udgam matters july 2016

1 UDGAM MATTERSJuly 2016

matters

Exam Stress?

Which Colour Are you?

The Gods must be Crazy

Tips from parents to handle them better Page : 10, 11

Page : 13

Take the personality test Page : 12

Page : 15

You Are Covered In Bacteria

JULY 2016

2 UDGAM MATTERSMay/June 2016

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Behave yourself…you

are not a child anymore!

Being positive in the face of all odds is an art and this art needs to be mastered by all of us to be happy and healthy in life. Our mornings begin with a glance at the newspaper or the TV news which highlights mainly the unfortunate events. We shake our heads over our morning cuppa and curse the government and the society at large. As we leave for the day (in a bad temper as we are already late) we are bogged down by further negativity probably from a family member, a neighbour, the security guard, the rickshawala, van driver, bus driver and so on who share their problems to reduce their burden.

We carry the load with us to school and workplace where it is further enhanced by negativity from co-workers. At the end of the day we are tired and ready to bite. Probably the term ‘dog-tired’ is a result of ‘barking like a dog’ all day. We spend the rest of the day in a dismal frame of mind, snap at people around, scold the children, find faults with the dinner and go to bed angry for no reason.

So what’s the alternative?Watch the children around you, whether at home, at school or in any other place. You will find them totally bereft of any kind of negative emotion. They are open and live life to the full. They live their days like there is no tomorrow. We teach them to give up their carefree spirit. We begin with ‘do not talk to strangers’ and tell them gruesome incidents to

seal it. They begin to look askance at the very people who they had befriended earlier. We teach them to be competitive and their best friends become their enemies. We blame the teachers and the school and they lose respect for their gurus and elders. Basically we train them to stop behaving like children and follow our dismal and gloomy behaviour. Of course safety cannot be compromised upon but in our attempt to keep them safe we do more harm than good.

Instead we should look at the dear little ones and start adopting their attitude to life. If you need life’s lessons there is no better person to learn it from than a child. Their world is clear and their views are unadulterated. They see things as they are and not as they have been shaped by us. They are innocent but their wisdom is greater than that of sages.

Be like a child,Act like a child,Think like a child.Try it…and feel the difference.

Mrs. Sagarika Sahana, Content Manager

From The Director... Speaking In English Page 3

Radiant Reflections Page 4Preprimary in action Page 5

Primary Section Page 6

Middle Section Page 7

Secondary Section Page 8

Sr. Secondary Section Page 9How Do You Handle Exam Stress Page 10

Parents’ Talk Page 11

Which Colour Are You? Page 12

Science And Technology Page 13

General Knowledge Page 14

Book & Movie Review Page 15

Tell Me About Page 16

Life Story Page 17

Face To Face With Sanjana

Page 18

How The School Mobile App Began? Page 19

WHAT’SINSIDE


FROMTHE DIRECTOR

SPEAKING IN ENGLISH

Another academic year has begun! It is time again for us to gear ourselves up to new tasks and challenges. This year we plan to take up one big challenge – make everyone in the school, teachers and students, speak in English. It is a matter of embarrassment to us that, in spite of being an English-medium school, most students and teachers converse in Gujarati or Hindi. Parents have also pointed this out in their feedback. They want their children to speak fluently in English. So, our management has decided to tackle this issue on a war footing.

What should be done?

Unless all of us make a joint effort, we shall not be able to make our students speak fluently in English.

Teachers who know to speak English must always speak in English while conversing with one another. Our students should hear spoken English.

Teachers should always speak to students in English, all except teachers of other languages. They should also ensure that they speak correct English.

Teachers may display on soft-boards, walls of their classroom short sentences of daily usage.

Last year, I conducted an activity ‘Conversations’ in my class to evaluate speaking skill in English. In groups of 3, students had to ‘discuss’ a topic. I prepared chits for them to choose their topic. I had not only written the topic but also a few lines of conversation. The students could

either use the lines and continue with the conversation or take it as a sample. This was helpful to them as it gave them a direction for their discussion. I gave them 5 to 10 minutes for preparation. The topics included Money, Mobile Phones, At a Bus-stop, In a Park, Traffic Police and Students, At a Hotel and so on.

Every day I had 3 or 4 groups preparing and performing. There was no paper work. Everything was done orally. After each conversation, I asked the other students to give their feedback. They were only too happy to point out mistakes in the language of the speakers!

I found the activity a fruitful one. A simple activity that requires no special facility or space! At the same time, students also enjoyed it and did not take it as an evaluation. In fact, they wanted to do it again. In the process, they learnt certain phrases, expressions to be used while making polite conversations. The activity went beyond the purpose of evaluation!

Ms. Radhika Iyer, Director

UDGAM MATTERS

GOD, GIVE ME...Mrs. Priti Sakhadeo, Supervisor – Middle School

Dear Adults,

I am any Saurabh, Suleiman or Samantha of age 12. ‘Please lend me your ears.’Today, I want to pour out the turmoil within me. God, give me voice. You must be wondering how I know this quote from Shakespeare ‘Please lend me your ears.’ My English teacher told about it. She told us the story of Julius Caesar. We really like her classes. She is a very senior person with a clear wit. Her explanations and connections are so apt that we adore her! God, give me such good teachers.

