Blog: SHEMROCK Group of Schools

National Technology Day

National Technology Day is celebrated on 11^th May every year. The day commemorates the series of nuclear tests, which were carried out at Pokhran in Rajasthan on May 11, 1998. National Technology Day symbolises the achievement of India in the field of science & technology. This is a remarkable day, which made India powerful enough to mark its presence in the field of science & technology around the globe.

History of National Technology Day

On May 11, 1998, three nuclear tests were carried out at Pokhran in Rajasthan and the subsequent two tests were carried out on May 13, 1998. The nuclear tests were marked as great achievements in the field of science and technology. Since then, May 11 is celebrated as National Technology Day every year, to mark this achievement of mastering nuclear weapons.

Other reasons for the celebration of National Technology Day

• Successful test firing of Trishul missile on this day.
• First, indigenous aircraft “Hansa-3” was test flown at Bangalore on the same day.

National Technology Day is an occasion to recollect all the technological advancements in the field of agriculture, pharmacy, biotechnology and health etc. The occasion is very significant for the scientists, engineers and everyone who is an active participant in building our nation. The day glorifies the importance of science & technology and motivates the youth to adopt science as their career.

National Technology Day celebrations

• Competitions, quizzes, lectures & presentations are organised at schools, engineering colleges and technological institutions to celebrate the National Technology Day.
• National Technology Award is given by the President of India to various companies and individuals for their contribution to science & technology.
• Many events are organised by the Ministry of Science & Technology for the progress of science in our country.
• School students visit science laboratories, various Technology Development Centres, computer labs, Nano-Technology accompanied by their teachers to update themselves with the recent developments in the field of science, pharmacy, agriculture and information technology.

You as a parent can also help your children to learn about the significance of Science &Technology at home, by celebrating National Technology Day with them. So, go through the tips given below:

• Tell your children about some famous Indian scientists and their discoveries.
• Explain to them about technology and explain its use in our day to-day lives for e.g. cellphones, computers, air conditioners, remote controls and aero planes etc.
• Ask them to spend leisure time by playing some online science games and quizzes.
• Encourage them to read science magazines to know more about use of technology in the various fields like, pharmacy, agriculture, health and infrastructure.
• Play word games and jigsaw puzzles related to science & technology, with them.
• Help your children to make a science project on that day at home. Ask them to use material of low cost, like aluminum rolls, elastic bands, balloons, toothpicks and food colourant, etc., to make the project.
• Encourage your children to participate in science fairs and projects.
• Plan a visit to science & technology museums, such as Nehru Planetarium, National Science Center.
• Whenever your children are inquisitive about anything related to science, answer them or help them to find out the answer.

So, use the above tips and make National Technology Day a learning experience for your children.

Holi

Holi is the festival of colours, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fun in India. The festival of Holi falls on the last full moon day of Falgun (somewhere in the month of March). According to Hindu mythology, the celebration of this festival is associated with the legend of Prahalad, devotee of God Vishnu. The proud King Hrinyakashyapu ordered everyone to pray him as their God instead of other Gods and deities. But his son, Prahalad disobeyed him and did not stop praying God Vishnu. King was angry and made a plan to kill him. Holika, sister of king Hrinyakashyapu took Prahlad in her lap and sat in a bonfire as she had a boon that she could not be burnt by fire. Surprisingly, Holika was burnt alive while Prahlad was safe. Therefore, Holika Dahan (killing) is celebrated by lighting up bonfire on the eve of Holi signifying triumph of good over evil.

This festival of colours bridges the social gap among people of all religions. Although the festival is celebrated in different ways in different parts of country, colours, sweets, water balloons and water guns remain the essence of this festival everywhere. People rub colours on each other’s faces, distribute sweets, hug each other and wish “Happy Holi”.

