By Our Reporter
SHILLONG,Dec 1: Located at Umpling Lumdiengmet, Lawei Progressive School, which started as a family venture in 2000, reached its 25th year milestone, catering to children largely in and around Umpling and the surrounding localities. The school began with only 5 children.
Located in a sprawling acreage which includes all kinds of trees, including fruits trees, orchids, and cherry blossoms, the children have a grand time observing nature first hand and not being stifled by the classroom atmosphere. The cherry on the cake is a tree house built with the trunk of the betel nut tree and a little hut with a straw roof, complete with a dpei (kitchen fire), so children can relate how their ancestors used to live.
On Monday, the school observed Parents’ Day where the kids demonstrated their ability to sing, dance, and articulate their diverse talents.
Their expressions spoke of a free spirit. They spoke with rare confidence with their teachers and performed their parts without any trace of shyness.
Addressing the parents and audience,principal of Lawei Progressive School, Adella Pariat, said, “We never imagined we would grow to become a school with 110 students, and we now have students up to Class 6. We are perhaps the only school that embraces children who are differently-abled and treats them with equal respect and patience in the same classroom.
Former MLA and MDC Pyniaid Sing Syiem, the chief guest, lauded the initiators of Lawei Progressive School and said he was happy to see such happy, vibrant kids who, when their senior classmates were dancing on the stage, did not mind dancing along outside it. He also lauded the motto of the school, “Future Forward,” which he said speaks not only of the present but has a vision for the future.
What’s special about the school is the involvement of the entire family to put up a good show with Lawyn Pariat, former teacher of Shillong College, managing the camera and sound system, Arkin Pariat hosting the guests, and Mendon Pariat, former Rangbah Shnong of Umpling, doing his part in managing the show.
The teachers put up a delightful performance to the tune of Disco Deewane, even while their students outside the stage gyrated to the delight of their parents.
