Parenting in Gurugram – a fast growing , evolving city – is a unique journey, filled with its own set of challenges and decisions. Among them, choosing the right school for your child is perhaps one of the most significant.
The city is fortunately home to a plethora of schools (as Gurgaon is one of those rare fast-growing City in India, with more than adequate number of reasonably good quality schools);
In the aggregate, this City has excess capacity for school education of children – given that it’s a fast-growing City & there are lots of in/out migration of work force & hence families in this city).
So relative to many other cities – including next door Delhi – its easier to get admission for your child in Gurugram – or even change schools – mid stream as your child grows.
Many Gurugram schools are often vying for attention with their impressive campuses, brand names, and promises of a bright future.
It’s tempting to fall for the allure of these sometimes distant, ‘fancy’ schools.
Some fancy schools are often perceived as the gold standard, a ticket to success.
So we see buses packed with children, a common sight on Gurugram’s notoriously busy roads, ferrying them to these far-flung BIG multi section schools – each with thousands of children studying in them.
The logic is strangely sometimes: ‘The BIGGER the school & longer the commute, the better the school must be.’?
But let’s pause and consider the real cost of this choice.
It’s not just the hefty fees of some of these fancy schools, but something far more precious and irreplaceable: TIME.
Imagine this: Your child wakes up at the crack of dawn, rushes through breakfast, and spends two to three hours a day cooped up in a school bus – daily!
That’s up to three hours of their day, every single school day, for years?
What could they be doing instead?
Playing: They could be enjoying an extra hour or more of unstructured play or sports, so crucial for their cognitive, physical and social development.
- Exploring: They could be exploring a new hobby, learning a musical instrument, doing some creative activity or simply reading a book.
- Connecting: They could be spending quality time with family, building stronger bonds, and sharing their day’s experiences.
- Practicing : Reviewing their academic lessons for the day
- SLEEP & rest: An extra hour of sleep is invaluable for a growing child’s physical and mental well-being.
That three-hour daily commute amounts to over 600 hours a year, or a staggering 25 days of your child’s life wasted in travel/traffic.
Over their entire school life, that’s almost a full year spent on the road!
SO, WHAT’S THE RIGHT ALTERNATIVE?
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD SCHOOL.
These are the schools in your community, the ones you can see from your balcony, the ones that are just a short walk or a quick/short ride away.
Choosing a neighborhood school isn’t about compromising on quality. Many of these schools are equipped with excellent teachers, modern facilities, and a curriculum that rivals their ‘fancier’ counterparts. What they offer, because they may be even smaller campuses – that the others can’t, is the gift of time – and usually greater focus on each child – as there are fewer children on campus.
By choosing a school close to home, you’re not just saving your child from the stress and fatigue of a long daily commute. You’re giving them the gift of a childhood filled with play, exploration, and connection.
HOW DO NEIGHBOURHOOD SCHOOLS COMPARE WITH BOARDING SCHOOLS ?
The neighbourhood school model is also closest to the famous – ‘Boarding school’ format – where children stayed on campus too – a few steps away from their classrooms & playgrounds – and with much closer bonds with their teachers – who often used to stay on campus or nearby .
So lets carefully reflect on this important dimension. Lets focus on whats good for your child – and not get carried away by the big factory like infrastructure & operations of a BIG fancy school – far away for your child.
By making the right choice – you’re giving them the chance to be children, not just passengers.
So, the next time you’re faced with this decision, ask yourself: ‘Is the brand name/BIG school worth the three hours of my child’s life, every single day?’
Let’s choose to invest in our children’s present, not just their future.
Let’s choose the neighbourhood school, and let’s give our children the gift of time.”
LOOK FOR A GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD SCHOOL WITH A GOOD CULTURE & TEACHERS – NOT JUST BIG FANCY GLITZY INFRASTRUCTURE.
the teachers are the most important – in any good school; as also the culture of the school – which can be assessed by a simple walk through and/or things like teacher attrition ,etc – as also the peer group of the child / parent groups.
Also stay away from a school – with significant mismatch of culture – with your values/ideals.
Engage with teachers, other parents with children in that school and try to ask/look out for these aspects – during the walk through – when assessing a school.
And most of all do not get carried away by the fancy/glitzy infrastructure
Ultimately, success isn’t just about what our children achieve academically, but who they become as individuals, how competently they navigate the complexities of life, and how well they manage their own well-being.
What are your thoughts on this?
Do share your experiences and insights in the comments below!
We hope this helps you, dear parent!
Meanwhile, enjoy developing your child at a good neighborhood school, home and outdoors.
There are some great parks/green spots/sports fields near at as well near our school campuses – consider locating a suitable one in your neighborhood, for encouraging physical activity – the seeds of any sports – near say:
- SouthCity1
- Sector31
- Sector40
- Sushant Lok
- Sector72
- Sector70
- Sectot71
- Sector48
- Badshahpur corridor*
- Leisure Valley
(*) which is right next to the Sixth Element – Tata Primanti campus – and the trees near our school’s north/east boundary – help filter our school campus air, too.
Why – the Sixth Element School?
The Sixth Element was a phrase coined by the school founders 20 years back to illustrate igniting the joy of learning – crucial for children’s development – as we nurture and prepare them for the future.
