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Shanthi Sivaram / September 26, 2019 Posted by : editor

The Atelier is a unique feature of the Ekya Early Years program. The Atelier space helps students learn through experiences designed around the natural world. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia, The Atelier is a place of research, invention, and empathy, expressed in many unique ways. Students engage and explore materials that address multiple cognitive skills like memory, concentration, attention and problem-solving skills. The materials include natural and recyclable materials and miniature objects that are a result of the child’s imagination. Students engage in cooperative games that help them engage socially in conversation with their peers. Teachers facilitate and engage the students with meaningful conversations while at the atelier space.

With a dedicated space, our Atelier has many materials such as chalkboards, puzzles, sand trays and other unique manipulate materials that help children to experiment, explore, investigate and learn. This ‘Wonderland’ provides an opportunity for the kids to be themselves and work on things that they want, kindling their creativity and scientific thinking. 

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Shanthi Sivaram / March 26, 2024

The Hot Garlic Soup Inspired by ‘The Last Leaf’ by O. Henry

Sue and Johnsy, two young artists, shared a small flat on the third storey of an old house.
Johnsy fell ill in November. She was diagnosed with pneumonia. She would lie in her bed, gazing out of the window. Sue sent for the doctor. The doctor said to Sue, “Johnsy’s condition is not so serious yet. It seems she is unable to recover because she has lost the will to live.”
Sue became extremely worried for Johnsy’s well-being and mental health. She tried to make Johnsy interested in the things around her, but Johnsy never replied with more than a noncommittal hum.
One day, Sue was painting when she heard Johnsy counting backwards. Sue looked out of the window and saw an old ivy creeper climbing on the brick wall. The ivy was shedding its leaves in the strong gust of the wind.
“They are falling faster now,” whispered Johnsy. “Three days ago there were so many leaves. Only five are left now.”
“It is autumn,” said Sue, “and the leaves will fall.”
“When the last leaf falls, I will die” said Johnsy with finality. “I have felt this for the last three days.”
“Oh, that’s nonsense,” replied Sue. “Why do you believe your fate is tied to those old ivy leaves?”
“Human life is fleeting, just like those ivy leaves,” said Johnsy. “I got sick just as the ivy started shedding its leaves. It must be an omen. The last leaf will fall, and I will slip into slumber forever.”
Sue sat on Johnsy’s bed, kissed her and said, “You are not going to die. Plenty of people fall sick in autumn, and they recover soon enough. Do you want some soup?”
“I don’t want any soup. My time is almost up, I’m sure of it,” murmured Johnsy.
Sue decided to change tactics. She was not going to give up on Johnsy.
“It is true that human life is somewhat fleeting, but that’s exactly what makes life valuable. Do you not want to see what life has to offer before you slip into slumber? Will you not miss the cool breeze waking you up, the warm embrace of sunlight? Do you want to give up the feeling of the paintbrush gliding over the canvas?” Sue quavered.
“Look beyond the ivy to that tree over there,” Sue continued. “Even that tree is shedding its leaves, but it is also growing new leaves. It is going to live for many more years, just like you.”
Johnsy contemplated for a while. Then, she looked out of the window and smiled.
“Perhaps I will have some hot garlic soup. You made me realise that life is worth living after all.”
Written by Aahana,
from grade 9A

Shanthi Sivaram / March 22, 2024

Importance of Literature in a Classroom.

"Literature is one of the most interesting and significant expressions of humanity" - P.T.Barnum

We as humans are social beings. We can't imagine our lives to be solitary. Literature facilitates us to understand and communicate with one another in society. It helps us explore the world around us and is a medium to express our views and experiences. So it is of vital importance that the students are introduced to literature at a young age.

Literature is necessary for students as it helps them to develop imagination, improves vocabulary and language skills and even enhances creativity. Literature helps them understand the world outside their home and school.

It is disheartening to see that literature is often not put on the same pedestal as other technical subjects like Math or Science. where it shouldn't be the case.

Literature includes different types of texts like stories and fables, myths

and legends, poetry and drama or even informational texts that help them explore other subjects. It prepares students to read and understand the real world.

There are one too many benefits of including literature at a young age. It is like an exercise for the brain, keeping an individual mentally active and stimulated.

