Thriving Together: Study Hall’s annual concert inspires empowerment and creativity


Lucknow: Study Hall hosted its annual concert “I THRIVE, WHEN WE THRIVE” on the 22nd of November 2023 at the Sant Gadge Auditorium, in Gomti Nagar. Through the concert, the students conveyed a message of self-empowerment and one’s connection with others and the earth.

Ms Meenakshi Bahadur, principal of Study Hall, addressed the students and parents, said “Thriving, at its core, embodies the fusion of vitality and learning—a principle which is embraced by our school. From the concert’s theme which was introduced in April to their final presentation, the students amazed us all with their creativity and innovation.”

Dr Urvashi Sahni, CEO of Study Hall Education Foundation (SHEF) said “For over 37 years we have been focusing on holistic development of our students and drama, arts and music has always been a part of our core curriculum. Even the New Education Policy (NEP) aligns perfectly with our school’s vision and plays a pivotal role in encouraging new students to take more interest in creative fields like theater, dance, and music.”
The evening commenced with performances like “Aham Brahmasmi” “Surya Vandana” “Ubuntu,” “Symphony” “Bus Chalna Hai” and Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” by the students.

These performances left a lasting impact on the audience and the parents were able to connect to the message that the students were trying to portray. The evening reached its end with “Mangalam,” a prayer for universal well-being, serving as a finale, with all audience members participating.

Concluding the event, the Vice Principal, Mrs. Meenakshi Shah, addressed the audience and said “The students and the teachers have worked very hard to make this concert possible. Their hard work takes all the credit and this concert is proof of how hard work and teamwork trumps all.”

Study Hall Prep School: Tiny tots celebrate Rhyme, Rhythm and Races at Annual Sports Day

Lucknow: Study Hall Prep School organized its Annual Sports Day on December 2nd, 2023. The theme of the sports day was Rhyme, Rhythm & Races. Mrs. Rachna Sinha, headmistress of Study Hall Prep School, welcomed the guests and said, “Our tiny tots and their teachers have worked really hard to make this event a success. This event celebrates their journey of learning and growth through teamwork.”

The event began with the children releasing colourful balloons with fun captions. Students from Nursery, Lower Prep, and Upper Prep kept the audience entertained with energetic dances, engaging drills, and spirited races. The event’s highlight was the students’ final dance and Taekwondo display. The event saw active participation of parents as well.

Dr Urvashi Sahni addressed the audience and said, “Study Hall is a happy school. Our ethos goes beyond academics and children are at the center of our universe. The dedication of our teachers and students, evident in their confident presentations. We are grateful to all the parents for their support.”

SHEF concludes Democratic Citizenship Festival: 19 schools from 3 districts, over 200 children participated

Lucknow: Study Hall Education Foundation (SHEF) concluded its  “Democratic Citizenship Festival” on Saturday, The festival saw enthusiastic participation from more than 200 children representing 19 schools across three districts. The event was organized to foster active and responsible citizenship among youth. Dr Farzana Shakeel, Secretary, CBSE Sahodaya schools cluster Barabanki and Amrita Das, Founder Director, Institute for Career Studies were the Chief Guests. 

Dr Urvashi Sahni Founder and CEO of SHEF said “We still have very strong patriarchal mindsets which govern how we behave and unless those are deconstructed and democratic mindsets are constructed, we will never have a robust democracy” 

Study Hall School, branches of CMS, A.R Jaipuria,  Prerna Girls and Boys School, Vidyasthali Kanar Inter College, Loreto school, Arvind Academy and Modern Academy and many other prestigious schools participated in the festival. The last day of the festival was packed with exciting events – students showcased prowess in dance in the segment “Dance of Democracy: We the People.” centred around Article 19. Students showcased their talents in art and poetry through “Unmesh”. In the “Perimeter” segment students reimagined constitutional scenarios mainly Articles 14, 19 and 21 showing profound insight. 

Meenakshi Shah, Vice principal Study Hall School, Concluded the event by highlighting the vision of SHEF, “A world where everyone is educated for Gender Equality, Social Justice, Personal Flourishing and Active Democratic Citizenship.” She expressed gratitude to all those who participated in the festival. 

“Theatre provides a safe space for children to express their feelings, rehearse resistance and think critically,” says Dr Urvashi Sahni

Lucknow: “Theatre provides a safe space for children to express their feelings, rehearse resistance and think critically. At SHEF we provide all our children safe space to learn and fail. Arts and drama are an integral part of our pedagogy,” said Dr Urvashi Sahni at Yuva Manch, a theatre festival organised by Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF) at Sant Gadge Auditorium in Gomti Nagar. The festival showcased three critically acclaimed plays by renowned writers – Munshi Prem Chand, Anton Chekhov and Rabindra Nath Tagore, and performed by the students and alumni from various units of SHEF.

