A key aspect that sets RDF apart from other organizations running schools is our commitment to providing activities that focus on educating the students in a non-conventional manner. Beyond producing good exam scores, RDF strives to instill in students the analytical skills, creative thinking, and confidence that will help them become exemplary leaders both within RDF and throughout their life after.
Balala Bank
The school bank is designed to help students understand the importance of earning and saving money. Students play the roles of bankers. Real money is brought by the students, either earned by themselves or given by parents to put into savings for their tuition. They fill out deposit slips and everything is entered into official accounts, just as it would be in a city bank. One Matendla student, 13-year-old Chandram N. has become so proficient as school bank manager that he now inspires to be a real life bank manager.
Bala Mela
This is a form of open house in which the students present various activities and projects in a carnival-type setting. Students showchase learning games, perform songs and demonstrate science experiments. It provides an opportunity for the students to share what they are learning with their families, the village community, or visitors to the school. The Balanadam is not only fun for the students but also instills in them a sense of pride in their studies and accomplishments.
Postbox
This is a student run mail system that allows for reading and writing practice in a fun, non-academic fashion. Each class has a postal code by which mail is sorted and delivered to the recipients by student postmasters.
Question of the Day
Every morning in assembly a teacher will ask a general knowledge question of all the students who then have until the following morning’s assembly to find the answer. Students avail themselves of every line of research, including internet, textbooks, the library, or school and community members thus gaining valuable practice investigating and tracking down information.
Honesty Box
The Honesty Box functions as a lost and found. On any given day it may contain the end of a pencil, a notebook, or a ten rupee coin. The ideas instilled in the students are that even the littlest things are worth something to someone and that an honest approach to these small things lays the foundation for honesty in all one’s dealings.
Career Box
The Career Box is in essence a brainstorming box for children to leave questions and ideas about their future career options. A specific teacher is in charge of looking through the box and providing career counseling services and guidance.
Question Bank
Students are allowed to write down any question that comes to mind and drop it into the Question Box. The topics are limitless and students use the opportunity to think creatively and analytically about the world around them. Teachers then take charge of researching the answers and report back to the students at morning assemblies. Example questions are “Who created the world?” and “Why is the sky blue?”
Sudoku
Each day a new Sudoku puzzle is written on a chalkboard that is publicly displayed in the school. Students come by throughout the day to copy down the puzzle and try their hand at solving it. By the end of the day it has been filled in and they can check their success. The Sudoku puzzles are a great chance for students to voluntarily involve themselves in a fun and educational activity outside of classes.
Drawing Tutorial Board
A teacher will provide step-by-step instructions for drawing a new figure every day. These figures usually start by using a Telugu letter or another known symbol. In three to four steps, lines and shapes are added to the initial symbol until the drawing clearly represents a figure such as a bumblebee or a dog. The Drawing Tutorial Board provides an unintimidating way for every student to be artistic.
In an effort to increase the opportunities for student leaders to improve their skills and to encourage involvement in the school, Student Committees have been formed. These committees are responsible for various aspects of running the school and include mess, discipline, neatness, library, computer, farm, games, photoblog, cultural, and education.
