Shivalik International School

We are over on Rto Road in Haldwani. Shivalik International School is easy to find because we are right near the main stretch where the buses go. The view of the hills from the upper windows is actually quite nice, especially after it rains and the clouds clear up. It gets a bit chilly here in the winter months, so we all wear heavy sweaters and wait for the sun to hit the courtyard. The school isn't anything too flashy. It’s just a solid building with enough rooms for all the grades. We have a small garden in the front that we try to keep green, though the goats from the neighborhood sometimes find their way in if someone leaves the gate unlatched. I spend a lot of time walking up and down the stairs making sure the lights are turned off in empty rooms. The staff room is always a bit messy with books and lunch boxes everywhere. We talk about the traffic on Rto Road a lot because it’s getting worse every year. It makes the morning commute a bit of a headache for the teachers and the parents. But once the kids are inside and the first bell rings, things settle down into a rhythm. We don't have a lot of fancy equipment, but the teachers know how to explain things well. It’s just a place where work gets done and kids grow up and eventually leave for college. It keeps us busy enough.