As a part of ‘Educational Tour’, Jain International Residential School (JIRS) organized a trip to Spain from 15 to 23 November 2018. JIRS encourages learners to participate in educational tours and thereby motivates students to develop the interest in learning.

Spain and Portugal were chosen as our destination as it is one of Europe’s most rich and rewarding destinations. Spain lends itself perfectly to an array of curriculum areas – to take our footy team on a sports tour to remember, learn the Spanish language from locals, or immerse in Art and History, all with an unavoidable dose of the local culture and cuisine.

Students visited Plaça de Catalunya which is located at the heart of Barcelona. A favorite meeting point, it's also the geographical space that separates the districts of Ciutat Vella and the Eixample. Steeped in history, the Plaça de Catalunya is the nerve center of the Catalan capital. The Plaça Catalunya, with its large shopping centers and department stores, is constantly beaming with people. It connects to Avenue Passeig de Gràcia. Avenue Passeig de Gràcia was from the beginning designed to be Barcelona's Grand Avenue. It is Barcelona's most elegant avenue and one of the best architectural walks in the city with lots of modernist buildings. The quality and quantity of modernist buildings are unrivaled.

Reveling in the glory of the modernist era, we headed towards the most iconic symbol of Barcelona Sagrada Familia - Church of the Holy Family. It is a large unfinished Roman Catholic church designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. We were mesmerized by the beautiful and intrinsic art on the ceiling. Gaudí's facade is amazing, rich with detail and yet somehow organic. We felt a sense of mysterious comfort inside.

Students visited the largest stadium in Spain and Europe, and the third largest football stadium in the world in terms of capacity. The ambiance of the stadium inspired our school football players to become more focused and determined to realize their dream of playing world football.

The port city of Valencia lies on Spain’s southeastern coast, where the Turia River meets the Mediterranean Sea. It’s known for its City of Arts and Sciences, with futuristic structures including a planetarium, an oceanarium, and an interactive museum. Valencia is packed with stunning architecture. We saw the famous monuments, notable civic buildings of Moorish architecture and the University of Valencia. We visited Europe’s largest underwater marine center L’Oceanogràfic of Valencia where different marine habitats are represented. It is integrated inside a complex known as the City of Arts and Science. The Oceanogràfic features the largest aquarium tank in Europe and houses more than 45,000 marine creatures. We saw different species of fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates — amongst these were sharks, penguins, dolphins, sea lions, walruses, beluga whales, and many more.

It was time to discover the capital city of Spain – Madrid. On this onward journey, they visited the port city of Tarragona. Tarragona offered us a myriad of Roman and medieval sights, and breathtaking beaches. They also visited Madrid's Royal Palace, a beautiful baroque structure which is Madrid's largest building. The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, but it is only used for state ceremonies. The students were taken in by the green oasis in the heart of the city - El Retiro Park. This green space offered us a peaceful interval of relief under the deep-blue sky. The Temple of Debod, situated in the park is an ancient Egyptian temple that was donated to Spain by the Egyptian government to save it from floods following the construction of the great Aswan Dam.

The city of Toledo holds a cultural and monumental heritage of several historic civilizations. UNESCO has declared it as a world heritage city. It is known as the "City of the Three Cultures", for the cultural influences of Christianity, Islam and Jew reflect in its history. The three coexisted peacefully for many years. While on our walk through Toledo, we entered the narrow old quarters and admired the attractive and impressive architecture. This walk led us to the church of St. Tome, the monastery of San Juan de los Reyes and the house museum Victorio Macho, located over the river Tagus. The view from there was picturesque. We also visited the Primate Cathedral. The Primate Cathedral of Toledo is one of the three 13th-century high gothic cathedrals in Spain and is considered to be the magnum opus of the gothic style architecture in Spain. We discovered the facade of the Old Palace of Justice as we explored its vast grounds. We marveled at the City Hall's symmetrical spires and stone arches that have stood the test of time.

They traveled Sintra hills to visit the Palace of Pena on the rocky peak. It exemplifies the 19th century Romanticism style of architecture. The palace is a mix of vividly painted terraces, decorative battlements and mythological statues, all of which stand at stark contrast to the lush greens of the forests that encircle Pena. Then explored the Monastery of Lady of Pena, built by King Manuel I in1511 and later acquired by King Ferdinand II. Also visited the Castle of Moors and the Quinta da Regaleira. The Castle of Moors, situated on a high hilltop above the town of Sintra dates back to the Moorish occupation of Portugal. The walls and towers are the romantic decorative work of the 19th century King Ferdinand II. The Quinta da Regaleira is a decorative 20th-century residence that is situated in the town of Sintra. The UNESCO has declared the two as world heritage sites.

