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Ekya / June 06, 2018 Posted by : administrator

Aditya Kanthi of Grade X, Ekya School ITPL just did us proud by topping his batch in the CBSE board exams. With the excitement of results at an all-time high, we managed to get in touch with Aditya to have an informal chat with him about this achievement.

96.4% and a centum in Science is an achievement for sure, but our topper downplayed the entire story by being extremely grounded and happy yet raring to go all out for the next two years that will shape his career. This aspiring engineer has dreams of making it big in the field of Computer Science or Nuclear Physics in the years to come.

Did he really expect to top the school?

“I hadn’t really thought about that. I just wanted to do well. I, however, expected a centum in math,” is what he had to say.

Did he have a fixed pattern of study? How did he prepare for the exam?

Aditya mentions that he studied regularly from the start of the academic year. “I studied from the beginning. So, there was no pressure when it actually came to the day of the exams.”

However, Aditya was unfortunately ill during the Boards. He had a high fever and was really unwell the day before Social Science – but this resilient student says, “the fact that I had prepared from the beginning ensured that I could do well in my papers even when I couldn’t revise for it the day before.”

What was his day like during the study holidays?

“I did not study the entire day. I ensured that I played for an hour every day. This gave me the break I needed. I love to play Squash, go go-karting and spend some time in the gym”

Studies were just a daily routine in his day.

What was the highlight of his success?

Aditya credits his mother for being a huge support during this time. He says “My mother did not pressurize or push me at all. She just told me to do my best and that it was ok. I cannot do anything well under pressure and so it was great not to have that. I just was regular, and I knew this was enough.”

He also mentioned that having friends living nearby helped him discuss subjects easily and also have a sense of healthy competition.

How did Ekya help in his preparation for the Boards?
Aditya, being a self-starter did most of the prep work by himself. He, however, acknowledges his Hindi teacher. “My Hindi teacher helped us a lot, especially since Hindi was a tough subject for me”.  He also clarified his doubts with his teachers who were always willing to help. 
Since the pattern of the exam papers was different this year, it helped to have more practice papers. Using Question banks to solve different questions helped predict the questions for the exams. And our teachers helped by taking us through the additional preparation material. I ensured that the 40 days of study holidays was dedicated to revising the entire syllabus and being prepared for the exams ahead.

How did it feel with the spotlight on him?

“It does feel weird but it’s ok.” He does admit that he would like to put it all away now and get on with his life. This student is really not fond of all the attention.

 

His mantra for the students of Grade IX

Aditya has just 3 things to say to his juniors.

  1. Don’t really worry – It will be ok
  2. Study a bit – every day – Being regular helps
  3. Play more and study less – Yes, that’s right – you should balance the two and go on

What are your best memories from Grade X?

Aditya was quick to talk about friends and how they all played together regularly and had a lot of fun. He did also mention that the flip side of going to school was the fact that they had to study a lot. However, what really was top of mind and caused him some fun anxious moments were his teachers constantly telling him to get a haircut.

This teenager is fond of beaches and motor vehicles. His favourite holiday destinations are Goa and the United States. He loves cars and bikes and would love to own a Ducati Master one day. He also follows Politics ardently especially the Indian political scene and that of the United States and finds it interesting to watch the news updates.

Here is what Ms. Jyothi Menon, Vice-Principal, Ekya ITPL, and his class teacher had to say about Aditya,

Kudos to this focused and resilient teenager and wishing him all success in the future.


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Ekya / October 10, 2023

The Truth of Time

The Truth of Time

The mountain tops shiver As the snow begins to shower The water flows to cover The secrets of the river.

The birds trill near the lake As the morning sun awake The lion cub to take The crown for the sake.

