Voices from the Community

Hi I’m Tanya Rupani Shah. My daughter has been in Podar ORT International School – Worli since its inception. We have had a beautiful journey from pre-primary to now Grade 3. The beauty of this school isn’t only its great academics or co-curricular subjects but its personalized involvement in the development of your child from their class teachers, specialist teachers, coordinators and even the Head of School. The holistic approach the school takes is fantastic for the future of tomorrow.

Being parents of a child who joined Podar ORT in the very first year of school, we have seen the school transform and grow to become this very big yet closely knit PORTIS family, that it is today. Like all schools today, Podar ORT too is offering a plethora of co-curricular activities throughout the year. But what differentiates PORTIS is that “agency” is given to the students to choose how they would like to showcase their understanding. This has truly helped children to become independent thinkers and take responsibility for their actions from an early age. Even in the current pandemic situation, the teachers have worked tirelessly to ensure that there is variety and novelty in the strategies used to take online classroom lessons. Online quizzes and games, competitions, energiser breaks, festival celebrations, virtual displays; just to mention a few; have made this new format of learning – a fun and engaging experience.

The first time we stepped into Podar ORT International School, we knew we were making the right choice for our son. It is truly a first class school providing our child with an all-rounded development. The teachers are excellent and they encourage our son to pursue and further his interests. We can see the result in our son’s progress with each passing year.

I chose Podar ORT International School for two reasons. One, the quality of education is excellent. They teach with clarity and open-mindedness. They encourage independent thought. They don’t just impart knowledge, but rather the practical application of it. The second, and more important, reason I love Podar ORT is because this school is all heart. There is so much compassion, along with a deep sense of community and belonging. Here, learning becomes joyful. Podar ORT makes my child feel loved and included. The transformation I’ve seen in my son during his formative years is astounding. He is developing into a considerate, conscientious and well-rounded person. And for that, I am truly grateful to the school.

Being associated with the school since its inception year, it’s been a journey to see the institute evolve. It keeps up with the standards an international school demands, focusing on all-round child development. I have enjoyed seeing my children grow many folds with the educational system, hands-on teachers and coordinators. The online education experience being the new normal is par excellence to ensure the children do not miss out on the academic curriculum while also being sensitive to the current pandemic situation. We are very honoured to be a part of this institution.

We have had a wonderful experience with Podar ORT International School. Our child has been studying in this school since the last two years and he thoroughly enjoys and looks forward to school every day. The teachers make learning activities fun for the child and their warmth and loving guidance makes the school environment an extension of home. Excellent teaching staff and well maintained facilities!

Our son Tejas joined Podar ORT International School in 2019. We expected the school to provide him with a stimulating and nurturing environment, academically and otherwise. One year later, it is gratifying to note that the school’s programmes and approach towards learning have significantly benefitted Tejas. As parents, we find the level of engagement with the faculty particularly refreshing. It is also very encouraging to note that the school makes every effort to cater to individual requirements for growth and enrichment. We are very thankful to the Podar ORT community for truly creating a difference in the academic journey of our child.

A School is where parents would want their child’s ability to be honed, to enable him to make the right choices, in the real world. At Podar ORT International one finds the right combination of Podar’s time-tested legacy and the IB curriculum’s fresh perspective to imparting education. Being parents of a child who joined Podar ORT in the very first year of school, we have seen the school transform and grow to become this very big yet closely knit PORTIS family that it is today. Like all schools today, Podar ORT too is offering a plethora of co-curricular activities throughout the year. But what differentiates PORTIS is that “agency” is given to the students to choose how they would like to showcase their understanding. This has truly helped children to become independent thinkers and take responsibility for their actions from an early age. Collaborations with other IB schools and guest speaker interactions have given the children a peek into the real world, adding a very important layer to their learning process. At the end of the day, my child is eager and happy to go to school each and every day – so for this, we thank you PODAR ORT International School.

We became a part of Podar ORT family in the midst of lockdown. Initially, we were wondering how the whole admission process would take place virtually. We were very keen on enrolling Ariana in an IB school as she is used to Montessori style learning and environment and a good IB school seemed like the obvious choice. We have friends and family who are already part of Podar ORT and are very happy with the school; however, we wanted to know more about the school’s philosophy and vision to ensure that it’s aligned with what we envisioned for our daughter. It is so wonderful to be a part of a boutique, child centric IB school in the heart of Mumbai city. Their philosophy of creating an environment where individuality, servant leadership and inclusivity are celebrated and encouraged really touched our hearts.