I am fat. My friends tease me. My science teacher says the term is obese. The textbook says I must eat balanced food and take a lot of exercise. Let me share the truth. I cannot get away from the TV! There is sheer laziness to get

out of the couch and go play or bicycle around the town. I cannot resist the large chocolate bar, that premium ice cream and those potato chips. I know they are doing more harm than good. I need to do right things! God, give me strength. My friend gets bullied. He has those thick glasses and he stutters. He shares his things with me, including the delicious lunch his mother cooks. I want to stand up for him. Once, only once, I want to stand up and shout at the top of my voice, ‘Stop the nonsense you do to him, he is a fine boy. So what if you find him different?’ In the heart of my hearts I know I will not do it. The reason? Simple, my friends will laugh at me; they will single me out like him! Shut up me! God, give me courage.

I see every one around me is eating wrong, defying traffic rules, spitting on the roads and not turning off the water taps. I have seen this from the age of say two, three; as long as I can remember. I have not seen many people around me paying taxes regularly. I have not witnessed those who read voraciously. I know very few adults not using the cell phones while driving. I know only as many people not littering the public places, as the fingers on my hands.I have picked all things from you, the adult world!How can I shift + delete

all that has gone deep into my system for over a decade? God, give me virtues.I went swimming the other day of my vacation. A small child, almost my younger brother’s age, came running towards the pool. The guard-on-duty asked the child not to run but walk. The child’s mother felt insulted. ‘Only I can tell my child what to do; who are you to say that?’ argued she. God! O adults around me, please do not restrict yourself from telling us right and wrong. If you don’t do it, who will guide me? O society, I request you to let me see those dangers in advance. Tell me when I put my feet on the dining table; tell me when I avoid my chores; correct me when I shy away from helping a friend in need. Do admonish me when I go crazy. You have a right. If you don’t correct me now, how will I be an upstanding citizen making a healthy contribution to society? Do rebuke me so that I will not have unrealistic expectations of the world in my later life. Show me Good so that I can be Good. Pray for me, teach me, direct me; you all adults, I promise to be a worthy citizen when I grow up. God, give me life.

Yours ever, Saurabh, Suleiman or Samantha

BEInG A TEACHER-Dr. Simi Mathew,

Teacher- Senior Secondary

Being a teacher is being a student for a lifetime, You have to answer questions all the time.

Being a teacher is being evolved every year, new batch, new kids, new challenges can be faced without fear.

Being a teacher is to evaluate few times in a month and punish when needed, Punish to correct but never to destroy the child who never heeded.

Being a teacher is being accountable every hour of the day, Little eyes are watching and learning all our ways.

Being a teacher is being productive every 40 mins and always on the run, Have to teach more in less time with more fun.

Being a teacher is being silent for a few minutes, Being silent when you can’t say it without screaming, Being silent when your words could nip the bud that’s growing.

Being a teacher is to be in sync with the almighty every moment everywhere, For we know when we shower our blessings miracles unfold anywhere.

RADIANT REFLECTIONS

4 July 2016

Mrs. Smita JadhavTeacher, -Primary Section


PREPRIMARY IN ACTION

Anshul Sharma - SR KG - J


I LOVE BOOKS

Books, Books they are very nice, They give us knowledge and make us wise,Books, Books they have many themes, and When we go to book store and read about schemes.Books, Books on literature, WOW! They have so many picturesBooks, Books gives information on Sun, Books, Books they are so much fun.

LAVAnYA PALIWAL - V C

DHRUVI GOR - V C

UnIQUE TALEnT BY AARAV PATEL - V A RAJVI SHAH - I E

DEVInA TAnDOn - IV A KHUSHI SHAH - V B

PRIMARY SECTION


RAIn AnD THE SUn HAD A COnFLICTThe rain and the sun had a conflictAbout who has more powers. They decided to demonstrate their skills When rain sent gentle showers

To oppose him the sun sentA bright ray of sunlightTo which in reply Was a lightning bolt just as bright

They continued to fightUntil of earth the children criedStop your scuffle otherwiseWe won’t be able to bear your might

The rain and the sun learnt their follyAnd gave the children each a dollyFor rightly teaching themNever to fight again for fame

DeekshitaAthreya – VII C

THE SMELL OF FRESH PAPERS

The smell of fresh papers And chalkboards is found So quiet, that noise pages make when they fly Is the only audible sound

The day starts when the school bell ringsDrowning all the other noisesAfter that the only thing you can hearAs children talking in excited voicesAnd then come our teachersSmarter than us allWho teach us that without knowledgeThe biggest person is small

We meet our new classmates,See our friends again And that is what happens When the new school year begins!

Antara Munshi – VII G

IS HISTORY BORInG?‘History is a boring subject’ is an often repeated statement. Many a times the people who say these words do not know how interesting history can be. History is not mere facts and dates; it is the story of human beings from their very origin. The story from cave to home, from darkness to light, from forest to forts, from penury to prosperity, from chaos to coherence is so rich, dynamic and colourful that it has entertained millions of viewers.

Probably, those who say history is boring are ignorant to the works of Aristotle, Confucius, Chanakya, Ashwagosh, Amir Khusro and scores of modern writers. History is a never ending story. Its reach is not limited to mere landscapes and oceans. neither is it limited to counting stars and motion of other celestial bodies. It is the story of ‘chai-wala’ becoming the Prime Minister and ‘AamAadmi’ becoming a Chief Minister’.