This journey was experiential learning. The students learnt about the historical sites and the cultural aspects. The educational tour to Spain provided the opportunity for students to encounter and explore novel things in an authentic setting. Exposure to new experiences has increased the interest and engagement of our students in the process of learning. This kind of learning has resulted in effective gains such as more positive feelings towards learning and knowledge. Students have actually seen and enriched their knowledge of places and people they have learned about in the classroom. They are definitely at their creative best and are more adaptable. They have witnessed gender equality and empowerment of women in the true sense. Staying in a group in a foreign land, interacting not just with their peers but also with people of the land who speak a different language, has taught our students to be more tolerant and understanding of others’ needs, respectful towards a different culture, and above all has taught them a vital lesson of peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Perhaps most important of all, our students have gained new insights into their own culture and a more global perspective.

The athletic team of JIRS participated in the"CBSE Cluster Athletics Championship 2018", which was held at Akash International School, Bangalore from 14 to 17 October 2018. A total of one hundred and thirty-eight school teams participated in this championship. All the athletes performed up to the expectation. It was a very good exposure for athletes to boost their self-confidence for future competitions.

Mr. Mahantha V Babu of grade X and Mr. Hemanth D of grade XII qualified for Nationals in the triple jump event by securing the gold medal. Ms. Danika Joplin secured a bronze medal in shot put.

JIRS boys’ team participated with zeal and passion in the CBSE Cluster VIII Table Tennis Tournament held at Jain Heritage School, Belgaum from 16 to 18 September 2018.The following players won silver medals:

Under 14 Boys
1. Mr. Milind Jain
2. Mr. Garvit Manglani
3. Mr. Anish Agarwal

Under 17 Boys
1. Mr. Harshit Agarwal
2. Mr. Hriday Poddar 
3. Mr. Namish Agarwal

Under 19 Boys
1. Mr. Yash Jhunjhunwala
2. Mr. Tejas Choudhary

“Having taken the important & tough decision of sending your child to a boarding school, why dilute the very purpose & crucial decision by again admitting in another day cum boarding school which just has a day school schedule & boarding facility, with hardly 25-30% students being boarders & majority day scholars going home every day?

Take the right decision of giving your child the advantage of a complete full day schedule & boarding life experience at JIRS –a fully residential school & get the best value time for your child and your investment in the child’s important formative years to inculcate discipline, responsibility, independent living, boldness and a 360 degrees platform for lifelong learning. ”

• Jain International Residential School is the only school in the top ten ranking list of Education World and Education Today.Co that belongs to premier education provider – JGI Group which has over 85 institutions across India from KG to Doctorate programs in Humanities, Sciences, Commerce, Management, Law, Research , Engineering, Aerospace etc., JIRS students are given priority admissions.
• It’s a truly international school of the 21st century, having all the top end facilities, programs and technology in academic pedagogy for the students of the next-generation, compared to traditional heritage boardings. Largest campus of 350 acres in India housing state-of-the-art academic and sporting facilities amidst a very divine environment.
• Jain International Residential School is the only Co-ed Residential School in Bengaluru, Karnataka, which is the hub for the best international coaching in the country that has made it into the top schools category. Also, JIRS is one of the most successful boarding schools with highest boarding capacity and strength, even though it’s a premium higher end school.
• Parents prefer Bengaluru for the best education for their children. Bengaluru being a cosmopolitan city, not a tier 2 city or a rural village far away from state capitals or an isolated hill stations where it’s difficult to get quality faculty, workshop trainers, exposure for children and where there are no academies for professional coaching exams like IIT,AIPMT, CET, CLAT, SAT, ILETS,TOEFL, Toastmasters Galva’s Club, Duke of Edinburg leadership camps, Model United Nations and HMC Programs, depriving children of the important exposure they need for an all-round development.
• Because of its proximity to the city, JIRS provides plenty of activities to children, field trips, mall outing day & amusement park visits for children to enjoy the boarding life. There are also a lot of opportunities to participate in competitions, matches, attend workshops and programs with many top international schools in Bengaluru.
• JIRS has one of the largest co-ed boarding strength of almost 800 students which makes the environment competitive, lively and fulfilling for all students’ activities, unlike a school with limited boarders. Also JIRS being a coed school has good strength of girls to the ratio of 1:3. JIRS is ranked no. 1 in safety and hygiene, which is a very important factor specifically for a co-ed boarding school.
• Apart from the fact that JIRS being in Bengaluru known for its diversity, moderate climate, proximity to best quality medical facilities in top super specialty hospitals in a short time in case of emergencies and excellent connectivity from all over the country as well as all parts of the world, JIRS by itself has a very diversified mix of student population with children from all the 30 states of India and over 150 NRI and foreign students from across 24 countries around the globe.
• JIRS has made a fine balance by blending the western education modules with eastern culture and heritage spread in a divine environment of a spiritual center, places of worship, in a ultramodern gurukul concept, which provides a full day engaging schedule of 14-15 hours,(6.00.A.M TO 9.30/10.30.P.M.) which integrates academics, sports, co-curricular activities, life skills and soft skills training, cultural & outreach activities with emphasis on inculcating leadership and entrepreneurship.
• Being a top ranked school, JIRS is a preferred school for top foreign universities across the globe to come to its campus for admission counseling, offering various scholarships based on students performances. JIRS also has MOU with the University of Central Oklahoma and exchange programs with schools in Australia, Germany, and Nepal etc.
• Students of JIRS have got admitted into prestigious institutions like, IIT, NIT, IIM, Stanford, Purdue and many other universities in USA, UK, Australia, Singapore etc. Many students have got scholarships ranging from 3000 USD to 50,000 USD for a 4 year term.
• JIRSs provided integrated coaching for competitive exams like IIT-JEE, NEET, CET, CLAT, IPM-IIM Indore, SAT, ILETS, TOEFL by premier coaching institutions like Byjus , Career Launcher, Princeton review etc.
• JIRS has got one of the best sports academy, JASE for intensive coaching in over 18 sports with a sports education program which is ranked no: 1 in the country for the past 3 years. There are almost 40 coaches and physical education teachers from premier institutes in the country.
• JIRS has now got new state-of-the-art school blocks and luxurious air conditioned dorms which are among the best in the country, spiritual centers, 2 indoor stadiums, a golf course, horse riding arena, 4 swimming pools, 10 tennis flex cushioned courts, squash courts, billiards, 8 badminton courts and a bowling alley, making it the no 1 schools for sports education and infrastructure in the country for 5 consecutive years.
• JIRS is probably the only school in the country which through the dynamic vision of its chairman has made a program, not just aiming at the quality school education, but preparing children for life, by grooming them into future global leaders and business managers through its plethora of activities towards nurturing the spirit of leadership and entrepreneurship with value based education to make job creators and not just job seekers, igniting in them the spark of startups and corporate leadership roles.

