Hues Journal

www.bhavansmiddleeast.com * KUWAIT * ABUDHABI * DUBAI * ALAIN * AJMAN *BAHRAIN

We are extremely happy to share that Bhavans Middle East Group of schools is bringing out the 4th volume of Bhavans Journal ‘HUES’. It is yet another success story of Bhavans Middle East’s team work and coordination. Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal. It depends upon the hard work, determination and endurance. It is the result of continuous and persistent efforts of all associated schools from Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Al Ain, Bahrain, Dubai & Kuwait that we have achieved the highest level in imparting quality education and all round development to students in the present day competitive world. Bhavans Journal, ‘HUES’ is basically a true picture of all the BVB ME group of institutions and it reflects the academic, social, cultural and literary standard of the schools. It also reflects the creativity and imagination of the students from various schools. It not only provides a suitable substratum for healthy growth of the creative potentials of the students but also develops their imaginative thinking and self-expression right from the beginning of their schooling. Why Bhavans Middle East? Why are we different from other schools? Where do we stand? Yes, these are the answers which the readers will get from the interviews given by the principals. We would like to congratulate our Bhavans-Bahrain Team for coordinating with the rest of the schools and bringing out the 4th volume of ‘HUES’ so well, in terms of both quality of contents & design. The interviews conducted with the principals of all member schools and the highlight of activities conducted during the academic session 2020- 21, makes the Journal worth reading. We are sure that under the able leadership of our dedicated principals and staff, Bhavans Middle East Group of schools will continue to touch new heights not only in academics but in co-scholastic areas too. We wish you all good luck! With warm regards Management, BVB ME HUES 4th Edition

Bhavans Bahrain Management and Principal with Editorial Board Dear Readers No screeching halts of any form or abeyance can be an obstruction in the evolution of Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan- Middle East. The publication of 4th volume of Bhavans journal, ‘HUES’ serves as a mirror to the vibrant and exuberant world of Bhavanites. It also unfolds the accomplishments of the students studying at the school of Bhavans Middle East. The 4th Edition of HUES is an expression of the literary, creative and artistic skills of the students during the period of uncertainty. It is a journal of the journey and burgeoning of BVB ME. No matter how hard the circumstances were, all our schools remained happening schools, as they used to be during pre- COVID-19 era. We are really proud and exuberant for having got an opportunity to interview the successful principals of Bhavans Middle East, as they share their secret of success and their plans to take the schools to the next level. The publication of ‘HUES’ is in dedication to the indomitable spirit of Bhavans Middle East that relentlessly aims at leaving an indelible impression on students who are emerging as confident & intellectually smart individuals well-equipped in transforming the human world. As you leaf through the pages of Hues, you would witness the futuristic spirit of Bhavanites. Editorial Board, Bhavans Bahrain HUES 4th Edition

HUES 4th Edition

Principal Speaks Mr. T Premkumar, Principal, Indian Education School, Kuwait 1. Indian Education School, Kuwait by, Bhavans Middle East under the chairmanship of Mr. NK Ramachandran Menon, started off its journey with 110 students in September 2006 and currently IES is the most sought after schools in Kuwait with more than 3000 students on roll. Could you please share your success story? → There are no shortcuts to success. The saga of the phenomenal success of Bhavans Kuwait is nothing but the outcome of 100% commitment. Dedicated professionals who have always walked extra miles for the progress of the children, the patronage of the encouraging parent community of IES and a focused, disciplined student community which has always been willing to follow the advice of their teachers is the synergy of these three elements made Bhavans one of the most successful educational institutions in Kuwait. 2. What are your views on the New Education Policy? How far it is going to be practical and appropriate to make skill-based learning mandatory for every student? → It is indeed a great opportunity when I look at the entire discussion that has been going on for years about skill-set development pedagogy meant for the 21st century learner. It is for the first time, we are going to embed 21st century skills to the classroom, leaving aside political debates in this regard. We cannot cater to the needs of 21st century learners who are born with technological spoons in their mouth with obsolete methodology and rote learning. The new educational policy places the learner at the heart of the research-based, individualized learning focused, project-based learning, and life skill-oriented learning strategy to mold the global citizen. This, I expect, will revolutionize the educational scenario of the country by leaps and bounds. It is a cent percent viable approach towards education. I reiterate. It is going to revolutionize the educational scenario. 3. Every year your school has GCC toppers in most of the subjects at CBSE board examinations as well as your students are well placed. What is your advice for the students who are yet to face the board exam? → My advice has always been this- whatever you learn, learn that with focus and clarity. Learn the concepts not for the examination but for life. When you love what you learn, your memory will not fail you. Write the answers in your rough book. Solve as many problems as possible. Be constantly in touch with your teachers. Work smart and not work hard. You will certainly exceed the expectations HUES 4th Edition 1

. Principal Speaks Mr. T Premkumar, Principal, Indian Education School, Kuwait 4. Do you think the delay in the forthcoming CBSE Board Examinations, can affect the students psyche? What are your plans to engage the students along with new batch of students? → There is absolutely no reason to believe that the delayed exam schedule will have any adverse effect on any candidate’s psyche. Instead, the delayed schedule will help them utilize the additional time effectively for the reinforcement of concepts and practice. We have informed our students that we are not going to pull the plug on student support as soon as the term comes to an end. The teachers in IES will continue to help their students until the last day of their exam and beyond. Ours is probably the only institution in Kuwait which is flocked by our alumni during the school hours. They come in droves to meet their beloved teachers. 5. We are entering into the 4th Industrial Revolution. Schools, now, need to prepare the students for jobs that have not yet been created, and to use technologies that have not yet been invented. What are your views on reviewing the curriculum to meet the rapid development in the field of education? → Vocational education is one of the prime goals of NEP. Ours is not a community that has considered vocational education significant or relevant. The NEP will introduce vocational education in schools from grade 6 and that will create new generations that believe in the dignity of labor. Kudos to the central government for its noble initiative. It is better late than never. There will be 10 days in an academic session that will be marked as “bagless days” and these days are meant to acquire vocational skills by the students such as carpentry, electrical work, metal work, gardening, and pottery, etc. HUES 4th Edition 2

Ms. Girija Baiju, Principal, Principal Speaks Private International English School, Abu Dhabi 1. It’s a well-known fact that winners don’t do different things rather they do things differently. Your success in the field of education is praiseworthy and your journey over the last ten years has been highly inspiring. Your school has become the first CBSE School rated as ‘Very Good’ by ADEK. Please share with us your success mantra? → L - Listens E - Expects the best A - Accountable D - Determined E - Encourages R - Respects 2. No one had imagined that the entire teaching and learning process will be carried out through virtual platform. It seems as if the fiction, ‘The Fun They Had Together’ has become a reality. Do you think that Artificial Intelligence and virtual classrooms would ever be able to take over face to face teaching? If so what are your further plans? The teachers presence, the interactions and socialising are the heart of education. The pandemic situation has made it clear that the role of teachers and the school is irreplaceable. But keeping pace with changing times we should modify our approaches. We know that education will not disappear, but it will take different forms. We shall have to change as per the demands of the 21st Century. We should introduce Project-based learning so as to develop skills of independent learning. We should also introduce Artificial intelligence since many will be depend on it. Place based learning should also be done so as to apply the content they are learning in the real world. Staying informed means knowing what the job market looks like, what skills our students need, and how we can help them to develop those skills. 3. Study of languages has always been a matter of discussion amongst parents and students. What are your views on the introduction of mother tongue as the medium of instruction up to Grade 5 but preferably till Grade 8 by NEP 2020? The idea of using the mother tongue as the medium of instruction in primary school is not new to the Indian education system. It is fine for educationists to say that the local language should be the medium of instruction but that is not what parents want, not what families want. They want English which they think HUES 4th Edition 3

