by Bethany Institutions | Sep 12, 2022 | Bethany General, High School
Nowadays, children need more and more attention in classrooms to help them progress further in their studies and all-round behavioral growth. It is becoming increasingly important that a child has exposure to the best scholarly environment possible, equipped with good teachers. Thus, it is important to make sure that the individuals who are constantly teaching your child new things every day are the best they can be. You may think it’s hard to find the best school teachers in Bangalore, but one need not look further than The Bethany Institutions spread across the City of Bangalore! With over 600 teaching and non-teaching staff, the students at Bethany are well-cared for and here are some of the reasons why they stand out.
#1. Highly qualified
The staff at Bethany are trained with at least three to four years of experience and are required to have a B.Ed. This includes every teacher from the primary department onwards, however, ISC teachers are required to have post-graduate degrees as well as to ensure the best learning for your child. Bethany also has a development program that includes regular staff meetings as well as training sessions. These are held department wise for maximum efficiency. All the teachers are well-qualified and have a wide range of skill sets in order to ensure quality teaching for the children of Bethany. It is one of the main reasons why they are the best school teachers in Bangalore.
#2. Innovative methods of teaching
The teachers at Bethany each have their own unique styles of teaching. No teacher teaches in the same way but they always make sure that every child in the class is able to understand the material taught with ease. Some teachers use the art of storytelling to communicate to the students while others lecture to the point. Sometimes students are asked to read and explain to their peers or even act out the material in certain classes. Teachers also use tools like PowerPoint and online material to supplement the textbook notes so that the students can have a wide range of material to imbibe information from. These are the best school teachers in Bangalore for a reason.
#3. Attention
Teachers all have one goal in common – to both command attention as well as to pay attention. The teaching staff at Bethany make sure every single student understands what is being taught and they regularly pause teaching to check if anyone has any doubts, which are then clarified. At the same time, they also make sure all the children are fully attentive in class and some teachers even keep the class active by asking questions and interacting with the students during lessons.
#4. Personal responsibility
Teachers take it upon themselves to ensure that their students rise up to their maximum potential. Words of encouragement, as well as lessons of wisdom, are continuously bestowed upon the students whenever needed. Teachers help students with their difficulties and offer extra advice if asked. It is important for teachers to know their students personally and to keep themselves as approachable as possible. Fortunately, we only work with the best teachers in Bangalore.
#5. Care factor
The teaching staff at Bethany also have another special factor aside from their knowledge and experience – they are very caring towards the children and treat them as their own. This includes both disciplining them properly as well as gently advising them on certain matters. The female teachers are motherly towards the students and this care factor is important for students to grow in the right environment. Learning becomes easier if the student-teacher bond is strong. Students are always welcome to approach the teachers with any problems they have and the teachers always provide help when they can. Encouragement and support are two things one can always rely on a teacher for.
#6. Special school
The special school at Bethany is equipped with wonderful teachers who have special training and skills to deal with anything that comes their way. The children are extremely well cared for and are treated in such a way that they are able to develop and grow at maximum ease. The special school teachers dedicate their time to making sure every individual child is able to grow in a comfortable environment. They are specially trained and have individual charts and progress reports of the children so that they can excel in what they like doing best.
#7. All round learning
The classroom is a place of learning and growth not only academically but also as individuals. The staff at Bethany make sure that there is overall development in every single student. Lessons are taught to the students about values and the teachers lead by example. Students are disciplined gently and are encouraged to always be the best they can be. Teachers at Bethany make sure every child is involved in the class assemblies and that they are kind to their peers. Academic excellence is not the only criterion for a good Bethanite, it is also the personal development which is ensured by the best school teachers in Bangalore.
Bethany High is a special place for a child to grow and learn in and the teaching staff at Bethany are crucial to the positive growth of the children who study there. Every teacher is valued by the school and its students and their dedication and commitment to their jobs are fully seen in the performance of the children. It is crucial for a child’s learning environment to be as comfortable and nurturing as possible. Both behavioral and academic growth are spurred with the support of a good teacher, and these are readily available if you look in the right places.
by Bethany Institutions | Aug 23, 2022 | Bethany General, High School, Sports & Games
Bethany pioneered the trend for a three-mile Road Run, 34 years ago. This remarkable annual event is much anticipated by present and past students, parents and the staff. A very commendable sporting activity, its popularity sets the tone for the Annual Athletic Meet that follows in the month of August. The robust runners have kept up this unique tradition and have set a benchmark to take on the target with ease.
