School News

THE STAFF AND STUDENTS ATTEND TCV ANNUAL ATHLETES - MEET

26^th September, Friday, 2008:   On Friday, 26^th, our principal, staff and the whole of children attended the 25^th Annual Inter-House Athletics Meet-2008 of Tibetan SOS Children's Village, Bylakuppe.  At 8 O'clock morning, our children started heading to Bylakuppe Camp No.1, some 4 to 5 KM distance from School by walking enjoying the morning cool breeze. As there was no traffic and at both sides of the road lay vast green corn field giving a very refreshing scene, the children enjoyed this long walk very much as it was a change from their normal routine activity in the School. The sports venue was crowded with students from other schools, guests, and people from the camps and even from nearby settlements, a real spectacle and feast to the eyes. Our children were able to enjoy the games and sports all day thanks to the school cooks who had prepared special lunch and brought it right to the sports venue so they had their lunch at the sports venue itself and return to school late afternoon around 5.00 PM happy and refreshed with lots of funny stories to share and tell each other.

30^th September to 7^th October:  Annual Religious Holiday 'Chabshu'  The Monastery declared official holiday from 30^th September to 7^th October on account of annual summer religious holiday following  'yar gagye' or completion of two month long summer retreat in the Monastery during which monks required to remain indoor and are not allowed to  venture outside beyond a marked  point of line in order to avoid causing harm of countless insects and living organism that become active and thrive during this period. The School remained closed for holidays from 30^th September to 7 October 2008. Most children remained in their respective Khangtsens and had special foods and light entertainment such as listening to religious and Tibetan cultural audios and videos of His Holiness's religious discourses while more lucky ones visited Mysore city to enjoy Mysore Zoo and also to witness the world famous Dasahara festival which was attended by lakhs of domestic and international tourists to enjoy the fortnight long festival.

7^TH October 2008: media reported His Holiness's indisposition following 8-days Teachings given to devotees mostly Buddhist devotees from Taiwan and South Korea in Dharamsala. His Holiness proceeded to New Delhi for routine check up. The entire monastic community in Sera felt anxious about His Holiness's health and Sera Jey Monastery began holding special prayers dedicated to His Holiness's swift recovery and health. Our children also started holding daily special prayers in the morning and evening and it has been announced by high Monastic officials that the prayers should continue until His Holiness recovers fully from his present indisposition. The main puja being said are recitation of Heart Sutra, shesrab snyingpo and Long Life Prayer of His Holiness, rgyalbai zhabsbrtan. School offered Tea to the children during these special prayers session held in the evening.  This means nearly 4000 Sangha community has been offering special prayers morning and evening for His Holiness's swift recovery and to overcome all the obstacles from His Holiness' s spiritual activities.

8^th October 2008: After chabshu holidays,  School reopened today on 8^th October 2008 and classes went on a usual.

13^th October 2008:   Our students participated in Tibetan Debate sponsored and organized under the aegis of local Tibetan Solidarity Committee in which students of other local Tibetan Schools also took part.  The Bylakuppe local Chapter of Tibetan Solidarity Committee organized the Inter-Tibetan School Contests in Painting, Tibetan Essay Writing and the Debate Contest. The Painting and Essay Contests were held in mid September. The Debate was held at a special function held on 13^th October in Dekyi Larso Community Hall in presence of the Principals of all the participating Schools, Settlement representatives, senior students of the Schools, members of the Solidarity Committee and the penal of judges. Later the result of all the contests was announced and the Chief Guest gives away prizes to the winners.
Mr. Tashi Wangdu, Representative of Tibetan Lugsam Settlement, in his opening speech, outlined the aims and objective of organizing these Inter-School Contests to create awareness among the school children about the critical and worsening situation inside Tibet following March 10 anti-communist Chinese government protests in Lhasa that swiftly spread to all parts of Tibet despite China's violent and brutal crackdown.
The other participating schools are Central School for Tibetan (Main), Tibetan S.O.S.Tibetan Children’s Village,  Central School for Tibetans (CVP) - all from Bylakuppe.  The students put up a heated debate on the on topics: ‘The Current Crisis in Tibet’ and ‘Importance of Tibetan Government in Exile’ The young orators enthralled the distinguished guests and the audience with their flawless and forceful presentation, sound argument and counter argument. Their remarkable grip over the subject and confidence level greatly impressed the audience and the judges alike and deeply inspired the fellow students. Mr. Norpa Tsering Norbu, Local Tibetan Justice Commission, the Chief Guest of the event, gave away the prizes.  Although senior students of standard 12^th from TCV School stole the limelight of the show and the top awards, our contestants won the 3^rd position and a loads of admiration of the guests and audience for their impressive presentation.