Ms. Girija Baiju, Principal, Principal Speaks Private International English School, Abu Dhabi will take their children ahead in life. But in the gulf the scenario is different. We have students from different states in India. So we cannot cater to the different mother tongues of students. Hence considering the diversity we have in our classroom English will be the medium of instruction in our school. 4. Technology is now prominently used in teaching and learning. How can cyber-safety be maintained within the remote learning sphere? How important is the role of counselling and counselor at the current stage? As a first step when we introduced online classes, we prepared the online policy and procedures to be followed by students and teachers. Sessions were given to parents, teachers and students to orient them about the responsibilities of digital citizens. Clear instructions were given to students regarding the procedures and steps that the school will follow in case of any disciplinary issues. Also to be aware of what to do if there is an online threat. Counsellor encourages students to report if they face any online bullying or cyber threat. 5.The CBSE has decided to put off the board exams till May 4th 2021. This means, the students are to be engaged and retained in the school. What are your plans for engaging the children till the exam starts? To keep the students engaged we have scheduled three Pre-Board exams. We have conducted two Pre- Board exams and for the third Pre-Board exams we intend to have the physical presence of students in school so that they experience the three-hour exam. Also, we have scheduled meeting students in the evening to clarify their doubts before the third preboard exam. Timetable for the evening classes has been prepared by the section supervisors in consultation with the subject teachers. HUES 4th Edition 4

Principal Speaks Dr. Bhavna Gupta, Principal, Al Saad Indian School, Al Ain 1. It was year 2014 when the inception of Al Saad Indian School took place. Since then, your school has been taking strides in the field of teaching and learning. Ma’am, can you please share your journey of success? → School started under the umbrella of Bhartiya Vidhya Bhavan in 2014 with 7 students and 10 teachers. Since then, we have excelled in- • Terms of strength of students • Number of teachers • Grades and streams in senior secondary • In curricular and co-curricular activities • Developing culture of school • Building good rapport with parents It is commitment and dedication of staff members which has helped us in achieving great heights. With this we were able to win trust and confidence of parents and affirm that our school is the best for their ward. 2. As per CBSE, “A Principal must be a Pedagogical Leader.” What are your views on it? → The position and duties of a school principal are rapidly changing along with the changes in the policy of school development and present days requirement. Curriculum and staff development are the main components of the present policy. As a pedagogical leader, my role is not only to check what the teachers are teaching but also to plan how we can help them to teach more effectively. Hence responsibility is to lead, guide and support the teaching and learning processes in the school by focusing on classroom specific requirements for transacting the curriculum, so that both teachers and students perform at their optimal best and at the same time conducive learning environment is maintained. 3. The New Education Policy (NEP 2020) expects the schools to prepare every child to be adept at one skill at least. What are your plans for your school? → This restructuring of the whole span of schooling has been proposed keeping in mind the developmental needs and interests of learners at different stages of their physical, mental, emotional, and psychological development. Following are the areas of action:- HUES 4th Edition 5

Principal Speaks Dr. Bhavna Gupta, Principal, Al Saad Indian School, Al Ain • Shift from rote learning to practical learning. ... • Skill based learning in school. ... • Flexibility in selection of subjects. ... • More focus on tech-based learning. ... • Focus on teacher’s training. ... • Internships and Work experience Thus, our sole objective is to prepare our students equipped with the 21st century skills along with life skills and soft skills. 4. What are the initiatives taken by your school towards the learner centered classrooms? → In a learner-centered classroom, students are the focus of education. The role of a teacher is to facilitate learning and help students reflect and become responsible for their studies. It helps students to become responsible for their own learning. Encouraging them for exploring and self-reflection and to achieve desired goals is a part of learner centered classroom. In learner centered classroom activities are prepared keeping children and learning in focus. Students are motivated to set targets. Project based learning/ Experiential learning is the need of the hour therefore they are engaged in it repeatedly. Also opportunities to lead is also given. Focus is always laid on competency-based learning. The connection between technology and pedagogy is also one of the primary objectives of the learner centered classroom. These sort of classrooms are ideal for students for learning the art of taking appropriate decision. 5. How do you make sure all students are equally motivated and actively engaged in the learning process especially when the students are attending classes remotely? → This is probably the biggest challenge all of us are confronting at this time of remote learning. Our focus is to make the classes interesting for both the type of students-those attending in school and at home. We always ensure that learning is enjoyable. The ability to connect from what they know to what they want to know is always prime focus. Inquisitive attitude helps in overall development of an individual therefore stress is always laid on activities such as hands-on learning. People learn best by doing and collaborating together therefore students are given maximum opportunities. We achieve our objective by involving students in various activities and planning a lesson by using VAK and differentiation. HUES 4th Edition 6

Principal Speaks Mr. Saji Jacob,Principal, Bahrain Indian School, Bahrain 1. Great transformation has happened in education thereby laying more stress on learner centred classrooms. What is your school’s opinion about ‘Connecting Hearts, Caring Classrooms’? How does your school create a congenial and growth mindset environment within the classrooms even during the period of pandemic and online classes? → ‘Connecting Hearts, Caring Classrooms’ is the ideal concept that can transform classrooms to learner centred classroom. Creating a positive vibe and strong teacher-student relationship reduces the discipline problems, fosters a positive learning environment so that students enjoy the learning process. It’s a known fact that students liking for a subject is directly connected to his/her relationship with the teacher. In learner centred classrooms teachers win their students hearts while they are getting inside their students heads. Our mindsets are what guide our actions, reactions and behaviours, in particular to gaining knowledge and learning new skills. A fixed mindset equals fixed intelligence. People in this mindset perceive they have no way to improve themselves. A Growth mindset equals intelligence that can be developed. Schools are ideal sites for the promotion of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enhance personal as well as collective wellbeing. Bahrain Indian School firmly believes in developing growth mind set by praising children’s efforts, teaching them to be intrigued by mistakes, acknowledging the efforts put in and prompting them to keep learning. For developing growth mind set among children school has organised BISQ Quiz, Bhavanodaya Inter School Competition, MUN, Math Quiz, Science and Math Model Competition and many more. E-library has also been introduced enabling the students read their favourite books at ease with no extra cost. The budding young writers of BIS have penned their stories and the collection of stories has been published titled ‘BIS Wordsmiths’. We are soon going to release our digital school magazine too which will showcase students creative works. 2. Indian Curriculum, teaching methodologies, the aspirations of the students and the parents is extremely different in comparison to other countries and their curriculums. How do you view Indian educational system? What are the changes that Indian educational system should bring in? → Lot of research work is done on part of Indian Education system and changes are incorporated time to time. One example is continuous comprehensive system. Still at many places teachers and parents are not able to come out from traditional teaching methodologies. It depends on school to school how they plan school activities for overall development of the child and encourage them to give chance to participate in activities for development of personality. Our school not only has well planned activity calendar but also give different platforms like YLP/ Radio jockey to build confidence in them. Indian curriculum has its own share of pros and its own fair portion of cons. Although the system has a lot of good things, yet needs to HUES 4th Edition 7

Principal Speaks Mr. Saji Jacob,Principal, Bahrain Indian School, Bahrain change in certain aspects. Heavy emphasis on scoring good marks through mugging up and lesser initiatives in taking up for practical and hands on learning needs be replaced with opportunities for skill development.There are no quick fix solutions. The new National Education Policy 2020 is expected to bring transformational reforms in school and higher education systems in India. Low stake on Board examinations and getting students genuinely interested in what they are doing in school, can help students in choosing a career or profession of their choice, based on interest and innate skills. Despite all these challenges, Indian Education continues to flourish and brings out some of the exceptional brains of the world. 3. Bahrain Indian School has been in the spotlight for winning accolades in various arenas such as BISQ Quiz and other curricular and co-curricular activities. A great number of students have grabbed medals in NTSE, NGSE and other Olympiads. What has been the success mantra of the stupendous success? → Enthusiasm is the energy, the intense zeal, the inspiration, the focus, the fervor, the excitement, the enjoyment which binds and inspires everyone at BIS to attain great success. Success is never by mere chance; it is the result of hard work, competence and working together. 4. Attainment of CBSE affiliation for Grade XI and XII had been a long cherished dream of Bahrain Indian School. Finally the affiliation has been done now, what streams is the school planning to introduce in 2021-22? How is the school planning to ensure quality education and overall development? → The school is well equipped for conducting classes for Science, Commerce and Arts streams with a variety of subject combinations to suit the individual interest of the students. A free aptitude test will be conducted to help the students to choose the suitable stream options and subject combinations. Students do not require any additional tuition as personalized attention is given to each student. School is confident that regular reinforcement and remedial sessions helps in re- explanation / revision of the taught concepts and thereby ensures adequate preparation of students for Board Examinations. Facilities for regular Career Counselling, Integrated coaching to prepare students for various competitive examinations like IIT- JEE, NEET, SAT and availability of admission experts to support students with their University Applications make BIS the most sought – after school in the Kingdom. 5. Technology has revolutionized the entire world and is quite evident in the field of education. We have been equipped with internet, robotics, newer technology and many more. How much challenge the internet, the Google and the Indian educational system has brought to the role/profession of a teacher? → The internet, the Google and the pandemic have together added another dimension to teaching and learning which is popularly known as being ‘tech savvy’. It is now an essential and mandatory skill requirement of a teacher. In modern era, to be effective, a deep understanding of curriculum is not enough, teachers needs to abreast with the technology which has brought considerable challenge to the role/profession of a teacher all over the world. In the earliest stages of Online Teaching and Learning it seemed to be a Herculean task but it didn’t take much time for the qualified and tech savvy teaching staff of BIS to be adept with technology. The scenario is such that teachers are readily prepared to accommodate themselves as well as the students with anything emerging new in the educational world. HUES 4th Edition 8

