With the esteemed blessings of our visionary Founder and Chairperson, Dr. (Mrs.) Lilly George, and under the invaluable guidance of our dynamic Sherpa & Vice Chairman - Mr. Dennis George, Shalom Hills International School proudly hosted the magnificent Skill Culmination Event for Grade VIII—a grand celebration of knowledge, creativity, and mastery acquired over the academic year.

This event provided a major platform to the young scholars of Grade VIII to exhibit their intellectual prowess and artistic ingenuity before their peers. The morning unfolded with a captivating series of student-led PowerPoint presentations, where participants eloquently reflected on their academic journey, seamlessly articulating their insights and learnings across various disciplines.

Adding an element of theatrical brilliance, the event then witnessed a spellbinding puppet show, where students mesmerized the audience with their imaginative storytelling and handcrafted puppets. This vibrant segment not only exemplified their artistic dexterity but also underscored their ability to convey ideas with eloquence and theatrical finesse.

The culmination of skill and craftsmanship was further exemplified in a spectacular exhibition of handcrafted artefacts, meticulously curated by students from their Handicraft class. Each piece—be it intricately designed artwork or innovative craft projects—stood as a testament to their dedication, patience, and aesthetic sensibilities.

Brimming with zeal and enthusiasm, the young luminaries engaged wholeheartedly in the proceedings, transforming the event into a truly enriching and unforgettable experience. More than just a showcase of talent, the Skill Culmination nurtured confidence, collaboration, and a profound sense of accomplishment among the participants.

The event concluded on an exuberant note, with students cherishing the invaluable moments of learning, expression, and celebration—a befitting tribute to their year-long journey of skill development and artistic evolution.

Shalom continuously introduces innovative initiatives fostering a dynamic and enriching learning environment to enhance students’ overall development.

One such initiative was the Dictation Competition conducted for Classes VI to VIII, aimed at improving handwriting and written expression. Language is a powerful medium for conveying thoughts, both verbally and in writing. However, unclear or faulty spellings can hinder effective communication. To address this, students were provided with the competition syllabus and briefed on the rules before actively participating in the event.

The competition witnessed enthusiastic engagement from all participants, who displayed keen interest in refining their handwriting skills. A sense of achievement and self-satisfaction was visible on their faces after the event, as they recognized the value of such activities in strengthening their written communication.

Believing that regular practice through such events would help them articulate their thoughts effortlessly on paper, students voiced their eagerness for similar competitions in the future.

With the blessings of our visionary Founder and Chairperson, Dr. Mrs. Lilly George, and under the invaluable mentorship of our dynamic Sherpa & Vice Chairman - Mr. Dennis George, The National Mathematics Day was celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of the renowned mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan.

The event began with a special assembly on the theme ‘National Mathematics Day’ conducted by class VIII students, where the students delivered speeches on famous Indian Mathematicians highlighting their contributions in the field of Mathematics.

As part of the celebrations of National Mathematics Day, a Poster Making Competition for classes VI and VII was organized for classes VI and VII to honour the life and contributions of Srinivasa Ramanujan, the legendary Indian mathematician, aimed at helping students explore and visualize how mathematics influences various aspects of the world around us.

Teachers conducted activities in classrooms where students were encouraged to explore mathematical concepts through hands-on experience. These activities aimed to make mathematics more enjoyable and showed students how mathematical thinking can be applied in real-world scenarios.

The celebration of National Mathematics Day witnessed active participation from students and teachers, not only celebrating the legacy of Srinivasa Ramanujan but also sparking their interest in mathematics.

Excursion expands the horizons and school life cannot be complete without the fun of educational tours and excursions. Under the inspiring guidance of our Founder and Chairperson, Dr. Mrs. Lilly George, and Sherpa & Vice Chairman - Mr. Dennis George, an enriching trip to Vishalgarh Farms was organized for students of Grades VI to VIII, aimed at fostering a happy and holistic learning experience.

As nature keeps us grounded, obstacles make us perseverant, adventure makes us tough; at Vishalgarh Farms, these three forces combined to unleash the explorative spirit in children and give them a power packed experience that pushes them to challenge themselves, enhance their confidence and acquire new skills.

This adventure camp provided a great platform to the students to unbridle their inner strength and imbibe new skills. The day started with morning prayer followed by hours of fun, frolic inculcating patience. Divided into groups and guided by experienced instructors, students engaged in a variety of thrilling adventure games and challenging obstacle courses, packing every moment with fun, teamwork, and boundless enthusiasm.

The trip offered a perfect blend of learning, bonding, and recreation, leaving the children energized and brimming with unforgettable memories. The outing helped to expand students' learning beyond the school with an element of camaraderie and amusement.

To uphold the sanctity of the Constitution and reaffirm our steadfast commitment to its principles, Shalom Hills International School, under the visionary leadership of its Founder and Chairperson, Dr. Mrs. Lilly George, and the dynamic guidance of its Sherpa & Vice Chairman - Mr. Dennis George, proudly celebrated Constitution Day or Samvidhan Divas, on 26 th November. This significant occasion commemorates the adoption of the Indian Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, which came into force on January 26, 1950.

The day's events commenced with an insightful introduction to the Constitution, followed by students taking a pledge to uphold national unity and harmony. Enthusiastic students expressed their creativity through poster-making, spreading awareness about the significance of the Indian Constitution.

In an inspiring moment of collective reflection, the Preamble was recited across classrooms, fostering a spirit of unity and reverence for this cornerstone of Indian democracy.

The celebration was a glowing tribute to the visionaries who laid the foundation of our sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, serving as a solemn reminder of their relentless dedication to crafting a document that embodies justice, equality, and liberty for all citizens.

With the blessings of our visionary Founder and Chairperson, Dr. Mrs. Lilly George, and under the invaluable mentorship of our dynamic Sherpa & Vice Chairman - Mr. Dennis George, Shalom Hills International School proudly celebrated the Communal Harmony Campaign Week. Maintaining its solemn purpose of enlightening students about India’s unparalleled cultural diversity, fortifying the bonds of public harmony, and fostering a deep commitment to national integration, the event culminated on 26 th November 2024.

This initiative was a clarion call to sensitize young minds to their pivotal role as custodians of India’s rich cultural legacy. The celebration resonated with the noble objectives of fostering fraternity, sustaining peace, and nurturing communal harmony across the nation. Central to the event was a poignant pledge undertaken by students of grades VI to VIII, symbolizing their dedication to the ideals of unity and coexistence.

Through meticulously planned activities and engagements, students were imbued with the values of inclusivity, respect, and collaboration. These initiatives emphasized the beauty of diverse backgrounds coexisting harmoniously, teaching students to thrive in an environment enriched by unity. The exuberant participation of all students reflected their genuine enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to the event's ethos.

The array of activities and competitions served as a unifying platform, drawing students from varied social and cultural groups under a singular banner of solidarity. This celebration was a vivid embodiment of the true spirit of national integration and communal harmony, reinforcing the timeless values that bind us as a nation.

“Nature is the source of all true knowledge.” –Leonardo da Vinci

Butterflies undergo a complete metamorphosis, which involves four distinct stages in their life cycle: eggs, larva, pupa, and adult butterfly. As part of their EVS II curriculum, class IV students participated in an interactive activity, to explore the life cycle of butterflies.

To reinforce their conceptual understanding, students creatively crafted representations of each stage using diverse materials such as clay, colours, beads, cotton, leaves, pasta, wool, straw, and more. Their unique creations showcased exceptional creativity and innovation.

This hands-on activity made learning fun and interactive, enhancing students' comprehension of biological concepts while developing their creative thinking and problem-solving skills. The activity also encouraged peer collaboration and communication, increasing student motivation and engagement. Throughout the activity, students were posed questions related to the concepts to assess their understanding and knowledge.

Overall, the activity successfully promoted experiential learning. By integrating hands-on activities into the learning process, students transformed abstract concepts into concrete, lasting experiences, deepening their appreciation for the fascinating life cycle of butterflies.

"Tourism and Peace"

World Tourism Day is celebrated annually on the 27th September, a time to honour tourism's significance and the global social, cultural, and economic effects it has. For upcoming generations, the day seeks to promote a more fair and sustainable tourism sector.

Students of Grade VC conducted the morning assembly on the theme - “Tourism and Peace”. The assembly began with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the Shloka and the school’s vision and mission. The assembly continued with the thought and word of the week. The news headlines, both National and International were read, followed by sports News and the weather report in which a child guided the peers to observe the changes in the weather in the upcoming month. Students of class VC apprised the gathering about World Tourism Day and its theme. The students also made posters and slogans for the same. They enlightened the audience about the importance of the day. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem.

Travel not only to see new places but to see with new eyes. Happy World Tourism Day.

When world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), they committed to a crucial objective: SDG 2, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. This goal is vital as it addresses the needs of over 820 million people who are chronically undernourished globally. Activities focused on SDG 2 are designed to raise awareness among students about food security issues and encourage them to engage in meaningful actions.

On this note, students of Class III-G at Shalom Hills International School presented a class assembly on SDG 2 - Zero Hunger. The assembly aimed to promote awareness about the importance of this goal, informing the audience about its significance and exploring ways to achieve zero hunger in the long run.

The assembly was a resounding success in helping the audience understand SDG 2, its importance, and the targets that need to be met to address this critical global issue. Through their presentations, students instilled a sense of awareness, motivating their peers to take proactive steps toward solving the challenges associated with hunger and food security.

By focusing on achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030, this initiative aims to foster a generation that is informed, empathetic, and proactive in addressing global challenges. The engagement and enthusiasm displayed by the students during the assembly highlighted the importance of collective action in working towards a hunger-free future.

“A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way of others.”

Teacher's day is celebrated every year on 5th September to honour our selfless teachers and their priceless job. This day is the birth anniversary of our renowned President Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan who had requested to celebrate his birthday as the teacher’s day to respect teachers all over India. A tribute was paid by the school to Dr. Radhakrishnan by showcasing a power point presentation about his remarkable life journey. The aim was to encourage young shalomites to strive for excellence.

A card-making activity was organized for Grade III & IV students in the dynasty period, allowing them to showcase their appreciation through creativity. The activity aimed to encourage students to express their feelings, foster student-teacher bonding, and develop fine motor skills. Students created unique cards and crafted personalized messages for their teachers.

As students presented the handmade cards to their teachers, they acknowledged the impact the educators have on their lives. The Teacher's Day card-making activity was a resounding success. Students and teachers alike cherished the experience.

“Every great advancement in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination.”

At the heart of our organization's mission lies the grand vision of our school's Founder and Chairperson - Dr Mrs Lilly George and our Sherpa & Vice Chairman - Mr. Dennis George, of fostering a culture of innovation and hands-on learning. Tinker Lab, a manifestation of this ideation, is a dynamic space designed to foster creativity, innovation, and applied learning. In this lab, the focus is on problem-solving and iterative design, allowing individuals to tinker with ideas and prototypes in an environment that celebrates curiosity and experimentation.

In an effort to inculcate a growth mindset in pupils, the Science department conducted the Tinker laboratory activity as part of STEM education by involving the students of grade VIII. Working in groups, the children created their own beautiful cars, utilizing waste materials available. A race was conducted at the end of the two-hour session, to check the performance of their creation in terms of its alignment, construction and efficiency of execution. They learnt the significance of force and motion theories in a play-way method.

This activity justified the purpose of integrated curriculum by amalgamating Science and Art subjects. Further, the communication and interpersonal skills of the children were honed too, as they learned to work in a disciplined and coordinated manner.

In all, the activity was a joyful learning experience for one and all.

‘Van Mahotsav: A Celebration of Togetherness.”

In a vibrant celebration of nature and sustainability, Shalom Hills International School celebrated Van Mahotsav from 1 st July amid great exhilaration and fervour. The week filled with engaging activities promoted environmental awareness and a sense of responsibility towards nature in the students.

Throughout the week, students from classes VI to VIII participated in various activities such as bookmark making, DIY planter creation, poster designing and eco-craft projects. These activities not only nurtured creativity but also raised awareness about the critical role trees play in our ecosystem. Special morning assemblies were also conducted featuring student-led presentations on biodiversity emphasizing the inter-connectedness of all living beings and the essential role trees play in maintaining ecological balance. These presentations underscored the importance of biodiversity and the urgent need to protect our environment.

The Van Mahotsav culminated on July 9th with the students from VI to XII partaking in a plantation drive. They planted saplings exemplifying their dedication to enhance green cover and combat climate change.

The Van Mahotsav Week celebrations not only enriched students' knowledge but also inspired them to take proactive steps towards a greener and more sustainable future. By fostering a deeper connection with nature and promoting responsible citizenship, the school community reaffirmed its dedication to preserving our planet's natural heritage for generations to come.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt

In a splendid celebration of academic excellence and unwavering dedication, Shalom Hills International School held its Scholar Badge Ceremony for the session 2023-24 radiating an atmosphere of excitement and pride, setting the tone for a memorable occasion.

Guided by the visionary leadership of the school’s Founder and Chairperson, Dr Mrs. Lilly George, the ceremony honored the outstanding achievements of scholar students and subject-wise toppers, who were adorned with badges in recognition of their hard work. Furthermore, students with 100% attendance were presented with mementos, and class toppers received trophies for their exemplary performance.

The ceremony was distinguished by the presence of the Sherpa & Vice-Chairman, Mr. Dennis George, who graciously felicitated the children and delivered a heartfelt speech following the award distribution. His words of encouragement and wisdom inspired the students to strive for excellence and continue their pursuit of knowledge.

The event not only recognized the diligence and dedication of the students but also motivated them to aim for even greater heights.

“Van Mahotsav - Sowing the seeds of tomorrow.”

Van Mahotsav, the annual tree-planting festival of India, is celebrated with great enthusiasm at Shalom Hills International School every year. The event aims to create awareness about the importance of trees and to encourage students to sensitize the students about their role in conserving environment. This celebration has been an ideal opportunity to instil the value of social responsibility in the students towards safeguarding trees and forests.

‘Van Mahotsav week’, carried out through various activities, was celebrated in grade I-V towards forming a personal connect between the students and trees.

The first day had teachers explaining the importance and facts about celebrating Van Mahotsav in the classrooms with the help of PPT and videos.

The students of Grades I and II engaged in poster making activity on the 2 nd day, creating beautiful and informative posters to depict the importance of trees. Students of grade III-V participated in an oath taking ceremony under the theme ‘I am an earth Saviour’. They wrote pledges to commit towards the conservation of trees and environment.

Day 3 began with students of Grade I-II sharing information on seed to sapling during an oratory activity. Students of grade III-V engaged in a tree adoption programme; ‘Adopt Not Shop’. Students were encouraged to adopt trees and take care of them, ensuring their growth and survival.

While teachers of grades I-II presented a skit on Happy Tree and Sad Tree on day 4 for students, followed by a leaf printing activity, the students of grades IV-V participated in a Mime Act on the topic ‘Save Trees, Save Earth’. The entire school reverberated with slogans during the ‘Green March’ conducted by the students of grade III.

The final day of the Van Mahotsav week started with the Intra-class competition- ‘Katha Kathputli ki’ on the topic- Grow trees and Save Trees. Students narrated beautiful stories by using different colourful puppets emphasising the importance of saving and growing more trees. The celebrations came to an end with a plantation drive by the students.

The Van Mahotsav celebration not only educated students about the importance of trees but also actively involved them in activities that promote environmental consciousness. The event fostered a sense of responsibility towards nature and highlighted the collective effort needed to protect our planet.

"Adventure is a path. Real adventure, self-determined, self-motivated, often risky, forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world." - Mark Jenkins

Shalom Hills International School, Gurugram, advocates for a diverse array of teaching methods as the most effective way to achieve desired learning outcomes. The excursion to Kasauli was a testament to the school's commitment to holistic education. Such trips not only complement academic learning but also play a crucial role in the overall development of students. Under the visionary leadership of our Founder and Chairperson, Dr. Mrs. Lilly George, and our dedicated Sherpa & Vice-Chairman, Mr. Dennis George, Shalom Hills International School organized an enriching excursion for Grades XI and XII to Kasauli hill station from 19th to 22nd May 2024.

The itinerary for each day was meticulously planned. The children stayed in a four-star hotel where they relished delicious food, enjoyed swimming, danced to the DJ, and participated in various outdoor and indoor activities. The instructors provided clear guidelines to ensure the children's safety. Under the careful supervision of instructors and teachers, the students engaged in various fun-filled adventure activities and trekking. They trekked to Monkey Point and visited the sacred temple at the mountain's summit. Additionally, they enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere of Mall Road, where they shopped for various items for their families and friends.

The Kasauli trip was a resounding success, achieving all its intended objectives. Students returned with enhanced social skills and a greater appreciation for nature. The trip also provided a much-needed break from routine, allowing students to refresh and recharge.

We travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us.
The school's Founder and Chairperson, Dr. Mrs. Lilly George, a perennial proponent of all- round development and our Sherpa & Vice-Chairman, Mr. Dennis George, a staunch propagator of learning through experiencing, have always sworn by the students’ constructive rise. In this regard, Shalom Hills International School, Gurugram organised an excursion for students from Classes VI and VII. The trip to Rocksport, Dehradun, aimed at engaging students in outdoor activities, build teamwork skills, and experience adventure in a safe and structured environment, had an extended additional group seeing the overwhelming willingness and response of the children and parents. The excursion, promised to be a delightful respite to a peaceful retreat from the chaotic city life.
Each day at the Rocksport Residential Program camp was meticulously planned. Students were briefed about the do's and don'ts at the campsite. The students participated wholeheartedly in the challenging activities such as ziplining, trekking and water activities. The walk through the FRI, Dehradun, was a wonderful learning experience for the children. The trip significantly improved the teamwork and collaboration skills of the students. They learned to support and trust each other, which was evident during the team- building games and group tasks.
The residential program trip was a resounding success. The positive feedback from both students and parents underscores the value of such educational trips in the holistic development of our students. In all, the outing helped expand students' learning horizon with an ideal mix of camaraderie and fun.

“The purpose of education is to prepare students for life, not for examinations. Experiential learning opens that door.”
A highly prolific and engaging experiential learning session was conducted for grade VI students of Shalom Hills International School on May 21st and 22nd, 2024, focusing on the topic "Sorting Materials into Groups" Experiential learning is all about gaining knowledge through direct experience, reflection, and active engagement. It encourages children to immerse themselves in real-world situations. Innovating teaching strategies under the guidance of the school's Founder and Chairperson, Dr. Mrs. Lilly George, and channelled by the Sherpa & Vice-Chairman, Mr. Dennis George, the experiential learning session aimed to deepen students' understanding of material properties through hands-on activities.
Following the philosophy of "I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand," the session ensured students could comprehend complex scientific concepts through direct experience and active participation. Fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision- making skills, this approach often leads to deeper understanding and retention of knowledge as it connects theory with practical implementation.
The students' enthusiasm and active engagement were commendable, enriching their learning experience and promoting a vibrant and collaborative classroom environment.

“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.” - Maria Montessori
A multi-pronged approach is a sure shot recipe for desired learning objectives. Shalom Hills International School, Gurugram, is simply not for content acquisition and rote memorization but it emphatically roots for skills and competencies that can best serve the young minds. In this regard, at the behest of the school's Founder and Chairperson, Dr. Mrs. Lilly George, and an ardent champion of holistic learning, our Sherpa & Vice-Chairman, Mr. Dennis George, an excursion was planned for Grades VIII and IX from 21 st to 25 th May 2024 at Rocksport Camp, Nainital Hills.
Nainital, a picturesque hill station nestled in the beautiful state of Uttarakhand, promised to be a delightful destination for a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. Rocksport Residential Program was meticulously planned, with the itinerary for each day well set-out. The instructors gave clear instructions about the do's and don'ts at the campsite, ensuring the safety of the children. Monitored by the instructors and teachers, the children indulged themselves in various fun-filled activities including rappelling, guerilla warfare, rock climbing and trekking. They felt blessed to visit the revered Naina peak, thereby basking in the holy ambience amid the spectacular view of the surrounding hills and forests. Journal writing in the evening had never been so interesting and enriching. The intermittent rain augured for pleasant weather and cool breeze, making nature walk a truly rejuvenating experience.
The trip culminated with prize distribution to the winning team members, best tent inhabitants, best campers followed by DJ and dinner. The outing certainly helped expand students' learning beyond the school with an ideal mix of camaraderie and amusement.

"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do." — Pele The Silver Zone and SOF Olympiad Medal Distribution Ceremony at Shalom Hills International School was a spectacle of grandeur and enthusiasm, dedicated to honouring the remarkable achievements of our brilliant students. The ceremony commenced with an inspiring address by esteemed VC Sir, who eloquently underscored the pivotal role of Olympiads in nurturing academic and intellectual prowess among students.
Amidst a backdrop of applause and anticipation, students were graciously adorned with medals by Sir, symbolizing their outstanding accomplishments. As the event drew to a close, the sentiment of dedication echoed through the halls as Sir reiterated our unwavering commitment to fostering talent and providing platforms for young minds to flourish. In a symbolic gesture of unity, Sir introduced the hashtag #ShalomArise, recognizing its ability to unite individuals worldwide under a common cause, interest, or topic. As participants departed with heads held high and hearts brimming with pride, they left behind a legacy of excellence that will undoubtedly serve as an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.

The Installation Ceremony of the Interact Club at Shalom Hills International School unfolded with elegance and zeal in the school auditorium on January 18, 2024. The occasion was graced by distinguished Rotarians, including Rtn. Pushpa Sethi, Rtn. Amit Kumar Jain, Rtn. Vivek Duggal, and Rtn. Abhishek Aneja.
The seventh-grade students comprised an exceptional audience. The program began with the reverent recitation of the Lord's Prayer, followed by a Shloka, establishing the atmosphere for the proceedings. Anchors Kahini and Roocha reaffirmed the school's mission and vision. The ceremony showcased a varied range of presentations, including a captivating choir performance by students from grades VI & VIII, an enchanting classical dance by Deepshikha and Deepalika, an inspiring English song by Riya, and a visually compelling PowerPoint presentation by Prachi, the outgoing President of the club. The Four-Way Test, a fundamental aspect of Rotary ethics, was explained, emphasizing values such as truth, fairness, goodwill, and beneficial impact.
Distinguished guests provided insights into Rotary and highlighted the impactful programs of the organization, shedding light on the objectives and initiatives of the Interact Club. A poignant moment unfolded as the newly elected team took their oath of office. The outgoing president delivered a heartfelt farewell speech, passing the torch to the incoming President, Vanshika, and Vice President Deep Choudhary. Their inaugural speeches outlined the vision and goals for the upcoming term.
The school's Interact Club received whole-hearted appreciation for their undertaken projects. The ceremony concluded with a genuine vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all attendees and contributors. The national anthem echoed through the venue, symbolizing unity and pride. The Installation Ceremony of the Interact Club was a testament to the dedication, leadership, and ethos of service that will undeniably propel the club's endeavors in the Rotary year ahead (July 2023 - June 2024).

"The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again." - Charles Dickens Shalom Hills International School in Gurugram arranged a dazzling Farewell event named 'Tarayukta,' drawing inspiration from the Sanskrit term that translates to 'starry night,' bidding farewell to the departing Class-XII cohort. The commencement of the ceremony took place at 11:00 within the school auditorium with Grade XI according a heartfelt reception to both the teachers and students. The breathtaking presentations by Grade-XI students revitalized the atmosphere and resonated, delivering an enthralling experience to the audience while their seniors experienced a joyful day, dedicated to reminiscing about the years spent with friends and teachers, cherishing joyful moments. Among the performances, students partook in different games, cherishing the ceremony. The prize winners were filled with joy and happiness, concluding with the allocation of titles. Afterward, the impressive ramp walk by Grade XII elevated the event, intensifying the competition for Mr. Shalom and Ms. Shalom, which remained fiercely contested until the very end. Eventually, the jury spilt the beans by announcing Yashveer Singh and Shreya Yadav as Mr. Shalom and Ms. Shalom, respectively.
As the event drew to a close, students were observed celebrating and capturing memories with their friends, taking snapshots. They grooved to the lively beats spun by the DJ and enjoyed a delightful lunch. Undoubtedly, it was a delightful and enjoyable gathering.

The students of grades V and VI of Shalom Hills International school watched the live telecast of ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ commemorating the day with the supreme sacrifice made by Sahebzada Zorawar Singh and Sahebzada Fateh Singh, the younger sons of tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Govind Singh ji. They stood against the brutal Mughal rule and chose martyrdom on 26 th December, 1705 at a tender age of 6 and 9 years respectively. The programme that was held at Bharat Mandapam convention Center, Delhi started with a kirtan presented by the school children, followed by a short film on the similar theme. Children then demonstrated martial arts. Speaking on the occasion the Prime Minister Mr. Narender mentioned that the Sikh Gurus have taught Indians to live for the glory of their land. He encouraged the children to take inspiration from the bravery and valour of the young Sahebzade. He inspired the children to take pride in their culture and tradition and pass it on to the younger generation. He also encouraged the children to follow a regular schedule and routine and respect their lives. The speech concluded with the slogan “Wahe Guru ji ka Khalsa , Wahe Guru ji ki Fateh’ !

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."- Winston Churchill
In sight of the above quote the school has been organizing charity work from its very inception. Reaching out to the less fortunate mass of the society; exposing the children to the ground realities of the needy and providing an opportunity to the students to interact and understand the problems faced by them has been made mandatory for schoolchildren as prescribed in the CBSE curriculum under the heading Co-Scholastic Activities and sub heading Physical and Health Education.  In light of it, escorted by Ms. Lalita Yadav the students of grade VI went for Charity work on 20 th December , 2023 to Yuva Ekta NGO. Involving in Charity work provides a platform to the city children to ponder on the hardships the poor face and at the same time be grateful to the Almighty for the pleasures of life they enjoy. The students wholeheartedly contributed for the noble cause.

If there is one picnic spot that best defines fun, adventure, and learning it is a trip to Rocksport. Shalom Hills International School organized a one-day trip on 14th December 2023 at Rocksport, Gurugram. The students from Grades VI-VIII actively showed interest in the same, and almost 400 of them went on the trip with the consent of their parents.
The team from Rocksport had planned a day where every student got the opportunity to participate in multiple activities. The day started with students being divided into smaller groups basis their sections, and every team was supervised by one authority from Rocksport. The groups were made to follow certain rules such as not breaking the queues, waiting for their turn to perform the tasks, not littering around, and asking for permission if they wished to go somewhere other than the activity ground.
The team from Rocksport had arranged the breakfast, brunch, lunch, and evening snacks for the students. Experience adventure sports such as Rock Climbing, Zipline, Zorbing, and Rope Courses, amongst many other activities, were successfully planned by the Rocksport team and every student got the opportunity to participate in the same. The students were able to explore the complete area so that they could develop a sense of rural understanding through a tractor ride. These kinds of opportunities not only help in creating memorable experiences for the students but also help in building their confidence, willpower, and leadership skills.

“The purpose of education is to prepare students for life, not for examinations. Experiential learning opens that door” A highly prolific and engaging experiential learning session was conducted for the students of grade VI on December 11, 2023 on the topic ‘Air Around Us’ at Shalom Hills International School. The session commenced with an insightful overview to the fundamental concept of air setting the stage for a deeper exploration. It was designed to delve into its various aspects including composition ,properties and the critical issue of air pollution. To make the learning experience more immersive, several activities were meticulously executed. One of the highlights of the session was the correlation of properties of air with the other subjects. This interdisciplinary approach enhanced the students' comprehension and demonstrated the interconnectedness of scientific principles with broader academic concepts. The enthusiasm and zeal displayed by the students were commendable. Their active participation not only augmented their learning experience but also contributed to a vibrant and collaborative classroom environment.

Shalomites devotedly participated in the CBSE Budding Authors Essay Writing Competition organized in the school premises on 30 th November , 2023 across grades V to VIII. The initiative of CBSE sought to encourage the young writers with a platform to showcase their skills and express their unique perspective in various themes.
More than hundred budding authors unleashed their creativity. The carefully created themes ranging from social issues, personal narratives, empathy, forgiveness challenged the partakers to explore a spectrum of subjects. Each and every entry will be meticulously assessed and evaluated on vivid parameters like originality, coherence, plot, conflict, characters, language proficiency and accuracy by the language teachers. The competition will momentously contribute to the development of well- rounded individuals with strong communication and critical thinking skills. The passion of the children for the initiative is indicative of the such potential endeavors in future.

Constitution Day also known as ‘Samvidhan Divas’, is celebrated in our country on 26 November every year to commemorate the adoption of the constitution of India. On 26 November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India, which came into effect on 26 January 1950. As a part of the celebrations, Shalom Hills International School planned an innovative activity- ‘ Slogan writing ’ on Nov. 28 to highlight and restate the values and principles enshrined in the constitution in grades VI and VII . Reading of the Preamble and taking a pledge reaffirming our commitment to uphold it accentuated the patriotic spirits in young minds.  The activity proved to be an elevating and educative experience. The day served as a reminder to live by and promote these timeless values in our communities.

World Interact Week in Shalom Hills International School witnessed an engaging and creative spirit as the students from classes VI and VII participated in Essay writing and Poetry Composition Competition respectively on 10 th November, 2023. The Event aimed to foster creative skills of the students and encourage self-expression about the issues of ‘Welfare of Animals’ and ‘Sustainable Eco Friendship’ A total number of 331 enthusiastic students clad in their ethnic attires on the eve of Deepawali, took part in it. Students expressed their writing prowess through the essay competition. The write ups reflected thoughtful insights and original perspectives about the topics. The poetry section unfolded the talent of the students in creating rhythmic verses and skillfully conveying their emotions about the topic through powerful words and expressions. The activity celebrated not only individual achievements but also a collective enthusiasm among the children. The competition served as a platform to the participants to channelize their creativity and articulate their thoughts. The First, Second and third places in both Essay Writing and Poetry Composition were awarded with certificates.

“All for one and one for all, united we stand divided we fall.”
 Alexandre Dumas
Shalom Hills International School celebrated the Communal Harmony Campaign with an aim to spread awareness amongst the students about the diversity of India’s cultural heritage, to foster and reinforce the strength of public harmony and national integration and to sensitize them towards their role as the custodians of this cultural legacy. As meriting the celebration of Communal Harmony Campaign Week’s objectives to promote fraternity among the people, maintain peace, communal harmony and national integration; pledge, natak and poster making were conducted for children of grades VI to X to highlight the theme of communal harmony and national integration. The main aim of conducting these activities was to teach and educate the students to work in a harmonious and inclusive environment where they can also learn about how diverse backgrounds can coexist peacefully. The activities were well organized and the students realised the importance of working in unity and harmony. All the students participated with great zeal and enthusiasm. These activities and competitions gave a chance to bring together students from different groups of society under one umbrella which truly represents the essence of national integration and communal harmony.

“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it; it flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”
School assemblies serve as a platform to come together, share information, celebrate achievements, and foster a sense of community. Solidifying these goals, students of Grade X-E conducted the morning assembly on the theme – ‘National Solidarity Day’. This day is marked with great reverence, serving as a reminder of the valour and fortitude displayed by Indian forces in safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and security. It serves as a platform to extol the unwavering strength, commitment, and resilience of the brave Indian soldiers who display remarkable dedication to safeguard the nation's borders against external threats.
Commencing the Assembly with the Lord’s Prayer, the students proceeded with quotes and speeches on National Solidarity Day to aware the students about the importance of this day. Combining the spirit of Dassehra, the students performed an energetic Nukkad Natak giving a message of overcoming the bad habits with good values and showed the victory of good values over social evils. The assembly proved to be highly inspirational and informative.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”- Mahatma Gandhi
A Cleanliness Drive was organized on 3 rd October 2023 as a part of Gandhi Jayanti Celebrations. The students were shown videos, documentaries and ppts related to the life and teachings of Gandhiji. Grade III conducted the cleanliness drive in their classrooms where they cleaned the book shelves and their surroundings. Grade IV and V students also participated in the drive by conducting the cleanliness drive in the open premises of the school. With zest and zeal, the enthusiastic students steered the cleanup drive to success. This drive helped the students understand the importance of keeping their surroundings clean. They learnt that when the environment is clean, we lead a healthy and active lifestyle. The Cleanliness drive showed the students that cleanliness should not be a one-time mission. It should be a practice and a daily habit. The students took a pledge to follow Gandhiji’s teachings and vowed to keep their surroundings clean.

Sports play a great role in improving and maintaining health and fitness. Sports are very important for developing a healthy and strong body. Playing various sports helps the children learn about teamwork, leadership skills, builds their self- confidence and prepares the children to face life challenges.  Sports Meet for grades I, II, IV and V was organised in the month of September’23. The students were excited to take part in the various sports activities that had been planned for them. There were four different games in which the students had to compete. Various events like relay race, ball throw, 50m dash and skating competition were organised for the students. The children showed team-spirit and were encouraging each other to perform well in order to win the different events. The children were full of enthusiasm and each child participated in all the four events. The students also enjoyed participating in the skating activity. Each student was given two chances to try and improve his or her score. The sports day was enjoyed by all the students. It was a day filled with sportsmanship, enthusiasm and memories to cherish.

शैलोम हिल्स इंटरनेशनल स्कूल में १४ सितंबर २०२३ को हिंदी दिवस के उपलक्ष्य में विशेष प्रार्थना सभा का आयोजन किया गया। इस प्रार्थना सभा में कक्षा पहली व दूसरी के विद्यार्थियों ने प्रार्थना सभा में भाषण, रोल प्ले, नृत्य, प्रार्थना गीत, नुक्कड़ नाटक, नारा एवं कविता के द्वारा हिंदी भाषा के महत्व एवं विकास को बताने का प्रयास किया व अपनी राजभाषा की उन्नति व विकास में सहयोग देने का प्रण लिया।
सभी  विद्यार्थियों ने रंग-बिरंगी वेशभूषा में हिंदी दिवस की प्रार्थना सभा में भाग लिया  और सभी ने पूरे उत्साह एवं उमंग के साथ हर गतिविधि में अपना पूरा योगदान दिया। विद्यार्थियों ने उत्साहपूर्वक अनेक कक्षा क्रियाकलाप भी किए व अपनी राजभाषा हिंदी के महत्व से अवगत हुए। कक्षा पहली व दूसरी के विद्यार्थियों ने हिंदी दिवस की प्रार्थना सभा में भाग लेकर हिंदी दिवस आयोजन को सफल बनाया।

The school premises came alive with enthusiasm and cultural fervour on August 28,2023 as the students of Shalom Hills International School celebrated Sanskrit Day under the guidance and blessings of their dearest MD ma’am . The students from grades VI to X participated passionately in a cornucopia of events that were organized for the occasion.
The day commenced with a soulful 'Guru Vandana' as a mark of respect to the teachers who imparted knowledge of Sanskrit to the students. A demonstration of Yogasana postures, a practice deeply rooted in Sanskrit tradition showcased the physical and mental benefits of this ancient practice. Essential facts about Sanskrit were shared by well-informed students, shedding light on the language's profound impact on literature, philosophy, and science. One remarkable aspect highlighted during the event was the growing relevance of Sanskrit in the realm of computer programming. The event reached its conclusion with a serene 'Shanti Path,' symbolizing a harmonious end to the celebrations.

‘Harder the Focus, Higher the Freedom; Deeper the Faith, Defter the Foundation’
Focus was elevated and freedom was celebrated by the Shalomites through the week from 08.08.23 to 14.08.23 to honour the events of Independence Day and Founder’s Day. The week was well designed with a series of activities for the students of grade 1 to 5 to take part in and recount the success of dedication and hard -work. Shalomites brightly shone on the verge of creativity to partake in Creative Board Decoration with the theme of Vande Matram Utsav, the ambers of confidence and faith echoed in Declamation participation on SHALOM FIRST, ALWAYS FIRST, Poster Making activity captivating the skills of enthusiasm and patriotism with NATION FIRST, ALWAYS FIRST, History Challenge based on the theme of India’s Freedom movement and an engaging Quiz related to Independence day and Founder’s Day whirling through the take away activity with hanging craft on Independence day planted the seeds of cemented memories of freedom struggle, prized liberty and perseverance. Grade 1 and 2 also had poetry recitations on the theme of Independence day. Another glorious time for Shalomites to shower their love and warmth for their nation to empower the dignity and worth of our hard-earned freedom and to honour the golden memories, glowing success and roaring inception of Shalom Hills group of school.

“Creativity about life, in all aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.”
The students of grade V participated in EVS -1 “Tribal Glory” activity conducted in class on 24th July, 2023. The objective of the activity was to promote cultural awareness and understanding among students by immersing them in the diverse traditions of tribes from the Equatorial Zone, Frigid Zone, and Temperate Zone. The students enthusiastically participated in the activity and were encouraged to conduct thorough research on their chosen tribe to gain insight into their customs, rituals, lifestyle, and adaptations to their respective environments. They creatively used props, placards, and even crafted handmade weapons to add authenticity to their presentations. They eloquently spoke about the tribe's geographical location, cultural practices, and interactions with their environment.
The activity not only encouraged students to learn about diverse cultures but also enhanced their research, public speaking, and creative skills and further, fostered a deeper understanding and appreciation for the unique heritage of each tribe.

Every year, July 14 is celebrated as "La Fête Nationale" (The National Celebration) of France. Also known as The Bastille Day, the day commemorates the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, which is regarded as a pivotal event in the French Revolution.
Keeping the same spirit alive at SHIS, the National Day of France was celebrated on July 14, 2023. The students were shown a video related to the significance of this day. Based on the video, they were asked to solve the questions reflected during the video. They enjoyed watching the clip and learned the significance simultaneously. It was a cheerful start to the day. The day went on with several other activities like ‘Hangman – vocabulary game’ based on the country’s politics and administrative system ,group song etc. followed by a quiz based on National France Day- (badges and a golden star on the performance chart were given to the students answered correctly)

“Future is in our hand, protect the trees, preserve the land.”
Van Mahotsav, a week-long festival of tree plantation is organized every year in Shalom Hills. Our inspiration and ever encouraging source behind these celebrations is our Founder and Chairperson ma’am, Dr. Lilly George. She has always encouraged the young Shalomites to be eco warriors. Our school premises are also integrated with ecofriendly practices. The first day celebrations began with a PPT, videos and facts on ‘Van Mahotsav- its importance, origin and need that was shown to students of Grade I to V on the 3rd of July. On the 2 nd day, grade I and III students participated in ‘Plantation Drive’ where each student brought a sapling to the school and later planted it in the school garden. Grade II students indulged in Slogan writing. Grade IV engaged in Mind Map activity to know the importance of forests in our life. Students of grade V presented “Waste Management” as their holiday homework.
On the 3 rd day, students of grade I learnt leaf printing. Grade II engaged in poster making activity. Grade III and IV did Green March and Oath taking activity respectively. Grade V participated in ‘Plantation Drive”. On the 4 th day, students of grade I and III discussed their holiday homework (Grade I-Fallen leaves types and Grade III- Growing a plant from stem, root or leaves). Students of grade II engaged in coaster making activity. Grade IV participated in ‘Plantation Drive” where as students of grade V performed a role play on famous environmentalists. The culmination of the week-long Van Mahotsav celebrations was done with the help of an Intra class Poster Making competition by grade I students. ‘Plantation Drive’ by grade II students. Grade III and V engaged in Slogan writing and Oath taking activity respectively. Collages of different types of leaves were presented by grade IV students as their holiday homework.

Vanmahotsav, also known as Tree Plantation Day, is an annual celebration in India aimed at raising awareness about the importance of trees and promoting a greener environment. Van Mahotsav celebrations involve various activities such as tree planting ceremonies, rallies, seminars, and awareness campaigns. Government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), schools, and citizens actively participate in planting saplings in parks, public spaces, schools, and other suitable areas. As a part of ‘Vanmahotsav’ celebration initiated by ‘Directorate School Education’ Panchkula a plantation drive was conducted in Shalom Hills International School ,Gurugram on July 7 by the young and enthusiastic Shalomites.
The students planted the ‘Triveni’ -Neem, Peepal and Banyan trees in the school playground and surrounding areas. These trees were planted primarily by the students born in the July month while the others also pledged to plant a tree on their birthday. The activity was thoroughly enjoyed by the students. It served as an eye-opening session, inspiring students to take part in more such activities.

Trees are the Earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.”- Rabindranath Tagore. A special assembly on ‘Van Mahotsav- The Festival of Trees’ was conducted by class 5 A on 4.07.2023 with the motto to spread the message of Importance of Trees.
The assembly began with the lord’s prayer followed by Hindi shloka, mission and vision, thought and news headlines. The students showcased their skills through a speech, a poem and a song highlighting the importance of trees and their socio-economic effects. The message on ill effects of deforestation and its consequences on loss of biodiversity, climate change, soil erosion etc. were addressed by the students during the assembly.
The curiosity to learn and the will to change were clearly seen in the children during the programme. As always said, “Its better late than never!”There is no perfect timing to do anything. It’s you who makes the present timing perfect and implements things.
The program culminated with the rendition of the Shalom anthem followed by the National Anthem.

An Essay writing competition on the topic ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ was held at Shalom Hills International School on May 15 , 2023. It was organized by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board. The event witnessed active participation from students across grades IX to XII, showcasing their creativity, knowledge, and dedication towards addressing environmental issues. It commenced with taking of pledge on ‘Mission Life’ ,an initiative by Prime Minister ,Narendra Modi followed by writing of insightful and informative essays by the students. The essay competition was a significant step towards creating consciousness and empowering students to be active contributors in the fight against pollution. The competition raised awareness among students about the importance of combating pollution and promoting sustainable practices. The activity proved to be an informative one for the students.

Travel expands the horizons and school life cannot be complete without the fun of educational tours and excursions. Shalom Hills International School meticulously planned an excursion, Rocksport Residential Program for grades VI and VII from 21st May to 23rd May 2023 at Rocksport, Jim Corbett. This adventure camp provided a great platform to the students to unleash their inner strength and imbibe new skills. Each day at camp was customized to bring out different aspects of a child’s personality and hone them. The first day expended in picking up the camping dos and don’ts followed by two days of fun, frolic inculcating patience and love for nature. Day long activities such as Body Surfing, Zip Line , Bonfire and other camp activities kept the children engaged throughout the day. The most interesting part of the trip was the 50 km long Jungle Safari. Students were able to spot various wild animals and felt very connected with nature. The camp was duly supervised by school teachers and professional instructors from Rocksport.

“Awards are a way to encourage good behaviour and inculcate competitive spirit.”

Shalom Hills International School in its extreme glory and grandeur, held the Scholar Badge Ceremony on 18 th May, 2023 for classes III-VI. The event was held to celebrate the achievement of meritorious students of the Primary Wing and to felicitate young scholars for their academic excellence for the session 2022-23. Through her compassion and understanding our dearest MD Ma’am has created a nurturing environment where each Shalomite feels safe, valued and motivated to excel. Shalom Hills has always encouraged inclusivity, respect and cultural diversity promoting an atmosphere of harmony, acceptance and holistic development. The function commenced with the event prayer followed by the shloka. The students were felicitated, with scholar badges, by Principal ma’am Ms. Ruchi Bhatia, Vice-Principal ma’am Senior Ms. Anita Bhutani and Vice- Principal ma’am Primary Ms. Swastika Acharya. Principal Ma’am applauded the accomplishment of the young scholars and inspired them to continue to work diligently so as to reach the pinnacle of success. The achievers were praised for living up to the expectations of their parents and were thanked for making the school proud. The enthusiasm and triumphant spirit of the young scholars could be seen and felt when they were felicitated with the scholar badges. The ceremony ended with the singing of the Shalom anthem and the National anthem. The Scholar Badge Ceremony was a grand success which showcased not only the academic excellence of the students but also served as a testament of the students’ dedication, perseverance and love for learning.

“The best education you’ll get is traveling. Nothing teaches you more than exploring the world and accumulating experiences.”

Education is limitless; not restricted to classrooms anymore. With this thought in mind Shalom Hills International School methodically planned an excursion , Rocksport Residential Program for grades VIII & IX from 15th May to 19th May 2023 at Rocksport, Mussoorie. It helped them broaden their perspective and gave them an engaging educational experience. During the course of the program, students performed adventure activities, explored nature, visited villages to get a taste of rural lifestyle and live independently, becoming self-reliant. To make it an unforgettable experience, the team of rock sporters encouraged the students to stay in Swiss tents and cottages. The program witnessed enthusiastic participation across a plethora of adventurous activities, including rock climbing, rappelling, water trekking and raft building. The activities at camp helped students to overcome their fear of water. They forged through the natural stream and built their own raft and paddled it on the artificially created waterbody. They trekked through the undulating terrain and learned survival skills. It gave them a chance to appreciate the calmness and beauty of nature. It also promoted the habit of an active lifestyle. The tour concluded with a prize distribution ceremony followed by music and dance. Tokens of appreciation were given to the best campers, best journal writers and the best team. The students had a joyful and enriching experience, they thoroughly enjoyed the immersive tour experience.

`True happiness involves the use of one`s power and Talents`

John W. Gardener penned the above quotation highlighting the importance of a special skillset in an individual which symbolizes their uniqueness. Instilling the
hearts of Shalomites with passion and giving them a distinguished platform to showcase their talent, the Talent Hunt Activity was conducted on 16 th May 2023. Students of grades I to V were invited to showcase their talent in front of their peers. Shalomites utilized this opportunity to bring out the best in them through a variety of artful demonstrations which included singing, dancing, dramatics, magical tricks, painting, solving mathematical equations in less time and much more.
The activity helped to develop confidence in the students and enhance their presentation skills. It also promoted a sense of respect for individual`s potentials and talents. Students got an opportunity to explore their passions and nourish them among the presence of their peers. It was a fantabulous display of adroitness possessed by the students.

“In a cool solitude of trees, where leaves and birds a music spin, Mind that was weary is at ease, as new rhythms in the soul begin.”
Travel expands the horizons and school life cannot be complete without the fun of educational tours and excursions. Shalom Hills International School meticulously planned an excursion , Rocksport Residential Program for grades X & XI from 12th May to 16th May 2023 at Rocksport , Nainital Hills.
Rocksport Residential Program is an experiential learning holiday for school students. As nature keeps us grounded, obstacles make us perseverant, adventure makes us tough; at Rocksport Programs, these three forces combine to unleash the X factor in children and give them a power packed experience that pushes them to challenge themselves, enhance their confidence and acquire new skills.
This adventure camp provided a great platform to the students to unleash their inner strength and imbibe new skills. Each day at camp was customized to bring out different aspects of a child’s personality and hone them. The first day expended in picking up the camping dos and don’ts followed by three days of fun, frolic inculcating patience and love for nature. Day long activities such as rock climbing, rope walking, guerrilla warfare, treasure hunt were undertaken. The most interesting part of the trip was trekking to Naina peak, a 13 km uphill and downhill walk along the mountainous terrain. The camp was duly supervised by school teachers and professional instructors from Rocksport.
The trip culminated with prize distribution to the winning team members, best tent inhabitants, best campers and the children reaching home safely. The outing helped to expand students' learning beyond the school with an element of camaraderie and amusement.

Mother's Day is celebrated to honor all mothers and express gratitude for the immense love and affection that they have showered on the child. It is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy by organizing many activities to pay respect to the lovely mothers.

To celebrate Mother’s Day and to make all mothers feel special, class I, II and III students did an activity of card making and Class IV and V students made a small flower bouquet on Mother’s Day. The children made a beautiful card and a small flower bouquet showcasing their creative side and lots and lots of affection for their mother. They expressed their gratitude by writing a note of thanks and expressing their feelings and emotions. The students also had the opportunity to use their imaginative and artistic side while making the card.

`IT IS THE LABOUR INDEED THAT PUTS THE DIFFERENCE ON EVERYTHING. `

With the essence of the above quotation, students at Shalom Hills International School were apprised of the importance of support staff and their constant contribution to bring a difference to unfold the school`s versatility. The school premises gleamed with the laughter of its support staff on International Labour Day celebration.

On May 1, 2023 the support staff witnessed a splendid celebration at school. The male staff teamed to play a Football match while the female support staff showcased their strength at Tug O War.

Gratitude cards were prepared by students to honour and acknowledge the role of Didi`s and Bhaiyas. Special class assembly was also conducted by students where they presented beautiful handcrafted cards to their favourite support staff members.

The celebration explored a beautiful aspect in the lives of students and the school`s support staff. The students realized the importance of each person`s job in and out of a workplace. They also got a praiseworthy platform to express their gratitude to their special care takers.

Sustainability is the path to prosperity for humanities.

Earth Day is celebrated around the world with a beautiful message - “Our continuing efforts in our everyday lives will make this beautiful planet thrive.”
Earth Day is a proof that even one person can make a global impact in a positive way. Reflecting on the same, under the guidance and support of our far- sighted and committed Founder and Chairperson Dr. (Mrs.) Lilly George, Shalom Hills International School celebrated “The Earth Day” with great enthusiasm and excitement through a series of activities on 21 st April. The whole school, whether it was the students, support staff, teachers, guards, admin staff or helpers took part in this “Go- Green initiative.”
A beautiful art exhibit of posters and slogans prepared by students from different grades were demonstrated to sensitize the children about the conservation of natural resources and to motivate them to do their bit towards making their planet even more beautiful. They also expressed their views on sustainability and planet protection through interesting speeches laying special emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals as they are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They addressed the global challenges we face including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. MD ma’am’s presence on the special occasion of Earth day celebration inspired the students a lot. She addressed them on the importance of afforestation , need for everyone to put together their efforts and get into action, in protecting our environment and administered a pledge to reiterate the principle of the 3Rs- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle . The students were reminded of simple doable actions towards safe Mother Earth.

“Our continuing efforts in our everyday lives will make this beautiful planet thrive.”
Earth Day is an annual celebration that honours the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations. It is a proof that even one person can make a global impact in a positive way. Echoing the same, Shalom Hills International School celebrated “The Earth Day” through a series of activities on 21st April. The whole school, whether it was the students, support staff, teachers, guards, admin staff or helpers took part in this “Go- Green initiative” .The students were reminded of simple doable actions towards safe ‘Mother Earth’. Students planted saplings to curb global warming. An array of creative events like poster making, slogan writing and monologue competitions were conducted with a view to sensitize the children about the conservation of natural resources and to motivate them to do their bit towards making their planet even more beautiful. World Earth Day also serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The event encourages people to take action at the individual level, such as reducing their carbon footprint and adopting sustainable practices, as well as at the societal level, such as advocating for policy changes and supporting environmental initiatives. It’s our home, our planet, and we need to repair the damage we have caused.

Storytelling has been an integral part of social and cultural activity. It is regarded as one of the simplest and most engaging means of entertainment and education;
it not only sparks learning, but is fun too.
An activity to instill a sense of awareness and responsibility in the students towards the importance of saving water was conducted in all sections of grade I to V on 25th April 2023. The activity demonstrated the art of creating a story, layering new ideas to build a vibrant story of characters and their lives, which inspire others. By weaving their own imagination, children infused life in their fictitious characters and turned classrooms into the real backgrounds through their vivid descriptions. The key words like precious, wastage, conservation, invaluable, planet, impurities, droplets, etc. were shared with the students to weave their story.
The entire classes were profusely enamored with each story and students generously applauded their classmates. It was bliss, watching children expressing their ideas and imagination in such a colorful way.

Place value is the basis of our entire number system. It provides the foundation for regrouping, multiple-digit multiplication as well as a starting point for the understanding of other base systems.It is how we can compare numbers; line up numbers vertically; make sense of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division with larger numbers.
To inculcate its importance in our young Shalomites, a fun-filled activity “Find My Place” was conducted in all sections of grade III. It was a group activity. There were 4 students in each group. Students were asked to pick any one number card and to form the greatest and smallest number with those number cards. After framing the numbers, they had to find the place of each digit and had to take position at their appropriate places. Students were also asked different questions to reinforce the concept of numbers and numeration like their successor or predecessor, place value or face value, odd or even etc. Students were very excited and enthusiastically participated in the activity. It was really a fun filled activity.

In Shalom Hills International School we believe in nurturing and fostering social awareness among students. A highly purposeful and beneficial boot camp with Techradiance was conducted online from 17 th April to 21 st April 2023 for grades IV to XII.
Python, Artificial-Intelligence & Code with Robot were taught in the bootcamp. It was a practical hands-on session which proved to be a golden opportunity for the children in terms of knowledge enhancement. They got to work on live projects under the guidance of an Industrial expert.
Some highlights of the workshop are:
 High-quality Live training
 Chance to perform in International Championship
 A certificate of participation was given to each and every participant.
The bootcamp proved to be an inspiring and enlightening one for the students.

“Water sustains all.” – Thales of Miletus
Water scarcity is one of the serious concerns for countries across the world.  A poster making activity was conducted in school as an initiative to make people understand the importance of water and how can we avoid making it polluted. The activity was a part of Jal Sansad wherein the students created beautiful and informative posters for the society and took oaths to preserve water and spread awareness to minimize its wastage.
According to a report by NITI Aayog , if methods for water conservation in India were not adopted, another 20 cities including Bengaluru, Delhi and Hyderabad, would run out of groundwater in the next few years.
The only solution to avoid this grim situation is to adopt universal methods of water conservation, which could be replicated across households. During the activity methods of water conservation were discussed too. It was a great learning experience for the students.

“Our continuing efforts in our everyday lives will make this beautiful planet thrive.”

As a step towards inspiring, educating, and motivating children to act, a special assembly was held on 19th April to commemorate Earth Day. Earth Day has not only had a positive impact on the environment globally, but it has also played a significant role at the local level.
The assembly began with the Lord’s prayer followed by Hindi shloka, Shalom Mission, and Vision, thought for the day, school pledge, and news headlines.The young eco-crusaders made everyone aware of some startling facts about Reusing, Recycling, Repairing and Re-Thinking to preserve the green planet. They presented thought-provoking speeches and poems aimed at sensitizing students about the importance of trees and encouraging them to help conserve Mother Earth by planting trees and preventing deforestation.
This was followed by a soulful dance dedicated to our blue planet. Students also highlighted instances of the declining health of our planet through placards.The assembly concluded with the thought that ‘Earth does not belong to us; we belong to the Earth.’

‘Today a reader tomorrow a leader’

Read-a-thon” activity was held for class II students. This activity was conducted in all the sections of class II. The aim of the activity was to improve the reading and writing skills of the children.
In this activity children made beautiful bookmarks and got their favorite story book to school. The students read the stories confidently in the class. Students were excited to read as well as share their story with others. The teachers encouraged the students to read every day and told them the importance of reading and how it helps in improving reading as well as writing skills.
All children appreciated and applauded the creativity of each other when they made their personalized bookmarks and put them in their story books. This activity was amazingly performed by all the children.

School assemblies help in building a culture of communication and representation of academic and co-curricular activities. The topics given for the assembly were
‘National Pet Day’ and ‘Gratitude’. Students of grade V B commenced the day’s Special Assembly with Lord’s Prayer that filled eveyone’s hearts with gratitude and humility followed by Hindi shloka, Shalom Mission, and Vision, thought, school pledge and news headlines.
 Students spoke about the history and importance of National Pet Day. Through their poems and speeches the children raised awareness among the students
about the importance of animal welfare. ‘Gratitude’ was another important topic on which the students spoke. A few students spoke about how Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions and helps build strong relationships. Children expressed gratitude towards their grand-parents and elders for looking after them. They expressed it through short poems and songs.
Health is wealth. Keeping this in mind the students did some yoga exercises under the guidance of the sports teachers. There was a short speech on moral values.
The assembly concluded with the singing of the Shalom anthem and the National anthem.

The students of Class V A of SHIS conducted a special Assembly on 6 th April 2023 on “Easter” with high spirits and festive fervor. Easter is a holy festival celebrated to mark and commemorate the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ. The young Shalomites commenced the day’s Special Assembly with Lord’s Prayer that filled eveyone’s hearts with gratitude and humility followed by Hindi shloka, Shalom Mission, and Vision, thought, school pledge and news headlines.
The assembly was attended by students of Class III to V .The students of Class V A wholeheartedly presented a special song on Easter. They also mesmerized the audience with their melodious voices. The students articulated their views on the special day and acquainted their friends and schoolmates with the historic and symbolic importance of Easter. The students also highlighted the importance of Easter egg and enlightened the students about its relevance to new life.
At the end of the special assembly, the students proclaimed the good news of our Lord’s resurrection and spread Lord Christ’s message of hope, renewal, and new life. The moral value on confidence was also instilled through the special class assembly. These values will help in shaping students’ attitudes and beliefs towards various aspects of life and will provide them with a unique perspective.

A grand finale ceremony took place in the month of February to mark the culmination of the different skills clubs. Each skill club showcased the best of what the students had learnt throughout the year. The inherent talent of the students was nurtured through a plethora of activities integrated in the school curriculum.
In the English Literary Club, grade 5 students presented a synopsis of parts of speech. Grade 3 students presented famous works of Ruskin Bond. Students of grade 4 enacted a few lines from an important Shakespeare play ‘The Tempest’. Students also presented self- created stories with props as well as self- composed poems.
In Science club, students of grade 5 exhibited their knowledge by performing different science experiments. Grade 4 students demonstrated live experiments of the working of lungs as well as an iodine test to detect the presence of starch in different food items.
Grade 3 students performed experiments related to core density. Eco warriors of the Eco Club in grade 5 presented important facts on how to stop pollution and different ways to keep our planet clean and green. Grade 4 and 3 students explained important topics like energy and water conservation and importance of birds as environmental indicators.
In the Heritage Club, grade 5 students performed folk and classical dances. Grade 4 and 3 students did a story session with puppets from different states. In the Math Skill Club, grade 5 students presented a skit on profit and loss as well as displayed jewellery using different geometrical designs. In grade 4 students presented Rangometry and its use in daily life. They also sang a math rap on ‘Angles’. Grade 3 students gave a presentation of the concept of time and fractions.
In the Hindi Skill Club, grade 5 students presented a skit on cleanliness through ‘Nukkad Natak’. Grade 3 and 4 students presented Hindi Samvad Vachan emphasising the delivery of Hindi dialogues with expressions and voice modulation. Children of grade 3-5 showcased their art work in the art skill club and explained the different techinques that were used by them.
In Computers skill club, students of grade 5 shared their knowledge on various softwares like AutoDraw, Scratch, Thunkable and Podcasts. Grade 4 and 3 students showcased their knowledge of SWAY Presentation, Canva, Paint 3 D and MS Word. The students participated with great enthusiasm in all the skill club activities.

Sports Vito was celebrated with sky-high passion and vivacity by grade III students
No sooner had steps stopped stomping, than the palms went united with thunderous claps…… Such glaring view was witnessed when the Sports Vito was organised from 23 rd February-25th February ’23 with joy by grade III students of Shalom Hills International School, Gurugram.
The display of sporty colours rang as the brisky steps rolled on the beats of Chale Jaise Hawaein ... succeeded by the presence of alignment of footsteps transparently seen with the jingling of Rang De Basanti…... The students were excited and happy to participate in the different events.
The focused yogik self of kids, the enthusiastic swinging of body movements and the stiffness of mind and posture with karate were showcased by the little masters. The breeze of patriotism blew through the hearts with the crowd singing of Vande Mataram followed by Yoga, fun-filled sports activities, tunnel races, Basketball event and Cricket event organised for the parents and students.
The event ended with the splendid echoes of Shalom anthem followed by the glorious National anthem. The Vice-principal Ms. Swastika Acharya thanked everyone for their presence and support and congratulated the students for their performances.

It is essential to have some computer knowledge early on in our lives so that we get to appreciate its benefits and get to properly use the computer to its full
potential.  In order to test the knowledge of basic concepts, Computer Science Quiz competition was organized among the finalists for Classes III-V from 22 nd to 27 th February, 2023. Quizzes have always been a motivator to study harder. The first round of the quiz was conducted through MS Forms. Then the final round was conducted in an interactive manner amongst four teams where students answered the questions with eagerness and confidence. The involvement of the students was outstanding. The competition commenced with the declaration of rules and regulations of competition followed by various rounds like Test your knowledge, Logical Reasoning, Observe and Identify and Aptitude Test. All the contestants along with the audience enthusiastically gave the answers. The aim of conducting the quiz was to make young minds aware about the basic concepts of Computer Science. The competition among the students was very tough but, in the end, the most deserving candidates became the winners. It was altogether a thrilling and fruitful event for all.

Mathematics provides an effective way of building mental discipline and encourages logical reasoning and mental rigor. In addition, mathematical knowledge plays a crucial role in understanding the contents of other school subjects such as science, social studies, and even music and art. Math is all around us, in everything we do. Math skills are important life skills and teach us to think independently. In order to develop interest among students towards this discipline, a Math Quiz III-V was conducted among the finalists of Math Aptitude final round participants on 10th , 13th and 14th February 2023. The quiz was based on the different concepts of measurements, Logical reasoning, mental math and patterns etc. There were four rounds in the quiz. Each round had its own rules with questions of ten marks. There was no negative marking for the wrong answer.
All the students participated with full enthusiasm. The Quiz was indeed challenging, and a true learning experience for the participants.

Quiz competitions are an interactive platform where students participate to gain knowledge and seek opportunities to excel beyond academics. To test the knowledge of the basic concepts, Science quiz competition was organized among the finalists of Science Aptitude Test for classes III to V on 6 th ,7 th and 8 th February, 2023.
The final round was presented in an interactive manner where students answeredthe questions with enthusiasm and confidence. The involvement of the students was remarkable. The competition commenced with the declaration of the rules and regulations of the competition. Various rounds conducted were: Worksheet,observation and an audio-visual round. All the contestants showed their skills and gave spontaneous answers. The aim of conducting the quiz was to make the young minds understand, analyze, organize and synthesize the scientific concepts in a meaningful way. The competition among the students was very tough but in the end the most deserving candidates became the winners. It was altogether a thrilling and fruitful event for all.

Initiated by the Health & Wellness department, the Anti-Bullying Squad of senior wing proactively participated in various activities to control bullying. The squad visited all the sections of VI, VII & VIII to sensitize the children about the harmful impact of Bullying. Through role plays & enactment, the squad highlighted the important aspects of bullying like verbal aggression, physical conflicts and cyber bullying and how to develop self-control and empathy in one-self to manage bullying incidents. They also shared the psychological consequences like isolation, depression, school with-drawl, self-harm, disinterest in school activities, reduced concentration and performance. It is important to teach the Bully and the Bullied the difference between Assertive/Active & Passive Aggression, Self-control and Empathy.
The young members of the squad made efforts to make the school “Bully free school” and to teach their peers to transform from “A Bully to Buddy”.

The Health & Wellness department of senior wing organized a workshop on Examination stress and Coping strategies for senior grade students. The aim of
the workshop was to reduce stress faced by students during exam time. The points covered during the workshop were: What does exam stress feel like? Why studying for exams can be a challenging task and stressful experience and coping strategies to reduce stress.
During the interactive session, the students shared their opinions on why they get nervous and panic. To reduce the pressure, they were guided to organize the material and space of studying, not to procrastinate, maintain proper revision schedules, use self-test methods and rate their own performance, and not to study for long hours. To make the study easier, they were advised to make use of mnemonics, flow charts, highlighting of important points, mind maps, chunking & skimming. To counter excessive anxiety they may create an examination environment at home by wearing school uniform and appearing for a 3hrs examination. It is acknowledged that children give the exams happily when there are no over expectations from them and equal time is given to physical and routine activities and care is taken of diet and sleep as well.

As a part of the on-going chapter ‘The Sun and The Solar System’, a follow up activity was planned for grade IV students to augment their understanding of the concept of eclipse. Solar and lunar eclipses are astronomical events that occur when the Earth, the Sun and the Moon are aligned in a straight line. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon blocks the view of the Sun and casts a shadow on Earth. When the Moon passes directly behind the Earth, into its shadow, a lunar eclipse occurs. The students of grade IV enthusiastically participated in the activity and used creative models/props to support their demonstrations. Students used electric
candle light, bulb and torch to show the Sun as a main source of light in nature. Celestial bodies like Earth and Moon were shown by using plastic balls, clay balls, balloons and paper balls. The students displayed innovative work which helped to build their kinesthetic skills and the objective of ‘learning by doing’ was achieved.

“Without collaborative dialogue, the world cannot converge upon solutions to our problems.” 

An activity related to “MUN” was conducted in all sections of grade 5 on 30^th and 31^st January, 2023. This was an activity done after the completion of the lesson.

The purpose of the model UN is to provide an interactive educational experience that teaches in an interesting and enjoyable way about the United Nations, international relations and diplomacy. It helps participants acquire skills like research, public speaking, debating and writing in addition to critical thinking, teamwork and leadership.

The sessions aimed at informing the students about the agenda and the proceedings.They were asked to research on the agenda “Sustainable Development and Climate Change ‘’ and get an understanding of it. The students played the role of delegates from different countries and attempted to solve real-world problems with the policies and perspectives of their assigned country.

Students become more knowledgeable about these world issues as they explored and researched the topic given to them. This activity not only tests the skills of diplomacy, research and negotiation but also equips the young minds to think about resolving global issues which can make the world a better place to live.

Sports play a great role in improving and maintaining health and fitness. Sports are very important for developing a healthy and strong body. Playing various sports
helps the children learn about teamwork, leadership skills, builds their self- confidence and prepares the children to face life challenges. 
Sports Day for grade I-V was organised in the month of Dec-Jan’23. The students were excited to take part in the various sports activities that had been planned for them. There were four different games in which the students had to compete. Grade III, IV and V had events like long jump, relay race, cricket ball throw and 50m dash. Grade I and II had tennis ball throw, long jump, 50 m dash and musical ball. The relay race across all categories had four students in each team. The children showed team-spirit and were encouraging each other to perform well in order to win the race. The children were full of enthusiasm and each child participated in all the four events. The students also enjoyed participating in the long jump activity. Each student was given two chances to try and improve his or her score. The sports day was enjoyed by all the students. It was a day filled with sportsmanship, enthusiasm and memories to cherish.

The 74 th  Republic Day was celebrated with pride and reverence at Shalom Hills International School.
The students of Pre-Primary wing actively participated in various creative activities such as –Little chef activity where they prepared a tricolour flag with tri colour fruits and relished it with their friends. They enjoyed colouring in the tri colour head gears. The students also did a craft activity in which they made little soldiers with the help of their teachers.
The children came dressed up in tri colour dresses. In the assembly the children were briefed about the significance of each colour of our national flag where in, Saffron stands for Courage, White stands for Peace and Green stands for Prosperity. All the children actively participated in all these activities, which enhanced their creativity and motor skills. The little Shalomites celebrated the day with great enthusiasm and joy.

It is necessary to understand the intricate relation and interwoven dynamism of varied cultures from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Everything has a beauty, but not
everyone can see it. Since we ourselves are a part of our country, we might not realize the true value of what our country possesses. It is time we understand, recognize, reconnect and rejuvenate the cultures of our country.
A class presentation was held in class V on 24 th and 25 th of January, 2023 in which the students showcased the rich culture, heritage, customs and traditions of different states of India in the form of show and tell.
The students exhibited that our heritage serves as a reminder of our rich history. It is a national treasure as well as a symbol of the civilization's pride. The enthusiastic learners were given an introduction to the meaning of heritage. They researched on the assigned states and presented some astounding facts of their assigned topic. It was an absolute delight to witness such involved participation using power-point presentations, charts, models and much more for an equally captivated audience eager to learn.
Being mindful of our rich heritage provides just the right platform to be more thoughtful about the future. We must instill in our students, the yearning to learn more about our past and culture and to become more responsible and efficient citizens. The activity helped the young people acquire inter-and intra-cultural understanding.

Pariksha Pe Charcha is part of the larger movement - 'Exam Warriors' - led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to create a stress-free atmosphere for youngsters.
Telecast live from Talkatora Stadium, Delhi, the students from VI-XII of Shalom Hills International School witnessed the screening of the sixth edition of "Pariksha pe Charcha", on January 27, 2023. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, replied to students" queries related to exam stress and other issues during the interactions with students, teachers and parents. The session covered some core issues like pressure from parents, how the specially-abled can transform their weakness into their strengths, how average students can enhance their focus and how acceptance of one's caliber is of utmost importance. The PM also spoke about the difference between hard work and smart work by referencing the very famous, thirsty crow fable. He advised the students not to study just for any exam, they should study for knowledge. On being asked about usage of unfair means, he reiterated that there is no shortcut to success. The interactive session was definitely an enriching and inspiring experience for the students. The students felt motivated as they applauded and cheered the solutions suggested during the session.

“The vote is precious. It is the most sacred. It is the most non- violent tool we have in democracy.”
We at Shalom Hills International School not only impart education scholastically but also focus on the overall development of students. Shalomites are the crusaders of our society and educate others with their ethos and values imbibed in them by our socially conscious Founder and Chairperson who is always present as a Guiding Light for the students to be a law abiding citizens of India.
For children, following politics is usually a passive activity, they are young to vote, and it isn’t easy for them to understand the value of vote and their rights. To engage them a week-long campaign - “An Awareness –On Voting Rights” was organized in the school starting from 18 th January.

The following activities were conducted for all the age groups:-
• Voices of young India: Students shared the changes they wish for a vibrant India
• Symbols of India: A visual walkthrough the symbols that make the new India
• Watch and read: Books and movies that celebrate India of the Republic etc.
The Middle school students were asked to customise and design stickers. The young adults were asked to reflect on the importance of voting. The student participants visited all the classrooms and halls to request othe students to vote and sensitize them with the value of voting rights how to become good citizens and shoulder responsibilities. They delivered speeches and raised slogans to influence the audience and inform them of the Importance of the day 25 January which is observed as “National Voter’s Day”.

“For safety is not a gadget but a state of mind.” – Eleanor Everet
In keeping with its goal to make the children responsible adults, Shalom Hills International School observed Road Safety week from 18 th -23 th January 2023 by
conducting different activities like Street Play, Slogan writing, Essay competition on the Importance of Road Safety. The activities were both entertaining and enlightening. A Street play performed by the students was a great way of learning through doing. The experience created awareness in the children about the importance of road safety and its role in our safety and security. 
The basic road safety rules reiterated were:
• Always wear a seat belt
• Avoid distractions
• Do not cross the speed limits
• Follow traffic signals
• Do not drink and drive
• Drive to the left side of the road
• keep to your lane
• Overtake with caution
While these are very common traffic rules, they are also some of the most regularly broken ones. Some of these basic features were highlighted in the activities so that students can understand the rules and regulation which are made for the benefit of common man. The students and teachers pledged to follow all traffic and road safety rules.

A magic show was organised for students of grade IV and V on 29 th December 2022.The show was conducted by Zila Bal Kalyan . The children were excited to see the magic show and they sat patiently to see the magician perform his tricks.
The magician performed many magic tricks like the empty glass trick, the newspaper magic trick as well as joining strings of different lengths to make a whole. Making things disappear and re-appear out of thin air was another thing that impressed everyone. The students kept guessing as to how these tricks worked. All of them could not stop clapping as the magician unfolded his tricks one by one.

The children were delighted and they sat quietly throughout the performance They followed all the instructions of the magician and appreciated his magic with thunderous clapping. The magician also invited students on the stage to show some more tricks. The show ended with the students happy at having seen so many tricks. The magician also gave some tips to the children on how to perform magic tricks on their own. The magic show was a great success and the students enjoyed it a lot.

It is pertinent to note how one experiences mathematical applications in daily life from the time one gets up from bed till one goes to bed at night. Be it a cook or a farmer, a carpenter, a mechanic, a shopkeeper or a doctor, an engineer or a scientist, a musician or a magician, an artist or a tailor, everyone needs math in daily life.

The truth is that we use math all the time!

December 22 nd every year is celebrated as National Mathematics Day to mark the birth anniversary of legendary mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan. Students were apprised about the birth anniversary of a great mathematician followed by a video to know the importance of mathematics in daily life. An activity was conducted in grade 5 in which the students were asked to show the importance of Angles in daily life. Students were asked to make a protractor with the help of paper folding. The students drew pictures to show the use of angles in daily life. They integrated all the subjects into one which was really appreciable. Students enjoyed the activity and participated in it with a lot of enthusiasm.

Mathematics Day, on December 22, celebrates the birth anniversary of India’s famed mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. The day’s significance was enhanced with a fun based activity. Grade IV students were introduced to a fun based origami activity called 3D origami activity. During the course of this activity children were given cuttings of different colours of A4 sheets to make a 3 D shape of their own choice. Students made different 3 D shapes like cubes, cuboid, cone, cylinder etc. They also filled the above shapes with waste materials to make the shapes solid. Students took a lot of interest in making the different shapes and they were able to understand the difference between 2D and 3D shapes. The activity was an experiential learning activity which helped to develop the kinesthetic skills of the students. This activity enhanced the artistic skills of the students and made them understand that a 3-dimensional object can look different from different positions and can be drawn from varied perspectives.

“Mathematics gives us hope that every problem has a solution”.

National Mathematics Day is celebrated on 22 nd December to mark the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan, a great mathematician who made exemplary contribution to mathematics. The Mathematics day is celebrated with the objective of creating awareness about the importance of mathematics in day to day life situations and also to create student’s interest in studying mathematics. Students of Grade I celebrated this day with full enthusiasm. An activity, ‘Maths About Me’ was planned to make the children understand that we find maths everywhere. They were shown a video related to the topic “Maths in our daily life”. Later children created their own 2D/3D shaped pyramid and cuboid with the help of play dough and ice cream sticks/straws. As a part of the celebration, a video on National Mathematics Day was shown and a Quiz program “Maths ke Khiladi” was conducted in class II. Students in the class were divided into 5 - 6 teams and questions from the quiz were asked. In grade III students played musical chairs using all the four mathematical operations. This activity helped and motivated the students to develop their logical and analytical skills. Children participated with great zeal and enthusiasm in all the activities.

Christmas is a time to give and forgive. Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. Santa Claus, the name that is synonymous with Christmas, adds the
special element of innocence, happiness and joy during Christmas celebrations. On 23rd December 2022 the students of grades I-V celebrated Christmas with an array of interesting programs.
Children of grade I participated with great enthusiasm and energy in the Christmas assembly. Children started the assembly with Lord’s Prayer, Pledge and thought of the week. Few children spoke lines on the significance of celebrating Christmas. Later children danced on the song “Jingle Bells Jingle Bells” and they also sang a Carol “Joy to the world”. Grade II students showcased a skit based on the story of Santa Nicholas and added some fun moments by enacting a strike of Elves. The students brilliantly presented melodious Christmas carols which was followed by a joyous and energetic dance. Students of grade III engaged in activities like, Cooking without fire, Santa reasoning and Craft Giveaway that conveyed the learning of being healthy, vigorous and dynamic personas whereas Musical chair, Dance rain, Carve a Christmas song added glee to the festival extravaganza.
Grade IV and V also had a special assembly to celebrate the festival of Christmas. The students of grade V presented a short skit on nativity, enrapturing the audience. The junior choir presented melodious Christmas carols. The children were filled with joy and exhilaration as some children danced to the tune of jingle bells. It made the Christmas assembly more effervescent. Also, it was the best way to celebrate the end of the year and welcome the New Year with outstretched arms. The children carried home the message of sharing and caring as well as the pleasure and pride of spreading peace, true to the spirit of
Christmas.

‘STEAM’ activity of English was conducted in all sections of grade 4. The activity had components of Science, Technology, English, Art and Maths. It was an integrated activity encompassing all the subjects. The topic for the steam activity was ‘Sustainable and Eco- Friendly houses’. The students were divided into groups. Each group had to make a brochure, poster and a solar panel model. The students organized and distributed the work among themselves. Each group took the responsibility of incorporating the steam features in their individual projects. This activity helped the students understand how different subjects are inter-connected as well as the importance of science and maths in the field of technology.
The STEAM activity was a concerted effort to integrate science,maths and art activities to foster communication and collaboration among the students. The activity helped in the reinforcement of concepts learnt. The students displayed good team-work and creativity in the completion of the activity.

An activity to instill a sense of awareness and responsibility in the students towards the importance of saving water was conducted in all sections of grades I to V. The activity a part of Jal Sansad was titled ‘Be Water Wise’. The students were made aware of easy step by step procedures of how to find and fix leaks, measure shower and faucet flow rates and many ways to save water, save energy and save money in and around our homes. The students made flow charts to find out how much water is used in their homes. They also presented methods of saving indoor and outdoor water use as well as ways of saving wastage of water.
Many students enjoyed the activity as it was related to everyday life and by doing simple activities like counting the number of buckets used at home for bathing, cooking, watering plants and mopping the students understood the importance of saving water. The students shared interesting pictures related to the activity. The students showed how one can reuse waste water from the Ro. It can be used to water plants as well as in cleaning the house. Through this activity the students learned that water-saving is a universal responsibility of every person who lives on this Earth. In order to save water, we have to adapt various means that can help in maintaining the level of fresh water on Earth.

Pollution is a significant threat to our environment and is caused by the reckless attitude of man towards nature.
Being aware of pollution is quite mandatory for all the students these days. In order to become a responsible citizen of the world for future generations, every child should know how human activities are leaving an impact on the environment and nature. To sensitize our little Shalomites, poster making activity was conducted in Grade III-V. Students created beautiful posters using their creative imagination and portrayed different ways to save Mother Earth. The posters depicted renewable resources of energy, saving electricity slogans, methods to prevent water and air pollution, use of 3 R’s, conserving flora and fauna etc.
Students enthusiastically participated in the activity as such activities have always been a favoured medium to stimulate and develop creativity within students.

“No water. No life. No blue. No Green”

Contaminated water today has become a big issue which if not dealt with in time, will turn out to be a hazard. To make students aware about importance of pure water, a JaSansad activity was conducted in all sections of grades I to V.   The activity was titled ‘Bring home the blue not the flu’. The students were shown a PPT to make them aware about the importance of pure water for our healthy life.
The students discussed different preventive measures about different water borne diseases. Safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or recreational purposes. Improved water supply and sanitation, and better management of water resources, can boost countries' economic growth and can contribute greatly to poverty reduction.The students were motivated by this, and they joined hands and took oath to use clean and pure water.
This activity gave them an overview about the importance of pure water for a healthy and happy life.

"The earth reveals its innocence through the smiles of children."

Children are the future, nurture them right, so that they grow up to be able leaders and lead the world towards light. Intending this beautiful thought, Shalom Hills International School left no stone unturned to make Children`s Day the most memorable for its beloved pupils. The school organized a Bal Mela in its premises with innumerable fun activities and awe- inspiring presentations by their mentors. Students turned in, dressed in their colourful party outfits and were delighted to unbox the surprises planned by their class facilitators. The school premises pulsated with scintillating music and cheerful voices of its hearty learners. Students of Grades IV and V enjoyed a fantabulous assembly conducted by all their teachers showcasing their talents through a variety of activities like dance, skit , songs, poem and the list goes on. Children also enjoyed parties in and outside their classes munching their favourite snacks and dancing to the beats of trendy songs. Photobooths were designed to capture their beautiful smiles which added to the gaieties of the occasion.

In the spirit of the season, Shalom Hills International School organized a grand Diwali Fest for its hearty learners in the school premises. The whole day was dedicated to students’ amusement and fun activities. Students came dressed in their gorgeous ethnic attires.
A variety of fun activities were organized for the students in the classrooms. Games such as Atlas, Bingo, Dumb Charades, Musical chairs etc. were thoroughly enjoyed amongst the peer groups. The students also did ramp walk in their classes. The school`s playgrounds witnessed tempting food stalls along with a jazzy dance floor. All the students swayed to the beats of music along with their teachers. All had a gala time and the Diwali Fest was a joyous beginning to the celebration of Diwali.

Times NIE, partnering with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Private Limited, introduced their global program “Action to Breathe Cleaner” by Otrivin. An activity was
conducted with grade VI students to encourage them to adopt environment friendly habits to control air pollution.
While children contribute the least to air pollution, they are amongst the most vulnerable when it is about suffering through the consequence of pollution. Each
year an increasing impact on both the physiological and psychological wellbeing of children has been observed. A rising number of children are suffering from respiratory diseases and not being able to lead a regular life with restrictive outdoor interactions during peak pollution episodes, specifically in the upcoming winter months. Otrivin has endeavoured to help aid a better world for the next generation by creating awareness on the subject and generating conversations with the people who are in a position to help.
A small interaction was conducted during the session, and with the help of teachers, students were guided through the letter writing process to their parents, urging them to take small steps to help curb this ever-increasing problem of air pollution. Each child received a goody bag from Otrivin.

Class: VIII

Facilitator: Ms.Muskan

''By common endeavor, we can raise the country to a new greatness,while a lack of unity will expose us to fresh calamities.”

The activity was conducted for the students of class VIII on October 18,2022 to ensure the collaborative efforts towards development and recognition of the spirit of unity in diversity. Students were encouraged to sing folk songs so as to provide exposure and create interest in different languages. Students learnt about the remarkable unity of most of the major Indian languages, starting with their common phonetic and scientifically-arranged alphabets and scripts, their common grammatical structures, their origins and sources of vocabularies from Sanskrit and other classical languages, as well as their rich inter-influences and differences.

These activities go a long way in developing our students as responsible citizens with deep belief in unity in diversity of the nation.

The session ended with a whirlwind of joy and excitement. Their active participation made it more interactive.

Nothing will be left here without water!!!

An activity to familiarize the Shalomites with the availability and scarcity of water around us was conducted in the class. The activity was a part of Jal sansad wherein the learners were asked to collect data on availability of water and the reasons for its scarcity, and make a presentation on the same.
The learners were very intrigued and fascinated by the fact that despite being the ‘blue planet’, with 71 per cent of its surface is covered with water; the earth faces a shortage of water. They explained it is because of the fact that more than 97% of the water is found in the oceans and is too salty for human use. A large proportion of the rest of the water is in the form of ice sheets and glaciers or under the ground and a very small percentage is available as fresh water for human use. They also discussed the various types of water scarcity i.e., physical and economical. They discussed that currently, the annual availability of water is 1123 billion cubic meters (bcm) in India and the demand is around 750 bcm. However, by 2050 the annual demand for water will be 1180 bcm which will exceed the water availability. They also held a group discussion on the possible solutions and the way forward.

The Health & Wellness department of senior wing celebrated the World Mental Health Day with enthusiasm and energy. The theme- Making Mental Health for All a Global priority was followed all over the world. The aim was to spread awareness and sensitize the children to give importance to mental wellbeing as is given to physical wellbeing.
During the morning assembly Head Girls & Head Boy talked about how negative thoughts, emotions and moods affect normal functioning of life and encouraged students to approach for help seeking when these feelings become more intense.

The grade IX students were selected as advocates to accomplish the mission. With beautiful props in their hands; they visited all sections of VI-XII with the aim to spread positivity and peace in Shalom, delivered speeches, doing enactments, role plays, group talks on various topics like- We all are Unique & Special, Respecting each other Differences, Stand Up Against Bullying, Positive Self-Concept, Self Harm is not the Solution and Digital De-doxification. The senior school counsellor also led the discussions in her life skill classes focussing on being kind, compassionate, empathizing, considering others’ perspectives, conflict resolution, validating others’ emotions and motivated them to stay away from negativity by developing self-control.

It is acknowledged that children learn from and imitate their peers when they act as moderators to bring change in society. The initiative was much appreciated by the students and teachers.

"Diorama" is a scenic representation in which sculptured figures and lifelike details are displayed usually in miniature so as to blend indistinguishably with a realistic painted background." This is an artistic, three-dimensional representation of a given scene. Diorama projects are assigned as a way for students to demonstrate their learning of concepts.
An activity ‘Diorama of forest and its animals’ was conducted in all sections of grade-III on 18 th October’2022. This activity aimed to increase the understanding of students about forest habitat and its animals.
The students did this activity with a lot of enthusiasm and displayed their own innovative ideas for creating and making the project more attractive.

Creative thinking is not a talent, it is a skill that can be learned. It empowers people by adding strength
to their natural abilities.
School clubs create small communities. Club activities help students develop sense of unity and teamwork, learning how to work with others in reaching the same goals. Class III-V students enjoyed the different skill periods with a plethora of activities.
In the English Literary Club, Class 5 students wrote a self-composed poetry on friendship. They worked as a team and presented their creation. Class 3 students worked on creating their own story. Class 4 students enacted a few lines from important Shakespeare plays.
In Science club students exhibited their knowledge on different types of rocks. The young scholars made a comic strip on the different types of rocks and described the formation of rocks and presented various examples related to it. Grade 3 children brainstormed and learned about animals, their habitats and eating habits. Grade 4 students saw a video on National parks of India.
Eco warriors of the Eco Club in grade 5 were made aware about the birds and how they connect our world. In grade 3 Video and ppt was shown on the occasion of world migratory bird day. Students were made aware about the issues of migrating birds their ecological importance, and the need for global cooperation
to safeguard them.
In the Heritage Club grade 5 students were shown different types of coins and they drew a coin of their imagination. A general introduction on Indian puppetry: an ancient form of entertainment, its origin and different types of puppets was done in grade 4 and a video on the same was shown to the students. Grade
3 Students energetically participated in a discussion about the heritage, culture and traditions of India.
In the Math Skill Club, the young learners learnt few tricks to solve mathematical operations mentally in a play way method. In grade 4 Students were introduced to Rangometry through Kit and PowerPoint presentation. Grade 3 students learned to solve long division questions in a play-way method.
In the Hindi Skill Club, the students read a story and made creative bookmarks depicting the moral of the story. Dialogue delivery activity was organised for grade 4 students in which students learnt to deliver dialogues with expressions. Grade 3 students wrote a self composed poem.
Children made beautiful cards welcoming the festivals of light in their Art Skill Club.
In Computers, the students learnt different functions and utilities of making an online quiz. This gave them an opportunity to expand their horizons and learn new technical skills. The students participated with great enthusiasm in all the skill club activities.

The Health and Wellness department of Shalom Hills International School celebrated World Mental Health Day on 10 th October 2022. The theme for this
year was “Make mental health for all a global priority”.
A number of activities were planned for the students with the aim of raising awareness about mental health for everyone. It was an opportunity to rekindle
our efforts to protect and improve mental health.
The day started with a speech on mental health during the assembly for classes I- V. It emphasized on the meaning of mental health and how everyone can keep
themselves mentally healthy.
During the Zero period, students were shown videos regarding what mental health means and how they can improve their own and others’ mental health.
The students were also taught about positive affirmations and were encouraged to practice the same everyday.
An assembly was also conducted by Class IV B on the theme of ‘World Mental Health Day’. The students beautifully explained what mental health is and how to
keep themselves mentally healthy.
During the Life Skills classes, students were given cut outs of circles in which they wrote their own positive affirmations.

The Rashtriya Poshan Maah is celebrated during the month of September every year under POSHAN Abhiyaan; a scheme for Holistic Nourishment. Poshan Maah was enthusiastically celebrated by the students of grades II- V. The aim of this initiative is to create awareness and spread the message of holistic nutrition throughout the month to ensure a healthier future for the students. Students participated in activities like Poshan pledge, paragraph writing, special assemblies and debates.
Students of grade II conducted an assembly on ‘Nourish to Flourish’ wherein they discussed the importance of nutrition through songs and skit. Paragraph writing on importance of Water Management and its conservation was planned for grades II-V. Students of grades III and V shared their views on Healthy food and Junk food and importance of balanced diet.
Teachers also encouraged students to consume nutritious and balanced diet and avoid junk food. These activities helped the students understand the importance of nutrition, as it plays an important role in the overall development of an individual. A healthy mind resides in a healthy body, it is therefore necessary to have good nutrition in our daily diet.

When You look at the stars and the galaxy, you feel that you are not just from any particular piece of land, but from the Solar system.

Mobile Digital Planetariums are portable form of a fixed planetarium which are equipped to create an artificial night sky by using inflatable dome and state-of-the-art projection system. To provide an opportunity to school students for astronomy education right at their doorsteps, an educational show was organized for our young astronomers of Class I to V on 6th and 7th October 2022.

The students watched the show called ‘Universe in the Dome’ organised in the school auditorium. This show was immersive in nature and was an enthralling

experience for the students.
As the lights dimmed and the journey through the stars began, the excitement among the students was overwhelming. The skies came alive on the massive
dome theatre. They were excited to have a 3D view of the things that they had just imagined to be huge luminous objects somewhere out there in the vast
space in the universe.
The show was extremely good and provided a good visual experience as well as factual knowledge of astronomy. The students learnt many amazing facts about the various Galaxies in the Universe, along with other planets of the Solar System.

A knowledge development programme of astronomy through planetariums was organized for children to boost their knowledge of astronomy. The main objective of the program was, to make students understand our Solar system, various stars, comets, constellations and their history.
A dome-shaped setup was installed and a video on the topic- Galileo’s Sky for grade 6th was shown on 07 October 2022 in school itself. The topic showcased was - Four hundred years ago, an Italian scientist named Galileo Galilei who adopted an amazing new invention – the telescope. The eyes belonged to Galileo
Galilei, and the curved pieces of glass were the lenses of his telescope. Galileo Galilei systematically studied the sky in detail for the very first time in history.
The programme also showed how astronomy is an integral part of human history. Cultural constellation stories reflect how past societies viewed their world. The planetarium showed the Milky Way and other sky bodies. The planetarium concluded with a quiz for the students. Winners were awarded
gifts.
The programme motivated students with its interesting, stimulating learning situation. It was a fun-filled learning experience for all the students.

India is known as a land of festivals and celebrations. Festivals are a period of celebration and bring peace and joy to everyone. Children learn values of honesty, respect and humility. Festivals help us understand our glorious heritage, culture, and traditions.                                              
Shalom Hills International School, Gurugram organized fun-filled learning activities for Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti on September 30, 2022. These activities included a skit by the little ones in which the children were beautifully dressed up to play the role of their favourite mythological character from Ramayana.  Truth, non-violence, Sarvodaya, and Satyagraha constitute Gandhian philosophy and are the four pillars of Gandhian thought which were depicted by the students effectively during the assembly.   
After assembly, Dandiya dance party was organized for the students. The students of all the grades came dressed in bright traditional attire for the fun-filled special
Dandiya Navratri celebration organised for them. There was an air of festivity everywhere. The dance party had the students dancing to all the popular numbers. All the students enjoyed the dandiya dance and were happy to show their dancing skills. There was an air of festivity everywhere. All the children enthusiastically participated and enjoyed the celebrations.

The preservation of freedom is not the task of soldiers alone. The whole nation has to be strong. 

                                                                                                                                                              -Lal Bahadur Shastri

Celebrating the 75^th anniversary of India’s Independence withenthusiasm, the mighty Shalomites expressed their gratitude and love towards the nation by creating a story board and expressing their patriotism in an artistic way.

Patriotism was the theme on which the students paid their tribute by drawing pictures based on historic events and incidences under the guidance of the Facilitator.The young citizensdrew pictures of freedom fighters,depicted freedom movements like Jallianwala Bagh, DandiMarch,Quit India movement etc. which played a significant role in India’s Independence.

The pictures depicted by the students showed that the budding learners are fullyaware of the struggle of the freedom fightersandtrulyunderstand the value of freedom.

The students also expressed their creativity by writing famous quotes and slogans in a creative manner. The images of the freedom movements wereorganized in a chronologicalmanner,weaving the essence of India’s freedom struggle.

       

हिंदी है, प्रेम की भाषा

यही है इसकी परिभाषा ।

 

शैलोम हिल्स इंटरनेशनल विद्यालय के प्रांगण में ‘हिंदी दिवस’ के उपलक्ष्य में 14 सितंबर से 22 सितंबर तक साप्ताहिक कार्यक्रम व विशेष सभा का आयोजन किया गया, जिसमें अनेक रंगारंग कार्यक्रम जैसे दोहा गायन, कविता वाचन, नुक्कड़ नाटक, प्रार्थना सभा आदि का आयोजन किया गया।

 

A documentary regarding the techniques of conservation of water was shown in the class. It was an interesting and informative video which helped in spreading awareness and also gave the students many ideas for their activity. 
A Jal Sansad activity was conducted for the students of Grade 9. The students were asked to make posters, drawings or write paragraphs, diary entries, slogans and other expressive logs. The objective was to express the topic and spread awareness about this crucial topic through creativity and innovation of the students. 
All the students put effort into making a variety of creative and expressive things which conveyed a meaningful message or idea. It was a great experience
and students learnt more about the ways to save water.

Shalom Hills International School organized Cleanliness Drive under Swachh Bharat Swasth Bharat Abhiyaan Programme. The main purpose of this programme was to create awareness among the students regarding Cleanliness and its benefits. Shalomites organized a Cleanliness Drive under the mission by taking a Pledge in the morning assembly.
All the students from classes 4th to 12th participated in the program organised by the school. The teachers took part in the cleaning program of the entire school premises.
The programme began by taking the Pledge and concluded with a short speech given by the Sentinels of environment.
PLEDGE
I take this pledge that I will remain committed towards cleanliness
I will devote 100 hours per year, which is two hours per week, to voluntarily work for
cleanliness.
I will neither litter not let others litter.
I will initiate the quest for cleanliness with myself, my family, my locality, my village and my work place.
I believe that the countries of the world that appear clean are so because their citizens don't indulge in littering nor do they allow it to happen. With this firm belief, I will propagate the message of Swachh Bharat Mission.

‘Hindi Divas’ was celebrated on 15 th & 19 th September 2022 by all the students of class VI to IX. Activities were organized under Hindi Day to demonstrate the importance of Hindi language and to inculcate a sense of respect for the language among the students.
‘Slogan writing’ activity, had the students writing creative and imaginative slogans on the topic of ‘Hindi Bhasha Kee Mahata’. They participated with great interest and enthusiasm. The activity helped to increase the students’ appreciation of the language and hone their artistic talent as well.

Water is a gift from the creator, Protect it! Respect it!

An activity to instill a sense of awareness and responsibility in the students towards the importance of saving water was conducted in all sections of grades I to V. The activity a part of Jal Sansad was titled 'Garden Sprinkler'. The students from all grades were asked to share a video or picture related to the activity. The teachers explained the activity to the students and made them understand the importance of saving water by reusing it particularly with respect to the water being wasted while watering the plants. The students shared interesting pictures and videos related to the activity. Students made a sprinkler for their own garden to reduce wastage of water. They reused waste materials like plastic bottles to make the sprinkler and shared their experiences in the class.
Through this activity the students learned that water-saving is a universal responsibility of every person who lives on this Earth. In order to save water, we have to adapt various means that can help in maintaining the level of fresh water on Earth.

"Swachhata Pakhwada" as a part of "Swachhata Abhiyaan" was conducted in grades 1-5 from 1 st to 15 th September 2022. The activity was conducted with the objective of bringing a fortnight of intense focus on the issues and practices of Swachhata-meaning Cleanliness. This activity emphasised the important role of schools in spreading awareness about the Swachhata Mission and its implementation across the country.
At Shalom Hills International School, series of activities were planned and executed in all the grades from 1-5. The series of activities were planned to create
awareness among students regarding cleanliness and personal hygiene. Activities like Swachhata shapath, hand wash day, Swachhata awareness, personal hygiene
and Swachhata participation day were conducted. For Swachhata awareness, Council members from grade 5 had been selected for conducting this activity.

The selected students visited the sections of grade 1 and 2 and talked to the children about the importance of personal hygiene. A poster making activity was organized on the theme Swachhata, in which the budding artists showcased their tremendous talent, imagination and thoughts to spread the message of
cleanliness and its significance in our lives.
Hand washing activity involved a discussion on the importance and correct way of washing hands with the help of a PowerPoint presentation. Later students
demonstrated the same during the school hours. This activity created awareness on the need for proper hand wash in daily life.
Students participated in all the activities with great enthusiasm. Students also understood the importance of following cleanliness at all ages and levels as well
as its importance in the well-being of oneself and other people around.

Vision begins with the eyes, but it truly takes place in the brain.

19 th of September 2022 saw a Shalom initiative come into practice, The ‘ TEDx SHALOM’. Under the auspicious aegis of our founder chairperson Dr (Mrs.) Lilly George the aim of the programme was to inculcate the practice and habit of our children to speak with confidence on any given topic. It was well received both by the parents and the students.
The topic was shared with the students well in advance. This talk show will be held bi-weekly, in English and Hindi language. The topic for the three grades was ‘Perseverance’.
The students came prepared and armed with their ideas and view points which they put across to their peers with confidence and assurance. It was a good beginning to an excellent endeavour.

In order to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of the citizens and to promote awareness about our national flag, Shalom Hills International School organised series of events to celebrate Har GharTiranga program under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and to hoist it to mark the 75th year of India’s independence.

Various activities like Declamation, elocution, Quiz, poster making competitions were organised during the Independence week in order to promote patriotic feeling in the students.

Students also indulged in singing patriotic compositions, poem recitations and role play of freedom fighters. Grandparents also participated in the program by narrating stories related to freedom struggles to their grandchildren.

Students of grade I-III, efficiently participated in Katha Vaachan activity, wherein, they shared important facts and events about the freedom fighters.

Students participated in all the activities with enthusiasm and zeal.

Students made miniature national flag-themed lapel pins. These lapel pins were worn by students and their parents. The school campus was also adorned with national flags in order to commemorate and celebrate the 75 th Independence Day of India.

‘Sanskrit Divas’ was celebrated on 12th August 2022 by the students of Grades 6 to 10. Activities were organized to demonstrate the importance of Sanskrit language and to inculcate a sense of gratitude and respect for the language among the students. The event helped to increase the linguistic awareness and creativity among the students, which aids in building confidence.

A quiz was one of the activities conducted, in which questions were asked on the topic of ‘National Emblem of India’. The students participated in this activity with great interest and enthusiasm. The program turned out to be a success and students developed respect towards the Sanskrit language.                 

"Bombs and pistols do not make a revolution. The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting-stone of ideas."

Fancy dress and Poster making competitions blend learning with fun but also develop confidence in students by giving them an opportunity to speak in front of an audience.

To commemorate the 75th Independence Day, and as part of ‘AzaadikaAmritMahostav’, fun-filled learning activities in the form of fancy dress (unsung heroes), Quizzesand poster making were organized for the students in Shalom Hills International.

The students participated with great patriotic fervor and patriotism. They portrayed the struggles and unforgettable sacrifices of the freedom fighters. The creativity and performances of the students draped the surroundings with the curtains of heart wrenching events of the past. The students dressed up as PanditJawaharLal Nehru, Bhagat Singh, Rani LaxmiBai, LalaLajpatRai and many more, pledged to work towards a progressive nation.

Documentaries on the unsung heroes of the Indian freedom struggle were also shown to the children. The activities were conducted to develop the feeling of patriotism, enlighten and to spread awareness amongst them about the Independence Day.

 

Jai Hind!

INDEPENDENCE DAY 15th AUGUST 2022

The students of classes VIIto X of Shalom Hills International School participatedwith full zeal and enthusiasm in the Tree Plantation initiative of the Haryana Govt. -‘Paudhagiri’.

The students were issued saplings from the school which they planted at the location of their choice and uploaded the photograph on the ‘Paudhagiri’ App. The celebration ofPaudhagiriin school was an ideal opportunity to inculcate personal and social responsibility in our students towards safeguarding trees and forests. The focus of these celebrations is towards forming a personal connect between the students and trees through a process of experience, reflection and creation.

It was a great experience for the students.

Shalom Conclave an occasion to celebrate our ‘Founder’s Day’. This special day was celebrated on 6^th August 2022. Shalom Conclave witnessed the participation of many prestigious schools. The participants showcased their acumen and proficiencies in a wide array of competitions. Renowned academicians were judges for the various interesting events.

Ten students from grade 1 and 2 who participated in the Choral Recitation event won the first prize. These students were Tejas Singh, Nityanshi Saxena, Kashvi Sharma, Mrinangshi Acherjee, Keyan Jain, Iraira Madaan, Aanav Sharma, Ryaan Wadwa, Aviditya Shekhawat and Sarakshi Sharma. Ashwik Vashisht of grade 4 won the second prize in ‘Weave a story’ event.

 

The Shalom family is proud of the tremendous efforts and achievements of all the students who participated in this prestigious competition and wishes them all the best for their future endeavours.

Solubility is the ability of a substance to dissolve into a liquid. The substance that dissolves in another substance is called a solute whereas the substance in which solute dissolves is called a solvent. When solute gets dissolved in a solvent, it makes a solution.

Concepts in science cannot be understood unless performed. Hence, an activity was conducted by the students of Grade IV to check the solubility of different substances in surrounding. Children were told to perform solubility test using various substances available in their surroundings. Children used different solutes like salt, sugar, tea leaves, oil, sand and so on. They performed the activity patiently and noted their observation carefully. The solutes which got completely dissolved in water are soluble substances and made solution like saline water solution and sugar solution.

Conducting activity was proved an effective way to understand the solubility of different substances used in our daily life.

It was concluded with the quick recap of the definition of solubility, solute, solvent and solution.

The activity was based on the concept of “learning by doing” and proved helpful to develop scientific skills.

In the month of July towards the end, the students learnt about the ‘States of Matter’ and the changes that they undergo. To help the students get a hands-on experience and be able to apply this learning in their daily lives, an activity was conducted in the class on 4^th and 5^th August, 2022.

The students came forward prepared to demonstrate physical changes to their classmates, some being reversible while some irreversible.

The students were enthusiastic to showcase their quick experiments. Some of them demonstrated tearing of paper, crushing of aluminum foil, cutting of bread, breaking a pencil or a stick while some sharpened their pencils and dissolved sugar in water to show the various physical changes both reversible and irreversible.

Yet some of them were keen to demonstrate safe chemical changes hence brought a kneaded piece of dough from home, some brought a rusted nail and compared it with a new shiny one while some of them compared a fresh leaf with a yellowing one.

Overall, brilliant and innovative ideas were displayed by all the students which was enjoyed by all, those performing the activity as well as the spectators.

Club activities help students develop sense of unity and teamwork, learning how to work with others in reaching the same goals. They help learners develop social skills. So, to help children develop various skills in different spheres, many different clubs like Heritage club, Eco club, Science skill club, Computer skill club and Mathematics skill club conducted various activities for students of grades III to V. In the Science Club students played JAM where within a minute they drew and classified various objects and materials as solids, liquids or gases. Also they saw the teacher demonstrate a chemical change- when baking soda mixes with vinegar carbon dioxide is released which inflates the balloon, and then they tried it themselves. Grade 4 students performed an experiment to show hot air is lighter and rises up; with the help of balloons. The Eco Club focused on Conservation of Energy, Students of grade 3 to 5 shared their views through beautiful drawings. In grade 4 PPT was shown on world nature conservation day. English Skill Club–“My favourite character”, the children spoke and role played along with props and costumes their favourite character. In grade 3, students took part in team based Quiz where the teams challenged one another based on their understanding of the legendary “Merchant Of Venice”. Grade 4 continued with making props of characters for their self created stories. Heritage Club–Grade 5 students presented melodious folk songs of India. In grade 3 coinage activity was organised where our little historians got acquainted with old coins and tried making coin design on their own. Mathematics Club – Students played Tangram puzzles using seven shapes in various combinations to build pictures. The activity helped them develop stronger problem solving abilities. For Grade 3 students, a venture of complex turned easy method of memorising times tables was unlocked across the Maths skill club. Grade 4 also played mind games. The computer club had an activity on poster making through Canva app.

 “You don’t understand anything until you learn it more than one way.” – Marvin Minsky

One of the basic aims of Shalom Hills International School is to nurture in students a sound mind and a strong value-driven character. The education given to the students should promote self-thinking and creativity. With this motto, our school has incorporated “Experiential Learning” in its curriculum so that the students can grasp and retain the contents taught to them in a better way. It nurtures intellectual curiosity, helping children acquire new ways of asking questions and understanding the world.

To give young scholars , the deeper understanding of the Lesson “The Movements of the Earth” , a hands-on activity of “Sundial “ was held on 18th and 19th July, 2022. Students constructed a sundial and used it to observe the movement of the sun through the sky over the course of a day by marking changes in the position of a shadow once each hour. Students determined the approximate time of solar noon at their school as indicated by the time of the shortest shadow. Students revisited the site on a subsequent day to estimate the time of day using their sundial.

Students gained an understanding that before the invention of clocks, people used this motion of the sun to determine the time by making sundials. The students were better able to connect theories and knowledge learned in the classroom to real-world situations.

“The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.”

School clubs create small communities. Club activities help students to develop   sense of unity and teamwork, learning how to work with others in reaching the same goals. They help learners develop social skills. Different skill clubs like Eco club, English club, Hindi club, Science club, Maths club, EVS and computer skill club conducted different activities across grades 1 to 5. Information on living and non-living things, videos, and Quiz on the given topic were conducted during the club hours. This week roman numerals were introduced through a video presentation and hands on pencil activity. Eco club played an important role in creating environmental awareness. The literary club celebrated the works of William Shakespeare a prominent figure in English literature. Talk show on, 'The coinage of the world' was conducted during the Heritage club hours. In Science club students made flowers showing different parts through Origami sheet which gave them a better understanding of learning by doing. Art and craft skill club undertook painting demonstration in which painting technique was explained to the students. The computer club introduced poster and brochure making in MS word. All the students enjoyed the various activities conducted in the skill clubs.

“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.”

Van Mahotsav Week was celebrated in classes I to V from 4^th July to 7^TH July. It was a week-long celebration which aimed at ingraining  personal and social accountability in our students towards conserving trees and forests.

‘Care for nature’ activity was conducted on 4^th July. Students were shown a ppt, videos and facts on Van Mahotsav. The importance  of celebrating Van Mahotsav as well as the activities were explained to them. Another ppt on saving Trees was shown on 5^th July to the students across all grades. On 6^th Children made a model of a plant with waste materials available at home example old mug, clay, straw etc. Lucky flower activity was organized where students had to draw their favourite flower and talk about it. Leaf printing activity was also conducted in which students made beautiful patterns with leaf impressions.

Our little Shalomites from Grade-1 acquired a knowledge and understanding of the importance of plants and trees.  Critical thinking and innovative learning germinated through the participation of students in a quiz based on Van Mahotsav.

Students exhibited profound inquisitiveness by participating in a Show & Tell event based on herbs and their medicinal values. Our Shalomites from grade-4 showcased the spirit of exploration and analysis by gathering and presenting information about environmentalists. The focus of these celebrations was to have a personal connect between the students and trees through a process of involvement, reflection and formation. Little environment savers enthusiastically absorbed the learnings of Van Mahotsav.

“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.”

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in India. Recognized by the United Nations on June 21, Yoga has gained tremendous popularity not only in India but across the globe. Yoga International Day marks an opportunity to spread awareness about the benefits of yoga. As per the United Nations, yoga stands as an emblem for creating balance and harmony. When yoga is applied to communities and societies, it offers a path to sustainable living. This year the theme for the yoga day was YOGA FOR HUMANITY.

