by kfi | Nov 27, 2024 | Design and Innovation |
The Design and Innovation fund will help KIS to achieve their strategic mission of creating transformative leaders of tomorrow by supporting them with educational systems and approaches that are evolving with the future in mind.
Design and Innovation is related to STEAM. STEAM is an educational approach to learning integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. The approach uses these various fields of knowledge to guide students’ inquiry, dialogue and critical thinking. Students utilize the creative process to take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning and develop problem-solving skills relevant to a world of tomorrow. These integrated concepts are an effective way for students to remove cognitive limitations and develop innovations.
The Design and Innovation program would fall under three categories:
- Infrastructure, Spaces and Learning Resources: To develop infrastructure and learning spaces that will support the development, practice and creation of projects (for example, MakerSpace). Also to purchase necessary equipment, design tools and resources that will assist students in creating their designs.
- Personnel and Curriculum: To train teachers to support the design and innovation advancements proposed for the school structure. This fund will also help to create environments of shared pedagogical innovations and classroom discussion and to further develop a curriculum that will help students develop design thinking and innovations.
Expanding Learning Experiences: To fund learning experiences and team events that assist to challenge our students within the learning environment (for example, robotics competitions). This will also create environments for challenge and innovations that expand the horizons of our students.
by kfi | Nov 27, 2024 | Faculty Prize |
The Alice Edwin English Prize and The Martin Engelbrecht Economics Prize are given annually in honor of beloved educators who taught at KIS in the 1970s and 80s.
These prizes will be awarded annually to the top students in the English and Economics departments. They are not cash prizes, but the students will be awarded a certificate of excellence. The donations will be used to fund specific needs that benefit the English and Economics departments at KIS. This may include funding speakers on campus, sponsoring teachers or students’ trips to seminars and conferences, purchasing teaching resources and other activities to support the student and faculty programs in the English and Economics departments.
The Prizes are open to all KIS students. Following historical norms, the English and Economics Prize recipients will be selected by an academic Awards committee led by the Vice-Principal of KIS.
by kfi | Nov 27, 2024 | The Sandy Schoeninger Center (includes Sandy Schoeninger Fitness Center) |
Join KFI and KIS in celebrating Ms. Sandy Schoeninger, whose profound impact on our community continues to inspire generations of students. In honor of her service to the school, the covered courts on the main campus will expand into a multi-use facility named the Sandy Schoeninger Center. This facility will embody her values and commitment to student development and personal growth, providing an inspiring environment that reflects Ms. Schoeninger’s spirit. Together, we can ensure that her influence resonates for future generations, creating a space where students can thrive in sports and beyond. Ms. Sandy Schoeninger was a transformative figure in the lives of generations of students at KIS. Through her unwavering commitment to physical education she instilled values of self-discipline, teamwork, inclusivity, and integrity. She personally designed and equipped the first workout space at KIS, shaping a nurturing community for all. Her legacy includes advocating for quality sports programs and equipment, sponsoring underprivileged athletes, and fostering a welcoming atmosphere that encouraged personal growth through her involvement in various school activities. The Sandy Schoeninger Center will serve as a testament to her enduring spirit and commitment to the KIS community. Funds raised will support a comprehensive renovation of the facility, including the development of an elevated fitness center with a new structure and façade, the installation of state-of-the-art gym equipment, and the creation of an elevated dance studio. Additional enhancements will include a rock climbing/bouldering wall, upgraded WPC cladding on the bleachers, an augmented sound system for better acoustics during events, automated motorized shutters facing the Chapel, a new flooring solution, and improvements to the center entrance and front façade.
The elevated fitness center will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance the health and wellness of the students and community. It will feature a dedicated strength training area equipped with weight machines, benches, and racks, alongside a free weight training area for varied workout options. A cardio area will include treadmills, elliptical trainers, and other machines to promote cardiovascular fitness, while a functional training space will provide room for stretching and functional exercises. To accommodate personal needs, the center will include changing rooms with lockers and restrooms with shower facilities. The design emphasizes natural light, with glass walls and windows allowing daylight to flood the space, creating an inviting atmosphere. Aesthetically pleasing ceilings will provide both style and artificial lighting, while mirrors will enable students to monitor their form during workouts. Additionally, wall panels will feature inspirational quotes and artwork, serving as focal points that motivate and uplift users throughout their fitness journey. This thoughtfully designed environment will not only promote physical well-being but also foster a positive and motivating atmosphere for all users.