Avani Vijay – VIII F

MIDDLE SECTION

CLEAnLInESSAs the quote says” Cleanliness is next to Godliness”. It is perfectly true. A clean home is a happy home. Cleaning is a good habit and a healthy way of our healthy life. Recently, our Prime Minister-Mr. narendra Modi has started a campaign called Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. We should understand that cleanliness is not the responsibility of our Prime Minister alone. However, it is a responsibility of every citizen.We can be healthy only if our surroundings are clean. First we can clean our house, then our society, then city, then state, then country and finally the whole world. Why can’t we do it? Can’t we do our bit to make the earth a better place? Yes, we can! First everyone will ignore you, then they will laugh at you, then they will fight and ultimately you will win. We do not need campaigns to make us clean our country. We can do it ourselves. Efficiency requires cleanliness and order. We can work freely with clean mind in clean surroundings.

Arushi Shah – VII A

IshikaChoksi– Class VIII B

THE PLEDGE OF KInDnESSI pledge to myself, On this very day,To try to be kind In every wayTo every person Big or Small,

I will help them If they fallWhen I love myself and others too,That is the best, That I can do.

Ahmad Menon – VIII B

UDGAM MATTERS

A CLAUSTROPHOBIC’S SAnCTUARYA tiny crack; as it spreads onto another etching a map of a billion little estuaries onto your mind, into your soul, refusing to stitch together while time stills and pauses then plays, of its own accord; indifferent to your struggle against

rationality and fear. So you close your eyes and purse your lips. Shut your mind and ball a fist, whilst sweat trickles down your spine, sending shivers to your bones, injecting fear into your blood. Then it rises, slowly at first, making you squirm; numbing your legs, like a crumpled paper you fall and fold into yourself. And when it reaches your stomach, you claw through your skin, hoping to rip out the dark clouds raising a storm inside of you, making their way to your heart, trying to fill it with dread, far too heavy for you to carry.

Twitching bony fingers hold your heart in it’s rightful place. As the clouds rise up to choke your head. Your breath staggers and strays with the faces on the previously empty walls. Darkness tints your vision, leeching your strength and making you vulnerable, gullible, infantile, volatile. Demanding you to lose this battle of agony. Deafening screams echo through your grey cells, but you can feel the emptiness of the mind-ridding fear. The disastrous but made up fear. You have heard these screams before, they’re yours. So you pick up your nearly-dead body; a slightly cracked mind, on legs made up of sheer will to survive. You wake your ringing ears, your blackened eyes. and then you ask them to fight. The fear follows the running, it intrudes the scared. Some fights are fought for the loved, some are fought for the loving. But the fight with fear itself is, Fought by you and for you. For once, loneliness is a blessing, So, Unashamed, you stand tall with raised fists, Ready to protect your sanctuary.

Pracheta Mohanty - X E

DESIGnInG FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

When we think of design, we often associate it with commercial endeavors:

a company logo, a product, a website, or even a building’s layout, both inside and out. Design possesses a power beyond the commercial importance we’ve placed on it. As creatives, we’re taught to think of design as a way to solve problems and convey important, meaningful concepts to broad audiences. Design in its own right can solve problems and bring about forces of change, revolution, enlightenment and renaissance. As the practice and conscientious thinking, design progresses through history into design thinking; that which has an influence on industries well beyond “creative” professions. Problem-solving is becoming more rooted in design principles of empathy for the consumer, driving change that is making a host of industries more human-focused and people-centered than at any other time. designers are looking more globally at the major issues that impact us as people, communities, and consumers, and how design can help us not only understand these issues better, but give us the opportunity to bring about real change and solutions through the use of human-centered design.

Today, we have the tools, research, and science available to model our design decisions more

intricately than ever, limiting the instances in which the solution to one problem creates new problems somewhere else. When we analyze whole systems and understand interconnections, we can minimize the negative effects of the things we create while solving the problems that impact us as citizens. When you think about it, climate change is a manifestation of unintended consequences of past designs. Successfully addressing climate change requires a holistic view. The design team of China’s tallest skyscraper, the Shanghai Tower, relied on software to simulate and then optimize the building’s shape. The double-skin façade is asymmetrical, tapering and round, which reduces wind loads on the building, facilitates the collection of rainwater for heating and cooling units, and insulates the building.

This design thinking approach to the Shanghai Tower resulted in a 35 percent reduction in materials used and $58 million in construction cost savings. Not only were savings benefited during the building of the tower, the tower also benefits from an ongoing energy savings of 20 percent and water savings of 40 percent. This is the future of buildings and infrastructure– modelling and optimizing the full impact of a building and capitalizing on significant savings as a result. Using design and design thinking to take on the challenges of cities and communities all tie into the principles and mission of the ‘designing for a better tomorrow’.

Dhruvi Shah – X C

SECONDARY SECTION

Tanvi Jain X - F

Vanshika Thakur X - F

Tanvi Jain – X F

Vanshika Thakur – X

8 July 2016


SR. SECONDARY SECTION

YOU SHALL ALWAYS STAY ALIVE

The day when I saw you sleeping,never to wake up again,The world had stopped for me,And heart was not beating.

I could not speak anything,nor express my emotions,Just sitting in a corner silently,Praying that it just turns out to be a dream.

People say that you have left me and this world,And now I have to move on,But my heart only says that you are still alive,In the beautiful memories of ours.