Encouraged by its Founder and Chairperson, Dr (Mrs.) Lilly George, who believes that education encompasses not only academics, but also a balanced mind and emotional stability,Shalom Hills International School organized a yoga session for the children and parents to celebrate the 8th International Yoga Day on June 21, 2022 from 6:00 am to 7:00 am.

The Yoga session was conducted by Mr. Alok Jhinkwan, a research scholar pursuing his doctorate in in Yogic Science. Motivating the students and the parents to practice yoga,he highlighting the benefits of yoga and pranayama, and taught some asanas which were comprehensively and eagerly performed by the students and parents.

This was a wonderful opportunity for everyone by to change their lifestyle and apply the fitness regime in their daily routine.

“Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls.”
The students of Shalom Hills School undertook various activities for creating awareness about Saving Water under the government campaign - JAL SHAKTI.

The secondary and senior secondary students gave a performance during break time to raise awareness about the importance of Jal Shakti and depicted the problems that people are facing due to water crisis. Also, problems arising due to drought and floods were portrayed in the play.

The PE Department encouraged students to give wings to their imagination by depicting the importance of Jal Shakti. During the work education periods students were sensitized about the need for water conservation and were asked to put their thoughts into practice.

The Environment & Eco Club of the school undertook a Plantation Drive to create awareness about the importance of trees and plants in the natural conservation of water.

The Jal Sansad Abhiyan will be an ongoing effort of Shalom Hills as awareness will be created through messages in the Morning assembly, Home Room Period, Class Discussions and Work Education Period.

भारत सरकार द्वारा शुरू की गई ‘एक भारत श्रेष्ठ भारत’ योजना एक नई और प्रभावशाली पहल है जिसकी घोषणा सरदार वल्लभ भाई पटेल की 140वीं वर्षगाँठ के शुभ अवसर पर की गई थी। इस दिन को और भी यादगार बनाते हुए एवं प्रिय सरदार पटेल को श्रद्धांजलि देते हुए मोदी जी ने ‘एक भारत श्रेष्ठ भारत’ की बात सभी के सामने रखी |
इस गतिविधि के माध्यम से छात्रों को विभिन्न राज्यों और केंद्रशासित प्रदेशों की समृद्ध संस्‍कृति, विरासत, खान-पान, पहनावा, हस्‍तकला, संस्कृति, परम्परा, भाषा, रीति-रीवाजों से अवगत कराया गया | इसके साथ – साथ विभिन्न प्रदेशों से संबंध रखने वाले कुछ छात्रों ने अपनी प्रादेशिक संस्कृति एवं विशेषताओं को भी साझा किया |
सभी छात्रों ने उत्साहपूर्वक इस गतिविधि को क्रियान्वित किया | छात्रों को एक – दूसरे राज्यों की सभ्यता एवं संस्कृति से परिचित होने का अवसर मिला | सभी छात्रों ने आनंदपूर्ण प्रतिभागिता दिखाते हुए अपनी रचनात्मकता एवं सृजनात्मकता का परिचय दिया |
उद्देश्य –
1. छात्रों में राष्ट्रीय एकता की भावना का विकास करना |
2. आपसी विविधता को समझकर समन्वय स्थापित करना |
3. आपसी संबंधों को मजबूत बनाना |
4. एक – दूसरे की संस्कृति एवं विरासत से परिचित कराना |
5. छात्रों में सृजनात्मकता एवं रचनात्मकता का विकास करना |
6. विभिन्न विषयों की शिक्षा को रोचक बनाने और आयु के अनुसार कला अनुभवों को विकसित करना |

A free country has a language of its own, which is the honor and pride of that country. Language and culture is the real identity of that country. Language is the only means through which we can exchange our thoughts.

Many languages are spoken in the world, in which Hindi language has special importance. This language is the most spoken language in India and is the second most spoken language in the world. To pronounce any language correctly, it is also necessary to write correctly, keeping this feature in mind, the Department of Hindi conducted an activity TARANG-SHALOM MATRA ABHIYAN between 22-25 April,for the students of classes VI to IX.

The students were required to do a writing task on the given topics.They were awarded the first, second and third prizes on the basis of their writing skills.

The feeling of enthusiasm was clearly seen in the students while doing this activity.

Labour Day or International Workers' Day is observed each year on the first day of May to celebrate the achievements of the working class. On account of Labour Day, various activities were organized for the lady guards and housekeeping staff of Shalom Hills International School.
The day began with a workshop conducted by the senior counsellor-Ms Bhupinder Kaur on their roles and responsibilities in school and in the routes. They were made aware about the safety norms that are to be followed under the POCSO and JJ Act.
The P.E Dept. team organized Football match for male category, Kho-Kho match for female category & Tug-of-War (Male & Female both) for the supporting staff. The main aim of the event was to pay a tribute to them for their sincere hard work which they do daily in order to keep our school premises healthy and clean.
The Didis and Bhaiyas participated enthusiastically, displaying good sportsmanship and team spirit.

“Write what you know. Turn the ordinary into extraordinary”
Storytelling has been an integral part of social and cultural activity. It is regarded as one of the simplest and most engaging means of entertainment and education, it not only sparks learning, but is fun too.
An activity to instill a sense of awareness and responsibility in the students towards the importance of saving water was conducted in all sections of grade I to V on 29th April 2022. The activity demonstrated the art of creating a story, layering new ideas to build a vibrant story of characters and their lives, which inspire others. By weaving their own imagination, children infused life in their fictitious characters and turned classrooms into the real backgrounds through their vivid descriptions. The key words like precious, wastage, conservation, invaluable, planet, impurities, droplets, etc. were shared with the students to weave their story.
The entire class was profusely enamored with each story and students generously applauded their classmates. It was bliss, watching children expressing their ideas and imagination in such a colorful way.

Each year, Labour Day gives us an opportunity to recognize the invaluable contributions that working men and women make to our nation, our economy and our collective prosperity. It gives us a chance to show gratitude for workers' grit, dedication, ingenuity and strength, which define our nation's character.
This special day is celebrated across the world on 1st May in many different ways. It started with a movement to give the working class their rights of 8 hours of work- 8 hours of recreation and 8 hours of rest. It all started with the industrial revolution and the forward movement of mankind.
Our young Shalomites today, after 2 long years of staying at home, revived the tradition of appreciation. The young and empathetic scholars of grades 1 and 2 drew and made cards for their caregivers and helpers in school as a token of appreciation. Grades 3, 4 and 5 made appreciation badges for the helpers in school as well as at home.
As an extended appreciation the children also came forward citing incidents and examples of how they were helped without asking, which they want to highlight and appreciate in whatever small way they can.
The students were apprised about the meaning of dignity of labour. And that no work is big or small- it is the effort and outcome that matters.

In an endeavour to promote the rich cultural heritage of India among the students, Shalom Hills International School Co-hosted ‘Great Masters Series’, along with a research scholar of Dept. of Music Annamalai University, Mrs Shobha Ramesh, under the aegis of SPICMACAY (Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among Youth). The programme was dedicated to the great Veena Maestro of yesteryears Dr. Chitti Babu.
Our children were in conversation with his prime disciple Vidwan Sunder ji who narrated many anecdotes from the life of his Guruji Dr. Chitti Babu, regarding his concerts. The audience also enjoyed a video recording of Sangeet Natak Academy Awardee and Vidwan Dr. Chitti Babu together. The programme was streamed live on YouTube. The students felt privileged and happy to avail the opportunity.

Caring about people, about life is an act of maturity.
Considering that vaccination is a shared responsibility, Shalom Hills International School organized a vaccination drive for the students of the age groups of 15-17 years and 12-14 years. The Vaccination drive was conducted under the guidelines of the District Health Department and Primary Health Center, Ghata by specially trained staff.
During the camp, the guidelines implemented by the government and the health department were followed with full commitment. To avoid vaccine-related complications like infections, allergy or any other symptoms, medical experts were also deployed at the campsite. The school authority also ensured requisite support and facilities while following all the necessary COVID-related protocols.
The parents commended the proactive step taken by the school management in ensuring the safety to their children and their families as a token of community commitment. The response of parents turning up in a large number for getting their children vaccinated is surely a sign towards winning the battle at the end.

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” —Albert Einstein
Every year, Earth Day is celebrated on 22nd April at Shalom Hills International School to remind the students of their duties towards ‘Mother Nature.’ As a part of environmental education, Earth Day was celebrated in all sections of grade V.
The students of class V did a book marks craft activity. They wrote their pledge on the book marks. Students celebrated the power of green by singing songs, reciting poems, presenting speeches and sharing videos in the morning assembly. Children learnt the importance of preserving the planet earth. Students also expressed their views in both English and Hindi on the importance of saving our planet Earth.

In order to celebrate Earth day a poster making activity was held in all sections of Grade IV on 22nd April 2022. The students had been informed earlier about the activity.
The students had to make a poster related to Earth day and its significance. The students made creative drawings of Earth and wrote several messages to save Earth from pollution and to keep it clean and green.
The students drew beautiful pictures on the given white sheets. Their poster had lines on the importance of protecting Earth. Most of the students were aware about the importance of having a green and clean Earth. Their posters depicted various ways of saving Earth from pollution. .
The students participated in the activity with a lot of enthusiasm. They made creative posters and were happy to celebrate Earth day. They all promised to keep their Earth clean and protect it for future generations. The activity helped the students understand the importance of protecting Earth.

In order to spread awareness among students about MOTHER EARTH, Earth Day was celebrated on 22nd April,2022. Children made replica of earth and took pledge to keep their Mother earth beautiful.
This activity helped them to know that Earth Day is an annual event to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally byEarthDay.org (formerly Earth Day Network) including1 billion people in more than 193 countries.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”- Margaret Mead
With this objective in mind, our little shalomites of grade III- V made beautiful paper bags by reusing old newspapers in their dynasty period.
Eco-friendly bags are gaining importance as these bags are reusable, recyclable and biodegradable and at the same time pose less threat to wildlife. The students were taught how to make paper bags from recycled paper. The students were quite enthusiastic about the whole activity. The fun-filled activity inspired young learners to contribute to Mother Nature by using paper bags and saying no to plastic bags. The students wrote slogans on their paper bags and decorated them with beautiful colours.

Students of Shalom Hills International School witnessed the fifth edition of 'Pariksha pe Charcha', on April 1, 2022. The event was screened live and the students watched it in their classrooms with the help of projectors.
During the event which was telecast live from Talkatora Stadium, Delhi, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, held interactions with students, teachers and parents. He discussed how to beat examination stress especially in the post-Covid19 pandemic era, besides sharing tips to do better in life. The live interaction also covered some core issues like pressure from parents, technology being a boon and not a bane, how the specially-abled can transform their weakness into their strengths, mind being more powerful than the media and that every child, every student is unique. The PM also spoke about the significance of the new National Education Policy-2020. He advised the students not to study just for any exam, they should study for knowledge.
The informative and interactive session was indeed a rich learning, elevating and inspiring experience for the students. The students expressed their joy as they applauded and cheered the solutions suggested during the session.

The Theme of the CBSE initiated “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”, activity conducted in class VI in the month of March was- Freedom Struggle- Unsung Heroes of the Indian Freedom Struggle.
The main aim behind conducting the activity was to apprise the students about the rich history of our country and the various freedom fighters involved in the freedom struggle. The students were made aware of the initiative of the Government of India to commemorate 75 glorious years of progressive India, its magnificent culture and great achievements. It was started on 12 March 2021 by PM Narendra Modi Ji on completion of 91 years of Dandi March.
This Mahotsav will continue till 15th August 2023. It is being celebrated on the basis of 5 pillars i.e. Struggle for Independence, idea of 75 years, achievements of 75 years, actions and resolution of 75 years.
A PowerPoint presentation was played during the activity, dance and music performance on Patriotic songs were performed by the students. Also, students shared their views, knowledge related to freedom fighters during the entire activity.
Students participated enthusiastically and enjoyed the activity.

International Women’s Day celebrates the contribution of women in various important fields and marks their economic, political, social and cultural achievements. The day is significant for making a call to gender equality and parity. This year, the campaign theme ‘Break the Bias’ was introduced to make the common masses aware about the gender stereotypes and to create a bias- free, equable living environment.
Thus, grade I-V students celebrated the International Women’s Day with great enthusiasm and showed immense sensitivity towards gender issues. The significance of Women’s Day was told to the students with a PowerPoint presentation. Afterwards, with the help of discussion, students were made aware of the gender biases, discrimination and the importance of equality. In different classes, students also presented poems, stories, made little craft samples like paper folding purses and narrated incidents related to wonderful women in their lives. The day was celebrated with fruitful knowledge and sensitization.

“Scientific research needed independent thinking and hard work not equipment”. - Dr. C V Raman
National Science Day is celebrated to commemorate the discovery of Raman Effect by, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. He was the first Indian scientist to be honored with the prestigious Nobel Award in Physics in the year 1930. His pioneer work in the field of light scattering became known as “Raman Effect”. He was honored with a large number of honorary doctorates and memberships of scientific societies.
This day is celebrated to mark the importance of contributions made by scientists towards the development of our nation and the world as a whole. It is used to create awareness about the role of science in society. The theme for National Science Day 2022 is ‘Future of STI (Science Technology and Innovation): Impacts of Education, Skills and Work’.
The students of classes I – V celebrated the day with a great zeal and enthusiasm. Various online /offline demonstration of science experiments organized encouraged the children to adopt scientific methods in daily life and remember Sir C V Raman for his immense contribution in the field of science and invention.

“Folklore legends, myths and fairy tales have followed childhood through the ages, for every healthy youngster has a wholesome and instinctive love for stories fantastic, marvelous and manifestly unreal.” - L. Frank Baum
This activity was used to educate, entertain, and impart historical information to students about the origins of a group of people that is preserved by individuals of a certain culture. Stories are frequently used to instill morals and improve reading abilities.
As part of the CBSE initiated 100 Days Reading Campaign, grades III to V organized a 'Folklore Fun Activity' on Friday, February 25, 2022, in which children selected one folklore from the rich heritage of Haryana's partner state, Telangana, as part of the 'Ek Bharat Shresht Bharat' programme and narrated it in the class and enacted it.
The students loved the activity, and it was inspiring to hear so many diverse stories and see our young actors' acting abilities. They were taught the fundamentals of theatrical movement, voice modulation, and storytelling rhythm while listening intently. The major goal of this activity was to help students improve their communication abilities while also broadening their horizons.

“Calligraphy allows you to see each word and phrase, the way a painting allows you to put words to the story depicted”
Good handwriting always reflects the positive personality of the writer and leaves an indelible mark on the reader. Handwriting is a basic tool that lays the foundation to learning process. It is not just important for comprehension, but also helps the tiny tots to recognize sounds while doing effortless writing.
To enhance the handwriting of the little champs, a calligraphy competition was organized in grade I. Students were asked to write a paragraph in the best handwriting that they could. Students wrote in a neat and legible handwriting. They were told about the importance of punctuation marks also.
This activity helped in improving their fine motor skills and also gave them a platform to express themselves in writing. Students participated in the competition with great enthusiasm and zeal.

“The Science of today is technology for tomorrow.” - Edward Teller

Gurugram. In Haryana, is commonly referred to as India's millennial city. Behind the glitz and glam, however, is an unhealthy population. The city's rising levels of air pollution have become a severe health hazard. To make students aware of the health issues caused by the pollution, teachers had a discussion on this topic with the students and also asked them how they expect their city to look like.
Students actively participated in the discussion and came up with innovative ideas to make the city cleaner and greener.
A poster making activity on the Topic- ‘I dream of a cleaner Gurugram’, was conducted for the children of class VI based on the Chapter- ‘Garbage in Garbage out’. Students showed their creativity and artistic skills through posters. Students showed great enthusiasm and excitement to portray their thoughts through the medium of colors. Beautifully organised thoughts were displayed on those colorful posters.

The CBSE “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”, the activity conducted in class VI in the month of February was a quiz on freedom fighters and places & events related to the Freedom Struggle. The quiz was conducted in all the sections of Grade VI through Microsoft Forms.
The main aim behind conducting the activity was to apprise the students about the rich history of our country and the various freedom fighters involved in the freedom struggle. The students were made aware of the initiative of the Government of India to commemorate 75 glorious years of progressive India, its magnificent culture and great achievements.
The students participated with full enthusiasm in the informative quiz.

“No country can progress without education and education can be achieved only through language.”

Shalom Hills International School Celebrated International Mother Language Day to promote awareness among the students about our linguistic and cultural diversity and to foster a love for the mother language, in the wake of the disappearances of languages across the world.
India is a diverse nation and we should be proud of our language diversity. The regional languages collaboratively make a bouquet in which every color depicts a different language. Our school is indeed privileged to have students not only from our State, but also from different parts of India.
The teachers and students discussed the uniqueness of their mother languages and shared many folk tales. Students were asked to share a few common words in their language with the whole class.

Quiz competitions are an interactive platform where students participate to gain knowledge and seek opportunities to excel beyond academics. To test the knowledge of the basic concepts, Science quiz competition was organized among the finalists of Science Aptitude Test for classes III to V on 18th February 2022.
The final round was presented in an interactive manner where students answered the questions with enthusiasm and confidence. Their involvement was remarkable. It commenced with the declaration of the rules and regulations of the competition. There was solo participation with various rounds through quizzes, MS forms and audio-visual round. All the contestants showed their skills and gave spontaneous answers. The aim of conducting quiz was to make the young minds to understand, analyze, organize and synthesize the scientific concepts in a meaningful way. The competition among the students was very tough but at the end most deserving candidates became the winners. It was altogether a thrilling and fruitful event for all.

	CLASS III	CLASS IV	CLASS V
1ST Position	Darsh Bhatnagar	Idhika Kothidar	Rudransh Allawadhi
2nd Position	Prisha Rastogi	Satvik Verma	Swastick Goel
3rd Position	Aarav Gupta	Atiksh Kansal	Bhavye Arora

One of the most important modes of communication is Radio. World Radio Day, observed on 13 February, celebrates the radio as a way of educating people, providing information, and promoting freedom of expression across cultures.
The main object behind celebrating World Radio Day is to raise awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio, secondly to encourage decision-makers to establish and provide access to information through radio; as well as to enhance networking and international cooperation among broadcasters.
This day also coincides with the birth anniversary of the Nightingale of India, Smt. Sarojini Naidu. She was born on 13 February 1879 in Hyderabad, she was the first Indian woman President of the Indian National Congress and also the first woman governor of the Indian state, Uttar Pradesh. Naidu's work as a poet earned her the sobriquet 'the Nightingale of India', or 'Bharat Kokila' by Mahatma Gandhi because of color, imagery and lyrical quality of her poetry.
Paying tribute to the the Nightingale of India, Smt. Sarojini Naidu, and celebrating World Radio Day, a Special Assembly was conducted by the students of Middle Wing at Shalom Hills International School, on 13th February. It commenced with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the school’s vision and mission statement. Students delivered speeches on work done by Smt. Sarojini Naidu, displayed placards and told the importance of radio, and saw PPT on the themes in the virtual class assembly. The assembly concluded with the Shalom anthem.

12th February is celebrated every year as “Darwin Day” to commemorate the birth anniversary of the father of evolutionary biology, Charles Darwin in 1809. This day highlights Darwin's contribution to evolutionary and plant science. He discovered a lot, as a Scientist and Naturalist; and, as an author, he impacted science and the way we think about our world. His theory of evolution has had far-reaching effects on science and the way we understand life.
This day also coincides with the Birthday of Mr. Abraham Lincoln, an American statesman and lawyer, and the 16th president of the United States of America. Abraham Lincoln is best known for abolishing slavery.
Paying tribute to the father of evolutionary biology, Charles Darwin and the most popular president in United States history, Mr. Abraham Lincoln, a Special Assembly was conducted by the students of Middle Wing at Shalom Hills International School on 12th February. It commenced with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the school’s vision and mission statement. Speeches were delivered on the work done by Charles Darwin and Mr. Abraham Lincoln.A PPT was shown to students in the virtual class assembly. It was a very informative day in which the main motive was to spread a message about the importance of Science used in the daily life of the people. The assembly concluded with the Shalom anthem.

On 11th February 1847, Thomas Elva Edison, the legendary an American inventor and businessman was born. He has a total of 1093 patents, a record number of patents for a single person, registered in his name in USA and many more in England and France. He invented half of things that rule our lives today like the electric bulb, battery of an electric car, sound recording, motion picture camera, phonogram and more! The year 2004 marked the 125th anniversary of Thomas Alva Edison's invention of the light bulb, in honour of this historic event, the United States Mint produced silver commemorative coins.
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is observed on the 11th day of February, by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, 22 December 2015.
The Day aims to amplify the critical role that women and girls can and do play in science and technology. As part of UNESCO’s 2030 Agenda, the Day serves to recognize that progress in gender equality and progress in science go hand-in-hand when trying to address global issue. The theme of 2020 being “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Water Unites Us”.
The PPT’S related to these topics were shown to the students to enlightened them about the great scientist Sir Thomas Alva Edison and his inventions along with throwing light on international day of women and girls in science.

“Learning gives creativity, creativity leads to thinking, thinking provides knowledge and knowledge makes us great.”
There is no country quite as diverse, multi-lingual and multi-cultural like India, yet bound together by the ancient bounds of shared traditions, culture and values. Such bonds need to be strengthened through enhanced and continuous mutual interaction between people of varied regions and ways of life so that it encourages reciprocity and secures an enriched value system of unity amongst people of different states in a culturally special country like INDIA.
Keeping in view the objective of unity in diversity of our nation and to maintain and strengthen the fabric of traditionally existing emotional bonds between the people of our country; a quiz for class IV and V students was scheduled through the online tool (MS forms) as part of the Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat initiative. The paired state (Telangana) was discussed in detail a week prior. The students were well prepared and the quiz incorporated various aspects of the state which includes demographic, climatic conditions, people, flora, fauna and economy etc.
The quiz induced a sense of responsibility and ownership for the nation as a whole through cross – cultural interactions. It was a unique way of making the children learn about the paired state.

“The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is limitless.”
- Rousseau
The students of Shalom Hills International School, spun webs of words as story telling was the activity conducted for the CBSE EK Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Activity for the month of February. The topic was to speak about ‘The Life of Early Humans’.
The students were able to rewind time and take us on the trail of the earliest people, all the way back to the Palaeolithic Age, by their tales. Each young story teller emphasised the simplicity of the early life. Some went to great lengths and used props and backgrounds to leave a bigger impact on the listeners. Their imagination took wings and brought to life an era lost in the pages of the history text books.

“Tell me and I forget.
Teach me and I remember.
Involve me and I learn.”
The world is changing constantly and the various domains are also influenced by the change, including education. So, the NEP 2020 has mandated that the learning should be holistic, integrated, inclusive, enjoyable, and engaging in order to minimise rote learning and to encourage holistic development and 21st century skills.
The traditional classroom has utilized the “I Do”, “We Do”, “You Do” as a strategy for teaching for years. The flipped classroom truly flips that strategy. The teacher uses “You Do”, “We Do”, “I Do” instead. It is an instructional strategy and a type of blended learning, which aims to increase student engagement and learning by having pupils’ complete readings at home and work on live problem-solving during class time. To develop more understanding of the social and religious reformers, the flipped classroom was conducted for the young scholars of Grade V. They were asked to present information about any one social/religious reformer from their textbook.
The activity aimed at encouraging the students to engage with and explore content, apply what they have learned in an interactive and creative way and extend their knowledge. Their zeal and enthusiasm for the activity was reflected through their work. It also gave them the advantages of increased learning skills, greater access to information, improved satisfaction and learning outcomes, and opportunities both to learn with others and to teach others.

“A drop of water is worth more than a sack of gold to a thirsty man.”
Water scarcity today has become a big issue which if not dealt with in time, will turn out to be a hazard. To make students aware to conserve water, an online activity - ‘‘Conservation of Water’, was conducted in all sections of grades I to V. Mentors at SHIS educated their students so that they can make a difference – whether it be in their own personal lives or as the Eco-Warriors.
The students were shown two movies to make them aware about the importance of water conservation in our daily life. The students completed a quiz on MS forms after seeing the movie.
The students discussed different ways to conserve every drop of water and not to waste it unnecessarily. The importance of rain water harvesting and the method to do it was also explained. They were encouraged to improve water management practices that reduce the wastage of water and enhance the beneficial uses of water. Some ancient methods of water conservation should also be practiced. The students were motivated by this, and they joined hands and took oath to use water properly and motivate others also.
This activity gave them an overview about Water Conservation and its importance in our life.

Visiting a zoo brings human beings closer to animals and birds, and makes them develop a liking for the majestic creatures. The animals play a vital role in uniting and educating different communities. Zoos are in fact helping to save such animals and birds that may become extinct in this world. Some of the zoos take up breeding culture, specifically captive breeding. This is a huge help in preserving the endangered species, which prevents them from becoming extinct.
A speaking activity ‘Talk about Animals in Zoo’, was conducted for Grade I students on February 10, 2022. It was an interesting and thrilling experience for the children to share their feelings with their peer group. It provided fun and comfortable learning arena for everyone involved. The activity kept the students engaged and gave them a platform to showcase their speaking skills.

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” -Walt Disney
In order to inculcate lifelong reading habit amongst the children, it is important to make reading enjoyable and interesting. An activity-based approach is most effective in making the experience of reading exciting and joyful.
Ministry of Education, Government of India has intimated the launch of 100 Days Reading Campaign, preparing a weekly class-wise calendar of activities to be done by the children with the help of their teachers and parents.
Following the guidelines of this campaign, Grades III to V organised a Literary Calendar Activity’ in which children selected any one month of their choice, then filled birthdates of various authors or poets in that month. They presented summary of any one composition of these selected legends in class.
The activity was thoroughly enjoyed by the children and it was quite encouraging to hear many different stories and poems by the little ones based on their research and hard work. The activity helped to boost reading habits in the students and to enhance their speaking skills and confidence.

It is quite evident that technology has shown tremendous importance in all sectors of the 21st century world. Not only in business, public administration and private institutions, the use of computer has become unavoidable in our day- to- lives as well. In fact, without the use of technology, the online learning would have stayed just a dream.
To make students understand the importance of technology, grade I students were asked to color the image of the computer in their textbook. Along with showcasing their artistic skills, the young minds were also allowed to express themselves in a speaking activity, whereby they discussed the uses of computer in all the areas of the world. Students talked about the uses of computer in online learning, booking hotel and flight tickets, offices and record keeping, maintaining bills, entertainment etc. It was definitely a fun way to learn.

"Vayam Rakshamah," meaning "We Protect," is the Indian Coast Guard's motto.
On February 1, 2022, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commemorated its 46th Raising Day. The Indian Coast Guard was established after a commission led by KF Rustamji submitted a report on the Indian government's deficiencies in combatting smuggling and other illicit marine activities. The ICG was founded by the then-Prime Minister Morarji Desai on August 19, 1978. The Indian Coast Guard, being the world's fourth largest coast guard, has played a critical role in securing Indian coastlines and implementing regulations in India's Maritime Zones, saving approximately 10,000 lives since its inception. As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, on August 15, 2021, ICG hoisted the Indian flags on 100 inhabited & uninhabited far-flung islands. By 2025, it is expected to have reached the targeted force levels of 80 aircraft and 200 surface platforms. Offshore security, marine safety and coastal security, protecting India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), are the goals of the Indian Coast Guard.
Shalomites saluted our courageous heroes for ensuring the safety and security of our country's residents through a special assembly held to familiarise them with the history of ICG, as well as its role and commitment to our safety.

“When a tyrant dies, his rule ends but when a martyr dies, his rule actually begins!!!”
Gandhiji’s assassination on 30th January 1948 has been marked as Martyr’s Day to honour the leader who had promulgated the principles of ‘Satya’ and ‘Ahimsa’. We celebrate Martyrs’ Day as an annual day to salute the martyrdom of soldiers who lost their lives defending the sovereignty of the nation. Our nation marks 30th January as Shaheed Diwas in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi following the memory of all patriotic persons who shed their breath for the nation.
A special assembly was conducted for the students of Grade VIII. Students spoke about why Martyr’s Day is observed. Mentioning the facets of the teachings of Gandhiji, they explained what Bapu stood for. Thereafter a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect for the Father of the nation. The entire class participated in the assembly and captivated everyone with their poised presentation.
The enactment of roles helped reinforce their confidence and self esteem. Each child delivered his or her role with elan.
“Let us work hard to create a country which our martyrs dreamt of to make sure that their souls are happy and content.”

“If I had the power to influence Indian journals, I would have the following headlines printed in bold letters on the first page: Milk for the infants, Food for adults and Education for all.”
Lala Lajpat Rai, who gave this powerful quote, was an activist who played an important role in the Indian Independence movement. His ideologies and contribution in making India an independent country is what earned him the title of Punjab Kesari or the Lion of Punjab. Born on January 28, 1865, he was a part of the triarchy political institution Lal Bal Pal, who advocated the Swadeshi movement, by boycotting all imported items and promoting the use of Indian made goods in 1907. Lala Lajpat Rai’s legacy continues even today.
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
This great person who inspired the world does not need an introduction. With his principle of nonviolence, Gandhiji led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. 30th January 1948, Father of our nation was assassinated by his own bodyguard, Nathu Ram Godse.
Shalom Hills International School paid tribute to these two great leaders of our country. A Special assembly was organised to aware the students with their contributions and their importance in our great Indian history.

‘Show and tell’ helps in the children’s learning and development, organize information and builds their confidence. Keeping this in mind, a ‘Show and Tell Activity of book marks about National symbols of India was organized for the students of Grade-III.
National symbols of a country represent a host of objects that paint a unique identity about the country’s sensibilities. The children talked about the importance of national pride by using various categories in which Indian national symbols have been attributed like the National Flag, Emblem, Bird, Animal, Tree, Flower, Fruit and Game.
The students came well prepared for the activity. The students were excited to share their descriptive narration and waited eagerly for their turn. Few were also dressed up as the National symbol about which they spoke. The innovative book marks prepared by them added to the enriching atmosphere. The inspiring presentations helped them to get a realistic appraisal of their skills, to discover the power of spoken words and to share knowledge.

As a part of “Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat” initiative under CBSE, Telangana is the pairing state of Haryana. A poster making activity on ‘Art and Culture of Telangana’ was organized online for the students of Grade III-V from 18th January to 26th January 2022.
The students expressed their views and thoughts creatively. One could see and feel the enthusiasm that the students had in their presentations. This activity kept the students engaged. It was organized to explore and encourage creativity in students and offer them a platform to showcase their skills. It helped them to think and work creatively in order to inculcate artistic excellence.

“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.”
The 73rd Republic Day was celebrated in all its solemnity and grandeur by the students of Grade I - V on 25th January 2022. A special assembly conducted on began with Lord’s Prayer followed by Shloka recitation, Hindi Suvichar, pledge of the day, mission and vision of school, news headlines followed by motivational pre-recorded speeches by Lt. Colonel Gautam Bhalla, Sh. Joginder Singh and Colonel Utkarsh Singh Rathore highlighting the importance of the Constitution and its unique feature – ‘Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic and Republic’, enshrined in the preamble of the constitution. Videos related to Gallantry awards were also shown to students to make them understand their value and how the soldiers of Armed Forces are sacrificing their lives to protect our country.
With a heart full of patriotic feelings children delivered speeches in English and Hindi. A Role play on National heroes was followed by Patriotic Medley. Spellbinding dance videos of students gracefully performing on melodious patriotic songs were also shown. The students displayed best of their drawings related to Republic day. Promo videos of Republic Day highlights created by Ministry of Defence were shown too to the students.
Students participated in the celebration with great enthusiasm. The main aim of this celebration was to make the students realize the importance of Republic Day and the Indian Constitution. The assembly culminated with the National Anthem. Indeed, it was a day of elation, a day of love and respect for the country, instilling in the Shalomites to remember the golden heritage of our country and feel proud to be a part of India.

National Tourism Day is celebrated on January 25 every year across the country. This day is observed by the government to encourage tourism and explain the essential role of tourism in the growth of the country. India offers several forms of tourism such as cultural, nature, heritage, educational, business, sports, rural, medical, cruise, and eco-tourism.
The National Voters’ Day (NVD) is celebrated across the country to mark the foundation day of Election Commission of India. In order to encourage more young voters to take part in the political process, Government of India has decided to celebrate January 25 every year as "National Voters' Day". It has been started from January 26, 2011 to mark Commission's foundation day.
The students of grade I-V presented the morning assembly to discuss these important days. Students were ready with the props to present the information confidently.
To highlight the importance of these days the students of class I–V were shown a PowerPoint presentation explaining the importance of National Tourism Day and Voter’s Day. Students gathered lot of information about the events during the assembly.

“Constitution is not a mere lawyers document, it is a vehicle of Life, and its spirit is always the spirit of Age.” ? Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
Republic day radiates the fervour and spirit of Independence, remembering our freedom fighters and patriots who sacrificed their lives for India. This is the day when the Constitution of India came into full effect on January 26, 1950. This day is also a representation of India’s diversity and secularism.
Keeping the spirit high, the students of Grade 7 celebrated the day by remembering the historic moment and delivering speeches on the significance of this remarkable day. Students presented their views on ‘My dream of India’. A video depicting the need and formation of our Constitution was shown. Our talented students enthralled everyone by their performances like – singing patriotic songs, doing patriotic dance and by playing musical instruments. They also participated in making crafts like badges, bands and also presented their culinary skills by preparing tri colour food.
The teachers and the students expressed their views on Republic Day and also discussed the ways we can contribute to our nation. Students displayed their enthusiasm in participating in the activities and celebrated the day with pride.

“Constitution is not a mere lawyer’s document, it is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age.
-Dr B.R. Ambedkar
Shalom Hills International School sustained the nationalistic sentiment and promoted the spirit of brotherhood even amid the pandemic by observing the 73rd Republic Day, virtually.
A plethora of activities were organized to infuse the spirit of unity, integrity, brotherhood and patriotism among the students. They were shown an informative video, reiterating the importance of the Drafting Committee headed by Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Children understood the various facts that led to the inception of our constitution and how they need to be more cautious of the actions while practicing their rights for the welfare of society, and the country at large.
A theme based quiz on India's culture and famous slogans of freedom fighters was held to empower and enlighten the students about the glorious past of India and help them to understand the diversity prevalent in the Indian culture. The students were also engaged in writing slogans and making tricolored bookmarks which rekindled their national sentiments
The celebrations ended on an enthusiastic note that filled the students with a feeling of pride and patriotism.

"I feel that the constitution is workable, it is flexible and it is strong enough to hold the country together both in peacetime and in wartime. Indeed, if I may say so, if things go wrong under the new Constitution, the reason will not be that we had a bad Constitution. What we will have to say is that Man was vile."
– B.R. Ambedkar
With peace in mind, freedom in soul and pride in heart, the young Shalomites of grade VI celebrated the Republic Day with great enthusiasm. Owing to Patriotic feelings, they participated in various activities like Poem recitation, Bharatnatyam dance, Character portrayal, Dum Charades- to identify patriotic movies, short speeches, Quizzes etc.
The guest appearance of Lt. Gen Dushyant Singh Chauhan, made the children speechless who enthralled the audience with his wisdom, knowledge and background of how he has served throughout the length and breadth of the country including two tenures in Jammu & Kashmir as the Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency. He made the children aware about How and who formed the constitution, drafting of the constitution on the principles of equality and justice, difference between Democracy and Republic Day; he also talked about LOC, Mc Mohan Line- Actual Line of Control.
He was impressed to see the inquisitiveness and excitement in children asking various questions and ended the session by saying the future of our country is in the safe hands.

“Children are great imitators, so give them something great to imitate.”
Play act is an activity wherein the participants imitate different characters. This offered a chance to the participants to gain experience, showcase their speaking and presentation skills and uncover personal aptitude.
On the eve of Republic Day, young learners indulged in this activity. The objective was not only to blend learning with fun but also to develop confidence, fervor and spirit of patriotism in our Shalomites. The excitement of our young actors knew no bounds as they waited eagerly for their turn to perform.
Resplendent in their costumes and glowing in all their finery, they emulated the renowned national leaders with great conviction and confidence.
It proved to be a great learning experience for all the children. The dialogues and enactment of Shahid Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Swami Vivekananda, Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Annie Beasant, Mother Teresa, Pandita Ramabai, Sardar Vallabhai Patel was a visual treat. The children were so electrifying on the virtual stage that it was tough to judge the best performance.

““When girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous.” – Michelle Obama
The National Girl Child Day is celebrated in India every year on January 24th. It was initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the government of India, in order to spread public awareness about inequities that girls face in Indian society. The day is celebrated with organized programs including awareness campaigns on saving the Girl Child, child sex ratios, and the creation of a healthy and safe environment for girls.
Gender discrimination is a major problem that girls face throughout their life. The Day aims to promote awareness about the rights of a girl child and to promote the importance of their education, health, and nutrition. The day is in line with government campaigns and initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Save the Girl Child, free/subsidized education and women's reservations in colleges and universities.
The young Shalomites discussed the importance of this day with the help of slides and posters to portray the significance of this day. Children recited poems, delivered speeches, using placards to convey their message. Class teachers shared information about the day through PPT.

TOPIC: WATER AUDIT – “Observe the water being used in the house for various purposes and list down what different ways can be adopted to save the wasted water and make a poster on it”.
Water is a precious gift of God on the earth. Life exists on the earth because of the availability of water. Itself being tasteless, odourless and colourless, it adds taste, colour and nice smell in the life of living beings on the earth. We find it everywhere in rivers, seas, tanks, wells, ponds, etc but we lack clean drinking water.
We are living in the time when we need to save clean water and use it judiciously. People at many places in India and other countries are facing a huge water scarcity. They have to go for a long distance on daily basis to arrange drinking water. They better understand the value of water than the people who have sufficient water supply in their areas. The situation of lack of water becomes very terrible for the people who don’t have enough water to fulfill their basic needs of drinking, bathing, washing, etc.
So, to create awareness among others, Shalomites prepared Posters and presented it during the virtual class.

Like every month the students of Grade VI of Shalom Hills International School participated in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, (CBSE) Activity, with great enthusiasm. Discussions were held among students, teachers and also with parents, on the role played by various freedom fighters, who got us “Azadi” from the shackles of Imperial rule. Students had researched well and dug out many tales of the celebrated as well as the unsung heroes of the past.
Through this activity, the participants honoured our Indian freedom fighters and remembered their contribution. We are living in Independent India and must ensure that the sacrifices made by our courageous freedom fighters weren’t in vain.

A school assembly is a congregation of all or part of a school for any variety of purposes, such as peculiar programs or communicating information on a daily or weekly basis. Among students it develops the feeling of being united and they understand the school in a better way and learn valuable lessons. This helps to transform the students into a responsible, sensible and knowledgeable human being.
On January 15th, 2022 National Army Day was celebrated all over the India. Students of grade 8th presented a wonderful assembly on January 17th, 2022. The assembly commenced with the Morning Prayer followed by the Shloka, Pledge, Thought for the day, News headlines and health tip. The students shared information about the day through Power Point Presentations, videos and enactment.

“Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.”
India is a melting pot of cultures and most Indians are multilingual as many vernacular/regional languages are spoken and written in our country. With the start of New Year, we also began a new chapter in Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Club. We introduced “Bhasha Sangam” to the students of Shalom Hills International School.
The students were shown a video and a PPT of the Assamese language. They were encouraged to try to understand the script and words of the language. It turned into an exciting activity as we discovered together that Assamese has several similarities to Bangla, and the script has many alphabets similar to the Devanagari script.

On Friday, January 14, 2022, our school celebrated Makar Sankranti. Students of grade VIII performed different activities on the virtual platform to make the event memorable. Students looked keen to share and present their ppts and posters to show its significant in Indian culture and tradition. Their dedication and persistence were well reflected in their beautiful presentations.
The program began with the recitation of shloka. Poster making and kite decoration were the main attractions. This helped them appreciate the traditions associated with it. Many children used colorful backdrops, picture cards and real materials like sugar dolls and clay pots. Students understood the importance of the harvest festival and the moral values like sharing, caring and respecting elders.
The students took part in the assembly enthusiastically.

Lohri is a folk festival of Punjab that marks the end of the winter season. It is a celebration of the onset of the harvest season. The ancient significance of the festival is both as a winter crop season celebration and a remembrance of the Sun deity Surya. On the auspicious occasion of Lohri, the school organized several virtual activities during the morning assembly organised for the students of grade VIII to spread the feeling of joy in them.
School assembly develops the feeling of being united helping the children to understand the school in a better way and learn valuable lessons. This helps to transform the students into responsible, sensible and knowledgeable human beings. A special assembly was conducted on 13th January 2022 in which the students from Grade VIII participated whole heartedly.
The students highlighted the importance of the festival by giving speeches, showing presentations and making drawings. They stole the show by singing the lohri song ‘sunder munderiye’. To add fun, a few students enacted on the story of ‘Dhulla Bhatti wala’. All the students participated enthusiastically and enjoyed it a lot.

“All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.”
- Shakespeare.
Character portrayal is the act of imitating character or behavior of someone who is different from us. Shakespeare has rightly said “Be great in act, as you have been in thought.”
To develop understanding of their texts, a role play activity was conducted for the students of grade VIII. They were asked to enact their favourite character form the chapters taught from their NCERT book. The students selected various characters like Princess September, Veera, Munna, Manoj Dutta, Bipin Choudhary, etc from the stories.
The students enacted creatively and enthusiastically by applying matching background and appropriate props. The significant approach of the activity was dialogue delivery and the proper intonation made the children enter in the real character. The peers reviewed each other and commended each performance. The teacher provided relevant feedback and applauded the amazing performance of every child.

Shalom Hills International School motivates its learners to experience different tastes of life by doing. With this mission, the students of grade 8 were encouraged to present Abhyuday activity for the month of January. This activity spread awareness among students to explore more about Luminous Balls- Illuminating Acumen. The scintillating presentation by the students of grade 8 was enthralling, bringing out the actual potential of our students. The students created power point to present the differences between the stars and comets. This individual activity witnessed the progressive ideas and futuristic approach which welcomed the budding scientist to take up the cudgel and be the glittering stars.
The young researchers realized the role of stars in religious ceremonies and navigation for travelling at night. Their dedication and persistence were well reflected in their presentations. This activity gave the students a golden opportunity to discover and learn about the solar system in a fulfilling manner.

“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” ? Aristotle
Role play is the act of imitating the character and behaviour of someone, who is different from us. With an aim to develop an awareness of empathy and practice implementing specific language and skills, a role-playing activity virtually was conducted for the students of Grade 6. Based on the chapter – ‘What Happened to the Reptiles?’, students were given a choice to select any character from the story and perform the role play in the class. They were given a time limit of one minute to do the enactment.
The students picked up different characters like the Makara, the Snake, the Tortoise, the old man, Prem etc. from the given story. They enacted very creatively by applying appropriate backgrounds and using various props. The best part of the activity was the dialogue delivery and the intonation used by the students to make the character come alive. After every act, the classmates applauded their efforts and commented on appropriateness of actions and provided relevant feedback.
Every student contributed his/her best and tried to imitate perfectly, showing the required emotions. Everyone was full of excitement and displayed his/her zeal in participating in the ‘Role Play’, loving it thoroughly.

“A world without wetland is a world without water”
Water is essential for all life on Earth. One of these freshwater habitats- wetlands are areas of land that are saturated with water. They are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. They are kidneys of the landscape as they have the ability to clean the water that flows through them, mitigate large flood events and recharge underground aquifers.
Children of Grade III-V attended Eco-Club meet with their respective teachers on the theme of ‘Wetlands’. As 40% of the world’s species live and breed in the wetlands, so our young Shalomites enthusiastically participated in the interactive session and showed curiosity to know more about it. They were informed about Ramsar Convention which works to protect wetlands globally.
Children were shown videos towards the end of the meeting through which they learned more about the topic and suggested various ways to stop the destruction of wetlands. Meeting concluded with discussion about the activity.

The theme for Grade 7 Subject Enrichment Activity for the month of January was “Make your own garden”. The students were asked to create their own garden which included all the animals, insects, birds that seem dangerous but aren’t harmful. Some students drew beautiful and colourful gardens with different birds and animals, some prepared power point presentations and some made amazing models of gardens. All the students of grade 7 took part in this activity and came up with truly creative and innovative ideas. They expressed their views regarding various life forms which are harmless by nature. Their zeal and enthusiasm for the activity was reflected through their work.
The activity aimed at making the students more sensitive and understanding towards other life forms in nature and to encourage them to live in harmony with each other. The activity assisted students in enhancing their awareness level, creative skills and use their higher order thinking skills. It was a very educative and informative activity which involved research and hard work on the part of students who enjoyed it thoroughly.

“I am standing at my own ALTAR; the Poses are my prayers.”
– B. K. S. Iyengar
Under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, the Government of India organised a mass Surya Namaskar Demonstration Programme through virtual mode to mark the auspicious occasion of Makar Sakranti on 14th January 2022.
The event witnessed the participation of leading Yoga institutions, various bodies and organizations, both from India and abroad, through virtual mode. The Ministry of Ayush along with the leading Yoga institutions of the country came together to make it a people centric successful programme with the tagline “Surya Namaskar for Vitality” and ‘???????????? ????? ????? ?? ????’.
Surya Namaskar is the King of all Poses as it has 12 different poses or asanas as one complete workout. Each of the 12 poses of Surya Namaskar individually works on every part and muscle group of the body for wholistic wellbeing and fitness. By practising these exercises, you get an opportunity to express gratitude to the Sun, our life-giving force.
We, at Shalom Hills International School, with profound belief in our virtues and culture, focus on instilling our Vedic and cultural values in our students. The students were very excited to learn about Surya Namaskar and its various benefits There was massive participation by our teachers, students and their families in this virtual event.

Important harvest festivals Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Bihu and Pongal were celebrated and discussed in the morning assembly of grade I-V. The aim was to make the children understand the significance of celebrating these festivals. All of these are important harvest festivals celebrated across India in the month of January.
Harvest becomes one of the most important occasions in a country that is heavily reliant on agriculture. India is such a diverse country; various states hold a plethora of harvest festivities. Harvest festivals commemorate not just the ripening of the crops, but also a significant astronomical change in the solar system. They are considered fortunate times and are so honoured by festivities and prayers.
The students discussed about how these festivals are celebrated in their home states. A few students showed the special dishes made during the festival. Many students added colourful background images of the festivals in the online classes. It made them aware about their strong cultural heritage and created an atmosphere of festivity all around.

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.
- Vincent van Gogh

Abhyuday Activity was conducted for Grade 6, on January 13, 2022 with the motive to research, make connections, transfer knowledge and apply it. A topic ‘Air Pollution’ based on the Science Chapter –Air Around Us, was taken.
Air is the biggest essential factor that is necessary for the survival of any living species. There is a certain percentage of gases present in the atmosphere. An increase or decrease in the composition of these gases is harmful to survival. Air pollution is a significant risk factor for a number of pollution-related diseases. In order to acquaint the students with the alarming air quality and the need of the hour to reduce it, they were asked to make a poster depicting the alternatives and Eco- friendly ways to tackle air pollution.
Students actively participated in the activity, expressing their ideas in the form of art. The activity helped them to attach ideas and skills to the theme and understand the importance of fresh air. It also helped them to understand the roles we can play to combat air pollution.

An art integrated activity, Rainbow Name Hunt, based on the lessons of their English textbook 'The Rain’, was conducted for the students of class 1 on 13th January 2022.
The aim of this activity was to make the students understand the occurrence of a rainbow in the rainy season and also to make them know the seven different colours of a rainbow. The students cut seven rainbow colour strips and pasted them creatively in their English notebook. The students were also introduced to the acronym VIBGYOR through which they learnt the correct order of the colours in a rainbow. They also learnt about the secondary colours; their names and their spellings.
This fun with learning activity was thoroughly enjoyed by the children.

The theme for Grade 7 Abhyuday activity for the month of January was “Water: the elixir of life”. The students were asked to design colourful posters and express their views regarding the importance of water in our life. All the students took part in this activity and came up with truly creative and innovative ideas regarding the conservation of water. They showed through their impressive posters how precious water is for all the living things on the earth. Their zeal and enthusiasm for the activity was reflected through their posters.
The activity aimed at making the students more thoughtful towards the proper use of the very important natural resource-water, without which survival is impossible on the earth. The activity assisted students in enhancing their awareness level, creative skills and use their higher order thinking skills. It was a very educative and informative activity which involved research and hard work on the part of students. Students enjoyed it thoroughly.

“The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourself”
Swami Vivekananda
National Youth Day, also known as Vivekananda Jayanti, is celebrated on 12th January, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda to inspire the youth of India with the philosophy and ideals of Swamiji.
The National Youth Day is observed all over India in schools and colleges, with processions, speeches, music, youth conventions, seminars, Yogasanas, presentations, essay-writing competitions, recitations and sports.
The young minds of Shalom Hills celebrated this day with pride and enthusiasm. The class teachers explained the importance and significance of this day to the students through a PPT during the assembly. The students participated by preparing posters and other props for the presentation and shared interesting information about this day.
The students learnt that hard work and dedication can help youth of India transform the future. The teachings of Swami Vivekananda inspire the youth to develop a confident attitude.

“Hard work is equal to prayer.”– Shri Lal Bahadur Shastriji"

January 11 marks the remembrance day of Lal Bahadur Shastriji, an Indian politician who served as the country's second Prime Minister after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru in May 1964.
Whenever we discuss the simplest personalities in the history of India, our former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri tops the list. Shastrijipromoted both the White Revolution - a nationwide campaign to increase the production of milk, as well as the Green Revolution - which saw the adoption of modern method and technology in agriculture to increase the production. India won the 1965 war with Pakistan under his leadership and during this war Shastriji coined his immortal slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”which means “Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer”.He passed away in Tashkent, Soviet Unionon January 11, 1966.
Today, the young Shalomities paid tribute to this great son of the soil by remembering all his work. Children recited poems, delivered speeches and displayed his famous slogans through placards. Class teachers shared information about Shastriji’s life through a PPT and motivated children to take inspiration from his life.

The water cycle is an extremely important process as it enables the availability of water for all living organisms and regulates weather patterns on our planet. The hydrologic cycle, or water cycle describes how water evaporates from the surface of the earth, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses into rain or snow in clouds, and falls again to the surface as precipitate. Knowing the importance of water cycle will help the children better understand the importance of our drinking water supply as well as important processes that the earth goes through.
To make students aware about the cyclic process of water in nature, an activity on water cycle was conducted in grade IV on 27th December 2021.
Children used innovative ideas using waste materials to show different processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation and accumulation during the presentation of water cycle. The activity helped the students to build their kinesthetic skills and the objective of ‘learning by doing’ was achieved.

A metropolitan area, sometimes referred to as a metro area or commuter belt, is a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing.
The goal of this activity was to monitor student learning and to provide ongoing feedback that can be used by facilitators to improve their learning skills.
A Show and tell activity on monuments of metropolitan cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, was conducted in all the sections of grade III. Students were asked to show the picture or model of monuments and talk about the historical background of different monuments of India. They also explained about the importance of that monument in our country. This activity enhanced the knowledge of the students about the metro cities.
The activity helped the students in their concept building and bound them throughout the learning session.

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful”.

Christmas is celebrated every year on 25th December. This was the day Jesus Christ was born. He came into this world to save the sinners. During Christmas, people decorate their houses with Christmas trees, lights and stars. It is one of the most popular festivals celebrated worldwide. Christmas is loved by children since they receive gifts from Santa Claus. They love decorating trees and enjoy meeting their friends and relatives.
A beautiful activity named ‘Joy of Giving’ was conducted for the students of class 1 on 24th December 2021. As we all know that colours are a part of our culture, therefore in this activity the children made a wonderful Christmas tree, decorated it with colourful things and made a wish for their friends. This amazing activity was thoroughly enjoyed by the students.

Christmas is a season that brings with it a spirit of joy, hope, love and peace. All these emotions and much more were experienced by the students of the primary wing during the Christmas Carnival.
It was a time of fun and frolic for the students as the following activities were aligned for them which they enjoyed thoroughly.
Grade I to V- Movie time showing the life of Jesus Christ. A few students spoke lines about the ‘Act of Kindness’ that they can do towards others and the spirit of giving that is associated with Christmas. The students also participated in Cooking without Fire Activity that was in sync with the Christmas theme.
Apart from the above-mentioned activities Grade I and II students also engaged in a skit, followed by fun games, a dance party and a fashion show.
Grade III did a ramp walk of Christmas characters and played 'My Secret Santa Activity’.
Students of Grade IV and V participated in a Christmas quiz and watched the ‘Christmas Ballad’ prepared by their fellow students.
The day ended with students singing carols and dancing to Christmas songs.

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King.”
Christmas is a season of enjoying the simple things that make life beautiful, counting our blessings and being grateful for them. This is a season filled with warmth and comfort from loved ones. Keeping the same spirit Shalom Hills International School celebrated Christmas on the virtual platform.
On December 23, the students came prepared with presentations and models showing Christmas celebrations in different countries. They displayed their talents in ‘Best Out of Waste’ activity, prepared Christmas decorations using waste materials and participated in passing Secret Santa messages, wherein they spoke a few lines in the form of Poems for their loved ones. They also talked about the importance and significance of this festival.
December 24 found the students all dressed up beautifully with Christmas caps, masks and props. One could easily notice the excitement of Christmas in their eyes.
The students gave wonderful performances such as - carol singing, playing guitar, playing piano, amazing presentations, self-composed poem, monologue as Rudolph, role enactment. Graceful classical dance on Christmas jingle, stole the show. The students applauded each other and the celebration concluded by wishing each other- ‘Merry Christmas’.

The month of caring, sharing, giving and relishing is here.
On the occasion of one of the most auspicious days of the year, Grade VI celebrated Christmas on 23rd and 24th December.
There were several activities planned for the students. They participated in Caring Christmas – Making cut-outs of Christmas symbols and writing their significance; Carol Singing – It brings us together and connects us; The Confusing World- An ecosphere of riddles and puzzles; and last but never the least People on Stage – Nativity Play and The Elf and the Shoes.
The Shalomites uncovered all the possible shades of Christmas. Their gusto, delightfulness, and forever smiling faces made this Christmas as special as always.
Children were surprised to see secret Santa who shared riddles with his quick jokes and quoted “Happy Children, Happy Santa” and made the overall event an enthralling experience. children thanked and bid adieu with happy smiles and laughter.

Shalom Hills International School encourages its promising scholars to learn by exploring. With this mission, the students of grade 8 were motivated to present Abhyuday activity for the month of December. This activity has spread awareness among students to explore more about eminent writers of English language and literature.
The outstanding presentations by the students of grade 8 enthralled everyone was testimony of the best effort by our team leaders and educators. The students created power points to present the best renaissance writers who brought about dramatic changes which was noticed by European art and literature.
This individual activity witnessed the research ability, creativity, presentation skills and futuristic approach of the budding writers. The young writers learnt a great deal about their chosen renowned literary figures. Their dedication and persistence were well reflected in their excellent presentations.

“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.”
Rivers are the lifelines of our country and the land of Telangana is fortunate to have perennial rivers such as Godavari and Krishna flowing through it. There are multiple hydro-power projects constructed there to harness the powerful resource.
For ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ CBSE activity, students of Shalom Hills International School were shown a documentary on the rivers and dams in Telangana. After witnessing it, the students were asked to write a report on the same.
We hope that by reiterating the importance of water bodies, we create a powerful next generation of water saviours.

 

The much-awaited virtual special assembly on the festival of Christmas was celebrated with fervor and zeal by kindergarten children on 23rd December 2021. The students presented an array of interesting programs.
The students presented a thought-provoking skit, the birth of Jesus, the story of Santa and Rudolph the reindeer which emphasized that Christmas is more than just cards, toys or gifts under the Christmas tree. The skit brought forth the true meaning of the Yuletide spirit which lay in the joy of giving and helping those who are less fortunate. The children were filled with joy and excitement. The message of the assembly was loud and clear— Come, let us embrace the spirit of Christmas by bringing joy and happiness into everyone’s life.

 

An activity was conducted in grade V as a recap to the topic learnt by the students about ‘Water and Air’. The blanket of air surrounding the earth is made up of five layers of the atmosphere. To reinforce their learning the students made a model of the different layers of the atmosphere.
The activity was conducted online under the supervision of their respective Science teachers. The students used pastel sheets, origami sheets and even plain white sheets to cut out semicircles of increasing sizes, which they then pasted in their notebooks acting as the base. The students wrote the names of the different layers of the atmosphere. They also drew on the semi circles important features about each layer and how it is helpful to people on earth. This activity helped them to reinforce the importance of the atmosphere by means of craft work and colours. It also helped promote kinaesthetic learning and prevent rote learning. The children completed the activity in the given time and represented beautiful and self-explanatory detailed models of the layers of the atmosphere.

 

"A farmer is a magician who produces money from the mud."
Farmers are the backbone of a society. They are the ones who work around the clock and the year to ensure that people don't starve and die of hunger but they themselves struggle for two square meals a day. Therefore, to promote awareness to help and reward farmers for their contribution to society and mark the birth anniversary of the nation’s former Prime Minister, Choudhary Charan Singh, National Farmers’ Day, or Kisan Diwas, is celebrated across the country on December 23.
To sensitise the students about his contributions in the agricultural sector, an online special assembly was organised for classes I-V on 23th December 2021. The young scholars with the help of posters, speeches, debates and power point presentations highlighted various policies and reforms introduced by this ‘Kisan leader’ to improve the lives of the farmers. This informative assembly was a golden opportunity for the students to understand the major role played by the Indian farmers in the economic development of the country.
The enlightening assembly ended with the famous slogan - "JAI JAWAN JAI KISAN" which was given to the farmers by Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India.

British poet W. H. Auden once noted, “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” Yet while we all know water is crucial for life, we trash it anyway.
This activity gave students an opportunity to explore and understand that water pollution has a significant impact on society and the environment. Mentors at SHIS educated their students so that they can make a difference – whether it be in their personal lives or as Eco-Warriors.
To spark the inner environmentalist in students, the activity, ‘‘Impact of Water Pollution”, was conducted in all sections of grades I to V. The students were required to make a PPT/use MS Paint to study and highlight the impact of water pollution on different life forms and to share the same with their family members, friends. The students shared interesting pictures and presentations related to the activity and uploaded it on Teams.
The teachers motivated them to share their knowledge and unleash their creativity. This activity gave them an overview about Water Pollution, its causes, its categories and the useful preventive measures to control water pollution.

Freedom is a precious gift given by our Freedom fighters. Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is being celebrated on completing 75 Years of Independence of the country, achieved on 15th August 1947. For this freedom, many brave freedom Fighters and leaders had sacrificed themselves.
In order to make the young generation aware, ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav – Role Play’ was conducted at Shalom Hills International School on 22nd December, 2021. Students were dressed up as different freedom fighters during the assembly periods. Students demonstrated the freedom fighters’ personality through different role plays. They delivered famous lines of our great martyrs.

Challenge yourself by stepping out of your comfort zone, and you may even surprise yourself with a newfound passion.
The purpose of language learning is to not only improve the speakers' four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, but also to augment their personalities and give them a greater perspective. Among the four skills, reading is one of the most powerful things in the world, offering you new opportunities to learn, grow and be inspired!
The CBSE Reading Challenge was organized for students of classes 6th to 10th from 22/11/21 to31/12/21 on the DIKSHA platform under the 21st-century skills competencies. The Shalomites participated in this challenge with zeal and vigour .

Quiz is important because it is a good indicator of students’ comprehension and instructor effectiveness. A Quiz can be entertaining too; it has the quality to bring a smile on the face and fill people with excitement. Quizzes are meant to educate and help develop the attitude of reading patiently. As they require critical thinking and extensive research, students get into the habit of innovative learning.
Keeping in mind all the benefits, a ‘Quiz’ was organized for the students of Grade 6 based on the chapter – ‘Desert Animals’. 15 Multiple choice questions were given to the students using Quizzez.com. Students were given 30 seconds to answer each question.
Students actively participated, trying to compete with each other in a positive way. They applauded each other’s efforts and learned more about Desert animals at the same time.

The theme for Grade 7 Abhyuday activity for the month of December was prominent classical writers. The students were asked to choose any two classical writers and talk about their works, styles and times in which they wrote. The students showed great enthusiasm for this activity and presented their work in a most impressive manner. Students used different sizes colourful sheets and pasted pictures of their favourite writers. They talked about their popular works and their style of writing. Some students talked about Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, George Orwell whereas others talked about Virginia Woolf, George Eliot, Mary Shelley etc.
The activity helped students to enhance their knowledge about various classical writers and their contribution in English literature. The activity facilitated in boosting the self-confidence, public speaking skills and presentation skills of the students. It was a very educative and informative activity which involved research and hardwork on the part of students. Students enjoyed it thoroughly.

Solidarity is capable of reducing inequality and social injustice in the world. It leads to the sustainable development of people.
Solidarity can be cultivated through education. With this thought in mind, we at shalom conducted a special assembly in the primary wing, trying to inculcate the concept and importance of solidarity.
The basic purpose of International Human Solidarity Day is to promote the culture of cooperation, equality and social justice in the world. The United Nation’s creation brought the nations and people of the world together to promote human rights, social and economic development and peace.
Students were explained how solidarity can be achieved in our everyday life and day-to-day work by citing examples of flood, drought, pandemic, poverty, hunger etc.

Dramatic enactment conveys an image of action, emotional involvement and excitement. Students get the opportunity to become the persons, objects or ideas that are an integral part of the academic curriculum
To inculcate love for language among the students and enhance their literary skills, a role play and dialogue writing activity was organized for Grade IX students. The activity was based on the play - If I Were You by Douglas James that has mystery, suspense, surprise and humour.
The aim of the activity was to enhance communication, speaking and acting skills of the students. The students got the guidelines to improve their gestures, creativity, stage-craft and acting skills.

 

 

“Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” - Albert Einstein

With the motive to make students develop conceptual connections between their various subjects, an ‘Abhyuday Activity’ was conducted on December 17, 2021 for Grade 6. A topic ‘Ratio and Proportion’ was taken from Mathematics and students were asked to research about the National Flag of India focusing on the ratio of its length and breadth.
Ratios, which are actually mathematical relationships, are perfect examples of Math in the real world. Grocery shopping, cooking and getting from place to place are three common, real-life situations in which ratios are essential. Students researched on the ratio of our National Flag and presented the activity by drawing the flag in the ratio 3:2 and highlighting the importance of each part.
Students actively participated in the activity, enjoying it thoroughly. The activity helped them to explore ideas for enhancing connections between subjects, know more about our National Flag and collect information relevant for their learning.

December 16, Vijay Diwas, marks the 50th anniversary of the Indian Armed Forces' victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. It was the day when the Indian army brought Pakistani soldiers to their knees and Bangladesh came into existence. The day is observed across the country by paying tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation.

To make children aware of this important day a special assembly was conducted in grades I to V. The students wrote slogans, made posters and other props for the presentation to pay tribute to our soldiers on Vijay Diwas. They showcased their creative skills and shared their knowledge about this day. Students were able to understand that soldiers are the guardians of the nation and protect us even at the cost of their own life, and how they fulfil their duties despite the hardships.

Vijay Diwas is indeed a Day for Remembrance of our brave soldiers who sacrifice their lives for the nation. We salute the bravery, courage and sacrifice of our Indian soldiers.

Jai Hind

India is a parliamentary secular democratic republic in which the President of India is the head of state and the Prime Minister of India is the head of the government. In a parliamentary democracy, like India, citizens elect their representatives, thus influencing government policy.
The Politics of India works within the framework of the country's constitution. The candidates are members of political parties. A political party brings together people with the same political ideas. Every political party in India - whether a national/ regional/ state party - must have a symbol and must be registered with the Election Commission of India. Symbols are used to identify political parties so that illiterate people can vote by recognizing the party symbols.
To make the students aware about various political parties in India an activity – ‘Political Parties of India’, was conducted in Grade IV where in students were asked to speak about one national & one state party of India with the help of their political symbols. They shared information about the history, contribution and famous leaders of their chosen party in an interesting way. The activity was an enriching experience for the students and they enjoyed doing it.

“The earth, the air, the land, and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on loan from our children. So, we have to handover to them at least as it been handed over to us.” -Gandhi ji

Water is not only required for our survival but for a healthy and happy life as well. Everyone has seen the scenario of water-deprived countries like Africa, where citizens are leading a miserable life. It is time for everyone to wake up and realize the urgency of conserving water.
Shalom Hills International School endeavours to work for the entire society and humanity, and help raise a responsible generation. As astep in this direction, students were asked to check the leakage of water in their houses as well in the premises of their society and get it repaired. Shalomites did the activity with enthusiasm and discussed who all helped them in it.
As we all know, no one can live without water and this is the first need of any living being. We should understand the importance of water in our life and use it judiciously.

 

ICT Skill Club Activity was conducted on 18th December 2021 in Grade VI-A. The program started by reciting the Lord’s prayer and a presentation to show on how to make a Christmas card using the website- Canva.com.
During the activity, live demonstration was shown to the children on how to make a card on canva.com along with a presentation shown to them. Students performed the activity during the class and prepared wonderful cards for the Christmas festival by following the instructions-

1.Open www.canva.com
2.Login with Gmail account
3.Search design for Card
4.Use an image as background from the Photos option.
5.Type text using Text option.
6.Use different Christmas elements to decorate the card using Elements option.
7.Download the card in gif or mp4 format.

Students participated actively and took interest and showed their talent.

The objective of the Craft Activity: Christmas Wreath, with the students was to make them learn about the skills of cutting, tying, pasting. The steps to conduct the activity were explained and demonstrated. After the explanation the children were asked to do the same step by step with the material available with them i.e., pastel sheets, fevicol/glue, scissors etc.
It was a very interesting activity to develop craft skills and the students enjoyed it immensely.

With the goal of helping children to get over the fear of the unknown people in the room, an activity - Introduce Your Fellow MUN Delegate, was organized for the children of grade VI G. The activity commenced with a video - MUN for beginners, and a PPT on MUN being shown to the children.

The students were divided into pairs for the activity and required to get to know each other. This was then followed by the two students introducing each other to the rest of the class.
The students were very enthusiastic and enjoyed the activity a lot. They were explained how they have to do research for MUN. Through this activity they interacted with their classmates which helped them to shed their shyness.

As a theme “On the spot story recitation” Triveni Skill club was conducted on 18th December with the objective to develop the confidence of the children through discussion and class presentation. The students gained an understanding of how a story can be created. They also recognized the importance of Hindi language.
The session started with the introduction and importance of Triveni club. Children were told how to make a story and they were also given time to present the scene. The Children came up with different stories on the topic and related the same with great zeal. Children used their creativity and imagination to created beautiful stories. Students were judged on parameters like confidence, voice modulation and overall performance.

Learning is always a two-way process.

In an enthralling session, the students of Grade VI B learned about William Shakespeare’s life and his works. The students were shown a video reflecting William Shakespeare’s life, his era, the kingship, and the suffering and discoveries during that time. This session not only inculcated the existence of Shakespeare even in the simplest of the conversations but also focused on students’ presentation skills as after the session they made an infographic on William Shakespeare.

The students participated with zeal and their excitement was clearly portrayed through their work which enhanced their research and pictorial communication.

“I am a soldier. I fight where I Am told, and I win where I fight.”

The Assembly on Vijay Diwas was conducted successfully in all the sections of class VII. Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on 16th December in India in remembrance of the martyrs, their sacrifices, and to strengthen the role of armed forces for the cause of the nation. It is also named as ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ to rekindle the pride and valour of the soldiers who took part in Operation Vijay.
Speeches were conducted by the students in the classes during the assembly period. They displayed their enthusiasm in delivering the speech on ‘VIJAY DIWAS’.

“Saving energy today will make tomorrow bright!”

The National Energy Conservation Day is celebrated every year on December 14 since 1991. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Ministry of Power spearheads the celebrations every year. The objective is to drive mass awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and conservation. It focuses on making people aware of global warming and climate change and promotes efforts towards saving energy resources.

Energy conservation is achievable by using energy more efficiently and reducing the amount of service usage. Most of the energy sources are 'non-renewable' and may last only for another 40 years or so. Therefore, every individual must include energy conservation in their behaviour for energy conservation.

To aware and sensitize the grade I-V students , a special assembly was organized about the importance of energy and the need for conserving it. Teachers focused on various natural energy sources that generate sufficient energy for use in daily life, like fossil fuels, crude oil, coal and natural gas. The importance of conserving energy and using renewable sources of energy were explained through PPT.

“Our dependence on fossil fuels amounts to global pyromania, and the only fire extinguisher we have at our disposal is renewable energy.” - Hermann Scheer

In order to promote energy conservation, ‘National Energy Conservation Day’ was celebrated at Shalom Hills International School on December 14, 2021. Energy conservation is a big necessity that is required for our future well-being. It is a practice that everyone should indulge in to make the future of our earth better. The agenda of celebrating national energy conservation Day is to raise awareness regarding the importance of energy and resource conservation.
A PPT was presented by the students on ‘National Energy Conservation Day’ in the classes during the assembly period. Students spoke about how prudently use available resources and prevent energy wastage through efficient methods.
The teachers and the students expressed their views on the importance of efficient energy conservation. Students displayed their enthusiasm in delivering speeches on the topic.

'Education is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think.' - Albert Einstein

Empowering today's students to become innovative thinkers is an ambitious goal endorsed by Shalom Hills International School and driven by this vision, the school’s constant effort is to build on experiential learning engagements.
Keeping abreast with the topic which they have learnt, the students of Class V exhibited their skills of brochure making on Religious and Social reformers of India of Pre-Independence era.
Brochures, tell us the substance, the content of the topic in the most artistic and enlightening way. The efforts put in by the students were evident from the attractive brochures made. They drew/pasted pictures of various social and religious reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Mother Teresa, etc.
Children artistically decorated their brochures and shared the same in the class, explaining the facts related to the reformers and their contribution in transforming the mindset of the people.
It truly helped the young souls to show their Creativity to best of their abilities.

Human Rights Day-  It is celebrated annually across the world to honour the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights and one of the first major achievements of the new United Nations. This day is observed to protect the fundamental human rights of all people, and their basic human freedom.

UNICEF DAY- It is observed on 11th December by the United Nations. UNICEF stands for United Nations International Children Emergency Fund. The program was initiated by the UN to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general welfare of children devastated, due to World War II.
International Mountain Day- It is celebrated on 11th December, every year, to educate children, and people, about the role that mountains play in providing fresh water, clean energy, food, and recreation. The theme for this year's World Mountain Day was “Sustainable Mountain Tourism”.
To highlight the importance of these days the students of class: I –V were shown a PowerPoint presentation on these days explaining the importance human rights, full form and role of UNICEF and importance of mountains present in our environment.

On December 9, the world observes International Anti-Corruption Day. Preventing corruption, unlocks progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, helps protect our planet, creates jobs, achieves gender equality, and secures wider access to essential services such as healthcare and education. The 2021 International Anti-Corruption Day seeks to highlight the rights and responsibilities of everyone including State, Government officials, civil servants, law enforcement officers, media representatives, the private, civil society, academia, the public and youth in tackling corruption.
To make everyone aware and highlight the importance of this day the students of class: I-V were shown a PowerPoint presentation on Anti-Corruption. Children were explained the theme for the International Anti-Corruption Day 2021 - “Your right, your role: Say No to corruption”, and to protect their right, they need to be aware of the role they play and responsibilities they have in the fight against corruption.
There was full and enthusiastic participation of the students in this special assembly. It was a great learning and awareness drive for all the students.

Class: I-V Celebrate
International Civil Aviation Day and Armed Forces Flag Day
7th December 2021
In 1996, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 7th December as the International Civil Aviation Day to recognize the importance of aviation, especially international air travel, to the social and economic development of the world.
On 28th August, 1949, a committee set up under the defence minister decided to observe a Flag Day annually on 7th December with the purpose of distributing small flags to the general population and in return collecting donations.
To make everyone aware and highlight the importance of these two events, the students of Class: I-V were shown PowerPoint presentations on International Civil Aviation Day and Armed Forces Flag Day. They were explained about their purpose and significance.
There was full and enthusiastic participation of the students in this special assembly. It was a great learning and awareness drive for all the students.

GRADE I ENGLISH ACTIVITY-‘This, That, These and Those Pelmanism’
December 10th, 2021
Activity based learning is a subset for experiential learning. It plays a major role in students’ learning. An activity related to the use of ‘this, that, these and those’, was conducted for the students of class 1 on 3rd December, 2020.

The purpose of the activity was to develop writing and language skills in the students. The students drew different pictures in their English notebooks to demonstrate the use of ‘This, That, These and Those’. They divided the notebook into four parts and drew and wrote the sentences demonstrating the usage of ‘This, That, These and Those’. They learnt about using these words in singular and plural nouns.

In this activity, the students participated with a lot of interest and developed the vocabulary of the students. It was thoroughly enjoyed by each one of them.

Grade V English Activity
Character Sketch of the Pied Piper of Hamelin
9th December, 2021
Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.
For our writing muscles to be in shape the students of grade V exercised their writing muscles. Our young scholars were introduced to the concept of ‘a character sketch’. A short piece of writing describing a person’s qualities traits or behavioral patterns.
On completion of the famous children’s classic- The Pied Piper of Hamlin, our young Shalomites showed their understanding of the Pied Piper’s overall personality by drawing and writing a character sketch of him.
Their understanding, imagination and vividity were astounding. The perception of the motive for certain actions taken in the story were shared with clarity, mindfulness and rationale.
The activity was well executed and enjoyed by both the facilitator and the students.

GRADE-VIII English Subject Enrichment Activity
December 7, 2021
For our students to develop into responsible and integrated individuals, Shalom Hills International School encouragesits promising scholars to learn by exploring.
With this mission, the students of grade 8 were motivated to perform an activity based on Interview Questions. This activity motivated the students to explore more about great personalities. The wonderful presentation by the students re-affirmed the potential of our children. The students used placards, emojis and craftwork to depict the virtual newsroom. This group activity witnessed the progressive ideas and futuristic approach which welcomed the budding reporters in the field of critical thinking.
The young reporters realized the impressive technique to conduct the interviews in the virtual newsroom. Their dedication and persistence were well reflected in the presentation.

Class:I-V Special Assembly- Dr. B R Ambedkar’s Death Anniversary
6th December, 2021

“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.” Dr. BR Ambedkar

6th December marks the 65thDeath Anniversary of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar or Dr. BR Ambedkar, born on April 14, 1891.Popularly known as Baba Saheb, he is the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, was also a jurist, economist, politician and social reformer.Dr.BR Ambedkar, who campaigned against social discrimination against Untouchables (Dalits), was the first law minister of independent India.

In 1990, the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, was posthumously conferred upon Dr. Ambedkar.Being born an 'Untouchable', Dr. Ambedkar faced caste discrimination of the worst kind. Despite this stigma he worked his way forward fighting discrimination at every step and achieved the highest degrees from world-famous universities and rose to become one of the makers of modern India.

On the occasion of his Death Anniversary the students of classes I-V paid tribute to him in the morning assembly through inspirational quotes and speeches. Students spoke about his achievements as a scholar and prolific writer. Students understood the importance of inculcating the teachings ofDr. BR Ambedkar in our life to be able to live a fruitful life.

Classes III-VEco-Club Activity- ‘Save Energy, Feel Energetic’
December 4, 2021
‘Saving energy TODAY will make TOMORROW bright.’
With the growing population of the world, energy requirements are also increasing. National Energy Conservation Day is marked every year in India, for mass awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and conservation.
Energy conservation emphasizes the judicious use of energy to minimize wastage and save sources for the future. However, energy conservation is achievable either by using energy more efficiently or by reducing the amount of service usage.Most of the energy sources we use in our daily lives are 'non-renewable’, they cannot be reused and renewed.
To spread awareness of energy efficiency and green and sustainable energy among the students, riddles and the quiz were organized by the ‘Eco-Club’ for the students of grades III-V. Questions were asked about different topics related to renewable energy resources and energy conservation through aPPT and videos.
The Eco –Warriors took an oath to become the ambassadors in raising awareness regarding energy saving for a sustainable future.

Class: I-V Indian Navy Day and World Soil Day Celebration
3rd December 2021
Navy Day in India is observed on 4th of December every year to celebrate the magnificence, achievements and role of the Naval Force. Our Navy not only helps in securing the marine borders of the country, it also helps in enhancing the international relations of India through seaport visits. They are the first ones who reach the locals at the time of crisis and distress like high tides, hurricanes, extreme rains and other natural calamities.
A special assembly was organised in SHIS (Middle Wing) in which students spoke on the importance of Indian Navy Day. They shared how Navy week is celebrated every year based on a particular theme. A short speech emphasizing the history of the Indian Navy filled the young hearts with ecstasy, pride and honour. The observance of Navy Day also raised desire in the young minds to opt Navy as a career and serve the motherland.

World Soil Day is held annually on December 5 as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate sustainable management of soil resources. An international day to celebrate Soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002.

With the vital theme 'caring for the planet starts from the ground’, SHIS (Middle Wing) organized a special assembly to celebrate the World Soil Day. Spreading awareness regarding significant processes like soil erosion, its importance, food, water, climate and biodiversity, the assembly began with a speech, emphasising the importance of the day. The students highlighted the states of India with different types of soils and the measures to be taken to save it. It raised awareness among the students about the critical importance of different varieties of soil and inspired them to explore new opportunities to embrace sustainable development. The assembly sensitized the students towards the fact that Soil is more valuable than oil!

Class V Mathematics Activity “Percentage Hunt”
December 2, 2021

The term "percentage" was adapted from the Latin word "per centum", which means "by the hundred". Percentages are fractions with 100 as the denominator. In other words, it is the relation between part and whole where the value of whole is always taken as 100. Percentages are used widely and in many different areas in our day to day life. For example- discounts in shops, bank interest rates.
To make the children understand its concept and application, the activity “Percentage Hunt” was conducted in grade V. The students made a grid of numbers from 1 to 50 and applied the concept of percentage to find the solutions of the questions given from the grid. For example- they calculated the percentage of prime numbers from the number grid.
Participating enthusiastically, the students presented the activity in an attractive way with colorful grid of numbers.

lass: I-V National Pollution Control Day
2nd December, 2021

2nd December is observed as National Pollution Control Day every year, in the memory of those who lost their lives in the Bhopal gas tragedy on the night of 2nd and 3rd of December, 1984. Many people died due to poisonous gas Methyl Isocyanate, also known as MIC. Its aim is to spread awareness among the people about environmental pollution and its disastrous consequences.
To make everyone aware, highlight the increasing air pollution and educate the young minds about how to control and manage industrial disasters, the students of class: I-V were shown a PowerPoint presentation on National Pollution Control Day, explaining the importance of this tragic day.
It was a great learning and awareness drive for all the students.

Grade 6 English Abhyuday Activity
November 29, 2021
“A livelihood. I do not preach in vain. There’s no apostle I would counterfeit; I mean to have money, wool and cheese and wheat”- Geoffrey Chaucer

Abhyuday Activity was conducted on November 29, 2021 with the motive to motivate students to explore new things, make connections, transfer knowledge and apply it. A topic was taken based on the Social Science Chapter –‘Rural Livelihood’, for Grade 6.
About 65.53% out of the total population of India lives in rural areas as per the data of 2019. There are various types of livelihood opportunities in rural India. There are many farm and non-farm activities that are present which people generally use in rural areas to live their lives. In order to apprise the students with the lifestyles of the rural people, they were asked to research and make a collage of the rural livelihoods.

Students actively participated in the activity, enjoying it thoroughly. The activity helped them to research, attach ideas and skills to a specific theme and learn about livelihoods. It helped them to explore, learn and apply, creating a holistic approach.

Grade IV Activity: Measurement
29th November 2021
“The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics.” — Paul Halmos
Measurement is the action of measuring something. We can measure time, weight, height, temperature, length and more. If we didn't have measurement, it would be very hard to know when to go to school, how much you weigh, or how cold or warm it is outside.
Life is so much easier when we know how to measure things, and that is why measurement is so important in our daily routine.
Grade IV students performed an activity on Measurement as a recapitulation of the Measurement concept taught in class. Students were told to be ready with A4 size sheet, colour pencil/Sketch colours and picture cut-outs. They were told to draw or paste different items related to measurement like building or monument/ distance between places/ fruits/vegetable etc., to write their measures and then to convert them into smaller units.
Students were able to find the relation between different units and to convert them into smaller units easily. They represented their work creatively. The students were very excited for this activity and participated enthusiastically.

Report: Constitution Day
November 26, 2021
Constitution Day which is also known as 'Samvidhan Divas', is celebrated in our country on 26th November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. On 26th November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India, which came into effect from 26th January 1950. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 19th November 2015 notified the decision of Government of India to celebrate the 26th day of November every year as 'Constitution Day' to promote Constitution values among citizens. An activity was conducted for the students of grade IX with the objective to clear their concepts and try to make them learn about the making of our constitution and the working of our parliament along with the working of the constituent assembly.
The activity was interactive and enjoyed by the students.

Grade III Activity - “Festivals in India”
25th November 2021

An activity, “Festivals in India”, based on the Ch. 7 - Indian Culture and Traditions, was conducted in all the sections of class III. Students were asked to make a festival album. They were instructed to divide the album as per the types of festivals- National festivals, Religious festivals and Harvest festivals. Students used their creativity to make their album attractive. They were also asked to speak about any two favourite festivals.
This activity enhanced their knowledge about the festivals of India and why festivals are important in our life.
Students were very excited and participated enthusiastically. This activity helped them to understand the concept of festivals and bound them throughout the learning session.

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Activity was conducted in Shalom Hills International School for the awareness of conservation of water. As our state, Haryana, is paired with Telangana thus we hoped to enhance the knowledge of the language Telugu as well and reiterate the need to save water to save our planet.
Saving water has become the need of the hour. The children were made aware of the ways in which we can save water. The students were asked to say the pledge to save water, but with a twist. They heard an audio clip of the water pledge in Telugu language and then had to repeat. The students exhibited great zeal in performing the activity and wanted the pronunciation just right. Hence after many takes and retakes, they were able to say the water pledge.
The young generation realises that each drop of “BLUE GOLD” is precious and we have to use it judiciously for posterity.

The fact of the matter is with an image, you can pass on a lot more data than you can with words. Indeed, it can take a thousand words just to depict what is in one picture.
Picture composition is an ideal method of rehearsing English vocabulary in a wide range of fields. By making and recounting a story, youngsters figure out how to compose their contemplations and utilize language to speak with the users in an assortment of ways.
A speaking activity based on the topic ‘Picture Composition’ was conducted for the students of grade 1 on 25th November 2021. 'A picture speaks a thousand words', this quote was quite evident from the activity which was enthusiastically performed by the students of grade 1. They were shown different pictures and were asked to describe the given pictures with the help of keywords. They described the pictures in a commendable manner with the help of sentences. This activity enhanced their speaking and observation skills.

 

“Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities . . . because it is the quality which guarantees all others.” – Winston Churchill
‘Veer Gatha’ CBSE activity was organized for grades 3 to 5 in the month of November to honour the acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the armed forces and other gallantry awards winners. The students had to write a paragraph or a poem on any gallantry award winner who was an inspiration to them. The entries were decorated with pictures of the Indian flag as well as photos of the gallantry award winners. From all the grades one best entry was selected.
This activity helped to create awareness among the students about the great sacrifices which have been made to keep our country safe. The students were also inspired by the valuable contributions of our great heroes.

 

Let no man in the world live in delusion. Without a Guru none can cross over to the other shore. – Guru Nanak
In keeping with the secular ethos of the school, Shalom Hills International School, celebrated and rejoiced in the spirit of the festival, Guru Nanak Jayanti.
A special assembly was conducted on November 18, 2021 to mark the occasion and bring home the relevance of the festival to our young generation. Video on his life and spiritual journey was played for the students which reiterated the message 'One God' and the ‘Eternal Truth’. Shalomites remembered the teachings of Guru Nanak which remind us time and again that essence of all religion lies in oneness of God.

Guru Nanak Jayanti, orGurupurab, is one of the most auspicious occasions for the Sikh community. It celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev - the first Sikh Guru and the founder of Sikhism. The year 2021 marks the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
To mark the occasion, Gurdwaras across the world are decked up with lights and diyas and people spend the whole day praying together, exchanging greetings and doing seva - service to everyone irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
To make students aware about the importance of this auspicious day, a special assembly was organized for grade 1 to 5 students.Few students were dressed up in Punjabi attires and presented poems, thoughts and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. PPTs and related videos, giving an insight to the day, were also shown to them. They were enthralled to participate and celebrate this special day.

“Caring for water is caring for all.” 
Water is a very valuable natural resource. We need water for almost all the activities. It is very important to sensitize students about how important water is for us.
Lack of awareness among people and the carelessness of human beings are the main reasons behind the wastage of water. Water is an essential resource and therefore we should save water for our future generation as well as ourselves.
So, to create awareness among our Shalomites, a video was shared on the importance and conservation of water. Through the video students understood that every action counts. They took a pledge that they will definitely fulfil the responsibility of a good citizen by sustainable development and by nurturing the same feeling in their family and friends.

“The children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country.”
Children’s day was celebrated through a virtual platform by all the class teachers and students of Grade VII & VIII on November 12, 2021. The day began with a special Assembly wherein all the Class teachers stepped in to the shoes of our students and conducted the Children’s Day Special Assembly right from singing Prayer and Shloka, to reading news, saying the thought of the day, significance of the day and Pledge.
Teachers gave various performances for the students in order to exhibit their love and affection for them. The special attractions were the puppet show, singing song and poem; the huge applause by the students cemented the bond between teachers and students, as the teachers reminisced about their childhood through their presentations. A short-animated film, a video message along with a Greeting Card on the occasion of Children’s Day was also prepared and shared by the teachers.
The session ended with the Vote of Thank for all the teachers and the students.

“Childhood is an enchanting vista, an endless fun, a joyful classroom, an experience, an era of imagination, an artistic journey, an ode to love, and a happy moment.”
November 14 is celebrated as Children’s Day (also called Bal Diwas) in our country and the occasion also commemorates the birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, known for his affection for kids. “The children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country,” he exclaimed once. He always emphasised on the education of children and played a major role in establishment of colleges in the country which are still considered one of the best in the country.
The day is a reminder that every child deserves education, nurturing and the best of everything. They are the building blocks of the nation.
To make students feel special on their day, a special assembly was organized for grade 1 to 5 students. This time teachers gave special performances for their students. Some of them presented skits, some danced for them. A mime act and magic show were also performed by the teachers. Children had a gala time seeing their teachers making their day more special. They also enjoyed watching a movie.
They were enthralled to participate and celebrate this special day.

Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav' means the "elixir of the energy of freedom".
India is celebrating ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’on completion of 75 Years of Independence of our country. For this freedom, many Brave freedom fighters and leaders had sacrificed their lives.
Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is meant to make the younger generation aware of the history and struggle of independence.
At Shalom Hills International, Gurugram, this month students of grade VI, showcased their talent by presenting Speeches/Dialogues, Popular stories/Poems, and partaking in discussions about Freedom Fighters. Students actively participated in this activity and learntmore about the freedom fighters.

“Water is life, don’t waste it.”
An activity to instill a sense of awareness and responsibility in the students towards the importance of saving water was conducted in all sections of grades I to V. The activity, a part of Jal Sansad, was titled ‘Let’s Rap/Jingle’.
The students were asked to share pictures related to the activity. They had to upload the given activity on Teams. The teachers explained the activity to the students and made them understand the importance of saving water by reusing it.The students had to create a rap or a jingle related to the conservation of water.The students shared interesting pictures and videos related to the activity. They were at their creative best and tried to express the importance of saving water through rhyming rap songs and jingles.
Through this activity the students learned that water-saving is a universal responsibility of every person who lives on this Earth. In order to save water, we have to adopt various means that can help in maintaining the level of fresh water on Earth.

On the occasion of Children’s Day, a special assembly was conducted for the students of grade VI. The event started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the Shloka, Welcome Speech, Word & Thought of the day and various exciting activities for the students.
The activities conducted by the teachers were Yoga Story- (teachers performing yoga with the story depiction), a compiled video of teachers wishing Happy Children’s Day, poem in Hindi, a Game in which students were asked to identify their teachers from their childhood pictures. Motivational & inspiring videos were also shown to sensitize them about the environment.
The students appreciated the efforts of their teachers for making the day special for them.

Since the year 2002, this special day has been dedicated to the importance of science in keeping society flourishing and intact. The UN states that the goal of World Science Day for Peace and Development is to ensure that citizens are kept well informed about the developments in science and the role scientists play in broadening our understanding of our planet. This year, World Science Day for Peace and Development marks the 20th edition, with “Building Climate-Ready Communities” as the theme. It highlights the importance of climate change which is becoming a serious threat to the lives of billions of people across the globe.
The dark years during the novel coronavirus pandemic showed us the importance of not only health but climate preservation too. With the goal to bring science closer to society by presenting several key scientific aspects and possible solutions offered by science, technology, and innovation to some of society's most serious global concerns, a special assembly was organized by grade 1 to 5 students.
They were enthralled to participate and celebrate this special day.

Virtual tours for kids enable the children to gaze at world-class art, learning about history, discovering science, and even checking out what it's like in outer space. While the kids may be home physically, online tours still give them some access to the rest of the outside world. 
To give them an insight about the evolution of transportation in India, a virtual tour to Heritage Transport Museum, Gurgaon was organized in Grade IV on 10th November. The Heritage Transport Museum is India's major museum dealing with the history of human transportation. The collection focuses on the development of transport in India. 
It was a wonderful experience for the learners to see all these means of transportation starting from automobile to aviation, from two wheelers to jugaads along with various means of water transport with their real models and posters. Students were amazed and excited to see all the tongas, carts, vintage cars, palanquins, models of planes and recreated art gallery with a real feel like they were walking in the museum. Learners came dressed up for the tour with their sunglasses and hats on and also with a picnic bag full with fun food. They enjoyed this virtual visit.

India is an agrarian country as two third of its population is engaged in agricultural activities. Agriculture is a primary activity, which produces most of the foods that we consume. It is the backbone of our country. The crops that are grown to feed the human population are known as food crops like wheat, rice, pulses etc. and a cash crop is the one that is cultivated to be sold in the market to earn profits from the sale like coffee, tea, cocoa, cotton, and sugarcane.
It is important for students to understand that farmers produce the food they eat, and by developing connections to the farmers, students are also developing connections to the food.
To teach children about agriculture so they can understand that food doesn’t magically appear on the grocery store shelves and that our farms should be protected, an activity was conducted in Grade IV where in students were asked to collect the samples of cash & food crops from their homes. They were also asked to find and share the states in which the respective crops are grown. It was an enriching and informative activity which the students enjoyed while doing.

Activities enable students to think from different angles. Interactive and interesting activities can inspire Math in students to greater achievement.
To introduce the concept of skip counting by 5, an activity, “My Fiery Rocket of 5”, was conducted in class I (All sections). The children were asked to take one each of rectangular and triangular shape cut out. They were instructed to paste both the cut outs in the shape of a rocket. They then wrote skip counting by 5 on this cut out of the rocket and then pasted it in their notebooks.
With the help of this activity, concept of skip counting by 5 was made clear to them and they also correlated the cut out of rocket made with the festival of Diwali. Children made very beautiful Rockets and enjoyed the activity thoroughly, enhancing their logical and analytical skills.

Diwali is the festival of lights which is celebrated in various regions across India. The name ‘Deepavali’ literally means an ‘array of lights.’ To make the students understand the importance of Diwali, a virtual get together was organized where the entire Shalom family had a celebration on 2nd November 2021.
To spearhead the Diwali celebrations, a special assembly was organized wherein students delivered speeches on the significance of the festival and the relevance of eco-friendly celebrations. The festival of lights came alive at Shalom, when the twinkling stars wore a festive look adorned in colorful dresses and presented mesmerizing dance performances. It was followed by a succinct explanation through video on the Diwali festival which symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and the new beginning. The celebrations comprised a bunch of exhilarating offline activities for the students like 'From Grandma’s Kitchen' and 'Sharing of light activity', wherein they prepared sumptuous chocolate ladoos to relish their taste buds and donated various products for sharing happiness with the poor and needy.
While celebrating Diwali, young Shalomitees conveyed a strong message of being sensitive towards the environment. Both teachers and students enjoyed the Diwali celebrations wholeheartedly.

To rekindle the light and warmth in this festive season, students of Shalom Hills International School celebrated Diwali on the virtual platform with great ardour and ebullience
A variety of activities culminating in the Special Assembly on November 02, 2021, had the students talking about the significance of the festival - how good always conquers evil and also about why and how Diwali is celebrated across India.
Teachers explained the importance of Diwali. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.  Students were briefed on the ill-effects of burning crackers and were urged to celebrate the festival with candles, rangolis, sweets and non-polluting green crackers.
Both teachers and students enjoyed the Diwali celebrations wholeheartedly.

“Every day is a good day. There is something to learn, care and celebrate.”

We, at Shalom Hills International School, truly follow this ideology that there is something special every day and so our assemblies are a celebration of each day and about the learnings and significance of these days. It serves two-way purpose- we remember special days and our students get well acquainted with the significance of special days.
November 5th 2021: A significant date to make our generations aware about the effects and precautions related to tsunamis and hence this date is celebrated as World Tsunami Awareness Day.
November 7th 2021: Cancer is a deadly disease and if we go by statistics, 17 people die every minute from cancer in the world. Hence to spread awareness and empathy towards this, we celebrate 7th November as National Cancer Awareness Day to sensitize the masses about the prevention and early detection of cancer. This day is also celebrated to pay tribute to our first Indian Nobel Prize winner Sir CV Raman as it’s his birth anniversary.

Mathematics is the most beautiful and most powerful creation of the human spirit. — Stefan Banach, Polish mathematician
Grade III students performed an activity on Multiplication and Division Facts on 2nd Nov 2021. This activity was a recapitulation of the Multiplication and Division concept taught in class. The children were given an option to paste cut-outs or make drawing as per sample shared, on A4 size sheet/Math notebook. They were needed to use minimum two cut-outs.

The children were given two numbers and were required to find and write the missing number in the blank window by applying the multiplication and division fact.

Students were able to find the missing part and represented their work creatively. The students were very excited for this activity and participated enthusiastically. They were able to understand the concept of Multiplication and Division facts enhancing their aesthetic value, determination, observation and analytical skill.

“Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” was announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme aims to enhance interaction and promote mutual understanding between people of different states/UTs through the concept of state/UT pairing. Under this EBSB Project, Haryana’s pairing state is Telangana.

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme aims to promote a sustained and structured cultural connect in the areas of language learning, culture, traditions & music, tourism & cuisine, sports and sharing of best practices etc.

Language plays a very important role in the overall development of a child. An activity on Telugu Varna Mala of Telangana state was organised on 2nd November 2021, wherein pictures and videos related to Telugu Varnamala were shown to the students.

Students enthusiastically participated in the activity and enjoyed it. This activity gave the students an opportunity to explore and learn about Telugu Varnmala.

Halloween is a night of costumes and fun which happens on 31st October every year. Halloween celebration provides people with an opportunity to dress up in a scary manner. Halloween tradition and celebration has got rich ancient religious beliefs, stories and history.
Halloween celebration was established over two thousand years ago in Celtic Ireland, by farmers. Initially, the Halloween festival was known as Samhain by the Celtic farmers which meant end of summer. This was a time to forget about the summer and hope for a productive winter.
In order to celebrate Halloween, the students were dressed up as different scary characters. A virtual Halloween party was conducted on 29th October, 2021 in all the sections of classes: I-III. The children danced on different spooky Halloween songs which were followed by several amusing games including musical statue and making silly faces etc. The kids enjoyed a lot during the party. Overall, it was great fun for the kids.

The students of grade I-V discussed and presented some important events in morning assembly. They were ready with the props and were aware about the topics in advance and presented confidently.

The Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or the National Unity Day is celebrated on October 31 in India. This day is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It is also the Death anniversary of Smt. Indira Gandhi who was the 1st Lady Prime Minister of India.

Haryana Day, celebrated on November 1st, marks the formation of the state of Haryana in 1966. Haryana Day is a regional public holiday observed in the Indian state of Haryana.

World Vegan Day is an annual event celebrated by vegans around the world on 1st November. The benefits of veganism for humans and the natural environment are celebrated through activities such as setting up of stalls, hosting potlucks, and planting memorial trees.

November 1 is also Author's Day, a day to honour all your favourite authors and to encourage any writers in your life to keep working on their magnum opus.

The involvement of students in these events helped them gather information about them and become more aware.

In a developing economy like India, industries are indispensable. India has many favourable factors for the development of industries. The country is rich in natural resources, such as minerals, forests etc., rich in power resources, such as coal, hydro-electricity, atomic energy, etc., it is rich in human resources also as the country has a vast population, wide market required for the development of industries is also available in the country.
To make the students understand the importance of industries and industrial growth in a more realistic way an activity ‘INDUSTRIES OF INDIA’, conducted in class-IV where in students were asked to select any state of India and the famous industry of that state. They shared the details of the selected state’s industry in the class in a very explanatory way. They presented their finding with various pictures, drawings and even things found in our homes which are made in various industries. They were able to relate to the topic and this activity boosted their conceptual understanding of industries.

“Sardar Patel gave us Ek Bharat; It is now the solemn duty of 125 crore Indians to collectively make Shreshtha Bharat.”

Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat program aims to enhance interaction and promote mutual understanding between people of different states through state pairing. Shalom Hills International School has always striven to carry out activities to encourage a sustained and structured cultural connection in language learning, culture, traditions & music, tourism & cuisine, sports and sharing of best practices in school and society.

The state of Haryana has paired up with the state, Telangana. It is home to some of the most beautiful folk dances of India. The most famous folk dance of Telangana is Gussadi Dance. The famous monuments Charminar and Golkonda Fort are a part of Telangana.

Telangana is also technologically able. It is applying technology to transform its economy. But, apart from racing through the technological journey, Telangana also finds it necessary to preserve their culture and environment. One of the most popular ones is the Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary. It provides shelter to a variety of animals. These include the Indian gazelle, Four-horned antelope, Indian sloth bear, Asian palm civet and many more. It also covers various types of plants and trees. These comprise the Banyan Tree, Neem Tree, Indian liquorices.

Every year on 24 October, the United Nations Day is celebrated all over the world to commemorate the anniversary of the official creation of the United Nations through the 1945 UN Charter. Though it's not a public holiday, people come together and celebrate the day with pomp and show in various cities in different countries. This year the United Nations encouraged people to "celebrate the day by spreading compassion, kindness and hope in the face of the (COVID-19) pandemic." The pandemic has emerged as a common enemy of the world today.
Hence to make students aware about United Nations Day a special assembly was organized by grade 1 to 5 students. The Assembly started by invoking the blessings of Lord with a prayer by the students. Students gave speeches on why the United Nations Day is celebrated and also shared their views on the importance of this day. The assembly concluded with the Shalom anthem.

“Competition forces us to do our best.”
Advertising is a method used to attract others’ attention. To acquaint students with promotional strategies in marketing through advertisements, an Ad Mad Show competition was organized for grade I. The objective was to apprise students of the significance of values like honesty, friendship, discipline, integrity etc. in one’s life.
The students presented the advertisements of different products and services. Most of the students came up with unique ideas and well-written scripts of the advertisements. They were dressed up in the form of different products and services. Some of them also used attractive props which enhanced their performance.
All the students participated with a lot of enthusiasm. The competition helped the students enhance their skills in expression, voice modulation and dialogue delivery. It was an excellent learning experience.

Multiplication is the method of calculating the product between two or more numbers. It is a primary arithmetic operation. While solving multiplication problems, one-digit numbers can be multiplied in a simple way by using multiplication tables.
In order to make the concept clear, a Math activity using deck cards was conducted in the class. The students were told to pick two cards from the deck. After that they were told to tell the answer by using multiplication tables. Thus, this simple activity helped them to understand the concept of multiplication more clearly and evidently.
All students performed the activity with full enthusiasm. Children thoroughly enjoyed the fun filled learning activity and spent their day with experiential learning.

Trees are facing the brunt of man’s unquenchable greed. Everyday thousands of trees fall prey of the ever-rising demands of human beings. Taking account of the prevailing situation, a slogan writing activity was organized for the students of Grade – IX based on the Poem – ‘On Killing a Tree’. The aim of the subject enrichment activity was to create awareness and alter young generation's outlook on tree conservation.
Our young innovators showcased their writing skills with great zeal and wrote catchy slogans bringing home the point of conservation of trees. It was emphasized that all of us should join our hands together to make a difference. The activity turned out to be highly enriching, enthralling and exciting for all the participants.

Solubility is the ability of a substance to dissolve into a liquid. The substance that dissolves in another substance is called a solute whereas the substance in which solute dissolves is called a solvent. When solute gets dissolved in a solvent, it makes a solution.

Concepts in science cannot be understood unless performed. Hence, an activity was conducted by the students of Grade IV to check the solubility of different substances in surrounding. Science teachers demonstrated the test of solubility in the class using various substances in water. Children were told to perform solubility test offline using various substances available in their surroundings and share their pictures in Teams under the assigned folder. Different solutes were gathered by children like salt, sugar, tea leaves, oil, sand, talcum powder and coffee powder. These substances were added in different glasses of water (solvent) to check their solubility. Children performed the activity patiently and noted their observations carefully. They observed that few substances get dissolved in water like salt and sugar, whereas other substances like mud and oil do not get dissolved in water. The solutes which got completely dissolved in water are soluble substances and made solution like saline water solution and sugar solution.

Conducting the activity proved an effective way for students to understand the solubility of different substances used in our daily life.

Pronouns are essential in the way we communicate with one another. The importance of pronoun communication, however, is crucial. The conceptual knowledge of pronoun was given to the students through various examples, and rules of using them in sentences were also explained. Pronoun may be used to replace a noun.
For better conceptual knowledge, an art-integrated and interactive activity – ‘Pronoun Pizza’ was conducted for the students of grade 1. The students drew a pizza on an A4 size sheet and wrote a few pronouns on it. They drew beautiful and colorful pizzas and brushed up their artistic skills also.
The learning outcome of the activity was to enhance the conceptual knowledge of pronouns which was well achieved. The activity session was very interesting and enjoyable for the students.

Stories allow us to share information in a memorable way. By telling a story rather than merely reciting dry facts, we remember the details more clearly. A story narration activity based on the lesson, ‘Tansen’ was conducted for the students of Class VI on October 18, 2021.
Activity focused on research work, to know about our history and to use wit in day-to-day life like Birbal. Above all to think creatively and enhance speaking skill. As a part of the activity students had to virtually present a story of Akbar and Birbal before the class. The students were given the liberty to choose any story of Akbar and Birbal and narrate it, highlighting the moral of the story.
Students used innovative ways to share the story and the moral before the class. They used PowerPoint presentations, props, pictures, placards, puppets to present their stories in interesting ways with proper dialogue delivery and feel. Every student was full of excitement and displayed his/her zeal in participating in the virtual activity, enjoying it thoroughly.

English is more than a language to communicate. It also helps to develop the much-needed moral value and a path to success. Focusing on great achievers in reference to the chapter ‘Summit Within’, the life of Major HPS Ahluwalia was given as a base topic to the students, wherein the students presented their research on great mountaineers from around the world. The major challenge focused on was – “One has to conquer the summit within”.
The activity was presented in a timeline format to present their achievements and journey using digital platform.
The zeal and passion in their presentation was of much appreciation.

‘Fire: Friend and Foe’ based on this topic an Abhyuday activity was conducted for the students of Grade 7. The students made Impressive PPTs on the history of fire and how it acts as a friend and a foe. One by one students presented their PPTs and put forward the various amazing facts regarding fire in order to make their presentation interesting. They explained with numerous examples how fire acts as friend and how its discovery has proved advantageous for the human race. Few students narrated some instances from real life where the fire acted as foe and demonstrated its destructive side to the world and caused lot of loss of life and property.
Students presented their thoughts and ideas with great zeal and vigour. The activity facilitated in boosting the self-confidence, public speaking skills and presentation skills of the students. They learnt many new and amazing facts about fire. Overall, it was a very educative and informative activity which involved research and hard work on the part of students. Students enjoyed it thoroughly.

“When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water"- Benjamin
Water is vital for all forms of life and the centerpiece of existence. It is an essential nutrient, if there was no water there would be no life on earth. Water is one of the valuable and indispensable resources; it plays a key role in the human body.
Every year World Water Day follows a theme to highlight a cause. This year, the theme for World Water Day is 'Water and Climate Change'. The theme highlights the urgent need of strengthening water security and establishing access to a sustainable water supply in the face of changing climate conditions worldwide. To make the students understand that conserving water is equivalent to conserving their future. In the pandemic situation, where online mode was also a platform Shalom Hills International School, students created PPTs and E-Posters to spread awareness about water conservation and its efficient use.
The participants encouraged all the other students to conserve water through their creative PPTs and E-Posters.

An activity related to L-5 ‘Meeting G.G Grandpa I,’ was conducted in all sections of grade 4 on 18th October 2021. This was a role play activity in which the students had to select their favourite scene from the lesson and enact it online. The students were given a week’s time to prepare for the activity.

All the students participated in the activity. A few of them also dressed up as their favourite character. Some students had made creative hand puppets of their favourite characters. The students were confident while enacting their roles. Through this activity the children were able to understand the different characters and the central idea of the story. It also helped to enhance their vocabulary. This activity gave the students an opportunity to express their creativity as well as helped them to practice their presentation skills.

Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi is the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. It is celebrated across the world in the third month of the Muslim lunar calendar. This year, it is being observed on 19th October. Muslims observe this day with great zeal, devotion, and passion to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. To celebrate Eid-e-Milad, people share sweets with each other, participate in processions, offer prayers, and remember the beautiful life of Prophet Mohammad. The day is marked with restrictive celebrations as this day is also observed as Prophet’s death anniversary. This day is also known as Maulid which is an Arabic word for ‘giving birth’. Maulid is observed on the 12th day of the month, Rabi-ul-Awwal.

The students were explained the importance and significance of this day by their class teachers through a PPT during the assembly. The students also enthusiastically shared information about this day.

‘We all need to be part of the change.’

Global Hand washing Day, celebrated on October 15th, is an annual global advocacy day for hand washing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. It is an opportunity to design, test, and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times.

With the theme "Our actions are our future- Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life", World Food Day 2021 was celebrated on 16th October. The food we choose and the way we consume it affect our health and that of our planet. It has an impact on the way agri-food systems work. 
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty promotes dialogue and understanding between people living in poverty and their communities, and society at large. “It represents an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and struggles of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard and a moment to recognize that poor people are in the forefront in the fight against poverty.”
All these important days were observed in Grade I to V during assembly and students were sensitized about their respective significance.

