Newsletter
Mr Sony Thomas
Mr Sony Thomas
School Leadership Update
Over the years, my experiences in the education industry, both in India and abroad, including my time at CS Academy, have helped shape my understanding of effective leadership traits in schools. Observing different leadership styles has led me to believe in the following core principles:
Autonomy
Allowing teachers and staff a level of autonomy both inside and outside the classroom helps each individual to bring out their best. It fosters intrinsic motivation, encourages healthy competition, and reduces the need for constant supervision as team members take responsibility for themselves. However, setting clear boundaries is essential to ensure that everyone’s efforts align with the school’s overall goals.
Cultivating a Positive Culture of Achievement
A culture of collaboration, where everyone works together without prejudice—whether they are high or low achievers, whether they personally like each other or not—optimizes positive outcomes. A good leader maintains peace of mind and treats everyone fairly, without ego. This requires self-discipline and sometimes sacrificing personal time, but it builds a genuine sense of community.
Inclusion and Diversity
Encouraging diversity and inclusion by welcoming people from different backgrounds, cultures, and languages enriches the team. Celebrating each other’s uniqueness and supporting one another’s weaknesses creates a strong, united team.
Servant Leadership
Adopting a servant leadership style fosters openness, equality, and approachability. Leaders who engage with all members of the school community, including support staff, create an atmosphere of respect and make it easier to accomplish day-to-day tasks together.
Synergy
A strong team includes people with varied, complementary skills. This diversity creates synergy, allowing for richer perspectives and well-rounded solutions. Leaders who feel secure in their role encourage this diversity, which ultimately drives the growth of the organization.
Encouragement and Growth
Celebrating the successes of team members boosts morale and inspires others to aim higher, enriching the school’s environment. Recognizing achievements, both big and small, supports a culture of continuous improvement.
Culture of Learning
A school leader should model continuous learning and adaptation. When leaders are open to learning, they set an example for others, promoting a progressive mindset and reducing resistance to change over time.
These principles guide my approach to leadership, aiming to create a school culture that values growth, inclusivity, and collective success.
Talk of the School
The Rotary Club of Coimbatore hosted a seminar for the CS student community on 12th September 2024. The esteemed members discussed vital digital security issues. The event covered various topics from cyber bullying to phishing attacks. The presentation included ways...
The inaugural event, 'Sonic,' kicked off an exciting series, followed by celebrations for Onam and Diwali, and will continue to feature talented performances every Friday during seniors' lunch break.
Books & Kin is an interactive reading programme designed to inspire middle school students and their parents to embark on a shared literary adventure. By fostering a love for reading...
Grade 5 B's Navratri celebration was a wonderful way to wrap up the term! The children lit the ceremonial lamp with grace, followed by soulful bhajans and stotras for the Goddesses. Their enthusiasm and confidence shone through the speeches on Navratri's multi-cultural significance...
In a vibrant display of energy and enthusiasm, Grade 4 students took to the turf to perform a captivating flash mob, championing the cause of reducing waste and promoting sustainability...
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
Discovering life beyond screen - Arundhavi, 7D
Many of us fill our free time by scrolling through shorts, binge-watching movies, or playing video games. While these activities are fun and can help kill boredom, they can also turn into major time-wasters. It’s easy to lose track of hours on the couch, playing games for extended periods. Believe me, when boredom strikes, my first instinct is to grab my computer and dive into a series of games that will keep me engaged for hours.
But what if I told you there’s a world of engaging activities waiting for you? Once I realized how many exciting activities existed beyond the screen that would keep me engaged for hours, my perspective changed completely. Instead of spending multiple hours glued to the TV, I discovered exciting new hobbies and activities that made my day a whole new experience, and I’m sure you will find some that will gain your attention!
Let’s start with hanging out with the most fun and engaging option. Friends. If you are dying of boredom, and looking for a way to kill time, calling up your friends and laughing around with them is an easy way to pass hours of time. Just grab your shoes, go call your friends, and be prepared to have the best time of your life! Hanging out with your friends can turn your mood from having a case of the blues to being on cloud nine. Goofing about with friends can always turn your mood upside down!
But what if your friends aren’t free, and have things to do? Well, I got your back, because hobbies can always make time fly by, and there are so many of them! You can play sports; basketball, football, badminton, tennis, cricket, kho kho, and even volleyball! There are so many options to choose from, and I’m sure that everyone will find a sport that they enjoy playing. But what if you’re not a sports fanatic? There are so many other hobbies you can explore; art, music, dance, writing, cooking, photography, crafting, knitting and crocheting, blogging, and that’s just the beginning! There are so many more hobbies out there, unexplored, and I’m positive that you will find one that will stick with you!
And then there is the most wonderful creation of all; nature. It’s always good to take a breath of fresh air outside, and even though life around you may seem boring and not exciting, there are so many unexplored things to discover out there! There are so many beautiful landscapes, awe-striking flowers, fascinating wildlife, and much more! So instead of grabbing your TV remote, grab your shoes and take a nature walk, because there are so many things to see around you!
So in conclusion, maybe it’s time to stop staring at the TV for hours. I mean, think about all the fun you could have with friends, trying new hobbies, or just enjoying nature. There’s so much fun waiting for you! So, pick up a couple of hobbies, and call up your buddies, or grab your shoes and take a stroll, because It’s time to make the most of your free time and live life beyond the screens!
The Inexorable Sea - Adithya, 10 A
The lonely Dane walked along the coast
In a land far away from his homestead
Wondering when a ship will take him to roost.
He looked at the lonely, lonely fort and cried.
The dark, homesick sailor to the sea muttered.
