Finland Embassy Sustainability workshops
4 students of Grade 7 Agastya Iyer, Kashvi Dewan, Yashvi Midha and Krishiv Khatri attended a workshop conducted by Embassy of Finland on 15th October 2019. The workshop focused on the 17 SDGs and how the young students of the schools can participate in bringing about a sustainable change. The 23 students from 6 schools across NCR participating in the workshop were chosen on the basis on the papers they wrote based on the SDGs. The experts shared Finland’s success in achieving multiple SDGs and how they have managed to have a sustained growth without harming the environment. The students also learnt about Circular Economy Roadmap and also discussed the necessity of having Circular Economy classes in the school. The experts also discussed the need for Citizens involvement is achieving success in the implementation of SDGs. The students worked on ways of measuring their Carbon footprints and how to reduce the same. All the participants ended the session after presenting the measures they can take in the school to bring down the plastic waste. They later planted a tree in the embassy campus marking their visit and as a reminder of their pledge towards the environment and the earth.
#BurnTheBhedhBhaav - Team Article 15 associates with SNS Noida
Ahead of the World Television Premiere of Article 15 (a critically acclaimed hindi movie that talks about caste-based discrimination), ANDPictures kick-started a movement called #BurnTheBhedhBhaav, focusing on Article 15 of the Indian Constitution that prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. In our day to day lives, all of us come across instances where discrimination takes place in which either we are the ones initiating it or we may be unknowingly a part of it.
School is an institution where an individual’s perception of the world, our beliefs and value system are shaped. Keeping this thought in mind, ANDPictures associated with Shiv Nadar School, Noida to create more awareness on the subject. As a part of this, director Anubhav Sinha and Sayani Gupta visited Shiv Nadar School Noida on October 14th 2019, wherein they interacted with the young minds on the topic of discrimination and how one can make a conscious attempt to #BurnTheBhedhBhaav in today’s day and age. Inspired by this thought, the students were encouraged to take a pledge to stand up against all kinds of discrimination.
The theme of the movie Article 15 is also reflected in the theme of the school’s first Inter School Arts Festival & Competition, Kaafila 2019, ‘Speaking From the Margins’, which will take place in the school on October 18-19, 2019.
Global Climate Strike 2019
Why the strike?
The week of 20-27 September is historic! In over 150 countries across the globe, people are stepping up to support the school strike for climate, started by Ms. Greta Thunberg, a Swedish school in August 2018. Although this movement for climate change has been going on for years, such strikes for demanding change of systems were first seen in 2015, when an independent group of students decided to organize a climate strike in which over 50000 people participated.
Since August 2018, Greta has been actively demanding change of rules and reduction of carbon emissions as per the Paris Agreement. On September 7 that year she declared that she will protest every Friday until Sweden aligns to the Paris Agreement.
Her efforts and speeches in various assemblies throughout last year has inspired a movement across the globe under the slogan ‘Fridays for Future’.
This September 20-27, the school strikers have demanded a strike across the globe, requesting professionals to walk out of work on Friday to demand action against climate change in their respective geographical locations.
How did we contextualize it?
The children of middle and senior school participated in their own unique way.
Although protests in their traditional sense would have been an expression to show our solidarity with the movement, we at Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad wanted to ensure that we do something that can be translated to daily lives of the students and adults in the school.
Primary
To support the mass protest, students came together and organised a climate strike. Our children were engaged in a week long discussion on the global climate movement. They were enlightened about the changes in the world climate and what steps or measures can be undertaken as students, to put an end to this state of emergency. The students shared their learnings, made posters and held a gathering in school to carry out the protest. They also took a pledge to take various steps to protect and respect the environment. All lights, fans, ACs and everything else using electricity were shut down in the Grade 2 classes for a duration of 40 minutes during the strike.
Children were very enthusiastic and supportive of the movement and thought of different ways in which they can leave a positive impact on the world.
Grades 6 and 7:
Grade 6 & 7 students participated together in a discussion titled: ‘Is climate change real?’
After sharing their views, they watched various videos evidencing the impact of global warming, including how it affects human health. Students were then told about carbon footprint. To understand their own individual impact on the climate, they calculated their own carbon footprints. Many of them were surprised to see their own footprint being double their own weight!
