The Sun Smart Foundation International (SSFI) School emphasises on a learning environment based on enquiry, exploration, research and collaboration. The school’s vision interlocks the ‘Empathise – Think – Do – Learn’ process with the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) curriculum to suit the needs of our learners. This results in us being a ‘Thinking School’. Our staff has imbibed our philosophy and share their joy of teaching and learning with students. This shared thrill forms the cornerstone of our ‘Happy School’.
Our focus is to help children develop personal responsibility, resilient learning habits, and positive attitudes about themselves and the world around them. We nurture this with a supportive learning environment. Our curriculum promotes principles of respect, collaboration, open mindedness, and creativity. Socio-emotional development and mindfulness are a core strength of our system, and we ensure that every child feels safe, supported, and motivated.
We are committed to excel. A strong pedagogy enriched with relevant co-curricular programmes is critical for the success of the learner. We, at SSFI, have developed Pre-Primary and Primary Programs that are complemented by our programs in movement, dance, drama, art, physical education, and music.
Our accreditation to CAIE supports our vision. While the program itself is benchmarked to best practices and has built-in rigour, we are very conscious of the quality of teaching we offer. Research shows that the quality of teaching is an important factor in learner achievement. A Continuous Professional Development program is an integral part of our school calendar.
Every great thing has a very humble beginning. Our Founders Mrs. Malathy Panicker & Mr. K.P.G. Panicker had a vision from our Lady of Health, Vailankanni to serve the cause of education. A small school in the name of Shrine Vailankanni School with 17 students and 3 staff members was started in a thatched roof at No. 17, Venkatanarayana Road.
In a decade, the school grew by leaps and bounds and catered to the educational needs of a diverse community. The school moved to its present location at the heart of T. Nagar in the year 1974. Ever since it has been a never ending success story under the dynamic leadership of Mrs. Malathy Panicker and then Secretary and present Chairperson Mrs.B.K.K.Pillai.
Under the aegis of the Vailankanni Charity Trust, SSFI has established itself as a beacon of international values and Indian culture. The Trust has been a prestigious name in the field of education for over five decades, and is our mentor and guide.
To become a Thinking School.
The mission of SSFI is to Strive Unifiedly to Nurture Skilful, Mindful, Artistic and Responsible Thinkers. We believe in coordinating all efforts to maximise the potential of each learner at SSFI.
Learner is at the centre of everything we do at SSFI. Every stakeholder at SSFI is a learner as we believe Education is Emancipation of Human Life. We aspire to inspire and empower our learners to make a positive difference in the world. We believe in being a non-discriminatory and an inclusive set-up. A community that believes in coexistence with nature for overall sustainability.
To blend internationalism with core Indian values.
We are committed to support every learner in this journey to achieve excellence by delivering high standards in Teaching and Learning experience that blends Internationalism with core Indian values like Tolerance, Empathy, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Honesty.
India is a pluralistic society- It has always been and will be. Unity in diversity has been our strength. But the world is in turmoil and the divisive forces in society where marginalized or alienated people express their isolation from wider society through violent acts can only be healed by an inclusive, truly international education for all our young people, where diversity is celebrated, tolerance is a virtue and thinking springs up from such strongly rooted foundation.
Our Chairperson, whom all of us fondly call as ‘Aunty’ is a fifth-generation teacher and has been educating children for the past 50 years. She holds an M.A. English Literature, University of Madras, M.Ed Madurai Kamaraj University.
She is a Bharatanatyam dancer and has served as a member of the Tamil Nadu Matriculation Board. She is known for her philanthropic work. She is also the founder of Vailankanni schools in Valasarawakkam, Trichy, Pondicherry and Anna Nagar.
She started her career helping her parents Mrs and Mr Panicker founders of Vailankanni Institutions. She worked as teacher with her parents’ school and rose to being Secretary and Principal of Shrine Vailankanni Sr Secondary School. Along with her husband Late Dr.R.K. Pillai she founded numerous educational institutions.
After the demise of her mother Mrs. Malathy Panicker she took over as the chairperson of the board. She wanted to offer a personalised learning experience and founded The Sun Smart Foundation International School in 2013.
Mrs Aparna Bharani Pillai is a Fourth – generation educator and is currently the Director of The Sun Smart Foundation International School, Anna Nagar. She is an accomplished Bharatha Natyam exponent and holds various qualifications namely a bachelor’s in visual communication from Loyola College, a master’s in fine arts from Shastra University. As soon as she began the school, she realised that this is her calling. She realised Strength of Pedagogy and Academic Support to her beliefs were indispensable and hence she followed through ‘Differentiating Instructions and Classroom Strategies’ from Harvard Graduate School Of Education and is currently pursuing ‘Cambridge International Diploma in Teaching and Learning’. Her vision is to evolve The SSFI into a ‘Thinking School’ by blending Indian Values with Internationalism.
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