A Sharjah-based institution is commemorating 25 years of its educational journey, with four of its original staff members still contributing to its success. The school, which started in 2000 with 140 students, now boasts over 6,000 students and more than 600 teachers.

"Over 40% of our current teaching staff have been with us for 15 to 20 years," said Vandana Marwaha, Principal and Director of Delhi Private School (DPS), who has been part of the school since its inception. "For us, the school and its community are like a family."

Kamna Katoch, who began her career as a Hindi teacher, has also been with DPS for 25 years. She has advanced through various leadership roles, including Head of Department. For Kamna, her students are like her own children. "The greatest joy has been seeing my students grow and fulfill their dreams," she shared. "One is an actor in India, another works at Google, and several are employed by top global companies. It’s heartwarming when they reach out to share how they still remember lessons from my classes."

Shanmughan Kotteppat, the school’s accountant, reminisced about visiting the construction site of the campus in 1999. "At that time, the area was completely barren, and there were no paved roads leading to the school," he recalled. "On my first visit, my car got stuck in the sand, and the construction workers had to help me out. Over the past 25 years, I’ve witnessed the school and the surrounding area transform significantly."

Hysham Akram Sheikh, a student from the school’s inaugural batch, fondly remembered his time at DPS. "I completed my 11th and 12th grades at DPS Sharjah, and we were the first batch to graduate," he said. "I have wonderful memories of the school and am thrilled about their 25th anniversary. I was the school sports captain and even represented the school in Delhi."

Sheikh, who now works in a government role, appreciated the school’s balanced approach. "What I loved most was that the focus wasn’t just on academics. We had numerous extracurricular activities, field trips, and even outings to watch movies and plays. It’s always a special feeling to visit the school, meet my former teachers, and walk through the hallways again," he added. Sheikh’s four-year-old daughter is currently a kindergarten student at the same school.

Sheikh also credited the school’s discipline for shaping his life. "During our time, we had strict rules about polished shoes and tucked-in shirts," he recalled. "We were mischievous and didn’t like these rules then, but as I entered the corporate world, I realized how valuable that discipline was."

To celebrate the milestone, the school is hosting an elaborate stage production featuring over 300 students. The play, scripted and produced by teachers, will showcase scenes from the lives of education pioneers like Helen Keller and Maria Montessori. The performance will take place on Saturday at the Sheikh Rashid Auditorium.

According to Vandana Marwaha, the students and teachers have dedicated significant effort to bring the play to life. "The scripting process began in June, and students started practicing in October to ensure they didn’t miss too many classes," she explained. "We implemented a special tutoring program to cover missed topics, ensuring their studies remained unaffected."

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