by kfi | Sep 25, 2018 | Archives, Projects - completed |
We thank you very much for the $8,000 KFI sent last fall to promote environment issues, enabling hiring Dr. Rajamanikam and his wife Lekshmi R. during the Spring Semester this year. They were given an office, worked with the Maintenance Deparment, participated in recycling and other activities, and presented in some classes and assemblies, etc., a big contribution to our functioning as a “Green School.”
As regards extension activities in Kodaikanal community, we had listed some expected quantifiable achievements, and we hereby report on them. Dr Rajamanikam spent full-time as follows:
1) Number of schools, hotels, others, that installed recycle bins and conducted good use training
We have installed sustainable solid waste management systems in 18 schools, 11 hotels, and 3 gated communities in and around Kodaikanal, by June 2018, which are functioning OK.
2) Number of schools, hotels, others, which invited presentations about recycling, showing interest
22 schools, 3 higher education institutes, 13 hotels, 4 NGOs, and 8 gated communities invited our presentations and outreach demonstrations, which were done. These have to be followed up
3) Number of wards or household areas in town that have begun recycling waste
We have been working informally with several individual households; 3 wards of Kodaikanal town are interested in working with us. This should be done through proper channel so Kodaikanal Municipality has to give government order for working with these wards; but as elections have been long delayed (because of death of the previous Chief Minister), there is still no elected Municipal Council Chairman nor ward members.
4) Quantity of recyclables collected and processed, and its estimated percentage of all town waste
Around 27 tonnes of dry-waste has been recovered through KIS initiative from these schools and hotels in Kodaikanal, which is only some 2% annual waste generation rate. But the Municipality still has no policy or budget for separating recyclables from trash. We are awaiting elections for the Municipal Council to be elected, and meanwhile we deal with the state-appointed Commissioner. Fortunately, he has assigned an old building and location where recyclables are now sorted by an agreed agent working with us.
5) List of environment-related projects undertaken by KIS students with advice of these experts
– Composting bins on the campuses now where they can bring home and dorm organic trash
– Sorting of recyclables in the 2 Recycle Centers—many students do this for their service hours
– Cleaning up around different parts of Kodaikanal
– Distribution and sale of cloth shopping bags to replace plastic
– Asking tourists in vehicles to give over their throw-away plastic junk
– At school student functions, use of drinking fountains or good bottles instead of disposable cups
– All students now have good water bottles, and throw-away plastic bottles are banned on campus
6) Number of KIS classes or groups in which the 2 experts made presentations and advised
Frequently worked with Grade 5 to 12 students on solid waste management and biodiversity conservation.
7) NGOs and other civic organizations in which KIS and the experts made substantial contribution
Worked frequently with Kodaikanal Rotary Club, Kodaikanal United Christian Youth Federation, PCK Women’s group, Kodai Smile Group, and Palani Hills Conservation Council
Ms Lekshmi R. was assigned by the Principal to write environment curricula for grades 6 through 10, which has taken considerable research and consultation. This now has to be integrated into the already busy Middle Years IB program and other activities. Also, Ms Lekshmi has been working to generate overall ideas about Environment for KIS, as requested. And lately she has worked on identifying laboratories, greenhouse, landscaping, etc for the proposed Environment Education Center.
This school year Dr Rajamanikam and Lekshi are regular KIS salaried staff, and the new KFI funds requested and sent are for helping to set up educational aspects of the new Environment Education Center.
Budget:
KFI gave $8,000 for Dr Rajamanikam and Lekshmi for last semester. Lekshmi has been working to finish her PhD in Pondy University so was absent for some time, so there is a balance, which has been added to the new KFI funding for this semester:
New KFI fund for Environment Center etc ($12,050) Rs. 808,675
Balance from KFI fund for last semester 96,558
Total for Environment Center this semester Rs. 905,233
Clarence Maloney
KIS Volunteer for Environment
August, 2018
by kfi | Aug 22, 2018 | Archives |
Dear Members of the DeJong Family,
I would like to thank you for your generous award, which I received last week and am grateful to have been one of the recipients of the award this year. Not only will this greatly impact my future financial investments, but will also be used as a stepping-stone towards my aspirations in music. In regards to my experience in music, I did several ABRSM exams throughout my time here at KIS. I passed the Grade 5 theory exam in 2011 and also passed the Grade 8 piano exam in 2015. As a student here, I was privileged to be given various opportunities that have strengthened my musicianship and passion for music. I was part of several choir groups for the past 6 years, one of which I served as the Choir Vice President, as well as a student section leader and conductor. I also had the honour of being part of a prestigious choir festival in Muscat this semester. Along with these involvements, I’ve also performed at school assemblies, Rock Concerts, in the Chapel praise and worship group, house concerts, springs concerts and winter concerts. During my senior year, I received a distinction in Grade 5 Voice and passed the Trinity Diploma Exam in Piano Performance, which was another solidifying block in the development of my musicianship.
I hope to carry on with my ambitions in music at Moody Bible Institute, where I will be doing a B.A in Music and focusing on piano performance, performing in choirs and writing arrangements. I will use this scholarship as a foundation for my investments for my education abroad and also as a way to help me move forward with my future in music. This award will also significantly benefit certain financial aspects of my college education, which will contribute to my overall expenses for my education abroad.
