Educational Trips & Tours

TRIP TO SHIMLA

With an aim to explore the rich cultural and natural heritage of Himachal Pradesh, Ahlcon International School organized an exciting three-day trip to Kufri, Chail, and Shimla from 6^th to 8^th June 2024.

The entire group left from school early in the morning and reached Kufri by evening. The mountains welcomed us with its serene landscapes and cool weather. Students visited the Himalayan Nature Park and saw various species of flora and fauna native to the region. The highlight was interacting with Himalayan Monal, the state bird of Himachal Pradesh.

On day two, we headed towards Chail, a quaint hill station known for its lush greenery and serene ambiance. In Chail, we visited the Chail Palace, which once served as the summer retreat for the Maharaja of Patiala. The palace's architecture and the sprawling gardens left us awe-struck. We visited the Himalayan Nature Park, where we saw various species of flora and fauna native to the region. The highlight was interacting with Himalayan Monal, the state bird of Himachal Pradesh amidst thick pine forests.

On the last day, we travelled to Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh where we visited the Mall Road, Ridge, and Christ Church, absorbing the colonial charm and shopping for souvenirs.

Heading back to Delhi everyone marveled at the panoramic views of Shimla.

The school trip to Kufri, Chail, and Shimla was an enriching experience for all of us. It not only provided us with insights into the cultural heritage of Himachal Pradesh but also allowed us to appreciate the natural beauty of the Himalayan region. The trip fostered camaraderie among students and teachers alike, creating memories.

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FUN-FILLED TRIP TO LOHAGARHFARMS

 

An exhilarating one-day fun-filled trip to Lohagarh Farms was organized for the students of classes IX-XII on 28^th December 2023. A total of 445 students along with the teachers left early morning in the cold breeze for the farmhouse, a serene getaway nestled in the heart of rural bliss.

On reaching, the entire group was accorded a traditional welcome with a tikka, dhol beats and greeted with warm smiles and refreshing welcome drink. The rustic charm of the entrance set the tone for the day, providing a glimpse into the traditional atmosphere. The exciting group savored sumptuous breakfast and proceeded for the adventure activities. 

The students enjoyed thoroughly from clicking selfies to enjoying rides while some relaxed and basked in the sunny atmosphere. The farm offered a plethora of activities from bullock cart rides, traditional games to pottery making. Lohagarh Farms treated the taste buds of everyone to a feast of local delicacies. The open-air dining area provided the perfect scenic backdrop.

DJ session was the much-awaited thing for all wherein the students grooved to the foot-tapping music. The excursion came to an end with the students boarding the buses bidding goodbye to the farmhouse. The day at Lohagarh Farms was a rejuvenating escape from the routine, offering a perfect blend of adventure, culture, and tranquility. 

As we bid farewell to this rural haven, we carried with us not just memories but a renewed sense of connection with nature and each other."

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School Trip to Kerala- Report

52 students along with five teachers from the secondary stage visited Kerala- God’s own country from 28^th September to 2^nd October 2023. The students boarded the early morning Air Asia flight and reached Cochin airport.

The entire group proceeded to Alleppey and enjoyed a leisurely houseboat cruise. After a mesmerising backwaters experience in Alleppey, students visited Spice Plantation in Thekkady and were acquainted with different spices and oils in its natural surroundings.

The early morning visit to Boat Safari in Periyar Lake was a sight to be captured with its lush green surroundings and witness animals in their natural habitat. The following day was the much-awaited visit to Munnar with its amazing tea plantations on the way. Students enjoyed the Cheeyappara waterfalls and a guided tour of the Tea Museum.

The visit to Kochi was filled with myriad visits to Fort Kochi, Chinese fishing nets and shopping at Jewish Street. Carrying beautiful memories in heart, the breathtaking trip to Kerala came to an end. All the students and teachers had a wonderful time and brought back memories to be cherished.

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German Exchange Program (2023-2024)

-Report-

Seven boys and Seven girls of senior school accompanied by two teachers (Ms Binny Rawal Nijhawan and Ms Navleen Chopra) went to Cologne, Germany for an Exchange Program with EuropaSchule, Cologne from 9th June to the 21st June 2023. This Exchange Program was the first phase of an annual exchange program by Ahlcon International, the second phase of which will be held in October 2023.

“The Indian- German Exchange Program projects, initiates and supports school partnerships that prepare students for their future (in the globalized world. This program is intended to promote the foreign language, intercultural competencies of the participating students and to stimulate their interest in further visits to Germany or India to study or work there.