Master Tharun of JIRS won the prestigious American Mission Hospital Medal Competition which was held at Awali Golf Course, Bahrain. Tharun posted an impressive net score of 59, six points ahead of the runner-up.

JIRS organized Model United Nations (MUN 3.0) from 13 to 15 November 2018. The event is one of the most happening and productive activities among teenagers and young adults. Driven by the motto of holistic development and unity in diversity, were privileged to host the third edition of their own MUN conference series, JIRS MUN 3.0.

The theme of this MUN – Let’s Get Better Together (LGBT), was widely celebrated in session’s fun-filled three-day assortment. The chief guest of the event was Shree Gauri Sawanthji, a social activist who is been working 16 years down the line with a team of 150 workers to promote safe sex and provide counseling to transgender from the Mumbai suburbs. She also became the first person to file a petition against the NALSA. With her buoyant confidence and heart-touching words, addressed the students about the state of the LGBT community in India and the necessity to help the issue. She ended her heart-rending and get-you-tear-eyed talk with just one thing, that she wants everyone to preach and follow, “Nature has every color, so play with all of them”.

The Director-General, Mr. Nikunj Agarwal and the Secretary-General, Mr. Naman Vankadari guided the three days of the conference with diligence and enthusiasm and were an embodiment of the motivation and energy that everyone craved. Their optimism was contagious and pep talks remained an inspiration.

There were three sessions on the day and each session had hot debates. The delegates attended the conference from the Bangalore circuit and were also privileged to receive a few recruits from Mumbai and Pune. The competition was between all ages, the committees consisted of 7th graders as well as college graduates engaging in debate and discussions. The Press Conference, famously called the PressCon, was held by the small, yet powerful committee of all, the InternationalPress Corps (IPC). Most of the delegates of the committees were pressed and questioned by the International Press and was undoubtedly the most challenging part of the whole session. This remains to be the most happening and awaited moment that every delegate wanted to witness and experience. Each committee was obligated to submit a draft resolution that would decide the stance of the committee. The other parameters were the delegate’s contribution to the committee’s crisis, behavior and discipline, evasive and pragmatic responses made by the delegates.

The third day ended with the closing ceremony where the chief guest was Mr. Jacob Chacko, a practicing architect who has completed over 1000 daunting projects and a member of various non-governmental organizations. He is also the founder of SANMAN, a charitable trust that deals with underprivileged children who suffer from horrifying diseases, including cancer. He enthralled all the delegates as well as the faculty members as he shared his experience with the cancer patients and all his humane endeavors.

The winners were given many titles including verbal mentions, commendable delegate, and the best delegate. These awards represented the diplomacy, articulacy, and leadership of a delegate.

The winners of the event are:

Continuous Crisis Committee:
Rudransh Kedia as the Commendable Delegate for the People’s Republic of China

World Trade Organization:
Sayam Suram as the Honorable Delegate for India
Dhruvi Lunker as the Commendable Delegate for Belgium
Bhakti Jain and Akanksha as Special Mentions for the USA and Germany respectively

UNDP:
Madhukshara as the Honorable Delegate for Republic of Korea
Dhruv Bohra as the Commendable Delegate for the People’s Republic of China
Ishita as a Special Mention for Pakistan

DISEC:
Anshul Jain as the Commendable Delegate for the USA

SOCHUM:
Tusshar Malhotra as the Commendable Delegate for Russia.
Ahmed Sardaria as a Special Mention for Republic of Korea.

UNODC:
Sanskar Chakravarty as the Commendable Delegate for the UK.
Kshitj Kedia as a Special Mention for Saudi Arabia.