MileStones f

Grade XII Students visited BITS, Hyderabad Animated Movie - “Inside Out” by 3rd Graders

April, visit to Chowmahallah palace by 10th graders 22nd July 15 AP State Museum by 8th graders to learn Outbound
to know more about the city of Hyderabad and its more about culture and traditions of Mughals,
Britishers, Parisians and Nizams
rich heritage

Visit to AP State Museum, AP Art Gallery and Birla
Science Museum by 6th graders to inquire about past

51Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Professional Development

Professional Development Story Telling Workshop for ‘Self-Worth Realization’
Primary and Pre-primary wing workshop by Ms.Treeza
teachers by Ms.Deepa Kiran, a Rodrigues for teachers of all
story-teller, writer, voice over
artist and founder of Story Arts wings.
India Knowing one’s self-worth
and appreciating it can
Using ‘Thinking Routines and lead a teacher to a healthy
Thinking Strategies’ in teaching
classroom.
and learning has become a
regular feature for our teachers. Ms.AratiRajaratnam from
Macmillan emphasized the
An orientation for senior importance of 9 domains of
school teachers was done by development in a workshop for
Ms.SangeetaPratti, to fine tune
and apply such routines and Pre Primary teachers.
strategies while teaching English,
Math, Science and Humanities.

52 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

JUNE CONFERENCE – Learning and Application

It all began in May, when we were asked to read Bill Bryson’s ‘A Short Professional Development
History of Nearly Everything’. For most of the teachers, it took almost a
month to go through the daunting 500+ pages of this book. Though this
book may seem superficial for hardcore scientists, it serves a great purpose
for those who know little about science. Structured narration, with a dose
of curiosity and reasoning that we all know we have thought to ourselves,
but never dared to ask, makes this a wonderful book to kindle interest
especially in students. The text is superbly written with several amusing,
lively analogies and demonstrations and many clever, witty lines. The book
is a summation of Universe, Life, everything.

When the school reopened in June, and so did the 2-day June conference,
we all teachers were excited
and eager to share our
ideas, what we had found
impressive and interesting
about the book, and that how
it could be a useful addition
to our science curriculum.

Attending a

professional development

conference is always an

energizing experience. The

schedule was carefully

planned with sessions that

were most interesting and relevant. Presenters made an effort to ensure that

their presentations were as engaging as the book. Small group discussions

were ubiquitous and we found ourselves interacting with teachers of different

grade levels.Overall it was an enriching experience that I am grateful to have

taken part in.

The next step or rather the next challenge was to use this book as an
individual study guide. We realized that it can be useful as a key for in-
class handouts and worksheets, brainstorming sessions and critical thinking

53Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Professional Development activities. Hence the book was integrated primarily in leading class discussions,
and Science Fundas. For example, the chapter Cells was integrated with
the chapter by the same name in the textbook. Microorganisms lesson was
aligned with the Small world chapter of the book.
The students enjoyed how Bryson strings together all the information
from the furthest reaches of cosmos, ranging through space and time to our
very own solar system. We found that the inspiring stories about scientists
and their work was a good way of encouraging students to carve out their
own path in scientific explorations. The book doesn’t necessarily answer
all the questions, but it makes the students think and ask questions. The
online audio version of the book helped teachers to develop the listening
skill amongst students because Bryson’s narration is explicit, never slips into
industry jargon, and more than anything else, it is entertaining.
Though the book contains some factual errors and inaccuracies which have
mainly arisen because new discoveries have been made since the book was
published, it does ignite the passion to seek knowledge in children and
adults alike.

Sameera Moparty
Home Room Teacher
Grade-8 Rivers

54 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Grade X Result

ROLL NO CANDIDATE NAME CGPA PERCENTAGE GRADE Board Results
95 A1
4073863 ABHINAVA ARASADA 10 95 A1
4073865 HARSHINI GORTHI 10 95 A1
4073866 JAYATHA CHANDRA 10 95 A1
4073867 LAHARI ANNE 10 95 A1
4073868 LAVINA SINGH 10 95 A1
4073869 MARPU NARASIMHA M 10 95 A1
4073871 MARPU NARASIMHA M 10 95 A1
4073872 PRAVALLIKA VENNA 10 95 A1
4073874 RIYA NIWAS 10 95 A1
4073875 ROSHAN REDDY YEDL 10 95 A1
4073877 SAI MANOJ ATTANTI 10 95 A1
4073880 SAI VENKATA MANOJ 10 95 A1
4073882 SIDDHANT GARG 10 95 A1
4073884 SUHAS REDDY NANCH 10 95 A1
4073889 BALA TRIPURA KUMA 10 95 A1
4073890 BHAVISHYA NELAKUD 10 95 A1
4073891 DIVYAMSI KUNAPARE 10 95 A1
4073893 HARSHITHA RAVINDR 10 95 A1
4073894 KARTHIK KANUKOLLU 10 95 A1
4073895 KEERTHI REDDY KOL 10 95 A1
4073896 NAGA LOKESH SAI K 10 95 A1
4073901 ROHITHA VEGESANA 10 95 A1
4073904 ROSHITHA VEGESANA 10 95 A1
4073908 SATWIK SAI GAYALA 10 95 A1
4073909 REVANTH UKKALAM 10 95 A1
4073910 SHANDILYA MOTUPAL 10 95 A1
4073921 HARSHA VARDHAN KO 10 95 A1
4073925 NEEHARIKA VATSAVA 10 95 A1
4073937 YASHASREE PASUPUL 10 95 A1
4073970 MANOGNA SABBANI 10 95 A1
4073983 SHIVA SRIRAM 10

55Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Top Achievers of Grade 12, 2013-2015

Science Stream

Eng, Phy, Chem, Bio, Entrepreneurship, Y SUSAN SREEMALA
Political Science

Commerce Stream

Eng, Accountancy, Economics, AMRUTHA DATLA
Mathematics,Business Studies

Board Results Batch 2013-2015 PSA CBSE Board
STUDENT NAME 2015

Language Qualitative Quantitaive Best Aggregate

Convention Reasoning Reasoning of %
Three

1 Y SUSAN SREEMALA 98.4 94.6 94.7 96.0 94.0

2 AMRUTHA DATLA 87.5 98.1 84.2 95.0 89.2

CBSE BOARD SUBJECT TOPPERS For Batch 2013-2015

Name Subject Highest
Score
Y SUSAN SREEMALA Political Science 99
SWATI ARUN Biology 98
AMRUTHA DATLA Accountancy 95
SHIVANI DEVARAPALLI Accountancy 95
AMRUTHA DATLA Economics 95
AMRUTHA DATLA Business Studies 95
ANWESHA SEN Business Studies 95
POOJITHA KOTTI Business Studies 95
Y SUSAN SREEMALA Entrepreneurship 94
Y SUSAN SREEMALA Physics 93
AMRUTHA DATLA English 91
SWATI ARUN Chemistry 87
SRI HARSHA COPPISETTI Math 78

56 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Silver Oaks Turns Publisher with the Book Launch of Historia Exceptional

2015, I would say, is a very memorable year for quite a lot of reasons. Apart from my
completion of Grade 10, there are other things that I felt proud of. What I am referring
to here, is the publishing of my book, Historia by my own school. The journey of its
making was itself serendipitous and its publishing was even more of that. I did not set
out to write a book as such. A couple of short stories later turned out to be a couple of
chapters which then became a book. Once my manuscript seemed ready and complete,
I typed it out to have it published via an e – publishing system. I felt a need to have
my mentor, Mrs. Seetha Murty Ma’am write a foreword to my book. With my fingers
crossed, I waited hoping for a positive response. And what I got was much more than
that. The Principal and Director replied that they were more than happy to have my book
published. “Published, for real?” was my obvious response. Then things happened at an
overwhelmingly swift pace. Before I could even realise it, 1000 copies of Historia were
out and a formal book-launch took place at Saptaparni Venue in Banjara Hills. That one
week will be a stepping stone for the rest of my life. All that I take pride in would be
absent if it were not for my school, my Principal and Director, and its staff. I cherish those
moments that I had, for they made me.