Principal Speaks Ms. Indu Panicker, Principal, Wise Indian Academy, Ajman 1. WISE Indian Academy is known for its unique and effective teaching strategies and thereby attracting many students to its campus. What are the key factors? → At Wise Indian Academy serious attempts are made to give individual attention to every child in the school. Teachers are constantly motivated to reach out to the quiet, shy and weak students and their parents. This partnership has helped to bring about a change in individual performances and won us the reputation for being ‘a school with a heart’. It is the hard work and the effort of our teachers alone that has scripted this success story. 2. As per the new Education policy, at all stages, experiential learning will be adopted including hands on learning, arts & sports integrated education and storytelling-based pedagogy. As a Principal, how will you make sure these strategies are adapted and implemented? → For us in UAE, experiential learning and art integrated learning has always been incorporated into our teaching methodology. However, with the implementation of NEP, like all schools Bhavans Ajman also accelerated our programme in school to adhere to the specifications laid down by the CBSE. 3. The screen time of the students has increased due to online classes and the introduction of e- library. What strategy did your school implement to reduce the screen timing without compromising on the quality of education? → Of course, the non-concurrent periods in the timetable have played a pivotal role in weaning students away from their screens . Ample time for self-study and research work on school topics has helped to reduce screen and promote effective learning in the youngsters. 4. ‘A great teacher can teach calculus with a paper clip and literature on an empty field’. This fits well with your school. Could you further elaborate? → Teacher creativity and innovation are an absolute must to sustain the interest of students on the online platform: However, the right balance of the use of online tools and teacher creativity has made learning exciting on the virtual platform too. Teachers have risen to the challenges in the past few months and strived hard to make classes exciting. New ideas motivated students to conduct live surveys to source information. 5. “When the going gets tough, put one foot in front of the other and just keep going. Don’t give up.” What were the challenges you faced, and how did you resolve them? → To put it in simple parlance every challenge was overcome. Thanks to the wonderful teamwork and shared expertise within the team. Handholding and mutual support brought out the best in every member of the teaching fraternity . Stronger bonds were forged with our parents to give wings to our shared mission. HUES 4th Edition 9

Principal Speaks Mr. Mahesh P. Iyer, Principal, Smart Indian School, Kuwait 1. Smart Indian School had its humble beginning in the year 2016. Within a short span of 4 years the school has grown leaps and bounds with around 2000 students on roll. It is indeed an amazing journey! What are some of the strategies you have introduced to reach up to this level? What are your plans for taking the school to the next level? → At the onset SIS Parivar expresses our sincere gratitude to our Chairman Shri Ram Sir for providing us a platform to work on. We the SIS TEAM worked as a true team to evolve from the ashes - just like a phoenix bird - from the scratch keeping in our mind that whatever we do should focus at our motto i.e. Education First. We addressed each and every small concern with great sincerity and gave immediate solutions. We keep transparency within us .We believe in establishing multiple leaders so that we shall get varieties of approaches to any problematic concerns. We made a strong bond with the parents and made them feel that their children are in our safe hands. We would try to develop the leadership qualities in each one of our students and make them stronger to face any challenge that they would face in their life. We would work for inculcating the human values integrated with perfect teaching pedagogy and make the future generation more independent and competent in the future techno savvy world. 2. NEP 2020 expects; learning should be Holistic, Integrated, Enjoyable and Engaging. How do you make sure these are implemented in letter and spirit? → We would really acknowledge the prodigious initiative taken by the CBSE for a illimitable leap in the education system through NEP2020.Most of the things mentioned in NEP 2020 we were already practicing in our school. Moreover we shall look into the curriculum of KG and Primary wing more intensely than the past because the learning process is more effective in the junior classes compare to the higher classes. Yes holistic approach with the whole round development of the learners can be brought by the intensive teachers. We would work on more collaborative and integrated learning methodology for the future learners which will make them learn all the life skills at their ease. 3. What are the important social skills to be developed among students to make them the global leaders of tomorrow? →Learners are always eager to learn new things in an innovative way. We should involve their parents, kin and clans for the collaborative projects like keep away the electronic gadgets and be with your family, HUES 4th Edition 10

Principal Speaks Mr. Mahesh P. Iyer, Principal, Smart Indian School, Kuwait know your family through interactive sessions, keeping talk shows on different interesting topics, awareness programs on personal and community hygiene and serious environmental issues. Art integration in all the subjects, cross curricular activities and learning by doing etc. should be practiced in the classrooms on a regular basis for inculcating the social skills such as sharing and caring, helping the needy, respecting all the human beings etc. 4. How has COVID19 left an impact on education and how do you think education can mitigate COVID19’s impact? Has your school actively been involved in organizing awareness programs and seminars for the students and parents? If you have the strongest will you can transform all the challenges into opportunities. This was the lesson we could inculcate in each one during the Covid-19 pandemic. We know that Covid-19 had and still has and will have its impact on our life to change our life style and to have the sense of humanity in all. The impact of Covid -19 was very much there in all of us in the past year. We have lost many lives and many are still striving to recover from the critical grips of the Coronavirus. The impact was severe in many as they had psychological imbalance and got disturbed in their everyday activities. We all have transformed to another world of technology so as to conduct school and daily life activities in a smooth manner. We in the educational field have not left any stone unturned even during this pandemic crisis. We have embraced the technology so tightly that we have transformed ourselves into more techno savvy personalities. We had done all the activities as per our academic calendar and in fact we could do more activities, webinars, conferences, discussions, meetings and training sessions, as we could get more time to interact with our students and their parents through the virtual platform as per the convenience of all of us. 5. School leaders have been challenged with maintaining holistic education during this global pandemic. However, you have been successful in conducting various events like sports day etc. How did you make it possible? →We had sternly trusted each other in working together. We could coordinate, plan and execute everything on a virtual platform only because we had a strong bond amongst each other along with the trust & thrust. We made it a point to do anything and everything with an out of the box thinking. We could do the annual sports meet, annual exhibition, annual days and all other celebrations along with the other activities with the blessings and support from the management, parents and our much innovative, interrogative and prodigious students and the teachers. We express our sincere gratitude to each one of the SIS TEAM for their insistent efforts taken in each step of our marching ahead towards the target of EDUCATION FIRST. HUES 4th Edition 11

Principal Speaks Dr. K T . Nandakumar, Principal, Bhavans Pearl Wisdom School, Al Ain HOW TO COPE UP WITH THE STRESS RELATED TO COVID-19 With schools closed around the world, students, parents and teachers are facing unprecedented change. Classes are now becoming virtual. Students might have missed their friends. They may find studies difficult. Parents may be worried about the family and about the future. They may be struggling for their children’s educational needs. Many parents might have lost funding or their job. Many may be feeling anxious, sad and uncertain, many people may be experiencing personal difficulties. Thus, there are many causes of stress during this pandemic. These feelings and stress are normal. Everyone experiences stress and a little bit of stress is not an issue. But very high stress will have negative impact on our body and mind. It is essential to reduce the stress. Here are some ways to lessen the stress. Basic self-care will keep our immune system strong and our emotional reserves full. When we practice proper self-care, we do tend to feel confident about ourselves. Get enough sleep. Exercise regularly. Eat well. Try yoga and meditation. Find activities that engage yourself. Do something physical like dancing. Occupy your mind with puzzles. Look for tasks you can postpone or simply eliminate from your to-do list. No matter how bad our situation is, we need to be kind to others. How do you feel when you are struggling, suffering, in pain, and someone reaches out to you with kindness, caring and understanding? Even in the most difficult situations, there are ways we can act on our values of kindness and caring which will help us reduce the stress level. We need to focus ourselves. We might feel unmotivated now. Recognize that the current circumstances are hard for everyone. Do not judge yourself; just do the best you can. Establish a routine. Get up, go to bed, and do your work at the same time every day. Frequent breaks can help you re-engage in your work. Stay focused. Social support has an immense power to lessen our stress. Your friends might have probably scattered. And having to stay home can be lonely. To combat isolation, come together with your friends using technology. Even something as simple as turning on your webcam during virtual classes can help you and others feel more connected. We must effectively manage our disappointment. Many important life events may not happen this year. Grieve those losses, then reframe how you think about these life events. Find new ways to celebrate. Consider recreating important events once it is safe. Media plays major role in our life, including the social media. Of course, it is good to stay informed, especially about what’s happening in our area or world. But too much news - especially social media - can add to your anxiety. To avoid being overwhelmed, set limits on your media consumption and smartphone use. Rely on reliable and reputed sources for information. Your classmates, friends or family members may be disobeying the rules about physical distancing or doing other things that add to your stress. While modelling good behavior and staying safe yourself, recognize that you cannot control what other people do. You can only control your own thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Another thing we cannot control is the uncertainty about what comes next. Instead of worrying about our ambiguous future, focus on solving immediate problems. HUES 4th Edition 12

