Regular School Classes Are Back
Future School has started on campus classes again thanks to the decline in the coronavirus pandemic restrictions. We still use google classroom to post assignments and allow students to communicate with their teachers, so that in the case of new restrictions the school can keep functioning online.
Graduation
Summer 2022 saw the successful completion of the program by 14 students. Short slideshows were made to commemorate each student's journey through Future school, followed by a short speech from each graduate. Each graduate also received the traditional Future School graduation book and T-shirt, this was followed by the traditional tree planting ceremony.
Class Picture With Graduation Books
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Tree Planting Ceremony
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Movie night and potlucks
It has recently become somewhat of a tradition in Future school, to host a movie night on every second friday. These evenings provide the perfect opportunity for our students to relax and enjoy school in a non academic manner. Movies are voted on by the students and then presented in our seminar room. The movies are hence not school related, but rather the type of movies students choose to watch in their spare time.
Furthermore future school tends to host potlucks at least once every year, this too allows students to hang out with their friends.
Furthermore future school tends to host potlucks at least once every year, this too allows students to hang out with their friends.
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Field Trips
An important element in any learning program, field trips connect classroom topics to real-world experiences. They create an opportunity for closer bonding within the school 'family' and provide a break from routine. This year our field trips included the following:
Field Trips 2021-22
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Lonavla School Trip
In the summer of 2022 a group consisting of both students and staff went on a week long field trip to visit a beautiful and historically important region called Lonavla.
Lonavla is famous for its old forts, temple caves and gorgeous waterfalls. On this field trip we visited many ancient temples and forts, we learned about their history and with it got an understanding of these ancient societies, beliefs and their legacy..Sightseeing at tourist attractions however was not the only purpose of the trip, lonavla is not only famous for old structures but also for the lushly vivacious scenery. We spent a lot of time trekking through the vibrant green scenery, over a ground filled with crystals and gemstones, between huge and long waterfalls flowing down the edges of high cliffs. Lonavla is rich in both scenery and culture, and it was a lovely experience for all of us. Matrimandir Field TripWe started the morning with a walk to the Matrimandir garden, through the lively forests and over the peaceful cycle paths that exist within auroville. When we came to the Matrimandir gardens we sat under the banyan tree for a while in quiet contemplation. After that we strolled through the lovely Matrimandir gardens, until the time came to head back to school. After walking back at a leisurely pace, we ended the field trip with some ice cream.
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Field Trips 2020-2021
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Geography Field Trip Akku Muttu
The Geography 02 class went on a field trip to Akku Muttu temple to observe the local landscape. Rishi Walker, a forester who has been working on reforestation for the last five years, talked to us about his work. He described how the natural forests have slowly disappeared due to human pressure on their resources. This deforestation has environmental and socio-economic repercussions on both a regional and international level. Akku Muttu offered the students a unique perspective into what the original landscape may have looked like due to the small copse of old trees surrounding the temple. The kolam, a check damn built in an attempt to prevent the runoff problems caused by deforestation, further served to emphasise Rishi's talk. |
Noe van Alphen, a colleague of Rishi's and an alumnus of Future School, brought his own expertise to the trip, discussing the characteristics of local trees, and the selection pressures they face.
Due to the pandemic, we took appropriate precautions. The trip was to an outdoor location, all students wore PPE, and travelled individually rather than in a bus. |
Field Trips 2019-2020
Geography Field trip (Aralam Reserve Forest and Paithalmala Hills)
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In September 2019, 7 students with Geography teacher Puja went on a field trip to Aralam Forest in Kannur district. They also visited Paithalmala hills. It was a six-day trip and the students stayed in the reserve forest guesthouse.
The students had a great experience and explored the topic "Biodiversity under threat". They met a forest ranger who explained the evolution of the biodiversity due to climate change and repeated floods for the last 3 years. |
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Visit to Dakshina Chitra and Crocodile bankIn November 2019, we went on an all-school field trip to 2 locations situated on the East Coast Road (E.C.R.), approximately 120 km away. In the early morning, we took the Auroville school bus from the Solar Kitchen. It was a full-day trip with breakfast and lunch stops at different restaurants on the E.C.R. Dakshina Chitra is a walk-in live museum showcasing the unique native building patterns that existed in southern India. It was a great experience for both the students and teachers to visit these houses.
At the Crocodile Bank, we walked around and observed different varieties of reptiles. |
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