I feel motivated to write this review because of some really unjustified reviews here.
Firstly, I hope everyone speaks to real parents before they seek admission in ANY school. not just Sishu Griha. Not ONE parent I have spoken with, before admission or in the 8 odd years by kids have been going Sishu Griha, has ever had anything truly negative to say!
Positives:
The single biggest reason I chose this school was that all the kids are so happy. I am sure there are exceptions. but as you walk into school, you are bombarded with beaming faces. Now. my simple test is that if the kids are happy. something is going on very well.
The school has a really nurturing attitude. They take "Sishu Griha" literally and the student is at the center of the universe. They take feedback really positively and well. Multiple occasions feedback has been solicited and acted upon. Now this is not the case in most schools. In fact most schools, the parents seem a little scared to bring up something because it may negatively affect their ward.
Sishu Griha’s attitude around feedback is so very positive, inclusive and open.
Now if the above two are the’culture’ of the school the second criteria is the’quality’ of the teachers. Almost all the teachers are very, very competent both at their subject and over the art of’teaching’. Another refreshing difference is that the class sizes are small. So, there is wonderful teacher-student ratio. 1:12 in the montessori and 1:24 in higher grades. This is the best that I have heard of amongst non-international schools. This means that not only does the teacher know the student by name, but also knows what makes the child’tick’. The advise and the approaches that the same teachers take for my two kids is as different and targeted as my two kids are different. So there isn’t a one size fits all approach. That is so very refreshing.
Along with the’culture’, I will point out, specifically to comments from Sonakshi and Dalma:
a. I am glad this is not a Convent school. I studied in one too and it was surreal. My real world was so very different to this alien’convent’ world. I seriously didn’t want to bear such an onerous Cross. pun intended. On the other hand, I like the’Namaste’ and the respectful attitudes to not just teachers but also the’Akka’(cleaning ladies) at Sishu Griha. This is more in consonance with my culture and doesn’t seem alien.
b. To Dalma. firstly the school trustees are not’Malayalees’.
Teachers, staff and students all are very reflective of the demographics of Bangalore. So it truly is a meritocracy. I wonder why’Hindu’ schools are subject to immediate dissections into religion, language etc. If we use the same token to dissect. most’convent’ schools are’Malayalee’?
What can be better?
Yes nothing is perfect. If I had to’pick’, I would say the following
1. The school does not have a’ground’ and shares a public playground. To give full credit. why is it that the other schools sharing the same ground are not mentioned in the same breath as Sishu Griha? Similarly some of the amenities like toilets, labs etc. could be better.
Hindu(or non-minority) schools don’t benefit from land largesse doled out by foreign invaders, foreign NGOs or Government minority appeasement money.
2. There is a step change from primary to middle school in terms of load on the child, as the school scurries to make the transition from nurturing to’preparing for board exam success’.
Overall:
I would urge people who are seriously considering the school to speak to parents and get authentic first-hand feedback. I am thankful for having secured admission for my children.