During the Exchange lasting a whole academic year, Students of both countries undertake innovative activities every month based on the topic. This year 2023-2024, we are working on the Project “Urban Adventures-Delhi and Cologne”

Day 1: 10 June

The first day was indeed a kick start to the fantabulous educational sojourn to Germany. The enthusiasts woke up in the morning looking forward to a productive day. At 11a.m., Ms. Gabrielle Schmidt gave an electrifying orientation and then the students had a scrumptious brunch at the Europa Schule, Cologne. Then all the participants made their way to the Cologne Cathedral with celerity hoping to gain from a melange of ravishing views of monuments and the river Rhein and the amusing interactions with their partners and clicking aesthetic photographs. Then the students made headways to explore around the city. Some went to buy souvenirs from Germany, others bought candies and ice creams and relished them in the city parks. In evening all the students arrived at their respective partner’s houses and enjoyed the barbecues and German dishes. The day ended with a sense of inquisitiveness for the next day and acquiring from the unique experience of a different country.

Day 2: 11 June

The students spent their day with their host families and visited fascinating places like the Flora, Botanical Garden and the Chocolate Museum. Some went as far to hike and rode the ferry on the ethereal Rhine embodying the nature and all its bounties. Embracing the spirit of the cultural exchange, some students engaged in a German game named Rundlauf and others cooked Indian food like Shahi Paneer and Roti together with their partners. Few of the students also planned to barbecue with their host family. They ate a variety of dishes like Haloomis, Kebabs, vegan sausages, peri peri chicken. All students enjoyed this mirage of diversity and made unforgettable memories together.

Day 3: 12 June

The students got the opportunity to attend the regular classes at Europaschule  with their exchange partners and see the schooling there. Some took the public bus, some, their cars and some walked absorbing the true lifestyles of the German people. All the German students welcomed them with big smiles in their daily lessons, and the children got the true experience of attending a German school. The day continued with high spirits as the students made their way to the city for a guided city tour about Cologne’s beautiful Roman history including their water pulley system, their folklore, their means of governance, survival and a plethora of other trivia. We learnt about the remarkable Roman leaders and their notable contributions while the students engaged in asking questions about the famous Agrippa, Augustus and so many more.

Day 4 :13 June

Students and teachers visited the Cologne Synagoge, a miraculous momento that preserves a significant part of history for Germany. The tour started with the guide narrating us the plight of Jews during world war-II, moving on to the Jewish traditions, culture and festivals. They were enlightened with great explanations of each aspect of the religion and new information about their scriptures such as the Torah and deduction of the Bible from it. The students described the place as one of Serenity and peacefulness, that enraptured the beauty of the religion with its history of brutalities that they suffered. The trip was really fruitful and helped the students see Judaism in a new light. It ended with the students visiting the Schildergasse for a day of shopping and delight, and scaling over 500 steps of the Dom to see the gorgeous city in all its awe. 

Day 5 :14 June

All the students arrived at the school and attended the classes and left for the ELDE house, the office of secret police (gestapo) during December 1935- March 1945. Students got to learn the melancholic history of the office and how it used to be a temporary prison for people with the size of the cell not being more than 1.5 meters in width and 3 meters in length. The sense of suffocation was later described by the survivors of these cells with inscriptions on the walls in different languages. There were many messages filled with hope and every note held an emotional value to it.

After getting to know about the history, the students played a game, where they had to find clues in a mystery room to get a code to listen to about the stories of people who had suffered due to the nazi regime. The stories included ones of Hans Frick, Veronika, Charolette, Inge Ritter and Manfred Simon. At the end, they had to draw something creative to show how their life went downhill due to the nazi regime. 

The students then went to a dance school, where they learnt the various forms of European dance, including the English Waltz, Salsa and Mambo. More so, the students played Bollywood songs and showed their partners the allure of Indian dances as well.

Day 6 :15 June

The students attended classes with their partners in the morning like Spanish, Maths, Biology, Religion Studies etc. For some students, the most fun part was preparing the dance and song for their farewell party and for the others, it was attending a true Graduation of Europa Schule’s Class of 2023 filled with laughter, solidarity and goodbyes encompassing the core of Cologne culture of education. The students saw the beautiful relationships of the teachers and their students, and the celebration of the people in the most unapologetic way. The day ended with completing projects on padlet wherein the students uploaded pictures and experiences of their favorite activities and excursions.

Day 7 :16 June

The students went to the Gasometer which is in Oberhausen. The Gasometer Oberhausen is a former gas holder in Oberhausen, Germany, which has been converted into an exhibition space. It showed large satellite images of the earth and various objects to do with space exploration. It was filled with picturesque images. The Indian students had to complete a challenge with their partners which was finding the assigned picture in the exhibition and then discussing the topic of the picture. All the students described the planetarium as truly exquisite and engaging. Some spent their time bathing in empathy for the environmental problems faced today and the others lied down and watched the grand earth change its geography from the Big Bang till today through a time lapse. It was a once in a lifetime type of experience. The view of the city from the 11th floor was also spectacular. The day continued with the students visiting one of the biggest shopping malls in the city where they ate and frolicked. Overall, it was a beautiful and informative day.

