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Shanthi Sivaram / July 24, 2019 Posted by : editor

The Montessori children of Ekya School, JP Nagar had a reading session with well-known author and philanthropist, Ms. Rohini Nilekani. She is the founder – chairperson of Arghyam, a foundation to fund initiatives of sustainable water and sanitation across India. Ms. Rohini Nilekani is also the Co-Founder & Director of Ekstep, an education platform. She is the author of a medical thriller “Still Born” and a non-fiction book “Uncommon Ground”. Her “Sringeri Srinivas” stories are much loved by the little readers. Her books have also been included in the Ekya Early years – Early Literacy reading program.

Ms. Rohini read two books “Too many bananas” and “Sringeri Srinivas Learns to Laugh”, both of which are from the “Sringeri Srinivas” series. She was extremely expressive while narrating the story with actions to elucidate the hilarious sections, accompanying her reading. She is truly a natural storyteller. It was clear that she loves children. Her interactions with the children as well as her successful attempts to make the children laugh put smiles on the teacher’s faces too. The children had nothing short of an amazing session with a wonderful person. Her other book “Annual Haircut Day” will be used in the reading activity for the next week.

On being asked how her session with the children was, she said “I had a great time. An author needs to connect with her readers. What makes me happiest is a book in a child’s hands”, describing her work as rewarding. She truly enjoyed her time with the excited preschoolers.

The interactive session was a beautiful light-hearted reading of the adventures of Sringeri Srinivas. The session allowed the teachers to revisit the joys of their childhood while the children were able to take a break. They were able to laugh aloud with an encouraging adult. Thank you, Ms. Rohini Nilekani, for such an interactive session to inspire the younger generation to read.

The session ended with a few of our students getting their copy of a book written by Ms. Rohini Nilekani, signed by the author herself.

By Nidhi Bhavsar

Grade 10A, Ekya School JP Nagar

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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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Teaching children to manage money

Mr. Mahitosh Patankar, parent of Mihir Patankar, Grade 3, Ekya School, ITPL shares this insightful, informative blog that addresses the issue of how children do not really understand the value of money today. He points out the fact that in today's scenario, digital money or plastic money gives our children the perception that money is an unlimited resource, thus making them forget the value of it.

Teaching children to manage money

“Frugality includes all the other virtues." --Cicero

Managing money has always been an important skill. The more financial savvy your children are, the better spending decisions they will make throughout their lives. We have all been through an age where money was touched, felt and valued. It was mostly paper money. But now with Debit/Credit Cards, Mobile Wallets, and Internet Banking, children don’t see currency and coins. Online shopping is a secret genie with one-click checkout, to make an item appear at your house “There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's MasterCard”. You would all have been in a situation where the excuse for not having money is countered with “Take it from the ATM”. Bingo! Isn’t it? This invisible money gives the impression of an unlimited resource. Preaching doesn’t work today and it is best to get our kids involved in money management as appropriate with respect to age. Children from the age of 3-4 years can start to understand the concept of saving and spending. The importance of money can be taught early through real-life situations. Eg. When in an ATM, we can talk about how money is earned through hard work and when in the supermarket one can ask “What is expensive? What is really needed? How do we compare?” to evoke concepts of thoughtful spending. These help sow seeds of money management in our child’s mind. Children are curious and want to show that they have grown. Make them involved and responsible for budgeting and financial planning. For instance, they plan what things are required and make an appropriate list for a supermarket visit or decide the number of dinners/family outings within their given budget. It makes them feel valued and encourages thought process around money management. If the child is too young, he/she may not understand the concept of investing and interest rates but we can give them piggy banks/container for Saving, Spending & Sharing - where they put their allowances equally in these containers. It is a very easy way to learn the importance of saving. They can ‘spend’ for their candy or a book or a ball and ‘save’ for a more priced possession until they can afford it. It will usually be a more expensive item than candy or chocolate. It helps them learn delayed gratification, the importance of being patient and about savings & accrual. They intuitively start counting whenever money gets added in savings and gets removed from spending to see what is left, putting a value against money. The ‘Sharing’ jar will help understand philanthropy, donating to the needy or a cause and make them a compassionate human being. Trips to the supermarket or shopping can be used to help make your child a wise consumer or smart buyer. You can show that you can shop around and see a cheaper and expensive product and save by making the right decision comparing price, quality, and quantity. It would be a good idea to take elder kids to the bank and open an account. This will introduce the concept of interest/credit and how money grows & income can be generated. Teenagers can learn how credit is used by businesses/entrepreneurs and how to make wise investments. Essentially, creating learning opportunities at every age/step is the key to develop this important skill from a young age to adulthood.

As the saying goes - Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you retire, save.

A brief profile of Mr. Mahitosh Patankar:
Mr. Mahitosh Patankar is a senior IT professional working with British Telecom, managing Product Development. He has completed his Engineering from IIT Madras and Management from IIM Bangalore. He is active in voluntary work and loves singing, traveling and camping.
More Stories from Ekya:

The Feeling of Getting Lost in a Book – By Niranjana Arun

THE FEELING OF GETTING LOST IN A BOOK
When you open a book, the pages turn The feeling of getting lost in the world.  A world full of fantasy lands  Of sailing ships and growing plants  A world full of wonderful things  Of Kings and queens who dance and sing  Of wooden boys with noses so long  And girls with hair that grow thick and strong You get transported to a world of fiction  A world with which you get a special addiction  You get lost between the words So lost you cannot be interrupted The tales may inspire  The tales may conspire From the tales of adventure and history  To the tales of crime and mystery  So just sit back with a book in your hand  And be teleported to another magical land  Where the words go flying, Your imagination starts to cook Well, that’s the feeling of being lost in a book. By Niranjana Arun, Grade 6, Ekya School JP Nagar  More stories from Ekya:    

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