“Research is creating new knowledge.” – Neil Armstrong

Abhyuday Activity was conducted on October 12, 2021 with the motive to explore new things, make connections, transfer knowledge and apply it. The theme - ‘Indian Classical Musicians’ was taken based on the English Chapter – Tansen, for Grade 6.
Tansen is regarded as one of the greatest Indian musicians. He was one of the nine gems of Akbar’s court. In order to pay tribute to prominent Indian Classical musicians and to make students know more about Indian music, the Abhyuday activity was conducted. The students researched about different Indian musicians, chose five of them and displayed their presentations on Power point. The activity was virtually conducted in the class, providing information about Indian music and prominent classical singers.
Students actively participated in the activity, enjoying it thoroughly. The activity helped them to attach ideas and skills to a specific theme. It helped them to explore, learn and apply, creating a holistic approach.

“The world is changed by your example, not by opinion.”

3/4th of the Earth’s surface is covered with water out of which 97% water is in seas and oceans and is not usable to humans. Rest 3% which is actually freshwater is again divided between icebergs, glaciers, groundwater and the water in lakes and ponds. So overall for the entire world the amount of freshwater available is very less, but, in spite of that water wastage can be seen everywhere.
To make students aware of this wastage and encourage them to be the change to stop this habitual wastage they were asked to observe how water is used and wasted around them. They were asked to share their inputs and ideas for avoiding this wastage of water.
Learners performed this activity very enthusiastically and also shared their ideas for saving water.
They also shared that due to this activity they realize how much water they themselves were wasting and they took a pledge to save water.
It was a great learning experience for the children.

India is known as a land of festivals and celebrations. Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, is celebrated as victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahisasura. A festival of victory of good over evil, it also celebrates Lord Rama's victory over the demon king Ravana.

Dussehra celebrations took place in Grades 1 to 5 on 12th October 2021. The assembly started with the students being shown a ppt of the importance and uniqueness of the festival all over India.

There were speeches, special dance performances, role-plays and poem narration by the children in the assembly. A few students presented songs on Dussehra as well as played musical instruments like the guitar. Some students were also dressed up as their favourite characters from Ramayana.

Towards the end of the day, there was also a special online Dandiya dance party organized for the students. The students, dressed in bright traditional attire, participated whole-heartedly in the fun-filled special Dandiya Navratri celebration organised for them. Happy to show their dancing skills, the students twirled to the tunes of the popular navratra dance numbers. There was an air of festivity everywhere.

“Water is the driving force of all nature.” – Leonardo da Vinci
Every day we come across news that reminds us just how serious the environmental crisis is. Headlines that announce the dangers of rising sea levels, melting ice caps, and widespread droughts are commonplace. These headlines serve as constant reminders that water is precious. They also serve as a call to action.
So to make the students understand that conserving water is equivalent to conserving their future, the Shalom Hills International School conducted Verse-e-style activity for classes III- V wherein students wrote a concrete shaped Self Composed poem about the conservation of water to create awareness about the efficient use of water and its conservation. Students promoted small significant changes in their Self Composed poems that will ultimately lead to spreading awareness about water conservation and its efficient uses.
The students showcased best of their creative expressions by writing beautiful and encouraging poems. All the students participated enthusiastically in this activity.

As part of the year-long celebrations, a number of activities have been planned by CBSE to make the students aware of India’s freedom struggle, focusing on every possible skill and fostering a positive attitude towards society.

For the month of October, Grade 6 students participated in the activity to write a paragraph about places related to the freedom struggle, which encouraged the students to work on their researching, deducing and writing skills. They took the initiative to know more about the places playing important role in the struggle for freedom.

The students thoroughly appreciated the activity as it gave them a better insight into the freedom struggle.

“And though she is but little, she is fierce.” -William Shakespeare

International Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United Nations; it is also called the Day of Girls and the International Day of the Girl. October 11, 2012, was the first Day of the Girl Child. The observation supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender.
To create awareness and understanding among students an assembly was conducted on International Day of Girl Child, wherein students of classes I-V enthusiastically participated and shared their thoughts on the day. They made relatable posters with quotes. Overall, it was an informative session.

"To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.”

Spelling Competition not only provides a valuable educational experience to the children, but also allows them to engage in healthy competition. Keeping this thought in mind SHIS organized a Spell Bee Competition for the students of classes I -V on 24th.

The second round covering the same course with a different format, was conducted on the 24th of September 2021. The children had to attempt their Spell Bee Quiz on MS Forms and also through online Quizizz platform. This was done to make their activity interesting, colourful and raise the bar slightly.

The second round helped us sift the winner of each section from all the grades. The final round of the competition was conducted on 8th October,2021 through virtual platform after school hours, with only the finalists. With no set syllabus, the bar of the competition was raised further. There were 4 rounds. All of them were time-bound along with positive and negative scoring.

The students participated with great enthusiasm and dueled through the toughest words to prove their mettle.

“Touch the sky with Glory.” - Motto of the IAF
Indian Air Force Day is celebrated every year on the 8th October because the Indian Air force was formed on this day in 1932. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm and the vital organ of the Indian Armed forces, which plays a crucial part in the wars fought by the country. We celebrate this day to honour and recognize the selfless efforts of the Indian Air Force.
This day is an occasion that pays a tribute to the Indian Air Force and attracts the brightest young minds towards this profession.
The young minds of Shalom Hills celebrated this day with pride and enthusiasm. The class teachers explained the importance and significance of this day to the students through a PPT during the assembly. The students participated by preparing posters and other props for the presentation and shared interesting information about this day.
The students understood the importance of our courageous and inspirational Air Force. The event of Indian Air Force Day helped the students to recognize the efforts and sacrifices of the Indian Air Force.

“This soil has something unique, which, despite many obstacles, always remains the abode of great soul.” -Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
As India celebrates its 75th year of Independence, it is an opportune time to pay tribute to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives so that the coming generations could live and take pride in a free nation. Our leaders ignited the freedom movement with the game changing ‘Revolt of 1857’, and displayed unhindered commitment to free India, our motherland, on 15th August, 1947.
To imbibe the spirit of patriotism, our Hon’ble Prime Minister gave the clarion call for ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ by flagging off ‘Dandi March’ from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad on 12th March, 2021. This call has been carried forward by schools and colleges by organising series of activities and events to mark the year-long celebration and create awareness amongst the students about our great freedom struggle and the sacrifices.
At Shalom Hills International, Gurugram, a virtual- poster making competition was organised, wherein the students of grade VI showcased their talent by sketching poster of our Freedom Fighters- Mahatma Gandhi, Rani Laxmi Bai, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Subash Chandra Bose, Shaheed Bhagat Singh and many more.

‘The influence of teachers, extends beyond the classroom, well into the future.’
World Teachers’ Day is celebrated every year on October 5 to recognize the rights and responsibilities of teachers and educators across the globe.
To celebrate World Teachers' Day, UNESCO mounts a campaign each year to help give the world better understanding of teachers and the role they play in the development of students and society. On World Teachers’ Day, the services of teachers and their contributions to education are acknowledged and their role and importance for the development of students and society is appreciated. This day is an occasion that pays a tribute to the teachers and attracts the brightest young minds towards this profession.
The Theme of World Teachers’ Day 2021 is “Teachers at the heart of education recovery”. The United Nations (UNESCO) presented this theme for teachers’ day in respect of their determined and diligent efforts in the crucial stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The young Shalomities celebrated this day with great zeal and enthusiasm. The information on this day was elaborated by the class teachers through PPT during assembly. The students presented speeches to show their appreciation of their teachers. They also recited poems and made cards to express their gratitude.
The event helped strengthened the bond between a teacher and a student and made it a memorable day for them.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.” –Anatole France

An effort was made to instil this thought in the minds of our young Shalomites through the special assembly conducted in the Middle Wing on 4th October on account of ‘World Animal Welfare Day’.

The assembly began with the prayer, followed by the shlok and pledge. The vision and mission of the school were also shared followed by the thought of the day along with news headlines.

The special assembly focused on the theme "Care for the mute creatures", by spreading awareness among the students and raising an awakening regarding care and welfare of animals. The students were informed about the endangered and extinct animal species. They were told about the causes of the decline in the number of animals. The interdependence of animals, plants and humans was also shared with the students.

The students showed posters with some slogans suggesting ways for animal conservation, while some stated examples of endangered and extinct animal species. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem.

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ? Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi Jayanti is observed by the entire nation to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi or more lovingly known as Bapu. He is internationally acknowledged for his doctrine of non-violence that led India to its glorious freedom.
To revere this day, the students of Grades I-V held a Special Virtual Assembly to commemorate the Mahatma’s life and teachings.
A special speech with Gandhian quotes and messages enabled the students to understand more about this iconic leader. Gandhian ideals were depicted through an amazing skit presented by the students in the most eloquent manner. They also presented the philosophical and pragmatic ideals of Gandhi Ji.
The students sang Bapu’s favourite hymns ‘Vaishnav Janto’ and ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’ with full exuberance. They also recited poems and presented their own views on the Gandhian philosophy. The young scholars paid a creative homage to Gandhi ji by making thoughtful posters, eye catchy slogans, maintaining cleanliness in and around their house and encouraged everyone to spread the crusade of cleanliness.
All our students were imbued with Gandhian values and thoughts and vowed to become ideal citizens of India and this World.

Understanding shapes will enable students to be more in tune to the world around them and see the connections between objects, as well as being better able to appreciate artistic works. Activities enable students to think from different angles. Interactive and interesting activities can inspire Math in students to greater achievement.
To recap Shapes a ‘Role Play Activity’ was conducted for class 2 students. All students one by one enacted as and spoke about different shapes with props. The students were very excited and spoke very confidently with nice expressions.
The activity helped to clarify all types of 2-D and 3-D shapes. Children thoroughly enjoyed the activity and enhanced their logical and analytical skills as well.

From the houses and the way we live in them, to the roads we travel on, to the way we use modern communication devices to talk to each other, minerals have a significant impact on our daily lives. Yet we give very little thought as to where these minerals come from and how they are obtained.
Minerals?can be found in many of the products that we know and love. In fact, we use or consume more than 25 minerals daily.
To make students aware of the importance and usage of minerals in our daily lives – a concluding activity of L-10 ‘Minerals’ was conducted in the class. The students were asked to find any five minerals that we use in our daily life and at least two further uses of the same mineral.

The main aim behind this activity was to make students more observant about their surroundings, about the things we use every day and the processes these things went through before coming to our hands as final products.

Students enjoyed doing this activity and presented their findings to their peers in the virtual classroom. They were able to relate to the topic and understand the concept in a realistic way.

“A healthy heartbeat is essential for you to feel good in life.”
World Heart Day is one of the most important campaigns to aware people of cardiovascular diseases and encourage them to a heart-healthy lifestyle. This special day is annually celebrated on September 29. This day is a global campaign during which individuals, families, communities, and governments around the world participate in activities to take charge of their heart health and that of others. Through this campaign, the World Heart Federation unites people from all countries and backgrounds in the fight against the CVD burden and inspires and drives international action to encourage heart-healthy living across the world.
The students of Shalom Hills International School actively participated in the World Heart Day campaign. The students shared various health and wellness tips in their virtual classrooms to prevent heart diseases through Power Point Presentations and made beautiful props to make their peers aware about a healthy heart.

The students of the primary wing of Shalom Hills International School had a special assembly to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh a socialist revolutionary and one of the greatest freedom fighters India ever had. Bhagat Singh was hanged at the very young age of 23 years for his revolutionary activities during the Indian freedom struggle. He had dedicated his life from a very young age of 13 years to the freedom of his Motherland.
The students from grades I-V were made aware of this electrifying revolutionary, his beliefs and accomplishments. A virtual assembly was organized to pay tribute to this impressive freedom fighter. A few students shared his achievements and his love for his Motherland through speeches and poems. Some students also chanted his famous slogans with vigour.

A stimulating classroom environment is one where students can learn through exploration and hands-on practice, be encouraged to think critically, and be provided a variety of experiences.
Story Board is a series of pictures in a sequence that narrates a story, shares instructions or shows the flow of action. A storyboard activity in EVS I was held for the students of Class V on 27th -28th September 2021.
The activity provided the young minds with a logical framework to organize their thoughts before they begin writing in earnest. The idea to create their own story board was shared, discussed and explained to the students beforehand. Young minds came up with thought-provoking and exciting concepts and articulated their views with the help of drawings and narratives on the topics like the Sepoy Mutiny, Divide and Rule policy, Swadeshi Movement etc.
The activity was an effective way to evaluate the reading comprehension of the students before moving on to more analytic tasks.
It helped them to align and organize their thoughts and reinforce their learning content. It provided an opportunity to expand their creative horizon and imagination in a fun filled way.

Art integrated learning enables the students to derive meaning and understanding directly from the learning experiences. It also makes learning joyful and has a positive impact on the development of scientific skills. To enhance the understanding of the concept- ‘Animals’ taught in the class, an online activity was conducted for Grade IV students on 27th and 28th September, 2021.

The animal kingdom is very vast and diverse. Students learnt about different groups of animals which include vertebrates and invertebrates. They prepared masks of an animals of their choice for a class presentation. Using their innovative ideas, they made colorful masks of different animals using waste materials. They were able to identify the animal as a vertebrate or invertebrate and which group it belongs to like- fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Students shared their knowledge on the basis of key points such as- presence or absence of back bone, cold or warm-blooded animal, its habit, breathing organ, means of reproduction and eating habits. It was good to see various creatures like octopus, jellyfish, butterfly, cow, lion, tiger, fishes, panda, dog and so on. The students participated enthusiastically in the activity and presented it with zeal. Few students explored extra information about the animals and shared it during their presentation. Animal’s sound were also added by them to enhance their presentation.

Map activity of Lesson -5 ‘India Political’, was conducted in all the sections of class III. Using maps in the classroom invites curiosity, encourages exploration and inspires problem solving.
The goal of this activity was to monitor student learning and to provide ongoing feedback that can be used by facilitators to improve their learning skills.
Students were given a political map of India. They were asked to mark the nine neighbouring countries of India i.e Nepal, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Srilanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Maldives and colour them separately.
The activity helped them in their concept building keeping them engaged throughout the learning session.

Water is a very valuable natural resource. The human body is made up of 70% of water. Water is an essential resource and therefore we should save water for our future generation as well as ourselves. Many species of flora and fauna depend on the daily availability of water. While lots of water is used daily, not much of it gets recycled and most are wasted in drains.
Shalom Hills International School is against the careless wasting of water and strives to spread awareness among people and the society.
I another attempt to create awareness, students prepared jingle/rap and recited it during the class. Paying attention to the lyrics, the students used a backdrop image as well to make it more interesting.

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure.”

World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on September 27 with the aim to aware the people about the importance of the tourism. World Tourism Day is to promote tourism because with different experiences, entertainment and knowing new things, cultures, it makes the country financially strong. Along with this, new possibilities are also created in employment and relationships.

To make children aware of this important day, an assembly was conducted in grades I to V. The assembly commenced with the Morning Prayer to provide peace and serenity to our minds and souls, followed by a shloka, pledge, thought for the day, news and Shalom Anthem. Students understood the need to save world’s heritage places and explore about them as they are built in ancient times.

“The Earth is what we all have in common.” – Wendell Berry
To protect and save the environment, and also to do our bit by raising the awareness among people, the young Shalomites voluntarily became part of an ‘Eco Club’ in the school. The sole purpose of this club is to raise eco warriors for the future and all the members took pledge for the same. An introductory meeting was held grade wise on 25th September 2021 where the students interacted with their peers and teachers with the sole agenda of doing their part in taking care of the environment.
In the meeting the students were apprised about the things that were expected of them as members of this club, their commitment to the club including time and effort was also explained. They were asked to maintain a notebook where they could jot down details of various activities and plan for the same. They were told about an upcoming activity in the month of October - ‘Silent Parade on Climate Protection’. The students watched two videos suggesting that we are responsible in bringing about an ‘eco-revolution’.
Overall, the students were enthusiastic to be a part of the eco club and the meeting ended with a pledge taking ceremony.

"Environment is no one's property to destroy; it's everyone's responsibility to protect." -Mohith Agadi

World Environmental Health Day, an initiative of the International Federation of Environmental Health, is observed globally on 26th September every year to raise awareness about Environmental Health concerns and to highlight the important work of Environmental health around the world.

This year’s theme focuses on children’s health and safety. Children are especially vulnerable to environmental health threats because they are less resistant to infection, more susceptible to negative effects from air pollution and chemical contaminants, and are at a higher risk of injury from accidents at home or school.

To make children aware of this important day, an assembly was conducted in grades I to V. The assembly commenced with the Morning Prayer followed by a shloka, pledge, thought for the day news and Shalom Anthem. Shalom used this event to raise awareness of the biggest risks and issues in environmental health today, and spark discussion on the steps people can take to both protect the environment and ensure their safety from its threats. Students were able to understand the importance and need to keep the environment safe.

International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated across the world on September 23 every year. The day was proclaimed by the United Nations to promote the importance of sign language in recognition of deaf people’s human rights. Under the resolution of the UN General Assembly, countries should make it easier for people to learn sign language and raise their awareness on the deaf community’s linguistic identity. It is about uniting as a global community to promote the rights of deaf people and highlight specific human rights topics that merit attention.

Young learners during their class assembly shared their concerns, views and thoughts on the related topic. The day was celebrated with a special purpose to stress the importance of sign language in the society to leave no one behind.

The information shared with the Shalomites gave exposure to deaf culture and the deaf community and their inclusion in the hearing world. It is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users.

To develop a scientific approach and make learning Science easy and interesting, the students of grade V participated in the making of the structure of the Human skeleton based on L-18 – “Skeletal System”.

The human skeletal system is like a shield and the base of the body’s existence. It provides shape and support to the human body.

As instructed earlier, the students used an A4 sheet as the base on which the human skeletal system was represented with the use of various materials like straws, toothpicks, broken broomsticks, earbuds and matchsticks. Some children showed novelties like representing the skeletal system on walls or cupboard doors with the help of paper rolls.

The students enjoyed the activity thoroughly and displayed the human skeletal system quite accurately. The students finished the activity in the given time and ended the class with a quick recap of the different functions of the skeletal system.

The main aim of conducting this activity was to enhance the logical, Spatial, Kinesthetic, reasoning, creative and Interpersonal skills. It was a knowledge sharing activity and the objective of ‘learning by doing’ was achieved.

A Math activity- “Shapes”, was conducted for Grade-II on 22nd September 2021. As children had already been introduced to 2-D shapes, they were able to identify the objects of different shapes. The children were asked to make cut outs of different shapes for making a robot. Students were told to paste the cut outs of different shapes on a A-4 size sheet.
The purpose of this activity was to enhance the mental ability and to create an environment where the students can get detailed information about the concept and can learn in a play way.
The children thoroughly enjoyed the fun filled activity enabling them to learn experientially.

To ensure community mobilisation and bolster people's participation, every year the month of September is celebrated as Rashtriya Poshan Maah across the country. The Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition or popularly known as POSHAN Abhiyaan.

To further accelerate various activities under POSHAN Abhiyan and to create a Jan Aandolan, the CBSE school initiative was to Organise POSHAN Assemblies with students in virtual/ physical mode to discuss malnutrition and value of healthy and balanced diet and its relationship to physical and mental health and well-being.

At Shalom Hills International School, an online Assembly was conducted for the students of grades I-V with a talk video showing activity related to ‘Poshan Maah’ on 21st September, 2021. The children were shown a PowerPoint presentation on the basic need of following healthy food habits and importance of balanced diet. After showing the PowerPoint presentation, students were shown a virtual talk by a senior Nutritionist and Dietitian explaining the same.

Students loved watching this video and also became aware of the importance of adopting a balanced diet in their everyday meals.

"Stories are communal currency of humanity." --Tahir Shah, in Arabian Nights
A paragraph is a piece of reflection- can be literary critique, learned arguments, observations of daily life, personal recollections, etc. Paragraph writing activities in school help harness the energy and creativity of the young in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development.

A CBSE Paragraph Writing Activity on the topic - “Places Related to Freedom Struggle”, was conducted in classes I to V in Shalom Hills International School.

The event successfully achieved its objective of engaging school students to stretch themselves intellectually with research, assimilation and impressive expression. The participants won the hearts with their written expression, and talent.

Jal Sansad activity is initiated every month to instill a sense of awareness and responsibility towards the conservation of water and earth and also to kindle the spark of creativity in the students. This September month the activity was ‘My Story’ for all students of grade I-V.

The students were asked to write a short story on A4 size sheet using at least seven words out of the given vocabulary like - conservation, precious, wastage, rain, cycle etc. Students enthusiastically and whole-heartedly participated in this activity and shared pictures related to the activity. They had to upload the given activity on Teams.

The students came out with very interesting and creative stories. These activities provide a good platform to the young minds to kindle their creativity and also make them aware about the importance of caring and saving the natural resources to give better surroundings and environment to the coming generations.

Cartoons are an important part of every child’s life. As children grow, cartoons are used to show them how things function in real life, explain more about feelings and relationships in a way they can understand. They also show them how to deal with certain situations and people. Cartoons contain some valuable life lessons.

The biggest advantage of cartoons is that it stimulates understanding in children. Most cartoons are designed in a way to teach children important moral values, like empathy, non-violence, patience and gratitude; which help them understand the perspective of others. It also teaches them to communicate with friends, peers and family members.

This theme was taken up in the GK class-I for the ‘Show and Tell’ activity from 20th-24th September, wherein students used various props like toys, pictures, TV background and talked about their favourite cartoon. Students enthusiastically and creatively participated and even dressed up as cartoon characters. This activity enhanced their speaking skills and also boosted their confidence.

"Swachhata Pakhwada" as a part of "Swachhata Abhiyaan" was initiated with the objective of bringing a fortnight of intense focus on the issues and practices of Swachhata-meaning Cleanliness. Recognizing the important role of schools in spreading awareness about the Swachhata Mission and its implementation across the country, schools were advised to observe Swachhata Pakhwada from 1st to 17th September 2021.
According to the guidelines by the CBSE due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Swachhata Pakhwada 2021 activities were advised to be focused on three key precautionary practices: Hand-washing with soap, Use of Mask, Social Distancing and 3 Ts (Trace, Testing and Treat).
Shalom Hills International School, conducted age-appropriate activities related to ‘Swachhata Pakhwada’ in Classes 1 – 5. The children were shown a Power point presentation on basic cleanliness that needs to be followed by one and all and also meaning and importance of taking the Swachhata Shapath.

A poster making/ slogan writing activity was organized from 13th September to 15th September 2021 on the theme Swachhata, in which the budding artists showcased their tremendous talent, imagination and thoughts to spread the message of cleanliness and its significance in our lives

The International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21st September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly.
In 2021, as we heal from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are inspired to think creatively and collectively about how to help everyone recover better, how to build resilience, and how to transform our world into one that is more equal, more just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and healthier.
Young Shalomites presented speeches on the importance of celebrating this day after showing a brief PowerPoint presentation on the same. The students used creative props to explain this theme. The assembly ended with a pledge to uphold the 2021 theme for the International Day of Peace - “Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world”. 
Our young Shalomites were made aware that peace and non-violence is as much a process as a goal and how this forms the integral part of our global existence.

Read India Celebration, is a grand stage to celebrate readers, knowers and leaders from India and across the world. It is an annual Readership and Leadership festival for school (Grade III-XII). It aims to create independent thinkers by fostering non-academic reading in students across the country.
In this program, students were supposed to read a book or research on the proposed topics and submit a one-page summary of the book along with an innovative idea to resolve any issue of their choice along with a 1 - 2 min video on Read India Celebration experience.
Sourish Sakhuja, Arni Singh and Yashvardhan Gupta of grades III, IV and V respectively, participated in the event and received Participation Certificates.
The result for the second round will be declared in September/October, 2021.

Threading is a great activity to help children develop fine motor skills which are essential to drawing and writing. It also helps in eye-hand coordination and concentration skills.
The Play group children thoroughly enjoyed the activity of making a jelly fish and threading through the holes to make its legs. 

“Mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” – Albert Einstein

Learning mathematics, possibly one of the few things everyone agrees on is the importance of knowing multiplication facts. Having multiplication facts and times tables knowledge as a key part of our internal ‘mathematical tool box’ is hugely important because we use them constantly in everyday life.
Keeping this in mind, Grade III students performed an activity on Multiplication, ‘Crack the Code’, on 17th Sep 2021. This activity was an overview of the concept of multiplication taught in online classes.   Students were supposed to solve the multiplication questions given in the fruits and look for the letter attached to it to crack the code. The students were able to resolve all the questions and at the end were able to decipher the code with a clue. 
The students were very excited and participated enthusiastically. They were able to understand the concept of Multiplication. This activity helped the students to enhance their observation, logical reasoning and analytical skill.

The students of class-II participated in a Math activity on Money by playing a game MARKET, in which few commodities and their prices were shown virtually to them. Children chose the items which they wanted to purchase and then paste the dummy currency notes of those commodities in the notebook. Then they were told to calculate the total amount of the currency to find how much money they need to give to the shopkeeper for the respective commodities.
Students learnt how to purchase goods from the market and we can calculate and make a bill of our goods. This activity was the phenomenon of a real market which was thoroughly enjoyed by the children. Students were totally engrossed in this activity and which helped them to understand the concept of Money more clearly and evidently.

Democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of life. It is a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections

The International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. The occasion of International Day of Democracy holds importance for the world’s largest democracy, India. The students of Grades 4 and 5 marked this day with a special assembly. They prepared an informative ppt making it very clear, that, September 15 is celebrated as International Day of Democracy after being established in 2007 through a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The young Shalomites also presented speeches on the importance of this day. The assembly ended with a pledge to uphold the values of our Constitution - the written testament of our democratic existence. Our young Shalomites were made aware that Democracy is as much a process as a goal and how this forms the integral part of our constitution and country.

Soil is one of earth’s most important natural resources. It underpins human food production systems, supports the cultivation of vegetation for feed, fiber and fuel, and has the potential to help combat and mitigate climate change. It’s also a rich and complex ecosystem, accommodating a staggering array of biodiversity. Therefore, the importance of soil on life is vast.

Healthy soils are essential for healthy plant growth, human nutrition, and water filtration. Healthy soil supports a landscape that is more resilient to the impacts of drought, flood, or fire. Soil helps to regulate the Earth’s climate and stores more carbon than all of the world’s forests combined. Healthy soils are fundamental to our survival.

To sensitise the students about the ongoing topic , various layers were discussed and drawn in Grade IV in the form of an activity. Students showed various layers with the help of beautiful colours along with the detailing and labeling like humus, topsoil, subsoil, bedrock etc. It was an enriching activity.

Each independent country has a language of its own, which is its honor and pride. Language and culture is the real identity of a country. Hindi Divas is celebrated every year on 14 September; because on this day Hindi language written in Devanagari script was adopted as the official language in the Constituent Assembly of India.

On the occasion of Hindi Diwas, the students from grade VI to X participated in various activities like preparing & presenting Power Point Presentations, Muhaveron ka Sanvad and translating technical words related to other subjects to Hindi.

Overall, all the activities were very interesting. All the students enthusiastically participated in them.

Teaching students to understand Adjectives doesn’t have to be dull. In order to achieve this objective, an activity named ‘Pictionary’ was conducted for the students of class 1 on 14-09-2021.

The students were shown different pictures and were asked to describe the picture in one or two sentences using different adjectives within a given time limit. The students used different adjectives of colour, number, size etc. to give more information about the nouns. This activity helped to enhance the observation skills of the students to a great extent. The children enthusiastically participated and were very excited and energetic during the activity.

It was a perfect opportunity for the children to gain confidence through virtual stage exposure. This activity was completely based on learning with fun methodology. The children thoroughly enjoyed this activity. This activity proved to be very useful and helped the children learn several describing words in a creative way.

Science projects develop student’s skills at goal-setting, planning and problem-solving. Role play allows the students to act out and make sense of real-life situations. It sparks creativity and imagination. It helps the students to learn about different cultures and express their ideas and feelings in a relaxed environment.

“Every Dress Tells a Tale” activity was conducted for the students of class- II on 10-09-21. The students spread their magic by wrapping themselves in costumes associated with different states. The enthusiastic performances depicted the general information and other peculiarities about the dresses of different states of India.
With “Every Dress Tells a Tale”, the students learnt about different traditional dresses of India. They learned that we wear different types of clothes according to the season, occasion and places. They analyzed the roles of weather and occasion in clothing choice. India is a land of “Unity in diversity”. It harbors various cultures, traditions, religions and traditional dresses. The virtual platform of presentation proved to be a great learning experience for the students of Shalom Hills International School.

“The adjective is the banana peel of the parts of speech.”
An adjective or a describing word is a word that tells us more about a noun. It "describes" or "modifies" a noun. Children need a great command on adjectives to communicate successfully. At school, adjectives are explicitly taught as a way for children to develop their narrative abilities and language complexity. Keeping in mind the extreme importance of adjectives, the students of class 1 were asked to do an art integrated activity named Adjective Alien.
In this activity, the students were asked to draw an alien on an A4 size sheet and describe the alien with the help of different adjectives like big, colourful, strong, fat etc. They drew beautiful pictures of the alien and made it look very attractive. This activity provided the students with the opportunity to have a hands-on experience while drawing and describing the picture. This activity helped the students to focus on the uses of adjectives and other descriptive terms to discuss the attributes of the picture. It also developed their picture identification and vocabulary skills. They thoroughly enjoyed this experiential learning.

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” ? Charlotte Brontë
On August 15, 2021, Shalom Hills International School celebrated the 75th Independence Day on the school premises, following all Covid-19 Protocols with full fervour and enthusiasm.

Filled with pride, the school Principal hoisted the tricolour- flag. Saluting the tri-colour, all present bowed in obeisance to India’s continuous and determined fight for the right and survival of all through the pandemic.

In a bid to convey their solidarity with the nation and community, the Shalom family celebrated the national festival by distributing food packets to the needy.

The function witnessed ardent passion and commemorated the undying love for the motherland.

“A true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the size of his heart.” – Zeus
Ashwik Vashisht of Grade III of Shalom Hills International School participated in an Inter School Competition organised by Cambridge Foundation School on the theme – ‘Heroic Champion’.
He presented himself as a super hero Mr. Blue Sheldon and focussed on removing all the negative energies from this world by using his super powers and filling this world with beautiful positive aura. He expressed that he is going to help to control crime and make this world a better place to live in.
His performance was highly appreciated by the judges and he bagged the First prize by giving tough competitions to all the participants from different schools of Gurugram.
Congratulations to our little Superhero and Shalom Family!

It’s been 6 years since a noble soul, our People’s President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Sir, departed from our midst. As we solemnly enter into the next phase of keeping up with his dream and the good work that has remained the core of taking forward his legacy, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation conducted the Digital Tribute and 6th Remembrance Day activities on July 27th 2021 at Rameswaram with the same fervour and enthusiasm.

The ‘Digital Online Quiz Competition was one of the events that was conducted virtually for the students by AKIF with an objective to promote national integration among children and make them aware about the life of Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and his contribution towards the country. The topic for the quiz was ‘Basic Environment’.

It was the golden opportunity for our students Ashreya Tiwari, Jaskaran Singh, Liora Arava and Sehej Raj Ray from Class III- G to be a part of GROUP A (Class II, III & IV) category for this quiz, witnessed across the world.

Sanskrit Diwas was organized on 19/08/21. Encouraged by their teacher 20 students participated in the first part singing area and 23 students in the second part in the singing field. All the students participated in the competition with great enthusiasm.

This event was organized by Rachna Sagar Prakashan. All the participants will be given a certificate by Rachna Sagar Prakashan.

Result based on the presentation of the students –
First Part - Class VI
First – Arindam
Second – Priyadarshini
Third – Gautam Gulati
Second Part - Class VII & VIII
First - Riya Gaur (Class-Ashtami)
Second-Adit Sharma (Class-Saptami)
Third-Jiya (Ashtami)

Sawan or Shravana, the fifth month of the Hindu calendar, is very important in the entire sub-continent of India as it is connected to the arrival of the South-West monsoons. It is considered to be a holy moth due to many festivals that are celebrated during this time.
The students of classes I-V learnt about these festivals and special events in morning assembly.
Raksha Bandhan, literally meaning “safety” and “bond”, celebrates the brother-sister relationship. Observed on the full-moon day or Purnima in the Hindu calendar month of Shravan, when every sister ties a thread on the wrist of her brother as a symbol of her unconditional faith in him and of her prayers for his long life. In return, the brother promises to keep her happy always and protect her from all troubles throughout his life.
Onam, is a 10-day long festival that celebrates the return of King Mahabali as well as the Vaman avatar of Lord Vishnu. The festival, which is widely celebrated in Kerala, starts with Thiruvonam.
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year when warfare is forbidden. It is held to be the second holiest month after Ramadan.
World Humanitarian Day is a global celebration of people helping people. It is intended to raise public awareness of humanitarian assistance worldwide
World Mosquito Day, observed annually on 20 August, is a commemoration of the British doctor Sir Ronald Ross's discovery in 1897 that female mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans .
Akshay Urja Diwas :- The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Govt. of India has declared the 20th August, the birth day of Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi as “National Renewable Energy Day”. To celebrate this memorable day throughout the state; the MNRE, Govt. of India had introduced a programme namely “Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas”(RGAUD) which is celebrated in every year since 2004. The objective of this programme is to generate mass awareness and popularization of need, benefits and uses of renewable energy devices and systems in all sphere of life. 
World Photography Day is observed on August 19 every year, across the world. On this day, we take a look at some of the most viral photos of the year, so far.

“Our actions of today are the results of our tomorrow. A drop of water is worth more than a sack of gold to a thirsty man”.
Climate change is a life threat for all living beings on earth and its effect can be observed by all. Our crusaders of "Jal Sansad" are trying their best to spread awareness.

The members of JAL SANSAD along with the other students shared various write-ups on issues related to water conservation and harvesting in the activity conducted by the Jal Sansad committee.

The students participated with great enthusiasm and showcased their creativity. The aim of this activity was to make students aware that rainwater is pure water and it is useful for both household and cultivation purposes.

An activity on the topic “Birds” was conducted in all sections of grade-3 on 18th August 2021. The children were required to make a nest or bird feeder according to their choice.
The students built very beautiful nests and spoke about the materials used by them. The activity increased the understanding of children about the nest - home of birds and its importance to the birds.
Some students also made beautiful bird feeders which were hung on the trees to lure the birds towards them. They had their own innovative ideas for the feeders and made them by using different materials like waste plastic bottles, plates and cardboard etc.
The students participated with a lot of enthusiasm and showcased best of their work in front of their teacher and peer group. Through this activity, they got a better understanding about the materials which birds use in building the nests and they also understand the importance of bird feeders.

“No matter how difficult the times or how hard the situation may be, the love of the almighty removes all barriers”.
In the midst of the corona virus pandemic, defying all odds, the SHALOM HILLS INTERNATIONAL Student Council conducted an ‘Online Carnival’ to celebrate Founder’s week from 11th to 13th August. Students from classes VI to XII participated in this online fest in various events hosted by six different committees – Show Bizz, Shalom Olympics, Play the Sherlock, SHIS Art Festival, Shalom’s got Talent and Game Room, in what can only be described as the most joyful and jovial three days in the year for the students. Filled with excitement all the students battled their way in these challenging yet light hearted and fun events which seemed to lighten the stress and burden built up in this year. Despite restrictions the council was able to bring together the students for this heart-warming and cheerful event.
We extend our gratitude to our beloved and most Respected Founder and Chairperson for giving the student council this golden opportunity to conduct this online event. Her unconditional love upon illuminates our lives and guides us through the dark phases in our lives, providing us strength and fortitude, enabling the Shalom family to surge ahead with full vigour and enthusiasm.

The students of Shalom Hills International School, Classes I to V, had come together virtually to celebrate Independence Day in a mesmerizing way. It was ensured that the fervour of patriotism lives on. Some students recited poems, performed dances while some others sang patriotic songs.
It was a red-letter day in the history of India when the country got her freedom on August 15, 1947. It took hundreds of years for us to break the shackles of slavery. People of the country celebrate this day every year with great pomp and show. This day reminds us every year that freedom is sacred and citizens must do everything to ensure that it shall not be endangered.
Sri Aurobindo was an Indian philosopher, yogi, maharishi, poet, and Indian nationalist. He was also a journalist, editing newspapers like Bande Mataram. He joined the Indian movement for independence from British colonial rule, till 1910 was one of its influential leaders and then became a spiritual reformer, introducing his visions on human progress and spiritual evolution. The students spoke lines about this famous personality and shared their ideas about his work in the online assembly.

Freedom in Mind, Faith in Words
Pride in Our Heart, Memories in our soul, Lets salute the nation.

Every year August marks the start of the festive season, with Independence Day being the biggest national festival.
The history of the nation gives a glimpse into its evolution – from a Country reeling under colonialism, to one of the fastest growing economies of the world.
Patriotism is an amazing feeling of belongingness towards the country and a reminder that one must do her/his duties as a responsible citizen. The young curators reverberated the enthusiasm of Independence Day Celebration by participating in the Role Play Activity. Enacting their chosen freedom fighters, the children made everyone aware about their selfless contribution in getting Independence. It was truly heartwarming to hear the children speak about our Motherland and how we can contribute to make it more incredible.
They reminisced about the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Rani Laxmi Bai, Gandhi Ji, Sarojini Naidu, Subhash Chandra Bose and of unsung heroes like Ram Kumar Bismil, Sucheta Kriplani etc. The young leaders paid a rich tribute to the martyrs by representing their zeal and patriotism.
The students participated with great zing, spreading the message quite loud and clear that freedom is sacred and citizens must do everything to ensure that it should be celebrated and preserved at any cost.

An English Subject Enrichment Poem Recitation Activity was conducted in all sections of grade V on 12th and 13th August 2021. The aim of the activity was to help the students build their communication skills.
The poem for recitation was ‘Godfrey Gordon Gustavas Gore’ which is a part of their curriculum. The young students took great joy in reciting this poem and it was evident that they had worked hard on their presentation skills and expressions.
There are many reasons for poem recitation a few of them being; fluency of the language, confidence of the student, vocabulary, empathy to see the world through another’s eyes.
Our young scholars enjoyed their and their classmates’ performances, cheering and appreciating each other.

The hidden benefit of the humble comic book, a graphic novel, a comic strip; one of the best and most obvious is that they turn reluctant readers into ravenous readers. They are extremely appealing to young children who would otherwise have little interest in reading traditional forms of books. They give struggling readers confidence by offering short and easy-to-read sentences, alongside other visual and text cues for context and increase their observation and inference based ability. Comic strips help students become familiar with sequencing and understanding succinct language and expand their repository of words.

Keeping these benefits in mind and integrating it with the English syllabus of Grade 10 specifically with the topic of Reported Speech, a comic strip designing activity was held on 5^th and 6^th of August, 2021 in all sections. All the students took part with enthusiasm and zeal.

India has made significant strides when it comes to both social as well economic development, especially with the contribution of terrific leaders over the years. These leaders have played an important role in helping the Indian society reach where it is today. Several political leaders and freedom fighters came in at a crucial time in history and protected our national interest with great enthusiasm, bravery and tact.

Leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose played an indispensable role in changing the perspective of the world towards India. They led the country from the front, without displaying any inclination to either of the power blocs. 

Students of Grade IV portrayed the heroes of freedom struggle and the famous leaders of India with great enthusiasm. Students masqueraded as Mangal Pandey, Sarojini Naidu, Rani Laxmi Bai, Savitri Bai Phule, Tantia Tope, Bhagat Singh, Chandershekhar Azad, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Dr. B R Ambedkar and many more. It was a wonderful learning experience for the students and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves while performing this task.

World elephant day is observed, on 12^th August annually, to preserve and protect the giant animal elephant. This is a way, to bring the world together to help elephants.

It was officially, launched on August 12, 2012 to make people understand the need for better protection for elephants, and also to stop illegal poaching and trade of ivory, better treatment of captive elephants.

International Youth Day (IYD) is an awareness day designated by the United Nations with the purpose of drawing attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth. The first IYD was observed on 12 August, 2000. It is celebrated around the globe, to focus on the development and protection of youth in the society. During IYD, concerts, workshops, cultural events, and meetings involving national and local government officials and youth organizations take place around the world.

The theme for 2021 IYD is "Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health".

The students of class I-V discussed the World Elephant day and International Youth day in morning assembly. The children made the discussions very interactive and interesting by speaking confidently and presenting beautiful props.

“The unity of India has been and shall always be a unity in diversity.”

India is one of the most diverse countries found in the world and has the most complex amalgamation of various cultural identities. Unity in diversity is a unique feature of our country that binds everyone together to maintain peace and brotherhood.

To inculcate the feeling of patriotism in the young minds, an activity, ‘Apno Rang Biranga Desh’ was conducted for the students of grade 1 as part of the Independence cum Founder’s Week. The students of class 1 represented different Indian states by their spectacular dance performances like Kuchipudhi, Bihu, Garba, Kathakali, Bhangra etc. They also dressed up in the traditional attire of various Indian states bringing different colours of the nation together.

It was a very colourful day with the students dazzling in their cultural wear. Each child enjoyed this activity thoroughly which helped them to easily understand that folk dances are an integral part of India's tradition and culture, and it goes without saying that their significance was, is and shall always be immense.

“Art makes abstract math concepts concrete, understandable, and approachable”. 

Grade III students performed an activity on Geometry in which they were required to design any picture with the help of basic 2D shape. Students were given options like making their own dream house, Sea/ Space life, Animal/ Bird, Scenery, Artwork like Warli art, Rangoli, etc (or any picture of their choice) with basic 2D shapes like Circle, Square, Rectangle, Triangle. They were given an option to draw, cut or paste these shapes in their Math notebook or A4 size paper. 

Students created beautiful 2D pictures of sceneries, birds, animals, robots, underwater world, space life, warli art, rangoli, mandala, etc. The students were very excited and participated enthusiastically. They were able to understand the concept of 2D shapes. The activity helped the children to enhance various skills like aesthetic value, determination, observation and analytical skill.

V.V. Giri, the fourth President of the Republic of India was born in Orissa. While a student of law at Dublin, Ireland, he took keen interest in the ‘Sinn Fein’ Movement and was eventually expelled from the country. Returning to India, he organised labour unions. V. V. Giri took part in the Quit India agitation and was imprisoned for three years. After independence, V. V. Giri served in various capacities in the government. He was the High Commissioner to Ceylon, the Union Minister for Labour and the Governor of Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. He was elected the Vice President of the country in 1967 till 1969 when he became the Acting President upon the death of the then President Zakir Hussain. He contested as an independent candidate in the presidential elections of 1969 which he won, becoming India’s fourth president from 24th August 1969 to 24th August 1974. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1975.

The students of classes I-V discussed this well-known personality in the morning assembly. The children shared various facts about him and made the discussion very interactive and interesting by speaking enthusiastically about his life, career, Awards & Achievements, and Legacy

‘Freedom in the mind, Faith in words, Pride in our souls.’

Independence Day is celebrated all over India with great patriotism and pride. Students of Grade III celebrated this special day with great zeal and fervour, with a number of well-designed activities for Independence Day spread over a week. 

To commemorate the 75th Independence Day of India, Grade III students participated in a Quiz on India- Then and Now on 10th August 2021, Friday in the virtual class. Children were already aware regarding the schedule of this Quiz. The quiz had different types of questions from Freedom fighters, National symbol, States, Values, Constitution, Achievements, to Sports etc. 

The students were very excited for the quiz and participated enthusiastically. The quiz proved extremely apt for the age-group, and helped the children learn how one should handle success and failure.

Gone are the days when children occasionally peeped into the kitchen and asked their moms ‘What’s cooking?’ These days, the little master chefs are whipping up their own concoctions at home and their moms and dads are eating right off their palms. Who do you have at home -- a star sandwich maker or a skilled juice maker? Keeping this innovative thought in mind our mentors in Shalom organised a cooking without fire activity, ‘Our Little Chef’, for our young Shalomites of grade -1 on 10^th August, 2021 as part of the celebration of Founder’s Day and Independence Day.

Every day is a great day to celebrate being an Indian, but Independence Day is even a greater day to share that pride with everyone. So as per the instructions children were ready with the required ingredients like bread slices, tomato sauce, butter, green chutney/any green spread, carrot, cucumber, tomato –sliced(optional), plate, butter knife, table mat, napkin, Chef cap (made from paper).

Intrigued by this fireless cooking activity, they enthusiastically performed every step- spreading the spreads and arranging the ingredients, under their teacher’s guidance. These tri colour sandwiches were perfect for celebrating Independence Day at home.

A monologue is a speech that expresses the thoughts or feelings of one character.

Independence Day is celebrated all over India with great patriotism and pride. Shalom Hills International School, also takes keen interest in celebrating festivals of national interest in all their grandeur.

The students of the class-V celebrated this special day, with great zeal and fervour. The young scholars actively took part in the ‘Monologue Activity’ conducted through the virtual platform on 9^th and 10^th August, 2021. Each child was given a chance to speak a few lines as his/her favourite freedom fighter.  The students actively participated and shared the thoughts and the contribution of many unsung heroes of Indian freedom struggle like Tirupur Kumaran, Kamla Devi Chattopadhayay and Khudiram Bose, thus enlightening the audience. The favourites seemed to be Bhagat Singh and Subash Chandra Bose. A few of them spoke on the history and significance of the Independence Day.

Indeed, it was a day of joy, a day to love and respect our country and make it a better place for all Indians to live and experience the freedom, peace and unity in diversity.

‘Our Little Patriots’ activity was held for class- I students as Shalom celebrated Independence cum Founder’s Week from 9^th August to 13^th August. On August 9 children of grade I prepared slogans/speeches of any one freedom fighter and dressed up like them as well.  Inspite of being at home, the activity was performed by all the children which showed their love and respect for the freedom fighters of our country.  

They demonstrated their literary and speaking talent.   Each child prepared slogan of their favourite freedom fighter and enacted the role with full energy with the help of props. This activity helped the children to understand the sacrifice, value and role of our freedom fighters and has also helped motivate our students to develop their confidence, imagination and creativity. It ignited the spark of patriotism in the little patriots.

"Children are great imitators, give them something great to imitate." 

Role play offers a chance to the participants to gain experience, showcase speaking and presentation skills and reveal personal aptitude. The students of grade III participated in a Role-Play activity on Freedom Fighters or National Leaders as part of the Independence week celebrations.

The children portrayed themselves as Bhagat Singh, Rani Laxmi Bai, Kittur Rani Channemma, Sarojini Naidu and Subhash Chandra Bose and paid a rich tribute to the martyrs by representing their zeal and patriotism. They described the character, situation and their famous slogans. Students enthusiastically participated in the activity and used beautiful props while playing their role. They showed love towards the country and gratitude towards our freedom fighters.

The activity was an endeavor to foster oratory skills and confidence among the Shalomitees.

Overall, it was a very interesting, competitive and informative session for the children. The atmosphere was spell binding and enthralling. It was a splendid event.

Quiz contests are a great way of analysing how well one understands a subject and correlates the theoretical knowledge with its practical application in real life. It encourages students to stretch their knowledge horizons and look beyond what they are taught in class. Aptitude tests are a way of determining the abilities of the students. They are tests that measure specific skills, attributes and abilities such as numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, logical reasoning etc. 

The Final Quiz round of Math ability test for Term I was conducted on August 07, 2021 for the students of grade III - V. An online quiz was conducted on Quizziz Platform. There were 15 questions in the quiz based on the logical reasoning, mental aptitude and concepts taught in the class. A different time slot was given for each question as per the difficulty level. The students were well prepared for the test. It encouraged the students to use their logical thinking and problem-solving skills, while inculcating many factors like Numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, abstract reasoning, speed, accuracy, and other such abilities.

The students were very excited and participated enthusiastically. The first three positions were announced in the meeting.

The result of all classes III-V is as follow:

Grade 3-     Ishmit Goyal -First

                 Ashwik Vashisht – Second

                  Pranita Dutta  -Third

Grade 4-     Atiksh Kanshal -First

                  Shreyansh Banger – Second

                  Harshal Sharma    -Third

Grade 5-     Pratyush Vats -First

                  Yashvardhan G – Second

                  Vanshika Jangra   -Third

The teeth are the hardest substance in the human body. Besides being essential for chewing, the teeth play an important role in speech. Most humans are omnivores and consume different types of food. An adult human develops a total of thirty-two permanent teeth which are of four different types. Incisors, used for cutting and biting, canines for tearing the food, premolars for grinding and molars for crushing and chewing the food. 

To recapitulate the learning, the students of grade IV participated enthusiastically in the model-making activity of teeth on August 6, 2020. Students took four cut-outs from A-4 sheets, representing four different types of teeth. They mentioned the total number of teeth in an adult human body and also specified the function of each tooth over the sheets. Children used their own creativity to decorate them. All the cut-outs were joined later on to give a 3-D shape to the teeth.

The students finished the activity in the given time frame. 

Students learnt the importance of teeth in our life and that they are an integral part of the body, and should be taken care of properly.

Anti-Nuclear Day or Hiroshima Day 2021 marks the 76^th anniversary of the bomb killings. It is observed on 6^th August every year to promote "peace politics". The day reminds all of us of the irony of killing thousands to save thousands, war and its terrible destruction. It also emphasizes today's need and importance for universal harmony and peace. 

The nuclear bomb that was dropped in Hiroshima city was named 'Little Boy'. The explosion wiped out almost 90% of the city killing thousands of people. Apart from the killings, the Japanese also suffered from terrible burns and radiation sickness. After three days, on 9^th August, the second bomb was dropped in Nagasaki. The incident shook the world and brought into light the terrible aftereffects of nuclear warfare.

To mark the tragedy of the fatal bombing in 1945 and to sensitize the students about the atomic bomb blast and its after effects, a PPT with information about the same was shared by the class teachers with the young Shalomites during assembly. Students also payed homage by sharing posters and pictures along with their speeches.

The students of grades 1-5 were informed about the National Handloom Day, observed annually on 7th August to honour the handloom weavers in the country. August 7^th was chosen as the National Handloom Day, to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement, which was launched on this day in 1905 in the Calcutta Town Hall, to protest against the partition of Bengal, by the British Government. The movement had aimed at reviving domestic products and production processes. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first National Handloom Day in 2015. This day is celebrated to salute our weavers and others in the industry to promote the handmade and the handwoven. 

Students actively participated in the assembly and shared their views on handwoven products around them. Some students made beautiful posters for this day and some displayed handwoven clothes like sarees and handmade decorative pieces in their houses. 

Students thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and learned a lot about Handloom Day.

“I believe that in the history of the world, there has not been a more genuinely democratic struggle for freedom than ours”-                        Mahatma Gandhiji

“Quit India” was a movement started by Mahatma Gandhi on 8^th August 1942 during the World War II asking for an end to British rule in India. Initiated during a speech in Bombay where Mahatma Gandhi asked Indians to Do or Die, Quit India Movement was truly a turning point in India’s struggle for freedom. It instilled a new confidence among the Indian masses and aroused a spirit of total sacrifice in them.

The young Shalomites celebrated the 76^th anniversary of this day on 6^th August 2021 with great zeal and enthusiasm. The class teachers shared information on this day through a PPT, while the students paid homage to the martyrs through songs, poems, slogans and speeches. They made an appeal to all the citizens to imbibe the values learnt from the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation. The assembly concluded by emphasising on the need for National Integration and being aware of divisive forces. 

The entire nation filled with a sense of patriotism pays tribute to martyrs of the freedom struggle. JAI HIND…

The students of grade V finished their chapter ‘Rocks, Minerals and Soil’ wherein they learnt about the three types of rocks- igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic, their uses and how they are formed. They also learnt about various minerals along with examples and the different layers of the Soil. To bolster their learning a comic strip making activity was held on 5^th August 2021.

A week prior a note was given to the students to start preparing for the activity. They had to explain the formation of any one type of rock with the help of a comic strip with not more than 6-8 dialogues. The students enthusiastically came up with innovative ideas to show rock formation process by means of comics. Some displayed their work on paper, while some used online tools like Scratch and Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation. Some showed the conversation between a superman and a couple, some between a rock and a child, while still some showed a monologue being narrated by the rock itself, all of these being supported with pictures and cartoon sketches.

Overall, the students enjoyed the activity thoroughly and were able to grasp the rock formation concept firmly.

“A genuine smile comes from the heart, but a healthy smile needs good dental care”.                                  ? Wayne Chirisa

Oral health in children is a growing concern in the world today. Most children in today’s society do not realize the importance of their oral health, and how it can affect their lives.

It has been said that the mouth is the gateway to your overall health. Not properly taking care of our teeth and gums can lead to a variety of health problems. From loss of teeth and gum disease to heart disease and diabetes, oral health is very important.

To aware the students about the importance of dental hygiene and also to summarize the chapter, a subject enrichment activity was conducted in grade IV on 3^rd and 4^th August 2021. Children, dressed up as dentists, talked confidently about the importance of dental cleanliness and diseases concerned with dental problems. With the help of props like model of teeth, tooth-brush, mouth-wash, dental floss and so on, the background of dental clinic and dental tools for the presentation, they talked about plaque and different ways of taking care of the teeth.

The junior dentists conveyed a message of “The healthier our teeth are, the happier we look”. The aim of the activity was achieved by training young minds about their dental hygiene.

Brushing and flossing are important, but we also need to visit our dentist regularly to keep our teeth strong and healthy.

The dentist is a doctor who is specially trained to care for teeth. When we visit for a check-up, dentist looks at our teeth and gums to check for any problems. The dentist also wants to make sure our teeth are developing properly as we grow.

As an extended activity for the ongoing topic of Teeth in grade IV, a Virtual Visit to a Dental Clinic was planned for the students to engage children in positive oral health messages, whether it is demonstrating good tooth brushing techniques, giving lessons on sugar in food and healthy diets, or even simply good day-to-day advice on oral health routines. This helped students to be more comfortable with the dental tools and the dental practices.

Students were able to relate with their own experiences and helped in better understanding of the topic. Students were also advised to visit the dentist every 6 months for healthy teeth and gums.

An iconic leader and one of the strongest proponents of ‘PurnaSwaraj’ or total self-rule, Bal Gangadhar Tilak died on this day in 1920, in Mumbai.

A part of the Lal-Bal-Pal (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal) group, he was often called the "father of the Indian unrest" by the British Raj.

Tilak's ideas of Swaraj were not only confined to the political realm. Acutely aware of the need for cultural and economic independence, his two initiatives gained a lot of momentum. One was the public celebration of Ganesh festival and the other was the Shivaji Jayanti, both aimed at a cultural coming-together of all caste and community groups.

 

The students from classes I to V were made aware of this iconic leader and his accomplishments. A special virtual assembly was organized to give tribute to the legendary Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

"For the Tigers we must unite, so they don't fade out of sight."

International Tiger Day is celebrated worldwide on 29 July 2021. This day is also celebrated as Awareness Day withthe purpose of promoting awareness about this magnificent but endangered big cat along with conservation and expansion of wild tiger habitats around the world.

Tigers are on the brink of extinction and International World Tiger Day aims to bring attention to this fact and try to halt their decline. Many factors have caused their numbers to fall, including habitat loss, climate change, hunting and poaching and Tiger Day aims to protect and expand their habitats and raise awareness of the need for conservation.

A special assembly was conducted in classes I to V to make the children aware about the importance of this day. Students were enthusiastically involved in the presentation on “INTERNATIONAL TIGER DAY”. They participated by preparing creative slogans, posters and other props for the presentation and shared interesting information about this day.

 "Where tigers thrive, it is a sign that the ecosystem is healthy". 

"One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken."

World Nature Conservation Day acknowledges that a healthy environment is the foundation for a stable and healthy human society. This day is celebrated on July 28th every year to create and increase awareness about the importance of natural resources and how one can live sustainably.

The main purpose of celebrating World Nature Conservation Day is to conserve the animals and trees that are on the verge of extinction.

To make children aware of this important day, a special assembly was conducted in grades I to V. Students were involved in presenting the power point presentation on “World Nature Conservation Day.” Students had been asked to prepare slogans, posters and other props for the presentation. Students enthusiastically participated in the presentation showing their creative skills and shared their knowledge about this day.

 

The day encourages us to save and protect Earth’s natural resources that are fast-depleting owing to over-exploitation and even misuse. Students learnt that being responsible citizens, they must practice sustainable living and bring about small changes in everyday living, to avoid damaging our natural gifts any more.

“I am a soldier. I fight where I am told and I win where I fight”.

India is the land of the brave warriors. In the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir, India and Pakistan fought a battle known as “Operation Vijay” in 1999. To celebrate this victory, Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated all across India on 26^th July to pay homage to the soldiers and martyrs of the war.

To commemorate the 22^nd Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, a special assembly was organized on 26^th July in the school. Our young shalomities were very excited to express their gratitude to Indian soldiers. They dressed up like soldiers, used props, painted their face with tricolor and delivered short speeches, poems and slogans inthe glory of Indian Army. It was a mesmerizing moment watching children having a great zeal and respect for the nation. A PPT was also shown by the teachers during the assembly to give more information about this day.

The aim behind such events in the school is to commemorate the sacrifice along with inspiring young generations to perform national service. The sacrifices and heroic deeds of the martyrs of the Kargil War will never be forgotten.

We are proud to be an Indian. JAI HIND…

“Imagination Creates Reality." Imagination improves creativity and promotes better performance. It also helps to develop a strong problem-solving approach in dealing with issues. Role play offers students an opportunity to try new vocabularies. Through this, students gain confidence in their thought process and communication. They learn to relate their emotions as well as gain control over their behavior. “I am a tree” activity was conducted for the students of class- II on July 09, 2021. The students performed a roleplay activity in which they imagined themselves to be a tree and enacted on impromptu situations. They expressed their feelings as a tree and explained brilliantly how they would feel if somebody waters them or takes shelter under their shades or how would they feel if squirrels / monkeys climb on them and play on their branches. This activity helped the students to build a sense of the world around them and educated them in an effective way to save trees. Students reinvented themselves and learned to be more empathetic with others. They also witnessed environment from a different perspective. They used their imagination and expressed themselves in an effective way.

A noun refers to a person, a place, a thing or an animal. Even the word “it” refers to a thing, which could be an abstract concept like an idea or a concrete thing like a car. So, unless you speak or write only one-word commands, you’re going to need nouns. Without nouns, you will be left with verbs, adjectives and adverbs. The lack of nouns will eradicate any subject or object from your sentence which is as good as communicating essentially nothing. It’s difficult to write a sentence that does not include at least one noun. A noun is usually the subject of a sentence. A fun-filled activity based on naming words was conducted for the students of class 1 on 13th July, 2021. In this activity, the students were given a few sentences and were shown a few pictures wherein the students identified the naming words. Through this activity, the students revised the concept of naming words in a fun way. The students actively participated in the activity and enjoyed it thoroughly .

The Morning assembly undoubtedly holds the numero uno position out of all the routine activities done in the school. The assembly commenced with the Morning Prayer which provides peace and serenity to our mind and soul. As we all know, each day has its own significance, 23rd July is of great importance for Indian broadcasting history as it is observed as the National Broadcasting Day.On this day in 1927, the first-ever radio broadcast went on air from the Bombay Station in India. The broadcasting was done by the then private company, the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC). Later, the Government took over the IBC on April 1, 1930 and renamed it as Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS). On 8th of June, 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting Service became All India Radio. Currently, AIR is one of the largest public broadcasting organizations in the world. Each day,it sets a positive tone in the students and encourages positive involvement of all students.The students were made awareof the development in the broadcasting services from then till now.

Dynasty Activity undoubtedly holds a significant position among all the routine activities in a school. It aids community participation as well as hones the skills of children, boosting their confidence towards public speaking and imbibing a feeling of team spirit in their nascent minds. The students of class 3 to 5 conducted a Talk show on Kargil Vijay Diwas on 23rd July 2021. The assembly commenced with the Morning Prayer, followed by shloka, pledge, thought for the day,news and Shalom Anthem.Students were informed about the Kargil Vijay Diwas. Class teachers explained the importance of Kargil Vijay Diwas to the students. It was on this day 19 years ago that the Indian Army recaptured all the Indian posts in Kargil that had been occupied by the Pakistan army. Since then, July 26 is observed annually to commemorate the sacrifices made by soldiers in this war. The students were also explained about Patriotism, is a social value, inculcated at school level to ensure that they become responsible citizens of the Nation. The students spoke about the contribution of the Indian Armed Force,the significance of Kargil Vijay Diwas and the sacrifices of Kargil heroes. Student conveyedtheir respect by singing patriotic songs with great fervor.

“The arts are an essential element of education, just like reading, writing, and arithmetic…music, dance, painting, and theater are all keys that unlock profound human understanding and accomplishment.” –William Bennett, Former US Secretary of Education Art integration provides an engaging and effective way to achieve standards in both math/geometry and visual arts. Integrating art as a learning-teaching approach promotes motivation, stimulates positive feelings, and increases curiosity. An activity “Factor Tree” was conducted in all the sections of grade V. A factor tree is a special diagram where we find the factors of a number, until we can't factorize anymore. The endnumber are all the prime factors of the original number. The process of making a factor tree was explained to the students and they were asked to make the factor tree of the given number. The students found this activity an interesting way of finding prime factors. They all began with different factors of their choice. The students understood the concept and enjoyed the activity.

‘Show and tell’ is an important part of children’s learning and development, as it helps them to organize information and builds their confidence. Keeping this in mind, an activity based on their favourite means of transport was conducted for the students of grade 1. The topic ‘Your Favourite means of Transport’ based on the lesson, ‘Raju’s Auto-rickshaw’,was aimed at developing self-expression and speaking skills of the children. The children were excited to share their descriptive narration and waited eagerly for their turn. They used attractive props while speaking about their favourite means of transport. Some of them used their toy cars and buses in the form of props whereas the others used beautiful pictures of their favourite vehicle.Speaking about the differentmeans of transport namely land transport, water transport and air transport,the children were able to express their thoughts confidently and effectively.Their presentation and efforts were worth appreciating. The activity proved to be a splendid opportunity for them to gain confidence through virtual stage exposure. Their joy knew no bounds after their outstandingand commendable presentation.

‘The greatest danger to our planet is the belief that someone else will do it.’ A poster making activity was conducted in grade XII as a part of Subject enrichment activity on the topic- ‘Save Earth’.The activity was conducted with an aim to make the children aware of the various issues threatening the planet and to sensitize them towards the environment. The cognitive and creative skills of the studentswere enhanced as the students explored and gathered information about threats to Earth’s eco-system and various reasons for the same.They expressed their thoughts and concerns through vibrant posters. Most of the students made beautiful drawings and wrote slogans urging people to work towards the betterment of the environment. All the students participatedenthusiastically and projected their ideasbeautifully

Personification is a common form of metaphor in which human characteristics are attributed to non-human things. This allows to create life and motion within inanimate objects, animals, and even abstract ideas by assigning them recognizable human behaviours and emotions. An activity based on Punctuation marks was conducted for the students of Class VI onJuly 22, 2021.The students were asked to choose one punctuation mark and give a real character to it. The students depicted the characters through their drawings, by giving beautiful costumes and props. The students personified the punctuation marks and spoke few lines on the characters, keeping in mind the role of the punctuation marks they had chosen. Like a doctor representing a full stop, ending diseases or a detective representing a mark of interrogation, asking questions.Every student got a chance to perform and display his/her drawing. The students very creatively presented themselves as different characters and enacted well.It helped the students to effectively use the figurative language because personification relies on imagination for understanding. Thestudents showed their zeal in participating in the class activity and enjoyed it thoroughly.

An inter-disciplinary activity, ‘Abhyudya’, was organized on July 21,2021,for the students of grade VIII on the theme -" Rain cleanses the environment, uplifts the spirit and calms the mind, but at the same time can also cause havoc”. Through pictorial representation/ images,the students, brought out the difference in the environment before and after rainfall. Also, they were told to listvocabulary related to the water cycle and effect of rain. All the studentsof grade VIII were a part of the elucidative program. Truly, rain cleanses the environment, uplifts the spirit and nourishes the soil giving a soothing touch to the vegetation. The activity started with the wonderful presentation by the students.Thereafter, manystudents highlighted how important it is to curb the menace of flood. An exalting demonstration of the effects of rainwater on our Earth created a mesmerizing effect in the classroom. An interactive discussion ignited the candle of curiosity. The students were very delighted to present their creative work and share their information on the concerned topic.

“The care of the Earth is our most ancient, most worthy, and our most pleasing responsibility." When you plant a tree, you don’t just plant a sapling but hope. We have learned the hard way that trees are extremely important for our survival. Trees have unconditionally provided us with food, oxygen, and many other necessities for human sustainability, such as shelter, medicines, tools, and many more. In spite, of being such a rich resource, trees are still cut down, eliminating any kind of life around the area. However, with each passing day, the relevance and importance of planting trees have only increased. It has to be a combined mission of all mankind to plant more trees in order to save our ailing planet. Shalom Hills International Schoo lcelebrated Jal Sansad Activityduring Van Mahotsav by planting saplings in order to invest in the future. Students were asked to plant one sapling each and to take care of it on regular basis. Students were active in discussing how plants and water are inter-related and how it is helpful to make our Earth a better place to live

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” – Chinese Proverb In order to empower the knowledge and skills of the students, a transdisciplinary approach was adopted in the form of‘Abhyuday Activity’. A theme based on the topic ‘Ticket Sangrah’ was taken from the Hindi chapter, for the students of Grade 6. The motive was to explore new things, make connections, transfer knowledge and apply it in the activity. Stamps have been issued to pay tribute to prominent Literary personas. Students were asked to choose any one personality honoured on stamps and collect information regardingthe stamp. They had to write a brief bio-sketch about the personality and also paste images of the stamps on A4 sheet. Students researched about various stamps issued in India and abroad. They presented the activity virtually in the class, providing information about the stamp and the Literary personality chosen by them. Students actively participated in the activity, enjoying it thoroughly. The activity helped them to attach ideas and skills to a specific theme. It helped them to explore, learn and apply, creating a holistic approach.

"Chess is the gymnasium of the mind.” Every year on 20th July we celebrate International Chess to appreciate the roleof games in our lives. It plays a major role in providing exercise to the mind. Games are more of an art wherein your mind gets to play beautifully. They bring people together irrespective of all racial, gender, economic and political differences. Chess is one of the most ancient, intellectual and cultural games, wherein we can witness a combination of sport, scientific thinking and most importantly the elements of art. The International Chess Day is celebrated on July 20 every year and the day marks the foundation of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). This year the students of GradesI-V participated in the special assembly on 20th July and thoroughly enjoyed the assembly. Many students shared their views on the topic.They also discussed that unlike before, now greater number of people can be seen playing the game of chess. Eachstudent meticulously participated and became more aware about the game.

India is referred to as the land of festivals owing to its rich amalgamation of different cultures, ethnic backgrounds, languages, religious sentiments, diverse history, and different traditions in all the states. Festivals contribute immensely to feelings of social cohesion.Children will remember an important day only if they are told what the occasion signifies. Celebrating and sharing information through presentation of the events and festivals in our school has become an integral part of learning and building a strong cultural belief. To commemorate the occasion of Eid al-Adha, the students of the primary wing of SHIS started the day with an assembly and Information related to Eid was imparted through a presentation to enlighten the students about the spirit of the festival. This presentation depicted Eid in its true sense giving a message to imbibe its values in our life. Such information brings the students closer to each other's traditions and cultural beliefs and develops respect and understanding for each other's customs and traditions.

The ‘Continent Wheel’ activity was conducted in all the sections of class III. It was an individual activity in which thestudents were asked to make a continent wheel using paper plate or card board.Students were asked to speak important facts of any one continent. The main aim of the activity was to provide knowledge to thechildren about the seven continents, the five oceans and also to enhance their knowledge about the Chapter Continents and Oceans. Students were very excited and participated enthusiastically in the activity.

“A poet is before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language.” -W.H. Auden Poetsare important in every society because their prophetic words of wisdom will live on even after they aregone.They are people pleased with their own passions and volitions, and who rejoice more than others in the spirit of life that is in them; delighting to contemplate similar volitions and passions as manifested in the going-on of the universe, and habitually compelled to create them where they do not find them. In the month of July, students of grade IXpresented wonderful power point presentations on the life and exemplary works of famous poets such as Rabindranath Tagore, William Shakespeare, Robert Frost, Rudyard Kipling, Oscar Wilde, John Keats etc. The activity encouraged the students to research, filter and creatively present their works with confidence.The students actively participated in the activity. It helped them understand more about the life and struggles of their chosen poets.

Art integration provides an engaging and effective way to achieve standards in both Math and Visual arts.Keeping this in mind,Grade III students performed an activity on Addition and Subtraction Facts on 19th July 2021. This activity was a recapitulation of the concept taught in class. The students were instructed to beready with minimum two cut-outs of shapes as per their choices and paste these cut-outson A3/A4 sheets or in their Math notebook. The Teacher also shared a sample with them in virtual classes. Students made beautiful flowers, birds, butterflies, teddies, etc. and represented their work creatively. The children were given one three-digit number for which theywere able to find and write the different facts of that number. The students were very excited for this activity and participated enthusiastically.Students were able to understand the concept of Addition and Subtraction facts.The activity helped the children to enhance various skills like aesthetic, observation and analytical.

An activity related to L-10 “MOM in Orbit”, was conducted in all the sections of grade 4 on 19th July 21. This was a post activity done after the completion of the lesson. The students had to collect important information related to space exploration and travel. They had to make a creative collage of facts and pictures.The collage could be in the shape of a space-craft or anything related to space. The students presented their activity online and spoke a few lines on the given topic. Most of the students had made creative collages in the shape of either a meteorite, rocket, satellite etc. The students also made 3 D models of rockets, the solar system as well as space-ships and satellites. They also presented interesting facts on space travel as well as on the new developments in the field of space exploration. This activity gave the students an opportunity to express their creativity as well as helped them to practice their presentation skills.

“Oceans of emotion can be transmitted through a text message, an emoji sequence, and a winking semicolon, but humans are hardwired to respond to visuals.” The word “emoji” is a portmanteau, meaning it is made up of two different words, both of them Japanese: 'e' for picture and ‘moji' for the character. We often use emojis to convey a feeling and there's one for most emotions. Given the increasing number of emojis, sometimes we even struggle to find the right one. That said, emojis have become a significant part of our written communication, an outcome of the most recent evolution of the human language as most people communicate over electronic devices and via social media platforms now. These emojis attempt to fill in a gap when communication happens virtually. Thus, to celebrate these humble characters, the world celebrates Emoji Day on July 17. The students of the middle wing of Shalom Hills International celebrated this day in their assembly today. Their familiarity and knowledge of the different emojis was astounding. The information that Apple was going to come out with a new set of emojis by middle of next year was news for us facilitators too. During the assembly the students also made a few favourite emojis and shared with their classmates.

The lattice multiplication method is an alternative to long multiplication and can be used to multiply numbers of any length. It is algorithmically equivalent to long multiplication. Students like the lattice method more since it requires less active attention to place values when carrying out the actual multiplication process. 

Students were explained about the Lattice Multiplication through an example. After they learnt the process, they practised and multiplied the numbers on their own. The students also cross verified the product obtained with the regular method of multiplication.

Students made beautiful and colourful lattices to multiply the numbers with this process.

‘There is no reason,no excuse, Child labour is child abuse.’
To make the students aware of the social issue of child labour and to make them understand the need to take steps to counter it, the students of grade XII were designated a subject enrichment activity wherein all the students, in groups, prepared power point presentations showcasing a comparative study of child labour in states of Haryana and Telangana.
The students came out with wonderful conceptions on the basis of their google findings. They skilfully showed the situation and comparison of child labour in the two states through pie-charts, diagrams, newspaper cut-outs, web diagrams etc on colourful slides. The masterminds took to words as they argued about the importance of education for children, tinted the worrying number of cases and reasons forcing young children into labour.They also highlighted the contributions of NGOs through various case studies.
The students participated in the activity enthusiastically andlearnt a lot about child labour and its cons for the youth of India. The activity encouraged the researching ability of students as they gathered information from various sources.

“Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, and be responsible.” To inculcate the values of being courteous, peaceful and to obey the laws of the nation Shalom Hills International School, celebrated World Day of International Justicewhich falls on 17 July2021. The main objective of celebrating this day is to raise a voice against social injustice and to bring the various communities internationally together to eliminate poverty, gender, and physical discrimination, illiteracy, religious discrimination to make a socially integrated society. The aim of this day is to unite everyone who wants to support justice. The students were explained about this day through Power Point Slides. They also discussed about various laws and encouraged everyone to respect the laws made for the people.

“Talent is limitless, one does not necessarily need a stage to showcase one’s talent, as it will flourish anywhere, may it be a street or just a living room.” Talent show is an event, which gives platform to students to present their talents in any field. It not only helps the students to show their abilities but also motivates other students, to come up and show their hidden potential. The Talent Hunt- ‘Extempore’, was organized in Grades III-V in the dynasty period on 16th July 2021. The objective of the activity was to discover theirtalents and to inculcate the value of discipline in them. Students showcased their skill at classical and contemporary dance, poetic recitation and self-composed poem. They also showed their expertise at comic writing, clay modelling and mimicry. The participants mesmerized theaudience with their melodious voice and their skills in handling musical instruments. This activity enhanced creativityalong with providing fun, excitement and togetherness on virtual platform.

‘Fine declamation is where the same thought is often exhibited in several points of view.’ Today grade V was abuzz with excitement for their English class as they had a declamation activity. They had a choice of topic - a) Animals should not be kept in cages; b) Are Zoos good places and why? Our young scholars dispassionately put forward their points of view. The declamation became very interesting as the students empathized with the caged animals and spoke of their freedom comparing it to human bondage and freedom. The audience were also apprised by a few students about the advantages and the research done to keep animals in zoos. Today’s activity brought forward the thinking and compassion of our young generation giving everyone points to ponder upon and feel good about the fact that they are going to be thinking adults. ‘Fine declamation is where the same thought is often exhibited in several points of view.’ Today grade V was abuzz with excitement for their English class as they had a declamation activity. They had a choice of topic - a) Animals should not be kept in cages; b) Are Zoos good places and why? Our young scholars dispassionately put forward their points of view. The declamation became very interesting as the students empathized with the caged animals and spoke of their freedom comparing it to human bondage and freedom. The audience were also apprised by a few students about the advantages and the research done to keep animals in zoos. Today’s activity brought forward the thinking and compassion of our young generation giving everyone points to ponder upon and feel good about the fact that they are going to be thinking adults.

“What is this world, without the existence of Youth? And what is Youth, devoid of real skills?” Young people are the very reason for the existence of human kind. But, the quiddity of the youth will not serve any purpose, if proper skills are not imparted to them.This is the exact reason why, in 2014, the United Nations Organization decided to observe July 15 as the ‘World Youth Skills Day’, to focus on technical and vocational skill development in youth, and specifically their ability to access affordable, quality technical and vocational education and training. The day also highlights the important role of skilled youth in addressing current and future global challenges. The Shalomiteesfrom classes I-V participated in the informative assembly organised on 15th July 2021, to sensitisethem about the interlink between the skilled youth and the future. The young scholars with the help of the posters, speeches,debates and the power point presentations highlighted that the means to prepare the youth with ample skills is necessary to augment a brighter future. The students were also informed that the theme of World Youth Skills Day 2021 is "Reimagining Youth Skills Post Pandemic"and this year also pays tribute to the resilience and creativity of youth through the crisis and correspondingly to the technical and vocational providers that have adapted their learning delivery models in the pandemic.Indeed, World Youth Skills day is a chance for young people to come together and become a part of the change that we want and we expect to see.

“Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual and cognitive satisfaction." Visual representationinspires creativity, influences the capabilities and skills of the students. It is a powerful memory tool which provides a significant boost to students’ ability to remember and retain what theylearn. It also helps to improve their hand - eye coordination and fine motor skills. Visual representation helps to collect, process, and understand information in a mucheasier way. “Life Cycle of a Pumpkin” activity was conducted for the students of class- II on 14-07-21. This activity introduced students to the pumpkin plant and different stages of its growth. They observed how a pumpkin plant develops from a seed, how it flowers and produces a large round orange fruit. Students correctly sequenced the life cycle of a pumpkin in six stages: seed, sprout, plant, flower, green pumpkin, andorange pumpkin. The students learned the source of the food, recognized that pumpkin is a fruit as it has seeds inside it and they grow on vines. Students created a life cycle chart on a paper plate as they drew all the stages in the correct order. As they explored the life cycles of plants grown from seeds and bulbs, they recognized the link between themselves and other living things. Theyalso appreciated the benefits and their responsibilities towards these organisms.

Research work-based activity was conducted in Grade IV on 13 & 14 July wherein students were asked to find details about any five Wild life Sanctuaries/National Parks of India, like the name of the sanctuary, region in which that sanctuary lies,name of the state and important animals in that sanctuary. Students were asked to present their findings as per their own creativity with the required information in the class. The research was presented very beautifully and there were some really amazing and interesting fact which the students came to know about. Overall it was an informative activity for them and they learnt many new facts about their selected Sanctuaries/National Parks. The logical, Spatial, Interpersonal, kinesthetic and linguistic skills of the students were enhanced with this activity.

“Space is an inspirational concept that allows you to dream big.”- Peter Diamandis The students of the primary wing conducted a special assembly to learn about a woman who made India proud a third time and flew into space on the morning of 13th July 2021. Sirisha Bandla, an aeronautical engineer of Indian origin became a member of a group of five people who took off a spaceplane for the 1.5-hour mission above New Mexico from the Spaceport America launch facility at 10:40 a.m. Sirisha was astronaut No 004 and her flight role was of a Researcher Experience. The group also included certain other well-known personalities like Ricard Branson. They reached an altitude of about 88 kilometers over the New Mexico desert - enough to see the curvature of the Earth. The students experienced a moment of pride reading about the news this morning and many were inspired once again after hearing about Kalpana Chawla, Sunita Williams and now Sirisha Bandla. The special assembly ended with the Shalom Anthem.

“Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." -Warren Buffett Rainforests are the Earth’s oldest and most complex living ecosystems, with some surviving in their present form for at least 70 million years. They areincredibly diverse and complex, home to more than half of the world’s plant and animal species—even though they cover just 6% of Earth’s surface. This makes rainforests astoundingly dense with diverse flora and fauna. But their depleting number has become a serious issue. To make the students aware of this issue and take initiative towards it, an online activity ‘Discover the World of the Rainforest’ was conducted for Grade V. The young Shalomites shared amazing and interesting facts about the rainforest, its flora and fauna. They showcased their creativity through colourful illustrations. A few students highlighted the emotional impact of trees in addition to their environmental role. Several issues created by deforestation were also highlighted by the young crusaders. This activity helped to bring awareness about the green cover around us. It also helped in strengthening the bond between plants and human. The curiosity to learn and the will to create a change were clearly seen in the students’ efforts. This activity helped to instil the value of social responsibility in the students and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

“Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow.” -Oliver Wendell Holmes English has, at present, an international status, communicating in the queen’s language has become quite common. A Subject Enrichment Activity-Flashcard presentation, on the topic “Gender Nouns”, was conducted for the students of grade III. This was an online activity in which the students had to make five sets of flashcards and present them in the class. They prepared these by using discarded and useless material.On one side of the flashcard, they pasted a labelled picture of a masculine noun and on the other side a labelled picture of a feminine noun. Each child spoke about their own pair of gender nouns. This activity aimed at being a catalyst for the students to develop their oral and presentation skills. The activity kindled their creativity and was completely packed with fun-filled learning.

World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11 every year, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Program in 1989. It was inspired by the public interest in Five Billion Day on July 11, 1987, the approximate date on which the world's population reached five billion people. India, the seventh-largest country by land area, is the most populous democracy in the world.The current population of India is 1,393,531,257 as of Friday, July 2, 2021, based on World meter elaboration of the latest United Nations data. The morning assembly was organized on 9th July2021 wherein the students of Classes: I-V made their teachers and peers aware about this very important day which falls on Sunday (11th July, 2021)this year.Students delivered speeches with various props and PowerPoint presentation. It is very important that the young minds understand the importance of taking control of the population issues to avoid facingsevere consequences and problems in the future.

Mime is an art or a technique of portraying a character, mood, idea, or narration by gestures and body movements. An activity on the theme Vanmohatsav – ‘Save Trees and Protect Environment’ was held in Class V on the Virtual platform. All the students actively participated in this event and prepared for it very enthusiastically. Participants depicted the theme with their magnificent dramatic performance, brilliant gestures and body movements. They painted their hands and faces with white color and wore same costumes to give it an effect of real Mime act. Each and every participant expressed himself/herself through their expressions, acting and props. It was an effective way of encouraging students to develop their acting skills in terms of body language (posture, movements, gestures, etc.) and for them to gain a greater awareness of its importance as a form of communication. The young environmentalistsspellbound everyone with their fabulous act portrayed with such ease and conviction. Overall, it was a great show as each student tried their level best to leave an impact on the audience by spreading environmental awareness.

Van Mahotsav, a week-long festival is organized every year in thefirst week of July across India when millions of trees are planted. In an earnest attempt to lend a green touch to the environment, students of grade V stressed on the importance of trees by speaking on the topic “Protecting our planet starts with you”. The focus of the celebration was towards forming a personal connect between the students and environment through a process of experience, reflection and creation. Many students of class V participated in the elocution activity, wherein they discussed about the importance of plants for our planet “Earth”. It was an educative and informative talk for the students. Each student gaven the message through the speech,accompanied with attractive props,that the planet they live in must be protected and cared for. They stepped ahead to inspire, educate and motivate everyone to save the Earth. Students got to learn a lot and vowed to become responsible and active crusaders of “GREEN EARTH, CLEAN EARTH’.

4th July2021 marks the 119th Death Anniversary of the spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda. The world-renowned leader breathed his last on July 4, 1902, at Belur Math in West Bengal. He is regarded as one of India's finest intellectuals. Vivekananda's philosophies of yoga and Vedanta are very popular all over the globe.His teachings laid emphasis on the power of meditation, particularly focusing on inculcating an attitude of positive change in youngsters. On the occasion of his Death Anniversary the students of classes I-V paid tribute to him in the morning assembly through inspirational speeches using various props and PowerPoint presentation.In today’s busy world with pandemic situation around the globe, it is very important to keep our mind and body healthy by doing yoga and meditation.Students understood the importance of inculcating these in our lifestyle to be able to live a fruitful life byfollowing the teachings and principles of Swami Vivekanand-The great teacher and philosopher.

At a very young age, children are curious and begin to explore their bodies. As they grow older, they need guidance to learn about these body parts, their functions, safety, and what privacy and private parts mean. Children must know that no one is ever allowed to touch them, and that it is important to keep themselves safe at home or in public spaces. It’s important that we create opportunities to talk to our children about what a good touch is and what is unsafe. As grownups we should encourage children to express their queries to teachers and parents. Keeping this in mind, we at school have started guiding the Kindergarteners to differentiate between safe and unsafe touch. It is hoped that with proper knowledge and guidance they will be able to create their safe circle.

“The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.” “FRIDAY FAMILY DAY” was conducted for the students of classes I and II on 2nd July ,21 in the virtual mode. It was a pleasant change for the students as one of their family members shared the virtual platform and taught the students different things. It was a wholesome moment as not only the child but the family member as well felt extremely special. The Family members participated in the most positive and encouraging way and came up with varied ideas to showcase their hidden talents through different performances. Some of the presentations were a magic show, musical story narration, demonstration of making a hand towel teddy bear. One of the parents taught the students some mathematics tricks using different shapes. The distinction and variation in the activities which the parents brought to the class was undoubtedly commendable and praiseworthy. All in all, this was an inclusive time for everyone involved and made everyone cherish their family a little more. Our family is our ultimate circle of strength and love and spending time with them is always a blessing. The children as well their families enjoyed being the part of FRIDAY FAMILY DAY.

National Doctors' Day is a day celebrated to recognize the contributions of physicians to individual lives and communities. The date may vary from nation to nation depending on the event of commemoration used to mark the day. Although supposed to be celebrated by patients and benefactors of the healthcare industry, it is usually celebrated by health care organizations. Especially in these difficult times of the Corona pandemic we have seen so many doctors who are staying away from their family and loved ones to take care of all the patients who need them more. This day fills all of us with lot of gratitude and respect for this noble profession and the doctor community as a whole. A special assembly was conducted in all the Classes from I to V on 1st July, 2021 wherein the students made everyone aware about this very important day. They paid a tribute and expressed their gratitude to all the doctors who have risked their lives serving the sick people and are still serving the community selflessly day in and day out to make all of us healthy and happy. The students used various props, speeches and PowerPoint presentation to highlight the importance of the day. The assembly was very informative for all.

“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky." Celebrated in the first week of July in India, Van Mahotsav, also known as Forest Festival, is an annual celebration of the plantation of trees. Celebrating the importance of trees, Van Mahotsav was initiated in 1950 to celebrate the importance of growing and saving forests and to create awareness about the harmful effects of deforestation. Observing and honoring the same essence, an activity related to herbs – “Herbs Our Green Friends” was conducted for the students of class- II on 01-07-21. The students presented a talk show wherein they talked about remedies of the herbs like mint, coriander, basil, ginger, aloe vera etc. Most of the herbs are used on a regular basis in our kitchen and they have medicinal value too. With this activity children also came to know about sacred herbs and their benefits which they shared the same with their peer group. Some children also gave a practical demonstration of the remedy related to the herb they had taken. “GO GREEN” by saving forests and trees. Don’t destroy the world for your needs, plant more saplings and help save the world from global warming. This is what Shalom Hills International School is trying to inculcate in its students through these activities.

A verb is a kind of word that tells about an action or a state. Sentences are not complete without a verb. In English, verbs are the only parts of speech that change to indicate the past, present or future tenses. An activity related to understanding the concept of action words was conducted in all sections of class II. The students were asked to write action words/ verbs from their daily routine, in the flower petals cut outs. Students eagerly made sentences also using these verbs. The given activity helped the students understand the concept of verbs through the hands-on activity. Students participated in the activity with lots of interest and enthusiasm.

"Stories are a communal currency of humanity." --Tahir Shah, in Arabian Nights “Storytelling is a unique human skill shared amongst people far and wide. It opens up the vivid imaginations that run wild in children and it also builds confidence and enhances speaking skills. It is a universal and traditional art form that has featured strongly in Indian culture as an effective communication tool. It can be used to inform, entertain and educate. It is often used as a medium to ingrain values, improving reading skills and opening the minds of children to worlds beyond imagination. A storytelling competition was organized for the students of class 3 at Shalom Hills International School. The young vibrant storytellers came forth with wonderful tales. While some stories provided food for thought, some reinforced moral values and some were humorous with a common theme of importance of morals in our lives. The stories were adjudged on the basis of expression, confidence, diction and presentation skills of the children.

Class III students performed an online activity on Properties of Addition on 28th June 2021. Students were asked to be ready with 5-6 small size cut-outs, thread/ice-cream sticks, sketch pens and sticking tape. Students were asked to take one cut-out at a time and discuss one property with examples. In the same manner all properties were discussed with examples. Students represented their work beautifully in a very creative manner as per their choices. The students were very excited for this activity and participated enthusiastically. They were able to understand the concept regarding properties of addition and were also able to do the same. The activity helped the children to enhance their observation and analytical skills.

"If There Is Magic on This Planet, It Is Contained in Water." Climate change is a life threat for all living beings on earth and its effect can be observed by all. Our young crusaders of "Jal Sansad" are trying their best to spread awareness through various mediums. It is a way to show the society a mirror about itself, hoping to point out the attitudes and mindset of the current society. It is a tool to educate people about their current conditions, and possibly shock them into positive actions. The goals of water conservation efforts include: Ensuring the availability of water for future generations where the withdrawal of freshwater from an ecosystem does not exceed its natural replacement. Energy conservation as water pumping, delivery and waste water treatment facilities consume a significant amount of energy. In some regions of the world over 15% of total electricity consumption is devoted to water management. Grade IX students performed various activities and shared their BIT for conserving our resources by reusing the waste water at home in this pandemic situation. It was good platform provided by Shalom Hills International School to the children to showcase their bit to spread awareness about environmental issues.

“We forget that the water cycle and life cycle are one” Water is life. It is equally vital for the survival of both the plant and animal kingdoms. Though a big portion of the Earth is covered with water, only a small portion of it can be used for various human activities. With two-thirds of the earth’s surface covered by water and the human body consisting of 75 percent of it, it is evident that water is one of the prime elements responsible for life on earth. So, we need to be judicious and rational, regarding the usage of water. Rainwater harvesting, the storing of rainwater during the monsoon season for the purpose of reusing later, is one of the important ways of conserving water. With the purpose of sensitizing the students regarding the importance of water for sustaining life, a poster-making activity was conducted for the students of grades VI-VIII. They were explained how rainwater harvesting is practiced and why is it useful. Students participated with full enthusiasm and made beautiful posters on water harvesting with meaningful quotes.

Hydroelectric power is one of the most established and broadly utilized renewable sources of energy.To generate power, it utilizes the Earth’s water cycle. Our country is endowed with an immense amount of hydroelectric potential and is positioned fifth in terms of exploitable hydroelectric energy in the world. The power generated from hydroelectric plants is used for several purposes. To sensitize the students about various Hydel Power Projects of India, an activity was conducted in Grade IV on June 25,2021.Students were asked to find any five Hydel Power Projects of India along with some basic details like on which river the project is built, and is located in which state etc. Learners came prepared with amazing extra information like the largest project, capacity, smallest project etc and presented their findings with elaborate and beautiful props in the class in a very confident manner. It was a wonderful activity and children enjoyed it a lot.

Addition is one of the four basic operations of arithmetic, the other three being subtraction, multiplication and division. The addition of two whole numbers results in the total amount or sum of those values combined.

In order to make the concept clear, a Math activity using deck cards was conducted in the class. The students were first told to take rectangular cut outs to make cards. After that they were told to paste those cards on a A-4 size-sheet by putting addition sign in between. Then students added that using counting forward method.

Thus, this simple activity helped them to understand the concept of addition more clearly and evidently.

All students performed the activity with full enthusiasm.

Children thoroughly enjoyed the fun filled learning activity and spent their day

with experiential learning.

 

  

                                   

 

“Water is life, don’t waste it!”

 

Even though the maximum area of the earth is covered with water, there is only a small portion of it that can be used by us.An activity to instill a sense of awareness and responsibility in the students towards the importance of saving water was conducted in all sections of grades I to V.

 

The activity a part of Jal Sansad was titled ‘Every Drop Counts’. It was an offline activity and the students were asked to share a video or picture related to the activity. They had to upload the given activity on Teams. The teachers explained the activity to the students and made them understand the importance of saving water by reusing it particularly with respect to the water being wasted from RO / water purifier.

 

The students shared interesting pictures and videos related to the activity.

They showed how water from the RO can be used to water plants as well as in cleaning the house. A few students shared pictures washing utensils with the RO waste water which had been collected in a big container.

 

Through this activity the students learned that water-saving is a universal responsibility of every person who lives on this Earth. In order to save water, we have to adapt various means that can help in maintaining the level of fresh water on Earth.

The human body is a complex machine, made up of several important organs. Different organs work together to perform a common function. We refer to an integrated unit as an organ system. Groups of organ systems work together to make complete, functional organisms, like us! There are 11 major organ systems in the human body.

The students of Grade IV learnt about major organ systems in a human body like- skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, circulatory, excretory and nervous system.

To build up the conceptual knowledge of the topic, an activity was conducted wherein, students were asked to exhibit a presentation using 3D models on any one of the organ systems in the online class.

The students participated in the activity enthusiastically and confidently and explicated the functions of different organ systems in a human body.

Students presented their presentation in innovative ways; they explained the organ systems using working models. Few students used clay and thermocol to give a 3-D effect to the organ systems.

The activity helped the students to showcase their creative skills, augment their speaking and thinking skills.        

The students of class-II did a Math activity on Addition on number line in the class. The students were told how to draw the number line in their notebook and explained how to do addition using the number line. This simple activity helped them to understand the concept of addition more clearly and evidently. Counting on number line is the playful method through which the child is learning addition of numbers. They all performed very well. The purpose of this activity was to enhance the mental ability and to create an environment where they can get detailed information about the concept. Children thoroughly enjoyed the fun filled learning activity and spent their day engaged in experiential learning.

“The nature of yoga, is to shine the light of awareness, into the darkest corners of the body.” Education with a purpose, education that is all inclusive, education that revels in all colours of life; that is the education Shalom hopes to impart under the headship of its charismatic Founder and Chairperson Dr (Mrs.) Lilly George. Inspired and guided by her, Shalom celebrated International Yoga Day with the alumni. Sending her blessings to her dear children, MD ma’am expressed regret at missing this opportunity of meeting her children. She sent her best wishes to all and hoped all her blossomed flowers were safe and well. To make the culture and tradition of yoga alive, International Yoga Day is celebrated every year on 21 June. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness. Yoga is not a religion, it’s a way of living that aims towards a healthy mind in a healthy body. The current students of the school welcomed the alumni with great zeal. As part of the celebration, a step-wise description and demonstration of various yoga aasanas was given by the Physical Education teachers of the school. The session was an invigorating one, enabling all to experience their inner energies becoming exuberant and ecstatic.

“Yoga does not transform the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees.”

To stay strong and be strong it is important to build up our immunity. In the pursuit of the same, International Yoga Day was celebrated with our tiny tots of Pre-Primary on 21^st June ’21 on the digital platform.

This year’s theme was “staying fit at home”. The students participated in Yoga sessions with great enthusiasm and energy.

The teachers helped the children understand how yoga helps them in their daily lives in maintaining physical fitness. It was indeed a pleasure to see the children showcasing an energetic and spirited performance!

An activity to help the children explore their poetic side was conducted on 21st June 2021. This activity was conducted online in all the sections of grade 4. The students were given instructions a few days prior to the activity. They had to write a short self-composed poem on nature. The students were encouraged to write their poem on an A4 size sheet and illustrate it with beautiful drawings. The students presented their poems online in the virtual class. Most of the students composed interesting poems on Sun, rain, animals. They also wrote poems with the central idea highlighting the importance of saving nature. This activity gave the students an opportunity to express their creativity as well as to practice their presentation skills.

An interesting topic about vertebrates was introduced to the students of grade V. They learnt that organisms that have a backbone or spinal column, are called vertebrae, which include fish, birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. To reinforce their learning and the content taught, a role play activity was conducted on 21st June 2021. Most of the students were dressed up as an animal/bird of his/her choice and they came forward and spoke a few lines about the habitat and adaptations of the vertebrates. The students very creatively planned their role and it was interesting to see a wide range of species virtually. Some children chose to completely transform themselves into an animal, while others just chose to keep it minimal and expressed themselves with the help of face painting. Happy and cheerful pictures of faces of the budding Science geniuses displaying their activity was received by the Science teachers. It was a fun filled activity for every participant. It helped to develop the children’s linguistics and naturalistic skills.

The recent pandemic that the world has been dealing with for almost 1.5 years now has shown how disastrous the consequences of ecosystem loss can be. By shrinking the area of natural habitat for animals, we have created ideal conditions for pathogens, including coronaviruses to spread. To encourage awareness and environmental protection, World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 every year throughout the world. The first World Environment Day was observed in 1974, giving a global platform for inspiring positive change in the environment. The theme of World Environment Day, 2021 is “Ecosystem Restoration”. To sensitise children to the issues of deterioration of natural resources and care for living organisms, students of grade IV got involved in the activities to show their small contribution towards nature. As budding environmentalists, children presented various ways to create an eco- friendly living like following the 3R’s to conserve resources, reduce pollution and plant more trees. Also to show their care for other living beings in the environment, some children made beautiful bird feeders using their innovative ideas with plastic bottles, shoe-box and other available resources in their home. Children presented their project confidently in the class and shared efficient ways to save the environment. The activities helped the children hone their creative skills. The main objective of observing this day was to bring about a change in the attitude of children towards environment and advocate their partnership with the society to ensure a safe future.

Animals are living things and need food and water to live. All the animals are very important as they maintain a healthy ecosystem by maintaining healthy food chains. Animals have been classified into Herbivores, Carnivores and Omnivores on the basis of their eating habits. Students of class III did an interesting activity to enhance their learning skills and memorizing capabilities. Children made three columns (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores) in their EVS notebook beforehand, they were shown pictures of one category of animals at a time for 30 seconds where in they had to see the pictures carefully and write as many names as they could recollect in the respective column in 1-2 minutes. Then the same procedure was repeated for carnivores and omnivores. The activity was conducted successfully and enjoyed by the children who participated whole heartedly.

Dreams can be like Charades in which we act out words rather than see or speak them. An act or a pretense is what Charade is. The students of grade V today participated in an activity called Poem Charades. The students had to enact a part of the poem – ‘Miss Leopard Goes to the City’, written by Junaid Yahya. It personifies a leopard. It also tries to invoke empathy for the animals and change the mind set of humans for animals. Our young scholars had a wonderful time acting out different characters and scenes from the poem. There was an array of masks made by the children, mime effect, animated expressions and voice modulation to enhance their performance. The enthusiasm was contagious as the children were cheering and clapping in appreciation for their classmates after each performance.

“Winds remind us that no matter how strong we claim to be but how fragile we are for real…. Happy Global Wind Day.” World Wind Day is celebrated every year on 15th June to make people aware about wind energy, its uses, power and its potential to change the world. World Wind Day is organized by Wind Europe (windeurope.org) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). In more than 75 countries, wind farms are in operation and energy is generated from a clean and renewable source. This day is a brilliant way to celebrate the use of wind, all over the world, and to give children an understanding of how wind turbines work. The students of classes I-V celebrated this day in morning assembly by making beautiful wind mills out of paper. They showed their assembled toys assembled ones too and shared their knowledge on the same with their peer group. Few made beautiful drawings too, showing the importance of wind energy. The children participated enthusiastically in the discussion related to the same in the virtual class. On Global Wind Day, let us take inspiration from wind which has the power to bring the change in this world.

World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5th every year to appreciate the role of Mother Nature in our lives and at the same time remind us of our duties towards it. This year the students of Grade V participated in various activities to celebrate World Environment Day and thoroughly enjoyed them as they learned something new from each activity. A choice was given to them from among three activities. Each activity was explained in detail by their respective Science teachers. The first activity demanded them to be ‘eco-warriors’ and state ways of how they can manage the waste of their houses to reduce it at their own level. The second activity stated that ‘Every Drop Counts’, where the students had to show how they reuse the wastewater from the RO filters. While the third activity mentioned steps of how the students could make compost at home and then use it to fertilize the plants in their houses. Each student meticulously chose an activity and uploaded pictures or videos regarding the same. The activity focused on practical applications that the students and their family members could make a part of their daily lives and thus make a difference to the environment.

Practicing mental maths keeps our brain sharp and boosts learning capabilities. While mathematical skills are supposed to be a task of the left brain, mental math stimulates the right brain which is responsible for imagination, visualization, and creativity. There is a specific part of the brain that performs mental maths but if it is not developed properly at an early age, it can become a challenging task. For this reason, it is important to develop the ability to do mental maths in children while they are still young. To enhance their mental ability, a math activity ‘BINGO’ was conducted in all the sections of class V on 14th June’2021. The rules were explained to the students of the activity. Children created their own Bingo card consisting of three rows and four columns. They were asked to fill the Bingo card using random numbers ranging from 1 to 50. Some of the mental maths-related problems were given to the students and they were asked to cut or colour the answer of that question in their Bingo card. If all the numbers in any one of the rows, corners, and full ticket are coloured or crossed, they had to call it BINGO. The children decorated their Bingo cards beautifully. The activity was conducted in a much-disciplined manner. The children actively participated and enjoyed the activity.

Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think - Albert Einstein A joyful and secure environment gives the children the freedom to be curious, to wonder, to find their own trajectory of exploration while making sense of their new world. A social science activity was planned in Grade V on exploring the Imaginary lines of the earth which helped the young minds to use their knowledge and reinforce the concepts of latitudes and longitudes. The main objective of conducting the activity was to identify the difference between latitudes and longitudes and find the location on a world map which is identified by a pair of map coordinates. Young learners inculcated the critical thinking skills and geographical skills and applied the higher order skills such as interpretation and synthesis of geographical information to understand earth’s physical and human patterns and processes. It was an exciting and a great learning experience for the students as learning in this way transforms them into lifelong learners.

“The key is not the will to win. Everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.” International Olympics Day is observed on June 23 every year to celebrate sports and health. The occasion marks the day when International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894. The day aims at promoting sports and spreads the message of making sports an integral part of life. The day is celebrated to encourage more people to participate in the Olympic Games and spread awareness about the event and promote the Olympic Movement. Based on the three pillars – “move”, “learn” and “discover” – the National Olympic Committees are deploying sports, cultural and educational activities to encourage participation regardless of age, gender, social background, or sporting ability. The students of classes 1-5 participated in a healthy interaction on the above topic.They were told about the importance of sports and sportsmanship. They discussed about their love and passion for their favourite sport. Few of them used props and shared their views with their peer group and teachers.

“We all have a responsibility to protect endangered species, both for their sake and for the sake of our own future generations.” -Loretta Lynch Many species have become endangered and many have slowly gone extinct. The fee of extinction is pretty excessive, both for the environment and mankind. This is a fact to fear about the lack of biodiversity especially prompted due to environmental exploitation. National Endangered Species Day, offers us the possibility to enhance our understanding about wildlife and endangered species and take key steps to sustain them. This day additionally acknowledges the countrywide conservation efforts to defend endangered species and their habitats. In order to raise awareness about the importance of conservation of endangered species, their habitat, and necessary measures for their protection, “National Endangered Species Day” was celebrated at Shalom Hills International School on May 13, 2021. The teachers showed informative and valuable presentation. It was followed by the students delivering speeches, sharing opinions and facts through presentation made concerning the day. Students are well versed with the modern situation and they showed enthusiasm in discussing the issues and listing opportunities to lower the exploitation.

Eid ul Fitr
Eid al-Fitr, also called the "Festival of Breaking the Fast“, is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal, the tenth Islamic month. On Eid ul Fitr, Muslims thank Allah for the holy Quran and joyously celebrate the festival.
International Day of families
International Day of Families, observed every year on 15 May, provides an opportunity to raise awareness, about the issues related to the families and, to increase knowledge about the social, economic and demographic processes that affect them.
World Telecommunication Day
World Telecommunication Day, is observed every year on 17 May. It marks, the founding of ITU when the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris on 17 May, 1865. It is also known as World Telecommunication, and International Society Day.
The students of classes I- discussed the significance of these days V in morning assembly. The children made the discussions very interactive and interesting by speaking confidently and presenting beautiful props.

“Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable.” – William Pollard In order to applaud the achievements and contributions of Indians to science and technology, ‘National Technology Day’ was celebrated at Shalom Hills International School on May 11, 2021. This day serves as a reminder of India joining the elite group of nations with nuclear weapons, when three successful nuclear tests were conducted at the Indian Army's Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan under Operation Shakti, followed by two more nuclear tests on May 13. The tests were spearheaded by the late President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. The students celebrated the day by remembering the historic moment and by delivering speeches on ‘National Technology Day’ virtually during the Class assembly. Students spoke about the innovations and the advancement happening in the field of technology. A Power Point Presentation on Technology was also shown in the classes. The teachers and the students expressed their views on technological development and the need of Nuclear Power. Students enthusiastically participated in the discussion and celebrated the day with pride.

“Nursing is caring…but it takes more than a caring person to be a nurse”. International Nurses Day celebrated on May 12 in honour Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, is a tribute to all of the nurses around the world and the incredible work they do. Nurses bring so much to our lives, and the lives of the people that we love, and so it is only right that we have a day that honours them and recognizes all of their efforts! In 2020 and 2021, we have seen the devastations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In almost two years since the pandemic began in 2020, the world has seen over 160 million corona virus cases and over 3 million deaths worldwide. The pandemic has burdened our health infrastructure unlike ever before. However, despite the magnitude of the situation, our health workers — doctors, nurses and others — have been at the forefront fighting the virus and saving lives. Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system who have been risking their lives for months. Amid this backdrop, the International Nurses Day 2021 assumes great significance. The students of classes 1-5 celebrated the day to express their deep gratitude for nurses and health workers around the world.

Prepositions play a vital role in grammar. They are the vital markers to the structure of a sentence. In order to enhance the knowledge of students about prepositions and for a better understanding of the concept, an activity ‘Show What You Know’, was conducted for the students of grade I on 11th May, 2021. The students used different objects which were easily available at home for the activity, for example: their toys, bowls, glasses etc. They were given a few prepositions and they had to place the objects according to the given position words. All of them were successful at placing the objects as instructed by their teachers. The children participated actively in this activity and could understand the different position words clearly. With the help of this activity, the listening skills of the students was fostered and therefore a constant attentiveness was seen during the activity. This hands-on activity helped the students’ minds grow and they joyfully learnt prepositions.

“GOD could not be everywhere and therefore He made Mothers.” Mom is like a super hero who knows how to fix everything in the world. She is not only our creator but our teacher, our mentor, our best friend and much more. Although, each day ought to be Mother’s Day, this one day is special for all the children and mothers, as it celebrates the everlasting bond of love and affection. On this Mother’s Day during this hard time, we at Shalom Hills International School seized the opportunity to celebrate every magical gesture of our mothers. During the virtual Art & Craft classes the students of classes I & II learnt to prepare beautiful cards while Class III-V students learnt to prepare Certificates for their mothers. They also wrote heart warming messages for their mothers. The bright splash of colors symbolized the spirit of excitement in the students.

"Change is crucial. It brings new thought; new thought leads to innovative actions." – Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam The students of classes I-V discussed the importance of technology in our lives in morning assembly. They also shared various roles being played by the technology in the current scenario. National Technology Day is celebrated every year on May 11 to highlight the achievements of engineers and scientists in the field of technology and science. On this day in 1998, India carried out the Pokhran nuclear tests - a series of five explosions at the Indian Army's Pokhran Test Range. Former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, lovingly known as India's 'Missile Man', spearheaded the Pokhran nuclear tests. The then prime minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, declared India a nuclear state, making it the sixth country to join the elite 'nuclear club'. National Technology Day is not just for scientists and engineers but also for anyone associated with ideating, innovating, and facilitating the dissemination of knowledge, information and taking the products or benefits to people at the grassroots level.

“Lighten up, just enjoy life, smile more, laugh more, and don’t get so worked up about things.”– Kenneth Branagh More than 70 countries around the world celebrate World Laughter Day on the first Sunday of May to raise awareness about laughter and its many healing benefits. Laughter is good for your health. In fact, it is really one of the best medicines in the world. It strengthens your immune system, boosts your mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free and easy to use. Labour Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labour movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The students of classes I-V discussed the importance of being happy in morning assembly. They also shared various facts about Labour Day.

