Category Archives: Latest News

The season of gratitude

Being grateful does not require a particular season but Christmas is the time when we really like to convey our ‘thanks’ to those who matter. So often we miss out people from our list who actually make a difference in our lives and most of us are not even aware of it. They are our ayahs and peons. Today the children of Class VI conveyed their gratitude to these helpers who relentlessly work for us throughout the day. They gave greeting cards and sang carols.
Let us also take time to express our gratitude to our helpers.

UDGAM SCHOOL CHARITY FAIR

“To give is to receive’.
With this benevolent spirit of Christmas the students organised a Charity Fair on the school premises that enthralled all. In the canteen area the students of Class XI arranged a Food Fair with mouth watering delicacies on display. The enthusiasm with which they advertised the products and the superb service with a smile won hearts and emptied pockets of many. There were stalls selling cupcakes, mousse, brownies, pastries, basket chaats, pop corn and nachos. Each stall canvassed their products with signboards, a few human boards too, and jingles. Within no time the sumptuous spread was all gone…
A different kind of fair was going on in another area. The students of Classes VI to XI had on display different kinds of handiwork which they had made in their Art and Craft classes. The variety was amazing. This included quill products like bags, earrings, fridge magnets, car hangings, key chains, along with mats and placemats, cushions, wall hangings, flower pots, paintings, book marks, envelopes, soft toys, paper weights, gift tags, greeting cards, flower vase, stocking flowers, coconut shell painting, candle stands, bottle holders and many more. Even these handmade items sold out fast.
The money raised will be used for charity work. To make something painstakingly, advertise it so that others buy and then to give up the earned money to the needy is commendable indeed.
We are proud of our students and our unique Udgam culture!

PRIMARY ANNUAL SPORTS OF CLASS – V

The Annual Sports for Primary School includes many sports activities for the students. Here is a glimpse of Day One of the event which involved children of Class V.

OUT ON A PICNIC

Nothing is more thrilling to the tiny tots than a day out in the warm winter sun, frolicking with friends and teachers. Children of Playgroup, our youngest unit, were taken to Suramya VII for a picnic. They played on the slides, swings, see-saw, spinning wheel and many other equipment in the play area. Later on they lined up and sat down to enjoy a delicious meal. They came back tired but happy, chattering all the way.

iPad Movie Magic Workshop

In today’s time we may find iPad at everyone’s home. We all know that kids love using them but do they know how to use them to do more than watching movies and playing games? Parents are worried about their kid spending too much time on gadgets, staring at the iPad screen doing nothing but tap and swipe.

We would like students to think beyond playing games on iPad and learn more about healthy, safe and even educational ways to use iPads.

Udgam Pro Activity Club arranged iPad Movie Magic Workshop.
In this workshop, students were taught to turn their home pictures into blockbusters, complete with Hollywood –style trailers, effects, soundtracks.

MATHS WEEK AT UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN

The birth anniversary of the great Indian Mathematician is celebrated every year as National Mathematics Day. In Udgam School December 16-22 was celebrated as Maths Week. Each and every section of the school was involved in activities to commemorate the subject that encompasses almost every sphere of life.
Primary School children were actively involved in activities. The younger ones solved puzzles and made shapes. The older children created three dimensional figures and tried out different activities in the Maths Lab.
Middle School students were involved in activities like ‘Find the perimeter’ of things in the classroom, presentations on great Mathematicians and chart making. The Maths Exhibition put up by the children of Class VII was excellent and appreciated by all. Even parents were all praise for the exhibition that was open to public.
Secondary School students also participated in many activities. Class 9 had a Origami activity in which they made colourful shapes using paper. Class 10 had a Quiz on Maths based on Algebra, Geometry, General mathematics and much more. The PowerPoint presentation for the quiz was put up on the smart board and students were asked to answer the questions after doing some basic calculations in their Trans book within the prescribed time limit. A coordinate geometry activity was conducted for Class X.
They were asked to stand in form of X-axis and Y axis so that four quadrants can be formed. Few students were asked to stand in the various quadrants. They were asked to tell the coordinates where they are standing. The main objective was to have clear understanding about the plotting in the coordinate plane. Other group of students were asked to form various patterns like square, equilateral triangle with X-axis and Y-axis, rhombus and many more. Some students were asked to find the vertices of the various figures, made to calculate the areas and length of diagonals etc. The students practically got to know application of distance formula.
Senior Secondary students also had several activities to commemorate the week. They were shown a documentary on Srinivasa Ramanujan. A Maths Quiz was conducted for them which was very challenging. A few students even penned poems on mathematical topics and recited in class. Not an easy feat at all to write poems on Maths.

