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Ekya / May 01, 2018 Posted by : administrator

With our schools opening their doors for the new academic term in a month’s time, we have got our hands full with our annual preparations. Wondering what our children were up to, we asked our students to write to us, to know how they were utilizing their summer break. Flooded by the overwhelming responses, we visit our inbox to share with you some of the summer stories from the Ekya children.

Urja Srivastava from Grade 8 shared her account of her time at a digital detox camp and here is what she had to say,

“I have attended a summer camp called ‘Digital Detox between April 16-20, at JP Nagar. I would like to share my experience with my friends at school.

Digital detox was a wonderful camp that I loved soooo much. It was a feel-like-home 5-day summer camp that successfully kept me offline. Not once in those five days did I ever feel bored or feel like going home because it already felt like home to me.

Like at home where everybody appreciates you, encourages you and helps you, the camp also had the same vibe. It felt no different there.

It felt like everyone had taken an oath to be non-judgmental, friendly and helpful, creating a homely atmosphere at digital detox camp.

Sometimes members would throw in some jokes also, just the way a brother or sister would do to make you laugh 😀

Besides the camaraderie, every day was a new adventure. We worked in teams to bake, create stories, played charades and even brainstormed to create a business model.

Unlike other summer camps, digital detox taught us so many different things in just five days without being preachy. We had hands-on experience in Composting, Astronomy, Photography and Theatre.

Each day in digital detox felt like a new adventure…And guess what?? IT ACTUALLY WAS….!”

Parents and children of Ekya! Want to tell us how you have been spending your summer break?
Write to us in not more than 200-300 words (with pictures if available) at communications@ekyaschools.com, with the subject line “My Summer Story – (Name of Student, Grade, Campus)”. Entries will be handpicked to be featured on the Ekya Blog.

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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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Work Exposure Programme at Ekya Schools – The Actors Collective

Work Exposure Programme is our summer internship initiative at Ekya and sister institution CMR National Public School, to help senior school students groom their problem-solving skills, adaptability, emotional intelligence, resilience and the ability to collaborate. With the WEP drawing to a close, we sit with Rajkaushik Ramkumar of Grade 11 from Ekya School ITPL, as he shares his account from his internship at The Actors Collective. What was going on your mind while applying for the WEP? Why did you choose The Actors Collective? I was comfortable with the application process – simple and to the point; the questions asked were direct and easy to answer. What I liked about the whole thing was the choices we had with our internships; each company was well defined and had objectives that helped me while applying. Looking through the options available, I tried my luck at three programmes – The Actors Collective, Bangalore Football Club and FonePaisa. I have always had an affinity towards theatre. I love to act and was interested in spending my summer at a programme that would help me take a step towards the art. Initially, I was expecting to take a technical role at The Actors Collective, along the lines of event management. But what I had in store for the next three weeks had me completely in surprise. Take us through your experience at The Actors Collective. During the first week of our internship, the five of us got to meet Mr. Rajesh and the folks from The Actor’s Collective. We were given two objectives, one was to take five photographs that depict different moods and the other was to watch a live action play. Over the course of the week, we met to discuss the photographs that we had taken, dissecting each emotion that we managed to capture. It was an eye-opening experience for me, to understand how much goes into understanding a facial expression or an abstract photograph. We got to understand the working of The Actors Collective, their specialization in Playback Theatre and how they teach the art form at their workshops. We were introduced to basic concepts during the second week, having met with a couple of actors from the Collective at Cubbon Park to practice playback theatre with them. At the end of the session, we were briefed about the financial model and how this company of actors arranged for shows across the country.   We visited Diya Ghar, an NGO for children from underprivileged and lower-economic communities. The idea behind this visit was to understand the role of empathy, while also interacting with the children. I got to teach them the alphabet and a couple of rhymes. It was a humbling experience for me – I realized that there things that are bigger than us that we often take for granted. During our third week, we attended a workshop on playback theatre, learning more about the two forms of Playback, Conflict and Tableau. We got to practice with the actors from the Collective, getting advice, tips and critique on our expressions, posture and other techniques. Towards the end of our internship, we spent our time at the Spastic Society of Karnataka. Here we met children suffering from Down’s Syndrome and helped them with their preparation for a skit they were putting up. They didn’t let their disability hinder their excitement or the fun they had and it left a big impact on me.   Did you enjoy your time with The Actors Collective? What do you think is the key learning from this experience? This internship programme has been an experience I will never forget. I learned a form of theatre, I got to meet actors and learn from them, I understood how to pursue theatre and be part of a troupe, I met underprivileged children and those with disability, helping them, in whatever way I can. It has been a range of emotions for me, but the three key takeaways from my time with the Actors Collective are, Teamwork: I realized the importance of working together. Whether it was performing Playback or a daily task of reaching a location with the other interns, I learnt that working as a team can take anyone far in what they do. There is no right or wrong: Every decision made has its own justification. Everyone has a different view or perspective on things, which makes these decisions neither right nor wrong. There are things bigger than me:  My three weeks has taught me that I need to appreciate and be thankful for everything is good in my life and that there are always things bigger than us. I will definitely see my problems in a different light after this internship. The workshop also helped, as I can act out different elements of a situation and find out where the core problem of the situation is. In the beginning, I thought the programme would turn out to be objective, with a set of tasks to complete. It turned out to be an experience after another experience. Mr. Rajesh kept giving us ideas and things to do. The actors made sure we were comfortable and answered every question we put to them. I can’t wait to see them again, at one of their performances.
Rajkaushik is one of the 3 children from Ekya Schools and CMR National Public School who is interning at The Actors Collective through our Work Exposure Programme.