The students of grade IV had learnt about clothes and the different types of fibres that help to make fabrics for these clothes. They also learnt about how various fibres are made into fabrics with the help of weaving and knitting techniques. Thus to reinforce their concepts, a ‘Weaving Activity’ was conducted. The students were shown power point presentation explaining the procedure. Following the instructions of their respective science teachers, they observed the demonstration of the activity and then whole heartedly completed the activity. The little weavers excelled in their art and brought forward vibrant coloured woven mats for display. With the help of this activity, they understood the method of weaving better. The activity enriched their cognitive and fine motor skills. The students and teachers both, thoroughly enjoyed the execution of the activity.

“Lighten up, just enjoy life, smile more, laugh more, and don’t get so worked up about things.”– Kenneth Branagh More than 70 countries around the world celebrate World Laughter Day on the first Sunday of May to raise awareness about laughter and its many healing benefits. Laughter is good for your health. In fact, it is really one of the best medicines in the world. It strengthens your immune system, boosts your mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free and easy to use. Labour Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labour movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The students of classes I-V discussed the importance of being happy in morning assembly. They also shared various facts about Labour Day.

On the occasion of Earth Day, an English Declamation activity was held for all the sections of grade 4 from 26th April to 2nd May. The students had to make a small video on the topic ‘Save Earth’. They had to record their views on the importance of saving Earth and looking after its limited resources. This activity was a part of Earth Day celebrations. The students were encouraged to express their thoughts and ideas. They could also use props to show the importance of stopping pollution of all kinds. Most of the students uploaded the video on teams in the Declamation activity folder. The children spoke confidently about saving Earth and keeping it clean. Most of them also spoke about saving Earth from the current ongoing covid pandemic. This activity helped to sensitize the children on the importance of saving Earth and keeping it clean and green.

‘All about My pet’ activity was conducted for Class I students during which children showcased their artistic and oratory skills by speaking about their favourite pet animal. They were shown different pet animals to make them understand the concept of Pet Animal effectively. This activity helped to kindle their imagination and transform it into beautiful pictures of their favourite pet animal. The children enthusiastically participated in the activity. This activity helped children to get involved in some kind of drawing which was extremely enjoyable to them. Drawing their favourite pet and speaking a few lines on it helped them to develop both their artistic and oratory skills. Children really had a wonderful time performing this activity.

Mathematical puzzles make up an integral part of recreational mathematics. They are sometimes used to motivate students in enhancing Math problem solving techniques, sharpen their memory and to increase mental acuity. "Puzzlomania” activity was conducted in all sections of grade IV. This activity was basically conducted to check the understanding of different concepts related to numbers and numeration taught to them. Students were briefed about the activity 2 days prior and were told to be ready with the crossword puzzle on A-4 size sheet. Questions related to chapter Numbers and Numeration (like place value, face value, periods, Indian and International place value chart) were displayed on the screen and they were told to solve the crossword in the allotted time. Students participated enthusiastically and enjoyed the activity. They decorated the crossword and displayed beautiful artwork and found this Math crossword puzzle both fun and challenging.

Mahavir Janma Kalyanak is one of the most important religious festivals in Jainism. It celebrates the birth of Mahavir, the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara of present Avasarpi??. It is celebrated on the 13th day of the waxing (rising) half of Hindu month of Chaitra which usually occurs in either late March or early April. Mahavir Jayanti is a festival marked with prayers and fasting. An assembly was conducted on 26th April for Grades I-V to celebrate the auspicious occasion and make students aware about the significance of the day. Students presented information related to the festival through props and Power Points efficiently.

“Language is a roadmap of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going” A special assembly was conducted on 23rd April for Grades I-V to celebrate and create awareness about the English language, World Book and Copyright Days. Students were involved in presenting power point presentations on these days. English Language Day is observed annually on April 23 to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity by exploring the language. In the morning assembly, students spoke about the importance of this day and shared with the class about the history, culture and achievements associated with the language. In 1995, UNESCO decided to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day on this date to mark the birth and death anniversaries of several renowned authors. World Book Day continues to encourage children and young people to read. It was indeed an informative session for them which they enjoyed thoroughly.

As part of creating General Awareness among the students about important persons and events in history, a PPT on Sachin Tendulkar was shown in all grades from 1 to 5 on the eve of his birthday which falls on 24th April. Sachin Tendulkar is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. Two students from each grade spoke important facts relating to Sachin Tendulkar and showed the posters that they had made of the cricketing legend. The students enjoyed talking about Sachin Tendulkar and learning interesting facts about him.

“Environment is no one’s property to destroy; it’s everyone’s responsibility to protect.” To commemorate Earth Day, grade V students of Shalom hills International School took part in a declamation activity on the topic- Today’s Cure, Tomorrow’s Prevention. The young scholars spoke freely about their feelings for their environment and legacy of the future generations. They expressed themselves with the help of props- drawings, craft work and short poems. The scholars spoke with a lot of passion expressing and emphasizing the importance of a healthy environment for a healthy, happy earth life.

An art integrated activity - ‘Guess That Article’, was conducted for the students of class 1 on 22nd April 2021. Articles are special modifiers that appear before nouns or noun phrases. Like other adjectives, they help clarify the meaning of the noun in a sentence. Learning and consciously applying a few basic principles can help one improve his/her article usage significantly. Keeping the important characteristics of articles in mind, Guess That Article activity was conducted for the students of class 1. All the students were shown different pictures and asked to identify the suitable articles to be used for the same. They enthusiastically identified the pictures and shared the suitable articles to be used with them. Through this activity, the teachers could introduce children to the correct use of articles. This wonderful activity was thoroughly enjoyed by the students.

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” —Albert Einstein Every year, Earth Day is celebrated on 22nd April at Shalom Hills International School to remind the students of their duties towards ‘Mother Nature.’ As a part of environmental education, Earth Day was celebrated through educational and action-oriented activities both through the online and offline modes. A myriad of activities was conducted in the classes. Students of class III-V indulged in offline craft activity by making paper bags stating ‘Every Day, Earth Day’. Students celebrated the power of green by singing songs, reciting poems, presenting speeches and sharing videos in the morning assembly. Students expressed their views by making short speeches in both English and Hindi. Children learnt the importance of preserving the planet earth through the fun-filled activities.

“Nature is our mother and to save our mother Earth is our responsibility." -Chaitali Bari To uphold the responsibility toward our Mother Earth, each year 22nd April is celebrated as the Earth Day. The day aims, to raise awareness among masses about climate change and global warming and inspires all to act towards the protection of the environment while focusing on the need for conservation. The theme for this year's Earth Day is "Restore Our Earth" which focuses on natural processes and emerging green technologies that can restore the world's ecosystems. Our Little Shalomites celebrated Earth Day with full zest through a special assembly conducted in grades I to V. All the students took the Green Oath and pledged to become global citizens working for the cause of sustainable development. The students virtually engaged in meaningful activities to show their love and respect for Mother Earth. Students prepared power point presentation, slogans, posters and other props for the presentation. They expressed their views through speeches, beautiful poems in English and Hindi, and agreed to prioritize earth protection. A Quiz was also conducted in class V to test their knowledge of facts about the importance of nature. Students were able to understand the importance and need for celebrating Earth Day. “Earth rejoices our words, breathing and peaceful steps. Let every breath, every word and every step make the mother earth proud of us.”

An activity based on the poem - ‘The Sounds in the Evening’ written by the famous poet Eleanor Farjeon, was conducted in grade 4 on 20th April 2021. This was an online activity in which the students had to make any four drawings of the sounds that they hear in the evening. They also had to label the sounds along with the illustrations. This activity was interesting for the students as it involved recognizing the everyday sounds that the children hear. A few students also spoke about the harmful effects of noise pollution. The students uploaded their posters with colorful illustrations on teams in the given folder. This activity gave the students an opportunity to express their creativity as well as helped them to practice their speaking skills.

The International Day for monuments and sites also known as World Heritage Day, observed on 18 April each year around the world, is a building block for peace and sustainable development. It is a source of identity and dignity for local communities, a wellspring of knowledge and strength to be shared. To honor the presence of cultural heritage in our country, India, and to generate awareness about its preservation among young scholars, a special assembly was organized in the primary wing of Shalom Hills International School on 19th April. The Shalomites from Grades I-V participated enthusiastically in this assembly. The students, with the help of posters, speeches and props showcased the importance of the day and also shared information about few important monuments. They also shared their views on how to protect the rich heritage of our nation. Students rightly quoted- “Every Indian citizen should be proud of the heritage sites of his/her country and take steps towards the protection of these assets.” The assembly was overall an enriching experience for everyone.

The students of grade IV participated in EVS I “Map-making” activity conducted during the virtual class on 16th April. The main aim of the activity was to make the students understand the importance of symbols and keys/legends used in maps. They also learnt to create their maps. Students did the activity individually with the help of the instructions given by the teachers. They were asked to draw an outline map from their home to school while marking major landmarks using colours or symbols and making key/legend for all the symbols or colours used. They learned the importance of symbols, colours and keys on a map while making or reading a map. The logical, Spatial and Interpersonal skills were enhanced with this activity. Overall, it was a fun learning and informative session for the children.

An art integrated activity - ‘Let’s Express’, was conducted for the students of class 1 on 16th April 2021. The ability to convey emotions through facial expressions is an important part of effective communication. A person’s expression provides non-verbal cues that indicate their mood or even health. A big smile that shows teeth conveys joy, for example, while a grimace can be a sign of pain or anger. It’s important that kids are able to understand emotions and convey them properly. Keeping all these important characteristics of facial expressions in mind, ‘Let’s Express’ activity was conducted for the students of class 1. In this activity, all the students drew a few emojis depicting happiness, sadness and anger in their English notebooks. They enthusiastically drew the pictures and also wrote the names of the emotions below them. Through this activity, the teachers could introduce children to emotions and help them in recognizing them. This art integrated activity was thoroughly enjoyed by the students.

Leaves are the plant’s solar panels and food factory. Nature has provided plants with wide variety of leaves in terms of their size, shape, colour and pattern. The chapter on ‘Plants’ gave the students of Grade IV an insight to the primary function of leaves. Children were introduced to the basic two types of leaves i.e., simple and compound leaves on the basis of the distribution of leaf lamina. To help children understand the structure of a leaf better and to reinforce their learning about leaves, an activity was conducted on 15th April, 2021. Each student was told to observe and collect at least four different types of leaves from their surroundings and paste them on A-3 sized sheet or a chart paper. Students meticulously completed their activity creatively and imaginatively. Not only did they add colours to their activity but also applied knowledge by labelling the parts of the various leaves and describing their structures and types. The activity widened their thinking and observational skills due to which they were able to identify the parts and functions of a leaf. The students participated in the activity cheerfully and the objective of learning by doing was fulfilled.

Pahela Baishakh or Poila Baishak is the first day of the Bengali calendar which originated in ancient India. 'Boishakh' is the first month in the ancient Hindu Bengali and Nepali calendar. This festival is celebrated on 14 or 15 April in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam, and by people of Bengali origin throughout the world. Celebration of Pahela Baishakh traces its roots back to the 7th Century. The festival is celebrated with processions, fairs and family time. The traditional greeting for Bengalis in the new year is "Shubho Noboborsho" which is literally "Happy New Year". The special assembly organized for the young scholars of primary wing on 15th April 2021, apprised them about the importance of different cultures- ‘Unity in Diversity’. The other importance of the day is that on this day in the year 1971 Himachal Pradesh, which was a province since 1948, obtained statehood. This day is celebrated with a lot of patriotic fervor in the state’s capital of Shimla with parades and local events also organized in the cities, towns, and villages to mark this significant day.

The students of class-II performed a Math Abacus activity. Abacus is a simple device for calculating and consists of a frame with rows of wires with beads strung. The students were told to show a 3-digit number by drawing abacus and putting bindis or drawing beads in their notebooks. They were explained about various places of numbers on it. Students learnt how to represent a number on the abacus. This simple activity helped them to understand the concept of abacus more clearly and evidently. The purpose of this activity was to enhance the mental ability of the children and to create an environment where they can get detailed information about the concept and learn in a better way. Children thoroughly enjoyed the fun-filled learning activity and spent their day engaged with experiential learning.

"Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom." -Roger Bacon Language is a medium that connects the world and entwines cultures. It is proof of a rich heritage and civilization. Learning different languages permits us to broaden our horizons, to know about new cultures and to connect us to the global citizens. Hence, an inter-dynasty competition was organized as an initiative to bring together the Shalom Family for a fiesta of knowledge and learning through “LING-O-PEDIA” for Grades 6-10. This competition aimed at providing the students an opportunity to explore Hindi, Sanskrit and French to augment their vocabulary. In the first round, one student was given a word. The next student had to tell a word in the respective language with the last letter of the word given. The round continued till the students were able to provide the words. Finally, three students were shortlisted, who will compete in the next and the final round which will be held in the coming week. The criteria of judgment were based on the extent of vocabulary and spontaneity. The students took keen interest and enjoyed the activity. They were interactive and participative throughout the event.

“As I breathe in the salty air Let me look, look, look at the ocean see the sea and explore for its fun to dive from the top to the ocean floor!” As a new academic year unfolds, our children embark upon new adventures in the world of learning. To enhance the knowledge and creativity of the young scholars, an online activity “Exploring the Marine Life” was conducted for Grade V on 13 and 15 April 2021. The children came dressed up as Marine animals and enjoyed enacting them using their props, banners, posters etc. They even spoke few lines about the animal they dressed up as. The activity turned out exceptionally well as the enthusiastic learners presented and showcased their talents. The students came to know about the many amazing creatures that call the ocean home, which encouraged them to think about how their actions impact the environment. The children who know more about the world around them, will be more invested in keeping it clean and safe for the wildlife that lives there.

“A festival is an occasion of enjoyment and celebration which promotes social interaction and harmony.” Celebrating events and festivals in schools has become an integral part of learning and building a strong cultural belief in children. Such celebrations bring students closer to traditional and cultural beliefs. With this aim, a special assembly was conducted by the students of classes I-V to celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti and Baisakhi, the first month of the Hindu calendar, called by different names in different parts of the country. Students explained how Baisakhi, Naba Barsha, Bihu are celebrated in Punjab, Bengal and Assam respectively, and Ugadi. The students showcased the importance of these festivals with the help of posters, speeches, props and placards. They were also given information about Dr B.R Ambedkar on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti. Students also paid tribute to the civilians who lost their lives in Jallianwala Bagh Massacre during the assembly. The students gained a lot of knowledge and information through this special assembly.

A Math activity - Fantastic zero, was held for Class I students. With the help of live examples, the teachers explained to the children that zero has no value. The concept was clarified with the help of story narration using props. Through this activity, children were able to enhance their imaginary skills and transform them into a beautiful narration of short stories explaining the concept of zero. Fantastic Zero activity enhanced the artistic and oratory skills of the children. The objective of this activity was that the students will be able to identify the number zero, identify groups with zero objects and represent the number zero. Children enthusiastically participated in the activity and thoroughly enjoyed it. Giving wings to their imagination, they framed short sentences to explain the concept of zero. Children really had a wonderful time doing this activity.

After a refreshing session break as the kids joined their new classes, they learnt about how plants reproduce and how a flower plays a vital role in the process. To reinforce their learning of various parts of a flower the students of grade V indulged in a dissection activity where step by step they observed the four whorls of the flowers. The students were mesmerised seeing the intricate beauty of nature in the plant world and were excited to see all the parts of the flowers, that they had studied and seen in textbooks, coming to life. As they observed the reproductive parts of the flowers all doubts were resolved through this activity under the guidance of their science teachers who demonstrated the dissection of the flower for the students.

“The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not, and it is one of the greatest adventures of all time, and no nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in the race for space.” – John F. Kennedy. Human spaceflight is one of the most amazing achievements of the 20th century. 12th April every year marks the celebration of mankind venturing into a new era of space, science and technology. This day commemorates cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s historical orbital flight in 1961 and is celebrated as The International Day of Human Space Flight as declared by the UN General Assembly. The Shalomitees from Grades I-V participated in this informative assembly organized to enlighten them about how space exploration can help create a better world. The students, with the help of posters, speeches, props showcased the importance of science and technology for improving the life on Earth. The assembly aimed to promote aspirations to explore and maintain outer space for peaceful purposes and to inspire the quest for excellence and the passion to pursue a dream.

Activities enable students to think from different angles. Some interactive and interesting activities can inspire Math in students to greater achievement. During Virtual classes activities are the best way to teach children to embrace Math, as they are young and eager to experience new ideas and skills. To introduce tens and ones, an activity “My bundle of tens and ones”, was conducted in class I (All sections), in which children were supposed to make bundles of pencils, crayons or ice- cream sticks. Suppose if number 35 is given to them, then they have to make 3 bundles (each of 10 sticks) and one of 5 sticks. In the virtual classes, questions were flashing on the screen while the students were enthusiastically showing their bundles through the camera. Each child participated in the activity with full energy. Students enjoyed the activity which enhanced their logical and analytical skills.

“Good health is not something we can buy. However, it can be an extremely valuable savings account.”-Anne Wilson Schaef This thought was wonderfully instilled in the minds of our young Shalomites through the special assembly conducted in the Middle Wing on 7th April on account of ‘World Health Day’ which is celebrated under the sponsorship of World Health Organization. The assembly focused on the theme "Building a fairer, healthier world", by spreading awareness among the students and ways to improve our physical and mental health.The students were enthusiastic to share certain health tips and diet charts. Some of them even talked about the importance of rest and exercises like yoga, cycling etc. that add to good health. The assembly ended with the Shalom Anthem.

As the students began their new session virtually, they were introduced to the chapter ‘Plants’. Already aware about the parts and functions of a plant like stem, root, flower and leaf,they shared and discussed the uses of plants. An online show and tell activityon ‘Medicinal Importance of Plants’ was conducted on 7thApril 2021, in which the students had to share the medicinal importance of the plants.Students participated enthusiastically in the activity and confidentlyshared the importance of common plants like Basil, Aloe-Vera, mint, coriander, marigold, neem etc. in the class. This activity helped students to identify plants and understand the mutual relation we share with plants. The activity also connected the students with their environment and realize the benefits of plants for our health. As April 7 is also observed as World Heath Day, it was a good opportunity to make the students understand the important role played by the plants for our healthy lives.

World Table Tennis Day is annually celebrated on April 6 since 2015, also marking the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.The day is celebrated to promote the sport and build enthusiasm in players. Shalom Hills International School also organized a special assembly for the young scholars of primary wing on 6th April 2021 to apprise them about the importance of table tennis as a sport and also putting the focus on experiencing the joy of playing table tennis as a regular sport. The children enthusiastically participated in the special assembly and expressed their joy and excitement by sharing relevant information and facts related to table tennis.The students also made posters and slogans for the same. The assembly was concludedwith the ShalomAnthem.

From smearing each other with colours to enjoying a plate of delicious gujiyas , the festival of Holi ushers in a carnivalesque mood among people of all age groups, every year. An ancient Hindu festival, Holi heralds the arrival of spring after winter. It signifies the victory of good over evil in the honour of Hindu god Vishnu and his devotee Prahlada. The festival is also celebrated as thanksgiving for good harvest. Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with HolikaDahan, where people perform rituals in front of a bonfire, praying for their inner evil to be destroyed.The carnival of colours begins the next morning, where people come out on the streets to play with colours, and drench each other in coloured water through water guns or balloons. All the sections of classes I, II and III celebrated Holi virtually on 26th March.Children were shown videos and power point presentations to know the significance of the festival of colours. During the ‘Cooking without fire’ activity, students enjoyed making refreshing drinks like Mojito, tempting fruit salads and scrumptious coconut ladoos using ingredients easily available at home. An activity was also held where in students used turmeric and other organic dyes to hand print their old T shirts to be worn on Holi.

Creative writing develops creative thoughts. It suggests alternatives and broadens the thought process and problem-solving abilities. Keeping all these benefits of creative writing in mind, an activity - 'My Virtual Bon Voyage' was conducted for the students of class 1 on 9th March, 2021. As we are close to the end of this session, through this activity, the students were given the opportunity to express their thoughts and experiences of the virtual classes in the form of creative writing. The students wrote a few sentences in their English notebooks following all the important rules of writing. They beautifully expressed their thoughts and also shared them with their classmates. They shared their favourite moments spent during the virtual classes and their learning experience. This activity allowed the children to express their opinions and develop their writing and their logical skills. The children thoroughly enjoyed this activity.

Every year on 8th March International Women's Dayis celebrated. The purpose of the day is to uphold women's achievements, recognize challenges, and focus on women's rights. The theme of the International Women's Day for 2021 is, 'Choose to Challenge'. This states that women are responsible for their own thoughts and actions every day, and they challenge the world every day. The theme, further signifies, that women can choose to challenge gender bias and inequality in the world. People need to celebrate women's achievements to make the world a better place to live in, with equality. A special assembly was conducted in Classes I and II wherein In ternational Women's Day was celebrated by the students using various props, speeches and PowerPoint presentations. The students also did an exciting activity of making a little paper purse for their special women with a small beautiful message on it. Students had a very pleasant and fun-filled day. The assembly was very informative and made everyone aware about the rights of the women.

Better the Balance,Better the World. The International Women’s Day is not only about celebrating the achievements of women in every field but also to reflect and amplify on various issues that emancipate them and hinder the realization of equality. The Shalomitesform Grades VI-XII participated on this didactic day revealing their insights and thoughts of a better world with equal opportunities for all. Different activities categorized with subject importance were held in all the classes. Shalomites spoke about women excelling in different fields – Science, Government, Sports, Literature, Philanthropists, Activists, etc. They made posters, debated on women being an integral part of growth, changes in their employment standards, and their safety and security. The students’ approach and conscience surely envisage a better futuristic society.

World Book Day, initiated on April 23, 1995, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is a charity event held annually in the United Kingdom and Ireland on the first Thursday in March. On World Book Day, every child in full-time education in the UK is given a voucher to be spent on books. The mission is to give every child and young person a book of their own. This year, a special assembly was conducted in classes I and II to underline the need and the importance ofthe wonderful power of books and the joy of reading. It's especially meant to help encourage a love of reading in children.Students actively participated in this special assembly delivering speeches on the significance of the day.

National Defense Day(India) is observed on March 3 every year. To commemorate this day world’s largest and tallest Indian tricolour was unfurled at Town Park in Faridabad. It was hoisted at a height of 250 feet making it the largest and the highest hoisted Indian flag in the world. In classes I and II a special assembly was conducted on March 3, 2021. Through various speeches, students made everyoneawareabout the Mission of the National Defense Academy and the importance of this force in safeguarding of our country.The National Defense Academy provides basic service training to assist in developing the character, initiative, self-confidence and, above all, qualities of leadership in the future officers. The children pledged to assist them as and when required as responsible citizens of our country.Students actively participated using various placards for the same. We respect and salute the bravery and sacrifice of all those soldiers who are tirelessly protecting us from any threats from our enemies.

Handwriting is an important part of literacy and an essential skill for life. Handwriting skills are an important developmental task and activity for children. Through handwriting, they can express themselves and communicate with the world around them clearly. A Handwriting competition was conducted in all the sections of Grade 1. The teachers explained to the students the importance and rules of neat handwriting. They were guided about the punctuation marks through this activity. The children were given an opportunity to choose any passage from a lesson or a poem from their textbook and write it in their notebooks following the rules. Children wrote the passage neatly in the given time. They were excited to share their work with their Class Teachers.

Zero Discrimination Day is an annual day celebrated by the United Nations and other international organizations. The day aims to promote equality before the law and in practice, throughout all the member countries of the UN. A special assembly was conducted in Classes I and II on 1st March 2021 whereinZero Discrimination Day was celebrated by the students using various props, speeches and PowerPoint presentation to highlight the important issues faced both by India and the world. The assembly was very informative and made everyone aware about the rights of the girl child and why education is important for one and all.

“What we learn with pleasure, we never forget.” Online technologies have removed the barriers of time, cost and location from the learning activities and experiences available to the students. The virtual trip brings real-life experiences to the application and understanding of course concepts. Virtual trips hold a place in our 21st-century classrooms and can create an interactive, stimulating and enriching learning experience for the students. Keeping this in view, a virtual tour for the students of Class V was planned to the ocean world wherein they found mysteries that abound in the ocean. As we all know trips and tours are important for interactive and new learning, social interaction and exposure. Remote diving is the new remote working. Student response to the virtual field trip was overwhelmingly positive as they experienced the ocean and its astounding life forms from the comfort of their homes through a little armchair travel.

‘The Science of Today is the Technology of Tomorrow.’ -Edward Teller National Science Day is celebrated in India on 28 February each year to mark the discovery of the Raman Effect by the Indian physicist Sir C. V. Raman on 28 February 1928. For his discovery, Sir C.V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. The theme for the National Science Day 2021 is "Future of STI: Impacts on Education, Skills, and Work". On account of National Science Day a special assembly was organized by the students of the middle wing on 26th February 2021. It started with the prayer, Pledge, Thought for the day, News, and significance of the day. In the spirit of the day the teachers informed the students about the significance of the day and the Nobel laureate, Sir C V Raman. They shared information about the importance of science and its uses in daily life and also talked about Science movies, lab equipment, the night sky, and much more. A Quiz was conducted on Teams and a documentary was shown to students. They delivered speeches on the theme of National Science Day. Overall, the assembly focused on spreading a message about the importance of science used in our daily lives.

Guru Ravidas Jayanti marks the birthday of the Indian mystic poet-Sant Ravidas, and is celebrated on Magh Purnima. A renowned poet, his written verses are included in Sikh scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib. This day also coincides with the World NGO Day,an international calendar day annually observed on 27 February. Officially recognized and declared by the 12 member countries of the IX Baltic Sea NGO Forum of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in 2010, and first time marked by the UN, EU leaders and international organizations in 2014. Sant Ravidas Jayanti and World NGO Day were celebrated by the students of middle wing with great devotion and fervour on Friday, 26th February 2021. The event started with the prayer followed by a PowerPoint presentation about Sant Ravidas Ji and World NGO Day. Shalomities remembered the teachings of Ravidas which remind us time and again that the essence of all religionslies in oneness of God. Students gave speeches on the importance of both the days. Students were explained that an NGO is an independent and usually non-profit organisation, which aims to address social or political issue. The assembly apprised the students about the significance of both the days.

“No words can express a fraction of the characteristics of this great Imam; he was the epitome of eloquence, bravery, wisdom, justice, and equality". Hazrat Ali is a Muslim religious dignitary who is held in high esteem by the Islamic community across India and beyond. Ali is respected for his knowledge, courage, belief, honesty, deep loyalty to Muhammad, unbending devotion to Islam and equal treatment of all Muslims. He was also known for his generosity since he believed in forgiving his defeated enemies. People in India celebrate the birthday of Hazrat Imam Ali with great respect and honour due to the services he rendered to the Islamic religion as a whole. To celebrate this festival, the students of middle wing organised a beautiful special assembly. With their short speeches, students conveyed the teachings of Ali and encouraged all to embrace kindness, compassion, mercy, gratitude, thankfulness and courage.The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem. All the children participated with full enthusiasm.

“Play is our brain's favourite way of learning" A great way to give students meaningful opportunities to apply their learning is to make learning fun! When teachers use activities that make learning engaging and fun, students show more interest and are more willing to participate. Having fun while learning also helps students retain information better because the process is enjoyable and memorable.Game-Based Learning also plays an important role in teaching by making students to collaborate, communicate, interact, work in teams and develop their imagination. As such, aTambolaactivity was conducted in class V. Students made their innovative Tambola tickets and enjoyed this fun way of playing with numbers. Students enjoyed the activity and participated with great zeal.

“It’s always the small pieces that make the bigger picture.” An end-of-day fun activity was planned to indulge the students of Grade V to know about their country and its image on the world map, in a play way method. An online sliding puzzle activity was shared with the students through a link where they all enjoyed immensely trying to put in the pieces of India’s map together to see all the states. Most students finished the puzzle within a few minutes.In continuation, the teachers also played ‘ATLAS’ with them. The students were reinvigorated and dispersed from the online classes with smiling faces.

A speaking activity -‘Ambitious You’, was conducted for the students of class 1 on 23rd February 2021. We often think of ambition as a characteristic of older children, but very young children too can be incredibly ambitious. Every time a young child masters a new skill, it’s an opportunity to help them savour the feeling of accomplishment that comes from learning that new skill. Keeping this fact in mind, a speaking activity was conducted in which the students shared their ambition and future goals. The children shared that along with adopting an occupation, they will also inculcate good values and become good citizens of the nation. They spoke confidently about their ambition. The children dressed up in different attires and also used attractive props which enhanced their performance. Through this activity, the students couldaugment their fluency, vocabulary and pronunciation. It was a fun filled activity which was thoroughly enjoyed by every student.

“It’s always the small pieces that make the bigger picture.” An end-of-day fun activity was planned to indulge the students of Grade V to know about their country and its image on the world map, in a play way method. An online sliding puzzle activity was shared with the students through a link where they all enjoyed immensely trying to put in the pieces of India’s map together to see all the states. Most students finished the puzzle within a few minutes.In continuation, the teachers also played ‘ATLAS’ with them. The students were reinvigorated and dispersed from the online classes with smiling faces.

Activities enable students to think from different angles. Interactive and interesting activities can inspire Math in students to greater achievement while learning new things through play way method. To introduce the conceptof Data Handling,an activity-“Mystery Data”, was conducted in all the sections of class I.First,word data was introduced and explained tothe childrenwith the help of an example. Then a picture of a classroom was shown to the children from which they were required to point out the things present in it. After this a data chart was shown by the teacher where each thing with its quantity was mentioned,like 20 tables,24 chairs etc. They also played a game where in they were asked to count the total number of fans in their house, pillows on the bed etc. With the help of this activity the concept of Data Handlingwas made clear.Children were really very excited to answer the questions regarding the picture shown to them and the game they played virtually. Children enjoyed the activity which enhanced their logical and analytical skills.

Activities enable students to think from different angles. Interactive and interesting activities can inspire Math in students to greater achievement while learning new things through play way method. To introduce the conceptof Data Handling,an activity-“Mystery Data”, was conducted in all the sections of class I.First,word data was introduced and explained tothe childrenwith the help of an example. Then a picture of a classroom was shown to the children from which they were required to point out the things present in it. After this a data chart was shown by the teacher where each thing with its quantity was mentioned,like 20 tables,24 chairs etc. They also played a game where in they were asked to count the total number of fans in their house, pillows on the bed etc. With the help of this activity the concept of Data Handlingwas made clear.Children were really very excited to answer the questions regarding the picture shown to them and the game they played virtually. Children enjoyed the activity which enhanced their logical and analytical skills.

Class III students performed an activity on Money on 22ndFeb 2021. Students were asked to be ready with dummy/ fake currency notes or handmade notes, glue/fevicol and A3/A4 size white sheet. Students were divided into three groups. The first group was required to make a combination of Rs. 2000 with different denomination available in Indian currency, the second group for Rs. 500 and the third group for Rs. 200. Students were able to make different combinations of the given amount and were also able to represent this work in a more artistic way as per their creativity. The students were very excited about this activity and participated enthusiastically.They were able to understand the concept of money.The activity helped the children to enhance various skills like aesthetic value, observation and analytical skill.

We live in a very connected world. Can you imagine if you couldn’t talk to your friends whether they lived in your building or thousands of miles away? Or if you couldn’t go to your favorite holiday location because there were no means of transport? Latest innovations and inventions have made such concerns invalid. Both transport and communication had played major roles in our development and advancement in the last few decades. Thanks to some marvelous technological advancement that had happened in the last five decades, the quality, speed, accuracy etc. of both transport and communication had been outstanding. Enrichment activity related to the importance of transportation and communication was conducted in Grade IV wherein students were asked to draw/paste pictures of their favorite means of transportation or communication mentioning the reasons for the same. Students shared very interesting facts and uses of their favorite means of transportation and communication and beautifully presented their thoughts and creativity in their work.

World Day of Social Justice, is observed every year on 20th February, to encourage people to see how social justice affects poverty eradication. The main aim of this day, is to achieve full employment and support for social integration. Social justice means Justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. Social justice, promotes fairness and equity across many aspects of society. A special assembly was conducted in classes: I-V. Students took pledge to work towards the eradication of poverty and to support social integration. Some students also talked about the importance of this day using various props. This special assembly enlightened the young minds about social justice and also gave them chance to introspect, increase awareness and work for the eradication of povertyand unemployment.

Shivaji Jayanti, is celebrated every year on February 19. Shivaji Maharaj, known as the Father of Indian Navy, was an adeptmilitary and civil administrator. He was the first to realize the importance of having a naval force. His only aim was to overthrow Mughal rule and establish Maratha empire.Shivaji was a dependable supporter of women, and their honor. He opposed all kinds of violence, harassment and dishonor, against women. A special assembly was conducted in classes: I-Von 19th February 2021 to celebrate the birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj.A PowerPoint presentation was shown to the students about Shivaji Maharajafter which theyspoke about him and his contribution with the help of various props.The assembly commenced with the Lord’s Prayer and concluded with the Shalom anthem.

“The quality of learning is determined by the activities undertaken.” In order to provide a platform to students to creatively express their ideas innovatively in unprecedented times like COVID-19, CBSE announced thenext Expression Series on the theme of Students’ Perspectives on Teaching and Learning. Under the directives of the CBSE and guidance of our Founder and Chairperson Dr (Mrs.) Lilly George, Shalom Hills International School organized an online Dynasty activity for the students of grade III to V.Classes III to V had Painting/ Drawing/ Slogan/ Cartoon Strip/ Meme and poetry on the different topics. Topicshad been informed to the students one week prior and they had been encouraged to work on any one topic of their choice and upload their work on Teams by 18th February. Students of classes III to V actively participated and exhibited their talents. The best Painting/ Drawing/ Slogan/ Cartoon Strip/ Meme and poetrywill be uploaded on CBSE Expression Series App and the winners will be awarded with E-Certificates. These activities helped to foster the creative skills of the students.

On 18th February every year, Taj Mahotsav or Taj Festival is celebrated at Agra, that reveals the rich cultural heritage of our country. It is a ten days long event which is conducted every year from 18th February to 27th February. It brings in the Mughal spirit among the people and takes us back to the medieval days of Nawab styles, which were prevalent, in Uttar Pradesh in the 18th or 19th century. A special assembly was conducted in classes: I-V. Few students talked about the art and craft, dance and cuisines, artisans and the highlights of this festivalusing various props. A PPT related to the Taj Mahotsav was shown.The assembly commenced with the Lord’s Prayer and concluded with theShalom anthem.

Pluto Day is celebrated on February 18 of every year. Pluto was discovered in the year 1930, and it was considered as the ninth planet in the solar system for about 76 years, but after the year 1992, its position as a planet was doubted as many objects like Pluto with similar size were discovered in the Kuiper belt. On 24th August 2006, Pluto’s position as a planet was degraded by the (IAU) International Astronomical Union to a dwarf planet and this day is referred to as Pluto Demoted Day. A special assembly was conducted in classes: I- V in order to create awareness about the discovery of the former planet Pluto among the students.Some students talked about Pluto,the dwarf planet, using various props.The Assembly commenced with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the school’s vision and mission statement. A PPT with information about Pluto was shown to students.The assembly concluded with the Shalom anthem.

Basant Panchami, is a festival, that marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. The festival celebrated by people in the Indian subcontinent, worships Goddess Saraswati. White and yellow are the dominant colours of Basant Panchami. During Saraswati Puja, people decorate the place where the idol is placed in white and yellow flowers. A Special Assembly was conducted by the students of Middle Wing at Shalom Hills International School. It commenced with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the school’s vision and mission statement. The students dressed in yellow attire to mark the occasion. Speeches weredelivered and poems recited by a few students.A PPT was shown to students in the virtual class assembly. There was full participation of the students in the assembly.The assembly concluded with the Shalom anthem.

Experiential learning brings together observation, creativity and active interactions. It allows children to see purpose and to enjoy their learning experience. Solar and lunar eclipses are astronomical events that occur when the Earth, the Sun and the Moon are aligned.A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and partially or fully blocks the view of the Sun. When the Moon passes directly behind the Earth, into its shadow, a lunar eclipse occurs. The students of grade IV demonstratedthis phenomenon through the activity conducted in the class on 15th and 16th February2021.They were given an idea of the activity in advance by their respective science teachers. They used different objects like electric candle light, bulb and torch to show the Sun as themain source of light in nature. Celestial bodies like Earth and Moon were shown by using plastic balls, clay balls and paper balls.The students displayed beautiful work. The activity helped to build their kinesthetic skills and objective of ‘learning by doing’ was achieved.

To develop a scientific approach and make learning Science easy and interesting, the students of grade V participated in “Flip Teaching Quiz Activity”on 15.02.2021. The main aim of conducting the activity was to enhance the basic skills of questioning, prediction, qualitative and quantitative observation and communication of the students. The students were given an idea of the activity beforehand by their respective science teachers.The participants were very well prepared with the questions and there was an ‘air of healthy competition’ in the virtual classroom. The questions they asked were more application and conceptual based. It helped them to create awareness about the given topics and also grill-drill their minds while recalling the answers. It was an amazing experience for the students to discover the scientific facts in the form of quiz. The linguistic, logical, reasoning, and interpersonal skills of the students were enhanced with this activity. It was a knowledge sharing activity for the children.

The water cycle is the path that water follows as it moves around our planet.Earth's water is always in movement and is always changing states, from liquid to vapour to ice and back again.This cycle is also called hydrological cycle. An activityon “Water Cycle” was conducted in all sections of grade-III on 15th February2021 where in childrenused waste materials like clear plastic bags, cardboards, glass jars and plastic bottles to create their own models of water cycle and actually experienced how the water cycle works. They were able to understand and explain the 4 main stages involved in the water cycle, i.e., evaporation, condensation, precipitation and runoff. The students performed this activity with a lot of enthusiasm and learnt how water circulates on our planet, how it changes from one state of matter to another and what is the importance of the water cycle.They showcased best of their creativity in preparing different types of models ofthe water cycle.

Pulwama attack is one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were martyred. Paying tribute to all those soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country,a Special assembly was conducted on 15th Februaryby the students of Middle Wing at Shalom Hills International School. It commenced with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the school’s vision and mission statement. A speech was delivered by a few students.A PPT was shown to the students in the virtual class assembly. Students held placards and paid tribute to the martyred soldiers. There was full participation of the students in the assembly.The assembly concluded with the Shalom anthem.

International World Radio Day celebrated on 13 February each year, aims to educate people, provide information, and promote freedom of expression across cultures. The main object behind celebrating World Radio Day is to raise awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio. This day also coincides with the birth anniversary of the Nightingale of India Smt. Sarojini Naidu. She was the first Indian woman President of the Indian National Congress.Her work as a poet earned her the sobriquet 'the Nightingale of India', or 'Bharat Kokila' by Mahatma Gandhi because of the color, imagery and lyrical quality of her poetry. Paying tribute to Smt. Sarojini Naidu and celebrating World Radio Day, aSpecial Assembly was conducted on 13th February by the students of grades I-V. It commenced with the Lord’s Prayer followed by speeches on work done by Smt. Sarojini Naiduanda PPT giving information about the two to the students. The assembly concluded with the Shalom anthem.

12th February is celebrated as “Darwin Day” to commemorate the birth anniversary of the father of evolutionary biology,Charles Darwin, whowas a Scientist, Naturalist and author. His theory of evolution has had far-reaching effects on science and the way we understand life. This day also coincides with the Birthday of the most popular president in the United States history,Mr. Abraham Lincoln,best known for abolishing slavery.He was an American statesman and lawyer and also the 16th president of United States of America. Paying tribute to Charles Darwin and Mr. Abraham Lincolna Special Assembly was conducted on 12th February by the students of grades I-V. It commenced with the Lord’s Prayer. Speeches weredelivered on work done by Charles Darwinand Mr. Abraham Lincoln by a few students.A PPT providing information about both was shown. It was an informative day and helped spread the message about the importance of Science used in the daily life of the people.

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought, the thought has found words.’ - Robert Frost Poem is meant for enjoyment. Beauty is the realm of the poetry, the children enjoy the beauty of expression, thoughts, feeling, rhyme, rhythm and music of words. Taking all these facts into consideration a poetry recitation activity was organised for class V students on 12th February 2021 in their respective virtual classes. They recited poems confidently in the virtual classroom with proper expressions and intonations. The young poets enthralled their peers with their articulation and memory skills while reciting the poem. It was a splendid opportunity for them to gain confidence through this exposure. Children participated enthusiastically in the activity.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science observed on 11th February, by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on 22 December,2015, recognizes the critical role women and girls play in science and technology. The day's purpose is to promote full and equal access to participation in science for women and girls andfocuses on the reality that science and gender equality are both vital for achievement in the field of Science. This day also coincides with the Birthday ofThomas Alva Edison who was one of America’sgreatest inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. The children of middle wing of Shalom Hills International School were made aware ofthe critical role, women and girls play in science and technology.Students actively participated in theSpecial Assembly. Their speeches made it very informative and sensitized the young minds with this delicate but important topic.Everyone learnt about various women and girls who contributed in science and technology and also about the inventions of Thomas Alva Edison.

Fate saves once a time Safety saves all the time!! Shalom Hills International School never spares the opportunityto make young Shalomites believe in their talents and educate them in the skills to handle life and cope with the challenges they may come across. To observe the Road Safety week, activities on road safety were conducted in grade VI. The students filled with enthusiasm, showed their creativity once again in engaging themselves with the activities- Collage making on road safety signs And Drawing&Painting: Road Safety Scene.The teachers also took the session on Traffic Rules and Etiquettes tofamiliarise them with the road safety signs and the precautions that need to be taken- following the traffic signals and signs, always wearingseat belts/helmets, not drinking and driving and avoiding use of mobile phones while driving. It is well said that Safe Driving, Saves Lives.

A speaking activity 'Let's talk about the animals in the zoo' was conducted for the students of class 1. This activity was based on one of the poems of their textbook, ‘Off toThe Zoo’. The children beautifully expressed their feelings about the animals kept in the zoo. Using beautiful placards and props,they spoke about the different activities which the animals perform in the zoo and shared important rules and norms which must be followed when one visits a zoo. This activity taught them that they can learn the unique story about each animal as they walk around the zoo. This activity helped to foster the imaginary skills of the students. It also encouraged environmental awareness and sparked curiosity among them. It was a fun filled activity which was thoroughly enjoyed by each and every student

A slogan writing and poster making activity (CBSE: Road Safety Activity) was conducted online in all sections of grade III to V on 4thFebruary 2021. Prior to this activity a quiz on road safety had taken place to make the students aware about the different traffic rules and regulations to be followed in order to ensure road safety. All the students participated enthusiastically in the activity and were ready with their art files and colours. Most of the students made drawings of the traffic signs and wrote slogans emphasizing the need to follow rules for our own safety as well as for the safety of others. A few interesting slogans written by the students were; ‘Be Alert to be safe and secure’; ‘Alert today Alive tomorrow’; ‘Belt on, Phone off’ etc. This activity made the students aware about the importance of following traffic rules and regulations for road safety.

World Cancer Day is an international day marked on February 4th to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. World Cancer Day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008. The primary goal of World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by cancer and is an opportunity to rally the international community to end the injustice of preventable suffering from cancer. The day is observed by the United Nations. All the students of classes I-V enthusiastically participated in this special assembly held to increase awareness, prevention and cure of this deadly disease-Cancer.It also called for people to have compassion and empathy for the people around the world who are suffering from this disease.Students used various props and communicated this very effectively to everyone.This is the voice of our young India speaking aloud for working together to face any challenge that this world encounters.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is a Maritime Law Enforcement and Search and Rescue agency that protects India's maritime interests and enforces its maritime law, with jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. The Indian Coast Guard was formally established on 1 February 1977 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India.It operates under the Ministry of Defence.The establishment of the Indian Coast Guard was first proposed by the Indian Navy to provide non-military maritime services to the nation. The Indian Coast Guard's motto is  (VayamRakshamah), which translates from Sanskrit as "We Protect". In the middle wing a special assembly was conducted on 1st February 2021 wherein students spoke about the Indian Coast Guard day and the importance of this force in safeguarding the coasts of our country. Using various placards with slogans, the students actively participated in the assembly with everyone pledging to assist them as and when required as responsible citizens of our country. We respect and salute the coast guards of our country who are tirelessly protecting us from any threats from our coastal enemies.

30th January is observed as Martyrs’ Day at the national levelin honour of those who are recognized as martyrs for the nation. The date was chosen as it marks the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in 1948, by Nathuram Godse. On Martyr's Day the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister and the three Service Chiefs gather at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat memorial and lay wreaths decorated with multi-coloured flowers. A two-minute silence in memory of Indian martyrs is observed throughout the country at 11 am. Participants hold all-religion prayers and sing tributes to Gandhiji or the father of our nation. To make the students aware about the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi in realization of our dream of independent India, the students of middle wing conducted a special assembly to make the young minds remember,salute and pay tribute to this great national leader.Walking on his lead path we were able to make a deep impact on the entire world especially with his policy of truth, non –violence and non- cooperation.Students felt proud to be born in such a great country and they commemorated his death anniversary with their speeches using various props.

Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations, which aims to educate young learners about the current events, topics on international relations, diplomacy and the agenda of United Nations. It is a platform to inspire young ambassadors to share their views and encourage dialogue and deliberations amongst them, so that they are able to bring out an effective and harmonious solution to tackle global issues. Keeping in view, the vital role of students in social causes, the Shalom Hills International School encourages Class V students to participate in such activities in order to empower and facilitate them in an effective way so that they are equipped to bring the desired changes in the society. The main objective of this activity was to bring out the untapped potential of students and hone their skills. The students experienced exuberating sessions of dialogue exchange and discussions on ‘How far has the United Nations been effective in meeting its objectives’. The efforts of the students on this virtual platform revealed the in-depth research work they had done on this topic. Their debating skills were noteworthy. The young delegates exhibited tremendous critical thinking and their work was laudable. Overall, it was a great experience to watch these young delegates handling technical issues with expertise andtheir knowledge of the digital etiquette was indeed commendable.

Weather forecasting is the prediction of what the atmosphere will be like in a particular place by using technology and scientific knowledge to make weather observations. In other words, it's a way of predicting things like cloud cover, rain, snow, wind speed, and temperature before they happen. An activity “Weather Forecast” was conducted in all the sections of grade-III on 28th January2021 where in childrenhad recorded their observations about the weather over the last 3 days. They were asked to read the newspaper and surf the internet to gather the required information. The students did this activity with a lot of enthusiasm and learnt more about the weather and how to collate the weather information. They shared their observations through PowerPoint presentation and hand written data in the class.

Lala Lajpat Rai was an Indian independence activist. He played a pivotal role in the Indian Independence movement. Lajpat Rai was born on 28th January 1865 in a Agarwal Jain family, as a son of Urdu and Persian government School teacher Munshi Radha Krishan Agarwal , in Dhudike. He was popularly known as Punjab Kesari.He was also associated with activities of Punjab National Bank and Lakshmi Insurance Company in their early stages in 1894.He was elected President of the Indian National Congress in the Calcutta Special Session of 1920.His early freedom struggle was impacted by Arya Samaj and communal representation.Lala Lajpat Rai was one-third of the triumvirate 'Lal Bal Pal', which included Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. The young Shalomites of middle wing conducted a special assembly on 28th January 2021 to pay tribute to and commemorate the birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai.A PowerPoint presentation was shown to the students about Lala Lajpat Rai after which students spoke about him and his contribution in the Indian freedom struggle with the help of various props.This special assembly introduced Lalaji to the children as a great inspiration,philosopher, writer, banker, social reformer and a reputed lawyer.

An engrossing ac?vity was conducted in class II where in students narratedshort stories with crea?ve props. It was wonderful to see young minds excitedabout how to use the props made by them. Some stories were value based toinculcate good habits in them.It was good to see the children priori?se the good habits necessary to beimbibed

Thomas Cook is considered to be the father of tourism around the world. The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019 ranked India 34th out of 140 countries overall. India improved its ranking by 6 places over the 2017 report which was the greatest improvement among the top 25% of countries ranked.National Tourism Day in India is celebrated every year on January 25th to promote the tourism industry in the country, and to recognize the contribution of the sector in the growth and sustainability of the local communities in and around the tourist places.This year, the theme of National Tourism Day is 'Dekho Apna Desh'.TheMinistry of Tourism has been organizing seminars around the theme beginning from January 21 to February 22, 2021. A special assembly was conducted in the middle wing of Shalom Hills International School on 25th January 2021 to celebrate the day.The students used various props, speeches and PowerPoint presentation to highlight the importance of tourism in our country to generate revenue and also to preserve our rich cultural monuments and heritage.This was a very informative assembly and also made the students aware about the importance of tourism for a country and specifically India.

Freedom in the mind, strength in the words, Pureness in our blood, pride in our souls, Zeal in our hearts, let’s salute our India on its Republic Day! A special assembly was conducted virtually in all the sections of grade 7 to mark the celebration of the 72nd Republic Day on January 25, 2021. The assembly included the shloka, thought for the day, speech on republic day along with the special cultural performances by the talented Shalomites. The highlights of the assembly were the activities performed by the students in which they prepared wrist bands, badges and chandeliers by using their innovative ideas and creativity. The students benefitted themselves with the awareness about importance of the constitution, the smooth working and execution of laws. They got an insight into the life of Shri B. R. Ambedkar and were encouraged to follow the path of discipline and obey the law and order of the state.

Children are imminent citizens; hence it becomes vital to entrench patriotism in their heart and mind from childhood. As such, the 72nd Republic day was celebrated through a special Virtual Nationalistic Assembly with full gusto on Teams Platform. The program commenced by seeking the Almighty’s blessing, followed by the mission, vision and national pledge.Retired Col. Devender Singh who got commissioned in Dec 73 in a Tank Regiment, The Central India Horse, a very Old Regiment, graced this occasion as the Guest of Honour. He imparted knowledge about the different regiments and the making of the constitution. He motivated and enlightened the students of grade VI with his wise words. Lt Col. Rajan Prabhakar addressed the students of grade XI. He concluded by motivating the students to act upon the norms created as they are useless without action. In grade VII-X & XII, Lt Col NP Murlidharan conveyed his message through his speech and made it memorable for the young generation to inculcate his learning from the session. The day was unfolded further by students taking part in different activities to celebrate their patriotism. Students participated in making tri-colour crafts out of waste material; performing role-plays, solo dance performances, debates and Essay/paragraph writing last but not the least collage making on the magnificent celebration of Republic Day since 1949. The student’s insightful performances and craftsmanship were applauded by all. The assembly concluded with the Shalomites making a promise to their motherland that they all will act towards the betterment of society.

Republic Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year in the entire country. It isa day of National rejoicing. The day was celebrated with great pomp and show, zeal and spirit with beaming smiles on faces and pride in our hearts.Shalomites celebrated this 72 Republic Day virtuallyby making beautiful crafts- Class 1 students made our National Flag with paper tearing & pasting Class 2 students made tricolor corner book mark craft. Class 3 & 4 students made tri color Doves craft. Class 5 students made beautiful Republic Day cards. All the students enjoyed making beautiful craft-work in the virtual class with full zeal enthusiasm.

"The legacy of heroes—the memory of a great name, and the inheritance of a great example." On this Republic Day to recall the sacrifices of our freedom fighters because of whom we live in a free state, salute the architects of our Constitution and bow in obeisance to the soldiers who guard our frontiers and our freedom in extreme conditions so diligently, an interaction of grade XI students was organized with a courageous and devoted son of the soil Lt. Col. Rajan Prabhakar (Retd.). We thank our Founder and Chairperson Dr (Mrs.) Lilly George, due to whose initiative we had the honour of listening to Lt. Col. Prabhakar who inspired the young Shalomites by giving them insight into the life of defence personnel. Highlighting the role of an ideal leader, he said that Leadership is all about knowing the task, leading by example, good decision making, team work, supervision and appreciating the efforts of the team. Integrity, faith and trust are the hallmarks of a soldier, for whom putting country and team before self comes naturally. Lt. Col. Prabhakar ended the session by answering some questions put by the children. The children thanked our guest and pledged to sincerely strive to uphold the honour of this great motherland, contribute in its progress and never shy away from fulfilling their duty towards it.

The chapter on ‘Natural Disasters’ enticed the students of grade V and they wanted to learn more about them. The students learnt that disasters are of two types- natural and man-made disasters. The lesson, however focused on natural disasters. To reinforce their learning a hands-on activity was conducted on 25th January 2021. During the online activity the children were ready with cut outs of 6-8 semicircles, as per instructions. They were excited to make a 3D model depicting all the known natural disasters which they had learnt in the class. The students were meticulous in their presentations. On the cut outs, they wrote the names of the disasters, their cause and two examples of each.Soon after the written work they stuck the semicircles side to side with each other and a 3D model was ready. Some wrote about volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis while others mentioned floods, droughts, avalanches, hurricanes. The activity emphasised on effects and causes of these natural disasters and was completed by the students in the given time. During the activity they were able to enhance their presentation and kinaesthetic skills.

National Voters' Day is observed annually in order to encourage young voters to take part in the polling process.The day is observed to spread awareness about the importance of voting in a democracy and it also educates people about their voting rights.The day has been observed on January 25 every year since 2011 to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India founded on 25 January 1950. The young Shalomitesof the middle wing were shown a PowerPoint presentation on National Voters’ Day in morning assembly to aware about the importance of voting for all the citizens of the country.Few students also spoke about the same with the help of props. This was a very informative assembly to make the young minds aware about the most important right of a citizen that every person must utilize so that the Indian democracy runs in a true sense with all the energies of the youth in it. The students were made aware about their duty to vote when they reach the voting age of 18 years to fulfill our dream India of a progressive democracy.

"The Pen is Mightier than the Sword." Essay writing is a very sensitive form of self-expression. It is a harmonious blending of ‘thought’ and ‘expression’. It is considered to be the most effective test of the ability of a candidate to express the thoughts on a topic of general interest in general, unambiguous and impressive English language. Keeping this perspective in mind, an English Essay Writing Competition was held for the students of class- V on 25th January2021as part of Republic Day Celebration,to spread awareness about the importance of the Indian Constitution and to instil the spirit of Patriotism. The students were asked to write on the topics “Indian Constitution”, “Our struggle for Freedom” and “Warrior of Indian Independence”. The essays were judged on the basis of the students’ vocabulary, presentation and creativity. The purpose of the competition was to encourage the students to enhance their knowledge about the significance of this special day and also to enhance their thinking and creative writing skills. The winners were awarded with appreciation certificates. The event was a great success. It successfully achieved its objective of making the students realize the importance of Republic Day and the Indian Constitution and to make themunderstand the value and the sacrifices made by our great people to give us this strong and free India.

Republic Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year in the entire country. It isa day of National rejoicing. The day was celebrated with great pomp and show, zeal and spirit with beaming smiles on faces and pride in our hearts.Shalomites celebrated this 72 Republic Day virtuallyby making beautiful crafts- Class 1 students made our National Flag with paper tearing & pasting Class 2 students made tricolor corner book mark craft. Class 3 & 4 students made tri color Doves craft. Class 5 students made beautiful Republic Day cards. All the students enjoyed making beautiful craft-work in the virtual class with full zeal enthusiasm.

On the auspicious occasionof India’s 72nd Republic DayRepublic Day-commemorating the historic moment when our nation became an independent country,let’s bow our heads to India’s freedom fighters and great leaders.This is an occasion to reaffirm our commitment to unity in diversity, fraternity and equality among all our citizens. Keeping up with the feel and zeal in our heart, “Incredible India”- A role play activity was conducted in Grade IV on 21st and 22nd January 2021 wherein students paid tribute to the freedom fighters and leaders of our country who contributed for the independence and growth of our country.Learners portrayed their favourite leader/freedom fighter in a very impressive way by sharing their vision and slogans.They chose freedom fighters and leaders like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Chitranjan Das, Bhagat Singh, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, Sarojini Naidu, Indira Gandhi, Laxmi Sehgal, Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam and so on. Children shared various interesting facts and achievements about their chosen personality and mentioned their contribution in the making of New and Independent India.Overall, it was a very enlightening experience for the students and they enjoyed doing this activity.

Activities enable students to think from different angles. A little interactive and interesting activity can inspire Math in students to greater achievement.They also learn new things through play way method. To introduce the conceptof Money,an activity- “Let’s shop with money”, was conducted in all the sections of class I.The topic Money was introduced to children through a story. Why we need money and its importance was also discussed with the children. Currency of India was shown virtually. Children were shown things with a price tag and children showed the dummy currency notes accordingly.After this, children made their favourite objects in their notebook with a price tag and pasted the dummy currency note,from the back of the textbook, in their notebooks according to the price of the item. In the techno savvy era, children were also made aware about the digital transactions and plastic money. With the help of this activity, the concept of moneywas made clear.Children were really very excited to play with the currency notes and coins and pasted them in their notebooks. Children enjoyed the activity thoroughly and enhanced their logical and analytical skills.

“Artificial intelligence enables computers and machines to mimic the perception, learning, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities of the human mind.” The Computer Department of Shalom Hills international School attended the webinar organized by BPB publication under the guidance of Ms Chandrika JainiVedam. The agenda of the webinar includes the following points: 1. Why introduce Artificial Intelligence in classes 8-10 2. Explore the objective of this course 3. Resources for teachers 4. Introduction to the book 5. How to encourage students to learn AI 6. Relate, apply and reflect on the Human-Machine Interactions 7. Identify and interact with the three domains of AI: Data, Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing

Class III students did an activity on Fraction on 22nd Jan 2021. Students were asked to be ready with small 5-6 same size cut-outs of squares/circles, pencil colours, sketch pens and one A3/A4 size white sheet. Students were asked to take one cut-out and asked many questions on the particular fraction. Then they were instructed to fold the paper in half, in such a way that it will show (1/2 half+ 1/(2 ) half=1 whole paper); 1/4+1/4+1/4+1/4=1 and so on. Children were able to show1/2,1/4,1/8,1/16 (Unit Fractions). Students were able to arrange the fractions in ascending and descending order. They were also able to add the like fractions and demonstrate the same on fraction activity sheet. The students were very excited for this activity and participated enthusiastically.Students were able to understand the concept of fractions clearly.The activity helped the children to enhance various skills like aesthetic value, determination, observation and analytical skill. Class III students did an activity on Fraction on 22nd Jan 2021. Students were asked to be ready with small 5-6 same size cut-outs of squares/circles, pencil colours, sketch pens and one A3/A4 size white sheet. Students were asked to take one cut-out and asked many questions on the particular fraction. Then they were instructed to fold the paper in half, in such a way that it will show (1/2 half+ 1/(2 ) half=1 whole paper); 1/4+1/4+1/4+1/4=1 and so on. Children were able to show1/2,1/4,1/8,1/16 (Unit Fractions). Students were able to arrange the fractions in ascending and descending order. They were also able to add the like fractions and demonstrate the same on fraction activity sheet. The students were very excited for this activity and participated enthusiastically.Students were able to understand the concept of fractions clearly.The activity helped the children to enhance various skills like aesthetic value, determination, observation and analytical skill.

"One individual may die for an idea, but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives." Patriotism grows inside us when we experience patriotic events. Our knowledge and devotion to the country incubates in our hearts when we participate in singing the National Anthem, say the Pledge of Allegiance, study the history of our country. It is important that the younger generations be exposed to patriotic events while they are maturing. Without this exposure young people will not learn about the contributions and accomplishments of the greatest freedom fighters. Keeping this thought in mind,the young Shalomites paid homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary that falls on January 23.The virtual special assembly was conducted for the primary wing students whereinwith the help of an informative PPT presentation, the young scholars were apprised about the life history of Netaji and his contributions to the Indian Army. A few students also spoke some of his famous quotes. The students enthusiastically took part in the special assembly and paid their tribute through making creative posters, writing Netaji’s famous quotes and painting posters.

“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.” - Anton Chekhov Learning a language is the foremost step in the life of a child as it helps him/her tocommunicate with the world, a school plays a vital role to train the child in thisdirection. Keeping the above thought in mind an interesting English activity was conducted in class-V based on parts of speech, where in the students were given a list of words belonging to different parts of speech and were facilitated to frame meaningful sentences using the same. This activity gave them the opportunity to pick up words from the list and weave them into meaningful sentences. It helped them to formulate the sentences with proper and accurate placement of the different parts of speech. Along with enhancing their vocabulary and comprehension skills,the construction of sentences also gave flight to their imagination and polished their creative writing. Simple thoughts can be transformed (keeping the meaning same) into charming and delightful sentences, enhancing and enriching the written text, was an insight the students gathered after the activity concluded.

GuruGobind Singh was the tenth of the Sikh Gurus. He became the leader of the Sikhs when he was only nine years old. To salute and celebrate such valour, a special assembly was held in all the classes of the primary wing on 20th January 2021. Guru Gobind Singh was famous as a warrior, poet, and philosopher. One of his major contributions to Sikhism was the tradition of covering one's hair with a turban, which is now prevalent and closely associated with the Sikh community. This ‘Jayanti’ was celebrated in our school too on the virtual platform where in the students spoke about the importance and significance of this day.They mentioned how it is common for large processions to go through markets in India on Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti. People sing devotional songs during the procession and share sweets and ‘sharbat’. There are also special prayer gatherings held at ‘Gurudwaras’.Poems are recited as part of praising the Guru on his birthday. Special dishes that are unique to this occasion are prepared and served during the festivities. The students concluded the assembly by saying a few quotes of Guru Gobind Singh that could be taken as a ‘mantra for life’.

Road traffic safety refers to the methods and measures used to prevent road users from being killed or seriously injured.Road safety is a subject of importance that every child should know and grow up with.Whether our children walk to school or take the bus, they should be taught about the rules to stay safe on roads. At Shalom Hills International School, the middle wing conducted age-appropriate activities related Road safety in all the grades. The grade-1 children were shownan animated video on road safety and traffic rules and the meaning of each signal and rule was also explained to them.This video elucidated the many points and explained in detail through various cartoon characters the importance of various traffic signals and regulations.This activity helped them to have the proper and correct knowledge of road safety rules. The mentors were able to guide and convince them to follow the right path for the good of their loved ones and everyone around, as life is a precious gift.

Rights and Duties are inseparable. They are two sides of the same coin. So, as we have Fundamental Rights that we can enjoy there are also some Fundamental Duties that we must follow & do. They are correlated and either of them cannot be ignored. TheConstitution is an instrument to bring about socio- economic and political transformation in the country. These rights and duties in the Indian Constitution are designed to bring about a change and shed away traditional and conservative ideologies and bring freedom, equality and justice. Keeping this philosophy of the constitution in mind, students of Grade-IV presented aJAM(Just a minute) activity on their rights and duties in the school . It was an individual activity conducted in Grade IV on 18th& 19th January 2021, where learners showcased their conceptual understanding about the topic along with effective presentation to convey the message stating that fundamental rights and duties go hand in hand. They did really well and thoroughly enjoyed the activity. The logical, Spatial, Interpersonal, kinesthetic and linguistic skills of the students were enhanced with this activity. Overall, it was a very informative, enjoyable and thought-provoking activity.

‘We forget that the water cycle and life cycle are one.’ -Jacques Yves Cousteau The water cycle is an extremely important process as it enables the availability of water for all living organisms and regulates weather patterns on our planet. If water didn’t naturally recycle itself, we would run out of clean water, which is essential to life. The hydrologic cycle, or water cycle describes how water evaporates from the surface of the earth, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses into rain or snow in clouds, and falls again to the surface as precipitate.Knowing the importance of water cycle will help children better understand the importance of our drinking water supply as well as important processes that the earth goes through. To make students aware about the cyclic process of water, an activity was conducted in grade IV on 18th& 19th January 2021. Students were required to make a model of water cycle using their own creativity with waste materials or the things available at home. Children used innovative ideas to showcase the cyclic representation of water in nature. They described various processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation and accumulation during the presentation of water cycle in the virtual class. Every child spoke confidently displaying clarity of concepts. The activity helped the students build their kinesthetic skills and objective of ‘learning by doing’ was achieved. The students ended the class with a quick recap of the definition of water cycle.

An art integrated activity named Rainbow Name Hunt was conducted for the students of class 1 on 19th January 2021. This activity was based on one of the lessons of their English textbooks 'The Rain'. The aim of this activity was to make the students understand the occurrence of a rainbow in rainy season and also to make them know the seven different colours of a rainbow. The students cut seven rainbow colours strips and pasted them creatively in their English notebook. They were also introduced to the acronym VIBGYOR through which they learnt the correct order of the colours in a rainbow. The children also learnt about the secondary colours; their names and their spellings. This was a learningwith funactivity which was thoroughly enjoyed by the kids. Through this activity, children could also memorize the hues of the rainbow.

The students of class-II performed a Math activity on Fractions in the class. A fraction represents a part of a whole or any number of equal parts. In Latin fractus means “broken”. A fraction describes how many parts of a certain size are there. Understanding fractions means understanding all the possible concepts that fractions can represent. One of the commonly used meanings of fraction is part?whole. The students were told to take one apple and cut it into two pieces, then into four pieces. They were explained how to equally divide any whole figure or thing into equal portions. They were explained about various types of fractions starting from half, one-third then moving onto one-fourth, three-fourth, etc. They learnt how to make a whole by using different fractions like 2 halves or 4 quarters make a whole. Thus, this simple activity helped them to understand the concept of fractions more clearly and evidently.

A Limericks Recitation activity was conducted for the students of class 1 on 14th January 2021. Through this activity, students learnt the meaning of limericks and spoke the 5 lines humorous poem confidently. This activity enhanced their speaking skills as well as their pronunciation. The recitation of limericks was a great source of learning and entertainment for the students of class 1. They also used various actions along with the recitation of the poem which made their performance more impactful. The students were appreciated fortheir overall presentation. The young poets enthralled all with their articulation and memory skills while reciting the poem. It was a splendid opportunity for the children to gain confidence through virtual stage exposure. They thoroughly enjoyed this rhythmic session and could develop their oratory skills in an effective manner.

“Quartered in snow, silent to remain.When the bugle calls, they shall rise and march again.” Army Day is celebrated on 15 January every year in India, in recognition of Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa's (then a Lieutenant General) taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1949. Army Day is celebrated across the country to pay tribute and express gratitude to our brave soldiers in the front lines for protecting us from enemies. The martyred soldiers are the greatest heroes of our country and they set the most exceptional example of selfless service and brotherhood, and above all, love for the country. To inculcate the values of sacrifice, valour and bravery in our children, a virtual special assembly was organised for the students of classes I to V. It commenced with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the school’s vision and mission statement. They recited poems, sang patriotic songs and gave informative speeches with creative posters emphasizing the importance of this day. The students were also informed about the motto of the Indian Army, ‘Service before Self’ and its mission to ensure national security.They were also advised to uphold and honour the integrity of the nation in all their deeds. The children were filled with patriotic feelings and the feelings of gratitude towards those who fight for us in harsh circumstances and stay away from their loved ones so that the civilians can sleep peacefully.The Indian Army is indeed a large conglomeration of values, regimentation, customs, traditions, ethos and culture.

The new year has come bringing with it, new hopes and goals. Makar Sankranti is a festival that is celebrated through the length and breadth of our vast country, though it is called by different names. The festival marks the end of winter and the beginning of the more pleasant and colourful spring season. It is believed that the sun starts its northward journey of warming the northern hemisphere. This day is celebrated with a lot of activities like kite flying, taking a dip in a holy river and eating besan (gram) and atta (flour) ladoos (sweetmeats) etc. This festival was celebrated at Shalom Hills International School in all the primary sections, keeping the spirit of secularity in thinking and behaviour. It was an online celebration where in the students spoke about the importance and significance of this day. There was a lot of talk about the different types of sweets and grand feast that happen today. Some children shared that on Makar Sankranti Khichdi (a rice and pulse savoury) is specially made as an offering to the Sun God. Flying of kites plays a major role in this celebration as it signifies that the sky is open to better climate and the Sun God is going to warm even the coldest part of the Earth. The students were a treasure trove of information on this festival. The students were looking forward to flying kites that some of them had made themselves and enjoying the feast later.

National Youth Day is celebrated on January 12 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, a spiritual thinker who believed youth plays a pivotal role in the process of nation-building. The theme of this year’s festival was ‘YUVAAH - UtsahNaye Bharat Ka’ which suggests, the youth bring alive the celebration of New India. To quote some of Swami Vivekananda’s famous words; “Take risks in your life. If you win, you can lead, if you lose, you can guide.” Shalomites celebrated the day with enthusiasm by creating poems, writing essays and painting posters.

“Let us kill all the negativity of our lives in the fire of Lohri. In the positive light of happiness, may our life shine with hope.” The students of primary wing celebrated Lohri festival with lot of exuberance and fanfare through the virtual platform on 13th January2021. Lohri, one of the most popular festivals of Punjabi, is an auspicious traditional harvest festival that marks the end of winter. People rejoice and dance around a bonfireto the sound of drums and dhols and pray to God to take away all the negativity and evil spirits from their lives. To enlighten students about this special day, a special assembly was conducted by the students of the primary wing. The assembly began with a speech, highlighting the importance of the festival, which ushers in the cheerful spring season bidding adieu to the dull winter.Students gave speeches, recited poems and sang traditional Lohri songs glorifying the significance of the festival. The students dressed in traditional Punjabi attire. Foot-tapping dances, traditional songs, colourful giddha marked the occasion. The mood on the virtual mode was upbeat and students were totally absorbed in the festive spirit of Lohri. A video on the importance of the festival was also shown.The message of the assembly was clear - Lohri festival prompts people to be thankful for God’s provision and also keep the tradition and culture alive.It was a fascinating experience for all.

“We believe in peace and peaceful development, not only for ourselves but for people all over the world.” – Lal Bahadur Shastri Lal Bahadur Shastri -- who served as the country's second Prime Minister, held key portfolios in Jawaharlal Nehru-led Central government in the first 17 years of Independent India. He is credited for prompting both the White and Green Revolutions in the country. Shastri played a pivotal role in India's struggle for Independence and spent two-and-a-half years incarcerated in the decade leading up to independence. He died due to a heart attack on 11 January, 1966. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, posthumously in 1966.Known as a man of great integrity and competence,he was humble, tolerant, with great inner strength and understood the language of the common man. He was deeply influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and was also a man of vision who led countries towards progress. A special assembly was conducted by classes-I to V to pay tribute to Shastriji on his death anniversary. To make children aware of this important day the teachers discussed the contribution of Shastriji in raising India to a great nation after Independence and also shared some unknown facts about him.The students prepared a power point presentation on the life of Shastriji.The young scholars wrote his famous quotes, made posters and other props also for the presentation. They showcased their creative skills and shared their knowledge about this special day. The students actively participated in the special assembly.

Christmas time is the most Magical time of the year. Christmas is the festival which inspires the spirit of sharing and caring. Soaking in the spirit of Christmas class I-V students made innovative and creative crafts as 3D Christmas tree with paper,Christmas wreath etc. Christmas enjoyed making craft in virtual class with full enthusiasm.

An angle is a form of geometrical shape, that is constructed by joining two rays to each other at their end-points. The common point here is called vertex and the two rays are called arms of the angle. The angle, usually measured in degrees using a protractor, is represented by the symbol ‘∠’. The word angle came from the Latin word “Angulus”. Math activity ‘Angles Making’ was conducted in all the sections of class IV on 30th December 2020. The children were informed one day prior to be ready with the materials required for the activity. Students were told to make different types of angles using ice-cream sticks, cut outs of rays, match sticks, toothpick etc. on A4 size sheet. Then they were asked to give them names and write their arms, vertex and angles. At the end they were told to paint the ice-cream sticks/match sticks/toothpick etc to make it more beautiful and presentable. The students were very excited for the activity and participated enthusiastically. The activity helped the children to recognize and define lines, intersecting and perpendicular lines and to identify obtuse, acute, right and straight angles.

The students of class-II participated in an activity on Time.They were explained about o’clock, half past, quarter past and quarter to time. Studentslearnt how to represent time by drawing a clock. Students were required to make their daily timetable on A-4 sheet and draw thetime on the clock alongside.Like: get up in morning Virtual class Lunch time Thus this simple activity helped them tounderstand the concept of time more clearly and evidently.Learning how to tell time can also help children with their motor and cognitive skills as well as mathematical skills.Children participated in the activity with vigor and energy.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Truly said as a well written book transports us to the land, situation, events and protagonists of the writer’s mind and pen. Our young grader V students came forward very enthusiastically to share the name of their book, its author and even read their favourite part from the book. Today’s children who are so adept with electronic gadgets and spend so much time online pleasantly surprised their teachers in their fluency in reading too. There were so many different genres that our students read -humour, horror, sci-fi, mythology, fiction, parables, fantasy, biography, mysteries, adventures and more. Reading helps to develop positive thinking. It is a very beneficial habit which inculcates knowledge and wisdom in an individual. A person with good reading habits won’t be lonely as long as there is book to give company. This is the message that our Shalomites gave while doing this activity. They even drew parallels with their lives in some instances. This activity conveyed that our young achievers draw their understanding and humane values from different sources. It was a gratifying to know that our students have inculcated the excellent habit of reading. Whilst reading they also used a dictionary to understand the meaning and pronunciation of difficult words. Thereby fulfilling the objective of this activity.

“Social reforms are never carried out by the weakness of the strong; but always by the strength of the weak.” Shalom Hills International School does not only put its heart and soul to raise the knowledge of its young scholars through its unique technique of teaching but it also helps children experience learning through a taste of something magical and tangible, relish the knowledge and cherish its unforgettable impact for a lifetime as well. To enhance the creativity and knowledge of the young Shalomites, an online character enactment activity based on the topic-‘Religious and Social Reformers’ was conducted for Grade V students on 28 and 29 December2020. India is privileged to have a large number of great souls like Dayanand Saraswati and Raja Ram Mohan Roy, who broughtabout revolutions by making radical changes in the society. Some of the reformers took up the challenges of breaking the jinx of prevailing caste-system while some fought for the introduction of girls'education and widow remarriage. The contributions, made by these, simple yet eminent souls towards humanity are really extraordinary. Their activities and thoughts guided the nation to a new beginning. The students were asked to enact the role of any social or religious reformer. They dressed up as the same, used suitable props and also spoke few lines about the reformer they represented. Pulsating with rhythm and harmony, the virtual stage came alive as students presented an awe-inspiring performance of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Mother Teresa, Vinoba Bhave, Swami Dayanand Saraswati etc. which reminded all of the courage and supreme sacrifice of our great religious and social reformers. The activity turned out exceptionally well as the enthusiastic learners presented and showcased their talent. It inspired the children to think, work and enact creatively and promoted artistic excellence and made the event most enjoyable for one and all. The students also realized how important social reformers have been in the past?Without them many of us would not be able to take on roles in society that we do today.

The Politics of India works within the framework of the country's constitution. India isa parliamentary seculardemocratic republic in which the President of India is the head of state and the Prime Minister of India is the head of government.In a parliamentary democracy,like India,citizens elect their representatives.Citizens vote for the party of their choice and, thus influencing government policy. Political parties have various functions. One is promoting the interests of their voters. They also draw up party programmes. Every political party in India - whether a national or regional/state party - must have a symbol and must be registered with the Election Commission of India. Symbols are used in the Indian political system to identify political parties in part so that illiterate people can vote by recognizing the party symbols To make the students aware about various political parties in India, an activity -“Political Parties of India”, was conducted in Grade IV where in students were asked to speak about one national & one state party of India with the help of their political symbols.They shared information about the history, contribution and famous leaders of their chosen party in an interesting way. The activity was an enriching experience for the students and they enjoyed doing it.

“May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas eve.” Caught in the festive spirit of Christmas, the students of grade XI participated in activities planned for them on December 23 & 24, 2020. Making use of technology, the students created beautiful e-cards conveying Christmas wishes. Christmas cakes are an integral part of the festival. The children donned their aprons and chef-hats to bake delicious cakes, cup-cakes and decorated them on the theme of Christmas. The children participated enthusiastically in the true festive spirit.

"Let us have music for Christmas… Sound the trumpet of joy and rebirth; Let each of us try, with a song in our hearts, To bring peace to men on earth." Mildred L. Jarrell Keeping the festive spirit high and under the guidance of our Founder and Chairperson, Dr (Mrs.) Lilly George, children of grade VI celebrated Christmas for two days with fun-filled activities. Chill & breeze in the air, super enthusiastic about the activities, keeping blessings in their heart for their loved ones and beloved MD ma’am, the little ones got engrossed in the celebrations. On 23rdthe children painted and decorated the model of Christmas/Snow House with best out of waste like twigs, bamboo shoots and cotton wools. The second activity was DIY- Decoration of Christmas tree by making crafts out of snowflakes, ginger breads, bells, candles, Santa caps, reindeers, stars etc. The 3rd activity of the day was decorating their favourite avengers as Santa. On 24tha Special assemblyin which a video presenting the Christmas story that highlighted the importance of the family- A wish for the Christmas OR why Christmas is celebrated,was played.Various activities like Let’s Enact- Walk like Santa and Bake-a-Cake, through which they showed their culinary skills by making cakes, cupcakes and chocolates, were organized. Students enjoyed the activities along with their teachers and mentor with fun and frolic.

“Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand.” On the special occasion of Christmas, a special assembly followed by fun filled activities marking the day was conducted by the students of grade 7. The assembly commenced with the shloka, thought for the day, special pledge.The highlight of the assembly was the role play based on the characters of the nativity play. A special message for Christmas and new year was also delivered. The students showed their gratitude to their beloved mother darling - MD Ma’am,through messages filled with love and wishes for her. Children enjoyed their fun and frolic activity- Secret Santa wish. The students had written and interchanged the love for each other by making cards, PPTs, messages, etc on the virtual platform. The students enjoyed the activities – Letter to Santa, nativity play enactment, and also did a lot of merry making with their respective class teachers.The festivities concluded with the singing of Jingle bells.

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.Observed on December 25, itis a religious and cultural festival celebratedby people across the world. It is often combined with customs from pre-Christian winter celebrations. Many people erect Christmas trees, decorate their homes, visit family and friends and exchange gifts. The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336 AD, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (the first Christian Roman Emperor). Later, Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th December. On this occasion, the students of grade 2 were dressed in colourful clothes. The students enjoyed the special assembly that was done for them to show the birth of Jesus Christ through a skit performed by the students. They also sang some Christmas Carols to mark the occasion. They were also told about the importance of celebrating Christmas. The students also performed an exciting activity of making a candle in a circle holder and decorated it with mirrors and glitters. The students had a fun-filled day, celebrating Christmas with full fervor and Passion.

The activity ‘Spirit of Christmas’ was conducted with fervor and zeal by class- I on 24Th December 2020. The students, dressed as Santa or Fairy, presented a Ramp walk. Our blooming buds of class- 1 were looking very stylish and cute in their special Christmasattires while walking confidentlyon the ramp along with their favorite props.With the popular music of catwalk on in the virtual classrooms they were looking nothing less than super models. Christmas is now celebrated by all people around the world. It’s a time when family and friends come together and remember the good things they have. People, and especially children, also eagerly await Christmas as it’s a time when one gives and receives presents!The message of the activity was loud and clear … Come let us embrace the spirit of Christmas by bringing joy and happiness into each other’s life. Every childexhibited fabulous energy and their remarkable performances were mesmerizing. The smiles on their faces were an open testimony to the fact that they were immensely enjoying the activity. It was the support from the parents, who enthusiastically dressed up their children, that helped us in making this event a grand success.

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” The students of class-V celebrated the much-awaited festival of Christmas with great fervour and zeal through the virtual platform on 24thDecember2020. The assembly began with the Lord’s prayer followed by the Shloka and NEWS headlines. A few students came forward holding flash cards and decrypted the word ‘CHRISTMAS’ and its meaning for the spectators.They showcased not only the story of the birth of Jesus Christ but also emphasized on His important teachings. After conducting a fun filled quiz related to the Bible and the life of Lord Jesus Christ,they charmed the audience with the musical depiction of the birth story of Lord Jesus Christ followed by the nativity scene and the manger scene. Students of all the sections unveiled a spectacular assembly. The children in their bright and elaborate costumes were a delight to watch. The assembly ended with all the students singing Christmas carols learnt in their music class. The message of the assembly was loud and clear--- Come let us embrace the spirit of Christmas by bringing joy and happiness into someone’s life.It was a fascinating experience for all as everyone thoroughly enjoyed the spirit of Christmas and the joy of sharing.

Sharing is one of the virtues which brings happiness in life. Keeping this wonderful virtue in mind, an activity – ‘Joy of Giving’, was conducted for the students of class 1 on 24th December, 2020. In this activity, children made a paper stocking with the help of craft paper and wrote a wish for their friends. They beautifully decorated the stocking with stars, smileys and basic shapes. They happily pasted Christmas tree cut outs on their stocking. They also shared the messages which they wrote on the stockings for their friends. This activity could help children understand that one is never at loss by sharing. Sharing is a beautiful virtue, indeed.Children enjoyed the activity thoroughly and enhanced their interactive and creative skills.They understood that the greatest joy is “The Joy of Giving.” They wished their friends and teachers Merry Christmas.

A soil profile is a vertical cross-section of the soil, made of layers running parallel to the surface. It is the vertical section of the soil that is exposed by a soil pit. The layers of soil can easily be identified by the soil colour and size of soil particles. An activity on the topic “Let’s check out the Soil Profile” was conducted in all sections of grade-3 on 23rd December2020, where in childrencarried out an activity using glass jar, handful of soil, water and a stirrer and observed different layers of the soil on the basis of colour and size of particles of soil. The students did this activity with a lot of enthusiasm and learnt more about the different layers of soil. They observed that the gravel has larger and heavier particles so it settles down at the bottom of the jar. Simultaneously sand, gravel and humus take space in the jar as per their particle size and weight.

Christmas is about spending time with family and friends. It’s about creating happy memories that will last a lifetime. Activities enable students to think from different angles. Interactive and interesting activities can inspire students to greater achievement. They learn new things through the play way method. ‘Write a wish Activity’ was organized for Grade 2 to make them understand the importance of their dreams and believe that there is hope. Children were asked to take A4 size sheets, cut a stocking and write a wish that they want Santa to fulfil. Children decorated their stocking and wrote their wishes. After that they discussed their wishes with their classmates. Children enjoyed the activity thoroughly and enhanced their interactive and creative skills.

The year 2020, has been full of trials, fears, insecurities, sorrows and losses. At the same time, it has been a great learning phase and an eye-opener. The technology that had slowly been invading our homes and life, overnight became the new normal during this time. Humans are highly adaptable, and it is this quality that helps us face and overcome challenges and survive. After a prolonged period of going through the COVID 19 pandemic, Shalom Hills International School, steered by its futuristic and sturdyFounder and Chairperson, Dr (Mrs.) Lilly George, reopened its gates today for the students of grades XII (Science Stream) to conduct practical classes. Dressed in their school uniforms once again, the students looked very cheerful, excited and in high spirits. All precautionary measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the students. We hope to resume school in phases for the students of grades X – XII by January end. Link to view Videos https://youtu.be/DXfEFpE6NFI

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” Sharing is caring. Apart from bringing joy and happiness, sharing also inculcates in us the virtue of caring and needs to be taught at an early stage to foster the moral development of children. Keeping the above thought in mind, the Joy of Giving event is observed every year at Shalom Hills International School with a lot of enthusiasm and happiness, reflecting the spirit of empathy and generosity of the students, teachers and parents alike. This gives us an opportunity to reach out to less privileged people with our acts and words of kindness. During this pandemic, the joy of sharing week was celebrated at a different level by helping to transform a child’s life forever. The speaking activity was conducted on 18th December 2020 where in students were encouraged to share their personal experiences of helping somebody in need and any one act of kindness by them. The experiences were shared through a virtual platform in the virtual class rooms. Through this activity the students realized that sharing is one of the most important virtues which bring happiness in life to both the giver and the receiver. It is fundamental to the development and nurturing of all human relationships. It was a wonderful experience for both the teachers and students to be a part of this activity.

"The path to heaven passes through a teapot." -Ancient Proverb For all the countries where tea is consumed and grown at a very large scale, International Tea Day is celebrated on December 15 to draw the attention of the people to tea and to foresee the amount of impact brought by the tea trade to the workers and the farmers. Countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Indonesia, Uganda, Malaysia, and Tanzania, among others, observe this day in December every year. To make children aware of this important day a special assembly was conducted in grades I to V. Students were involved in presenting the power point presentation on “Tea Day”.Students were already informed about this dayand were asked to prepare slogans, posters and other props for the presentation. They enthusiastically participated in the presentation and showed their creative skills while sharing their knowledge about this day. Students prepared beautiful and meaningful slogans and creative artwork on the given topic.It was an informative session for them which they enjoyed thoroughly.

“Victory doesn’t come cheap, we also had to carry some biers... A tribute to the martyrs of India.” - AmiteshSodhiya Vijay Diwas is celebrated on December 16 every year to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971. It was the day when the Indian army brought Pakistani soldiers to their knees and Bangladesh came into existence. The day is also observed across country by paying tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation. To make children aware of this important day a special assembly was conducted in grades I to V. Students prepareda power point presentation on “Vijay Diwas”, wrote slogans, made posters and other props for the presentation. They showcased their creative skills and shared their knowledge about this day.Students were able to understandthat soldiers are the guardians of the nation and protect us even at the costof their own life, and how they fulfill their duties despite the hardships. Vijay Diwas is indeed a Day for Remembrance of our brave soldiers and ‘Mukti Joddhas’ who sacrifice their lives for a noble cause. We salute the bravery, courage and sacrifice of our Indian soldiers. JAI HIND

A speaking activity 'Let's Describe Grandpa' was conducted in class 1 on 15th December 2020, wherein the students joyfully expressed their feelings and emotions about their amazing grandfathers. They shared various qualities of their grandfather using different adjectives. The children spoke few lines about their grandfatherand shared their experiences with them. They also shared how they help and take care of their grandfather. The children drew pictures of their grandfather and showcased their artistic skillsusing attractive props. The students participated with a lot of energy and interest.It aided in eliciting personal thoughts, feelings and experiences. It also developed the vocabulary of the students. They all came up with different words and sentences and used them as a wonderful medium of expressing and demonstrating their thoughts. This activity, conducted to encourage students to develop their speaking and listening skills, was thoroughly enjoyed by each one of them.

“Saving energy today will make tomorrow bright!” National Energy Conservation Day, December 14,focuses on making people aware of global warming and climate change and promotes efforts towards saving energy resources. With the growth in the population, the requirement for energy is also increasing continuously. Thus, every year 'Energy Conservation Day' is celebrated to raise awareness among the general public about the importance of energy conversation and energy efficiency. Energy conservation is about reducing the consumption of energy and usingminimal energy to save energy sources for future uses. It is achievable by using energy more efficiently and reducing the amount of service usage. Most of the energy sources we use in our daily lives are 'non-renewable'.They cannot be reused and renewed and may last only for another 40 years or so. Therefore, every individual must include energy conservation in their behaviour to make energy conservation plan more effective. A special assembly was organized by grade 1 to 5 students to aware and sensitize them about the importance of energy and the need for conserving it. Teachersfocussed on various natural energy sources that generate sufficient energy for use in daily life, like fossil fuels, crude oil, coal and natural gas.The importance of conserving energy and using renewable sources of energy were explained through PPT.

International Mountain Day is celebrated annually on 11 December. One seventh of the world’s population lives in mountain areas, whereas the remaining one third is largely dependent on the natural resources, originating in mountains. To create awareness about the importance of mountains, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development, and to build alliances that will bring positive change to mountain people and environments around the world,this year, Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations has chosen Mountain Matters as a theme to celebrate International Mountain Day. Hence drawing attention towards mountains is imperative. A special assembly was organized by grade 1 to 5 students. It started by invoking the blessings of the Lord with a prayer by the class choir. The theme highlighted the importance of mountains in water conservation, food planning, biodiversity and numerous other aspects. Students gave speeches to create awareness about mountains andcan embrace the wonder and magic of the mountainsaround us.Through this celebration, we focused to educate our studentsabout the role of mountains in the environment, their impact on our lives and how to preserve them.The assembly concluded with the national anthem followed by the Shalom anthem.

“Either I will come back after hoisting the tricolour, or I will come back wrapped init, but I will come back for sure!” – Capt. Vikram Batra The Armed Forces Flag Day or the Flag Day of India is a day dedicated to collection of funds for the welfare of the Indian Armed Forces personnel. It has been observed annually in India on December 7 since 1949. To salute the unparalleled zeal to serve the country till their last breath and to ignite the spark of patriotism and nationalism in the hearts of our students, a special assembly was organised on Armed Forces Flag Day.It commenced with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the school’s vision and mission statement.The students paid tribute to the courageous and martyred soldiers. They also highlighted that the Indian army is the cause for peace in the nation and their contribution is very valuable. Students recited poems on the theme. The assembly filled the students with gratitude for our fearless and indomitable heroes entrusted with the charge of taking care of not only the border, but also of each and every civilian like us all.The Special assembly was a salute to the real heroes of our nation.The assembly concluded with the national anthem followed by the Shalom anthem.

“Soil protects our history and plays an important role in the preservation of the earth’s history!” World Soil Day is held annually on December 5as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate sustainable management of soil resources. An international day to celebrate Soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002. With the vital theme 'caring for the planet starts from the ground’, SHIS (Middle Wing) organized a special assembly to celebrate the World Soil Day. Spreading awareness regarding significant processes like soil erosion, its importance, food, water, climate and biodiversity, the assembly began with a speech, highlighting the importance of the day. The students highlighted the states of India with different types of soils and the measures to be taken to save it. It raised awareness among the students about critical importance of different varieties of soil and inspired them to explore new opportunities to embrace sustainable development. The assembly sensitized the students towards the fact that Soil is more valuable than oil! Navy Day in India is observed on 4th of December every year to celebrate the magnificence, achievements and role of the Naval Force.Our Navy not only helps in securing the marine borders of the country, it also helps in enhancing the international relations of India through seaport visits.They are the first ones who reach the locals at the time of crisis and distress like high tides, hurricanes, extreme rains and other natural calamities. Navy Day was celebrated in SHIS (Middle Wing) with a special assembly. A short speech emphasizing the history of the Indian Navy filled the young hearts with ecstasy, pride, and honour. The observance of Navy Day also raised desire in the young minds to opt Navy as a career and serve the motherland.

Activity based learning is a subset for experiential learning. It plays a major role in students’ learning. An activity related to the use of this, that, these and those was conducted for the students of class 1 on 3rd December 2020. The purpose of the activity was to develop writing and language skills among the students. This activity aimed to develop the observational and writing skills of the young minds.The students drew different pictures in their English notebooks and demonstrated the use of this, that, these and those, with the help of pictures by dividing the notebook into four parts and drawing and writing sentences demonstrating their usage withsingular and plural nouns. The students participated with a lot of interest andenjoyment.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” - Hellen Keller International Day of Persons with Disabilities December 3, has been promoted by the United Nations since 1992. The theme for 2019 is ‘promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda’.The observance of the day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. This day also coincides with the birthday of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, an Indian independence activist, lawyer, scholar and subsequently, the first President of India in office from 1950 to 1962. He was an Indian political leader and lawyer by training. He was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and went to jail during the ‘Salt Satyagraha’ of 1931 and the 'Quit India Movement' of 1942.He played a big role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution. Dr Rajendra Prasad was awarded the highest civilian award - Bharat Ratna - in 1962. He passed away on 28 February 1963, aged 78. To celebrate the high spirits and will power of children with special needs, the students of classes I-IV conducted a special assembly wherein they gave speeches with posters and props emphasizing the importance of these days. The importance of celebrating the achievements of the differently abled people and ensuring equality & dignity was a key highlight of the day. The assembly ended with a message of love and respect.

The National Pollution Control Day is celebrated every year on 2nd December in India in order to honour and memorialize the thousands of people who had lost their existence because of the Bhopal gas calamity. The main aim behind the celebration of National Pollution Day is the control of pollution and prevention of industrial disasters.Several acts and rules have been launched by the Government to control pollution levels in India. To spread awareness on managing and controlling pollution SHIS (Middle Wing) celebrated a Special Assembly on National Pollution Control Day. Students took a pledge to create a pollution free Earth and slogans like ‘Be a part of solution, not a part of pollution’,were raised by the Shalomitees.Students were encouraged to follow practices like growing more trees, car-pooling and banning plastic bags. With an informative speech, quotations and much more, students urged everyone to stop polluting the Earth.

Activities enable students to think from different angles. Interactive and interesting activities can inspire Math in students to greater achievementby learning new things through play way method. To introduce the concept of skip counting by 10, an activity“Blooming Flower of 10”,was conducted in all the sections of class I.Children were asked to take A4 size sheet, cut out a circle and 9 petals. Children pasted the circle in the middle of the sheet and around it pasted all the petals to make a flower. After this they wrote 10 in the circle cut out and 20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100 in all the petals in sequence. They were then instructed to make a stem and leaves to make a beautiful flower which they pasted in their notebooks. With the help of this activity the concept of skip counting by 10 was made clear. Children made very beautiful cut outs of flowers. They enjoyed the activity thoroughly which enhanced their logical and analytical skills.

Guru Nanak Jayanti falls on the full moon day of the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated all over India to commemorate the birth of Guru Nakak, the founder of Sikhism.The important event that is scheduled for 30th November was celebrated in the morning assembly on 27 November 2020. The celebration of the guru’s birth anniversary begins two days prior to the actual date. On the first day of the celebrations, Sikhs read the Sikh holy book - the Guru Granth Sahib. On the second day, a procession is led by five people representing the original PanjPyare ("the Five Beloved Ones") who helped shape the religion. On Gurupuravfollowers begin the day with 'Prabhat Pheri', an early morning procession. Through the day, devotees chant and sing hymns. A special prayer known as ‘Rehrasi’ is organised at sunset. According to Sikh tradition, it is believed that Nanak was born at around 1:20 am. Therefore, evening prayers continue till about 2:00 am, as worshippers sing 'Gurbani' in his praise. This is one of the main sacred festivals in the Sikh community. Sikhs all over the world gather and celebrate Gurupurav every year with great devotion and enthusiasm. Few students held placards and dressed up accordingly.There was full participation of the students in the assembly. Students spoke facts about Guru Nanak. The assembly concluded with the Shalom anthem.

Virtual tours for kids will have them gazing at world-class art, learning about history, discovering science, and even checking out what it's like in outer space. While the kids may be home physically, online tours still give them some access to the rest of the outside world. To acquaint them with the evolution of transportation in India, a virtual tour to Heritage Transport Museum,Gurgaon was organised in Grade IV on 25 & 26 November.The Heritage Transport Museum is India's major museum dealing with the history of human transportation. The collection focuses on the development of transport in India. Opened in2013 on 3.01 acres with 95,000 square feet of exhibition galleries, it became India's largest private museum. It was a wonderful experience for the learners to see all these means of transportation starting from automobile to aviation,from two wheelers to jugaads along with various means of water transport with their real models and posters.Students were amazed and excited to see all the tongas,carts,vintage cars,palanquins,models of planes.Learners came dressed up for the tour with their sunglasses and hats on and also with a picnic bag filled with fun food

The United Nations' (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is an occasion for governments, international organizations and non-governmentalorganizations to raise public awarenessof violence against women. It has been observed on November 25 each year since 2000. Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread violations of human rights. According to a 2013 WHO global study, 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence. However, some national studies show that up to 70 per cent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. The date marks the brutal assassination in 1960 of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic. To make everyone aware and highlight the importance of this day the middle wing students of classes I-V organized a special assembly with props and placards on the topic. In their various speeches they underlined message -‘Stop violence against women’. There was full and enthusiastic participation of the students in this special assembly. Itwas agreat learning and awareness drive for the students.It is rightly said that impressions in the young minds leave a deep impact. This was another small step in the process of education. The assembly concluded with the Shalom anthem.

Road safety is a subject of importance that every child should be awareabout. Streets near playgrounds can become spotsof automobile accidents if necessary precautions are not taken. The dangers on the road impact everyone and hence is a vital topic of discussion everywhere. Every year road crashes lead to death and injury among youngsters. The risk is even higher in teenagers as they are given more independence. Traffic is a major concern for pedestrians and cyclists too. To make the students aware about various road safety signs an activity named “Road safety:Starts with you” was conducted in Grade IV on 24 & 25 November. Learners were asked to explain any two road safety signs with the help of their cut outs. Students shared various signs like;stop, no parking,no U turn,elephant corridor,no overtaking and many more.They were very excited for the activity and presented their signs in a very informative way.Overall, the activity was a wonderful learning experience which they enjoyed doing.

In a world where evolution is a daily phenomenon, our upcoming generations have abundant avenues to invest their innocent curiosities in. At Shalom Hills International School, it is our constant endeavor to find multiple means to satisfy the curiosity of every child. Considering the fact that- Science is the supreme art to awaken the joy in creative expression and knowledge,a reinforcement activity ‘Model of Simple Machines’was held on 23rd and 24th November2020for the students of grade V. The enthusiastic learners explored and created different models of simple machines by using recycled materials. The students were explained in detail about the concept of simple machines and how they can simplify our daily chores. The learners explored the magical world of creative learning by displaying and demonstrating various models like inclined plane,wedge,lever,screw,pulley,wheel and axle etc. They were enthralled to observe and learn the interesting aspects of science through the activities ranging from known to unknown facts. The activity paved a path to investigating how something works or why something happens. It was all about sparking the student’s creative thinking and inquisitive nature.

An English activity based on L-6 ‘GG Grandpa’ was conducted in all sections of grade 4 on 23rd November 2020. This activity involved making a sketch or portrait of grand-parents and narrating any interesting anecdote involving them. The students were encouraged to be creative while making their portraits. They also had to express their love and gratitude towards their grandparents through small messages and notes. The students showed a lot of interest in doing the activity. A few of them even made photo-frames with the help of origami paper for their portraits. The students were excited to speak a few lines on their grand-parents. Many children also shared funny incidents related to their grand-parents. Through their narrations their love and strong bonding with their grand-parents was clearly visible. This activity helped the children express their views and enhanced their linguistic abilities.

Pictures stimulate thoughts and motivate to express views and ideas. Keeping this wonderful fact in view, a very interactive writing skill cum art integrated activity was conducted virtuallyfor the students of class 1. This activity was aimed to develop the observational and writing skillsof the young minds. Thestudentsdrew a picture in their English notebooks and observed it minutely and thoroughly.They then described the picture using different words.They participated wholeheartedly and framed very interesting sentences. The children enthusiastically used their imaginative powerand strong observations to describe the picture. They also used many describing words which made their sentences more elaborative and effective. The activity aided in eliciting personal thoughts, feelings and experiences by strong observation. It also developed the vocabulary of the students. They all came up with different words and sentences and used them as a wonderful medium of expressing and demonstrating their thoughts. It was thoroughly enjoyed by each one of them.

“Silence and Smiles are Suitable Statements to Slam the Sour Squabble.” What is a squabble? A noisy quarrel about something trivial/ unimportant/ petty matter. Now the Grammar house is not an unimportant or insignificant place and there, all the 8 parts of speech want to be the most important one. Students of grade V experienced this squabble first hand, wherein they were dressed up as a part of speech and very eloquently demanded their recognition as the most significant member in the house. The students very vociferously explained that without their presence (8 parts of speech) grammar would not be grammar but some sort of loose language that did not have rules and no proper formation of sentences. Through this activity the students were able to distinguish between all the parts of speech, their importance and proper usage in a sentence. They also were able to correctly identify the different parts and appreciate each part’s prominence.

"Children are like seeds, nurture them like plants. So that they become shade like tomorrow”. Children are innocent, mischievous, but bring a smile to one's life. One of the most treasured possessions on earth; children are loved by one and all. Thus,‘Universal Children's Day’is observed on 20thNovember annually to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide and improving children's welfare. It was established in 1954to commemorate the healthy growth,education and happiness of children. World Television Day is celebrated on 21 November every year to highlight the major role that television plays in daily life by presenting different issues that affect people. UN General Assembly on 17 December, 1996 proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day. To make the students of classes: I-V aware about the above important dates and events a special assembly was organized wherein the students gave speeches with posters and props with related dresses to emphasize and highlight the importance of these days. Students through this informative assembly made everyone aware about the Universal Children’s Day. Students also spoke about the importance of Television in our daily life.

International Men’s day is celebrated every year on 19th November. It highlights the issues faced by men on a global scale. ‘Being men’ means accepting responsibilities in all ways making sacrifices for the family, to bring a smile on their faces. Indira Gandhi Jayanti isalso celebrated on 19th November as a tribute to the first female Prime Minister of India till date.Born on Nov 19, 1917 in Allahabad, U.P,she was the daughter of the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. She served India as a Prime Minister from 1966-1977 Year then again from 1980 till 1984 "World Toilet Day”is observed on 19th November to inspire people about tackling the issue of the global sanitation crisis and to achieve Sustainable Development Goal, which promises sanitation for all by 2030. According to WHO and UNICEF around 60% of the global population that is approx. 4.5 billion people either has no toilet at home or one that does not safely manage excreta. To make the students of classes: I-V aware about the above important dates and events a special assembly was organized wherein the students gave speeches with posters and props with related dresses to emphasize and highlight the importance of these days. Students through this informative assembly made everyone aware about the importance of Men in our life.The importance of toiletsat home, which is a necessity for all people. Toknow about our Indian famous personalities students also made everyone aware about ‘Indira Gandhi Jayanti’. This assembly was a great learning experience for all and informative too.

The solar system consists of the Sun and all other objects that travel around it. These objects include planets, asteroids, natural satellites, meteoroids, comets, dwarf planets, dust and gases. The sun is the middle of our solar system and exerts tremendous gravitational pull on planets, comets, asteroids, satellites and other objects. Our solar system is a part of the Milky Way Galaxy. An activity on the topic “My Favourite Planet” was conducted in all sections of grade-3 on 18th November2020 where in childrenpresented models and drawings of the solar system and spoke about their favourite planet. The students did this activity with a lot of enthusiasm and learnt more about the planets. They presented best of their imagination and creativity in making the models and presenting these in front of their peers and teacher. They shared amazing facts related to planets, enjoyed listening to each other and motivated the presenters by clapping for them for their presentations.

"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, making mistakes, and having fun." Integrating the visual and performing arts is one clear and concrete strategy to engage students in learning social studies content and concepts while making them interactive and relevant to their daily lives.Creativity fosters mental growth as well by providing opportunities for trying out new ideas, and new ways of thinking and problem-solving. At Shalom Hills International School, we provide a creative environment as a complement to the integral education system at the school. In pursuit of the same, an online EVS I (Social Science) activity related to the Chapter-the Frigid Zone was carried outfor the students of Class V on 17 and 18 November 2020to boost and augment the experiential learning of the students. The young learners displayed their artistic skills through an array of Emperor Penguin hats using various materials like cotton, waste papers, old hats and caps. It was a great opportunity to watch these young minds creating and displaying their ideas.The spatial, social and fine motor skills of the students were refined as they got hands on experience. The students developed an understanding and also shared some fascinating facts about the largest member of the penguin family i.e. Emperor Penguin. It was a fun -filled activity conducted on the digital platform which was enjoyed by one and all present in the virtual environment. .

A very interactive speaking skill activity was conducted for class I students virtually. The purpose of the activity was to inculcate positivity among students with the help of verbal expressionto build their confidence. This activity was aimed to develop self-expression and speaking skills of the young minds. Thestudentsspokefewlinesandtookapositivepledgeto bring onepositivechangeintheirlifestylethisDiwali.They participated wholeheartedly and framed very interesting sentences relating to use of crackers, pollution, junk food and importance of goodhealth.The children were excited to share their Pledge for this Diwali and waited eagerly for their turn. The students used attractive props while taking their Pledge. Children participated with vigor and energy. The activity inflicted positivity and happiness among students.They all came up with different Pledges and used them as a wonderful medium of expressing and demonstrating their thoughts.

India is a great country often known as the land of festivals. One of the famous and most celebrated Hindu festival is the festival of lights or Diwali, a symbol of victory of good over evil. This day is also celebrated as the home coming of Lord Ram after 14 years of exile and the welcoming of Goddess Lakshmi. All the teachers and students of classes: I-V celebrated this festival with great zeal and fervor. Dressed up beautifully in the traditional clothes, the students spoke on the festival of Diwali and also enacted role plays of different characters of the Ramayana. To make the students understand the importance of Diwali, a Virtual Special Assembly was conducted on November 12. The children were explained the merits of celebrating an eco-friendly Diwali by saying “No to Crackers”. They were also made aware about how to celebrate Clean, Safe and Green Diwali by using diyas, candles and LED lights to save electricity. Young Shalomitee also expressed their views on the same. Children dressed up in traditional wear and gave splendid dance performances. They also sang Diwali rhymes and songs creating a lively atmosphere. They raised slogans of ‘avoid crackers’, burn bad habits, light diyas and candles and ‘Clean Earth, Green Earth’. Various activities such as “Rangoli decoration, Diya making, E-Greeting, Talent hunt, Puppet show and taking a Pledge for positive change were organized to enhance the creative skills of the students. Primary wing students won the hearts of the teachers when they presented their lively dance drama to depict the various reasons why “Diwali” is celebrated. They enthralled the teachers, peers and parents with their graceful moves.

Pneumonia is the world’s leading infectious killer of children, claiming one child every 39 seconds. Yet pneumonia remains a neglected disease. It has been called a “global cause without champions”. World Pneumonia Day, marked every year on 12 November, was established by the Stop Pneumonia Initiative in 2009 to raise awareness about the toll of pneumonia and to advocate for global action to protect against, help prevent and effectively treat this deadly illness. World Kindness Day is an international observance on 13 November. It was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of Nations' Kindness NGOs. It is observed in many countries including India. The Day is to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us. "Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human." In 1996, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 51/95 proclaiming 16 November as International Day for Tolerance. A Day with Gandhi in 1994, UNESCO marked the 125th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth paving the way for the proclamation of 16 November as the International Day for Tolerance by the UN. The students of classes: I-V conducted a special assembly wherein they gave speeches with posters and props emphasizing the importance of these days. Through this informative assembly they made everyone aware about the importance of taking care of infections in the lungs, the importance of tolerance through acceptance and appreciation of diversity in and around us. To highlight good deed in our society students also made everyone aware about the celebration of World Kindness Day. In this growing intolerant and selfish world, it is important that we sow the seeds of doing good and accepting everyone with respect in our new generation.

