APRIL NEWSLETTER

Volume VIII Issue IV January- March BIRLA VIDYA NIKETAN SYNERGY COVAXIN Camp Spotlight Counsellor's Tips Veer Gatha Project M Cupboard of my class U N Republic Day Basant Panchami BVN celebrated 73rd Republic Day with great The students of BVN celebrated Basant patriotic fervour. The students showcased Panchami by invoking Goddess Saraswati, India's Unity in Diversity by way of various the deity of knowledge, music and arts. The artworks and performances such as dance and students sang a melodious song seeking singing alongside enactments, poem Maa Saraswati’s blessings. They explained recitations, speaking of a soldier's sacrifice and the significance of the festival which also the motherland's rich history. It was a marks the beginning of the Spring season. powerpacked event enjoyed by all. Gauri Lachiramka of 11F is Anvesha Patil of 9D received selected as one of the 17 a certificate of appreciation Ahaan Avi Arya of 9A The innovative idea of Supriya Baital of 12B Vinayak Zutshi of 11A Ujjwal Kesari of 9A bagged two gold has received Rs. 20 secured 2nd rank in student Ambassadors, under Bhartiya Kala Pranav Kumar of 8C won the 2nd Prize lacs college grant for Vidhyarthi Vigyan Worldwide Samman Awards for a great medals in Delhi State being the best Open Shooting has been selected for trophy & Rs. 25000/- in a performer in Manthan-State for Connect AID’s Youth performance in the Art Competition Unacademy Prodigy. level Exam and won Voice, the international competition organised by Rifle/Pistol 2021 Inspire Award- MANAK compeition organised championship. a cash prize of Solidarity Network Centre 2021-22. by FICCI CASCADE & Rs.3000/- for for Educational developmental & Research He has also received Rs Ministry of Consumer Sustainable Development Program. 1000 as the award Affairs. money .

INAYAT DILA Road Safety Awareness Week The students of the Interact Club’s council attended the District Interact Leadership Assembly (DILA). It gave the interactors an opportunity to meet and get to know the students from other schools and gain an insight into their point of view. The students discussed the issues related to the areas of focus. Inayat X World 2.0 The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways observes National Road Safety Week from January The students of Inayat organized an international 11 to January 17 every year. Team Inayat hosted a event- INAYAT X WORLD 2.0, where they invited slogan writing and poster making competition on over 40 participants from numerous international the theme for the year 2022 ’Sadak Suraksha- and Indian clubs. The point of discussion of the Jeevan Raksha' to spread awareness about how to committee was ‘Mental Health’. The committee keep safe on roads. articulated concerns and issues pertaining to contemporary mental health issues. Vaccination Awareness & COVAXIN Camp The students of Inayat came together to promote and spread awareness about the vaccine launched for the age group of 15-18 years old. This was done through a video created by the students. The video threw light on the misconceptions related to the vaccine and the fear of students taking the vaccine. National Girl Child Day The vaccination drive by the Government of Delhi was held at BVN for the students in the age group of 15 to The students of Inayat organised an Instagram 17 years. On 22 January 2022, 87 BVNites and 113 LIVE with members from the Interact Club of Little non-BVNites got vaccinated. On February 21, another Angels, Nepal and the Interact Club of Big South camp was held in which 120 BVNites and 40 non- Tunis, Tunisia. The discussion was based on BVNites got themselves vaccinated. making the environment comfortable for girls.

Veer Gatha Project Sarv Kala Pratiyogita The students of Birla Vidya Niketan expressed admiration and paid obeisance to the unique gallantry displayed by our men in uniform on the occasion of the Republic Day. Commemorating and honouring the act of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnels of the armed forces the students took part in various competitions wherein they made podcasts, conducted interviews, designed posters, presented paintings and slogans and recited poems. In class 6 the 1st position was shared by Aravali House and The students of Birla Vidya Niketan participated in the Sarv Kala Nilgiri House while the 2nd position was bagged by Pratiyogita, an intra school cultural competition organised by the Annapurna House. The 3rd position was secured by the Art Education Department on the occasion of Basant Panchami. Kailash House. In class 7 the 1st position was bagged by The students showcased their skills and talents by participating Annapurna House while Dhaulagiri House secured the 2nd in the multifarious activities across various categories such as position. The 3rd position was won by Aravali House. The Indian Vocal, Western Music, Dance, Home Science and Art. 1st position in class 8 was secured by Vindhya House, the 2nd and 3rd positions were was won by Annapurna House and Aravali House respectively. In class 9 the 1st and 2nd positions were bagged by Kailash House and the 3rd position was secured by Nilgiri House. In Class 10 the 1st position and the 2nd positions were won by Dhaulagiri House and Aravali House respectively while the 3rd position was secured by Nilgiri House. In class 11 the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions were bagged by Annapurna House.