You can also celebrate the festival of Holi with your children at home. Here are few tips for you to make this festival a fun for your children:

• Tell your children about the significance of the festival and narrate the legend associated with it.
• Include them in preparation of special sweets for Holi, i.e. gujia.
• Help them to make greeting cards for Holi for their friends.
• Take them along with you to watch Holika Dahan in your locality on the eve of Holi.
• Ask them to wish “Happy Holi” to their elders and seek their blessings.
• Tell them to wish Holi to their friends & relatives and also distribute sweets to them.
• Inform them about the chemicals used in colours & gulal and their side effects. Create natural colours with them with the help of turmeric, beetroot and henna.  On the day of Holi, encourage them to play Holi with plain water and natural colours only.
• Apply cold cream on their body and oil on the hair and scalp, to save their skin from colours.
• Instruct them to close eyes if someone applies gulal on their face or throws coloured water on them, to save their eyes.
• Advise them to wear full sleeves clothes so as to cover maximum parts of the body.

And monitor your children closely while they are playing Holi so that this Holi is safe and memorable for your children.

Various types of school franchises available in India

Franchising is a business model wherein different owners share a single brand name. The parent company, known as the franchisor, provides support to the franchisee, allows it to use its trademark & business strategies and in return franchisee pays a fee based on revenues.

Over a past few years, franchising has gained immense popularity in the Indian education sector of India. Through franchising, educational institutes like preschools, primary schools, secondary schools, coaching institutes etc. are expanding their presence in every corner of India. People who are looking to enter into the education sector are now adopting the proven strategy of franchising. The business of school franchises is not only beneficial to a franchisee but also to a franchisor. A franchisor expands its business or brand name by providing school franchises to people and on the other hand, a franchisee runs its business with minimum risks by purchasing a school franchise. If you too want to start your own school, school franchise would be the best option. However, it is essential to decide on the type of school franchise that you wish to buy and then search for an appropriate franchisor.

Here are the various types of school franchises available in India. You may opt for:

• Preschool
• Kindergarten
• Primary school
• Secondary school
• K-12 school

Once you have decided the type of school franchise, you wish to buy, follow the below mentioned procedure to buy a school franchise:

• First, fill the franchise application form with all the details, submit it to the franchisor, pay the requisite fee and get recognition under its name.
• Once you have signed the agreement, the franchisor will help you to search a proper location for your school.
• Further, the franchisor will assist you to determine the area of land, feasible to start your school. However, the requirement of land varies as per the location and type of school you choose.
• Next, make sure that you obtain the NOC from State Government before you begin the construction of your building.
• When the school building is ready, equip your school building with all necessary facilities including furniture, adequate water supply and electricity.
• Further, get your school affiliated to a recognised board and hire experienced teaching & non-teaching staff for your school.
• Finally, start the promotional work for your school with the help of the franchisor. As the franchisor will provide you with the marketing material and will also help you to organise marketing campaigns.

This is the basic procedure to purchase a school franchise. However, if you are looking for a renowned school, you may opt for SHEMROCK & SHEMFORD Group of Schools. SHEMROCK Preschool is one of the leading preschool chains in India and abroad, whereas SHEMFORD Futuristic Schools is K-12 School Chain of SHEMROCK. With more than 300 schools spread across India, through its unique school franchise model, the Group provides school franchise opportunities to the aspiring edupreneurs. So, in case you too wish to start a school, buy a SHEMFORD franchise by filling the franchise application form given here.

National Science Day

National Science Day is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm across India on February 28^th, every year. The day is dedicated to honour Nobel Prize Laureate – Sir C.V. Raman for his discovery of the “Raman Effect”. Every year, the event is celebrated in the country around a particular focal theme, with a view to create awareness of the recent developments in the field of science & technology. The theme for National Science Day 2013 is “Genetically Modified Crops and Food Security”.

National Science Day is considered a significant occasion to showcase and celebrate the country’s achievements in the field of science & technology. For this, educational institutions such as schools, colleges, technical institutes, universities and research institutes organise a variety of activities such as exhibitions, science related competitions, debates, quizzes, awareness programmes, group discussions etc. Students and teachers participate actively in such activities, through which they promote science & technology among the general public. On this day, students are also awarded with prizes for their novel achievements in the field of science.

