Visit to Vidyagyan - Bulandshahr

A set of 13 kids of grade 8 accompanied by 4 teachers successfully concluded their visit to the Vidyagyan campus.

The following report throws light on the eventful visit to the Vidyagyan campus:

1. The campus is a total delight on the eyes, a warm welcome and goodbye by the students and teachers overwhelmed us with joy. 

2. The teachers in collaboration with the parents organised a wholesome experience where the children explored skills like crafting and article writing. 

3. The interaction between the students and their buddies gave them insights on interpersonal relationships, introspection and empathy.

4. The visit to the organic farm was enlightening and interesting. 

5. The cultural evening and the sports interaction was fun, energetic and engaging. 

We the members of Shiv Nadar Foundation are sure that the students will always cherish the experience of spending time with their buddies and learning new things

Swiss Innovation Camp

The Swiss Innovation Camp was a 7 day camp where 4 students accompanied by a teacher travelled to Geneva, Switzerland from 13th - 19th October 2019. The camp aimed to immerse the children in the scientific innovation brewing in Geneva, which is the innovation hub of Switzerland.  The Camp included workshops at CERN as well as other leading Swiss research centres. The aim of the program was to build an understanding of the Swiss Innovation Ecosystem and what makes it successful. The workshops gave the students the opportunity to experience different scientific innovation centres, interact with leading scientists involved in cutting edge research, and get a glimpse of what a career in science looks like. It also aimed to inspire children towards design thinking and research.

The main attraction of the workshop was the visit to CERN, the largest experiment in the world that aims to answer the big questions of life - ‘Where did we come from?’ , ‘What are we made of?’ and ‘Where are we going?’. Students visited CERN and learnt about its history, mission and sociology by interacting with a Physicist. They also discussed experimental tools, innovation and impact. Students visited one of the 4 particle detectors at the Large Hadron Collider - CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) in France. They went 100 meters below ground level to see the particle detector at arm’s length. The students participated in a team activity at the Globe of Innovation at CERN where they learnt many facts about CERN and particle physics in the process of completing a team challenge.

The students experienced a guided tour to the United Nations Headquarters, where they learnt about the history and functioning of the headquarters. They even witnessed a live United Nations session from the gallery. The students were made familiar with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which are a part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by 193 Member States at the UN General Assembly Summit in September 2015. They then participated in a UN SDG challenge where they had to use technology to come with a design to contribute to one or more of the UN SDGs in teams.

The students participated in a competitive Robotics and Coding workshop where they learnt how to program a robot to perform the stipulated task, in teams of two.

The students visited the first IB school ever - Ecolint, and witnessed the marvel of the progressive educational system. They participated in a STEAM Project at their STEAM lab, where they created an ECG machine with the materials available. They also learnt to create designs using a Wiacom.

The students visited the Biopark - the Biotechnology Innovation centre in Geneva. There, they were introduced to advances in the field of Biotechnology and the use of technology to support healthcare. For example, the students saw a small implantable device that can be be used to monitor the occurrence and frequency of Epilepsy in patients, helping in proper management of the disease. The students were introduced to the Blue Brain Project which is in the process of mapping the brain functioning with all its complexities, which will allow a better understanding of the functioning of the brain.

Biomotion workshop attempted to explain the laws of physics by using live demonstrations. Learning was enjoyable and interactive for the students.

Apart from the many workshops, the students participated in a Treasure Hunt where the students went out in teams to solve the clues, exploring the prominent places through Geneva in the process.

A days trip to Chamonix, France was the highlight of the trip. The group went for a hike with a guide in a small French Village amidst breathtaking landscapes. They also went atop a mountain via a cable car and explored the French Alps.

The trip saw cultural immersion in food and Swiss mannerisms. Our children got to learn the Swiss values of punctuality, cleanliness, and courtesy. New friendships with students of other schools in the group were formed. Students got a chance to be responsible and independent. It was a truly enriching experience for the students.

