Healing with heART: Using Creativity to Promote Wellness

In June last year, when students returned to physical school, teachers could experience the change in the classrooms. The two years of isolated learning and lack of opportunities to socialize or work in groups had impacted the students, and the change was not helping classroom learning. Everyone was looking for a way to “Heal the Heart” and bring back good memories of school.

We found the cure for the ‘HE-ART’ hidden in itself, and our leadership team gave exclusive time within the school for our teachers and students to begin the process of undoing the damage of the pandemic through ‘ART’ (Accessible, Real, Together).

Power of teamwork in academics 

The first part of the exercise involved planning and executing an academic showcase where students worked in teams to create various forms of visual evidence of their learning and understanding. They worked on charts, models, videos, role-plays, poems, songs and dance routines to connect what they learned in the classroom with their interests and skills. We indeed lost some academic time but what we gained was seeing students happily working in groups, not feeling stressed about academic work or time and hearing constructive noise around the campus. Students were looking forward to coming to school because they would get time to research and work together.

A deep dive into performing arts 

This exercise’s second and rather powerful part was seen through a week-long student-led theatre fest. The students from grades 6 to 12, under the guidance of the English department, were involved in the script, direction, acting, music, prop and stage design. Students spent dedicated time during school for 45 days in planning and implementing the show. What amazed us was that some of the quietest students in our classes silenced everyone with their performance on the stage. We are sure many students discovered some new things about themselves, and they would worry less about what they are not doing well and focus on how they can use their strengths. These 45 days gave opportunities to find rare talent in the school and leave students with memories for a lifetime.

Reaping the therapeutic benefits of creativity  

As academicians, we realized that our math, language and science classes are important, but when it comes to healing, there is nothing more powerful than art, and we are so glad we took some time off academics and let the students spend time in these collaborative activities. As a school, we did our bit, and we urge parents to support their children in identifying what they like, what they enjoy and what makes them truly happy. A happy child makes a happy world, and their smile has the power to HEAL the WORLD.

Ms. Shirisha Kondury   

Head of Research and Teacher Training 

I am an engineer by profession but a teacher by passion. Currently, I am the Head of Research and Teacher Training at CHIREC International, Hyderabad. I have passionately worked for more than 2 decades and hold experience in teaching, training, educational counselling and research. I post-graduated with a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from U Cincinnati, Ohio. I hold multiple responsibilities at CHIREC which comprise being the Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications Program Leader, IBDP Mathematics and TOK facilitator for AA and AI HL and IBDP examiner for Math AA HL and TOK. I believe my students have made me a better learner and my contribution to my class is reflective of what I learn from them.