Kahaani Palampur Ki: An Attempt Towards Arts Integrated Learning
Kahaani Palampur Ki 2.0 is a novel attempt towards arts-integrated learning. The brainchild of Ms. Anisha Madhukar, supported by Ms. Manjima Chatterjee, the project brings Social Science alive through the story of Village Palampur.
This reinvigorated module takes the learner to Palampur, its characters, contexts, and contradictions. The module also brings together Action Research into Arts integrated learning. The module has been an immense learning journey for the team.
The objective of this endeavour is to understand the complexity of coordination in transactions, between infinitely varied activities of a number of individuals each of whom has their own private goals; and rights in a Politico-Economic system; and thus to examine the possibilities of negotiating the status quo or, look at alternatives.
The outcome statement for the students’ understanding is for the three key principles of No Free Lunch Principle, The Cost-Benefit Principle, and the Principle of Margin.
The first stage of research involved students who were introduced to contexts and situations which required their intervention as experts to offer solutions. Thereafter the strategy involved the teacher and student getting into a fictional space to engage with the topic of learning. The teachers’ role in this endeavour was to merely help students engage with the situation and not about getting the delivery right.
The entire team was highly encouraged by the school leadership by being the ever encouraging pillars of support.
To read more about this much interesting attempt, you may access the live report here
Safeguarding our Mental Health in Covid times - Webinar Series
Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad hosted the first of its 3-Series Webinar on _Safeguarding Mental Health in Covid Times_ on the 4th of June, 2020.
The first episode of the webianr was held for the parents of our students ranging from grades 7-10.
Our three panelists- Mrs. Anju Wal (Principal, SNS-F), Mrs. Mamta Sharma (Parent partner, Mental Health Coach), and Ms. Manisha Massey (Senior School Counsellor, SNS-F), with Mrs. Geetika Jatta as the moderator, answered pre-received questions thematized under "Academics, Behavioral, and Emotional" aspects, as well as live questions that we received during the 90 minutes of the webinar."
The panellists spoke about accepting and adapting to the the new normal.
The new realities of working from home, temporary unemployment, online-schooling of children, and lack of physical contact with other family members, friends and colleagues take time to get used to. Adapting to lifestyle changes such as these, and managing the fear of contracting the virus and worry about people close to us who are particularly vulnerable, are challenging for all of us.
They spoke about the important that a routine at home both on weekdays and weekend. Mrs. Anju Wal stressed on the fact we need to mind shift to know what is in our control - Exercise our circle of influence. Children our observing us 24x7, hence Role modeling as parents is important. It is important that we acknowledge the feelings but not mandatory to provide solutions. Talking to the children about facts of Corona virus is good but we should make sure that it is not only talking the virus- It should be controlled information. For our mind to relax, it is vital that we should cut off from screen at least two hours to prior to bed time. A very interesting activity was shared by our counsellor called - Jar of Activity.
These activity jars are packed full of simple, easy to prepare ideas to help kids make their own choices, direct their own play and keep them busy.
The webinar focused on few strategies to deal to mental well-being. Our purpose is to stay connected while distanced.
WELCOMING ABOARD THE NEW PARENTS
An online orientation session for the New Parents of 2020 was organized, keeping with the new normal, to welcome them aboard on June 2, 2020. The session was aimed at building a shared understanding of our vision, values, and establishing a lasting connect with the child's alma mater.
The orientation began by welcoming the new parents, providing them a platform to interact with the Senior Leadership, and to know each other. It was followed by sharing the journey of the foundation, its philosophy, ethos, and about all the initiatives taken by the foundation.
The Parent partnership program was shared with the parents, emphasizing on the strong connect between the school and the parents. At Shiv Nadar School, the parents are valued as ambassadors and spokespersons through shared visions and sharing of precious feedback towards continuous and comprehensive School health and happiness.
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Silver Fiesta - 2020
Films depict raw emotions and often show our daily lives, through a cinematic lens. Movies have helped us all escape from our daily lives when we need to and thus films are an indispensable part of our lives.
Three students of our school, Arshia Jaitli, Arnav Sachdeva and Rehat Kaur participated in GD Goenka World School's ‘Silver Fiesta - 2020’, a film critiquing competition, a way to look at movies with one’s own perspective.The event was held on 30th May 2020. The motive was not to criticize, but to understand better the perspective of filmmakers and film critics and develop a sense of direction towards the art of movie-making.Keeping in mind the lockdown and online format, the event attracted 8 schools. 9 teams including the host school team enthusiastically participated in the event. The judges appreciated the hard work of the teams and based on the set criteria declared the winners. Our students did us proud by bagging the third position in the competition. Our Principal, Mrs Anju Wal, met the children virtually and congratulated the students. She also had a coversation about their experience and learnings from the competition.