QUIZ TIME: CLASS VII

Interclass quiz competition was conducted for Class VII. The topic was World War I to mark the 100th year of this important yet heartbreaking event. After a preliminary round, the students were divided into four teams. The teams were named as: Hindenberg, Lloyd George, Woodrow Wilson and Clemeceau. The quiz covered various events of the war and the questions were asked on topics like: ammunition used, Alliances and treaties formed, contribution of Indian soldiers etc. There were visual rounds and a rapid fire round.

The quiz demonstrated the extensive research done by the teachers in preparing the students as well as hard work put in by 7th graders.
On asking them, they informed that they allotted at least an hour a day to prepare for the quiz.

Udgam School Celebrates the Joy of Reading

‘To read is to fly: it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety,ideas,shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries.’….. lofty thought , idealistic views but at the same time strikingly true. Despite of the gigantic inventions in the field of science and technology which in a way has tried to seep into the world of the new age child and gradually tried to wean him off the habit of reading , one cannot deny the manifold benefits of reading in the life of an individual. The simple task of reading not only acts as a pacifier during testing times giving the much needed relaxation to the mind and the soul but also broadens the vision of a human being and makes him a progressive individual and a better conversationalist.

Acknowledging the myriad benefits of reading, Udgam celebrates reading week every year.

The students of class tenth chose the quintessential soliloquy and speech of Antony from Julius Caesar. Rendering them in the class, the students were enraptured by the soul stirring soliloquy of Antony whose eloquence marvelled them all. The subdued tone in the beginning followed by the rise in the tone and ultimately his words and imagery becoming more intense, more complex and more powerful made the children envision the heraldic fury that engulfed Rome. History is testimony to that. The prophetic outburst of Antony hitting a crescendo with the word ‘havoc’ left many mourn with Antony over the death of Caesar .

Calling the conspirators ‘butchers ‘and calling him. ‘meek and gentle ‘stirred the hornets’ nest. The conspirators as butchers were acceptable but how could Antony be meek? Meek which according to the Dictionary means submissive, mild did not appear fitting for the great warrior. A long, drawn out discussion on meek being one of the fruits of the spirit and hence one of the characteristics of Christ was gradually able to appease them. They were quick to understand that meek in the given context refers to one who is humble and patient and able to control his emotions during perilous affliction, hence strength not a weakness. The next task was the rendition of the speech of Antony.

Beginning with an asyndeton, “Friends, Romans, countrymen ….”the first line itself was a treat to the students. The rhetorical questions, the anastrophe, the insinuating irony, the antithesis, the tautology, the hyperbolic metaphor as well as the brilliant employment of pathos, logos and ethos astounded the students and made them appreciate the essence, the beauty and the effectiveness of the speech. The end with an aposiopesis left many gasping for more, just like the citizens of Rome.

Students of class ninth had a creative time writing stories with the newly taught vocabulary. The variety of themes, the newness in the activity made it an enjoyable exercise. It became all the more appreciable when each one shared his story with the other. It was great to see my inbox filled with the scripts of these amateur but eager writers. The week culminated with a book fair held in the premises of the school.

– Sharmistha Sinha, Teacher – Secondary School

Pet Interaction Workshop at Udgam School

Udgam Pro Activity Club successfully organized Pet Interaction Workshop in association with WOLT Foundation on 6th December. The purpose was to educate students about the joy of pet ownership as well as the health implications of living with pets. We had dogs of different breeds, age and temperaments for this session.
Participants were educated about how to approach, interact with pet animals which are known or new to them. The session was very informative for all pet owners and would be pet owners. The participants hugely enjoyed the ‘one of its kind’ show.

ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY FROM A CHILDS PERSPECTIVE

In the modern world of technology, computers play a vital role. In fact now one cannot think of a day without computers. Even children are aware about this but the real need for computers is not too clear. To give a practical experience to children of Class 1 about the need for computers in day to day running of the school, the computer teachers arranged an activity for them. The students were first explained about the role of computers and then they were taken to different sections of the school where computers are frequently used for proper running of the school. Each department explained the different uses of computers to the students.
Needless to say the children enjoyed this out of the classroom activity. They shared their experience with the computer too.