It is important that the students this young realize the gravity of the climate emergency. Hence, they did various research in small groups using their iPads. The research topics covered trivial misconceptions like ‘Is the 2 degree increase very high?’ ‘How does 2 degree impact life?’
Followed by the research, they created a gallery walk and made each other, as well as the school staff aware about various impacts and how they can help on an individual level.
Grade 8 & 9:
Senior students of grades 8 and 9 shared that they have heard and read various articles and news talking about the climate change. However, they also expressed that they did not have any channels that talk about this as an emergency. 
To understand the gravity of this issue and why the strikes were happening, they participated in a session, which took them through the purpose, made them aware of what is happening at the national and international level and reflect on individual actions. They used a small worksheet to understand how much impact they were creating on the global climate as an individual and were asked to extrapolate it to their families.
The students were also made aware of small individual changes they can make with their families to lessen their carbon footprints and reduce their individual impact on the environment.
What next?
Students took the day on 20th September to reflect, understand the emergency and work out ways to change course on individual actions to minimize their own negative impact on the environment.
We will not stop at a day full of discussions, all students of grade 6 & 7 will have subsequent sessions and discussions to know how they can help raise more awareness in their families and community.
The students of grades 8 & 9 are working together to find out ways in which they can make the school more sustainable. Grade 9 students have filed a petition to install a recycling machine in the school, that can help minimize the paper waste in an already ‘one-time plastic free’ campus.
They will also be doing a power audit of the school and understand the energy consumption and come up with ways to minimize the power budget.
The Student Council from grades 8 & 9 has also taken up the task of identifying the number of students who take personal vehicles to school and encourage everyone to car-pool or take the bus to minimize the carbon emissions while driving to school.
Session for Grade 2 with the CEO of Shiv Nadar School
On September 25, 2019, students of Grade 2 interacted with Col. Gopal Karunakaran, the CEO of Shiv Nadar School as they delved deeper into their inquiry based on the unit -‘Culture contributes to values, beliefs and action’. Our little inquirers buzzed with interesting questions, which made Col. Gopal think!
They questioned him about the core values of our school and how it has led to a happy and joyful culture. They connected it to their daily practices and life outside school, the conversation helped the students understand how the vision of our school and the core values work hand in hand to provide us the engaging and exciting culture at school.
Inauguration of the Tennis Courts
Opening limitless space for true education- PLAY!
We are proud to announce that the Tennis Court is formally declared open on September 27, 2019 for the students. The morning kicked off with much enthusiasm and vigour as Mr. Vijayant Malik, a Silver Medalist in the Youth Common Wealth Games and Mr. Jitin Bishnoi, Winner of International Tennis Federation Junior Tournament were amongst us as the guest of honour. The parents expressed their deep gratitude and appreciation towards the School, it's visionaries and the entire team. The Tennis Courts are like the Crown atop the lush campus that strives to excel always. A skating rink has also been made available for the students for recreational and competitive purposes.
Literary Week Grades 2 to 5
Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad observed Literary Week with an array of activites through the week from 16th September to 20th September, 2019. Literary Week is observed each year to ignite and fuel interest in reading, creative writing, etc.
Grade 2
Grade 2, this year, explored a world of fairy tales, fables and folk tales. Besides being entertained, the children were exposed to a variety of different characters. Shattering the conventions, these little ones also wrote their own creative stories and poems and illustrated them beautifully.
The Literary Week was culminated with a ‘Cosplay’, where our little ones came in dressed as their favourite character. The performance was grand and lively with few handmade props for some vivacious characters. The corridor was filled with smiling faces and laughter, and, saw many characters come to life!
Grade 3
Celebrating Comics
Grade 3 celebrated the Literary Week by exploring a new yet familiar genre of literary writing: Comics. Tied with the chapter Florence Nightingale, the students explored the form of comics beyond the text. A discussion on the relevance of comics in today's age sparked the conversation among peers - the responses ranged from comic as an easy to read medium of taking in information to its versatility as visual art. The children made their own comics illustrating stories about their pet, the latest supervillain Thanos and some even explored Panchtantra-esque themes. Well-illustrated and drafted, the comics were presented on the day of culmination in a learning walk among grades. Peer-learning was evidenced as children spoke to each other about panels, gutters, speech bubbles. The excitement in the air was palpable as our little authors and illustrators proudly presented their work.