You have taught me many things,You have guided me so far,There is much to know in this world yet,So please keep a watch over me from there.

I remember the glow of your eyes,And the beauty of your smile,Whenever someone appreciated me,I know you always felt proud.

I know that you were a gift that God had given,And he has taken it back for some unknown reason,But I wish that you stay happy forever.

You have occupied a major portion of my heart,Which will never be given to anyone for sure.You are still alive in my heart,And shall always be there.

Abhishek Wadhawan – XI G

KARATE

When I’m in karate mode,My heart pumps up and sparks up the soul

Me practicing hard, day in & day outShouting “Khey! Khey” and firing up my blows

I correct my unbalanced katas and kicksThis way sharpening my attacking skills

Similar to a hunting knifeSharpened to be thrown

Killing the prey with a deathblow.

As I’m in the square ringIrrespective of the well versed years,

I also surpass fears—Swollen bruisesBroken bones

But—my eyes ferociously glowThey’re concentrated on viciousness.

There’s swift flashes of franticArms and legs, connecting hard

Targeting the unlucky opponent/ victimWhen I take my chance, make my move

Hoping it’s not blocked nor do I missAll I wish to get is points and cheers

Try, put my all and be the victor.

Though, with my strongly built limbs Dauntless self-esteem,

I decide, to risk it all overKnowing—

The risks could be sour, likeA kick at the gut, leaving my breathless

Maybe a punch, straight at the face Alls worthwhile,

Because it seems just right.

A minute and a half pass, the referee calls—

“Timeout!! You have 30. Get ready fast”I keep my cool, take my time

30 seconds passed, referee shouts againBursting with energy and enthusiasm

Commanding with authority“Aka ( red side) ready?”“Aao (blue side) ready?”

Telling to keep our minds steady“Hasime! (fight!)” he calls to

make our moves.

I’m trying to proveAs I make my move

With threatening lifts and throwsOpening the doors

To my immense passionExpressing—

Winning is my obsession.

Twirling & kicking,Swearing & punching,

Karate chops slicing through the airHere, and there....

Always believing ‘I am the best!’‘I can beat all the rest!’

The thirst to have thrill Without the delinquent pills, I quench that desperate thirst Drenching in karate, because

It’s MY way of LIFE...........................

Tanvi Kumar – XII F

HOW DO YOU HANDLE EXAM

ROLE OF PAREnTS DURInG EXAMS

The phase before the exams can be very stressful for the students. In fact for parents also exam of the child is a taxing time. With changing questions patterns and a more extensive syllabus, students get bewildered during this time and give in to various shades of despair. However, hanadling the situation calmly will help to ease the stress levels of your child as well as your home. Read on to understand how parents can help their children cope better with stress during exams.

Be there to help them

Some parents are capable of solving doubts and difficulties of their children and this needs to be more before their exams. Be there for them and try to solve their queries well. If you are not able to owing to the level of difficulty, then please guide them about how they can solve the doubts.

Keep them positive

Your child may cave in to pressure and become negative in the days preceding the exams. It is for you to boost him or her and keep the atmosphere of the home as positive as possible. However, do not make the child overconfident. The right nutrition matters

Some children lose their appetite during exams. As a parent you need

to ensure that they are eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Also remind them about drinking plenty of water to keep them hydrated.

Do not give vent to anger

If you are frustrated with your child’s inability to grasp concepts or solve questions then do not shout at him or her. Be as calm as possible. You should not add to the exam stress. Deal with the situation as amicably as possible and add doses of laughter and humour. Stress management techniques

A couple of stress management techniques that really help are music and exercise. You can encourage your child to go out in the open for a stroll. This will clear his or her mind and provide a refreshing break. Soft music tones accompanied with meditation has also proved to be effective. Keep family problems at bay

Do not discuss family problems in your child’s hearing now and if possible, never. Unknowingly you may be adding to his or her stress levels. In fact agree not to disagree with your spouse or other family members during this time as even a normal argument can be distracting. Keep a happy environment in your home. On the day of exams

Begin the day in a calm way by wishing your child well. Give your

child a good send off and make him or her feel confident. After he or she comes home, try not to ask too many questions. In fact reviewing the question paper can be done when all the papers are over. After the exams

now it is time to celebrate! Go out after the exams, if possible for a vacation and have fun together. If time is a constraint then go out for dinner and a movie. This will help to release exam stress and bring back the fun element. After the results

If children perform very well then congratulate them whole heartedly for their efforts. However, take care that you don’t make them too proud of their marks. If the performance has been mediocre then encourage him or her to try harder next time. Work together on skills that could improve the results of the next examination. If the results are below average then do not rave or rant at your child. Instead sit together and work upon the possible causes of him or her not being able to perform well. Bear in mind that all children cannot be academically excellent and while we as parents would expect the best outcome from our child, he or she has his limitations, same as we do.Be a supportive parent and watch your child excel!


We spoke to a few parents whose children are studying in Class XII. Being the

board year, this is a special phase for the students as well as the family. We asked them a few questions about their support during the boards.

Mrs Madhu Mohan, mother of Snigdha Suggala, supported her daughter’s choice of Humanities as a stream in Class XI, although it was a diff erent fi eld from their’s. According to her, “In our times stress was less. The pressure has increased due to increased competition and parental expectations”. She appreciates the workshops and awareness programs that are done in school by the teachers for dealing with stress as well as for career choice. Her suggestion to all parents is to make and follow a time table, have a good diet, sleep well and communicate with family and friends to reduce the stress.