The elevated dance studio will be a vibrant and versatile space dedicated to nurturing the artistic expression and physical development of our students. This studio will feature a spacious dance floor designed for various dance styles, ensuring ample room for movement and choreography. Mirrored walls will enhance the experience by allowing dancers to monitor their techniques and performance in real-time, promoting self-improvement and confidence. The studio will be equipped with a quality sound system, providing clear and immersive audio to elevate each class and rehearsal. Natural light will flood the space through large windows, creating an uplifting atmosphere that inspires creativity. Additionally, the studio will have adjustable lighting options to accommodate different moods and activities, whether for energetic dance classes or more intimate performances. This thoughtfully designed dance studio will be a hub for artistic exploration, collaboration, and personal growth, encouraging students to express themselves through movement and creativity.
The rock climbing/bouldering wall will be an exciting and dynamic addition to the The Sandy Schoeninger Center, providing students with a unique opportunity to engage in a physically challenging and mentally stimulating activity. This wall will feature a variety of climbing routes with varying degrees of difficulty, allowing climbers of all skill levels to improve their technique, strength, and confidence. Safety will be a top priority, with cushioned flooring and crash pads to ensure a secure landing area for bouldering enthusiasts. This bouldering wall will not only promote physical fitness but also foster teamwork, resilience, and a sense of community among students as they challenge themselves and support one another in their climbing journeys.
by kfi | Nov 27, 2024 | Music Department |
The KIS Music program is one of the most outstanding features offered at KIS. The KIS music department is the largest amongst all our departments, comprising an array of renowned musicians from India and internationally with professional concert experience spanning the globe. The school’s music tradition goes more than 100 years back and KIS alumni include a number of distinguished composers, professional musicians, and those with a lifelong appreciation of music. KIS students are regularly invited for collaborations by professional music groups in India and overseas.
The KIS music department offers a comprehensive Western Music program. Students have the opportunity to take individual instruction as well as participate in a wide variety of ensembles. Instructions are tailored to suit students’ abilities and progress, using methods both modern and traditional. Students are offered lessons in voice, piano, full array of string instruments (bowed strings and guitar), percussion and wind instruments (woodwind or brass).
In keeping with KIS’s vision and mission in India, KIS is one of the very few schools offering Indian Classical music both in the Hindustani and Carnatic traditions. Students have the option to study either traditions ranging from classical to modern popular music. Lessons are also offered in instrumental music such as the veena and harmonium. Students of Indian music are taken to Thiruvaiyaru (Tanjore) for their music field trip to the famous St. Thiagaraja Aradhana Festival in January every year. KIS music students also appear for the reputed Annamalai University Music Grade Certificate Exam.
Overall, KIS students enjoy a rich and varied musical life – both as performers and listeners. With concerts almost on a weekly basis, and ensembles ranging from soloists to orchestra – they develop an appreciation and love for all that music has to offer.
A donation to the Music Department allows the continuation of this excellence, including buying instruments, field trips for music students, musical performances, both locally and nationally, as well as making sure that KIS maintains the best teachers in the music field.
by kfi | Nov 27, 2024 | The Keith DeJong Music Award |
The DeJong Bequest to Kodai Friends International (KFI) may be used only for student music scholarships at Kodaikanal International School (KIS), as stipulated by the will of C. Keith DeJong.
The name Keith DeJong is synonymous with music. While in Kodai as a student, Keith excelled in the music program at Kodai School and graduated with his class in 1949. Kodai School provided a strong foundation for his professional career and welcomed his return in 1957, along with his wife Marcine and their first of four children. Keith taught music lessons to many students over the years. He directed the Band, Choir, and many ensembles. Keith’s beautiful tenor voice could stand alone in a solo, or blended with others, rewarding all within listening distance, and Marcine was known by all Sunday School kids as a pianist with gusto. Keith and Marcine were role models to the community, and their love of music continues through the legacy they left to KFI.
The Keith DeJong Music Award and Scholarship fund is a temporarily restricted fund basket, and provides support to two outstanding KIS grade 12 music students each year. Recipients, selected by the KIS Music Department, are awarded $750 (each) annually at Awards Assembly. In addition, the fund provides an additional $1,500 annually for music students of any grade level who need financial assistance for music field trips sponsored by KIS and/or for an additional instrument lesson if not included in the basic school fees.
