#TeacherBlogger: Mental well being By Mumtaz Begum, Teaching Staff, Ekya school, BTM Layout
Our Schools
The greatest gift of all
Cannot be bought in stores or malls
It is the treasure of being heard
truly heard
It is the gift of listening to
hopes, fears, dreams, and hurts.
Listening demonstrates
acceptance, caring and hope,
taking time to listen,
fosters trust and respect,
the gift of your presence
truly listening opens doors to caring relationships
It’s the greatest gift of all
(Courtesy – Manodarpan CBSE)
The above poem inspires me profoundly and helps me reflect on the Psycho-emotional quotient each of us has during different stages of our lives. I am excited to touch upon the topic of Mental well-being, which has become an integral part of our progressive education system. Though I never had support during my growing up years as a student, and no one spoke about mental well-being those days or expressed feelings freely, I have realised that it has now become an integral part of growing up.
Many of us (80’s kids) strongly believe that we had the best education, teachers and learning strategies for enduring understanding; however, what haunts me is why there was a taboo on expressing openly about mental well-being or mental health. Why were many of us never encouraged to say the right emotions at the right time? I try to convince myself by thinking that “Maybe the world wasn’t too complicated and tough when I was a student.”
What is the reason for the growing need for Mental well-being now?
Many pieces of research around the world reflect that ⅕ th of children and adolescents experience the mental health concerns like stress, depression, anxiety, learning disability, bullying and lack of interest in anything they do.
Who are the stakeholders in strengthening a child’s mental well-being?
I firmly believe that the family is the primary and the most valuable social unit that can support the child in strengthening their mental health.
But being parents of the 21st century claiming to have a progressive mindset, have we ever tried to understand the complexity of our relationship with our children? Do we try to know if our children face emotional or behavioural difficulties? Have we been patient enough to hear what they have in their defence? Have we spent quality time with our children to listen to what they aspire for? Have we ever observed why our children have become so comfortable wearing mask post covid and feel so uncomfortable talking to people without them? Have we ever questioned why our children prefer to lock their rooms despite us being friendly, liberal, empathetic and open-minded? As parents, we must introspect and sensitise ourselves to understand what our children feel and how best we can help them.
Please pay attention to the teacher’s feedback, Meet the school counsellors for help and train the child to practice the service now strategies to build and strengthen resilience.
As parents, show your unconditional love and affection towards your child. Trust them, offer acceptance, stop comparison, appreciate them and guide them on a righteous path.
Please hold their hands and tell them, “It’s ok to make mistakes as they help them learn better lessons in life”.
Let’s widen our horizons and make our children emotionally and mentally strong, stable and healthy by always being there for them with our words and actions.
Mumtaz Begum Senior Academic Coordinator
Ekya BTM Layout
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Ekya / April 03, 2024
The Power of Learning with Intent: A Guide to Purposeful Education
In a world brimming with information, the art of learning has evolved beyond the mere acquisition of facts. Learning with intent, a deliberate approach to education emphasises quality over quantity, depth over breadth, and purpose over passive absorption. It’s about cultivating a mindset that transforms knowledge into meaningful action and empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of the modern age effectively.
At its core, learning with intent involves setting clear objectives and actively engaging with the subject matter. Whether exploring a new language, delving into scientific principles, or honing a creative skill, intentionality infuses each learning endeavour with purpose and direction. As Albert Einstein aptly said, "The only source of knowledge is experience." This quote amplifies the importance of active participation and hands-on learning, highlighting that true understanding arises from deliberate engagement with the material.
Furthermore, engaging actively with the material is paramount. Embrace challenges and embrace mistakes as opportunities for growth. This proactive approach not only deepens your understanding but also cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for success in any field.
Moreover, learning with intent emphasises relevance and applicability. Seek out opportunities to apply newfound knowledge in real-world scenarios, bridging the gap between theory and practice. By contextualising learning within your personal or professional sphere, you enhance its significance and utility, making it more likely to stick.
In conclusion, learning with intent is a transformative approach that transcends traditional notions of education. By setting clear objectives, engaging actively, prioritising relevance, and fostering a growth mindset, individuals can harness the full potential of learning to achieve their goals and thrive in an ever-changing world. So, embark on your learning journey with purpose, and let each lesson propel you towards a brighter, more fulfilling future.
By Sweta Pradeep Rao
Senior English Educator
Ekya School JP Nagar
Ekya / April 02, 2024
Gadget-free Summer Break
With summer vacation around, I urge parents to explore various ways to facilitate children to make healthy choices during their vacation time.
Last week, when we asked our Early Years to visualise their characters and create a story, most of them came up with stories about ghosts and monsters attacking others. When we had conversations about what gave them this idea, we understood that these story ideas emanated from their online games. While gaming per se develops specific skills and requires focus, it also stifles the imagination of young children. Since it is visually appealing, children tend to remember those images in their heads all the time.
