CASSANDRAS Space Settlement
12 of our students of Grades 8 and 9 have submitted the attached proposal to qualify for the Indian National Space Settlement Design Competition. This competition leads to the Asian Semi-finals for the ‘International Space Settlement Design Competition’ held every year in July at the NASA's Kennedy Space Centre, Florida. In this competition, the students are put in the shoes of aerospace industry engineers, designing a settlement in space that will be home for about 9,000 people. Student engineers demonstrate creativity, technical competence, management skills, space environment knowledge, teamwork and presentation techniques to conquer the problems inherent in designing a Space Settlement. This year the Competition Organisers from NASA and Boeing have developed a challenge which requires the students to design 'CASSANDRAS' which will be the first fusion-propelled space settlement, which will serve as a “space cruise liner” enabling 80-day transits between Earth and Mars. Our students have created the attached 40-page report that addresses the issues and communicates their ideas and designs.
Science Fun with Kabir Bajaj of Grade 1
Are you ready for a Bubbly Fun?
Little scientist Kabir Bajaj of Grade 1 conducted a live science experiments session with studetnts Shanti Sadan School, Bangalore via virtual medium on 7th November 2020. We are delighted to share that Kabir conducted 3 experiments using common materials like Dishwashing Liquid, Sugar, Water, Mixing Bowl. Experiments conducted are:
Experiment 1: Bouncing a bubble on your hand
Experiment 2: Bubble inside a bubble
Experiment 3: Bubble rainbow snake
Kabir, has created his youtube science experiment channel - The Stupid Lab (https://www.youtube.com/c/KabirBajaj).
THE BUTTERFLY TIMES, SEPTEMBER 2020
Every child is a natural born writer! In this edition our natural writers have let their thoughts fly and give us a plethora of writings.They pondered and dreamt, they flew and dived, they went into history and space. The lockdown stories did not leave behind. Peek into the minds of our younglings through this edition.
THE VUCA CHRONICLES, JULY 2020: COMMEMORATING THE KARGIL DIWAS
The July VUCA Chronicles commemorates '26th July - The Kargil Diwas'. The article on the girl hero of the American Revolution and the poem 'Breakfree' sets the tone of this edition on bravery and freedom. Our young minds have also written on compelling topics like poverty, war, pollution. Write ups on Beethoven, nature, passion also find its way to this edition along with Corona stories. Take a journey through their minds and see the world as they see it.
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Design Competition - Our stars!
Design Championship-Online
The Design Championship, organised by Mindbox was held like all else this year, online. It’s a competition for students of ages 9-16 years, (junior, middle and senior group) wherein they compete in 5 Design categories, namely; App, Game, Graphics, Industrial and Movie Making. Each category is theme-based motivating the students to apply their creativity, digital and design skills. They are encouraged to create solutions and or prototypes to solve real-world problems with the help of technology.
25 students participated in the Region-1, Middle and Senior age groups, in 4 categories, game, graphic, industrial and movie making.
Akshayae Tehlan of Gr. 7-Kanha won the Industrial Design-Middle category, the theme was “Modern Helmet for Indian Army Soldiers”.
Devasya Sharma of Gr. 8-Ranthambore won the Game Design-Middle category. The theme was “Save Animals”.
Hridank Mahajan of Gr. 7-Ranthambore won the Graphic Design-Middle category. The theme was “Advertisement Poster for Any Home Business”.
All three will now progress to the National Level competitions.
We wish them all the best as they practise and sharpen their skills with Industry leaders mentoring them.
The VUCA Chronicles, September 2020: Celebrating it's 1st Anniversary
This edition marks the 1st Anniversary of the VUCA Chronicles! The anniversary issue brings to you a vast read of articles and poems penned down by our middle school students. Our budding writers have put down their thoughts on myriad subjects like - space, religion, technology, language, people, nature, history. Happy reading!
InSync - The online Inter House Competitions
InSync
Although the school has now gone online, there is no reason the students shouldn't be able to “sync” with their creativity, passion and friends anymore! InSync is an online platform where middle and senior school students could participate in a series of fun asynchronous as well as synchronous online competitions and events and be able to earn points for their house for the year-end House Cup! Winners also received a school-issued e-Certificate that acknowledged their prowess.
This year saw many firsts; leading the charge was the photography competition (with nature and candid family shots being the theme), followed by “The Lockdown Monologues” (in which students were able to articulate and vent their feelings, and thereby process the norm), our first “live competition” the Sudoku challenge, followed by Haiku writing, painting (for sr. school) and singing (for middle school). The term-end grand finale was “Mic-on”, our first-ever stand-up comedy competition (our students sure knew how to tickle the funny bone!).
All in all, the Insync competitions were just what the doctor ordered – safe fun, maaza and masti!
Reach One, Teach One initiative - Shiv Nadar School Gurgaon
During the pandemic, technology has been critical in ensuring our uninterrupted access to education. Recognising our positions of privilege, two students from the Shiv Nadar School Gurgaon Student Council spearheaded the Reach One, Teach One initiative.
This was to provide devices to a group of those closest to them, the Didis and Bhaiyas of the school who have school-going children, some even in Board classes and no devices to facilitate their education. Donations were sought from fellow students, parents and staff of the school. As if to prove Ralph Waldo Emerson right, the Universe gave back that what was set in motion, manifold, in the form of a brand new laptop donation drive, thanks to a parent of our school.
