EuroSchool Airoli - E newsletter - Junior Senate - Cloud 9 Jan 2021

JUNIOR SENATE NEWSLETTER VOLUME 7 JANUARY, 2021

NEWS AND VIEWS It was such an honour and a proud moment for me to get this opportunity to interview a stalwart in his field. Speaking to Dr. Jain has been an enlightening experience for me, especially when he shared his insights on getting back to playing outdoors. Q1. Since the basics are known about the COVID-19 virus, what new information or tip can you give us to battle it, now that the virus is a year old? A. Even though the virus is about a year old, the disease is still largely unknown. We still do not know how it destroys our body or what mechanisms it uses to confer the immunity on our body, and also to have the disease. We definitely know the rules of transmission. It is an airborne virus and close contact is what makes it more pathogenic. One thing we now know for sure is that the transmission via fomites is not the way it was postulated to be, so it doesn’t spread that frequently from contact via surfaces. This is relatively new information compared to what we knew a year ago. So, the only thing we can do even now, is to maintain social distancing, continue frequent hand washing and to cover the mouth and nose with a mask when you are outside. The same rules still apply, we don’t have anything new to add to that. Q2. What are your views and opinions about the new vaccine’s safety? A. We are expediting the vaccines. While for other diseases it used to take 7 to 8 years for the vaccine to be developed ,for Covid-19 we have fast tracked it to about a year . Definitely we are lacking in terms of safety and trials data , but the government authorities are expediting the things, and the approvals are not granted unless we are sure that we have a decent safety as well as efficacy of the vaccine. Unless the government authorities know that the vaccine will safely work for you, it is not approved. The ones which are approved till now are not to be given to people who are less than 18 years of age. So vaccination for kids is out of the question. Whenever the vaccine is launched, we expect it to have a decent effect on the overall scenario for Covid-19. We should be able to get some help out of it.

Q3. What are the top 3 things that you want everybody to follow for a healthier lifestyle? A. The basic thing to do would be to eat good food and do physical activities. Don’t just stick to indoor activities, go outdoors & play in the garden with friends. Do diverse things and not focus on only 1 thing. If you are good at cricket, play cricket, but also diversify your mind into other things. Indulge in art and some social activities in your life. Have a broad-based lifestyle for yourself. That’s the most important thing, especially in cities. Have fun in the garden , play simple outdoor games which is the core crux of initial years. I think these are missing from kids lives right now. Q4. Is it safe to go down and play with friends then? A. If you have your mask on all the time and maintain social distance, it should be fine. Mingle with the same close friends on a daily basis, who you know are also careful at all times in following the protocol. If they don’t have a cold, cough or fever, it should be safe to play as the pandemic is easing out. But, of course, when you come back home, washing hands and changing clothes are a must. Q5. Since you are a GI expert, please tell us what are the common causes of acidity and how can one prevent it? A. The most common causes are having improper food and an unhealthy lifestyle. Whenever we have patients with acidity, about 80 % get well with eating bland food, regular physical activity & reducing weight if they are obese. Just do simple things like 30 minutes strenuous walk (where your heartbeat goes up) in the morning and evening) and do take care of food habits. Because it is our food and lifestyle which leads to such lifestyle related disorders. Q6. What has been your inspiration to choose medicine as your field? A. The joy and fun of treating patients, alleviating their symptoms, saving lives at time, is unparalleled . A small act from a doctor can make a huge difference to the life of a patient. That satisfaction you get is what keeps us going in medicine. Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year, 2021.

READ MY THOUGHTS ‘Read Today for a Better Tomorrow’ Reading increases Brain Power : Reading regularly improves memory function by giving your brain a good workout. Reading helps to improve brain functions and makes mind sharper. Whether you read silently or loudly doesn’t matter . What matters is you should think what you are reading and what ideas or thoughts are conveyed through it . Reading before bed can help you sleep : Reading can help you relax : Engrossing yourself into Reading a real book is more relaxing than reading helps to escape from all your worries . reading from a screen. Screen keeps you awake longer and also may disturb your sleep cycle . Reading helps to take in words and let you Reading is the best exercise for your mind . It gives you build a world of imagination and lasting pleasure . visualization . Reading helps to broaden our thinking horizon and makes us knowledgeable