The VUCA Chronicles, May 2020: Machine Learning, Transforming the Face of Education
The new normal during the COVID-19 times has emphasized the impact of technology in making the world a better connected way. VUCA Chronicles, May 2020 Edition has students from across grades put their views forth brilliantly about how machine learning has transformed the face of education, life in the times of lockdown, handling boredom, impact on the economy and how this is the perfect time to take out passions. The edition also has some great work of writing on Benito Mussolini, Handling Failure, and a host of other alongwith relevant sketches by 6th & 8th graders and concludes with a Vocabulary of Governance.
The VUCA Chronicles, April 2020: Celebrating 50th Anniversary of Earth Day
The April issue of VUCA Chronicles rightfully and timely celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the First Earth Day which was on April 22, 1970. In this issue of VUCA Chronicles one gets to read the minds of the country’s youth when they want to converse about the environment and their thought processes, the new normal of the lockdown and their experiences, and could space be another world to live in. Right from the Physics of the ‘Bey’Blades to how schooling is changing in the world of Covid-19, the youngsters all opened their hearts with their works. The edition concludes with book reviews and a very apt 110-year-old advertisement from Bell Telephone.
The VUCA Chronicles, April 2020
From the Principal's Desk
When we closed school in March, we had a reasonable belief, like many others that we will return to our physical building in June sometime. That has not happened but what has happened is a tremendous amount of upskilling and relearning by all educators in the system.
The Shiv Nadar School leadership has met more frequently than ever before to take stock of the situation and strengthen our collective vision to ensure that the Standard and Quality of Shiv Nadar School Education will remain uncompromised.
This one hiccup year in the legacy of our school, is just that, a hiccup.
I promise you that we are here to re imagine school education, even before Covid-19, and build tenacious, robust children, with lifelong learning skills, adaptability, emotional resilience and a combativeness that will stand the test of time.
To find the synergy between technology, curriculum and pedagogy has been our key area of focus in these past weeks. Much of the training has centred around striking that harmony in teaching online.
As we progress ahead, I would like you to notice the connected learning thread that we weave across different subjects so our children can make real time connections, make meaning of the body of knowledge and process concepts, experiences, online discussions and more.
Our People, Our Strength
Turbulent times test the bedrock of relationships. I would like to share with you that in our institution each one works doggedly with an unflinching assurance that their jobs are safe.
No one has been dismissed or sent away on half salary, leave without pay and such like, which is the trend of the times at present. We are flowing against the tide because to flow with it, is radically against our values and ethics.
On Another Note
The entire Faridabad team raised money to provide dry rations to our 130 strong support staff, the bhaiyyas, didis, conductors, guards, janitors and more. I attach a few pictures in case you missed seeing them. We plan to support them for the next 3 months, each one of those families and then see how to raise more money to take it till the end of the year for sure.
We are the World
I hope you enjoyed the symphony of over a 100 children, teachers and parents singing the iconic song together. In case you haven't heard this in house production of Faridabad School, its time you did. It will fill you up with surging optimism and love.
Hiring for Talent
I have inducted more than 20 teachers in the Faridabad team, in the recent weeks, all talented, competent and aligned to our philosophy. This trend to hire is clearly different, you would agree. But we believe that great teachers make great learners. And we will make no compromise to continue to provide the cutting edge education to our children in these unprecedented times.
Technology
The Institution has made massive investment in upgrading the technological frontiers of the school. Veracross, is one example of the same. This deep and incredible learning Management System is now embedded across grades 1 to 10. It will soon be populated in Early Years too. The pathway to understand and use it will be steady and staggered and we will keep you informed of the continued progress and availability of new functions.
Webinar on Mental Health and Wellbeing of Parents
We launched our first in the series of the said webinar on Thursday,4th June. Parents of grades 7 to 10 were the invitees and we addressed several questions on how to cope with the stress, children's whimsical behaviour, family and work pressures and such like. The panellists comprised, Manisha Massey, our senior school counsellor, Mamta Sharma, our parent and certified psychologist, and myself.
Or next is in the series is round the bend and we will let you know of the date and the year group. Our plan is to cover all age groups and offer this opportunity to all parents.
Assessments in Middle School
We conducted our first marked assessments with the novel use of technology for grades 6 to 10 before the summer break. The children did us proud. I believe when we assume the best intentions of people they rise to their best. Our children conducted themselves with honesty and sincerity to do the tests remotely. My gratitude to all the parents too who were our co invigilators in this process.