Punya Chhajer’s mother, Mrs Rashmi Chhajer, however diff ers in her opinion about extra support. According to her children should not be pressurized to study more because it is boards. In her family they have not allowed tension to build up on account of exams. “Do your best but do not worry about the result. We will accept whatever comes.” Not being the competitive kind, Rashmi has always given importance to satisfaction and happiness over money and success. She feels that Udgam is doing more than enough and teachers guide the students like their own kids.

Priyam Patel’s father, Mr Abhay Patel, feels that Class XII is very crucial and parents must support their children as emotional and physical fi tness are very important for studies. However, according to him happiness is very important and parents must be careful not to introduce stress. But they can guide

their child to choose the right career as a child’s brain is fi ckle.

Naveen Batada’s father, Mr Kaiz Batada, says “Have a very positive atmosphere at home and treat boards like any other exam. There is nothing to get stressed about as we are giving an exam at every step of our life. Just work hard and keep faith. During our times parents were not aware that we have an exam. Today’s parents also get involved in increasing the stress on the child.” He is extremely supportive of his son taking up History as major in college and pursuing a career in this.

On one hand we have parents who are of the opinion that boards should be taken as any other exam and on the other hand we have others who feel that students need extra support during the board years. The idea is to reduce the stress and parents have a very important role in it.


Parents’ TALK

Snigdha Suggala With Parents

Priyam Patel With Parentsnaveen Batada With Parents

Punya Chhajer With Parents

From the Counsellors…IDENTIFY YOUR PERSONALITY TYPE- TAKE THE TESTColour Colour which Colour are you?

CIRCLE ONE WORD OR PHRASE PER LINE THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOU OR WHAT YOU LIKE:

now circle the corresponding colors on the Tally Sheet. -For example: if a student circled sensitive on line 1 of the test, he/she would circle blue on the tally sheet. Once you complete the tally sheet you need to total the individual colors.

After you have totaled the individual colours, check your dominant colour personality.

Once you complete the tally sheet you need to total the individual colors.

After you have totaled the individual colours, check your dominant colour personality.

1. red green blue yellow 2. red yellow blue green3. green red yellow blue 4. red yellow green blue

5. yellow red green blue

6. red blue green yellow 7. green blue yellow red

8. red yellow blue green 9. yellow red green blue

10. red green blue yellow11. blue yellow red green 12. green yellow blue red13. red blue yellow green14. green red yellow blue15. red green blue yellow

now circle the corresponding colors on the Tally Sheet. -For example: if a student circled sensitive on line 1 of the test, he/she would circle blue on the tally sheet.

1. Self-Confi dent Organized Sensitive Trusting 2. Spontaneous Checks With Others Dreamer Analytical3. Stubborn Superior Rebellious Easily Off ended 4. Demanding Encouraging Determined Quiet 5. Caring/Helpful Outspoken Firmness Kind 6. Daring Idealist Dutiful Playful 7. Logical Satisfi ed Friendly Bold8. Authoritative Team Worker Independent Conservative9. Talkative Restless Attentive Humble

10. Irritable Rigid Easily Hurt Helpless11. Emotional Flexible Likes Recognition Particular12. neat & Tidy Alert Avoids Confl icts Usually Right13. Goal-Oriented Talented Volunteer Schedule-Oriented14. Careful Workaholic Supportive Self-Directed15. Hard-Working Attentive To Details Imaginative Positive Thinker


After you have totaled the individual colours, check your dominant colour personality.After you have totaled the individual colours, check your dominant colour personality.After you have totaled the individual colours, check your dominant colour personality.

12 July 2016 UDGAM MATTERS

RED: task and result oriented, likes recognition,likes to be on the move, doesn’t like to be late, enjoys individual sports (golf, tennis, track, piano, individual dance, etc.) likes expensive showy things, generally honest, but their moral compass might deviate during a competitive showdown. Red personality types tend to make good leaders. They love leadership roles and enjoy “managing” people.

YELLOW: people oriented, expressive, friendly, loves to talk, extravagant, optimistic, enjoys team sports (volleyball, baseball, football, basketball, drill team, cheer team, etc.).Yellow personality types are the glue that holds groups together.

GREEN: detail oriented, precise, controlled, likes to do things right the fi rst time, likes to complete jobs, tends to be thrifty as adults. Green personality types like order. They generally have neat lockers and organized notebooks. They are often perceived as “neatfreaks”. They make wonderful treasurers, secretaries, or committee chairs in clubs. They will keep your group organized.

BLUE: creative, freethinking, sincere, loyal, caring, perceptive, understanding, open-minded, oftentimes enjoys nature, many like the arts. Blue personality types are often perceived as quiet, sometimes shy individuals. Oftentimes they may be loners or have one or two other “blue” friends. They are very innovative, idea people. They tend to be quiet in a group and hould be called upon to share their ideas.


SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY1. DO YOU KnOW THOR?

The world’s fi rst 3D-printed aircraft THOR was unveiled by European aerospace company, Airbus at the International Aerospace Exhibition held in Schoenefeld, Germany. The THOR is short for Test of High-tech Objectives in Reality. It resembles a large, white model airplane but is windowless.

Key features of THOR:

• THOR has just 3 parts. It is lighter, faster and cheaper.