Yuva Manch opened with Thakur ka Kuan, an adaptation of Munshi Premchand’s story of the same name. The play was performed by students of Vidyasthali Kanar Inter College (a unit of SHEF). It was followed by a series of two English stories under the theatrical performance “Cheers to Chekhov” as a tribute by the students, to the renowned Russian playwright and master of modern short story, Anton Chekhov. ‘The Chameleon’, was a comical parody that kept the crowd guessing. It captured the hypocritical nature of individuals in society who prioritise authority and status over principles of truth and justice.

Meenakshi Bahadur, Principal of Study Hall said “Drama instils discipline and hones multiple skills in the children. It helps in fostering creativity, self-expression, and teamwork.”

The final presentation was an adaptation by Shrimati Usha Ganguly, of Rabindranath Tagore’s story ‘Chandalika, a poignant tale exploring caste, compassion, and self-liberation in 20th-century India, a compelling story of societal barriers shattered. Students of Prerna Girls School, Prerna Boys School and Study Hall performed the play for the audience.

A month-long theatre workshop was organised to hone the acting, diction and stage presentation of students by Mr. Bhartendu Kashyap and Mr. Vinay Kumar Mishra who directed all the plays. At the core of all these plays, societal issues were brought to light, which made for an evocative theatrical performance by the children.

Study Hall School Convocation – Children should pursue excellence and success will follow: Ashok Ganguly at Study Hall Convocation

Study Hall School organized its Convocation Ceremony on Wednesday, 29 December. Ashok Ganguly, Ex-Chairman CBSE Board and Advisor State Resource Center (SRC) was the chief guest for the occasion. The ceremony facilitated 250 students of class 10 and 12.

The chief guest, Ashok Ganguly motivated the students and the parents present at the ceremony. He said “Congratulations to all the students graduating this year. It has been a tough year for all. You all have braved the challenges of the pandemic and have done so well. Children you all should pursue excellence and success will follow.”

The programme commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the Chief Guest, along with all the heads of different units of SHEF (Study Hall Educational Foundation). Academic procession of teachers and students was carried out to honour the hard work.

The Principal, Meenakshi Bahadur, extended a warm welcome to all the guests, “I welcome you all to celebrate the hard work and achievements of our children. The last two years have been difficult for everyone, especially for our children. This shift from classroom to online medium was tough for all, and our children have once again exceeded our expectations with such brilliant results.”  

Tasneem, an alumna of Study Hall said, “My teachers were great at mentoring me throughout the course. Even during the pandemic, academics, life skills and co-curricular activities were still a part of our classes. As a product of this unique pedagogy, I share my success with my parents, school, principal, teachers and peers.” Tasneem is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree from St Stephen’s College, Delhi.

The chief guest was invited to felicitate the meritorious students of the batch 2020-2021. The graduating batch was conferred with medals and certificates for their achievements. A short cultural programme, which included an inspirational song and dance, enthralled the audience. The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by the Vice-Principal, Meenakshi Shah.

Climate Warriors 2021: 22 schools, over 13,000 children come together to raise awareness on climate crisis

Lucknow: Inspiring action on climate issues, Study Hall School, Prerna Girls School and Center For Learning organised the culmination ceremony of a unique inter-school competition – Climate Warriors 2021. 22 schools, 13800 children from Lucknow, Barabanki and Jaipur participated in the competitions. The event was organized in partnership with the British Council and Scottish Youth Theatre under the Conference of the Parties (COP26) banner. Climate Warriors was organized in accordance with the 13th Sustainable Development Goal set up by the United Nations. All the three organiser schools are a unit of Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF).

Priya Kakkar, event coordinator said, “It was exciting to see all these young minds bring their creativity to make the competitions a success. The idea was to engage children and youth and spread awareness about the climate crisis. These children have worked on brilliant projects to bring about change through small but effective solutions to climate change issues.”

Viraj, a student of class 9 at Study Hall said, “Climate change is real, we all need to take this seriously. We are responsible for it and it is our duty to make sure that we work to find solutions to this crisis. It was a great opportunity for all of us to learn and work together.” Study Hall School, Vidyasthali Kanar Inter College, Prerna Girls School, City international School Manas City, Modern Academy, were among the top schools who won laurels in various categories. 

From drama to arts to memes, children raised awareness about the climate crisis through these competitions. Earlier in March 2021, Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF) qualified for Phone Call to the World – a collaborative project created to mobilize youth to take actions regarding climate issues. Youth from England, India, Palestine, Scotland and South Africa collaborated to create digital performance work to draw attention to climate change issues through artistic means. Phone Call to the World is one of the 17 global projects commissioned by the British Council to sensitize the world about the environmental crisis through performing arts and digital technology. The event ended with prize distribution and vote of thanks.

26th January 2021, cheers to the 72nd Republic Day!