MUN The Social Sciences Committee conducted the Intra School Birla Mun on 8 & 9 January 2022. The students of classes 6 to 8 performed exceeding well, winning appreciation from the Executive Board for their research and presentation. The Executive Board members from Class 9 to 11 had a hands on experience in steering and moulding their respective committees. An enriching and exhilarating discussion was witnessed over the weekend on issues ranging from the Russian-Ukraine Crisis, to AFSPA in Nagaland, to Status of Women's Education and Employment in war torn Middle East to the issue of Death Penalty. AIPPM UNCSW UNHRC DISEC Best Delegate Best Delegate- 1.India - Ananya Jain X A Best Delegate 1.Representative of Ashok Gehlot- Ashar Khan 8 B Taliban - Tisya Bindal 8 A Best Delegate The Russian Federation - Neel Brahma 11A High Commendations High Commendations Peoples Republic of High Commendation High Commendations- Peoples Republic of China- Amit Shah- Akshath Wadhwa, 9-B China - Badri Vinayak Mishra 11B Iran - Kartik Bhardwaj 9C Kinisha Gulati 10C Kingdom of Denmark - Aravind Rahul Gandhi- Aashman Mehta, 10-B AfghanistanTejash B. Patra 9B PRC- Aaryaveer Pandey 10B Unnikrishnan 9B Special Mentions Special Mention Canada- Nakshita Bharti 11H Special Mention Special Mention Narendra Modi- Sidharth Abrol, 10-D Syria - Kushagra Nath 9 B. Syrian Arab Republic- Aditya Abrol 8C Mehbooba Mufti- Saloni Chawla, 9-F Canada -Ananya Tandon, 6A The United States of America-Meddhansh Sitani 10A The Republic of India -Pranav Pharila 11D Verbal Mention Verbal Mention Verbal Mention Verbal Mention 1.J.P. Nadda- Sraavya S., 8-C Federal Republic of Germany Saudi Arabia - Raghav Gupta, 9 A United Kingdom - Tanvi Vasavada 8B and Northern Aadya Goyal VI B Russia - Aditya Pillai, 7F Ireland Federal Republic of Germany - Yosha Singh 9A Best Position Papers: Peoples Republic of China- Kinisha Gulati 10C Kingdom of Denmark- Aravind Unnikrishnan 9B

Career Orientation Session National Start-up Day A unique CV writing and editing workshop was The students classes 6 to 12 fervently participated in a organised for students of classes 9 to 12 on 11 discussion concerning the initiation of National Start- January 2022. The experts helped students identify Up Day on 17 January 2022. Through an interesting internship opportunities and gave useful tips on and engaging presentation, the students assimilated how they could create their LinkedIn profiles. The the importance of this day, comprehended the students understood what a good CV looks like, significance of start-ups and the process of funding areas of improvement, and ways to make a lasting them, they were also exposed to televised programmes impression. The workshop also comprised of such as Business Blasters and Shark Tank India. detailed presentation of organizations that provide Seeking inspiration from numerous Unicorn and multi- internship opportunities to school students and their million-dollar start-ups, the students explored a importance in one’s career. myriad of ways and strategies to formulate new start- In another session, a talk on ‘Recent Advances and ups. A Shark Tank pitch was given and the students Career in Chemistry’ was organized by Prof. Ramesh yielded their useful outputs with regard to the viability Chandra on 7 February 2022 for the students of and profitability of the product. classes 9 to 12. National Voters' Day Role of Mathematics On the occasion of 12th National Voters’ Day, the E- Voters' pledge was taken by the students and staff and they received certificates for the same. The event took place on 25 January 2022. The students of classes 6 to 12 made videos and posters related to the importance of votes. Language Orientation 2022 The students of classes 8 to 10 attended a webinar on Changing Technology Paradigms and Role of Mathematics on 15 January 2022. The objective of the webinar was to bring forward the role of Mathematics as key component in the field of technology. Mr. Rahul Singh, an alumnus of BITS Pilani with 26 years of experience, initiated a meaningful discussion on artificial intelligence, automation, networking and digital landscape. Mathematical modelling & designing with the use of technology were also highlighted during the session. The entire session was very informative and fruitful. Art of Tie & Dye & the Art of Styling The students of classes 8 & 9 organised an Orientation Program for foreign languages for The students of Home Science of classes 11 & 12 students and parents of class 5 where they were attended a two-day internship program on Art of Tie made familiar with the advantages and and Dye and Art of Styling conducted by Pearl opportunities of learning a foreign language (French, Academy on 29 January 2022. German, Japanese) and making a thoughtful choice.