• It is windowless small pilotless propeller aircraft.

• It weighs 21 kilo grams and less than 4 metres long.

• All it parts (except the electrical

elements) are 3D printed from a substance called polyamide.

THOR’s inaugural fl ight was conducted near Hamburg, Germany in november 2015. Aerospace companies like Airbus and Boeing already are using 3D printing technology to make parts for their huge passenger jets A350 and B787 Dreamliner.

About 3D printing technology 3D printing is a process of making 3-D (three dimensional) solid objects from a digital fi le with extreme precision. This technology is also termed additive manufacturing as the 3D printed object is created us additive processes i.e. by laying

down successive layers of manufacturing material on each other until the entire object is created. This technology has limitless possibilities and can create almost anything with just raw material and a computer generated model.

(SOURCE: GK TODAY)

2. FOUR nEW ADDITIOnS TO THE PERIODIC TABLE GET nEW nAMES

Four elements, offi cially added to the periodic table in December, have been named. They are nihonium (nh), moscovium (Mc), tennessine (Ts), and oganesson (Og).

(SOURCE: SCIEnCE nEWS)

3. YOU ARE ALL COVERED In BACTERIA!

We’re covered inside and out with bacteria and microbes. We are actually a very important part of their ecosystem. All of these microbes serve special purposes. They help us digest and process certain foods as well as fi ght off mental disorders like

depression. They have even been linked to both causing and helping

anxiety and autism. It’s called your microbiome and the more research that scientists do, the more they realize it has a lot to do with what makes you…you! We have 10x more bacteria in our guts and on our bodies than we do actual cells. We have 2-5 pounds of bacteria on us and in us at any given moment.


GENERALKNOWLEDGE

India is a land of diversity. There are many cities and towns in India that are very famous. Sometimes they are referred to by their nicknames. For example, did you know that the land of seven islands is Mumbai? Find out

more about nicknames of some famous Indian places.

Nick name and City1 Abode Of The Gods Prayag (Allahabad). 21 Hollywood Of India Mumbai

2 Blue Mountains nilgiri 22 Manchester Of India Ahmedabad

3 Boston Of India Ahmedabad 23 Manchester Of The north Kanpur

4 City Of Buildings Kolkata 24 Manchester Of The South Coimbatore

5 City Of Palaces Kolkata 25 Old Ganga Godavari

6 City Of Festivals Madurai 26 Pink City Jaipur

7 City Of Lakes Srinagar 27 Pittsburg Of India Jamshedpur

8 City Of nawabs Lucknow 28 Queen Of Arabian Sea Cochin

9 City Of Rallies new Delhi 29 Queen Of The Mountains Mussoorie

10 City Of Seven Islands Mumbai 30 Sacred River Ganga

11 City Of Temples Varanasi. 31 Silicon Valley Of India Bengaluru

12 City Of Weavers Panipat 32 Soya Region Madhya Pradesh

13 Dakshinganga Godavari 33 Space City Bengaluru

14 Deccan Queen Pune 34 Sorrow Of Bengal Damodar River

15 Egg Bowls Of Asia Andhra Pradesh 35 Sorrow Of Bihar Kosi River

16 Electronic City Of India Bengaluru 36 State Of Five Rivers Punjab

17 Garden City Of India Bengaluru 37 Steel City Of IndiaJamshedpur

(Called Tatanagar)

18 Gateway Of IndiaHyderabad,

Sikandarabad38 Switzerland Of India Kashmir

19 Golden City Amritsar 39 Venice Of The East Cochin

20 Heaven Of India Jammu And Kashmir

BOOK& MOVIE REVIEW

THE ALCHEMIST- PAUL COEHLO

Paulo Coelho’s enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. no one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to fi nd worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

(SOURCE: GOODREADS)

THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY (1981)

Here’s a movie that begins with a Coke bottle falling from the heavens, and ends with a Jeep up in a tree. “The Gods Must Be Crazy” is a South African movie that arrived in Europe with little fanfare in 1982, broke box-offi ce records in Japan and South America and all over Europe, and even became a cult hit here in north America, where there has not been much of a demand for comedies from South Africa.

The fi lm begins in the Kalahari Desert. A pilot in a private plane throws his empty Coke bottle out of the window. It lands near a Bushman who is on a hunting expedition. He has never seen anything like it before. He takes it back to his tribe, where it is put to dozens of uses: It becomes a musical instrument, a pattern maker, a fi re starter, a cooking utensil, and, most of all, an object of bitter controversy. Everybody in the tribe ends up fi ghting over the bottle, and so the Bushman, played by the Xhosa actor n!xau (the exclamation point represents a click), decides there is only one thing to do: He must return the bottle to the gods. This decision sends him on a long odyssey toward more settled lands on the edges of the desert, where the movie develops into a somewhat more conventional comedy.

We meet some of the new characters: A would-be schoolteacher, a goofy biologist, and an insurgent leader. They are all intent on their own lives and plans, but in one way or another, the Xhosa and his Coke bottle bring them together into unexpected combinations. And the director, Jamie Uys, has the patience to develop some really elaborate sight gags, which require a lot of preparation but pay off with big laughs particularly the sequence with an indecisive, back-and-forth Jeep.

