Our Schools

Ekya / March 27, 2020 Posted by : administrator

Most Ekya parents like me were born in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. These 3 decades in India witnessed profound economic growth. We grew up in an era that kept most of us far away from any shortages, lockdowns, wars. But this was not the case if we take the generation of Ekya Grandparents who could have witnessed an India of Emergency, the 1971 war, the 1965 war, Partition of India or some of them could have even witnessed effects of the Post World War II era.  Shortages, lockdowns and an unprecedented situation like this have been witnessed in India before but fortunately, our generation was lucky to have never witnessed it. Living in Urban Bangalore we are still luckier than many others in the world as we have better access to Healthcare and Supermarkets compared to many others around the world.

Many of our kids like a cartoon film named FROZEN. In it, there is a beautiful song named ‘Let it Go’ which has an apt phrase: ‘Kingdom of Isolation’.  As all of our cocoon into our Kingdoms of Isolation in this era of the Covid-19 lockdown it’s time for us as parents to take out our crayons, color pencils, storybooks and awaken the child within us. Only then we can keep our children busy.   Teachers in the Ekya Montessori section often reward children with a small pen sketch on their hands, for example, a flower, Icecream, etc. Many of us are continuing this practice at home to bring the same smile on the faces of our children. In the AV Room at Ekya, children got to learn stories about Unicorns, Imps, etc. This lockdown offers parents a chance to learn these stories from our children. Speaking to some other Montessori sub-junior parents I understand that this lockdown has offered them a chance to sharpen their kids’ skills related to toilet training and drinking from the cup.

Speaking to some primary school parents I understand that some of the children got an opportunity to sharpen to learn computer skills from their parents and catch up on reading. Some parents tell me that this offers spouses of homemakers an opportunity to understand the difficult responsibility of their wives and share them. Children who have both working parents finally get to spend some quality time with them. In this time of crisis, we should remember that these tough times will not last forever and with that hope, we need to take it: One day at a time. Lastly, we need to remember that the Curfew is on Movement. There isn’t a Curfew on Imagination, Reading, Love and Conversations.

By,

Gauresh Mehra
Father of Ruhanika Mehra
Mont Sub Junitor E4
Ekya JP Nagar

Explore more

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)

Leave a Comment

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#EkyaRecommends: Talking to your child about the Coronavirus Disease

Your child has questions regarding the Coronavirus disease. We at Ekya believe how you respond to your child is more important and crucial than just providing the answers. Here’s how you can motivate your child to stay positive in the midst of the Covid-19 outbreak by encouraging them to follow these simple yet effective steps. Track your child’s health 
  • Check for symptoms of COVID-19, particularly fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
  • If your child shows symptoms of Covid-19, keep him/her at home and keep them isolated from others.
  • If there are signs of illness similar to that of Covid-19 such as cough, cold, fever, and breathlessness, you must ensure your child is kept indoors or at home. You can follow the WHO guidelines on “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public.”
Strengthening precautionary actions with teaching 
  • As a parent, encourage your child to sanitize his/her hands. Educate your children on why handwashing can help curb the virus from transmitting to others.
  • Wash your hands in front of your child to reinforce the importance of having clean hands.
Spend more time with your child
  • With limitations of space, it could be a stressful time for your child. Find some time to spend a couple of minutes outside. Get some fresh air in a safe environment.
  • Take a few activity breaks during the day to keep your child healthy and focussed.
Stay connected 
  • Let your child be socially connected with family and friends via call or video chat.
  • Be supportive of your children if they show signs of stress. Discuss and listen to the social and emotional needs of your child.
How are you addressing your child’s curiosity in times of such crisis? Share your reflections in the Comment Box below or write in to us at communications@ekyaschools.com .

#InsideEkya: Digital Learning in the Time of COVID-19

At Ekya Schools and CMR K-12, we have always believed in serving the needs of our students, and our teachers. During this unprecedented time of trying to keep teaching and learning during a global pandemic, our teachers, school leadership and Head Office teams have been working around the clock to ensure that we continue to deliver high-quality, engaging lessons to our students. We are lucky to have always had the online infrastructure to conduct a lot of work online. We have been using cloud-based services for lesson planning and record-keeping for many years. Apart from this, we were also fortunate to already have a Learning Management System to manage online learning experiences for both students and teachers.
However, moving all our operations online still required preparation and a mindset shift on all our parts. Before beginning online sessions with students, we designed sessions to help teachers experience and understand online learning pedagogy.  We did this by creating an online course to demonstrate best practices in online learning and enrolled our teachers in it. This was reviewed with a call to discuss the next steps and set basic guidelines. We wanted to ensure that they felt supported and prepared to meet the needs of the students. Our teachers then put in a tremendous effort to plan their lessons, and they have already begun rolling out effective online learning to their students.
As part of the personal and professional growth plans of our adults, we have several activities that occur cyclically throughout the year. Part of this includes individual and group reflection exercises. These reflection and mentoring conversations have also moved entirely online. In this way, teachers are continuing to get the support they need to reflect on the year that has gone by and plan for the upcoming year.
These are unprecedented times. The evolving nature of the guidelines around this pandemic has made it quite difficult for many of us to navigate full-time work (from home) and full-time child-care. We are so proud of the strides each and every one of our teachers and families is making to ensure that learning continues to happen and that our children's needs - physical, emotional and academic are being met. We are in awe of the way all of you, and especially our students, are adapting to this new model of learning. We want to assure you of our constant support through these trying times.

Find A World Beyond Boundaries

Enquire Now