Principal Speaks Ms. Jaemi Byju, Vice Principal, Pearl Wisdom School, Dubai 1. Pearl Wisdom School, Dubai is considered one of the best schools in Dubai which provides world class infrastructure and excellent teaching and learning environment for widening children’s knowledge and expertise. How has the school been able to maintain the status of being the best school? What is yet to be explored? → The very opening of Pearl Wisdom School was a race against the pandemic without anyone at school meeting each other, not even getting a sight of the school. Everything happened online. Still, Pearl Wisdom School has been able to make it quite effortlessly with the team of exceptional and dedicated teachers. They took up every challenge from online teaching to teaching in the blended classrooms with the resolve to keep the name of Bhavans high. They also found time to spend with children who required support. This swept the parents to our side completely. Online teaching and learning platforms are completely new. There are still new updates on Teams. Every day we see something new in technology and those are yet to be explored in the true sense like the individual learning styles on the platforms and the strategies to cater to all the styles as well. 2. Being the new school, what was the biggest challenge you faced in building rapport with parents and students especially during this pandemic especially when the students could not access the state- of-the-art facilities? → The biggest challenge initially was getting to know the digital personalities of people at the other end of the screen. Establishing rapport was a seamless task as we often had family evenings and we celebrated most of the events together with students and parents along with the teachers. The parent community was highly supportive and their trust played a major role in overcoming the challenge. Though the classes had begun virtually in April, by September, when the situations eased, more than sixty percent of the students had opted for Real Time Teaching, and students started coming to school. Our children were extremely happy as there weren’t many things they had missed, except of course their swimming classes (those coming to school). We did offer classes in music, PE, public speaking and so on which quite kept them riveted at school. 3.Proper communication with parents is an important component of school leadership. What HUES 4th Edition 13

Principal Speaks Ms. Jaemi Byju, Vice Principal, Pearl Wisdom School, Dubai communication strategies has your school adopted to motivate and engage students continuously? → Pearl was quite agile in keeping the parents informed on a daily basis the tasks done at school as well as the child’s progress, through the digital campus. The monthly newsletter had the highlights of all the events and the student participation in activities organized at school. Each teacher found time to send across their observations to parents through the portal and by email, where required one on one virtual meetings with parents were also scheduled. The school also organises Open House once in 45 days. 4. What kind of opportunities are provided to students to develop technological and independent learning skills especially when the teaching was conducted online? → Children are engaged in anchor activities which give them chances to research and also to showcase their technological prowess. They are given choices and are made to understand their own learning style. They are constantly engaged in thinking exercises through well developed questions. This scaffolding enhances learning greatly. Children are given constructive feedback and they engage in regular self - reflection thus keeping track of their own progress. They engage in setting goals for improvement. All these act as pointers to developing independent learning skills in students at Pearl. HUES 4th Edition 14

The 15th Founder’s Day at Indian Education School, Kuwait The 15th Founder’s Day of Bhavans Kuwait was celebrated conjointly by Indian Education School and Smart Indian School on September 11, 2020, making their virtual auditorium agog and abuzz with merriment and exhilaration. The Chief Guest, Ms. Meena Viswanathan, the Academic Consultant and Educational Officer, Bhavans Kendra, Cochin, in her keynote address, stated that ‘Happy Learning’ should take place in schools, and the other factors such as infrastructure are secondary as far as education is concerned. She advised the students to participate in all the activities organised by the schools, and emphasised that education is just like an equilateral triangle with the three sides – teachers, parents and students - and also affirmed that real education should develop curiosity, confidence and ‘never give up’ attitude in students. She confidently said that technology would never replace teachers who are the backbone of education. The one-hour-long virtual cultural extravaganza ‘Udaan – Soaring High’ made exemplary by an amazing bunch of talented students and multifaceted teachers of IES and SIS, lent a surreal charm to the celebration. The programme was designed in such a way that it could really impress the ardent fans of dance, music, and drama. The programme highlighted the importance of possessing the must-have quality of the present time, resilience, especially when going through an unpredictable situation or a pessimistic scenario. HUES 4th Edition 15

Bhavans Indian Education School, Kuwait, once again blazed a trail in the field of education by virtually conducting its 12th Annual Sports Meet - which also happened to be the first-ever virtual sports meet conducted by an Indian school in Kuwait, with the theme, “Fitness for All”. The athletes and the members of the student supreme council marched with enormous pride and military precision to the rhythmic drumbeats. The spectacular Virtual Sports Meet 2020 was then declared open by the Chief Guest and Vice-Chairman of Bhavans Middle East, Mr. Sooraj Ramachandran. The students of various grades mesmerized the virtual spectators with their agility, alacrity, and acrobatics by participating in various sporting events online. The students of grades 1 to 8 took part in Single Leg Stance and Jumping Jacks according to their respective categories. The students of grades 9 and 10 put up a great show with their fast push-ups. The high-spirited senior girls and boys were much appreciated for their active participation in the event, Partial Curl-up. In the Super Seniors category, girls of grades 11 and 12 enthusiastically participated in Jumping Jacks. The events like Plank and Squat, Mini Step Test and Chair Stand Test were exclusively organized for the parents and the grandparents of Bhavanites. The parents as well as the grandparents jostled one another in the virtual space to grab victory and also to flaunt their flairs for the sporting events they participated in. With fervor and exhilaration, the students of grades 1 and 2 performed the Free Hand Drills with dexterity and dazzling perfection. They put up a scintillating show with their body movement poised to bring mutual harmony, to a melodious piece of music. The dernier-cri prize distribution ceremony was unique and exciting by virtue of augmented reality. The prizes and certificates of appreciation were given away to the winners of various events by the key players of Bhavans Middle East on an augmented reality victory podium. HUES 4th Edition 16

A Vibrant Virtual Sports Meet The head-tuner moments of the day were when the ‘tree gifts’ were presented to the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, and the Director of Bhavans Middle East by the courtesy of www.sankalpataru.org. Sankalpataru is a non-business entity that promotes afforestation in India with the vision of developing a lush-green and sustainable world for the future generations by igniting a huge environmental revolution through trees. The ‘tree gifts’ from Sankalpataru, with the certificates of planting and QR codes to track the location as well as the growth of the planted trees were presented to the pivotal figures of Bhavans Middle East as tokens of gratitude. The splendid and spectacular virtual sports meet redolent with grandeur and glory was indeed a phenomenal success that will remain etched in the memories of all those who witnessed it. HUES 4th Edition 17

The 75th UN Day & Moot Court The virtual stage of Bhavans Indian Education School, Kuwait, was privileged to have a series of educational and cultural programs organized by the Departments of Social Science and English, to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and its founding Charter. The presence of the Chief Guest, Ms. Raghavi Viswanath, a pursuer of Ph.D. in International Criminal Law at the prestigious European University Institute, Florence, Italy, on a Diplomatic Visa from the Dutch Government, graced the momentous occasion. As part of the celebration, a Moot Court was organized by the Department of English, under the supervision of Mr. E.P. Prasad, the Subject Coordinator. It was based on the renowned Shakespearean drama, Julius Caesar. The situation given for the trial in the Moot Court was that Antony and Octavian had filed a case against the Roman senate comprising Brutus and Cassius, accusing them of Caesar’s murder, and they had also accused Cleopatra for using the political machinery of Egypt to influence Brutus and the other senators to carry out the assassination of Caesar. HUES 4th Edition 18

