St.Xavier School

Being up here in Mallital means the air is always a bit chilly. St.Xavier School is tucked into this part of Nainital, and you can see the mist rolling in some mornings. It’s not like those big city schools with glass walls. We have old stone and wood, and the stairs can be a bit creaky if you walk too fast. The kids walk up the hills to get here, and they always look a bit tired by the time they reach the entrance. We have a view of the hills, but mostly we are just looking at the blackboards and the books. The bell rings at the same time every day, and the sound echoes across the slope. Sometimes a stray dog wanders into the yard, and we have to shoo it out before the principal sees. Mallital, Nainital - 263001 is where we are located. It’s a quiet spot most of the year, except when the tourists are in town. But for us, it's just about the daily routine of lessons and checking homework. The classrooms are simple. We don't use a lot of technology because the weather sometimes messes with the signals anyway. It’s just a place for the children from around the lake area to get their education. You can hear the chatter of the students during lunch, and then it’s back to work. It’s been like this for years.