Learn the musical way

When life’s all eat, sleep and play, it is happiness everywhere and kids enjoy their pre-school days. Happiness goes for a toss as they go up the ladder. School conjures up collaged images of jam-packed backpacks, long hours in classroom, assignments and homework. But if you see a packed classroom lost in music, you are likely to be at Sabarigiri Residential School in Anchal. The school, in its latest annual day fete, rather gifted a friend for its students Radio Vigoroso, the infotainment radio.

This school is so insistent that their students feel feather light in the considerable hours they spend there and hence a radio station. As we talk to principal Deepa Chandran, she wants this to be done in the way the students like the most. “Every time our students walk to the school, they’d feel the music. The school starts by 9 am and students start coming in by 8.30. Certain things can be best conveyed to the students through music. Instead of straight away passing on pieces of advice, it could rather be conveyed in an effective manner through the radio,” she explains.

Vigoroso’s grand launch had actor Mahalakeshmi as guest of the day. There’s a fully equipped radio station in the school plus student RJs trained by professionals. Radio Vigoroso goes on air three times a day; for 20 minutes in the morning, as a 30-minute slot during lunch break and a 15-20 minute programme in the evening. Vigoroso, meaning energy, was handpicked from Italian. “Its tagline is Kuttikalude Ishtathozhan. The presentation is in English. We do make our children informed in Malayalam as well. In connection with poet ONV Kurup’s commemoration, 50 of our students read his poems to come up with their interpretations which we compiled into a book,” adds Deepa.

The school public address system serves as the communication channel.