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editorjpn / August 01, 2018 Posted by :

A best friend is someone who makes you laugh… even when you think you will never smile again.

There are many people who come into your life but only a special few make a place in your heart. They leave their imprints deep within you and make memories that last forever. They create special moments with you and paradoxically make fun of you like no one else. They are your one-point source for honest opinions and advice… even when you don’t ask for it! Unfortunately, you still can’t imagine life without them. They are ‘God’s gift that annoys you ad infinitum’ aka best friends. Best friends are the ones closest to you. They know every single thing about you whether it’s bad, good or silly. They always support you and are the most amazing cheerleaders that you can ever find. The best part is that they are completely FREE! I’m joking, they are the most valuable people you could ever find in your life. Just their presence can light up your day.

 

 

I feel best friends are like yarn: together they create the warmest space and even when they are far apart, they are still connected to you. It isn’t about how well off the person is or how good they look, it’s about the connection you make with them after spending time together. It is about how they make you feel… happy, relevant, strong and enough for this disheartening world. Their love and support is what gets you through the hardest times in your life. They are your favourite “Hello” and your hardest “Goodbye”! They are a part of you and the chosen family you thank God for every single day. There isn’t a single exchange that goes by without an extraordinary memory being made. From all the inside jokes to all the madness, they make life slightly more bearable. And this isn’t a phase-only experienced in school, it is one thing that will last your entire life. No matter what age you are at, you always have that one person you share EVERY SINGLE thing with. Best friends don’t have a perfect age, time or place; they are always there, thankfully.

Many a time, while conversing with my best friend, I realise that we sound completely crazy. We talk about everything and nothing. We start with a simple topic and end up talking about something completely different. But there is something that always happens, we lose track of time and solve all our problems. There is no end to our conversations. None of us stop to think about topics, it just flows out effortlessly and that is the best thing in the entire world.

Lastly, I would like to say that no matter what happens, keep such people close to you. They are like your personal sounding board… one that listens, gives advice if required and stops you from doing things you will regret. Not only do you need them, they too need you. We often don’t realise their value until we lose them. They are the ones who celebrate when you are at your best and are still there with you during your worst times. They are the treasures of life; NEVER EVER LET THEM GO…

 

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editorjpn / 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

editorjpn / 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

editorjpn / 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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The ‘YES’ behind each ‘NO’ – Ms. Mathangi Rajasekaran, Teacher At Ekya School JP Nagar

How often have you received a NO for one or more of these questions or requests? Several times? What do we start feeling when the ‘door’ of ‘No’ is closed on us? Our feelings open up -- embarrassment, anger, sadness, irritation..! And that’s quite natural. And why do we feel what we do? Some of our needs are not met because of the NO. Let us look at all the four examples mentioned above.
  1. “Varun, May I skip that family function?” from wife to husband. For Varun’s wife, it was perhaps her need to rest.
  2. “Madam, May I use the washroom now?” from student to teacher. For the student, the need is to answer nature’s call.
  3. “Could I borrow the pencil from you?” from one student to the other. For this student, it was the need to finish his written work.
  4. “I need a week’s leave in December,” from one employee to the employer. The employee perhaps needed a holiday with the family or had to attend a religious ceremony.
Varun’s wife, the two students and the employee wanted to meet their own needs through a request to the other person. But they heard a NO. When their needs were not met, they might have felt one or more of the following emotions: Embarrassment, anger, sadness, irritation!! What next, then? How can these emotions be managed? How can the underlying needs be met? Before answers to these questions are sought, let’s pause and ask the following questions:
  1. What was Varun’s ‘need’ to say a  ‘No’ to his wife skipping the family function?
  2. What was the teacher’s need to have the student in the class rather than send her to the washroom?
  3. What was the student’s need to refuse to lend the pencil?
  4. What was the employer’s need to refuse the employee’s request for leave?
While they said ‘No’ to the requests, they said ‘Yes’ to something else. They said ‘Yes’ to their own needs.
  1. Varun probably wanted his wife to be with him; his need was perhaps for her company.
  2. The teacher probably wanted the student not to miss the class; her need was the student’s presence and hence the resultant learning.
  3. The student probably wanted to be sure the pencil did not get lost; his/her need was the  safety of the pencil
  4. The employer’s need was perhaps project completion before a deadline.
When you are able to think through the ‘Yes’ behind the ‘No’, you can work your way through situations. So what’s next... after identifying the ‘Yes’ behind the ‘No’?  What about our needs? What about our emotions?
For that, you need to wait for the sequel to this blog! Till then, keep journal-ing the “Yeses’ behind the ‘Nos’ you hear. Mathangi R Teacher Ekya J P Nagar. Credits: Subha Parthasarathy, Magichive, JP Nagar, for her course on ‘Non-violent Communication’ which opened up this perspective for me.