The National Mathematics Day To memorialize the legendary Mathematician, Sri Srinivasa Ramanujan, the Department of Mathematics, Bhavans Indian Education School, Kuwait, virtually organized the National Mathematics Day celebration on December 22, 2020. The students prepared and displayed posters, paintings, bookmarks, and portrait paintings of Ramanujan along with their unique Warli Arts and Mandala Arts that represented various mathematical equations. Through a roleplay, children reminded the audience of the substantial contributions made by eminent Indian mathematicians like Aryabhata and Shakuntala Devi. The students presented a short drama titled ‘The Brilliance of Ramanujan’ depicting the life story of Srinivasa Ramanujan. It was indeed a visual fiesta enlightening the spectators about Ramanujan’s working on number theory, partition function, Bernoulli numbers, infinite series, elliptic integrals, and so on. By virtue of a video presentation, the students highlighted the utility of Mathematics beyond classrooms. The convergence of Mathematics and the fields of music, art, sport, construction, cooking, etc. was presented proficiently by the budding mathematicians of Bhavans. Around 300 students had participated in the preliminary round of the Ramanujan Quiz which was conducted on December 16, 2020. The final round of the quiz was conducted on the Ramanujan Day in four categories for grades 5 to 12. The Chief Guest, Ms. Divya Rajesh Ramachandran, in her address mentioned the importance of Mathematics and its direct and indirect involvement in our daily life. HUES 4th Edition 19

IES Kuwait celebrated the World Science Day, by organizing a virtual exhibition christened ‘Quest 2020’ under the aegis of the Department of Science on November 10, 2020 on its virtual platform. The tagline of Quest 2020 was ‘Come, have fun and explore the world of Science’. Quest 2020 showcased a plethora of activities like augmented reality, robotics, vegetable printing, video presentations, and demonstration of simple experiments. A beautiful blend of creativity and innovation was clearly visible in prosthetic limb models, working and still models. Rubik’s Cube solving and Science Quiz held on the day were truly inspiring learning experiences for the Bhavanites. Over 800 exhibits for the exhibition spoke volumes about the growing number of budding scientists in IES. The Chief Guest, Dr. U. Saravana Kumar, Isotope Hydrologist, Technical Officer – P4, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria, in his inaugural address, extolled the efforts put in by the Bhavans fraternity to explore the scientific quest in the students. HUES 4th Edition 20

Founder’s Day at Private International English School, Abu Dhabi The 10th Founder’s Day was celebrated virtually in a grand manner on September 12th, 2020, with Mr. K.R. Pillai (Financial Consultant) gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest and Ms. Meena Viswanathan (Educational Officer, Bhavan's Shikshan Bharathi, South Zone B) as the Guest of Honour. The other prominent dignitaries were Shri. N. K. Ramachandran Menon (Chairman - Bhavans Middle East), Ms. Sudha Ramachandran, Mr. Sooraj Ramachandran Menon (Vice Chaiman - Bhavans Middle East), Dr. Ms. Vineetha Sooraj, Ms. Divya Rajesh Ramachandran (Director - Bhavans Middle East), Mr. Rajesh Ramachandran, Ms. Girija Baiju (Principal - Bhavans Abu Dhabi), Mr. Suresh Balakrishnan (Vice Principal – Bhavans Abu Dhabi) and all teaching and non-teaching members of Bhavans Middle East Group of Schools. While sharing his thoughts, our Chairman Shri. N. K. Ramachandran Menon expressed his happiness on the growth of Private International English School which stands as a unique school in all aspects. Staff of PIES, who completed their 5 and 10 years of service, were also felicitated in this grand virtual event, which also had a vibrant cultural show presented by the students and teachers of PIES. The milestones of PIES during the past 10 years were presented during the program. Founder’s Day entire celebration was broadcasted through the channel Pranam TV that was officially launched by Chairman Sir. PIES continues its proud journey, setting trends in every step it takes. HUES 4th Edition 21

PIES launches Pranam Knowing the world around us is important for various reasons. To help us spread the knowledge, we have newspaper and magazines – both online and physical, as well as news channels, in all available languages. News is important as a social gathering space and hence newspapers and channels place emphasis on news. Bhavans Abu Dhabi too, to help us stay updated on events related to its campus, and to provide lot more opportunities for our children to showcase their skills, plunged into one more innovative venture – ‘Pranam TV’, that came ‘live’ during the pandemic. The channel, launched as a tribute to our founder Shri. N.K Ramachandran Menon (Chairman – Bhavans Middle East) marking the 10th Founder's Day celebration of Bhavans Abu Dhabi, was officially inaugurated by our Chairman himself, on 12th September 2020. HUES 4th Edition 22

Gandhi Jayanti Bhavans Abu Dhabi celebrated 'Gandhi Jayanti' on 04th October '20, since 02nd October, that marked the 151st Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, fell on a Friday this year. The virtual celebration was presided over by Shri. N.K. Ramachandran Menon (Chairman-Bhavans Middle East). Dr. Shri. N. Radhakrishnan (Chairman- Gandhi Peace Mission and Indian Council of Gandhian Studies) took time off his busy schedule to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. Mr. Sooraj Ramachandran (Vice Chairman - Bhavans Middle East) and Ms. Divya Rajesh Ramachandran (Director - Bhavans Middle East) adddressed the gathering. Dr. Shri. Radhakrishnan impressed the audience by citing the greatness of the 'Mahaan Aathma', which was undoubtedly a golden opportunity for the audience in the Gulf. The students from the Primary, Middle and the Senior Secondary shared the significance of celebrating the birth anniversary of one of the greatest freedom fighters of India, reiterating the importance of being patient and humble, two of the many prominent qualities that dominated the personality of Mahatma Gandhi. The life of Mahatma Gandhi, effortlessly essayed by our students on the virtual stage, added flavour to the entire celebration that also witnessed dances and bhajans by teachers, parents and students. The Department of Humanities, with the able support from the Department of Fine Arts, made the event a grand success. HUES 4th Edition 23

‘Pratidhi’-Annual Day (Secondary) ‘In a time of obliteration, create something, establish hope, and proclaim it, and it shall remain forever.’ You cannot swim for new horizons until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. This noble aphorism will forever be unequivocally demonstrated in every step of Bhavans Abu Dhabi. Annual Day forms an integral part of Bhavans since it is an occasion of celebration, felicitation, feast, and festivity when students not only present colourful performances but also receive honours for their remarkable curricular and co-curricular achievements. With the Annual Day celebrations too, Bhavans Abu Dhabi set a record by conducting its 11th Annual Day, virtually that centered on hope and aptly named ‘Pratidhi’. The event was graced by Shri. Venugopal C Govind (Chairman - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kochi Kendra), Shri. N. K. Ramachandran Menon (Chairman – Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Middle East), Mr. Sooraj Ramachandran Menon (Vice Chairman – Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Middle East), Ms. Divya Rajesh Ramachandran (Director – Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Middle East), Ms. Girija Baiju (Principal – Bhavans Abu Dhabi), Mr. Suresh Balakrishnan (Vice Principal - Bhavans Abu Dhabi), along with all the members of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Middle East group of schools. The event witnessed the felicitation of the determined achievers of Grade 10 and Grade 12 (2019-2020) and the release of annual magazine ‘Bhaavna’. The highlight of the event was the cultural programme that highlighted the role of ‘hope’ in everybody’s life. The exhilarating show was an unforgettable experience that left a lasting impression. HUES 4th Edition 24

Phad Painting Masterclass with Shri. Kalyan Joshi India has a rich and vibrant cultural heritage. We, the people of India, still keep our culture alive. We treasure our heritage with pride. Paintings are also a big part of our culture. One such painting is Phad painting. Phad Painting is an indigenous style religious scroll painting and folk painting, practised in Rajasthan, India. These paintings are traditionally done on a long piece of cloth or canvas, known as phad. The narratives of the folk deities of Rajasthan, mostly of Pabuji and Devnarayan are depicted on the phads. The Bhavanites were fortunate to interact live with Shri. Kalyan Joshi (National Awardee Master Craftsman) through a workshop organised by our school Bhavans Abu Dhabi in association with SPIC MACAY UAE. the students of Grades 5 to 12 were fortunate to attend his master class on a virtual platform. Masterji threw light on the traditional methods of practice as well as modern methods and how changing trends have changed the styles and depiction, though the aim remains the same - of storytelling! Children learnt how to depict humans, animals and birds in Phad painting, what colours were commonly used and in what order. It was such a pleasure and blessing to learn this mythical artform from the renowned Masterji. The session concluded with gratitude and a promise to visit his Chitrasala in Rajasthan during our next visit to India. HUES 4th Edition 25