Day 8 :17 June

Students spend quality time with the host families. Some students went to watch a Theater presentation by three different German schools about diverse and unpopular topics filled with music, complex themes and theatrical skills which left the audience in endless moments of applause. Others went shopping in Neumarkt near the city Centre, where they bought many gifts for their families and for themselves like shoes, beauty products, clothes etc. Some students also went to the local street market of Zollstock, where they tried different cuisines and local delicacies. One of the notable experiences for them was visiting the famous Lindt store to buy a range of exciting chocolates. 

A student also went to the house of the great pianist Beethoven where he explored a lot of musical instruments owned by Beethoven himself. Some also visited the History Museum, where they came to know about the history of Germany and how it recovered after the war. It was a pleasantly loaded day.

Day 9: 18 June

It was the 2nd Sunday of the journey and at the start of the day, the students went to various places with their host families like the Zoo, Aqua Land, Mario Karting and much more. A Car enthusiast went to Motor World (Car Meetup) and saw many amazing cars like McLaren Senna, Pagani Huyara etc. In the Zoo, students saw exquisite animals like capybara, many species of Monkeys and at the time when students were learning about the Elephants in the Elephant Museum of the zoo, they also got to see Lord Ganesha’s statue and learnt about his life on showcase. A few exchange families went to the Andernach Geyser to see the highest cold-water geyser in the world. Rest of the students enjoyed family parties and barbecues where they strolled the old city of Sohns, saw the authentic architecture of German houses and bought some German books as presents.

Day 10: 19 June

On the last day of this wonderful exchange program, all the students with their exchange partners went to the adventurous Phantasialand in Bonn. The most dangerous and exciting ride was the roller coaster named Black Mamba which gave all of us shivers. Some of the students tried the delicious and mouthwatering Churros dipped in chocolate for the first time, others the candied apples. Some students went to The Mystery Castle adventure ride and others excited themselves over the thrilling water rides and ferris wheels.

It was indeed a blissful experience.

Following it, a farewell party was hosted by EuropaSchule. It started with a beautiful video culminating the memories of the young partners, then two speeches were given by Indian students sharing their experiences. The air was filled with melancholic emotions of students leaving their partners, who played a role of a sibling for those 10 days. The host families complimented the Indian students on their behavior and their fascinating culture.

Then the performances began where the students sung and played English as well as Hindi music. It ended with a dance performance representing Indian culture and a finishing performance of German and Indian students performing together of Bollywood music mimicking both love and energy for each other. A vote of thanks was given by two German students and the audience broke into tears and emphasized each other's sadness. The day ended with watching an early sunset in the nearby Park and a final dinner together as one big Indian- German family. 

We share a vote of thanks to our esteemed Advisor to the President SDPES, Dr. Ashok Pandey, erudite Principal Mr Sanjay Yadav, ever inspiring Vice Principal Mr Puneet Duggal and Incharge Secondary Stage Dr Ekta Kandhari Ratra and Head Mistress Middle Stage Ms Sunanda S Kumar for aiding and mentoring the students in this exchange program as well as being an everlasting pillar of support and guidance.

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TRIP TO BHIMTAL-NAINITAL

“The shimmering lake, the lush green hills, and the gentle breeze – Nainital's enchanting symphony."

To get a surreal feel of the scenic beauty, a memorable trip to Bhimtal and Nainital was organized for the students of class XII from 31st May to 2nd June 2023. A group of 44 students along with four teachers boarded AC Volvo to Bhimtal on the early morning of 31st May.

The euphoria amongst the students was reflected through their actions and gestures. On the way to Bhimtal, students enjoyed pleasant weather and the sights of the beautiful hill station. After checking into Country Inn hotel after a tiring road journey, in the afternoon, students were taken to the Butterfly Research Centre at Bhimtal along with a trek and enjoyed the beautiful weather of the place. 

Day got over with more excitement for the DJ night.

Day two was locked for Eco Cave Garden, Naini Devi Temple followed by shopping at the Mall Road. The time had come to bid adieu to the mesmerising Nainital which left everyone breathless. 

On the last day, students were taken to the Naini Lake to take the feel of the lovely breeze blowing along the banks of the lake. A memorable trip to be remembered fondly by everyone.