Economic Growth in India The Awakened Citizen Program The students of classes 8 to 10 attended a The students of classes 6 to 8 took part in the workshop organized by the Social Science interactive session conducted on 10 February department on 'Relationship between Tourism, 2022 by the representatives from the Rama Financial Development and Economic Growth in Krishna Mission Ms. Indrani & Ms. Nandini, who India' on 4 February 2022. They learnt about observed the Life Skills classes to ensure the direct and indirect job opportunities in the travel proper implementation of the Awakened Citizen and tourism sector, technological advancements, Program. The students were assessed verbally its present contribution with regard to the through a variety of discussions. In the end, an economic growth of the country and the vast exhilarating video was presented where the potential associated with the sector. zealous BVNites shared their experiences and the impact of ACP in their daily life. Scouts & Guides Health Toolkit: World Day of the Sick Mr. Mange Ram Chauhan, National Joint The students of class 6 attended a Organization Commissioner, inaugurated the comprehensive, activity-based session ‘Scouts & Guides’ program in BVN on 24 February 2022 for the students of classes 6 to 8. This organized by the Mental Health Committee on 11 program aims at community development by February 2022. The school counselor, Ms. engaging students in a myriad of activities ranging Pratibha Malhotra, focussed on imparting from social service to vocational skills. knowledge with respect to the essentials of The students were encouraged to actively physical and mental well-being by creating participate in this venture so as to develop the their own personalized health toolkit. spirit of patriotism, brotherhood, loyalty, and leadership through a 3-day camp organised at Solid Waste Management Audit BVN. The students were introduced to the history of Scouts and were acquainted to the Patrol System The students of class 10 participated in the through various physical activities like whistles, Home Waste Management program on 11 hand signals, identification through smell etc. The February 2022, where they fervently shared outstanding performers were awarded with gold, reflections on Home Waste Audit. The Audit silver and bronze medals in the closing ceremony highlighted the amount of solid and wet waste by the founder member of HSGA, Mr. Srinivas produced by households and helped the Sharma. students delve into the seriousness of the current situation. This session compelled the young catalysts to think of a myriad of ways in which they could contribute to reduce the adverse impact upon the environment and be mindful of their disposing habits.

INTERSCHOOL COMPETITIONS Sarala Birla Public School, Ranchi organized the event Pratidhwani, Sarala Birla Public Speaking Conclave from 19 to 20 January 2022. Vihaan Jaju (6D) and Arnav Bablani (6D) secured the third position in Storytelling. Medha Pandey (12C), Sanjit Mathur (12A) and Yash Singh (12C) bagged the Critic's Choice Award for Radio Play Enactment. Duel of Doubts, an Interschool Debate Competition, was hosted by Sarala Birla Gyan Jyoti School, Guwahati on 6 February 2022. Srishti Kanjilal (9D) and Garv Trivedi (10D) won the first position. Madhav Tripathi (10E) participated in Cipher-Clutch Mathematics, held by DPS Mathura Road and secured the first position. A plethora of events were organized by CRPF School, Rohini wherein the students of BVN participated and won the following positions: Nyasa(6F), Palak Gambhir (7D), Yashasvi Malhotra(8F) bagged the first position in Smart Score, a Mathematics Interschool quiz conducted for classes 6 to 8 by CRPF School, Rohini. Surabhi Mukherjee (7G) secured the first position in Sanskrit Bal Kavita Gayan Pratiyogita. Manvi Goel (12F) secured the second position in Business Masters. Kamakshi Charusheela (10D) got the first position in the event Tragedy is a Comedy Misunderstood. In another event, Waste: A Creativity Challenge, Sonakshi Kumar (9A) managed to win the first position. Both Rohan Rathee (8B) and Taria Goel (7B), bagged the first position while Anaya Trivedi (6G) bagged the second position in Science Magic, Masterchef Junior and