17^th October 2008:   The first anniversary of the US Congressional Gold Medal Award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama last year 2007, was observed with a subdued atmosphere due to His Holiness's medical treatment in New Delhi. However School is declared holiday on the auspicious occasion to commemorate the historic day following declaration of Holiday by our the mother Organization, Sera Jey Dratsang. Most members joined Sangsol at phodrang, public meeting place, in new Camp organized by Regional offices of TYC, TWA and TRFRC.

18^th October 2008:  Principal Acharya Rinchen Tsering was invited by SOS Tibetan Children Village to address the school children before declaring open their annual exhibition project namely, TIBET, MY COUNTRY. Principal was deeply impressed by the wealth and verity of information and facts presented through visual pictures and models prepared by children themselves and organized class-wise. The School Director stated the aims and objective of holding annual exhibition to create awareness about unique Tibetan cultural richness and history by way of creating these alive by students themselves with back up support from the Teachers and School.   IN the afternoon, our senior students from Class VIII, IX and X were taken to TCV School to visit the exhibition which was exceptionally good to miss. Our students saw these, learnt from them, interact with their counterparts and benefit much from the consortium of information packed models, charts and presentations on Tibetan culture, custom, religion and history prepared and made by students themselves. They returned highly elated such an interesting and joyful learning experience. It is hoped that they have gathered enough idea and clues to be in a position to try their hands on putting together a similar one in our School next year to mark the fifty years of living in exile. 

25^th to 27^th October 2008:  Annual School Picnic and Sports Meet:   In view of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's arrival back to Theckchen Choeling having fully recovered and the announcement that His Holiness will attend and grace the Upper TCV (S.O.S. Tibetan Children's Village) Founding Day 48^th Anniversary Celebration on 25^th October, was decided that this year's School Picnic and Sports Meet shall also be held at the day. Accordingly, The Teachers and students began preparations in earnest and in no time our children cleaned the playground of weeds and other wastes and carried out linings. School Picnic and Sports Meet held for two and half day - Saturday, 25^th and Sunday, 26^th - full days and Monday 27^th half day.   Although the first day of the picnic –cum-sports meet was marred by heavy rain forcing the school to convert School into a makeshift indoor stadium. Luckily, our children had a very pleasant and bright sunny days on the second and third day which made them extremely happy and they made most of the excellent weather condition indulging in the remaining sports and athletics with greatest passion and joy and when there was break, the kids had great fun and frolicked in the playground to their full satisfaction within the limits of School playground.

Wednesday 29^th October 2008:  Tuesday being full holiday here instead of Sundays, the Prizes for the Winners of the 2008 Sports Meet are given away by Khen Rinpoche Acharya Geshe Lobsang Palden at a simple function held in the afternoon in School Hall. JAMTSE HOUSE with final 166 points declared the winner of 2008 Sports Meet. Lhaksam House with 165 Points declared the Runners Up. Nyingje House and Shenphen House with 124 and 94 Points declared 3^rd and 4^th respectively.

Thursday 30^th October 2008: Result of National Handwriting & Coloring Contest 2008. We held these contest on  July 18 and had sent the entries accordingly to the SDS. We are happy to acknowledge the receipt Student Development Society, PUNE –28 their  letter No.S.D.S./1974/3/2008-09, dated 10 October 2008 along with following detailed CERTIFICATES:
Award winner students certificates:  01 (one for excellent Handwriting and Two for excellent coloring)
Award winner students certificates:  02 (Two for excellent coloring)
Best Teacher Award Certificate:       01
Participated students certificates     115
We thank Student Development Society very much for the certificates and deeply appreciated theri commendable initiative that will definitely contribute to student development.