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Indo-Danish Exchange Programme 

 

15 students of Ahlcon International School along with two teachers Dr. Ekta Kandhari Ratra, Incharge Senior Section, and Ms.Mukta Sharma went to Køge Gymnasium, Denmark on 14^th May 2023. It was a 10-day Indo-Danish Exchange Programme with Køge Gymnasium.   The programme’s main objective was a cultural exchange between India and Denmark in the areas of Literature and Science. Special sessions were organized to discuss the similarities and differences between Indian and Danish culture, political systems, religion, Chemistry Lab, and hands-on activities in Biology and literature. The trip was a great learning experience for students as well as the teachers as it provided a great platform to learn about Denmark and its culture. 

A Detailed day-wise report is as follows 

Day -1-- 15th May, 2023

First day in Køge Gymnasium commenced with a warm welcome to the school by the Principal, Mr. Steffen Mollegaard who spoke about the bonding associations of the two participating school and about the Exchange Programme. In an effort to familiarize the students with the school, the teachers had planned a very interesting quiz about the school. Excitement was palpable in the air as our students ran around the campus unravelling the clues. Harshit Soni, Hurita Lal and Siddhi Goel were awarded the fastest in this task. It was followed by a lesson in Danish which is an extremely difficult task as the written words are pronounced differently. The teacher gave hands on activity and made our students comfortable with the nuances of the language.  Students could be seen proudly displaying their skills while pronouncing the words. Finally, the day in the school ended as the students were taken to Køge City Centre and asked to solve a quiz and a treasure hunt related to the history of the city. Overall, the happiness of being able to navigate the school, its surroundings and getting hands on experience of a new language, all added to the charm of the educational trip.

Day -2-- 16th May, 2023

                

 

The day began with a very interesting activity in which the Indian students had to cross-check with the Danish students about top 10 things that annoy a Danish person. The same activity was reversed and Danish students discussed about the stereotypes that are connected with Indians. Students had a hilarious time and there was a lot of laughter around this. Chemistry class was taken by Ms.Marie who  conducted a lab activity in which the students had to  find  out the presence of  vitamin C in the plant extracts. Students enjoyed through this experiential learning. An SDG Awareness campaign activity was planned by Ahlcon teachers as well. It began with an ice-breaking activity followed by a presentation in which the students were introduced to the 17 SDGs which are implemented by the UN for the sustainable development of all the Nations. A live Quiz was conducted with Indian students securing the top three positions. A very interesting collaborative activity was designed in which the students came up with an inspiring video skit, poetry, posters and slogans which was uploaded on Padlet. Finally, we had a great unwind with Indian students teaching Danish how to dance a Nacho Nacho dance, culminating in a bhangra. Overall, a another great day..

Day -3-- 17th May, 2023

              

The day commenced with the Literature Class which was based on the “The Ball Gown” by Herman Bang, a famous Danish author. After the class reading, Ms. Katrine interacted with the students, bringing out the finer nuances related to Impressionism, the breakthrough technique. It was a really a thought-provoking class which deepened students’ appreciation of Danish Literature. The Social Science Class invited students to discuss the understand the various forms of democracy. There was a brain storming session on terminologies connected with democracy. the students were asked to reflect upon the differences between the Indian democracy and Danish Democracy. The final class of the day was the most interesting one in which the students worked on a name round, two truths and a lie. It was very heart-warming to see students getting to know all the Danish and Indian students. It was another wonderful day again.

Day -4-- 18th May, 2023

The whole day was planned for a trip to LEGOLAND in Billund. Ahlconites along with Danish students and teachers left Koge Gymnasium at 8:00 a.m. and returned at 7.30 p.m. in the evening. The bus ride also had its charm as it journeyed over bridges and the students were informed about the fact that on one side of the bridge was Germany and Sweden on the other. 

LEGOLAND is a theme-based amusement park in which everything is made up of Legos. There were classical rides along with the high-thrill ones. Our students had a gala time enjoying these rides.

Day -5 & 6-- 19th & 20th May, 2023

 

The two days students spent with their host families and visited various places like Stevns Clint, Forest tower, Beach etc. The students really had a good time with the host families.

Day -7-- 21st May, 2023

                        

Sunday, was entirely devoted to learning, fun, and rides. Our day started with a Canal Tour, and a visit to the Round Tower culminating in the most famous place the world over for rides, “Tivoli”. The tour started by boarding a train from Køge to Copenhagen station. Firstly, on the Canal tour, the guide helped students identify the landmarks of Copenhagen. During the tour the students saw The Copenhagen Opera House, Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palace, the impressive Black Diamond Library, and, of course, the Little Mermaid. After the Canal Tour, we all headed towards the Round Tower, a 17th-century tower located in central  Copenhagen, Denmark. One of the many architectural projects of Christian IV, it was built as an astronomical observatory. It is noted for its equestrian staircase, a 7.5-turn helical corridor leading to the top, and its expansive views over Copenhagen. After this, the students were taken to Tivoli which is an amusement park and pleasure garden in Copenhagen, Denmark. The park opened on 15 August 1843 and is the second-oldest operating amusement park in the world. All the students really enjoyed going on different rides. The tour ended at Tivoli and our students went back home with their Danish Partners.  Overall, it was another beautiful day in Denmark.