Our school is determined to promote all co-curricular activities thereby enabling the students to develop and progress by leaps and bounds. Very much alive is the saying, ’ A sound mind in a sound body’. The students are surrounded with opportunities to excel and be the beneficiaries of an absolutely astounding school life.
The very first batch of 150 participants, in 1984, created an imminent impact on the others, all through these years. We are proud of those students for their commitment, zeal, and passion with which they proudly set the sport to begin in style.
Another spectacular Road Run at Bethany took place on 7th July 2018. Preparations began much in advance, duties were allotted, meticulous planning and the wholehearted cooperation rendered by every one effectively popularized the Road run. When the neighborhood lay still and quiet, students, parents, and staff, energetically entered the school campus. They warmed their hearts and pepped up their stamina with a session of Zumba before they began their eagerly awaited run. The exciting start fixed the pace and the action enlivened every group to begin after a gap of five to seven minutes.
The roads were dotted with runners who jogged, rushed, darted, sprinted, trotted, raced, dashed and made a successful finish. Everyone reached the finishing line, only the frequency varied for each group started at different times.
Altogether there were 11 categories from classes 2 to 12, alumni [boys and girls], parents. The presence of 11 differently abled children from the Bethany Special School made the event unique. The winners were awarded medals and cups.
The cause of the run was to commemorate the birth centenary of our Founder, Mrs. Mignon David. It was also to create awareness of fitness and a healthy lifestyle. On the whole, it was a time of celebration for the young and the old. This event that brought the Bethany family in unison for a noble cause.
by Bethany Institutions | Jul 30, 2022 | Bethany General, High School
It is a very common sight these days to see teenagers in possession of hand-held gadgets texting away at lightning speed. Or having their ears plugged with earphones listening to music incessantly. Or even replying, liking, commenting on social media sites fervently. In one of our assemblies held at Bethany High School, we realized that many of our students are using such gadgets and are online for a major part of their day leading almost virtual lives. Parents also expressed concerns about how to provide, control and ensure mindful and meaningful use technology while bringing up our little “digital natives”.
So the Bethany High School decided to address these issues and empower students and parents with strategies to help them deal effectively with this festering issue. Sessions were thus held with students across all age groups i.e. from 3-18 year old and their parents. These sessions received an overwhelming response from both parties and the interactive sessions that followed these sessions put things in perspective for all of us. I was privileged to be a part of this sensitization drive initiated and conducted by Bethany High School. This was done in the hope of creating awareness about the toxic and addictive effects of the digital age that stare us in our face and we refuse to accept it. Is this ignorance? Is it denial? Several answers and many more questions raised during a series of these sessions across various departments of the institution and cross-section of parents of toddlers to teenagers point to the latter! It is denial! to a great extent, digital natives cannot think of a world without it. we, the digital immigrants, however, have lived the pre-digital era and yet fail to recognize the overuse, misuse or abuse of gadgets & technology. Such is the magnetic pull that we do not want to forego the “perceived comfort and safety” that our gadgets offer to us or so we think.
Time to introspect:
- Are we using/overusing/ misusing/abusing technology?
- Do we “need” it as much as we “use” it?
- Are the reasons we give real/perceived?
- Are we connected virtually/emotionally?
- Are we losing our decision-making & survival skills due to being gadget dependent?
As a psychologist, my job is to question human behavior and understand why people behave the way they do. How can lack of empathy be explained? Is the constant and easy exposure to violence through games and internet responsible? Is the virtual violent content numbing our senses and making us incapable of “feeling” which is the core of human existence?
According to research, brains become “rewired” due to being virtually online often exposing our brains to shocking and sensational images and videos. Neural circuits may become desensitized due to this exposure and little or no training on empathic skills or life skills.
Many researchers have shown that empathy is negatively impacted by technology use, especially social media use.. Social media has taken social comparison and certification to an all new, never-before-seen level among youngsters today, the most vulnerable of which are our teenagers or “Screenagers” as they are popularly called these days. Self-obsessed individuals are seen taking selfies where ever they go. They are seen clicking pictures of all their activities as well as their food. The check-ins and “feeling” tabs on popular social media sites are robbing our skill to express ourselves in self-devised words. Everything is provided from which we only have to choose. Over-reliance on these prompts for self-expression makes it difficult for us to express ourselves otherwise. Also, a large population is doing this under peer pressure or just because “everyone does it”. It is something that becomes mechanical or compulsion to show off. This leads to social anxiety or depression among youngsters. Statistics reveal the alarming rate at which youngsters are seeking professional help to deal with issues pertaining to gadget addiction, social media cravings, social anxiety or depression. With the result, there has been noted a remarkable rise in aggression among the said population.