How to Foster a Well-Rounded Child?
While there is lots of operating structure and detailed SOPs in the school’s daily /weekly/monthly/annual – schedules – “how” the same is executed is unique – i.e., the Sixth element way of incorporating co-curricular & scientific & artistic activities, project work etc – leading to children enjoy learning & look forward to coming to school each day (and interestingly they do miss school on holidays 😊 ! )
Some examples of what’s done to instill values & character building:
- Instill values: Understanding differences between right and wrong is often discussed in its many facets. Discussing environmental issues, volunteering for community activities, clean-ups, and respecting all living beings.
- Values as a Compass: Values are the moral principles that guide our actions. The Cambridge International Curriculum emphasizes global citizenship and community service and fosters values like respect, empathy, and responsibility.
- Embrace sustainability: Reduce waste, conserve energy, and grow your food together. Encouraging minimalism (BTW, we are a uniform school), upcycling, gardening, and exploring green technologies like rainwater harvesting, recycling, etc.
- Building Confidence: The curriculum’s focus on individual & team achievement (over experiential projects in small groups) and overcoming difficulties – and making progress, encouraged by the teacher, helps build self-esteem. Students develop a strong sense of confidence and resilience by setting and achieving goals.
- Life Skills for Real World: The curriculum’s focus on independent learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving equips students with essential life skills. These skills are invaluable in navigating challenges and opportunities- building confidence.
THE SIXTH ELEMENT’ School’s commitment to sustainability?
At the Sixth Element, we believe that education should go beyond classrooms. Our green, airy, spacious campuses are a living laboratory where children learn experimentally about sustainable practices. From solar panels to rainwater harvesting, recycling & near no plastics usage.
Our curriculum integrates sustainability into every subject, fostering a deep appreciation for nature, science, commerce & the arts – while instilling a desire to protect our planet.
By igniting the joy of learning and nurturing curiosity, confidence, values, and environmental consciousness – we empower children to become successful individuals and equally responsible members of society and global citizens.
Does a unique International Curriculum School like the Sixth Element help?
A progressive holistic school following Cambridge International Curriculum significantly contributes to lots of experiential learning and project-based work.
The Sixth Element School: Where Cambridge International meets India- in an exclusive, low-density, impactful format.
The reason why we chose the Cambridge International curriculum is that the blend of teacher-directed as well as learner-self-driven learning & research seems to be relevant for aspirational kids from Indian families, keen on preparing their kids to be global citizens of the future – whether based in India or overseas.
Is the Sixth Element School duly registered with Cambridge International?
Yes, The Sixth Element School – is duly registered as one of over 10,000 schools globally – as a Cambridge International school with a global registration number IA 892
Keen to see what a unique school like The Sixth Element School offers? Schedule a visit and see why it could be the perfect launchpad for your child’s bright, global future!
We started the first sixth element school 20 years back in 2004 @ Gurgaon.
Our schools & afternoon extended school & afternoon’ activities enriched’ daycare centres are unique, exclusive, compact neighborhood green campuses – where many outdoor activities & experiential learning (physical – not digital) occur with children on most days.
Our unique Smaller campus – with only two sections per class grade – and minimal children on campus allow us to focus on each child’s growth & development properly.
We are proud of our high-quality, committed teachers – the backbone of any good learning environment.
We raise well-rounded future ready individuals who are prepared to face the challenges of the world with confidence and integrity – with the proper methods and practices. For example, our foundational fitness program delivered in partnership with fit Kids, our gym, our green playgrounds and great coaches gives our school kids a great foundational fitness start.
A good understanding and partnership between parents and schools is key to nurturing the future leaders of gurugram, our great nation and planet.
THE SIXTH ELEMENT SCHOOL WE BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF CATALYSING & ENSURING “THE SIXTH ELEMENT – i.e. THE JOY OF LEARNING ” FOR EVERY CHILD. OUR CURRICULUM IS BENCHMARKED WITH THE BEST INTERNATIONALLY WHILE DRAWING FROM OUR VERY OWN CORE ANCIENT INDIAN BEST PRACTICES SUCH AS THE GURU SHISHYA PARAMPARA) & VALUES. THANKS TO ITS 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND ITS CORE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES DRAWN FROM PIAGET, VYGOSTKY AND BRUNER – WHICH IS INCIDENTALLY THE RESOURCE POOL – FOR THE FOUNDATIONAL YEARS SCHOOL CURRICULUM OF THE UPGRADED NEW EDUCATION (NEP) UNDER ROLLOUT IN INDIA NOW.
So, in line with some of India’s top and the best globally, we are now a unique 100% Cambridge International School.
the Sixth Element School
the schoolchildren love
SOUTH CITY 1. TATA PRIMANTI (sector 72)
85272-74695 or 97736-32626
since 2004(20 years)
Limited enrollment available in pre-NURSERY, NURSERY, KG & DAYCARE, grade 1 now – in our prenursery to K12 school programs.
@ Gurgaon’s only single-section “exclusive” boutique VENTILATED, AIRY, SPACIOUS. GREEN SCHOOL CAMPUSES
