SUNNYDALE SCHOOL celebrates the seasons

Sunnydale School's modest playground was host to an intimate cultural event that saw performances by children in early primary years. Titled “Ritu Ronge Sunnydale”, the event was organised by the faculty members of the junior section of the school. Leading dance exponent Sharmila Banerjee and renowned Nazrul exponent Sadya Afreen Mallick graced the occasion as special guests.

The event commenced with the lighting of traditional lamps by the special guests along with Principal of the school Tazeen Ahmed and Vice Principal Zebunnessa. Little girls draped in colourful saris and boys in panjabis set the cultural tone of the morning, and their performances included recitation, dance and song numbers, as well as skits. The musical numbers were based on the six seasons of Bangladesh, setting off with Summer with the songs “Esho Hey Baishakh”, followed by “Trishito Akash KaNpe Re…” and “Daruno Ogni Baane”. Shathi Sarkar and Sumaya Imam, music teachers of the junior section of the school directed the song performances. “We were apprehensive whether they would be able to perform well, seeing they are so young. However, they delivered exactly the way we had taught them, even though had little time to prepare,” said Sumaya Imam.

The institution places high importance on cultural learning and practice as part of their core programme. “It is compulsory for students to take up any one of the cultural activities as part of their extracurricular programme, whether it is sports, scouting, debate, dance, art, or music. Even though this is an English medium school, we are Bangalees in mind and soul, and as teachers it is our duty to teach our students to hold onto their roots.” said Ifrat Jahan, head of the Senior Department and Cultural Committee at Sunnydale.

“We teach them songs of our roots from an early age so that they learn to associate them as part of their identity,” said Principal Tazeen Ahmed, “Young minds are fragile, and absorb all that they are exposed to, so it is crucial to shape their learning to ensure they have a strong cultural understanding, while able to function professionally in any part of the world.”

The performances were received well by the guests of the programme. “It is astounding as to how children of such a tender age can perform with such accuracy,” said Sadya Afreen Mallick, who sang the choral lines of “Abar Tora Manush Ho” with the children in the audience and on stage. The event concluded with the collective rendition of the National Anthem by everyone in attendance at the programme.