Finalizing a school for your child isn’t an easy decision, but I am happy to say after four years with Podar ORT, that it was the right decision for my family. It has been so fulfilling to see my child blossom under the careful guidance and encouragement provided by the excellent teachers and staff. Not only do they ensure top quality education, but also instill a sense of wonder, curiosity and social responsibility in the children. Their response during the 2020 pandemic only impressed me further – from transforming to an online teaching model within just a week, to teachers staying on a video call long after class is done, just to listen to the excited kindergarteners. Thank you Podar ORT for being the best partner we could expect to help bring up our children!

We are proud and excited to send our child to Podar-ORT. Initially we had little idea about IB studies and relied on family and friends. The learning curve taught to our child is not just theoretical knowledge but more practical things. Learning about senses, music along with writing shows the overall development of the child. The faculty is dedicated and the amount of personal touch provided even in this difficult time is appreciable. We are anxiously waiting for schools to restart once the pandemic passes and are confident that our child will learn a lot more within love and care of the teachers.

In the few months that Aashni has been with Podar she has really enjoyed it and has been integrated really well, despite starting a few weeks late. The teachers, especially Chandni ma’am, have been very caring and have provided individual attention. The pedagogy has been quite good and she has picked up a lot of new knowledge and understanding. The classes and content are engaging, and the teachers make significant effort in making it easy and interesting for children to pick up things. There is a very nice blend of activities – both physically and mentally engaging. Overall, as parents we are quite happy and satisfied with our journey together, and hope that this will continue to build and grow as Aashni moves through the PYP programme.

We begun hunting for a good school for our daughter early on. Most of the ones we visited looked like they would deliver on their promises but something was always lacking. We then discovered Podar ORT and from the first visit, fell absolutely in love. The people are all heart. They want what’s best for the kids. The teachers ensure that they enable the making of memories for the child along with imparting good education. They are as invested in the well being of our daughter as we are and that’s heartening!

Our experience of the first quarter as a newly admitted parent-child in Podar ORT has been pleasant. There has been constant communication around the child’s wellbeing, development and progress. Teachers from all domains have been wonderfully coordinated and give personalised attention to children. My daughter has been wonderfully acclimatised in the new school environment and thanks to all teachers. Looking forward to the school starting in person and more parent teacher focused time.

We’re parents of two kids at Podar ORT International School. Our older child is in the second grade and has been here for a year and our younger child is in senior KG and has joined this academic year and has met his classmates only through online school. In the one and a half years that we have been part of this school our older son has thrived and has had really good teachers and a happy experience. When the school shut because of coronavirus the teachers immediately adapted to the online learning structure and this academic year onwards it has been handled very professionally. Though my younger child is new to the school the teachers have been very warm and formed a bond with him so much so that he refuses to miss any class and wants to interact with them at every opportunity. There is a lot of flexibility in the curriculum and the main thing for me is that my kids are happy and relaxed and look forward to going back to school.

We were initially a bit hesitant to move our kids from an ICSE school with a sufficiently large infrastructure. The wholesome, well balanced approach that PODAR ORT takes keeping in mind each child’s strengths and areas of development makes this school truly a boutique school. Must say that during COVID-19 pandemic, PODAR ORT invested well in upskilling teachers and infrastructure and this has truly made a big positive impact in their online classes – the biggest compliment is that children look forward to attending online school.

We had moved from another town and our son had studied till Grade 5 in a school with a different curriculum, so as parents we were worried about the transition. But PORTIS was so welcoming, my son was comfortable from day one. We also appreciate the excellent communication, updates on the website, prompt responses to e-mails and phone messages. The academics and use of technology are wonderful. The teachers are nurturing while providing guidance that my child needs. The small class size ensures personal attention. The school has provided a safe and comfortable environment for our children to learn and develop.

Our daughter joined the school at the start of Grade 7 and very quickly adapted to her new surroundings. This was due to the welcoming and inclusive environment made possible by the Principal, Teachers, MYP Coordinator and support staff at Podar ORT. During this time, we have seen our daughter grow in every aspect of her character. Confidence, leading by example and always helping others, are traits that she has picked up from her school. What stands out is the individual attention given to each student. I commend the effort put in by the teachers in giving timely, valuable feedback and suggestions to students, which has made a difference.

My kids are always happy to go to school. I attribute this to the exemplary teaching and community feeling of the school. I have two kids who are two different learners and they are met where they are and taught how to soar. The environment at school is extremely positive. Head of the school, teachers and staff are totally dedicated to their work. I can proudly write I am associated with Podar since 9 years. Thank you.

What I convey here is more of a heartfelt gratitude than a testimony of the school my kids so love and adore. When we enrolled our kids in Podar ORT International School, the only criterion we looked for was distance from our home, an international curriculum, and the brand Podar. However now and luckily for us, I can give it an A+ in all the above benchmarks and beyond. My children, Yuv and Kriti, have grown in more ways than I imagined and I can’t thank the school enough. This school has made an impression on their minds, motivating them to exceed, honing their skills on the way and making them true IB learners for life.