Day -8-- 22nd May, 2023

 

The day started with class interaction on Culture related to Religion. Religion as a subject is mandatory for all students. It was a group activity in which the students of both countries shared how they perceive religion to be. It was followed by a Biology class based on Bio-diversity, one of the significant goals of SDGs. The teacher, Ms.  Marie shared a presentation on the topic. The students were taken for a field trip around Køge Gymnasium during which they used the Seek App to identify areas with low-density bio-diversity and high-density bio-diversity. It was indeed a beautiful learning experience for the students. Finally, it was time to prepare for a stage performance. The students were divided into groups and practiced music, dance, and poetry for the closing night in Køge Gymnasium.

Day -9-- 23rd May, 2023

On the last day of the exchange, a Closing Ceremony cum Formal dinner with all the host families was organized at the school. it was attended by the Principal, Mr. Steffen Møllegaard, Admin for Exchange, Mr. Lise Sonne-Hansen, Indo- Danish program co-ordinators, Ms. Katrine and Ms.  Marie. The Indian students presented soul-stirring songs, their heartfelt experiences with the host families, and finally the programme ended with our dancers, the show-stoppers followed by a dinner. The food was brought by the host families The audience was really impressed by their talent. It has really been the most wonderful experience for everyone.

Report By

Ms Mukta Sharma

English Department

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Trip to Rangmanch Farms

A Report

 

To provide exposure to the students, a trip was organized to Rang Manch farms, a Tourist Theme Village Park at Gurugram, for the students of class IX to XII, on Friday, 18^th November 2022. Such trips add significantly to learning and are important in building self-esteem and confidence of the child. The students were accompanied by teachers and an experienced team.

The students assembled at the school at 7.30 A.M. to board the AC Coach. Enroute light snacks were provided. On reaching the venue, they were given breakfast and divided in groups to Enjoy adventure activities and skill Games. Adventure Activities included Zip line, Rappelling, Rock Climbing, 10 low Rope Course, 10 High Rope Course, Tyre Wall Climbing, Commando Net, Wire Crossing and Fun Activities included Bull Ride, Archery, Pistol Shooting, Darts, Cricket Pitch, Badminton, Frisbee. There were Indoor Games also like Air Hockey, Football, Pool Table and Table Tennis.  

 

Some Special Attraction were Abra Ka Dabra, the magic show, Katputli Dance Pottery Classes and Camel, Horse, Tractor rides.

The children enjoyed lavish Lunch and danced on the fast and foot tapping music provided by the DJ.

Undoubtedly the trip was amazing from the bus-ride to food and to overall fun activities. The food was good and overall hygiene was maintained. The area was huge to enjoy with lots of activities in comparison to other farms. After a long day of fun and frolic, the students returned with lots of memories.

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REPORT

DEUTSCH UTSAV AT MAYO COLLEGE, AJMER

13-15 OCTOBER, 2022

It is with immense gratitude, pride and satisfaction that we present the Report on Deutsch Utsav at Mayo, 2022.

We had 3 teachers and 32 students (23 from the Senior and 9 from the Middle Section) who attended the German Festival at Mayo College this year. The students arrived in Ajmer on 12.10.2022 at 12:30 P.M and were received warmly by the Mayo College team at the station, who then escorted our school team to the hotel. The students had lunch in the hotel and at 5:30 P.M, left for Mayo College in the school bus.

 

THE ICE-BREAKING SESSION- NICE TO MEET YOU!

An Ice-Breaking Session was scheduled at 5:30 P.M in the Kangra Amphitheatre and Bikaner Pavilion/Main Cricket Ground. An array of fun activities were conducted as part of the session to acquaint the students with one another and was designed to help warm up before the competitions and games begin. The picturesque backdrop of the mountains at Mayo seemed to only add to the already enviable and euphoric atmosphere present. The students thoroughly enjoyed the Ice-Breaking activities as barriers were broken and new friendships were forged!

 

PRACTICE OF FLAG CEREMONY- MARCH ON!

Practice for the Flag Ceremony was scheduled from 6:45-7:30 pm at the Kangra Amphitheatre. All the Flag-bearers and Placard Holders of the respective schools were called on to the stage for the rehearsal of the March Past for the Opening Ceremony.

