Kesar Bai Shishu Mandir-Middle School

We are tucked away on 21B Rani Shankari Lane in Kalighat. It’s a narrow lane, so you have to look closely to find us. The school is meant for the younger ones, the middle school age, and it’s a lively place during the day. We have colorful drawings on the walls that the kids did themselves. It’s not a corporate building by any means. It’s more like an old house that was turned into a school. The rooms are a bit small, but we fit everyone in. We have a routine where we start with a little assembly in the morning. Then it’s just classes until the afternoon. The staff is mostly local ladies who have been teaching here for years. They know all the kids' names and which ones are likely to get into trouble. We spend a lot of time cleaning up after the students because they tend to leave bits of paper everywhere. There’s a small kitchen area where we make tea for the staff. The parents often stop by the gate to talk to the guard or the teachers. It’s a friendly atmosphere, nothing too formal. We don't have a website or anything like that. We just rely on the people in the neighborhood knowing we are here. It’s been that way for a long time now and we’re happy with it. Most of our furniture is old but we keep it repaired and usable.