The star of the movie is n!xau, who is so forthright and cheerful and sensible that his very presence makes some of the gags pay off . In any slapstick comedy, the gags must rest on a solid basis of logic: It’s not funny to watch people being ridiculous, but it is funny to watch people doing the next logical thing, and turning out to be ridiculous. n!xau, because he approaches Western society without preconceptions, and bases all of his actions on logical conclusions, brings into relief a lot of the little tics and assumptions of everyday life. I think that reveals the thought that went into this movie: It might be easy to make a farce about screwball happenings in the desert, but it’s a lot harder to create a funny interaction between nature and human nature. This movie’s a nice little treasure.

(SOURCE- ROGER EBERT)

UDGAM MATTERS15 July 2016

10 FACTS ABOUT BRAZIL

Fact 1:During the last ten years the number of car owners in Brazil has exploded and Brazil now has more cars running on alternative fuel sources than any other country (2013). Despite just owning many cars,Brazil is also a large producer of cars, where the yearly production is about 3 million.

Fact 3:Brazil has the biggest rain forest in the world, the Amazon forest and there lives more than 27 million people in the area and this including around 300.000 Indians that belongs to 170 ethnicities. Since the Amazons is very remote, lost tribes are still found today.

Fact 2:The coff ee industry is huge in Brazil and during 2011 Brazil produced more than 2.6 million tonnes, which makes them the largest coff ee producer in the world. However the coff ee bush is not a natural crop in Brazil so it had to planted, which was done by Francisco de Melo Palheta in 1727.

Fact 4:Since Portugal colonized Brazil in the 16th century, Brazil has the 2nd highest Christian population and the largest Roman Catholic population in the world.

Fact 6:About 1 million people who live in Brazil are of Asian decent. Most of the so called Asian-Brazilan are emigrants from Japan who moved to Brazil during the early 18-century to work at coff ee farms.

Fact 10:Brazil is the largest country in Latin America and covers almost half of the South American continent.

Fact 8:Brazil has won the soccer world cup fi ve times and Brazil also hosted the world cup in 2014 but lost to the netherlands in the match for the third place, placing them at fourth place.

Fact 5:Almost 200 million people live in Brazil, which makes it the fi fth largest country in the world in terms of population.

Fact 7:Brazil have the largest biodiversity in the world (mostly thanks to the Amazon) and is home to around 3000 fresh water fi shes, 70.000 insects and 55.000 diff erent plants. Scientists have estimated that there may be up to four million species of plants and animals in Brazil.

Fact 9:Rio De Janeiro in Brazil is home to one of the new seven wonders of the world, the statue of Christ the Redeemer. The idea for the statue came from a priest during the mid 1850’s but the government during that time did not like the idea, but when the project was brought up again during the 1920’s they were able to collect enough money to start the construction. The statue which was fi nished in 1931 is a symbol for Brazilian Christianity.


Fact 1:

LIFE STORYwhat an inspiration!An entrepreneur, cartoonist, animator, voice actor, and fi lm producer

(Source: Storypick)

BEFORE:Before he became the legend that he is today, this man was struggling to make ends meet. In 1919, while working for a newspaper, he was fi red by the newspaper editor because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” In January 1920, he formed a short-lived company with another cartoonist. However, following a rough start, he left temporarily to earn money at the Kansas City Film Ad Company. He was soon joined by Iwerks, who were not able to run their business alone. Later, though he acquired his own studio which was successful, studio profi ts were insuffi cient to cover the high salaries paid to employees. The studio became loaded with debt and wound up bankrupt. After that, he decided to set up a studio in the movie industry’s capital city, Hollywood, California.

AFTER:He created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald, which was one of his fi rst huge successes in the cartooning business. At that time, he was only receiving a 20 percent cut on his fi lms and was ready to negotiate for higher since he was barely earning. He received another setback when his producer stole the character, and also stole his animation crew by negotiating contracts with them. His producer thought he would cave and work with the mere 20% he was paid.While most people would pack their bags and return home crying, or work for minimum wages, this dauntless young man went on to create his most successful cartoon character EVER – Mickey Mouse. Yes, boys and girls, this amazing person is none other than the entrepreneur, cartoonist, animator, voice actor, and fi lm producer Walt Disney. Reportedly, he was also told that Mickey Mouse would not work since a huge mouse on the screen would terrify women. Well, it seems that women were not scared, for this mouse has continued to share his story on screens all over the world, even today.

He did not let a string of failures overcome him, standing strong even through his toughest times.

There must not be a single person who does not know Walt Disney, or hasn’t heard the name “Disney”.


FACE TO FACESanjana Mukherjee of Class XII is the Young Chef fi nalist of the culinary contest organised by IIHM in association with nDTV Good Times and Incredible India. from the state. She was chosen among 10 state level fi nalists from others schools in the state based on marks given by an eminent panel of jury members and voting by the people. Now she is among 7 fi nalists who qualifi ed at the national level for the Grand Finale. Let us hear from her about her experience.

Q. Tell us about how it feels like to be catapulted to fame?

A. These last few weeks have suddenly marked a huge change in my Life, as I fi nd myself being Interviewed by FM Radio channels, Newspapers Articles charting my Culinary Journey, Celebrity Cookery Shows for National Television where I cook my Signature dish, Celebrity appearances in Club Functions and Seminars too, addressing People of all age groups, discussing the Gastronomic delights and healthy eating.