DINNER- BON APPETIT!

The Dinner was served at the beautiful Stow Club Lawns at 8:00 P.M. Post the dinner, the students and teachers boarded the buses back to the hotel.

 

DAY 1- LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

On 13.10.2022,The Festival finally commenced. At 8:30 A.M, the students reported to the hotel lobby for breakfast. At 9:30 A.M, all the teams boarded the bus to the Campus for Day 1 Activities and Competitions.

BRIEFING AND CAMPUS VISIT

The briefing was eloquently conducted by the Vice-President of Mayo College- Shashwat Bose where the visiting contingents were familiarised with the Mayo legacy, ethos and spirit de corps at the German Room and Kangra Gallery. It was indeed an enriching session for all the visiting schools!

CAMPUS VISIT- A WALK TO REMEMBER!

The Campus Visit was scheduled from 10:30 A.M-12:00 P.M where the Campus Tour Core Team divided the school teams into groups of three and gave an exhaustive walkthrough of the vast campus, note-worthy of which were the Kishangarh Temple, Aviary, the Golf Course, Polo Ground and the Horse Stables. The students were spellbound and intrigued by the Campus Tour at Mayo College.

GERMAN FUN GAMES- CREATIVITY AT ITS BEST!

The German Fun Games was scheduled from 12:00 P.M to 1:00 P.M at the Stow Club. Students were called upon to unleash and showcase their creativity by designing dresses using old newspapers! The Ahlconiite did it with élan and aplomb! Here are some glimpses:

LUNCH AND REGISTRATION

The luncheon at the Stow  Club was followed by the Registration at the German Room. At the Registration Kiosk(s), students and teachers were presented with a cloth bag, badge and some brochures of the Festival.

 

ELIMINATION ROUND FOR SPELL-BEE AND QUIZ

The First Qualifiers/Elimination Round for the Spell Bee and Quiz were conducted at the CLT where our Ahlconiites did us proud by safely qualifying to the Grand Finale.

INTERACTION WITH DIGNITARY- AN EVENING TO REMEMBER!

An Interaction was scheduled at 4:30 P.M with Herr Johannes Hober (Cultural Head of the Germany Embassy to India) at the Bikaner Pavilion. An One-to-One dynamic session was thrown open to the students where each school was given the opportunity to pose a question to the Dignitary. The interaction was highly engaging and fruitful as Ahlconites learnt a great deal about the cultural and social significance of learning the German language. The Interactive session was followed by the High Tea at the Stow Club Lawns.

 

OPENING CEREMONY- THE MOST AWAITED!

The much-awaited Opening Ceremony of the Deutsch Utsav was an epitome of grandeur and opulence! The Opening Ceremony commenced with the Ganesh Vandana and introduction of the Delegates. It was followed by the German Welcome Song and Dance with full gusto! Our Ahlconiites participated and showed their metal in the Group Song Competition which was appreciated by a roaring applause by the August House Gathering at the Kangra Amphitheatre. After the Song Competition, the boys at Mayo presented an energetic dance show by class XII. Finally, the Ceremony was addressed by the Chief Guest, Herr Johannes Hober, followed by the National Anthem.

 

DINNER AND DISPERSAL

Post the euphoric Opening Ceremony, the contingents  moved to the Stow Club Lawns for the dinner at 8:00 P.M and finally dispersed for the hotel after an eventful and memorable evening. 

 

Day-2 (14^th October 2022)

After the glorious opening of the Duetschutsav on Day-1, our motivated Ahlconites were all set for the events and competitions on Day-2.

 

GEARING UP FOR THE COMPETITIONS- SPELL BEE AND GERMAN QUIZ

The day started with the final round of Spell Bee and German Quiz.  Students who qualified in the elimination round- Manya Sharma and Yaashi Agrawal for Spell Bee, Senior category and Nimish Mahajan and Khushi Goyal for German Quiz- Junior category had their final round of their respective events in the morning. Students and teachers got to witness the Spell bee competition and it was wonderful to see the participants in their full glory.

The students were elated to see Ahlcon embarking its success story as Manya Sharma of class XI got 3^rd position in the Spell Bee.

All the participants were full of joy and pride after the competitions as they got to enhance their knowledge and gain an experience full of learning.

 

WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Various workshops were organized for teachers and students to engage them in critical and creative learning. The escorting teachers- Mr. Gagandeep, Ms. Smita and Ms. Risha attended a workshop by Ms. Tanvi Duggal- Project Manager Goethe Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan. It was a great brainstorming session where we discussed about “Professional Career Development for students”- why and how?