Ekya Summer Stories – Ridha and Varnit

When we asked our children how they were spending their summer break, Ridha Manoj and Varnit Hegde, Montessori Seniors at Ekya School JP Nagar wrote to us about their recent trip they took to Sri Lanka with their friends. After consulting their mothers for grammatical checks and spelling corrections, Ridha and Varnit proceeded to narrate to us their day-to-day experience from the trip, in one of the most amusing Ekya summer stories we have received. Here are the excerpts from their conversation, Varnit: I miss Sri Lanka so much. What a fun trip it was! Wasn’t it, Ridha? Ridha: Oh yes! I cannot believe we did a baby-mommy trip with our school friends! Especially with Vivaan & Lavishka! I loved how the tour guide welcomed us on our arrival with all our names on the welcome board. I felt so special! Varnit: I know right? When my mother told me to look at the board, I could not stop jumping with joy on finding my name. And off we went with him, to our big pink bus! Ridha: I could not believe that the whole big bus was going to be carrying only us - 6 kids and our 5 mommies and drive us down the coastal line of South Sri Lanka. I was anxiously waiting to reach our first destination, Hikkaduwa. Oh! What a beautiful seaside town it was! Varnit: Hikka-Duwa, the name is so unique. I wonder what it means! Remember the next morning, at the resort how your mother launched us, one after the other on the waves that were approaching the shore? I felt like a fish! Ridha: Oh my mommy! She loves the sea! But, I wanted to play longer. Wonder why we had to go back to the room so soon! Varnit: C’mon Ridha, you know we had a big itinerary planned for the day! The moonstone mines, the backwaters, and the Turtle Hatchery. Ridha: The Moonstone Mines astonished me! I could not believe my ears when I heard that the miner went down 20 ft underwater to hunt for those stones, they later made into such beautiful jewels. How could they even spot anything in that dark? It is so dangerous, isn’t it? Varnit:  Oh yes Ridha, pretty scary indeed! By the way, The Turtle Hatchery was my favourite! Remember the 100-year-old Turtle? So humongous! Ridha: Yes, I loved feeding that one. Also, those little baby turtles were so cute to hold. They fluttered their legs like they had wings and would fly away! Varnit: Oh then came this moment of exploring the backwaters. I didn’t know I would get so terrified of the boat ride. But as we sailed further in, I enjoyed the journey. Ridha: I loved standing at the bow of the boat with Lavishka and Vivaan. We screamed every time the boat went faster than before.  And then we entered into this tunnel, which was so similar to the one in the movie, Jumanji. What an adventure I tell you! Varnit: That was a mangrove! I also remember the boatman calling it a lagoon. Ridha: Yes! Yes! The lagoon!  That part of the boat ride was so thrilling. And then I heard a sudden shout of the boatman. When I looked behind to see him, I spotted him holding a transparent gooey thing in his hand. And voila! It was a jellyfish! Varnit: It wiggled in his hands! And then when he found another one, I thought it looked like a kiwi. Ridha: Green transparent body with the black spots, sure looked like it belonged to the Kiwi family! The most interesting part was when we approached the Cinnamon island. It was like a fairytale