My Conversations with You
I have met almost 500 parents in the last 2 weeks. It was wonderful for me to see you and converse with you. I do hope that you felt equally good to connect and hear what we are doing and thinking. I certainly will meet all our parents in the days to come. It is my fortune to see the tremendous attendance for our conversations. Let’s keep it going.
Online Classes Resume Today (15h June)
As we stand at the intersection of uncertainty and strong resolve, we are luminously clear that a shut school building will not shut out the learning of our children. If anything, it will only incrementally raise it to adapt to phenomenal change, increase the reservoir of empathy and compassion in their hearts and embrace reimagined processes, skills and knowledge.
Enjoy the Experience. Feel free to connect with me to share your thoughts.
Stay Safe Stay healthy and Stay Indoors as we fight this together.
Best Regards
Anju Wal
Principal
Shiv Nadar School
Faridabad
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The Butterfly Times: Giving Wings to the Primary School Students
The Shiv Nadar School Noida is pleased to announce the inaugural issue of the Butterfly Times, dedicated to the Primary Years. The Butterfly Times is honoured to salute the indomitable courage of Anne Frank - who features on most lists of teen icons.
Having a fair proportion of contributions from Grades 3 – 5, The Butterfly Times is another effort of the school to evolve as a useful platform for students to hone their Reading, Researching, Reflecting, and Writing skills.
We hope that students and parents alike will enjoy the great read of The Butterfly Times.
The May 2020 edition of The Butterfly Times can be accessed here
Anandam Baithak 2019-20 Grades 3 and 4
Anandam is a time when we get together to celebrate our children's learning in the Aha Arts program. It is a beautiful process of the child discovering an interest in an art form, finding appreciation from their peers and looking for the 'Aha' moment. Students of Grades 3 and 4 put together the Anandam Baithak with performances that captivated the audience completely!
Visual Arts
Students explored various mediums and materials in Visual Arts. Based on the theme ‘Relationship,’ they tried to capture family photos through painting and created photo frames using cardboard and handmade paper. Students designed an advertisement on their favorite toy using wet and dry colors on paper and learned 3D writing. This was a project related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Some of the students' works were selected for display at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Noida through an exhibition based on the same topic. Students created paper casting 3D sculptures using old plastic bottles with tissue paper and glue. They also explored papercraft design with paints and dry colours.
Theatre
Creative drama is a form of process drama that focuses on the use of story dramatization techniques. It has been used extensively to promote language and literature skills as well as creative and critical thinking.
In the theatre play ‘The Journey’, students picked up the themes ‘Mission Mars’ and ‘Do not litter’ for their culmination showcasing. Their performance was well appreciated by the audience.
An original story ‘A True Patron’ was put together that centered around a girl who, to prove to the adults around her, starts practicing what they say. When she is grounded for not sharing her things, she turns the table around and starts sharing generously.
‘Looking for a Change,’ was an attempt to draw attention to difficulties in sustaining our lives and functioning towards their betterment. The play highlighted solutions by seeking immediate redressal to these issues within our social boundaries.
Dance
The Odissi students demonstrated the results of their first forays into Odissi, such as standing & sitting postures, sculpturesque stances, footwork, hand movements and rhythmic patterns along with the padhant (sound rhymes that are spoken).
The Kathak students demonstrated their first forays into Kathak by way of spins, footwork, hand-movements and basic rhythmic patterns along with padhant (sound rhymes that are spoken). The Kathak and Odissi students presented these elements of their dance forms in a jugalbandi set to our National Song, ‘Vande Mataram’.
The Chhau learning showcase consisted of basic steps of Chhau Dance, such as Chali, Ufli and basic sitting and standing postures.
In Bharatanatyam, students explored various types of body movements with the use of the Pada Bhedas (different feet positions). They focused on sustaining the position of Araimandi - which is the basic position of Bharatanatyam and practiced adavus in this position. In order to do this, students were exposed to different warm-ups to train the body. The Bharatanatyam and Chhau students presented a jugalbandi on our National Song – ‘Vande Mataram’ where they presented expressional sequences interspersed with pure dance movements or bol in their respective dance styles.
Music
Students in Hindustani Classical Vocals, presented the swarmalika, followed by the bandish ‘Tore Jaun Re’ in Yaman-Kalyan in Teen Taal and concluded with a beautiful Sufi qawwali ‘Nit Khair Manga’ by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Western Vocals students presented ‘Happier’ a song by Marshmello, ‘Something just like this’ by Coldplay, and Un Poco Loco from the animated movie Coco. The foot-tapping numbers received loud applause from the audience.
The Orchestra students presented their learning of the basics of music followed by the melody ‘Ode to Joy’, by Beethoven. The students also presented a medley of instrumental folk music from the states of Assam, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir.
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Vuca Chronicle | February 2020
VUCA Chronicles February 2020