Exposure to cultures from different countries brings in a sense of respect and tolerance, a feat possible through literature. It motivates one to appreciate different lives and their ways and also to graciously disagree with something that may not be right. The different characters the students are introduced to become a source of inspiration. They start to imagine themselves in varied situations. they learn different solutions to problems they come across.

More importantly, reading is fun and literature develops an inclination toward reading and makes them self-learners.

It can be concluded that literature is a gateway to nurturing a child’s life skills more than any assignment or task

can ever do.

Written By:

Shruthi Prakash

English Educator - Primary

Ekya Schools BTM Layout

Shanthi Sivaram / March 22, 2024

A Day to Remember: Juniors Bid Goodbye to Seniors with a Spectacular Farewell Party.

As the academic year draws to a close, emotions run high at our beloved school. The time has come for the juniors to express their gratitude, love, and affection for their departing seniors.

And what better way to do this than by throwing an unforgettable farewell party?

The air was buzzing with excitement as the juniors meticulously planned every detail to make it a night that their seniors would cherish forever.

The audio-visual room was transformed into a place of nostalgia and celebration, adorned with decorations to welcome the seniors. Each performance was filled with energy, enthusiasm, and dedication. Each video played, spoke volumes about the memories shared and the bonds formed throughout their academic journey, blanketing the atmosphere with a mix of joy, laughter, and a hint of bittersweet anticipation.

Our seniors were all dressed up to the nines for the occasion with the girls in a blue and white saree and the boys in black suits.

But how did all of this come to be? I am a grade 11 student and let me take you through behind the scenes of this event and how we prepared for this event.

  • Many girls formed a group and decided to dance to “Paint It Red” and “All Is Well”. Everyone’s efforts are to be appreciated as they come up with new steps and formations. Well-coordinated teamwork led to an amazing performance that got everyone cheering.

  • Meanwhile, my batchmate, Lara,  and a few teachers were preparing to sing songs dedicated to the seniors. Lara sang a melodious rendition of “When You Believe” and the teachers sang a medley of songs which got the seniors singing along as well!

  • The boys planned on dancing to the song “Galti Se Mistake” and their performance was full of creativity and humour. The choreography was inspired by the original music video of the song and they worked hard together and taught each other the steps. This performance got everyone giggling and cheering so loud!

  • It did not end with the students, even the teachers chose to step into this grand celebration. They danced on a variety of songs and each song made the seniors hoot louder. Even though they had a very busy schedule they would still take time and dedicate it to the dance practice during after-school hours. Huge kudos for their coordination and effort!

  • Mohana and Arshia came up with a very engaging script which had the attention of the audience. A small game was organised for the students where they had to write something good about one of their batchmates. Everybody put their hands together and made 32 crowns of appreciation for their seniors. A video of the seniors was made including photos and videos of their dearest memories. Last but not least, our teachers also prepared a video message for the seniors bidding farewell and wishing them the best for their future endeavours.

The day finally came. The 10th of February came. It was the day - the day for which we had been preparing for days. The graduation.

The place was set, the background screen was ready, the mic was ready and the sound system was ready. Our seniors came one by one and the auditorium was filled with chatter until the anchors came in and the event started.

After a few minutes, the head boy gave a heartfelt speech, followed by the chit game of affirmations then Lara’s beautiful performance.

The girls donned black kurtis and sunglasses and danced to “Paint It Red”, which got a round of applause. The seniors loved the “Galti Se Mistake” dance by the boys for its creativity and comedic execution and what made it better was the shorts with shirt and tie combination. The dance finale was to the song “All Is Well” which got the audience cheering for the dancers with lots of enthusiasm.

Then a video filled with the memories of the seniors was shown which made most of them emotional. The dance which everybody was eagerly anticipating started - it was our beloved teachers who completely rocked the stage with their amazing performance.

Then a few teachers gave a very emotional message followed by songs dedicated to their students. The event came to an end with video messages by the teachers,  a crowning ceremony and high tea.

In conclusion, the event was successful, and enjoyed by all the students - juniors, seniors and teachers. It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s contribution and teamwork. It was an emotional roller coaster for everyone and a day which will never be forgotten.