Annual Day Celebrations at Al Saad Indian School, Al Ain Bhavans’ Al Saad Indian School, Al Ain ceremoniously celebrated its 7th Annual Day for Grades 5 to 8- ‘Maitri’ in December 2020. This year, Annual Day was conducted in a unique and grand manner through virtual platform. Mr. Krishna Kumar, CEO and Co-founder of Green Pepper was the esteemed Chief Guest for the august gathering. The event was graced with the presence of Ms. Divya Rajesh Ramachandran, Director of Bhavans’ Middle East, Dr. Bhavna Gupta, Principal of Al Saad Indian School, Al Ain, Mr. Mahesh P Iyer, Principal of Smart Indian School, Kuwait, Dr. K T Nandakumar, Principal of Bhavans’ Pearl Wisdom School Al Ain, Mr. Thomas Francis, Academic Coordinator, Bhavans Al Saad Indian School. The Chief Guest, Mr. Krishna Kumar enthused the Bhavanites to think out of the box and urged them to develop a curious mind to ask questions. He also stressed on building a growth mindset and positive outlook towards life, to be successful in life. Ms. Divya Rajesh Ramachandran, Director of Bhavans Middle East inspired and motivated the students to grab the opportunities to mold them to be well- equipped future citizens and encouraged to make best use of their available time to explore and experience new skills through her speech. HUES 4th Edition 26

Knowledge Exchange Program Collaborative Knowledge Exchange Program 2021 \"Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.\" -Robert Noyce Based on a growing body of knowledge, there is little doubt that computer and communication technologies can facilitate and enhance learning, if implemented in a well- structured pedagogical context. The students of Al Saad Indian school participated in a collaborative virtual learning activity with the students of Bahrain Indian School, Bahrain on Saturday, 20 February 2021, 10:00 am. This collaborative virtual knowledge - exchange program was conceptualized by the Department of English and Social Science of Al Saad Indian school, Al Ain, UAE in association with Department of English and Social Science of Bahrain Indian School, Bahrain. The program aimed at facilitating cross -learning among the gifted and talented students of Al Saad Indian School, Al Ain and Bahrain Indian School, Bahrain. The topic for discourse was Tourism in UAE Vs Tourism in Bahrain. Students of Bahrain Indian School initiated the discourse of collaborative knowledge exchange program on the topic ‘Tourism in Bahrain’ followed by the presentations by the students of Al Saad Indian School on the topic, ‘Tourism in UAE’. Participants of both the schools presented their ideas using power points, videos, and graphs. After the presentation by each school there was an interactive session, where students clarified their doubts and discussed further about the topic. The interactive sessions provided an exposure and understanding of diverse perspectives of tourism in UAE and Bahrain. The discussions carried out by the students were very informative, inspiring, and engaging. The amount of study and dedication showed by the students were reflected in the presentations and discussions. Virtual Certificates were given to all the participants. Dr Bhavna Gupta, Principal of Al Saad Indian School, Al Ain and Mr. Thomas Francis, Academic coordinator of Al Saad Indian School, Al Ain appreciated the students for their enthusiastic presentations and acknowledged the teachers for the unparalleled support given to the students. HUES 4th Edition 27

One Root One Communi-tree -Waste paper Collection Drive Together for a better Environment Bhavans Al Saad Indian School, Al Ain is proud to associate with ‘The One Root One Communi-Tree’ - one of Emirates Environmental Club’s major community action-oriented projects that propagate community waste reduction and recycling schemes and liaise with various target groups within the community to spread environmental message and improve the community’s environmental awareness. Bhavans Al Saad Indian School, Al Ain, tried to achieve its objectives in mobilizing society through hands-on activity to manage recyclable waste and to increase the sustainable green patch in the UAE. The school’s contribution to the reduction of GHG emissions and saving landfill space was 2170 Kg and achieved the target for One Root, One Communi-Tree (Phase2) .EEG has awarded the school with a certificate and a native tree sapling to plant under the school name. HUES 4th Edition 28

UAE National Day Celebration UAE celebrates its National Day on 2nd December every year with great importance. The National day of UAE stands for the nationalisation from the British Protectorate Treaties which were declared in 1968 and also falls on the anniversary of the federal unification of the seven emirates in 1971 which combined to form the modern day country, headed by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan the founder of UAE. People usually dress up in the UAE national flag colours, decorate their houses, workplaces, cars, and streets to celebrate the day with joy and happiness. The Palm trees gets decorated with lights. This year UAE celebrated its 49th National day with great safety measures, including limiting family gatherings due to the pandemic. As part of the UAE National Day, Bhavans Al Saad Indian school, Al Ain conducted various activities through virtual platform The programme gave the students an idea on the importance of UAE National Day and the celebrations provided a unique glimpse into the rich traditions of the UAE. The UAE National Day celebration instilled a patriotic spirit in everyone’s mind. HUES 4th Edition 29

Water Bell It was noted that the students as well adults are falling sick due to lack of water in their body. Our body is everything for us, so prime importance should be given to our body itself. Together with Health and wellness club, ASIS Al Ain introduced Water Bell. The objective behind this is to ensure that students drink enough WATER during school hours. A special bell was ring, wherein all the members in the online classes and F2F classes should drink water Water bell in school at frequent intervals is noble initiative to promote the habit of drinking ample water daily to keep children hydrated and energetic. This is observed daily in a religious manner. HUES 4th Edition 30

Virtual Annual Award Ceremony at Bahrain Indian School ,Bahrain The Annual Award ceremony for students of Grade I to X was a mega success as this was the first ever virtual Annual Prize Distribution ceremony which was conducted to felicitate the students based on their accomplishments in the Academic Year 2019-20.The certificates for Academic Year 2019-20 were awarded for 100% Attendance and Achievement Award for scoring meritoriously in academics. The stream of appreciation pouring in from all the parents and teachers truly showcased the joy of the students. The students were felicitated by the Chief Guest, Chairman – Bhavans Middle East and Directors. The Chief Guest His Excellency Piyush Srivastava-Ambassador, Embassy of India was elated while witnessing the event and appreciated the performance of the students. Chairman Mr. N.K. Ramachandran motivated the students to excel in academics. Director Mr. HimanshuVerma also applauded the students for their achievements in various events and in academics too. He encouraged them to be good human beings and great leaders of future. HUES 4th Edition 31

BIS Quiz Team unveils intelligence at GCC International Quiz Competition!! November 7, 2020 is always going to be an unforgettable day in the history of Bahrain Indian School. Recognition and accolades poured in from everywhere for the BIS Quiz team for grabbing the First Prize at Bhavans International School Quiz- BISQ with a whooping score of 105. BISQ is the event organized by Bhavans Middle East offering children the opportunity to exhibit their intellectual prowess. It was 24th October 2020 when the preliminary round was conducted that witnessed the participation of 42 schools from UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain. The best two teams from each country got the opportunity to compete for the Grand Finale which was conducted virtually. BIS was not only the host but also one of the contenders for the Grand Finale. Undoubtedly, it was the intelligence, sangfroidness and wittiness of the BIS quiz team that ruled the show. The vivaciousness of BIS Quiz Team comprising of AmrutavarshineeMurugan, DhruvSathish Kumar&AniruddhaDhar was a sight to behold. The Quiz Master Dr. Nithish T. Jacob, was spellbound at the performance of the students. The winning team has been felicitated with certificates of merit and a cash prize of USD 1000.Directors Mr. HimanshuVerma , Mrs. RituVerma and Principal Mr. Saji Jacob congratulated the winners for the great achievement . HUES 4th Edition 32

BIS organizes Virtual Science and Art Exhibition – exhibits heralding brighter future!! “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” Sky is the limit for the students of Bahrain Indian School which was clearly reflective in the Science and Art Exhibition organized for the students of Grade I to X. The virtual exhibition was inaugurated by Mr. VivekHewaltkar, Chairman of The Institution of Engineers; Bahrain. The Science and Art exhibition was appreciated by Mr. Vivek Hewaltar and the Directors Mr. Himanshu Verma, Mrs. Ritu Verma. Student’s enthusiastic participation was remarkable. The futuristic exhibits presented by the students were based on various concepts of science and art. An amalgamated exhibition of Science and Art was a sight to behold and a visual treat to eyes. HUES 4th Edition 33