I often see parents providing very young children (1 year to 3 year olds) with gadgets as the means to keep children engaged and entertained. I see children watching phones in the waiting areas of clinics, hospitals, school lobbies and banks.
This brings us to a fundamental question “ Should children be engaged by parents all the time?” Not necessarily. What is likely to happen if children were not handed over gadgets at the waiting lounges? What would they do? Some of them may cry, some may throw a loud tantrum, and some may crib. If parents show resilience and allow children to settle down themselves, they will soon find ways to keep themselves engaged. Likewise, during summer vacation. What if this is a “no gadget” vacation and parents do not take up the responsibility to engage their children? What would children do? How can parents show resilience here and facilitate children to make healthy choices? I leave the readers with this thought for this summer vacation.
Mathangi R,
Head of School,
Ekya NICE Road.
Ekya / April 02, 2024
The Eye of the Storm
In the hushed embrace of an Indian evening, our journey began, a symphony of anticipation orchestrated by the hum of jet engines and the flutter of boarding passes. The promise of adventure beckoned from distant shores as we boarded our flight bound for the United Kingdom, our hearts aflutter with dreams of far-off lands and newfound horizons. But as we soared through the velvet sky, a foreboding shadow loomed on the horizon, a harbinger of the chaos that was soon to unfold. In the blink of an eye, the tranquil serenity of our airborne sanctuary was shattered by a deafening crack, a burst of purple lightning that danced across the heavens with an otherworldly fervour. The air crackled with electricity as the plane shuddered beneath the force of the storm, its metal frame quivering in defiance against the tempestuous onslaught. And then, in a heart-stopping moment of sheer terror, the heavens unleashed their fury upon us, casting our fragile vessel into a maelstrom of chaos and uncertainty. The sky darkened to a shade of ominous charcoal as the winds howled with a primal ferocity, tearing at the wings of our faltering craft with savage intent. The cabin was awash with panicked cries and frantic prayers as we clung to our seats with white-knuckled desperation, each passing moment stretching into eternity.
And then, as if mocking our feeble attempts at control, the plane tilted almost 180 degrees, its nose plummeting towards the earth with a sickening lurch. Time seemed to stand still as we hurtled towards the ground, our fate hanging in the balance as the world spun wildly out of control. But just when all hope seemed lost, a glimmer of salvation emerged from the chaos, a beacon of light amidst the encroaching darkness. With a mighty roar, the engines surged to life once more, their thunderous symphony drowning out the cacophony of the storm as we clawed our way back from the brink of oblivion. As the storm clouds parted and the sun cast its golden rays upon the horizon, we emerged battered but unbroken, our spirits buoyed by the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity. And though our journey had been fraught with peril and uncertainty, we emerged from the crucible of the skies stronger and more resilient than ever before. For in the crucible of adversity, we discovered the true measure of our strength, our courage, and our unwavering determination to defy the odds and chart our course through the tempestuous seas of life. As we touched down on solid ground once more, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the world around us, a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human soul.
Arjun Narasimhan Kuppuswamy
Grade 8C
#StudentBlogger: Need for Speed By Nawal Kotla, Grade 12, Ekya School, BTM Layout
Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsports and is considered the fastest sport in the world. The races are filled with adrenaline-pumping action, as race car drivers navigate hairpin turns and high-speed straights at breakneck speeds. These high speeds create one of the biggest challenges for Formula 1: pollution. The FIA International Conference on Road Safety revealed that driving a race car for 20 minutes produces about the same pollution as driving a regular vehicle for 320 hours—almost an entire month. If you have been following Formula 1 over the past few years, you may be aware of how much things have changed. New regulations have added hybrid engines, aerodynamic wings and even larger cockpits to cars. Some say these changes are necessary; without them, we risk losing racing as we know it. But what will happen to Formula 1 in response to pollution? Will there be a new type of track racing that doesn't produce so much exhaust? Perhaps not... Let's try to try to find out.
Every year, Formula 1 races globally, attracting millions of fans. However, the sport is producing an unbelievable amount of combustion waste. The pollutants created by an F1 car while racing is high enough to qualify as a threat to human health. Formula 1 is polluting the atmosphere and has been doing so for a while. The FIA, the governing body of Formula 1, has been looking for solutions to the pollution problem since the 1990s. Back then, the organization started exploring how to reduce harmful exhaust fumes. However, the first solutions were implemented in the following decade. Automobile manufacturers have been producing less polluting cars for some time now. But as Formula 1 cars are not made for regular road use, it is harder for engineers to design a hybrid vehicle that can withstand the stresses of racing. Formula 1, after all, is an extreme sport unlike any other.