Ever thought of knowing more ‘Good Reads’ about Devlok? Unlock the doors of Devlok to know more about the world of Gods and demons with Devdutt Pattanaik. A must book to read to get mythological insights. Book takes us on a ride of happiness, secrets, adventure, mystery and fascinating conversations. Learning made easy and interesting- World Book Building Block is a popular series with graphic based non-fiction volume that introduces you to different topics with perfect explanation and pictorial presentation. It is with bright and colorful comic- book style pages, answers all curiosity with visual aids. Additionally, it provides a detailed glossary. This book is penned by Sudha Murthy, one of the finest writers. She believes more in connecting to the audience through her simple yet effective style of writing. This book is about a young girl who was given an unusual task of coaching her illiterate grandma on how to read. This book is funny, inspiring and teaches us valuable lessons. This book is more than just a story.

LOGIC Early Number Systems At first, people used their fingers and thumbs to count but as trading increased, they need a better system. The first simple records were kept by cutting notches in sticks. Later, people invented different symbols that could be written down. The ancient Egyptians used simple strokes that they grouped together : The Babylonians used a similar system, with wedge-shaped symbols : The Mayan people lived in Mexico and Central America between about 1500 BC until the seventh century AD. They used dashes and groups of dots. The ancient Greeks used letters of the alphabet. The Romans used a combination of letters and strokes.

The Chinese used a combination of strokes and symbols. Early Indian symbols included a zero. The familiar numbers we now use developed from these. The familiar numbers that we now use are called Arabic numerals because the Arabs introduced them into Europe in the tenth century AD. Puzzle Time

WHAT IF… What If Mutation Stopped ? Mutation eventually leads to evolution, and I am very sure that you all know how important it is. If it had stopped 480,000 years ago, polar bears might never have been white, or if it had stopped 6 million years ago, we might still be on all our fours. But could there be disadvantages as well, given that it is after all random? It could have made polar bears yellow or green, making it much easier for the prey to spot it or we might be extinct, who knows? But those disadvantages don’t last long because of natural selection. It happens when an animal in a species, with a particular mutation, lives longer than others in its species passing its genes, or when an animal in a species with a particular mutation doesn’t live long enough to pass on its genes. Oh, if you’re wondering how Mutation happens, it happens when a gene is duplicated twice during reproduction. The gene takes up a new role, causing mutation to happen. But, I have also heard that it happens when there is a problem in the gene duplication itself. So, is evolution an accident or nature’s way of ensuring survival? I believe it’s a mix of both. It’s fun to think nature is solving a jigsaw, and is putting in a random piece, and throwing it away when it doesn’t fit.

QUIZ TIME – ALL ABOUT THE EARTH - STATE WHETHER TRUE OR FALSE 1. Earth is the fourth largest planet in the solar system in terms of size and mass. 2. Since German is the international language of astronomy, Earth’s name in English derives from Germanic words for ground and earth. 3. “Earth” is only name for a planet of the solar system that does not come from Grego- Roman mythology. 4. Even enlightened thinkers didn’t regard Earth as a planet like the others in the solar system until the 18th century. 5. Viewed from another planet in the solar system, Earth would appear to be a bright blue in colour. 6. Earth’s surface is traditionally subdivided into seven continental masses. 7. Earth’s continents are surrounded by four major bodies of water. 8. The mean distance of Earth from the Sun is about 8,046,700 km (5,000,000 miles).

Finesse with Fingers Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (also representing all non-military aviation, both private and called J.R.D.Tata), the son of noted commercial. ... Scheduled air transport, including all businessman Ratanji Dadabhoy passenger and cargo flights operating on regularly Tata, is known as the father of Civil scheduled routes; and General aviation (GA), including all Aviation. He was born in Paris on other civil flights, private or commercial.The International 29th July. Civil Aviation Day is seen on 7th December, Monday. We celebrate the Civil Aviation Day to create the awareness of the importance of operating the aircrafts, 50th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. It was started in 1994 by the United Nations. After every 5 years, the International Civil Aviation organization establishes a special anniversary theme for the special day. The theme for International Civil Aviation Day 2020 is . . . “Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development”.