Written By:

Stutee Samantray

(Grade 11, Ekya BTM)

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Empowering our educators – Part 2

Part 2 of our "Empowering our educators" series is focussed on College education in Singapore. Understanding options for the future is as important as what we study in our formative years. A detailed view of the college system in Singapore was one of the objectives of our Singapore Professional Development tour. And a visit to Singapore Management University gave our team insights and in-depth information about college in Singapore. Ms. Anitha Iyer, Principal, CMR National PU College, ITPL shares her thoughts on Singapore Management University. A college visit is a fact-gathering mission. They are a crucial part of every high school student’s college choice process. These visits provide students with valuable information about each of the colleges that will be on their application lists. As a group of Educationists, our visit to SMU helped us to connect with their university representatives and that gave us an insight into their selection process. We understood how SMU began its journey - Set up in 2000, Singapore Management University (SMU) is a private university. In 1997, the Singapore government appointed a businessman, named Ho Kwon Ping, to assist in the creation and development of the university. In 1999, the Wharton Research Centre collaborated with the university through the Wharton-SMU agreement. As a result, SMU formed four schools, three centers, and a library in the year of the agreement. The campus of Singapore Management University features the School of Information system, School of Economics, School of Accountancy, School of Business, and School of Social Sciences. These buildings are connected to a walkway and are open to the general public as well. Not just this, the public conveyance is easily accessible from the campus. The entire curriculum speaks of integration with the industry, innovation, and internalization. A campus tour was organized for us and we had an undergraduate student who showed us the different buildings. It gave us an opportunity to interact with the student who mentioned that he loved being a student at SMU. The library at the campus is spread across an area of 2,600 square meters. Also, it features more than 1,000 books and research papers. Besides, the technologically-advanced library can hold up to 500 students at a time. We were informed that SMU graduates were the highest-paid as per the data collected by them. Each student is expected to undergo 80 hours of community service. Students are expected to register with the center for social responsibility. There are several summer exchange programs for the students enrolled at SMU. There is SMU-X which is an experiential internship allowing collaboration between the faculty, companies and the students. There is also SMU-Xo which targets internships in companies abroad giving students an edge as they get to explore different cultures and learn about opportunities in other places. CBSE, ISC, PUC students are expected to score above 90% in their boards when they apply to SMU. The essay is a very important component in the application process. SMU is also looking into the SAT, IELTS and TOEFL scores for international students. Career aspiration, personal experience, preparation, and participating in the interview without parroting others would help students to secure their admission in this prestigious institute. There is a lot of emphasis on class participation. 10 -20% of the scores are noted for it. We were also informed about various scholarships that were available for students who need financial assistance. Most students at SMU undergo 2-5 internships during their course of study. An aptitude test is done to help gauge the career options and there is a coach who handles their career path. Each coach handles anywhere between 50 – 80 students and mentors them. Students are asked to present a case study and then go for an interview. The faculty development arm was equally emphasized. It is personalized, collaborative, interactive and experiential. Learning outcomes are measured by the methods of assessment. There are instructional strategies and the curriculum also makes the students think about the world apart from just their community. At the end of the program, we have come back learning that our students can apply to SMU and get wider exposure by being a part of their vibrant community. In conclusion, the trip to Singapore gave each and every member of our leadership team something to think about. A new perspective, something that could be adopted in our education system and a fresh look at getting our students prepared for the global platform. It also endorsed the fact that we were on the right track and with a little more insights and varying experiences, we could make learning fun and everlasting for our students and educators alike.
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Dussehra Celebrations at Ekya School JP Nagar

Celebrating festivals is an integral part of learning at Ekya. Being a diverse country, through such celebrations,  students not only learn the significance behind the festival, but they also learn to embrace other traditions and culture just like they do with their own. Celebrations bring the school community together building a close bond between the children. Keeping up to this tradition, the festival of Dussehra was celebrated by our Montessori children today.  Dussehra is a major Indian festival celebrated by the Hindus on the tenth day of the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin, it also marks the end of Navratri festivities. The festival commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana; hence it symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. Children came dressed in ethnic clothes and watched some informative videos on Dussehra. Teachers also shared some valuable information about the festival thus enhancing their learning.
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