Bhavanodaya Inter School Competition Bahrain Indian School has ushered in a new era by organizing Bhavanodaya, the Inter School Competition 2020 – 21 under the aegis of BhartiyaVidyaBhavan Middle East . The competition comprised of Fancy Dress, Mono Acting and Solo Singing karaoke. It was organized to commemorate Republic Day and was based on the theme of Patriotism. CBSE schools of Bahrain participated in the event. The events were adjudged by famous personality Mr. Paresh Bhatia who is a former Radio Jockey, Event Anchor, Roadshow Specialist, and Voice over Artist & Radio Commercials Producer, Ms.Juhi Sharma who has been an integral part of Radio 104.2 FM’ and Ms. MeghnaMathur who is a live performer at various prestigious events. Principal welcomed the judges, all the guests and introduced them to the spectators and participants. It has become the platform for exhibiting talent and learning new skills. The performances of the children were awe- inspiring. The Directorspraised the children for their amazing performances. It is matter of pride that EshaAshik of Grade II has bagged 1st prize in Inter School Fancy Dress Competition. The presentation was so captivating that seemed as if the spectators were visualizing of Rani Lakshmi Bai of 1857. HUES 4th Edition 34

Bahrain National Day celebrations galore at BIS! Bahrain National Day Celebration is no ordinary affair rather a joyous and apt moment for expressing gratitude towards the nation. Students of BIS were brimming with excitement for the celebration which began on 10th December and culminated on 15th December with variety of fun games played by students of all classes. They were dressed in red and white and ready to play fun games. To add color to the festivity, videos pertaining to the famous tourist places and the traditional sweet dishes of Bahrain were displayed to the children through virtual platforms. Quiz based on the virtual tour of Bahrain was also conducted wherein students participated with great enthusiasm. The celebration would have been incomplete had the bulletin boards not been decorated. The teachers and students of the middle wing and the senior wing came forth in displaying not only their creativity but also their love and affection for the nation. It was a sight to behold – the corridors decorated so vividly. The corridors of BIS seemed exposing us to the beauty of Kingdom of Bahrain HUES 2021-22 35

Annual Day Celebration at Wise Indian Academy, Ajman ‘Concordia’, ‘Natsukasii’, ‘Leticia’, ‘Raviver La Terre’ - the thematic Annual Days of grades 1-4 were conducted respectively from 14th - 17th March 2021. Each grade had a chief guest from different walks of life such as school principals, dancer,motivational speaker to imbibe life skills in our kids. The beautiful array of programmes by students was the highlight of the show. Certificates, given to each and every child based on their positive characters, was much appreciated by students and parents.Thevirtual academic year 2020-21 thus ended on a high note of appreciation. HUES 4th Edition 36

Prize Day 2020-21 Bhavans Wise Indian Academy has always ensured that our young minds are provided with adequate reinforcement and appreciation for their multifarious talents.The school hosted its first-ever Virtual Prize Winners ceremony which was a four-day programme during the month of June. Dr.P.J.Philip, Professor at NIT Kurukshethra and Ms. Divya Rajesh Ramachandran, the Director, Bhavans Middle East presided over the event as Chief Guests. Bhavans Ajman has been unwavering in our commitment to nurturing students with high ideals and values. Apart from academic excellence, students were appreciated for fair play, environmental consciousness, all-round excellence, civic responsibilities, volunteerism, reading, and a growth mindset. HUES 4th Edition 37

Coffee Evening “A lot more can happen over a cup of coffee” The Coffee Evening is an excellent opportunity for parents to come along and witness the exciting things that are happening at school, as well as learn ways in which they can help and encourage kids to develop their social skills. The motto of the coffee evening was to strengthen the bond between the school and home over a cup of coffee. The maiden virtual coffee evening was conducted for Grades 1 to 4 and for Grades 5 to 9. The program started off with a beautiful introduction by teachers and students. Parents too contributed to the programme by joining their wards to make the evening entertaining. The initiative saw team work at its best and also had the young minds express their ideas to ensure that it was an event par excellence. The creativity and enthusiasm of both parents and students were highly appreciable. The programme was indeed in the spirit of the day’s theme – Coffee, Connect and Conversation. HUES 4th Edition 38

Novato Fiesta The Fresher’s Day, Novato Fiesta 2020, was conducted for the new students from Grades 1 to 9 in their respective virtual auditoriums. The programme was hosted by Niraamaya Sailesh & Jed Julius under the guidance of the English teacher, Mr. Roy Francis. The programme provided a platform to all the freshers to showcase their talents. Parents, teachers and fellow students were equally enthralled by the performance of the new students. Apart from the discovery of new dancers and singers, the virtual auditorium unveiled visual art of superior quality. The presence of our beloved Principal Ms. Indu Panicker boosted the confidence of the students. Novato Fiesta remains as one of the most memorable events of the year. HUES 4th Edition 39

Webinar on Cyber Safety The new wave of technology, gadgets, games and the consequential shift to online mode during the pandemic has put us all on the electronic fast track. The benefits are huge, but so are the pitfalls. Being committed to its on-going drive to spread awareness on online safety, Bhavans Wise Indian Academy conducted a webinar on October 10, 2020, Saturday at 11:00AM. The campaign was led by one of the senior officer from the Indian Police Services. Mr. K SANJAY KUMAR GURUDIN, Deputy Inspector of Police, Trivandrum Range who has specialised in Cyber Security. His vast experience and expertise in this area, along with his single-minded mission to spread awareness amongst the youngsters and the larger community, about e-safety, made him an ideal choice for the special webinar. The webinar was very informative and the speaker even motivated the senior students, parents and teachers to take the necessary measures towards cyber safety. Mr. Gurudin, IPS addressed all parental queries and concerns during the session. HUES 4th Edition 40

Annual Day On hope and New Beginnings at Smart Indian School, Kuwait Bhavans SIS celebrates 4th Annual Day - SRISHTI 2021 “A journey of academic and co-curricular excellence” Smart Indian School, Kuwait, celebrated its anniversary with great fanfare. As the lockdown transformed the whole schooling into a virtual education, the work created with the help of the same platform 2021 became a heart-warming experience for students and parents. Indeed, Smart Indian School celebrated the Annual Day 2020-21 magnificently. Students from grades 1-2 themed their cultural show as “Pie in the sky” and grades 3-11 themed it as “This too shall pass”. This spectacular event comprised a jubilant inaugural function and ecstatic cultural programs. This exhilarated event appeared in the Zoom Auditorium and live streamed through the school facebook link. A decorous introduction was given to the chief guest Smt. Meena Vishvanath, Academic Consultant and Education Officer at Bhavans Kochi Kendra, India. Bhavans Middle East Chairman Mr. N.K. Ramachandran Menon, Mrs. Sudha Ramachandran and Mr. Mahesh Iyer along with the Chief Guest Smt. Meena Vishwanath lit the lamp for the celebrations. Chief Guest Smt. Meena Vishwanath, in her keynote address, reminded that education should be conducive to the personal, ideological and artistic development of the learners at school and admired the school for sparing no efforts and any commitment in the teaching and learning process during this pandemic. She narrowed down the problem-solving skills and 21st century skills in connection with NEP 2020. Chairman of Bhavans Middle East Mr. N.K. Ramachandran Menon, in his speech, made a strong point that HUES 4th Edition 41

Annual Day no matter what the situation we are in, he reiterated that, it matters how well we prepare ourselves to enjoy the quality in life. The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties is the key to attain change in whatever we do. He paid all the students, teachers and parents an enormous compliment that they faced during the difficult times with a smile. Director of Bhavans Middle East, Mrs. Divya Rajesh Ramachandran remarked that the students and teachers tried every possible course of action in order to achieve the academic and non-academic excellence though severely stuck by this pandemic ruin. School Annual Report was presented by Mr. Mahesh Iyer, Principal of Smart Indian School along with the student news readers in the form of SIS NEWS. The school magazine reflects the Philosophy and culture of the school and it is the mirror to the cream of our activities, creativity of our imagination and our expression. The chief guest Smt. Meena Vishvanath released the school magazine ‘Melange 2021’ at the event on the virtual platform. The Chairman then congratulated the academic winners of the proficiency holders and scholar badge and scholar blazer awardees for the previous academic year and the 10th class school toppers: were also awarded Teachers who achieved 100% result. Soon after the formal inaugural function, cultural events started led by the students and teachers of grades 1 and 2. ‘Pie in the Sky’ opened the window to magical worlds and it was a presentation of fantasy and magic realism while the senior students performed the art form “This too shall Pass”- a virus world. The students inspired the whole group with their artistic performances to deal with the frustration and boredom that whole sapphire period provided HUES 4th Edition Mr. Mahesh Iyer, Principal of Smart Indian School, had esteemed the benevolent presence of all and treasured all those students and teachers who relentlessly took efforts in this marvellous Annual Day celebration. The event ended with the Indian national anthem giving a new impetus to the students and teachers alike, and the quote “Let noble thoughts come to us from everywhere”. 42