- Revanth Ukkalam

57Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Exceptional On the occasion of Teachers
Day, Silver Oaks School
proudly awardedMs.Sridevi,
Ms.Sangeeta, Ms.Anu and
Ms.Rajkumari as “Stars of the
Year” for their contribution
beyond the call of duty.

Sailing Champ

Rishab Nayar of Grade 10 won the Toppers Trophy in the Gold Fleet and in the Laser 4.7
category he won the Silver Medal and the Youngest Sailor Trophy at the seventh annual
Deloitte Monsoon Regatta organised by the Yacht Club of Hyderabad in Hussain Sagar
Lake.
In the 30th Laser Sailing Championship organised by the Laser Class Association of
India , the EME Sailing Association, Secunderabad Club and the the Sports Authority
of Telangana State under the aegis of Yachting Association of India, he secured Gold for
Laser 4.7 under 16 and Silver in the Laser 4.7 Open Category. The competition attracted
153 sailors across the Laser Category and various sport dignitaries to encourage and
motivate the sailors. Sania Mirza gave away Rishab an award for securing first position
on racing day 2.
Both the events were covered extensively by the National and local media.
We congratulate Rishab for his dedication, commitment and discipline to emerge as a
champion!

58 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Ms. K.Sridevi was awarded Exceptional
the “Acharya Devobhava
Award 2015” by Brainfeed
magazine.

International English Olympiad
State Topper - Nikita Nayar
from 11th Grade.

International Math Olympiad
State Topper - Yash Aggarwal

from 5th Grade

59Milestones 2015 Issue 1

SILVER OAKS SCHOOL SPORTS ACADEMY

Sports Achievements The erstwhile Rigor activity was concentrating upon honing up the sporting skills of the
students to prepare them for higher competitions. This year onwards the Rigor activity
has been renamed as ‘Silver Oaks Sports Academy’ which will not only hone up the skills
of the students in the sports activity but also give opportunity to novice learners for the
games played at the school. The response has been excellent for this initiative. Due to
limited infrastructure and keeping in mind the requirements of personalized attention
for each student, the strength was kept limited. Around 260 students are part of this
Academy.

Sports activities help the students to be physically fit and makes them energetic to take
on academic activities with lot of gusto. With active and never-say-die attitude of the
Activity coaches this activity is looked forward by the students every afternoon and the
entire ground is abuzz with the budding and experienced sportsperson.

5th PYP HYDERABAD NETWORK SPORTS FEST 2015-16

VENUE: SREENIDHI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL,

DATE: 5th & 6th NOVEMBER 2015

RESULTS: TOTAL 35 MEDALS, BOYS AND GIRLS SECOND PLACE,

1 BEST ATHLETE

GRADE IV (BOYS)

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No. IV
100M BRONZE
1 SATHVIK BOYIDI SHOT PUT GOLD
BRONZE
2 SATHVIK BOYIDI IV BRONZE
BRONZE
3 JAYAVARDHAN BALMURI IV 200M SILVER
4 SATHVIK KATRAGADDA IV 400M SILVER
5 ABHINAY NAGIREDDY IV SHOT PUT SILVER
6 SATHVIK BOYIDI IV 4X100M RELAY SILVER
7 JAYAVARDHAN BALMURI IV 4X100M RELAY
8 SATHVIK KATRAGADDA IV 4X100M RELAY
9 MAURYA VARDHAN RAJU IV 4X100M RELAY

MANDAPATI

60 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

GRADE IV (GIRLS)

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No. IV
100M BRONZE
1 AMULYA VANGARI 200M SILVER

2 AMULYA VANGARI IV

3 AMULYA VANGARI IV 800M SILVER Sports Achievements
4 GAYATRI VATSAVAYI
5 TANVI SHREE DATTAVUDA IV 400M GOLD
6 SRITHIKA
7 AMULYA VANGARI IV LONG JUMP BRONZE
8 JAIHITA CHOWDHARY INTURI
9 NIKITHA GAJJALA IV SHOT PUT SILVER
10 TANVI SHREE DATTAVUDA
IV 4X100M RELAY GOLD

IV 4X100M RELAY GOLD

IV 4X100M RELAY GOLD

IV 4X100M RELAY GOLD

GRADE IV(GIRLS) JOYCI ELIORA KOYYADA (BEST ATHLETE)

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No.
V 400M SILVER
1 JOYCI ELIORA KOYYADA V LONG JUMP GOLD

2 JOYCI ELIORA KOYYADA

3 SANSKRITI KARANTH V SHOT PUT GOLD
4 MEGHANA RAVI
5 JOYCI ELIORA KOYYADA V 800M SILVER
6 JANVIKA NAKKA
7 MAHIMA POTTURI V 4X100M RELAY BRONZE
8 HARSHITA AGARWAL
V 4X100M RELAY BRONZE

V 4X100M RELAY BRONZE

V 4X100M RELAY BRONZE

61Milestones 2015 Issue 1

GRADE IV(BOYS)

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No. V
100M BRONZE
1 SWAYAM JAMMULA 400M SILVER
GOLD
2 SWAYAM JAMMULA V GOLD
SILVER
Sports Achievements 3 VISHNU RITHVIK CHADALAWADA V 400M GOLD
V 800M GOLD
4 VISHNU RITHVIK CHADALAWADA V SHOT PUT GOLD
V 4X100M RELAY
5 ASMIT SINGH V 4X100M RELAY GOLD
V 4X100M RELAY
6 SAKETH VETCHA
V 4X100M RELAY
7 SWAYAM JAMMULA

8 KRISHNA SATHVIK
CHADALAWADA

9 VISHNU RITHVIK CHADALAWADA

NATIONAL CADET CORPS (NCC)

Venue: Bison Polo Ground, Date: 07 August to 17 August 2015

Sl. EVENT NAME RESULT
No.
2ND PLACE
1 DRILL COMPETATION 2ND PLACE
2ND PLACE
2 SHOOTING 2ND PLACE
2ND PLACE
3 TENT PITCHING

4 SUPW( SOCIAL USEFUL
PRODUCTIVE WORK

5 CULTURAL ACTIVITY (SINGING)

62 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

SWIMMING

GLENDALE SWIMMING OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2015-16

Sl. NAME OF THE GRADE EVENT RESULT

No. STUDENT

1 VIKHYATH P IV 25M FREE STYLE BRONZE

2 NIKHILESH CHANDRA IV 4X25M FS/RELAY GOLD Sports Achievements

3 MOHIT REDDY V 4X25M FS/RELAY GOLD

4 MOHIT REDDY V 25M FREE STYLE SILVER

5 GUNAVANTH REDDY V 4X25M FS/RELAY GOLD

6 SRI VARSH P VI 4X25M FS/RELAY GOLD

7 SRI VARSH P VI 25M BR/S SILVER

8 SRI BHUVAN REDDY VIII 100M F/S GOLD

9 SRI BHUVAN REDDY VIII 4X25M FS/RELAY SILVER

10 RUTHVIK TARANG VIII 4X25M FS/RELAY SILVER

11 ABHIRAM I VII 4X25M FS/RELAY SILVER

12 ABHIRAM I VII 50M F/S BRONZE

13 PRAVAR V VII 4X25M FS/RELAY SILVER

14 PRAJJWAL V XI 50M BK/S SILVER

SCHOOL GAMES FEDERATION OF RANGA REDDY DIST 2015-16

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No. VIII 50M BUTTER FLY GOLD

1 SREE BHUVAN REDDY .Y

2 SREE BHUVAN REDDY .Y VIII 100MBUTTER FLY GOLD

3 SREE BHUVAN REDDY .Y VIII 200MBUTTER FLY GOLD

SCHOOL GAMES FEDERATION OF TELANGANA (STATE MEET) 2015-16

VENUE: KARIMNAGAR

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No.

