Principal's Message

40 Glorious Years of Jamnabai Narsee School- Initiatives in the 40th Year
With awe and reverence, I bow my head to an institution that has stood the test of time, academic excellence, deep-rooting itself in the fabric of our social, cultural and national heritage, over the past four decades.
I extend my humble tribute, to the expansive view of Education that was nurtured by our Founder Fathers, Shri Chatrabhujbhai, Shri Pratapbhai  and Shri Dharamshibhai , enlightened as they were by the guidance on social responsibility given by their parents, Shri Narsee Monjee and Smt.Jamnabai Narsee.
We are grateful to the present Management of the school for uplifting and holding sacrosanct the noble motto of the school- Vidya Paramam Balam.
Our Vedas exhort us to ‘Earn with a hundred hand and distribute with a thousand.’
Our Management has provided the school with world-class infrastructure, good personnel, sound policies and a wonderful sense of goodwill that has made this institution more than a workplace to us- it is a place where we actualize our inner potential and look beyond our own needs to a generation of young people who need our guidance and facilitation to build the world of tomorrow.

Jamnabai Narsee School has completed four decades in the field of education and is today identified as an institution that is run on sound values, inculcating in its students a love for home and hearth while preparing them to be global citizens, who can carve a niche for themselves wherever in the world they go.
With close to 5000 students and 500 staff, the Jamnabai Narsee School is perched for flight to greater heights in its fifth decade…..
The 40th year of the school was celebrated in various ways.

• LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN STUDENTS- Various inter-house activities were initiated this year to develop an awareness of contemporary social and civic issues both on a local and global level. Students of Std 5-6 discussed issues related to rural India through a Model Panchayat, and the electorate were asked to vote for the best solution.
• Students of Std 7-8 performed as a Model Parliament in India, donning the roles of various well known leaders and discussed political issues, arriving at solutions that were equitable for all.
• The students of Grade 11-12 IBDP put up the International Youth Conference (the prototype of the G8 and G20 nations), and debated the issues of global concern with students from 20 schools across India.
• Students of ISC took up three community based projects under the Design For Change- ‘Walk On- Walking to School rather than using a car as a means of reducing the carbon footprint; Reducing the use of plastic in the local community; working with a BMC school in Santacruz East, to bring about better awareness of scientific, environmental and social issues.
• A Career Fair was organized for students of Std 10-12. The panelists for this were Mr.Amole Gupte(Film), Ms Deepa Bhatia(Film), Mr.Bharat Dhabolkar(Media and Advertising), Mr.Sanjeev Kapoor(Hospitality), Dr.Ali Irani (Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine), Ms.Pratibha Jain(Media), Ms.Ritu Khoda(Art),  Mr.Vijay Karnani(Finance), Mr.Vishal Gandhi(Law),Mr. Rolin Mendonca – Architect, Capt. Preeti Kapil Kohal – Pilot, Smt. Jhelum Ratna – Producer & Director – Media & Advertising, Dr. Snehal Zaveri – Paedriatcian, Ms. Archana Kochar – Fashion Designer  & Ms. Chitra Iyer – Finance Management.
• 9th AISM – Maharashtra State Athletic Meet – hosted by Jamnabai Narsee School for the first time with the participation of 55 ICSE/ISC schools.
• CAS Trip to Kutch, Gujarat: IBDP students have adopted the Lakhania village in Kutch and have started the project of tree plantation and rural awareness through education at a local school.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME- The first week of June 2010 was a series of workshops and resource talks for the teaching staff, from mental and physical health care to finance planning and management.
The Management initiated a Teacher development programme where on the last Thursday of every month there was a special assembly of the teaching and non-teaching staff who were exposed to talks on fitness, team building, traditional music of India etc.
The TEAM Programme(Teacher Enrichment and Academic Management Programme) was initiated for a 30 session intensive training of teachers on the challenges faced in today’s classrooms, along with emphasis on special needs in children and their identification. This programme is mandatory for all new teachers of JNS and is also open to the community.
A Three year Fashion Designing Diploma Course was started this year with eligibility of 10+2 or graduates in any stream. This course is also open to the community.
ECCEd(Early Childhood Care and Education) classes have been started in 2010-2011 with the possibility of in-house internship and training.
PTA- The PTA organized Parent Empowerment Talks with well known personalities in the field of counseling and mental health- Dr.Anuradha Sovani, Dr.Joyeeta Sengupta, Dr.Ruksheda and educationist Ms.Josephine Vas. Age-related and socially relevant issues at various age-groups were discussed with parents.
The PTA and JNAA(Jamnabai Narsee Alumni Association) also organized the 6 km. JNS Marathon on12th Dec.’2010: ‘ The Jamanabai Narsee School Marathon.’ (Run to spread the light of Knowledge’) on the eve of the school’s 40th Anniversary. (All proceeds will be used to buy computers for BMC schools).
The best is yet to be- On the 15th of January, 2011, we organized a grand evening of scintillating fusion music by internationally renowned flautist Pandit Shri Hariprasad Chaurasia and Jazz Virtuoso Shri Louis Banks on the Jamnabai Narsee Playground. This was the grand finale of a wonderful 40th year.
This year, the students of Jamnabai Narsee School travelled inwards on a journey of introspection through the stories of the life of Krishna- to find out the contemporary relevance of these legendary and mythological lore.
They also delved in to find out the true nature of leadership, courage, and leading from the front through the story of the mouse saving the Lion, King of the Jungle, from the hunter’s net. So on and so forth goes the story of our search for Excellence Through Endeavour in every aspect of school life and the lives of our wards- our students.
It is said that a teacher should have faith in the inherent potentialities of each and every student, for the Atman (Self) is lodged in the heart of every creature:
At the same time, he should be able to recognize the differences in their capacity of assimilation owing to diverse backgrounds and abilities.
 