Coming back to the topic, this day is celebrated worldwide every year to reinforce awareness of the role and importance of International Civil Aviation organization in air travel across the globe. The ICAO is an autonomous UN Body accountable for keeping up the safety standards of international aviation. DID YOU KNOW ?? • ICAO, with support from governments, organizations, businesses and individuals, actively promotes International Civil Aviation Day through various activities and events. This day is celebrated globally, especially in countries such as South Africa, through various activities such as seminars, published material, educational lectures, classroom activities, and news announcements on international civil aviation topics related to the day. • International Civil Aviation Day is a global observance and not a public holiday. • ICAO was established on December 7th, 1944, to secure international cooperation and uniformity in civil aviation matters. The International Services Transit Agreement and the International Air Transport Agreement were also signed. In 1994, ICAO established International Civil Aviation Day to mark the organization’s 50th anniversary. • This observance aims to generate and reinforce global awareness of the importance of international civil aviation in the social and economic development . The day also commemorates the ICAO’s role in promoting the safety, efficiency and regularity of international air transport.

X - PLORED EXPLORING ICELAND Last year, during the Diwali The next day, we went to capture some memories from vacation , we started our the Golden Circle tour which takes you from Reykjavik city journey to Iceland in an to Pingvellir National Park. The Pingvellir park is home to airplane. We reached there Iceland’s largest natural lake and the place where the on 28th October,2019. We tectonic plates of North America and Europe split and went on a city tour through drift apart. We were attracted by the Gullfoss Waterfall in many iconic waterfalls, the hot spring area. On the same day, we also enjoyed a volcanic beaches and lush hot spring tour near the lava tunnel. We explored the farmlands that cut between source of the cave. The adventure required great the coast and the mountain, strength and balance. It took on an average of about 3 to 4 as well as glacier region. hours. The next day we had to leave behind some beautiful The next day, we went to memories of Iceland and travel back home. This was experience the Blue Lagoon one of my most favourite trips. I had a lot of fun spending which is a natural spring. time with my family The lava shapes the pool but the water there is the result of a runoff from the geo-thermal power-plant nearby. The water was too warm but relaxing and enjoyable. We had some drinks to freshen our minds while enjoying the marvelous view of the mountains and water. We clicked some amazing photos.

UNITED NATIONS International World Unity Day Started on 22nd December 2005 during the UN World Summit - 2005 Celebrated as the symbol of unity among the UN member nations The main objective is to make sure that the member nations are making efforts towards reducing poverty and uplifting the needy An individual can participate or celebrate the day either by contributing to education or help the poor.



APPLE OF OUR EYES - ACHIEVER Niva Gada from grade 2 started developing interest in Mathematics at the age of 4. She started learning mental calculations. Along with mental calculations, she can also solve 7 types of Rubik Cubes. Starting with HKIMO, she has won various math competitions and has also started her own YouTube channel. Who knows? Maybe she will turn out to be the next Shakuntala Devi! 1.Do you go for any Math tuition classes? Ans. Since 2018, I started attending a training institute called 'Genius Kid' near my residence for mental math. This institute is responsible for my proficiency in calculations. 2) Do you prefer mental math or normal math and why? Ans. It’s not about liking mental math or normal math. It’s all about applying concepts at the right time, to solve the mathematical problems. 3)What is your favorite subject other than math and why? Ans. Other than math, my favorite subject is Science. I like science, as I feel science is the subject that has been making our lives simple. This subject is responsible for all past innovations as well as all future innovations too. 4)Which Rubik cube do you like the most and why? Ans. I like all the cubes. Cubes work as warm ups for me for my mental additions. Amongst all the 7 cubes, I like Mega Minx, as it’s the most challenging to solve with 12 colours. 5) Who is your favourite mathematician? Ans. I recently watched a movie on the famous mathematician, Shakuntala Devi. After watching this movie, I became a fan of hers. While watching the movie, I came to know that even I could do a few mathematical tricks.