Grade 4
"The principles of true art is not to portray, but to evoke”
The crescendo was reached of the truly inspirational literary week where grade 4 exhibited the art of storytelling and grade 5 presented their poems. Throughout these 7 days, our children delved deep into the literary masterpieces- Kaabuliwala by Rabindranath Tagore (Grade 4) and The Chimney Sweepers by William Blake (Grade 5).
The culmination started with an exhilarating storytelling session by the students of grade 4. It was a matter of joy to witness our 10-year-old children perform! They spoke fluently, with appropriate tone, intonation and voice modulation! All the characters came alive...the hunter, the grandma, Red Riding Hood, the wizard!
Right after the performance, the poem gallery was inaugurated where the students presented the drafts through which the final bound book of poetry was brought together, piece by piece, after several drafts. After all, the journey was as important as the destination! The bound book of poems written by Grade 5 was presented to Ms. Wal. It will be available in the library soon.
Grade 5
Literary week was celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm from 16 th to 20 th September. Grade 5 chose the theme of ‘poetry’ to kindle the love of poetry in young minds. The journey began with the understanding of ‘Chimney sweeper’, a poem by William Blake. Thereafter they composed poems on social issues. After a couple of drafts, the final poems were compiled into a poem book. Principal, ShivNadar School Faridabad, Ms. Anju Wal, inaugurated the poem book in the ‘poem café’ organized to culminate the literary week.
Grandparent’s Day Celebration, Year 2 - September 13, 2019
"Grandparents are a delightful blend of laughter, caring deeds, wonderful stories and love."
As much as the presence and blessings of those around us impact us in positive ways, our elders are the ones whose blessings we seek the most. One such essential set of adults around us, are our grandparents.
Year 2 celebrated the Grandparents’ Day to celebrate different cultures and traditions as part of their ongoing theme in EVS. The grandparents shared traditional food items, folktales and short poems. They interacted with the children sharing about their childhood, including toys, food and vacations. The positive energy, heartwarming smiles and stories shared by our dear grandparents’ was indeed a blessing for our young learners.
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Walk the Talk with Grade 3
Beyond the classroom experience: Walk the Talk - Interactive session with Career Experts for grade 3.
The students of grade 3 interacted with career experts in three specific fields - Film, Culinary Arts and Aviation.
Mr. Subhash Bhanwala discussed the various stages in film making and production emphasizing upon his role as a film editor.
Mr. Bharat Burman challenged the students to wear his hat as a chef to plan a hypothetical school party.
Ms. Smriti Minhas captured the students' undivided attention with fun facts about serving on an international airline like 'Why we keep the window shutters of an aircraft open while taking off and landing?'.
125 plants planted!
Students of Grade 2 learnt about interdependence of plants and animals and the human impact on environment in their ongoing theme- Circle of Life.
After rigorous classroom discussions and with the aid of critical thinking tools like Ladder of inference, students came to a conclusion that the way forward to help reduce the human impact on environment, is to plant more trees.
With great excitement and enthusiasm the children have planted plants like ficus, curry plant, snake plant etc with the help of the school gardeners.
Students also pledged to nurture these plants and water them regularly.
21st Century Human Skill Sessions
In this globally and digitally interconnected world, all learners, from cradle to career, need new skills and knowledge to succeed. If we want to prepare our children for success in school, work and life, opportunities to learn 21st-century skills are essential.
These 21st-century skills are more important to students now than ever before. They not only provide a framework for successful learning in the classroom but ensure students can thrive in a world where change is constant and learning never stops. And they are also tremendously important for our nation’s well being. Our business community demands a workforce with these skills to ensure our competitiveness in a global economy. And at a time when our civic life feels strained, we want our learners to enter the world with an understanding of what it takes to be a good citizen—one who can be civically engaged, critically-thinking, digitally literate, globally aware, and an effective communicator.
We at Shiv Nadar School, have initiated the same in collaboration with GLEAC led by Ms. Sallyann Della Casa. Sharing the glimpse of the first session.