The windows patter The things clatter The world scatter As our deeds matter

Isana G K
Grade 7
Ekya Schools, ITPL

Ekya / October 10, 2023

Financial literacy from an early age

It’s Jan 2022, I am in grade 6 as a substitute teacher. I ask the students to introduce themselves. They also get curious to know about me. As soon as I tell them that I am a senior grade teacher and I teach Accounts and Business studies, they are intrigued. The word Business catches their attention and some of them express their interest in Finance.
Now, I was fascinated to hear the word finance from such young children. Particularly fascinated by a young student Ms Ahaana Shetty, who explained how she manages her pocket money, as taught to her by her father. She had a clear understanding of creating a balance between saving and spending.
This was not the case in the earlier times. We can quote examples of celebrities who, despite having earned a fortune, burnt their hands at poor financing decisions. Amitabh Bachan’s ABCL took on more than it could handle, like the Miss World pageant, and exhausted all money. Then it took bank loans which it couldn't repay. Mr. Bachchan had retired, so there was no income and no savings. The moral of the story is, that even if people earn astronomical sums, they need to invest it so that it keeps growing.
Having said that, it boils down to the fact that financial literacy at an early age is pivotal for building a strong foundation for financial well-being throughout life. Teaching children about money, budgeting, savings and investments from a young age will help them make informed financial decisions. They can avoid the financial perils faced commonly by people.
The challenge in educating young children about finance would be the financial jargon which they may find overwhelming and difficult to understand. Hence it becomes important to use age-appropriate terminology.
As parents, we can give a reasonable amount of allowance to our children and ask them to use it wisely for needs, and wants and also save a part of it. This will help them to understand the concept of budgeting. We must also encourage them to make informed purchasing decisions, look for discounts and become a smart shopper.
A simple step like opening a savings bank account for the child and making them understand how a bank account works will introduce them to the importance of keeping money safe. They will understand how regular savings will grow over some time due to the compounding of interest.
Children must be taught about loans too. They need to understand that loans should not be borrowed if one is not sure of financial ability to repay. Also, they need to be taught that loans must be repaid timely, or else they will keep becoming bigger due to accumulating interest.
Older children can be introduced to the concepts of stocks and mutual funds. They can be encouraged to follow investments over time and learn about the dynamics of stock markets.
Schools can introduce financial literacy programs and take initiatives to incorporate financial education as part of the curriculum.
I would like to conclude by saying that it is essential for everyone to be financially literate and wisely invest money to grow it. It is equally important to keep track of investments. One should not spend more than what one earns, even if the earnings are enormous, otherwise, the money will not last very long. Remember, it is your money.

Ekya / October 10, 2023

A Guide To Navigating Academic Stress

Academic pressure and impending board exams can feel like an overwhelming storm, but as a 10th-grade student who's been through the burnout ringer, I've discovered effective strategies to stay afloat. When stress creeps in, I lean on a toolbox of coping mechanisms that help me maintain balance and clarity.

Understanding my panic patterns has been key. I've learnt that giving my all is important, but the outcome isn't a mirror of my worth. I remind myself of this and reframe my perspective. To escape my study-clogged mind, I turn to books – they whisk me away to new worlds, however briefly. Music acts as a soothing balm; I limit panic to 5 minutes and then channel my energy into finding solutions.

Engaging in physical activities is another lifesaver. Running or spending time outdoors channels my pent-up energy, allowing my mind to reset. Moreover, taking up hobbies like painting or playing a musical instrument provides a welcome distraction and cultivates a sense of accomplishment beyond academics.

Remember, you're more than your grades. Embrace your unique strengths, employ these strategies, and watch stress lose its grip. With determination, self-awareness, and a dash of escapism, you'll breeze through the academic whirlwind.

Written By: Ahaana Singhal Student of Grade 10

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First Week of School at Ekya BTM Layout

With summer passing by, all of us at Ekya School BTM Layout couldn’t help but notice our beautiful mariposas fluttering back into our garden of school. We indeed missed them the whole summer and were eager, on-our-toes, to greet familiar faces and the to-be familiar faces. The staff of Ekya School BTM Layout were well-prepared to receive our students with welcome boards for each class, shaking hands with kids in the most reassuring manner, and starting the day on a positive note. The class teachers of the primary classes welcomed the smart, ever-smiling, enthusiastic tiny-tots with flashcards and guided them into their class line in an orderly manner. The middle and senior classes though looked nonchalant initially, developed the interest to listen to the speech of the Vice Principal, Ms. Harbinder Kaur. The Vice Principal introduced every teaching and non-teaching staff to the students and then provided them with instructions about the culture at Ekya Schools. The classes began at 8:05 AM sharp, as we got to see our young minds eagerly awaiting to feast the knowledge meal! Besides the school being charged with the energy of students, we welcomed the academic year 2018-19 with an optimist vibe. The week started off with a Dumb-Charades event conducted for Grades 5 to 9 and Listen and Draw event conducted simultaneously for Grades 1 to 4. The children showcased their creative side with acting skills and perceptive quality. To concise, we could see budding artists on a roll! To sum up the week, Grade 6 to 9 enrolled into various clubs to enhance their skills on creativity, performing arts and visual arts. The stellar club was the photo-maniacs, trapping moments and glimpses in the camera.

