Spring Dale Identity
Sahiljit Singh Sandhu
(Chairman Spring Dale Senior School)
Sahiljit Singh Sandhu, the Chairman of Spring Dale Educational Society is a young, zealous and dynamic leader. Born to educationist parents, he was brought up in an environment where discussions on changing educational environment abounded, the new strategies formed and the plans were implemented. As a result he developed the vision of education in its broader perspective.
Being the alumnus of Spring Dale Senior School where he experienced changes in education in accordance with the needs of the students he feels proud to be called a Spring Dalean. After the tragic demise of his parents, Mr. Sandhu took the reins of this educational institute at a very young age. Alongside he is pursued Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Embry Riddle University, Flordia, U.S.A. on scholarship. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School developing keen insights in business and management.
Sahiljit Singh Sandhu has many honours to his credit. He participated in Indian Model United Nations – a simulation of the United Nations. His contribution in the same helped him qualify for Prestigious Leadership Development programme – Presidential Classroom – Future World Leader’s Summit at Washington DC. He was one of the 25 students from India to have been qualified for this Summit. On this achievement he was also invited as a part of the team for high tea at Rashtrapati Bhavan by former President of India Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam whom he considers his role model. He added another feather in his cap after attending People to People Ambassador Programme at the world renowned Stanford University.
In addition to this he has been avidly interested in Community Service and has served in the capacity of weekend teacher at Citizen Forum Vidya Mandir – a school for the children of drug addicts and AIDS victim. He worked closely with his mother Late Ms. Manveen Sandhu to design the curriculum for the students of this school and still continues to support this institute earnestly.
Also, as a keen photographer, Mr. Sandhu has worked on many photography objects but his contribution for the photographs of “Maharaja Ranjit Singh-Personalitas Extraordinaire” is incomparable.
Dr. Kirat Sandhu Cheema
(Director Spring Dale Senior School)
Dr. Kirat Sandhu Cheema, is the proud and strong bearer of the legacy bequeathed by her venerable parents late Dr Shivinder Singh Sandhu and Mrs Manveen Sandhu, in the capacity of Director, Spring Dale Educational Society (SDES) and Director, Punarjyot. Equipped with a BDS degree from National Dental College, Chandigarh, she donned the mantle of the director of SDES in January 2009 following her parents’ tragic demise in a car accident and has bravely shouldered all her responsibilities despite the challenges involved.
According to her, the students should be free to branch out in the wide world of opportunities with their roots implanted in the soil of values and ethos. At SDSS, they are not fettered to the realms of regular schooling as a medium of learning. Her fierce concern for the holistic evolution of every child and endeavours for excellence in all fields coupled with her desire for further improvements in order to provide quality learning experience took Dr Kirat to Harvard University where she attended Project Zero Classroom Harvard Education programme. Her tireless labours and relentless efforts for achieving perfection in virtually every sphere, have lent an inimitable spirit to ventures as Community outreach programmes, Saanjh Festival, International affairs and sports.
Mr Rajiv Kumar Sharma
(Principal Spring Dale Senior School)
Mr Rajiv Kumar Sharma heads Spring Dale Senior School as Principal. Armed with MA, M.Ed degrees, he has a pervasive teaching and work experience spanning 30 years during which he has taught English to senior secondary students bringing in many innovative ideas to better the entire teaching-learning experience. He believes in lifelong learning and therefore his passion for education keeps increasing with time. As a practitioner of so many innovative ideas he has led the school to be recognized as a top school in the region. The stamp of his personal involvement and hard work is visible on each and every achievement of the school. Believing that knowledge increases by sharing he keenly shares his experiences and expertise as a resource person of CBSE on CCE, ASL, Heritage Education, and is much sought after for as diverse fields as Inclusive Education, Sustainability, Co Scholastic Education, Theatre for Education and Values Education.
His own quest for knowledge took him to Harvard Graduate School of Education for Institutes on Mind, Brain and Education (2008) and Future of Learning (2010) to learn from the likes of Howard Gardner and David Perkins.
His ideas on the conservation of local heritage are exemplified by the adoption by the school of ‘Pul Kanjri’ a heritage monument belonging to the times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh which stands as a testimony to the secular and composite culture of the region. Under his guidance a complete heritage education program takes care of the preservation and promotion of the monument which is a unique example of its kind. His Heritage Education Design for schools was much appreciated by CBSE and found its place on the Heritage Education portal of the board’s official website. Besides that he has conceptualized community outreach programs of multi disciplinary nature familiarizing young students with local heritage and traditional wisdom at culturally rich places like Hamira in Rajasthan, Preet Nagar near Indo-Pak border, Kishankot in rural Gurdaspur and many such places. His passion for theatre weaves together stories and crafts from marginalized communities which are crying for patronage like Mangnyar music, Art of puppetry, pottery, storytelling and so on. His mega theatre shows which he himself directs combining different art forms bringing more than a thousand children on stage in each one, leave strong messages on ethics and values besides a treat to watch.
He wears various hats besides being the Principal of a highly successful school. He was selected as a Master Trainer by CBSE for Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) and Examination Reforms Implementation. The CBSE nominated Mr Sharma for WWF Capacity Building Programme for Education for Sustainable Development and School Health and Sanitation Programme in collaboration with GTZ.
He is credited with starting Inclusive Education Program at Spring dale Senior School which has created a niche for best practices. He is honoured with the number of awards by the CBSE, Govt. of Punjab and other educational bodies. He is on the management boards of variety of educational, cultural and philanthropic organizations.