Simultaneously, the students were engaged in different workshops like- Artificial Intelligence, Fun with Chemicals, Technical workshop, and Pottery and Arts workshop. They thoroughly enjoyed learning through unique and creative ways and got a chance to explore their talents in various fields.

POEM COMPETITION

Two students also participated in the Poem Competition which was held after lunch. Reva Upadhaya from class 8^th and Vedita Jaiswal of 10^th left everyone in awe with their beautiful poems and flawless recitations.

 

THE ROYAL GAME OF POLO

After witnessing the mesmerizing performances of our budding Ahlconites, it was time to attend a Polo match specially organized for the guests at the festival. It was a wonderful experience watching the royal game of Polo and even more exciting to see the Mayo students riding their magnificent horses.

 

 

FUN TIME AT THE CARNIVAL!

The evening marked the much awaited, exciting part of the fest- the Carnival. Students were provided with complimentary coupons for enjoying at the grand carnival. There were various food stalls, shopping stalls and fun games for the kids. It was a perfect end to an eventful day at the Deutschutsav at Mayo College.

    

DAY-3 (15^th October 2022)

After having breakfast in Hotel Mannsingh Palace, we left for Mayo college for on spot painting competition in Art school.

In this competition 2 students took part- Anika Chopra (7-B) and Simran Kaur Sahni (10-F)

VISIT TO COLLEGE MUSEUM

A visit to a museum is a search for beauty, truth, and meaning in our lives. The school museum was spread over 18 rooms. There was a rich and valuable collection of old paintings, sculptures, photographs, coins, Natural history sections, stuffed birds and butterflies etc

Rare antiques and armoury were on display at the museum. It had one of the best collections of any school museum in the world. The museum’s outstanding collection of rare things had attracted many famous people globally and is considered the world best museum.

 

MOVIE TIME!

After school museum visit and lunch, all the students and teacher’s went to German movie which was in Junior school Assembly hall. German movie was shown by Ms Alima Trzeinska, Ms Gautami Nettikumara.

INTERACTION WITH H.E. FRAU KATHARINA WIESER

After German movie, 5 students went for an Interaction with H.E Frau Katharina Wieser- Ambassador of Republic of Austria in Bikaner Pavilion. She shared some wonderful insights about the life of a diplomat and shared her experience of working in different countries, the differences and similarities in Indian and Austrian culture and much more.

 

CLOSING CEREMONY

And at the end of the day everyone gathered for the much awaited Closing ceremony which was held in Kangra Amphitheatre.

The closing ceremony started with a soulful performance- Ganesh Vandana followed by solo song performance by Mayo boys.

It was a moment of pride when the results were announced as Ahlcon International School won 4 prizes

1) Comicstrip – Yajat Grover (1^st position)

2) Meme Making – Kabeer Rangan (3^rd position)

3) Photagraphy with Caption -  Kartikey Nijhawan ( 3^rd position)

4) Spell Bee – Manya Sharma (3^rd position)

The National Anthem played at the end of the closing ceremony moved everyone as the Mayonites presented it beautifully through sign language. It was a moment that gave everybody goosebumps!

After the end of closing ceremony students had their dinner at the Stow Club and all the escorting teachers had a formal dinner with the Director, Mayo College - Lt. Gen Col. S. Kulkarni (Retd.) at his residence.

 

DAY 4 (16^th October 2022)

After the culmination of the fest, 16^th October was a leisure day in Ajmer. With due permission from Principal sir Mr Sanjay Yadav and HM Senior Section- Mr Puneet Duggal, and with the parents’ consent, 23 students along with Mr. Gagandeep Sharma went to Pushkar to visit the Brahma Temple which was a memorable, blessed day for the ones visiting.

The Brahma Temple is a hindu temple situated at Pushkar in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is the only temple of Lord Brahma in the world. All the 23 students first visited the main temple along with their pooja thal. After that, everyone visited Brahm Sarovar and offered their prayers in presence of the Pandit.

After having pooja and darshan students did some shopping for themselves and their family.

After this religious journey all students were taken to Mayo College for having lunch in senior mess. At 2:30 pm we left for Ajmer railway station and boarded Ajmer Shatabdi to depart for Delhi.

Filled with the sense of gratitude and joy of experiencing the celebration of German language at such a massive scale, the students along with the accompanying teachers left for Delhi, with loads of memories and learning!

*****

 A TRIP to the Pink City: Jaipur

Planned by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, Jaipur holds the distinction of being the first planned city of India. Renowned globally for its coloured gems, the capital city of Rajasthan combines the allure of its ancient history with all the advantages of a metropolis. Here the past comes alive in magnificence Palaces and forts and the most impeccable service at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur, are some of the most cherished memories that the Ahlconites carried back from a school trip to Jaipur.