Recommended English Reading List at Ekya [Grade-wise]

As part of the English curriculum at Ekya, we have curated a list of books(grade-wise), recommended for our students to read. Here is our English Reading list:

Recommended Reading List for Grade 1

- Ammachi's Glasses by Priya Kuriyan - Salim Mamoo and Me by Zai Whitaker - Ira the Little Dolphin by Shekar Dattatri - The Noddy Series by Enid Blyton - Read Aloud Stories (an anthology from Tulika) - Karadi Tales - Treasury for Children by James Herriot - Farewell to Shady Glade by Bill Peet - Winnie the Pooh by A A Milne - Now We are Six (Winnie the Pooh) by A A Milne - Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss - Early Picture Books by Children Book Trust - Books by National Book Trust
Image from Amazon.in

Recommended Reading List for Grade 2

- The Young Visitors by Daisy Ashford - Mary Poppins by PL Travers - The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter - The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum - Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift - The Enchanted Shoes by Enid Blyton - When We Were Very Young (Winnie-the-Pooh) by A.A Milne - The Tale of Mr. Tod by Beatrix Potter - Books by Children Book Trust - Books by National Book Trust
Image from Amazon.in

Recommended Reading List for Grade 3

- The Butterfingers Series by Khyrunnisa A - Matilda By Roald Dahl - George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl - Black Beauty by Anna Sewell - The Twits by Roald Dahl - Once Upon A Monsoon Time by Ruskin Bond - Deepak Dalal's adventure series set in the Andamans, Ladakh, etc. - A Pizza the Size of the Sun by Jack Prelutsky - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham - Let’s Go Time Travelling by Subhadra Sen Gupta - Books by Children Book Trust - Books by National Book Trust
Image from Amazon.in

Recommended Reading List for Grade 4

- My Nana is a Nutcase by Ranjit Lal - The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss - How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell - The Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross - Charlotte’s Web by E B White - Those Dreadful Children by Enid Blyton - The Famous Five Series - The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling - Books by Children Book Trust - Books by National Book Trust
Image from Amazon

Recommended Reading List for Grade 5

Stories in Familiar settings - The Ranthambore Adventure by Deepak Dalal - The Andamans Adventure. Barren Island, by Deepak Dalal and other Vikramaditya adventures (available at the school library) Biographies - Rani Lakshmibai - Puffin Lives (a new batch of Puffin Lives are now in the school library) - My Life. An Illustrated Biography - APJ Abdul Kalam - I Can - Stories of how children are changing the world by Devika Rangachari Suspense Stories - Danny The Champion of the World-Roald Dahl - Nancy Drew Series - Hardy Boys Series Books by Significant Authors - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling - Books by R K Narayan
Image from Amazon.in

Recommended Reading List for Grade 6

Folktales - Stories to Solve Folktales from Around the World by George Shannon - Burmese Folktales - Stories from forgotten kingdoms retold by Madhu Gurung Horror and Suspense - Goosebumps Series by R.L. Stine - The Adventures of Feluda by Satyajit Ray Contemporary Fiction - Expressing the Self - My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell (Humour) - Going Solo by Roald Dahl Fantasy/Sci-Fiction - The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke - The Unicorn Expedition and Other Stories by Satyajit Ray - Fortunately the Milk by Neil Gaiman Pre-20th Century Fiction - Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1871) - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (1876) - Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (1837) - Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1901) - Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (1883) - Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (1877) Pre-20th Century Drama - Macbeth by William Shakespeare - The Tempest by William Shakespeare - Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw
Image from Penguin

Recommended Reading List for Grade 7

Fantasy - Faces in the Water by Ranjit Lal - Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke - Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets by JK Rowling Suspense - Dracula by Bram Stoker - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - Agatha Christie Series - The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith Coming of Age - Unbroken by Nandhika Nambi - Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger - Words from the Hills by Ruskin Bond Myths and Legends - Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - Myths & Legends Of India, Egypt China & Japan by Rachel Storm
Image from Amazon

Read more on our Understanding the Ekya Curriculum feature:

 

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