Storytelling is an excellent medium to kindle a child's creativity in the formative years. Not only does it help spark imagination, but it also helps develop a cultural understanding and strong moral values.

As part of the celebrations for the glorious 20-year mark of Global Schools Foundation, GIIS Noida hosted an Inter-GIIS Storytelling Competition, 'Stories coming alive'.

Through this competition, we aimed to give students an opportunity to unleash their inner story weavers. Moreover, as each story had to have a moral value at its core, the competition aimed to help each student foster a greater understanding of essential cultural values. Through the final event, each student was also able to enhance their vocabulary and public speaking skills, leaving them with raised confidence levels.

The competition was held between Kindergarten students of GIIS Ahmedabad, Balewadi, Bannerghatta, Hadapsar, Noida, and Whitefield. Two students from each campus participated in the competition.

Numerous respected dignitaries, Ms Vaishali Borde - Co-scholastic GMP Head, Mr Ganesh Sharma -Principal GIIS Noida, Ms Rachna Jain - GMP headmistress, attended the event. The Principals and GMP Heads of all participating GIIS Campuses, along with parents and students across all 6 GIIS campuses in India, also graced the event.

We were fortunate to have Ms Anjum Ali, GMP Head, Dubai, judging the competition; her insights on the stories crafted by the students were truly invaluable.

The dignitaries inaugurated the competition with virtual lamp lighting and addresses; our students then took the stage and regaled us with their tales.

The participating students and the stories they shared are listed below:

 

From GIIS Ahmedabad

Avanti Acharya - The Billy Rabbit

Ishayu Maji - The Bull, The Lion, and The Jackal

 

From GIIS Balewadi

Meera Ketkar - Story of Zero

Ahana Sowani - Who is Happy!!

 

From GIIS Bannerghatta

Rishi Thakur - I am Stronger than Anger

Mahati Senanye - The Ugly Tree

 

From GIIS Hadapsar

Shreshta Pawar - Bee and the Earthworm

Elisha Riyat - The Cracked Pot

 

From GIIS Noida

Tarisha - Three Little Pigs

Aishani Verma - Apple Tree

 

From GIIS Whitefield

Suhavi Kaur - Little Red Riding Hood

Sunishka Swaroop – Cinderella

 

Students beautifully narrated their take on these classic stories. The creativity and the efforts each student had put into their story shone through in their performance. The students' enthusiasm, coupled with the costumes and props they had adapted to suit their stories, truly enthralled each audience member.

The performances were followed with an address by Head Mistress, GIIS Noida, Ms Rachna Jain, wherein the headmistress appreciated the efforts of all students for their enchanting performances and the teachers' actions in organising this one-of-a-kind event.

Our judge, Ms Anjum Ali, GMP Head, Dubai, then addressed the students and audience. She expressed her great admiration for each story shared during the event and left the students with words of encouragement.

Though each child was a winner in our eyes, our judge, Ms Anjum Ali, made the tough decision of declaring winners based on 5 judgment criteria.

The winners of the 'stories coming alive' competition are as below:

1st

Shreshta Pawar

GIIS Hadapsar

 

2nd

Ahana Sowani

GIIS Balewadi

 

Suniksha Swaroop

GIIS Whitefield

 

3rd

Meera Ketkar

GIIS Balewadi

 

Innovative Story Concept

Aishani Verma

GIIS Noida

 

Creative Props and Costume

Tarisha

GIIS Noida

Each student received an e-certificate appreciating and applauding their efforts. Ms Rachna Jain, Headmistress Pre Primary, GIIS Noida closed the event with a vote of thanks.

We, the team at GIIS Noida, take great pride in the exemplary performances put up by each student and the enthusiasm with which teachers and parents endeavoured to make this event a great success. We hope to continue creating such avenues for our students to learn holistically outside the classroom and nurture their creativity.