Endangered Oceans Seek Protection respectively. Lavanya Chopra (11H) and Ayush Kumar Nath (11H) secured the second position in Legends under Trial. Piyush Joshi (11C) won a consolation prize in Brain Wave. Geetanjali- Bhajan Gayan, Vrishank Kumar (7B) won the third position. The Sports Branch Directorate of Education organized Inter School Aquatic meet from 22 to 25 February 2022. Aryan Bisht (9F) secured first position in 200m Back stroke. Hitechha Kapoor (7F) secured second and third position in 50m Back stroke and 50m Freestyle respectively. Shaurya Giri (8B) bagged the second position in both 50m Butterfly stroke and 50m Freestyle and third position in 100m Freestyle. Samarth Bhatnagar (10A) bagged the third position in 100m Butterfly stroke. Tanmay Sharma (8A) secured second position in both 50m Breast stroke and 100m Breast stroke and third position in 50m Freestyle. Sarthak Chand (10E) bagged the first position in 200m Butterfly stroke. The students participated in a State level Cultural Competition, organised by the DOE. In the Vocal Semi Classical (Junior girls) category, Surabhi Mukherjee (7G) bagged the third postion. In the Vocal Light Music (Junior boys) category, Vrishank Kumar (7B) won the second position.

Surabhi Mukherjee (7G) participated in Sanskrit Shlok Vachan Pratyogita organised by The Indian School on 23 March 2022. She won the third position and received a cash prize of Rs.2000 as well. In Sanskrit Sambhasan Pratyogita, Indrani Mukherhjee (10B) received consolation prize money of Rs.500. Apeejay School, Noida organized IT Symposium from 18 to 19 January 2022. Suyash Singh (10B), Vaishnavi (10B), Parth (7A) and Kartik (8F) bagged the first position in Web designing and App Development respectively followed by Agnij (9C), Harshit (10A) and Pranav (6C) who secured the second position in Code++ and third position in Stirring Sprite respectively. On 21 January 2022, Aditya Birla World Academy Mumbai, conducted the events- Maths Challengers and Clash of Mathematicians. Ayush Sawar (12C) and Dhruv Malhotra (12C) bagged the Gold and Silver certificates, respectively in Clash of Mathematicians. Krish Jain (10A), Ishaan Gulati (10D) and Shaurya Vaid (10D) bagged Silver certificate in the team event named Maths Challengers. Krish Jain (10A) won a Silver certificate in Clash of Mathematicians. 39th Aryabhatta Mathematics Competition was conducted by Summer Fields School, Kailash Colony on 22 January 2022. BVN qualified and ranked 7 in top seven schools amongst all participating schools of Delhi- NCR. The following ranks were secured by the team of students: Sania Gambhir, Netra Gupta, Angad Saha, Samaira Singh, Pranav Kumar, Gaurav Hanjoora, Kinjal Jena, Yashasvi Malhotra, Siddhanth Rao and Aryan Saha. The students who secured individual rankings are as follows: Rank 16- Yashasvi Malhotra (8F) , Rank 19- Sania Gambhir(8A) and Tanish Chhabra (11C) and Rank 24- Vinayak Zutshi (11A). Delhi Rope Association organized Rope Skipping competition on 28 January 2022 for classes 6 to 11. The first position was bagged by Vaasvi Singh (6A), the second position by Aradhya Hajela (6F) and Ridhay Veer Singh (7B) while the third position was won by Aaradhya Pandey (6B), Devina Kukreja (7B), Saanvi Singh (8E) and Mohit Raj Tanwar (11D) individually. Arnav Gogia (12E) participated in the Season 8.1 XCO Race 35 Km organised by Aravalli Trail Hunters on 27 March 2022 and won a Bronze medal. Air Force Bal Bharti School, Lodhi Road organized ATL Competition where students created an app which is useful for their studies during pandemic times like Covid. The team of Agnij Moitra (9C) and Sayan Mukherjee (9B) secured the first position. Acharya Narendra Dev College organized Eco Ville for students of classes 11 & 12 on 19 March 2022. Rudransh Agnihotri (12C) and Utkarsh Mittal (12A) participated in it and also received a cash prize of Rs.2000. Zonal Netball Tournament was organized by Directorate of Education (Zone S-23) for the students of classes 10 to 12 on 14 February 2022. Prakrit Paliwal (12F), Avnita Chordia (11A), Aanvee Tyagi (12G), Mahak Wadhwa (11D), Manvi Goel (12F), Simar Gambhir (12F), Tvisha Dhingra (10C) and Sarangi Sen Manapurey (12G) participated and the team secured the third position.