The first Formula 1 race was held in France in 1906. At the time, the race was held over just 80 kilometres. The following year, the French Grand Prix was born over 342 kilometres. Over time, Formula 1 grew in popularity. By the mid-1950s, the number of races on the calendar had increased to around a dozen. However, the sport hit a hurdle in 1955 following the Le Man disaster. There were several fatalities at the Grand Prix of France following a crash. As a result, the FIA implemented new regulations that reduced the number of races in the championship. However, the sport underwent another change in the 1990s when the FIA introduced new rules. These aimed to reduce pollution and increase safety. In 1994, Formula 1 cars started using less polluting turbocharged V10 engines. In 2002, the engines were further reduced when switched to 3000cc V10 engines.
Engineers from the FIA have tried numerous solutions to reduce the pollution produced by Formula 1 cars. One of their first proposals was to make the sport more fuel efficient by reducing the number of kilometres that each vehicle travels. The idea was to reduce the length of each Grand Prix from the contemporary distance of about 300 kilometres to about 100 kilometres. In doing so, engineers calculated that the cars could travel at a lower speed and finish the race without needing extra fuel. With the shorter race, there would also be less pollution in the air. Another option that engineers looked into was making Formula 1 car smaller. This idea was to shrink the car's size to make it more efficient. However, shrinking the vehicles would mean drivers would have to sit inside a smaller cockpit. This would force them to sit awkwardly, which could lead to health concerns.
The good news is that Formula 1 has been working on reducing pollution from racing. The bad news is that the sport's governing body has yet to develop a solution that works effectively without compromising the car or driver's performance. While hybrid engines are cleaner than regular ones, they produce much heat, and it takes a lot of energy to cool down this heat, significantly impacting the environment. Air-conditioning the cockpits of Formula 1 cars is another challenge. Engineers are currently working on reducing the electricity used by air-conditioners. Formula 1 will likely continue to produce high levels of pollution. However, the sport may transition to a well-developed hybrid engine without going completely electrical. This would reduce the number of harmful exhaust fumes in the air. Hybrid engines could also generate electricity for charging electric racing cars.
The Future of Formula 1 may be uncertain, but one thing is for sure: pollution is the price paid to enjoy the essence of the sport for what it is. Hybrid engines could be the solution, but significant changes must be made to the sport's infrastructure to accommodate them. Many fans and engineers aren't pleased with the idea of turning the sport into Formula E. With the pollution caused by Formula 1, it is clear that the sport needs to find a solution before it becomes too damaging for society and the environment.
#StudentBlogger: Outbound Trip to Hampi By Siri Sharma, Grade 7B, Ekya School, JP Nagar
Introduction to Hampi:
Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a cultural and architectural heritage site built over 200 years ago. Hampi is known for its sprawling landscape of massive formations of rocks and boulders. Though the city is mostly in ruins, it is still beautiful. How Hampi has evolved is astonishing to watch, and we have a chance to visit it.
Departure: At 9:30 PM, 26th December, Monday, 2022, All the students participating in this trip were reported at Ekya School BTM Campus. All the students from all five campuses were divided into two buses. After sorting, We left for Hampi from Bengaluru around 10:00 PM after saying goodbye to our parents. We were excited and didn't get that much sleep initially, so we decided to listen and sing songs! It lasted only a few minutes because it was past all our bedtimes, so we started dozing off.
The Trip (Day 1): We reached Hampi at around 4:30 AM, but the hotel was in a famous village-like city in Hampi known as Hospet. By the time we got to the hotel, it was already 5:AM. We were all set up in contemporary rooms to freshen up for the day and put in permanent rooms the following night. We had about 3 hours to freshen up before exploring this historical city! The hotel we stayed at was known as "Krishna Palace". It was quite a popular 3.5-star hotel in Hampi, but it was beautiful, especially the glass elevators!
After freshening up, we went down to the lobby for breakfast! We had the classic Idli Sambar and Vada (SOOOO GOOOOD). After our sumptuous breakfast, we set off to tour Hampi! Once we got on the bus, A local guide from Hampi explained the day's itinerary and the speciality of the monument of the great heritage and historical site, Hampi. We learned that over 1,600 monuments had been discovered in Hampi, but there are still billions of things that we have yet to find out about this Ancient Place that once belonged to one of the most significant kingdoms in history. Once we reached our destination, we got off the bus to see the most beautiful and enormous sculptures we had ever seen! Well, for me, at least. It was a sculpture of Lord Narsimha, and it was made out of just one single stone!
This is known as "Badavalinga". It is famous for being the second biggest Linga in Southern India! Our tour guide also explained how strong most of the architecture was….
