New AKA Partnership on Teacher Development Initiatives
Rudra Potluri - dreaming up the future
Rudra has grown into himself since joining the Academy in 2013, most notably through the enrichment programme through which he discovered robotics and design. His work with robots stems from his enthusiasm for engineering, but Rudra has gone beyond just tinkering. “When I was learning robotics as part of enrichment, I never imagined that I would become captain of a robotics team,” said Rudra. Rudra captained a robotics team in January 2018 at the FIRST Lego League competition in Bengaluru. This was the first ever robotics competition that Academy students entered in.
“It didn’t stop there,” he continues, “the Academy provided a platform for me and my team to share our learning and knowledge with the community by letting us conduct a workshop for government schools.” Rudra was part of a team that hosted 48 grade six students for a day, teaching them about robotics and design. “The most unique thing about the Academy is that it doesn’t just stop at teaching, it makes sure that students apply their knowledge in the real world and give something back to society.” Rudra also participated in the Chinna Shodha Yatra, travelling around rural Andhra Pradesh to understand nuances of life in local communities.
In 2014, India's ambitious Mars Orbitor Mission came to fruition and Rudra had the opportunity to take part in a live telecast discussion about the mission on state TV. The following year, Rudra was selected as a Microsoft student ambassador and got to attend a workshop at the Microsoft headquarters in New Delhi. In grade 10, he used his MYP personal project as a chance to explore his interests in engineering and software and built a home automation system. "My aim was to make it for my grandparents, who are older and can’t move around as easily anymore,” he says about the Smarthome Automation System. His SAS, at ₹2,000 per room, is a cost effective alternative to existing systems in the market, which can cost upwards of ₹70,000. In the same year, Rudra showed initiative in his design project, choosing to build a quadcopter. The drone was created to support the Academy's existing security system.
In May 2018, outside robotics events, Rudra also headed the IT and design unit of the Academy’s first ever TEDx. It comes as no surprise then to know that Rudra is considering studying computer engineering after school. Rudra has applied to the Michigan Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA, and the University of Waterloo, Canada.
Rudra earned a fellowship to spend the 2018 summer vacation in Ryerson University, Toronto, to take part in the Ryerson DMZ Sandbox Basecamp, a workshop for socially conscious young innovators. The urban university is a renowned research institution and we are positive Rudra's contribution will be significant and impactful.
Calendar
Click the link below to download a copy of the academic calendar for 2023-24.
Academic Calendar 2023-2024.pdf
DATE |
Events |
1 August 2023-15 December 2023 |
TERM I |
8 January 2024-31 May 2024 |
TERM II |
School Holidays |
|
| 14 October-29 October 2023 | October Break |
| 16 December 2023-7 January 2024 | Winter Break |
| 1 March 2024-12 March 2024 | March Break |
|
|
|
18 May 2024 |
Graduation |
National/Festival Holidays |
|
| 15 August 2023 | Independence Day |
| 2 October 2023 | Gandhi Jayanthi |
| 12 and 13 November 2023 | Diwali |
| 26 January 2024 | Republic Day |
Residential students' return at the start of the term: |
|
30 July 2023 |
New students |
31 July 2023 |
Existing students |
Residential students' departure at the end of the academic year: |
|
18 May 2024 |
DP2 students are expected to leave the Academy |
31 May 2024 |
Grade 6-11 students are expected to leave the Academy |
Financial Assistance
Admission to the Academy is based on merit. Students from all socio-economic backgrounds who satisfy the requirements for entry are encouraged to apply.
Partial to full financial aid is available to accepted students with a demonstrated need. Financial aid awards are reviewed annually and renewed only after reassessment of financial need.
For more information, and to access our financial aid application form, please see the following:
Please contact us for information about admission, scholarships and financial aid.
Enrichment Programme
The enrichment programme enables students to realise their potential in a variety of settings beyond the classroom. Students develop a sense of self-awareness and an understanding of school and community needs and opportunities. They also learn how to apply their gifts and skills to make a positive impact.
At the Academy, we believe in a balanced, rounded, comprehensive school experience. As this includes both academic and enrichment experiences, we encourage our students to do their best both in and outside the classroom.
We offer outstanding sports facilities that include:
- swimming and diving pools
- cricket pitch
- sports fields, for soccer, hockey and athletics
- tennis and squash courts
- athletics track.
Children with special sporting gifts are encouraged to develop their talents in every way. Children with special gifts in music, art or drama are similarly encouraged through opportunities to practise and perform while at the Academy.
Our enrichment programmes for both day and residential students are clustered into three main streams, each with a different focus:
Creativity and culture
Whether through visual or performing arts, this cluster engages students to think creatively and express their identities and thoughts aesthetically. Through theatre, art, music and drama, students learn to work together and infuse their projects with values and lessons from other parts of their schooling. Individual and collaborative creative projects emphasise growth and development through personal challenge, ultimately resulting in achievable personal goals.
Programmes are currently offered in contemporary dance, arts and crafts, animation, robotics, science, software, photography, chess, drama and music.
Physical
The student as a reflective practitioner is a basic tenet of the physical cluster. Through physical sport, both competitive and non-competitive, students are challenged in their physical growth, and learn values such as good sportsmanship, teamwork and ethical behaviour. We encourage them to extend themselves by trying different activities and working with teammates to pass on their knowledge. In line with developing the student as a whole, a healthy lifestyle complements and enhances academic achievement.
Programmes are currently offered in football, squash, basketball, cricket, swimming, table tennis, tennis and yoga/gym.
Language and service
At the Academy, we encourage knowledge and understanding of humanity and civil society. Through their involvement in citizenship activities, students gain an understanding of the practical implications of their work and study. By collaborating with community groups on sustainable projects, they develop an appreciation for human rights and human dignity, and of how their actions impact the world around them.
Programmes are currently offered in Model United Nations, Reflections (school publication), yearbook, organic farm, film making, book club, foreign language and mother tongue, and environment club.
To learn more about the Academy's programme, please visit the Academic Programme page.
Health and Wellness
The Academy has a Health and Wellness Centre that provides access to comprehensive heathcare services.
The Health and Wellness Centre has a resident doctor assisted by two nurses. The main criterion of the wellness centre is the development of a comprehensive health programme, including liaison with local specialist doctors for routine health check-ups and emergencies.
Transport facilities for all medical purposes is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A school counsellor is available on campus for early intervention and pastoral care support. The counsellor is available during school hours and on call for any counselling issues.