COUNSELLOR'S TIPS Ms. Pratibha Malhotra Question 1. Many misconceptions about school counsellors’ roles exist such as, it's wrongly believed that their role is limited to helping a student who may not be faring well in academics improve. If I may, what, in your opinion, is the role of a school counsellor and what value do they bring to the institute and its members? A counsellor plays a pivotal role in understanding the learning needs and blocks experienced by the students and equipping them with essential study skills to overcome these issues. They work in cohesion with Special Educators to support children with learning difficulties, disabilities and other special needs students. Another academic-related scope involves career and vocational guidance of students as per their aptitude, interest and skills. Even though aiding students who are struggling with academics is a part of school counsellor’s role, their scope in the school set up is quite comprehensive as they promote mental health and emotional well-being of children to provide holistic support and a nurturing environment. They work along with other key stakeholders in a child’ life – parents and teachers – to anticipate and combat socio-emotional issues, equip children with essential life skills and work towards developing individual and group resolutions. They also provide counselling and guidance to students with pre-existing medical concerns, students with traumatic experiences, such as bullying, loss of a loved one, or adjustment issues. Another significant role of a school counsellor is to help with early identification of behavioral problems and offer psychological aid. Student advocacy, working with school administration on essential initiatives such as substance use/abuse control, POSH/ POCSO complaints, Anti-bulling Cell, handling internal grievances, providing emotional support to staff are other important duties of a school counsellor. Having a school counsellor adds a crucial support and dimension to the 14-year journey of a student as school is one of the primary social set-ups that a child gets to explore. Also, these formative years are integral to shaping up the psyche and well-being of an individual. Question 2. The art of manliness is a school many boys veer towards the older they get. From a young age, they are encouraged down this route by a culture and environment which cheers a laddish and overtly masculine mind frame, aggression and dominance. The same goes for girls as they lean towards femininity as they grow up. Things like “Big boys don’t cry. They should be tough, they should like masculine colors such as blue and green and play with cars and trucks.” and “Girls should be graceful, gentle, empathetic, expressive and sensitive. They shouldn’t play rough games like rugby and soccer; they should like soft colors such as pink and play with dolls.” are what children often hear growing up. What could be the physiological, psychological and social consequences of encouraging boys to suppress their emotions and be tough and stoic and for girls to be overly expressive yet calm and composed? How can we remove the gender stereotype from the school and home environment? Gender stereotyping starts very early on in a child’s life. From the colors of their clothes to the kind of toys they ‘should’ play with, to how they enact social roles via games and play. These ideologies are reinforced over and over again throughout their lives by significant people/ care givers. And this is so subtle, everyday thing that its hard to point out single instance that may cause these thought processes to form to an extent that its hard to shake them off as an adult. However, conscious effort to unlearn unhealthy patterns can bring the change. Research has found that gender stereotyping, such as encouraging boys to be aggressive, play sports, be bread-winners, suppress emotions can often lead to wide range of mental health issues such as undue stress, stunted emotional growth to violent tendencies. On the other hand, dismissing an assertive girl as bossy, encouraging them to be docile and gentle, limiting their career options especially in STEM field may cause issues like low self- esteem, vulnerability and acceptance towards abusive behaviour, imposter syndrome, etc. And this is for individuals who are able to identify as girls and boys. The challenges are different, and perhaps more complicated, for individuals who identify differently on the gender spectrum. When we engage in gender stereotyping, it limits the potential of an individual, causes elevated level of distress and may lead to mental health problems. We can’t put people in neat, tiny boxes. But help them to explore and understand their own needs, wants, aspirations and expressions. Just like small statements (Don’t be so bossy Or Boys don’t cry) reinforce gender stereotypes, small conscious changes can undo them as well. Avoid making sweeping, generic statements and assumptions about an individual or how they should/shouldn’t behave based on their gender. Give them a safe space and encourage them to express via a medium of their choice. Equip them with right vocabulary to express their emotions in a healthy manner. Encourage them to challenge pre-existing thoughts and norms and have discourse in order to explore different perspectives and opinions. Develop critical thinking over passive acceptance. Admit your own mistakes when you engage in gender stereotyping and try to break your own pattern.