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“The Things Kids Say” – by Ms. Kavitha Mandana, Ekya Learning Centre

The best part about book readings at schools is the surprise element. No two readings are ever the same, and kids invariably pick up on things that we adults think of as totally unimportant. For an ‘Expert Talk’ a few weeks back, I was roped in to address Grade 3 (CMR NPS) on writing. I picked a short story I’d written for a textbook, about a puppy and a panther cub becoming momentary friends. And my picture book ‘A Pair of Twins’ (Karadi Tales). To give the children some background about how stories get written, I told them about growing up with dogs, which is why dogs somehow get into many of my stories. I told them that my first story for kids, “Bando, the Dog who led a Double Life” was about a lovable Labrador, who was a combination of all the dogs I’d loved as a kid. The point I was trying to make was how much our own lives influence our stories. In doing so, I told them about growing up in the hills, where panthers roamed and we had to be particularly careful about our dogs, who often got picked up by the cats. And it was all those memories that had inspired my story. What’s most interesting during a reading is how the story triggers a whole lot of conversations midway. In many ways, this is the best compliment to a writer… it means the kids are soaking in the story, enjoying it and feel completely free and confident to talk about what’s happening as we read along. The conversations ranged from wild cats they had seen on safaris, to dogs the kids owned or liked. After the story, I fielded questions about writing. “I want to write about my dreams, so is that okay?” I was asked. I reassured this very serious child that it was. Others asked me about stories they’d written or wanted to write. One child grumbled that she could start a story but struggled when trying to end it! That sounded like a problem I sometimes face, even now. I told the kids to leave that story aside for a day, and come back to it later. That works for me, but not all the kids looked convinced! But much later, when the kids were trooping out, one worried child  cornered me and asked, “But what about your parents?” I was flummoxed, wondering what he meant. “Are they still living in that place where the Panthers roam? Will they be okay if they’re alone in such a place?” he added. I hadn’t expected this! I had to convince him that they were fine, and far from where the big cats lived, before the worry lines on his forehead relaxed and he joined his friends! A couple of years back, while launching my young adult book ‘Trapped’, I visited schools. The book has a bunch of kids who turn their teen angst into verse and then set that to music, which they perform as the school band. So I would turn the reading session into a writers’ workshop, and get the kids to write on a wall, graffiti style, about what made them feel ‘trapped’ in the course of their lives. The interesting ideas could be turned into rap or verse. Sessions like these brought out their hopes, worries, some disturbing stories of bullying, but the one I remember vividly was one girl writing about being ‘Trapped by Gobi Masala’! It got a laugh out of the others in the audience. But when I asked her what she meant, her answer didn’t seem so funny. Apparently, every single day, the lunch packed for her was gobi masala – and she never could gather up the courage to ask for a change. It turned out that both her parents work, so it was the maid who packed her lunch and this girl was too scared to ask for a change or complain about the maid to the parents. That was disturbing, somehow. But it started a conversation amongst her peers...on how to tackle this unique problem. I guess that’s what books do. They help us make sense of our own lives. And they start important conversations.   
Kavitha Mandana As the Language and Reading Coordinator at Ekya, Ms. Kavitha aims to enliven the library, making it more inviting, link its resources more integrally into the every-day curriculum and use it to help our students become independent learners. A self-confessed bibliophile, Ms. Kavitha holds a graduate degree in English Literature from Coimbatore. Having written and illustrated for Deccan Herald and its supplement for over 20 years, Ms. Kavitha has also penned stories across genres – fiction and non-fiction, catering to a readership between six-year-olds to young adults. Her books have been published by Penguin/Puffin, Karadi Tales, Rupa and Pratham Books, and her short stories anthologized in many collections and English readers. Ms. Kavitha believes that the Indian education system is limiting as it curbs children rather than setting their minds free – emphasizing on rote-learning than the joys of exploration. Prior to joining Ekya, she worked full time with a tech-publisher, editing articles. She parents a high-maintenance Labrador and is fascinated by art and history.

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