--submitted by Divya Muthu

Annual Day Pictures, thanks Kiran Gahlot

On May 18th, the ISW community gathered once again for the grand finale of the school year—the much-anticipated Annual Day Celebration. This vibrant event was graced by the presence of esteemed speakers including Ms. Ruchi Chauhan (ISW School Chair), Ms. Shiamin Melville (ISW School Co-director), and Dr. Jagan Srinivasan (ISW President), each of  thom delivered inspiring messages that reflected on the cultural, educational, and communal impact of ISW’s mission.

The day also held a special tribute to Ms. Nisha Bawa, whose dedicated years of service to the Language and Cultural School were honored with a celebratory cake-cutting ceremony. As Nisha prepares to move to Texas, her legacy and commitment will continue to resonate within the hearts of students, teachers, and families alike.

The Annual Day performances were a colorful showcase of the students' linguistic journeys throughout the year. Each child participated in an act that corresponded with the language they were enrolled in—ranging from skits and speeches to songs, dances, and traditional recitations. These performances not only displayed their growing fluency but also celebrated the rich diversity of Indian languages and cultures represented within our school.

Following the performances, students were awarded Certificates of Completion, symbolizing their progress and dedication. This joyful occasion culminated in a delightful potluck lunch, where families came together to share food, laughter, and stories—capping off a year of learning and connection on a delicious note. It was a tremendous success and a deeply fulfilling year for all involved—teachers, students, and parents alike. As this chapter closes, we look forward to welcoming new and returning families when ISW Cultural and Language school reopens in September 2025.

The ISW Cultural/Language School admissions (Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu & Assembly only registration is now open and can be accessed via link.

Annual Day Performances by Language and Teacher

• Gujarati: A delightful Skit/Speech performed by both Beginner and Advanced level students. (Teachers: Vaishali Amin, Kajal Raval, and Samik Shah)
• Hindi: Melodious Singing by Hindi 1 and Hindi 2 Beginner classes. (Teachers: Divya Gahlot & Swati Agrawal)
• Hindi: A thoughtful Presentation by Hindi 2 Advanced students. (Teachers: Bindiya Jain)  Hindi: An expressive Skit/Speech from Hindi 4 students. (Teachers: Sonia Gera)
• Hindi: A dramatic Skit/Speech from the Hindi Beginner ++ level. (Teachers: Kinkin Kumari)
• Hindi: An engaging Skit/Speech by Hindi++ Advanced class. (Teachers: Vandana Mahawar)
• Hindi: A lively 1-minute 20-second Dance Performance by K1 Beginners. (Teachers: Nidhi Relan)
• Hindi: A sweet Singing performance by the K2 class. (Teachers: Anupama)  Hindi: A heartfelt Poem Recitation by Hindi 3 Advanced. (Teachers: Smita)
• Hindi: Students shared their reflections on learning Hindi from the K1 Advanced class. (Teachers: Anju Shukla)
• Kannada: Two performances: a Skit/Speech and a Singing item by students of all levels.(Teachers: Rangarajan Krish)
• Marathi: A Skit/Speech presented by the KG level. (Teachers: Shilpa Kulkarni)  Marathi: A harmonious Singing performance by Level 1. (Teachers: Sarita & Veena)
• Marathi: Traditional Shlok Recitation by Level 3 students. (Teachers: Vaijayanti Joshi)  Marathi: Singing presentation combining Level 1 and Level 2 students. (Teachers: Priya Vaidya)
• Marathi: A dramatic Skit/Speech from Level 4 students. (Teachers: Vaijayanti Joshi)  Sanskrit: A Skit/Speech by Level 2 students. (Teachers: Raveendran Ramakrishnan)
• Telugu: Spiritual Sloka Recital by Level 1 and 2 students. (Teachers: Babu Tammisetti and Madhavi Chaliki) 

On May 11th, in celebration of Mother’s Day, the ISW Language and Cultural School organized a heartfelt craft activity where children lovingly created handmade greeting cards for their mothers. With all supplies thoughtfully provided, this touching initiative allowed students to express their love and gratitude in creative, meaningful ways. The room buzzed with warmth and enthusiasm as little hands shaped colors into memories that would surely be cherished by their mothers for years to come.