25 July, 2025
Aptly named Samvaad—meaning ‘dialogue’—this unique initiative offered students of Grade 6th a powerful experience in pausing, reflecting, and learning some of life’s most essential yet often overlooked skills: empathy, collaboration, emotional resilience, and the ability to express oneself in a safe, respectful, and non-judgmental space.
The theme for this year’s Samvaad was Boundaries – Respecting Self and Others, thoughtfully chosen after conversations with class teachers about the challenges students face today. This included difficulty saying no, the desire to fit in, a lack of interpersonal confidence, and limited awareness of personal, social, and emotional boundaries. Held from 7th to 11th July 2025 in the school’s Studio Theatre, the event was designed and led by the School Counselling team in collaboration with class teachers.
Each day began with grounding and orientation, setting the tone through the deceptively simple yet effective Broken Squares team activity that encouraged students to experience collaboration in action. Students were then encouraged to reflect on what boundaries mean to them—why they matter, and why they can be difficult to set.
Through a sequence of hands-on, age-appropriate exercises, students explored the concept of boundaries from various angles. One highlight was the Balloon Activity, in which children wrote personal boundaries on balloons and attempted to keep multiple ones afloat mirroring the real-life challenge of managing several boundaries simultaneously. This opened a heartfelt discussion on what it feels like when boundaries are crossed or respected.
Students then visualised their boundaries on paper during the Circle of Boundaries activity, identifying people and situations that made them feel safe and valued versus those that caused discomfort or stress. Role plays and scenario-based discussions followed, allowing students to rehearse their responses in everyday situations involving peer pressure, misunderstandings, or emotional discomfort, learning how to respond assertively and empathetically.
Perhaps the most touching part of Samvaad came towards the end of the week, when students collaborated with the counselling team to prepare heartfelt presentations for their parents. In these sessions, they articulated their learnings, expressed personal reflections, and even created a set of “Golden Rules” representing their collective commitment to respecting boundaries. The culmination of the event was when students took to the stage—through drawings, group work, and open-hearted words, they shared their fears, triumphs, and discoveries about themselves.
Parents responded with gratitude and warmth, noting that Samvaad offered them valuable insight into their children’s inner worlds and opened the door to conversations they had long hoped to have. Teachers observed students engaging with curiosity and sincerity throughout the programme, showing growing confidence in expressing their needs and a deeper understanding of their responsibilities toward themselves and others.
Q. If you could carry one learning from Samvaad into your daily life, what would it be?
If I could carry one learning from Samvaad into my daily life, it would be clear communication which would include reciprocation to create mutual trust, with the support of the people around us. We must also understand our responsibilities and stay within our boundaries.
– Ananya Grade 6
Q. What did you understand about the boundaries today either your own or other’s?
Personal boundaries are the limits we set to protect our emotional, physical and mental well-being. They define what we’re comfortable with and how we expect others to treat us, helping us maintain a sense of identity, safety and respect.
– Aaradhya Grade 6
In a world that often rushes children from one milestone to another, Samvaad was a gentle, necessary pause. A reminder that education is not only about academic achievement—but also about nurturing young individuals who know how to care, connect, and communicate with respect.
Samvaad served as a space where dialogue became discovery, and reflection became growth. It stands as a testament to the school’s belief that developing emotional intelligence is just as important as academic success, and that every child deserves the tools to navigate both.
In a world that often rushes children from one milestone to another, Samvaad was a gentle, necessary pause…
– by SBS Counselling Team.