COUNSELLOR'S TIPS Question 3. Flight attendants instead steward and stewardess, Utility/Maintenance hole instead of manhole are general examples of what inclusive language comprises. In late-2021, British Airways dropped the phrase “Ladies and Gentlemen” in announcements and adopted inclusive language in a bid to make all passengers feel welcome and to champion diversity and inclusion. Using inclusive language reflects identities across the gender spectrum and have equitable expectations of all. Why is it important to inculcate this practice in young children in educational institutes today? How will inclusion shape the students as individuals and the society at large? Question 1. Many misconceptions about school counsellors’ roles exist such as, it's wrongly believed that their role is limited to helping a student who may not be faring well in academics improve. If I may, what, in your opinion, is the role of a school counsellor and what value do they bring to the institute and its members? To draw from the previous questions, gender neutral language is another way in which we can overcome gender stereotyping and make individuals across the gender spectrum feel included and accepted without any pre-conceived notions. This can be a small but crucial way in which we make children feel happy, safe and included in their primary set ups such as the school. It is when a child feels acknowledged and accepted that they are able to develop a sense of safety and belongingness critical for their healthy psycho-social development. Gender neutral/ inclusive language helps combat social problems of stringent gender roles, gender inequality and discriminatory words and practices. When children grow up in an environment where all identities are given unhindered opportunities to explore and express themselves, they grow up to form a more aware, empathetic, inclusive and responsible society. It allows for positive and healthier human experiences. Question 4. During the COVID pandemic, matters like inclusive globalization, sustainable inclusive environment, UNICEF’s inclusive education, inclusive language and EdTech gained quick importance. Moreover, these concepts are seeming to be the apt words to describe what the future holds. What is the role of the school, teachers and counsellors in molding students to be inclusive and what is its importance? Why is it vital to create an inclusive environment in educational institutions and what would be the psychological and social benefits of inclusive education? What will be the challenges? School being an integral part of a child’s formative years and teachers and counsellor being some of the key stakeholders influencing these formative years have a huge role to play when it comes to molding students to be inclusive. A child picks up behavior from their immediate environment, they model, mimic and imitate what they see around them which, as they grow, starts setting into patterns of both thought and behavior. When children are molded to be inclusive right from an early age, it breaks the generational cycle of discriminatory practices and sets a new idea of what healthy society/ environment looks like. It is vital to create an inclusive environment in educational institutes so as to make educational experience healthier, allow physical and emotional space for holistic growth and provide opportunities, cerebral and otherwise, based on skills, interests and aptitude rather than gender-based categories. One of the biggest challenges to this is breaking the old patterns and systemic discrimination. Textbooks need to be revised for their language, better practices need to be devised, implemented and revised from time to time. These changes are aimed at multiple levels and include shaking foundations that have been still for so long. Resistance to change is human. But change and evolution is inevitable for a healthy society.