Friday 31^st October 2008 :  Conduction and Submitted to DoE, the Tibetan Essays written by our students from Class VI to X under ‘Annual Tibetan Essay Writing Contest held by DoE ( Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamsala, H.P. India) In compliance with DoE letter No. 4/TS(13)08/09SHERIG/703 dated: 25 September 2008, the School conducted a preliminary Tibetan Essay Writing Contest among the students from Class VI to X on Monday the 20TH  October 2008. A selection has been made on the basis of the preliminary contest result and the toppers from the respective Classes-one each from the respective –all sections- Classes-have been permitted to take in the main ‘Annual Tibetan Essay Writing Competition’ under the supervision & invigilation of Ms. Passang Zompa, deputed by office the Representative, Lugsung Samdupling, Tibetan Settlement & two members of Teacher Parents Association.
1. As usual, sealed envelope-containing TOPIC of the essay received from DoE was opened in presence of all the invigilators 15 minutes (at 9:45AM) prior to start of the competition.
2. All three invigilators duly signed each & every Written Essay of the contestants.
3. The Contest started at 10:00 AM sharp and duration allowed for Classes VI to VIII was 2 hours and for Class IX & X was of 3 hours.
4. All the essays as per list (FIVE ESSAYS) below are instantly dispatched by SPEED POST under sealed minutes after the contest is over.
FOLLOWING LISTED STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE ANNUAL TIBETAN ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION 

SL.	CLASS	NAME OF THE STUDENT
1	VI	Jampa Khedup
2	VII	Sonam Yeshi
3	VIII	Tenzin Dakpa
4	IX	Tenzin Dorjee
5	X	Jampa Lodoe

8^th November 2008: TCV Heads of Schools visit our School
The Heads of Schools ( Principals and Headmasters)  of Tibetan Children's Village (headquartered in Dharamsala, HP) led by Gan Tenzin Sangpo la, Director, EDRC, Tibetan Children's Village ,Main, paid a hurried visit to our School from their busy meeting schedule and observed the various Departments and the classes in session. The distinguished educators were accompanied by Mr. Janyal Tamdin Tsering la and Gan Dhondup Tsering la, Director and Principal respectively of S.O.S. Tibetan Children's Village, Bylakuppe. Our principal Acharya Rinchen Tsering and Headmaster, Geshe Kalsang A Lak received the visitors on arrival in the School. The delegate also interacted with our students. After observing the various classes in session, school hosted a simple Tea and refreshment.  They expressed admiration for the unique educational opportunity created and offered by our School for the novice monks in the Monastery. The TCV Village Heads from all the branches Village Schools are in Bylakuppe to attend the annual 'TCV Heads Meeting' being held at S.O.S. Tibetan Children's Village, Bylakuppe.

14^th November 2008:  Children's day Celebrated:
School celebrated 14^th November as the Children's Day with a simple programme presented by the staff members of the School. In the Morning, all the school members gathered in School Hall and after morning assembly, prayers and national anthems, sweets packets distributed to the children followed by a short but interesting entertainment show presented by the staff members. The highlight of the dummy show was the role played of the US president elect Mr. Obama and President Bush, and a tricky magical show presented by our most versatile and talented Teacher, Gan Anduk la that kept the children riveted and spellbound.  This year's enhanced programme to celebrate Children's Day was to reciprocate the grand Teacher's Day Celebration organized by our standard X students on 5^th September this year which is the birth day of India's second President, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan,  a world famous Teacher, thinker, philosopher and educator of his time.

15^th November 2008:  Annual Tibetan Handwriting Contest
All Tibetan School Annual Tibetan Handwriting Contest Sponsored by Swiss Lhasa Boys' Association and conducted under the aegis of the His Holiness the Dalai lama's Education Department of Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamsala, was held on the Saturday 15^th November 2008.
School conducted first preliminary Tibetan Hand Writing Contest at the end of September 2008 by the respective Classes and the Contestant Selection Committees of the various groups selected three toppers each from their respect Groups and submitted the lists to the School Office for the MAIN CONTEST which is held today, on 15^th November 2008 as per your guidelines.
The TOP THREE  selected contestants each from the - respective Groups – sat for the MAIN ‘Annual Tibetan Handwriting Contest’ under the supervision & invigilation of Ms. Passang Zompa, Representative deputed by office of the Tibetan Representative, Lugsung Samdupling, Tibetan Settlement & two members of Teachers and  Parents Association and Headmaster. All the written handwriting contest entry papers (15 Numbers in all) dispatched immediately after the contest by SPEED POST.