Aeromodelling Workshop-Grade 5

An aeromodelling workshop was organized on 1st and 2nd of November’19 for grade 5 in collaboration with India’s Hobby Shack to facilitate the application of physics (laws of motion and types of forces) in real life. The experts who worked with us involved Mr. Deepak and Mr. Vinod, who are also the founders of India's Hobby Shack. 

It started with the facilitators giving a presentation and explaining theory on how the design of the airplane was developed, starting from Da Vinci’s design to the model made by the Wright brothers. Parts of the plane were explained and basics of the Bernoulli’s theorem were also discussed. Students created three different prototypes of planes, viz., Paper Plane, Chuck Gliders and Rubber Powered Models. How different aerofoil shapes affect the plane and why they are used in different types of planes was also discussed with the children.

This was then followed by the testing of these planes in the actual field. It was an exciting workshop and the children thoroughly enjoyed making and testing of the planes. It not only enhanced their understanding of the various forces, but also brought in a fun and exciting element to a physics topic like Aero-modelling.

OLE to Sursinghdhar - Grade 5

On 21st October students of grade 5 went for an outbound learning trip to Sursinghdhar, Uttrakhand. The peaceful environs of the campsite was a perfect location to explore the beauty of nature. The trip started with the acclimatization trek followed by an array of activities including monkey crawling, double trouble, mowli walking, zip line, rappling and sky ladder. There were many challenging team activities where students were required to go through many obstacles and work as a team. Students learnt the art of survival cooking and first aid. Social games like treasure hunt and bonfire provided enough opportunities for camaraderie.  It was an engaging and enriching experience that will forever be etched in the impressionable minds of our students.

Walk the Talk - Mr Ajay Vishnu

Sharing a glimpse of Walk The Talk session with Mr Ajay Vishnu held on 24th October, Thursday. 

Today's reader is tomorrow's leader !!

On 25th October’2019, the students of the Service Learning Club went to the government school in Bhatola. The aim for our visit was to donate the books we had collected. We also interacted with the students there and told them stories from those books itself to develop their interest in reading. Since Diwali was around the corner, they all had decorated their classes and had made beautiful rangolis. We were really amazed after seeing the way they had decorated their corridors and their classes. They were really excited and happy to see us and even more curious to read the books we had got for them. They listened to us very carefully while we told them stories. The students there were confident and also very interactive. They were also very fluent and well spoken. We were overwhelmed by receiving the love and affection that we did on our first visit. We realised that we were very privileged to get so many facilities and opportunities in our school and we are thankful for them.

From the Principal's Desk: Newsletter

Dear Parent

Though the  summer moves on relentlessly, the vacations come to a close and school reverberates with the sounds and laughter of children. 

Its wonderful to welcome them back.

The summer months have been long, blistering yet interestingly with lot of work on ground, accomplished. Phase 2 of the North Block is nearing completion. By July 15th we should be able to use the Multi Purpose Hall. It comprises an indoor basket ball court, badminton court,  climbing wall and the scope to play multiple games. 

The new computer lab is a state of art facility for our young minds, exciting and full of possibilities. It will be inaugurated very soon.

Squash will commence for students from early August as soon as the coach joins us. He has been appointed. 

Abhilasha, the Badminton coach, who is on board, ensures that we start the game right away.

June is about training. The teachers have had several hours of in-depth, rigorous in service training, inductions and workshops, pivoting around best, global pedagogical practices that add strength and dimension to everyday teaching- learning in school. The goal is to design multidisciplinary links across grades, take stock of student learning and progress, up-skill and re-skill ourselves. 

We have also been studying the National Education Policy Draft 2019 and will be posting our suggestions on the HRD ministry portal in few days from now. Its a voluminous document projecting several changes for the education sector. 

You will be glad to know that we will introduce the French language from grades 4 upwards, from July. We have also appointed an additional German teacher, adding value to the Foreign language department. 

Grades 6, 7,8,9 enjoyed their Outbound educational tour to Uttrakhand and Sariska in the month of May. They returned with a repository of radiant memories and as more independent youngsters. 