Theorangy type of bricks you see on the top have lasted from the reign of the great king "Krishna Deva Raya" way back to the Vijayanagara Kingdom! After that, we went up this hill, and even though it looked small, it showed us great views! Here we took many photos, and the guide explained more about Hampi.
From then on, we went to a vast and famous temple known as the "Virupaksha Temple." Here we saw and prayed to many gods, and most importantly, we saw "The Pinhole Camera" Somewhere towards the back of the temple is a tiny hole in the wall which serves as a pinhole and reflects an inverted image of the gopuram on the inside wall. There is not much light inside this tiny room-like space, so it is visible quite clearly as the only bright light coming in is from that little hole.
After all those views, we were tired, but there was more to see! So, after a short break, we stopped at a local condiments shop when all of the students thought the fantastic view of Hampi was over; there was more! Next, we went to a famous temple known as "Vittala Temple", which we all thought was just another average temple, but we were wrong! This temple was famous for the great "Stone Chariot ". One of Hampi's major attractions!
Here we learned about the "Music Pillars" when you tap them; it makes a distinct sound. When mixed sounds like beats and music! We stayed here and rested briefly to see the views; it was time to return to the hotel for lunch! But we had to walk from Vittala Temple to the bus stop, which felt like hours in the hot sun but was just 10 minutes. But it was worth it seeing and meeting the local people! After a scrumptious lunch, we rested because next up was…. A SCAVENGER HUNT. We went to this Place known as "Queens Bath "which soo big and spacious! Our guide told us that this was where King Krishnadeva Raya held big ceremonies and festival celebrations. And the site had many secrets we didn't know, but the guide did, so we were put into groups and scavenger hunts to find them!
This is the Queens Bath
Here we discovered so many astonishing secrets like the underground shelter and elephant entrance, and there were soo many exceptional carvings of different images all around the Place, which we had to find, with hidden gates too! How cool is that?
These are the carvings! The beautiful view.
Elephant entrance The area of the queen's bath was a wonderful and wide open space! We were all exhausted after taking all those photos and discovering secrets, so when we returned to the hotel on the bus, we were treated to sweet snacks! When we returned to the hotel, we had a fantastic dinner and an early night's sleep, so we had loads of energy for the next day!
Day 2:
On the second day, we all woke up around 5:30 or 6:00 AM, got ready, and ate breakfast. The mornings in Hampi were so peaceful.
After breakfast, we got our daily essentials and set out on our buses. The first thing on the agenda was to visit the birthplace of "Lord Hanuman", Anjanadri Hills; once we reached the site place, the guide told us it would be boiling, and we would get tired along the way as we had to climb up a tremendous amount of stairs. So, we got our water bottles filled, and we were off towards the hike!
We had to climb 420 steps to get to the viewpoint! Sounds easy, but it was not; since the stairs were naturally made by weathering out of stones, each stone was a different size, which made it more challenging. But after a lot of hard work and many small stops in the middle, we finally made it to the viewpoint! And, oh, it was worth it. After that, we climbed the stairs, which was much more manageable! Once we returned to the shelter, It was time for the tractor ride! This was so exciting! There were five tractors which took each of the schools for lunch! But not any lunch…..
Hampi Traditional Food!!! The tractor was terrific! It was a wide-open car that allowed us to feel the fresh breeze and relax while enjoying the sight of Hampi. During the tractor ride, we saw the famous "Tungabhadra River"!
The rays of the sun hitting the crystal clear fresh water, plus the reflection of the sky? At this point, everyone was in awe; who wouldn't be? On the bank of the Tungabhadra river was where half of King Krishnadeva Raya's palace was located! Once we reached the campsite, we all ate the scrumptious traditional food of Hampi!
After lunch, we went to this beautiful Place where the local women made handicraftsoutof raw banana leaves! It was a calm environment, and we learnt how to make many different types of crafts. After an hour, we were surprised with a Ramayana Play and a Magic show! Many local actors put on costumes; there was music and action! There was also a man who had bought many props and did a magic show which put us in awe~It was fantastic, and we all enjoyed it!
And the guide had told us that the area where the play was going on was where RamaPlaceed Valiover a billion centuries ago!
Arrival: It was time to return after our wonderful trip to Hampi. We returned to the hotel, freshened up, packed our bags and set off to Bangalore at 8:00 PM. We reached Bangalore at 4:30 AM. Our parents arrived to pick us up, and we all returned home!
My Thoughts: The trip was AMAZING AND WONDERFUL! I have no words! Hampi is a beautiful place with loads of history that we are still yet to discover! It shows us the magnificenceofolden times, leaving my classmates and friends in complete awe as it did to me! Seriously, You should visit Hampi. I am grateful to Ekya School JP Nagar for allowing me to see it with my close friends, classmates and teachers! Thank You!
- Siri Sharma 7B EJPN
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