1 SREE BHUVAN REDDY .Y VIII 50M BUTTER FLY GOLD

2 SREE BHUVAN REDDY .Y VIII 100MBUTTER FLY GOLD

3 SREE BHUVAN REDDY .Y VIII 200MBUTTER FLY GOLD

63Milestones 2015 Issue 1

SCHOOL GAMES FEDERATION OF INDIA (NATIONAL) 2015-16

VENUE: KOLKATA

Sl. NAME OF THE GRADE EVENT RESULT

No. STUDENT

1 SREE BHUVAN REDDY .Y VIII 50M BUTTER FLY PARTICIPATION

Sports Achievements CBSE SOUTH ZONE SWIMMING 2015-16

VENUE: SHIMOGA, KARNATAKA

Sl. NAME OF THE GRADE EVENT RESULT
BRONZE
No. STUDENT

1 SREE BHUVAN REDDY .Y VIII 50M BUTTER FLY

SAPTHARSHI SAHODAYA ATHLETIC MEET 2015-16

VENUE: SENTIA SCHOOL, DATE: 07 NOV 2015

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No.

1 SRIHITA AMARANENI X 100M GOLD

2 SRIHITA AMARANENI X LONG JUMP GOLD

SKATING

SCHOOL GAMES FEDERATION OF RANGA REDDY DIST 2015-16
VENUE: EDIF SCHOOL

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No.

1 PRANAV SAI RAM .CH X 300M SPEED GOLD

2 PRANAV SAI RAM .CH X 500M SPEED SILVER

3 MISHRITH SAI .Y X 300M SPEED SILVER

4 MEGHANA NARREDDY V 300M SPEED GOLD

5 SHWETA MRINALINI .V VI 300M SPEED BRONZE

64 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

SCHOOL GAMES FEDERATION OF TELANGANA (STATE MEET) 2015-16

VENUE: INDRA PARK

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No.
300M SPEED GOLD
1 PRANAV SAI RAM .CH X 500M SPEED SILVER
300M SPEED BRONZE
2 PRANAV SAI RAM .CH X Sports Achievements

3 MEGHANA NARREDDY V

CBSE SOUTH ZONE SKATING 2015-16

VENUE: DRS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Sl. NAME OF THE GRADE EVENT RESULT
No. STUDENT

1 PRANAV SAI RAM .CH X 300M & 500 SPEED PARTICIPATION

2 SHREEYA.Y X 300M & 500 SPEED PARTICIPATION

3 JANICE RODRIGUES X 300M & 500 SPEED PARTICIPATION

4 SAI CHAITANYA .K VII 300M & 500 SPEED PARTICIPATION

5 C V ASHISH VI 300M & 500 SPEED PARTICIPATION

6 SWETHA MRINALINI VI 300M & 500 SPEED PARTICIPATION
.V

7 SAI HARSHITH .CH IV 300M & 500 SPEED PARTICIPATION

8 DHARINI .CH IV 300M & 500 SPEED PARTICIPATION

9 JASWANTH II 300M & 500 SPEED PARTICIPATION

BASKET BALL
SAPTHARSHI SAHODAYA BASKET BALL TOURNAMENT 2015-16

VENUE : SAMISHTI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
UNDER 17 BOYS WINNERS

SCHOOL GAMES FEDERATION OF TELANGANA (STATE MEET) 2015-16

VENUE: KARIMNAGAR

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No.

1 PRANAV SAI RAM .CH X BASKET BALL GOLD

2 SRIHITA .A X BASKET BALL GOLD

3 HARSHITHA .M VIII BASKET BALL GOLD

65Milestones 2015 Issue 1

GYMNASTICS

CBSE NATIONAL GYMNASTICS 2015-16
VENUE: HARYANA

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No. BRONZE

Sports Achievements 1 REVATHI .K VIII GYMNASTICS

SCHOOL GAMES FEDERATION OF RANGA REDDY DIST 2015-16

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No. VIII GYMNASTICS GOLD

1 REVATHI .K

BADMINTION

SAPTHARSHI SAHODAYA BADMINTION TOURNAMENT 2015-16
VENUE: GANGES VALLEY SCHOOL

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No.
BADMINTION GOLD
1 LAHARIKA X BADMINTION GOLD
BADMINTION GOLD
2 SHREYA X

3 VENNELA VII

SCHOOL GAMES FEDERATION OF RANGA REDDY DIST 2015-16

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No. X BADMINTION SILVER

1 LAHARIKA

SCHOOL GAMES FEDERATION OF TELANGANA (STATE MEET) 2015-16

VENUE: SAROORNAGAR

Sl. NAME OF THE STUDENT GRADE EVENT RESULT
No.

1 LAHARIKA X BADMINTION BORNZE

66 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

GRADE 3--- Sports Competitions April 2015

CATEGORY SECTION NAME AWARDS COMPETITION

YOGA OAKS K.V.UTTEJ SILVER OAKS SPORTS
FEST
BANYAN CHATURYA BRONZE SILVER OAKS Sports Achievements
GOLD SPORTS FEST
RUNNING OAKS SATWIK GOLD SILVER OAKS
SILVER SPORTS FEST
PINE RUSHIL BRONZE SILVER OAKS
BRONZE SPORTS FEST
OLIVES NIKITHA 300M & 500 SILVER OAKS
SPEED SPORTS FEST
OLIVES SATHVIK BRONZE SILVER OAKS
BRONZE SPORTS FEST
PINE SMRITHI SILVER OAKS
BRONZE SPORTS FEST
EDU SPORTS JASWANTH II SILVER PARTICIPATION
GOLD
CIRCUIT RELAY CYPRESS SARAYU, SILVER OAKS
PINE RISHI SPORTS FEST
SILVER OAKS
SMRITHI SPORTS FEST

SKATING CYPRESS SARAYU SILVER OAKS
SPORTS FEST
SKATING PINE VIVEK SILVER OAKS
ART SPORTS FEST
(JUNIORS) PINE RUSHIL SILVER OAKS
GYMNASTICS SPORTS FEST

CYPRESS TANVI GOLD
PEEPALS ESHAN
HEMANTH 2 GOLD &1 SOUTH ZONE
CAMLIN KUMAR BRONZE
ART COM-
PETETION ANUHYA
BANYAN

67Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Students’ Articles Students’ Articles

If you were given a chance to plan this summer vacation what would you plan?

Summer is the time for enjoying.It is the time for taking a break from school. It’s the
time to meet our friends and family and the time to explore.But at the same time
we shouldn’t lose touch with our studies.We should make sure that we revise our
topics and be ready for school when it starts in June. That’s why I wanted to plan
my perfect summer.

On the first day, I would look at my holiday homework and make a plan of how to
complete it before the school reopens.I will definetly visit my cousins in Bengaluru
and my grandparents in Vijayawada. After spending two weeks,I’ll come back
home and start working according to the time table which I made. I’ll spend some
time each day playing with my friends and some time doing my homework. I’ll also
spend some time learning something new, such as new sport, playing an instrument
or a new language.

Over all I want this summer vacation to be the best one I have had and the best one
that I’ll ever have.

Advaith, Grade 5 Continents

Hello everyone.I am the most important part of Soham’s body.Can you guess who
am I? Yes I am the brain of Soham.Iam the one who controls all the function of his
body.I am situated in his head.I weigh about 1350 gms.Basically, I have three parts.
Firstly, Cerebrum which helps Soham to think ,speak,and store memory. Second
part is called cerebellum which controls his body coordination and balance. Third
one is Brain stem which connects me to the spinal cord. It controls Soham’s muscular
activities.

I am not alone. Someoneelse also works along with me. It is Soham’s Nervous system
which takes information, allows me to process it and sends out signals, telling Soham
how to react.

I am an amazing part of his body.I have the capacity to think critically and analytically.
My potential can be sharpened if Soham practices physical and mental activities.
Soham can even practise Yoga and Asanas to improve my potential and alertness.
This can help him to achieve his goal in life.

Soham Mashetty, Grade V North America

68 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Life without machines Students’ Articles

Have you ever imagined a life without machines?It is the most difficult life we can
ever imagine.

Our Inventors,discoverers and explorers made our life easier by discovering,inventing
and exploring many things which made our life easier. For example Charles Babbage
invented a fantastic and a tremendous machine “computer”.Today everyone in
the world is using it for many purposes.Illustrious inventor Alexander Graham
bell invented the telephone which made our communication system easier.I feel it
revolutionized the world and brought everyone closer.