26th January is that one day that we officially celebrate the making and enforcement of the Indian constitution, an event one should celebrate every day. Although India became a free nation on 15th August, 1947 , it enjoyed the true spirit of Independence when the Indian constitution finally came into force, giving India its political freedom and self made structure. On that day India shed its last relic of colonialism and effected a new dawn into a sovereign democratic republic.

Study Hall marked the day by digital jubiliation on the occasion. The virtual gathering was welcomed by the comperes after which our pride- the Indian national flag was unfurled in the school premises by the President and CEO of Study Hall Educational Foundation- Dr Urvashi Sahni. The students sang the national anthem, including the lesser known, Sanskrit version of it and pledged their loyalty and devotion to our mother India. The gathering was addressed by first by Dr Sahni, then by the school principal- Mrs. Meenakshi Bahadur who motivated the young leaders to take charge of the political leadership of the country, and by the vice head boy- Aryaman Tripathi. Thereafter the comperes passed the mic to the young students of classes 5 to 8 from all units of SHEF to express their innocent and unfiltered thoughts through poetry on core topics like freedom, evils inflicted by humans on nature, the new normal and a lot more. It left the audience deeply impacted and they put on their thinking caps. Finally the vice head girl, Gaurisha Prakash delivered  the concluding speech and the assembly dispersed with patriotic fervour in their minds and hearts.

35 Years of Study Hall

SHEF family came together virtually to celebrate the joyous journey of Study Hall School, Lucknow as it completed 35 years on 6th January 2021.

For Study Hall Family, it has been a cause of great satisfaction and pride to see the dreams of many generations come to fruition in these 35 years.    The journey of SH since its inception is inspirational as it started with a thought of ‘Redefining education’ which has remained at the core of all the phenomenal work being done at SHEF. Study Hall is the first born at SHEF and therefore will always be the special one. The CEO and Founder Director -Dr Sahni being ahead of times has so successfully blended the all time values of compassion, love and care along with new age skills and values which are fast gaining ground the world over in the one of its kind school -SH.

 Dr Urvashi Sahni along with the stalwarts of Study Hall- Mrs. Sangita Gupta, Mrs. Rehana Ali, Mrs. Rekha Dhondiyal, Mrs. Pratima Kapoor, Mrs. Usha Manocha, Mrs. Veena aunty, Mrs. Shashi Mehta, Mrs. Bani Mehrotra, Naseer Ahmad and Rajni Amma, shared beautiful anecdotes of their journey at Study Hall. The cake cutting ceremony was performed by Naseer Ahmad and Rajni Amma.

It was a beautiful and heartwarming event.

Wish a long life to a beautiful and sensitive school.

May SH be blessed forever and may SHEF grow from strength to strength.

Convocation 2019-20

Study Hall School organised its Convocation ceremony on 30th December, 2020 virtually felicitating all its graduating students of classes 10th and 12th of 2019-20 batch.

The occasion was graced by Dr. Reva Joshee,a renowned academician and Professor from Canada who delivered the convocation address,reminiscing her own journey.

Prior to the commencement of the felicitation ceremony the school Principal Mrs Meenakshi Bahadur addressed the gathering and shared the placement report of the alumni. Next the Founder Director and CEO of SHEF, Dr Urvashi Sahni, congratulated the distinguished alumni for their achievements.

This year’s convocation was held virtually for the first time and we surmounted varied challenges to host it successfully. It took creativity, organisation and team effort to make it seamless and one of its kind.

The convocation ceremony marked the conclusion of the academic year 2019-20 and it received an overwhelming response. It was an event filled with nostalgia and excitement.

We wish all our students a great and successful future ahead.

Christmas Celebration

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way

Santa Claus is coming along riding on a sleigh….

Yes, friends !! the jingling of bells, carols and the impeccably adorable decorations at every corner of the city in fact world indicates the onset of Christmas eve and Santa Claus, the name that has been given to the harbinger of happiness and joy adds the special elements of innocence and hope to our life.

With that high spirit of hope that our good days will be back soon (everything will be fine very soon) during this pandemic time DOSTI and junior school celebrated Christmas in a very holistic and special way following all the protocols of COVID- 19 and at the same time keeping the enthusiasm and joy of our children intact by distributing lovely Christmas gifts and cute Santa pencil puppets made by their teachers to the children over a period of 4 days.

We even doubled our joy of happiness and immense pleasure by becoming santa for a day and gave variety of beautiful and lovely gifts to our little friends of  Gyan setu and brought smile to their faces too, which was Real Christmas that symbolizes true love and service to human kind.

Last but not the least as we say to add cherry on the cake to the Christmas celebration of our special stars of DOSTI conducted a special virtual Christmas assembly on 24th Dec. where they said a special Christmas prayer, sang carols, recited Christmas poems along with children of class I & II hence creating a festive atmosphere.

At the end keeping the spirit of Christmas and with a smile and faith of Santa that our live as will be back to normal soon we wish you a “A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”