Beyond the Classroom: Exploring Extracurricular Activities at Amrita International Vidyalayam Bangalore

For many parents exploring schools in Choodasandra, Bangalore, academics naturally take center stage during school visits. But increasingly, families are recognizing that what happens outside the classroom matters just as much as what happens inside it. At Amrita International Vidyalayam, this understanding isn't just acknowledged—it's built into the very fabric of the school's philosophy.

Located off Sarjapur Road in Huskur, Amrita International Vidyalayam operates under a guiding principle that sets it apart from many other IB schools in Bangalore: "Every child is a winner." This isn't empty rhetoric. The school has designed a comprehensive array of extracurricular activities integrated directly into the regular school schedule, ensuring that every student—regardless of their natural inclinations—has genuine opportunities to explore, discover, and excel beyond textbooks.

Sports at Amrita International Vidyalayam: Building Bodies and Character

Physical development receives serious attention at Amrita International Vidyalayam. The school's 17-acre green campus houses extensive sports infrastructure designed to international standards, and the range of athletic options available to students is genuinely impressive.

The outdoor facilities include a swimming pool, athletics track, cricket pitch, international-level basketball court, tennis court, and dedicated spaces for football. These aren't token amenities tucked into corners—they're properly designed facilities with trained coaches who work with students during and after school hours. Parents regularly comment on the quality of sports coaching, with one noting the "international level basketball court with well trained and experienced faculty."

Indoor sports haven't been overlooked either. Students can pursue table tennis, badminton, and various other activities depending on their interests. The school also offers skating as a regular activity, giving younger students especially an engaging way to develop coordination and physical confidence.

What makes Amrita International Vidyalayam distinctive in its sports approach is the integration with academics. Rather than treating physical activity as a separate domain, the school views sports as essential to character building, energy management, and mental sharpness. Art, Music, and Yoga are actually graded subjects here—a clear signal that these pursuits receive the same institutional respect as traditional academics.

The Performing Arts: Theatre, Dance, and Music Programs

Creative expression flourishes across multiple dimensions at Amrita International Vidyalayam. The school maintains dedicated spaces for theatre, dance, music (both vocal and instrumental), and visual arts—purpose-built facilities where students can develop their artistic talents seriously.

The theatre program deserves particular attention. Through participation in drama productions, students develop skills that serve them well beyond the stage: confident self-expression, active listening, effective collaboration, and what the school describes as "resilience and adaptability." Whether performing on stage or working behind the scenes, students gain experience in time management and learn to work as part of a creative team. The annual day performances showcase the depth of this program, with parents consistently praising how "dance, music and drama, everything was superb."

Music education at Amrita International Vidyalayam includes both vocal training and instrumental instruction, with keyboard and drums available as learning options. Experienced mentors guide students through structured programs that develop musical understanding alongside technical skill.

Dance instruction covers multiple styles and forms—western, classical, and modern—giving students exposure to diverse movement traditions. Beyond the obvious physical benefits, the school emphasizes how dance develops "coordination, cognitive performance, and freedom of expression." For younger students especially, learning to move confidently to music builds body awareness and self-assurance that carries into other areas of school life.

STEM and STEAM: Where Science Meets Creativity at Amrita International Vidyalayam

The school has embraced contemporary educational thinking about integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with creative disciplines. The well-equipped STEM Lab and Makers Space provide students with hands-on learning environments where theoretical concepts become tangible projects.

Amrita International Vidyalayam partners with organizations like GYANPRO (one of India's leading STEM institutes) to enhance robotics and technology education. The STEAM lab features robotics classes where students work on projects ranging from VR models and 3D holograms to practical engineering challenges like catapults, hydraulic cranes, and water level indicators. This isn't passive learning—students build, test, fail, iterate, and succeed through direct experimentation.

The integration of arts into STEM education (creating STEAM) reflects the school's understanding that creativity and technical knowledge aren't separate domains. Problem-solving in the real world requires both analytical thinking and imaginative leaps. By combining these approaches, Amrita International Vidyalayam prepares students for innovation-driven careers where interdisciplinary thinking is essential.

