Don Bosco School (Alaknanda, New Delhi)

Background

Students of this school refer to themselves as 'Bosconians' and prefer to call their school 'Bosco' in short form. The school does not have an official mascot or flag, but versions of the school's logo which encompasses an eagle flying high over the school building are used on several occasions like the Annual Athletics Meet.
A house system has been implemented with each student being divided amongst the four school houses: Gold, Red, Blue and Green. Points are awarded to each student's house for any kind of distinction, and deducted for misbehavior.
The school's motto is 'Ever More and Better Ever'. There are 13 classes - Kindergarten to Grade 12, and four sections in each class. The Student's Council is composed of 17 leaders.
It has recently been amongst the first schools to adopt the Don Bosco Child Policy and Don Bosco Child Protection Policy for India, both that were unveiled in the school's auditorium by dignitaries.

City Wide Ranking

A rank of Number 1 was achieved in 2013 for the city of New Delhi.

State Wide Ranking

The school received an all-time high rating in 2013 of Number 1 in its category amongst all schools in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

All India Ranking

Don Bosco School was ranked at Number 15 throughout the country in the Year 2013. The rankings for this were based from a pool of over 1.4 million schools around the country.

Administration

It is headed by a team of Salesians: Father Babu Varghese (principal), Reverend Father Bhushan and Fr.Gerry. It was headed by Father Binny Issac for over nine years, and before that Father George and Father Micheal. Until 2013 Reverend Father Joseph (Rector, Religious Superior and Student Counsellor) was the rector of the school.

Enrollment

The maximum student complement is 2,500, but, for quality reasons, this is kept at no more than 2,250 students.

Events

Inter-school events include the city-wide famous Bosco Psi-Phi, Splash and Bosco Fiesta, internal events like Bosco Utsav and Voice of DBA, and sports events like the Annual Athletic Meet.

School Magazine

The annual school magazine's name is 'Bosconian', and the school's English teacher, Ms. Uma Nair, heads the student body called the 'Editorial Board', or popularly as the 'Ed Board', which is primarily responsible for the creation of the magazine. The Editorial Board is headed by an 'Editor' (also called chief editor) who supervises a select group of 'Assistant Editors' (also known as editors).

Clubs

Clubs include the Eco Club, the Think Ink Club and Syntech.

Think Ink Club

The club's motto is "Let Your Imagination Run Wild". It had 40 members as of 2010. Its main duty is to enrich the school website, by reporting events which take place on the campus and posting articles on the net. The Think Ink Club selects promising students as representatives of the school in competitions. It is the school's only student-owned autonomous club, with members from Classes 6 to 12. Some of the members of Think Ink are also a part of the Editorial Board, and the club aids the event reporting section of the school magazine.

Syntech

Syntech is the computer club. 'Syntech' is derived from two words: synergy and technology. Synergy means functioning together and technology is the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life. It has 15 members. Its motto is “To innovate and inculcate technology”.

Eco Environmental Club

Eco club works for a cleaner environment. It deals with cleanliness, eco ideas, creating awareness and sensitizing students in order to make a cleaner and healthier environment. Activities such as the 'cleanest class competition', eco caps, paper recycling, cleanliness drive, newspaper bags, anti-cracker drives etc. fall under the Eco club.

Selections for The Think Ink Club are held annually, whereas Syntech's and Eco Environmental's selections are internal.

Library System

The school has an extensive library with over 1400 books, in addition to magazines, periodicals and dailies.

Visual Arts

The school hosts an Art and Craft room which is fully stocked and managed by an Arts Expert.

Performing Arts

There exists a Music room for use during practice by the school band. There's also a Dance Room on campus.

Sports

Facilities for sports include a rubber padded basketball court, a standard concrete basketball court, multiple practice baskets, a table tennis room, a cemented badminton court, a prayer room, and a multipurpose ground with football goal posts including an all-season cricket pitch. The school also has a newly created Carrom and Chess Room.

Higher Education Admissions

Students from Don Bosco School Alaknanda have gone around the world to prestigious institutions, including the world-renowned Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Cambridge, Stanford University, London School of Economics, Indian Institutes of Management and Indian Institute of Technology among others. The most popular universities and colleges that students procure admission to are University of Delhi and Amity University. Students have also received admission offers from universities like New York University, Imperial College and University College London.

Gifted Program Admissions

Recently Bosconians have also participated in High School programs for gifted students, notably Education Program for Gifted Youth at Stanford University (2 students, 2013-2014), and the selective Secondary School Program at Harvard Summer School (1 student, 2014). Some alumni have been participants of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (International Version of which is administered by the IAYP in India) (2 students, 2014).

Sister Schools in New Delhi

Holy Child Auxillium School is a sister institution, run by the nuns of the Salesian Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, also known as the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco.

Don Bosco School websites