So, if there are no machines our lives will become like the life of an early man
without any comforts. I just can’t imagine life without television,refrigerator,com
puter, mobile phone, washing machine etc.Life will be the toughest without these
machines.

I would like to conclude by quoting that “a life without machines is life
without simplicity”.

Likhita Y, Grade V Africa

I am special because…….

There are many people who are living in this world and everyone has different
personalities .There are no two people who have exactly the same personalities.
Everyone in this world is unique in their own way.One’s personality is something
that does not change which makes one unique and special.
As for me, I am a student in a school,therefore I do my homework every single
day and study what I have learned at school.I also pay attention in class most
of the time as well.Besides that, I organize my work as well.At home,I am a child
so I respect my parents and help them to do house works.I clean my room once
in a week as well because that is my responsibility as being a child.I also help out
friends and classmates when they need help.I give out advices and suggestions to
them when they need support and help them. Besides being a responsible person,
I am also a person who is sympathetic.I am also a special person because I am the
youngest in my family and friends like me.
Due to all these characteristics I feel I am a special person.

Sai Laasya Sepuri, Grade V Australia

69Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Students’ Articles If you are forced to spend the rest of your life in the library, museum or a zoo,
Which one would you choose and why?

14th August

If I were given an option to choose and spend the rest of my life in a library, museum
or a zoo , I would always choose the library. Although, the museum is a nice place
with a lot of exhibits that show our history, but soon after I would be bored as the
exhibits never change and the same holds good for the zoo. Moreover, the zoo is a
very open place and sometimes is dangerous too. A library is a very suitable place
for me, as it is a world of imagination for me. I love reading books on history and
mystery. Speaking of history. A museum itself contains history. So if I have a book
on history in my hands, I would not have to move to see the exhibits but can just sit
and know all about it plus the book will be containing pictures. I also can read about
all the animals, even the ones which are extinct. Now, do you get that information
in the zoos? Moreover, I have much focus while reading books as they are my life.
I can know about the whole country, not only that, the whole world just sitting on
a chair with a book and a lamp. I won’t be bored at all as the books are replaced by
the librarians with a new stock all the time and I don’t have to read the same book
thousand times.

Finally, I would like to end it with a quote by Anne Quindlen: “Books are the plane
and train and the road. They are the destination and the journey.
They are home.”

Snigdha Chowdhary, Grade V Antarctica

Ram Leela
The inside out approach of our school is the “character first and competencenext”. Our teachers not
only teach us English, Physics , Chemistry, Math, Biology and Social Studies but they also teach us
real life lessons which help us in retaining these lessons for our life. They help us differentiate between
good and bad. As an age old tradition, demonstrating the victory of the good over evil, Ram Leela is
celebrated by burning the effigy of Ravan commemorating the victory of Lord Rama.
10 years ago, we at our school realized this is a good tradition knowing that each one of us has some
bad habits in us and it is necessary to burn them. So that’s how we began to burn our not so good
habits along with the effigy of Ravana to celebrate the good in us.
In our state, Bathukamma is also celebrated traditionally as one of the festivities of Dusshera. The
significance of this culture is that the Tangida flower is used in the Bathukamma (A flower which
represents Goddess Gowri) cleanses the water just after the monsoon. In our school, during the Ram
Leela celebration our teachers and the supporting staff together perform the Bathukamma dance
which all the students enjoy a lot. Ram Leela celebrations are one of the
days when all students enjoy and look forward to burn some of their bad
habits and cherish the good ones.

Sanjana Reddy, Grade VIII Oceans

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Imagine you find an old letter tucked inside a library book. The letter reveals Students’ Articles
that there is a hidden passageway inyour school. Write about your search for the
passage and where it leads.
One day, I was reading my library book. Suddenly, I saw an old letter tucked inside
it. I slowly started taking out the letter so that the book doesn’t tear. I opened the
letter and read. It was written: “Surrounded by Silver oak trees, under the place
where children have fun and frolic, lays a hidden passageway. The utterance of
magic motto will transport you to unknown wonders”. This really excited me.
So, the next day, I told my friends about the letter I found in the library book. Everyone
was excited and we decided to search for the passageway. Initially, we had to solve
a puzzle. We pondered on it and came to an understanding that playground is the
place where children have fun and frolic.
So, I and my friends had been to playground during the lunch break. We started
tapping the ground from where I heard a metal sound. We started removing the
mud and soil above it.There it was a “hidden trap door”. We put all our might to
open the door.The door slowly opened.
It was very dark and we could see a staircase. We were frightened and excited
equally. We had taken our lunch boxes, a torch and a water bottle and went inside.
There were spider webs all over. After 500 meters, there was a door. We tried to
open it but couldn’t. Then, I recalled the utterance of magic motto would open the
door. We sang the motto, “where the mind is without fear and the head is held
high.” It slowly opened.
Do you know what it was? A candy world!!!
There were mountains of ice cream trees full of candies and lollipops. There were
chocolate rivers. Leaves of plants were of mint candies and the ground was filled
with chocolate. We just rushed there and started having candies, ice-creams.
After sometime, I heard my mother calling “Shweta, get up!” I woke up and looked
around. I was in my room. It was a dream.
Suddenly, I noticed a letter that I found in my library book. My dream has come
true!! I was excited to go to school and explore the hidden passageway.

Shweta Pramod, Grade V Oceania

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Students’ Articles Independence Day Celebrations

On the 69th Independence Day our school hoisted the national flag. Our school girls
and the NCC cadets displayed a wonderful March past and we all sang songs as
a tribute to Dr. Kalam, Gandhiji and other freedom fighters who fought tirelessly
for our independence. Today if we are safe and independent, it’s because of our
freedom fighters and those army men who put their life at risk to safeguard the
border and the country.
We had Grp Cpt. Mukund Mohan from the Indian Air Force as our chief guest.
Grp Cpt. Mukund Mohan was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in December
1986 in the fighter stream of the flying branch.He is currently occupying the chair
of excellence at College of Defense Management for pursuing Ph.D from Osmania
University.
Student Council were the anchors of our celebrations. The 2014-15, 10th and 12th grade
batch have set an inspiration by achieving academic laurels in the CBSE Board exams.
We have 31 students of grade 10 who secured a 10 CGPA. We congratulated them for
their incredible performance in their board exams with a token of appreciation. Our
Director Sir, awarded them with CSR Anjaneyulu awards. They were constituted in
the year 2006. Since then the school has been giving these awards to toppers. They
are given in the memory and honour of Shri Anjaneyulu, our director’s father, a man
who had great respect for education. We also awarded the alumni of our school who
proved themselves as leaders by serving community in some way or the other. This
encouraged students to take the initiative and show more leadership qualities.
Our celebrations during the Independence Day was motivating
and inspiring for all the students of our school.

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Infancy, Childhood, Youth, Middle age, Old age; these are different stages of life. God is Students’ Articles
very pleased with you as, at this young age you are responsible and polite in your behaviour.
So God decided to grant you a boon to choose any one phase that you will have forever.
Why?

I was in my backyard ‘de-weeding’ it (the process of removing weeds is known as de-weeding)
and piling the weeds in a corner.

It was a pretty hot day and the sun was right above my head. I stopped for some time to
catch my breath. Then in the space of a few seconds a huge ‘BOOM!’ took place. The sweet
swinging of a Cuckoo was heard and a cool breeze was blowing and then I had a queer feeling
of somebody standing, but warmth radiating, when I looked up,………….

I saw GOD! But I didn’t fall to my knees, instead I was gazing at her. She had an aura of
affection and happiness around her. She spoke in a soothing voice and at once the pain of de-
weeding vanished, “Child you have been a responsible one for the 11 years you walked on this
Earth. So, I decided to grant you immortality in the form of a certain stage of life. I will come
once you have made your decision.” And in an instant the blazing sun had made a re-entry
and the hot wind was blowing again.

I continued de-weeding thinking about the goddesses’ words.

I pondered… “Infancy, childhood, youth, middle age and… old age” which one to choose?
The gears in my mind slowly began to move while my hands were de-weeding.