when I heard, that, a single family lived on the entire island. It reminded me of the movie, Moana! Varnit: Yes! An interesting life they have! Although, I would want to say, that I absolutely found it a relief getting back to the shore. Thank God, for the train I spotted running on the overbridge that ran across the backwaters. A sigh of relief it was amidst the scary boat ride that it was! Ridha: (Laughing) Come on Varnit! The boat ride wasn’t as scary as the one at our next halt – Mirissa, the Southernmost tip of Sri Lanka, where we went whale watching. Now that one was a real adventurous boat ride! Varnit: Oh yes! A little double-decker boat that went deep into the sea! The way the boat bounced, I only prayed that it should not topple. Ridha: My mother did the same, kept praying! But I was too excited, waiting to spot a whale and thus it didn’t’ worry me at all. After a point, all of you fell asleep. I was bored and thought we would not spot any sea animal. Ma, also tired of looking around, was slowly dozing off. It was a good two hours that we were inside the sea and had spotted nothing. Then I suddenly heard the ship guide call out from the bow. Up came three dolphins and they swiftly went back into the sea. Varnit: Oh yes! That was just when I woke up to see this beautiful show the creatures put up. After some time came the killer whales that were spotted far away from our boat. Ridha: And just when our boatman was happy that his job for the day was done and prepared to turn back, to head to the shore - he noticed a spray of water on the surface of the sea. He yelled out saying that it was a whale! Varnit: Oh yeah! The blue whale! And all the tourists’ boats went rushing towards it, to get a clearer view of the fish. Ridha: I have read in my book, ‘All About Water Mammals’, that a blue whale comes to the surface of the water to breathe and then goes back swimming a deeper into the ocean. I did not enjoy the fact that all the boats went into the water chasing after that fish. The boats were not letting her breathe. She must have been so hassled. While we stood at the bow with our mothers, I told my Ma to request the boat guy to go back to the shore. I did not want to trouble those creatures anymore. It made me sad! Varnit: So true right? I was longing to go back to the shore, anyway. It had been four and a half hours by the time we reached back. I was hungry! Mommy told me that we had to get ready for Colombo the next morning, which was the last leg of our trip. I was a little sad that when we reach there but you got to meet your old friend at the airport on our return to India. Ridha: Yes. It was nice. I think spending time looking at the landing and taking off of various flights at the airport was the best way to end our memorable trip! Let us hope to do one again soon! Varnit: Maybe for our next summer vacations. :) Want to read more of our summer stories? Here is Urja's account on the digital detox camp she attended in the month of April.
Parents and children of Ekya! Want to tell us how you have been spending your summer break?
Write to us in not more than 200-300 words (with pictures if available) at communications@ekyaschools.com, with the subject line “My Summer Story – (Name of Student, Grade, Campus)”. Entries will be handpicked to be featured on the Ekya Blog.
 

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