Bokaro: Chalks and lesson plans took a back seat at Sree Ayyappa Public School, Sector 5, on Teachers’ Day as teachers traded classrooms for the stage. Music, comedy, games, gifts and a colourful ramp walk turned the celebration into a lively tribute to the mentors who shape young minds.
A traditional start
The programme began with a floral welcome for Director Dr S. S. Mahapatra, Principal P. Shailaja Jayakumar and Vice-Principals Suresh Babu and Rajalakshmi. S. Gopikrishnan, Vijesh P.K., M.R. Suresh, Dilip M. and Sreeja Anil Kumar lit the ceremonial lamp, while teachers’ shloka chanting created an auspicious atmosphere. The staff also paid homage to former President and eminent educationist Dr S. Radhakrishnan by garlanding his portrait.
Music brings nostalgia
Teachers of the Primary and Middle Wings opened the cultural programme with a school prayer before presenting a musical medley celebrating Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar. The evergreen numbers brought a touch of nostalgia to the celebrations.
Dance and laughter
The Pre-Primary Wing teachers — Deepti, Mamta, Soni and Shilpa S., along with Nursery and Prep teachers — followed with a graceful welcome dance. The mood then shifted from melody to mirth as Primary Wing teachers staged a horror-comedy. Nita Kumari as the ‘Main Pandit’ and Anamika Jha as the ghost, supported by Savitri, Shilpa S. and others, had the gathering in splits.
Let the games begin
Teachers soon became contestants as games including Chair Pair Gear, Blind Vegetable Seller, Treasure Hunt and Passing the Pass brought out their competitive and playful sides. Mukesh Kumar Singh, Babita Singh and Deep Prakash Das won Chair Pair Gear, while Aryan Sharma, Vijesh P.K. and Sujith emerged winners in Blind Vegetable Seller. Shashibala Choudhary, Nishant, Siddharth and Ranjana won the Treasure Hunt, while Tarshila Devi, Soni and Subudhra triumphed in Passing the Pass.
Gifts and glamour
Maruti Suzuki and Tata Nexa presented cakes and gifts to teachers, while Bokaro TVS honoured them with prizes. The ramp walk added a glamorous touch, with Arpita Ghosh and Balram Chandra Majundar representing West Bengal and Renu, Moma Pal and Soni representing Gujarat.
A tribute beyond textbooks
Chairman P. Rajagopal praised teachers for nurturing young minds, while Director Dr S. S. Mahapatra said education was about shaping character, confidence and conscience, not merely transferring knowledge. Principal P. Shailaja Jayakumar lauded the faculty’s dedication and said a teacher’s influence extended far beyond the classroom.
A celebration to remember
The management distributed gifts before the festivities concluded with lunch and fellowship. Vice-Chairmen Saseendran Karat and Mohanan R. Nair, General Secretary E. S. Suseelan, Treasurer Balachandran and other members of the management were present. For a day, the teachers became performers, competitors and entertainers — and gratitude became the most memorable lesson of all.
