International Literacy Day is observed on 8th September every year to raise awareness and concern for literacy problems that exist within our own local communities as well as globally. International Literacy Day 2021 provides an opportunity to reflect on and discuss how innovative and effective pedagogies and teaching methodologies can be used in youth and adult literacy programs to face the pandemic and beyond under the theme “Literacy for a human-centered recovery: Narrowing the digital divide”.

City Montessori School Aliganj 2 Campus celebrated this day to give an insight on the fact and our Vision-2025 that we will always focus on exploring the opportunities to spread technology-enabled literacy that includes all. No one should be left out from achieving their right to be literate and educated. Thus, started on and off-campus teaching at the same time to impart knowledge and keep all students connected with the classroom physically as well as digitally. Student Manya Tewari of class 7 delivered the speech to make students aware that ‘Literacy’ is the prime requisite for curbing poverty, establishing gender equality and a pathway to a bright future. A PPT presentation was also shown to give an insight into the statistics of the World Literacy rate to make students aware that we need to focus on literacy development and overcome challenges to achieve sustainable growth. Class 8 students, Saumta Gautam and Aditi Shukla explained the importance of World Literacy Day to the students of class 5 followed by a group discussion where they focussed on the ways and means of spreading literacy throughout the world and making students understand the difference between a literate and educated person. The beginning of a long journey is just one small step of optimism with this thought children of class 5 helped school mothers to read and write so that they can be independent person.

The aim of celebrating this day is to promote the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights among all the members of society narrowing the digital divide and ensuring sustainable development.

World Lion Day is observed on August 10 every year across the globe as an initiative to commemorate the 'King of the Jungle' and raise awareness about the need for its conservation. CMS, Aliganj II, Pre-Primary wing celebrated World Lion Day on 10th August 2021 with full zeal and enthusiasm.

Students wore beautiful Lion masks and enjoyed face painting. They were made aware of the fact that the Asiatic lion is one of the five big cats that are found in India. When we save a lion, we preserve the food chain as they are the apex predator of their habitat. Lions check the population of gazers, thus helping in maintaining ecological balance. Students were engaged in different activities to promote the "Save the Lion campaign". Children of Montessori enjoyed the virtual tour of “Gir National Park” and learned the importance of the project “Save lions” whereas the Nursery took a “Lion puppet” craft activity celebrating the importance of Lions where the children were told about the facts about Lions. Students were encouraged to voice concern about the threats faced by lions such as poaching, habitat destruction, human-lion conflict.

It was a fun-filled and informative session for the children where they enhanced their communication and creative skills through Collaborative learning.

International Youth Day is observed on 12th August every year to come together to recognise and bring attention to the problems faced by the youth. This year's theme was “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health” which highlights the crucial need for “inclusive support mechanisms that ensure youth continue to amplify efforts collectively and individually to restore the planet and protect life while integrating biodiversity in the transformation of food systems.”

The youth is the legend of tomorrow, they have the capacity to be strong, bold and ready to take up the responsibility. City Montessori School, Aliganj II Campus provided a platform for the students to put forth their views on "Youth and Sustainable Development Goals", on the occasion of International Youth Day. The event began with showing gratitude to the almighty, followed by the welcome address by the Respected Principal, Ms Samvida Adhikari. She blessed and motivated the students to make a mark in life. Junior Incharge, Ms Rashika Dixit then briefed the students on the rules and gave them clarity on the event. She wished luck to all the students and informed them that it was not a competition but a non-formal platform to forth their views. The session began with a question/answer round where the moderator put forth the question and the participants had to use the reaction button to present their views. At the end of five questions, to break the monotony a video was shown to the students to further establish their knowledge on global goals. Round two began with yet another set of questions after which the students were shown another video and were provided with breakout rooms for further discussion.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the interactive session and the videos. They looked forward to this kind of platform and promised to contribute in their way to meet the global goals and the challenges.

At Community Park to connect socially with the belief that when the chord of monotony is stretched to its tightest, it breaks with the sound of a song.

International Friendship Day 2021 is celebrated on 30th July every year with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. The theme of International Friendship Day 2021 is “Sharing the human spirit through friendship”. This theme reveals the one aspect of friendship that by sharing emotions of happiness and serenity we can conquer the hearts of others.

Thus, to share the human spirit City Montessori School, Aliganj Campus II, commemorated International Friendship Day by organizing a plethora of activities offline to promote the value of friendship, which ultimately helps in developing love and harmony amongst human beings. The event started with the procession led by the PTI’s of different campuses of CMS along with the students, parents, community members and the staff of Aliganj campus II holding the placards with quotes on friendship and flags of different countries representing unity. The event proceeded with the school prayer by Mr Puneet Sharma, Ms Sarita Mishra and staff Aliganj Campus II for the blessings of the Almighty.

Respected Principal Ms Samvida Adhikari delivered a lucid welcome speech emphasizing the significance and real meaning of friends, which is to help others and share both difficulties and joys. Her words filled the atmosphere with enthusiasm and positivity which broke the monotony of the pandemic. It was followed by the welcome speech by Pre-Primary Incharge, Ms Preeti Oberio who took the program further with the teachers setting up the tone of the awesome day through a peppy energiser “The more we get together…”

A simple warm-up exercises session followed by yoga and Zumba was conducted beautifully by PTI’s, Mr Sudhanshu Gaur (CMS, Aliganj II), Ms Priya Soni (CMS, Station Road) and Mr Pradeep (CMS, Rajendra Nagar I) of various CMS Campuses. This collaborative effort helped everyone to learn new yoga asanas etc. and enjoy the day. Students of the Primary section read out and explained the beautiful friendship quotes. They emphasized on the friendship between people, countries, cultures and individuals. This inspires peace efforts and builds bridges between communities.

Everyone enjoyed and sang the melodious friendship song “Count on me…” with the teachers. All the parents, staff and teachers tied friendship bands to the newly planted saplings and trees with the promise to take care of them as rightly said that “Trees are our best friends” under the supervision of Mr Dominic.

Fun activity the tug of war made this event a fun-filled and memorable experience for all. In the end, prizes were given to the winners by Principal Ma’am followed by heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their collaboration in making this friendship programme a great success keeping all the COVID protocols in mind. She acknowledged the role played by community members, students, parents and staff members.

The main aim was to promote and defend a shared spirit of human solidarity that takes many forms — the simplest of which is friendship. Through friendship, by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good.