Children are like buds in a garden and should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they ae the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow. Only through right education can a better order of society be built. Jawahar Lal Nehru On the special occasion of Children’s Day, a special assembly was conducted for the students of grade VI by their teachers with some surprises on 12th November. The assembly started with the best wishes message from our Founder and Chairperson, Dr (Mrs.) Lilly George, for her beloved children being read out by the teachers. It was followed by the Lord’s prayer, Shloka, Welcome Speech, Health tip & Pledge. The activities conducted by the teachers were Yoga Story- (teachers performing yoga with the story depiction), the compiled video on teachers wishing Happy Children’s Day, Sanskrit Geet and chant and the Game in which students were asked to identify their teachers from the childhood pictures. The students got emotional by the efforts of their teachers to make the day special for them. They appreciated the wonderful show and enjoyed the assembly thoroughly.

Art integrated learning enables the students to derive meaning and understanding directly from the learning experiences. It also makes learning joyful and has a positive impact on the development of scientific skills. To enhance the understanding of the concept- Animal, an online activity was conducted for Grade IV students on 11th and 12th November, 2020. The animal kingdom is very vast and diverse. Students learnt about different groups of animals which include vertebrates and invertebrates, their habitat and eating habits. Students were told in advance to prepare a mask or a puppet of an animal of their choice for the class presentation. Students made colourful masks and puppets of different animals using waste materials like old socks, ribbons, sheets, buttons etc. They were able to identify the animal as a vertebrate or invertebrate and which group it belongs to like- fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Students shared their knowledge on the basis of key points such as- presence or absence of back bone, cold or warm-blooded animal, its habit, breathing organ, means of reproduction and eating habits. It was good to see various animal creatures like octopus, butterfly, chameleon, snake, lion, tiger, fishes, panda, zebra, cat, dog and so on. The students participated enthusiastically in the activity and presented it with a great zeal. Few students explored extra information about the animals and shared it during their presentation. This activity enabled students to classify animals in various ways and differentiate among them and gain confidence through virtual stage exposure.

Industries play an important role in the economic development of any nation. Without industries, economic development is impossible. Again, in a developing economy like INDIA, industries are indispensable. India is rich in natural resources, such as minerals, forests etc.; power resources, such as coal, hydro-electricity, atomic energy, etc.; human resources, and as the country has vast population, wide market required for the development of industries is also available in the country. The economic growth provided by industrial development is a well-sustained growth that can transform an economy. Industrialization provides increased employment opportunities in small- and large-scale industries. In an industrial economy, industry absorbs underemployed and unemployed workers from the agricultural sector, thereby increasing the income of the community. To make the students understand the importance of industries and industrial growth in a more realistic way an activity “INDUSTRIES OF INDIA” was conducted in class-IV where in students were asked to select any state of India and the famous industry of that state. They shared the details of selected state’s industry in the class and presented their finding with various pictures, drawings and even things find in our homes made in various industries. They were able to relate to the topic and this activity boosted their conceptual understanding of industries.

“Rangoli enhances the beauty of the occasion.” Rangoli making is an integral part of Indian tradition and culture. Beautiful rangolis adorn the Indian houses specially during festivals. Therefore, to promote this traditional artform amongst our students, Shalom Hills International School organised a fascinating and alluring ‘Eco Friendly Rangoli Making’ activity on 11th November 2020 for the students of grade-V on the occasion of Diwali. In order to encourage the students and inculcate the traditions of the festival, they were asked to make a small design of rangoli in their homes by using waste materials that are easily available at home. The participants created innovative designs of Rangoli using waste material, grains, old CDs, earthen diyas, flower petals, leaves and sawdust apart from rangoli colours. The students drew and embellished different designs and patterns and exhibited their talent. By organising such an activity, students were introduced to the value of the culture and tradition of our country. At the same time skills of creativity and art innovation were also developed amidst the students through this activity. The students decorated their homes with these fascinating rangolis and shared their pictures with their respective class teachers. Over all it was a fun filled day for the students and teachers.

“All the lights of the world cannot be compared even to a ray of the inner light of the self. Merging yourself in this light enjoy the festival of lights”. The morning assembly was conducted by the grade VI students on the theme “Diwali- is to light up new and colourful dreams, fresh hopes and undiscovered ways that fill everyone’s days with love and care”, followed by Deepawali celebrations during which the students engaged themselves in various fun filled activities. Once again the young Shalomites were provided with the platform to show case their hidden talent, creativity and artistic skills through the activities. Children were seen engrossed in painting beautiful diyas, rangolis, making lanterns/cards, drawings/sketches & slogan writing on brotherhood. They wore traditional attire keeping alive the spirit of festivity. They also enthusiastically performed on any one personality of their choice from the Ramayana and spread the awareness of happiness, goodness and brotherhood. The festivities brought the feeling of thrill and joy around the corner and children wished their teachers and peers a safe Diwali with the hope to fight and overcome the pandemic situation with positivity.

‘The true method of knowledge is experiment.’ – William Blake Experimenting is indeed the most effective way of gaining knowledge. The students of grade V started learning about ‘Energy of Different Forms’ in the month of November. One energy that caught their attention was ‘light energy’. They were thrilled to know how certain objects give off their own light while some reflect light and yet others allow light to pass through them. On 11th November 2020 the students of grade V participated in the activity entitled ‘My Experiments with Light’ in which they demonstrated how light passes through some objects completely, partially and sometimes not at all. The students were divided into three groups ‘transparent, translucent and opaque objects’ respectively by their Science teachers. On the day of the activity, the students displayed examples of numerous objects which are transparent in nature and allow light to pass through them completely such as a food zip-pouch, glassware, spectacles a cellophane sheet etc. Translucent objects that allow light to pass them partially were also shown like butter paper, oiled paper, smoked glass, foggy windows and many more. Lastly opaque objects like book, door, wall etc. were displayed which do not allow light to pass through them at all. The activity was completed within the given time and the students enjoyed themselves guessing and watching a series of examples shown by their classmates.

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots; the other, wings. “Children are like buds in a garden and should be lovingly nurtured, as they are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow.” -Jawaharlal Nehru (first Prime Minister of Free India) As the day of celebration dawned the excitement of our young Shalomites also grew. This is their special day when the teachers ensure that they get some extra fun time among themselves. 14th November is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India. Called lovingly as Chacha Nehru by the children, his love for children is well known and hence his birthday is commemorated as Children’s day in India. The teachers of grade V wooed their children with a lot of fun activities. The teachers entertained the children by playing on the key board, singing songs, dancing etc. A collage was made with all the teachers wishing their superstars all the best on this Children’s Day. Fun games like tongue twisters, riddles, dumb charades, just a minute were organised along with showing a small clip on Jawaharlal Nehru’s childhood. The children enjoyed this special day cherishing the lovely moments and memories. The day was enjoyed equally by the children as well as the teachers.

“Shine like sparkles, glow like candles and burn all the negativity like crackles.” Diwali the festival of lights being just around the corner aroused the excitement among the young Shalomites. Online platform being the new norm paved a way for them to greet their near and dear ones. The students participated in an activity where they had to make E-greeting cards on the occasion of Diwali. The students participated with a lot of enthusiasm and showcased various ideas. Some used the online tools like ‘Scratch’, ‘MS Word’, ‘Padlets’ and even ‘Power Point Presentation’ and decorated their cards with images and GIFs, while some made paper greeting cards and presented pop art and numerous craft ideas. Various brightly coloured entries were received. The students were encouraged over a period of 3 days by their respective class teachers to participate and a folder was created on MS Teams for the students to share their entries. The children also wrote beautiful wishes inside the cards with neat calligraphies and further decorated them with images of ‘lanterns, diyas, stars’ and many more symbols associated with Diwali. E-certificates were given to all the students to encourage and thank them for their participation.

World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated every year on 10th November to highlight the important role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues. It also underlines the importance and relevance of science in our daily lives. It is celebrated to promote national and international solidarity for shared science between countries and also draw attention to the challenges faced by science in raising support for the scientific endevours. In simpler words it is science for and with the society. This was first coined by UNESCO, an United Nations organization. To make everyone aware and highlight the importance of this day, the middle wing students of classes I-V organized a special assembly with props and placards in their respective classes. In their various speeches they underlined the message of using science for peace and development for all human race and the world as a whole. Students emphasized the role of science for peaceful and sustainable societies. This year, at a time when the world is struggling with the global COVID-19 pandemic, the focus of the World Science Day is on Science for and with Society in dealing with the global pandemic. There was full and enthusiastic participation of the students in this special assembly. It was a great learning and awareness drive for all the students. It is rightly said that impressions in the young minds leave a deep impact. This was another small step in the process of education. The assembly concluded with the Shalom anthem.

The important events scheduled for 7th November were celebrated in the morning assembly on 6th November 2020. The students were made aware about three important days and events-Infant Protection Day, Cancer Awareness Day and the birth anniversary of Dr C. V. Raman. Infant Protection Day aims to spread awareness about the safety of infants and protecting their lives by taking proper care through personal hygiene and medical support system. It is important that we make students and people around us aware about the importance of the same as many new born face a lot of problems and even die due to infections. This day also coincides with the Birthday of C V Raman and the World Cancer Awareness day. Dr Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was an Indian physicist who made ground breaking works in the field of light scattering. With his student K. S. Krishnan, he discovered that when light traverses a transparent material, some of the deflected light changes wavelength and amplitude. National Cancer Day is an international day to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. Paying tribute to Sir C V Raman, a Special Assembly was conducted on 6th November by the students of Middle Wing. The themes of the assembly were ‘Infant Protection Day, Birthday of C V Raman and National Cancer Awareness Day’. It commenced with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the school’s vision and mission statement. A speech on ‘World Cancer Awareness day’ delivered by few students, spread awareness regarding preventive measures to be practiced against cancer through the PPT shown in the virtual class assembly. Few students held placards and raised slogans on Cancer Awareness like ‘Cancer is Curable’. There was full participation of the students in the assembly. Students spoke facts about C V Raman also. It was indeed a very informative day in which the main motive was to spread a message about the importance of Science used in the daily life of the people. The assembly concluded with the National anthem followed by Shalom anthem.

An art integrated activity, ‘Time Travel’ on simple tenses was conducted in grade 4 on 6th and 9th November 2020, with the aim to encourage children to learn through art. This was a post activity done after the completion of the grammar topic on Simple Tenses. The students were asked to select a verb of their choice. They had to then frame appropriate sentences in all the three tenses simple present, simple past and simple future using the same verb. They were also asked to make finger puppets or draw pictures related to their sentences. Students were encouraged to use their own creativity and imagination while doing the activity. All the children completed the activity with a lot of interest and enthusiasm. This activity helped to bring clarity on the use of simple tenses while framing sentences.

The London Zoo is World’s oldest scientific zoo. It opened in London on 27th April 1828 and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific studies. Managed by the zoological society of London, it has many attractions like the reptile house, insect house, public aquarium, butterfly paradise, children’s zoo, zoo school and much more. To make the students aware of this beautiful and amazing London zoo and to break the whole week of academic monotony, a virtual trip was conducted for the students of classes: I-II on 6th November, 2020. Students were excited to know about different animals like dolphins, gorillas, tigers, lions, camels, monkeys, giraffes, elephants, pandas, rhinos, different birds, insects and more such animals. Students were all prepared with their sunglasses, caps, hats, picnic snacks and juices to enjoy this virtual ride to the London zoo. They had a lot of fun during the virtual ride while learning important facts about these animals and the London zoo. The London zoo has a collection of approximately 673 species of animals and the best part of this zoo is that it also helps to conserve the wildlife in its naturalistic habitat. This trip was a great learning experience for both the students and the teachers alike and they enjoyed this online trip. Children are eagerly looking forward to more such fun filled experiences in Shalom school journey.

Activities enable students to think from different angles. Interactive and interesting activities can inspire Math in students to greater achievement. To introduce the concept of skip counting by 5, an activity “My Fiery Rocket of 5”, was conducted in class I where in the children were asked to take one rectangular and one triangular shape cut out. They were instructed to paste both the cut outs in the shape of a rocket. After this they wrote skip counting by 5 on this cut out of rocket as follows 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and then paste it in their notebooks. With help of this activity, concept of skip counting by 5 was made clear to them and they also correlated the cut out of rocket with the upcoming festival Diwali. Children made very beautiful Rockets. Children enjoyed the activity thoroughly and enhanced their logical and analytical skills.

A virtual trip to Qutub Minar was organised in all the sections of Grade III on 6th November 2020. Students were amazed to see the 73 metres tall minaret that forms a part of the Qutub Complex and has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site in Delhi. Students asked many questions as they learned about the history and architecture of this beautiful monument. They were also very fascinated to see the 23 metres high Iron Pillar, Alai Darwaza, Quwwat -ul-Islam Mosque and Tombs situated within the complex. Students were very enthusiastic about the trip and they thoroughly enjoyed it. They wore picnic attire with cap and sunglasses and even brought picnic food for the trip. The main purpose of this trip was to enhance their practical knowledge about the Art and History of Qutub Minar through a live virtual platform.

Apple of my mom’s Children of Class 1 participated in an amazing speaking skill activity in EVS to introduce the Lesson- ‘Good Habits and Safety’. In this activity children expressed their feelings and spoke about the good habits that they follow at home and outside, which makes them their Mom's favourite. They were very excited and ready with beautiful props. Everyone participated enthusiastically. The activity helped the students to introspect and made them aware about their good habits in addition to making them realize the need to follow the ones that they don’t in order to be a good and well-behaved person. This activity also brushed up their speaking skills and made them more confident in facing the audience.

The World Tsunami Awareness Day is dedicated to promoting a global culture of tsunami awareness around the world. Started by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2015, it is observed on 5th November every year. The term ‘Tsunami’ is a Japanese term which means “harbour wave”. A tsunami is a series of giant waves caused by earthquakes or undersea volcanic eruptions and underwater landslides. Tsunamis are among the most devastating natural disasters and know no coastal borders. To spread the awareness amongst the young leaders of tomorrow a Special Assembly on 5th November on ‘World Tsunami Awareness Day’ was conducted by the students of Middle Wing. It started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the school’s vision and mission statement. The PPT on ‘World Tsunami Awareness Day’ was explained to them to spread awareness in matters related to the dangers of tsunami and special emphasis was given on the importance of early warning systems in order to mitigate damage from this hazard. A speech was delivered on ‘World Tsunami Awareness day’ by few students. Few kids also spoke about the consequences of tsunami. The students also made an awareness plan to be followed during such crisis. It was a great learning and awareness drive for all the students of classes 1-5. The assembly concluded with the Shalom anthem.

Participation of Students in Ganga Utsav 2020, organized by NMCG, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Govt. of India – reg. Shalom Hills International School not only aspires to provide academic excellence to thestudents but is equally concerned about theirholistic development. To empowerthe students and enhance their practical knowledge, the school not only conducts workshopsand seminars in the school premises but also provides opportunities to the students to attenddifferent virtual programmes. Students of our school also registered for the event organized by“The National Mission for Clean Ganga” (NMCG) the annual ‘Ganga Utsav’ on November 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 2020 on a virtual platform. The Utsav had certain activities like storytelling, folklores, quizzes, display of traditional art forms, posters & music performance, along with dialogues with eminent personalities. Many students actively participated in the various activities and made the celebrationworthy and meaningful. The objective of the activity was: • To AWARE the presentgenerationto keep our environment clean. • To PROMOTE the spirit of national integration. • To SHOWCASE the rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions.

“Language plays an important role in all round development of a student. Appropriate words with correct spellings convey the right message.” Learning a language is the foremost step in the life of a child as it helps him/her to communicate with the world and a school plays a vital role to train the child in this direction. With this aim in mind, SHIS organized a ‘Spell Bee Activity’ for the students of classes-III to V on2nd November 2020. The objective of the activity was to enhance the spelling and literary skills of children by encouraging them to explore the English language, expand their vocabulary and improve their communication and comprehension skills. The school aimed at creating awareness of the possibilities of using varied words in oral and written expression and to add words to the active vocabulary of students. The activity was held to enable all the students to reconfirm and acknowledge for themselves their ability to spell commonly used day to day vocabulary, both in spoken and written English in the correct sequence. The students participated earnestly in the activity. It was a fun way to enrich the vocabulary bank of the students.

Every year Haryana day is celebrated on 1st November. This date marks the time in 1966 when the state was carved out of the existing state of East Punjab based on linguistic criteria. This day also coincides with the National Author’s Dayand the World Vegan Day. While, the formeris celebrated to appreciate the writers who help inspire us, World Vegan Day commemorates the 50th anniversary of the UK Vegan Society and the term ‘Vegan’. Created by Louise Wallis, a British animal rights activist and the chairperson of The Vegan Society, it aims to raise awareness about animal rights. The Special Assembly on 2nd November was conducted by the students’ of Middle Wing at Shalom Hills International School. The themes of the assembly were “Haryana Day, National Author’s day and World Vegan Day”. It started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the school’s vision and mission statement. To make the students aware about their state, a PPT was shown to them to enrich their knowledge about the state. The students beautifully presented the culture of Haryana. They were dressed up in Haryana costume. The atmosphere was filled with joy, making everyone proud for being a part of a state with a rich and a vibrant culture. Few students presented poems, speeches and quotations etc. for these special days. There was full participation of the students in the assembly. It was an effective assembly by the children to bring their creativity forward on this virtual platform. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem.

Halloween is a fun festival. The celebration of Halloween is associated with the idea of good fortune and also marks the victory of good over demonic spirits. It is celebrated on 31st October every year. To commemorate this festival, Craft activities were organized by the Art Teachers of the Primary wing. To make our students aware about Halloween, students of Classes 1 & 2 made paper fanfold pumpkin and studentsof Class 3-5 made 3D paper pumpkins. Their artisanship was quite fascinating and children thoroughly enjoyed this activity that tickled their creative side. Celebrating international festivals helps in fostering brotherhood and celebrating all kinds of festivals in the school shows the acceptance of cultural diversity. In order to celebrate Halloween, students of Classes I to III danced on Halloween songs which were followed by several amusing games including musical statue, silly faces, detective, rock paper scissors games. Kids enjoyed a lot during the party. Overall, it was great fun for the children.

‘Essay writing is a very sensitive form of self-expression. It is a harmonious blending of ‘thought’ and ‘expression’… dealing with a single subject.’ Our young graders of class-V participated in an essay writing activity that was held offline on the topic-Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on 31st October 2020. In accordance with our school’s policy of giving importance to all celebrations and festivities, this activity was done to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary. The students were well aware about this eminent personality and his part in the freedom struggle, and thereafter in the unification of India along with the Princely states. The essays poured in, it was astonishing to see the level of knowledge and research that the students had put in for this creative piece of writing. To make their work look more creative and festive, some students even decorated their work. The young Shalomites definitely gained more insight into the character and the persuasive abilities of this Iron Man of India. The purpose of the activity was to encourage the students to enhance their thinking and writing skills. The essays were well written by the students.

To pay homage to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was celebrated. This day is celebrated to give respect to the Iron Man of India and to take a pledge to strive relentlessly towards a strong and united India that Sardar Patel had dreamt of. Students of class IV took part in the ‘Slogan Writing Competition’ on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. The activity was conducted offline. Students were asked to write a slogan on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and submit the same to their respective class teachers. The theme for writing the slogan and the role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel towards making India a strong and united country was discussed in detail in the class. Students showed lot of enthusiasm and submitted beautiful and meaningful slogans on the given topic. Students expressed their thoughts towards Rashtriya Ekta Diwas very creatively while depicting their feeling through their drawing and slogans. Students were able to understand the importance of being united which was evident in their work.

“Every citizen of India must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right in this country but with certain duties.” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Every year, on 31st October, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Celebration of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas took place online on 31st October 2020. The students of grades -IV and V took part in the Pledge (Oath)taking ceremony which was a part of the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations for all the students. The pledge was shared with all the students. The students had to make a video of themselves while reading the oath/pledge and mail it to their respective class teachers by 31st October. All the students participated with a lot of enthusiasm. They could be seen proudly taking the oath. The oath was a reminder to the students of their duties and responsibilities towards the nation. The students promised and took a resolve to make their own contributions to ensure internal security of the country. All the children promised to dedicate themselves to the unity, integrity and security of the nation while taking the pledge.

A story narration activity based on the lesson, ‘Tansen’ was conducted for the students of Class VI on October 29, 2020. The activity was focused on research work, to know about our history and work together as a team. As part of the activity students had to virtually present a story of Akbar and Birbal before the class. The students were divided into different teams and each team was given the liberty to choose any story of Akbar and Birbal. The students discussed about the story they had chosen and distributed the role among themselves. Students used innovative ways to share the story and the moral before the class. They used PowerPoint presentations, props, pictures, placards, puppets to present their stories in interesting ways. Every team shared the stories coordinating with the team members, with proper dialogue delivery and feel. All the students were full of excitement and displayed their zeal in participating in the virtual team activity, enjoying it thoroughly.

Experiential learning brings together observation, creativity and active interactions. It allows children to see purpose and to enjoy their learning experience.To enhance their learning and to help them apply this learning in their daily lives, an online activity was conducted on 29th October 2020. The world we live in, is never still. Force makes all the motion or movement possible. Force is a push or pull that acts on an object.Children learnt different types of Forces – Gravitational Force, Frictional Force, Magnetic Force, Electrostatic Force and Buoyant Force. The students were divided into 2 groups based on their roll number, where the first group children individually demonstrated the activity without speaking. The second group children guessed the correct type of force. They were given a time limit to observe the demonstration. The children enthusiastically participated and were very excited and energetic during the activity. Some of them demonstrated electrostatic force by bringing charged scale near the uncharged bits of paper, some showed gravitational force by throwing up the ball, others presented frictional force by slidinga toy car over the smooth and the rough surfaces,while some demonstrated buoyant force by placing paper boat in a container filled with water. It was a perfect opportunity for the children to enhance their observation skills and gain confidence through virtual stage exposure.The mission of this activity was to train young minds and to disseminate scientific knowledge.

“Every citizen of India must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right in this country but with certain duties.” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel On account of National Unity Day which is celebrated every year on 31st October, and for creating greater awareness on vigilance in public life, students of X-XII along with the teachers took the Integrity Pledge during morning assembly. The aim to take the pledge was to make them understand that every citizen should be vigilant and commit to highest standards of honesty and integrity at all times and support the fight against corruption. It is also believed that all stakeholders including government, citizens and private sector need to work together to eradicate corruption. The pledge therefore encourages every student that they should lead honest life neither take or offer bribe while chasing the goals of their life. They should perform all tasks in an honest and transparent manner, should always acts in public interest, should be an example to others on exhibiting integrity in personal behaviour. They should also report incident of corruption to the appropriate agency. The assembly concluded with the overwhelming gesture and gratitude towards the county.

An activity related to L-8 was conducted online for all the sections of grade IV. This role play activity aimed to enhance the understanding of the students and encourage them to speak and improve their fluency in the English language. The students had been asked to enact their favourite character from the lesson. They had to make props of the characters and could even dress up like them. The students presented the characters based on their understanding of the story. All the students were well prepared for the activity. They enacted the various characters of Leela, Sridhar, Keshav, the dwarves and the captain with complete confidence. A few students had also made face masks and small puppets as their props. This activity enhanced the spoken English abilities of the children as well as increased their understanding of the different characters in the lesson.

A whole new world A new fantastic point of view…. Evolving is a natural phenomenon and the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their creativity. Students of Grade VII took part in a transforming activity of creating a whole new world with modified creatures. This activity was based in reference to the literature chapter ‘Golu Grows a Nose’ wherein the elephant had a small bulgy nose and grew a long trunk. With no limits to their thoughts, they created some amazing creatures and also named them. The major objective of the activity was to kindle originality widening their horizons and also understand the key to fictional characters. The students enjoyed and came out with great modifications.

Science is a fascinating subject which is omnipresent in the world we live in.The subject becomes interesting for a child when he/she is taught in an interactive manner and they related to their surroundings. An activity was held to stimulate student’s knowledge of Animals living in temperate zone and their way of adaptation.Students were asked to do research and gather information on the various animals found in the temperate zone. Young minds enthusiastically engaged in gathering various facts and information on animals like Bison, antelope, birds, gophers, prairie dogs, coyotes etc. Young learners explained the after effects of enormous human activities resulting in these animals becoming endangered and also some of the speciesreaching the verge of extinction.The research work done was presented in the form of a report, which they creatively presented and shared with their classmates virtually. They were able to determine that the specificbehavior and body structure help in the survival of animals. They also evaluated living and nonliving things that affect animals in this environment. They considered this activity on animals to be an amazing experience to discover the truth of scientific facts all by themselves. Conducting these explorations nurtures intellectual curiosity, helping children acquire new ways of asking questions and understanding the world.

“Travelling- It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” Life during this pandemic means a halt on travel. However, a virtual trip to a historical monument can spark intense student interest as well as nurture thinking skills. We all know trips and tours are important for new learning , social interaction and exposure. So, to eradicate boredom and enhance knowledge while comfortably sitting at home, a virtual excursion to one of the seven wonders of the world, The Taj Mahal, was organised for grade V students on 28th October 2020. This virtual visit allowed the students to have a 360 degree view of the world famous historical monument by simply clicking and moving the cursor. The Taj Mahal is considered to be the greatest architectural achievement in the whole range of Indo-Islamic architecture. Its recognised architectonic beauty has a rhythmic combination of solids and voids, concave and convex and light shadow. The colour combination of lush green scape reddish pathway and blue sky over it showcases the monument in ever changing tints and moods. The relief work in marble and inlay with precious and semi precious stones make it a monument apart. This virtual trip added a great deal to the students’ knowledge of its historical background and acquainted them better with the rich heritage of India. The visit to an immense mausoleum of white marble was truly rewarding. Students had loads of fun and enjoyed every bit of their tour to the finest example of Mughal architecture.

Children adore animals and learning about our furred, feathered and finned friends is a huge part of their education. Learning should always be interesting, engaging, stimulating, educational, and not to forget, FUN. It was not possible to visit outside during this pandemic situation to make the students understand better about their current topic- Animals, so an e-visit to a zoo was planned for Grade IV. It was also important to refresh the students, stimulate their curiosity and motivate them again after their Half-Yearly exams. It was a great virtual educational tour as students could explore the fascinating creatures cuddling and wrestling each other. They could see variety of aquatic, arboreal and terrestrial animals. Students observed the habitat and habits of different animals and enhanced their knowledge. They were amazed to see the world filled with lovely creatures It was an incredibleinformal learning experience that got students out into the world and enhanced their learning.

Keeping in view the auspicious occasion of Navrattri and Vijayadashmi, a skit based on one of the greatest epics of India ‘The Ramayana’ was conducted in class-1 on 22nd October2020. The Ramayana serves as a cornerstone to Indian culture, language, history, and leadership. In the Ramayana skit, all the students got the opportunity to enact a simplified version of the play. Role play stimulates their imagination and enhances their social development. Dressed up in beautiful attires and using different props to enhance their enactment,all the studentsplayed the roles of different characters of the Ramayana. The confident enactments and dialoguesdelivered with a lot of vigour and zeal, amzed the audience and took them on a journey to ancient India. The objective behind this activity was to experience interdisciplinary education, multiculturalism, and leadership with a prominent piece of literature. Through the enactment of the play, the children learnt about the life journey of Lord Rama. It allowed children to explore, investigate and experiment. The Epic Ramayana skit sparked creativity and imagination in these young minds. The successful enactment of the play helped children to develop their communication and language skills. It also conveyed the most powerful message: ‘GOOD ALWAYS TRIUMPS OVER EVIL’.

Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: It is about understanding. Reading information as a way of learning does have its uses. But reading information and then taking a quiz is much more effective. Quizzes activate the brain to retrieve data and ensure that it becomes 'embedded' for use in the future. Quiz activity helps the students to assess the mathematical skills, proficiency, and aptitude of the students. It also promotes many good qualities like problem-solving skills, time management, patience, etc. As a surprise activity, an online quiz was conducted in an interactive manner for students of class V on October 22nd, 2020. The intelligent minds answered the questions with enthusiasm, wisdom, and confidence. Their involvement was remarkable. All the students actively participated in the Quiz. Students thoroughly enjoyed the fun-filled learning activity and spent their day with experiential learning. Thus, this simple activity was a recap of the topic taken up in the class.

The students of Shalom Hills International School Classes I to V had come together virtually to celebrate Dussehra by dancing to the beats of Dandiya and Garba songs on 21st October 2020. Garba or Dandiyaoriginally performed in Gujarat, have now become very popular across the country. The lively and colorful dance forms’ popularity is such that Garba festivals are organized in almost every corner of the country today to grace the occasion of Navratri. The delightful sight of traditionally attired, energetic light-footed children swirling in graceful rhythmic Garba and enthusiastically playing Dandiya filled all hearts with festive spirit andjoyous celebrations amidst the lockdown bound online classes. With the medium of this event children learnt that the Navratri not only symbolizes the victory of good over evil (Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasur) but also celebrates the spirit of Indian culture in its togetherness. Devotees, not only celebrate the festival by offering prayers to the Goddess but also wear traditional and colorful dresses, sing folk songs and indulge in other fun activities like- playing Garba and Dandiya.

A tambola activity on division concepts was conducted for class III students on 21st October 2020 during the virtual classes. Students were asked to arrange a leaf of old calendar and markers/colours. The activity was divided into three rounds with 5 questions in each round. Questions were put to students one by one, and the students marked the answers in the calendar leaf. The activity helped the students to recapitulate words like divisor, dividend, quotient and concepts of dividing by 1, 10 etc. with this activity. All the students participated enthusiastically.

Activities enable students to think from different angles. Interactive and interesting activities can inspire Math in students to greater achievement. To introduce the concept of skip counting by 4, an activity,“Four For You”,was conducted in all the sections of class I.Children were asked to take A4 size coloured sheets and make cut-outs of letter “L” and “I” out of it. After this they were asked to join and paste both the letters in a way that they make number 4 from it.They were then instructed to writeskip counting by 4on the cut out as follows 4,8,12,16,20,24,28,32,36,40. With the help of this activity, the concept of skip counting by 4 was made clear to them. Children made very beautiful cut outs of number 4. They enjoyed the activity thoroughly and enhanced their logical and analytical skills.

“Cooking is like painting or writing a song. Just as there are only so many notes or colors, there are only so many flavors — it’s how you combine them that sets you apart.” — Wolfgang Cooking is an art that most of the people took a liking to or rather mastered it during the lockdown of 2020. So did our young Shalomites and therefore this unique offline activity gave them a platform to show their culinary skills. The theme was not just cooking without fire but cooking and creating a sweet dish for the upcoming festive season. The announcement and guidelines were made in the classes a week prior by the respective class teachers creating a wave of excitement among the students. On the day of the activity, numerous entries were received via email, whatsapp and on MS Teams. The students certainly did put their heart and soul into preparing the dish as well as plating it. A variety of ingredients were used from condensed milk to raw milk, cocoa powder to baking powder and vanilla extracts to orange zests to prepare various dishes like mug cakes, cupcakes, mousses, custards, Indian desserts like laddoos and barfis etc. Overall the students enjoyed it enormously and felt more confident having achieved a step towards the cooking segment through this activity.

At ShalomDussehrawas celebrated from the 19th to 22nd October 2020 during the virtual online classes.The theme and message throughout the week for all the activities being the ‘The triumph of good over evil’. An activity of puppet show based on Ramayana was held in all sections of class -1 on 20th October 2020. The Puppet show was organised by teachers wherein an episode of Epic Ramayana was depicted with the help of puppets of different characters (Ram ji,Lakshman ji, Sita ji, Hanuman ji, Ravana and a deer) with the entire backdrop and scenery of that episode.Mostly in sections the scene of abduction of Sita ji was shown to the children using the puppets. Children were very happy and excited to see the puppet show and enjoyed the activity thoroughly.Through this puppet show the students were made aware about our ancient and great cultural background and the different episodes from the epic of Ramayana.This also connected them with our rich eventful past.

Role play exercises give students the opportunity to assume the role of a person or act out a given situation. These roles can be performed by individual students, in pairs, or in groups which can play out a more complex scenario. Class II students participated in the Role play activity on “Any character from Ramayana”. The students took part in the activity with great eagerness and interest. Dressed in their chosen character from the epic, they were able to speak their lines and play their role confidently. This activity helped them to develop communication skills, leadership, team work and also gave them the opportunity to show their creativity.

“Story telling is the oldest form of education, the most powerful way to put ideas into the world.” We are as a species, addicted to stories. Even when the body goes to sleep, the mind stays up all night, telling itself stories. The young storytellers of grade V put their magic to work and wove stories enthralling their readers, for a story weaving activity as a post-activity on the topic Adverbs. The stories had drama, fear, fantasy, fun, laughter and happiness. Their imagination knew no bounds. Most of them were super-heroes, righting the wrongs of the world. Some were tinged with humour and fun. A few had a sad note or two. The young scholars decorated their stories with scenes from their story-drawings as well, colouring them brightly too. This activity was enjoyed by the children and the usage of adverbs learnt was wholesome.

"All of us do not have equal talent. But, all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents." As a mark of respect to the former President and missile man of India APJ Abdul Kalam’s birth anniversary was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Shalom Hills International School on 15th October2020. The students of classes-I to V actively participated in the class room discussion about his life and famous works. An interesting and very informative video based on Dr. Kalam’s life was shown to describeand showcase not only his life history but also his achievements in the betterment of the nation and also the most popular Ten Commandments. Based on the video, an interactive quiz session was also conducted to apprise the students about his great achievements and to describe how he played a pivotal organisational, technical, and political role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998. The class teachers motivated their students to take inspiration from Kalam’s life and also inspired them to progress in their lives. The teachers also encouraged the students to work hard to make the nation proud.

“Vision begins with the eyes, but it truly takes place in the brain.” The young learners of grade- V came well prepared for their Talk Show activity on the topic ‘Dreams’ on 14th October2020. The event showcased talented and confident speakers at their best who delivered their thoughts confidently. The children were in high zest and zeal. The young scholars rose the bar extremely high for the speaking activity, wherein, each participant could feel their pulse roaring as everyone was well prepared, spoke confidently with expressions and excellent diction.Speaking with full enthusiasm the participants shared their dreams and also discussed the different hurdles faced by them in pursuing their dreams.The students of Class-V delivered their speeches for about one minute each and provided a really thought-provoking session for their peers. Everyone was so immersed in the engrossing speeches that it was really tough to guess what was coming next. The dynamic participants presented their views on the relevance of pursuing and achieving the dreams, within the given time limit.

Solubility is the ability of a substance to dissolve into a liquid. The substance that dissolves in another substance is called a solute whereas the substance in whichsolute dissolves is called a solvent. When solute gets dissolved in a solvent, it makes a solution. Concepts in science cannot be understood unless performed. Hence, an activity was conducted by the students of Grade IV to check the solubility of different substances intheir surroundings. Different solutes were gathered by children like salt, sugar, tea leaves, oil, sand etc. They were added in different glasses of water (solvent) to check thesolubility of different solutes.Children performed the activity patiently and noted their observation carefully. They observed that few substances get dissolved in water like salt and sugar, whereas other substances like mud and oil do not get dissolved in water. The solutes which got completely dissolved in water are soluble substances and made solution like saline water solution and sugar solution. Conducting activity is an effective way to understand the solubility of different substances used in our daily life.It was concluded with the quick recap of the definition of solubility, solute, solvent and solution. The activity was based on the concept of “learning by doing” and proved helpful to develop scientific skills.

The importance of minerals in our everyday lives can be recognized all around us. From eating nutrient-rich foods to powering smartphones with copper, almost everything we use is a mineral resource. In fact, we use or consume more than 25 minerals daily. Mined minerals are an important part of human nutrition. Iron, manganese, selenium, and calcium all provide day-to-day nutrients that the body needs in order to function. Foods that are full of micronutrients (or vitamins and minerals) can help strengthen cells, fight against harmful viruses, and boost the immune system. To make students aware of the importance and usage of minerals in our daily lives - concluding activity of L-10 ‘Minerals’ was conducted in the class IV. In this activity students were asked to find any five minerals that we use in our daily life and at least two additional uses of the same mineral. The main aim behind this activity was to make students more observant about their surroundings, about the things we use every day and the processes these things go through before coming to our hands as final products. Students enjoyed doing this interactive activity and presented their findings in front of their peers in the virtual classroom. They were able to relate to the topic and understand the concept in a realistic way.

A multiple is the product of any quantity and an integer. If you want to get the multiples of any number then that number is multiplied with 1, 2, 3 ….so on. Children of grade IV are expected to recognise multiples of 5, 6 & 10. Math activity ‘Multiples of My Name’ was conducted in all the sections of class IV on 9th October 2020. The children were explained about the rules of the activity. A grid consisting of 5 rows and 10 columns was given to the students with counting 1 to 50 written on it. Then they were asked to write their name in the whole grid one after another and to colour all the numbers where the last alphabet of their name comes. By doing so they got a pattern of different tables. For example, if ‘Seema’ has 5 alphabets in her name she will get the pattern of table of 5. The activity, conducted in a disciplined manner, helped the children to reinforce the concept of ‘Multiples’ and enhance their mental ability. Children were asked to paste their passport size photograph and write the multiples in front of their picture. The children actively participated and enjoyed the activity.

The Ministry of Education, Govt. of India,initiated ‘MANODARPAN’ involving a wide range of activities to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for Mental Health and Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond.To aware children about mental health, Shalom Hills International School, with its enriched ethos of giving each child the support of social & emotional well-being, conducted various activities on 8th& 9th October. The senior counsellor had an interactive & informative session with grades VI-VIII on importance of mental well-being. They were shown videos on ‘What is Mental Health’ and on‘Positive Self Talk’ followed with discussion on how they can stay positive while overcoming challenges faced during the pandemic by adopting the new normal. The young Shalomites were also helped to understand that help seeking behaviour is essential in overcoming stress, conflict resolution, replacing negative thoughts by positive ones and one should not take it as a stigma associated with the word ‘Mental’. Reflecting and sharing their ideasthey showed curiosity to explore and learn more about the various causes & treatment of mental illness like depression and anxiety. With the help of English and Hindi department grade IX-XII showed their amazing creativity towards activities on ‘Slogan Writing’ and ‘Poster Making’. Observing the children putting their emotions and experiences creatively on paper, one can realize what these adolescents go through in dealing with every adversity that knock their doors. Through the activities they spread awareness that ‘it is okay to be not okay’ and that mental health should be given the same priority as given to physical health.

An English activity on the theme “Kindness towards Animals,” was conducted in all sections of grade 4 on 7th and 8th October2020. The activity was conducted on two days so as to give every child a chance to speak a few lines on the given topic. This activity was related to the lesson ‘Black Beauty’ which gives the important message to be kind and caring towards animals. The Pet Awareness day activity helped the students learn about the different kinds of pets people keep and the need to look after them well. All the students were required to make drawings or paste pictures of domestic and pet animals on an A4 or A3 size sheet. They also had to think of appropriate sentences and slogans which they could write on the sheet. The students showed a lot of interest in completing the activity. Many of them made beautiful illustrations of animals. A few students also made props. This activity helped the students practice their speaking and linguistic skills. They also learnt to be sensitive towards animals and understood the importance of letting animals be free instead of putting them in cages.

Activities enable students to think from different angles. Interactive and interesting activities can inspire a liking for Math in students and help achieve greater understanding. To recap the topic on Shapes, a ‘Skit Activity’ was conducted by class 2 students.In the activityall students one by one spoke about different shapes with props. The students were very excited and spoke very confidently with nice expressions. With the help of this activity the concept of all types of 2-D and 3-D shapeswas made clearto all the students. Children thoroughly enjoyed the activity and enhanced their logical and analytical skills as well.

Activities enable students to think from different angles. Interactive and interesting activities can inspire Math in students to greater achievement. To introduce the concept of skip counting, an activity, “Skippy Caterpillar”,was conducted in class I. Children were asked to take A4 size sheet and draw the face of a caterpillar. After this, with the help of a small bangle or bottle cap, children made 10 more circles to complete the structure of a caterpillar. They were then instructed to colour it green and write skip counting by 3 in the circles made as follows- 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30. With the help of this activity the concept of skip counting by 3 was made clear. Children made very beautiful caterpillars and coloured them brightly. Children enjoyed the activity thoroughly and enhanced their logical and analytical skills.

The students of grade Vfinished learning about the nervous system and its function by the end of September. As a quick recap,a hands-on activity was conductedon 5th October2020. The students had learnt that the nervous system and its parts are the control center of our human body. The brain, spinal cord and the nerves work in coordination with each other.The students experienced themselves how the muscles moved in coordination with the commands received from the brain during the activity itself. In the activity the students drew the outline of the human body on A4 sheets and then with the help of a thread and needle, the presence of the brain, spinal cord and nerves was demonstrated.Generally, the students get confused between the spinal cord and backbone as well as the nerves and blood vessels, thus this activity helped to clarify their doubts and also get a command over the location and function of the various parts of the nervous system. The students enjoyed the activity as it required them to be focused and meticulous in their work. The activity was completed in the given time under the supervision of their respective science teachers.

The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (Gandhi Jayanti) is celebrated on October 2nd as a national event across India. This day is observed across the entire world as the International Day of Non-violence. His ideals were satya (truth) and ahimsa (non violence). Through his philosophy of truth and non-violence, he tirelessly and selflessly,paved the way for India’s Independence, andto be addressed as the Father of the Nation. Mahatma Gandhi through his profound vision inspired people across the world to raise their voice against any kind of discrimination – be it on the basis of caste, color, religion, to name a few. Mahatma Gandhi’s profound quote, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,”aptly sums up his significant selfless contribution for India. In observance with the spirit of Gandhi Jayanti, the students of Class Xparticipated in various activities to highlight the ethos of Gandhiji’s life. The Special Assembly had a very different fervor compared to the normal morning assembly withspecial efforts put in by a team of students to conduct it on the virtual platform. The activities involved sketches, PowerPoint presentations, quote highlighting, poster making and 1-2 min. verbal presentation. The presentation of the whole concept with a twist from the normal information was done in a very appealing way.

“An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.”-Mahatma Gandhi A special assembly was conducted in all the sections of grade 7 to mark the celebration of the 150thbirth anniversary of the father of the Nation- Mahatma Gandhi. The highlight of the assembly were the anecdotes from Gandhiji’s life and an activity- ‘Caricature of Mahatma Gandhi’, in which the students showcased their artistic talent and payed homage to ‘Bapu’. They also dressed up like the noble figure and spokebriefly about his ideologies and philosophy. The students gainedawareness about the acute hardships faced by our forefathers during the struggle for Indian Independence. They got an insight into the life and times of Gandhiji and were encouraged to follow the path of truth and non- violence. The assembly included the shloka, thought for the day etc. and was concluded with the school and the national anthem.

Mahatma Gandhi or lovingly known as Bapu by all Indians, is internationally acknowledged for his doctrine of non-violence that led India to its glorious freedom. 2nd October every year is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti as the story of his life has impacted humanity to its core. To revere this day, an activity was conducted forthe Students of class IX to commemorate the Mahatma’s life and teachings on October 1, 2020. The Students talked about ethos of Gandhiji's life with full exuberance.They showed the PPT of Gandhian quotes and messages to understand more about this iconic leader. All our Students were imbued with Gandhian values and thoughts and vowed to became responsible citizens of India and the World. The students imbibed important life skills like Love for nation, truthfulness, forgiveness, non-violence among others.

As part of the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of the father of the Nation- Mahatma Gandhi,a Poster Designing activity was conducted across all the sections of Standard VIIIon 1st October 2020. The online classes, in no way, were a deterrent to the activity of Poster – making depicting the ideologies of Gandhiji and his philosophy of human life. The occasion was made all the more special as the children participated wholeheartedly harnessing their creative and critical thinking skills. They were given ample opportunity to showcase their talent and proudly present the art forms they had so lovingly created. It was a fun-filled day of learning and enriching experience for both the staff and the pupils.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”- Mahatma Gandhi Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated in all sections of grade 4 on 1st October 2020. This was to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The students had been shown videos, documentaries and ppts related to the life of Gandhiji during the week-long celebrations. On 1st October the students presented a special assembly online. They were prepared with speeches, songs and poems. A few students sang Gandhiji’s favourite song “Raghupati, Raghav, Raja, Ram….”. Many students spoke a few lines highlighting the important events in the life of Gandhiji. Some students also dressed up like Gandhiji and enacted small incidents from his life. The students also made posters on Gandhiji and wrote his famous quotes in them. They were made aware about the important points of Gandhian philosophy and his quotes. Gandhiji’s teachings of non-violence, peace, harmony honesty and equality for all inspired the children and taught them valuable lessons of life. The week-long celebrations culminated with the students taking a pledge to follow Gandhiji’s teachings and to keep their surroundings clean.

To celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, an essay writing competition was held for the students of grades XI & XII. The day commenced with a discussion about the political, social and humanitarian principles of Gandhiji. The children talked about his Satyagraha and Non-cooperation movements, and expressed their opinions about the same. Post the discussion, the children set about writing an essay on the topic- “Gandhian Philosophy about Life”. The views expressed by them displayed their information and knowledge about Gandhiji and his life philosophy. The activity motivated the children to research and find out more information about India’s freedom struggle and Gandhiji’s contribution in attaining it.

A jingle is a short song or tune used to rhyme in a catchy repetitious manner and today it was used by grade V students to enhance the awareness on Swachh Bharat. 2nd October, Gandhi Jayanti is also celebrated as Swachh Bharat Day in our country. This week has been dedicated as Swachh Bharat week and our school, under the auspicious aegis of our chairperson Dr. (Mrs.) Lilly George, is doing its bit to make our young Shalomites aware and responsible citizens. Today grade v students made some beautifully worded and meaningful jingles to bring a fun element along with serious responsibility towards the betterment of society and the nation as a whole. Simple words with profound meaning was the order for today’s activity. A couple of examples: Gandhi ne diya sandesh, Swachh rakho Bharat Desh, Swachh Bharat-swasth Bharat The students were very excited to do this activity and showcased their creativity along with different tunes. Some of our innovative youngsters made music by snapping their fingers and also using utensils from their mother’s kitchen. It was a lively, interesting, innovative and educative time for the children.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”-Mahatma Gandhi To celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi an online quiz on the life of Gandhiji was conducted on 30th September in all sections of grade IV. A PPT, a documentary and an animated video on the life and times of Gandhiji had already been shown to the students prior to the activity. The students were divided into different teams for the three rounds of the Quiz. The students answered most of the questions asked correctly. This quiz helped the children understand the major role played by Gandhi in India’s Independence movement. He proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of total non-violence. His ideologies of Satyagraha and non-violence have been guiding the entire world till now. The quiz was very informative and an important tool in the learning process of the students. Apart from the online activity students also took part in offline activities like cleaning their house and study area. They made small videos as well as took photographs of themselves doing these activities and shared it with their teachers.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” A very apt quote said and practiced by our ‘Father of the Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi. On 2ndOctober, India celebrates Gandhi Jayanti, birthday of the great leader who gave the world the invincible weapons of Truth, Non-violence and Compassion. A Special Assembly was conducted by Class 3 to commemorate Gandhi Jayanti. Students were informed two days prior about the activities. A few students sang the melodious song ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’ and simultaneously a beautiful sketch of Gandhiji was shown by other students in the virtual classroom. ‘Gandhigiri’, which expresses the tenets of Gandhism was enacted in a humorous manner through ‘Munna Bhai ‘and‘Circuit.’ The virtual classroom resonated with the slogans, ‘Do or Die’, ‘Angrezon Bharat Chodo’, ‘Karo Ya Maro’ used by Gandhi Ji and other freedom fighters during those times. Students gavinga special speech with Gandhian quotes and messages brought the gathering to understand more about this iconic leader. The students watched each performance with rapt attention and felt like they were also part of Gandhiji’s life.

In continuation of the on-going celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Father of our nation and our beloved Bapu,Mahatma Gandhi, students of class IV participated in online various activities. On 29.9.20 students were shown a documentary on Mahatma Gandhi. The documentary was shown to students with the aim of making students aware about the life of Mahatma Gandhi ji from the time of his birth in Porbandar in 1869 till his death in 1948. The documentary consisted of details about Mahatma Gandhi’s childhood, his education, his struggles while working in South Africa, and about following non-violence for freedom of India. The documentary gave detailed information about various movements led by Mahatma Gandhi ji during his freedom struggle like, Salt Satyagraha, Dandi March, Quit India movement and his work on removing discrimination and inequality from the society. Students were made aware of the principles of truth, peace, non-violence that speaks about Gandhi Ji’s values and deeds for making our country an incredible one. Activity of Home Cleanliness was also done offline. Through this activity students were encouraged to clean their homes for their well-being and take a pledge to keep their surroundings clean and contribute towards making our country clean. Students enthusiastically participated in the activity and shared their pictures with their teachers. Videos and pictures of their clean surroundings and posters were enthusiastically shared by all of them. The aim of the activity was to make students aware of how cleanliness leads to positivity for our well-being.

“Art is not imitation and it can’t be taught to anyone. It is an expression of who you are.” Making posters is an exciting opportunity for students to engage in discussion, to come up with a subject matter, negotiate the various ways in which to depict the ideas, and, most importantly, be creative. On 29th September 2020, a Poster Making Activity was organized for the students of gradeV on the topic- “Swachh Bharat”. Our budding artistsparticipated with immense zeal and enthusiasm and made very beautiful posters which gave the message to build a clean, hygienic and healthy India. It was a great opportunity to watch these young minds trying to depict their ideas on Swacch Bharat on paper. In addition to this a documentary video on Gandhiji (Life and freedom movements) was shown in the virtual class. The main idea behind conducting this activity was to enhance the critical thinking and connective learning amongst children. Students considered this opportunity to be an amazing experience to discover art integration all by themselves.It was about encouraging, nurturing and showcasing every child's natural creative flair. Through this activity students learnt to explore the extent of their imagination and express themselves without any fear.

A Social studies activity was conducted of lesson 5 - ‘India Physical’, in all the sections ofclass 3. The students were instructedin advance to gather information and speaka few lines about any one of the six landforms i.e. Northern Mountains, Northern Plains, desert, islands, Deccan Plateau and coastal regions. They were told to prepareprops related to it. It was a knowledgeable activity as all the students shared the information related to their chosen landform. The activity helped them in learning about the different Physical features of India and gave them confidence to speak in front of their class-mates.

An intellectual activity related to Money was conducted in gradeIV. Money is an interesting topic as it is easily related to the daily life and involves the basic operations of Mathematics. Students were given a list of shopping items. They were asked to make the bill of the given items in the proper format as they had already solved the questions of bill making. They mentioned the required details on the bill. They wrote the items bought, their specific quantities, their rate and the final amount of each item. They added the amounts of all the items and gave the final amount as grand total. In this activity, students recapitulated the concepts of addition and multiplication. Students enjoyed this activity thoroughly as they could relate it with their practical experiences. This activity strengthened their interpersonal and logical skills as well as presentation skills.

“One Individual may die for an idea, But that idea will,after his death, Incarnate itself in a thousand lives” - Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose The current pandemic is a challenge but it did not dampen the spirit of the young Shalomitesto express their love towards their beloved country. A slogan writing activity was organized on 28 and 29 September, 2020 forthe students of class V. They participated with alacrity and enthusiasm unveiling their feelings of love and patriotism towards their motherland. The young learners displayed their artistic skills through an array of beautiful posters displaying the famous slogans of various great leaders. The students displayed their creativityto remember the selfless acts of various freedom fighters who fought for our country and contributed in making India, one of the largest democracies in the world. This activity not only helped in enhancing the personality of the students but also refined their creative, social and fine motor skills.The activity was indeed a tribute to our national leaders who sacrificed their lives to save their motherland.It was a fun -filled activity conducted on the digital platform which was enjoyed by one and all present in the virtual environment.

To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,students of class IV participated in various activities on 28th September 2020. Students were first shown a power point presentation on Mahatma Gandhi. Through this presentation students were made aware about the childhood, education, struggles and contribution of Mahatma Gandhi Ji towards independence of our country. Students were encouraged to understand the importance of non-violence for handling difficult situations in life. Contribution of Mahatma Gandhi in the freedom struggle was discussed in detail like Swadeshi Andolan, Dandi March, Satyagraha, non-violence etc. Presentation was explained in detail and students were encouraged to ask questions related to it. They were very impressed to know about how Gandhi ji worked towards women empowerment and importance of treating everyone as equal irrespective of their colour and caste. Students were asked to clean their surroundings and take a pledge on cleanliness, keeping in mind the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. This was done offline and videos and pictures of their clean surroundings and posters were enthusiastically shared by all of them. The aim of the activity was to make students aware of how cleanliness leads to positivity for our well-being.

Teaching students to understand Adjectives doesn’t have to be dull. In order to achieve this objective, an activity named Pictionary was conducted for the students of class 1 on 24-09-2020. Pictionary, as the name suggests is a guessing game in which players attempt to identify words from pictures drawn by other players. In the virtual scenario, the students were shown different pictures and were asked to describe the picture in one or two sentences using different adjectives. They were given a certain time limit to observe the picture and describe it using different Adjectives. The students used different Adjectives such as adjective of colour, adjective of number, adjective of size etc. to give more information about the nouns. The children enthusiastically participated and were very excited and energetic during the activity. It was a perfect opportunity for the children to enhance their observation skills and gain confidence through virtual stage exposure. The children thoroughly enjoyed this fun-filled activity. It proved to be very useful and helped the children learn several describing words in a creative way.

The students of grade IV participated in a Poster Making subject enrichment activity on “Conservation of Forest and Wildlife” on 24th and 25th of September 2020. The activity was intended to sensitive the students towards the depleting forest resources and wildlife. The main aim of the activity was to teach children about the importance of keeping the flora and fauna alive on Earth. We depend on forests for our survival, keeping this in mind the students individually prepared beautiful posters in the comfort of their homes and shared the same with the teachers. Students enthusiastically submitted their beautiful posters, with powerful slogans and drawings, delivering the message of conservation of wildlife and forests. This activity brought out the creativity and imagination of the children and made them aware about the steps required to save our Earth. The logical, Spatial, Interpersonal, kinesthetic and linguistic skills of the children were enhanced with this activity. Students thoroughly enjoyed drawing and presenting their work. Overall, it was a fun-filled learning and informative session for the children.

With the purpose of enhancing the oratory skills, expression, stage confidence and gaining clarity of the textual content, a Show and Tell activity- “Health is Wealth”, was conducted for class I students. Through the virtual platform, the children participated with full vigour and excitement. They confidently shared their views on the Importance of eating healthy food, expressing their thoughts in 5-8 lines with the help of relevant and beautifully made props. Encouraged and motivated by their teachers, the children enthusiastically participated in the activity and thoroughly enjoyed it. This activity has also helped our students to develop their literary skills and realize the harm of consuming junk food. Children developed their self-confidence to a great extent.

Activities enable students to think from different angles. A little interactive and interesting activity can inspire Math in students to greater achievement. To introduce the concept of skip counting, an activity - “Waving Kite”, was conducted for the students of class I. The children took an origami sheet and wrote number 2 on it. After this a thread was pasted at the back and now on this thread 9 small cut outs of triangular or square shape were pasted on which children wrote skip counting of 2 i.e. 2, 4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18 and 20. With the help of this activity the concept of skip counting was made clear. Children made colourful waving kites and thoroughly enjoyed the activity and enhanced their logical and analytical skills as well.

Punctuation are essential, and are used to convey and clarify the meaning of written language. To explain the use and significance of Punctuation more clearly, a small skit was organised for the students of grade I in which the students of class 1 enacted the roles of different Punctuation Marks such as ‘full stop’, ‘question mark’, ‘comma’ and ‘exclamation mark’. With the help of this skit, students learnt about the four basic punctuation marks. They beautifully expressed the special features and functions of different Punctuation marks. They also stated the essential rules of Capitalisation. This skit greatly helped them to identify when each punctuation mark is needed in different types of sentences. Using different costumes and attractive charts in the form of props, the students spoke their dialogues with expressions and actions. This skit greatly helped the students to understand the context of a sentence and equip themselves with an extensive toolset in the uses of these Punctuation marks. All the students participated actively in the skit speaking their dialogues with full confidence and vigour. They enjoyed the activity and learnt the significance of Punctuation Marks in reading and writing

Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words. To reiterate this, the children of class 1 were asked to recite the poem ‘Sun and Moon’ from their English text book with proper pronunciation and intonation. This activity was aimed to develop self-expression and memorization skills in the young minds. The children used their oratory skills in an effective manner. Reciting the poem along with actions and handmade drawings showing the scene of day and night made their performance more impactful. The children enthusiastically participated in the competition as they got an opportunity to exhibit their talent and confidence. They were judged on parameters like voice modulation, memorization and overall presentation. The young poets enthralled the audience with their articulation, enactment and props while reciting the poem. It was a splendid opportunity for the children to gain confidence and develop their oratory skills through virtual stage exposure.

Recognising the importance of reading and to mark the occasion of International Literacy Day on September 8, 2020, CBSE announced Celebration of Reading Week from 8th September to 14th September 2020. The students were motivated to read books of their choice and make Book-buddies. As part of the activities, they were encouraged to share short stories written by them, review of the book of any genre read by them and the story of the person who has inspired them the most. In addition to these, online reading sessions were also arranged, like ‘Read-a-Thon’ wherein the Fastest Reader of the Class was acknowledged. The various activities conducted helped the students to discover the joy of reading books, enhance their reading skills and expand their vocabulary.

Activities enable students to think from different angles. A little interactive and interesting activity can inspire Math in students to greater achievement. To introduce Tens and Ones concept, an activity “Bundle of Joy” was conducted in all the sections of class I. The children were supposed to make bundles of ice-cream sticks, colour pencils, crayons which ever was available at home. Teacher showed them a number on slides for which they created bundles. For e.g. 35, for which they made 3 bundles of 10 sticks each, in one hand and 5 sticks in the other hand. With each different number they changed the number of bundles according to the given number. Through this activity children were able to understand the concept of Tens and Ones. They enjoyed the activity which enhanced their logical and analytical skills as well.

“Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: It takes its origin from emotions recollected in tranquillity.” Beauty is the realm of poetry, children enjoy the beauty of expression, thoughts, feeling, rhyme, rhythm and music of words. Taking all these facts into consideration the young scholars of class-V got an opportunity to exhibit their talent and confidence through English Recitation activity held on 8th September 2020. The students were informed beforehand to learn any one of their favourite poems from English Half Yearly Curriculum and were encouraged to recite the same in the class with proper intonation and voice modulation. The recitation activity inspired the children to come forward and recite their favourite poem in the virtual class room. It was a stepping stone for our young students to develop their verbal skills and to boost their confidence. The students enthusiastically participated in the activity as they got an opportunity to exhibit their talent and confidence. It was heart-warming to see amazing performances which indeed was a result of hours of practice.

There is clear evidence from psychological experiments that practicing retrieval of something after learning it, for instance by taking a quiz or test, makes us more likely to retain it for the long term. A ‘QUIZ’ is a game which can also be called a mind sport wherein the players, either as individuals or in teams attempt to answer questions posed to them correctly, in order to win a prize. Quiz competitions enable students to think from different angles or simply ‘to think out of the box’ and even help build the student’s soft skills. In order to test the knowledge of the basic concepts, a Math quiz was organized for the finalist of the second round of Math Aptitude Test on 4th September 2020. For Selected students, an online quiz was prepared comprising 15 questions based on the given syllabus, with a time limit. The students were very excited for the quiz and participated enthusiastically. Result: 1st position: Aradhya Gupta VC 2nd position: Pranay Pandey VE 3rd position: Arush Gupta VC

On the auspicious occasion of Teacher’s Day, a Special Assembly was conducted for classes I-V on 4th September 2020. The assembly commenced with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the Shloka and Thought of the Week. The children were shown a presentation on Teacher’s Day and were enlightened by their teachers about the significance of Teacher’s Day commemorating the second President of India, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was a great Indian philosopher and a teacher. The children were very excited about the celebration of Teacher’s Day. ‘Teachers plant the seeds of knowledge that last a lifetime’. This beautiful quotation was aptly explained and expressed by all the students right from grade 1 to 5. The children made beautiful cards for their teachers and showed respect and love towards their teachers by penning down wonderful thoughts in the cards. The Teacher’s Day fun didn’t stop here. The students continued to spread their joy and love by giving speeches, sang melodious songs, poems and presented splendid dance performances. The teachers were overwhelmed and elated to see their students’ performances and could collect zillions of memories to cherish forever. The children also thoroughly enjoyed this amazing celebration.

The National Rail Museum in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, displays exhibits on the history of rail transport in India. In addition to its vast galleries, the museum features simulations of coaches, and diesel, electric and steam engines. The National Rail Museum was first proposed in 1962, under the advisement of rail enthusiast Michael Graham Satow. Construction began in 1970 and on 7 October 1971 the foundation stone was laid at the museum's present site in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, by the then-President of India V. V. Giri. The museum was inaugurated as the Rail Transport Museum in 1977 by Kamalapati Tripathi, the minister for public transportation. Main Exhibits – • Patiala State Monorail Trainways • Fairy Queen • Saloon car of The Prince of Wales • Saloon of The Maharaja of Indore • Electric locomotive 4502 Sir Leslie Wilson • F734 – the first indigenously built locomotive in India • Steam Locomotive A-885 HASANG and many more….. Children of class III were taken on a virtual trip to the National Rail Museum. It was a fun filled and informative trip. Children learnt about the first indigenous locomotive, coaches, diesel, electric and steam engines etc.

A Math activity- “Shapes” was conducted for Grade-II on 02 September 2020. As children had already been introduced to all the shapes, they were able to identify the objects of different shapes. The children were asked to draw scenery using different shapes, which they enthusiastically did. The purpose of this activity was to enhance the mental ability and to create an environment where the students can get detailed information about the concept and can learn in a play way. The children thoroughly enjoyed the fun filled learning activity and spent their day with experiential learning.

“The greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals.” Onam Festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (August - September). It is the biggest festival celebrated with joy and enthusiasm by people of all communities in Kerala. It commemorates the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. Onam is reminiscent of Kerala’s agrarian past, and is considered to be a harvest festival. People of all religions, castes, and communities celebrate the festival with equal joy and verve. Shalom Hills International School also celebrated Onam festival with great zeal. The significance of this festival was explained by the teachers through an interesting PPT followed by a virtual special assembly conducted by the students of classes I to V. In order to bring out the creative talents of students and celebrate the festival, different activities were conducted grade wise. The young scholars dressed up in beautiful attires, participated in Rangoli Making activity and also showcased the traditional dances of Kerela. Sincere and zealous efforts were shown by the students to make their class assembly a success. Onam festival helps to create an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood and the same was beautifully showcased by the young scholars. Amidst cheers of happiness and excitement, children learnt the importance of celebrating festivals and imbibed in themselves the feeling of pride, cultural oneness and a sense of belonging that we are one big family. It was a great experience for all our students.

As we all have names and its spelling so also the numbers have their name and can be spelled. So, in order to make the number names interesting for the children an Activity –Number Hunt was conducted where flash cards with riddles were shown to them. The children were required to guess its number by solving the riddle and then tell its number name. In this activity children actively participated and guessed the number and its number name as well. With the help of this activity children revised the number names from 1 to 50. Students very excitedly did the activity and confidently answered the different riddles asked by the teacher. Thus this simple activity helped them to understand the concept of Number Names more clearly and evidently. Students enjoyed the activity thoroughly.

An activity on the topic “Nest” was conducted in all sections of grade-3 on 27thAugust2020. Theactivity was conducted toenhance the understanding of children about the nest - home of birds and its importance to the birds. The students built very beautiful nests and spoke about the materials used by them. The students did this activity with a lot of enthusiasm and showcased their beautifully created nests in front of their teacher and peer group. They used different materials which they could find at home easily. Through this activity, they got a better understanding about the materials which birds use in building the nests.

An activity titled ‘The National Rail Museum’ was conducted for the students of grade I. Filled with excitement, the children dressed up in the casual picnic attire along with sunglasses and caps for their Virtual tour of ‘The National Rail Museum’. The teacherexplained different kinds of engines like the steam and diesel engines. The children were shown railway tracks, bridges and tunnels and set-up of a railway station. Teachers also briefly explained the history of The National Rail Museum. They were also told facts like the inauguration date of The Rail Museum and that it has also been awarded the National Tourism Award. Children thoroughly enjoyed the virtual tour which enhanced their knowledge about the history and functioning of the Indian Railways. They also learned about the basic rules which should be followed inside a railway station.Pictures of the children taking the virtual tour of the Railway Museum were shared by the parents with the class teachers.

Students of Grade IV did a very interesting activity based on L-6 “Climate and Seasons”, wherein they were asked to observe the daily weather and temperature of their area for a week. They were briefed about the same a week before and they presented their findings in the class on August 27, 2020. The weather forecasts seen on television or heard on the radio were discussed with the students. They were told them to focus on how the weather people give information on cloud cover, temperature, precipitation and wind conditions. They presented their observations in front of the class in a very impressive way with a beautiful table showing different weathers of that week. It was a very informative and insightful activity which the students really enjoyed. Students focused on observing weather patterns and reporting what they saw. They also learnt about different types of temperatures and how each type is related to weather conditions.

Oral health in children is a very large and growing concern in the world today. Most children in today’s society do not realize the importance of their oral health, and how it can affect their lives. Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping one's mouth clean and free of disease by maintaining dental hygienethrough regular brushing of the teeth and cleaning between the teeth. It is important that oral hygiene be carried out on a regular basis to enable prevention of dental disease and bad breath. The most common types of dental disease are tooth decay -cavities, dental caries, and gum diseases. To make students aware about the importance of dental hygiene, an activity was conducted in grade IV on August 26, 2020. Children, depicting themselves as dentists, talked confidently about the importance of dental cleanliness and the diseases concerned with dental problems. They talked about plaque and different ways of taking care of teeth with the help of props like model of teeth, prepared in the previous activity, tooth-brush, mouth-wash, dental floss and so on.Through the activitythe junior dentists conveyed a message of “The healthier our teeth are, the happier we look”. Students learnt that their teeth are the integral part of the body and should be taken care of properly. The aim of the activity was achieved by training young minds about their dental hygiene.

‘Show and tell’ is an important part of children’s learning and development, as it helps them to organize information and builds their confidence. Keeping this in mind, a ‘Show and Tell Activity’,on the topic ‘Your Favourite means of Transport’, based on the lesson ‘On the Bus ’of the English textbook, was conducted for the students of grade I. The children were excited to share their descriptive narration and waited eagerly for their turn. The students used attractive props while speaking about their favourite means of transport. Some of them used their toy cars and buses in the form of props whereas the others used beautiful pictures of their favourite vehicle to talk aboutdifferentmeans of transport namely land transport, water transport and air transport.They were able to express their thoughts confidently and effectively. Through this activity, the children were able to make a distinction among the different modes of transport. The activity proved to be a splendid opportunity for them to gain confidence through virtual stage exposure. It was aimed to develop self-expression and speaking skills of the young minds.Their joy knew no bounds while giving their outstanding and commendable presentation.

“Everything we see in the world around us has a shape.” An activity on 3D Shapeswas conducted in all sections of Grade 3 on 24th August 2020. The teacher explainedthe 3-dimensional shapes to thestudents in the virtual classes using actual 3D objects. The students demonstrated their understanding of the concept through 3D-Objects like a castle, empty box, glass, birthday cap, ball, etc. using basic shapes like Cube, Cuboid, Sphere, Cylinder and Cone. Some even drew Faces, Edges and Vertices on their 3D shapes. The students were very excited for this activity and participated enthusiastically.This activity helped the studentsdevelop a better understanding of the concept regarding3D shapes.The activity helped the children to enhance various skills like aesthetic value, determination, observation and analytical skill.

'Mr. Division Dan' activity was conducted in all the sections of Class IV on 21st August 2020, as a recapitulation of the concept of division. The class was divided into 3 groups and each group was given 3 different numbers. Then students were asked to draw their favourite cartoon character and name it as “Mr. Division Dan”. The students of each group were asked to frame their own statement with the given numbers, split them into equal groups and represent it graphically on A-4 size sheet. They were also asked to write their multiplication and division facts. The students created beautiful artwork using different characters and shapes of their own choice. The activity was conducted to check their concept clarity and to enhance their aesthetic value, observation and analytical skill. The students were very excited about this activity and participated enthusiastically.

“Every tooth in a man’s head is more valuable than diamond.”- MIGUEL DE CERVANTES Teeth are the most important asset to all of us. Teeth are the body's hardest and most durable part. Teeth comprise hard, bony structures in the mouth of humans, primarily used to chew food. Most humans are omnivores and consume different types of food. An adult human develops a total of thirty-two permanent teeth which are of four different types. Incisors are used for cutting and biting, canines for tearing the food, premolars for grinding and molars for crushing and chewing the food. To recapitulate the learning, the students of grade IV participated enthusiastically in the model-makingactivity of teeth on 20th August 2020.Students took four cut-outs from A-4 sheets, representing four different types of teeth. They mentioned the total number of teeth in an adult human body and also specified the function of each toothon the sheets.Children used their own creativity to decorate them. All the cut-outs were joined later on to give a 3-D shape to the teeth. The students finished the activity in the given time frame and concluded it with a powerful presentation on teeth. Students learnt that their teeth are the integral part of the body and should be taken care of properly.

“The path from dreams to success does exist. May you have the vision to find it, the courage to get on to it and the perseverance to follow it. Wishing you a great journey. “ - Kalpana Chawla An activity based on the lesson, ‘An Indian-American Woman in Space – Kalpana Chawla’, was conducted for the students of Class VI on August 20, 2020. In order to make the students think innovatively and gain confidence in presenting themselves, the students were asked to prepare a model of any Artificial Satellite or any Spacecraft. As a part of the activity they had to present it before the class. The students used different materials, available at home and very creatively prepared the models of Sputnik –I, PSLV, Columbia, GSLV, INSAT. A few students also prepared the model of Spacecraft they want to create, when they grow up. They displayed the models in the class and explained the features and history of the Satellite/ Spacecraft, they created. Every student was full of excitement and displayed his/her zeal in participating in the class activity, enjoying it thoroughly.

An activity on ‘Grandma’ was conducted in class 1 on August 18, 2020. All the children participated actively and wrote a few very basic characteristics of a Grandma. This activity was aimed to develop self-expression and gratitude in the young minds. The children discussed few characteristics about their Grandma with their teacher using adjectives like loving, caring, polite, etc. They drew a beautiful graphic organizer to demonstrate the characteristics of their Grandma. They also decorated the written work with the help of different colors.The children enthusiastically participated in the discussion and excitedly shared information about their Grandma. In the discussion the children showed their gratitude for their grandparents. This activity helped children learn more about Grandma and also helped them to learn a few describing words like polite, old, loving, caring etc. The children enjoyed this activity and recalled all their lovely memories with their Grandma.

The students of grade IV participated in an EVS -1 activity of creating “Mind map of forest”conducted in virtual class on 18th August 2020. The activity was a pre-activity of the chapter “Resources of India”.Mind mapping is a highly effective way of getting information.It is a creative and logical means of note-taking and note-making that literally "maps out" our ideas. The main aim of this activity was to prompt students for some brainstorming and to present their ideas in the form of mind map of forest. Forests are an important natural resource and are home to a variety of plants and animals. Climate, physical feature and soil type are some of the main factors that determine the type of trees and animals that grow and thrive in a forest. Students enthusiastically participated in the activity and submitted very creative work.Overall, it was a very informative and interesting activity. Students enjoyed it a lot.

The human skeletal system is like the corner stone of the human body. It is like a shield and base of the body’s existence. It provides shape and support to the human body. The students of grade V performed a hands-on activity conducted in the class on 18th August, 2020. The students were given an idea of the activity a week prior by their respective science teachers. On the day of the activity the students were prepared with creative ideas and were ready to commence their activity. The students used an A4 sheet as the base on which the human skeletal system was represented with the use of various materials like straws, toothpicks, broken broomsticks, earbuds and matchsticks. Some children showed novelties like representing the skeletal system on walls or cupboard doors with the help of paper rolls. The students enjoyed the activity thoroughly and displayed beautiful works of the human skeletal system. The activity helped to build their kinesthetic skills and objective of ‘learning by doing’ was achieved. The students finished the activity within the given time and the class ended with a quick recap of the different functions of the skeletal system.

“Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom – and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.” – Benjamin Franklin Keeping this thought in mind, a Declamation Competition was conducted in all the sections of grade IV on 14th August 2020 as part of the activities being conducted for the Independence cum Founder’s week celebrations. The students had to speak on the topic “My Country My Pride” for one minute. Students were briefed about the rules and judgement criteria of the competition by the class teachers. The best three entries were chosen from each section. The students expressed their gratitude towards the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the independence of our nation. They spoke about the unique diversity of our nation and expressed their pride on our country’s rich traditions and heritage. They talked about the freedom of speech, freedom to celebrate all the festivals of different religions with great enthusiasm. They pledged to contribute to our great nation by being ideal citizens. This activity helped in enhancing the speaking skills of the children and provided them with a platform to express their thoughts and feelings with confidence. Children enthusiastically participated and thoroughly enjoyed the activity.

Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: It is about understanding. Quiz activity help to assess the mathematical skills, proficiency and aptitude of the students. It also promotes many good qualities like teamwork, problem solving skills, time management, patience etc. In order to test the knowledge of the basic concepts, Math quiz was organized in all the sections of class V. As a surprise activity on the occasion of ‘Founder’s Day’, online quiz was conducted in an interactive manner during virtual class on August 14, 2020 and the intelligent minds answered the questions with enthusiasm, wisdom and confidence. Their involvement was remarkable. All the students actively participated in the Quiz. Students thoroughly enjoyed the fun-filled learning activity and spent their class with experiential learning. This simple activity was a recap of all the topics which we have done till now.

"Children are great imitators, give them something great to imitate." Role play is an act where the children get an opportunity to imitate different characters. It offers a chance to the participants to gain experience, showcase speaking and presentation skills and reveal personal aptitude. As part of the Independence Day and Founder’s week celebrations,the students of grade IIIparticipated in an activity on Role-Play on Freedom Fighters or National Leadersconductedvirtually on 14th August, 2020.The children portrayed themselves as Bhagat Singh, Rani Laxmi Bai, Kittur Rani Channemma, Sarojini Naidu and Subash Chandra Bose and paid a rich tribute to the martyrs by representing their zeal and patriotism.The main aim of the activity wasto encourage students to give presentation of their assigned work creatively, innovatively and confidently in front of the class. The students described the character, situation and their famous slogans. They enthusiastically participated in the activity and made beautiful props.Throughout the presentation, they showed enthusiasm and love towards the country and gratitude towards our freedom fighters or National Leaders. It was an endeavor to foster oratory skills and confidence among the Shalomitees.Students were judged on the basis of creativity, content, dialogue delivery, costume / props and Presentation. Overall, it was a very interesting, competitive and informative session for the children. The atmosphere was spell binding and enthralling.

The campaign of cleanliness and sanitization at the Primary Health Center was celebrated on 14 August by the Central Board of Secondary Education. All the students of classes IX to XII our school participated enthusiastically in this campaign. Cleanliness was started at the Primary Health Center for behavioral changes under sanitation and sanitation. Under this campaign various works were done in a phased manner in all the development blocks. Out of all the students, the idea presented by Avni Bansal, a student of class IX, was considered the best. As such, a cleanliness drive was carried out at first aid centers and assistants working in the house were told about the use of cleanliness and sanitization.Along with this, it was explained how important it is to wear masks while exiting the house. Through this campaign, the students shared their ideas with everyone and pledged to make our country clean, beautiful and corona free by using cleanliness and sanitization around us. The purpose of the drive was to make people aware and explain the importance of cleanliness.

Role play is the act of imitating the character and behaviour of someone who is different from you. It involves assuming a role different from oneself. A Role play activity was conducted on “National Leaders of India”in all sections of Grade II. The students depicted the life of various freedom fighters like-Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Rani Laxmi bai, Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi. The students performed their roles beautifully and also depicted their life events with great conviction.They dressed very magnificently as their chosen freedom fighter. The Role Play activity helped the students to know about the lives of the freedom fighters and draw inspiration from them. The students were totally excited and thrilled to see different role-plays.

Music is to the soul what words are to the mind.” Music binds our souls, hearts and emotions. Music is the best method of relaxation. It cheers the spirit and lightens the heart. In fact, through singing children learn to express their feelings and ideas. To bring out the singing talent of the students, an interesting SongComposition activity was conducted for the young learners of class-V.The theme of the competition was patriotic songs. Through this activity, SHIS has once again raised the bar by conducting an outstanding Virtual Music Composition activity during this pandemic. The music teachers facilitated the students by guiding them about the song structure and rhythm and encouraged the young scholars to create their own songs on the occasion of Independence Day cum Founder’s Week celebration. The students loved this extra - curricular activity which moulded their inbuilt musical talent and they got the chance to express their feelings and emotions creatively. The children enthusiastically took part in the activity and composed beautiful patrioticsongs.

A Paragraph writing activity was conducted in all sections of grade 4 on 11th August 2020 as part of the activities being conducted for the Independence cum Founder’s week celebrations. The topic selected for the paragraph writing was “What does our school mean to me”. A ppt of images of the school building was shown to the students to help them remember and revisit the various enjoyable experiences of school life. The children had to write the paragraph in 60-80 words on coloured or plain A4 size sheets. They were also asked to illustrate their paragraph with beautiful drawings. For many children school meant a place to learn, play and enjoy. Many children also described it as a second home which prepares them for their life ahead. All the children wrote beautiful paragraphs describing their school and its special significance in their lives. The activity helped in enhancing the creative writing skills of the children and provided them with a platform to express their thoughts and feelings.

“Public speaking is the art of diluting a 1-minute idea with 1-hour vocabulary.” Elocution refers to one’s capacity to meaningfully communicate with others, with the use of exact speech and gestures. Such activities are conducted in an attempt to promote their oratory skills, in terms of pronunciation, delivery, and voice modulation. An Elocution activity was held in grade 3 on 11th August 2020. The students were given the topic in advance on which they had to speak for around one minute each. A healthy competitive spirit enlightened the faces of the students. They had come well-prepared for the activity and spoke confidently on the given topic. The students participated with a lot of enthusiasm. The participants were judged on the basis of clarity of speech, memory, pronunciation, expression and body language. The objective of this activity was to make the children more expressive, confident and spontaneous in their way of speaking. The activity ended on a happy note and the discipline of the students was commendable. The activity gave a lot of encouragement and confidence to all the students.

The celebration of theFounder’sWeek and 74th Independence Day commenced on a beautiful note in Shalom Hills International School, Sushant Lok. The students have prepared for a week long celebration with their hearts full of pride for the nation. On August 10, 2020 the students of class III enthusiasticallyparticipated in a quiz prepared on Independence Day and Founder’s Week. The quiz brought forththe questions framed about our Freedom fighters, unique features of Indian Independence and its national symbol along with testing the knowledge of the students about their school. The quiz comprised ateamof boys and girls and each child was provided a chance to participate and answer.As the questions of the quiz were based onareas intrinsic to the Indian identity and heritage it helped in igniting the patriotic spirit withinthem. The students took part in the activity with great enthusiasm and zeal. The activity was very informative and knowledge enriching for the students.

“Peace is not unity in similarity but unity in diversity, in the comparison and conciliation of differences.”- M.Gorbachev On the occasion of celebrating 73 years of our Independence, an art activity was organised for the creative young artists of grade 7 on 10 August 2020. The activity was enjoyed and the creative art expressions were submitted by the students. The students were informed about the varied and rich heritage of our country and instructed about the theme and the participation rules to be followed. The students enjoyed the activity and their artistic skills were appreciated. They were able to come closer to the life of united India. It was an effective effort to make their understanding better in the diversified cultures of the country. It was a fun filled activity with a display of artistic skills.

FREEDOM IN THE MIND,FAITH IN THE WORDS, PRIDE IN OUR SOUL,LET’S SALUTE THE NATION! Keeping up the spirit of patriotism and pride for the nation, the students of Class VII conducted a special assembly on August 10, 2020. Dedicating Independence Day to our great leaders and martyrs, the students along with their class teachers conducted the assembly on the virtual platform. The assembly commencedbyevoking ‘The Almighty’s blessings’ with the Lord’s prayer, followed by the Shloka and the Pledge.The National and International news updated all about the day to day activities happeningaround the world. A speech on Independence Day was delivered wonderfully by the Students in all the sections. A skit on Independence Day ‘Bharat Ki Shaan’ was performed by the students. A gracefuldance mash displayed the patriotic fervour of the students. The Class Teachers appreciated the efforts of the students and conveyed the message on the occasion. The assembly concluded by singing the Shalom Anthem followed by the National Anthem. With hundred percent participation,every student got a chance to exhibit his/her talent through the performance. The assembly proved that nothing can stop us. ‘If there is a will, there is a way.’ The skit and the dance performance are a true exampleof collaboration, even when the students are not physically together. The students keenly participated and showed their enthusiasm promising a strong team spirit.

An ISA inter-dynasty collage making competition (Manual/Digital) on ‘National symbols and Currency’ was conducted on 7th August 2020. The countries selected for the activity were India, UAE (Dubai) and Nepal. Grades 4 A, B and C had to make a collage on India, D, E and F sections had to make on Dubai, while Classes 4 G and H had to make a collage on Nepal. A week prior to the activity, the teachers explained the whole process of the activity starting from collection of materials to making of a collage in the digital form. The students were encouraged to search for information regarding the national symbols and currency of the country assigned to them. On the day of the activity the students were well-prepared with the pictures, information as well as the drawings of the national symbols and currency. By closely studying the currencies and national symbols the students learnt about various interesting historical and economical aspects of the particular country. On the day of the activity, the students made beautiful collages on the given topic. They used colourful stickers, photos and drawings. The students then clicked pictures of their work and upload it on the link sent by their class teachers. This activity helped the students understand become more aware about the different countries. The activity helped in achieving intercultural understanding as well as enhancing skill-based and knowledge-based deep learning.

Under the ISA, an activity titled ‘Collage making’ on National Flags was done in class 1. The children actively participated and drew the national flags of three different countries, namely, India, UAE (Dubai) and Nepal. With the help of this activity, the children learnt about the three different national flags of the given countries.They also got to know one of the most amazing facts, that the national flag of Nepal is the only flag in the world which is triangular in shape. The childrengot an idea about the National symbols of the three countries through a PPT shown a day prior to the activity.They were excited to know about the national symbols, especially the colours of each country’s flag and what significance each colour holds. They learnt about their national animals, birds, tree, etc. The childrendrew the three National Flags on an A4 sheet andcoloured them showcasing their creative skills. Later, they shared their beautifully made flags with their friends in the virtual class. The children enthusiastically participated in the activity and thoroughly enjoyed it. This activity enhanced their artistic skills alongwith learning about the different Flags of these countries

“Arecipe has no soul. You as the cook must bring soul to the recipe.” In the line of events for thecelebration of Independence Day, a cooking without fire activity was conducted for the talented Shalomites of grade 7 on August7, 2020. The activity was conductedwith a view to give a different look to the traditional cooking with a new essence of experimenting fireless cooking with tricolour. Students tried various dishes while polishing their culinary skills with full zest and zeal. The students were instructed in advance about the activity and were given a time period of a week to think about their new experiments. It was an effective effort by the children to bring their creativity forward on this virtual platform. It was a fun filled activity appreciated by parents and guardians too.  

Subtraction is one of the four basic operations of arithmetic and in order to explain the vertical subtraction to the children we took help of the difference game where a tree with number strips was used. In this game the teacher made a tree. On its trunk she inserted strips where numbers1 to 10 were written and sign of = (equal to) and –(minus) was made. The teacher asked the children subtraction sums by moving the strips with different numbers in vertical manner and the children gave the answers of the sum asked by the teacher. The Students very excitedlydid the activity and confidently answered the different subtraction sums asked by the teacher. Thus, this simple activity helped them to understand the concept of Vertical Subtraction more clearly and evidently.Students enjoyed the activity thoroughly.

An English activity, ‘Garden of Genders’, on genders was conducted in grade 4 on 4th August 2020. It was an art integrated activity with the aim to encourage children to learn through art. The students were shown a ppt which had the illustration of a garden with beautiful flowers in it. Each child had to make a beautiful garden in his/her notebook and name four flowers as per the four genders: Masculine, Feminine, Common and Neuter. They had to give five examples of each type of gender. The students did this activity with a lot of interest. They drew beautiful flowers and coloured the garden with bright colours. Students were encouraged to use their own creativity and imagination while creating the ‘Garden of Genders’. All the children completed the activity with a lot of interest and enthusiasm. They clicked pictures of their work and uploaded the same on Teams.

Everything around us has a name. Yes, this very simple yet very important concept of Naming Words/ Nouns was explained to class 1 students with the help of an easy and amazing activity. This activity was designed with an aim of making children learn the naming words according to their classification, that is, name of a person, a place, an animal and a thing. The teachers virtually conducted the activity with children using origami sheets/ plain square sheets, colors, pencils, erasers. Prior to the activity the children were shown a PPT on the activity along with live demonstration done by the teachers during the virtual class. Following that, they folded the paper and got to see the four magical boxes in which they drew four picturesof a person (boy), thing (ball), place (school) and an animal (cat) and named them.Aftercoloring the pictures, the children pasted the sheet in their English notebooks and shared their beautifully made activity with their friends in the virtual class. Children enthusiastically participated in the activity and thoroughly enjoyed it. This activity enhances their artistic skills and creativity alongwith the learning of Naming Words

‘A philosopher once said, half of good philosophy is good grammar.’ Learning a language through activities can be great fun.Using reported speech precisely and appropriately in English language is very important. It is a foundation grammar topic and is necessary for developing good writing and speaking skills. To make children well versed with the use of reported speech an activity was conducted in class where in children of Grade X were told to choose different numbers on the screen. All numbers had a sentence on the backside. The child would read the sentence and report the sentence aloud. The students patiently waited for their turn. The activity broke the monotony of learning and discussing rules and made the students interested in the topic. All the students participated enthusiastically and enjoyed the activity thoroughly. Most of them expressed the desire to continue with the activity in the next classalso.

‘Raksha Bandhan’ or Rakhi is a special occasion to celebrate the virtuous bond of love between a brother and sister which is one of the deepest and noblest of all human emotions. To commemorate this festival, a Rakhi making Activity was organized for the students of Grades I-V. The students made beautiful Rakhis using different articles like mirrors, sparkles, stickers, beads, silken thread, ribbon etc. Their artisanship was quite fascinating and the children thoroughly enjoyed this activity that tickled their creative side.

The Virtual new normal has revolutionized the teaching and learning process. Students have also adapted to this new way of learning well. For ensuring inputs from students on the ongoing topic as well as to make them have a virtual tour of coastal areas of India (while sitting on their favourite chairs) “My Ideal Beach” activity of EVS 1 was conducted in Grade IV. The students were asked to make a poster on their Ideal beach with a mix of their choice and imagination and the same was to be presented in the class. All the students enthusiastically participated in the activity and they presented their beaches in a very creative and interesting way by putting their goggles and hats on. They also expressed that cleaning the beach also improves the coastal and ocean ecosystem by making sure that none of their trash endangers marine life.Emphasizing on the same ,they shared slogans also. The logical, spatial, interpersonal, kinesthetic and linguistic skills were enhanced with this activity. Students thoroughly enjoyed drawing and presenting their work. Overall, it was a fun learning and informative session for the children.

"Creativity doesn't wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones." Comic Strips are a powerful teaching tool and can tell a complex story in a few images.Comicstrips help students practice essential skills like reading, understanding visual concepts, understanding context clues, speaking, etc. To instigate the creative skills among the young learners an interesting activity of Comic Strip Making was conductedin Grade V. Theactivity was conducted on 30th and 31st July2020on different types of tenses that wereexplained in class. The students were able to organize their ideas and combine, pictures, captions and dialogues to showdifferent types of tenses done in the class. This activity enhanced their creativity and also stimulated their imagination. The students were very enthusiastic during the whole activity and performed the activity in a play way manner. This activity allowed for multiple interpretations and enhanced comprehension by drawing attention to story elements. Overall, the activity was a great success. The students thoroughly enjoyed the activity.

A factor tree is a tool that breaks down any number into its prime factors. A certain number's prime factorization is the list of prime numbers or prime factors that you would multiply together to create that certain number. The first step in making a factor tree is to find a pair of factors whose product is the number that we are factoring. These two factors are the first branching in the factor tree. There are often several different pairs of factors that we could choose to begin the process. The process was explained to the students of class V and they were asked to make the factor tree of any number which lies between 50 and 100 during math online class. The students found this activity an interesting way of finding prime factors. They all began with different factors of their choice. The students understood the concept and enjoyed the activity.

“Ek Bharat, Shreshta Bharat” activities areorganized in a befitting mannerto make the children aware about the importance of our country’s “Unity in Diversity”, to have faith in it and to uphold it. Shalom Hills International School also organized many competitions and activities to promote this feeling in the Shalomites. Many Activities covering various subjects like Mathematics, Cultural Exchange Programme between Migration & Local students through Cultural Programme,were conducted in the school. Most of the students actively participated in the various competitions and made the celebrations worthy and meaningful. The objective of the competitions was: i. To CELEBRATE the Unity in Diversity of our Nation; ii. To PROMOTE the spirit of national integration; iii. To SHOWCASE the rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions; Let's visit Telangana! A jewel of our gorgeous nation, The polygonal Telangana must be God's creation Perini Thandavan, Telengana's ancient dance, Will enchant you after just a moment's glance. How smart were the architects to make, Charminar split part of Telangana in four quadrants with no mistake! And why not visit Golconda fort? Where lovely diamonds used to be mined for export. It's mouth-watering and just so much fun To eat Sakinalu's concentric circles one by one. Sarva Pindi,Garijalu,Polelu are just, Some of the other dishes trying is a must. Make friends with the murrel, badger and the otter, As you take a walk parallel to the Krishna River. So pack your bags and head to this state Where the infinite delights to be seen are just too great.

“Every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation, every possession, a duty. -John D. Rockefeller CBSE has mandated the introduction of Art-integrated learning in every subject as such joyful pedagogy strengthens the relationship between education and culture. In pursuit of the same, an online Placard Making Activity on‘Our Rights and Duties’, was organized for the students of Class V on 30 and 31 July 2020 to boost and augment the experiential learning of the students.As a citizen of India, it is our duty that we abide by these laws and carry out our duties. Also, knowledge of our fundamental rights is important so as to prevent injustice. The young learners displayed their artistic skills virtually through an array of placards depicting different rights and duties of the citizens. The students completed the activity in the given time and showed beautiful and self-explanatory details of the rights and duties. The creative, social and fine motor skills of the students were refined as they got hands on experience. The students developed an understanding and became aware of what human rights are and how are they related to our duties. The activity was afun-filled oneand enjoyed by one and all.It was completed with a quick recap of the definition of rights and duties along with the role oftoday’s generation in performing and respecting the same. .

“Learning is experience. Everything else is just information.” An activity of cooking without fire was conducted for students of all sections of classes:I-III on 29th July 2020.The children had already been informed in advance to be ready with the necessary ingredients/materials for the activity. The activity was conducted with a view to create awareness about the nutritional value of food cooked without flame, the necessity and advantages of healthy eating and to encourage students to stay away from the junk food. Grade: I-II made fruit salad by using three-four seasonal fruits, a little lemon juice and chat masala/black salt/pepper.They enjoyed mixing all the ingredients in the mixing bowl and then sharing it with their family. Grade -III children made bhelpuri, sandwiches, healthy fruit salads and lemonade.A few creative also made biscuit pudding whereas others made different kinds of healthy salads. In every classroom the children virtually displayed many yummy and innovative dishes. The students also gave special names to their creations calling them Crunchy Monaco’s, Sunday delight Smoothie etc. Through this activity the students learnt the spirit of teamwork and culinary skills, appreciating the hard work put into cooking. The aim of the activity was also to provide a platform for students to showcase their talent and explore new areas of interest.Students loved sharing the experience of making it with the teacher virtually and posing for the picture with their hand made salads. They felt pride in becoming little chefs for that day.

Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures. –Dalai Lama In orderto promote the conservation of the tigers,‘International Tiger Day’ is celebrated annually to raise awareness for tiger conservation. The goal of the day is to promote a global system for protecting the natural habitats of tigers and to raise public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues. Shalom Hills International School celebrated the day on July 29, 2020, to sensitize the children towards protecting wildlife.Speeches weredeliveredby the students during the assembly period. They poke about the decreasing number of tigers and expressed their concern regarding their protection. They emphasised on the need to conserve the majestic animal. They also spoke about the different initiatives taken all around the world for their conservation. The teachers and the students expressed their views on protecting the beautiful creature. Students displayed their enthusiasm in delivering the speech on ‘International Tiger Day’.

World Nature Conservation Day is celebrated on July 28 across the world in order to raise awareness about protecting nature and conserving our natural resources. With problems like deforestation and illegal wildlife trade on the rise, nature conservation has gone up on the list of priorities for a lot of countries. Our Earth does not have unlimited resources like water, trees, soil, etc. World Nature Conservation Day is marked internationally to spread awareness about the best practices to protect the natural resources. In order to create the awareness among our future generation, a general discussion on nature conservation and a speech was conducted by the class teachers and the students in the morning assembly. Students and teachers unanimously decided to start contributing towards maintaining balance and practising a sustainable life. A pledge was taken to: 1. Avoid wastage of food, water, and items of regular use. 2. Save energy by switching off lights, fans, and air conditioners when not in use. 3. Avoid wasting water and close the tap properly after brushing or washing hands. 4. Rainwater harvesting during the monsoon season 5.Saying No to Plastic.

“If we teach today’s children as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” -John Dewey Students develop their skills by “doing”. Activity based learning engageschildren and helps them to develop their language skills in a natural context. Encouraging children to improve their language in a personalised way by interacting in English in real life situations, can definitely enhance their linguistic skills.Language teaching is about allowing students to practise more and to relate language to their own realities. With the intent of providing a real-life situation for students to interact in, an activity- ‘Citizens’ Forum’ was introduced in the class XII. For the activity, the children were provided with the present lockdown scenario. They were assigned roles in which they had to partake in a forum to discuss the challenges faced during the lockdown and present solutions for the same. The students were assigned roles of a Local Councillor, who has invited representatives of different organizations to discuss this issue, a senior Police officer, a Doctor, a member of the Trade Union, a President of a Resident Welfare Association and a member of The Town Planning Commission. In their assigned roles the children had to state two problems that are being faced by them and make one suggestion to overcome the problem. The students enthusiastically participated in the activity and came up with genuine problems and suggestions. They were eager to engage in more such activities.

Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 26 July every year in honour of the Kargil War Heroes. This day is celebrated in the Kargil–sector and the national capital New Delhi, where the Prime Minister of India pays homage to the soldiers at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate every year. A speech by Class teachers was given on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas in the morning assembly of Grade 7 on July 27, 2020 to commemorate the valour of the war heroes, the Jawans of Indian Army. The importance of the day was discussed with the students in order to make them understand the importance of patriotism and love for our motherland.The highlights of the speech were thevalues of gratitude, patriotism,duty and love for the motherland.

The little ones enjoyed making the freshest, tastiest lemonade adjusting the sweetness with the required amount of sugar to suit their taste. A spring of fresh mint makes the perfect garnish for this drink.

‘Cleanliness is next to godliness’. It is not a statement to be just read, discussed and shelfed. It has to be ingrained in every person. In order to inculcate the same in the students, the students of Shalom Hills International School from classes IX – XII,participated in essay writing competition on ‘Mera Gaanv Sabse Swachh’ organised by CBSE. The students participated with great vigour and enthusiasm. The competition brought out different ideas of the pupils related to cleanliness. It encouraged the students to think about the importance of keeping our surroundings clean. With this competition not only did the students understand that cleaning the environment today will help fellow cohabitants of the planet and coming generations live better lives, but also honed their social developmental skills.

As part of Shramdaan in Villages under the CBSE “GandgiMukt Bharat” campaign, the grade VI students of Shalom Hills InternationalSchool undertook a tree plantation drive on 12th August 2020. The students participated in this campaign with great zest and zeal. The students planted saplings in their home and the surrounding areas. They also took an oath of saving trees and planting saplingson their birthday and other special occasions. The campaign helped in sensitizing the children towards conservation of the environment.

Van Mahotsav, a week-long festival of tree plantation is organized every year in the first week of July across India when millions of trees are planted. This movement was initiated in the year 1950 by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Food, Dr. K M Munshi. In an earnest attempt to sensitize the students about their role in conserving the environment, our School celebrated Van Mahotsav week from 6rd July to 8th July 2020. The celebration was an ideal opportunity to instil the value of social responsibility in the students towards protecting trees and forests. The focus of the celebration was towards forming a personal connect between the students and trees through a process of experience, reflection and creation, carried out through various activities. Many students of classes VI- X participated in different activities. The students planted seeds, made creative videos, wrote slogans, designed posters, and also composed poems about our earth and how we can protect it.Another interesting activity which all the class students performed was to make beautiful planters. Van Mahotsav week turned out to be a great success. The events helped to bring awareness about the green cover around us.

It is rightly said “Innovation sees best outlet in the unforeseen and unprecedented situations.” The current scenario where every nation is facing a tough challenge in the form of COVID-19, is one suchsituation where everyone needs to think innovatively to surpass the challenge. In order to provide a platform to students to creatively express their ideas/views on the theme -Thinking Innovatively in Unprecedented times like COVID-19, CBSE announced an expression series for the session 2020 - 21. This activity was conducted from Classes 3rd -12th. The topics were given on the basis of different categories i.e. Primary, Secondary etc. The children had freedom to choose the topic on which they had to write a poem, a paragraph or draw a painting. The teachers motivated the children to participate in this activity. All the entries were collected and the best from each category was submitted on CBSE expression series app from 16th to 21st July. After submitting the entries, E-certificates were generated on the application which were downloaded.

“Observation, Reason, Human Understanding, Courage; these make the physician.” – Martin H. Fischer In orderto thank our doctors for their dedicated services to patients and to honour their contribution in the worst of times, ‘National Doctor’s Day’ was celebrated at Shalom Hills International School on July 1, 2020. The teachers and the students extended their gratitude towards the doctors by recognising their contribution to the society and their selfless acts. The students saluted their efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic,when they are working in continuous shifts, putting their own health in danger. The students expressed their views on the role the doctors play in our lives and admired the exceptional caregivers who are at the ain the fight against COVID-19. Students showed their appreciation for the doctors and promised to follow the instructions given by them.

“Optimism generates hope...hope releases dreams...dreams set goals...enthusiasm follows.” –Martin Seligman The faculty of Shalom Hills International School, had the opportunity to participate in a webinar on – “Learned Optimism” on July 7, 2020. It was conducted by Mr. Prashant Agarwal, an experienced teacher and educationist. He stressed that optimism is not just a discovery of “Power of Positive Thinking”, but one’s interpretation of failures and successes. He also elaborated that in certain situations, Pessimism can be more beneficial. He even made a comparative analysis between optimism and pessimism. Highlighting the benefits of optimism, he underscored that with conscious efforts, optimism can be learned. He also elaborated on the three styles of pessimism and alternating optimism-Pervasive, Permanent and Personal. The session ended with a question-answer round. Overall, it was a motivating session.

Art Integration livens up the class and dissipates the monotony. The students display great enthusiasm for participation in fun-filled activities. An activity was conducted for the students of Class VI onJuly 16, 2020.The students were asked to choose one punctuation mark and give a real character to it. The students depicted the characters through their drawings, by giving beautiful costumes and props. The students personified the punctuation marks and spoke few lines on the characters, keeping in mind the role of the punctuation marks they had taken. Like a doctor representing a full stop, ending diseases or a detective representing a mark of interrogation, asking questions. Every student got a chance to perform and display his/her drawing. The students very creatively presented themselves as different characters and enacted well.Thestudents presented their zeal in participating in the class activity and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Reaching out to people becomes very important when it comes to surviving in this growing busy world. Students of grade 7 participated in an Art-Integrated activity on Display Advertisements based on theirliterature chapter ‘Quality’. This chapter fundamentally talks about two brothers who only reached out to their customers with the help of their qualitative work and never advertised. The students were asked to make an advertisement based on the brothers' shop description and ideology to reach out to people. They were also introduced to some such advertisements through a newspaper activity, which gave them a clear and concrete idea about the task. The major objective of the activity was to stimulate creativity and broaden their horizons of presenting their thoughts. The students enjoyed and came out with great ideas.

“Winners are not the people who never fail but the people who never quit.” The recent unprecedented pandemic might have shattered a lot around but it cannot devastate the zeal in us to achieve success. Shalom Hills International School, in its extreme glory and grandeur, declared the Scholar Badge and 100% Attendance list for session 2019-20. The selection criteria is the overall performance of the students achieving 90% or more academically in the Annual Result. A total of 30 students came out with flying colours in Grade 6, followed by 16 in Grade 7, 11 in Grade 8 and17 in Grade 9. Stream-wise and subject-wise toppers were ascertained in grade XI. The names of the meritorious students were announced during the online classes. They will receive their scholar badge and certificate on re-opening of the school. The 100% Attendance again encourages the children to wards regularity in school and indirectly commends their competence to be fit and mentally stout. The school believes in motivating the students for their relentless strive to excel and for their diligence to improve their performance at every step giving them a ray of hope and belief that only the diligent and dedicated will stand out in a crowd.

“Winners are not the people who never fail but the people who never quit.” The recent unprecedented pandemic might have shattered a lot around but it cannot devastate the zeal in us to achieve success. Shalom Hills International School, in its extreme glory and grandeur, declared the Scholar Badge and 100% Attendance list for session 2019-20. The selection criteria is the overall performance of the students achieving 90% or more academically in the Annual Result. A total of 30 students came out with flying colours in Grade 6, followed by 16 in Grade 7, 11 in Grade 8 and17 in Grade 9. Stream-wise and subject-wise toppers were ascertained in grade XI. The names of the meritorious students were announced during the online classes. They will receive their scholar badge and certificate on re-opening of the school. The 100% Attendance again encourages the childrentowards regularity in school and indirectly commends their competence to be fit and mentally stout. The school believes in motivating the students for their relentless strive to excel and for their diligence to improve their performance at every step giving them a ray of hope and belief that only the diligent and dedicated will stand out in a crowd.

‘Online Education is like a rising tide, it’s going to lift all boats.’ ‘IT Extravaganza Cyber Buzz’ was organized by Amity International School, Sector-43 during the second week of May, 2020. Different competitions like Sketcher, PreziPitate, LevioSway, etc. were organized in which children had to send their entries by 15th May 2020. Two competitions Logic Gate(Grade XII) &Chalchitra(Grade XI) were conducted online through MS Teams on 23rd May 2020. Along with our school, 37 schools from NCR and outside NCR participated in this mega event. After a selection process, the best candidates were given guided by the team members of the Computer Science departments per rules and regulations set by host school. The results of these competitions were announced on 23rd May 2020. Dairy Malhotra of VF brought laurels to the school by bagging the YOUNG TECHIE AWARD in the “Precipitate” (Junior Presentation)competition. He had created a beautiful presentation on Online Education using various tools of MS PowerPoint. The participants were judged on the basis of relevance to the theme, originality and creativity, innovation, and overall Presentation. All the students will be facilitated with E-certificates shortly. The competition presented yet another opportunity for all the participants to showcase and enhance their talent.

There is one relationship in this mortal life that effortlessly scores above all other known relationships on this Earth. This extraordinary relationship is none other than that between the mother and child, which is truly priceless in terms of a mother’s selfless love, dedication, and devotion towards her family. A Mother is such a special person in one’s life that no words can express one’s gratitude towards her.
“No Lockdown can fade the spirit of Shalomites to exhibit the love & compassion for their Mothers.”
This year the students of Shalom Hills International School who celebrated Mother’s Day at home by enjoying some golden moments with their mothers while showcasing their creativity and artistic skills through various activities such as Singing, Cooking without fire, Yoga Demo, Zumba Demo, Modelling, Craft making, Creation of Best out of waste etc. Some even made beautiful cards to express their love and gratitude towards their mother. Videos and photographs of children and moms in action were shared with the class teachers and the best ones uploaded on the school Facebook page. The students and mothers received certificates for their uninhibited and enthusiastic participation.

“A Mother is she who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take” Mother’s Day celebrates the essence of a mother and one everyone can relate to. People across regions, religions, castes, cultures, genders, and financial status have strong emotions binding them to their mothers. It is a special day, for all children and mothers as it reinforces the everlasting bond of love and affection, a time to remind us of our duties as sons and daughters. As part of this universal celebration, we at Shalom Hills International School had a special online celebration on Mother’s Day. Grade I to V teachers made videos for the lovely moms with their kids. The moms as well as the students had a splendid time watching these videos through our virtual classes. It was a pleasure watching the super excited moms sitting with their dynamic and energetic children. ‘Letter of Love’ was written by grade 1 students on the flower pot on a sheet. The students were overwhelmed with the entire effort. They cheered their teachers for their efforts. The day ended in a beautiful resonance lingering in everybody’s minds. It was a great opportunity to convey the significance of a mother and how every child should always respect and love her, and follow her instructions.

The global coronavirus outbreak has necessitated a lockdown in the country, and with all sporting action currently suspended, cancelled, or postponed, there are but a very few avenues for us to engage. With more than the usual time at hand, it is a good opportunity to treat oneself with some quality writing. Students are stuck at home. This can have an impact on them and writing about it might help express their anxieties and fears. With the same perspective in view, the school organized a paragraph writing competition for the students of grades IX to XII. The topic for the competition was, “Forty days in Lockdown”. The main objective of this paragraph writing competition was to give an opportunity to the students to creatively express themselves and to view the thoughts, feelings and opinions of the students on the humanitarian and socio-economic sphere, amidst the crisis. The students enthusiastically participated in the activity, showcasing their imagination and creative writing skills superbly.

An online workshop was conducted on 9th May 2020 for the students of Classes IV and V related to Cyber/Computer Security and Ethics. For Class IV, Ms. Shruti Barawal and Ms. Divya Agarwal and for Class V, MS. Ira Bakshi and Ms.Shalini Pandey initiated the workshop with a brief discussion on Cyber age and social media. In this workshop, children were facilitated about Cyber and Computer security, Internet Ethics, Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics, Unethical Practices, Netiquettes etc. Children were told about the benefits as well as the adverse consequences of using social media. They were told to be careful while posting, connecting on the internet so that their privacy should not be compromised. Children were educated about Plagiarism, Phishing, Hacking, Bullying, Trolling, Spamming etc. while relating them to everyday life. Children eagerly got their doubts clarified and were giving examples also during the session. At the end, the children were asked various questions in the form of a quiz for scrutinising their understanding about the topic. With the help of this workshop, a collaborative and exciting environment to learn was built. It helped the children to understand the ethics to be followed and security to be taken care of while using online media. Overall, it was an interesting and lively session which was enjoyed by the children thoroughly.