COUNSELLOR'S TIPS Question 5. It is said that 'Failure is not a step backward, rather it's an excellent stepping stone to success.' What is more important in life: success or failure? And how should a person handle success and failure? Success and Failure both have their own role to play as a teacher. While success boosts your confidence, motivates, gives you a dopamine rush and a sense of accomplishment; Failure grounds you, compels you to reflect, learn from your mistakes, persevere or give up and sometimes giving up is also the right option. With success, its critical to understand that it requires constant effort, self-motivation, hard work, dedication, adequate breaks in between, balanced lifestyle and focus besides other qualities. Achieving success is half the battle, handling that success is altogether a challenge in itself. Its important to relish that taste of victory, but its also important to not let it get to your head. Maintaining that success also requires effort. Being humble in your success is important. Your success is a feather in your cap but it doesn’t make others less worthy of respect and kindness. With failure, its vital to eradicate the fear it carries. Often mistakes are discouraged and punished, which instils a fear of failure. This fear of failure often inhibits people from even making an effort. Failure is a huge learning ground. And it has been found that people learn better from their mistakes if they are not shamed and are encouraged to explore their failure. It also helps in psychological development as it encourages to view same goal/ problem from multiple perspectives. Failure also teaches us a critical life skill- understanding when to give up. Along with fear of failure, its important to destigmatize giving up as well. It is a sign of intelligence to understand when giving up is the right, or rather a healthy, choice. Remember, you are more than the sum total of your success or failure. Question 6. Healthcare workers use triage to prioritize patient care. When everything seems like a crisis, it's important to take a step back and prioritize what's important. Students, in today's day and time, find themselves with a plethora of opportunities that gives them the exposure and allows them to unleash their potential. At a tender age, when every opportunity seems like that of once-in-a-lifetime, and when each problem looks formidable, how can students exercise triage? How do they choose which opportunity is to be grabbed and which one to leave? More importantly, how do they say 'No'? How can they understand which problem to solve first, which one later and which problem to leave for it is irretrievable? How should a student prioritize? Triage in healthcare is essentially prioritization based on need assessment. Prioritization is a skill that can be developed and utilized in every field and even in our day to day lives. As young children out in the world of countless opportunities, triage can be practiced by first working on developing self-awareness. What are your fundamental values, beliefs, goals, aspirations, strengths and limitations? Even though context can influence these decisions, developing self-awareness helps in making better choices. Understanding that you are human and can’t do everything, all the time is important. When provided with multitude of opportunities, prioritize the opportunities that helps you move towards your goal, the opportunities that align with what you believe in or the change you wish to bring. Make sure that you do not put too much on your plate that deprives you off the rest and relaxation you require for your performance, physical and cognitive, on these opportunities. While solving problems at hand, prioritization can be done based on the criticality of the issue and the time at hand for the problem. When prioritizing, focus on a balanced life. Sometimes, you may have to say NO to certain opportunities as well. Learning to say NO comes with acknowledging ones’ boundaries and assertiveness. It is important to understand that saying NO is acknowledgement of your own bandwidth to do things at the moment and it can be delivered without being rude and disrespectful. Use “I” statements to convey what you think/ feel. When saying a NO, be assertive with your words, voice as well as your body language. (Interview by Srishti Kanjilal 10A)