Q. Did you expect this kind of popularity would follow your decision to participate?

A. I didn’t know that my hobby and fun activity would catapult my Kitchen skills to Celebrity Kitchens at the NDTV Good Times Studio, sautéing and stir frying under the gaze of Lights Camera and Action call.

Q. What or who inspired you to cook?

A. As a child I would sit on the kitchen platform and watch my grandmother cooking delicious dishes. I used to be mesmerized by the crackling of spices and the aroma wafting from the wok. My mother has always inspired me to follow my heart and has been my pillar of strength for the contest. My interests in the Chemistry Lab are coming handy now, as cooking is all about Chemistry - The right proportion at the right time and viola! A perfect dish is ready to serve.

Q. Tell us about your specialty dishes.

A. The dishes I cooked so far have had a theme, for instance,

my “ Go Green” platter got me applause and appreciation

from the Judges here in Ahmedabad. For the fi nals held at Delhi I cooked ‘DoiMaach’, a Bengali dish.

Q. Tell us us about the competition.

A. After Two cook-off s wherein a huge number of students applied from all over Gujarat, I found myself selected for the Delhi Regional Finals which was Telecast on NDTV Good Times and left open for online voting too. 60 % marks were from the expert jury / celebrity Chefs like RanveerBrar and others and 40 % weightage was for Votes garnered.

Q. How has Udgam School helped you?

A. I am extremely thankful to my school for the support and to the entire Udgam Fraternity for their votes. It was a thrilling experience for me to watch the Results along with my School Friends in the Auditorium along with our Respected Directors and Principals and Teachers. It still feels like a dream that I found myself being declared the Winner in front of my school friends, to be declared as “ India’s Top Seven Super Young Chefs.”

Q. How are you preparing for the Grand Finale at Delhi?

A. I am working very hard to improve my Culinary and Presentation skills in the Super Finale next week in Delhi. I am really thankful for the support from my family, friends and school who have ensured that I can devote my time to the Delhi event. I am hopeful to bring the Prestigious Trophy home and wear the Chef Coat with Pride that has my name embroidered on it, “ Young Chef India National Champion Sanjana Mukherjee - Udgam School Ahmedabad. “


HOW THE SCHOOL

MOBILE APP BEGAN?The story of Udgam Connection, the school mobile app is an old one. Even older than when the fi rst mobile app came into being. They say necessity is the mother of invention and this is 100% true in this case. For years the need to connect better was felt by the school and parents alike. Although means like telephone, application letters, and school diary have been in use since the beginning of the school, as the school grew and with societal changes, the need to enhance the connectivity was felt more and more with each passing term. Since our school gives a lot of precedence to technology, computers became a part of the school infrastructure as soon as they gained popularity.

Soon the world wide web was an inherent part of lives globally and Udgam embraced the need to research and bring the world to the classroom. The school provided laptops to teachers at half price and the Information technology department recruited more staff to man the show which included computers and smartboards too. Internet also created new channels of communication, the email and social media like facebook.

Eventually the digital world expanded to phones and smartphones became more of a need than a status symbol. This further gave rise to new ways of communication like WhatsApp. Our teachers were using worksheets which earlier used to be given as print outs to the children. Then the school portal was designed through which teachers could upload worksheets for parents to download and print. The portal also had basic information related to the classroom. This was quite helpful and served its purpose well. Yet there were issues of convenience while on the move and internet connectivity.

Finally, the school mobile app was devised based on a need that was age old and ideas that had formed but

was given shape only after the gadget was invented. Smartphones are a personal need now and almost each and every person has one. They are in use more than any other gadget on a daily basis so this is defi nitely the best way to reach out and connect. The school mobile app, aptly called Udgam Connection, has a slew of features. Some of them are-

• Regular Updates – Circular, Assignments & Events.

• Photo Album of all Events with share pic features

• School Planner details• Calendar/Holidays• Student Time Table• The day’s work• Leave application• No need to go and open Portal for

updates• Customised home page of App as

per their preference• School Magazine• Parent-Teacher two way

communication through messages

Parents have welcomed the mobile app and the response has been very encouraging. The reviews are excellent and more than 2500 parents have already downloaded

the app and are using it on a regular basis. It is defi nitely helping to make things convenient for all concerned. Executive Director Manan Choksi, who is the main brain behind the mobile app is of the view that ‘most people use smartphones and making the school information available on a mobile app will simplify things for all’. IT Programmer Abha Parikh worked on making a really useful and informative mobile app after the huge success of the school website portal. But it is the entire team of teachers and heads who are working together to make the entire process successful. Besides each teacher having their personal laptops owing to the school’s laptop policy wherein staff can buy laptops at half the price and pay the rest in monthly instalments, there is easy access to computers with a cooperative IT department ready at hand.

The Mobile School App called ‘Udgam Connection’ is available on Android and iOS. Parents can get the link by visiting Android App Store or Apple Play Store and search for Udgam Connection application.now even Admission Enquiry can be made through the mobile app using the ‘Enquiry & Admission’ link.

19 July 2016 UDGAM MATTERS

Des

igne

d by

: Ch

inta

n Sh

astr

i (Cr

eati

ve G

rape

s)P

aren

t coo

rdin

atio

n by

: M

rs. H

itik

sha

Soni

UDGAM CONNECTIONThe School Mobile App That Speaks Volumes

Connect with Udgam App from your mobile.

udgam matters july 2016

Education