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), also known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement and campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables (Dalits). He was independent India's first Minister of Law and Justice, and the chief architect of the Constitution of India. Ambedkar Jayanti or Bhim Jayanti is an annual festival observed on 14 April to commemorate the memory of B. R. Ambedkar. It marks Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's birthday who was born on 14 April 1891. Since 2015 it has been observed as an official public holiday throughout India. Sahlom Hills celebrated Ambedkar Jayanti by apprising the students of this great son of India. Information related to B.R. Ambedkar was read out to the students before commencing with the virtual classes.

“The process of handwriting promotes clear thought and natural structure.” Handwriting contributes to reading fluency because it activates visual perception of letters. Writing improves understanding. A good hand-writing can beautify the whole text material. An English calligraphy competition was organised for Grade IV students on February 28, 2020. The students were provided sheets of paper on which they had to write a given passage on the topic, ‘Keeping our environment clean’. They were judged on the basis of neatness, clarity and beauty of their hand-writing. Best three children were selected from each section. All the students participated with a lot of enthusiasm and tried their best to write as neatly as possible. The activity encouraged the children to develop a beautiful hand-writing

Speed is a measure of how quickly an object moves from one place to another. It is equal to the distance travelled divided by the time. It is possible to find any of these three values using the other two. Mathematics is all about practical application, so the conceptof speed was made clear through an activity in which the students of grade V were requiredto run a distance of 50m in the school ground.A stop watch used to time how long each student took to run the distance. Post the activity, the students were asked to calculate their own speed by using the formula Speed= Distance ÷ Time. It was a fun filled learning experience where as children learnt the concept in a unique and interesting manner. Theyacquired greater clarity about the relation between speed, distance and time.

To develop a scientific approach and make learning Science easy and interesting, the students of grade V participated in the “Science Ability Test” Preliminary Round, Second round and the Final quiz round on 20.02.2020. The main aim of conducting the Science Ability Test was to enhance the basic skills of questioning, prediction, qualitative and quantitative observation and communication. The students enthusiastically participated in the preliminary and Second rounds.Theywere well prepared for the Final round of the quiz and showed a keen interest in reading the questions and answering them. The questions included were more application and conceptual based. The language of the questions also was kept slightly twisted keeping in mind preparation of the children for external competitive exams. It helped them to gain awareness about the given topics. It was an amazing experience for the students to discover the scientific facts in the form of MCQ and quiz. It was a knowledge sharing activity with the children who showed great interest in gaining the same.

Students who cracked the first two rounds of Math Aptitude test appeared for the Quiz. The quiz was presented in an interactive manner and the students enthusiastically participated in it. It commenced with the declaration of the rules and regulations of the competition. There were three teams in total -Team A, B and Team C. The quiz was divided into four rounds Per-Centum Mania, Try Me Out, Solve the Puzzle and Rapid Fire Round. Students participated with enthusiasm and zeal and tried their level best to win the quiz. It was a great learning experience for the students. All the participants showed their skills and gave the prompt answers. At the end, Team C won the competition. Everyone applauded the winners. The Quiz was a fruitful step to enhance their logical and reasoning skills so that students can confidently appear for the Olympiad exams.

Examinations are one of the ways to evaluate a person’s knowledge and ability. Early exposure to learning and competition builds confidence and sharpens skills which raise one’s level from others on the same platform. Competitive exams also help the students identify their areas of interest and obtain a deeper knowledge of their chosen subjects. Orange Global Olympiad(OGO) is a scientifically designed diagnostic exam to identify the academic strengths of students in the field of Astronomy. Orange Global Olympiads are based on the BLOOM’S TAXONOMY. Students enthusiastically practiced in the online session which was conducted on February 7, 2020, the young Shalomites tried their best to attempt all the questions online. OGO Astronomy exam for classes1 to V consists of scientifically crafted Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Each question merits one mark. The participants were well prepared for the online examination which was scheduled on February13, 2020. Our young minds with full scientific temperament and problem solving attitude attempted the questions to the best of their abilities and knowledge. Overall, it was a great learning experience for our young Shalomites to develop competitive spirit and achieve higher learning goals.

Students who cracked the first two rounds of Math Aptitude test appeared for the Quiz. The quiz was presented in an interactive manner and the students enthusiastically participated in it. It commenced with the declaration of the rules and regulations of the competition. There were three teams in total -Team A, B and Team C. The quiz was divided into four rounds Per-Centum Mania, Try Me Out, Solve the Puzzle and Rapid Fire Round. Students participated with enthusiasm and zeal and tried their level best to win the quiz. It was a great learning experience for the students. All the participants showed their skills and gave the prompt answers. At the end, Team C won the competition. Everyone applauded the winners. The Quiz was a fruitful step to enhance their logical and reasoning skills so that students can confidently appear for the Olympiad exams.

“I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way” -Whitney Houston Shalom Hills International School is committed to its mission of promoting quality education by adopting innovative ways of teaching. In sync with the same mission and making it a pleasurable journey for the students, “MUN 2020- CHANGE THE WORLD”, was held on 29 and 30 January in Class V. MUN as an educational simulation encourages students to learn about diplomacy, international relations and United Nations. The sessions aimed at informing the students about the agenda and the proceedings. They were asked to research on the agenda ‘Water Conservation’ and get an understanding of it. The students were further explained the key points that would be helpful at the time of doing research for their agenda. This activity not only tests the skills of diplomacy, research and negotiation but also equips the young minds to think about resolving global issues which can make the world a better place to live. The essential skills which children gain through MUN helps them to convert the challenge into an opportunity and thereby help them to decide their own future and for the humanity as a whole. We can aptly say that “When power narrows the area of man’s concern, co – curricular activities remind us of the richness and diversity of our existence”.

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ...”. The students of grade V participated in report writing activity on any one “Natural Phenomena” conducted on 27th January 2020. Students were explained about different Natural Phenomena. They were asked to bring pictures and information on any one Natural Phenomena. Studentscollected information and wrote a report on a particular natural disaster to share with the class. The main aim of conducting the activity was to know the structure ofthe Earth and the different Natural Disasters.The students learnt about various types of natural disasters, including hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes, heat waves, etc. Additionally, the students participated in a discussion about which natural disasters occurredin Florida and how people were affected by them. The activity left them curious and they wanted to know more about hidden facts of other Natural Disasters. The linguistic, logical, Spatial, Kinesthetic, reasoning, logical and Interpersonal skills were enhanced with this activity. It was a knowledge sharing activity with the children who showed great interest in gaining the same.

The Solar system and its exhibits are wondrous and mind boggling. The students of grade IV were captivated by these facts of the celestial world and hence as a recap of their learning a ‘Best out of Waste’ activity, in the form of a presentation of the Solar system was conducted on 27th& 28thJanuary, 2020. The students made beautiful and artistic models of the solar system using waste and recycled materials such as paper mache, aluminium foil, bangles etc. The students thoroughly enjoyed the activity as they listened to one another’s facts about the solar system. They came forward and spoke a few lines on their favourite planet too. The activity ended in a beautiful display of the models and the classrooms turned out to be colourful miniature planetariums. This activity enhanced the artistic and linguistic skills of the students.The activity was completed within the given time with a quick recap of the names of the eight major planets and their unique features.

Children are imminent citizens; hence it becomes vital to entrench patriotism in their heart and mind from childhood. Observing this thought in mind, the 71th Republic day was celebrated on 25.01.20 by a special nationalistic assembly with full gusto in the school premises. The programme commenced by seeking the Almighty’s blessing, followed by the mission, vision and national pledge. The students then presented a glimpse of the News Report from the 1950’s acknowledging the various important events that have left a mark all around the world even to this today. A national day program would be imperfect without any patriotic performances and hence there was a patriotic medley and a patriotic dance on ‘Jashn-a Samvidhan’. Keeping in mind the current and severe situation of the environment the students also performed a monologue on ‘My Earth’, wherein basically mother earth was pleading for help and stoppage of exploitation to save mankind. The school Vice Principal appreciated the students for their insightful performances. He motivated the students to act upon the constitutional norms enlisted, andpledgeto act towards the betterment of the society.

The Pariksha Pe Charcha program was shown to Grade 9 students on January 20, 2020 in their respective classes. The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed a selected audience of students, teachers and parents at the event in New Delhi. It was watched with enthusiasm and much appreciated by all the students and teachers of SHIS. Shri Modi said that the students should look at technology as a friend; although he cautioned them that the students should not let it control their lives. The PM suggested that co-curricular activities were very necessary for students and advised students of classes X, XI and XII to invest at least 15 minutes in a day to do something different apart from studies. He said that morning is the best time of the day to study and learn since the mind is healthy and fresh and one should sense the nature and make time for study as per one’s biological clock and comfort. The Prime Minister stated that he was addressing students who would play a key role in India’s development in the year 2047 which would mark a hundred years since Independence. He wished that the students of today would try to do something in their lives rather than try to become someone. He hoped that when the nation would mark 75 years of independence, all Indians would buy everything that was made in India and that the current generation would take upon itself to act on the Fundamental Duties enshrined in the Indian Constitution

A bar chart or bar graph is a chart or graph that presents categorical data with rectangular bars with heights or lengths proportional to the values that they represent. Categorical data is a grouping of data into discrete groups, such as months of the year, age group, shoe sizes, and animals. These categories are usually qualitative. To give more practice, students of grade V were asked to represent their PA II marks with the help of labelled bar graph on graph paper. They were asked to draw bars vertically or horizontally. Students enjoyedthis activity because they were excited to see their marks in the form of Bars. Thus this simple activity helped them to understand the concept of bar graph more clearly and evidently.

Emotive moments, lingering memories and million-dollar looks were the hallmarks of the farewell party organized for students of Grade XII. This beautiful event was organized by our talented grade XI students. Commencing with a welcome song,the cultural bonanza included energetic performances by grade XI students. More fun rolled out as the host batch invited their senior grade teachers to give delightful titles which were most thoughtfully and wittily penned down for each student of the outgoing batch. It was a nostalgic moment of celebration and giving blessings to the outgoing batch. Most surprising element of the farewell was when grade XII students gave titles to their teachers, to convey their love for them and express their gratitude for their dedicated efforts and guidance in preparing them. Based on the ramp walk by the dressed gentlemen and ladies of grade XII, many titles were awarded. The highlight was the announcement of Mr.Kenneth and MissParleen as the Mr. Shalom and Ms. Shalom respectively

An activity on conjunction was conducted in all sections of Grade3 on 17th January 2020.Flash cards were kept on the table and the students had to come one by one to pick up aflash card. They were asked to frame sentences using the conjunction whose flash card they had picked up. Most of the students were able to frame the sentences on their own. Before the activity a discussion also took place on the different conjunctions along with examples. The students did this activity with a lot of enthusiasm. This activity helped the students to get a better understanding of the concept of conjunctions. The activity also helped to encourage creative thinking among the students.

Christmas waves a magic wand over the world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. The much awaited festival of Christmas was celebrated with fervour and zeal by conducting a Special Morning Assembly on 24^thDecember 2019 by the students of Class IV G & H in the school auditorium.The assembly commenced with the Lord’s Prayer and Shloka, Shalom’s Mission and Vision, My pledge, Thought of the Week, Word of the Day, International, National and Sports News along with the Day’s Weather Report. Anika,Shreyas,Aayush andKrishaanchored the assembly. All the students of the class participated in the assembly. Students shared facts and information about Christmas Day celebrations. They showcased their talent with amesmerizing enactment of Nativity Play showing how Jesus Christ was born followed by a very energetic and wonderful dance performance.

 

Students actively participated in the assembly while the audience thoroughly enjoyed the session. All the students together sang their favouriteChristmas carol‘Jingle Bells’ and enjoyed the whole assembly .The assembly was concluded with the Shalom Anthem followed by National Anthem

“Silver bells, Silver bells, it’s Christmas time in the city”, and just like the songs of this carol, it was time to celebrate Christmas in the school too! So the students of grade V on 24th December 2019 presented a special assembly showcasing the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The assembly began with the nativity scene that focused on Angel Gabriel bringing the good news to Mary, the mother of Jesus followed by the manger scene where Jesus was born and the wise men from the Middle Eastern countries and shepherds from the countryside came to visit him. The students concluded the assembly with a short choreography performed on two songs ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’. The students unveiled a spectacular assembly in a short time frame of about a week with the help of their class teachers. A wonderful work of preparing the choir students, who sang a carol for each scene of the nativity play, was done by KC Sir from the music department.
At the end all the students of grade V sang ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ cheerfully wishing their friends and teachers greetings of the season. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the spirit of Christmas and the joy of sharing.

The month of sharing and caring can never be complete without the Christmas revelries. On 24thDecember 2019, the Christmas assembly was celebrated with fun, frolic and laughter complementing the fervor of the festivities, by the students of grades IXC and IXD.
It started with the address by the Principal wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. He urged the Shalomlites to make resolutions both as individuals and as members of the society.Heencouraged the students to make every festival meaningful not for one but for all. The assembly commenced with all the conventions of thought and word of the day, followed by news- international, national, sports and weather. As the theme of the assembly was ‘Power of Payer’, Aanjaneya IXD recited two motivating verses from the Bible to highlight the efficacy of prayers.The main attraction of the assembly was the mime on the theme itself and the mesmerizing dance performance at the end.
Nevertheless, Santa’s entry was overwhelming for all. The assembly was praised by one and all. Finally, after the assembly there was a food fest organised for the students. The students stood heart to heart and hand in hand rejoicing with reflection, relishing and crafting memories that will last forever.

Christmas is a religious and cultural festival celebrated annually by the Christian community to commemorate the birthday of Jesus Christ. It falls on 25th of December every year and is celebrated with zeal and zest across the world. The celebration of the Christmas starts about four weeks before the Christmas Day and ends on 12th day of the Christmas. The tradition of celebrating Christmas varies from region to region. People distribute gifts, Christmas cards, organize feasts, sing Christmas carols and songs on the occasion.
As part of exploring world cultures, being a global village and inculcating tolerance among the young ones, thestudents of SHIS celebrate all major festivals. The halls of the middle-wing reverberated with the Christmas spirit as the children grades III, IV and V sang Carols. From each dynasty fifteen students were selected. All the students performed wonderfully on the stage. The judging criteria were based on discipline, overall presentation, rhythm and tune. The result of Carol Singing Competition was:
Class III – Ebony
Class IV – Maple
Class V - Ebony

As Christmas is a festival of fun, laughter and food, so to enjoy this festival season dynasty wise cooking without fire competition was conducted for the students of class III to V.. The children had already been informed in advance to bring the necessary ingredients/materials for the activity. All the children enthusiastically took part in the activity.
Some children made bhelpuri, some made sandwiches,a few made special chaats like nachos chaat.A few creative ones were seen making biscuit pudding whereas others made different kinds of salads. The sutdents of every classroom displayed many yummy and innovative dishes. The students had also given special names to their creations calling them Crunchy Monaco’s, Sunday delight Smoothie etc. The children were very proud of their creations and were eager for others to taste their dishes. In the end five dishes from each section were declared as the winning dishes based on the presentation and taste of their dish.
The students participated in the competition with great enthusiasm. It was a learning experience for all about our rich Indian culture and values.They shared their food with eachother and enjoyed the activity

Many shapes are not basic shapes like rectangles, triangles, and circles that we have formulas for. Area plays an important role in modern mathematics.There are times when you need to find the area of a shape that is not a regular shape. To find the area of irregular shapes, the first thing to do is to divide the irregular shape into regular shapes that you can recognize such as triangles, rectangles, circles, squares and so forth...
To clear this concept, students were asked to calculate area of a hand or fist. Students were asked to trace the outline of their hand or fist. Usually on a grid we can find squares of side 1 cm each. Hence, the area of each square is 1 sq. cm. Since the side length is 1, it is also called a unit square and its area is given in sq. units. While calculating the area of such shapes always first count the full squares. Any part which is more than half can be counted as 1.Leave out the parts which are less than half. In this way, students can find the area of any shape by counting square on the graph.Students were asked to do same after explanation.
Thus, this simple activity helped them to understand the concept of finding area of irregular shapes without applying any particular formula of area.

“Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.”

The phases of moon, is an astronomical phenomenon.The moon changes its size and shape due to the light from the sun.It was a reinforcement session in a fun way method which was conducted in Grade V to help the young scientists to do some actual observation of the moon and how it changes throughout the month, and then record what they see.
The enthusiastic learners participated and made different phases of the moon which included waning,gibbous,quarter,crescent,new moon and full moon. The students were also enlightened about the facts pertaining to the topic such as how, when, where and why this phenomenon takes place in our solar system.
The activity proved to be helpful to them as they could understand the Lunar month,the rotation and the revolution of Moon around the Earth.This was indeed a very good learning and enriching experience for the students

“Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.”

The phases of moon, is an astronomical phenomenon.The moon changes its size and shape due to the light from the sun.It was a reinforcement session in a fun way method which was conducted in Grade V to help the young scientists to do some actual observation of the moon and how it changes throughout the month, and then record what they see.
The enthusiastic learners participated and made different phases of the moon which included waning,gibbous,quarter,crescent,new moon and full moon. The students were also enlightened about the facts pertaining to the topic such as how, when, where and why this phenomenon takes place in our solar system.
The activity proved to be helpful to them as they could understand the Lunar month,the rotation and the revolution of Moon around the Earth.This was indeed a very good learning and enriching experience for the students

Prepositions are words usually used in front of nouns or pronouns and they show the relationship between the noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence.
The teacher organized a mini game of prepositions like-under, below, beside, into, between, in, to, on, and with.The students followed instructions with reference to the prepositions. Eg- Sit on the chair. Stand between the chairs. Stand in front of the door. Plan amongst yourselves. The students were able to give some more examples of their own too.
The students took part in the activity with great eagerness and enthusiasm. They were able to frame sentences also using prepositions.This activity helped them to understand the concept of preposition easily and more clearly .

“Every right implies a responsibility; Every opportunity, an obligation, Every possession, a duty.”

John D. Rockefeller

On 16th December, 2019 an activity was conducted in grade V as a recap to the topic learnt by the students about ‘Our Rights and Duties’. As a citizen of India, we are entitled to certain rights as well as obliged to certain duties. It is our duty as responsible citizens that we abide by these laws and carry out our duties. Similarly, knowledge of our fundamental rights is important so as to prevent injustice.
The students reinforced their learning through an individual activity by making a concept chart of the different rights and duties of the citizens. The students used their creativity to demonstrate different rights and duties and showed beautiful and self-explanatory details of the same. The creative and fine motor skills of the students were refined. The students developed an understanding and became aware of what human rights are and how are they related to our duties. The activity was completed with a quick recap of the definition of rights and duties along with the role oftoday’s generation in performing and respecting the same.

As per the CBSE mandate, the students of Shalom Hills International School performed the“The Expression Series On Water Conservation” activity. The activity was divided into two categories Paragraph writing or Painting for classes III, IV and V. The topics were-‘I am a Water Savior’ or ‘Be Water Wise’. The students came prepared with their colors and the content they had to write. Their preparation showed their in-depth research and emotionally connect with the said topic. It is our responsibility to conserve this life nectar. It is possible only by changing our outlook towards this wonderful natural resource. We must ensure that there is no pollution of water bodies by dumping any waste such as sewage, effluents and other toxic substances. This was a very good initiative by the CBSE to create awareness among the young citizens. They enjoyed the activity very much showing their creativity, knowledge and ways and means to save water and be conscious users

Adventure activities offer a number of physical and mental health benefits. They improve the immune system, help to stay mentally sharp, spark the desire to explore more, and encourage coping up with the challenges of life. Keeping these points in view Shalom Hills international school organized a day-long excursion for the children of grades 2 and 3 on 12th December 2019at Camp Tikling, village Gairatpur, Sohna Road, Gurugram. The morning was full of excitement and joy with glowing faces of children rejoicing in the company of friends and teachers. The bright sunshine and lush green lawns welcomed one and all. After a sumptuous breakfast, the camp kept the students on their toes throughout the day with fun-filled activities and sports like-Climbing, Alpha Cross, Burma Bridge, Hamster Wheel, Zipline and many others. The children also enjoyed camel cart riding as well as a tractor ride. They made small clay pots on the potter’s wheel and danced toa DJ with great energy. It was a wonderful day for the students and teachers. On reaching school everyone had a big smile on their faces indicating they had great fun. The children had a splendid day in the association of friends.

Theme: International Day for the People with Disability

 

The Students of Class- IV F presented the Morning Assembly on 11th December ‘19 in the primary wing assembly area. The assembly commenced with warming up exercises followed by the Lord’s Prayer and Shloka, Shalom Mission and Vision, My pledge, thought of the Day, Word of the Day, International, National and Sports News along with the Day’s Weather Report. Yuvraj and Anay anchored the assembly. The theme of the assembly was to celebrate the International Day for the people with Disability. The students presented facts and information about when and how the International Day for the People with Disability is celebrated. They spoke about the role of U. N. for giving themes each year to celebrate this day. They shared information about famous personalities who became successful despite their disabilities. Students presented a beautiful poem ‘ I am Included’ to talk about what exactly the disabled people want to convey to all of us. Students actively participated in the assembly and the audience thoroughly enjoyed this informative session. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem followed by the National Anthem.

We often buy things and then we get money bills of the items. The shopkeeper gives us a bill containing information about what we purchase. Different items purchased by us, their rates and the total amount are mentioned in the bill. Moreover, bills are used everywhere in our day to day life. To understand how to make a bill and its importance, an activity related to making of a bill was conducted in class V.Students were given a specific problem of bill making. The problem required them to make the bill in the proper format on a given sheet. They mentioned the required details on the bill. They wrote the items bought, their specific quantities, their rate and the final amount of each item. They added the amounts of all the items and gave the final amount. In this activity, addition and multiplication was involved. Students enjoyed this activity a lot as they could relate it with their practical experiences.

Motivation has to be inbuilt in our youth today to help them prosper in the future and have an advanced understanding of excelling in their life and imbibing ethics. ‘The Interview’ activity was conducted to guide students to know about the young motivating personalities and their contribution to today’s growth for mankind and the environment. The students were suggested to see various channels like BBC, CNN, Democracy Wall, etc., and observe the communications to frame an idea of developing a questionnaire, conversational context, and authenticity. The students picked up great personalities like HaaziaKazi who designs the machine called ERVIS to collect plastics from the ocean; KavyaVignesh who has invested a robot to save trees; SikatoMondal inventor of garbage collecting device; JonnaVenkataKarthik bringing digital newspapers; and many more such personalities. The personalities presented by the students tell a lot about their intuition and a vision towards their duties. Their overall work was palpable, beholding into the current scenarios and exceptional. The students represented an inclusive message-“Everything we do now, controls what we do next.”

An English activity- ‘PPT on Authors and Poets’, based on the syllabus, was held for the students of Grade VII in their respective classes on October 31, 2019. The students were asked a week prior to gather information and make a powerpoint presentation on poets/authors related to the syllabus of their book. They were divided into 5-6 teams of 4-5 members each and were asked to make the PPT and present their work in the class. The students enjoyed the activity and their oratory skills and teamwork were enhanced. They were able to come closer to the life of many poets and authors and understand their works in an effective manner. It was a fun-filled activity which was a display of peer learning with a healthy spirit of competition.

CBSE observed the birth anniversary of SardarVallabhbhai Patel as ‘RashtriyaEktaDiwas’ (National Unity Day). The occasion provided the students an opportunity to re-affirm the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand the actual and potential threats to the unity, integrity and security of our country. In keeping with the CBSE circular, Shalom hills International school celebrated the National Unity Day on 31 October, 2019 in a befitting manner. The students pledged their allegiance to their country by upholding the unity and integrity of the nation. They resolved to contribute in the harmony and progress of the country. The students took the oath with full faith and vigour.

The Students of Classes-V D and IV E presented Morning Assembly on 25th October 2019 in the middle wing auditorium. The assembly commenced with warm-up exercises followed by the Lord’s Prayer and Shloka, Shalom Mission and Vision, Pledge, Thought of the Day, Word of the Day, International, National and Sports News along with the Day’s Weather Report. The assembly was compered by BhaavyaRastogi and DheryaBansal of grade V. “Think about the future and celebrate pollution free Diwali. Diwali comes to eliminate darkness and fill our life with happiness.” The objective was to teach children how to celebrate clean and pollution-free Diwali. 'Deepawali' a festival of lights is celebrated with joy. A beautiful Ramayan act was presented by the students of IV E to highlight the feeling of Diwali. At the end, ShikharArora presented a beautiful poem laying emphasis on the importance of clean and a green Diwali. Students actively participated in the assembly while the audience thoroughly enjoyed the session. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem followed by the National Anthem.

Lights illuminate every corner of India during Diwali and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. The celebration of Diwali, 'The festival of lights' came alive at Shalom Hills International School, Gurgaon on the 25th of October when the whole school donned a festive look with Diyas and lanterns adorning the reception and corridors of the schools. In order to bring out the creative talents of students and celebrate the Festival of Lights in its true spirit, activities like, Diya decoration, cleanliness drive, slogan making activity, rally on "Say No to Plastics", etc. were held from 21st October to 25th October 2019 for the students of classes 1 to 5. On 24th October, there was a "Sharing Light Activity" in which students showed their respect for the housekeeping staff, lady guard, drivers, and conductor by giving diyas which were decorated by them. Bursting of crackers on the occasion of Diwali leads to Air Pollution, Noise Pollution, and Land Pollution. It becomes an injurious threat to human health and the environment. To encourage the students to opt for a greener Diwali. On 23rd October Students of class III advocated the message “Let’s spread love not the smoke.” Students displayed slogans placards to celebrate ‘Eco-friendly Diwali.’ A special Diwali Fiesta was organized for the students of classes 1 to 5. The students came dressed in traditional attire and danced to popular songswhile enjoying the food. There was an air of festivity everywhere. All the students enjoyed the Diwali celebrations and had a fun-filled day. The students were given a traditional welcome. They were also informed about the significance of the festival. It was sheer pleasure and a great experience for all our students.Such celebrations bring happiness and togetherness among the students and also inculcate the spirit of sharing and giving in them.

Older people have always played a significant role in society, as leaders, caretakers, and custodians of tradition. The International Elderly day is celebrated for raising awareness about issues affecting the elders. It is also a day to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society. In order to inculcate love and respect in the young minds for their elders; a morning assembly on the International elderly day was conducted by the students of class VC. The assembly started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the shloka. The anchors of the assembly were Bhakti and Ananya. Assembly continued with the school’s mission & vision, word of the day, thought for the week and news headlines. Monal and Saachi recited a beautiful poem on Elders and their importance. Krisha and Nayab informed more about this day through their speech. The assembly concluded with all the students taking an oath to respect and care for their elders. Finally, the Shalom Anthem and the National Anthem were sung with full fervor.

Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: It is about UNDERSTANDING and UTILIZATION. Quiz activity helps to assess the mathematical skills, proficiency, and aptitude of the students. It also promotes many good qualities like teamwork, problem-solving skills, time management, patience, etc. In order to test the knowledge of the basic concepts, a Math quiz was organized in all the sections of class V. The quiz was presented in an interactive manner and the intelligent minds answered the questions with enthusiasm, wisdom, and confidence. Their involvement was remarkable. All the students actively participated in the Quiz. Students thoroughly enjoyed the fun-filled learning activity and spent their day with experiential learning. This simple activity was a recap of all the topics which we have done till now.

“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” The students of grade V participated in a Science Activity on “Simple Machine” conducted on 11th October 2019. The main aim of conducting the activity was to know the meaning, purpose and various types of simple machines that form an integral part of our day to day life.A simple machine is a device that makes our work easier, faster and more convenient. The students explained different types of simple machines like lever, inclined plane, pulley, wheel – axle and wedge with the help of attractive props. Students could come to know their importance and use also. The activity left them curious and they wanted to know more about various other types of simple machines in their life. This activity enhanced the major skills comprising linguistic, logical, spatial, kinesthetic and interpersonal skills. It was a knowledge-sharing activity for the children who exhibited great interest in gaining the same.

Shalom Hills International School organized the Sanskarshala activity of Dainik Jagran Newspaper in the month of October. In Sanskarshala, different moral values stories are published which are read to students in the assembly. Apart from story reading, there are other activities too. In today’s world where values are going astray, such activities are an effort to make sure that Shalomites do not forget the true essence of being human. The Principal addressed the assembly and asked the students to inculcate these morals in their daily lives. This effort was well appreciated and the event, along with the Principal’s speech was published in the Dainik Jagran News Paper.

“In a gentle way you can shake the World.” – Mahatma Gandhi”
Gandhi Ji, a humble man who led the nation to envisage a ‘Free India’ was born on 2nd October, 1869 in Porbandar. This day is now celebrated as ‘Gandhi Jayanti’ throughout India and to celebrate this occasion in our school, the young Shalomitesof grade VA presented a special class assembly on 3rd October, 2019 on the topic ‘Life of Mahatma Gandhi.
The assembly began with the Lord's Prayer followed by Shloka, Pledge of the Day, Thought of the day, and Vision and Mission of the school. Three students came forward and presented the news headlines that comprised the International and Sports News and the Weather Report. This was followed by a few lines spoken by Shirinon Gandhi Ji’s early life and what inspired him to struggle for India’s independence.
The performances by the students included some inspirational quotes given by Gandhi Ji, enactment of a day from Gandhi Ji’s life that lead to the famous Dandi March anda short dance performed with the intent of encouragingthe audience to be strong and courageous like ‘Bapu’. Later walked in the three famous symbols associated with Mahatma Gandhi i.e., the three monkeys who gave a humorous yetsombermessage saying ‘Never speak Evil, Never See Evil and Never Listen to Evil’.
The assembly ended with the students singing the Shalom anthem and the National anthem. The hard work of the students resulted in a captivating assembly that was appreciated by all.

“Festivals promote diversity, they are one of the various channels of communications, they increase creativity, they offer opportunities for civic pride, and they improve our general psychological well-being. In short, they make cities a better place to live.”
Celebrating events and festivals in schools has become an integral part of learning and building a strong cultural belief in a child. Such celebrations bring students closer to traditional and cultural beliefs. It is also a great approach to teach children about their culture.
To imbibe all these values in the Shalomites, Shalom Hills International School celebrated Dussehra with great zeal and fervor. The school organized the ‘Dandiya Celebration’ along with ‘Dusshera Craft’ activities for the students of the primary wing. The Celebration started by showing a video on Dusshera to instill the children with the message of “The Victory of Good over Evil”. Then the students made creative and beautiful effigies of Ravana using colorful pastel sheets.
The celebration ended with the children enjoying the festivities through a ‘Dandiya Dance’. Children were given a special take away craft to cherish this special day on their way back home. Everyone seemed to be in a state of absolute bliss.

“Language is the soul of mankind.”
On 4th October, 2019, Grade III – V, participated in the Hindi HasyaKavita activity in the dynasty period.
The competition aimed at encouraging creativity and aesthetic sense in the participants and showcasing their innate abilities. All the students enthusiastically gave their best performance. The topics for the poems were wide-ranging from exams, class, and books to even fashion. The poetry was a pack of emotional punch that created a wave of giggles and smiles, which spread all through the day in the class. It enhanced the usage of Hindi, emotional development and rhythmic abilities.
Students were judged on the parameters of confidence, content, voice modulation, the props used and their overall presentation. The competition inspired the children to come forward and recite on stage. A variety of interesting rhymes with good introduction of themselves had flown in a melody from the young ones.
The students enjoyed immensely. It was an enriching experience for everyone present.

The students of Class- V B presented the Morning Assembly on 10th October 2019 in the primary wing assembly area. The assembly commenced with warming up exercises followed by the Lord’s Prayer and Shloka, Shalom Mission and Vision, the pledge, thought of the day, word of the day, International, National and Sports News along with the day’s weather report.

Annant Jain and PranjalArora anchored the assembly with the entire class participating in the assembly. Priya and Ayesha recited a poem on respecting and taking care of Elderly People. Riyanshi shared information and attempted to create awareness related to the theme. The WHO has been reiterating that there is an increase in the number of older people at a great speed in the developing countries, with Asia as the region with the largest number of older persons and Africa facing the largest proportionate growth.If our ambition is to “Build the Future We Want”, we must address the population over 60 which is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030.

Students actively and enthusiastically participated in the assembly. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem followed by the National Anthem.

The students of class V actively participated in the activity on ‘Multiplication of Fractions’. This activity helped the students discover what happens visually and symbolically when we multiply two fractions together.

The activity started by presenting a question such as 3/4 x 5/8. The students were asked to fold the square in such a way as to represent three-fourth. Then the students were told to color the section that would highlight the three-fourth. Then they were guided to rotate the sheet and fold again from another side into eight equal parts. The students represented three-fourth by using a different color and five-eighth by a different colour. At this point, the students looked at their squares and had a discussion about the meaning of the section that is colored in twice, which represents three-fourth of five-eighth.
This activity based learning not only imparted mathematical skills but indirectly helped them in taking instructions and working together of mind and body. The major advantage of such activities is that its sparks a connection in the neurons of the brain to help with processing and retention of new information.

A quizon the lesson ‘Cop and the Anthem’ washeldfor the students of Grade VII in their respective classes on September 27, 2019.
The students were asked to read the chapter ‘Cop and the Anthem’ from the supplementary reader two days prior. They were divided into threeteams andasked several questions from the chapter. Each team got three chances to answer the questions.
The students enjoyed the activity and their reading skills and skills of comprehension were enhanced with this quiz. They were able to understand the meaning of the phrases used and many new words in a more effective manner.
It was a fun filled activitywhich was a display of peer learning with a healthy spirit of competition.

An activity was conducted for the students of Grade VI on September 27, 2019. It was based on the lesson ‘A Different Kind of School’. The students were divided into four teams. From each team one student was asked to face the wall and other team members gave clues in proper sentences to describe the student, whose name was given by the other team. The student facing the wall got three chances to guess the name of the student. The activity was repeated with all the teams and every student got a chance to participate.
Every child was full of enthusiasm and displayed good teamwork. The students enjoyed the activity.

“Spelling is essential because it aids in reading. It helps cement the connection that is shared between the sounds and letters.”

Learning is a never-ending process and the competitive field gives a greater approach to the children to accordingly work upon their skills. The spelling competition not only provides a valuable educational experience to the children but also allows them to engage in healthy competition. Keeping this thought in mind SHIS organized a ‘Spell Bee Competition’ for the students of Grade-V on30thSeptember 2019. The activity aimed at creating awareness of the possibilities of using varied words in oral and written expression and to add words to the active vocabulary of students. The event was held to enable all the students to reconfirm and acknowledge for themselves their ability to spell a vast and commonly used vocabulary, both in spoken and written English in the correct sequence.

The competition made students aware of spellings and the usage of many unfamiliar words. It was a wonderful learning experience for the participants and served to enrich their vocabulary bank. The students participated in earnestly in the competition. Their efforts and initiative were appreciated by one and all.

Learning with fun is the best experience that can ever happen to anyone.
Experiential learning brings together observation, creativity and active interactions. It allows children to see the purpose and to enjoy their learning experience. The aim of today’s activity was to ignite young Shalomites’ mind on how to transform their ideas into reality and imagination into facts. The demonstration developed keenness and excitement among young learners. Learning by doing enabled the students to understand how levers are the most common simple machines which have helped man from ancient times to perform heavy tasks easily. It was also well elucidated and described that the position of the effort, fulcrum and load obviously affect how much weight a lever can lift. Authentic experiences and real life examples were embedded into the science concepts allowing for deep and fun based learning. The focus is on working towards making all learners independent and ultimately in charge of their own learning. The activity was conducted with a view to make learning fun while explaining the use of simple machines in our day to day life and howtheir application reduces the effort.

Students of Grade V-G conducted the morning assembly on 26th September 2019 on the theme “International Literacy Day”. The assembly began with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the Shloka and school’s vision and mission. The narrators of the assembly were Zoha, Pragati and Anmol Tyagi. The assembly continued with the thought and word of the week. The news headlines, both National and International were read followed by sports News and the weather report telling how we are going to be surprised with the change of weather this month. The participation of the class was 100% in the assembly.

Pragati and Zoha discussed and explained about the International Literacy Day. They informed that the ICP promotes International Literacy Day because literacy is a basic human right. September 8 was declared as International Literacy Day by UNESCO in 1965. The aim of the day is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. Twenty students shared different facts, related to Literacy Day, with the audience.

 Deeshita and Saras Mishra recited English and Hindi poem based on the importance of literacy.

The students also made posters and slogans for the same. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem and the National Anthem.

Shalom Hills International School organized “Swachhta Pakhwada”, a cleanliness campaign for students of grades 1 to 12 on 2^nd Sept. 2019. The students took part in this campaign with great zest and zeal. Following the CBSE guidelines the students took the Swachhata Shapath, under the supervision of the Vice Principal and Headmistress.

The school and students sincerely pledged their great support for this campaign.

A Colouring contest was organised by Tokidoki, a New York based Company in association with Primary Plus. Two students from Shalom Hills International School-JatinKarkra of Class 3-G andMairaAhmarof Class 3-C emerged as the winners of the contest and received a wonderful gift on 23^rd September2019.

The studentswere very happy to receive the gifts.This contest gave the students a platform to showcase their artistic talentand motivated other students to participate in the various contestsorganised in school.

To reinforce the information on animals given in their chapter and help them understand various types of vertebrates, an activity was conducted in class IV on 23^rdSeptember, 2019.

The students were divided into six groups of 5-6 students each. Each student brought 2different types of animals from each animal group of vertebrates (fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) and meticulously pasted them on chart papers. Not only did they add colours to their presentation but also applied knowledge by labelling the names of different animal groups and describing their special features. They completed the activity within the given time frame under the guidance of their respective science teachers. The activity emphasised and widened their thinking and observational skills due to which they were able to identify various types of vertebrates and their habitat.

The students participated in the activity cheerfully and finally concluded the activity with a quick recap of the definition of vertebrates and their examples.

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” Reading and Speaking are the basic elements of interaction.

On 13 September, Reading Activities were conducted for the students of VI-X by English Department of Shalom Hills International School as part of the CBSE initiated Reading Week. The students were required to read the selected prose once and analyse the content on the basis of character, plot, and ending.

All the students showed great interest while doing the activity and presented their views individually. The activity turned out to be interactive and enriching.

Handwriting contributes to reading fluency because it activates visual perception of letters. Writing improves understanding. A good hand-writing can beautify the whole text material. A Hindi calligraphy competition was organised for Grades 3 to 5 students on 20^th September, 2019. The students were given sheets of paper in which they had to write a given passage. The passage given to the students was on Mahatma Gandhi ji. The students wrote the passage neatly on the given sheets. They were judged on the basis of neat and beautiful hand-writing. A few children wrote in print whereas others wrote in cursive. Two children were selected as the best two from each section. 

The activity encouraged the children to develop a beautiful hand-writing.

“There are many little ways to enlarge a child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.” Reading is a good habit and if inculcated at an early age is a constant companion for life. An avid reader might even propose having eight days a week to dedicate one extra day only for reading. Under the CBSE guidelines Shalom Hills International School celebrated the Reading Week wherein the students were encouraged to read. The activity was conducted to promote reading skills among the young scholars. The students of grades I-V read passages from books and explained in their own words what they understood from that. Many of the students read correctly with expression and with correct diction. The students were very supportive and appreciative of their classmates. The students thoroughly enjoyed the activity.

The students of grade II performed a Math activity on Money in the class. A market scene was created in the class. A few students played the role of shopkeepers and others were the buyers. They had dummy money with them. With the help of that money, the students did buying and selling of the things by exchanging the money which they had. The students enjoyed the activity. This activity developed their mental ability and thinking.

Health is Wealth; a very common saying but decides the existence of mankind on earth.
Our honourablePrime Minister NarendraModi on Thursday, 29th August, 2019 launched a nation-wide Fit India Movement. He addressed the people and also administered a ‘Fitness Pledge’. As the campaign aims to encourage people to inculcate physical activity and sports in their everyday lives, the best start would always be with the kids and youth of India.
Shalom Hills International, Gurugram, arranged the live telecast on smart boards for all the students to instill in them the verveto remain fit and healthy and understand its importance as a perquisite to prosper in life.
The Shalomites also took the ‘Fitness Pledge’ of living a healthy and systematic life.

Expression makes a key to bring a change in the existence; and it becomes vital when young students form a part of it, as they are the leaders and future of mankind.

The CBSE Expression Series is an online or offline essay, poem and drawing competition organized by CBSE. The aim of the competition is to make students aware of Indian leaders and their contribution to our country in the past.

As a part of the CBSE Expression Series, Shalom Hills International organized an Essay Writing Competition from 24^th-28^th August 2019 for the students of classes VI-XII in the different classified categories each having two topics to be chosen from.

The CBSE Expression Series aims to make students aware of Indian leaders and their contribution to our country in the past. This timethe Expression Series was based on the life, vision and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. Creative inscription stimulates to develop the core of innovative thinking and also speaks out the views and idealistic measures one wants to initiate to create the much needed nuance for the survival.

The students presented their viewpoints in accordance with the topic and ‘The Father of Nation- Mahatma Gandhi’ .They participated with plethora of pioneering thoughts and zeal to excel not only for themselves but also for humanity.

An activity related to circlewas conducted in grade V on August 27, 2019. The students were asked to measure the length of the boundary of the given circle, known as the “circumference” of the circle.

The students were asked to draw a circle of any radius and start by placing one end of the string against the edge of the circle. Loop the string around the circle and pull it tight. They were instructed to end up with a single loop of stringto reach back to the starting point.The loop of string was then taken and measured on a ruler. This is the part of the string that was wrapped around the circle. The length of this string is the same as the circumference of the circle.The students pasted that piece of thread on the boundary of the circle and noted their measurement as the circumference of the circle.

The students enjoyed doing this activity.It gave them clarity of measuring the perimeter of any curved shape.

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

SHIS organised an Inter-Class Singing Competition on the topic-‘Patriotism’ for the students of class-V, to expose the students to music, while also enhancing their inter-personal, intra-personal and presentation skills. This was an opportunity to teach them the importance of freedom and Independence of our country achieved after greatsacrifices made by our freedom fighters.

The students of grade-V presented melodious songs keeping the spirit of solidarity and love for the country alive through this singing competition. Each section of Grade-V showed their mastery over voice modulation, rhythm and other important aspects of singing. All the classes were eager to emerge victorious, but it was V-A which bagged the first position followed by VD securing the second position. The young scholars of grade -V promoted the message of freedom struggle and its importance in today’s life. The event concluded with the  National Anthem.

What The Father Of Our Nation Means To Me…

His dreams And His Vision For Ram Rajya i.e True Democracy where even “The Worst Kind Of a Human Can Be Sure Of A Just Trial”. 

As part of the CBSE Expression Series, Shalom Hills International organized an Inter Dynasty Competition for the students of Grade III-V based on the topic “What Gandhi Ji Said To Me In My Dream…”  Or “Gandhi Ji is For Me…” on 22^nd August, 2019.

This was a painting or paragraph competition wherein the students had to draw and paint/colour or write a paragraph about what they felt Gandhi ji would want of them as the future of our country.

There were a variety of imaginative thoughts and expectations that the students could envisage that Gandhi ji would want them to do for the good and bright future of their country.

All the students participated in the competition with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm.

A Hindi Olympiad was conducted in Shalom Hills International School on Monday, 19^th August,2019. The students of all the classes from grades 1-11 participated in it with full zeal. It was a wonderful effort to promote the Hindi language and the enthusiasm of students was praiseworthy.

Math is all around us, in everything we do. It is the building block for everything in our daily lives.

Quiz competitions help students to think from a different perspective. They also promote many good qualities like teamwork, problem solving skills, time management, patience etc. In order to test the knowledge of the basic concepts, a Math quiz competition was organized for the finalists of Grade V Math Aptitude Test on 10^th August 2019.

The quiz was interactive and the students enthusiastically participated in it. It commenced with the participants being apprised about the rules and regulations of the competition. There were three teams in total -Team A, B and C. The quiz comprised five rounds. There was negative marking inthe second round only. All the participants showed their skills and gave prompt answers.

In the end, Team B won the competition. Everyone applauded the winners.

It was altogether a productive event for all.

A Subject  Enrichment Activity was conducted in all the sections of grade IX wherein all the students, in groups, prepared power point presentations on the poets they have read the poems of, so far intheir Main Course book-BEEHIVE, like Robert Frost, Coates Kinney, SubramaniaBharti.

The activity included the active participation of all.Each PPT consisted of 6 to 7 slides on their chosen poet and all the members of the group were required to present a slide.

The activity encouraged the researching abilty of students as they gathered information about the mentioned poets from various sources. It also helped to polish the speaking skills of the students and gain confidence.

‘Science is a way of thinking, much more than it is a body of knowledge’.

A Science Ability Quiz was conducted for the students of grade V with the aim of inculcating a spirit of scientific enquiry and analytical thinking in the minds of the young students.It provided a platform for the budding scientists to exchange their thoughts and views.

Each team exuberated confidence as they answered the questions posed to them while being cheered upon by their classmates from the audience. The varied types of questions asked triggered the curious minds and made it a fun and learning event.

The children were brimming with enthusiasm and exuberance as they vied with the other to answer questions that required explanation and reasoning. The eager and enthusiastic participants exhibited their innovative and creative skills in the fun learning competition.

The audience actively participated in the event as the Quizmaster kept them involved by quizzing them as well. The event witnessed enthusiastic preparation and participation. There was much jubilation in the winning teams.

Founders’ Day is extremely important for the school for two reasons: firstly, it is a day on which we celebrate our school’s achievements, individual and collective; secondly, it is an important occasion for the whole school to be together, to do things together, and to remember that we are an important and strong community – the whole is stronger than the sum of its parts. 

TheStudents of grade V C conducted their morning assembly on 8^th August, Thursday on the occasion of Founder’s Day. The assembly started with the Morning Prayer followed by the Hindi Shloka. The anchors of the assembly were Monal and Anika. The assembly continued with the school’s mission & vision, word of the day, thought for the week and news headlines. Akhil along with all the students took the pledge of the day. A mesmerizing dance performance was given by Ananya and Nandini.

Ruhita gave a speech to show gratitude to our beloved MD Ma’am on behalf of all the students.

The assembly ended with the Shalom Anthem.

A factor tree is a tool that breaks down any number into its prime factors. A certain number'sprime factorization is the list of prime numbers or prime factors that you would multiply together to create that certain number. The first step in making a factor tree is to find a pair of factors whose product is the number that we are factoring. These two factors are the first branching in the factor tree. There are often several different pairs of factors that we could choose to begin the process.

An activity to clear the concept was held for the students of grade V. The process was explained to the children and they were asked to make the factor tree of a particular number. The students found this activity an interesting way of finding prime factors. They all began with different factors of their choice.

The students understood the concept and enjoyed the activity.

“India, my India, where first human eyes awoke to heavenly light!

All Asia’s holy place of pilgrimage, great Motherland of Might!”

On the occasion of 72^nd Independence Day Celebration, the young Shalomites of class V-B showcased their patriotic fervour and took pride in glorifying and celebrating the spirit of unity through a Special Assembly organized on 1^st August 2019.

The assembly started with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by a Shlok. The students of the class presented a kaleidoscopic cultural extravaganza showcasing their commitment and dedication towards their nation. A patriotic song, a poem and a presentation showcased the rich Indian Cultural Heritage. The patriotic music along with the students’ enthusiasm was mesmerizing.

An informative talk along with the rendition of the poem by Armaan Pathak,  “Sarfaroshi ki tamannaa ab humare dil mein hai”, invoked the feelings of extreme love for the motherland.

The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem followed by the National Anthem.  The entire class V was soaked in the spirit of festivity and patriotism. It was an elevating and inspiring experience for all.

Theme: ‘I Have Talent’

The students of Class- IV F presented Morning Assembly on 31^st July 2019 in the primary wing assembly area. The assembly commenced with warming up exercises followed by the Lord’s Prayer and Shloka, Shalom Mission and Vision, the pledge, thought of the day, word of the day, International, National and Sports News along with the day’s weather report. Prayash Samal and Yuvraj Dhiman anchored the assembly.  All the students of the class participated in the assembly. The students participated enthusiastically and showcased their hidden talents.

Venya, Paridhi, Kyna, Siddhika sang a beautiful song. Ilvika and Navya gave a mesmerising classical dance performance. Tanishka, Anaya, Nirja and Lipi on folk dance Ghoomar (Rajasthani). They came beautifully dressed up in their costumes. Boys of the class showed their excellent skating skills along with Karate and Taekwondo stunts.

Students actively participated in the assembly and the audience thoroughly enjoyed the session. The assembly was concluded with the Shalom Anthem followed by the National Anthem.

The students of grade IV participated in the Final round of Math Aptitude Test conducted on 31.7.19. The students who qualified from the preliminary round participated in the final round. The syllabus for the test was same as that of preliminary round i.e. “Number and Numeration”, “Addition” and “Basic Subtraction”. This was an objective type test where in 4 options were given and the students were asked to choose the correct answer. Each question was of 1 mark. The test was of 25 marks and was conducted in the zero periods. The doubts related to the syllabus were sorted out a day before the test. The students were well prepared for the test.

Those who will be qualifying the final round, will be participating in Math Quiz.

‘Learn spellings and be a part of something really special.’

To enrich the vocabulary, pronunciation and understanding of words, a Spellathon written activity was conducted for the students of grade 3. Learning and revising spellings helps to cement the connection between letters and their sounds. The students were informed prior to learn spellings from lessons 2 and 3. They were enthusiastic about taking part in the competition. Best four from each section were selected.

The children enjoyed and wrote the spellings of the words asked from them with great enthusiasm. They realized the importance and need to keep working on their spellings and to get to know that reading and keeping an eye out for new words would help them enhance their skills.

Students actively participated in the activity and enjoyed the session.

“ Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words ”

Poetry recitation is a mode of expression, a medium to reflect the talents of the young ones. It is a stepping stone for the young students to develop their verbal skills and to boost their confidence. Recitations are also a great way for the students to be interactive in the class.

Keeping all these things in mind, an inter-class Choral Recitation competition for the students of Grade V was organized on July 30, 2019. Students showed their keen interest and participated in the activity enthusiastically. The activity provided the students with an opportunity to exhibit their talent and also instilled confidence in them for public speaking.

The competition was judged by Ms Vandita Chugh and Ms Amita Deo Singh. Class V A stood first followed by class V G and V E in the second and third positions respectively.

CBSE has formed Hubs of Learning (HOL) for better exchange of resources among the neighbourhoodschools. As the lead school for the collaborative partnership, Shalom Hills International School,organized a Painting Workshop cum Competition to exchange our resources.

Eight students from S D AdarshVidyalaya,six studentseach fromSheetlaVidyaNiketanand SHIS participated in this programme on 20 ^th July 2019. The workshop was on ‘Surrealism Style of Painting’ and the theme of the Painting competition was ‘Free Expression’with 20 studentsfrom grades 4^th to 11^th participating.

Mr. M K Quadri, the Subject Head, conducted the workshop and covered both the practical and theoretical aspects of the topic. Introducing the Leadingartist of the Surreal movement and masterpieces, he focused on the -doodling and scribbling exercise, compositional sense and basic form and shapes, perspective and proportion, colour scheme/ senseof the style.

It was an enriching workshop as the learners learnt new methods, techniques and developed some aesthetic aspects ofFine Arts which they utilized in their painting competition,creating wonderful artworks. Three judges shortlisted the top three artworks in each category.

The results are as follows:

1. Group 1^st to 5^th

- 1^st position: Riddhima Mukherjee, Grade-V, from Shalom Hills International School

- 2^nd Position: ManavPathak, Grade-IV, from S.D. AdarshVidyalaya

- 3^rd Position: Aarti Gupta, Grade- V, from S.D. AdarshVidyalaya

2. Group 6^th to 8th

- 1^st position: GauravYadav, Grade-VIII, fromSheetlaVidyaNiketan

- 2^nd Position: NishantTyagi, Grade-VIII, from S.D. AdarshVidyalaya

- 3^rd Position: Ritesh Sharma, Grade- VII, from S.D. AdarshVidyalaya

3. Group 9^th to 12th

- 1^st position: Vedant Sharma, Grade-IX, fromSheetlaVidyaNiketan

- 2^nd Position: SailinaZenab, Grade-IX, from SheetlaVidyaNiketan

- 3^rd Position: Ishita Sharma, Grade- XI, from Shalom Hills International School

Certificates were awarded to the position holders by the Vice Principal.

It is important to teach children about endangered species because they are the future caretakers of the planet. Through education, children will become aware of endangered animals and learn steps humans can take to save endangered species from extinction. 

A ppt based on the theme - Endangered Terrestrial Species of India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka was shown to the students of grades III, IV and V on 23^rd July 2019. This was done with an objective to prepare the students for the upcoming ISA -Inter Dynasty quiz based on the chosen theme. The ppt had useful information with regards to Nilgiri Tahr, an endangered species of India, Sumatran Tiger of Indonesia, the Borneo Elephant of Malaysia and the Nillu Rat of Sri Lanka.

The aim of giving this information to the students was to sensitize them towards the important task of protecting our endangered species. The more informed a child is, the more conscientious they can be of their impact on the world around them and how they can help improve environmental issues. The students showed a lot of interest in learning about these endangered species. They also asked questions relating to other endangered species found in these regions.

‘This Earth was made for all beings not just human beings.’

Shalom Hills International School organized an ISA -Inter Dynasty English Declamation Competition for the students of Grades-III and IV based on the theme - Endangered Aquatic Species of India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, on 19^th July 2019.

The students were given prior information about the activity and were instructed to bring props related to the endangered species they selected. Each student was encouraged to speak for at least a minute. All the children worked hard and prepared well for this competition. The main objective of the activity was to make the students aware about the endangered aquatic animals of different countries, the reasons for their extinction and measures that can be taken to protect them from extinction.

The inter-personal, intra-personal and creative skills of the students were enhanced. They researched and shared lot of information about the habitat of these species along with the cause of their extinction and ways to control the same. The students also shared the data related to the actual number of these species left in the world.

Almost all of the students made beautiful props with drawing of the aquatic species. They confidently and impressively expressed themselves while showing their concern for extinction of aquatic animals. The students enthusiastically participated in the activity and thoroughly enjoyed it.

“Money doesn’t grow on trees, and trees do not grow on money either!”

Every year the month of June and July is dedicated to celebrate the environment and take a pledge to take steps to work towards its conservation. Following on these lines, the students of grade VA conducted a special assembly on 18^th July, 2019 on the topic ‘Ecofriendly Technologies’.

The assembly began with the routine prayer that was followed by the Shloka. Two students read out the thought of the week. Next in line were two students who proudly presented the vision and mission of our school. This was followed by the news report and weather forecast for the day. Next, five students talked about various ecofriendly technologies being adopted by the various countries, out of which ‘edible cutlery’, ‘UltaChatri’, ‘Water hyacinth used in phytoremediation’, ’Biofuels’ and ‘Solar energy’were of significant importance. These technologies not only help us in reducing the pollution but also to find ways to mend the already created damage on the environment by humans. The assembly ended withall the grade V students pledging to adopt ecofriendly lifestyle ‘choices’. This was followed by the Shalom anthem and National anthem. The assembly was appreciated by all.

On July 18, 2019, the students of class 8, Shalom Hills International School, participated in an exciting English activity – Comic Strip making. The students were asked to work in groups of 5. The methodology and presentation was discussed in class to bring out the best of their creativity. They used prewriting strategies to plan their work. They first decided their characters and the moral and accordingly brain stormed their ideas to create a story. They then began with making the comic strip frames, speech balloons, and characters in pencil.  The students presented their work by assuming the roles of the characters they created. They were encouraged to take on the character’s personality and voice, in which they actually excelled.

This activity inculcated in them the skill of depicting a moral in a funny and pictorial way. It was a fun way of writing and even learning about the literary device ‘Onomatopoeia’. The students did a f-u-n-tastic job on this open-ended dramatic narrative about a recurring set of characters told in a series of drawings.

An intellectual activity related to multiplication was conducted in class V. Children explored the different and interesting ways to do multiplication by making Lattice.The lattice method is an alternative way to do multiplication. The lattice method got its name from using a type of grid with a diagonal crisscross pattern called a lattice. It is a method of multiplying large numbers using a grid. It is algorithmically equivalent to regular long multiplication, but the lattice method breaks the multiplication process into smaller steps, which some students find easier. Digits to be carried are written within the grid, making them harder to miss.

First, the students were asked to draw a grid that has as many rows and columns as the multiplicand and the multiplier.  They were explained about the method of solving it by giving an example. Then they were given some other numbers to multiply on their own using the technique of Lattice multiplication. Students enjoyed a lot and found the easiest andmost interesting way to do multiplication of large numbers.

Class VIII students of Shalom Hills International School presentedNukkadNatak in Rahagiri.Prepared by the Hindi Department, the students highlighted the theme‘Save Our Natural Resources’. Through their engaging and energetic performance, the Students enlightened the people about the importance of trees and water. They gave the message ‘Don’t Waste Water and Grow more Trees’ loud and clear. The Natak was presented by the students with zest and zeal.Everyone enjoyed and appreciatedthe efforts of the studentsandschool.

The students of grade III appeared for the Preliminary round of Math Ability test on 15.7.19. It was an objective type test with application based problems of total 25 marks where in 4 options were given and the students were asked to choose the correct answer/option. Each correct answer was of 1 mark. The syllabus for the same was “Number and Numeration” and “Addition”.

The test was conducted to enhance the logical thinking and problem solving skills of the students. The doubts related to the syllabus were sorted out a day before the test. The students were well prepared for the test and those who will score the best will qualify for the final round.     

‘We all have a responsibility to protect endangered species, both for their sake and for the sake of our own future generations.’

Under the able leadership and guidance of its Founder and Chairperson, Dr. (Mrs) Lilly George, Shalom Hills International School organized an ISA -Inter Dynasty Poster Making Competition for the students of Grades III & V based on the theme - Endangered Amphibian Species of India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, on 12^th July 2019. As the students had been informed a month earlier about the activity they came well prepared for this competition. The activity was conducted with the objective to make the children aware of the endangered species and to sensitize them towards the environment.  The cognitive and creative skills of the students were enhanced as the students explored and gathered information about different endangered species of the above-mentioned countries and the reasons for their getting endangered. The students understood how the extinction of various species is an indication that the ecosystem is not sufficiently protected.

Expressing their concern, the students made beautiful drawings and wrote slogans urging people to protect these beautiful animals from extinction. Their vibrant and colourful posters clearly conveyed the message for saving the different genera. All the students participated in the poster making competition with a lot of enthusiasm.

The Preliminary round of Spell Bee for grade IV was held on 12^th July 2019. The students had been given a list of around 60 difficult words, covering all subjects, to prepare for the spell bee. The spell bee competition was organised as it not only provides a valuable educational experience to the children, but also allows them to engage in healthy competition. Preparation for the ‘Bee’ is a comprehensive learning process that allows children to learn the definition, pronunciation, and roots of the word.

The students had come well prepared for the Spell Bee competition. Each word was repeated twice by the teacher. Many students could correctly write most of the spellings. In a few classes a tie breaker was also conducted when more than one student scored full marks. At the end one child was selected from each class for the final round.

An interesting topic about vertebrates was introduced to the students of grade V. They learnt that organisms that have a backbone or spinal column are called vertebrae. These animals include fish, birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles .To reinforce their learning and the content taught, a role play activity was conducted on 11^th July 2019. Each student was dressed up as an animal/bird of his/her choice and they came forward and spoke a few lines about the chosen animal, its habitat and a few adaptations. The students very with the help of face painting. They completed the activity in the given meticulously and creatively planned their role and it was interesting to see a wide range of species. Some children chose to completely transform themselves into an animal, while others just chose to keep it minimal and expressed themselves time frame under the guidance of their respective science teachers.

It was a fun filled activity where every participant captivated the attention of their fellow classmates. This activity helped to develop the children’s linguistics and naturalistic skills.

With the aim of integrating learning with fun activities, Shalom Hills International School organized an excursion for the students of grades XI & XII to Camp Junga, Shimla form May 27 to 31, 2019.

Filled with excitement the students assembled in the school on May 27 at about 8:30 pm to embark on the adventure trip. The students arrived at the Flag House Resort the next morning. Their first activity was a trek up to the old Junga Fort, the palace of erstwhile Junga Princely State. The second day the children were taken on a river trek and engaged in zip lining. Some students refreshed themselves in the coolness of the river water. This was followed by a night trek under the star lit sky. The final day foud the children enjoying leisure filled day on the mall road of Shimla, shopping for their family members. 

The children returned to school thrilled and exhilarated 

A maths activity ‘BINGO’ was conducted in all the sections of class V on 8^th May’19. After the rules of the activity were explained to the children, they created their own Bingo ticket consisting of four rows and five columns. They were asked to fill the Bingo board using random numbers ranging from 1 to 25 in the Roman numerals. Then some of the Mental Math related problems were given to the students and they were asked to cross that number in their Bingo board. If all the numbers in their ticket were crossed, they had to call it BINGO.

The activity was conducted in a disciplined manner. Those who won were given stars in the performance chart. The children actively participated and enjoyed the activity. The activity helped the children to enhance their mental ability along with the concept of the Roman numerals.

Earth Day is an event celebrated every year on the 22^nd of April. The event is held worldwide to celebrate support for protection of the environment. Earth Day brings attention to a large number of issues such as pollution of the ocean, debris left over on land, climate change, conservation of the Earth’s ecosystems, energy conservation, soil erosion, corrosion, overpopulation, nuclear issues, the depletion of the ozone layer, the depletion of the Earth’s natural resources etc.

Activities to celebrate Earth Day were conducted in the classes I, II, IV and V on 22nd April 2019. The students of classes I and II made head gears using coloured sheets. Each student was given a cut out of the head gear. The students had to draw and colour things related to the Earth and write slogans on the head gears.  The students used their imagination to decorate the same.

The children were engaged in a series of activities such as discussion on how to reduce energy consumption, reusing and recycling of waste material, making book mark with slogans to save Mother Earth & a poster making activity was done on Saving the Mother Earth with beautiful captions on it. The students of class IV and V made a book mark for their activity. Each student was given a cut out of the book marks and asked to colour, decorate and write slogans on our mother Earth. 

 Students enthusiastically showed their creativity for each activity. The Earth Day activities were thoroughly enjoyed by all the students.

The students of Class V B conducted a special Assembly on 18^th April 2019 on  “Easter” with high spirits and festive fervour . Easter is a holy festival celebrated to mark and commemorate the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ. The young graders commenced the day’s Special Assembly with the Lord’s Prayer followed by News Headlines, Shalom Mission and Vision and Thought of the Week.

The junior artists of Class V B wholeheartedly presented a special song on Easter. The music teacher, Mr. K.C, also mesmerized the audience with his melodious voice.
Armaan and Riyanshi of class V B articulated their views about the festival and acquainted their friends with the historic and symbolic importance of this festival. They also highlighted the importance of Easter egg and enlightened the students about its relevance to new life.

At the end of the special assembly, the students proclaimed the good news of our Lord’s resurrection and spread Lord Christ’s message of love, peace and forgiveness.

The assembly concluded with the children enthusiastically singing the Shalom Anthem which was followed by saluting our Nation with the National Anthem.

Easter is one of the most important Christian festivals, and is celebrated with great joy all over the world. The tradition of the Easter egg hunt developed in the 19^th century as children believed that the Easter Bunny laid and hid eggs around the house the night before Easter Sunday.

 An activity to celebrate Easter was conducted in all the sections of Grade IV on 18^th April 2019. The students had to make an Easter bunny holding an Easter egg. For this purpose, shapes of the Easter Bunny were made from A3 size white sheets. Each student was given a cut out of the Easter bunny. The children had to draw the face of the bunny with colour pencils. They were also given coloured origami sheets to make the Easter egg. The students used their imagination to decorate the Easter eggs.

Each student took a lot of interest in decorating the Easter bunny and the Easter egg. The activity was enjoyed by all the students.

Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.  - Carl Sagan

We at Shalom provide a dynamic framework through which the child can explore concepts and learn skills. Children are naturally curious and keen to understand and explore the world around them. They love to observe, investigate things close to their immediate surroundings, take pride in connecting and analyzing their findings, and spread their wings to go beyond the tangible. Activities and experiments include a wide range of skills such as, observation and recording, sorting, reasoning, researching and learning to work together in a team.

To strengthen the concept further, an activity was designed on the different stages of germination. The students were asked to bring seeds (gram seed, kidney beans etc) disposable cups and cotton.  They were explained the concept of germination before they performed the activity on their own.

Since water, air and sunlight are the requirements for a seed to develop we moistened the cotton in the cup with some water. The students carefully placed the seeds of the kidney beans in the cup and put them on the window sill for sufficient supply of sunlight.

The activity helped the young Botanists to gain conceptual clarity about the importance of sunlight, air and water in the process of sprouting in a fun way.

Baisakhi is celebrated every year on the 13^th or 14^th of April. This was the occasion chosen by the students of grade VA to present their special assembly on 11th April 2019. Sincere and zealous efforts made by the students to make their class assembly a success. Their intent was to spread the message of Baisakhi and make known among the students the reason of its celebration. The assembly began with the Lord's Prayer followed by the Shloka, Pledge of the Day, Thought of the day, Vision and Mission of the school. Four students came forward and presented the news headlines that comprised the International, National and Sports News, and the Weather Report. An energetic‘Bhangra’ dance, performed to welcome the harvest season,was presented by two students. Some students spoke a few lines on the occasion of Baisakhi, its significance and the rituals that Sikh people partake in as they celebrate the harvest festival.

The assembly ended with the students singing the Shalom Anthem followed by the National Anthem. The hard work and unfeigned efforts of the students resulted in a captivating assembly that was appreciated by all

Students of Grade IV-A conducted a morning assembly on 10th April 2019 on the topic “World Health Day”. The assembly began with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the Gayatri Mantra, word of the week and its meaning, thought of the week, pledge, vision and mission of Shalom. The assembly highlighted the importance of health and the role of WHO (World Health Organisation) to create awareness amongst people about health and cleanliness. The theme was showcased by a beautiful skit. Students performed gracefully and spread the message of “Health is Wealth” successfully. Students holding props enhanced the overall beauty and proved helpful in motivatingother students to lead a healthy and happy life. Questions were also asked related to the topic of the assembly which wereconfidently answered by the children sitting in the audience. The assemblyconcluded with the children energetically singing the Shalom Anthem.

An activity- ‘Guess the Phrase/ Proverb’ washeldfor the students of Grade VII in their respective classes on April 1, 2019.

The students were divided into three- four groups and were asked to pick one chit from the box on which a phrase was written. Four of the members from each group had to enact the phrase without speaking anything and the remaining members of the group had to guess the phrase or the proverb and explain the same.

The students enjoyed the activity and the enactment of some common phrases like ‘No pain, no gain’, ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’, etc. They were able to understand the meaning of these phrases on a more effective manner.

It was a fun filled activitywhich was a display of peer learning with a healthy spirit of competition.

An activity was conducted for the students of Grade VI onApril 1, 2019. It was based on ‘Describing words’. The students were divided into six teams. An object was shown to the class(eg. handbag, ring, cupboard, bottle etc.) and every team was asked to write as many adjectives as they could to describe the object within fifteen seconds. The words of each team were written on the board. The team who used maximum adjectives scored ten points.The process was repeated with other objects.

The childrenwerefull of enthusiasm and displayed good teamwork. All the students enjoyed the activity.

Holi is the festival of colours, joy and oneness. It is celebrated across India to herald the arrival of spring and to signify the victory of good over evil. People colour each other covering everyone with hues of the rainbow. Everyone looks the same as their skin is coated with red and green and yellow creating a feeling of inclusiveness.

To celebrate the spirit of Holi, the Student Council took the initiative of organizing an event for classes tenth and twelfth on March 19, 2019. The Head Girl, Shalom Evangelist and the Cultural Ambassador carried post-it notes to classes. The students were asked to write a list of 3 things that make their life colourful. Everyone willingly participated and there were a lot of creative responses from the students. It was an innovative way of recognizing the essence of Holi.

The post-it notes were then used to decorate the soft board by The Head Girl, Shalom Evangelist and the Cultural Ambassador.

The event was appreciated and enjoyed by everyone with the students actively participating in it.

The inherent talent of the students of Shalom Hills International School is nurtured through a plethora of cultural activities integrated in the school curriculum. To develop creativity and capacity for analytical thinking, the students are exposed to various co-curricular activities ranging from debates to declamations, theater to arts, dance, music and band, craft and sculpture, Animation Skills, Needle and Thread and Animation skills throughout the course of an academic session. The culmination of the Skills Clubs took place by way of a Grand Finale ceremony in which each club showcased the best of what the students of Grade III, IV and V had learnt during this academic session on 26^th February, 2019. The Coordinator (Middle wing) graced the occasion and shared words of encouragement with the students.

The special assembly commenced with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the word of the day and the thought of the day. The word and the thought were based on the theme of the assembly that is “SKILLS”. This was followed by melodious songs sung by the choir that created a cheerful environment. Later, students showcased their animation skills and shared their art of learning by means of speaking like making a flip book, hand puppets etc. Students learnt about great sculptors and also made their own art pieces with the help of clay by different methods such as coil method etc.  They demonstrated the activities learnt in their Skill Clubs like bottle painting, floor mat, wall hangings etc. The young artists explained to the other students how they can reuse the articles for various purposes. They demonstrated different stages of casting and molding before a sculpture is considered ready. Students learnt many skills like human face composition, innovative building designs, diya and pot making among many more.

In thread and needle club, Aaradhya singh of class Grade B, apprised all in great detail how our homes can be made prettier.

The assembly continued with the students of Grade IV performing a Nukkad Natak on the topic ‘Cyber Crime’. The audience enjoyed the performance and was well informed about the various dangers and precautions to be taken while using the internet.

Ms. Swastika Acharya addressed the students and encouraged them to strive and reach for the pinnacle of success in their every endeavor. She appreciated the students for their efforts and urged them to keep participating in club activities as they are also an important part of the curriculum along with academics. The special assembly culminated with the Shalom Anthem followed by the National Anthem.

‘’The important thing in science is not much about obtaining new facts, as to discover new ways of thinking about them….’’

In order to promote analytical skills and encourage scientific thinking, a Science Quiz was conducted for the students of Grade III on 26^th February, 2019. The finalists for the quiz were selected through a preliminary and main round conducted in the form of a written test in all the classes of Grade III. The selected students were divided into four teams with three participants in each team. The format of the quiz entailed of four rounds, with the last round being the most enjoyable as it was the visual round. The quiz ended with a tie breaker between two teams for which a common question was asked.

Each team exuberated confidence as they answered the questions posed to them while being cheered by their class mates from the audience. The varied types of questions asked triggered the curious minds and made it a fun and learning event for all.

The science quiz aimed to inculcate a spirit of scientific enquiry and analytical thinking amongst the students and it was a treasure to witness young minds play inquisitively with the questions.

The students of grade IV participated in the final round of Math Ability Test conducted on 21.2.19. The quiz was conducted in four rounds, in the zero periods.

The First round was ‘Fraction-O-mania’ in which all the four teams participated and were given equal chances. After this 1^st round, there were three more rounds, of which the first was ‘Find Me’, the second was the ‘Picture Puzzles’ round , and the third was the Rapid Fire round, which was only for the finalists and carried negative marking for the wrong answers. Each round was of 10 marks.

The students were very well informed about the syllabus. The doubts related to the syllabus were sorted out a day before the quiz. During the quiz, all questions were clearly explained. The winners of the quiz were Adithya  Sunil, Rishit Sharma and Anmol Tyagi.

When it comes to excelling in a language, mastering spellings is an essential part. And surely Shalomites every year prove their mettle at it by partaking in various Olympiads and Competitions.

One such was the Spell Bee Exam organized by Hummingbird. After having cleared the first level in December 2018 most of its participants appeared for the second round of both English and Hindi languages which was conducted jointly by the English and Hindi departments of Shalom Hills International School on 8^th February 2019.

This exam was one out of the numerous enjoyable activities that give students a platform to learn spellings in different ways. The children participated earnestly in the Exam and the teachers were content with their performance.

“Everyone gets stressed around exams, but it is important not to let the stress control you.”

Exams are around the corner, and a challenge for both parents and students to keep themselves motivated to fight out their deepest fear of feeling stressed and develop their skill of self-confidence.

An initiative, taken up by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi to interact with almost 2000 students across the country, who are all set to appear for their Board Examinations this year, by means of a Programme ‘Pariksha Par Charcha’ on 29^th January, 2019, was one such fruitful attempt to adviser students to remain stress free during this time of the year.

The students of Grade IV and V viewed this talk, and listening to the Prime Minister in such an informal setting was very heartening for them. They easily understood the jokes he made to lighten the atmosphere as he answered the questions put forward by the parents, students as well as teachers. He gave sound advice and ensured that each got their space to set an achievable goal for themselves. He also emphasized on the importance of self-confidence and stressed upon the fact that students should consider themselves to be their own examiners.

They applauded him when they realised that it is simple to time-manage your day with the study as well as play. Concentration cannot be learnt but practised.

The children with a promising outlook to life and a twinkle in their eyes are all set to take on the exams now!

Humans live on a small planet amidst a vast universe called the solar system dominated by a single brilliant star-the Sun. The solar system contains inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) and outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune).

To acquaint the students with the solar system an innovative activity - ‘Making a Wind Chime of Solar System’, was conducted for the students of Grade IV on 21^st and 22^nd January 2018. The students created their personal wind chimes using different materials like bottle caps, bangles, thermocol, threads, ribbons etc. Planets were coloured and designed to give them a realistic appearance. Mercury was shown as the smallest planet of our solar family and Jupiter was designed as the largest one and displayed with striped patterns.

Our ‘Budding Astronomers’ participated with immense zeal and prepared attractive and vibrant Wind Chimes of the Solar Family. It proved an effective way for the children to explore space and get important facts about the planets.

The activity was based on the curiosity of evolving with one’s Self Exploration and Self Learning to develop creative and scientific skills.

It is strongly believed that we cannot stop Natural Disasters, but we can arm ourselves with knowledge: so many lives wouldn’t have to be lost if there is enough disaster preparedness. With this objective, a group activity was conducted on Natural Disasters for the students of Grade V on 25^th January 2019. The students were eager to learn about natural disasters. They learnt that disasters are of two types- natural and man-made disasters.

It was a group activity where children were divided into groups of 4 each and were provided with A3 sized sheets. They were zealous and meticulous in their presentations. They cut out pictures of the various disasters while some of them beautifully drew the ones that they had learnt about. Some displayed volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis while others displayed floods, droughts, avalanches, hurricanes etc. The activity emphasised on the causes and effects of these natural disasters. During the activity the students were able to enhance their presentational and linguistic skills.

The activity culminated with a quick recapitulation of the impact of an earthquake along with safety measures and preparedness for one.

Shalomites love to observe, investigate things close to their immediate surroundings, take pride to connect and analyze their findings, and sometimes they spread their wings to go beyond the tangible.
Hands-on activities offer a unique way to discuss the changing phases of the moon. The moon changes its sizes and shape due to the light from the sun. It was a reinforcement session in a fun filled way which was conducted in Grade V to help young scientists to do some actual observation of the moon and how it changes throughout the month, and then record what they see by using Cookies.
The students enthusiastically participated and made different phases of the moon.
The activity proved to be helpful to them as they could understand the Lunar month, the rotation and the revolution of the Moon around the Earth and the amount of light lit by the Luminous object- Sun. Overall , it was an enjoyable experience for everyone

“Art is not imitation and it can’t be taught to anyone. It is an expression of who you are.”

Making posters in the classroom is an exciting opportunity for students to engage in a healthy discussion, to come up with a power-packed evoking subject matter, to negotiate the various ways in which to depict the ideas, and, most importantly, be creative. This activity is brilliant as it promotes mass participation from students despite their levels.

On 21^st December 2018, a Poster making competition was organized for the students of Grade III by Axis bank. The theme of the competition was “Go Green” or “My Magical Piggy Bank”. The students expressed their ideas through paintings and sketches. Our budding artists participated with immense zeal and enthusiasm and made very beautiful posters which gave a strong message of saving our ‘Mother Earth’ and provide a Greener Environment to our future generations. It was a great opportunity to watch these young minds trying to illustrate their ideas of a better environment on paper. The competition was thoroughly enjoyed by all the students.

The objective of this activity was to encourage, nurture and showcase every child's natural creative flair. Through this activity the students learnt to explore their vivid imagination and express themselves artistically.

“A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom.”

A Poem composition activity was conducted for students of Grade III on 19^th December 2018. All the sections of Grade III participated in this activity. The students were given the option to choose their kind of poetry based on their interest.

The students were encouraged to write at least 5 to 6 line poems, using rhyming words, on A4 size pastel sheets. They were enthusiastic about the activity and had already decided their topic as well as the theme of their poem. A few students wrote about nature using rhyming words while some wrote about themselves describing their daily routine in poetic form. The students also wrote poems on “Mother Earth”. All the students decorated their sheets with beautiful drawings which further highlighted their poetry composition.

The activity was thoroughly enjoyed by all the students. It gave them an opportunity to express their creative side. The students were elated to recite their beautiful compositions and also appreciated the poems composed and written by others.

An activity related to understanding the Jal Chakra Prakriya (Water Cycle) was conducted in all sections of Grade II on 19^th December 2018. The students were instructed to colour the picture of Jal- Chakra Prakriya and a Power point Presentation was also shown related to the process of Water cycle.

This activity enabled the students to understand the Water Cycle. It also enhanced their interest in the Hindi language. Children enthusiastically participated in the activity displaying high curiosity levels. This activity was a perfect blend of creativity and learning!

’Let’s finally Spell ‘’it’’!’

The Spell Bee Competition held at Shalom Hills International School aimed at creating awareness of the possibilities of using varied words in oral and written expression and to add words to the active vocabulary of students. The event was held to enable all sections of the student community to reconfirm and acknowledge for themselves their ability to spell vast commonly day to day used words of vocabulary, both in spoken and written English in the correct sequence.

The competition made students aware of spellings and the usage of many unfamiliar words. It was a wonderful learning experience for the participants and served to enrich the vocabulary bank of the students. The students participated with great enthusiasm and dueled through the toughest words to prove their mettle.

“Spelling is important because it aids in reading. It helps cement the connection that is shared between sounds and letters.”

With the objective of encouraging students to improve their spellings, increase their vocabulary, learn concepts, and develop use of correct English, the English Department of Shalom Hills International School conducted the Humming bird Spell Bee Competition on 3rd December 2018 for the students of Grades VI to XII. 

This exam was one out of the numerous enjoyable activities that give students a platform to learn spellings in different ways. As a result, children are able to read and write more effectively and score well in exams.

Children participated earnestly in the Exam.

The students of grade III participated in a Social Studies activity of L-16: Kolkata. They were asked to speak a few lines on Rabindranath Tagore and a poem written by him.
The main aim of the activity was to apprise the children about Nobel Prize Winner, Rabindranath Tagore, who belonged to Kolkata. He was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays were related to political and personal topics. His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: India's Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh's Amar Shonar Bangla.
Students did the activity individually. The activity helped to enhance the aesthetic, logical, kinesthetic and linguistic skills of the children. Overall, it was a great learning experience for the children.

The students of classes I and II went on an excursion to Bagira Camp on 14^thNovember, 2018. It was one of the school’s intrinsic ways of enhancing learning. The students connected with nature, its warmth and pleasure.

On arrival, the students and the teachers were served a delectable breakfast of puri-aalo, halwa, etc. Then the students were involved in a host of adventure activities like Wall Climbing, Burma Bridge, Zip Line, Trempoline, Double Rope Bridege, Zorbing, Commando Net, etc. The students were divided into different groups class-wise and given different names like bagira, tiger, jaguar, ninja etc.

The students enthusiastically participated in each and every activity and also shared their experience with their teachers. The instructors guided them at every step and took good care of the students. The students thoroughly enjoyed themselves along with their teachers. Last but not the least the students and the teachers danced to the peppy tunes.

Thereafter, everyone had a scrumptious and healthy lunch in the camp. Hence it was a great and memorable outdoor experience in the wilderness of Camp Bagira amidst the Aravalis.

Children’s Day is to celebrate “Childhood”. Children are loved by one and all. They win our hearts with their innocent smiles.

Every year 14^th November is observed as “Children’s Day” in India in commemoration of India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was born on 14th November. Fondly known as Chacha Nehru, he spent a lot of time with children.

A special assembly on Children’s Day was conducted for the students on the theme - “Children you are precious for us. We love you”. The teachers gave various performances for the students in order to express their love and care for them. Students played many games like Treasure hunt, Passing-the-parcel and Musical chairs etc. followed by a dance session. They were also given badges to wear. After that they were shown a movie which they enjoyed.

The students were overwhelmed with the entire effort. They cheered their teachers as they saw them on the stage and laughed boisterously at their jokes. The day ended in a beautiful resonance lingering in everybody’s minds. The entire programme was applauded by everybody present and will always remain etched in the memory of one and all.

A special assembly on the occasion of Diwali was presented by the students of Grade VC on 5^th November 2018. Our young Shalomites began the assembly with the Lord's prayer followed by the Shloka, Vision and mission of the school, News headlines, which comprised the International news, National news, Sports headlines and the Weather report. Two narrators shared a small speech about the importance of ‘Diwali’ in our lives and also mentioned its religious and scientific relevance. The students depicted their intent with the help of a joyful dance where their wishes resonated out to everyone.

During the assembly, the students laid emphasis on celebrating the festival of Diwali with alternatives like investing time and energy in making rangolis, distributing sweets, lighting earthen lamps and gifting plants to one another to name a few. The ‘festival of lights’ is not all about bursting crackers  in order to show zeal and happiness but it also spreads an important message to spread love to our near and dear ones. The assembly ended with the School Anthem followed by the National Anthem.

This special assembly was a boost to the festive spirit.

“Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, hope over despair.”

Keeping this in mind the students of Grade IV E, presented their special assembly on Diwali with full enthusiasm. Diwali was chosen as the topic of the assembly in order to make our students aware of the history and cultural importance of this festival.

The assembly started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the school’s mission and vision, Thought of the week, Pledge of the day, News headlines and weather forecast. Deepalika, Avni and Trisha spoke confidently about how this festival is celebrated. The attractions of the assembly highlighted a traditional dance performance, history of Diwali, a poem on ‘Say no to crackers’ by Monal, along with a mesmerizing song based on the theme.

The assembly was concluded with Shalom Anthem.

It was a wonderful performance put up by the students who participated with full vigour  and thoroughly enjoyed the assembly.

The greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals.

Diwali celebrations took place for all students of Grades IV & V on 5^th November 2018. The students came dressed in traditional attire for the fun-filled special Diwali fiesta organised for them. A diya decoration activity was part of the festivity. The students drew and embellished their diyas with different designs and patterns, exhibiting their talent. By organising such a competition students were introduced to the value of our cultures. 

The students filled with elation partook in the Diwali fiesta organized for them. There was a food fest for the students in which they could buy refreshments from the food stalls. The students enjoyed selecting their favourite food from the many options available to them. A dance party had also been organized as part of the Diwali celebrations which had the students dancing to all the popular numbers. There was an air of festivity everywhere. The fun-filled day marked the beginning of the festive week and time for celebrations.

The importance of virtues was well comprehended by the students and they were filled with joy, vigour and happiness.

“The greatest significance of Diwali is to light up new, bright and colourful dreams, fresh hopes and undiscovered ways.”

To mark the celebration of Diwali, an activity based on Diya Decoration was conducted in all the sections of Grade II on 2^nd November 2018.

The students were asked to colour the picture of a Diya and write a few lines on Diwali. They enthusiastically participated in this activity and amazed us by displaying their creativity. The message was loud and clear "Celebrate Diwali with a conscience". It is the children's zeal and vigour that motivates everyone to merge themselves in this light and enjoy the spirit of Diwali.

The activity helped the students to understand the importance of Diwali festival and also increased their interest in the Hindi language.

Puzzles are an important educational learning tool for toddlers and young children as they provide many skills, mental learning benefits and opportunities. They increase and develop a deeper understanding of the concepts, and promote cooperative play. With this perspective in mind, a Math Bazaar activity was conducted in Grade V on 31^st October 2018.

Overcoming the challenges involved in solving a puzzle really gives the children a sense of achievement and pride within themselves. So, in order to boost their self confidence and self-esteem a bazaar of puzzles was created by the students of class V. They were given a few puzzles like magic square, fun puzzles using matchsticks etc., to solve. The students selected the puzzles of their choice and solved them on their own. After solving them, they showcased those puzzles with the complete solution done very creatively and beautifully on colourful sheets. They displayed immense enthusiasm and their curiosity touched new heights.

A Math activity based on the topic ‘Money’ as a part of ‘Math Bazaar’ was conducted for the students of Grade-IV on 30^th October 2018. The children were introduced to the concept of coins, notes and conversion of rupees into paisa and vice versa through various examples. They were told about various banks, the person who signs the notes, the new currency introduced in the year 2017 and some questions based on addition and subtraction of money.

Firstly, they were explained how to make a bill of the shopping items. An artificial shop was created within the class wherein different items were placed with the price tag in the form of Dummy Notes. Then, the children were asked to prepare the bill for the same. The children were able to make the bill correctly and also decorated their bills wonderfully in the notebook. This activity helped them to understand the concept of money and its importance in real life.

Children thoroughly enjoyed the fun-filled learning activity. It enhanced their logical and intellectual skills.

‘Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.’
On 16^th October 2018 a Story Writing Activity was conducted for the students of Grade IV. The children wrote a story on their favourite season and also drew pictures related to the story. With this activity the children were able to learn a lot about their favourite season and its importance. The children showed a lot of interest towards the activity.

The activity helped the children to present explore their imagination and express their creativity in words .The students participated actively and wrote stories with emphasis on the importance of seasons.

‘Knowledge is like a floating log of wood that helps us stay afloat in the ocean of misery.’

The blooming buds of class V A presented a Special Assembly on Dussehra. The assembly started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the Hindi Shloka. The mission and vision of the school was shared and followed with the news to make everyone aware of the current happenings. 

Our confident students took turns and came forward to speak a few lines on Dussehra and its importance. The students were delighted to share their learning about Dussehra and presented a short enactment of the story of Ramayan.

The students also highlighted the importance of the festival in today’s world. It reminds people of the fact that truth always wins and motivates them to follow the path of Dharma. Even today the burning of the effigy of Ravana symbolizes the power of good and humanity above all other powers and exhibits our rich Indian culture and values.

The assembly concluded with the national anthem and a hearty “Happy Dussehra” shouted in unison. The atmosphere was charged and the rejoicing reverberated throughout the day.

An activity related to understanding the Results of Imitation was conducted in all sections of class II on 16^th October 2018. The students were asked to do a role play from their Hindi Book “Vitaan” chapter “Aur karo Nakal”.

The activity allowed the students to use their imagination. It also increased their interest in the Hindi language through Samwaad Vaachan. The children participated in the activity with a lot of interest and enthusiasm.

An intellectual activity related to the Factors was conducted in class IV in Mathematics, the Factor Tree on 16th October2018.  A factor tree shows the numbers that come together to create a larger number and it branches out as it progresses because each resulting factor then gives way to its own factors. In other words, a factor tree is a tool that breaks down any number into its prime factors.

The activity was conducted to clear the concept of Factors. Students were given a number 84 and asked to split it into its two factors. They found out the two numbers as 2 and 42. Then they were again asked to find out the factors of 42 and this process continued till they found out all the factors of 84.

The students enthusiastically participated in the activity and enjoyed it. This activity helped them to find out the factors of the number and correlate the concept of multiples and factors with H.C.F and L.C.M.

“Educating the mind without educating the hearts is no education at all” Aristotle

To kindle the fire of discovery and let our young scientists turn ideas into reality and imagination into facts, a visit to the Science Park was organised for the students of Grade V from 10^th to 15^th October 2018.

The visit included a plethora of exciting activities ranging from, drawing of different types of simple machines, experimenting with different types of forces and the concept of fulcrum which is the pivot point on which the lever rests and pivots. The visit developed a spirit of curiosity and discovery in the children and enabled them to understand stimulating features about fulcrums.

For a student, SCIENCE is a Systematic approach to Connect and Investigate through Exploring Natural phenomena, draw conclusions and evaluate the findings in a fun learning way. Hence, the activities helped the students get a better understanding of the concept of the simple machines taught by adopting the ‘Learning by doing’ approach.

“Dancing with the feet is one thing but dancing with the heart is another.”

Navratri not only symbolises the victory of good over evil (Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasur) but also celebrates the spirit of Indian culture in its togetherness. The festival of Navratri comes with a promise of nine days filled with fun, frolic, dance and festivities all around. With the festive spirit brimming in the air, the students of Grade III danced away to the tunes of Dandiya music on 13^th October 2018.

Dandiya and Garba are dance forms traditionally performed only in the state of Gujarat but now it is performed all over India. The students came beautifully dressed in traditional attire, adding colours to the festive spirit. Along with their teachers,  the vivacious dancers set the floor on fire with their energetic performances to the Foot –tapping songs of Dandiya and Garba. The spectators bore witness to the enthusiasm and energy of the young Shalomites as they enthralled everyone with their performances. 

The Dandiya Celebration in school was a great event! It was a learning experience for all about our rich Indian culture and values.

With the festive spirit of Dusshera engulfing the young and old in the city, how could our young Shalomites be left behind in expressing their joy! The students of Grade V with utmost enthusiasm and ecstasy participated in an art and craft activity on 12^th October 2018, where they made some attractive Rangoli designs and displayed them on beautifully decorated pastel coloured sheets.

The students were given an hour to complete the activity under the guidance of their respective class teachers. They were provided with cut-outs, mirror work, glitter and other required stationery by their art & craft teacher. Prior to the activity they had already discussed their ideas and received suggestions for the same from their art and craft teacher which enabled them to meticulously complete their activity within the given time frame.

The students used vibrant colour combinations as they showcased numerous unique and attractive rangoli designs. The children cheerfully got themselves clicked and the activity ended with echoes of laughter and wishes traversing through the corridors of the primary school.

‘Design a Book Cover’ activity was conducted for the students of Grade IV on 12^th October 2018. The students were guided beforehand about how to design a book cover. They were also given an option to choose any of their favourite books for the same.

The students were brimming with ideas for their book cover designing. They had brought different types of crayons, pencil colours, colour pens, calligraphy pens, poster colours etc. Some students were really very creative with their covers. They used various combinations of colours and fonts to prepare their book cover which displayed their vivid imagination and gave an insight to their artistic minds.

The students enthusiastically participated in the activity and thoroughly enjoyed it, showcasing their creativity by blending it well with their choice of colours!

‘’Public Speaking is the art of diluting a two - minute idea with a two – hour vocabulary and takes a lot more when it comes to an extempore.’’

Truly called, “A speaker’s worst nightmare”, extempore is a brain boggling exercise to put your thoughts together and present them in a crisp manner.  For effective extempore speaking, a participant must be fluent, erudite and articulate.

To imbibe a true spirit of learning in the students and to help them to fearlessly express their views, an Extempore activity was held based on the theme ‘Hobby’ in Grade 3 on 11th October 2018. Each participant was given three minutes to prepare the speech.

The children spoke about their favourite pastime / hobby. They spoke confidently about different hobbies like painting, gardening, reading story books, dancing and skating.

The judgement was based on the content, diction, confidence, and oratory skills of the participants. Five best students were selected from each section.

This competition gave an opportunity to the students to express their views in front of others and speak confidently on the given topic. The students exhibited immense confidence and enthusiasm in their performance.    

The students of grade V participated in a Social Studies activity -‘Presentation on the topic – Violent and Non-violent Protest’. This activity was related to the chapter- ‘Gandhiji Leads the Nation’. The main objective of the activity was to make students understand the importance of non-violence and its use against injustice. 

The students presented their views in all preparedness about these two types of protests and enthusiastically participated in the activity.

The activity helped to enhance the logical, communication, Interpersonal, kinesthetic and artistic skills of the students. All the students really enjoyed the activity.

Students of Grade III-F conducted a special morning assembly on 4^th October 2018 to celebrate “Gandhi Jayanti”.

The assembly began with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the Hindi Shloka. The anchors of the assembly were Likith Raj and Harshika Khatri. The assembly continued with the school’s mission & vision, word of the day, thought for the week and news headlines. Hardik Nasa monitored the pledge of the day. A brief talk about the Mahatma Gandhi and Gandhi Jayanti was given by Priyanshu.

Students presented a wonderful dance performance and a beautiful song as a tribute to our great visionary, Gandhiji. Then a few students shared some famous principles of Gandhiji- ‘Don’t speak evil, don’t see evil, and don’t talk evil’.

The students of Grade IV-B conducted the special morning assembly on 3rd October 2018 to celebrate the birth of MAHATMA GANDHI, the Father of the Nation.

The assembly commenced by seeking the Lord’s blessing with the Lord’s Prayer and Hindi Shloka. Then the children recalled the vision and mission of the school. The assembly was conducted by Jahanvi and Anannt. The assembly continued with the pledge, thought for the week and the news headlines. On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti the students presented a skit showcasing Gandhiji’s struggle for a free India. The skit depicted the Salt Satyagrah which led to India’s freedom. Lakshita and Avish shared some information about Gandhi Jayanti. Then few students sang a beautiful song ‘Sabarmati ke Sant’ in honour of Gandhiji. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem and National Anthem. 

There was full participation of the students in the assembly. All the students enthusiastically participated and gave their best.

Gandhi Jayanti is a national festival celebrated in India to mark the occasion of the birthday of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. It is celebrated on 2nd October. Gandhi ji is remembered for his contribution towards the Indian freedom struggle. On 15th June 2007 the United Nations General Assembly declared 2nd October as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Students of class V-F conducted the assembly to celebrate “Gandhi Jyanti”. The assembly began with warming up exercises followed by the Lord’s Prayer and Shloka. The assembly progressed with the Shalom Mission and Vision, pledge, Thought and word of the Day, along with a beautiful Play “Gandhi Yatra” which was based on the entire life of Gandhi Ji. The students also sang the song “ De di hame Ajaadi bina kharag bina dhal…”.

Gandhi's favourite bhajan, “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram…”, was beautifully sung in his memory.

The assembly was concluded with the Shalom Anthem and National Anthem, and was enjoyed by everyone.

The students of grade IV participated in a Social studies activity - “MY HERO”, based on the lesson - ‘People who made a difference’, on 26 September 2018. The main aim of the activity was to enable the students to identify their source of inspiration and to share the information with the others so that they too may be motivated.

The students performed the activity individually. They expressed themselves well and shared the varied reasons and experiences of how the chosen person is their source of inspiration in life. Some students mentioned their family members, some independence fighters like Bhagat Singh, some were inspired by APJ Abdul Kalam, while for others their teachers were their source of  inspiration in life.

The activity helped to enhance the logical, communicative, Interpersonal, and creative skills of the students.

Overall, it was a fun learning and informative session for the children, who really enjoyed it.

To develop a scientific approach and make learning Science easy and interesting, the students of grade V visited the Biology Laboratory for a demonstration of the “Skeletal System” on 26^th, 27^th and 28^th September 2018.

The purpose of the visit was to enhance the basic skills of questioning, prediction, qualitative and quantitative observation and communication.

Emphasis was laid on the importance of human skeleton consisting 206 bones. The skeletal System is a framework of bones that gives support to our body. The different parts of the human skeleton are- Skull (protects the brain), Rib cage (Protects the heart and Lungs), Backbone (protects the spinal cord), and Limbs. The students were able to understand the different kinds of joints with examples.

It was an amazing experience for the students to discover the scientific facts all by themselves. The mission of the Biology lab visit was to train young minds, to disseminate scientific knowledge and scientific outlook, and to reinforce their learning and the content taught.

AD MAD Show is an 'Advertisement Creating Competition' for school students to display their creativity in Marketing products and services. The participants from the four dynasties came prepared and presented an advertisement for a product/service of their choice. The students enacted various advertisement scripts and ideas relevant for different goods, services, automobiles and social awareness etc. All the students were given a time frame to prepare and showcase their talent. The teams were judged on the content, expression, fluency and creativity of the advertisement.

The objective of the activity was to acquaint the students with promotional strategies in marketing through advertisements. It comprised humorous & conceptual ad presentation by the students. The scores were as follows:

• Maple – 48
• Ebony – 39
• Oak – 37
• Cedar – 35

An intellectual activity related to the Mathematical Concept -Multiples and Factors was conducted in Grade IV on 27^th September 2018. In Mathematics, the Sieve of Eratosthenes is a simple, ancient algorithm for finding all prime numbers up to any given limit. It does so by involving iteration marking as site (i.e. not prime) the multiples of each prime, starting with the first prime number, 2.

The activity was conducted to clear the concept of Multiples, Common multiples and various types of numbers like Prime numbers, Composite numbers, Even numbers, Odd numbers and Co-Prime numbers. Students were given a grid of numbers from 1 to 100. They were further advised to colour all the multiples of 7 and 8 up to 100 and also the common multiples between them. Their enthusiasm to learn and passionately play with numbers was indeed significant. They were also asked to colour the Prime numbers between 2 to 20.  

Students enthusiastically participated in the activity and enjoyed it. This activity helped them to correlate the concept of Multiples and Factors with H.C.F and L.C.M in order to give them clarity of concept.

The students of Grade IV participated in the final round of Math Ability Test conducted on 26^th September 2018.

Aptitude Tests are used to determine an individual’s ability/ potential to succeed in a certain task with no prior training or knowledge. The quiz was conducted in four rounds. The First round was the Qualifying round in which seven teams participated, after which four teams were selected for the Main round, which comprised three rounds. The first round was the Mental Ability Round, second round was Encoding-Decoding and the third round was Mathematical Reasoning. Each round was of 10 marks and there was no negative marking for the incorrect answer.

The students were well informed about the syllabus and displayed amazing clarity of concept. Their eagerness to crack all the answers displayed their intellect and sharpness.

It was a pleasure to witness such a commendable performance put up by our Math wizards. The winners of quiz were Adithya,  Sunil and Saisha Sahni.

Students of Grade V actively participated in an English Collage Activity based on adjectives, on 28^th September 2018.

The students were already explicated with the different types of adjectives in the previous class. To recapitulate the topic and to assess the content knowledge a collage making activity on adjectives was conducted. The young scholars enthusiastically participated in the individual activity and exhibited their conceptual knowledge very well.  After a class hash out on all types of adjectives the students drew different shapes and elucidated different kinds of adjectives like shape, quality, size, demonstrative, with examples of the same. Our blossoming writers got the chance to express their thoughts in their own words. The activity was conducted to reinforce the concept of different kinds of adjectives and also to encourage creative writing among our emerging writers of grade V.

The students gained knowledge of usage of different types of adjectives, proficiency in making sentences, independent working, and creative writing.

An activity on Noun- Gender was conducted in Grade 4 on 24^th September 2018. Nouns are of four different genders: Masculine, Feminine, Common and Neuter. A definition and explanation of each type of gender was given to the students. Many examples were also discussed for each Gender.

The students were required to write examples for each kind of gender in their grammar notebooks. They drew flowers for each gender and wrote five examples each in the petals of the flowers. Their enthusiasm and curiosity to learn was significant! This was a creative activity for the students as they made beautiful patterns of flowers in their notebooks. This activity helped the students revise the concept of masculine and feminine gender and also introduced them to the two new genders - Common and Neuter Gender.

Family plays a very important role in our lives. Each member is an indispensable part of the Family. With this perspective in mind, an activity based on the topic  “Gender – In A Family’’ was conducted for the students of Grade II on 18^th September 2018.

The students were instructed to draw a family tree based on the segregation of male and female members and writing some lines about them.  The teachers had drawn the image of a family tree on the board and the students were asked to draw the same by separating the male and female members. Their presentation was very beautiful depicting their creativity and language proficiency. The students participated enthusiastically with full vigour.

Their deep understanding about their Family Tree speaks volumes about their love for their Family members!

Hindi, as a subject has always kept our young enthusiasts looking forward to some amazing learning with creativity!

On the occasion of Hindi Divas a “Shloka Recitation” activity was conducted in Grade IV on 24^th September 2018. The children were divided into two groups and were taught two shlokas in the class. Meanings of the shlokas were also explained in detail. Through Shlokas the students imbibed values like respecting their parents, teachers and Indian culture. The children were able to recite the Shlokas with proper pronunciation, voice modulation and intonation.  It was an enjoyable learning session for the children.

“Mathematics is one of the essential emanations of the human spirit, a thing to be valued in and for itself, like art or poetry.”

A Math Quiz was conducted on 25^th September 2018 for the students of Grade V. Two students were representing each team. It created an opportunity for the children to bring their potential on a common platform. After a brain teasing tussle in the form of an aptitude test as preliminary round, teams comprising two students each, were chosen for the final round. Various rounds based on Visual and Mental Math, Indian mathematicians, number patterns, half yearly syllabus, and rapid fire were held. The audience cheered to motivate the participants. The quiz ended with Team A (Aaditya Mehta, Bhavya Yadav) winning the First position and a tie between Teams C (Yaawar and Udyaan Goyal) and D (Titiksha and Kapish). A tie breaker buzzer round positioned Team D at second place and Team C was at third place.

The objective behind conducting this competition was to enhance analytical, logical, calculative and reasoning skills of the students. It was an engaging session filled with excitement and anticipation, assumptions and quick responses. This was an attempt to prepare young minds for a journey into the world of mathematics.

‘’Poetry is the core of Literature!’’

Reading through books is not the only medium of learning but fun filled activities and competitions enhance the learning process. Keeping this in mind a Hindi Poetry Recitation Competition was organized based on the theme ‘‘Nature” for the children of Grade II on 20^th September, 2018. These kinds of activities help the child to develop confidence, improve vocabulary and also help the students to get rid of stage fear.

Children recited different poems based on the given theme with actions and lots of confidence. The poems chosen were good and appreciated by all. Children were very excited and enthusiastic and performed very well on the stage. Through this activity the students realised the value of trees, rain, water etc. They understood the importance of keeping their environment clean.

It was an enriching experience for the spectators and enjoyable experience for the participants!

A Role Play activity, based on the lesson ‘A Present For Mother’ of Literature, was conducted in all the sections of Grade III on 6^th September 2018. The students were given a character which they had to enact based on a scene in the lesson. They worked in groups with great enthusiasm which was clearly witnessed during the activity. All the students performed their specific roles very well and thoroughly enjoyed the activity.

This activity enhanced the communication skills of the students and boosted their morale. It also encouraged them to project their thoughts lucidly and confidently about the characters they chose and enacted!

Activity-based teaching is important for children because it helps them grasp things faster, and enhances their desire to learn. It encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning experience. Working in groups also helps students develop teamwork and social skills. With this motive, an activity based on Opposites was conducted for the students for Grade II on 4^th September 2018.

The concept of opposites was explained by giving several examples. The students were divided into groups. Thereafter, cards were given to each child of the group, which had some opposites written on them. The students had to find out the opposite of the given word and make pairs of the same.

They participated enthusiastically with their curiosity levels touching heights. They displayed good clarity of concept. This activity helped them to enhance their knowledge and vocabulary more effectively.

A Map Activity on the ‘Climatic Regions of the World’ was conducted for the students of Grade V. The purpose of the activity was to enable the students to read a map and understand a map key in order to improve their learning skills.

The students were given a physical map of the world and guided to mark the different climatic regions of the world. They were curious to experiment their creative instincts while doing Maps. All the students enthusiastically participated in the activity.

This activity encouraged the students to develop concept building and engaged them throughout the learning session!

A Hindi ‘Debate’ activity based on a verbal battle of words was conducted for the students of Grade V on 10^th August 2018.  The topic of the debate was “Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile phone”.

The participants were well prepared and explained their point of view very well. The students were divided into two teams with one for the motion and the other against the motion. The students expressed their views very strongly and enthusiastically participated in the activity. The activity motivated the students to confidently express their views and helped them to improve their speaking skills.

The topic for the debate captivated the young minds and brought forth some very interesting perspectives not just from the debaters but from the audience as well.

Shalom Hills International School always strives to achieve excellence by challenging its students’ competencies and pushing their limits.  With this aim in mind, Grade V teachers organised an ‘Intra-Class English Debate Activity’ on 10^th August 2018. The topic for the debate, “Education is the key to future success,” captivated the young minds and brought forth some very interesting perspectives not just from the debaters but from the audience as well.

The participants were well prepared and explained their point of view very well. The event was aimed to give an impetus to the bright and energetic students and inculcate in them a spirit of competitiveness and confidence.

An intellectual activity related to the concept of Division was conducted in Grade IV.

In mathematics, the word “Division” means the operation which is opposite of multiplication. The symbol for Division can be a slash, or the division sign ({displaystyle div }÷). Multiplication and Division 'undo' or 'reverse' each other.

Division always tends to challenge the thinking cap of our students leading to confusion and posing difficulties for the students to work upon.

Therefore, the motive behind the activity was to revise all the concepts of division like properties, multiplication and division facts to make this concept more fun-filled and interesting rather than a challenge. Students were given a number which was the target number and were asked to find all the other numbers which divide the target number completely. They were asked to write the multiplication and division fact of the required number also. This method of instruction helped the students to work more effectively and enjoy the learning behind this operation of division. This activity will also help them to correlate Division with Multiples and Factors.

Students enthusiastically participated in the activity and enjoyed it!

An activity on the Topic “Vilom Shabd” i.e opposite words was conducted in all sections of Grade II on 8^th August, 2018. The teachers had drawn pictures on the board and the students were encouraged to give the opposite of the pictures drawn. This motivated the students to use their imagination. It also enhanced their interest in the Hindi language. Children participated in the activity with a lot of interest and enthusiasm. They displayed immense excitement and promptly gave all the answers.

This activity helped the students to understand the concept with more clarity.

 

The importance of the month of August is not only because of the History-changing event of 1947, India’s Independence from the British after more than Two Hundred years, but also the numerous festivals that are celebrated in different parts of our great country.

Class V-D presented their assembly on 28^th August 2018. The assembly began with the Lord's Prayer followed by the Shloka, Pledge of the Day, Thought of the week, Vision and Mission of the school. Four students came forward and presented the news headlines that comprised the International, National, Sports News and the Weather Report.

The students spoke about the various festivals that are celebrated in this month for example; Haryali Teej, Nag Panchmi, Janmashtami,  Raksha Bandhan, Eid etc. One of the students performed a solo dance for Janmashtami.

The narrators wished their peers and friends the very best for the upcoming Half-Yearly exams. The assembly ended with the Shalom anthem followed by the National Anthem. The hard work and wholehearted efforts of the students resulted in an interesting and informative assembly that was appreciated by all.

