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Ekya / September 11, 2019 Posted by : administrator

Success is subjective and measuring success is a difficult task. While focusing on the goal we usually forget about the milestones and achievements on the way to it. Mr. Rajesh Soundararajan, parent of Krish Iyengar – Grade 5, Ishaan Iyengar – Grade 2 and Ayaan Iyengar – Montessori at Ekya School, JP Nagar shares his views in this blog on the concept of success and failure in reference to Chandrayaan 2.

Did Chandrayaan Fail?

 

“Was Chandrayaan a success or a failure?” I asked this question to my 7 yr old Ishaan ​ and 5 yr old Ayaan.​

Their answer was loud and clear, and it stumped me as a parent. They said, “Appa, though it would seem like Chandrayaan failed, it mostly succeeded.” Ishaan added, “It traveled tens of thousands of kilometers for 47 days, and only in the last 2.1 km and last minute it did not work, 47 days it went perfectly.”

That brought me to a spate of questions to myself? You can ask a million such variations of the question – Is ‘x’ a success or a failure?”

  • Was Apollo a success or a failure?
  • Was Titanic a success or a failure?
  • Was your last job a success or a failure?
  • Is your life a success or a failure?

But what these kids answered was a simple, lucid and a miraculous explanation. Success or Failure are both points of view. It is a point of reference akin to the cliche – a glass half full.

How would you define success?

“How much money, degree, title or power would mean ‘successful’? Or is success the critical factor or happiness? Or is happiness the factor of success?”

Is there something called a failure at all?

“Or success a sum of all experiences? Does it even exist in this ‘reframed’ definition?”

We homo sapiens often set a goal and perceive that reaching that goal is a success. We attribute everything else as failure. We are focused on the end outcomes and view our entire effort from that single lens, single perspective.

On the way to that BIG-G Goal, there are many stumbling blocks (let us call them the small-G Goals,) and we overcome each of them. There are millions and thousands of success points along the way, which we don’t even acknowledge or recognize, let alone appreciate. The invaluable experience earned in the process thus is nullified, for want of a metric or a quantifiable measure. And then what stops us from pausing that much and internalising that experience and relishing that small success.

Should success be a rat race where there is only one winning point, and one winner and all else mean nothing? Is that what life teaches us?

This is no longer a question to children aged 5 and 6, this is a clarion call for adults, for parents, for the society at large.

Think again. “Was Chandrayaan a success or failure?”​

A short profile of Mr. Rajesh Soundararajan:

Rajesh Soundararajan wears many hats –  From being a CEO, Dad, Engineer, Entrepreneur, Farmer, IvyMBA, PoliticalSatirist, RoadTripper to a Shutterbug. An ex-IBM, ex-Microsoft Executive, he now runs Futureshift Consulting where he creates value and impactful outcomes for its clients in technology and business consulting. Rajesh is also a Mentor of Change under Atal Innovation Mission, a certified Buzan Mindmap Trainer and is a member of High IQ Mensa club with a recorded IQ of 156. He invests a lot of his spare time in children, environment and social issues.

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Ekya / 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

Ekya / 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

Ekya / 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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Learning Showcase at Ekya School, BTM Layout

Ekya School,  BTM Layout welcomed parents for the first Learning Showcase of this school year. It was an excellent opportunity for the parents to witness the teaching and learning methodology at Ekya. The Learning Showcase began with an invocation dance from the Performing Arts Club. The classrooms were decorated creatively with displays of students' classwork and school projects. Students made presentations to the parents and took them through the process of learning at Ekya. Each learning area was explained in detail and various skills were also demonstrated. There were role-plays, club displays, After-school activities display & Art display. Every classroom had its own display and parents went around having a look at every class and the learning associated with it. Parents were very glad to see the different levels of learning in each grade with regard to the overall development of the child. The confidence and the grit displayed by the students in their specific areas made parents happy about the progress of their child. Few of the parents even expressed their appreciations through emails. The showcase also displayed the efforts of the teachers in making the learning process easy and meaningful for the students through their guidance and support. They had also assisted our students in creative presentations at the Learning Process. Here are a few photographs of the same. More Stories from Ekya:  

Learning Showcase at Ekya School JP Nagar

Our students had embarked on an exciting journey of learning in Term 1 and showcased all that they have learned, across all areas of the curriculum, co-curricular programs, after school activities, club activities, and service-learning. Every classroom had a wonderful display of all the learning which happened throughout the term. The eager students presented their learning to their parents with lots of enthusiasm and energy. Students were informative and confident about their classwork and the topics. Each subject was very well explained. The Learning Showcase put a spotlight on students as they demonstrated their skills in the different learning areas. Here is a glimpse of the various learning areas at JP Nagar Campus.            And here is an interesting update on the Learning Showcase by Mahashree G Das, Grade 7, Ekya School JP Nagar
Progress Report Day? Nah, Here at Ekya We Call It Learning Showcase 
Learning Showcase at Ekya is an important day when we invite the parents to see our showcase of learning and present the way in which we learn (basically try and answer the 4Ws and 1H parents have.) The corridors of Ekya were noisy with the buzz of amazed parents and children, excited to show their parents what they had learned, done or contributed to. Each parent was either surprised or pleased by the unique and simple methods we use even to teach the most complex subjects and topics. Many of the parents couldn’t help but exclaim “Wow! I wish I could start learning again”, after seeing our little presentation. One of the most unique parts was the display of various after school activities. There was the basketball display in the amphitheater, karate in the mini-amphitheater, and the different after school activities in varying locations in the school. Even the quietest place in the school, our library, was also filled with activities. What if I told you that even the library was made fun with games relating to books and a photo booth. Yup, all this and more in the library.     At the end of the session, the feedback board was filled with affirmations and appreciations. All in all the Learning Showcase was a huge success thanks to the relentless toil of both the groups, the teachers and students.
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