Our Schools

itplccacoordinator / July 28, 2020 Posted by : editor

The last few months have been very different for almost everyone around the globe. No one could have imagined something like this, coming straight out of movies like ‘Pandemic’ becoming real.

To start with, we thought it’s a matter of a few weeks before life gets to ‘normal’ as we had known it always. We have always been a very active family and love being outdoors particularly to big open green spaces.

There was a life that was always full of meeting friends, playing outdoors for 2 hours everyday (for the kids), having family friends come over on weekends, going to parks, sometimes malls/shopping, going to restaurants occasionally, eating street food, day trips/short weekend trips around Bangalore,  getting stuck in Bengaluru traffic jams and much more.

These times have taught us to adapt and live life differently, yet remain the happy-us. Our little one, Mishika, is a very interactive child who has lived an almost gadget-free life the first 8 years of her life(she is 8 now).  She loves to talk to neighbors, friends, grandparents, and us in-person. She would always dislike interactions on phone/video calls to a large extent. My parents had come visiting for 2 weeks in early March after my father finally retired from working at the age of 72 years  and thanks to CovId times, it was a blessing to have them around for 3 long months until flights resumed. This is the first time all of us got to stay with my parents for so long (for me, it was after 12 long years).

Mishika learned a lot of stuff with grandparents around: basics of cooking/chopping veggies/washing utensils/praying. Of course, we all fought a lot too, to stay together with everyone having different lifestyles. But it taught us to co-exist and live happily. We had 3 birthdays in these times, all home-cooked meals that were made with so much love. Both my husband and I have always had a passion for trying out new cooking stuff. But with no helps around and both of us working in the IT world, averaging about 10-12 hours of a workday and being stuck in meetings perennially, it was a challenge for daily chores.

So, what did we do? Well, all of us gradually learned to share the workload at home. The 8-year-old arranges the plates and cutlery for all meals so religiously and happily. She learned the art of grating, cutting, and a lot more. My husband, my mother, and I divide the cooking when my mother was with us for two weeks (now its just me and my husband for cooking). Most of the times, we wash our own dishes post eating.  Being foodies, we learned to make a lot of stuff at home that we loved to eatà momos, pizzas from scratch, waffles, grills n dips, and homemade wine from fresh grapes too. Mishika and her father love to bake together; and they do it every weekend.  You can see a picture of the two of them doing decantation for making wine too.

We also realize that how important it is to exercise and eat fresh healthy food. Hence a balanced healthy meal every day, and we also do some stretches or exercise together every single day. The 8 year old’s interactions with friends are, mostly limited to 2-3 friends whom she meets every evening on the terrace or talks to them over the balconies; sometimes cycles within the apartment. She has adapted to the new mode of schooling so well, all thanks for Ekya teachers for being so friendly and going an extra mile for that. Video calls with grandparents and families have become a new norm and everyone knows the time for that, looks forward for that.

 It’s a new us, we do chores together, we play a lot of board games and have a collection of 40+ board games by now. We dance to music, we practice karate together, sometimes yoga too together, we fight and then we laugh, the little one has learned to be with her books when the parents are busy and she makes full use of the home-library now., we have restocked the books too.

From Ms. Deeksha  Dudeja

(Parent of Mishika Choudhury , 3 D, Ekya ITPL)

Explore more

itplccacoordinator / 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

itplccacoordinator / 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

itplccacoordinator / 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 *

#StudentBlogger: A trip with a lesson of a lifetime

As students, we need to constantly remind ourselves that our comfort zone should not be our one and only priority. We must be happy with what we have and should be able to compromise and work as a team with our friends, classmates, or anyone in that matter all alike. This is a lesson that impacts our future immensely and we as the students of Ekya realized this when we went on a trip to the hidden campsite in Channapatna. Day 1 We had just reached the campsite at 9.30. we all sat down and got to know the campsite, its rules, its ideals, etc when we talked with the camp director Mr.K. Chandrashekhar Chowdaiah.(right)  The camp director explained to us that we will have to show army-like ideals where we had to work hard for our food, show discipline, and report to our superiors with respect. After a healthy and fresh breakfast, we went to do the fun activity of zipline. It was an experience that I personally first underestimated but was scary and thrilling in the end.  Next, we had to climb and perform a 7km trek which tested our endurance and will power. It was extremely slippery and several people got injured but the trek overall for me was a really fun and thrilling first experience. After a tiring but fun morning, we had a fresh and good lunch. We next performed an activity that tested our balancing skills when we walked on the Tarzan/dharma bridge.  We passed the rest of the day playing kabaddi and sitting by the campfire before we finally slept in our tents Day 2 This day mainly included fun and team bonding activities. After breakfast, we performed 2 activities called bull's eye, a game where we had to balance a tennis ball on a coil with 9 strings which we balanced as a team with our hands and pipeline, a game where we moved a marble along a pipeline as a single pipeline unit We finally finished the activities of the day by doing rain dance before we rested, relaxed, and retired to our beds. Day 3 After the camp director hosted dancing events and bid us goodbye, we had a delightful meal and checked out of the camp  This trip taught us all that we should be happy with what we have and must be able to be tough and strong so that we can face environments out of our comfort zone. By Rohith Maiyya Grade 7, Ekya JP Nagar

#HumansOfEkya: My First Experience of the Unprecedented Virtual Classroom Shift

  My first experience of the unprecedented virtual classroom shift was “That’s exciting”.To me, my first instinct was “That’s exciting!” A new experience to dive in as a teacher. My students will be welcomed at my home. They will be with me on my sofa, study table and all those places where we have no disturbance. The second thought which came in my mind was that after the lockdown, now life will be organized! It started with a great feeling of brightness and colors all around when I saw students in colorful clothes on my bright screen. To set the mood of the day we start morning greetings followed by sharing good things(in such a pandemic situation). It made me believe that happiness can be found in small things and it can be found anywhere. Each day students were so excited that my waiting room would be ringing 10 minutes prior to the class. A sense of responsibility was in the air, students at a blink of an eye student learned the technology and tools. I was amazed not to see a noisy class, but a class where students value and respect the speaker and understood the importance of being good listeners They started expressing their thoughts and views through this platform very easily. As the classes progressed I realized that the feedback of the sessions was immediate which helped me to clarify misconceptions from my lessons and plan it smoothly. Suddenly the virtual classes stopped. There was again a sense of shock on both sides of the screen. Again a pause to exploration and routines.No more guests at my home.A lockdown in a lockdown. The happiness of the mornings, finding out good things around and the smiling faces disappeared. I have always learned and read that learning can happen anywhere and in any form. Now I keep reading and seeing updates in a hope that tomorrow it will begin again!  By Jalpa Pandya Mathematics Teacher Ekya School, BTM Layout    

Find A World Beyond Boundaries

Enquire Now