Apart from educational institutions, parents can also celebrate National Science Day with their children at home, to enhance their knowledge about science & technology.

So, use the following tips to celebrate National Science Day with your children at home:

• Explain to your children about the importance of science & technology and its application in everyday life, through examples from your surroundings. For instance, take a few examples of the electric appliances that you use for household purposes and explain to your children about why such inventions are important in our lives.
• Show a slideshow (MS PowerPoint Presentation) containing pictures of the important discoveries and inventions credited to the famous Indian scientists, including Sir CV Raman, Sir M. Visvesvaraya and so on.
• Conduct a science quiz for your children and their friends, asking them questions from what they have learnt so far in the field of science and give away attractive prizes to the winners.
• Invite children from the neighbourhood to join your children in making simple Science projects such as “lava in a cup”, “balloon rocket”, “pull-back car” etc., at home.
• Along with your children, watch special programmes on infotainment channels such as Discovery, Animal Planet etc. After the programmes are over, discuss with them about the most highlighting features of the programmes you watched together.

So, use the above tips and celebrate National Science Day with a lot of fun. Also, take this day as an opportunity to thank all the scientists for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of Science & technology, which has played a crucial role in the welfare of humanity.

Requirements for opening a play school

The play schools in India are increasing both in number and popularity, as nowadays more and more numbers of children are attending preschools. This is because of the increasing awareness among the parents about the importance of providing preschool education to their children. Indeed, play schools play a significant part in enhancing every aspect of children’s development & learning and forms the foundation for physical, emotional, social & intellectual skills. This indicates an increase in the demand for more play schools in India. Thus, opening a play school is one of the most rewarding and fruitful ventures for people who are considering starting a business in the education sector. In case you too want to enter this noble profession, go through the requirements for opening a play school.

Make a Business Plan – The very first step for opening a play school is to develop an all-inclusive business plan. Developing a business plan well in advance will give you a rough estimate about the capital investment & budget distribution. Usually, an investment of Rs.6-7 lakhs is required for opening a play school.  

Find a Land – The next pre-requisite for opening a play school is the land. So, first select a suitable location and then acquire land in the chosen location. While finalising the location, make sure that it is a residential colony with lush green surroundings. Also, ensure that the land available is non-agricultural and is spread over an area of around 5000 sq. ft.

Start the Construction – Once you have acquired the land, the next step is to hire an architect to help you in designing the infrastructure of your play school. Once the layout is ready and you are satisfied with it, you may begin with the construction, followed by whitewashing and wood work. Make sure that your play school looks bright, colourful and attractive.

Purchase Equipment – Further, prepare a list of all the equipment and other material that you would require in your play school. For instance – equip your play school with child safe & child sized furniture. Buy lots of eating utensils, toys, puzzles, colourful blocks, craft material, stationery material etc. Apart from this, also, equip your play school with optimum water & electricity supply.

Plan Advertising – The most important aspect of opening a play school is to get its name noticed in the locality. So, plan effective promotional strategies. You may place ads in the local newspapers, put up colourful hoardings in your locality, distribute print ads etc.

Recruit staff – Lastly, start employing potential teachers and non-teaching staff for your play school. For that, conduct interviews or consult a recruitment agency to help you in the hiring process.

These are some of the basic requirements for opening a play school anywhere in India. However, starting a play school by oneself demands commitment of time and money. So, a simplest way out is to buy a play school franchise from an established brand. Buying a franchise saves a lot of your time, which you otherwise need to put in starting a school on your own. Also, a franchise offers a low capital investment model, as getting associated with a known brand saves the marketing expenditure.

So, in case you like the idea of play school franchise, click the tab below, fill the franchise application form to join hands with India’s first Chain of Preschools – SHEMROCK, which has its network of 225+ branches spread across India & Abroad.