STEAMphony—Celebrating a Year of Creativity and Discovery

This term, our Middle Years students took center stage for STEAMphony, the grand finale of their year-long exploration into Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.

Event Highlights

• 60+ Original Projects: Students across Grades 6–8 showcased prototypes that bridged the gap between school subjects and real-world impact.
• The Design Thinking Process: The exhibition focused on "learning by doing"—showing how students tested, failed, and refined their ideas until they worked.
• Sustainability First: Many projects emphasized eco-friendly innovation, using recycled and everyday materials to create clever solutions.

More Than Just Science

While the projects were impressive, the true success was in the student growth. Throughout the corridors, students presented their work with:

• Confidence & Clarity: Articulating complex ideas to a diverse audience.
• Critical Thinking: Explaining the "why" behind their design choices.
• Collaboration: Demonstrating the power of teamwork in solving difficult problems.

A Community Success

STEAMphony's success belongs to our entire community. We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work and grateful to our teachers and leadership for fostering a culture of inquiry-based learning. STEAMphony isn't just an event—it’s a reflection of our commitment to preparing students for the future.

Bridging Home and School: The Magic of Shabadshala

Why do we do what we do at Shabadshala? We believe the best way for parents to understand the impact of this program is to experience its magic themselves. This term, our school halls were filled with the voices of three generations—students, parents, and grandparents—all participating in our special Shabadshala sessions.

The Highlights:

• A Musical Awakening: We were honored to host Om Prakash Nayak ji and his ensemble. Their folk melodies didn't just fill the room; they sparked a deep connection to our roots. One parent noted they were "pleasantly surprised" by the depth and richness this program adds to the curriculum.
• Learning Through Play: Day 2 got everyone on their feet! Before the music began, families participated in a rammat activity. Engaging with the themes of Ramta Jogi and Behta Paani, parents rediscovered the joy of traditional rhythms and movement.

It was heartening to see parents recognize the "why" behind Shabadshala. The interest from parents of even our youngest learners suggests that our community is eager to build stronger cultural foundations together. We look forward to carrying this momentum into next year!

Creative Expression at the Vasant Valley Drama Festival Workshop

Our Grade 5 students participated in an immersive theatre workshop organized by Vasant Valley School, New Delhi. Designed to foster creative expression through drama, the workshop centered on the thought-provoking theme: "Bas ek aur din" (Just One More Day).

Students actively engaged in various theatre games alongside peers from other schools. These interactive sessions were crucial not only for exploring acting techniques but also for honing essential life skills such as collaboration, teamwork, and commitment.

The theme sparked immense creativity among the participants. Students brainstormed and presented innovative interpretations, including moving concepts such as "Bas ek aur din childhood ka" (Just one more day of childhood) and "Bas ek aur din War khatam hone ka" (Just one more day until war ends).

Looking Ahead: Building on the skills and ideas developed during this workshop, students will now collaboratively write and perform original plays based on the "Bas ek aur din" theme. These performances will be showcased at the upcoming Vasant Valley Drama Festival in February. We look forward to witnessing their creative endeavors on stage.

HCL concert in collabration with Spic-Macay

Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan is widely recognized as one of the greatest sitar players in the world from the Imdadkhani gharana, representing the seventh generation of this prestigious musical lineage. The recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Government of India's Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Academy Award, he was trained by his father, Ustad Aziz Khan, and his uncle, Hafeez
Khan, a prominent singer and surbahar/sitar player.

Ustadji enthralls his audiences everywhere, his music is characterized by its unique blend of traditional and innovative elements,
showcasing his exceptional technical skill and artistic expression. He is particularly known for his
mastery of the "Gayaki Ang" style, which emphasizes vocalistic phrasing and quality of raga
improvisations.
Throughout his illustrious career, Ustad Shahid Parvez has performed extensively across India and
globally, including notable performances at the Festival of India in the US, Europe, USSR, Canada, the
Middle East, Africa, and Australia. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the
Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Academy Award. He has performed Alaap, Jod, Jhala in Raag
bhairvi and later on he played Shuddh Saarang framed Taal Rupak 7-beats and Jhala in Drut
Teentaal 16 beats.

Accompanying Ustadji was Pt. Mithilesh Kumar Jha, a renowned Indian tabla maestro, celebrated for his exceptional mastery, tonal clarity, and deep understanding of rhythm. He belongs to the rich Benaras Gharana tradition and has accompanied many of India's legendary classical musicians and dancers with unmatched sensitivity and precision.
Born in Patna, Panditji began his tabla training at the age of six under the guidance of his father, Shri Gopikant Jha. He further refined his skills with the esteemed Guru Pandit Bulbul Maharaj of the Benaras Gharana. He won the first prize in the All India Music competition in 1986 and the second prize in the Youth Festival organized by the Government of Bihar in 1985.

The Parent Story | A Five-Day Therapeutic Pilot Group for the Parent Community to Reflect on the Parent-Child Relationship

The Parent Story was a small pilot program, rooted in the principles of child and developmental psychology and narrative therapy. The 5 days were experiential in nature. The sessions were designed as a reflective space and were meant for participants and the facilitator to co-discover the various stories we have of ourselves: as individuals, as parents, and as family members. We explored the many stories of happy and unhappy families, where the ideas of happiness and unhappiness come from, and how that impacts our own parenting styles.