REFRESH AND REJUVENATE Hand pushes - Do this isometric exercise, five times, with a 20-second break Research has shown that students who do between each: brief bursts of exercise before taking tests, • Put your hands in front of your face, score higher. In addition, regular activity breaks, during the school day, can help with your palms touching. sharpen students' abilities to focus and • Push your palms and fingers against stay on task. themselves. Shoulder blasts - Do this 10 times: • Keep pushing your hands together for • Hold your arms straight out to 10-15 seconds. the sides. Students can push their hands together as • Make arm circles forward (start with hard as they are comfortable with, as long as it doesn't hurt. Make sure students small circles, then gradually larger breathe during this exercise circles). . • Reverse direction and make arm circles backwards (large circles, then gradually smaller circles). Desk push-ups - Do this 12 times: • Put your hands firmly on the edge of your desk. • Step your feet back so you're leaning into your desk. • Bend your elbows and slowly lower your body toward your desk, keeping your back straight. • Push yourself away from your desk. Make sure desks are stable and feet don't slip on the floor. To increase difficulty, students can move their feet back farther from their desks or move their hands closer together on their desks.

Quantum Computation MOVING AHEAD Quantum computation is the field that Instead of bits, which conventional computers use, a investigates the computational power quantum computer uses quantum bits known as and other properties of computers based qubits. To illustrate the difference, imagine a on quantum-mechanical principles. sphere. A bit can be at either of the two poles of Devices based on subatomic physics the sphere, but a qubit can exist at any point on the could make calculations far faster than sphere. So, this means that a computer using qubits conventional machines - if nothing spoils can store an enormous amount of information and their quantum weirdness. will use less energy doing so than a classical computer Classical bit VS Qubit How our world will change with quantum computing If large-scale quantum computers can be built, they will be able to solve some problems much more quickly than any computer that exists today. Quantum computers are different from other computers such as traditional computers based on transistors. Even in spite of quantum supremacy, there may be plenty of situations where classical computers will still outperform quantum ones. So, the computers of the future may be a combination of both these types. It can solve It is “thousands Application: Entanglement problems of times” faster Artificial that are Superposition Interference impossible than a intelligence, conventional drug design, Principles of It will cryptograph, quantum change the computer. Computing landscape It will reduce weather forecasting & of data power security. consumption financial modelling etc.

1. 24 LOGIC – PUZZLE TIME ANSWERS: 2. 48 3. 49 4. A = 3, B = 2 – 32 X 9 = 288 ANSWERS FOR QUIZ TIME – ALL ABOUT THE EARTH 1. False – Earth is the fifth largest planet in terms of size and mass. 2. False – Earth’s name derives from old English and Germanic words for ground and Earth. 3. True 4. False - Since the 16th century, Earth has been regarded as a planet. 5. True 6. True 7. True 8. False - The mean distance of Earth from Sun is about 149,600,000 km (92,960,000 miles).

TAB STUDENT NAME – SENATE POST - GRADE IM AWARE – UN THEME DAY NIVRITI GUPTA HOUSE VICE CAPTAIN (APOLLO) – 4E APPLE OF OUR EYES – INTERVIEW SIA PAREEK HOUSE CAPTAIN (MERCURY) – 5B READ MY THOUGHTS – BENEFITS OF READING KANAK RADE HOUSE VICE CAPTAIN (POSEIDON) – 4J NEWS AND VIEWS - INTERVIEW SARA NANKANI STUDENT’S AFFAIRS PREFECT – 5G FINESSE WITH FINGERS - INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SHUCHI GUPTA AVIATION DAY HOUSE VICE CAPTAIN (MERCURY) – 4F MOVING AHEAD – QUANTUM COMPUTATION ADRIAN D’CRUZ HOUSE CAPTAIN (ZEUS) – 5A WHAT IF - WHAT IF MUTATION HAD STOPPED? SHASHWAT SAIKRISHNAN LITERARY PREFECT – 5F X-PLORED – EXPLORING ICELAND ANUSIA BAJAJ SAFETY MARSHALL – 5B SPORTS – COMMIT TO BE FIT ASHISH DOYE SAFETY MARSHALL – 5D LOGIC- EARLY NUMBAR SYSTEMS ANANYA HEBBAR STUDENT’S AFFAIRS PREFECT – 4F

HAPPY READING