Thread by @Ksudhasathya

Shri Gurubhyo Namaha!

At the outset, I would like to emphasize that student safety and welfare are cornerstones of the Management, school authorities and the PTA at PSBB.
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As fellow parents who are part of the larger PSBB community, we collectively stand with any PSBBian with genuine grievances and will extend our full support in any way necessary.
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PSBB, the institution, has, over the years stood for strong values and a great grounding in Indian culture.
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The school, its founder Dr. Mrs. Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy (fondly known as Dr. Mrs. YGP) and the management now headed by Mrs. Sheela Rajendra have always been ready to adapt to progressive ideas
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and ensure that the students receive an educational experience that helps them put out strong roots while expanding their horizens to be global citizens.
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Along the glorious and over 60 year long journey of the school, safety of the students has been one aspect that has been given careful and special consideration.
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Which PSBB parent can deny the presence of the remarkable watchmen (in T. Nagar) who know each and every one of the 1000s of children at school by name, know exactly who is authorised to pick up which child,
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which lunch basket (for heaven's sake!!!) belongs to whom (so that even an unfamiliar lunch basket does not enter the premises without further examination - an instance that I was a personal witness to).
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Teachers and support staff who stay back till as long as it takes after school hours for the authorised pick-up person to arrive to get the child.
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Yearly orientations by the heads to apprise the parents of different school policies, including safety measures and ways to seek help if necessary.
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Counselling services by professional psychologists and counsellors where students and parents are given the liberty to approach the counsellors at any time with the assurance of confidentiality being maintained.
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The Wellness Check-in form administered to students of classes 9 to 12 to assess all areas of student welfare, including sexual safety.
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The student feedback questionnaire (kept intentionally anonymous) which is given to class 12 students on the last day of school to elicit frank student opinion on school/teachers/any matter connected with the institution without fear of reprisal.
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The parent feedback mechanism wherein parents can write in the feedback books monthly, or yearly in the end-of-year feedback form or the PTA AGM feedback slip, again with anonymity being an option while penning an issue.
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The ready accessibility of the teachers, heads and even management for any concerns that need to be raised. And even if not directly, through the active PTA.
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The one-of-a-kind Observation Day wherein parents are invited to sit in their child's class for an entire day each year to observe the proceedings.
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The proactive installation of CCTV cameras at multiple strategic points in the school as well as in several high school classrooms many years ago, well before such safety measures were made mandatory.
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The strict entry protocol for ANYONE wishing to set foot inside the school premises.
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The nurturing of one of the strongest Parent Teacher Associations to ensure that the school has a ear to the ground, thus facilitating an open and easy communication system that is rare in the Indian school context,
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and to ensure that the three arms of the golden triangle of parents, teachers and students support one another beautifully.
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The uncompromising school policy of not disclosing student details to ANY outside agency for ANY purpose. Even this past year, when classes had to be conducted online,
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all contact details like phone numbers and email addresses on which any school communication could be sent to was obtained directly from the parents so that the school or teachers could only correspond on those channels approved of by parents.
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The list is endless. And every PSBB student/parent knows that each of this is a fact.
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The unsavoury actions of any individual, if found to be true, must be punished to the strictest extent. The school's commitment towards any student who raises an issue is beyond question.
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The school's commitment towards any student who raises an issue is beyond question. Their swift action in suspending the teacher against whom allegations have been raised in this current case can be seen.
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Right now, our hearts go all out to any student who may have experienced traumatic incidents and been affected in any way.
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We hope and pray that justice is served and we are confident that the school will assist the law to the fullest extent to bring the culprit to book.
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But we must not throw the baby out with the bath water. The school is so much bigger than one person and his/her actions. It is a case of the sum being greater than the individual parts.
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The vision of the founder, Dr. Mrs. YGP and the current Dean, Mrs. Sheela Rajendra being a true and far reaching one with their priorities regarding safety of students (amongst other things) being as robust as ever.
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In fact, the school constantly upgrades safety measures with an eye on the future and will continue to do so.
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Let us unite as a community that has seen some remarkable, positive experiences given and being given to our children at PSBB and express what we have seen that has helped us/our children.
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To conclude, I must finally turn to the inner strength that can be derived for each one of us as we navigate these testing times by quoting

Mrs. YGP's oft repeated saying, "More things are wrought by prayers than this world dreams of." Satyameva Jayate.

- Anitha Nagaswamy
Secretary, PSBB PTA
T. Nagar and Nungambakkam
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