Onam celebrations for the students of Government SNDP Upper Primary School at Pattathanam here were novel this year. Each year, there is a chief guest but this year, there were three — circus artistes who play jokers in the ring.
The students and teachers said they had a wonderful time. They not only laughed a great deal, but also learnt a lot from the guests. They also realised that life in a circus tent is no joke.
School Principal R. Radhakrishnan said it was decided to invite the circus artistes as there is a lesson on circus artistes in this year's textbook for the upper primary students. A circus had come to town for Onam and when an invitation was sent across, the response was positive, Mr. Radhakrishnan said.
The celebrations are organised every year by the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) of the school.
To top it all, the guests, students, parents and teachers partook of a sumptuous lunch.
The school has another reason to celebrate. Last month, the school's PTA was selected the best in the Kollam revenue district. The cash prize of Rs.30,000 will be used to construct a park on the campus. And on Friday came the news from the Education Department that the school PTA had been selected one of the best five in the State.
The cash prize of Rs.50,000 will be presented to the representatives of the PTA at a function at Malappuram on the occasion of Teachers' Day on September 5. The PTA will then go into a huddle to decide how to utilise the amount, Mr. Radhakrishnan said.