Ein Vater ist ein Mensch A Soldier can never dieCreative Corner Der liebevoll und freundlich ist, und oft weiß er, was A Soldier can never die, man denkt. because his josh is too high, Er ist jemand, der zuhört, Vorschläge macht und whether it is Land, Sea or Sky. verteidigt. Ein Vater kann einer deiner besten Many enemies come to our borders, to give it a Freunde sein! Er ist stolz auf deine Triumphe, try, Aber wenn etwas schief geht, kann ein Vater geduldig, but they run away, listening to our soldier’s battle hilfsbereit und stark sein Bei allem, was cry. du tust, zählt die Liebe eines Vaters. Sometimes the enemy may, send in a spy, Tief in deinem Herzen gibt es immer einen Platz für but this soldier, won’t let him pry. ihn. Und mit jedem Jahr, das vergeht Today we feel safe, you may ask, Why? freut man sich noch mehr It’s because of the soldier, who’s at our border, Noch dankbarer und stolzer standing by, ihn deinen Vater nennen zu dürfen! Danke, Papa... für das Zuhören und Geben und Teilen, aber vor allem dafür, dass du einfach du selbst bist! Alles Gute zum Vatertag -Aryan Rajput 9A One day, wrapped in the tricolor, his body may lie, Hello Myself! The eyes of his family are all but dry. He has earned the respect from both you and I Hello myself! Today too, you look fabulous A soldier can never die. (Because he is a martyr and a martyr never dies, You are yourself And are marvelous. they live forever) Just have faith and live freely ‘ Shaeedon ki chitaaon par lagenge har baras Cause, after all, you live only once. So enjoy your time on earth to mele, vatan par marne walo ka yahi baaki nishaan the fullest. So that while leaving the world, hoga’ *Shri Jagdamba Prasad Hitaishi* Jai Hind, Bharat Mata ki Jai! you don't have any regrets. - Gauri Chitkara 6B -Manoshi Saha 9E ऐ मनुष्य! अपने जीवन की डोर निर्मल निर्झर इन नदियों के बीच की बात, तू खुद काट रहा है, अब कहाँ समझेंगे आप! इन नदियों की दुर्दशा तू समझ नहीं पा रहा है! कल -कल, चल-चल करती आतीं, कितना पावन जल थी लाई, कितना निर्मल जल यह लाती। रस्ते काट उपजाऊ भूमि दिलाई। पर शहरों में आते ही, पर शहरों में आकर हुआ बड़ा अपमान, क्यों छा जाती इन पर उदासी! जब मनुष्य ने दिखाया अपना अभिमान। अब कितनी देर तक यह चक्र रहेगा जारी? क्यों रो-रोकर यह सूख रही हैं? इसे ख़त्म करने की कर लो तैयारी। पुनः खोया सम्मान दिलाए, क्यों हमसे यह रूठ रही हैं? यह निर्मल निर्झर बहती जाएँ। क्यों मूर्खता दिखा रहा है तू? क्यों इस जल को विष बना रहा है तू? वैष्णवी मगोत्रा 8E Diya Samriddhi 10C

Principle of Art: Create variety in art with various elements. Pratyaksh Gulliya 6B Lakshya Agrawal 6B Prajna Singh 8D Lakshya Agrawal 6B Diya Samriddhi 10C Rida Faheem 6B Prajna Singh 8D Aadya Goyal 6B Prajna Singh 8D

The Cupboard of My Class by Srishti Kanjilal 9A Once, in the cupboard of my class, lived Grandma Notebook, with her grandchildren, Mr. Pencil and Ms. Eraser. Her son, Mr. Ruler and his wife, Mrs. Ruler were somehow broken by the mischievous students of my class. Since then, Mr. Pencil and Ms. Eraser would always fight over the slightest disagreement. Ms. Eraser thought the children were merely being themselves and had broken her parents unknowingly, but Mr. pencil thought that Ms. Eraser saw it all the wrong way, he thought that the kids were devilish. One day, Mr. Pencil and Ms. Eraser were fighting as usual. Mr. Pencil had accused Ms. Eraser of having erased the article he had written over the night. Hearing this, Ms. Eraser screamed on top of her lungs, “How dare you! I didn’t do anything. Moreover, it’s you who’s responsible for piercing holes into me.” Furious, Mr. Pencil replied, “Saying as if you are any better. Huh….? Always supporting those kids who are responsible for us to have no parents!” Saying this, Mr. Pencil rolled down to the other end of the shelf to Grandma Notebook. Mr. Pencil lay down near Grandma Notebook whose days were about to come to an end as only one page was left in her. Grandma asked, “Did you fight with your sister?” “I don’t want to talk about her. She’s just full of herself and wants to become a saint. Always covering for others who are wrong!” said Mr. Pencil. And both of them fell asleep. The next morning, Grandma was found lying without any movement. She had passed away in her sleep. Mr. Pencil turned Granny’s pages and found a letter on the last page…. Dear Pencil and Eraser, Please remember that every relation is fragile and can only be saved by the slightest connection of understanding. Pencil, the kids were just being kids, and they unintentionally broke your parents. You must learn to forgive and find good in every little thing. Eraser, always be the light in your brother’s life and show him the right path and always continue to be yourselves. Granny loves both of you! Take care! Yours lovingly Granny Notebook ....” It was Grandma Notebook. She wanted us to understand the importance of the bond based on understanding each other. She wants us to always be ourselves.”, said Eraser. “But she could have told us. Why did she give away her last page, her last breath??!!”, said Pencil furiously. Eraser kept a hand over Pencil’s shoulder and consoled him, “She told you to see the good in everything. Anyway, Mum and Dad must be bored of living alone, so Granny went to have fun with them. Just like she had with us!” The next day, there was a drastic change. Mr. Pencil and Ms. Eraser would work on the same page without arguing and Mr. Pencil, considering the kids to be in the age of being mischievous, forgave them. Grandma went away teaching them a lesson for life. Editorial Team Ms. Shweta Susmita, Ms. Isha Rani, Ms. Kritika Sood, Ms. Kreeti Chopra Srishti (IX-A), Sayan (IX-B), Maanvi (XI-D), Savdeep (XI-H), Vani (XI-D), Vaibhav (XI-C), Avnita (XI-A), Aryan (XI-D), Lavanya (XI-H)