~ Jayabharathy, Poovizhi, Rajesh, Arunkumar, Saranya
Jayabharathy:
My name is Jayabharathy. I stand for care and courage for myself and others. When I was a kid, I always looked at teachers’ day as a wonderful occasion to honour and appreciate the hard work and dedication of educators. The celebration at Udavi typically involved a range of activities like singing, dancing and skits as a token of expression of gratitude. It reminded me of my school days.
I could see myself as one of those kids sitting at the same place (under the banyan tree) for the teacher’s day celebration that took place when I was a kid in the same school. Nothing much has changed in the love and bonding between the teachers and the students. Children came up with songs and poems, drama and dance which were heartwarming. I could see the quality of joy and happiness as they did their performance in front of everyone. The activities which they had for the teachers were interesting too.
The most interesting part of the entire event for me was the gift that were given. We were given plants which were arranged by the 10th std students. The idea with which they planned to give us plants was that, they wanted us to raise the plants at our homes like we raise them with care in classrooms. I got inspired with their thoughts and I have planted it at my home and will nourish it with good qualities as I do with kids. Overall, the event was enthusiastic and it gave me an opportunity to feel the love expressed by kids. It made me feel proud to be a teacher and do even better in my future endeavours.
Poovizhi:
We were invited to a Teacher’s Day celebration at Udavi, where we support children in learning Mathematics at STEM Land. The children themselves organized the event, and it was interesting to see them take responsibility and host it. They planned the event thoughtfully and joyfully.
The celebration began with a moment of silence, followed by a welcome speech in which they acknowledged teachers for their work and expressed gratitude. After that, there were activities for teachers, such as tongue twisters, guessing proverbs through actions, and speaking Tamil for a minute without using any English words.
The students then sang songs, danced, and performed a skit. They also prepared gifts for the teachers, which were meant to remind them of the students and be cared for, just like the students themselves. The gift was a flower plant, symbolizing different qualities.
I felt deeply connected and grateful for the opportunity to teach children.
Rajesh:
My name is Rajesh and I deeply care about Integrity and care for myself and others.
As a student, I always looked forward to Teachers’ Day with excitement and admiration. It was a day to celebrate those who guided us and inspired us to dream. Now, as a teacher myself, I find myself on the other side, receiving that same gratitude from my students. It’s a humbling and rewarding experience, knowing that I can shape young minds just as my teachers did for me. The celebration has taken on a deeper meaning, reminding me of the responsibility and privilege of being more than just a teacher—a guide. It’s a role where the fruitfulness of learning is passed on, creating a continuous cycle of growth, inspiration, and gratitude.
Saranya:
The Teachers’ Day celebration at Udavi School (This is my overall observation): It was a special and joyful event. The students demonstrated how the school helps them practice English—both understanding and speaking without fear—through a skit. They also showed how much they value their teachers. A touching song about teachers added to the heartfelt atmosphere.
A fun part of the day was when the students challenged the teachers with tongue twisters. It was a delightful and entertaining activity that everyone enjoyed.
The students explained that, just as teachers have taken care of them and helped them grow, the teachers should care for the plants in the same way they care for their students. They said the plants are a token of remembrance, meant to remind the teachers of their students and the care they provide.
Arunkumar:
The tongue twister practice in both Tamil and English was a delightful experience that celebrated linguistic diversity and enhanced pronunciation and fluency. The activities revealed the hidden fears of many teachers, who eventually overcame their hesitation to participate. The teachers acting to bringout the proverb from other teachers were truly entertaining, and I was impressed by the children’s enthusiasm and effort in expressing gratitude through fun activities. Interestingly, I observed that English was used more frequently than Tamil during casual conversations after the exercise of speaking exclusively in Tamil for a minute, which made me realise that excessive consumption of anything will ruin the originality.