‘May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.’

Students of Grade V-C conducted their Morning Assembly based on the theme ‘Independence Day’ on 14^th August 2018. An important message was conveyed to our ever enthusiastic Shalomites laying down the ground to understand how precious our freedom is! The assembly began with the Lord's Prayer and Hindi Shloka followed by the Vision and Mission of the school. The Assembly was taken ahead with the Pledge, Thought of the week and News Headlines, including the International, National, Sports and Weather Report.

A Patriotic poem was recited by the students followed by a few famous speeches of our well-known leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Musical notes of the song ‘Vande Mataram’ were played by a student on the Casio. A special dance performance on the song ‘Jai Ho’ had everyone swaying to the tune. The assembly concluded with the Shalom anthem followed by the National Anthem.

The hard work and unfeigned efforts of the students resulted in a captivating assembly that was appreciated by all!

Role play stimulates the imagination of children and enhances their social development.

Keeping this in mind, a Role Play Activity based on the theme of ‘Freedom Fighters of India’ was organised on 24th August for the students of class V. The objective of this Activity was not only to blend learning with fun but also to develop confidence in the students.

Students showed tremendous interest in the activity and highlighted the achievements of great freedom fighters like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Rani Laxmi Bai, Lala Lajpat Rai and Sarojini Naidu.

It was a great learning experience for the students to showcase their talent.

A Computer activity was conducted on 10^th Aug, 2018 for students of Grade IV in which they were directed to make a project in Scratch by using various blocks under Scripts tab.

Their Computer teachers elucidated how to make the sprites dance, birds fly, make use of different costumes, change colour effects and add the background sound to it. The students created some beautiful animations, stories and some interesting games using the tools like Motion, Looks, Sound, Pen, Events and Control blocks. 

The students displayed immense enthusiasm to create various animations and stories. They enjoyed this activity and displayed clarity of concept by creating projects in scratch.         

An interesting topic about habitats and adaptations of animals was introduced to the students of grade V. They learnt some important facts like, the ‘habitat’ of an animal is different from its ‘niche’ and that some of the primary adaptations are based on the breathing organs, eating habits and body covering of animals.

To reinforce their learning and the content taught, a role play activity was conducted on 27^th August, 2018. Each student was dressed up as an animal or bird of his/her choice and came forward to speak a few lines about the chosen animal/bird, its habitat and a few adaptations. The students very meticulously and creatively planned their role. It was interesting to see a wide range of species. Some children chose to completely transform themselves into an animal, while others just chose to keep it minimal and expressed themselves with the help of face painting. They completed the activity in the given time frame under the guidance of their respective science teachers.

It was a fun filled activity where every participant captivated the attention of their fellow classmates. This activity helped to develop the children’s linguistic and naturalistic skills.

When children do role plays, they naturally become someone or something else. Role play stimulates their imagination and enhances their social development, encourages friendship through cooperation, listening and turn taking.

To promote creativity and a better understanding of the chapter, the students of grade IV were involved in a role play activity on “A Thousand Gold Coins”, on 27^th August 2018. The main aim of the activity was to make them comprehend the chapter in an interesting manner. Students performed the activity in groups. One of the students became Akbar, while others became Birbal, poor man, nobleman 1, nobleman 2 and courtiers. They spoke their respective dialogues and enacted their roles beautifully.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the activity. It enhanced their thinking and communication skills and developed confidence in them.

‘We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.’

Events provide a platform to our students to showcase their talents and energies both at the academic as well as creative fronts. Hard work and preparedness go a long way and can be seen at the various events being held at SHIS and preparing the students to be budding scientists in the 21st century.

Children are naturally curious, trying at each step to make sense of a big world with numerous elements which surround them. Educators at our school encourage students to question the things as they exist around them.

With the aim to develop a quest for knowledge, proficiency in written and oral communication skills and the capability to think independently, in the students, a Science Ability Quiz was conducted. The shortlisted students from the Science Ability Test which took place in two different phases (Screening Round and Final Round) were selected for the final round.

The young learners participated with full enthusiasm and enjoyed being the part of the activity. The activity concluded with children congratulating each other, displaying happiness and appreciating one another.

The finalists of Math Ability Test (Preliminary Round) of grade IV participated in the Final Round of Math Aptitude Test conducted on August 24, 2018. This was an objective type test where in 4 options were given and the students were asked to choose the correct answer. Each question was of 1 mark. The test was of 25 marks without any negative marking for the incorrect answer. The syllabus for the same was “Number and Numeration”, “Addition”, Basic concept of “Subtraction” and “Encoding and Decoding”. The test was conducted in the zero periods.

 The students were well prepared for the test.

A Computer activity was conducted on 10^th August 2018 in which the students of Grade V were directed to create and format the Time Table of their class in Ms Word.

Their Computer teachers explained how to create a table and format it. The students were instructed to insert and delete new rows and columns, to merge and split cells of a table. They were also taught to change the design, the row height and column width of a table.

The students were enthusiastic and keen to learn the formatting and designing of the Time Table of their class. They thoroughly enjoyed the activity and understood the concept of working with tables.

To inculcate a love for the country and confidence in the students, an oratory activity was conducted for the students for grade III. The children were asked to come one by one and speak a few lines about their favourite freedom fighter using props. The students made appropriate props as per the freedom fighter chosen by them. Conducting this activity helped the children in gaining knowledge about the life of different freedom fighters.

The students prepared well for the activity and participated enthusiastically.

“I would rather be an independent citizen than an enslaved Emperor”
Freedom was acquired after sacrificing many lives. Mahatma Gandhi infused the patriotic feeling among the Indians which paved the way to our freedom from British rule. With the vision to pay homage to the immortal heroes and express love for the motherland an Inter- Dynasty Patriotic Song Competition was conducted for the students of Grade IV on 14th August, 2018.
The hall reverberated with the melodious tunes of patriotic numbers. The abundant energy and patriotic fervor of the children was depicted in the selection and presentation of their songs. The participants were dressed up in tricolor revealing the true spirit of being an Indian. The song selected by Ebony was ‘Chak de India’ whereas Maple sang to the tunes of ‘Suno gaur se duniya walo’. Oak selected the song ‘Teen rang Ka tiranga humara’ and Cedar mesmerized all with ‘Ae Mere Watan ke Logon’. Each dynasty was judged on the basis of different parameters like the selection of the song, its interpretation, rhythm and presentation of the song. The competition ended with Oak being declared as the winners; the second position was bagged by Ebony Dynasty; the third position by Maple and the fourth position was secured by Cedar Dynasty.
The event was truly remarkable!

A Hindi activity was conducted based on the month’s theme “Swatantrata Senaani” for the students of Grade IV on 14^th August 2018. Our Freedom Fighters sacrificed their lives to make our country independent; with this vision our talented students recited their self - composed poems based to celebrate our 72^nd Independence Day.

Students expressed their love for the nation in the most poetic tone and participated enthusiastically with full vigour. Their vivid imagination and explicit talent was well displayed in their beautiful poems. The confidence with which they spoke was indeed inspirational.

Poetry indeed touched new dimensions with such beautifully composed poems which left an everlasting impact upon on the students and helped them to understand the importance of our Independence and safeguard it to the best of their abilities.

The English Olympiad revision for Grade 3 students was conducted on 7^th August 2018. The Topics covered for revision were articles, adjectives and comparison of adjectives.

The Grammar rules of these topics along with examples were explained to the students. In Articles, the rules related to the indefinite articles ‘a’ and ‘an’ along with definite article ‘the’ were explained to the students. Degrees of comparison were also explained to the students with the help of examples. They were also given an exercise to make their concepts clear. Their curiosity levels touched a new horizon. They not only displayed their enthusiasm, but also tried their best to make learning a pleasure.

Each student was individually asked questions related to the Grammar topics in order to have a better clarity of the concept. It was an informative session which enhanced their learning to a vast extent.

‘If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.’
An exciting Inter-Dynasty Quiz competition was held for the students of grade VII, on 9th August 2018, as part of the Founder’s Week Celebrations. The Quiz began with the introduction of the quizmasters, Sehar and Tansha of Class X, who conducted the quiz in a very interactive way. The questions were intriguing and exciting, and though some very tricky, the teams tried to answer them with confidence. The audience also got a chance to participate every time the teams answered incorrectly.
The quiz was divided into four rounds: Medieval Literature, Delhi Sultanate, Visual Round based on the Heritage sites of India. The final round based on Current Affairs, gave the teams a chance to catch up with leaders and put-up a tough fight. Everyone waited with baited breath for the announcement of the final scores, which were as follows: The Cedar Dynasty won the Quiz Competition scoring 17 points followed by Maple with 14 points and Ebony stood third by scoring 12 points. Everyone clapped and cheered for the ecstatic winning teams.

The 72^nd Independence Day was celebrated is SHIS with a Special Assembly conducted by the students of Grade IV-H on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, with great enthusiasm, patriotic fervour and profound devotion to the motherland.

The assembly commenced with warm- up exercises followed by the Lord’s Prayer and Shloka, Shalom’s Mission and Vision, the Pledge, Thought of the Week, Word of the Day, International, National and Sports News along with the Day’s Weather Report. Veedi and Soujanya anchored the first half of the assembly while Namish and Ruhita anchored the remaining part of the assembly. An interesting Role –Play based on our Freedom Fighters, was enacted. They shared their struggle and role in making India a free country. Some students sang a patriotic song- Ae Vatan.  A beautiful poem on Independence Day was recited by Veedi. The First speech of independent India by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was shared by Ahaan.

All the students of the class actively participated in the assembly while the audience thoroughly enjoyed the session with questions being asked based on Independence Day. Certificates were given to the winners of various competitions held in the month of July. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem and the National Anthem.

As part of the Founder’s Week Celebration an Intra-school Science Quiz Competition was conducted for the students of grade VIII. The final round of the Science Quiz was conducted as an Inter-dynasty Competition, on August 9, 2018. The quiz was a huge success as it helped enhance the knowledge of the pupils as well as inculcate team – building skills in the participants.
As part of the week – long activities culminating in the ‘Shalom Conclave 2018-19’, the first round of the quiz was conducted with all the students of grade VIII across the six sections, participating in the quiz. Six students from each section were selected for the second round, which tested the students on their scientific and analytical skills. Finally, three students from each dynasty qualified for the final round, which comprised five rounds namely, Chemistry in daily life, MCQ, Logical reasoning, Physics and Know your scientists.
The results were as follows:

To be a well informed citizen of the world, one must be aware of events related to political or social interest and of its relevance in the world today.

With this vision, a quiz on Current Affairs was organized for the students of Grade III –V, on 27^th July 2018.

The students eagerly sat down to do the worksheet consisting of questions from topics they have read, especially from Science and Social Studies. There were some questions related to Politics, Sports and Social events that have taken place in the recent past. They were able to answer the worksheet well. It was an engaging session filled with excitement and anticipation, assumptions and fast responses. It was a neck and neck, totally unpredictable, competition till the last minute.

The idea behind conducting the competition is not only to blend learning with fun but also to develop confidence, poise and leadership in the students by giving them frequent opportunities to get on to the stage.

It was indeed a delightful competition enjoyed both by the participants and the audience!

‘’A true friend is a blessing indeed; be it to share a laugh or to wipe a tear, the presence of an understanding confidante can make the world a better place.’’

With a vision to celebrate Friendship Day, students of Grade III-A conducted the morning assembly on 9^th August 2018. The assembly began with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the Thought of the day, Word of the week and the News headlines. Students presented a short speech and recited a poem on the theme ‘Friendship’ depicting its meaning and importance in our daily life. They also shared valuable quotes on true friends as friendship is a rainbow between two hearts sharing seven colours of Secrets, Truth, Sadness, Faith, Happiness, Respect and love. Their enthusiasm was indeed clearly witnessed with their stupendous performance on stage. They spoke with such amazing finesse and expressions of the face and mind that it was indeed a treat to watch them!

The Class Assembly was thereafter concluded with the Shalom Anthem followed by the National Anthem.

“The things of this world cannot be made known without the knowledge of mathematics”

 Mathematics is a dynamic subject. It is constantly changing and can never be static. It challenges us to new horizons and forces us to look at new goals. For an enjoyable experience of mathematics, we must necessarily be able to relate the subject to the environment and focus on the development of thinking and reasoning skills.

With this aim a Math activity was conducted based on Addition and Subtraction for the students of Grade II. They were given three balls, out of which two balls had numbers printed on it and one ball had the symbol of addition and subtraction. The students dropped the dice and based on the number, gave the answer. Their curiosity knew no bounds and it was indeed a treat to witness their mathematical skills!

This activity helped to develop their mental ability to think and calculate more skilfully!

“Poem Recitation is a mode of expression, a medium to reflect the latent talents of the young ones.”

Keeping this in mind, an English Recitation activity was conducted for class III based on the theme ‘Patriotism’ on 8^th August 2018. The enthusiastic participants showcased their feeling of Patriotism, an important aspect for the Freedom of a Country.

Beauty is the realm of poetry and children enjoy the beauty of expression, thoughts, feeling, rhyme, rhythm and music of words.  Taking all these facts into consideration the children got an opportunity to exhibit their talent and confidence. The competition inspired the children to come forward and recite different poems on the topic “PATRIOTISM” with great zeal and enthusiasm.

Tributes and honour paid to our National Heroes, and tThe eye - catching props added icing to the cake on the occasion of Independence Day.

 All the students participated in full strength to make the Poetry Recitation, indeed, impressive. The teachers appreciated and applauded the performance of the participants and the feeling of patriotism filled the air with love and respect for our motherland!

Words are seeds that do more than blow around,
They land in our hearts and not the ground,
Be careful what you plant and careful what you say,
For the power of a good speech cannot be undermined.

With this spirit, our school witnessed an Inter- Dynasty English Declamation competition ‘Power of Words’, on August 8, 2018, as a part of our Founder’s day celebration. There were eight speakers each from grade XII and IX for English and Hind respectively, representing all the four dynasties. It was a treat to hear all the participants exhibiting their oratory skills with enthusiasm, and dressed in the attire of the speaker.

Famous speeches of eminent personalities like Malala, Lisa Kudrow, Swami Vivekanand,  Charlie Chaplin, Marc Zukerberg,  Oprah Winfrey and even William Shakespeares’s Hamlet, spread their magic, and  left an ever lasting impression on the audience.  

The participants were judged on the basis of their Presentation, Costume and Delivery of Speech. The judges stated it was a neck to neck competition making it difficult to decide on the best one. They appreciated the efforts of all the students and motivated others to participate in great numbers.

The results were as follows:

This competition aimed to promote the skills of Effective Public Speaking. They indeed ‘Dared to Declaim’.

As part of the Founder’s Day Week Celebrations, an Ad-Mad competition was held for the students of Grade VI on August 7, 2018, in both the English and Hindi languages. It was conducted as an Inter-dynasty competition. Each dynasty was allotted a topic on the spot, based on which they were asked to create an advertisement. They were given fifteen minutes to prepare the advertisement.

Filled with enthusiasm, all the participants began giving wings to their imagination. All the teams showcased their skill through advertisements on products like- juice, mosquito repellent, hair oil room freshener, and social issues like-Saving and Educating the Girl child, Saving Water, Environment Conservation and Uses of Internet. Each performance was unique and well-coordinated. They were judged on the basis of Content, Presentation and Articulation. It was indeed a tough task for the judges to decide the winners from among the young enthusiasts.

The show was a display of creativity and innovative thinking.

RESULT AT A GLANCE:

As part of the Founder’s Week celebration, the students of Grade V participated in the School Magazine Cover Making Competition on 7^th August 2018.

Our young enthusiasts were brimming with ideas and colour combinations for their School Magazine Cover Making Competition. They had come equipped with different types of colour mediums- pens, blow pens, calligraphy pens, poster paints etc., to colour the sheets with their vivid imaginations.

Some of their ideas were breathtaking. The mixing of colours and styles of writing were outstanding. It was as a tough job to decide the winners.

Our young artists participated enthusiastically and displayed amazing creativity and artistic flair.

A school assembly is one of the most important aspects of a school’s curriculum. Its potential to nurture a positive school ethos that stresses care for the self, others and the pursuit of all forms of excellence should not be underestimated. It powerfully nurtures the development of intrapersonal intelligence.

With a strong belief of nurturing such an essential aspect the students of Grade III-H conducted the morning assembly on 3^rd August, 2018 based on the theme “Respect for All”. The assembly started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the school’s vision and mission statement. Lipi compered the assembly proceedings. The assembly continued with the word of the day, thought for the week and news headlines. Riddhi Yadav monitored the pledge of the day. The National and Sports news was shared by Suryansh. This was followed by a poem on ‘Respect for All’ recited by Sniti. Fedona also gave valuable inputs based on this theme. Towards the end, there were quotes to help the students understand the importance of Respect for all in our lives.

The enthusiasm of all the students was clearly evident with their energetic involvement in all aspects of the impressive and meaningful Assembly, which concluded with the National Anthem followed by the Shalom Anthem.

An Inter- Class Spell Bee Competition was conducted for the students of Grade V on 30^th July, with an aim to encourage the students to learn the major principles and patterns of English spelling, accurate word usage and pronunciation of words, and expand their vocabulary.

The competition was designed in a pyramid structure enabling every student’s participation in the event. The students were given a word bank to facilitate effective learning and participation. The preliminary round, a dictation round, was conducted in the classes on 10^th May 2018. The final round consisted of both oral and written rounds. All three rounds of the Spell Bee i.e. Buzzer Round, Puzzle Round and Spell-out Loud Round, held the audience ‘spellbound’, with almost all the 12 participants spelling each word correctly.  Even the toughest words of the tie-breaker round were spelt with unflinching ease by the spelling wizards.

It was indeed a wonderful learning experience not only for the participants but also for their peers and served to enrich the vocabulary bank of the students!

With the intent of instilling confidence, to develop logical thinking, and achieve fluency in the Hindi language, a debate on the topic “Whether T.V. is Good or Bad”,  was conducted for the students of Class 3 on 26th July.

The children were divided into two groups. One group spoke in favour of the given topic and the other against it. The children enthusiastically explained their views. It was an educational experience for them. It enhanced the creative thinking of the students.

‘’The things of this world cannot be made known without the knowledge of mathematics.”

Mathematics is a dynamic subject-it is constantly changing and can never be static. It    challenges us to new horizons and forces us to look at new goals. For an enjoyable
experience of mathematics, we must necessarily be able to relate the subject to the environment and focus on the development of thinking and reasoning skills.

An Inter-Dynasty Mathematics Quiz was organized for the students of Grade II, on 18^th July 2018, to test the mental alertness and understanding of the subject. The teams were formed on the basis of their dynasties. The students were called one by one from each team to answer the given questions. All the teams performed very well.

The purpose of this activity was to enhance the mental ability and to create an environment where the students could get detailed information about the concept and learn in a better way.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the fun-filled learning activity and spent their day with experiential learning! The audience took keen interest and thoroughly enjoyed the quiz.

Aptitude is the analytical and application ability of a person. Aptitude tests inculcate many skills like, numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, abstract reasoning, speed, accuracy, and other such abilities.

It is very important to conduct these types of tests as it helps develop logical and analytical thinking in students. It improves their concentration and calculations. It helps in increasing the IQ of the students, their memory and presence of mind.

To reinforce the same, a Math Aptitude test was conducted in all the sections of grade V. The students were given multiple choice questions. They were asked to tick the correct option out of the four given options.

All the students participated enthusiastically.

’29 States, 1618 Languages, 6400 Castes, 6 Religion, 6 Ethnic Groups, 29 major festivals and ONE COUNTRY...’

With the vision and aim to enable students to understand the relevance of this beautiful diversity of their country, an activity was conducted for the students of Grade III, based on the lesson ‘Our States’, on July 27, 2018.

It was an oral activity, in which the students were encouraged to speak a few lines about the state they belonged to.  They were also asked to share information about the dressing style, food, festivals, language and the famous tourist places of their state. Students prepared beautiful Props related to their respective states in order to support their speeches.

Students spoke with amazing confidence displaying their talent with words. Their enthusiasm was truly a delight! The activity not only enhanced their knowledge about their states, but they also came to know about their country INDIA which stands true to its feel ‘’UNITY IN DIVERSITY’’.

It was a pleasure witnessing our young Shalomites exhibit their immense talent in speaking!

A ‘Map Activity’, of Lesson -5 ‘Our States’, was conducted in all the sections of class III. Using maps in the classroom invites curiosity encourages exploration and inspires problem solving.

The goal of this activity was to monitor student learning and to provide ongoing feedback that can be used by facilitators to improve their learning skills.

In order to keep this aligned, a map activity was done. Students were given a political map of India. They were asked to mark the nine neighbouring countries of India i.e Nepal, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Srilanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Maldives, and colour them separately.

The activity helped them in their concept building and in learning about their country.

The students of grade IV participated in a debate on “Deforestation” conducted on 1^st August 2018. The main aim of conducting the activity was to create an understanding of the impact of deforestation.

The students were explained about both the benefits and harmful effects of cutting down of tress with few live-examples. The class was then divided into two groups, one group speaking ‘for’ and the other group speaking ‘against’ deforestation. Each group was given the task of talking on the topic. Both the groups came out with good points creating a good-quality debate.  

The activity was a reinforcement session for all the students and helped them get a better understanding of the concept taught with few live examples. The linguistic, logical, spatial, kinaesthetic and interpersonal skills were enhanced with this activity. Overall, it was a fun learning and interactive session for the children.

A Computer activity was conducted for the students of Grade I on 26^th July 2018, wherein they were guided about basic typing skills on Word Pad using the keyboard.

The Computer teachers helped the students to get engaged in this interesting yet, educative activity.

The students were encouraged to type the names of various places. This practice in typing motivated them to type numbers and alphabets and gave them a better clarity to understand the usage of various keys on the keyboard.

The students thoroughly enjoyed this activity and displayed immense eagerness to do typing on Word Pad. This activity also enhanced their eye hand coordination, fine motor skills, made them aware and more confident in using this Word Pad application of the computer.

A Computer activity based on using the Calculator on the Computer was conducted for the students of Grade II on 27^th July 2018. The activity enabled the students to learn how to solve basic Mathematical sums.

Their Computer teacher encouraged students to engage in this interesting and educative activity. They were taught how to solve sums using the calculator on the computer with respect to their textbook exercises on Addition, Subtraction and Multiplication.

The students displayed their excitement which was clearly evident with their enthusiastic approach to solve all the sums and asked for more!

It was indeed a pleasure to witness their confidence levels to solve more sums. This activity not only enhanced their fine motor skills but also gave them more confidence to use this application of computer.

A Computer activity was conducted on 27^th July 2018 in which the students of Grade V were given a worksheet under “Code to learn training program, by 'Google India' on SCRATCH”.

Their Computer teachers explained about Scratch, its components and the use of various blocks in Scratch to create diverse projects like games, animations etc. On the basis of this, the worksheet was given to the students to be later analyzed by their respective computer teachers. The result is to be shared with Google. The students will be awarded with E-certificates from Google India. 

The students were quite enthusiastic to learn the Programming Language in Scratch. They thoroughly enjoyed the activity and understood this concept which enabled them to take a step further in the world of PROGRAMMING.

A Computer activity was conducted for the students of Grade IV and V on 24^th July 2018 wherein the students were directed to create a project in Scratch using various Block Palettes.

The Computer teachers explained the use of Sensing Block Palette and Mathematical Operators in Scratch. They learnt to bounce the ball up and down, count the word length, make a variable and apply a desired condition in programming. The students successfully created a project with the help of these blocks.  

The students displayed amazing curiosity and enthusiasm to understand the Programming language in Scratch. They thoroughly enjoyed the activity and understood the concept of creating a project with different components of Block Menu.

Giving wings to their imagination, colourful and meaningful interpretations were the world of MS PAINT...

A Computer activity was conducted for students of Grade III on 24^th July 2018 wherein students created a road scene with the help of MS Paint using different kinds of MS tools.

The Computer teachers, instructed the students to use different tools of Paint such as Shapes, Clipboard, Brushes and Colour present on the Home Tab to create a colourful presentation. Children enthusiastically used these different tools in their drawing. They drew a road, some traffic lights, cars and a wide open sky, displaying their creativity. They coloured the drawing also using the Fill with Colour tool.  

The students thoroughly enjoyed this activity and displayed clarity of concept towards the usage of tools in MS Paint application. It was indeed ecstatic to witness such a remarkable show of talent!

A Computer activity was conducted for the students of Grade V on 24^th July 2018 wherein the students were directed to create a project in Scratch using various Block Palettes.

The Computer teachers explained the use of Sensing Block Palette and Mathematical Operators in Scratch. The students learnt to bounce the ball up and down, count the word length, make a variable and apply a desired condition in programming. The students successfully created a project with the help of these blocks.  

The students displayed amazing curiosity and enthusiasm to understand the Programming language in Scratch. They thoroughly enjoyed the activity and understood the concept of creating a project with different components of Block Menu.

The morning sets the day and the assembly paves the way for our students to rejuvenate their spirits, remain rooted to the moral values and unleash their vitality.

Students of Grade III G conducted their Morning Assembly based on the theme ‘Kindness’ on 19^th July, 2018. The Assembly began with the Lord’s Prayer and the Hindi Shloka followed by the school’s vision and mission. A conversation based narration was conducted by Navya. The assembly was taken ahead with the Pledge, Thought for the week and News Headlines. The students briefed all with the National, International, Sports and Weather News.

This platform serves to enhance their communication skills and also give them more exposure to public speaking and being on stage. Students’ participated enthusiastically in with full vigour. Ritushree shared a few quotes based on the theme ‘Kindness’ in order to make the students understand its relevance in our daily lives. Then a few students recited a short poem to emphasize further on the significance of Kindness.

A workshop was also conducted by Ms. Kristna on the Topic ‘BULLYING’ in order to keep the students well informed about the different ways to safeguard themselves from being bullied and to immediately report if any such incident occurred in their surroundings. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem.

The morning sets the day and the assembly paves the way for our students to rejuvenate their spirits, remain rooted to the moral values and unleash their vitality.

Students of Grade IV-B conducted their Morning Assembly based on the theme ‘Sharing’ on 18^th July 2018. The Assembly began with the Lord’s Prayer and the Hindi Shloka followed by the school’s vision and mission. A conversation based narration was conducted by Asmita and Rachit. The assembly was taken ahead with the Pledge, Thought for the week and News Headlines. The students briefed all with the National, International, Sports and Weather News.

This platform serves to enhance the communication skills of the students and also give them more exposure to public speaking. Students participated enthusiastically with full vigour. A few quotes were shared by Shaurya, based on the theme ‘Sharing’ in order to make the students understand its relevance in our daily lives. A short poem, to emphasize the Power of Sharing, was recited by a few students. There was a workshop also conducted further  by Kristna Ma’am on the Topic ‘BULLYING’ in order to keep the students well informed about the different ways to safeguarded themselves from being bullied and to immediately report if any such incident occurred in their surroundings. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem.

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is a special occasion to celebrate the virtuous bond of love between a brother and a sister which is one of the deepest and noblest of all human emotions. To commemorate this festival, a Rakhi Making Activity was organized for the students of Grade II on 19^th July 2018.

The students participated with great zeal and zest playing with colours and making Rakhis.  The students were asked to draw a picture of a Rakhi and colour it in their notebooks. Their artisanship was quite fascinating and the children thoroughly enjoyed this activity. Their vivid imagination gave an insight to their artistic minds. This also helped to develop their interest in Hindi language.  

The children joined in this celebration, which was aimed at strengthening the bond of sibling love and to instill the virtues of harmony among the young, growing Shalomites!

It is truly said, ‘Power of words makes all the difference to leave an impact for a lifetime’.

 With this objective in mind an English declamation competition based on the theme ‘Save the Tiger’ was conducted for Grade IV on 20th July 2018. Keeping the students abreast with the latest issues, this competition was aimed to promote the skills of effective Public speaking. The participants enthusiastically expressed their views on the given topic. The tiger is an iconic species, and Tiger Conservation involves attempts to prevent this animal from becoming extinct and preserving its natural habitat.

The students showed awareness about ‘Save the Tiger campaign’ being held across the world and spoke with great clarity on the need and importance of saving tigers. Students highlighted the various kinds of threats posed to this species in their speech. They also came out with different ideas on how to save tigers and their habitat.

It was a pleasure to witness a talented pool of contestants from different dynasties participate in this competition.

A Poster making competition was conducted in order to bring out the creative expression of the students, on the theme ‘Save Tiger/Sustainable city’, in all sections of Grade 4 on 23^rd July 2018.  All the children came well prepared for this competition. They displayed their artistic skills through an array of posters on the given topic. Students were explained how a tiger is a unique animal which plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem. Therefore, the presence of tigers in the forest is an indicator of the well being of the ecosystem. The students understood well its relevance as to how the extinction of this top predator is an indication that the ecosystem is not sufficiently protected.

Most of the students made beautiful drawings of the tiger and wrote slogans urging people to protect this beautiful animal from extinction. They used bright colours to write their messages for ‘Saving the Tiger’. All the students enthusiastically participated displaying their vivid imagination in the most artistic way. They expressed their thoughts and concerns through their posters. The purpose of this competition was not merely to see the creative aspect but also to trigger the thought process of children and sensitize them towards such environmental issues.

An activity on subject-predicate was conducted in all the sections of Grade III on 12^th July 2018. This was a pre-activity which was done to introduce the concept of subject-predicate to the students. The students were given four sentences in which they had to identify the subject and predicate. The students also had to draw pictures of the subject and the predicate in order to ensure clarity of concept.

The students enthusiastically participated in this activity and displayed a lot of vigour. They made beautiful drawings in their Grammar Notebook. This activity indeed helped our students to gain better understanding of this concept based on the structure of sentences.

An anlytical activity based on multiplication was conducted in Grade V on 9^th July 2018. Children explored a different and an interesting way to do multiplication by making Lattice. Lattice multiplication is a method of multiplying large numbers using a grid. It is algorithmically equivalent to regular long multiplication, but the lattice method breaks the multiplication process into smaller steps, which some students easy. Students showed immense enthusiasm and curiosity to learn this new technique of multiplication while performing this activity.

The digits to be carried were written within the grid, making them hard to miss. First, students were asked to draw a grid that has as many rows and columns as the multiplicand and the multiplier. The grid shown was for multiplying a 4-digit number by a 4-digit number. Multiplication is performed by multiplying the digits at the head of each row and column. Students were guided to fill each square of the grid with the product of the digits above and to its right, recording the products so that the tens are in the upper (diagonal) half of the square and the ones are in the lower half. They were even given a hint that if the product does not have a tens digit, record a zero in that triangle.

It was indeed a pleasure to witness our students show eagerness to learn and gain perfect clarity of concept.

A different yet an interesting Maths activity was conducted based on Subtraction for the students of Grade IV on 9^th July 2018. Different methods are used to understand this concept. However, it does not matter which one we use as all methods lead to the same answer.

The students were given a 4 X 3 grid (4 columns and 3 rows). In the last row, they were given four numbers. They were asked to subtract the numbers of adjacent boxes and their difference was to be written on the upper box. Similarly, the next two numbers were subtracted and the difference was written in the upper box. At last, there was only one number left in the top box.

100 – 50 = 50

500 - 400 = 100

1000 - 500 = 500

4000 - 2000 = 1000

As this pattern gives a hill like structure, we call it as Subtraction Hill.

An atmosphere of curiosity was built around the classroom drawing the complete attention of the children and enabling them to understand this concept with fun. Students displayed amazing clarity of concept and enthusiastically participated with a lot of vigour. “Learning Mathematics was indeed like playing a card of numbers.’’

A Spell Bee competition for Grade IV was conducted on 11^th July 2018. This was the final round after two preliminary rounds which had been held earlier to select the students. Three students were selected from each section for the final round of Spell Bee.

Anxiety filled the hall as the spell bees took their seats on the stage. An air of curiosity with some real – time fun had gripped all the teams and showed them all looking more than well-prepared to emerge winners. In all, four rounds were held. In the first round the students were to write the spellings on paper, while the second round had them filling in the missing letter in the given word. In the third round, the students were given jumbled words and they had to tell the correct spelling. There was a tie in the third round between five teams. A tie-breaker question was then put to the teams. Four sections IV A, IV B, IV D and IV E reached the final round. The difficulty bar was raised a little in the final round to make it more challenging and had an oral round also. The contestants had to spell the word without writing it down.

Three audience rounds were also held. It was quite a competition and even the audience participated equally. Fun questions were put up to the audience. The children in the audience enthusiastically participated and could answer all the questions. Prizes were given in the audience round to the children who gave the correct answer.

In the end three classes got the top positions. The winners of the Final Spell Bee round were:

IV B   : 1^st position

IV D   : 2^nd position

IV E   :  3^rd position

It was truly a fun-filled session where learning took new dimension with competition in its true spirit!

An MI activity based on the reinforcement of Proper and Common nouns was conducted in Grade III on July 4, 2018. Picture cards were given to students for identification and were placed accordingly under Proper and Common noun headings. Students worked enthusiastically in groups with great vigour and displayed good clarity of concept. This fun-based activity enhanced their understanding of this concept to the best of their knowledge.

Skills inculcated: Group work

An Inter-class Poem Recitation Competition was conducted for the students of grade IV on 14^th May 2018. Each section had to present a creative poem of their choice. The students were judged on the basis of creativity, diction, use of props and presentation of the poem. The poems recited were based on different themes like nature, kindness, protecting the environment, patriotism etc.

All the classes recited their poems well. The students of each section had colourful props which they used to enhance their poem. The students recited the poem with proper actions and voice modulation. The result of the competition is as follows:

Class IV-H : 1^st position

Class IV-D : 2^nd position

Class IV-G : 3^rd position

‘Rhymes can prove to be an instrumental stepping stone for young children to develop their verbal skills and boost their confidence.’

Keeping this thought in mind a ‘Choral Recitation Competition’ was conducted on 15^th May’18 for the young scholars of Class-V. As we all know, the children enjoy the beauty of expression, thoughts, feeling, rhyme, rhythm and music of words.  Taking all these facts into consideration, the children got an opportunity to exhibit their talent and confidence.  They chose a variety of topics for their recitation like nature, trees, flower, mother, books, and unity in diversity etc. and presented them with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm. The Primary wing headmistress and Senior Coordinator were invited to witness the competition.  They appreciated and applauded the performance of the participants and the children enjoyed the competition. The eye catching props were the icing to the cake.

Results:

First Position          : VG

Second Position      : VB

Third Position          : VA

 “Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.”

A Poem Recitation Competition was conducted for the students of grade III on 16^th May 2018. The students chose different poems like “Daffodils”, “Grandparents”, “The Rain”, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”, “We are in it together” based on themes of spirit of nature, togetherness, protecting the environment etc. They were judged on the basis of creativity, diction, use of props and presentation of the poem.

The students from all the sections participated and were well prepared. Each section had designed their own innovative props which they used to highlight their poem.

The students recited their poems with proper actions, voice modulation and a lot of enthusiasm. The results were declared towards the end of the competition with 3B taking the first position, 3C the second position and 3D the third position.

The students of grade IV participated in the First round of the Spell-bee competition conducted in class on 9th May 2018. Spell-bee is a competition in which students are asked to write a broad selection of words, usually with a varying degree of difficulty. Spell-bees allow individuals to compete in a supportive environment. The purpose of spell-bee is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabulary, learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all through their life. It is a competition in which the winner is the person who is able to form correctly the highest number of words possible.

This is self based learning which improves retention and results in a systematic and structured understanding of the English language.

“Nature keeps us grounded. Obstacles make us perseverant and adventure makes us tough.”

In today’s world we hardly have the time to take a note of our mind. Rarely do we stop to listen to what our body and mind are saying. We are so preoccupied with our busy lives that we have chosen to become mechanised people, rather than be the natural human beings God had created. For, how many times do we notice the trees; fauna and flora, how many times do we enjoy the chirping of birds and how many times do we enjoy those wonderful drops of rain trying to touch us.

The students of Shalom Hills International School were fortunate enough to have had experienced, at least, some of these nature’s excitement. 76 students of Grades VI to VIII were taken on a 3 days Adventure trip to Jungle Retreat, Bhowali- Nainital organised by Rocksport. The students reached the school in the evening on 16^th May, 2018 in high spirits. They set off excitedly for the venue in the AC Volvo buses, accompanied by 8 teachers. Each day at the camp was customized to bring out different aspects of the children’s personality and hone them. Children at the camp explored nature, lived independently, worked in team and learned climbing, rapelling and crawling. They not only performed several activities under the perfect guidance of their instructors but also cooked in the woods; sang under the canopy of stars and witnessed enchanting sunsets. The camp was situated 312kms from Delhi, and 16 kms from Haldwani. The 3 days camp ended with a power packed experience that would push our students to challenge themselves and acquire new skills in the future to come. The days our students spent at camp, transformed them into all-rounded personalities.

On the onset of summer break, Shalom Hills International School provided a golden opportunity to the students of class IV-V to commence their vacation in the best way possible by organizing an adventure and pleasure trip to Mussoorie. Around 55 students from both the grades attended ‘Camp Anubhav’ wherein the students went for a four nights three days trip from 15th May to 19th May, 2018 to Mussoorie . The camp organized by Rocksport, gave the students an opulent opportunity to be in nature’s lap, in the serene arms of tranquility, far away from the hustle and bustle and baffling city lights. The students savored the true nectar of adventure. The trip catered to indulge in daring and thrilling adventurous activities like stream runner, rappelling and ziplining. Trekking allowed them to explore the grandeur and depth of nature and get acquainted with the exquisite variety of flora and fauna of the mountains. The boys and girls stayed in cottages enjoying the uniqueness of nature. The students registered their experiences by writing journals in the evenings. On the last day, prize distribution was held whereby the best team and the best journal were awarded. A great learning procedure for students, this adventure camp was a combination of fun filled games and life skills activities which made learning experience richer, joyful and rewarding leaving kids wanting for more.

"This is what we do, my mother's life said. We find ourselves in the sacrifices we make."

Mother’s day is celebrated to honour all mothers and express gratitude for the hardships they bear in bringing up a child. Most countries of the world celebrate Mother’s day on the second Sunday of May. This time Mother’s day is falling on 13^th May ‘18.

The students of Class III celebrated Mother’s day by making flower vases for their mothers. The children were given A4 size coloured sheets. They were also given coloured papers from which they made flowers. All of them wrote a thank you message for their mothers on the Tulip flower.

Each child wanted his or her flower vase to be the best. They tried to make their flower vase as colourful as possible. The children were excited about giving these flower vases to their mothers on Mother’s day.

We ended our activity with a beautiful saying on mothers “A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” 

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” – Abraham Lincoln

Mother’s Day is a celebration of the bond of love and affection between a mother and a child. It celebrates the spirit of motherhood. Mother’s day is celebrated to honour all mothers and express gratitude for the hardships they bear in bringing up a child. A mother’s unconditional love and devotion are incomparable to everything else in this world. Most countries of the world celebrate Mother’s day on the second Sunday of May.

The students of Class IV celebrated Mother’s day by making  bouquet of flowers for their mothers. This was a small gesture on the part of the students to do something special for their mothers. The students expressed their love and gratitude by making beautiful bouquets for their mother. The children were given A4 size coloured sheets. They were also given coloured papers from which they made colourful flowers. All the students wrote a thank you message for their mother in the card.

Each child wanted his or her bouquet to be the best. The children were excited about giving these beautiful bouquets to their mother’s on Mother’s day.

“As God could not be everywhere to take care of us all the time He made Mothers to do His work.”

Mother’s Day is an annual event celebrated on the second Sunday in the month of May. Though we must thank our mother everyday for looking after our wellbeing, this special day is designated for us as daughters and sons to celebrate the essence of motherhood and thank our mothers for all that they do selflessly for us. This is a day the whole world can relate to, and honour this bond.

We at Shalom Hills also do our bit to remind our students about this lovely bond that must be nurtured with love, respect and gratitude.

Grade V students made a Tiara of flowers as an appreciation for their mother’s telling them how important they are in their lives. They decorated the Tiara with colours, beads, glitter paper and paints. Happy with the outcome of their efforts, the children packed away their gifts in their bags to give their mother’s for Mother’s Day.

Roman Numeral System was the only written numbering system used in Ancient Rome and Europe until about 900 AD. Arabic Roman numerals were used to record numbers in stone, art and coins. These days they are more commonly used on clocks and for styling lists. Roman numerals, as used today, are based on seven symbols: I = 1; V = 5; X = 10; L = 50; C = 100; D = 500; M = 1000. Roman numerals are often used to signify divisions of a long work, or of a work with many parts.

Students of Grade IV were asked to write their date of birth In Roman Numerals by using the flash cards given at the back of the textbook. They were asked to paste their birth date and the month in Roman numeral flash cards. All the students pasted the flash cards correctly as the concept of Roman numerals was clear to them. They all participated very enthusiastically in the activity and showed best of their creativity in writing their date of birth. The activity helped them to understand the importance of Roman Numerals in their lives.

A Computer activity was conducted on 24^th April 2018 in which the students of Class IV were directed to type about different types of Internal Memory.

Their Computer teachers, Ms. Shruti Barawal, Ms. Swati Srivastava and Ms. Divya Agarwal instructed the students to type the various differences between RAM and ROM (Types of Internal Memory). The children were told to type the differences with basic formatting in Ms Word.

The students completely enjoyed this activity and understood the concept of Internal Memory.

A Computer activity was conducted on 24^th April 2018 to familiarise them with the different parts of the computer.

Their Computer teachers, Ms. Shruti Barawal, Ms. Swati Srivastava and Ms. Divya Agarwal instructed the students to type about different types of monitors and different parts of CPU in Ms Word. The children were very enthusiastic to type about different parts of computer.

The students completely enjoyed this activity and understood the concept of different parts of computer.

A Computer activity was conducted on 24^th April’18 for the students of grade V, in which they were directed to type about various generations of computers.

Their Computer teachers, Ms. Shruti Barawal, Ms. Swati Srivastava and Ms. Divya Agarwal instructed the students to type about different generations of a computer by creating tables in Ms Word. This enhanced the knowledge of children as they were able to learn how to create the tables and fill the data in it.

The students completely enjoyed this activity and understood the concept of generations of computer.

A numeral system (or system of numeration) is a writing system for expressing numbers; that is, a mathematical notation for representing numbers of a given set using digits or other symbols in a consistent manner. It provides a unique representation to every number and represents the arithmetic and algebraic structure of the figures. It also allows us to operate arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, and division.

There are two systems of reading and writing numbers: The Indian system and The International system of numeration.

The class was divided into groups of six children each. They were given some magnetic numbers from MI lab. Some were arranged according to the Indian system of numeration while others were arranged according to the International system of numeration. All the students were able to read the 5 and 6-digit numbers according to both place value systems. They all participated very enthusiastically in the activity. This activity helped them to understand the concept of reading numbers in a better way.

 

In an attempt to instil a love and sense of responsibility for their planet Earth, a Poster making activity was conducted in all the sections of Grade III, to celebrate Earth Day. The students made beautiful posters with a message to create awareness about the importance of conserving mother earth. Great enthusiasm was seen in the students during the activity.

Various aspects like afforestation, conservation of water, soil, air and fuel, abatement of pollution were touched upon by the students in their own special way. The activity helped the students understand the importance of protecting Earth.

In order to celebrate Earth Day, a poster making activity was held in all the sections of Grade IV on 19^th April 2018. The students had been informed earlier about the activity.

An A3 size sheet was given to all the students. The students had to make a poster related to Earth Day and its significance. They made beautiful and creative drawings of the Earth and wrote several messages to save Earth from pollution and to keep it clean and green. Most of the students were aware about the importance of having a green and clean Earth. Their posters depicted various ways of saving the Earth from pollution.

The students participated in the activity with a lot of enthusiasm. They all promised to keep their Earth clean and protect it for future generations. The activity helped the students understand the importance of protecting Earth.

The students of Grade V-B conducted the morning assembly on 17^th April 2018 on the theme “Self- Control”. The assembly began with the Lord ’s Prayer followed by the Hindi Shloka. The anchors of the assembly were Anirvaanya & Shreya. The assembly continued with the school’s mission & vision, word of the day, thought for the week and news headlines. Tanvi, along with all the students present, took the pledge of the day. A brief talk about Self Control was given by Yashika. Nainshree & Shloka recited a poem on self-control. Then Bhavya shared a few tips to practice self-control.

At the end, there was a short skit to make the students aware about the meaning of self –control and its importance in our lives.

"Learning is experience. Everything else is just information.’’

As the session came to an end, our Junior Shalomites donned their ‘Chef Caps’ to exhibit their culinary skills in a unique activity ‘’Cooking without Fire’’ held on 15^th March 2018. The aim of the activity was to provide a platform for students to showcase their talent and explore new areas of interest. It was conducted with a view to create awareness about the nutritional value of food cooked without fire.

The children participated with full zeal and enthusiasm as they prepared nutritious yet delectable delicacies. They prepared healthy dishes like, Sprouted Bhel, Orange Tang and Cheesy Biscuit Canopy, using easy and quick recipes. They also made sandwiches, lemonade, bhelpuri, etc. with the raw materials they brought from home. All were excited to make their respective food items. The food items displayed were a visual treat and were presented in an artistic and aesthetic style.

This activity not only provided a platform for the students to foster their creativity but also helped them explore their hidden talents and discover new areas of interest.

A Special assembly was conducted by I-A on the theme ‘Clothes We Wear’. The assembly started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the English and Hindi News, and the thought and word of the week. The importance and types of clothes was explained through a Fashion show.

The students learnt that different types of clothes are made for different seasons for example cotton clothes are worn in the summer season, woolens are worn in winter, while the raincoat is made for rainy season. They were excited to hear about the type of material used in making the different types of clothes.

The children enjoyed the Fashion show and the colourful dance performance presented by the students of class IA.

A Math activity related to “Measurement” was conducted for the students of Grade-I on 15^th February 2018. First, a basic Introduction was given to the children and some instructions were also given for the activity, so that they would be able to grasp the concept. The children were explained about the Measurements in length, weight and capacity.

Students were instructed to measure the length, weight and capacity of concrete things i.e. pencils, erasers, table, chair, water bottles, school bag etc. They were explained how to use the non-standard units of length i.e. hand span, foot span, palm, cubit, digit, pace, arm span etc. They were explained about difference in length, weight and capacity and how to measure them. After the activity, the children were able to understand the concept of Measurement with more clarity.

Children thoroughly enjoyed the fun filled learning activity and spent their day with experiential learning.

The students of class III performed an activity on ‘Time’, for which they were told to bring a paper plate and a black sketch pen. Before starting the activity they were explained what time is, and the standard units of time, for example, days of the week, and hour times. They were asked to draw time on the paper plate brought by them. They expressed time in minutes as well as in hours. They also presented different phases in a clock – half past, quarter to and quarter past. Further they were asked to estimate the time taken for daily activities in hours and minutes. The students made an attractive clock with the help of the paper plate. They really had fun and were able to grasp the concept better.

A Special Assembly was conducted by the students of grade 1-I on the theme of ‘People Who Help us’.  The assembly started with the Morning Prayer, followed by the news in English and Hindi, and the thought and word of the week.

Many people around us do different kinds of work which help us. Students of class 1- I enacted the role of different people who help us in various ways like doctor, plumber, police officer, shopkeeper and farmer.

All the students recalled the importance of various helpers and enjoyed the assembly. The chosen theme helped the students develop respect for the people help us and understand their importance in our life.

A Role play on L-15: ‘A Bear story’, was conducted in all sections of grade-3 on 15^th February 2018. The students, who were divided into groups of five members each, enacted the story in front of the whole class. The students were given around ten minutes each to practice and present their act. They were enthusiastic about performing the role-play .They were seen discussing the story of the lesson with their group members.

This activity helped the students in gaining a greater clarity of the lesson. The role-play gave them an opportunity to be creative and enhance their public speaking skills.

All the students took an active part in the role-play. The activity also helped to encourage creative thinking among the students.

A   magic show was organised for the students of grade III and IV on 15^th February 2018 by a group of magicians from ‘The Delhi School of Magic’. The children were excited to see the magic show and sat patiently while the magician performed his tricks.

Many magic tricks like the umbrella trick, the flower trick producing   scarves and bunches of flowers along with joining torn strips of cloth to make a whole, were performed by the magician. Making things disappear and re-appear out of thin air was another act that impressed everyone. The students kept guessing as to how these tricks worked. All of them could not stop clapping as the magician unfolded his tricks one by one.

The children were delighted and sat mesmerised throughout the performance. They followed all the instructions of the magician and appreciated his magical tricks with thunderous clapping. The magician also invited two volunteer teachers on the stage to perform some tricks. The magician also gave some tips to the children on how to perform magic tricks on their own. The magic show was a great success and the students enjoyed it a lot.

Inspite of, the several usefulness of the computer and internet, there are some disadvantages and negative impacts such as online addiction, cyber disorders, stressful life style and Cyber Crimes. With the prevalence of social media and digital forums, cyber bullying, cybercrime, cyber stalking and hacking etc. have risen to a great extent. These adverse effects of Cyber World on the users of internets are evident from several studies and observations.

Today cyber security has become very important. While all states have criminal laws that apply to bullying, not all have special statues that apply to cyber bullying. Hence, to generate awareness amongst the students of Grade VI to VIII, the Computer Department of Shalom Hills International School organized a Slogan writing activity on the topic- Cyber Security Awareness. This activity provided an edge to further enhance their knowledge to stay protected, concerned and aware. The enthusiasm with which the students came forward and depicted their thoughts and views through slogans was praiseworthy. They presented their own thoughts, quotations and views.

Clothes protect us from heat, cold, wind and rain. We wear cotton clothes in summer and woollen clothes in winter. We use raincoats, gumboots and umbrellas during the rainy season. Clothes are made up of different materials-cotton, wool and silk. It is important to wear clean clothes.

Children of Class 1 performed an activity in which they drew and coloured clothes that are worn in summer and in winter.

This activity will help the children to keep in mind that different types of clothes are worn in different seasons. The students enjoyed this activity and participated enthusiastically in it.

The food we intake daily is the source of all essentials namely vitamins, minerals, fibers. Vegetables form a healthy diet which keeps our stomach full for a longer time. Vegetables contain important vitamins, minerals and fibers.

To make children realize the importance of vegetables an interesting activity was conducted in all the sections of grade I. The children were shown live demonstration of all major vegetables and told their benefits. The children also spoke about those vegetables.

The children were thrilled to see the vegetable basket and learned the names of the various vegetables. While discussing the vegetables the children were also able to get the gist of the story ‘Who will be the King?’. They were very excited to read the story.

A Special Assembly was conducted by the students of I-H on the theme of ‘Air’. The assembly started with the Morning Prayer, followed by the news in English and Hindi, and the thought and word of the week. The importance of air, its properties and facts were stated by the students. Three experiments related to the properties of air were demonstrated.

1. Air has weight (By showing two balloons).
2. Uses of air in instruments like flute, whistle etc.
3. Paper plane and kite were used to show the presence of air.

The children enjoyed watching all the activities immensely.

The activity on ‘Different means of communication’ was conducted in all the sections of class III.

The students were told to prepare a few lines to speak on any means of communication.   They were asked to bring any prop related to their topic.  The students were given a briefing on communication by the teacher.

This was an individual activity in which the students came forward turn by turn and spoke a few lines on the means of communication which they want to use to communicate. They were very confident and happy to come forward and speak. Their excitement and enthusiastic participation in the activity was quite evident.

The skills nurtured through this activity were listening and speaking skills, inter- personal skills, intra-personal skills, reasoning Skills etc.

The students of class III performed an activity on Measurement. The students were divided into groups of four and directed to draw objects of different shapes indicating various units of measurement i.e. length, mass and capacity. They were required to draw three objects individually with length greater than 10 cm, mass greater than 1Kg and capacity greater than 1 litre. They discussed as a group and decided as to what each one should draw and coloured the objects beautifully. It was a pleasure to see the concept clarity and application in the students as they were able to draw various objects and apply the concept practically. The students really had fun and performed the activity enthusiastically.

Helpers are people in professions that directly impact the lives of others. They deliver a service that makes our lives easier. It is important for all of us to know the ways in which these Helpers work. We can also help them do their jobs better if we understand the role they play.

Many community helpers have easily identifiable work attire or clothes. This makes it easy to know their role in the community and is helpful if you need to approach them for help. A policeman or fire fighter’s uniform and a doctor’s coat thus become important clues of what they can do.

Children of Class I participated in an activity in which they dressed up as Community Helpers belonging to different professions. They enacted their roles with realistic props along with appropriate words. This activity will help to instil in them respect for all professions and learn to value them better.

The Morning Assembly was conducted by I-G on the theme of Water. The assembly started with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the News and thought and word of the week. Five water experiments were demonstrated.

1. Float and sink
2. Honey, Oil and Water Sandwich
3. Oil and Water experiments
4. Water is tasteless, colourless and odourless
5. Both Sugar and Salt are soluble in water

The students also learnt many properties of water. The children enjoyed all the activities thoroughly.

An activity on L-8 ‘The Tease’ was conducted in all the sections of grade-3 on 22^nd January 2018. The students were explained the meaning of the poem. There was a discussion on the poem. The students then had to make a drawing related to their understanding of the poem. They also had to find four rhyming words and write them in their grammar notebook.

The students performed this activity with a lot of enthusiasm. They made beautiful drawings. This activity helped the students get a better understanding of the poem. The activity also helped to encourage creative thinking among the students.

Republic Day in India is celebrated every year with great honour on 26^th of January to honour the Constitution of India as it came into force on the same day in the year 1950. A National Holiday has been declared by the Indian Government as India became a Republic Country on that day.

The children of class 1-F conducted the assembly in honour of the Republic Day. The Assembly started with the morning-prayer, Mantra, Thought of the week, word of the week with its meaning and sentence. The children gave informative speeches on the related topic and the Assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem.

Math activity on “Time” was conducted for Grade-I on 18^th January 2018. First basic introduction of time and o’clock was given to the children and some instructions were also given for the activity, so that they would be able to grasp the concept. The children were divided into different groups and were given different o’clock time like 3 o’clock, 12 o’clock, 6 o’clock etc. They were instructed to show these times using both their hands as clock hands. One example was shown by the Teacher.

The activity helped the children to understand the concept of the o’clock time in the watch. They learned to see and know the time in clock.

The students were able to do the activity independently which fulfilled the purpose of this activity - to enhance the mental ability for understanding the concept of time and to create an environment where they could work in different groups and learn in a better way.

The children thoroughly enjoyed the fun-filled learning activity. It enhanced their gross, fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination as well.

Importance of puppetry in the field of education lies in the fact that this medium helps in developing imagination, creativity and observation skills in the children. A good educational message is the purpose of the puppet play and moreover learning through play is fundamental to the education of our young children.

In all sections of grade I, the story of ‘The Fox and The Crow’ was introduced through hand puppets. The children were extremely excited throughout the session. Puppets changed the entire story session by creating more possibilities for creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and curiosity.

An activity on the concept of non-standard units of Measurement was conducted for the students of Grade-II on 16 January 2018. The students were told to measure the length of the table top, smart board , room length using non standard units like hand span, foot span and pace.

All the students took interest in the activity and understood the concept very well. Their logical and analytical skills were brushed up through this activity and the concept of measuring length through non-standard units became clearer. They all enjoyed the activity.

Math week was celebrated on 26^th and 27^th December 2017 by the students of Grade III to mark the 130^th birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan. A Math Quiz was organized on the first day in which students in all the sections were divided into four groups and the quiz was conducted in four rounds. The topics covered were numbers and numeration, addition, subtraction and multiplication. It was a close contest in all the sections and even went up to the tie-breaker in 5 of the 8 sections.

On the next day, the students expressed their views and shed some light on the career of one of the brightest mathematicians India has ever produced. Students presented their short oral presentations and shared some mind-boggling personal and professional facts about the famous mathematician.

It was a pleasure to see the enthusiasm and zeal in students regarding the subject which Ramanujan deeply loved.

“Silver bells, silver bells, it’s Christmas time in the city”, and just like the songs of this carol, it was time to celebrate Christmas in the school too! So the students of grade V on 21^st December 2017 prepared a special assembly showcasing the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The assembly began with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the Shloka. A few students came forward holding flash cards and decrypted the word ‘CHRISTMAS’ and its meaning for the spectators.

This was followed by the nativity scene that focused on Angel Gabriel bringing the good news to Mary, the mother of Jesus followed by the manger scene where Jesus was born and the wise men from Middle Eastern countries and shepherds from the countryside came to visit him. They concluded the assembly with a short choreography performed by the students on the song ‘Born unto us a King’. The students unveiled a spectacular assembly in a short time frame of time of about a week with the help of their teachers from the English Department.

At the end all the students of grade V sang Christmas carols that they had learnt in their music lessons and ended the special assembly with the Shalom anthem followed by the national anthem. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the spirit of Christmas and the joy of sharing.

The activity on ‘Different Occupations’ was conducted in all the sections of class III.

Students were given a briefing of the occupations which they can choose when they grow up. They were asked to write about the occupation which they want to select   on the given sheet and the source of inspiration for choosing the particular occupation.

This was an individual activity in which the students came forward turn by turn and spoke few lines on the occupation which they want to choose when they grow up. They were very confident and happy to come forward and speak. They were very excited and participated enthusiastically in the activity. 

Some skills which were nurtured through this activity were listening and speaking skills, inter personal skills, intra personal skills, reasoning Skills etc. 

Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance that involves the manipulation of puppets – inanimate objects, often resembling some type of human, animal or mythical figure that are animated or manipulated by a human called a puppeteer. Such a performance is also known as a Puppet Play. Kathputli is a string puppet theatre, native to Rajasthan, India, and is the most popular form of Indian puppetry. It is used to tell various folk and mythological tales.
The puppeteer uses movements of the hands, arms, or control devices such as rods or strings to move the body, head, limbs, and in some cases the mouth and eyes of the puppet. The puppeteer often speaks in the voice of the character of the puppet, and then synchronizes the movements of the puppet's mouth with this spoken part. The actions, gestures and spoken parts acted out by the puppets are typically used in storytelling. There are many different varieties of puppets, and they are made of a wide range of materials, depending on their form and intended use. They can be extremely complex or very simple in their construction.
Students of Grade I and II were shown a puppet show on Chhota Bheem, who is a famous cartoon character. The students were totally engrossed in the story told by the puppeteer. He involved the students and they all listened to him in awe. He also told the students that it was the birthday of Shinchan. The students were thrilled and delighted to see their favourite cartoons characters.

Winter season brings with it the cold-chilly winds, the warm jackets, the bonfires and the merrymaking of festivals. The sounds and spirit of Christmas resound in the air filling all hearts with joy. The real spirit behind celebrating not just Christmas, but all other festivals, is the love of God. It is a time of thanksgiving to God, the quality of true humility is one of its indispensable fundamentals.

With a view of inculcating in the students humility, empathy for the suffering and less fortunate, compassion and generosity, components of the true spirit of Christmas, a special assembly was conducted by the students of IX-A and IX-B. The assembly commenced by invoking the blessings of the Almighty through the Lord ’s Prayer. This was followed by the thought and word of the week. Next ensued the felicitation of the outstanding achievers who had excelled in various activities, namely: BEHES-a debating platform, WSC, French Olympiad and ISDS. The Nativity Play outstandingly staged by the students was a visual treat.

Post the formal assembly was fun-time for the students. Sumptuous food tingled up the taste buds of the students. The high point of the day’s celebration was the foot-tapping peppy music which had the students dancing with abandonment.

The lively and fun-filled day was a welcome change for the students and helped to imbibe secularism in them as they enjoyed the merry-making of Christmas.  

The students of class II went on an excursion to Drona Camp on 20^th December. It was part of the school’s intrinsic ways of enhancing learning. The students connected with nature, its warmth and pleasure.

On arrival, the students and the teachers were served a delectable breakfast of porridge, puri-aalo, halwa, etc. Then the students were involved in a host of adventure activities like Rock Climbing, Tractor-ride, Camel –ride, Maze, Tarzan Jump,  Zip-Line, Zorbing, Commando Net, etc. The students were divided into different groups class-wise and given different names like Black Commandos, Tiger, Chhota Bheem, etc. After the activities, the students had a wholesome lunch.

 The students enthusiastically participated in each and every activity and also shared their experience with their teachers. The instructors guided them at every step and took good care of the students. The students thoroughly enjoyed themselves along with their teachers. Last but not the least the students and the teachers danced to popular numbers.

The excursion was a great and memorable outdoor experience in the rural setting of Camp Drona amidst the Aravalis.

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ observed most commonly on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. It is often combined with customs from pre-Christian winter celebrations. Many people erect Christmas trees, decorate their homes, visit family or friends and exchange gifts. In several countries, celebrating Christmas Eve has the main focus rather than Christmas Day. The "true meaning of Christmas" is a phrase with a long history in American pop culture. It first appears in the mid-19th century, and is often given vaguely religious overtones, referring to the celebration of the Nativity of Christ.

On this occasion, the students of Grade II were dressed in colourful clothes.  The students enjoyed the special assembly that was conducted for them to show the birth of Jesus Christ. They also sang some Christmas Carols to mark the occasion. They were also told about the importance of celebrating Christmas. The students also danced to the peppy music played for them. They enjoyed some mouth-watering food which they bought from the Christmas Fiesta. The students also did an exciting activity of making a candle in a circle holder and decorated it with mirrors and glitters. Thus, the students had a very pleasant and fun-filled day, celebrating Christmas with full fervor and passion.

Prepositions are words usually used in front of nouns or pronouns and they show the relationship between the noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. A preposition is a word such as after, in, to, on, with etc.The students of Class II were given different flash cards in which they were required to describe the position of the noun in the picture. The students were able to give some more examples of their own too. The students took part in the activity with great eagerness and enthusiasm. They were able to frame sentences also using prepositions. This activity helped them to understand the concept of prepositions easily and more clearly.

Christmas is celebrated on 25th December every year. It is a festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and is traditionally characterised by tinsel-decorated trees, mince pies, present-giving and a turkey dinner. Families come together to eat, drink, be merry with children looking forward to a visit from Santa Claus and his sack of presents.

The students of Grade I conducted special a assembly on Christmas. The assembly started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the Hindi Shlokas. One student spoke the thought of the week and another, the word of the week along with its meaning. Thereafter, the students were told about the significance and meaning of Christmas in the assembly followed by popular Christmas carols being sung. This was followed by a Hindi poem on Lord Jesus and a play depicting His birth. The whole program was a story about ‘The Birth of Jesus’. This was followed by the Shalom Anthem and the National Anthem.

At the end of the program Santa Clause arrived and filled the entire crowd with joy and danced with everyone with great enthusiasm.

All the children enjoyed to the beats of “Jingle Bells”.

It was a very informative and creative assembly presented by the students of Class I.

A workshop to understand the POCSO ACT 2012 was conducted by eminent speakers Mr. Vikas Nautiyal and Mr. Varun Malhotra was attended by Ms. Swastika Acharya and Ms. Ambika Yadav of Shalom Hills International.

The agenda of the workshop was to introduce a child rights based project CACA initiated by the NGO SAI Social Axiom Insignia for the academic year 2018-19 for schools and covered points such as POCSO Act 2012, Project CACA and Rights on protection of children sexual abuse (CSA).

Project CSA is child centric and holistic in approach. It creates a safety net for children against child abuse in general.

 Project CACA has age appropriate progressive life skills and value education based safety workbooks from classes Kindergarten to XII along with companion parent- teacher resource booklets. The knowledge in these books is transmitted through stories, poems, plays and activities.

The workshop was very informative and provided knowledge on safety measures against child sexual abuse.

The students of class- IV D presented the morning assembly on 20^thDecember ’17 to celebrate Christmas. The assembly commenced with warm-up exercises followed by the Lord’s Prayer and Shloka. The Shalom Mission and Vision, Pledge, Thought of the Day, Word of the Day, International, National and Sports News along with the day’s weather report were also spoken by the students. Christmas is a religious festival celebrated annually to commemorate the birthday of Jesus Christ. So to make the children more aware about the festival of Christmas Aarzoo and Khushi presented an informative speech about it. Then there was a poem recitation on Christmas by Mahee Kaur. To fill the mood with more joy and fun the students sang beautiful carols in the end. The assembly was concluded with the Shalom Anthem followed by the National Anthem.

A Role play activity on L-13 was conducted in all sections of grade-3 on 21^st December2017. The students were divided into groups of four students. They decided amongst themselves which role they would enact. All the students were given ten minutes to prepare for the role play. They were already familiar with the story of Chulbul’s tail.

The students formed groups and each group had a discussion on how they would present the story. The students performed their parts with a lot of enthusiasm. This activity helped the students get a better understanding of the lesson. The students also got an opportunity for team-work and learned how to co-ordinate and work as a team.

“All work and no play makes jack a dull boy.”  Sports are very important for developing a healthy and strong body. Sports play a great role in improving and maintaining health and fitness, improving mental skills and concentration level.

Sports day for Grade 3 was organised on 20^th December 2017. The students were excited to take part in the various sports activities that had been planned for them. There were four different games in which the students competed. The first was the obstacle race. The next competition was the relay race with four participants in each team. The children showed team-spirit and cheered for all runners, encouraging each other to perform well in order to win the race. The third sport event was Knee ball in which the children had to balance a ball between their legs and run. The last competition was ‘See my score’.

The children were full of enthusiasm and each child participated in all the four categories. The winners were happy to have won in their respective events. The sports day energised all the students and was enjoyed by all.

On the morning of 20^th December, the students of grade V came to school excited to set out on an adventurous journey to Camp Drona that is located in Badshapur, on the outskirts of the city. The students were zealous and all smiles as they reached the school and soon after their routine prayer they lined up to leave for the camp.

The students boarded the buses along with their teachers. Singing and sharing their snacks with their friends they reached the camp after a forty-minute drive. There they were divided class wise and handed over to their instructors, who took them under their wing giving them the secure feeling that they were going to have a safe and adventurous time.

The Students started with a warm up session followed by a wholesome Breakfast. Then the adventure started for them with activities and games like Zip line, Zorbing ball, Wall climbing, Commando net, Tug-of-war, Trekking, Tractor and Camel rides etc. The students were given demonstrations and instructions for each activity.

At around 1:30pm the children assembled for a hearty lunch.  A breather followed and they were back with their instructors for the final round of activities. A round of juice and biscuits was a welcome treat after this session of activities.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the session of DJ music and despite being tired danced with vigor.

This trip was thoroughly enjoyed by them.

Value education means inculcating in the children humanism, a deep concern for the well being of others and the nation. This can be accomplished only when we instill in the children a deep feeling of commitment to values that would build this country and restore in the people pride in work that would result in order, security and assured progress.

The children of Grade I-E conducted the assembly on ‘Values’. They enjoyed reciting different poems on Honesty, Punctuality, Respecting elders, Importance of maintaining class rules etc. Through this assembly they could very well communicate to their fellow friends the importance of inculcating Values and good habits.

Students of all sections of grade I performed an activity on “Single Digit Multiplication”. Multiplication is one of the four elementary mathematical operations of Arithmetic; others being Addition, Subtraction and Division.

First the basic introduction and instructions were given to the children on how to perform the activity, so that they would be able to grasp the concept. Thereafter the activity was conducted. The children understood the concept of “Multiplication”. They also learned the tables of 2,3,4,5 and 10.

The children were engrossed in the activity thoroughly as it was a very new concept for them.

The children learnt the concept of “Multiplication” with more clarity through this activity.

A day long excursion was organized for the children of Grade III on 14^th December 2017 at Camp Drona, Tikkling , Sohna Road, Gurugram.

Camp Drona was an ideal day excursion which provided the right picnic opportunity together with benefits of adventure training. Nature keeps us grounded, obstacles make us perseverant and adventure makes us tough. At camp Drona, these three factors combined to give the children a power packed experience that pushed them to challenge themselves, enhance their confidence and acquire new skills. The camp kept the students on their toes throughout the day with fun-filled activities and sports like-Climbing, Alpha Cross, Burma Bridge, Hamster Wheel, Zip line and many others.

The children also enjoyed camel rides as well as a tractor rides. The children also enjoyed making small clay pots on the potter’s wheel under the supervision of an experienced potter. They were treated to a sumptuous and nutritious breakfast and lunch which gave them the energy to march around the camp grounds in their respective groups with the team leaders who had been assigned to them.

The students had a joyful and enriching experience. It was a fun-filled day long excursion for the students.

Nearly 500 students of Grades VI-XI were taken on a Day Adventure trip to Lohagarh, Gurgaon.  The students reached the school in the morning in high spirits and the day too was bright and sunny – it was an ideal setting for a school picnic. They set off excitedly for the venue, accompanied by their class and subject teachers. At Lohagarh, the students were divided into groups and were assisted by the instructors of the Camp to try their skills at various adventurous activities under their expert guidance. They started with a warm up session followed by activities and games like Burma Bridge, Zip line, Zorbing, Commando Crawl, Artificial Wall Climbing, Commando Net, Camel Riding etc. The students were given demonstrations and instructions for each activity. All the students and teachers had abundant fun while engaging in all the challenging yet exhilarating activities.

A healthy and delicious breakfast was savored by all. In the afternoon, the children returned for a sumptuous and lavishly laid out lunch. After lunch, they were back for a final round of activities until 3 pm. Dancing with abandonment to the peppy numbers played by the DJ was a fitting end to the day-long adrenalin boosting activities enjoyed with gusto and fervor.

An activity on the concept of time was conducted for the students of Grade-II on 12 December 2017. The students were told the times related to- ‘O’Clock’, ‘half past’, ‘quarter to’ and ‘quarter past’. The children were told to drag hands, as per the time told to them, on the Smart board.

All the students took interest in the activity and understood the concept very well. Their logical and analytical skills were brushed up through this activity and the concept of time became more clear and strong.

“Spelling is important because it aids in reading. It helps cement the connection that is shared between sounds and letters.”

With the objective of encouraging students to improve their spellings, increase their vocabulary, learn concepts, and develop use of correct English, the English department of Shalom Hills International School conducted the Spell Bee Exam on 8^th December 2017 for the students of Grades I to XII.

This exam was one out of the numerous enjoyable activities that give students a platform to learn spellings in different ways. The purpose of administering such activities is to facilitate the children to read and write more effectively and expand their vocabulary.

The children participated earnestly in the Exam and the teachers were contended with their performance.

The eve of 23^rd and 24^th November 2017 was mesmerising for the audience as they embarked on a magical journey along with the students of Grade V. The occasion was graced by the presence of our Founder and Chairperson Dr. (Mrs.) Lily George, Vice Chairperson Dr. Dennis George, Director Mrs. Karishma George, the parents and grandparents of Grade V students.

The students offered the prayer in all humbleness and piety, showcased the love and care of Cindrella’s Fairy Godmother, the magic of Alladin’s lamp, the rescue of Sita and displayed their patriotic spirit through their enthralling dance performances.

On both the days the assembly began with the lighting of the lamp which was followed by the welcome speech by the Head Boy and Head Girl of the Primary Wing, extending a heartfelt gratitude to our exemplary leader and visionary MD Ma’am, on behalf of all the students of Grade V.

In the end the students came together with a spirit of patriotic boldness singing confident roars for one vision for one happy world. The assembly ended with a brief report of the laurels earned by the Shalomites amidst great applause, cheer and encouragement by the audience.

It would be unfair to not acknowledge the immense guidance provided by MD Ma’am with every intricate detail, right from its conceptualisation to its culmination, whether it was the costumes, jewellery, setting up of the stage and even the choreography. The assembly was a success as it had been envisaged and left everyone enchanted.

Shalomites had a fun-filled day when a Live Jam was performed for them by the Breakfree Tour, under the ‘Swachh Bhartiya Tour’ on December 9, 2017 at Shalom Hills International School. The band performed beat boxing and rock singing to the tune of the guitar accompanied by some dancing. The students and everyone had a gala time. Three of the Shalomites, known to be proficient at beat boxing themselves, were invited on to the stage for a short jam with the band. The synchronised beat boxing of the students with the expert performer of the band captivated everyone and held them in awe.

The Swachh Bhartiya Tour’s purpose of performing in front of the students was not just to entertain, but also to guide them on how each one of us should be a good human being within. They demonstrated through a short silent comedy, as to how imperative it is to stay pure at heart, and be generous towards other people.

Overall it was a great day for the students and they enjoyed it thoroughly.

Adventure sports for students are highly motivational and practical which are unlikely to be experienced in the normal classroom environment. It aims at increasing productivity, encourages students to work in different working environment, it builds team spirit, friendship and trust for each other. Adventure sports are physical activities which involve fitness and maintain the physical and mental balance of a student.

All students of Grade 1 enjoyed a Day Adventure Camp at Camp Tikkling. The students started early in the morning for the camp which exposed the young campers to a variety of challenging and exciting activities. Activities including zip line, hop scotch, swinging bridge, commando crawl, laser beam, rope ladder climbing tent pitching etc. helped to develop team spirit and personal strength in the students.

No camp activity is complete without food and music. The students enjoyed lip smacking breakfast, lunch and snacks which were provided by the camp organizers. The children enjoyed music and danced to their hearts’ content.

Overall it was fun filled day and a great learning experience for the children.

The students of Grade-II were involved in a Math activity on Fractions. A fraction represents a part of a whole or any number of equal parts. In Latin ‘fractus’ means “broken”. The students were told how to equally divide any whole figure or size into equal portions. A fraction describes how many parts of a certain size are there. They were explained about various types of fractions starting from half, one-third then moving onto one-fourth, three-fourth, etc. They learnt how to make a whole by using different fractions like 2 halves or 4 quarters. Thus this simple activity helped them to understand the concept of fractions more clearly and evidently.

Grade V students were taken for a visit to the Science Park on December 1, 2017. The experiential activity was a reinforcement session for all the students on the chapter ‘Force and Energy’, which helped the students develop a better understanding of the concept on the simple machines taught by adapting the ‘Learning by doing’ approach. The observation, analysis and logical reasoning were stressed upon.

The objective was also to strengthen their understanding of science, and help the young scientists to see the fun side of science too.

The following observations were made by the students:

1. What are simple machines?
2. Parts of a lever.
3. Classes of lever.
4. Relevance of lever in our daily lives.

Overall it was a fun learning experience and the students found it remarkable to discover the truth of scientific facts by themselves.

 

The students of Grade-I conducted the assembly on December 4, 2017, which started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the Hindi Shlokas. One student spoke the thought of the week and another, the word of the week along with its meaning. This was followed by the news headlines.

The assembly was on the academics concepts presented in a playful manner. The children played games for tables of 2, 3, 4 and 5. They also presented an Action Word game, where a child performed an action while the others were supposed to guess and answer.

The children learned and recapitulated the concepts done in the class. The assembly ended with the students singing the Shalom Anthem and the National Anthem.

A verb is a very important part of any sentence. ‘Have’ is the root word and is used alongside the pronouns - I/You/We/They and plural nouns. ‘Has’ is used alongside the pronouns He/She/It and singular nouns. Generally has and have are present tense word.
To make children learn has and have in a playful way, an activity was planned for the students of Grade I. The children were given flashcards from which they had to make sentences using has/have.
They has have two pencils.

1.

They

has

have

two

pencils.

2.

I

has

have

comic

books.

 

The activity helped the children to learn the concept with clarity and also how to use these verbs correctly. They enjoyed this post lesson activity and participated enthusiastically.

The students of Grade III were involved in an activity where a market scene was created. A stationery shop was created with different items like pencil, marker, books, stapler etc. The students played the roles of buyers and sellers. The things were kept in the shop with their price tags. The students tried to buy things of their own choice by using dummy money. The activity helped them to analyze the different denomination of money better. They learnt how to add and subtract the amount.

The students really had fun and participated enthusiastically in the activity.

Grade III-H conducted the assembly on 21^st November 2017 on the theme of ‘Good Manners’.

The assembly commenced with Warm Up exercises followed by the Lord’s Prayer & Shloka. The word of the week was told by Angel and the thought of the week by Navyah. The news of the day was updated by Shaurya Pathak. Shaurya Jain spoke about the vision of the school. Pledge of the day was monitored by Jiya. Riddhima and Moksh spoke about the importance of ‘Good manners’. The students of Grade III-H enthralled the audience with a small song presentation on happiness.

The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem.

Poem composition activity was conducted for students of Grade III on 21^st   November 2017. The students of all the sections of Grade-III participated in this activity. The children had already been informed in advance about the activity so that they could start preparing for it. The students were encouraged to write at least 5 to 6 lines using rhyming words on the topic of their choice.

The students were given A4 size pastel sheets to write their poems. They were encouraged to be creative. The students were enthusiastic about the activity. They had already decided their topic as well as the theme of their poem. A few students wrote about nature using rhyming words whereas  a few of them wrote about themselves describing their daily routine in poetic form. The students also wrote on the theme of “Mother Earth”. All the students decorated their sheets with beautiful drawings which further highlighted their poetry composition.

The activity was enjoyed by all the students. It gave them an opportunity to express their creative side. The students were happy to read out their compositions and also appreciated the poems composed and written by others.

A verb is a very important part of any sentence. ‘Is, am and are’ are example of linking verbs. The primary auxiliaries - is, am and are, are used in the simple present tense to show the connection between the subject and a noun or adjective that comes after the verb.

To make children learn is/am/are in a playful way, an activity was planned for the students of Grade I. The children were given flash cards from which they had to make sentences using is/am/are.

1- Boy

is

am

are

tall.

 

2- Girls

is

am

are

beautiful.

The children enjoyed this post lesson activity and participated enthusiastically. They learnt the concept and also how to use these linking verbs.

 A habit is something we do often. Children with good habits grow up healthy and happy. Good habits make us a good person. Everybody loves the person with good habits.

Today children of Grade I performed a speaking activity on Good Habits. Each child participated and spoke few lines on good habits. Few spoke about healthy food, few about keeping teeth clean and wearing clean clothes etc. Everybody participated with great zeal and shared their views about the same. Some students also spoke about magic words and how they create wonders.

The children enjoyed speaking on Good Habits. It not only built up their self- confidence on speaking on the given topic in front of their peers but also improved their vocabulary.

The students of Grade II were taught verbs through an activity conducted in class. Have is one of those auxiliary verbs that can also be used as an ordinary (main) verb. When have is used as an auxiliary verb, it helps us to form the perfect and perfect continuous tenses. The easiest way to remember the correct use of has is that it is paired with the pronouns he, she, and it. It can also be used when you are referring to someone by name. It is important to note that has is only used with the third person singular pronouns.

The students of Grade II participated in the activity on the “Use of Has/Have/Had. They were given Flash cards with has/ have/ had written on them. They selected one of the cards and framed a grammatically correct sentence on their own. All the participants performed well and with keen interest. Thus, this activity helped the students to strengthen their concept on the topic and make it clearer.

Math activity related to “Shapes” was conducted for students of Grade-I on 15^th November, 2017. First, a basic Introduction and instructions were given to the children about the activity, so that they would be able to grasp the concept. The children were given some cut-outs of different basic shapes i.e. circle, square, triangle, rectangle and oval.

The students were asked to paste the cut-outs in their notebooks. The purpose of the activity was to make them identify the different shapes present in the environment and to enable them to make different patterns i.e. rangoli, numbers in series, patterns in shapes etc.

They were explained about some solid shapes i.e. cube, cuboid, cone, cylinder, sphere etc., rolling and sliding shapes.

The children thoroughly enjoyed the fun filled learning activity and spent their day with experiential learning.

In India, Children’s Day is celebrated on 14^th November, as a tribute to the first Prime Minister of independent India, who was fondly called Chacha Nehru, on his birthday. He emphasized the importance of giving love and affection to children. Many functions are organized in various schools.

The students of Grade 1 celebrated children’s day. All the children were engaged in fun throughout the day. They took part in many activities like games, dance, songs etc. Children got sweets from their respective class teachers as a token of love. They all were very happy and enjoyed this day.   

The assembly started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the Hindi Shlokas. One student spoke the thought of the week and another, the word of the week along with its meaning. This was followed by the news headlines. Thereafter, the students were told about the significance of Children’s Day in the assembly. This was followed by the Shalom Anthem and the National Anthem.

Children's Day is recognized on various days in many places around the world to honour children globally. In India, Children's Day is celebrated on 14 November, on the birthday of the first Prime Minister of independent India, who was fondly called Chacha Nehru. It was his love for children that made Indians to celebrate Children's day on his birthday. He emphasized the importance of giving love and affection to children as he saw them as the bright future of India.

All over the country, various cultural and social institutions conduct competitions for children. Children's Day is seen as a day for the kids to engage in fun.

On this occasion, the students of Grade 1 and 2 were dressed in colourful clothes.  The students enjoyed some indoor activities and games like ludo, Name-place-animal-thing, etc on Children’s day. They were also told about the importance of celebrating the Children’s day. The students were shown an English cartoon movie. They were thrilled and amused to watch the movie. Thus, overall, the children’s day was a fun-filled and terrific day for them all.

An activity of cooking without fire was conducted for students of Grade III on 14^th November 2017. Students of all the sections of Grade III enthusiastically participated in this activity. The children had already been informed in advance to bring the necessary ingredients/materials for the activity.

Some children made bhelpuri, some sandwiches while a few made special varieties chaats. A few creative ones were seen making biscuit pudding whereas others made different kinds of salads. In all each and every classroom displayed many yummy and innovative dishes. The students had also given special names to their creations calling them Crunchy Monaco’s, Sunday delight Smoothie etc. The children were very proud of their creations and were eager for others to taste their dishes. Finally, five winners from each section were selected based on the presentation and taste of their dish.

The children enjoyed making as well as eating their dishes. They shared their food with each other and enjoyed the activity.

An English activity on ‘Tenses: Simple present, past and future’, was held on 8^th November 2017 in all sections of Grade-III. The aim of this activity was to reinforce the concept of tenses in the students. The students had to think of the different verbs which they wanted to use. They made three different sentences, one each in simple present, simple past and simple future. The students also made drawings with each sentence.

The activity helped the students understand the concept of simple present, past and future. They learnt to differentiate between the three tenses as well as their usage.              

Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, mostly smaller than the swans and geese, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules, and coots.
The students of Class-II were told to prepare few lines on “If I were a Duck” as an introductory activity for the Poem, “The Duck”. The students took part in the activity with great zeal and enthusiasm. They talked about the eating habits of the duck and tried to imagine what they would do as a duck. Each of them spoke very well, with full assurance and belief. Hence, this activity enhanced their speaking skills and made them more confident.

With the support and direction of our Founder and Chairperson Dr. (Mrs.) Lilly George, the confidence of Shalomites is constantly developed by being exposed to various levels of competition. To develop the language and debating skills of the students, Ms. Kavita Bhardwaj and Ms. Arpita Nirmal, of the English department, organised - BEHES- Debate For All, a well-known debating platform for students, at various levels. A mini round of the debate was held at Shalom Hills International School, on November 18, and November 20, 2017, in the middle wing school basement. Prior to the event a workshop was organised on November 17, 2017, to facilitate and familiarise the students with the fundamentals of impactful debating.

The 84 participating students were divided into teams of three each and given topics to research upon. They worked really hard with their teams to improve their debating skills, including their body language and eloquence. Mock-debates were organised in the classes for the practice of the students.

On November 18, 2017, the teams underwent three rounds of debating, leading up to the quarter finals. By the end of the first day, eight teams were shortlisted for the semi-finals which took place on the second day of Behes, November 20, 2017.

After a tough competition, witnessed by all the participants, Kushagra Mishra, Nikhil Arya, and Bhavya Vashisht of IX-B were declared the winning team, among great cheer. The runner-up team comprising-Isha Nawariya, Anvisha Chopra, and Aditi Sahoo (VIII-A and VIII-B), top thirty best speakers and the best team name, were also felicitated. Irin Chatterjee (IX-E) was declared the best speaker of the entire event.

It was indeed, a great learning experience for the students.

Collage making is one of the foundation art activities for childhood. ‘Sports Personalities’, was the topic for the collage making activity conducted in all the sections of Grade I

Children were divided into groups and provided with material and information brought from their homes and given by their class teacher. The children enjoyed assembling the pictures and information on a big chart paper. After the activity they made their collage more attractive by decorating it beautifully.

The children enjoyed making the collage. The activity proved to be an interesting way to gather and learn lot of information about sports personalities.

Grade IV students had a recitation completion on the topic Light wherein they had to compose a poem on Light, themselves. They were given a time period of a week to prepare for the same. They could take any aspect of Light and write the poem.

The students were very excited about writing the poem and using rhyming words. On the day of the first round of the competition the students stunned their teachers with their creativity. Some sang their poem, some danced with the rhythm of the poem. All the participants were very charged up with their work. It was a tough decision to pick out the three winners from each section of Grade IV.

The second and final round of the competition was held on 8^th November 2017 after the Grade IV weekly assembly.

We had two judges judging the competition- Mr. Adwin and Ms. Vandita Chugh. The criteria for judging were- creativity, articulation and presentation.                                                                                     

The students came on the stage section wise, introduced themselves and then started the recitation of their poem.

The judges were impressed by the calibre of the students and keeping in mind the judging criteria the judges declared five instead of only three winners.

The winners were:

1.  1^st Position - Reeya Gaur of IVD

2.  2^nd Position - Riya Jalaludeen and Dhriti Yadav of IVA

3.  3^rd Position - Udyan Goyal of IVC and Bhavya Yadav of IVD

Guru Nanak Gurpurab, also known as Guru Nanak's Prakash Utsav, celebrates the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak. This is one of the most sacred festivals for the Sikhs. The festivities in the Sikh religion revolve around the anniversaries of the 10 Sikh Gurus.

The students of Grade I celebrated Gurpurab, one of the several auspicious religious festivals in Sikhism, to mark the Parkash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev. The students of Grade I remembered the birth and philosophy of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. The assembly commenced with the ‘Prabhat Feri’. Students chanted the Mool Mantra ‘Ek Om Kar’ from Guru Granth Sahib with a student explaining the meaning of the mantra.

The assembly started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the Hindi Shlokas. One student spoke the thought of the week and another, the word of the week along with its meaning. This was followed by the news headlines. Thereafter, the students were told about the significance of Gurpurab in the assembly. This was followed by the Shalom Anthem and the National Anthem.

Debate is a formal contest of argumentation between two teams or individuals. More broadly, and more importantly, debate is an essential tool for developing communication skills. More than a mere verbal or performance skill, debate embodies the ideals of reasoned argument, tolerance for divergent points of views and self-examination.

To make the students aware about the key trademark of Debate, Inter-Class Debate Competition on the topic GST- a game changer or a game spoiler was conducted by Ms. Meetu Mukherjee in all sections of Grade VII. The students of Grade VII C and VII D competed with each other. Similarly, Grade VII A and B; VII E and F had a competition against each other. The best part of the competition was that not only did it end in a healthy argument but also allowed us for a robust analysis of the question at hand.

To move or carry people, animals or goods from one place to another is called transport. The different modes of transport are air, water and land transport.

Children of Grade 1 performed an activity on transport today, where in they recognised flash cards for different modes of transport and spoke 2 lines about the same. They were very confident during the activity and spoke really well as their concept about the topic- Transport, is very clear.

A ‘Spin-a-Yarn’ was conducted in Grades VI-IX by the English department on October 30-31, 2017. The students were shown pictures by their English teachers in their respective periods, and asked weave interesting stories in any suitable way. One student began the story which was carried forward but the others one after the other, adding their own twists to the stories, creating something brilliant every time. The students created mind-swirling stories based on the given picture.

This activity helped hone the creativity and enhance the speaking skills of the students as well. Since everyone got a cue to speak, even the ones who are usually hesitant to express themselves came forward and exhibited their thoughts confidently. The classes enjoyed the activity thoroughly, and we got an insight to their vivid creativity. 

As the majority of India geared up to celebrate Diwali, the eagerly awaited annual festival of lights, joy and goodwill; Shalom Hills International School was also abuzz with the excitement and euphoria of being a part of the Diwali fiesta. Guided by the belief that education is incomplete without inculcating in the students a respect for India’s rich and varied culture and traditions, the students were involved in a plethora of thrilling activities. Diya decoration competition, Toran making competition, Inter-dynasty Rangoli making competition were some of the artistic activities organized for the students. The students also took out a procession to promote a clean Diwali by proclaiming the slogan of “Harit Diwali, Swacch Diwali”.
After the students had showcased their creativity, they enjoyed a sumptuous meal laid out for them and appeased their appetite. The high point of the festivities was the peppy music which had the students dancing with abandonment. The students had a gala time, a befitting beginning to the Diwali break.

An Elocution competition was held in Grade III on 7^th November2017. The students were given different topics, as per their roll numbers, on which they had to speak for around two minutes each. Some of the topics that were given to the students were; Importance of Discipline, Punctuality in our Life, Respect every Individual, Importance of Golden Words such as Please, Sorry, Thank you, Importance of Self-confidence, Importance of Honesty etc.

The students had come well-prepared for the competition and spoke confidently on the given topic. At the end five best students were selected from each section. Overall this competition gave an opportunity to the students to express their views in front of others and speak confidently on the given topic. The students participated with a lot of enthusiasm.

Division as equal distribution activity was conducted for the students of Grade-2 on 6th Nov. 2017. The students were explained the concept of division as equal distribution. They were asked to draw pictures; after that they were instructed to divide those pictures equally according to the questions asked. The logical and analytical skills were brushed up by this activity and the concept of division as equal distribution became more clear and strong.

“I look behind and after and find that all is right, in my deepest sorrows there is a soul of light.”- Swami Vivekanand beautifully describes in these lines the healing power and positivity that light brings to our lives. Stirring on this thought, on 6^th November 2017, the young scholars of Grade V enthusiastically participated in an activity in which they had to create a short poem in their own words on ‘Light’. The budding poets and poetesses were given preparation time of about 45 minutes, post which they came forward one by one and presented their poems. This activity brought out the ingenuity of our young Shalomites. It gave us immense pleasure to see the children thinking, jotting down and framing rhyming sentences for this activity. And artists, as they naturally are, they took turns to meticulously and beautifully write down and present their poems in front of their respective English teachers. This activity was a combined effort of the teachers, students and parents to bring out the best of their kids. The students showed healthy competence among peers to not only present their best but at the same time help each other with ideas and vocabulary. The true spirit of Shalom was seen among the students during this activity as they displayed their work.

Today the students of all the sections of Grade IV were involved in a pre-activity of lesson-13: A Voyage. They were asked the meaning of ‘Voyage’ most children did not know it, some answered saying it was a journey. The teacher explained that it was a journey by waterway or by water. The moment they understood the meaning of voyage they became excited and wanted to name the different types of water transport.

The students were divided into groups of six and asked to draw any water transport, colour it, write what they know about it, its salient features and then make a presentation of their work.

They all started off very enthusiastically and immediately amongst themselves decided on the water transport they were going to discuss. All the members of the groups had their work cut out. The drawing, colouring, decoration, writing and presentation were all divided according to choice and ability. Some water transports they drew were-boat, cruise ship, cargo ship, submarine.

During presentation they touched on features such as –weight, shape, usage, material used and cleanliness so that the speed does not slow down.

Their teamwork paid off as the presentation and the level of work done was very good. The students enjoyed this activity as it instilled in them the importance of teamwork and division of labour according to ability.

A Special Assembly on Haryana Day was conducted on 30 October 2017 by the students of Grade I. The students were informed the reason for celebrating Haryana day and the importance of this day.  

The students were also told about many important and renowned celebrities from Haryana. Some of the students of Grade-I were dressed up as famous celebrities. The C.M of Haryana, Mr. Manohar Lal Khattar, was enacted by Parv. Aswari enacted Geeta Phogat, Amishi- BabitaPhogat while Garv enacted Sushil Kumar.

Bhavya, Chahat and Prince Yadav presented a poem in Haryanvi.  There was also a beautiful dance performance by Navya Yadav on a Haryanvi folk song.

The students enjoyed all the performances and gained knowledge about the state of Haryana.

The students of Grade I participated in an Inter-dynasty Poem Recitation Competition. The students showcased their recitation abilities and developed an appreciation for poetry. Poetry recitation encompasses skills like speech development, expression of feelings, as well as building stage confidence.

The children recited beautiful and unique poems based on the theme “Happiness”.  The poems were recited with proper stress and intonation, and actions using appropriate props. Overall it was a healthy competition with all the dynasties performing extremely well.

The poems left a significant impact on the minds of the young learners. This recitation motivated the students and also helped them to develop their literary skills.

Happiness is a mental and emotional state of well-being which can be defined by a range of emotions from contentment to intense joy. It refers to good flourishing life.   Happy people spread happiness everywhere.

The students of Grade II conducted a special assembly on “Happiness”. The assembly started with the Lord’s Prayer in English followed by the Hindi prayer, the Shlokas. One student spoke the thought of the week and another word of the week with its meaning. Next the students were updated with the news headlines. This was followed by the Shalom Anthem and the National Anthem.

Thereafter, an inter-dynasty poem recitation competition was organised on the theme of “Happiness”. The students enthusiastically recited different poems on the topic and spread happiness.

The competition was won by Manasi from Maple Dynasty. Mayank Verma from Oak Dynasty bagged the second position, while the third position was shared by Anushka and Paridhi from Cedar Dynasty from Ebony Dynasty respectively.

The students of Grade III were involved in an activity on Division facts in which they were provided with circles. They made three folds of the circle and were asked to select any two numbers from 2 to 9. Then they wrote these numbers on the face of the folded circle. On the third fold they were asked to write the product of the two selected numbers. Under the folds, they wrote two facts of multiplication and division each.

It was a pleasure to see concept clarity and application in the students as most of them were able to write accurate facts. The students really had fun and were able to grasp the concept better.

As part of the CBSE ‘Paryatan Parv’, the students from Grade VI to X participated in the Slogan Writing Activity. The theme of the activity was tourism with sub topics like

• Role of tourism in the mutual understanding and social harmony
• Tourism brings economic and social prosperity
• Education and tourism move hand in hand
• Environmentally sustainable tourism
• Tourism promoting plurality of cultures 

All the classes chose their own respective subtopics to write slogans. The students created captivating slogans, under the guidance of their teachers.The idea was to ignite students’ cognitive skills and combine creativity so that they learn to express their views on the chosen topic using attractive words.

As a result all the students put their best effort and decorated the simple paper with some really wonderful thoughts. The activity exhibited students’ artistic, creative and articulation skills as they expressed themselves so explicitly .The combination of words to express their ideas was collated with their writing skills.

 All the students enjoyed doing the activity. It was an opportunity for the teachers to peep into the thought process and talent of the students .The slogans created by them is an awakening with message to all of us about how to become a responsible tourists. 

Grade III-A conducted the assembly on 7^th November 2017, on the theme of ‘Gurpurab’.

The assembly commenced with Warm Up exercises, followed by the Lord’s Prayer & Shloka by Aadhya Mohan and Aadhya Singh. The Pledge of the week was spoken by Krish Singhal and the thought of the week by Parnika Singh. This was followed by a poem on Gurpurab by Eliora Stephen and Parnish Kaur. Aashna Mathur and Saanvi Seth then gave a small presentation on the meaning of ‘Gurpurab’. They spoke about the Observance of this day and the grand celebrations held on this day. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem.

The students of all the sections of Grade 1 were involved in an activity on “Skip Counting”. First a basic introduction and instructions were given to the children for the activity, so that they would be able to grasp the concept.

Skip counting is a technique of mathematics that is taught as a kind of multiplication. This technique is called by twos. One example was shown by the Teacher.

There after activity was conducted, through which the children understood the concept of “Skip Counting”.

They also learned how to skip numbers made on the floor from 2,4,6,10 and so on..

The children were engrossed in the activity thoroughly as it was a very new concept for them and found it very interesting.

Diwali festivities begin with Dhanteras which fell on October 17 this year. It is marked by people worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and buying metal utensils and ornaments for prosperity. Diwali or Deepawali is one of the most popular Hindu festivals. It is celebrated by not just Hindus but people from different religions all over India as well as the world. Perhaps because of the pomp and show that is involved and the traditional lighting of earthen Diyas with Diwali, the festival is also known as the Festival of Light. Deepawali means "a row of lights".

On 17^th October2017, the students of Grade III came dressed in traditional attire for the fun-filled special Diwali fiesta organised for them. The dance party had the students dancing to all the popular numbers. After the dance party there was a food fest.

The students then returned to their classes and made beautiful wall hanging of diyas. There was an air of festivity everywhere. The students were shown the movie‘Tube-light’ after completion of their Diwali activity. All the students enjoyed the Diwali celebrations and had a fun-filled day.

Mental maths is the process of doing the mathematical calculations in mind, without using pencil or fingers.

Children today did recapitulation of the entire concepts done till date. As it was an Inter- dynasty Competition, they were seated accordingly. A PPT was shown to them in Quiz form on the topics-addition, subtraction, before, after, and between numbers, place value, which was followed by a question-answer session. They all performed very well. The purpose of this activity was to enhance the mental ability and to create an environment where they could get detailed information about the concept and learn in a better way.

The children enjoyed the activity and gained confidence in answering different types of related questions.

The students of Grade III participated in a Social Studies Role Play Activity on 24^th October, 2017, on the theme of “culture, tradition, festivals and dressing style of the state to which they belong”. The main aim of the activity was to encourage students to give presentation of their assigned role creatively, innovatively and confidently in front of the class.

The students were asked to prepare individually for the role-play, speak about the state to which they belong and enact about it using props in the class. The best five presentations from each section were awarded with certificates. The students enthusiastically participated in the activity using beautifully made props and were very confidently enacted their roles.

The activity helped to enhance the logical, Spatial and Interpersonal skills of the students. Overall, it was a very interesting, competitive and informative session for the children. 

“Compassion is Far Nobler Than Pity”, this was the topic of the special assembly presented by Grade VF on 12th October,2017. Sincere and zealous efforts were shown by the students to make their class assembly a success. Their intent was to reach out to the students and teachers and make known the meaning of ‘Compassion’. The assembly began with the Lord's Prayer followed by the Shloka, and vision and mission of the school. The news headlines were read out. A short skit on the chosen topic was very nicely presented by the students, and in light of the class assembly theme the students sang a special song ‘Heal the World’ by Michael Jackson.

The skit enacted by the students, portrayed a conversation between an old monk and his disciple, where the master explains the meaning of compassion to his disciple with the help of a scene that is going on, on the street. He emphasizes that “to understand compassion we should understand that all beings are the same and suffer in a similar way. We should honour all who suffer and know that we are neither separate nor superior to anyone.” It is worth noting that ‘When fear touches someone’s pain it becomes pity, but when love touches someone’s pain it becomes compassion’. The hard work and unfeigned efforts of the students resulted in a captivating assembly that was appreciated by all.

Diwali or Deepawali is a festival of lights celebrated every year in autumn. It spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.  

The students of Grade II had a special assembly on the occasion of Diwali. The assembly started with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the Hindi Shlokas. One student spoke the thought of the week and another, the word of the week along with its meaning. This was followed by the news headlines. Thereafter, the students were told about the significance of Diwali in the assembly.

The students also sang a Diwali song on this occasion. This was followed by the Shalom Anthem and the National Anthem. Thus the students learnt the importance of Diwali celebration and that they should say no to “Crackers” as they cause a lot of pollution. Overall, the assembly set the mood for the festival with the students excitedly looking forward to the occasion.

Diwali or Deepawali is one of India's biggest festivals. Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated by Indians with great joy. During this festival, people light up their houses and shops; worship Lord Ganesha for good welfare and prosperity and Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and wisdom.  

To celebrate this auspicious occasion an Inter-class Decoration Competition was organised on 13^th October 2017.  The students were asked to bring any waste material example: bangles, cds, plastic spoons, plastic bottles, straws, and old cards etc, for Diwali decoration of their respective classes. The students showed a lot of enthusiasm to participate in the class decoration. They made decorative lamps out of coloured sheets of paper, coloured the old plastic glasses, spoons, etc and displayed great creativity and innovation in using the materials brought by them. 

There was an air of festivity everywhere as students of each section along with their teachers decorated the classes. At the end of the stipulated time, the judges visited each class to judge the decorations and declared the winners. The classes that emerged as the winners of the competition were:

1st position: III G

2^ND position: III C

3^rd position: III B  

Adjectives are describing words. They tell us more about a noun and make a difference between dull writing and interesting writing.

Describing word activity was planned for all sections of Grade I. The children were called with their best friend and speak a few lines about their best friend. The children were very excited to describe their friend. They spoke candidly like “My friend is tall. My friend is good etc.”

The children enjoyed the activity thoroughly. They learned new words. They also learned to express themselves in a better way.

Speaking activity always enhances the student’s confidence and learning and creates interest in knowing the concept thoroughly.

An activity related to understanding the concept of Helping Verbs (is, am and are) was conducted in all the sections of Grade II. The students were asked to choose the cards of helping verbs from the table and frame sentences with the verbs written on the card they had chosen. The children participated in the activity with a lot of interest and enthusiasm. The given activity helped the students to gain clarity about the concept of helping verbs 

Class III- D conducted the assembly on 1O^th October 2017, on the theme of ‘Sharing and Caring’.

The assembly commenced with Warm Up exercises followed by the Lord’s Prayer & the Shloka. The Pledge of the day was monitored by Anshika Yadav and the Thought of the week was delivered by Megha Jain. This was followed by the News of the day being read by Neev. The students then spoke few quotes on ‘Sharing and Caring’ followed by a short speech on the subject by Ashlyn, Priya and Pranika. A short and sweet song on sharing among friends by Lakshita, Suhani, Siya and Saanchi, livened the atmosphere. Last but not the least, all the students of Class of III- D participated in reciting a small poem on sharing and caring among family members.

The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem.

The students of Grade III were involved in an activity in which they played with the types of fractions. The various fractions indicating different types were placed in the shape of a drop. The students were supposed to pick fractions from the drop and place them in the correct bucket. Various buckets placed below were indicating different types of fractions. The activity helped the children to analyze the fraction concept better. The students really had fun and were eager to do more at the closure of it.

An activity on L-12, ‘Rain in Summer’,  was conducted on 11^th October ‘2017. After a hot summer, rain is always welcome. The poem, ‘Rain in Summer’, describes the beauty of rain after a hot summer day. The pitter-patter of raindrops makes us happy and cheerful. The students read the poem before the activity started and an explanation of the poem was given. The students did this activity with a lot of enthusiasm. They made beautiful drawings of a rainy day in their grammar notebook. They also picked out five rhyming words from the poem. The children developed a better understanding of the poem   through this activity.

‘My Favourite Natural Resource’ was the theme of the Role Play Competition held in Grade IV. The students were given prior information about this competition and they were looking forward to it enthusiastically.
The students were allowed to bring props and speak about their favourite natural resource. The most favourite resource chosen by the majority of the students was water- its sources, uses and importance in our life. The students demonstrated the depth of their knowledge by talking about Fossil Fuels, their making and finished products along with names and also their ore’s. Harnessing the wind and the Sun’s energy was also a resource which the students touched upon. The forests and their importance to our ecology; Deforestation and its disastrous effect on our planet, were some other natural resources the children spoke about. They spoke as if they themselves were the resource and how they felt about our world and how we as humans were affecting their role in nature.
The students were in a competitive mood and essayed out their roles with great enthusiasm and eagerly awaited the result.
The competition was colourful, informative, innovative and fun.

Grade III-E conducted the assembly on 3rd October 2017 on the theme of ‘Discipline’.

The assembly commenced with Warm Up exercises followed by the Lord’s Prayer & Shloka. The thought of the week and pledge of the day were read out by Subhanshi and Anvi. The news of the day was updated by Garvita. The students then gave a small presentation on the meaning of ‘Discipline’ and how it plays an important role in our life.  A short speech on discipline was delivered by Asmita. Then Charvi spoke a few lines on Gandhi Jayanti and Deepshikha sang a song to make the assembly livelier.

The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem being sung with great fervour.

A collage making activity related to understanding the lesson-‘Seasons’ was conducted in all the sections of Grade II. The students were asked to paste cut outs of different types of seasons on a chart paper. Great enthusiasm was observed in the students during the activity. The given activity helped the students understand the concept of different types of seasons clearly.

An activity related to understanding the concept of verbs was conducted in all the sections of Grade II. The students were asked to identify and circle the verbs in a paragraph which was given to them to write in their notebooks.

The children participated in the activity with a lot of interest and enthusiasm. The given activity helped the students understand the concept of verbs in a fun way.

Grade III-F conducted the morning assembly on 26^th September 2017 on the theme of ‘Dussehra’.

The assembly commenced with Warm Up exercises, followed by the Lord’s Prayer & Shloka. The word of the week was informed by Rishita Mathur and the thought of the week by Ishanvi Saini. The news of the day was updated by Gauri. The students then recited a small poem on ‘Dussehra’. They spoke about the significance of Dussehra and why it is celebrated. Bhaavya Rastogi and Adithya Sunil spoke about the ‘Victory of Good over Evil’. This was followed by the display of the art work and paintings of the students.

The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem.

Handwriting contributes to reading fluency because it activates visual perception of letters. Writing improves understanding. A good hand-writing can beautify the whole text material. An English calligraphy competition was organised for Grade III students on 3^rd October2017. The students were given sheets of paper on which they had to write a given passage on Mahatma Gandhi. The students wrote the passage neatly on the given sheets. They were judged on the basis of neatness and beautiful hand-writing. A few children wrote in print whereas others wrote in cursive. Best three children were selected from each section. 

The activity encouraged the children to develop a beautiful hand-writing.

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashmi, is a major Indian festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. The day is celebrated to commemorate the killing of Ravana by Lord Rama.
To make Dussehra celebration more interesting, an activity was planned for the students of all the sections of Grade I.
The children made masks of ‘Hanuman’, their favourite character. The cutouts of Hanuman were given on which they pasted a crown and his monkey mouth. They coloured the mask of ‘Hanuman’ artistically. The children enthusiastically participated in the activity. They were excited to know the reason behind the celebration of Dussehra and also how good won over evil.
This activity helped the children to learn about mythological characters and imbibe the message of peace and love.

‘Good wins over Evil!’ to engrave this thought in the hearts of our young artists, a mask-making activity was held on 26^th September, 2017 for the Grade V students. The students enthusiastically participated in this activity to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Dusshera. They duplicated a mask, that was beautifully crafted by our Art & Craft Teacher Mrs.Rakhi Srivastava, to the best of their abilities. The mask portrayed the image of Lord Ram adorned with a crown and jewellery displaying his royalty and beauty.

The craft material i.e the outline of the masks, the crown and jewellery cut-outs on glitter foam sheets were prepared by the respective class teachers and provided to the students. The children had a wonderful time adding fine details to their masks to make it look attractive. They made holes, through which their eyes could peep and they made outlines to give the mask a proper look of the face. The students spent an hour displaying their creativity and originality of ideas. By the end of the activity they felt accomplished and each one cheerfully waved and wore his/her mask.