Day 1: The focus for day 1 was 'The Many Stories of a Family.' Here are the goals we set to achieve:

• To understand that ideas of “functional” and “dysfunctional” families are socially and culturally constructed and not defined by a single story.
• To explore dominant cultural and personal parenting stories, and open space for alternative ones.
• The explore the many nuances of violence and what it means to be violent towards a family member

Day 2: The focus for day 2 was 'The Many Stories of a Child and Me.' Here are the goals we set to achieve:

• Explore how the parent–child relationship and family stories have evolved over time.
• Introduce mirroring and the Window of Tolerance through lived experience, story, and reflection.
• Reflect on how one person’s Window of Tolerance impacts the others’ in the family.

Day 3: The focus for day 3 was 'The Parenting Club.' Here are the goals we set to achieve:

• Reflect on your own childhood stories and create your own club of life. 
• Identify all the little actions and roles that make up parenting, represent them in the club of parenting, and assess each relationship carefully.

Day 4: The focus for day 4 was 'Authoring My Future Parent Story.' Here are the goals we set to achieve:

• Thinking about how Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) impact our Club of Parenting
• Thinking about how we want to use this knowledge to author our Parent Story.

Day 5: The focus of day 5 was 'The Relationship Certificate.' Here are the goals we set to achieve:

• Revisit the conversations from the last 4 days
• Reimagine and plan our Life Certificate
• Reimagine and author our Parent Story by writing our Parent-Child Relationship Certificate

Student presentation on "Think Design Sustain", a link to the interdisciplinary learning at the DIDAC 2025

Students from Shiv Nadar School, Gurgaon proudly represented the IB Middle Years Programme at DIDAC 2025 under the theme “Think • Sustain • Design.” 

• The MYP 1 learners, Semhar Kohli and Shrenik Prabu showcased their Science–Language & Literature IDU inspired by their OLE to Jaipur, connecting light and shadows from Jantar Mantar with storytelling, puppet-making, and the narratives of Amer Fort.
• The MYP 2 students, Riyansha Arora and Raghav Srivastava presented their Math–Visual Arts IDU, demonstrating how ratios and one-point perspective guide architectural design, supported by insights gained during their OLE to Rishikesh.
• The MYP 3 students, Mohisha Bharti and Shivang Saraf highlighted their integration of algebraic linear graphs and design through a simulation game, also linking pollution to its impact on plant reproduction through their AQI investigations. 

The students received immense appreciation from visitors for their confidence and depth of understanding, including special acknowledgement from Ms. Suman Sethi, IB World School Manager, who commended their clarity of thought and interdisciplinary approach.

Understanding Child Safety

As part of the school’s Continuous Learning Programme for Support Staff, a critical training session was recently conducted for our bus drivers, conductors, and helpers. The primary objective was to reinforce our commitment to safe, respectful, and child-friendly transportation.

The comprehensive session addressed key aspects of student welfare and professional responsibility, including:

• defining "child safety" specifically within the school and transport setting.
• understanding the legal framework of Child Safety Laws (POCSO and JJ Acts).
• identifying inappropriate behaviours and what constitutes abuse.
• establishing clear professional protocols regarding boundaries and safe physical contact guidelines.
• emphasizing the use of respectful language, tone, and appropriate behaviour at all times.

Outcome: This session has equipped our transport team with a deeper understanding of their legal and ethical responsibilities, ensuring a higher standard of professional conduct and vigilance on our routes.

Author Visit | Grade XI (NC & IC)

In a world where success is often measured by promotions and financial stability, Sauraj Jhingan and Samir Patham left their secure corporate careers to follow their passion for adventure and mountaineering. Their journey was anything but easy.

Over four long years, they made multiple harrowing attempts to conquer Mount Everest. Their hopes were dashed first by a deadly avalanche and then by hurricane-force winds in the perilous Death Zone forcing them to turn back just 900 metres from the summit. Finally, on their third attempt, they reached the summit of Mount Everest, realising a vision that had once seemed impossible.

What's Your Everest? is a story of true courage, self-discovery and the relentless pursuit of passion, urging you to ignite the spark within and conquer the metaphorical Everest in your life.

The first edition of SparkEd, our digital-first magazine, is here!

Announcing the inaugural edition of SparkEd, Shiv Nadar School’s annual digital-first magazine! 

SparkEd will be a space where ideas evolve and shape the way you see the world. Each story, insight, and perspective shared in this magazine has the potential to kindle greater awareness, be a moment of reflection, and inspire meaningful action.  

The first edition focuses on Sustainability and Climate Change, an urgent and deeply personal issue that touches every aspect of our lives. Creating awareness around sustainability inspires a chain reaction of environmental consciousness that extends far beyond our classrooms into homes, communities, and the world at large. 

In this magazine, you’ll find diverse voices of students, educators, parents and thought leaders, reflecting on personal experiences and unpacking global challenges.  

We invite you to read, reflect, and be inspired! 

New Parent Orientation | 15th December 2025

The New Parent Orientation, led by the Parent Partnership Office and attended by newly enrolled parents, provided a valuable opportunity to engage with Senior Leadership and gain deeper insights into Shiv Nadar School’s philosophy, culture, and practices.

To mark the beginning of this journey, each parent was warmly welcomed with a thoughtfully curated A to Z book. The session commenced with a mindfulness activity, followed by an overview of the school’s curriculum and key Shiv Nadar initiatives. Through the perspective of an existing parent, the Parent Partnership Program was introduced, highlighting the role of parents as valued ambassadors and collaborative partners in a shared vision.

In essence, the New Parent Orientation is about alignment, assurance, and partnership , ensuring that parents feel informed, supported, and connected right from the very beginning.