Our Schools

Ekya / August 24, 2021 Posted by : administrator

Music is one of the most important and powerful things in my life. I truly believe that life without melodies and harmonies would be totally void of fun and happiness.  Over and above, listening to and playing different tunes helps me to de-stress, relax and it can also help to motivate me in times of distress and loneliness.

As a little child, I didn’t have a great love for music as I do now. Songs that touched my heart were merely restricted to a few genres and bands which were popular back then.  I mainly listened to whatever was playing in the background or what my parents were listening to. That’s when a song with the following lyrics-
“Oh my sleeping child, the world’s so wild
But you’ve built your own paradise
That’s one reason why I’ll cover you sleeping child”
by a boy band of the late ’90s, left a sense of exhilaration and flipped my happy switch.

Whether I was in the car, at home, or in solitary moments of bliss, this song heightened my joy and helped me to view simple things in life, with great delight. Nothing else mattered,  in those musical moments.  Often when I  was weighed down with studies, school and homework, this was my only ideal getaway. That’s when my love for music slowly grew and was persuaded to listen and truly appreciate the words in them.

Now,  as I am in my teens, music has become not only my passion but also my life, which inhibits my soul. Realising that music has the ability to capture all emotions, and has the power  to soothe, heal and even mend broken relationships, my outlook and perceptions have tremendously changed.
Images created by  music and songs are absolutely amazing. The ability it possesses  to transport me back in time like a time machine is astounding . It lets me revisit lost and forgotten moments in life.
Music, according to  me, can paint a picture, for example in classical and country music a story is being told, in a love song a message can be conveyed, and inspiring  words in musical form can impact the world.  

It colours the air, produces magic, gives  flight to the imagination, soul to the universe, which motivates and encourages the brokenhearted. One thing is true. It is a fact that music can melt even the hardest hearts.  

Personally, I love to write songs and my favourite genre is Rap Music. Focusing on this and building my career in music is what I have chosen to pursue.

In conclusion, I would like to add that to  me, music is more than just something to listen to or play, it’s something to feel. I think it brings me closer to my friends and family. I also feel that it helps me to get through anything. It has become an extremely important aspect in my life and is an immensely powerful thing.

I hope one day, I will be able to realize my dream of becoming a professional in Music and also inspire others through my lyrics. 

By, Xavie Oommen, Grade 9 IGCSE, Ekya School Byrathi

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 *

#TeacherBlogger: Under the Stars – By, Steffi Nixon, Senior school, Ekya BTM

In a blink of an eye, I was at Kasol YHAI base camp in June 2015. From getting on a flight from Chennai to Delhi to inter-state bus travel from Delhi to Bhuntar and a local bus from Bhuntar to the base camp where monkeys sat beside us and travelled , I was completely unaware of what this trip would mean to me. It was an 11 days trek comprising a total of 60km, 3 days to acclimatize at Kasol, a 4-day climb to reach 13500 feet above sea level at Sar Pass, and 3 days back. As unfit as I was for this challenge, low blood pressure, fainting, the multiple falls, spraining my leg, and the constant anxiety that I was pulling the entire group behind; when I think about young Steffi I feel so proud that she didn’t back down or quit. I remember fainting after a day of exercise, however, I was also the only one who could climb a 75m high rock inclined at 75° with just my upper body strength the next day.

While I could describe every detail of the trek, the purpose of the blog would change. Narrowing it down and accentuating an experience at the second base camp-Padri, which unlike all the other camps was a widespread area surrounded by a forest, hills, a river flowing close by, and had a view of the snow-capped mountains from the valley. The camp leader warned us about bears and stayed up with the group all night flashing the torch towards the forest at timely intervals. Unbothered, we sat around the campfire and sang our hearts out to Bollywood melodies. It was around an hour into our jam session that I realized how the snow on the mountains around was still glistening with the little light that it received from the sun at that altitude. It made me smile at how beautiful nature is.

It was then that I noticed a light at one of the tips of the mountains. Very naively I remember thinking that it might be someone flashing a light and believing that it was just “shiny snow”, and continued with the ongoing horror story session. I only took my eyes off for a second from the light, and when I looked back, it had moved into the sky. In disbelief, I blinked again and noticed another, then five more and within seconds the entire sky was filled with stars. And I gasped in wonder, I literally just visualized Earth rotating. This right here would qualify as one of the most magical moments in my life. We all lay on the green grass of the valley, under the starry sky, and wished for shooting stars.

I guess the hopeless romantic in me was very lucky that day, as we did spot two. These are the little things I look forward to in every travel plan I make, and I’m very grateful for having created an overflowing bucket of memories before the world got sick with Covid19. Here’s to wishing good health to everyone around, so that I can be a little selfish and get back to what I love doing.

By, Steffi Nixon, Senior school, Ekya BTM

#LeadershipBlogger: Creating a positive classroom – By, Mathangi R, Academic Coordinator, Ekya School JP Nagar

“If children feel safe, they can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, learn to trust, share their feelings and grow.” Alfie Kohn.

Students spend seven to eight hours in a school and that takes up 50% of their “active awake time.” Thus, schools and classrooms play a vital role in building the character and mindset of students. A positive classroom ignites the hearts and minds of young learners, inspiring them to be active & curious learners and responsible human beings. A positive classroom environment is a springboard into creating character strengths that go a long way in enabling students to be confident, curious, and compassionate learners.

So, what are the features of a positive classroom? According to me, a positive classroom allows students to 

  • Make Mistakes:- 

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” Albert Einstein.When making mistakes is seen as a stepping stone to learning, students come forward to actively engage in learning by asking questions or answering questions posed by the teacher. An educator who assures students that “it is okay to make mistakes” is on his/her way to creating a positive learning environment. 

  • Share ideas:-

“It is okay to have some ideas that do not work than not have any ideas at all.” Edward De Bono.What is important to active learning is the ability of the students to think, question, share and infer. A classroom environment that encourages students to do the above truly goes on to create young learners who can think critically and creatively.

  • Express and Identify Emotions:- 

“It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently”. Fyodor Dostoyevsky. A classroom that acknowledges the emotional needs of students goes a long way in making them emotionally literate and thus helping them understand the emotional needs of others. Facilitating students in identifying emotions that are barriers to their success is a striking feature of a positive classroom environment.  

  • Show and receive empathy:- 

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted “ Aesop  Children and adults thrive and grow in communities that are empathy-driven. A classroom that fosters kindness and empathy instills a sense of belongingness and safety. Feeling part of a community that is safe and caring clears the path for seamless learning. Educators could encourage acts of kindness within the classroom and promote collaborative learning. 

  • Be accepted for who they are:-

“ It is easy to judge; it is more difficult to understand.” anonymous. Educators, who provide space for students to be who they are, are creating positive classrooms. When students are part of an environment that does not judge them for who they are, they tend to feel safe and secure. This positive space sparks self-confidence in students which in turn drives them to realise their true potential. Further, educators who are non-judgemental in their approach to student behaviour have more chances of reforming delinquent behaviour. “Your language violates the acceptable norms of the school” as opposed to “ You are a spoiled brat” - Which one is the language of a “positive classroom.”?

A positive classroom is a foundation for a student’s bright and prosperous future. Educators who encourage dialogues, who are non-judgemental, who support students in handling their emotions, who allow mistakes and encourage ideas, are undoubtedly creating a positive classroom out of which shall emanate confident and responsible future citizens. 

By, Mathangi R, Academic Coordinator, Ekya School JP Nagar

Find A World Beyond Boundaries

Enquire Now