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Shanthi Sivaram / July 11, 2019 Posted by : editor

Author Visit at Ekya School, JP Nagar

Ms. Padma Venkatraman recently visited Ekya School, JP Nagar and had the audience engrossed in her stories. Students were captivated by her books and her recollection of her journey in life. Here is an interesting account of the session by Mahashree G Das, Grade 8, Ekya School JP Nagar

A Rainbow to Reality 

As students or children, we live a shielded and privileged world. We are shielded from the harsh realities of the world and have the privilege of preparing ourselves by and by and not just jump into it. You might be thinking “Why out of the blue, is this article so serious? I was reading this to entertain myself!”. Then my friend you are not alone.

On the 5th of July, at exactly 8:20 am we had the same question popping up when our ‘Meet the Author’ session was turned into a rainbow to reality, through some mere stories. If you are thinking who is this wise author who made us realize that we are seriously fortunate to have what we have and we are the only ones who can make a change in this world, it was Ms. Padma Venkatraman, an oceanology expert, an eco-engineer and an author.

The U.S. settled author started off with a question that really made us ponder: Should we really drink water from the use and throw plastic bottles? There were various answers which she welcomed encouragingly. Then she told us her journey through life till now, about how she was in charge of a whole vessel being the only woman and Asian on it. A few people who were envious of her tried to sabotage her.

There was a malfunction in the ship and they pinned the whole blame on her but she thrived through the whole thing only made her stronger.

As a child, she was never an admirer of literature or biology but simply adored mathematics.

Her family was pretty affluent and she had a luxurious life until her father threw her and her mother out of the house one night for an unknown reason.

She and her mother had to struggle. Now all her luxuries were no more. Her big house turned into a small dingy apartment. Even though her mother had to work day and night to keep a roof over their heads, she also devoted herself to help the needy. She used to teach the gypsies. Ms. Padma also made a few friends who told her their tragic tales.

As a researcher, she went on to meet many tribes and on tall adventures which also included wrestling live crocodiles, which made her realize that if she can do this, she can practically do anything.

The plot of her book “The Bridge home” goes something like this:

Life is harsh in Chennai’s teeming streets, so when runaway sisters, Viji and Rukku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly eleven-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter- and friendship- on an abandoned bridge. With two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, the group forms a family of sorts. And while making life scavenging in the city’s trash heaps in the pits, the kids find plenty to laugh about and take pride in too. After all, they are now bosses of themselves and don’t need to depend on untrustworthy adults. But illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or keep holding on to their fragile hard-fought freedom.

 

Through the session, she told us about her and her mother’s struggle to get an education, her love for books, how she got to study in a school in England which was much like Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and also got the chance of becoming the Albus Dumbledore there.

After a short Q&A session, we bid her goodbye hoping to see her again in the near future.

ABOUT PADMA VENKATRAMAN

Padma Venkatraman was born in Chennai, India, the setting of her latest novel The Bridge Home. She worked as chief scientist on oceanographic ships, explored rainforests, directed a school, and lived in five countries before becoming a full-time writer. The Bridge Home has been described by the New York Times as “Gorgeous storytelling”. It is a 2019 Global Read Aloud book, a Washington Post KidPost Summer Book Club selection, and a Today Show Summer Read. Some of her previous novels include A Time to Dance, Island’s End and Climbing the Stairs.

Ms. Venkatraman enjoys teaching, mentoring, and participating in literary festivals. She was recently interviewed on a national PBS program, and her work has been featured previously on national and international TV and radio, and in a documentary.

Explore more

Shanthi Sivaram / October 10, 2023

The Truth of Time

The Truth of Time

The mountain tops shiver As the snow begins to shower The water flows to cover The secrets of the river.

The birds trill near the lake As the morning sun awake The lion cub to take The crown for the sake.

The windows patter The things clatter The world scatter As our deeds matter

Isana G K
Grade 7
Ekya Schools, ITPL

Shanthi Sivaram / October 10, 2023

Financial literacy from an early age

It’s Jan 2022, I am in grade 6 as a substitute teacher. I ask the students to introduce themselves. They also get curious to know about me. As soon as I tell them that I am a senior grade teacher and I teach Accounts and Business studies, they are intrigued. The word Business catches their attention and some of them express their interest in Finance.
Now, I was fascinated to hear the word finance from such young children. Particularly fascinated by a young student Ms Ahaana Shetty, who explained how she manages her pocket money, as taught to her by her father. She had a clear understanding of creating a balance between saving and spending.
This was not the case in the earlier times. We can quote examples of celebrities who, despite having earned a fortune, burnt their hands at poor financing decisions. Amitabh Bachan’s ABCL took on more than it could handle, like the Miss World pageant, and exhausted all money. Then it took bank loans which it couldn't repay. Mr. Bachchan had retired, so there was no income and no savings. The moral of the story is, that even if people earn astronomical sums, they need to invest it so that it keeps growing.
Having said that, it boils down to the fact that financial literacy at an early age is pivotal for building a strong foundation for financial well-being throughout life. Teaching children about money, budgeting, savings and investments from a young age will help them make informed financial decisions. They can avoid the financial perils faced commonly by people.
The challenge in educating young children about finance would be the financial jargon which they may find overwhelming and difficult to understand. Hence it becomes important to use age-appropriate terminology.
As parents, we can give a reasonable amount of allowance to our children and ask them to use it wisely for needs, and wants and also save a part of it. This will help them to understand the concept of budgeting. We must also encourage them to make informed purchasing decisions, look for discounts and become a smart shopper.
A simple step like opening a savings bank account for the child and making them understand how a bank account works will introduce them to the importance of keeping money safe. They will understand how regular savings will grow over some time due to the compounding of interest.
Children must be taught about loans too. They need to understand that loans should not be borrowed if one is not sure of financial ability to repay. Also, they need to be taught that loans must be repaid timely, or else they will keep becoming bigger due to accumulating interest.
Older children can be introduced to the concepts of stocks and mutual funds. They can be encouraged to follow investments over time and learn about the dynamics of stock markets.
Schools can introduce financial literacy programs and take initiatives to incorporate financial education as part of the curriculum.
I would like to conclude by saying that it is essential for everyone to be financially literate and wisely invest money to grow it. It is equally important to keep track of investments. One should not spend more than what one earns, even if the earnings are enormous, otherwise, the money will not last very long. Remember, it is your money.