Another classic case of losing some of our survival skills is the reliance on GPS while finding an address. Asking for directions, understanding those instructions, giving such directions, retaining them in the memory, approaching a stranger in a strange land, often involving an unfamiliar language are all extinct skills. Losing data, battery or network in such a situation triggers panic. Just a little food for thought, guys!!
Howsoever, the good news is it’s reversible. Let’s see what we can do as adults in our households to promote gadget/techno-hygiene and protect our children –
- Have set boundaries. Have a structure. Set screen-time.
- Allow no technology or gadget use behind locked doors.
- Educate and talk to your children about responsible use of gadgets/technology/social media
- Do not give your child his/her OWN gadget
- Refer to the screen-time allowed for different age groups by pediatricians and set accordingly
- Be role models
- Have gadget-free family times
- Encourage family outings/ drives to be gadget free
- Have meaningful conversations with your children (easier said than done especially in case of teenagers)
- You are the provider so you get to lay down the rules. (sorry kids!)
- Be the parent. NOT a friend.
- Say NO when you must. Often, that is.
- Do not gratify immediately. Make them wait. Make them earn
- Stay connected. Emotionally.
- Be available. Physically.
Trust me, it is possible. It is difficult but possible. Going by the experience of working extensively with teenagers for quite some time now, I can recognize it is difficult but not impossible. For the brave parents that is!
It is extremely ironic that I’m talking about gadgets and technology and how they affect and intrude and pervade our lives, bodies and minds! Yet, I’m using it to reach out to you all! I have used it to research. And you too are using it as you read this!
Yes, we cannot do away with it! But we have a choice to make… and empower the youngsters to make the choice! Technology is all-pervading and extremely useful if used mindfully. Now whether we use, over-use, misuse, abuse is a CHOICE we have to make! For gadgets do not come with “STATUTORY WARNING: A MENTAL HEALTH HAZARD!”
by Bethany Institutions | Jun 19, 2022 | Bethany General, High School, Music & Drama
In honor of the Bethany High Senior Choir’s performance and Silver Diploma rating in Singapore, a Homecoming concert at Bethany was planned in short span of 9 days!
The 2-hour program featured special excerpts from the other Bethany Institutions.
There were 2 shows running from 5-6: 45 pm and 7-9pm, and both were packed, full- house shows!
Program:
- Bethany Junior Schools Choir performed the song from Mathilda, WHEN I GROW UP, which was introduced by a super cute and eloquent 4-year-old.
- Pre Primary Department Choir sang and danced to the boogie-woogie ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK
- Bethany High, Sarjapur, performed a highly exciting African folk song called BONSE ABA complete with choreographed moves.
- Primary Department captivated the audience with their renditions of EARTH IS MY HOME and the anthem MUSIC CHANGES THE WORLD
- Middle School performed the song FINGERPRINT OF GOD composed by Mr. Saroop Oommen, HOD of Music & Drama Dept. The song was based on the tragic story of the Bethany Founder Mrs. Mignon David, who rose like a phoenix after the loss of her 2 sons in a swimming accident and started the Bethany Home School in 1963. Apart from the Choir, 2 talented dancers conveyed how negativity can be conquered by the light of positivity.
- Special School, performed a choreography to the theme ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, with special needs children which was simply scintillating.
- Junior College, presented the DANCE OF LIFE, a spell-binding fusion of Kathak, Bharatnatyam and Odissi Indian Classical dances, with a gripping narrative explaining how life goes from Birth, to tragedies of life and the victory when life’s purposes are realised. Again connected to the birth centenary of our founder Mrs. Mignon David. At the end, all 3 dancers came together still dancing in their individual genres, but yet looking in sync – it was a goose bumps moment!!
- High School, dancers performed a dance called CLASSICAL ALLEGRO, which combined the nuances of western dance with Kathak! Brilliantly executed.
- National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) performed a Hip Hop based dance routine for the song PERM, compete with gansta hats and bling shoes!
- 3 students from the Bethany Alumni, lead by professional dancer Brian Shaji, performed an eye-popping dance-off complete with some comic elements!
