Spirits were high in the auditorium of the Global Indian International School (GIIS) Queenstown Campus on 12 September as guest-of-honour Mr Karan Singh Thakral, distinguished guests, parents, teachers, and students gathered to recognise the contributions of many in taking the institution to greater heights.

With more than 300 awards for deserving GIIS teachers and students, it was an occasion everyone was proud to be part of Co-founder and Chairman of the Global Schools Foundation Atul Temurnikar, who was in the GIIS Abu Dhabi office, kickstarted the event with a live video conference, sharing his joy that the foundation has completed 13 years of excellence in school education.

Mr Temurnikar also praised students for their excellent IB and CBSE results and the school’s dedication to holistic education.

“The foundation was led by a vision to provide the best in education for Singapore’s expatriate community. Today, many success stories are part of this vision and we are proud - as an academic institution - to have contributed in shaping better citizens for tomorrow,” Mr Temurnikar said.

“Remember, my dear students, always follow your dreams. For those who do, with a determined spirit, there are no limits,” he added while sharing that GIIS opened its first self-owned and operated campus in Abu Dhabi on September 5, which is spread over 19,000 square meters. The school offers quality education and a vibrant school environment for students, Mr Temurnikar said.

On August 1, GIIS also welcomed One World International School to the family, offering the IB Primary Years Programme and the UK National Curriculum. It is a small and diverse community of students from 36 nationalities, he explained.

Mr Kamal Gupta, Chief Operating Officer of the Global Schools Foundation also spoke to the audience in a light-hearted manner from Abu Dhabi, congratulating students and teachers on their dedication and efforts.

Class 4 and 5 students from the GIIS Balestier Campus performed "Rhythms on Drums"

Students from GIIS East Coast Campus then took the stage, decked in red and white Indian traditional costumes to perform an act titled “Bhangra Beats”, an energetic number that featured a combination of modern grooves and the traditional Punjabi dance.

As Mr Thakral, Executive Director of the Thakral Group of Companies and a member of the Singapore Board of Advisors for the Global Schools Foundation, delivered the keynote address.

“It is very evident that excellence at GIIS goes beyond academics. A wide range of sports, extra and co-curricular activities motivate and help our young students develop critical-thinking skills, strengthen teamwork, and encourage peer learning,” Mr Thakral said.

He also heaped praises on the school’s dedication to keeping the standards of education high. “GIIS has grown very well. They have 20 campuses and 18,000 students in seven countries. This shows that they are growing very fast, but they have not compromised on the quality of teachers,” Mr Thakral said.

“Today, we see that GIIS students are both active in the academic and co-curricular sense. This is the mark of future leaders,” he added.

Mr Thakral, the event’s guest of honour, was invited on the stage to present the awards, in the form of trophies and plaques to student and staff awardees. He was joined by Ms Aparna Temurnikar, a distinguished guest, and the principals for GIIS Balestier, East Coast and Queenstown campuses.

Awards presented that evening included the Mahatma Gandhi GIIS Extra Mile Award - given to staff who went beyond for the good of their colleagues, students and the school, the Mr Chandu Borde Award for Sports Excellence, and the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam GIIS Award for Academic Proficiency.

Recipients were greeted with an enthusiastic round of applause and cheers from the audience, and Mr Thakral congratulated some students with a pat on the back.

During a short intermission between awards, Class 4 and 5 students from the GIIS Balestier Campus performed “Rhythms on Drums” - keeping energy levels at a high during the event.

GIIS students from the Queenstown campus were not left out. They took the stage with a dance act titled “Rising Stars”, enthralling the audience with their enthusiasm.