Language & Cultural School Happenings

Donation for Teacher Appreciation 2024

Hi Parents, it is that time of year again, the academic year draws to an end. Many of you wanted to show your appreciation for the great volunteer work done by the ISW Language Teachers, Assembly Teachers and Staff. Our school has been going strong for 30+ years with the support of our teachers, so thank you to them.

Should you wish to donate to a collection for teachers appreciation, you may do so at this link by the end of June 2024 and once thank you for your support. Funds will be donated as per teachers choice.

In 2020 $900 was donated on behalf of teachers to Greater Worcester Community Foundation GWCF for the 'First Responders Fund'.

In 2021 The donation collected for 2021 went towards the ISW building expansion fund. Once again thanks to all the teachers and volunteers for their hard work and dedication.

In 2022 The donation $670 collected went to World Central Kitchen for their work in Ukraine, and the remaining amount was donated to local charities like Abby House, Floral Street School(for a family in need), Northborough Junior Woman club (Turkey earthquake relief fund) and Senior Center In Shrewsbury(Food Pantry)

2023, we collected approx $500, and amount was shared between $250 to Shrewsbury Senior Cnter, $150 to Abbey House shelter for Women, $50 to Beal School and $50 Floral School food bank

--submitted by Muthu Rajasekaran, ISW Parent

Namaste to All!

On March 10 th 2024, ISW school had their Annual Teacher gathering where teachers discussed school agenda Items and spent some time socializing with other families. After the meet and  greet the families took part in fun games followed by lunch.

At ISW the kids celebrated Holi and Easter on March 31 st , 2024. Special thanks to Ms. Shiamin Melville and Master Kunal Chauhan for presenting and sharing their experiences on Easter tradition and Holi celebration respectively.

As the presentation was ongoing the Easter bunny left a surprise treat for all the kids. After the presentation, the kids came out and got excited with not just one but two surprises – lot full of eggs and a beautiful sunny weather. The kids couldn’t wait anymore to see what treats the bunny had left for them. Thanks to Easter bunny for leaving enough treat for all, and the kids made sure their peers got the treats as well.

After munching the treats, the kids moved to the next station where they formed a line to receive the organic dry color packets and pichkari (water gun). Special mention to our parents Muthu Rajasekaran, Abhay Thakur and Anjali Paranjpe for bagging the Holi colors and colored water. It was a great sight to see beautiful colored faces of both parents and kids having fun together.

As a parent, I was able to revive my childhood days celebrating

Holi and I’m sure other parents experienced the same looking at their kids. You know that the job done was great when your kid tells you that he had the best time, and loves coming more to attend the ISW language and cultural classes. Thanks to all the teachers, volunteers, parents, and last but not the least the ISW management for making this happen.

Here is some info on the  Seal of Biliteracy Program available in most  of our local Public Schools

In order to highlight the benefit of multilingualism and to promote sustained English language, native language, heritage language, and global language learning,  Shrewsbury Public School’s participates in the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy  and beyond. Please click on the link below for more information. Exams happen once a year, so contact the Principal's office. SSOB parent letter 2023-24

Mansi Gera one of our student teachers availed of this in Westboro Public School system.

Contact schoollead@iswonline.org if you need help navigating this for your kids

Carnatic music lecture/demonstration by Dr. Ramachandran Balakrishna at the Cultural School Assembly today.

 Dr. Ramachandran Balakrishna learns Carnatic violin from Shri. K.V.S. Vinay. He had his initial training with Shri. Nagarajan (a disciple of Padma Bhushan Shri. Lalgudi G. Jayaraman) and subsequently with Madurai Shri. P.V. Raghavan before moving to the Boston area. Ramachandran also works on his music with his mother, Smt. Sudha Balakrishnan. Ramachandran is a Principal Transportation Scientist in the Boston area.

submitted by Muthu Rajasekaran, ISW School parent 

Namaste to all!

As we embark into the beginning of new year 2024 kids learnt about harvest festivals, namely Pongal, Sankranti, Lohri and how it is commonly celebrated across different parts of India. Thanks to all the parents who volunteered to teach and share their experiences of the harvest festival.

At ISW, the Saraswathi puja was celebrated on March 10, 2024. The celebration at ISW is a long-standing tradition that has  been cultivated under the presence and guidance of Ms. Carolyn and Ms. Shiamin for the past 30 plus years – which has been and will be cherished by the past, present and future students of ISW. Prior to the big day, Ms. Sonia and Ms. Sarita taught the bhajans (Sharda Stavan and Hey Ram, Hey Ram) to the kids that they will be reciting on the day of puja. Amidst their busy schedule of language class and practicing bhajans, few kids even signed up to perform solo performance during the puja.

