Schools reopen, students receive grand welcome

Nashik/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar/Kolhapur : Schools in the districts reopened on Saturday after a long summer vacation and students were welcomed back with teachers performing their arati, showering flower petals, giving them sweet treats and schooling essentials. Premises were decorated with rangolis and balloons, with music adding to the zest.
In Kolhapur district, there were about 3,51,713 students in 3,099 primary schools of zilla parishad and 10,741 students in 58 schools of Kolhapur Municipal Corporation.
Nilesh Chougule, a school teacher from a school in Shivaji Peth, said, “We welcomed students with roses, sweets and educational kits comprising books, notebooks, pens and pencils. We showered flower petals Class I students, as senior pupils played musical instruments for them. Preparations to reopen schools started from June 1 for teachers.”
A Class III student, Rudra Sawant, said, “It was a delight to receive such a grand welcome and makes me excited for what the rest of the academic year will look like. Meeting my friends after a gap of two months was the happiest part of the first day back at school.”
Meanwhile, free textbooks were distributed to all students of ZP, civic and govt schools as well as private aided schools under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme.
The first day of school in Nashik saw similar excitement. Students joyously met their classmates and other friends. Many students of the primary section, mainly those in KG and Class I, looked reluctant to go back to learning lessons, but teachers made them feel comfortable and welcomed them with open arms.
As per instructions of the state education department, uniforms and books were distributed on the first day in many schools. Students were welcomed in a unique manner by Rachna Vidyalay and Navrachna Vidyalay who brought the wards onto the school premises in bullock carts.
Special sound system arrangements were made in many schools and students danced to the beats of the music to make the first day memorable.
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, municipal administrator G Shreekanth ensured the students were welcomed in a special way at each civic school. He visited different schools to welcome the students and served them chocolates and cakes.
The day also witnessed some civic schools roping in local bands who played in tune to students walking into the institute. Shreekanth said, “We are working on innovative ideas to make schooling memorable. We want to have the best schools. Our efforts have won parents’ confidence, because of which admissions are already full.”