- The Bethany Music Department, performed their own arrangement of the song LEARNING TO BE THE LIGHT in an interesting negatron genre.
- SICF PARENTS: The parents of the Choristers who traveled to Singapore. What fun! Lead by pianist/conductor Dr. Maya Mascarenhas, the SICF parents pulled out all the stops and performed a Beatles medley, making the crowd join in for a classic sing-a-long session!
THE FINALE – Bethany High Senior Choir
To end the great evening, the moment everyone was waiting for, the Bethany High, Senior Choir took the stage, conducted by Mr. Saroop Oommen. Resplendent in their quasi Indian costumes, a lacy shrug on the girls and a golden shiny waist-coat on the boys, the choir’s entry itself was majestic! The pieces they performed include:
1. Intonation Showcase: The choir started off with a unique showcase of vocal dynamics & intonation – the 4 groups that make up the choir, had to speak out different phrases in coordinated volume levels mimicking a crowd of people speaking, soft to medium to loud to super loud – all in tandem with small hand gestures from the conductor. And then suddenly they had a perfectly timed foot stomp & hand clap, and then back again to the speaking, interspaced with a Yawn sound and sleep gestures and back to a crescendo of the talking to a super loud volume – and as suddenly as they began, snapped to silence!
- Sadhvartha: The Choirs favorite song, of which Mr. Raghu Dixit’s Instagram post went viral, was the next song by the choir. Incidentally, the composer of the song, Mr. Wesley P Kuruvilla was present, beaming in the front row. In his words, “I gave you a baby, and you’ve made it all grown up!” The audience lapped up the Carnatic elements and the Bharatnatyam vocal percussion.
- Adagio in G Minor: The persona of the choir changes completely for this song as it’s specifically Western Classical, and complete with the lilting melody, a western flute, and piano, the song transports you immediately, to a European scenic venue, complete with its Latin words ‘Kyrie Eleison’ (Lord have mercy), ‘Requiem’ (in remembrance) and ‘Aeternam’ (forever to come).
- THIS IS ME – This song, from the blockbuster movie the Greatest Showman has been rocking this year’s charts, with the heart cry THIS IS ME. The choir’s rendition had choreographed segments too which added impetus to lyrics like ‘Won’t let them break me down to dust!’ The audience couldn’t help but join in clapping to the pulsating beat and passionate faces!
- SUPERSTITION – Purposely kept as the last song, due to its intricate blues/rock harmonies and highly choreographed show choir format. The crowd went wild when the song ended with a flip and stance by 2 male dancers from the Choir! At that very moment the rest of the choir, bunched up and froze into a jazz hands position! Scintillating and super thrilling!
STANDING OVATION: The Audience went wild and then it happened!! Row by row, the audience rose to their feet and soon the whole auditorium was offering a Standing Ovation, much to the surprise of the conductor and choir!! Truly a divine moment!
Certificates: To end the evening, Mrs. Yasmin Sengupta lead the awards ceremony where each chorister was given
- a Certificate from the Singapore Festival organizers,
- a Certificate from Bethany High and
- a plaque with a beautiful photograph of the choir on stage in Singapore.
A grand, fitting ending to the last 3 months of a dream coming full circle into a victorious Silver rating and a journey of learning, fun and bringing the international flavor a lot closer to home!
by Bethany Institutions | May 29, 2022 | Bethany General, High School
Teacher: “Good morning my dear!”
Child: “I missed you, ma’am”
One of those typical re-affirming mornings at our school invariably begins like this on most days!
The answer, my dear readers, is straightforward and simple! It’s our children who think and know that Bethany Junior School 2 is the right choice for them because their school makes them SO HAPPY DAY IN DAY OUT!
Apart from the absolute warm and caring atmosphere, if you are wondering what else makes our children want to come back to school, morning after morning, video below will let you take a glimpse of all that we have in store for our children for a super wholesome development at Bethany Junior School 2 in HSR layout!
HERE’S A SHORT VIDEO OF WHAT LIFE IN THE BJS2 IS LIKE:
JOY …. SENSE of BELONGING and NEVER A DULL MOMENT is certainly not an exaggeration at Bethany Junior School 2 for children and teachers alike!
And if you’d like to visit our children’s little kingdom for a personal experience of all that we do at Bethany Junior School 2, then please drop by at –
Bethany Junior School 2
173, 14th Cross Rd,
Sector 6, HSR Layout,
Bengaluru, Karnataka 560102
Phone Number – 080 2572 3198
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