On 9th September 2020, 45 laptops were donated to Didis, Bhaiyas, Guards, Drivers, and Sodexo staff. The joy on their faces as each one carried back with them the most precious commodity of the current time - a device to facilitate their child’s education - was indescribable!
After the distribution of these 45 laptops, our students are further motivated to fundraise and use pledged funds for WiFi hotspots for the recipients - so Phase 2 is well on its way!"
From the Principal's Desk - Newsletter
As we move steadily to close the first Term of this academic session, there is a sense of disbelief that we have reached a milestone in online teaching with half a term underway.
We are in the watershed moment in our school life, This Story of Disruption, that unfolds each day, a new chapter of complex challenges that need our attention and innovation, push us to persevere, train, preserve, train. You will recall my first communication to you in April this year, where I said this is a year where characters will be shaped and we, our children, you, us, will together ride the storm, grow in resilience, tenacity and come out stronger.
I know that you are going through some trying times in your lives and have faced the difficult hours to keep the family safe and secure, converting “Wounds to Wisdom” At school, we have spent consistent, long hours to make certain that the synergy between technology, pedagogy and curriculum deepens leading to uninterrupted learning across our grades.
Remote assessments are conducted with trust and integrity, our children take ownership of their learning and evaluation. Today, as some of you may know senior grades start their Half Yearly Examination. I expect you to support and enable them to be honest and diligent.
I am glad to say that the Summative Assessments of grades 6 and 7, the Review Assessments across Primary grades were successfully concluded in partnership with you. As were, several projects, activities, experiments, explorations, converting the homes into learning laboratories.
Our signature program Aha Arts and Sports, seminal events such as Joy of Sharing Month have been revamped and re shaped to suit the tide of times and the needs of children. JOS was student led in the middle and senior school. Students organised debates, discussions and discourses on:
Mental Health, Lockdown Learnings, Equity, Global Citizenship, Poetry and joined Dastangoi to experience the traditional art of storytelling.
A very special mention to many children who joined our endeavour to raise funds for the support staff in the school by their creations and community service. Their overriding compassion and empathy for ‘others’ and extended school family swells our hearts with pride, making us believe that SNS..ites will always make the school values as their guiding principles in life.
20 students of grades 7 to 9 participated in Amateur Asteroid Discovery Contest in association with International Astronomy Search Collaboration (IASC) and made 23 such discoveries of asteroids that are today named after our school!
12 students are part of the International Space Settlement Design Challenge organised by NASA each year to design a CASSANDARAS, the first fusion-propelled ship that will serve as a cruise liner and transit between Mars and Earth. Students are working on a 40-page report with details of communication, settlement feasibility, and design thinking.
Design Championship 2020, an event held each year to promote graphic design in school students has been nailed by our young team comprising: Sana Bose, Sahil and Tejas all from grade 6, who are first in the Regional Round and move to the National Round. They competed against 500 teams from NCR and Northern Region. Our Regional Winners in Movie Making were literally few decimal points apart and made an exceptional pitch. Nalin, Akul, Ishika, Vihaan and Aryan have done us proud too.
22 students have signed up for an online experience and learning course on Debating as a Life Skill in association with BEHES. Behes is a well-known Debating organisation in NCR and teaches the intricacies of argument, discussion, point-counterpoint, persuasion and more.
These are few examples of how our children are learning and growing. Many have done independent courses and upskilled themselves, pursued their hobbies and discovered new facets of themselves. All have been the best sons and daughters their parents could have ever wished for.
You will be glad to know that the school is partially throbbing to life with some of us in the premises last month and more. The Government advisory now allows senior students, grade 9 and 10 to visit the campus to clear doubts or seek extra help. In case you would like your ward to come, let us (Admin Head and me) know in advance and we will make arrangements accordingly.
We are also in the midst of a hectic admission process for Nursery to grade 5 for session 2021-22 and interactions with aspiring parents are underway.
You will be glad to know that we have factored in a term end break for students and all teachers at the end of the first term. The Break is from 1st Oct to 7th Oct, 2020.
It’s the time to revive and rejuvenate. To enjoy reading and playing in any form one can. Be unfettered of log in times and screen fatigue. I hope you will make sure that children spend it gainfully and get enough time to relax and rest. As must you. The classes will resume on 8th Oct and the new term will begin on 12th October.
I would like to believe, that these extraordinary times have cemented our parent partnership relationship, made it stronger. Qualities of understanding and empathy have deepened our relationship which was always based on trust and mutual respect. This interplay of life and learning will not be easily forgotten. As educators we choose each day to better ourselves and look to the future with hope and courage. “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new”, in words of Socrates.
Feel free to write into me your thoughts and views. Stay Safe, Healthy, Happy.
Best Regards
Anju Wal
Balancing Disruption with Ease feat. Mrs. Anju Wal, Principal
Indus Vox Media (IVM) podcast, India's leading podcast network published an interview of our Principal, Mrs Anju Wal with the host of the show Zarina Poonawala today.
The topic of the podcast is “Balancing Disruption with Ease feat. Mrs. Anju Wal, Principal - Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad”. The discussion revolves around how schools are coping with the pandemic and challenges teachers/parents/students are facing during these unprecedented times. Ms. Wal also shares how Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad is focused on innovative methodologies, teaching techniques and the use of digitalization effectively.
The link to the podcast is : https://ivm.today/TES-86