It was selected as one of the best 50 Personal Projects from among all IB schools, and is available for viewing below.

“It was a fun, yet challenging project”, said Sharmeen about the process. “I merged two cultures on a musical instrument, by immersing myself in all of them.”

To view the full report and finished product click here.

To see the Personal Projects listing on the WAB portal click here

The Musician’s Institute, a college of contemporary music, gives 50 gifted musicians a chance to win full credit against tuition along with $ 10,000 in living expenses. Kathpalia is one of the only two Indians selected for the finals. View his competition entry below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Title: Metamorphosis
Genre: Rock
Secondary Genre:
Instrument: Guitar

During the course of his academic life at MGIS, Kabeer was also actively interested in sciences, psychology and Buddhism. He also played for band Experiment 7.

According to former classmate Anahita Sarabhai, “Kabeer has always been incredibly passionate about music, and has had a real ear for it, which shows in the music he makes. Its important to have an appreciation for all kinds of music if you really want to create something new and original, not to mention beautiful, and Kabeer embodies all of those traits.” After Feb. 11, a panel of judges will review the top 50 artists and the top 10 finalists get invited to perform in a live competition at the school’s campus in L.A. The scholarships will also be awarded shortly after. Kabeer needs the maximum amount of votes in order to win first place.

To Vote for Kabeer, click here

Photo by Anahita Sarabhai

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

To name a few examples: Mihir Sharma, Anahita Sarabhai, Isha Jhaveri Malvika Bhagwat, and Radhika Pandit (from the class of 2007) have all been assisting with different subjects. Isha Jhaveri has joined the school after completing her graduation to teach French as a foreign language and Business Administration full time. Mihir gave short intensive and rigorous interventions in Theory of Knowledge classes, Anahita in the Theatre Arts, Malvika in English Literature and Radhika in Mathematics. Furthermore, Gautam Sinha (from the class of 2008) who has graduated from the University of Sound Engineering, Chennai has just completed a crash course with our 10th graders on Music history, theory and Ethno-musicology.

Training new teachers to the rigor of our school pedagogy as well as that of the International Baccalaureate is one difficult task. The active pedagogy at MGIS is student-centric and inter-disciplinary, requiring long years of training and hard work to understand and apply its tenets. While the IB curriculum for every subject and module is extensive and requires a sound understanding of the material, as do its very strictly prescribed methods and criterion for evaluation. For this reason, the school conducts regular teacher trainings and sends its teachers for workshops and trainings.

The school welcomes this influx of alumni students returning to help out, and we hope that future generations of the school’s graduates will continue to come in as well!

We’ve been very close to them while they were in school and we wanted to find out how they’re doing for themselves after passing out of MGIS.

Here is what they have to say…

Abhik Basu:
“I’m studying at FLAME College (pune) and I think that the most important asset that MGIS provided me with is a world-sensitive outlook. In the future, as I see myself move from place to place I think this is one thing that will help me no matter what what I do. Besides that, it gave me a pot full of amazing, and fun memories as well! Its funny but I’d like to graduate with Economics as my major as well as be a professional Golf player.”

Niyati Patel:

“I’m doing my B.A in English Literature from University of Warwick (UK). Being an MGIS graduate has helped tremendously because I have all the analytical and critical thinking skills that one is expected to have in university. And university doesn’t teach these skills right from scratch. They just throw you into deep waters and expect you to find your way. Thats why, it has helped being an MGIS graduate. The essays, the project submissions…doesn’t seem as daunting as it would have had I not got the grooming I received here.”

Mihir Sharma:

” I was studying in Christ College, Bangalore but the course did not lend itself to research and I am personally inclined to research so I decided to move to Connecticut College in America, which allows me the opportunity to study for one year in Cambridge as part of an exchange program. I had to drop a year in order to transfer, and during that time I worked at the Bangalore International School teaching French for MYP, English as Second Language to Korean students, teaching football, assisting in Theory Of Knowledge (TOK) classes and learning Spanish, music and photography.”

Isha Jhaveri:

“MGIS is an unforgettable experience of learning and acquiring knowledge through extraordinarily original yet fantastic ways of learning. It not only opened new doors but taught us how to glide through the journey of life by making us not only students but by making us composed, aware, sensitive, pensive †and responsible human beings.†(Isha is doing a B.Com degree and got the highest scores in the history of her college).”

Sunaina Shah:

“I took a year off and have been pursuing a childhood dream, that of traveling the world. MGIS gave me the courage and self confidence required to break away from the mould and do something I really wanted to do. During the year, I went to Cambridge Summer School and did well, learnt Spanish in Spain, worked in a Kibbutz in Israel, lived in Bangalore learning the flute for two months with the money I earned…And now I’m focusing on the Entrance exams for Architecture Schools in India. I feel so fulfilled and happy! I know that no matter what, I can survive.”

Meenakshi Makwana:

“I’m doing my BBA, parallel to my studies I’m working. Now, I earn for my family and I feel proud. I want to do an MBA and be hired in a good institution. In MGIS, I was on complete scholarship and during those seven years of schooling I’ve had the opportunity to develop qualities I had in me but were lying dormant. Working with people on projects, having free access to computers, having a platform to express myself…all these together have expanded my horizons, my knowledge and have made me clearer about my goals in life.”

