It gives me great honor to communicate that we have launched the first phase of E-Learning at the Lyceum Group along with the instigation of curfew, on the 16th of March 2020. For the first time in the history of Lyceum, the Ordinary level and Advanced Level examinations of the first semester were also successfully conducted online. During the 1st phase of E learning at Lyceum, the teachers create virtual classrooms where they can upload lessons, projects or assignments, while other virtual learning options include interactive quizzes and games.

It gives me great honor to communicate that we have launched the first phase of E-Learning at the Lyceum Group along with the instigation of curfew, on the 16th of March 2020. For the first time in the history of Lyceum, the Ordinary level and Advanced Level examinations of the first semester were also successfully conducted online. During the 1st phase of E learning at Lyceum, the teachers create virtual classrooms where they can upload lessons, projects or assignments, while other virtual learning options include interactive quizzes and games.

E Learning at Lyceum is also inclusive of audio, video and other document forms of resources. Students can also replay the previous lessons since they are recorded ones, whenever required. This has been a great advantage that allows the students to learn and relearn at their own pace. Creative and innovative educational options are now more available than before with an e-learning system. Lyceum International Schools network hopes to advance and expand this distance learning process further in order to avoid the occurrence of any unexpected or unseen problems. Lyceum's online learning system has already been successful due to the commitment and proficiency of the teachers and its leadership.

While Lyceum International Schools emphasize on keeping the children psychologically engaged during this period, the schools have also allowed students to study according to their convenience without causing them to feel overwhelmed. Lyceum decided to gradually upload lessons daily for different subjects from Grade 1 to 12 such as Science, Literature, French, etc. Lyceum International Schools chose to cover the syllabus for the Grade 10 National and Grade 12 National students who will be sitting for their exams this year, soon after the curfew was imposed.

School was closed only from the 10th to the 20th of April this year while the school's 3rd term began from Nursery up to Grade 12, on the 20th of April 2020. We have also introduced special online crash courses for the students who will be sitting for the Cambridge Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations in November. The four-month programmes consisting of elements such as revision, model exams etc. will focus on improving the students' performance for the examinations. To commemorate the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, the school did not resort to any celebration since a celebration at this point in time, seemed immoral.

As an alternative, we organized a special Avurudu project featuring the theme - 'Heal the World in the Sinhala and Tamil New Year!' to create a collective, positive vibe towards the world. Accordingly, the students published their blessings and prayers with wishes for the well-being of the global community. All the members of the Lyceum community joined the same project by lighting a lamp at 9.23am, on the 12th of April, in order to create a strong, global effect of healing. The students conveyed their wishes through drawings sent across the school community network app which became part of a Mirror Wall concept.

The Prefects Guild rose to the occasion by creating a video consisting of wishes sent through our communications app. In addition, The "Dry Land Plan" project which consists of a series of dry land activity instructional videos has been sent to young swimmers to maintain their fitness. The student should respond with relevant pictures or videos that will be marked as attendance. To encourage the students to maintain physical health, Lyceum organized a "Dry Land Workout video competition" which requires students to submit creative workout videos. Students' enthusiasm on this behalf was well reflected due to their high participation rate.

The Girl Guides, too, launched a special project featuring the theme '14 Days Quarantine Challenge Activity pack" where the participants were given challenges and had to post pictures of their work on the E Learning Platform. Lyceum recently conducted an online Vesak celebration. The students designed e-Vesak cards, and the school organized drawing, essay writing and Bhakti Geetha activities. The students submitted entries through our E Platform. All Lyceum schools got involved in the festivities, performed Bodu Bathi Gee through virtual guidance which was organized by the Aesthetic department and the Speech & Drama Departments of each respective branch school.

We also organized a live Dhamma sermon followed by a Mau-Piya Wandana programme which was telecasted live from Mahamevnawa, Anuradhapura. Following the success of these programmes, we have also organised the "World's First-Ever Virtual Poson Dansala" which featured Dhamma sermons, and a Poson charity program where students and parents were encouraged to make donations to those in need. Our E learning experience has included special online programmes paired with engaging online sessions through social media.

From online assemblies for all school branches to Q & A sessions with Principals and the top Management and Parental Education programs for the parents, Lyceum has made it a priority to maintain interaction and motivation. We introduced a Home Gardening Programme where students were encouraged to take a hands-on approach to nature and a Community Awareness Project for that focused on dengue prevention. Additionally, we have successfully launched an online Dhamma school in our Lyceum Kurunegala branch. E Learning has been developed for more than two years at Lyceum. The 2nd phase of the programme will take the education process to a level of pure excellence.

The members of the management and the academic staff are truly committed with hard work to make this virtual process a success. I take great honor in applauding all my team including every single teacher for their unwavering efforts to upgrade this online teaching learning process to the top level during this period. No matter how technologically advanced we grow; we will continue to stay true to our traditions and be rooted in our cultural orientation. While guiding the students to be sensible and responsible citizens to take over the future, we essentially encourage simplicity in them as "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication".

Nikitha Grero - Chief Visionary Officer