When will I get back?, he wondered anxiously.
The sea gave no reply, only murmured
Silently. The red sun would soon set brightly.
At night, a tall ship sailed to the silent harbour
To take the Dane back to his domicile.
At dawn, the sailor saw the tallest tower,
Home. His joy was indescribable.
The inexorable sea obeys none.
But its aid comes, as it has always done.
The Irresistible Desire - Thanvanth, 6C
The Grandiose school stood tall on the elevated region of Mt.Hardeol. It was a beautiful place where you could walk through clouds in the hills, and enjoy the city view and the beach as it was near the coast. It was the town's pride, and Sarah was one of those girls who wanted to get into the school. An inflexible entrance exam was conducted to enter the famed school and it was the happiest day in her life, as she finally got into the institution.
It was her first day, but she felt that she was newly born and taking a rebirth as she stood at the entrance of the building inhaling the fresh air, and took her first step inside. The exalted institution was silent. As she walked through the dreamy corridors she once admired, they were now looking dark, gloomy, and loony. She felt a sense of distinctness as she entered her class. Her fellow students were reacting differently. She observed them a lot and found that they were not acting like normal human beings. Instead, they acted like they were controlled by a power. When she researched that, she found that they were all hypnotized. Sarah gave deeper thought to it and found that she was wearing earbuds and couldn't hear the feeble music that was playing in the background all the time.
It played, “join the school and follow our instructions” in a loop, which made all of them join only in this school. When Sarah found this out, she immediately brought this to the notice of her parents and friends first. She made them wear earbuds and took them to the principal's office, where the song was played. Shortly, the news spread to all the students like a forest fire and everyone realized that they were hypnotized. So, the effect wore off.
Sarah led the group of students and they complained in MoE. This news escalated to the whole city and the city education council members dismissed the Principal immediately and the song was switched off permanently. The new principal took over the position, and the school was brimming with broad daylight with the sound of students rushing in. The school remains the symbol of the city still now and Sarah happily goes to her dream school with the same passion.
Educational Trip - Vishridhi (AS - 1)
This past holiday break, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Hong Kong with my friends. The trip was packed with excitement, discovery, and countless moments that brought us closer together as we explored the vibrant city. Each day unfolded a new adventure, and sharing these experiences with friends made it even more memorable.
Our adventure kicked off at the Space and Science Museums, where we immersed ourselves in the wonders of the world. The Space Museum, in particular, was fascinating, drawing us into interactive exhibits that took us on a virtual journey through the cosmos. Meanwhile, the Science Museum was a playground for curiosity, filled with hands-on exhibits that made learning feel like a game. While exploring the interactive exhibits, we came across a display where we had to complete a circuit and light up the bulb by holding hands. Everyone else’s touch made the bulb light up easily, but somehow, only mine wouldn’t work! My friends couldn’t stop laughing as I kept trying to make the display glow, but it seemed the light bulb just wasn’t a fan of mine!
Next, we found ourselves at the renowned Madame Tussauds Museum, where we “met” some of the world’s biggest celebrities—well, almost! From globally recognized movie stars to sports icons, each wax figure was crafted with remarkable detail, making us feel like we were sharing the room with the real deal. We posed with our favourite idols, as we took photos that are now cherished mementos of that day.
A day at Ocean Park led us into a world of adrenaline-pumping rides. The famed theme park and oceanarium had something for everyone—whether it was the high-speed roller coasters for thrill-seekers or the aquarium exhibits showcasing marine life from around the world. We spent the day on exhilarating rides with scenic views of the ocean below. I’ll never forget the Dolphin Encounter, where we got to watch these intelligent, playful creatures up close.
Then came one of the most visually stunning parts of our trip: a cable car ride to Lantau Island to visit the towering Lantau Buddha. The cable car ride itself was an experience to remember; as we ascended, the cityscape transformed into a tranquil sea of green mountains. High up in the mountains, the 34-metre bronze Buddha statue seemed to gaze out over all of Hong Kong, instilling a sense of peace and reverence.
Hong Kong’s vibrant culture was on full display as we explored the bustling night markets and modern malls. The night market was filled with colourful stalls selling everything from clothes and electronics to hand-crafted trinkets and souvenirs. The energy of the market, filled with the sounds of friendly haggling and laughter, was infectious.
Hong Kong Disneyland was, without a doubt, the highlight of my trip. As a full-fledged Disney kid, being surrounded by the magic and wonder of my favourite characters, rides, and songs was everything I’d dreamed of and more. From stepping through the gates, I felt like I was living in a fairytale. Every corner brought nostalgia and excitement, whether it was joining in on a character parade, riding Space Mountain, or spotting Mickey and Minnie in their classic outfits. But the absolute pinnacle of the day was the fireworks show over Cinderella’s castle. Watching those colours light up the sky, perfectly synchronised to iconic Disney music, was truly breathtaking. I could feel the magic in the air, and it was so overwhelming that I began tearing up. It felt like every Disney dream I’d ever had came alive in that moment, leaving me with a sense of wonder that seemed to carry on long after the day ended.
As I reflect on my time in Hong Kong, I feel incredibly lucky to have had this chance to experience such a lively, diverse, and beautiful city. Every part of the trip taught me something new, from the importance of curiosity and adventure to the value of tradition and culture. This journey was more than just a holiday; it was a chance to see the world in a new way, to learn through experience, and to create memories that I’ll carry with me forever.
ACHIEVER’S GALLERY
The school secured first place in the inter-school music band competition organized by Furtados School of Music, Chennai...
We are thrilled to share the results of the RAIS Karate Competition! Our talented students have made us incredibly proud with their outstanding...