Should I be an infant forever? Of course I would be pampered beyond reason and all I’ve to
do is cry, sleep and eat. I don’t need to burn the midnight oil for exams nor do I have to stress
myself. But who will look after me for their whole lives? And it would be quite disappointing
to know I would never grow up.

Child for life. Stay 7? I get to play with buddies and not much study. But wouldn’t I just be
well… a child? Considered childish and to immature for making important decisions? And
same class for whole life? No way!

Youth? We get to see adult movies and go to college with friends and have sleepovers. But
isn’t there a saying, “No freedom is absolute”? That also means loads of exams to put up with
and I don’t think it’s great to stay immortal for life burning the midnight oil for exams. Nope,
not youth.

Probably not middle age. There of course the prospect of ‘independent living’ and being in
charge of yourself and your income. But a family and stress of job? Definitely, this family and
job does pose much of a problem- but won’t they grow up to leave me? And assignment for
life?Maybe… not.

Old age? Well we can live in a quaint cottage tucked in the mountains and receive a monthly
pension. But doesn’t that mean numerous health problems and the always underestimation.
Probably not........

The goddess appeared. She asked me my decision. I stayed quiet for some time. She questioned
me again. My reply was ready, “Goddess I don’t want this boon, I think a person shouldn’t be
immortal especially just in a stage of life, and I believe we should live to the fullest zenith of
life and experience all the up’s and down’s on our path and enjoy the fruits of life.

The goddess smiled sweetly and left.

“TRRRRRRINGGGGG” rang the alarm on my bedside cabinet the tenth time.
I woke up and remembered with a jolt I had to de-weed my backyard. Then I
recalled the dream I had. It was wonderful.

Rajeshwari Ananya Gudepu, Grade VII Equators

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Students’ Articles You are in a room full of people and you are the blind person there. Describe the
room and people in your mind.

The light was bright red. The zebra crossing on the road was free. I tried to cross it;
then suddenly a truck was speeding towards me with bright lights switched on. It
honked at me; when I turned at it; I saw its headlights and my vision went blank.
Pitch black…….

10 years later…..…

The room should have been full by the time I came. 15 minutes have elapsed. Some
voice started speaking. The voice was heavy. It must have been the new boss,
because I didn’t recognize the voice. ‘…is Dr.Zarkov ’, he continued. I smelled the
fragrance of roses, tulips and many other flowers. Somebody must have given him
a bouquet. I heard the sound of glass clinking. The waiter must have poured water
in the glass. He better have, because I am feeling thirsty. I checked for the glass with
my hands. I could tell it was half full due to the weight. Then I felt someone tugging
my legs. Not from the side, but from forward.

The softness was like a girl’s. I was sure I sat at the end which meant that there was
only 1 man (I talked to him) sitting beside me so the girl tugged me by mistake. The
boss finally ended talking about himself and started about the company’s shares.
Someone started coughing nearby. He or she gulped the water so fast that he or she
burped. That person said sorry and I knew he was ashamed (by his voice). I was
relieved that the girl in front of me stopped tugging me.

I think my boss cracked a joke because everyone else laughed. When the others
stopped the boss continued laughing or should I say crying because it sounded like
that.

Back at home in the dining hall…………

I started having dinner; a sweet voice called out to me. It was my mother. She asked
how my day went. And I answered not bad. The aroma of KFC grabbed all my
attention. I heard the slurping of some liquid. Mostly thumps up. Then came the
smell (actually stinking smell) of the thing I hate most, alcohol. The guests in the hall
were rapidly gulping glasses of alcohol.

Back in my mind…

I wish I got my eyes back; everything is so blank without eyes. My life has become
colourless. But, I do know that now my other senses are stronger than other people’s
senses.

Aneesh Kandrakota , Grade VII Equators

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What if the use of robots (a part of advanced technology) in our daily life, becomes Students’ Articles
a practical reality?

The technology nowadays is advanced and much better than what it used to be.
Our lives are becoming easier than ever with it. Robots are one of the best pieces of
technology man has ever made.

Robots are automatons, which work according to what we exactly say. When we
say the commands, the robots recognize the words and translate the meaning,
understand it, and do their work. Robots do everything, from cleaning and doing
housework, to manufacturing things in factories.

We certainly can’t go to the department store and get a robot! You have to go to the
factory where they are made, and choose the right one. Robots come in all sizes and
shapes, doing various tasks at all times. Robots aren’t that popular, as they are very
expensive, and that’s why we rarely see one in someone’s house. By the way, there
are pros and cons about getting a robot.

Robots reduce a lot of our work, so we don’t have to work hard and get soaked in
sweat to complete the job. If we say the right command, they will do their work
perfectly, without any mistakes. When we want to take a break and enjoy our free
time, we just tell the robot our work, and it’ll do it for us. We can trust our robot
with all our things, but not man. Mankind has his/her own thinking ability and does
whatever he/she wants to do. But robots are programmed to do only the things we
tell it to do.

There are many disadvantages for getting a robot. When we keep using them to
do our work, we might lose our jobs, as they work for us at all times. As robots do
everything that we say, we won’t work hard. Working hard is a type of exercise,
which maintains our health and fitness. With robots, we won’t even care about it.

The most dangerous thing about robots is when they are re-programmed to do the
wrong things. Suppose the robot works for the police to shoot the specific targets
down. If it is re-programmed wrong, the robots will think that everybody is the
target, and will start shooting at all of us. If it is used in the wrong way, the terrorism
will increase in the world. Many lives will be at risk and every moment, we will live
in fear.

Robots are actually really helpful when handled carefully and correctly. We will
get right things done at the correct time. Most of the things in the world now are
possible with machines (unless they are damaged). So robots in our daily life will be
a very good thing, if handled correctly and taken care of properly, or else, they can
lead to disasters.

Hannah Joy. P, Grade VIII Glaciers

75Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Students’ Articles WHAT I LEARNT FROM THE LIFE OF A.P.J ABDUL KALAM

“Dreams are not that you get when you sleep but they are that don’t make you
sleep” is a famous quote of the 11th president of India, the missile man of India
and the only man who loved children as much as nobody did. He was A.P.J Abdul
Kalam. I am proud to say that I am going to share few inspirational moments from
the life of this great man.

Once Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam rejected the idea to put broken glass on the wall of
building that needed protection. That was because he didn’t want to hurt the birds
that come and rest on the wall. This showed his love towards the animals. He had
got a habit of signing his own ‘thank you cards’. Any letters, greetings that come
to him, he used to reply with his own handwriting and signature. This showed his
thankfulness and how humble and generous he was.
Once he was asked to invite two presidential guests to Kerala’s Raj Bhavan and he
invited a roadside cobbler and an owner of a very small hotel. This showed his love
and affection towards every man he met in his life. Once during an event Dr. Kalam
refused to sit on a chair that was designed for him, just because it was larger than the
rest of the chairs. This shows his simplicity.
The company which manufactured wet grinders gifted Kalam a grinder. Now,
though he wanted one for his house, he refused it. So he wrote out a cheque for Rs
4,850. They were very honoured by this that they framed and hung it on the wall
proudly without depositing it. After two months they received a call from Kalam’s
office demanding to deposit the cheque. This is also one example for his simplicity
and how down to the earth he was. I would like to imbibe all these
qualities from Dr. Abdul Kalam.

Pranathi Komarapu, Grade VII Latitudes

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MOBOCRACY Students’ Articles

India is the world’s largest democracy, the seventh largest country, and also has
the second largest population (which contributes to the fact that we are the largest
democracy) and probably the most corrupt politicians. According to the ninth
grade textbook prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education, the Indian
Constitution, a democracy has a few prominent features:
• Is based upon an electoral system in which every contestant has a fair chance of

winning or losing
• Each adult citizen has one vote to cast which holds exactly one value
• The government rules within limits set by constitutional laws and rights
• The final decision-making powers rest with those elected by the people
• Is for the people, by the people , and of the people
Take a moment and think about what actually happens in the country.
Done? Now, take another moment to think about this -
“‘Majoritism’ is the same as mobocracy.”
For those of us who aren’t aware of what a mobocracy is, go to dictionary.com and
find out, or use a plain old hardcover. Either way, you’ll find out that a mobocracy is
sort of like a government with a mob of people in power.
Typically, most of us would deny this by looking in a dictionary and then displaying
the meaning and then a never ending argument would ensue, but in a political
scenario, you’d need to relate one extremely weird word to another.
Majoritism, in this case, (rather easy to guess) refers to the ruling party in general. In
today’s society, for example, the Hindu population would be the majority.
Now pop the entire thing into a blender and modify it to fit into the workings of the
current, extremely corrupted system. Two equations are obtained.

