US Visit, 2016
On the same lines, Vishwa Vidyapeeth seeks to encourage students to become better citizens of the World. In this regard a 10-day overseas Educational Tour was organized by the school in which a team of 3 teachers and 1 parent volunteer accompanied 15 students of Classes VIII and IX to the United States – NASA at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida being the star attraction.
Students should get a chance, not to just have fun, but also, to explore innovative prospects during the educational tour. We noticed an ever-growing interest among our students to pursue modern astronomy and hence an educational trip to NASA was planned. This tour provided a platform for our children to enhance their potential and also encourage their career prospects. It is all about grooming our kids to become global citizens and develop a scientific temper.
On August 1st, 2016 the students of Vishwa Vidyapeeth embarked on a 10-day education tour along with our Director Ms. Suseela Santhosh – a tour that promised them elite cuddles from the best of US – from rockets to waterfalls. The highlight of the tour was a visit to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in Orlando, USA. This, once in a life-time journey exposed our students to unique Learning opportunities such as Student Astronaut Training Experience (SATX) and conducting space experiments with NASA educators. Students benefited a great deal after interacting with the NASA scientist Mr Norman Thagard and doing a tour of the center. The one on one interaction with Mr Thagard, the NASA Astronaut and discussions on Space exploration programmes gave them new insight into this captivating world of astronomy and space that they are yet to discover.
The rest of their pit stops were also no less interesting. They visited Niagara Falls and took the fabled Maid of the Mist steamboat ride, exploring its underworld in the Cave of the Winds elevator trip. The students also visited the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum at Washington DC. They also had an unbelievable sugary tour of the Hershey’s chocolate factory where they witnessed the production process. Their trip to New York City helped them acquire knowledge and appreciate the artistic expertise after seeing the Statue of Liberty. They had a spectacular view of nature and also had tons of fun at the Universal Studios and at Disneyland Park.
The educational value of travel is undisputable and another name for education is exposure. We know that the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little ‘extra’. The knowledge, experience and exposure attained during the course of this tour will go a long way in shaping our students. Back home, the remarkable change in them is already visible. They have become confident, independent, reliable and self-disciplinarians and are motivating others as well. The tour has helped our students to discover their underlying passion to help others with science.
Parent Volunteers offer a huge resource and support base for our school community. Their involvement helped the school to convey more clarity about the tour to all parents as well as pass on a very positive message to the students on tour. The real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking only new landscapes, but in having new eyes! We are happy that parents have appreciated the fact how the entire experience have made the children more confident, expressive and thus enriched their lives forever!
