Learning Beyond Classrooms: OLE Excursions to Jaipur and Gwalior–Jhansi
As part of the Outbound Learning Experiences (OLE) programme at Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad, students of Grade 6 and Grade 7 embarked on enriching educational journeys that took learning beyond the classroom and into the real world.
Grade 6 – Jaipur
The four-day excursion to Jaipur offered a vibrant mix of culture, craft, and science. Beginning with a visit to Sanganer village, students participated in workshops on handmade paper and blue pottery, followed by a Rocketry & Stargazing Night featuring lunar and planetary observation and astrophotography.
Day 2 combined yoga, a visit to Amber Fort, and block-printing at the Anokhi Museum, along with pottery, turban-tying, zorbing, and a lak-bangle demonstration. Students explored Jal Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, and Hawa Mahal on Day 3, culminating in an immersive cultural evening at Chokhi Dhani that celebrated Rajasthani art and hospitality.
Grade 7 – Gwalior–Jhansi
The Gwalior–Jhansi OLE deepened students’ connection with India’s heritage, creativity, and community. They engaged in Chitera oil painting, attended a heritage documentary and expert talk, explored Vedic Math, and created dolls from recycled materials. Visits to Gwalior Fort (including its light-and-sound show), Jhansi Fort, Jai Vilas Palace, Orchha’s Taragram Paper Initiative, and a community radio station offered insight into India’s history and civic life. A village walk and school outreach added a strong element of service learning.
Both journeys embodied the spirit of Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad’s experiential learning approach—encouraging curiosity, creativity, empathy, and teamwork. Meticulous planning and guidance by teachers ensured a safe, engaging, and memorable experience for every student.
Author Interaction: Priyambada Jayakumar on M.S. Swaminathan – The Man Who Fed India
On 3rd September 2025, Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad hosted an engaging session with author Priyambada Jayakumar, who shared insights from her acclaimed book M.S. Swaminathan: The Man Who Fed India.
Students from our school and neighbouring institutions attended the session to hear about her experiences as a writer and researcher, and the challenges of documenting the life of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, the pioneer of India’s Green Revolution.
Through her talk, Ms. Jayakumar emphasized perseverance, curiosity, social responsibility, and the power of vision—qualities that defined Dr. Swaminathan’s journey. The interactive Q&A session saw students asking thought-provoking questions on writing, research, and the importance of bringing lesser-known stories to light.
The session not only enriched students’ understanding of literature as a force for social change, but also inspired them to connect their learning with real-world impact.
Future Leaders Fest 2025 – Innovate, Inspire, Impact
A team of three students from Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad brought home the First Position in the STEM Circuit category at the Future Leaders Fest: Innovate, Inspire, Impact, hosted by Bluebells School International, New Delhi.
The STEM Circuit was a high-energy maze of science and math challenges designed to foster innovation, analytical thinking, and teamwork. Competing against several schools, our students demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills and collaboration to emerge victorious.
Winning Team:
- Kshitij Goel – Grade 9
- Sanshray Gupta – Grade 10
- Kinshuka Gupta – Grade 9
Their achievement is a proud reflection of their curiosity, creativity, and the spirit of innovation that defines our learners at Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad.
‘I Love Animals’ – Nursery Culmination of the My World Theme
The culmination of the My World theme — I Love Animals — was held on 26th September 2025 in the Nursery classes of Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad. The children took complete ownership of their learning journey, collaborating with enthusiasm to showcase the different regions they had explored alongside their friend, Dora the Explorer.
They journeyed through the farm, wild, underwater, polar, and desert regions, discovering a fascinating variety of animals. With confidence and joy, they spoke about the animals’ homes, babies, food habits, and special features. Their ability to connect knowledge with expression was remarkable, as they explained their discoveries with clarity and pride.
The event was attended by teachers from the Foundation Years and Kindergarten, who witnessed the children’s deep engagement and learning. The little ones impressed everyone with their thoughtful responses to critical thinking questions — a reflection of both their understanding and curiosity.
More than a presentation, the culmination became a vibrant celebration of knowledge, collaboration, and creativity — a joyful moment that captured the growth and wonder of our young explorers.
Tavish Pahwa achieves a rare national milestone in tennis
Tavish Pahwa of Grade 10, Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad, has emerged as the Singles Champion in the Boys’ U-18 category at the prestigious Fenesta Open National Championship held in New Delhi from 29th September to 4th October 2025.
He also reached the semi-finals in the doubles event, displaying remarkable consistency and skill across formats.
With this latest triumph, Tavish has accomplished an extraordinary feat — winning all National Junior Titles consecutively across four categories:
- U-12 (2022)
- U-14 (2023)
- U-16 (2024)
- U-18 (2025)
A clean sweep of all National Junior Titles over four consecutive years — a testament to his dedication, discipline, and exceptional talent.
Pranit Rastogi Shines Across National and International Chess Arenas
Pranit Rastogi of Grade 3, Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad, continues to shine as one of the region’s most promising young chess talents, displaying exceptional focus, consistency, and competitive spirit across a remarkable series of tournaments.
6 September 2025 – Pacific Chess League, Jasola (Under-8)
Pranit secured First Position, remaining undefeated across all seven rounds. He received a trophy, ₹2,500 cash prize, and gift vouchers worth ₹2,500.
7 September 2025 – Pacific Chess League, Jasola (Under-12)
Competing in a higher age category, he earned Third Prize with a trophy, ₹1,500 cash prize, and ₹1,500 in gift vouchers.
18–30 September 2025 – World Cadet Classical Chess Championship, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Representing India, Pranit improved his FIDE rating by 103 points, defeating five higher-rated players and drawing with two — a mature and steady international performance.