Shanthi Sivaram / October 10, 2023

A Guide To Navigating Academic Stress

Academic pressure and impending board exams can feel like an overwhelming storm, but as a 10th-grade student who's been through the burnout ringer, I've discovered effective strategies to stay afloat. When stress creeps in, I lean on a toolbox of coping mechanisms that help me maintain balance and clarity.

Understanding my panic patterns has been key. I've learnt that giving my all is important, but the outcome isn't a mirror of my worth. I remind myself of this and reframe my perspective. To escape my study-clogged mind, I turn to books – they whisk me away to new worlds, however briefly. Music acts as a soothing balm; I limit panic to 5 minutes and then channel my energy into finding solutions.

Engaging in physical activities is another lifesaver. Running or spending time outdoors channels my pent-up energy, allowing my mind to reset. Moreover, taking up hobbies like painting or playing a musical instrument provides a welcome distraction and cultivates a sense of accomplishment beyond academics.

Remember, you're more than your grades. Embrace your unique strengths, employ these strategies, and watch stress lose its grip. With determination, self-awareness, and a dash of escapism, you'll breeze through the academic whirlwind.

Written By: Ahaana Singhal Student of Grade 10

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Investiture Ceremony, Ekya School ITPL-2019

"Leaders are not born, but are made by their experiences in life”. To inculcate leadership qualities in students and to give them a feel of the functioning of an administrative body, a school cabinet was formed at Ekya, ITPL and the investiture ceremony was held on 8th, July 2019. Rashi Rawat and Akshaj Nair of Grade 10th anchored the programme and delivered the welcome address.  Major Puneet, the chief guest of the day gave the badges to the council members and administered the oath. In her address, Major Puneet appreciated the efforts taken by the school for providing opportunities to students to take part in activities like these. She also congratulated the newly appointed school council members for their preparedness to take on responsibilities and emphasized the importance of discipline and structure to excel in life.

The Student Council

Head Girl - Sheetal Singh

Head Boy - Kiran Natarajan

Vice Head Girl - Nishka Girish

Vice Head Boy - Ashwin Venkateshwaran

Club President - Niyathi Devalapalli

Vice Club President - Manav Menon

Cultural Secretary - Rushil Kolipaka

Vice Cultural Secretary - Pavitra Asokan

Editor - Aswathi S Nair

Sub Editor - Anirudh Kudavelly

Sports Captain - Manav Agarwal,

Vice Sports Captain - Ishita Tenjerla

Agni House

Captain - Anushka Gopalkrishnan

Vice-Captain - Prerna Martha

Bhoomi House

Captain - L Vaibhav

Vice-Captain - Rahul Sachidanandam Kannan

Jal House

Captain - Trishank M

Vice-Captain - Geetanshi Batra

Vayu House

Captain - Elsa Mariam Jerry

Vice-Captain - Tanvi Upadhyay

The outgoing Head Girl, Isha Joshi addressed the school and the student council. She shared her experiences and spoke of the duties she carried out during her tenure as Head Girl. 

                                Our Vice Principal, Ms. Jyothi Menon thanked the Chief Guest, Major Puneet and wished the members of the council the very best. She encouraged them to do as they say and say what they do and encouraged every member of the School Council to be role models to other students and serve them well. The school choir then enthralled the audience with their melodious performance. The function concluded with the National Anthem.

Investiture Ceremony, Ekya JP Nagar

The Investiture Ceremony of the newly elected Students Council of Grade X and IX took place on 20th June, 2019. The Ceremonial pinning of the badges and handing over the sashes to the newly elected candidates was done by Ms. Ayesha Sirajuddin, Head of School - Ekya JP Nagar. Jahnavi Rajesh (Head Girl) along with the team of Office Bearers took the oath.

The Student Council for the year 2019-20

Jahnavi Rajesh - Head Girl Sai Anagha - Vice Head Girl Anvita Hakkalamani - Cultural Secretary Nawal V Kotla - Vice Cultural Secretary Akash Chinni - Sports Captain Aryan Dalmia - Vice Sports Captain Nidhi Bhavsar - Editor Ananya Puri - Sub Editor The House captains are: Agni House Prasidh Pradeep (Captain) Maya Prashanth Seshadri (Vice Captain) Bhoomi House Likhitha Anilkumar (Captain) Raksha Mahesh Rao (Vice Captain) Jal House Aditi Guruprasad (Captain) Dwijesh Natoor Bhaskar (Vice Captain) Vayu House Jayashree S (Captain) Urja Srivastava (Vice Captain) Ms. Ayesha Sirajuddin congratulated the newly elected Office Bearers, encouraging them to perform their duties with utmost diligence and show the same energy and enthusiasm throughout the year.

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