The International School Award (ISA) now called International Dimension in Schools (IDS) in India, was introduced in the year 2003 and nearly 2500 schools across the country have joined this exciting journey since then. The range of schools participating in the programme varies from well-resourced private schools to government schools from rural areas and schools for the less advantaged communities. The International School Award now has a presence in 31 countries worldwide. International Dimension in Schools celebrates a school embeds effort to include international work as part of their curriculum and helps embed it within the school embeds culture. The programme supports schools in fostering an international ethos throughout the school and embedding it within the curriculum. Laidlaw had won the ISA Award for the year 2019-2022.
At present the IDS in India is undergoing a review and will presently start in the near future.
An IIMUN is an academic simulation of United Nations where students act as diplomats and discuss various international affairs and try to come up with solutions solve them. We not only simulate UN but also Indian Parliament, in order to make our youth aware about issues in our nation. The solutions are then sent to our government and the UN to let them know about the students’ opinions on the current international, national or local topics discussed by them.
Benefits to the Students:Resume Building: Getting into Stanford, Oxford is no mean feat. Having an international certification through participating in MUNs makes it slightly easier.
The Operation Smile is a non-profit organisation that was started in 1982 by Dr. William P. Magee Jr. and his wife Kathleen S. Magee. Its headquarters are in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This organisation is committed to providing cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide. Laidlaw School has contributed to this organisation by helping young leaders build awareness, raise funds, educate others about OS mission through events. Children learn to empathize and give their best to bring lovely smiles on the faces of these unfortunate children. The Parent Faculty and School can give these children a chance to grow up without life-threatening health problems, social stigma, isolation and feelings of hopelessness.
The Laidlaw Memorial School and Junior College is working with the International Award for Young People (IAYP) which delivers the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in India to offer our school new ways to broaden its curriculum. The organisation believed that learning should not be confined to the classroom, but should also take place in the school environment and the wider community. Currently students from over 240 institutions across India participate in the Award Programme. So far over 100,000 young people have successfully gained their Awards. The IAYP is a non – Governmental Organisation (NGO) and is a full member of the Duke Edinburgh’s International Award Association.
It creates opportunities for young people to develop skills, get physically active, give service to their local community and experience adventure.
The program is non-competitive and anyone with perseverance and enterprise, including differently abled, can enrole for the Award. In this, young people choose an array of activities that are appropriate to their environment and best suited to their own personal interest
For adults, the program provides an opportunity to help and mentor youth by sharing their individual skills and experiences.
Levels of Award: The Award offers three levels. An aspirant can enroll in any one of the three levels of the Award after meeting the age criterion as mentioned below.
Bronze Medal: Minimum age 14 years. Minimum time commitment: 6 months
Silver Medal: Minimum age 15 years. Minimum time commitment: 12 months. For Bronze Award holders: 6 months
Gold Medal: Minimum age 16 years. Minimum time commitment: 18 months. For Silver Award holders: 12 months
Interact is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young people. The Interact Club of our school comprises of students from standard VIII to XII. Under the guidance of the Rotary Club of the Nilgiris, Coonoor, the members of our school’s Interact Club participate in meaningful service projects. Planning, organizing and conducting service activities through the Interact club helps students develop leadership skills while discovering the power of ‘Service Above Self’.
