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A huge capital improvement project was started and completed over the summer. Due to a generous donation of $225,000 by an alumni family, we were able to put new fully-sealed windows and doors in all exterior facing windows and doors in the academic building and both the girls and boys dorms, including the gurdwara and medical rooms. AC/heating units to both control temperature and filter the air were also installed in all of the girls and boys dorm rooms and the existing AC units in the classrooms, the medical rooms and the gurdwara were also upgraded.

This project was initiated to improve the air quality of all our interior spaces. Two years ago we installed air purifiers in all of the classrooms and dorm rooms, which made an improvement in the air quality, but with our old windows and doors, we couldn’t create a seal that could keep that purified air indoors. With our new sealed windows and doors, we’re already noticing a huge improvement in air quality. When the Air Quality Index (AQI) outside recently said 89, the AQI indoors was 18. This difference will become even more marked at those times of year when the air quality worsens.

This change was big news for all of the returning students and will provoke some reaction in our alumni. For 22 years the students at MPA did not have AC in their dorms and had to suffer through the hot months at both the beginning and the end of the year. It makes a huge difference to come to MPA in August and have AC indoors when the temperature outside is 45ºC with up to 100% humidity.

The first sports competition of the year was the frisbee competition. Many of the students play ultimate frisbee during mandatory sports time each week with Amrit Singh on the front lawn of campus. It’s a great game that’s fun for all.

For this tournament, each house played all of the other houses in first to five point games. Although White House was the favourite going in, Blue House ended up winning all three of their games, with White House coming second, Silver House third and Gold House fourth.

In addition to the tournament there was a longest throw contest for seniors and an intermediate game where the aim was to knock over a full water bottle with your frisbee. For these contests, Caterina (Gold) and Prabhujot Singh (Blue) had the longest throws and Olage (Blue) and Akashpreet (White) knocked over the water bottle first.

Silver house vs white house

Gold house vs blue house

We’re really excited to be offering Camp Miri Piri for the first time at Miri Piri Academy. It will be five action-packed days filled with all the great things we do here at MPA. From seva at the Golden Temple in the morning through till meditation in the evening, and about a million things in-between. It’s a great opportunity to be in the land of the Guru, studying with great teachers and being inspired by the cherdi kala spirit that is MPA.

This camp is designed for everyone (17 years old and above) with an interest in the teachings of Yogi Bhajan, including the teachings of kundalini yoga and Sikh Dharma, and a desire to be living in and vibrating with the pulse of Amritsar. Over the course of the five days you’ll have the opportunity to do seva and meditate each morning at the Golden Temple; take classes with Jugat Guru Singh, Sada Sat Simran Singh, Shanti Kaur, Guru Tej Singh, Rajveer Singh; visit local historical sites; and join the students for kundalini yoga classes and physical activities such as bhangra, gatka, sports and PT. It’s a well-rounded and diverse schedule that will elevate your body, mind and spirit.

We’re also happy to host students on campus for the duration of the week who are interested in attending Miri Piri Academy in the future. If your child is between the ages of ten and sixteen, they’re welcome to attend the camp and join the students on campus for five full days.

Currently we have people coming from China, Taiwan, Germany, the UK, the US and India. We’ll have a Chinese translator available throughout the week for those who need translation. The camp runs from October 15th to 19th with orientation on October 14th. The last day to register is October 1st. To register go to:  https://miripiriacademy.org/upcoming-events/camp-miri-piri/.

We have many students at MPA whose older siblings previously attended the school. This year two of our alumni personally brought their younger siblings to India to begin their new life at MPA. One of those alumni is Akinbola, who brought his brother Olage; the other is Siri Deva Kaur who accompanied her brother Dharampal Singh to the school.

I’m super excited for my brother. It wasn’t hard to convince him to come because he wanted to, but it was challenging to help him set up the right expectations. I always tell him to think about who you are going to be when this year is done. In my mind, he’s going to be someone who speaks good English – which is something he wants – and he’s going to be in shape and healthy. In a year he will be the person he wants to be, but also so much more. There are many things that come with being at MPA. I know that he’ll have tools to grow. He’ll know how to meditate; he’ll know that he has a back-up if there’s any challenge. He can do yoga or meditation and get more focused. He’s not a very impressionable person, but in a year he’ll be even stronger mentally. He’ll be able to say this is who I am and this is what I want. I’m very excited. I know that he’ll become a great person and grow a lot from being here.”

At the start of each year at MPA we have the turban tying competition. It’s important that, right from the start of the year, the new students learn this essential MPA skill. Each and every day at MPA the students are required to wear either a turban or head covering when they leave their dorm, except when they’re drying their hair. Many of the new students have never tied a turban prior to coming to MPA and get help in the first few weeks from their friends. But after a few weeks at MPA, it’s important that they learn how to do this for themselves. The turban tying competition gives those students and squads an incentive to learn, while also giving the returning students the impetus to up their game. Regardless of whether the students identify with wearing a turban, it’s important that they take pride in their presentation.

This year the students had two assignments: the first was to tie a blue house turban or ears out turban and the second was to tie a full, white turban. The students did well in both exercises with many impressive first year turbans and of course some wonderful turbans by returning students. As this is a competition, points are awarded to those houses who did the best overall, as well as to individual intermediate, senior, and new students. In the end, White House came out with the most points followed by Gold, Blue, and Silver.

The school year has begun in earnest with the students back on campus and participating in all aspects of life at MPA. We’ve had the first kabaddi practices, mandatory sports times, Sunday gurdwara and of course orientation to and the start of the academic year.

There are a lot of exciting changes to the academic department this year. Chief among them is a new program called Personalized Learning Time where each morning the students are given 45 minutes to devote to a skill of their choosing. This program marks a new direction for MPA that encourages students to take a leadership role in their learning while recognizing that they need time to master the things that are important to them. Stories of how the students are using this time will be featured in the upcoming newsletter. You can subscribe to our newsletter on our website at the bottom of the page.

Other additions include a new course for all students entitled Global Perspectives designed to deepen their knowledge and understanding of world events, cultures, norms and their role in an ever globalized world; lockers for the senior students; and a new classroom structure for younger students – grades 5 to 8 – where they stay in one classroom while the teachers come to them.

The mission statement of Miri Piri Academy was recently updated 20 years after our founding. We all felt that an update was needed to fully convey the spirit and purpose of what we are doing here at MPA. As we continue to work to improve the school, it is imperative that everyone is clear on exactly what we’re aiming to do and why. This mission statement now reflects more clearly and truthfully the direct message that the Siri Singh Sahib told to Jugat Guru Singh about the mission of the school in the early years of Miri Piri Academy.

In addition, it was a natural extension of the clarifying process to also write down the values that we are focused on teaching the students. To that end, there are now ten values that are identified, described and supported by quotes from the Siri Singh Sahib. Both the mission statement and the statement of values are displayed in the foyer of the Academic Building for all to see.

MPA Mission Statement

Miri Piri Academy is committed to creating an environment for students and staff that fosters mastery of the mind and elevation of the spirit, which allows the student to experience the depth and power of their being. Through the practice of a Dharmic lifestyle, the technology of Kundalini Yoga, and our academic program, we nurture a love for learning and provide our students the foundation of self confidence and skills to face any challenge life presents to them. Miri Piri Academy inspires generations to live as courageous, kind and conscious human beings who, through their service, help create strong international communities and elevate the spirit of all.

Miri Piri Academy Values