Tasha Mangaldas:

“The IB course was very difficult and was in many ways a pre-university grooming. I think MGIS gave me the freedom to make my mistakes and learn from them, What I learnt went beyond academics and thats what I will take ahead with me. Also, the self discipline that came with the freedom I enjoyed in school, setting up my own work schedule, meeting deadlines…these are real life skills that will come in handy at any point of time.”

Avni Sethi:

“ I am currently studying at Shrishti College, Bangalore. Being in MGIS I learnt to make choices and take responsibility for those choices. In my previous school I was noticed as a dancer but it was sheer luck, I’m sure there were other more talented dancers who didn’t get noticed but in MGIS if you have it,  you get the platform to showcase it. Everyone does. I did and I’ve learnt to become very comfortable with myself.”

Anahita Sarabhai:

“I decided to come back to MGIS to assist the DP Theatre Arts teachers and I’m loving it! One thing I think I really owe to MGIS is my new found interest in teaching. If it weren’t for the impact the incredible teachers of MGIS made on me, especially in the last two years, I wouldn’t have known how important it is to have a real passion and love for a subject in order to teach it well. So one of my most recent goals is to teach theatre and make it a more prominent part of the education system in this city (and that of the country !!!).”

Sukruti Sayal:

“I am studying in the University of Bordeux. Earlier, I was studying in Law School but did not find it as intellectually stimulating as I thought it would be. So, I decided to work, I worked as the sub-editor of the first page of DNA, Ahmedabad.
In MGIS, I learnt to empathize and be open to others’ perspectives. When things don’t go my way, I have the patience to listen and to understand the “other’s” point of opinion. This is TOK applied in real life. I also learnt not to accept things at face value, to probe further, to pay attention to detail… These are valuable life skills.”

Malvika  Bhagwat:

” I’m doing my Bachelor in Fine Arts from FLAMES and it feels like an extension of MGIS! We have projects, group assignments, field trips, interviews and other activities which we have done as students of MGIS so it feels familiar and its easier for me to grasp difficult concepts faster. (Malvika came sixth in her university)”

Zuheir Desai:

“Being an MGISian, I am capable of communicating effectively and can hold my ground when I participate in a group discussion. Instead of just observing passively, I understand and participate in what is going on rather than simply observe what is going on. (Zuheir got 40 in his Diploma Exams but decided to reappear for a few papers to improve his grades and take the necessary time to work on his applications to top most universities)”

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Read about previous batches:

Class of 2007

Class of 2008

Class of 2009

Maastricht University – The Netherlands, Sciences Po -  France, Warrick University  – UK, Drexel University – USA, Drury University – USA, Zhejiang University – China, Niagara College – Canada, FLAME university – Pune, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management – Pune, Nirma University Institute Of Law  -  Ahmedabad, Amity University – Ahmedabad, H.L College of Commerce – Ahmedabad, N.R. Institute Of Business Management – Ahmedabad,  KM Music Conservatory – Chennai

We hopes these students will go on to further heights of success, and bid them the very best of wishes for the future!

Read more about our previous batches in the Alumni section.

Mr. Gilles Vernier, the representative of Sciences Politiques (Paris) in India came in November 2008 to present the school to the students and staff of MGIS. The presentation incited interest in a number of students, and three of them subsequently decided to pursue a place at the Institute. Miss Jinghui Wang, Dean of Studies at Science Po and Mr. Thierry Schwarz, Dean of the Europe-Asia Program at Science Po came to interview the MGIS candidates; and this culminated in both Saher and Aseem being accepted into the institute.

This is a school where the top Ministers, and even the Prime Ministers and Presidents of several countries come to study. So it is commendable to note that out of the 100 overseas students accepted in Science Po, we already represent three percent of their student body, with three students studying there. In light of our students performance both during the interview process and at the college, Science Po is keen to develop a partnership with MGIS and have more of our students apply there in the future.

Zuheir, at work.

Saher visiting the campus this summer.

Amongst the forty-seven students that constituted the batch; there were candidates both for the International Baccalaureate diploma programme as well as the IB certificate course; and performances were good on both fronts. More importantly though, almost all of the students have secured admissions in colleges of their choosing; including such acclaimed univercities as:

Srishti School of Art Design and Technology – Bangalore, Christ University – Bangalore, Vishwakarma Institute of Technology – Pune, Institute of Hotel Management – Gandhinagar, Connecticut College – USA, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – USA, GLS Institute of Business Administration – Ahmedabad, B.K. Majumdar Institute of Business Adminstration – Ahmedabad, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management – Pune, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies – Mumbai, Somlalit College of Commerce – Ahmedabad, KM Music Conservatory – Chennai

There is more to come on this graduation, for now here is a video address by the students. This film was made by the DP students and shown to parents on their graduation day.
Class of 2007 is the school’s first 12th standard graduation. All students appeared for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme with two of our students attaining among top scores in IB schools worldwide. Our students have obtained admissions to top universities in India and abroad:

Denison University USA, Warrick University UK, York University UK, Mcgill University CANADA, University of Toronto CANADA, University of Windsor CANADA, Sorbonne University FRANCE, University of Paris 8, FRANCE Ecole de Beaux Arts, Paris, FRANCE, Christ College Bangalore INDIA, Narsee Munjee College Mumbai INDIA, FLAME University Pune INDIA, Government Law College Mumbai, INDIA, Indian Law Society Pune INDIA, J.N. Law Univeristy Gandhinagar INDIA, LD College of Engineering Ahmedabad INDIA, Amity Pune INDIA, M.S. University Baroda INDIA

Click here to view the embedded video.