Ruling party = majority
Decision making scapegoats = mobocrats
The last step in analysing the reason behind why politicians today are corrupt beyond
imagination and usually make decisions that benefit them before the state - remember
the word greed.
The world today runs on brain power, and unfortunately it seems to be those very
minds that are crippling our systems, forever chasing selfish desires.
I guess the saying ‘Every man for his own’ holds true.

Manasi N, Grade X - E

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Students’ Articles My School to Me

When asked what a school does, and what difference it makes to me, I always have
an answer because my school is special to me. It doesn’t just give me knowledge,
but educates me on the right way to use it. Every person who looks back at his/
her school feels warmth and joy. I think it’s because this is the time of life where
we’re free birds and are encouraged to explore and embrace life. There are many
other things my school gave me in the form of opportunities to inspire early decision
making.

For example, a love for sports was instilled in me. I can only thank my school for
having this amazing physical education program. Although studies are important,
there wasn’t any lack of physical activities to keep up and running.

Something I’m eternally thankful to our school is for the opportunity to forge
wonderful friendships. There is nothing more exciting than to embark on new
beginnings and sharing your triumphs and downfalls.

The most important thing my school has done to me is making me a responsible
citizen. Young people today think that planting a tree is a waste of time, but they
don’t realize the significance. Leading by example and donating money towards the
RDF was what our teachers taught us.

A school works towards the betterment of an individual, and I think that my school
helped me greatly in becoming a better person.

Sahith, Grade VII Polars

Life without Sports

Sports are an integral portion of our day-to-day lives; they keep us fit and healthy.
Without sports we would we would not have star players such as: - Sania Mirza,
Saina Nehwal, Mahindra Dhoni etc to be our role models. Sports not only increase
our focus but also provide a wide range of varieties for us to choose our career from.
Example most of the people would be into software engineering, government etc.

With sports we would not be able to keep our focus distilled on one single object as
the brain would not receive adequate amounts of oxygen to function appropriately
so we would not also be able to concentrate on our academics. Without sports all of
us would turn into couch potatoes.

Sports even increase the chances of a region to be famed or can even increase its
economy, example:- Sania Nehwal was the world number.1 and she resides from
India, which made India proud of her and also the world pleased with India, in-turn
this resulted in our country gaining a plenty lot of respect.

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My imagination turns vivid when I imagine Sachin Tendulkar working in a software Students’ Articles
engineering office or Saina Nehwal nursing her patients; my imagination does not
have a boundary here.
Finally, I would like to conclude that life without sports will be impossible as just
the way sports evolved long ago, it would evolve the same way one or the other
day……..very soon…………

Sahith, Grade VII Polars

Data Mining

Computers contain a lot of data, but people need help to turn this data into intelligence.
As Frawley nicely puts it, “Computers have promised us a fountain of wisdom but
delivered a flood of data!” Data mining can help us to move from data keepers to
intelligence gatherers. Being an IIT option data mining is a diagnostic procedure
intended to explore data (usually large amounts) in search of consistent patterns or
systematic relationships between variables and then to authenticate the findings by
applying the detected patterns to new subsets of data. The ultimate objective of Data
Mining is prediction.
This Data Mining process has 3 stages. They are-

1. Exploration-This stage starts with data cleaning and transformations.
2. Modelling building and validation-This stage involves considering

various models and choosing the best one based on their predictive
performance.
3. Deployment-This final stage involves using the model selected as the
best in previous stage and applying it to new data, in order to generate
predictions or estimations of the expected outcome.

Data Mining is used to-
• Identify shopping patterns in Super Markets.
• Making appropriate offers for each visitor (For various websites)
• Identify suspicious behaviour…
In short, Data Mining can be applied anywhere in your business or organization
where you are interested in identifying and exploiting predictable outcomes.

Tanvi, Grade VII Equators

79Milestones 2015 Issue 1

A LIFE OF TWO PHASES : FRIENDSHIP

Students’ Articles In life, I dangle upon a single thread,
Friends come and go, Not as far and wide, but narrow and short,
They share your highs and your lows, Only I can travel upon it.
They bring a smile, Having small tendrils sticking out,
Even though it may take a while. I stop...
My life isn’t worth it, I feel betrayed.
You know there is someone,
Who is worth living for……… When tied back,
My friendship has two pieces, There sits a knot that stays there for eternity
The life on fabric and the one so on…
Hanging on a thread. All I can do is mend that lump,
Destroy that guilt or fall apart.
As smooth as silk,
A long fiber stretches far and wide, What I can do, I do not know,
Enough space for two or many But what I will do, I certainly will,
To travel upon. To relieve my anxiety and join the others…
With no bumps and lumps, To make my friendship work again……
I soar far ahead…
My life worth living, with loving care. Shivesh Shourya,

But when I snip away, Grade X
From the machine that twines me into the
real world,

BUTTERFLY

I came into this world, Inside I shed rivers of anger and sorrow,
As a tiny pearl, About how god made me,
Orphaned by birth; Gullible and naïve.
Siblings left my side,
Leaving me all alone. A new dawn breaks again,
But today, is different.
I munch upon those bitter thoughts, I have to gather courage,
Tasteless and bland, My cocoon can only take me so far.
But, I continue to grow,
How much, I do not know. I break open,
Bask in the new light and,
I spin myself a shell, Feel the warmth fill me up,
Storing my energy to face reality, With happiness and joy.
But, in the end,
I hide away, like a coward; I spread my colors
I feel scared, And take to the sky,
I cannot trust anyone, Promising to myself,
So, I lay alone again. To leave my past behind….

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PEARL TREES

One starry night, I stayed there, stared at it, Students’ Articles
I wandered through a grove, Then got up to nestle it;
Of weeping pearl trees, Tried to remove the dirt that covered it.
Each one present, shared their own
stories. When uncovered,
It continued to weep, lying in my palm.
I stretched to reach a pearl,
But it just went further away. I wondered,
Had it never felt love,
It felt like those pearls never wanted to Or was it just forgotten?
be touched,
Only heard. I took a closer look at that
They wanted to stay in the dark, Feeble soul.
Like they never wanted to see the light, Its shedding tears told me all,
And never wanted to light up the soul But one detail,
of a lost traveller, From its story puzzled my sight.
Guide it through this lonely, dark night.
Silver lining that showed me a smile.
I sat under one tree,
Tears trickled down my cheeks, I placed it back
What a shame it was, Where it belonged and
That I myself, Looking back at that one tree,
Had chosen this destiny. I walk forwards, leaving the past.
A rustle in the upper branches,
Brought a pearl to my feet. Now I am free……….

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Teachers’ Articles Teachers’ Articles

Learning history through mapping…………

Is studying history interesting….exciting….. boring ….. difficult? Well, it all
depends with what lens we look at it or understand it!!!

Let’s split the word ‘HISTORY’ --- HIS+STORY,
here HIS refers to humans. So history is nothing but
the story or study of the past events or happenings
in human affairs. It is important to study history
to provide individuals with a sense of the past to
connect to the present. This gives scope for people
to understand how cultural, social and societal
values have evolved over a period of time.

Why history…..

The present day life is full of contradictions ---- on one side we see how satellites
are being sent into the space in search of life on other planets and how human mind
is engineering the capability of people to communicate with each other from every
corner of the earth.

While on the other hand, despite the progress in communication, human relationships
and identities are taking a back seat unlike in the past where people were valued for
what they were or what they did. In the pursuit of finding faith and hope in our
understanding of the changing world, people are actually losing themselves and
isolating themselves in the midst of progress.