5 October 2025 – C.S. Sharma Memorial (Under-9), The Millennium School, Noida
He clinched First Prize, remaining unbeaten.
26 October 2025 – SRCA Chess Tournament, Noida (Under-8)
Pranit secured Second Position, finishing undefeated.
26 October 2025 – Blitz Chess Tournament (Open Category), Noida
Competing alongside IMs, AGMs, and WFMs, he finished 4th overall, ahead of a Woman FIDE Master.
31 October 2025 – Felicitation, Faridabad
Pranit was honoured by the Senior Citizen Society, Sector 16, for his World Cadet performance and continued achievements.
1 November 2025 – GBN School Chess Tournament, Faridabad
He secured First Position, remaining unbeaten. This marked his 100th chess trophy.
8–16 November 2025 – Commonwealth Chess Championship, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Representing India, Pranit achieved:
• 5th place in Classical
• 4th place in Blitz
29 November 2025 – Open SRCA Chess Tournament, Faridabad
Pranit emerged Champion, undefeated in all five games, qualifying for the Champion Trophy Knockout Open Tournament.
30 November 2025 – Champions Trophy Knockout Finale, Noida
Representing Faridabad, he once again became Champion, remaining undefeated in all five rounds.
30 November 2025 – Under-9 Tournament, Prometheus School, Noida
Representing Shiv Nadar School, he secured Second Position among 90 participants.
30 November 2025 – Blitz Open Chess Tournament, Noida
He further competed in the Blitz Open category later that day.
Across these events, Pranit played 17 games in a single day, demonstrating remarkable stamina and mental resilience.
7 December 2025 – Move N Leap Chess Tournament, Sector 40, Noida
Pranit delivered another strong performance:
• Under-8 Category – First Position, undefeated
• Under-12 Puzzle Championship – Second Position
• Under-12 Category (higher age group) – Second Position
1 February 2026 – CS Memorial Chess Tournament, The Millennium School, Noida
Pranit secured First Position in the Under-9 category, remaining undefeated in all five games.
8 February 2026 – Under-11 Chess Tournament, Faridabad
He achieved First Position, remaining undefeated in all four games.
On the same day, he also competed in the Under-14 category and secured First Position, remaining undefeated in all five games.
14 February 2026 – Study Isle Chess Tournament
Competing in higher age groups, Pranit secured:
• Second Position – Under-12 category
• Third Position – Under-16 category
Pranit’s consistent excellence across age groups, formats, and competitive levels — local, national, and international — reflects his deep commitment to the sport and his steady growth as a young athlete.
We congratulate him on his continued achievements and wish him many more milestones ahead.
Iha Joshi and Kavya Strike Gold at Haryana State SGFI Tennis Championship
Iha Joshi and Kavya, students of Grade 9, Shiv Nadar School Faridabad, clinched the Gold Medal in the Haryana State SGFI Girls Under-17 Tennis Tournament 2025, held at Scholar Global School, Bahadurgarh, from 24th to 26th September 2025.
Representing District Faridabad, the team showcased exceptional skill and teamwork, defeating strong contenders from Bhiwani, Yamunanagar, and Sirsa to secure their place in the finals. In the championship match, they triumphed over Rohtak, with Iha defeating the No. 1 seed from the district.
Earlier in the tournament, Iha Joshi (Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad) and Anandita Upadhyay (DPS Sector 19, Faridabad) represented the district as playing members.
With this victory, Iha now advances to represent Haryana State at the National SGFI Tournament, scheduled to be held at Mayo College, Ajmer.
Ruhaan Taneja Shines in Back-to-Back Chess Tournaments
Ruhaan Taneja of Grade 3, Shiv Nadar School Faridabad, showcased exceptional skill and focus in two recent inter-school chess tournaments.
At the Inter-Campus Chess Tournament held at Shiv Nadar School, Noida on 12th September 2025, Ruhaan clinched 1st place, competing among 24 participants from the Noida, Faridabad, and Gurgaon campuses.
Continuing his winning streak, Ruhaan also participated in the 1st Chakravyuh Chess Championship on 11th October 2025, where he secured the 3rd position in the Under-9 Boys category, earning both a trophy and a certificate among 51 participants.
Adding to his growing list of inspiring experiences, Ruhaan recently had the opportunity to attend the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa. There, he met renowned Indian chess grandmasters Mr. D. Gukesh and Mr. R. Praggnanandhaa.
This encounter has further strengthened Ruhaan’s passion for chess, motivating him to continue honing his game and aiming higher in upcoming tournaments.
Jayansh Dhingra Shines at the SGFI Haryana State Chess Championship
Jayansh Dhingra of Grade 7 at Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad, played a pivotal role in helping the Faridabad U-14 team clinch the SGFI Haryana State Chess Championship title.
Demonstrating remarkable focus and composure, Jayansh won all five of his matches, maintaining an unbeaten record throughout the tournament. His stellar performance contributed 5 crucial game points, propelling the Faridabad team to victory with a total of 15 game points.
The SGFI (School Games Federation of India) Haryana State-level Chess Championship brought together top young chess talents from across the state, with each team comprising four players. Jayansh’s consistency and strategic depth stood out as defining factors in his team’s championship triumph.
Avni Sethi’s Paper Published on One Young India
Avni Sethi, a Grade 11 IBDP student of Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad, has had her insightful paper titled “International Monetary Fund: Helping Nations Recover or Regress” published on the One Young India platform.
Through her article, Avni critically examines the role of the IMF in shaping global economies — exploring whether its interventions truly aid recovery or inadvertently deepen disparities. Her analysis reflects the depth of inquiry and global awareness nurtured within our IBDP programme.
Read her full article here:
International Monetary Fund: Helping Nations Recover or Regress