Accordingly, a teacher should be able to act as a resource person for all students by catering to the students’ diverse needs. This is possible if the teacher has love for knowledge. The capacity to acquire knowledge must be combined with the capacity to communicate knowledge to others.
The following Vedic invocation is aimed at making the teaching learning process fruitful, by being an effective means to nurture the intellect of both the teacher and the student, so that they may succeed in their joint venture to explore the sublime and wider horizons of their mental and spiritual faculties:
‘Om. May [He] protect us both. May [Brahman] bestow upon us both the fruit of knowledge. May we both obtain energy to acquire knowledge. May what we both study reveal the truth. May we cherish no evil feeling towards each other. Om Peace! Peace! Peace!’
I take this opportunity to thank our Ruby Jubilarians and every member of our staff for their dedication to the institution and its mission.
Students, the lessons you are learning in school have something to do with the content of the curriculum, that will help to build your professional career- but what you will take from this institution are really the lessons of Life. Therefore be open to receiving and participating in the varied experiences of these wonderful days at school- empower yourself beyond the ordinary- extend your heart and soul to give back to society something worthwhile. May you be the Nobel Laureates and the Magsaysay Awardees of the century- may you be the Padma Bhushans’ and Padmashrees’; may you also be the worker without a shadow who bends low to relieve the suffering of the less fortunate.
Hearty Congratulations to the newly elected Student Council and the prize winners’ - be role models for the students that look up to you.
The Parent-Teacher Association of our school, this year led by Ms.Varsha Sejpal, is exemplary in setting standards of excellence, whether it is in organizing the various events or acting as an Interface with the parent community of the school. We thank you, PTA for your tireless efforts to enhance the glory of the school.
Thank you, Ms.Hiral Shah and the office bearers of the Alumni Association for all the Alumni functions and the Cascade festival that is so brilliantly managed by you youngsters.
I end by once again reiterating a thought from our scriptures-
Let our Education be such as to initiate us in the art of living so that we can live the full span of our lives in quest of knowledge, peace and prosperity:
‘May we see for a hundred autumns. May we live for a hundred autumns. May we know for a hundred autumns. May we rise for a hundred autumns. May we prosper for a hundred autumns. May we grow for a hundred autumns-even more than a hundred autumns.’