Annual Sports Meet Threats can be taken as Challenges and Challenges can be TRANSFORMED into Opportunities, if there is a will to do anything which seems to be Impossible to Others. Absolutely, P.E Department had decided to conduct a virtual annual sports meet themed ‘Fitness for All’ through zoom auditorium, and they executed the meet magnificently. Jonathan Zacharia Head Boy for the academic year 2020-21 offered a reverential welcome note to the honorable Chief Guest for the day SKY Sr. Professor Balachandran, Director for WCSC- OSFC, who graced the virtual sport meet by his presence, the guest of honour Ms. Apeksha Fernandes who holds the India’s best timings for women in the 200-breaststroke swimming inspired the audience of young talents, the backbone of this institution, chairman, Mr. N. K. Ramachandran Menon, the Vice-Chairman of Bhavans Middle East, Mr. Sooraj Ramachandran, the Director of Bhavans Middle East, Ms. Divya Rajesh Ramachandran, the principal Mr. Mahesh Iyer, all the Vice Principals, the administrators Ms. Shaima Zaki and Mr. Mohammad Khamis, HODs and Supervisors of Bhavans, Middle East, the students, the parents and grand-parents. The Chief Guest of the day was awe-struck at the proceedings of the celebration and he motivated all the children to excel not only in academics but also in sports. The Director Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Middle East Ms.Divya Rajesh Ramachandran felicitated the gathering through her didactic and dynamic words. The Director Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Middle East Ms.Divya Rajesh Ramachandran felicitated the gathering through her didactic and dynamic words. The event consisted of 16 activities for students, two events for teachers, two events for parents, and two events for grandparents. Out of 16 events, two events were mass events called ‘Free hand drill display’ and ‘Aerobics’. Teachers had to train all the participants during the regular online classes. Parents and grandparents were also guided to practice the fitness activities. The finalists had performed excellently in the zoom ground. All the winners were announced and honored with certificates immediately. Eventually, the event turned into a carnival when the parents and grandparents started their fitness activities one by one. The Vice Principal Ms. Albin Daisy awarded the trophy. The Principal Mr. Mahesh Iyer appreciated all the participants for the wonderful presence and the sports captain Master Mevin Manoj. HUES 4th Edition 43

Annual Exhibition The chance to take the opportunities is no longer impossible for Bhavans SIS, shows numerous ways of exploring one’s skills in all aspects of learning. The purpose of this Eureka was to liberate students’ creativity and help them exhibit their subject skills. With this in view, SIS directed Eureka event 2020-21 themed as ‘A World for All’ with its organised groups of whole departments in a virtual platform. All the subjects’ integrated activities were coordinated and carried out excellently on Saturday, 16 January 2021 through facebook live telecasts. The chief guest, Dr Bassam Shuhaibar, Manager of the Coastal Management Program, KISR Kuwait, was very happy that Bhavans SIS had tried all the best possible ways to continue this academic year through MS Teams classrooms despite the Covid-19 situation. He encouraged all the learners to come out with imagination, ideas, creativity as one small idea can change the entire world and open the box of challenges to contribute to the world especially to the climate change. The guest of honour, Dr. S. Neelamani, A Senior Research scientist at the Coastal Management Program, KISR Kuwait, appreciated the school for the positivity that it focuses on its learners to learn by doing despite the pandemic situation. Through an interesting story, he motivated all the learners to contribute to the scientific development. Chairman of Bhavans Middle East, Mr. N. K. Ramachandran Menon shared his belief system and inspired all the students that learners must take responsibility and strive till the end, and children must understand the purpose of their call and respect the elders - the basic tenet of moral value. After the formal addresses to the gathering, the subject wise leaders from each department had introduced the glimpses of their activities and began the virtual exhibition. Each section, from KG and grades 1-11, was divided into several parts such as English, Hindi, Arabic and Islamic Studies, French, Sanskrit, EVS, Maths, Science, Social Science, Computer Science and Physical Education. Students in groups coordinated and prepared the activities based on the theme of Eureka 2021. Also, many creative classroom subject integrated activities were a part of this exhibition. Mr Mahesh Iyer, Principal of Smart Indian School, appreciated all the students their parents and the teachers who put in the efforts to prepare the activities. The management is pleased to accord all credits to the parent community for their unwavering support and cooperation in the field of education rendered at Bhavans Smart Indian School, Kuwait. HUES 4th Edition 44

Fit India Freedom Bhavans SIS’ Virtual Participation in Fit India Freedom Run The nation-wide campaign that aims at encouraging people to include physical activities and sports in their everyday lives under the name ‘Fit India Freedom Run’ was conducted in Bhavans Smart Indian School. Central Board of Secondary Education in association with this magnificent campaign had taken this initiative to implement it in all its affiliated schools. Their mammoth motto –‘Run Anywhere, Anytime’ which enables its followers to promote good health by infusing fitness as a daily routine was actively and cheerfully carried out by the management that includes the school Principal – Mr. Mahesh Iyer, Vice Principal – Ms. Albin Daisy, Department of Physical Education along with the teachers, parents and students of grades 5 to 11. The launch of this campaign in the school which had taken place from 17th to 19th September had seen tremendous appreciation and the participants showed their relentless participation on those three days. Joining hands virtually to build a great nation and to detach completely from laziness, obesity, stress, anxiety and many sort of diseases, the three day program successfully instilled a sense of discipline and awareness to include physical activity in regular regime. The joint sessions had taken place where in the participants joined for live running from their nearby areas, keeping all the necessary precautions against this pandemic. Issuance of e-certificates was also added in this amazing venture. This great motivation which indulged in prioritizing discipline and fitness had promised to procure indomitable will to stay hale and hearty in these perilous times of sickness. HUES 4th Edition 45

Investiture Ceremony The wondrous roles that students aspired which was made possible through their mesmeric talents and accomplishment were conferred on this day in Investiture Ceremony at Bhavans Smart Indian School. The first virtual power investing ceremony took a turn of experiencing deep beauty through the eyes that witnessed it and the privilege to drench in the celestial aura of the dignitary’s speech. Though the occasion turned bitterly distant to cherish the ceremony in conventional way but the moments like these in virtual mode where the children understanding the need of the hour coupled with meticulous precision amassed awe and wonder by the viewers. The day’s special program was made stellar by the presence of the dignified Chief Guest – Brigadier Hareesh Pankan, Chairman of Bhavans Middle East – Mr. N.K. Ramachandran Menon, Principal of Smart Indian School – Mr. Mahesh Iyer, Principal of IES – Mr. T. Premkumar, Vice Principal of SIS – Ms. Albin Daisy, KG Supervisor – Ms. Rajni Menon, teachers and students. Some of the titles which children were stepped into included 46 Head Boy, Head Girl, Junior Head Boy and Head Girl, Deputy Head Boy, Deputy Head Girl, Cultural Secretary, Deputy Cultural Secretary Girl, Deputy Cultural Secretary Boy, Student Editor, Deputy Student Editor, Public Relation Officer, Deputy Public Relation Officer, Sports Captain, Deputy Sports Captain Boy and Deputy Sports Captain Girl, House Captains, Vice House Captains, Junior House Captains of four houses – Seva, Satya, Sanskriti and Tapas and the prefects of the year 2020-21 for the classes 6 – 11. This year turned unforgettable as the conferral was executed by the parents who felt immensely proud in honouring and blessing the children for their new roles which was followed by the oath taking moment carried out by the school Principal. The day had turned entertaining by supplementing the most needed form of art which is the dance by the amazing students. The most revered time glided to the speeches heard from the dignitary and chairman. HUES 4th Edition