16^th November 2008: Inter-House English Debate
Inter-House English Debate and Elocution Contest held in our School Hall on the Monday 17^th November 2008, Morning  at 9.00 AM. Gan Lobsang Dorjee la, TGT, Central School for Tibetans, CVP, was the Chief Guest. Geshe Nyima Tashi la, Coordinator, Local Science Meets Dharma Project; Mrs. Dolma la, official from Lugsam Representative's Office; Gan Jamyang Tenzin la, PGT, S.O.S. TCV, Bylakuppe were the judges. Senior students presented their views and thoughts on the topics: : '10^th March 2008 Uprising In Tibet & International Support'  & 'Monks Should Take Active Part In Tibetan Freedom Movement'.   Junior students participated in elocution contest and the participants were drawn from Standard One to Three.

Result: First position went to Lhaksam House with 188 Points; Second Position went to Shenphen House with 172 Points; Third Position, Nyingje House with 171 Points.

20^th November 2008: Talk on Monastic Conducts by Ex-Geko Geshe Tsuiltrim Gyatso  (Chief Disciplinarian of Sera Jey Monastery).

22^nd November 2008: Annual Main Monastic Scripture Memorization Recitation Test of all classes conducted by senior Geshes deputed by Sera Jey Monastic University.

30^th November 2008:  Annual Dialectics Debate (Practical) Examinations of all the upper Classes.  

2008 Annual Examinations:

7^th December 2008:  Annual Dialectics Written (Theoretical) Examinations of all the upper Classes. 

11^th  to 19^th December 2008:  Annual Examinations (MAIN) of all Classes held.

24^th December 2008: Staff meeting held and following students and teachers elected for the responsibilities mentioned below for the year 2009 – 2010, new Academic Session. 
1.Venerable Thupten Palden, Class IX, has been elected as the Best Student of the Year – 2008
2. Gan Thupten Dhargye (Gan Thupga la), has been elected as the new Students' Discipline Incharge for the year 2009 – 2010 Academic Session.
3. Following students have been elected as the Prefects for the year 2009 -2010 Academic Session:

      1. Lobsang Tsultrim                       New Class IX
2. Thupten Nyima                          New Class IX
3. Lobsang Sherab 'A'                   New Class IX
4. Thupten Wangdue                     New Class IX
5. Tenzin Tashi                              New Class IX

 25^th December 2008:  Result Declared of the Annual Examinations.

26^th December 2008:  Declared winter vacation and School closed for holidays.

Inter-house debate, quiz and elocution contest held

25 September 2008:

On Thursday, 25 September 2008,As an essential part of extra-curricular activities, Our School held this year's second Inter-House Debate, Quiz and Elocution Contest at the School Hall. The contest function started with students saying Tibetan and Indian national Anthem followed by Words of Truth prayer and invocation prayers. >> Read detail program

Group of students with their Teachers from Kodaikanal International School pay visit to Sera Je School:

20 September 2008:

A group of twenty five of students and teachers from the prestigious Kodaikanal International School paid a brief visit to School during the Morning Prayer Assembly as planed before. They joined our students in saying the morning prayers followed by Indian and Tibetan National anthem. Mr. Sithar, the Physical Training Teacher, a Tibetan himself, made a brief speech. >> Read detail program

September 14 Sunday:

Brutal crackdown by Chinese on peaceful Tibetan protesters on March 14, 2008, was observed as a solidarity day. On 10th March this year, historic Uprising sparked off as a small protest march led by dozens of Sera Monks in Lhasa which was soon joined by thousands of Tibetans in Lhasa to vent their frustration and anguish as a result of sixty year long simmering resentment and opposition to China's illegal and oppressive rule in Tibet. On 14th March the Chinese security and military forces began massacring hundreds of unarmed Tibetans protesters turning the Lhasa the capital city of Lhasa into a veritable slaughtering house.>> Read detail program

Teachers' Day Celebrated: Birthday of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, second President of India.

September 5 Friday:

Showing commendable leadership and organization skill and talent, the Class X students collectively organized a grand Teachers' Day celebration programmes that deeply impressed the staff and teachers.