Therefore the study of history becomes vital to understand human and societal
evolution, human responsibility, human relationships, and global commonalities.

The history in textbooks can be learnt in an interesting manner through
mapping.

When I say mapping….. it means organizing the given information systematically
for clarity and easy remembrance. This can be done through time lines, tabulation
charts, chronology charts, genealogy charts, etc. Let’s see how each of these would

be helpful for you in quick understanding. Timelines are
very simple devices which reduce time sense into space sense
for easy comprehension. It helps in knowing ‘how much
before’ and ‘how much after’ an event. The concept of space
also involves the concept of sequence and distance. Time is
represented by a horizontal or vertical line and happenings
are fixed on it according to their dates of occurrence in a
chronological sequence.

Tabulation chart is presented in a tabular form. It enables us to gain a comprehensive
view of the facts at a glance. The data is analyzed under several heads and sub-
heads. For example, themes such as great battles of Indian history may be analysed

88 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

under the heads – the name of the battle, year in which fought, the parties involved, Teachers’ Articles
the result and significance.

Chronology charts provide a chronological framework within which events and
developments may be recorded. These charts develop time sense and help you to
comprehend and visualize the pageant of time and its relationships. For example you
can make political developments, Indian history, cultural achievements, religious
developments, etc. in a chronological chart.

Genealogy charts also called as tree charts is
developed from a base composed of several
‘roots’ which lead to a single trunk. The
branches, in turn, represent the developments
and relationships. For example, the genealogy or
tree charts can be used to represent the growth
and development of an empire, a dynasty and
historical facts of this nature. These prove
helpful in summarizing historical topics. I hope
the above tips would help you gain knowledge and make your learning experience
in the history lessons more interesting and enduring.

Uma Devi, ISAP Coordinator

A bouquet

The first day of voyage, Balancing, catching, running, jumping
was an emotional rampage. all became fun way of learning.
Parents walked in with inquiries. The story and rhymes world,
Our assurance took out all their worries. all opening a new horizon around

Crew ready for the assimilation, Uttering new words and bubble talks,
to strengthen the tots for their destination. were all achievements we could count.
Cherub announced the arrivals, Parents appreciating with fervour,
of the much awaited travellers. made us feel much happier

The toddlers came in crying and howling. At the end of the first semester,
Few looking startled and others bouncing when we turn back and ponder.
As days passed, trust replaced dependence. There’s something we’ll carry for miles
Relationship was built on adherence A beautiful bouquet of smiles!!!

Kavitha Sreeraj, Home Room Teacher PP1 Pansies

89Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Teachers’ Articles Teaching and Learning in Math

Our best classroom experience of learning started away with an open –mind, by
welcoming the students to be more interactive. This has set a stage for the playoff
different ideas and ways ‘how’ I could start learning and teaching the unknown
topic.
When teaching a child to solve mathematical problems, start with a very easy one
that he can tackle on his own. This will give him a sense of fulfilment and enhance
his self-confidence in working with numbers. Many children refuse to do math
because they are preconditioned to think that the subject is for brilliant pupils only.
However, when they are able to answer a math question correctly, their perception
about math changes and they will consider every problem solved, a victory. They
will soon learn to love the subject and enjoy working with numbers.

A teaching method comprises the principles and methods used for instruction to be
implemented by teachers to achieve the desired learning in students. These strategies
are determined partly on subject matter to be taught and partly by the nature of the
learner.
The strategy that we used in the class in the month of July is:
1. Name of the strategy: Encouraging – Discipline
i. Divide the class into 4 groups.
ii. Select a leader in the group , the leader is the one (who keeps work incomplete/

who is over enthusiastic / who distracts the class)
iii. Each group will be allotted points according :
If all the children in the group have completed homework -10 points
If the group is too noisy- reduce points they scored. Child who completed mind

spark 100% in the group will get 5 points. Asking questions based on the topic
during the hour/formulae regarding the sums, that group scores points

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iv. Each group makes a chart as:

Name of the child Completion of Mindspark Quiz or questions Discipline

in the group homework based on the topic

v. Teacher allots the point’s everyday in their respective chart in the last 5min Teachers’ Articles
of her hour, and these points will be summed to the end of the month or the
topic.

2. Strategy used in the month of November: C N Q test-(CORRECT, NEAT AND
QUICK)

1.) In the beginning of the hour, conduct a small test of recap of previous topic or
formulae that has to be known by them, thoroughly for 10min.

2.) Peer or self evaluation will be done and marks are allotted.

3.) Give the coloured stars based on their performance.

i. Reaching high to sky

ii. Always trying to learn

iii. Learning slowly

iv. needs to work hard

3. This strategy helps the child to be through with the formulae, encourage them
to earn

Brainstorming is a method used with a group to generate a large number of ideas
quickly. It actively engages students in the learning process and encourages full
participation as one person’s ideas spark off ideas for another. Brainstorming is a
valuable activity because it is unlikely that if students worked alone that they would
come up with the same volume of ideas. The teacher needs to preselect the topic or
issue and facilitate.

This has supported my mind to be/have an open heart to teach and learn at the
same time. According to Aristotle” It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to
entertain a thought without accepting it”.

Manisha, Navya, Chandra Jyothi,

Home Room Teachers - Grade VII & VIII

91Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Teachers’ Articles Students Turn Model Parliamentarians

At a time when politics is suffering from a serious crisis of perception, students of
grade 7 and 8 got the opportunity to participate in MERK MODEL PARLIAMENT
competition conducted by Meridian School, Kukatpally in the month of August.

The competition provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the finest institution
of Indian democracy, the Parliament. It would not be an overstatement to say
that Parliament has played a formidable role in making India the most successful
democracy, in addition to being the largest, in the world.

Through the competition, students gained an exposure to time-tested and glorious
traditions of the Parliamentary democracy. It also helped to inculcate a sense
of leadership quality in them. Members of the participating team, comprising 15
students, donned roles of Marshall, Speaker, Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition,
Ministers of different portfolios, Members of Parliament of both ruling and
opposition parties, documentaries and a Press Reporter. Students researched each
role thoroughly and presented a model session of the parliament, upholding the
finest traditions of debate and discussion, which is the hallmark of any democratic
institution.

The procedures involved in the introduction, presentation and passage of a bill
was also presented. Two students Akshaya.B and Sanjeev Raj bagged prizes for the
roles of best portfolio and best Press reporter respectively. The entire team received
accolades for their exemplary portrayal of a model parliament.

Such programs would help to shatter the spectre of negativity that is surrounding
such institutions in current scenario and help to sow the seeds in the minds of young
students to think of politics as a career option. An informed and empowered student
community with right kind of exposure would augur well for India, which is aspiring
to seal its place as a superpower in the comity of world nations.

Ms. Harini,

Home Room Teachers - Grade VII Equators

Teaching And Learning

Teaching and learning in our classrooms merely doesn’t depict the old traditional
methods which was a classic example of how the onus rests on the teacher in terms of
delivering the course work effectively. Teachers in those days were not less trained
comparatively but whether or not their skills have reached the targeted audience in
the correct proportion is still something questionable.

Keeping the learning objectives to be achieved by the students, I think the research
and investigation done in making the educational methodologies more effective can

92 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

decree its own reflective mirror upon the student’s calibre. One such strategy which Teachers’ Articles
I used to teach a particular content is called ‘Jigsaw’ where it helps the students to
focus through sharing their expertise with others by….

• Forming cooperative groups for the assigned material

• Form expert groups by grouping students with the same assigned material

• Students reform with the co-operative groups and take turns in presenting
material to one another

Learning individually and in groups showcases the mastery of the material by the
students.

Meera Lalu,

Home Room Teachers - Grade VIII Mountains

Learning centres for better learning

Play is an active form of learning that involves the whole self. Three to six-year-
olds are natural, enthusiastic learners. They learn, grow, and internalize through
interactive experiences with each other, adults, and other manipulative that ignite
all of their senses. Planning diverse learning centres, with open-ended activities and
hands-on materials, benefits the students in better understanding of the concepts. It
gives them the freedom of choice to exhibit their learning in their own learning style.
Learning centres are areas within the classroom where students learn about specific
subjects by playing and engaging in activities. Children need certain strategies and
skills, such as making decisions, carrying out plans, cooperating and sharing with
others, and problem-solving, in order to play and learn independently.