On the day of celebration, kids wore traditional Indian attire and were excited to offer their devotion to Goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts. Special thanks to Ms. Carolyn for the idols and decorations – a serenity and glimpse one could only experience in a temple.

Each kid was given a plate with some flowers, diya, and an idol of Saraswathi maa, and then the puja ceremony preceded by Mrs. Anju Shukla. As the Guru Mantra and Saraswathi Shloka’s went on, thekids meticulously took the flower petals and kum kum and offered their prayers to Saraswathi maa. Then in one single file, the kids along with Ms. Sonia and Ms. Sarita recited the bhajans (Sharda Stavan and Hey Ram, Hey Ram), which was pleasant to hear and was witnessed by the parents who graced the occasion with their family members. After the prayers, the solo performance of the kids was conducted. To our surprise, many kids who didn’t initially sign up for the solo performance also showed interest and were given a chance to showcase their spirituality – Afterall what better occasion can erupt their confidence than the day of wisdom and knowledge is being worshipped.

The enchantment of Goddess Saraswathi Maa’s songs, slogans and dance performance by the kids filled the room with eternal and divine aura. At the end the kids received blessings from the teacher and had the sacred thread tied onto their wrist, and then proceeded to collect the prashad.

Overall, this year’s Saraswati puja celebration was a huge success, and once again thanks to all the teachers and parents whose effort is much appreciated in every step of the kid’s nourishment and traditional upbringing. Together we can make our community and culture stronger!

Every year the ISW School families support the Giving Tree.  We collected over $100 in gift cards and mittens.  It will be donated to Abby's  House, which is Worcester’s largest provider of affordable housing specifically designed to meet the needs of women and children. Thank you to the parents, teachers & children.

On December 2, we had the  Michael family come in and share the Christmas story (this is a tradition now as they have been coming in for 8 years). Also the kids enjoyed the treats.

We also sang Christmas carols with the Dhol Tasha team. Thanks to Rajesh and team for the beautiful fusion. They also took request from kids, and it was a very festive environment Link to Xmas Dhol pics

On November 19,  ISW Students continued with their lessons each weekend. During assembly, Bindiya Jain and Mrunal Khandkar taught the children how to use the Mandala Art technique to decorate their Diwali diyas.

The following weekend Vijay Gupta, renowned violinist, performed two scintillating pieces, one based on western classical music and the other, composed by his wife, Reena Esmail, blending Hindustani classical style. He also engaged the children describing his own life story growing up in the US and answering many curious questions from the kids.

Later, the children went outside to build forts, a tradition in some parts of Maharashtra at Diwali. 

Link for Photos

ISW School will be hosting Vijay Gupta, violinist and Music Worcester's artist in residence,  for the school Assembly on November 5, all are welcome. Do RSVP. 

Video attached

We have  started school with a flourish, currently we have 131 +13 (Sanskrit) students enrolled. Its great that we  have a higher number of younger students than any of the previous years.

Last Tuesday we started our online sanskrit class for Adults. We have got decent registration for our pilot program and are excited to introduce this new language as a part of ISW School.

Last Sunday we also distributed our textbooks to students. Students were excited to get new books to continue their learning.

The School Open House was held on September 17 Attended by oour new and returning parents , and all our teachers and staff, after a welcome speeach , and introduction of all the teachers, Puneet and Jagan talked about ISW School and other ISW events and programs

Classes began on Sat/Sun on 23/24, so far 122 kids/adults have registered We thank our 35 volunteer teachers and volunteers, and we are seeing an interest in our new

Sanskrit Conversational online classes for adults starting on Oct 3 (Tuesdays 8:30 pm)

FB Live (link) is available until mid October, 2023, so do watch it We also had KV Krishna Mohan from Star 9Telugu TV record interviews with our teachers, and both are being shown in Hyderabad, (link) (link) India

SCHOOL REGISTRATION LINKS ISW Cultural/Language School Registration, start Sep 17, 2023 2023-24 ISW School Telugu Registration 2023-24 Registration for ISW Adult Conversational Samskrit (Sanskrit) classes-online

Links to register below, register by Sept 12, to get free books

SCHOOL REGISTRATION LINKS ISW Cultural/Language School Registration, start Sep 17, 2023 2023-24 ISW School Telugu and Kannada Registration 2023-24 Registration for ISW Adult Conversational Samskrit (Sanskrit) classes-online