Visual Arts and Creative Expression

Art education at Amrita International Vidyalayam goes well beyond occasional craft projects. Students engage with visual arts through dedicated spaces and structured programs that develop both technical skills and creative thinking.

The pottery room stands out as a particularly thoughtful inclusion. Working with clay engages spatial reasoning and artistic sensibility simultaneously—students learn to visualize three-dimensional forms, develop fine motor control, and experience the satisfaction of creating functional objects with their hands. It's the kind of tactile, creative experience that becomes increasingly rare in screen-dominated childhoods.

Art and craft activities extend into summer programming as well, with the school organizing camps that combine artistic exploration with sports and technology learning. This integrated approach—rather than siloing activities into separate "art camp" or "sports camp" categories—reflects the school's holistic philosophy.

Wellness Programs: Yoga, Meditation, and Vedic Chanting

Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of extracurricular life at Amrita International Vidyalayam is the integration of wellness practices into daily routines. Yoga, meditation, and Vedic chanting aren't optional extras here—they're embedded into the regular schedule and treated as essential components of education.

This approach stems from the school's founding vision under the guidance of Her Holiness Satguru Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. The Amrita network of schools has long recognized that academic achievement without inner development produces incomplete education. At Amrita International Vidyalayam, students begin their days grounded in practices that develop focus, emotional regulation, and self-awareness.

The benefits are practical as well as philosophical. Yoga improves physical flexibility and body awareness. Meditation develops concentration—a skill directly relevant to academic performance. Vedic chanting, as the school notes, "is enhancing the spoken ability and clarity in students" while connecting them to cultural traditions. For students navigating the demands of IB or ICSE curricula, these stress management tools prove genuinely useful.

Parents particularly appreciate this dual emphasis. As one parent observed, "AIVB places equal emphasis on nurturing individual growth through yoga, meditation, and Gita chanting, while also cultivating a strong scientific temper. The school's holistic approach ensures my child's overall development—academically, emotionally, and spiritually."

Clubs and Special Interest Groups

Beyond scheduled activities, Amrita International Vidyalayam operates several clubs that allow students to pursue specific interests in community with like-minded peers. The Literature Club nurtures reading and writing skills. The Science and Eco Club combines environmental awareness with scientific inquiry. The Heritage Club connects students to cultural traditions. The Math Club provides enrichment for students with quantitative aptitudes.

These clubs have produced notable achievements. Students have been selected for International level Spell Bee competitions, reached South India Level Karate championships (securing runner-up positions), won laurels in National level yoga competitions, and qualified for nationals level in Olympiad and ASSET exams. The diversity of these accomplishments—spanning language, martial arts, wellness, and academics—reflects the genuine breadth of the extracurricular program.

The Parent Perspective on Extracurriculars at Amrita International Vidyalayam

What do families actually experience? Parent reviews consistently highlight the balance between academics and activities. One parent noted that the school "focuses on studies and with other extra circular activities including awareness on Indian culture." Another appreciated the "good range of extra curricular activities offered here, to help students to explore new learnings day by day."

The school's infrastructure receives particular praise. Parents describe "well ventilated classrooms with smart boards and elegant furniture" alongside "international level basketball court with well trained and experienced faculty." The facilities exist—and they're actually used effectively.

For families researching the best international schools in Bangalore, this combination of robust academic programs with genuinely comprehensive extracurricular offerings represents significant value. Unlike schools where activities are afterthoughts or marketing talking points, Amrita International Vidyalayam has built extracurricular development into its core educational model.

Making the Right Choice

Every child arrives at school with different interests, aptitudes, and developmental needs. Some thrive on athletic competition; others find their voices through performing arts; still others light up when building robots or creating visual art. The challenge for parents isn't finding a school with some activities—it's finding one where their particular child can discover and develop their unique strengths.

Amrita International Vidyalayam addresses this challenge through genuine variety. Sports facilities accommodate multiple athletic interests. Performing arts programs span theatre, dance, and music. STEAM education combines analytical and creative thinking. Wellness practices develop inner resources. Club activities allow deeper exploration of specific interests.