It is the day we celebrate the people who have transformed our lives for the better through the medium of education. The people who significantly contributed in promising a life of education, erudition and learning. It's our teacher. The custodian of learning who taught us the facts of learning and existence. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. That's exactly what a teacher has done for us and we celebrate this joyous occasion in remembrance of the greatest teachers of India on his birthday - Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. >> Read detail program

Second Term Examinations

27th August to 3rd September 2008: The Examination Committee conducted Second Term Examinations for all the Classes.

ANNUAL SCIENCE EXHIBITION -2008

19 SATURDAY, 20 SUNDAY, 21 MONDAY, JULY 2008

July 19, 20, 21 Class VIII, IX & X students organized Annual Science Exhibition for three days from 19th to 21 July 2008. It drew good response from the visitors especially from the monks and local Tibetan students from S.O.S. Tibetan Children's Village; Central School for Tibetans, (Main) & CST, CVP, Bylakuppe, Sera Mey Thoesam School, and a huge number of monks from Sera Jey Monastic University. Three - Days Annual Science Exhibition was organized by our senior students of Class VII, VIII, IX & X.undr the guidance of science Teachers, Gan Tenzin Ngodup la and Sir Shrinivasa Rao. M.P. Sera Jey Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Palden la so graciously opened the exhibition.>> Read detail program

July 16 Wednesday: Geshe Pema Samten, new Spiritual Director, Tibetan Buddhist Centre, Hamburg, Germany pays visit to School.

In memory of Most venerable Geshe Thubten Ngawang (1932-2003), a great Master from Tibe and former Spiritual Director of Tibetan Buddhist Center, Hamburg, Germany, on Saturday,25th July 2008, at a simple function School felicitated Geshe Pema Samten La, the new spiritual Director of Hamburg, Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Germany. In the function, Khen Rinpoche Acharya Geshe Lobsang Palden la presented Geshe Pema Samtne la with a Memento and a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of the Buddhist Centre's longtime financial support given to the School.

Tibetan Buddhist Centre Hamburg, Tiberisches Zentrum, has been providing financial assitance to Sera Je School since 1981.The funds are allocated under: 1.Children’s Kitchen 2. Teachers’ Salary 3. Painting Class Spplies 4. English Teachers for Monks. The support is greatly appreciated by the School. Sera je School administration recognises the great suppport of: Christof Spitz, Ven. Bhikshuni Jampa Tsedron la, aka, Carola Roloff and Friederike RosemanSera Je School thanks Tibetan Buddhist Centre Hamburg for their continued support.

1 JUNE 2008 (Sunday): SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATION (1983-2008)
A Brief Report

SERA JE SECONDARY SCHOOL
(Affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi)

CHIEF GUEST: Madam Josiane Tallon (President of ‘Les amis du Tibet’ Geneva, Switzerland )
GUEST OF HONOUR: Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Palden (Chairperson & Abbot of Sera Jey Monastic University for Advanced Buddhist Studies)
HOST: Acharya Rinchen Tsering (Principal/Director of Sera Je Secondary School)
>> Read detail program

09 April 2008: 34 students of various classes joined Protest organized by local stop crisis in Tibet Committee in Hyderabad city. Our students’ group also carried out ‘mock funeral’ to draw Indian people’s attention to the killings in Tibet and staged street shows depicting communist Chinese armies brutalities on peaceful Tibetan protesters in Tibet. School spent from its own general funds to meet sundary expenses of the student group led by two teachers.

05 April 2008: Most Venerable Lobsang Norbu Shastri La of Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi, delivered a key speech at the request of School to the students in which he touched and dwelt in-depth on various important issues related to situation inside Tibet, world wide Tibetan movement, individual Tibetans and Organizational role and responsibilities and winded the talk with emphatic emphasis on the extreme relevance of sound education in the context of Tibetan political situation and exile community and the future of Tibetan nation.

24 March 2008: Our senior students organized a ‘Students’ Protest March’ in Mysore City against china’s brutal crackdown in Tibet and occupation of Tibet by Chinese. Except for the small children all the students participated in the ‘Protest March’ during which they also staged ‘ street shows’ to highlight Chinese military forces brutalities against unarmed peaceful Tibetan protesters.

School Re-opens after Annual Holidays
27 Feb 2008: School reopened after annual vacation. All the students and staff members reported to the School and first morning assembly of the new academic year held and declared classes started on the day. The School distributed new textbooks and notebooks to the students class-wise.