Once again, I would like to thank you for this award and knowing that this award will greatly help me in my future endeavours in music; it continues to give me hope that my aspirations in music will be achieved. As a recipient of the DeJong award, I will remember to uphold the honours of this award and acknowledge it as a reminder of how far I have come in music and how much more I will learn and grow in the future.
With warm regards,
Jane Jaikumar
by kfi | Aug 22, 2018 | Archives |
To the DeJong family,
This is to express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to you for the money that you have granted me. I understand that this is no insignificant sum of money and this fund will be indispensable in my pursuit of a musical education. During my time at KIS, I wasn’t able to take IB Music as a course but have been very involved in the school’s music program through my involvement in events such as Winter Concert, Spring Concert, Kodai Unplugged and Rock Concert.
I intend to use this money to help finance my education at Berklee College of Music in Boston where I have been accepted for their undergraduate program.
Yet again, I want to express my sincere gratitude for this incredibly generous and helpful grant.
Sincerely,
Inesh Krishnamurthy, KIS Class of 2018
by kfi | Aug 20, 2018 | Archives |
Dates: August 30 to September 4, 2018
Details: Join the gathering of KIS alumni and friends at Camp Kirchenwald in Colebrook, PA over Labor Day weekend.
It’s that time of year again when you can leave all your troubles behind and escape to Camp Kirchenwald to hang out with all of your old and new friends from the KIS community and beyond. Come join us for the full five days, for one day, for a meal or two, whatever your schedule allows. Camp Kirchenwald is a beautiful wooded camp just east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that will supply something for everyone, from lots of picnic tables to just sit around and catch up with old friends and make new ones, often while chopping veggies, to dekshis of curry over open flames that need stirring, to hearing updates on KIS from Principal and alum Corey Stixrud, to beautiful trails for walking, running, hiking or biking, to ziplining and wall-climbing, hanging out at the pool, playing or cheering on at the volleyball court, dancing at canteen, singing around the campfire – always surrounded by constant sounds of chatting and laughter.
For those staying overnight, you can choose from large cabins with bunk buds to large cabins with single beds to small cabins with single beds to Adirondacks to your own tents. In other words, there is plenty of room for you! Unfortunately, Schreiber Haus is sold out. For those wishing more of a hotel setting, contact Mary Coleman Lowry, mlowry36@aol.com about Wittel Farm or Mt. Gretna Inn (both offsite) to make a reservation. The rest of the lodging is available on a first come, first served basis.
Lodging (rates are per person, per night) are as follows:
– Cabin/Myers Sun-Thurs $27.00
– Cabin Myers Fri-Sat $30.00
– Chalet (Bear’s Den) $37.00
– Adirondack $21.00
– Tent/RV $11.00
– Schrieber Haus (sold out)
– Day only $8.00
Insurance – flat rate (not per day) – $3.00
Food Costs:Breakfast: Kids (6-12) $3.00
Adults(13+) $6.00
Lunch/Dinner Kids (6-12) $5.00
Adults (13+) $12.00
If you fly into Harrisburg airport or take the train to the Elizabethtown station, let Rani Maloney know and she can arrange rides for you. If you are flying in and renting a car or driving your own car, and would like to give someone a ride, let her know that also – 609-731-6699 or on Facebook. If you have any questions whatsoever, don’t hesitate to contact her. If you have not already joined the KIS Labor Day Reunion group on Facebook, please do so. She will be posting more info there, and you can always ask questions or read others’ questions, even find out ahead of time who else will be there.
I can guarantee it will be a wonderful and memorable experience, and a reminder of just how unique and special our experiences and the friendships made at Kodai School are. Please do join us!
by kfi | Aug 18, 2018 | Archives |
Sponsored by the Class of 1943
To my Benevolent Benefactors,
My journey at KIS has almost come to an end. I have 2 months left on this beautiful hill that I have called home for the past 4 years. I would like to begin by expressing my eternal gratitude towards you all for allowing me to continue my education at this institution. Without you, this would not have been a possibility.
Through my years here, I have grown in all aspects of my life. I promised you all that I will be making the most of my time here. With that given opportunity, I am glad to tell you that I had my own TED talk, right here at KIS. It was called “The Confessions of an Existential Nihilist.” You can find the tedtalk by googling my name and the title. This was such an accomplishment for me, as I talked about something close to my heart. Furthermore, my work with the Student Council continued, as we established a study leave for all seniors as they gear up for their IB exams. I am so excited to tell you that I got into Virginia Tech for Computer Engineering! I hope to continue work there and maybe, even work with KFI in Boston to contribute in any way that I can. As I have mentioned before, when I graduate from college and have a job, I hope to establish a scholarship of my own at KIS one day. This place has been such an experience that I am even dreaming of getting on the council! Through your generosity, thoughtfulness, and goodwill, I have had the humble opportunity of having such amazing adventures.
The friends I have made here have become loved ones. I am forever indebted.
Sincerely,
A Student who is forever thankful,
Siddharth Gupta (Class of 2018)
by kfi | Aug 18, 2018 | Archives |
Please follow this link to read a letter from the 2017-18 recipient of the IBO-DePaul Staff Training Scholarship, Kurian Alex: KFI-DePaul Scholarship Letter 2017-2018.
The IBO-DePaul Staff Training Scholarship is supported through KFI’s “Fund a Need” Fund.