The trip was organised for the students of Classes IX-X from 3rd October-5th October 2022.The seats were limited and the craze to go together with their batchmates after a two-year hiatus because of Corona lockdowns, witnessed high drama even before the trip. There were still some who were chasing their teachers with their consent forms! It was a lucky group of 40 students accompanied by 4 teachers.

We started on our journey quite early in the morning, stopped at Oasis Resort for breakfast and then pushed on eager to reach our destination, Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur. Though exhausted, the aesthetic beauty that welcomed us in Jaipur rejuvenated the entire group.  A sumptuous lunch awaited us after which we all geared up for a surreal experience of village life in Chokhi Dhani.  Welcomed with a traditional Rajasthani approach, the students entered the premises dancing to the tune of dhol. Pottery making, puppet show, exciting games stalls, tattoo artists, face readers, snacks sprinkled throughout, wonderful dancers made everyone delighted. It was finally time to taste the traditional Rajasthani dishes like dal batti churma, bajra kheechdra, malpua and many more such dishes.

On 4th October, we had a lively drive to Amer Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site.  As we trekked our way up to the Main door, the students were simply transported to another world of Kings, their darbars, the intelligent systems of heating and cooling that sustained them. The guide regaled them with the most interesting stories of Raja Mansingh and his twelve queens. The students got really intrigued with the Royal family.  When it was time to dance to the pulsating rhythms in the Party Hall, it was with fullest enjoyment that all participated in.

On 5th October, the students were taken to the City Palace Museum where they were awestruck with the kind of life led by the Kings. They also understood the importance of King's patronage to various art forms, empowering them to win Padma Bhushan for their contributions to the world of art and culture. A walk to the Jantar Mantar opened up the world of Sun astronomical observatory. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is considered to be the largest of the five astronomical observatories built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. It contains sixteen geometric devices, designed to measure time, track celestial bodies, and observe the orbits of the planets around the sun. The visit made them appreciate the depth of knowledge that our ancestors had at that time. Finally, it was time to board the bus for the journey back home.

Amidst all the bonhomie, we reached Delhi on 5th October, carrying back beautiful memories of the Pink City, Jaipur.

*****

TRIP TO SIKKIM- AMAZING GANGTOK

The serenades from the religious communities and the attractive attractions of the Himalaya will ingest you in the immaculate and spiritualist excellence of Sikkim.

To get a surreal feel of the scenic beauty, a memorable trip to Sikkim was organised for the students of classes XI and XII from 24^th September to 27^th September 2022. We boarded the flight to Bagdogra airport on Saturday early morning. The euphoria amongst the students was reflected through their actions and gestures. From the Bagdogra airport, we headed to Gangtok through a coach and enjoyed pleasant weather and the view of beautiful Teesta river. After checking into Lemon tree hotel after a tiring road journey, in the evening, students enjoyed shopping at the Mall road and enjoyed the beautiful weather of the place. Day two was locked for Nathula Pass- Indo China Border where we experienced intense cold, a must visit for all Sikkim going people. It was surely a herculean task to reach the pass. Next we visited Legendary Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir who is known as the “ Hero of Nathula” which instilled feeling of patriotism and respect for the great warrior amongst the students. Tsomgo Lake was indeed a feast for the eyes. On the way, students enjoyed yak-riding and clicked photographs with them.Next day students were taken to Rumtek Monastery where children got to know about Buddhism. Tashi viewpoint was another beautiful spot to view Sikkim but the hazy weather did not support us. The time had come to bid adieu to the mesmerising Sikkim which left everyone breathless. A memorable trip to be remembered fondly by everyone.

*****

Medienkometenz- Media Literacy

From 24^th -28^th September, 2022

 Gangtok, Sikkim 

10 FIT II German Examination Toppers {Aashi Sharda, Naina Moudgil, Abhinav Chaudhary, Krishvi jain, Ananya Mukola (XII), Ananya Verma, Adya Sharma, Kashish Rana, Pratyaksha Sharma, Astha Gupta (XI)} of our school, got a scholarship offered by Max Mueller Bhavan, Goethe Institute to attend a German Camp on the topic “Medienkometenz- Media Literacy” from 24^th -28^th September, 2022 in Gangtok, Sikkim.

The camp consisted of the workshops such as- Cyberbullying, Infodemic, Video Mash-up, the power of Sound, Reliable News, Be Media Wise, Landeskunde, Photography workshop, cooking workshop, etc.

There were total 30 German learners from Delhi and Kolkata. The camp was thoroughly enjoyed by our German enthusiasts