Nine students of middle school traveled to Vienna and Milan for an Arts immersion program under the aegis of Culture Fox. Their learnings are clearly unmatchable. 

Seven students from grade 8 and 9 traveled to USA under the NASA program and also visited the Harvard College and the MIT campus. They returned with stories of extraordinary experiences.

In May, parents of grade 6 witnessed live demonstration of the digital program in grade 6. As you know, we introduced I Pads in grade 6 this session as an effective 21st C tool to teaching-learning. Their encouraging feedback validates and adds impetus to our digital program.

The Sports team has spent a large part of the summer in the camp, building, training the team undeterred. Our young under 14 cricket team recently won against Eicher School and two other schools in the vicinity. 

The girls basket ball team is all set to leave for Serbia, in Europe, in July. They are training hard and diligently.

In mid July, we will host the Faridabad District Basketball Match, under 14 Girls, in our school. We are delighted to wrest that opportunity and organise the matches for the participating schools of Faridabad. A first !

Model United Nations training is already underway. Students of grade 7 started their training from June 24th. Rose and Emily, the 2 trainers from Alma College, Michigan, USA are here to coach and mentor grades 7 to 9th students. This will culminate into our 2nd MUN conference on July 25th.

July promises to be an intense, packed month. We look forward to celebrating Fathers' day in Nursery and Kindergarten. 

Joy of Sharing is scheduled for mid July and with your support we are aiming for a big fund raiser this year round too. I will soon share with you the Charity we will be supporting.

It is also time to elect a new Council and grades 3 to 9 will battle it out at the hustings in July. The election campaign, the exciting manifestos, inspiring speeches and secret vote, all lead to building leadership, communication, decision making skills and a strong pupil voice in the school. 

The Career Guidance Cell in the school is picking up pace and Geetika is leading it with gusto and a hand on the pulse on the changing times in Higher Studies and employ ability.

Come July, we will start the After School Arts program grades 3 upwards offering Theatre, Dance, Music , Arts, and more twice a week. We hope many students will avail opportunity and enjoy the possibilities of going beyond the Aha curriculum.

There is indeed more happening on ground, Kargil Diwas will be observed in July. Admissions 2020 will commence soon. You will receive updates from the admission cell. Workshop for parents on our Junior math program and Phonetics are lined up. Coffee Morning and Evenings are round the bend. We will inform you of the date and hour.

Reading is a defining culture of the Shiv Nadar School. We insist you read to your child, encourage him/her to read and invest in physical books too. There is nothing that comes close to the texture, feel and experience of a 'real' book and our children mustn't be bereft of that joy.

Data and research shows that regular and continuous reading of books outside the curriculum improves school performance, positively impacts grades and marks. Of course, it opens up a whole new world of ideas, literature, science, and beyond. Its influence touches infinity. 

Seeing the enthusiasm in our parents, we are inaugurating our Book Lovers'Club this month, a club driven by parents and supported by the school. Over a 100 parents have signed up for it. Meeting will be held once a month over the weekend in the school campus. Please connect with Shivani Bhandari and Bhagyalaxmi for details.

This is peep into our school programs and progress. It is hard to detail the nuances and essence of innumerable learning opportunities we endeavour to offer.

It is always a pleasure to write to you and share our journey. Do feel free to write into me, your thoughts and views.

Best regards, 

Anju Wal

Principal

Shiv Nadar School

Faridabad

Education for Life- Technology & You

We initiated our 3rd Topic of Education for Life-& Technology & You  on 11th October 2019, Friday.

The session talked about the fact that It's never about the technology but what can we do with it -  As technology gets into the DNA of everything we do, it is really important for us to 

understand that we, as human beings are up in the value chain and it is imperative for us to understand that we need to use technology wisely and not get consumed by it.

The session was curated and conducted by Mr Kumar Gaurav, who is a parent of our school and also works as Director of Technology & Digital, Publicis Sapient.

Sharing a glimpse.