The Pre Primary teachers share their personal experiences in their classroom...

• In the free play block centre I observe that the acorns see things through another
person’s point of view by working together to create, construct, and build, says
Ms. G Lalitha. My acorns feel relaxed as they can just be themselves.

• Ms. Kavitha, the home room teacher of Pansies pronounces that her acorns
have become self-disciplined in exploring in their own way of understanding
things. In the Math centre, they are busy sorting, sequencing and counting on
their own.

• Ms. Sirisha, the home room teacher of Bell Flowers shares that the inquiry centre
has made the lil acorns become more open and natural. Their communication
skills have tremendously improved. It has helped them to be them-selves and
to understand others too.

• “Oh My God! Can’t believe that these are the same kids who cried for their
parents in the first week of school! The same kids now have big tales to share
in the class,”acclaims Ms. Shradha the home room teacher of Asters. Thanks to
the language centre.

93Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Teachers’ Articles • “Take risks without fear of failure,” Ms. Sailalitha the home room teacher of
Tulips says in my art centre, “I take care in developing their fine motor skill in a
fun filled way and helps the acorns to evaluate their work as they go along.”

• “In the writing centre, students are writing picture stories proudly”, declares
Ms Swathi home room teacher of Flamingos. The listening centre helps them
to be responsible and definitely helps them to face positive challenges and gain
self-esteem.

• “These little scientists, explorers, gems investigate, explore, and discover things
that are new to them and make connections with things that they already know
in the reading centre”, claims Ms. A Sunitha home room teacher of Doves.

• “I feel satisfied by completing purposeful activities by enhancing their inner
talents and thus motivating the slow learners to express themselves through
art and craft, drawing, colouring or clay moulding smilingly”, says Ms. R
Sunitha.

• Ms. Sneha, home room teacher of Peacocks is so happy to share that the story
centre in her class helps her acorns in role play in order to understand and
make sense of the real world and their personal experiences in it.

• “Use up excess energy, ahh! I am blessed with the proactive kids in my class.
At times its really difficult to manage them but the learning centres channelize
their energy into proper direction”, says Ms. Radhika the home room teacher
of Robins.

Ms. Treeza Rodrigues,

Head Pre Primary Wing

Teaching and Learning

I strongly believe that tomorrow’s world is for the people who can think critically
and profoundly. Hence I thought my students should be empowered with excellent
thinking skill. In this regard I have enhanced my students thinking ability by
integrating few thinking based strategies into my teaching plan which made them
to think deeply on a given topic and also made them think out of the box. These
strategies even facilitated them to explore more than what is given in the text book.
I have implemented many strategies out of which ‘’Connect –Extend – Challenge
& 3 -2-1 Bridge “are the favourites of my students and mine. All this was possible
because of my “Making Thinking Visible” course which I have done from Harvard
University.

Y. Neelima,

Home Room Teacher, Grade-VII POLARS

94 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

HUMAN CALCULATORS Teachers’ Articles

Number crunching is a weekly ritual @ Silver Oaks School, conducted in the form of
a competition. Its objective is to aim at improving the speed and accuracy of doing
mathematics. This competitionis conducted weekly once in every class and in every
grade from grade 1 to grade 10.

Students enjoy Human calculator and they feel that this programme has helped
them in improving mathematical skills and time management. They feel that solving
the general questions has improved their IQ levels and also improved their logical
thinking which in turn helped them do well in ASSET and PSA exams. They also
learnt new tricks of doing sums in a faster way.

The bigger idea being that the students understand that mathematics expresses
itself everywhere, in almost every facet of life in nature all around us, also in the
technologies we use. Mathematics is the language of Science and Engineering
describing our understanding of all that we observe.

Many, if not all puzzles and games require mathematical logic and deduction.
Human Calculator aims at improving fluency means how fast a student can retrieve
math facts to working memory from storage memory. Math fluency is determined
by one’s ability to quickly and accurately recall simple math facts or solutions. There
are many ways to improve math fluency, the practice we follow is Human Calculator
a constant timed tests administered by teachers in classrooms. It aims at improving
the concentration levels and speed up the mental calculations.

Technology is everywhere around us, and we need mathematics to master it and
we as a school are trying to achieve this through Human Calculator.

I as a math teacher believe ‘Math makes the world go round’.

Anuradha Dontul, Grade X Math Teacher

A Perfect Day in Class -

Setting the tone in the class with efficient classroom management.

Teaching is the ability to inspire students, foster a sense of cooperation and impart
knowledge effectively, wherein the base line is discipline. In order to achieve this we
must have an effective plan every day.

Every student walks into the classroom with a lot of expectations for the day. The
expectations are highly influenced by their parents and their environment. The
differing environment of students poses a great challenge to the teacher to bring the
students to the same platform as they have varied expectations.

As a teacher I follow the process based on the teaching methodology suggested by
the School, the threshold and the baseline for the school is to impart knowledge
to students uniformly without compromising the environment, this adds to the
dynamic play on classroom management as every student may have varied learning
styles.

95Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Teachers’ Articles The convergence of both the students’ and my expectations as a teacher decides
how the day proceeds in the class. How I manage the students’ expectation without
disrupting my plan for the day sets the tone in the class.

Within a few minutes after the students enter the class I let them know the expectations
very clearly and elaborately. The student must always feel that there is a clear plan
for the day. This sets a very positive tone for the day. As a teacher I must show that I
am in charge of the classroom. If I am too friendly, the students instead of seeing me
as their leader shall start seeing me as their peer. At the same time I make sure the
students feel comfortable with me as a teacher. Striking a balance between these two
aspects is crucial in classroom management.

The classroom as a learning environment must be surrounded by optimism. I make
sure such an environment prevails. Further, I also concentrate on my appearance,
posture, eye contact, attitude and a steady tone of communication which enhances the
classroom environment. I make sure the student’s work is displayed in the classroom
to bring a sense of ownership of the classroom. I ensure that discipline is not about
punishment but about accountability. Last but not the least I always walk into the
classroom with a smile and it stays with me throughout the day.

P. Sree Priya,

Home Room Teacher, Grade IV

CONNECTING YOUNG MINDS

In the beginning of the year, I chose the word connect to guide my intentions, goals
and actions for the year. I wanted to connect more with students, teachers, parents
and the on-line PYP community. Four years in, as I reflect on my growth so far, I can
see that I have made the most progress connecting with students. As I try to unpack
“why is it like that?” (Causation) I can identify a few factors that have helped me.

All students possess positive characteristics and attributes, but these are sometimes
overlooked and undervalued. To make these important connections, teachers may
have to refocus and sharpen their lenses for thinking about students, especially when
they have known students only in a negative light. Teachers have to ask themselves:
“Am I prepared to recognize potential talent, intellect, skill, excellence, and ability
when they emerge in an unexpected group of students?”

As a Home room teacher, none of my direct responsibilities involve students, but
I actively seek out opportunities to purposefully connect with students. For me,
building relationships with students is intentional… and essential… and the best part
of working in the field of education! Iam proud to say, I have numerous authentic,
meaningful relationships with many of the students in the school. I love when they
run to me to share their learning with me. I am honored that they trust me with their
problems. I enjoy the inside jokes we share. I appreciate that they listen to me when
I give a reminder or redirection about their safety or behavior.

I can also acknowledge that connecting with students is not accidental. It’s a causal
relationship.

SARITA MANNE, Home Room Teacher, Grade VI

96 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

TEACHING AND LEARNING Teachers’ Articles

Anuradha. P, Telugu Specialist

Manga Tayaru, Telugu Specialist

97Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Teachers’ Articles

Manga Tayaru, Telugu Specialist

98 Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Teachers’ Articles

Manga Tayaru, Telugu Specialist

99Milestones 2015 Issue 1

Teachers’ Articles

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