India at Ivy League summer school
Jaskrit Singh from Hyderabad House was only one of four pupils from India who were successful in winning places to attend an international summer school programme on global leadership. The event was organised through tGELF (The Global Education and Leadership Foundation). Jaskrit, who lives in the Punjab, has returned to Doon a big fan of the concept of a liberal arts education. He met students from across the globe and has seen the very high levels of competition that he and all Doscos will face for top college places. Jaskrit found the programme intellectually demanding in and out of the seminar room. ‘I realise I need to be more focused in my work and develop my interests in activities’, commented Jaskrit on his return to school.
DSMUN 2011:
The school celebrated a very successful conference and boys from Doon were judged the best delegation overall. Boys from the school represented North Korea and France. The Doon School was delighted to welcome schools from all over India, as well as from Dubai, Bangladesh, Oman and Pakistan.
Doscos Play Chess
Congratulations to Mukund Nyati, who came second in the senior category of the IPSC’s Inter-school Chess Tournament.
The BHEL International Rated Chess Tournament saw Doon compete well with the twenty schools in this international competition held in Delhi. From two hundred players, Gopal Mann from Jaipur House won third position as an unrated player. Sartaak Gupta from Kashmir House won the U14 section.
Sir Mark Tully on Independence Day
Well known BBC broadcaster, journalist and author Sir Mark Tully gave the address to the school on Independence Day. Sir Mark Tully was born in India in 1936 and was educated in England. He has been living in India since he was appointed as the BBC India correspondent in 1965. He has been knighted by the Queen of England (2002) and awarded the Padman Bhushan by the President of India (2005).
MUN triumph at Bejiing
Over three thousand delegates from all over the world participated in the Model United Nations Expo held in Beijing from 4 August to 7 August. Doscos gave of their very best, with thirteen out of sixteen boys winning awards. Five boys received an Honourable Mention Award, five boys received the Outstanding Delegate Award, and three bagged The Best Delegate Award.
The details of the awardees are:
Honourable Mention Award: Shaurya Sinha, Shubham Dhingra, Varun Gupta, Madhav Dutt, and Rohan Shriram.
Outstanding Delegate Award: Vikram Kejriwal, Sookrit Malik, Gursehej Singh Oberoi, Alawi Singh, and Nabeel Shah.
The Best Delegate Award: Kunal Kanodia (from A form and the youngest boy in the party), Piroune Balachandran, and Rishabh Tusnial.
The school won the best school in the medium school category.
Comments from the team included:
“…hard work dedication and no fooling around.” (Piroune)
“…good research, and ability to handle crisis situations.” (Rishabh)
“…openness of the chair of the committee and the freedom to do what you wanted to.” (Kunal)
Some of the boys even opted out of the dance session to prepare for their policy statements and most others were up till past midnight for their work.
Dosco wins chess competition
Congratulations to Gopal Singh Mann, who was coached by Russian Master Alexander Lysenko over the summer. Gopal went on to win the U17 category of the Chess Competition organised by the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in June. Gopal is in Jaipur House and lives in Delhi.
Doscos saw last shuttle
Boys in B and C form were witness to an historic moment at the Space School Programme at Space Centre, Houston and Cape Canaveral. They had a view of Space Shuttle Atlantis at the launch pad; this was the last ever shuttle to be flown from Cape Canaveral at the end of the thirty-year shuttle programme. In Houston the boys learned to design and fabricate space rovers and landers, and launched rockets with retrievable payloads.
IAYP Gold Award ceremony at New Delhi, 12th May 2011
A number of boys were selected to receive their Gold Awards from the Vice-President of India in a ceremony at the official residence on 12th May 2011.However, due to unexpected commitments, the Vice-President was unable to attend the ceremony. Fortunately, Old Boy and CEO of NDTV (get name) was available to step in to the breach at the last moment to do the honours! The boys had all completed the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Yash Vardhan Singhania, who is in Tata House and comes from Gujurat, who is looking at Edinburgh University and colleges in India, Singapore and the USA. He said of the event that it was ‘A once in a lifetime opportunity’. Saransh Seth, who is in Hyderbad House and comes from Amristar, is looking to study in India. He said that ‘It’s like a dream come true’. Prahlad Singh is in Kashmir House and lives in Delhi. He plans to apply to colleges in India, Singapore and the USA. His view was also that it was a ‘once in a life time experience’.
Doon Online