The Dusshera celebrations continued and on 27^th September, 2017 with a Special assembly conducted by the students of Grade V-C, under the guidance of their class teacher, Mrs.Neetu Dhiman. The students enacted a scene from ‘Ramayan’ and the audience relived the era of Lord Ram and King Dashratha. The students returned to their classes having learnt lessons from the lives of Lord Ram, Sita, Laxman and even Ravana. While the regular periods continued in the primary wing, the spirit of Dusshera was still afresh among the students and hence before the day ended the students spent an hour watching the movie ‘Ramayan’, in their respective classes. The students and teachers exchanged wishes and soon everyone dispersed for home looking forward to the Dusshera break to celebrate the festival with their near and dear ones.

Dussehra also known as Vijaydashami celebrates Lord Rama's victory over the Lanka King Ravana. It is celebrated on the tenth day of Ashvin and culminates a 9 day fasting period of Navratri in the Hindu culture. The day also coincides with the immersion of the idol of Goddess Durga. It is celebrated to commemorate the killing of Ravana by Lord Rama. The day also celebrates the killing of demon Mahishasur by Goddess Durga. Dussehra celebration spreads the message of the victory of ‘Good over Evil’.

The students of Grades I and II were dressed in colourfull traditional apparels to mark the occasion. The students also watched the video presentation on Dussehra. The students of Grade II presented a skit on “Ramayan” in English. This made them understand the reason behind Dussehra celebration. They also made a Ravana using glitter paper ice-cream spoon. This activity filled the students with excitement, passion and zeal.

India is known as the land of festivals and celebrations. Dussehra is an important festival which is celebrated all over India. Dussehra is also called Vijayadashami and is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahisasura. It is a festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. Dussehra celebrates Lord Rama's victory over the demon king Ravana.

A mask making activity was organized as part of the Dussehra celebrations in all the sections of Grade III on Septaember 27, in which the students made the mask of Ravan. The students were given sheets of paper cut in the form of Ravan’s face. The students drew the face of Ravan on the circular sheets given to them. The children also pasted a crown on Ravan’s head which was made of colourful silver sheet. The children made outlines with pencils on the mask. This was a fun-filled activity and the students participated in it with a lot of enthusiasm.

India is known as the land of festivals and celebrations. Dussehra is an important festival which is celebrated all over India. Dussehra is also called Vijayadashami and is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahisasura. It is a festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. Dussehra celebrates Lord Rama's victory over the demon king Ravana.

A mask making activity was organized as part of the Dussehra celebrations in all the sections of Grade III on Septaember 27, in which the students made the mask of Ravan. The students were given sheets of paper cut in the form of Ravan’s face. The students drew the face of Ravan on the circular sheets given to them. The children also pasted a crown on Ravan’s head which was made of colourful silver sheet. The children made outlines with pencils on the mask. This was a fun-filled activity and the students participated in it with a lot of enthusiasm.

India is known as the land of festivals and celebrations. Dussehra is an important festival which is celebrated all over India. Dussehra is also called Vijayadashami and is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahisasura. It is a festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. Dussehra celebrates Lord Rama's victory over the demon king Ravana.

A mask making activity was organized as part of the Dussehra celebrations in all the sections of Grade III on Septaember 27, in which the students made the mask of Ravan. The students were given sheets of paper cut in the form of Ravan’s face. The students drew the face of Ravan on the circular sheets given to them. The children also pasted a crown on Ravan’s head which was made of colourful silver sheet. The children made outlines with pencils on the mask. This was a fun-filled activity and the students participated in it with a lot of enthusiasm.

On 27^th September, 2017. the Dusshera celebrations continued and the day began with a Special assembly conducted by the students of Grade IVC, under the guidance of their class teacher, Mrs.Shruti Barawal. The students enacted a synopsis of the ‘Ramayan’ and the audience relived through the era of Lord Ram and his exile, abduction of Sita and her subsequent saving along with the killing of Ravana (the main event).

The students returned to their classes to carry on the day with their regular periods in the primary wing, the spirit of Dusshera was still afresh among the students and hence before the day ended the students spent an hour watching the movie ‘Ramayan’, in their respective classes. The students and teachers exchanged wishes and soon everyone dispersed for home looking forward to the Dusshera break to be with their families and friends.

‘Good Triumphs Over Evil’ is the theme of this festive season. Carrying forward this theme, our young students of grade IV participated in a mask making activity held on 26^th September, 2017. to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Dusshera.

A Ravan Mask was to be made by them. They were given cutouts of the mask, moustache, and some jewellery  preparedby their class teachers. They put it together matching the designing done by their Art and Craft teacher Ms. Rakhi Srivastava. The little artists added their individual touches to make the Demon King’s mask look real and lifelike. They outlined the eyes and the face to make it look more authentic. They spent about ¾ of an hour creating their Ravan Mask.

They ended the activity by showing off the originality of their ideas by fixing a pencil to the mask  and putting it on their faces, playing and waving it about

The Students of Class- IV C presented Dussehra Assembly on 26th September’17 in the primary wing basement. The assembly commenced with warm up exercises followed by the Lord’s Prayer and Shloka. Anirvaanya Aggarwal was anchoring the first half of the assembly while Jiya anchored the remaining part of the assembly. All the students of the class participated in the assembly, where few students started with the session and around 15 enacted the skit, spoken the speeches, song, poem etc. while the remaining class concluded the assembly. Students participated in the skit on the topic “Dussehra” and showed how the struggle between the forces of good and evil, and the eventual victory of good over evil, “The Basic Theme of Ramayana”.
Students actively participated in the assembly while students in audience thoroughly enjoyed the session. Certificates were also given for the winners of Kriyakalaap – Hindi Diwas held on 19th September 2017. The assembly was concluded with the Shalom Anthem.

Adjectives are describing words. They tell you more about a noun. They make a difference between dull writing and interesting writing.

For getting more clarity on the topic an interesting activity was conducted in all the sections of Class 1, named Mystery Bag Activity.

In this activity, a bag was filled with attractive items like pen, pencils, balls, toys etc by the teacher. The teacher kept this bag in front of the students and uttered – “What a surprise?”

The students were called in groups of four and were told to put their hand inside the bag to take out any one thing from it. They were given one minute to think about that object before describing it in their own words. For example if the item taken out was a red small car, then the child described it in the following manner –

“This is a red car.”

“This is a small car.”

The mystery bag has long been a favourite activity of the children. With this activity the children enhance their vocabulary and imbibe the concept more enthusiastically and interestingly.

A Show and Tell Competition was conducted in all the sections of Grade III on 26th September, 2017. The students were asked to bring any article of their interest example newspaper, book, toy etc. The students came well prepared for the competition. A few students were also dressed up as the article about which they spoke. One student dressed up as an apple, another as a doctor. A few students made innovative charts on general knowledge, seasons to show and talk about in class. The other useful objects that the students brought and talked about in class were newspaper, story-books, paper-bags, toy mobile etc. A few students also brought their favourite toys and spoke about them.
The judgement was done on the basis of innovation, creativity and over-all presentation. The students participated in the show and tell activity with a lot of enthusiasm. Based on their performance five students were selected as winners from each section.

To acquire more clarity on the concept of ones and tens the children were involved in an activity on Place Value.

Place value is one of the key concepts in mathematics curriculum and very important for simple computation in everyday life.

To teach students the value of ones and tens Abacus is a handy tool. The children performed the activity by coming individually and placing the numbers given to them as per their place value.

The children learned the place value concept in an easy, playful, enjoyable and lucid way.

Despite its obvious popularity, Fantasy is well suited to smaller kids. Fairy tales teach children critical thinking that good always triumphs. Fairy tales help to instill in children an understanding of right and wrong, not through direct teaching but implication.

Keeping this in view and to break the monotony of reading and writing, all the children of Grade 1 participated in  a role play of the Fantasy characters based on the lesson “The Dragon Who Couldn’t Breathe Fire”. The children were given characters from the lesson to enact. They played various characters, like Sniffle, Patches Kind witch etc. Most of the children enacted Sniffle, the dragon. The children enjoyed the activity thoroughly and the entire class was completely involved in the activity.

This activity not only helped the children in revising the lesson in a fun way but at the same time helped to develop their critical thinking and to develop feelings of empathy.

An activity on collective nouns was conducted in all the sections of grade-III on 21^st September’ 2017. This was a pre-activity which was done to introduce the concept of collective nouns to the students. The students were asked to write four collective nouns and draw their pictures.

The students did this activity with a lot of enthusiasm. They made beautiful drawings in their grammar notebook. The children developed a better understanding of the concept of collective nouns through this activity.

Grade III-G conducted the morning assembly on the theme of ‘Road Safety’ on 19^th September 2017.

The assembly commenced with Warm Up exercises and was followed by the Lord’s Prayer & Shloka recital. The word of the week was spoken by Hiten and the thought of the week by Aadya. The students were then updated with the news of the day by Aishita. The class students next gave a small presentation on road safety rules. They spoke about the importance of following these rules. Monal and Chakshan recited a poem on road safety.

This was followed by the presentation of certificates to the winners of the Art and Craft Competition.

The assembly concluded with the students enthusiastically singing the Shalom Anthem.

The students of Grade III were involved in an activity on mathematical operators in which they were asked to swap the given operator according to predefined rules. The students solved the simple problems on mathematical operators which were complicated by the swap of the operator itself. The students did this activity individually and found it pretty interesting and creative. They participated with full zeal and enthusiasm and were eager to continue it further post the closure.

Role play is the act of imitating the character and behaviour of someone who is different from you. It involves assuming a role different from oneself.

Role play was conducted on the topic of “Historical Event” in all sections of Grade II. The students depicted the life of various freedom fighters like- Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmi bai, Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Mahatma Gandhi.      

The students performed their roles beautifully and also depicted their life events with great conviction. They also dressed very magnificently as their chosen freedom fighter. The Role Play activity helped the students to know about the lives of the freedom fighters and draw inspiration from them. The students were excited and thrilled to see the different role-plays enacted by others. 

 We build houses for our shelter and safety. Houses can be of different shapes and sizes built with different kinds of materials. The house we live in is our home. Houses protect us from heat, rain, wind, dust and animals. We live in a house with our family. A house gives us shelter and keeps us safe. People live in different types of houses. There are many houses like pucca house, kutcha house, flat, tents, caravan, house boat, igloo etc.

Once the concept of types of houses was clear, the children of Grade 1 were excited to draw and colour Kuchacha House and Pucca House on their own. They enjoyed doing the activity of drawing and colouring the Kuchcha house and Pucca House.

The children showcased their creative  skills in drawing and colouring and came up with amazing art work.

The goal of this activity was to monitor student learning and to provide ongoing feedback that can be used by facilitators to improve their learning skills.

In order to keep this aligned, group activity on metropolitan cities (Delhi and Mumbai) was conducted in all the sections of Grade III .The class was divided into five groups. Each Group was given a sheet and were told to paste pictures of different monuments and write details about the importance of each of them.  Then one representative from each group was told to share the information which they had written about different monuments. This activity enhanced the knowledge of the students about the metro cities.

The activity helped the students in their concept building and kept them engrossed throughout the learning session.

Hindi Divas is celebrated annually on 14^th September in India. It serves to promote and propagate the Hindi language. Its importance is demonstrated by feasts, events, competitions and other services held on this day. The event also serves as a patriotic reminder to the Indian population of their common roots and unity.

To celebrate this day the students of Grade 3 participated in Inter-class Doha Recitation Competition. The students recited dohas by various famous Hindi poets like Kabir and Rahim. The preparation for the competition had started a week back. All the students of Grade III, practiced in the competition by reciting different dohas and verses. The children had come dressed in colourful kurta pyjamas .They had made interesting props to highlight their recital. There were props in the shape of clouds, fans etc. One student was also dressed up as the famous poet Rahim.

The students recited their dohas with a lot of enthusiasm. One child from each section also explained the meaning of the verses. All the sections performed well. The result of the competition was announced at the end with the First position going to III F, Second position to III C and the Third position to III E.

The theme of the assembly conducted by the students of Grade III-H on 12^th September 2017 was ‘Friendship’.

The assembly commenced with Warm Up exercises. It was followed by the Lord’s Prayer & Shloka. The word of the week was spoken by Krish Yadav and the thought of the week by Darsh. After the reading of the news of the day by Moksh, the students gave a small presentation on the meaning of ‘Friendship’ and highlighted its importance. Viaan and Saanvi spoke about the meaning of true friendship.

This was followed by a poem being recited on ‘Friends’.

The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem.

The students and staff of Hindi Department of Shalom Hills International School (SHIS) celebrated ‘Hindi Divas’ on September 14, 2017 in the school with great fervor. A special assembly was organized. The program started with the children melodiously singing the Saraswati Vandana. This was followed by the students of class IX presenting street plays on “Badalta Bharat” and “Saur Urja”. Through their acting they explained the importance of solar energy and how India is changing. The children also gave speeches to highlight the importance of Hindi in the country. They recited many poems in Hindi and spoke on the importance of the language in contemporary society. They presented “Hasya Kavita” that enthralled the entire audience. A slogan writing competition was organized in the sixth grade in which the children participated with great enthusiasm.  

The event ended with everyone energetically singing the National Anthem ‘Jana Mana Gana’ displaying national Integration and unity in diversity. 

Lastly, the HOD of Department of Hindi Smt. Lalita Yadav thanked everyone for their enthusiastic participation. 

The events helped to develop creativity, confidence, dramatic abilities and analytical thinking.

Role play is a technique that allows students to explore realistic situation by interacting with other people in a managed way.

Going with this technique, Role play was conducted in all sections of Grade I. The children played the role of various freedom fighters like- Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmi bai, Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Mahatma Gandhi, and incidents of their life.       

The children participated enthusiastically and beautifully enacted their roles dressed as their chosen freedom fighter. The Role Play activity helped the students to get an insight into the lives of the freedom fighters and draw inspiration from them. They thoroughly enjoyed the activity. 

Role play is a technique that allows students to explore realistic situation by interacting with other people in a managed way.

Going with this technique, Role play was conducted in all sections of Grade I. The children played the role of various freedom fighters like- Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmi bai, Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Mahatma Gandhi, and incidents of their life.       

The children participated enthusiastically and beautifully enacted their roles dressed as their chosen freedom fighter. The Role Play activity helped the students to get an insight into the lives of the freedom fighters and draw inspiration from them. They thoroughly enjoyed the activity. 

The students of Grade II performed a Math activity on money. They were informed about the Indian currency and the different types of notes and coins available. The students were required to paste different denominations of notes and coins in their note books and calculate the total amount. This activity helped them to understand the process of transaction and summation. The students participated in the activity with great eagerness and zeal.

Independence Day was celebrated during Dynasty class with a difference. The students were divided into their respective dynasties and two topics were given to them to put forward their thoughts and views either through a short skit, role play, creative writing or even a debate. The students were given half an hour to prepare for their activity.

The topics given were:

India Before and After Independence

My Pride – Shalom in the Future

Our young patriots were well versed with the scenario of India before independence since it was a topic covered in their syllabus too and hence it did not take long for them to put on their acting robes and enact the leaders/reformers/martyrs  or various battles  that  led to independent India. The final depiction of India before and after Independence was so real and authentic – from the Independence struggle to Swachh Bharat and Mr Modi unfurling the National Flag at the ramparts of the Red Fort.

Soon the students moved to the next topic and spoke about the pride that they take in their school and how they would like to see Shalom in the future. They said that they dream of seeing the campus greener than present condition and that in their view the paper books will be replaced by e-books and each student would carry a tab or an I-pad pre-installed with all the applications and study materials instead of bags. Certain students had an interesting thought where they mentioned that in the future robots will replace the human teachers. The students certainly dived way ahead into the future!

The children participated with a lot of enthusiasm in the activity. They were happy to share their thoughts. The activity was an absolute success with the students as well as the teachers enjoying it to the fullest.

The spirit of patriotism is important for understanding the true value of Independence, and patriotic songs for kids are the best means to do so. Patriotic songs fill our hearts with patriotic fervour and inculcate a sense of fulfilment and responsibility towards our country.

All sections of Grade I participated in the Inter-Class Patriotic Song Competition which was held in the middle school basement. All the classes performed very well with full energy and with love in their hearts for the country. Our music teachers prepared them for the singing competition and guided them on how to perform. Their hard work was well reflected in the performances of the students. The honourable judges were Ms. Garima, Ms Adrejaand and Mr. Rakesh .They appreciated and applauded the performance of the participants and the children enjoyed the competition. The winners were excited on their win.

The students enjoyed the activity and participated with great zeal and enthusiasm.

A Math activity-“Shapes” was conducted for Grade-II on 23 August, 2017. As children had already been introduced to all the shapes, they were able to identify the objects of different shapes. The children were asked to draw two pictures each of the shape given to them, which they enthusiastically did.

The purpose of this activity was to enhance the mental ability and to create an environment where the students can get detailed information about the concept and can learn in a play way.

The children thoroughly enjoyed the fun filled learning activity and spent their day with experiential learning.

Under the aegis and vibrant leadership of our honourable Founder and Chairperson Dr Mrs. Lilly George, Shalomites celebrated its Founders’ Week on completion of 14 years of imparting meaningful and holistic education to its students. The festivities and Founder’s week celebrations, spread over a week of fun-filled activities, included ‘Multi Talented Fiesta’ with Pre Primary group, a Quiz on ‘Blend and Sight words’ for class I, Read Aloud for class II, Poetry recitation for class III, Ad Mad for Class IV and V, making Working Models of Cars for students of Grade VII, a Tree-Plantation Drive involving Grade VI and VIII students who planted 400 saplings in collaboration with students from Jawahar Navodya school, and a Nukkad-Natak Competition for Grade IX students on the themes –‘Solar Energy’, ‘Segregation of Waste’ and ‘Say No to Plastic’. The events had hundred percent students participating enthusiastically to showcase their talents and win laurels.

The week-long gala of events culminated in the two days Shalom Conclave-the Annual Inter-School Competitions, hosted by the Shalom Group of schools on August 11, 2017 and August 12, 2017. The Mega Event saw various schools participating in a variety of activities like-Elocution, Western Dance Competition on the theme of ‘Incredible India’, Craft Competition, Flora and fauna, Spellathon etc. The highlight of the revelry was the dance competition which had everyone in the auditorium tapping their feet filled with the fervor of patriotism. The message of our Chairperson – The Green Crusader was very well portrayed by the tiny tots of participating schools to keep the mother earth unpolluted. In the two day fiesta though the overall Rolling Trophy bagged by the host school, it was handed over to the next best winning Team. The energetic and enthusiastic performance of all the participating schools helped to make the event a grand success.  

As a part of the Founder’s Day Week celebration, a Nukkad Natak Competition was held for the students of Grade IX. Each section was divided into two groups with both the groups getting different scripts to work on. The themes chosen for the Nataks were – ‘Aaj ka Badlta Bhart’ and ‘Sour Urja’.

The students were given a time of a week to prepare and present their Nukkad Nataks on the stipulated day. Hundred percent students participated enthusiastically and energetically in this activity to put up a power packed and entertaining show.

The students thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The activity gave them an opportunity to showcase their creativity and acting talents, in addition to sensitizing them towards the preservation of our environment.

The results of the Competition are as follows:

THEME: 'SOUR URJA'	THEME: 'BADALTA BHARAT'
First Position: IX-C	First Position: IX-A
Second Position: IX-B	Second Position: IX-B

As part of the Founder’s day Week festivities, on 11^th August, 2017, the students of Grade V celebrated Independence Day with utmost enthusiasm and a sense of patriotism in their hearts. The students were divided into their respective dynasties and two topics were given to them to put forward their thoughts and views either through a short skit, role play, creative writing or even a debate. The topics were, ‘India- Before and After Independence’ and ‘My Pride- Shalom in the Future’.

Our young patriots were well versed with the scenario of India before independence since it was a topic covered in their syllabus and hence it did not take long for them to put on their acting robes and enact the leaders/reformers/martyrs  or various battles  that  led to Independent India. Some students opted to debate with their fellow classmates whether India was better before Independence or after.

Soon the students moved to the next topic of discussion where they came forward and spoke about the pride that they take in their school and how they would like to see Shalom in the future. They said that they dream of seeing the campus greener than present and that in their view the paper books will be replaced by e-books and each student would carry a tab or an I-pad pre-installed with all the applications and study materials instead of bags. Certain students had an interesting thought where they visualised human teachers being replaced by robots in the future. The students certainly dived way ahead into the future!

The celebration would not have been complete without the flag hoisting ceremony and so the students sang the National Anthem with great fervor, after which the flag was hoisted in the school ground and left to wave freely symbolizing the spirit of free India.

An activity aimed at making the understanding of Noun Numbers: Singular and Plural easy, was conducted in all the sections of Grade II.

The students were asked to identify and separate singular and plural nouns from the box drawn on the board. Cut outs of origami sheets were pasted in their notebooks and they were asked to write singular on one sheet and plurals on the other sheet.

The children participated in the activity with a lot of enthusiasm. The given activity helped the students to understand the concept of Singular and Plural nouns.

Mahatma Gandhi infused the patriotic feeling among the Indians, as a result of which, we gained freedom from British rule. Even today, there is a need for patriotic thought among Indians. India achieved its independence from the British rule on 15^th August, 1947. Hence, Independence Day is celebrated in India on 15th of August every year. Tributes and honour are paid to the national heroes. 

 As part of the Founder’s day week Celebration, the students of Grade III took part in a poem recitation competition to invoke this spirit of patriotism. The students of each class were well prepared with their selected their own poem and innovative props which they used to highlight their poem. The students of Grade III E had a head-band in the shape of a golden bird which was also the theme of their poem. The students of each section could be seen with the tri-colour flag and had selected saffron, white and green as the colour of their t-shirts to depict the colours of the national flag.

The various poems selected were, ‘India’s rich heritage’ by Sulekha Ratnam – III A, ‘India Song ‘ by Sri Tara-III B, Rabindranath Tagore’s famous poem on freedom ‘Where the mind is without fear’ - III C, ‘India is a land of sages’-III D and  III E recited ‘The Golden bird’. Another well recited poem was ‘My Pride, My India’ by III F. The inter-class competition concluded with a poem titled ‘The National Flag’ recited by the students of III H.

The competition ended with III F bagging the first position, III H the second position and III A the third position. All the students participated with a lot of enthusiasm and recited their poems well.

The Science Department of the school conducted an interesting Intra-Class Activity for the students of class VII: “I am A Shalom Scientist”. All the students in the class were divided into groups of 5 students and each group prepared a car using waste materials like-simple cardboards, straws, sticks and bottle caps. Each student in the group was assigned a work. One student prepared the car, another explained it while others were calculating the speed by measuring the time and distance. The students competed against each other within the class and the group with the best explanation and the fastest speed was selected from each section. The students enjoyed the activity a lot and were very enthusiastic. They were able to understand the concept of Speed and Motion with this interesting activity.

The final round was conducted on August 10, 2017.

Results of the activity were as follows:

VII A	Group I Daksh Bhargava, Saurabh, AnshTanwar, ParthShrama, Nikhil Bhawana Group II Shreya,Lakshita, Vibhi and bhumika
VII B	Dhanya, Anjali, kritika, Dipannila, Maryam
VII C	Group I Lakshay, Apurva, Manvi, Aishwika, Kush Group II Bhaya Hans, Rudrakshi, Kirti, Saniya, Pawini
VII D	KishikaGoel, T. Mihika, Sanvi, Sannidhya, Deborah
VII E	Rahul,Bhavendra, Ojasvi, Shivang
VII F	Anushka, Tanishqa, Pearl, Manvi, Sneha

The students of Grade II were involved in a Maths activity on addition and subtraction in the class. They were given three balls, out of which two balls had numbers and one ball had symbols of addition and subtraction. The students dropped the dice and based on the number they gave the answer.

The activity was a fun way of learning the concept and developed their mental ability and thinking.

In collaboration with USA UnivQuest(USAUQ - a leading organisation that prepares students for seeking admission to world’s best universities)its faculty hosted a seminar in SHIS for senior graders and encouraged the participants/students to enrol and register themselves for the STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2017 AWARDS, an activity which aims at giving talented students an opportunity to showcase their talent and participate for honours at City & National level.
Mr. Sameer Kumar, the co-speaker along with his team, briefed the students about the contest that offers following benefits to students:

• An opportunityto avail National & City Rewards, a recognition that will matter throughout their life.
• A life time opportunity for every participant to undergo an interaction with USAUQ experts to define Career Goals & best possible routes to achieve success.
• The exercise costs about Rs 15,000/-, but is Free for all students who register for SOTY 2017 Awards.
• A unique benefit to gain tremendous visibility among top universities in India, USA and other countries, as performance in SOTY 2017 will attract attention.
• Application Process Experience to meet the criteria being followed by world’s top universities, specifically in USA.
• Every Student who appears for Process will receive “Certificate of HONOUR”.

Mr Sameer apprised the students and gave the example of Tazeen Ahmed and Kenneth Lobo of SHIS who have won the accolades and gained recognition by winning SOTY City Awards with Silver and Gold Medal in 2016.
The students also enjoyed a quiz in which few questions on various Universities were asked. At the end a magazine was distributed to each child that holds the information of various selection process to register themselves for SOTY. The magazine was beautifully designed with the pictures of SOTY achievers at National level.

Shalom Hills International School once again successfully hosted the Global University Fair for high school children of Grades XI & XII, which was conducted and organized by the faculty members of International Centre for Advancement in Education, New Delhi. A team of international admissions officers/counsellors from renowned universities, visited the school campus and brought years of experience in admissions, counselling and guidance that helped in providing information to students, counsellors and other education providers in the school by interacting with them under one roof.
The few top tentative universities that were part of this tour were:
University of Victoria (Canada), University of Ottawa (Canada), Ashoka University; NIIT University, ISBF- University of London, California State University (USA), Instituto Marangoni (Milan, London, Paris), University of Limric Ireland, Ashoka University, SRH Berlin, Indian School of Art & Design, Flame University (India).
The broad objectives of holding the fair was to create awareness about the undergraduate education opportunities available in these universities; to facilitate interaction between the faculty/students and the visiting admission officers, thereby enabling a discussion about the application processes, choice of programs, finalizing a suitable course and any other topic relevant for studying abroad; to enable exchange of ideas between the management of the school and the visiting delegates in order to establish stronger links for potential collaborations in the future.
The students appreciated the event which was organized with the help of the school management and expressed their desire for the fair to be again held for those students who missed the opportunity to attend the same which has given them the wonderful experience to explore various career options available at undergraduate level.

Relationships are the essence of any festivity and it holds true for any Indian festival. Raksha Bandhan is a celebration of one such relation - that of a brother and a sister. This relationship is nowhere as celebrated as in India. It is a day when siblings pray for each others' well being and wish for each others' happiness and goodwill.

Raksha Bandhan was first popularized by Rabindranath Tagore to promote the feeling of unity and a commitment to all members of society to protect each other and encourage a harmonious Social life.

Today, our children of Grade I at Shalom Hills International School celebrated Raksha Bandhan by performing an activity of making Rakhies. Later on they expressed their love and respect for their ‘Bhaiyas’ and ‘Didis’ of housekeeping staff by presenting those beautiful Rakhies to them. Bhaiyas and didis were also delighted at being called to the classrooms and becoming part of the activity.

Our Earth is the most beautiful planet in our solar system. As far as we know, Earth is the only planet that has life.

 Man had a good relationship with Mother Earth, but since humans developed cities and industries, the modern lifestyle has changed. Man has been using and misusing natural resources beyond the limit.

Our Earth is in great danger now. If we are thinking beings, we must save plants and forests, because they save us. Thus, to inculcate a conscious and responsible attitude towards nature, a poster making competition was held in Grade III-V on July 28, 2017, on the topic ‘Save the Earth, Go Green’ to celebrate Van Mahotsav week. The students were very enthusiastic about finding new ways to save the environment-the plants, animals and other good things for the future generations.

While making posters, they reflected their imagination, views, and new approach to save all non renewable sources of energy. All the posters were informative and colourful. The students enjoyed the activity and came up with creative and innovative ideas to save mother planet- “The Earth”

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another”………….…Mahatma Gandhi 

We, at SHIS celebrated Van Mahotsav Week, with great fervor under the aegis of Dr. Lilly George, Founder-Managing Director, SHIS. 

We also believe that science and scientific knowledge greatly influence the progress of a nation and quality of life of its citizens. Promoting scientific temperament in students and developing a rational perspective is given utmost importance here.

Keeping the same in view, our young environmentalists have been active on the scientific front, educating, promoting and laying their duties sensibly. Day 1 activity conducted served its purpose to educate the children about the impact of human activities on Earth and how they can help to save it for themselves and the future generations to cherish and treasure.

The young students even distributed handmade paper bags and urged people to do their bit to save the environment by planting saplings and hence making a small contribution to make this world a better place.

The children and the teachers took a pledge to sensitize people in their vicinity about the importance of trees and how we can save the Earth from destruction and work towards conserving it.

They spoke about innovative ideas for sustainable development without jeopardizing the non-renewable resources. They particularly stressed on the imperative need for banning plastics, its harmful effects and requested people in the market place to say ‘No to plastics’.

During the week-long event, the students were trained about how to make the best out of waste. In the process they learnt to make a Photo frame from newspapers. We also organised a green March and community outreach programme to spread awareness to the residents, shopkeepers, menial workers and junior students. The young Citizens promoted ideas Like - Benefits of Afforestation, Stopping the use of Plastic Bags, Working towards reducing pollution etc.

Students left no stones unturned in creating awareness about their topic by using placards and raising slogans. They urged the people to join their initiative and asked their opinion on how they can contribute towards a better society through feedback forms. The week ended with the creative minds pouring out their imagination on  paper by making posters on the topic ‘ Go Green – Save Earth’.

The objective of conducting Van Mahotsav Week was to reinforce the belief in the young Shalomites that it is only them who can make the difference by taking such small initiatives which can turn into a revolution and hence benefit them in the longer run.

As the saying goes- “We don’t inherit the Earth from our ancestors but borrow it from our Children”.  With this thought in mind we take a pledge to do all we can to save the planet.

Pollution is the addition of hazardous contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either chemical or foreign substances/energies- such as noise, heat or light, or naturally occurring contaminants. The major types of environmental pollution are air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, thermal pollution, soil pollution and light pollution.                                                                                         

 To sensitize the students of Grade II towards the need to reduce environmental pollution, an Inter-Dynasty declamation competition on the topic-“Pollution”, was organized. The students described the various types of pollution, their causes, adverse effects and reasons very well. The students also stated deforestation and hazardous gaseous emissions as major cause of environmental pollution. During the last 10 years, the world has witnessed severe rise in environmental pollution.

Through this activity the students realized the value of our Earth and its environment. They also understood the importance of keeping the environment clean and pollution free for our safe future.

“Who has gone dead!! Why are you in mourning???”!!!exclaimed the stupefied grandfather as he reached the hall after a deep slumber while the family had assumed him dead…..and the class rolled with laughter on the epic scene  of Stanley Houghton’s, ‘The Dear Departed’, enacted by their friends. The play as it is, being one of the most famous wittiest comedy was already in hearts of most of the kids right from the beginning as they most brilliantly and exuberantly chose their characters and staged a great presentation in front of the entire class. Their confidence and excitement knew no bounds as they delivered each dialogue with utmost ease and significance. And hence perfected their understanding of the theme of the drama, and enhanced the team spirit, inter-dependence and co-ordination among peers.

The activity provided an enriching experience and great exposure to the students as each one enjoyed the activity thoroughly.

Festivals are the best time to rekindle old traditions and values among children. Raksha Bandhan in Sanskrit literally means "the tie or knot of protection". The word Raksha means protection, whilst Bandhan is the verb to tie. It is an ancient Hindu festival that ritually celebrates the love and duty between brothers and their sisters. On Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie a rakhi (sacred thread) on her brother's wrist. This symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her.

The students of Grade II celebrated Raksha Bandhan by making Rakhis using origami sheets. They made different innovative patterns and designs on the Rakhi and also decorated the Rakhi using various coloured origami sheets and mirrors. The students were also explained the significance of its celebration. This activity let them use their creativity and imagination. The students were enthralled and excited to celebrate Rakhi in school.

Easier said than done…but actually done too!!

Jaideep Bindra of class XI – enthusiastically time-honored the challenge of stepping into the teacher’s shoes and most skillfully concluded it. There is no joy more than watching your peers stand at the podium and give uniqueness to the content delivered. It gave a new-fangled turn to the lesson, Ranga’s Marriage, when humorously discussed from the point of view of a 16 year old who   understood the underlying message of the story without any enunciation from the teacher which was evident from his facial expressions and quick repartee .And surely it gave a lot more to the onlookers too who supported him in the best possible manner.

It was a very rewarding and illuming activity for the teacher and the students.

It is never easy when someone disagrees with you or you have to disagree with someone. Debating is one of the most difficult oratory skills to acquire. It has been rightly described by a famous statesman as the ‘bloodless battle of wit and words’. Therefore, in order to hone the oratory and analytical skills of class X , a Debate was conducted in the class. It was very evident that the students were well prepared and they used various skills like overstatement, definition, irony etc. to convince the audience. The participants, armed with statistics and data made their arguments more emphatic with their accurate facial expressions, body movement and gestures. A veritable duel of words began as speakers for and against the topic ‘Joint Family vs Nuclear Family’ took to the podium. Opinions flew thick and fast across the class as the Gen-Next proffered cogent reasons in support of their arguments.
It was a very satisfying and illuming activity for the teacher and the students.

The tiger is a unique animal which plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of our ecosystem. It is a top predator which is at the apex of the food chain and keeps the population of wild ungulates in check, thereby maintaining the balance between prey herbivores and the vegetation upon which they feed.
Thus, the topic ‘How to Save the Tiger’ was chosen for Inter-Dynasty English Declamation competition. The students of Grades III- V stood confidently to spread awareness on the importance of saving this magnificent creation of the cat family, through their well-prepared speeches.
They encouraged us to ban products made of animal skin, report poaching and poachers to nearby law officials and spread awareness about importance of every organism in the ecosystem. A wonderful thought was accentuated in the end, ‘If Nature is responsible for our existence then we must also take the responsibility for its Existence!’
The occasion was graced by the presence of our Dean, Mr. Carlton Wilson, the Senior Coordinator, Mrs. Swastika Acharya and Mrs. Suniti Bhai. The audience was wonderful and remained patient throughout the declamation. The English teachers of the senior wing, Mrs. Kavita Bharadwaj and Mrs. Meenakshi Madan were invited to judge the competition of Grade V. The Inter-dynasty meet concluded with a round of applause for all the participants and a message to all the students to actively participate in Saving the Tiger and to bring about the desired change in thinking and preservation of the same. Result:

Class	I Position	II Position	III Position
III	Cedar	Ebony	Maple
IV	Cedar	Ebony	Maple
V	Oak	Ebony	Maple

The Inter-class poetry recitation competition of Grade II was held on 28.07.17 in the basement of the middle wing.  Beauty is the realm of poetry, and it is meant for enjoyment.  Through such competitions the children learn to appreciate the beauty of expression, thoughts, feeling, rhyme, rhythm and music of words and get an opportunity to exhibit their talent and gain confidence. 

Being a group recitation competition, all the students of Grade II were excited to display their recitation skills. The children recited their chosen poems with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm.  The Dean, Mr. Wilson and Senior Coordinator, Ms. Swastika, were invited to judge the competition. They appreciated and applauded the performance of the participants and the children thoroughly enjoyed the competition.

The result of the competition was as follows:

• First Position: Section-G
• Second Position: Section-F
• Third Position: Section-C

An intellectual activity related to multiplication was conducted in Grade IV. The children explored the different and interesting way to do multiplication by making Lattice. Lattice multiplication is a method of multiplying large numbers using a grid. It is algorithmically equivalent to regular long multiplication, but the lattice method breaks the multiplication process into smaller steps, which some students find easier. Digits to be carried are written within the grid, making them harder to miss. First, Students were asked to draw a grid that has as many rows and columns as the multiplicand and the multiplier.  They were explained about the method of solving it by giving an example. Then they were given some other numbers to multiply on their own using the technique of Lattice multiplication. The students enjoyed the activity a lot and found the lattice method an easy and interesting way to do multiplication.

A Math activity on addition was conducted in Grade II. The students were given magnetic numbers and called up one by one to the board to solve the given sum. With the help of the magnetic numbers, they chose the correct number and put that number on the board.

This activity developed their mental ability and thinking. The students enjoyed the activity and participated enthusiastically.

In order to test, inculcate and enhance students’ Self Management and Social Skills ’, a group activity was organised in all the sections of Grade IX.

The students in all the sections were divided into groups .Each group was given a topic .It was observed that everyone was willing to assume a share of the responsibility. They followed the instructions of working cooperatively in a group, being courteous to others and reacting reasonably to the situation by becoming open-minded.

It was seen that they could apply previously acquired knowledge in practical and new ways. They made their presentations with the help of Group discussion, Role play, Skit, etc.

The entire classroom environment was charged with students’ enthusiasm and eagerness to perform. It was an interesting showcase of collective effort where each and every child performed to the best of his/her ability. 

The students of Grade X were involved in a Dramatization Activity based on the poem-‘The Frog and the Nightingale’, included in their syllabus. Scenes from the poem were selected to be dramatized and given to the students for enactment.  The class was divided into groups ranging from two to six students in each, as per the requirement of the scene. The students were given time of a week to create the dialogues and prepare for the enactment.

The students showed great keenness to participate in the activity and prepared well. They came with well written dialogues, appropriate props and were filled with enthusiasm.

The activity helped the students to attain clarity about the poem and its theme. It provided an opportunity for the students to innovate, and exhibit their creativity and acting skills.

The activity was a great success with the each child participating with eagerness, zeal and excitement.

A Poster Making activity was held on July 24, 2017 as part of Periodic Assessment I. The children involved themselves enthusiastically in this activity and made impressive posters. The students were encouraged to write a short poem/slogan/one-liner in their own original words and style on the given proverbs. They expressed their ideas and knowledge through an imaginative inter-play of colours, drawings, pictures, short poems and catchy one-liners.  The aim of the Poster cum Poetry Writing Activity was to develop creative instincts in the students.

The participants were judged on different rubrics –picture drawn based on the proverb, the content and style of the poem/slogan, whether relevant to the topic and on the overall impression. Through this activity, the students got a chance to display their innate talent and unleash their creativity as artists. Our budding poets/writers used this platform to prove their mettle. All the students thoroughly enjoyed the activity.

Van Mahotsav is an annual tree-planting movement in India, which began in 1950. It has gained significant national importance and every year, millions of saplings are planted across India in observation of Van Mahotsav week.  Trees make our surroundings beautiful.

To commemorate nature and instill in the children love and respect for nature, an Art and Craft Activity to celebrate Van Mahotsav week was conducted in all sections of Grade III on 24^th July 2017. The students made small cut outs in the shape of trees and wrote the message ‘Save Trees’ on small square coloured A4 size sheets. They also made drawings on the sheets.

The students took part in this activity with a lot of enthusiasm and were happy to show their work of art to each other. This activity helped in creating awareness among the students about the importance of saving trees and our environment.

Inter-dynasty English Declamation Competition for Grade III was held on 21st July, 2017. There were two students from each dynasty who had been selected in the first round of the competition. The children had been given time of one week to prepare for the competition. They came well prepared with props and posters for the topic “Save the tiger” and spoke confidently.
All the participants performed well and spoke with great clarity on the need and importance of saving tigers. Saving tigers is equivalent to conserving the Ecosystem. Tiger is a symbol of wilderness and well-being of the ecosystem. In nature, barring human beings rest of the ecosystem is wild. Hence conserving wilderness is important and crucial to maintain the life support system. The children were judged on the basis of their clarity and presentation. The result is as follows:

• 1st Position: Cedar
• 2nd Position: Ebony
• 3rd Position: Maple
• 4th Position: Oak

The Inter-dynasty meet concluded with a round of applause for all the participants and a message to all the students to actively participate in Saving the Tiger.

When children do role plays, they naturally take on the characteristics of someone. Role Play stimulates their imagination, encourages friendship through cooperation, listening and turn taking. Therefore, role play is a vital activity for our children.

Role Play was conducted in all the sections of Grade I.

In this activity, the children played the role of one of the characters of their Lesson ‘Reena and Rishi ’. Most of them played the character of Reena or Rishi while few became the father, mother, grandfather or grandmother.

The process of pretending builds skills in many essential developmental areas. When the child engages in dramatic play, he/she is actively experimenting with the social and emotional roles of life.

A Card game activity on Subtraction was conducted in all sections of Grade I, as a post lesson activity.

In the Card game, children were given two play cards ( one with bigger number and one with smaller number).the children were asked to subtract those number and tell the correct answers.

Fun activities create interest amongst children to understand a concept well. All most all the children were able to give correct answers. Few needed assistance which was provided.

Overall the children found it very interesting and participated enthusiastically. The children revised the concept in a play way method and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Action words, express an action. The action is something you are doing for example eat,jump, walk, laugh, listen,etc.

Action words activity was done in all the sections of Grade I to simplify the concept. The children learnt the concept of action words concept in a playful method through the game ‘Simon says ….’. The children were given five action words like Simon says -jump, run, stand, smile, sit which they were supposed to enact. They learnt the action words quickly and in an interesting way.

It was learning while playing for the children and they enjoyed the activity thoroughly.

An English language activity on Subject-Predicate was conducted in all sections of Grade-3 on 21^st July 2017. This was a pre-activity done to introduce the concept of subject-predicate to the students. The students were given four sentences in which they had to identify the subject and predicate. They were also asked to draw pictures of the subject and the predicate they identified.

The students did this activity with a lot of enthusiasm. They made beautiful drawings in their grammar notebook. The children got a better understanding of the concept of subject-predicate through this activity.

With the blessings and under the competent guidance of Founder-Managing Director, Dr. (Mrs.) Lily George, Shalom celebrated Van Mahotsav in school. The celebration was an ideal opportunity to instill personal and social responsibility in our students towards safeguarding our rich flora and fauna. The focus of these celebrations is towards forming a personal connect between the students and trees through a process of Experience, Reflection and Creation. To celebrate the Festival of Trees called ‘Van Mahotsav’, the students of Shalom prepared themselves by first collecting the seeds, then sowing them in sapling bags, and finally submitting the saplings of fruit bearing trees.

The students segregated the seeds and the saplings according to the names put on the posters. The students who showed interest in bringing fruit tree saplings were called for segregation of fruit tree seeds and saplings.

On this occasion MD Ma’am herself led by example and planted a sapling in the Kitchen garden area. She asked every student to touch, feel and sense the plants.

It was a great experience for the students. They willingly and enthusiastically participated in the activity and enjoyed it.

‘Van Mahotsava, 'the festival of trees', is an annual tree planting festival celebrated in the month of July, as a festival of life. In India it was started as a crusade to save mother earth. Awareness campaigns are held at various levels.

To make children aware about the importance of plants, ‘Van Mahotsav’ was celebrated in all the sections of Grade I and II.

The children did exciting activities to mark the celebration. Grade I students made a beautiful plant with paper cut outs and decorated it creatively. On the other hand, the Grade II students made a paper bag with different animals and gave a wonderful 3-D effect.

The children participated enthusiastically in the celebration of ‘VanMahotsav’ and performed the activity to the best of their ability.

The students of Grade III performed an activity where they were made to play with subtraction problems. The statements describing the problems were kept on a table, a little distance apart from the solutions. The students were supposed to read the problem, decipher the solution and pick the right card from the heap of answers. This game was played in group of 5 students at a time. It helped the students to analyze the subtraction concept better and apply it to practical problems.

The students really had fun and were eager to do more at the closure of the activity.

The students of grade III participated in a Science Activity on Different layers of Soil on 7th July ’17. The main aim of conducting the activity was to make the students understand that Soil has different types of layers with different names and different characteristics.
The students were explained how to draw a rectangular outline and then with three different colours of origami sheets they were asked to show the different layers of soil. Students then noted the characteristics of these layers understanding their differences.
Overall, it was a fun learning and interactive session for the children in which their linguistic, logical, spatial, kinesthetic, reasoning, logical and interpersonal skills were enhanced.

An intellectual activity related to multiplication was conducted for the students of class V. The children explored the different and interesting ways to do multiplication by making Lattice. Lattice multiplication is a method of multiplying large numbers using a grid. It is algorithmically equivalent to regular long multiplication, but the lattice method breaks the multiplication process into smaller steps, which some students find easier. Digits to be carried are written within the grid, making them harder to miss.

First, the students were asked to draw a grid that has as many rows and columns as the multiplicand and the multiplier. The grid shown here is for multiplying a 4-digit number by a 3-digit number. The multiplication is performed by multiplying the digits at the head of each row and column. The students were instructed to fill in each square of the grid with the product of the digits above and to its right, record the products so that the tens are in the upper (diagonal) half of the square and the ones are in the lower half, and to record a zero in that triangle if the product does not have a tens digit. The students enjoyed lot and found it a easy and interesting way to do multiplication.

Conserving and preserving the environment our survival depends on, is everyone’s responsibility. Taking the initiative, the students and parents of Shalom Hills International School pledged to keep their environment clean and to live in harmony with Mother Nature. The parents helped by contributing the seeds of fruit trees to the “Shalom Seed Bank” and the students of the school took up the challenge of planting all the collected seeds.

First they separated the collected seeds like Mango, Jamun, Litchies, Apricot, Apples, oranges etc. Then the soil was prepared by mixing it with vermicompost, which is made in the school. The manure mixed soil was filled in the bags provided to them, which were then arranged in the respective places where the seeds were to be sown.

Finally, the students sowed the seeds in the bags, watered them. They vowed to maintain them to protect our biodiversity, replenish the Water Cycle, minimize Soil Erosion, improve air quality and at large reduce “GLOBAL WARMING”.            

The students of Grade IV participated in the Addition Hills activity, which was conducted to reinforce the concept of addition. The activity is named such due to the hill-like pattern (as shown below) which needs to be completed. The students were given a few numbers at the bottom of the hill. The objective was to reach the top of the hill by adding those numbers

Overall, the activity conducted helped the children to understand the topic “Addition” in an interesting manner. All the students enjoyed the activity and decorated their hills beautifully.

As God could not be everywhere to take care of us all the time He created Mothers to do His work.

Mother’s Day is an annual event celebrated on the second Sunday in the month of May. Though, we must thank our mother everyday for looking after our wellbeing, this special day is designated for us, as daughters and sons, to celebrate the essence of motherhood and thank our mothers for all that they selflessly do for us. This is a day the whole world relates to and honours this bond.

We at Shalom hills also do our bit to remind our students about this lovely bond that must be nurtured with love, respect and gratitude.

Grade IV students made a Certificate of Appreciation for their mother telling them how important they are in their lives. They also expressed their gratitude towards them by noting down how they notice small and wonderful things that their mother does for them.

After decorating the certificate to their satisfaction, the children packed them away in their bags to give to their mother on (Sunday – 14-05-2017) Mother’s Day.

Dental Check Up for children from Grades VI-XII was conducted by a team of doctors from Clove Dental Healthcare. The aim of the dental check-up was to make the young children aware about the importance of oral hygiene. Some tips like brushing the teeth twice a day, rinsing properly after every meal and tongue cleaning were given. Prescription was provided to those with poor dental hygiene, cavities or with sensitivity and they were advised to consult a dentist for regular treatment. It was also stressed by the doctors to maintain healthy eating habits by avoiding excessive consumption of colas and chocolates.

It was an eye-opener for every student who not only understood how to maintain oral hygiene but also to remain fit and healthy in terms of overall well-being.

An activity to help the students to understand the concept of nouns: Proper and Common Nouns, was conducted in all sections of Grade II. The students were asked to write their name, their partner’s name, their favourite fruit and colour on a cut out of an A-4 size sheet. The children participated in the activity with a lot of enthusiasm. The given activity helped the students to gain clarity regarding the Proper and Common nouns.

Mother’s day is celebrated to honour all mothers and express gratitude for the hardships they bear in bringing up a child. Most countries of the world celebrate Mother’s day every year on the second Sunday of May.

Class III students celebrated Mother’s day by making a greeting card for their mother. The children were given A4 size coloured sheets and coloured papers, from which they made flowers. They tied beautiful ribbons on the flowers and pasted them on their sheets. All of them wrote a ‘Thank you’ message for their mothers in the card.

Each child wanted his or her card to be the best and tried to make their cards as colourful as possible. The children were excited about giving these cards to their mother’s on Mother’s day.

On 8^th May, the students of Grade IV engaged in a Collage Making Activity, wherein they had to draw their favourite game and paste it on a chart paper along with their friends. Homework was given to them on Friday for the same.

They were very excited and wanted to begin the activity as soon as possible. In a very orderly fashion they gathered around the chart paper and waited for their turn to paste their sheet of their favourite game.

After making the collage they came one by one and spoke about their favourite game. The games varied from Badminton, Hockey, Cricket, Football, Chess, Lodo to games played on Cell phones and Tablets. The students had gathered a lot of information about their game which included its rules, famous players, where the game is played and its World Cup standings too.

The activity was enjoyed by all the children especially when some important information was shared by their friends about the game which they did not know.

A Computer activity was conducted on 8^th May’17 in Class V based on “Scratch”.

The class was divided into 4 groups. Each group was given a time period of 10 minutes to frame a short animation movie/scene using Move, Control, and Events and Sound Block. To complete this activity each group was given 10-12 minutes time.

The Students worked fantastically as a team. Very quickly they decided the themes and created short animation movies/scenes such as “A girl playing Basket Ball”, “A Ghost in a Castle”, “Two Friends Talking to Each Other” and “Underwater scene”. The students displayed great creativity and imagination in performing the activity.

The students enjoyed this activity thoroughly.

The keys to good nutrition are balance, variety and moderation.  To stay healthy, our body needs the right balance of carbohydrates fats vitamins and protein the main components of our diet.

Keeping good nutrition and healthy habits in mind the lesson, “Food and Health”, started with an activity on “Nutritional Value”. The children were told to get wrappers of various food items with their nutritional information. The young nutritionists pasted this nutritional information in the notebook. It was also explicated to choose the correct nutrients as per the requirement of the body. ‘Prevention is better than Cure’. Going by this adage students were explained the significance of vaccinations in maintaining health.

After completing the chapter ‘Food and Health’, in which they learnt about various diseases, an activity on vaccination was done. The students brought information about vaccines they were administered till the age of 2.

The activity was conducted through hands-on learning experience & self-exploration. In a fun filled way various skills like logical, Critical thinking, scientific and project participation were enhanced.

A Math Activity, ‘BINGO’, was conducted in all the sections of class IV on 8^th May’17.

The children were explained about the rules of the activity. They were instructed to create their own Bingo board consisting of five rows and five columns. They were then asked to fill the Bingo board using random numbers ranging from 21 to 50. Once the boards were ready, some problems related to Mental Maths were given to the students and they were asked to cross that number on their Bingo board. If all the numbers in any one of the columns, rows or diagonals were crossed, they had to call BINGO. The activity was conducted in a disciplined manner. The fun-filled activity got active and enthusiastic participation of the students.

The activity helped the children to enhance their mental ability.

The best way to learn Math is by playing with numbers. Keeping this in mind Bingo Activity was organised for the students of Grade V on May 5, 2017. This activity was based on some favourite and popular activities among kids like puzzles, joining of dots etc. In the Puzzle Activity, the students were asked to solve a puzzle using both the Hindu-Arabic as well as the Roman numerals. The numbers were found out with the help of the given clues and by doing calculations. These simple activities make the learning of Math more fun filled and exciting. The students learn how to calculate fast and to develop a liking for the subject.

Skills Inculcated: Logical thinking, Self-realisation, Self-awareness.

A highly informative and interactive workshop on Pro-Social Media Literacy was organized by Ms Mitu Singh, the Psychology teacher, along with her team of 10 students (class IX and X) for the students of classes VIII and IX. The discussion during the workshop catered to certain issues which understand the impact of media on the psychology of the public. Children really enjoyed the workshop and did 100% participation in activities conducted in class.

The workshop included some interesting activities which elicited enthusiastic participation from all the students. The activities conducted were as follows-

Activity 1- Children were asked to convince people not to ban the particular media they were enacting at that time. (Individual task)

Activity 2- The participants were required to prepare an advertisement based on the target audience assigned to each group.

The workshop gave the students insight into the decoding or deconstruction of advertisements and media related material.

The students conducting the workshop gained confidence and were really happy to get such an opportunity. They would like to be part of such activities in future as well.

The students of class III participated in an activity on numbers using Bingo Cards, made by the teachers. The students were given 4 by 4 grid with numbers ranging from 1 to 9999. They were asked to cross the numbers based on the mathematical concepts like successor, predecessor, greatest or smallest 3-digit numbers and odd or even numbers etc.  The child who crossed all the numbers given in the slip was declared the winner of the activity. This activity helped them to solve and apply mental mathematical strategies. The students enjoyed the activity and participated with full enthusiasm.

The natural environment has been considered as a robust educational site by many educationalists for centuries.The father of modern education, Johann Comenius, stated that “education should be universal, optimistic, practical and innovative”.

Class XI-Medical students of Shalom Hills International School were taken to Tau Devilal Botanical Gardens to see a wide range of plants in their natural environment. The aim of the trip was to ‘encourage the creation of educational environment that involved practical work and the direct use of classroom teaching materials’.

The subject teacher, Ms.Vimala Jossy, took the students around the garden and briefed them about the importance of various plants and their character in their natural environment. The students documented the plant diversity and this firsthand experience proved to be effective in supplementing the class room teaching. 

Social Studies Activity on Globes and Maps conducted in Grade III on 3^rd May 2017

The students of Grade III participated in a Social Studies activity on “Globes and Maps” conducted in class on 3^rd May, 2017. The main aim of the activity was to teach the students how to make symbols and keys on a map.

The students did the activity individually. They were asked to draw and bring an outline map from their home marking the major landmarks using colours and symbols, and making key for all the symbols and colours used. This helped them to learn the importance of symbols, colours and keys on a map while making or reading a map.

Skills - Logical, Spatial and Interpersonal skills were enhanced with this activity. Overall, it was a fun filled learning and informative session for the children.

Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) organizes the Olympiad competitions which has become the fastest growing Olympiad amongst the student fraternity across India. It is a unique platform that tests the level of understanding, knowledge and power of reasoning of the students.

Top 500 students, top 10 students in each state, as well as school toppers are selected for the second level.

SHIS under the constant guidance of Founder Managing Director, Dr. (Mrs.) Lilly George encourages its students to challenge their potential and chisel their proficiencies through the medium of these Olympiads as these competitive examinations benefit the enterprising talents in our country and facilitate the young brains in achieving new horizons.

The medal winners were warmly felicitated and blessed by Founder-Managing Director Dr. Lilly George.

Akhand Pratap Singh Sikarwar of class VII has been awarded for his excellent performance in Computers at Global level.

The following students are the qualifiers for level-II examination

 

CLASS	NAME	GIFT / MEDAL
NCO
VI	DAMANDEEP SINGH BINDRA	MERIT CERTIFICATE
VII	AKHAND PRATAP SINGH	GIFT WORTH RS.1000/ + MERIT CERTIFICATE
VII	SANNIDHYA GUPTA	MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE
VII	SANVI NOWAL	MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE
VIII	PRAKHAR B KUMAR	MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE
NSO
V	KRISHNA MISHRA	MERIT CERTIFICATE
VI	YASHVEER SINGH TOMAR	MERIT CERTIFICATE
VI	SHRIYA GAUTAM	MERIT CERTIFICATE
VII	SANNIDHYA GUPTA	GOLD MEDAL
VII	VEDANT AGARWAL	MERIT CERTIFICATE
VII	SANVI NOWAL	GOLD MEDAL
VII	KISHIKAA GOEL	MERIT CERTIFICATE
VII	AKHAND PRATAP SINGH	MERIT CERTIFICATE
IMO
V	AARUSH MOONDRA	MERIT CERTIFICATE
V	AVNI BANSAL	MERIT CERTIFICATE
V	KRISHNA MISHRA	MERIT CERTIFICATE
VI	VEDANT JHA	MERIT CERTIFICATE
VII	VEDANT AGARWAL	MERIT CERTIFICATE
VII	SANNIDHYA GUPTA	MERIT CERTIFICATE

International Olympiad Competition organized by Silver Zone was conducted in Shalom Hills International School in the month of November and December, gave students a perfect global platform wherein a student can actually put his/her talent, memory, knowledge and skill sets to test and can apprehend his/her standing on an international scale.

Out of more than 7000 schools all over the world that took part in the Olympiads, SHIS excelled globally and secured the 2^nd position in International Olympiad of English Language and 3^rd position in International Olympiad of Mathematics in their level –II examinations

The International Olympiad, a test of competence and proficiency in English, Mathematics, Science, Informatics, French, Hindi, Social Science, General Knowledge (Based on subjects like History, Geography, General Science, Current affairs and sports etc.), Talent Hunt (Based on Science, Maths and Mental ability), is held annually at the National and International levels, based on syllabus prescribed by CBSE. Apart from syllabus, a part of test paper is based on the Applied Science. Students judge themselves at international levels.

LEVEL-II EXAMINATION ACHIEVERS

 

CLASS	STUDENT'S NAME	SUBJECT	MARKS OBTAINED	INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIAD RANK	WINNING MEDAL/ PRIZE
VII	SANVI NOWAL	ENGLISH	99.7	2	DIGITAL CAMERA/ PIERRE CARDIN PEN
II	NAISHA AGARWAL		100	4	WRIST WATCH
II	PARIDHI GOSWAMI		100	4	WRIST WATCH
IV	UDYAN GOYAL	MATHEMATICS	99	3	CASH PRIZE RS.5000/-PIERRE CARDIN PEN
II	YUVRAJ SINGH DHIMAN		96	64	GOLD MEDAL
VII	ADWAITH K RATHEESH	SCIENCE	98	13	PIERRE CARDIN PEN
VII	RIVEA BANSAL	HINDI	98	27	GOLD MEDAL
VII	SANNIDHYA GUPTA	FRENCH	97	78	GOLD MEDAL
III	BHAAVYA RASTOGI	TALENT HUNT	95	44	GOLD MEDAL
III	ARMAAN PATHAK		92.5	81	SILVER MEDAL
IV	UDYAN GOYAL		92	32	GOLD MEDAL
V	KRISHNA MISHRA		96	93	GOLD MEDAL

LEVEL-I EXAMINATION SUBJECTWISE ACHIEVERS

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIAD OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE (iOEL 2016-17)

 

CLASS	STUDENT'S NAME	MEDAL
1	NAISHA AGARWAL	GOLD
1	PARIDHI GOSWAMI	GOLD
2	BHAVYA RASTOGI	GOLD
3	LAVANYA WALI	GOLD
4	KRISHNA MISHRA	GOLD
5	KHUSHI BANSAL	GOLD
6	SANVI NOWAL	GOLD
7	HIMANSHI RAO	GOLD
8	KUSHAGRA MISHRA	GOLD
9	PARLEEN RANHOTRA	GOLD
1	GUNIKA SISODIA	SILVER
1	SHAURYA KHURANA	SILVER
2	VARCHASVA KAMBOJ	SILVER
3	UDYAN GOYAL	SILVER
4	AAYUSH SETHIA	SILVER
5	SAUMYA BABBAR	SILVER
6	PRATHAMESH SAWOADKAR	SILVER
7	POOJA PUROHIT	SILVER
8	NETHRA PRATHAPANENI	SILVER
9	BIDUSHI ROY	SILVER
1	DIVYE RAGHAV	BRONZE
2	ABHISHEK VIR	BRONZE
3	ANYUTA DETHE	BRONZE
4	DHANVI BORA	BRONZE
5	PRANAV LOHIYA	BRONZE
6	RIVEA BANSAL	BRONZE
7	RAISA CHUGH	BRONZE
8	RUHAAN NIJHAWAN	BRONZE
9	DOYEL AGRAWAL	BRONZE

AKHILBHARTIYA HINDI OLYMPIAD (ABHO 2016-17)

 

CLASS	STUDENT'S NAME	MEDAL
3	UDYAN GOYAL	GOLD
4	AVNI BANSAL	GOLD
5	SHIVANGI MONGA	GOLD
6	RIVEA BANSAL	GOLD
7	ANVISHA CHOPRA	GOLD
8	CHAHAT GUPTA	GOLD
9	AASTHA YADAV	GOLD
10	NAYANIKA GANGANI	GOLD
3	SUR SHOBHITA	SILVER
4	PRACHI YADAV	SILVER
5	ERIN SARAH JIBU	SILVER
6	SANNIDHYA GUPTA	SILVER
7	KHUSHI NARANG	SILVER
8	SHREYA GAUR	SILVER
10	NISHANT SINGH	SILVER
3	KAVYA AGARWAL	BRONZE
4	SARVYSH D. HULANI	BRONZE
5	SHREYA JAIN	BRONZE
6	PRAKHAR	BRONZE
7	ADITI SAHOO	BRONZE
8	DEEPAK KUMAR	BRONZE
10	SHALU YADAV	BRONZE

INTERNATIONAL FRENCH LANGUAGE OLYMPIAD (iFLO 2016-2017)

 

CLASS	STUDENT'S NAME	MEDAL
6	SANNIDHYA GUPTA	GOLD
7	CHHAVI SAINI	GOLD
8	CHAHAT GUPTA	GOLD
9	ISHITA	GOLD
6	RIVEA BANSAL	SILVER
7	ANIKA PRASAD	SILVER
6	SANVI NOWAL	BRONZE
7	NUPUR YADAV	BRONZE

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIAD OF MATHEMATICS (iOM 2016- 17)

 

CLASS	STUDENT'S NAME	MEDAL
1	YUVRAJ SINGH DHIMAN	GOLD
2	ARMAAN PATHAK	GOLD
3	UDYAN GOYAL	GOLD
4	KRISHNA MISHRA	GOLD
5	K.A. ABHISHEK	GOLD
6	SANNIDHYA GUPTA	GOLD
7	SRISHTI SHARMA	GOLD
8	ANSHUL SANGRAME	GOLD
9	AKSHITA ANAND	GOLD
1	AMITESH CHOUDHURY	SILVER
2	BHAAVYA RASTOGI	SILVER
2	VEEDI MITTAL	SILVER
3	TITIKSHA	SILVER
4	DHANVI BORA	SILVER
5	ARIHANT JAIN	SILVER
6	AAVIKA BAGGA	SILVER
7	KHUSHI NARANG	SILVER
9	NEHA PATTANAIK	SILVER
1	VEER SINGH	BRONZE
2	ASMITA BHATTACHARYA	BRONZE
3	TASHI SAXENA	BRONZE
4	AYUTASOURI DEB	BRONZE
5	MRIGANK GOEL	BRONZE
6	AKHAND PRATAP	BRONZE
7	PRANAV SHARMA	BRONZE
9	TAZEEN AHMED	BRONZE

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIAD OF SCIENCE (iOS 2016-17)

 

CLASS	STUDENT'S NAME	MEDAL
1	AMITESH CHOUDHURY	GOLD
2	ASMITA BHATTACHARYA	GOLD
3	UDYAN GOYAL	GOLD
4	AYUTASOURI DEB	GOLD
5	YASHVEER S. TOMAR	GOLD
6	ADWAITH K RATHEESH	GOLD
7	CHIRAG PATRA	GOLD
8	SAANVI SHARMA	GOLD
9	NEHA PATTANAIK	GOLD
10	ARYAN GUPTA	GOLD
1	GUNIKA SISODIA	SILVER
1	PRAYASH SAMAL	SILVER
2	BHAAVYA RASTOGI	SILVER
3	TITIKSHA	SILVER
4	AVNI BANSAL	SILVER
5	SHIVANGI MONGA	SILVER
6	SANNIDHYA GUPTA	SILVER
7	PRANSHU RASTOGI	SILVER
8	KUSHAGRA MISHRA	SILVER
9	AKSHITA ANAND	SILVER
10	NISHANT SINGH	SILVER
1	DEVANSH SAINI	BRONZE
2	ARMAAN PATHAK	BRONZE
3	TASHI SAXENA	BRONZE
4	GAURANG SODANI	BRONZE
5	AADHYA MATHUR	BRONZE
6	ISHITA SETHI	BRONZE
7	AADISHA CHANDEL	BRONZE
8	RUHAAN NIJHAWAN	BRONZE
9	BIDUSHI ROY	BRONZE
10	AARUSHI HANS	BRONZE

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE OLYMPIAD (iSSO 2016-17)

 

CLASS	STUDENT'S NAME	MEDAL
4	KRISHNA MISHRA	GOLD
5	SHIVANGI MONGA	GOLD
6	SANVI NOWAL	GOLD
7	PRANSHU RASTOGI	GOLD
8	SHREYA GAUR	GOLD
9	TAZEEN AHMED	GOLD
4	AAYUSH SETHIA	SILVER
5	VEDANT JHA	SILVER
6	IMROZ SAIM KAMBOJ	SILVER
7	PRAKHAR B KUMAR	SILVER
8	ANOUSHKA DROLIA	SILVER
9	PARLEEN RANHOTRA	SILVER
4	GAURANG SODANI	BRONZE
5	ARIHANT JAIN	BRONZE
8	NETHRA PRATHAPANENI	BRONZE

INTERNATIONAL INFORMATICS OLYMPIAD (iiO 2016 -17)

 

CLASS	STUDENT'S NAME	MEDAL
1	ANAY AGARWAL	GOLD
2	ADITHYA SUNIL	GOLD
3	UDYAN GOYAL	GOLD
4	DHANVI BORA	GOLD
5	RACHIT TANEJA	GOLD
6	SANNIDHYA GUPTA	GOLD
7	PRAKHAR B KUMAR	GOLD
8	KUSHAGRA MISHRA	GOLD
9	PARLEEN RANHOTRA	GOLD
10	ADITYA MATE	GOLD
1	PRAYASH SAMAL	SILVER
2	SHAAN	SILVER
3	TITIKSHA	SILVER
4	DIVYANKA SAHAI	SILVER
5	YASHVEER S. TOMAR	SILVER
6	AKHAND PRATAP	SILVER
7	LAKSHIT VERMA	SILVER
8	RISHIT SINGH KAMBOJ	SILVER
9	SHREELA BAROI	SILVER
1	GUNIKA SISODIA	BRONZE
2	AANYA BANSAL	BRONZE
3	SUR SHOBHITA	BRONZE
4	GAURANG SODANI	BRONZE
5	VEDANT JHA	BRONZE
6	SANVI NOWAL	BRONZE
7	NARENDRA JADE	BRONZE
8	ASHMIT BANSAL	BRONZE
9	BIDUSHI ROY	BRONZE

SMARTKID GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OLYMPIAD (SKGKO 2016-17)

 

CLASS	STUDENT'S NAME	MEDAL
1	GUNIKA SISODIA	GOLD
1	PRAYASH SAMAL	GOLD
2	DIVIT SOLANKI	GOLD
3	TASHI SAXENA	GOLD
4	KRISHNA MISHRA	GOLD
6	RAKSHAN TRIVEDI	GOLD
1	AAROHI RAGHAV	SILVER
2	AASHNA MATHUR	SILVER
3	UDYAN GOYAL	SILVER
4	ASHUTOSH DASH	SILVER
1	ETHAN KUMAR	BRONZE
2	ABHISHEK VIR	BRONZE
3	DHRUV BHARGAVA	BRONZE
4	SARVYSH D. HULANI	BRONZE

INTERNATIONAL TALENT HUNT OLYMPIAD (iTHO 2016-17)

 

CLASS	STUDENT'S NAME	MEDAL
1	RAKSHAN BANGIA	GOLD
2	BHAAVYA RASTOGI	GOLD
3	UDYAN GOYAL	GOLD
4	KRISHNA MISHRA	GOLD
5	KHUSHI BANSAL	GOLD
6	SANNIDHYA GUPTA	GOLD
7	PRAKHAR B KUMAR	GOLD
8	KUSHAGRA MISHRA	GOLD
9	TAZEEN AHMED	GOLD
1	ARUSH GUPTA	SILVER
2	ARMAAN PATHAK	SILVER
3	SUR SHOBHITA	SILVER
4	AVNI BANSAL	SILVER
5	VEDANT JHA	SILVER
6	SANVI NOWAL	SILVER
7	SOHAM SANJAY KULKARNI	SILVER
8	BHAVYA VASHIST	SILVER
9	BIDUSHI ROY	SILVER
1	KRISHIKA PANCHAL	BRONZE
2	NEEV SHARMA	BRONZE
3	LAVANYAWALI	BRONZE
4	GAURANG SODANI	BRONZE
5	ADHIJ VINOCHA	BRONZE
6	VIRAJ YADAV	BRONZE
7	POOJA PUROHIT	BRONZE
8	SHAURYA BABBAR	BRONZE
9	AKSHITA ANAND	BRONZE

Our young Shalomites, Kenneth Lobo (class X) has won a GOLD MEDAL and has been awarded as a Student Of The Year (SOTY) GURGAON CITY Award.  Tazeen Ahmed (class X) has been awarded with FIRST RUNNER UP for the Student Of The Year (SOTY) GURGAON CITY Award. 

Self assessment beyond Academics along with the area of interest and passion of our Shalomites was conducted in SHIS. Children from class VIII-XI and interested students from class XII were trained to explore their talents not only in Academics also in Co-curricular activities like Dance, Music, Debating MUN, Sports etc. They were given an insight to prepare a creative Curriculum Vitae (CV) in which they were guided to write their biological details by underlining their scholastic achievements including scores/ranks in individual subjects. Along with the extra-curricular activities & achievements, the certificates of participation were also attached.

7 students uploaded their CV's withholding the recommendation letters from their respective teachers. Out of 7 CVs, our three children got selected for the next INTERVIEW level which was conducted in Delhi office from 2nd April-9th April 2017.

NANDINI SHUKLA (VIII-E), KENNETH LOBO (IX-B) AND TAZEEN AHMED (IX-A) were selected at National Level for the next stage of interview.

Heartiest Congratulations to the Winners!!!

Under the aegis & guidance of its Founder-Managing Director, Dr. Lilly George, the Shalom students have participated in the first round of Korea - India Friendship Quiz where 10 bright Shalomites of class X qualified for the coveted next round of the quiz that was held on 24^th April 2017 at the Embassy of South Korea (Korea Cultural Centre India).

The selection in second round gave them international exposure and greater insight into India's diplomatic ties and bilateral relations with South Korea. The students were groomed and trained by the Quiz In-charge Ms. Lopa Mishra. The Students had pulled up their socks for the high octane second round of the competition where they faced off with other stalwarts from prestigious schools like DAV (Delhi), Springdales (Delhi), Kothari International School (Delhi), APJ School (Delhi) to name a few. There were 90 participants. The second round had two levels, one written (Level 2A) and another Oral, Visual cum Buzzer (Level 2B) in total five rounds with negative markings having special emphasis to South Korean language and spellings.

Akshita Anand of Class X from Shalom Hills International School has secured her place in Finals that will be held on 4^th May 2017.

The initiative, unique presence and guidance of Founder-Managing Director, Dr. (Mrs.) Lilly George during the preparation of the event has created incomparable motivation in the students.

The Finals of the Quiz competition will require a deep dive into Korea’s foreign relations, culture, economy, politics, government, language, cuisine, society, tourism, sports, history and geography.  The far reaching objective that is being organized by the Embassy of South Korea is to foster closer India-South Korea relations and broaden children’s knowledge about the bilateral relations between two countries.

Shalom boys gymnastic team have started the new session on a high node by claiming the runners up trophy in 3^rd Invitational Inter School Gymnastics championship held at Pathways World School, Aravali on 10/4/17 (Monday).

In an Inter-School Gymnastics Tournament held at Pathways World School, Ridhaan Singhal, Ayush Bhatia & Ranbir sood represented shalom team. Ridhaan   stood twice on the victory stand by winning a silver and bronze medal in Vault and Floor exercise respectively. Whereas Ayush made its presence felt by winning silver medal in floor exercise.

Date: April 10, 2017

Venue: Fortis Hospital, Gurgaon

A highly informative and interactive workshop on Pro-Social Peer-Moderator on Media Literacy was organized by Fortis Group of Hospitals, Gurgaon. The workshop was attended by a group of 5 students from classes IX & X, accompanied by the PGT Psychology teacher, Ms Mitu Singh. The discussion during the workshop catered to certain issues which understand the impact of media on the psychology of the public. Some of the topics covered were as follows-

1. Aggression vs. violence
2. Reality vs. Fantasy
3. Online vs. Offline Persona
4. Safety vs. Privacy

      The workshop included some interesting activities which filled all the students with enthusiasm to participate eagerly. The activities conducted were as follows-

Activity 1- Children were asked to convince people not to ban the particular media they were enacting at that time. (Individual task)

Activity 2- The group members had to prepare news in accordance to a particular news channel.

Activity 3- The participants were required to prepare an advertisement based on the target audience assigned to each group.

      The workshop was very informative and interesting and the kids really enjoyed being a part of it. It gave the students insight into the decoding or deconstruction of advertisements and media related material.

      Such kind of activities can be arranged by our students, with the involvement of other students, in the assembly to help familiarize all the students with the intricacies of the working of the media.

The students of Class 3 went on an educational trip to “The Garden of Five Senses” on 7^th March 2017. The children accompanied by their teachers enjoyed a nature walk and learnt about the different kinds of flowers and trees. The Garden of Five Senses is an ambitious project of Delhi tourism. It has been designed to stimulate one’s sensory response to the environment. The students learnt about the exotic flora imported from all across the world as well as indigenous species grown therein. Some of the varieties that the children saw in the garden were Kalpataru, Kamandal tree, Reethe, Brinjal plants, Champa, Camphor, Bamboo trees etc. The children also saw the Khas Bagh which has been built on the lines and architectural style of a Mughal garden.

The students enjoyed the trip and learnt about the different variety of plants.

The students of Grade VIII E conducted the morning assembly on 23rd February 2017. The assembly began with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by Sanskrit Shloka based on self-respect, vision and mission of the School, word of the day, and a wonderful thought on ‘Beating examination stress ‘, news headlines as well as the weather report. Anmol shared a few health tips with the students followed by Avni’s speech reiterating the important tips to bear in mind during the examination time. Avni in her speech on ‘Combatting Examination Blues and Stress’ highlighted the importance of a balanced diet, adequate hours of sleep as well as emphasized the need to maintain a proper study schedule. Yet another handy tip given out by her was that talking to a parent or a trustworthy friend will also help in relieving oneself of unwanted exam pressure.

Mr Carlton Wilson, the Dean addressed the school and spoke encouraging words to the students. He urged the students to follow the advice shared by their school-mate and put it into practice.

The assembly was thereafter concluded with Shalom Anthem followed by National Anthem.

The immortal philosophy of our Father of the Nation “we need to be the change we want to see in the world “finds an uncanny echo in the guiding philosophy of Dr. Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director of SHIS who believes that education like life itself is a dynamic process. The students of SHIS whole-heartedly don the mantle of the catalysts of change and engage in many coveted initiatives that celebrate the spirit of change. Recently, the school was a part of the Green School Programme Award ceremony organised by the Centre of Science and Environment at Indian Habitat Centre, Stein Auditorium, New Delhi. It was attended by Ms. Anjali Drolia, Ms. Lalita Yadav and Ms. Suman Bhanwala.

Out of 3000 schools across country where GSP Audit was conducted, only 700 schools were certified for completing audit in all fields such as air, water, waste, food, land and energy. Shalom Hills was one of the schools which successfully completed this comprehensive audit and was lauded for their audit measures with certification.

About 15 students from SHIS took part in the street play and art Competition. 

Our forty eight (48) little champs of grade 1-5 participated in Junior Olympics organized by Junior Sports India at Chhatrasal stadium, model town, New Delhi from 05/02/17 to 08/02/17. Students participated in different races with lot of enthusiasm, it was lot of fun and ample exposure was given to our young ones. Out of the participating students 17 of the following came out as winners.

Reported by
Jyoti Chauhan & Poonam Tasiwal (JSI)

The school had organized an educational trip to Qutub Minar for Class VI, VII and VIII students. The students were provided with guides, Mr. Gaurav and Mr. Asif who were a fount of information. As the students entered the premises of the Qutub complex, the guides gave them various details and interesting facts about this historically important monument. They gave the students the precise history of this fascinating edifice and told them that the structure was started by Qutub-ud- din Aibak in 1191 but later on it was completed by his successor, Iltutmish. Besides this, the complex also has some more architecturally eye-catching edifices - the Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque, Alai Darwaza, Alai Minar, Quibla, Tombs, etc.
In the courtyard of the mosque stands the famous iron pillar which is a metallurgical wonder that has neither rusted nor corroded. A Quiz activity was also conducted by the guides who kept the students intellectually engaged as well. As the students boarded the bus with pretty souvenirs, they took along with them sweet memories of a day well spent.

The school counselors Ms.  Bhupinder Kaur and Ms. Elizabeth B. Thomas attended a workshop at FMRI, Gurgaon. The therapist, Dr. Mimansa Singh helped the counselors to identify the children at risk behavior and to develop prevention/intervention strategies for the students who have been identified for substance abuse.

It was stressed that at the primary level, a school wide policy has to be framed to spread awareness about substance abuse and at the secondary level, collaborative work among parents, counselors and teachers is required to help the child. Lack of parental support or supervision, severe conflicts within the family, transitory stages are a few factors which make intervention necessary by the school counselors. In such a scenario, setting the goals for the child & family and collaborative work by the school are needed.  Methods like talks from experts, peer facilitators, social skills training which would help in reducing the risk factors among the students were discussed in the forum.

Life Skills Training and motivational Interview, along with mobilizing social support for enhancing communication and decision making skills are the need of the hour. 

Under the inspiring leadership of Dr. Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director, SHIS seeks to not only enlighten its students but also empower them with the 21^st century skills. The Student Editorial staff guided by the English Faculty is given full leverage by the school management to pull out a student-driven imitative ‘Shalom insights’.  

Lishika Sahni (IX) and Suchita Poddar (XI) accompanied by their English teacher, Ms. Kavita Bhardwaj attended the prestigious ‘NEWS MAKERS Event’ organized by Times of India. The event was attended by more than 25 schools of Delhi NCR. The distinguished guests of honor and key speakers included Mr. Puneet Jain, Pragun Jindal, 20 years old writer of Black White and Grey, Ms. Poonam Singh and Mr Kumar Saurav.

The event was bifurcated into 2 parts – Evaluation Exam and Press Conference. The former was designed to test the students’ general awareness, report writing skills for the final selection of TOI Star Correspondents. The latter provided the students with a platform to articulate their opinions.

The writing enthusiasts of SHIS enjoyed answering the intriguing questions and took keen part in the event. 

A 3 Doodler activity was conducted on 3^{rd and} 6th February in the all sections of class 3. This activity was conducted in the library. The primary aim of the activity was to enhance the creative expression of the students and also to provide them with an engaging platform to practise and showcase their writing skills.

The activity allowed the students to draw their 3D Art or Model on any surface in any colour by using a 3 Doodler pen. This activity helped to enhance learning and brain development in the children. Yet another laudable objective of this activity was also to kindle children’s interest in art, design, aesthetics & motor skills. The children made different designs using the 3 Doodler pen. The activity was enjoyed by all the students.

 

Under the aegis of its Founder-Managing, Dr. Lilly George, the Shalom students receive coveted invitations to world class competitions which give them international exposure and greater insight into India's diplomatic ties and bilateral relations with other countries. Students of Grades IX and XI appeared for a highly engaging yet challenging school level Quiz Competition on Korea which tested their in-depth knowledge of Korea – its culture, economy, politics, language, cuisine and geography.  The laudable objective behind this challenging Quiz being organized by the embassy of South Korea is to foster closer India-South Korea relations and broaden children’s knowledge about the bilateral relations between these 2 countries and at the same time, provide the young students with an opportunity to learn about the South Korean culture.

The students answered 25 MCQ questions covering a wide spectrum of topics. Ms. Lopa Mudra, the Quiz Incharge conducted the quiz and will be forwarding the Quiz Worksheets to the embassy of South Korea who will be announcing the 10 school winners for next level of the Competition.

The students of Grade V at SHIS gave wing to their writing flair and imagination in a Creative Writing Competition conducted to commemorate our nation’s 68th Republic Day with great deal of patriotic zeal and fervor. The students were given several topics to choose from such as- ‘India in 2050’; Why I love my country?’; and ‘If I become the Prime Minister of India’. They took great interest in expressing their thoughts on these topics. The topics stimulated their creativity, imagination and fostered artistic expression in their writing. This activity not only explored the functions and values of creative writing; it reverberated with the spirit of patriotism as students candidly expressed their love for the country.

The students understood the underlying idea that writing could be fun. All in all, the activity helped the children discover the joy of writing. The school echoed with patriotic enthusiasm as the students celebrated the spirit of India portraying it as Incredible India. The students were appreciated for their creativity of expressions with certificates of brilliance.

The innate talents of the students of SHIS are nurtured through a plethora of cultural activities integrated in the school curriculum. To develop creativity and capacity for analytical, motor skills and critical thinking, the students are exposed to various co-curricular activities oscillating from robotics to sculpture to art and craft and photography. The culmination of the Skill Clubs took place by way of a Grand Finale ceremony on 25^th January, 2017 in which students from Grade III-V showcased the best of what the students had learnt during this academic session.

In Robotics, students immaculately skilled at catapult thrower, remote controlled car and sweeper boat. While in Thread and needle club, displayed their dexterity at using thread and needle, wool pasting and weaving. In Sculpture club, they demonstrated different stages of casting and molding animal figures, human figures, coiling and engraving methods. In Photography club, students shared their knowledge and capability to take candid shot, still life photography, half click and full click.

Students were appreciated for their efforts with certificates of brilliance and were enthused to keep participating in club activities as they are an important part of the curriculum along with the academics.

The students of Grade VII put up a moving patriotic cultural programme by way of a Republic Day Special Assembly. Ably guided by the class teachers of all sections of VII, the children highlighted the historic importance of our Republic Day through a gripping skit and impressive dialogues. The powerful skit covered all the highpoints of our Freedom Struggle movement, Swadeshi movement and drafting of our Constitution. The students impressed the audience with their convincing speeches and the oath that was rendered by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. They were ably guided and trained by their class teachers, Ms. Swati, Ms. Richa, Ms. Ambika, Ms. Kousalya, Ms. Meetu and Ms. Shruti Vashisht with the support of Hindi Faculty. 

Mr. Atul Bhatt, the principal spoke inspiring words to the teachers and students on the occasion. The Sports winners and achievers of Skating Tournament, Basketball championship and others were felicitated with trophies and medals.

The assembly drew to a close with the flag hoisting and National Anthem. 

After clearing the previously conducted school round in all sections of IX and X, Aarushi Hans of Grade X A and Tazeen Ahmad of IX A were announced the top winners of the first level. They appeared for the Online Quiz by logging in on the link shared on CBSE link and attempted the time test which covered questions pertaining to the topics of Swachh Bharat, Yoga and Holistic Health. The Online Quiz of 50 questions had to be completed in 45 minutes and it started at 11.30 am sharp on 24^th Jan’17.

The 2 school contestants ably attempted and answered all the 50 questions in almost 33 minutes.

In order to give wings to our students’ imagination, an Inter-Dynasty Story Writing activity was conducted by the Hindi Department in “Kadambari Club” on 24^th January’17. The students from Grade III-V participated enthusiastically and poured out their imagination in the form of the written word. The students were shown pictures based on which they were encouraged to frame an original story of their own. The students let their imagination take shape in the form of an ingenious story.

The students of class III participated in “Show and Tell” activity in which they were asked to speak aloud a few lines on the given picture.

They not only enjoyed in dwelling and pondering over the story in their beautiful way but it also provided them with an opportunity to improve their creative writing skills. The result was an array of different beautiful stories culled out of same picture.

 

Class	Ist	2nd	3rd
III	Ebony	Oak	Maple and Cedar
IV	Ebony	Oak	Maple
V	Maple	Cedar	Ebony

 

A Computer activity was conducted on 23^rd January’17 in which the students of Class III were guided how to type a letter in MS word addressed to their parents expressing their love for them. Their Computer teachers, Ms. Shruti Barawal and Ms. Priyanka Pabla explained to the students how to open Ms Word and then how to make use of various tools while typing in it.

The students completely enjoyed this activity and learnt how to type and save the document in Ms Word.

An activity on ‘Different Occupations’ was conducted in all the sections of class III.  The students were introduced to the various occupations they can choose when they grow up. They were asked to write about the occupation of their choice on a given sheet. Thereafter they were asked to write about the source of inspiration for choosing a particular occupation.

This was an individual activity in which the students had to come forward turn by turn and speak a few lines on the occupation which they want to choose when they grow up. They were very confident and happy as they stepped forward to speak in front of their class-mates and teacher. They participated enthusiastically in the activity and spoke clearly.  

Skills such as listening and speaking skills, inter personal skills, intra personal skills, Reasoning Skills etc were nurtured through this activity.  

pdf/Dynasty_Report 2016-17.pdf

pdf/Dynasty-Tally-2016-17.pdf

pdf/Achievements-Students(Academic&Co-curricular)New.pdf

pdf/Achievements-Sports-New.pdf

A day long picnic was organized for the students of Grade III on 22^nd December 2016 at camp Farmstead (Rocksport) near Gurgaon.

Camp Farmstead was an ideal day excursion which provided the right picnic opportunity together with benefits of adventure training. The camp instructors kept the students on their toes throughout the day with fun-filled activities like Sports climbing, Alpha cross, Burma Bridge, Tent pitching, Hamster wheel, Zip line and many others.

The students enjoyed sitting in the tents which had been put up for them to relax in. The children enjoyed a well laid out nutritious breakfast and lunch. This gave them the energy to march around the camp grounds in their respective groups with the team leaders that had been assigned to them. The children had a lot of fun and enjoyed the picnic.

Experiential Education is an important tool for education and excursions, educational trips and camping activities form an integral part of this. With this aim, students of SHIS from Grade I-V were taken for a day out to Camp Tikkling at the foothills of Aravali hills. The students were divided in various teams, each group with its distinctive name and war cry like Panthers, Jaguars, Fiery Foxy, and Gladiators etc. The students then were engaged in some amazing adventure sports such as rock climbing, zorbing, hiking, zipping, wall climbing, commando net, zip line and more, under the watchful care of their teachers and supervision of trained experts.

This is the age when kids like to spend most time in the outdoors. Contact with nature stimulates interest and concern among the students to make them understand the physical environment and use natural resources wisely. At Camp Tikkling, the youngsters went from strength to strength, learning about themselves and their classmates as they scaled the climbing wall, rappelled down the rock cliff and tested their stamina on obstacle courses. They returned home tired but exhilarated and filled with lots of stories to share.

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

Christmas is one of the best time to celebrate the love of God and family ties and to create memories that will last forever. At SHIS, Christmas and the spirit it is associated with - the spirit of giving without a thought of getting; the joy of sharing and caring  tis celebrated equally with great cheer, gaiety and positive energy.

The school was redolent with Christmas tree, stars, bells, streamers, sounds of carols and brighter smiles on the faces of students and teachers alike. Overriding every other emotion, a wave of cheer enveloped the school surroundings spreading the message of faith, happiness and peace all around.

The students of Grade IX presented a lovely Assembly which included a play, dance-drama, dance sequel, talk show, Christmas poem and Christmas rap song. The delightful play with its humorous dialogues but meaningful asides gave out the loud and clear message that ‘Christmas is not about opening gifts but about opening hearts.’  There was a witty talk show with Santa Claus and an elf. A timeless poem ‘Twas a night before Christmas’ brought alive the anticipation that marks the Christmas eve.

The school playground of SHIS was filled with great zeal, excitement and frolicsome atmosphere on 21^st December, 2016 as Grade V celebrated its Annual Sports Day. Sports and athletics have been an integral part of SHIS for years immemorial. Students dressed in their sports uniform stood with flamboyant spirit, eager to participate in the competition.

Once the races began, the air was filled with cheering and tons of encouragement. Students competed in events such as sack races, obstacle races and three legged races. Students put in their whole hearted effort to beat each other in the races; it was a fine display of the most energetic performances.

Students extremely enjoyed the day and celebrated the winners these races. The sports day ended with a tug-of-war which was a cherry on the cake. Sports not only channelize students’ energy in the most productive way, it also builds effective team and boosts friendship.

On Thursday, December 22^nd, 2016, Grade V students of SHIS visited an orphanage home, Shanti Bhavan Trust of India. It was a part of the Community Outreach Programme and Social Service Campaign to celebrate the eternal values of ‘Joy of Sharing’.

 It was such a wonderful experience for the Shalom students to spread cheer, Christmas spirit and goodwill in the lives of these students of Shanti Bhavan. On their arrival, they were warmly greeted by the warmhearted children and some volunteers of the home. They cheered happily and welcomed them with open arms. Students interacted with them; sang songs and carols with them, played games and spent some quality time with these children. They distributed clothes, biscuits and chocolates, books, and stationery items to the children. They even recited some famous poems together.

The inmates of the home were filled with gratitude and happiness. At SHIS, students are encouraged to practise the philosophy of Sharing and Caring. Students brought things from their home to donate generously and were immensely satisfied to bring smiles and sparkles in the eyes of these students. Shalom students showed that ‘to share is to care’.

The students of Class III presented a delightful Special Assembly which commenced with the Lord’s Benediction, Presentation of School Achievements and welcome address by Junior Head Boy – K. Abhishek and Literary Head – Erin.  The occasion was graced by Dr Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director. The school choir left all enthralled with soulful Christmas carols.

The cultural programme was a captivating mélange of popular folk fable, fairy tale, an eternal epic and our country’s freedom struggle movement. The theme ‘Once Upon A Time’ owed its name and visual impact to the Founder-Managing Director’s creative conceptualization of the entire show.  The first genre of story-telling was Cinderella in which the students presented a prayer dance and ball dance.

The young performers  captured the eternal charm of the much-loved tale of ‘Aladdin and his magical lamp’ through a dance capsule. An endearing enactment of the Ramayana by talented dancers brought alive the timeless message of ‘Good triumphs over evil’. The last performance was a realistic depiction of our freedom struggle titled ‘Swatantrata ki Kahani ‘. A grand finale was a fitting coup de grace to the event.

As part of the ‘Joy of Sharing’ Week celebrations, the students of class IV visited Harmony House in Sector 17, Gurgaon on 20.12.16. The students were accompanied by Ms. Elizabeth B. Thomas and Ms. Sangeeta Madhok. It is a school run for the underprivileged children. The visit started with a brief introduction by the in-charge of the house, Ms. Harpriya. She shared the vision and mission of the centre. Then the students of SHIS interacted with the children at the centre.

In the ice-breaking session, the students at the Harmony House had to find a friend from Shalom students and they had to share a special quality they possessed in common. All the children joined in whole-heartedly in this fun game. The young Shalomites presented songs, recited poems and also gifted them with clothes and stationery items. Much to everyone’s delight, the children at the house also showcased their talent through dance, songs and poems. It was an extremely interactive session as the students established a great rapport with each other.

Shramdaan is not only mandatory for the students as prescribed in the CBSE curriculum but is also considered important in SHIS for teaching its students the need and importance of ‘Community Service’.  

The students of Shalom Hills are regularly engaged in Social Service for multiple reasons – teaching them to reach out to the less privileged sections of the society; exposing the children to the ground realities in our society, providing an opportunity to the students to interact and understand the problems faced by the underprivileged sections of society.  

The students of grade VII-X accompanied by their teachers, Ms. Lalita Yadav and Ms. Rita Dey visited Nirmal NGO. The children through this visit learnt about the hardships faced by the poor and the needy. At the same time, they learnt to be grateful to the Almighty for the advantages they enjoy. The students wholeheartedly contributed for the noble cause and gained a lot of values from this visit.

The students of Grades V showcased their multi-layered learning and skills through a Class Presentation. This academic extravaganza was planned as a distinctive presentation based on the theory of Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences and was the special ‘brainchild’ of Dr. Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director who believes that each child is unique and possesses an individual learning style and own set of abilities.

Imaginatively conceptualized and personally guided by Dr. Lilly George, powerfully scripted by the staff and flawlessly executed by the students, the academic presentation was a delightful mosaic of theatrical performances, songs, and skit put by the bright and enthusiastic students of all sections of Grade V. A courtroom drama about who would rule the Grammar House gave the children an opportunity to reveal their knowledge of Verb, Noun, Preposition and other topics. Science, Hindi, Maths and Social Science came alive through the skillfully inter-disciplinary and integrated presentation comprising of compelling dialogues, Hindi dohas, Science song and Maths jingle.    

 The children amply proved that every student can learn but in a different manner, like math can be learnt by a song and science through a drama.

Emotive moments, lingering memories and million-dollar looks were the hallmarks of the adieu party organized for Grade XII.

The emotionally surcharged occasion was compounded half of sadness that the senior graders are on the verge of exiting from the school precincts and half of joyous anticipation that they were poised to embark on a fresh episode of their life. Ms. Ruchi Bhatia read aloud Dr. Lilly George loving message for the outgoing batch.

The incumbent Grade XI put up a delightful cultural programme spiced with lively songs and dances and even livelier compering by the young anchors. More fun rolled out as the host batch invited their senior grades teachers to give delightful titles which were most thoughtfully and wittily penned down for each student of the outgoing batch. Grade XI girls and boys showed their twinkle-toes and some amazingly lithe movements as they danced to the tune of the current chartbusters. The students of Grade XII scorched the ramp with their diva looks and cool attitude as they walked down the aisle.

Mr Raj Abbas and Ms. Tapasya were crowned Mr Shalom and Ms Shalom respectively. No teary goodbyes, no conventional farewells, but only ‘Fare Ye Well’  - sums up the valedictory party hosted by the Grade XI students for the outgoing batch of Grade XII. 

An English activity was conducted for the students of class IV 13^th December’16. The activity was based on the home work given, in which the students were asked to write ‘what they would do if they were alone at home’ and presenting the same in front of the class. The students shared what their idle (work-free) day would be like, importance of safety, partying with friends and missing their parents.

All the students were really excited about presenting their ‘home alone time’ activity work. They expressed themselves very well and were very confident during the presentation. They thoroughly enjoyed the activity.

Good, Better, Best

Never Let it Rest

Till your good is better

And your better is your best. 

The much awaited Sportsvito 2016 was held for the parents and students of Grades IV, VIII and IX on Saturday 10^th Dec’16. The good turnout from the
parents, their high spirits and the clear skies contributed to the success of the event which is a special initiative of Dr. Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director.  This event was specially conceptualized by Dr. Lilly George in order to afford parents an opportunity to relive their childhood days and enjoy recreational activities along with their children. 

Dr. Lilly George declared the meet open by releasing the tri-coloured balloons and then joined in whole-heartedly for all the sportive festivities. Peppy aerobics and zumba dance exercises gave an enervating start to the event. The mothers, fathers and the children were thereafter engaged in sheer fun games like Musical Chairs, Tug-of-War, Paddle Walk, Balancing the balloon etc. games.

The air was rent with sounds of lively anchoring, loud cheering and excited cries of children encouraging their parents as the dapper moms and dads took keen part in the sports activities.

The parents enjoyed the event and thanked the management and heads for arranging this fun-filled programme for them.

Nearly 200 students of Class VIII-IXwere taken on a Day Adventure trip to Farmstead near Baliyawas, Gurgaon.  The students reachedthe school in the morning in high spirits and the day too was bright and sunny – an ideal setting for a school outing.They set off excitedly for the venue, accompanied by their class and subject teachers. At Farmstead, the students were divided into groups and were assisted by the team members of the Rockport group. They started with a warm up session followed by activities and games like Burma Bridge, Zip line. Zorbing, Commando crawl, Artificial Wall climbing, Commando net etc. The students were given demonstrations and instructions for each activity. All the students and teachers had riotous fun engaging in these fun activities.

A healthy and delicious breakfast was savored by all. After rustling up a good appetite after enjoying the physicall energizing activities, the children partook of an appetizing lunch. After lunch, they were back with a final round of activities until 4 pm. Another round of pakoras and noodles was enjoyed with gusto after the last invigorating session of activities.

Students of Class VI-VII were taken on a Day Adventure trip to Farmstead near Baliyawas, Gurgaon.  The students reached the school in the morning in great anticipation for a bright, sunny day- just the right ingredient for an ideal outing. Fortunately, a perfect sunny day greeted them and they set off, happy as larks for the venue, accompanied by 23 teachers. At Farmstead, the students were divided into groups and were assisted by the team members of the Rockport group. They started with a warm up session followed by activities and games like Burma Bridge, Zip line. Zorbing, Commando crawl, Artificial Wall climbing, Commando net etc. The students were given demonstrations and instructions for each activity. All the students and teachers had riotous fun engaging in these fun activities.

A healthy and delicious breakfast was savored by all. In the afternoon, the children returned for their lunch comprising of paneer, aloo sabji, zeera rice-rajmah, raita, jalebis. After lunch, they were back with a final round of activities until 4 pm. Another round of pakoras and noodles was enjoyed with gusto after the last invigorating session of activities.

Cartoons are an integral part of one’s growing up. It is someone’s dream figure, given life to, for enjoyment. On 21^st November, 2016 the students of Grades III-V participated in an Inter-Dynasty Cartoon Making Competition. As we know, cartoons promote the learning and acquisition of skills, creativity, power of imagination and morals in students. Cartoons undeniably serve an educational purpose, teaching everything from counting to good behaviour. They can also create some excellent role models to help instil morals and a sense of right and wrong within a child. The knowledge and vivid imagination that can be gained from visual experience cannot be undermined.

The students were apprised a week back about the given topic, so that they could prepare for the same. The children drew their favourite cartoon character as well as wrote a few lines about the character drawn.

The children were well prepared for the activity. They drew their favourite cartoon character  such as “Tom & Jerry”, “Ben 10”, “Batman”, “Scooby doo”, “Oggy and The Cockroaches” etc. and many explained the reason for it being their favourite. Doremon seemed to be the most popular cartoon character followed by Spiderman. The outcome was absolutely stunning; the cartoons drawn were one better than the other.

Class	Ist Position	2nd Position	3rd Position
III	Cedar	Oak	Ebony
IV	Cedar	Ebony	Oak
V	Ebony	Maple	Cedar

The students of Class- II presented a delightful Special Assembly which commenced with the Lord’s Benediction, Presentation of School Achievements and welcome address by Junior Head Boy – K. Abhishek and Literary Head – Erin.  The occasion was graced by Dr Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director, Vice-Chairman and Director.

The cultural programme was a captivating mélange of popular folk fable, fairy tale, an eternal epic and our country’s freedom struggle movement. The theme ‘Once Upon A Time’ owed its name and visual impact to the Founder-Managing Director’s creative conceptualization of the entire show.  The first genre of story-telling was Cinderella in which Grade II A presented a prayer dance and ball dance.

The young performers of II-C captured the eternal charm of the much-loved tale of ‘Aladdin and his magical lamp’ through a delightful dance capsule. An endearing enactment of the Ramayana by talented performers of II-D brought alive the timeless message of ‘Good triumphs over evil’. The last performance was a realistic depiction of our freedom struggle movement titled ‘Swatantrata ki Kahani ‘. A grand finale was a fitting coup de grace to the event.

‘Reading Day’ activity was conducted in all sections of grade 3 on 25^th November’2016. This activity aimed to encourage and inculcate the reading habit among the children. All the children were given books based on great Indian mythological tales. Each book presented a balanced structure of exciting text accompanied by bright and lively pictures that help to stimulate imagination and enhance the child’s understanding of the story. The students were engrossed in reading the stories and they enjoyed reading in the time that was given to them. A few children also spoke about their favourite story books. The children also exchanged books with one another. This activity helped the children discover and appreciate the joy of reading.

Two students of Grade XII namely Raj Abbas Tulluri and Sachin Bohra took part in a high-level and intellectually powered Creative Ad-Making Competition in Vedatya Institute. They were accompanied by Ms. Megha Gupta (HOD, Computer Dept.).

The two students had a definite head-start as they were among the top ones chosen from the qualifying first round in which the contestants had to prepare and send an advertisement video of a future product. In the final round, they had to present the same video along with PPT accentuating their planning and marketing strategies. The students had made glasses named “Intellisiz” as their futuristic product which had the hi-tech feature of seeing the virtual world. They were given 8 minutes to present it and then in last 2 minutes of the 10 minute slot allotted to them, they answered tricky questions put to them in the question round by the highly competent judges namely Mr. Rahul Vaidyanathan, Account Director of Weber Shandwick and Mr. Surjya Meher, Founder and CEO of Shelltag. The students bagged the 2^nd position and won Lenovo smart phones.

On 25^th November, 2016, the students of Grade V joined the nation in taking part in the Annual Scholastic Activity of Scholastic; ‘One Nation Reading Together’. One Nation Reading Together is an annual event, wherein the children in the schools across the country spend 30 minutes on the designated day, reading for fun and participating in other activities that celebrate reading as a pleasurable and enriching experience.
At SHIS, we encourage and engage our students in regular reading activities to foster and further the habit of reading.  Reading helps students develop a strong sense of imagination; gain basic speech skills and improve their better communication skills.  

With the aim to encourage children to read more, the students of Grade V were inspired to engage in a couple of reading activities. They read extracts from different subject books, story books and newspapers. They also individually read aloud, indulged in collective reading, recited poems and did silent comprehensive reading. To celebrate the pleasures of reading, the students also designed a book cover in an extremely creative manner. The children immensely benefitted from this activity.

26^th November is celebrated as ‘Constitution Day’ since the Constitution of India, which made India a sovereign, democratic republic, was adopted on November 26, 1949. From that day, India was no longer a dominion of the British crown.  Shalom Hills International School proudly celebrated the Constitution Day by holding a Mass Assembly in which the Preamble of the Constitution was read aloud and the students were made aware about the importance of the Indian Constitution and its key features, particularly the Fundamental Rights and Duties enshrined in it.

Senior students of IX and XI read aloud this introductory statement to the Constitution, the ‘Preamble’ laying special emphasis on its salient points – Sovereign, Secular, Socialist, Democratic, Republic and ideals like Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity before the school gathering. An impressive skit highlighting the importance of our Constitution and how much research and consideration went into its drafting was presented by Grade VII-D students.

A spirited debate in Hindi ensued between 2 teams of Grade IX-X students on the topic : “ Do we need constitutional amendments or not?”. The speakers supporting and opposing the motion spoke clearly, impressively and fluently and covered cogent reasons in support of their arguments.

"When you grow up as a girl, the world tells you the things that you are supposed to be: emotional, loving, beautiful, wanted. And when you are those things, the world tells you they are inferior”. Being a boy or a girl is an important part of one’s identity.

An FA 4 Group Discussion activity was held for the students of Class VII. The purpose of this activity was to make the young pre-teens understand how some people have fixed ideas and stereo-typed notions. The discussion was meant to make the students understand and reflect on the societal prejudices and stereotypes that exist about gender differences. They were encouraged to think about their own lives and the society around them. All the students took an active part in it and contributed real life examples related to the topic and discussed them with their group partners. The students participated with a great deal of enthusiasm and found the activity an effective alternative experience for learning.

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India was born on 14^th November. This day is celebrated as Children’s Day in India to honour childhood throughout our country. He was also called Chacha Nehru, as he was very fond of children and saw our country in their hands achieving great heights in the future.

Children’s Day was celebrated in SHIS in a special way with the Middle Wing teachers presenting an assembly before the students of I-V. The teachers read aloud the prayer, shloka, vision and mission of Shalom, thought and word of the week and ended the assembly with a song.

Grade I teachers put up an amazing skit humorously depicting how children behave in  the classes and how their teachers handle them. Grade III teachers sang English songs and hymns and asked the children to sing along. Grade IV teachers danced to the tunes of popular children’s movie songs.

Grade V teachers put up a Slideshow Quiz based on popular cartoon characters for all the students present. The activity teachers put up an awesome dance performance on Bollywood numbers.

The children enjoyed the assembly and were highly thankful and appreciative of their loving teachers’ efforts to make this day so special and memorable for them.

In India, Children's Day is celebrated on 14 November, on the birthday of the first Prime Minister of independent India, who was fondly called Chacha Nehru. He emphasized the importance of giving love and affection to children as he saw them as the bright future of India.

On this occasion, the students of Class I-II came to school dressed in colorful clothes.  The students enjoyed watching a PPT on Children’s Day and its importance. In the morning, the teachers of the Middle Wing presented a Special Assembly before the children. There were songs, skit, and dances put up by the teachers.

The students were thrilled and amused watching the performances. They were also given special badges as a token of love. Children’s Day was a fun-filled and a terrific one for all the students.

In Gurugram, the high levels of pollution were caused due to the cumulative effect of increase in the pollutants, bursting of fire crackers, dip in temperature and slow wind speed. Under the inspiring vision and leadership of Dr Lilly George, the Founder-Managing, SHIS is engaged in several ‘green’ and environmental initiatives that seek to make its students ‘Green Soldiers’.

One such recent initiative was a rally taken out by the students of Grades IX-X accompanied by the Science and Sports teachers to spread awareness about Air Pollution in the vicinity and the community. The main objective of the rally was to educate people about proper way of protecting themselves from the particulate matters present in the atmosphere. The students covered their mouth and nose with masks and carried placards and posters with messages on how to protect themselves from smog. The students also took a solemn pledge to educate the members of their community and endeavour to preserve the surroundings.

SHIS believes in pushing its students to newer heights in all the spheres of curricular and co- curricular activities. The school organised Inter-Dynasty Bookmark Making Competition to commemorate the birth anniversary of Independent India’s first Education Minister and a learned scholar par excellence. This day is also celebrated as an annual observance as National Education Day.

 

All the students of Std. VI to VIII participated the in the competition. The students showcased their artistic foot forward and made innovative, ingenious and vibrantly designed bookmarks. The students used a wide range of creative materials like pastel sheets, handmade paper, paints, glitter, satin ribbons, mirror, glitter powder and beads to enhance the beauty of the bookmarks. The students made diverse designs to showcase their talent. It helped the students to explore and learn the contributions and achievements of Maulana Azad to India’s freedom movement and post-Independence India. The students then wrote inspirational quotes on Education on the bookmarks to make them more interesting and also to capture the viewer’s/reader’s imagination.

An activity was conducted to explain the concepts of magnetism and poles of the magnet to the students of Grade VI D through demonstration of the same in the Science Lab. With the help of various magnetic and non-magnetic substances, the concept of magnet was explained to the students.

Using magnet and iron fillings, the students found north-pole and south-pole of a magnet and also understood that magnetic field is strongest at the poles. The students learnt to differentiate between magnetic and non-magnetic substances present in the Lab using a magnet. All these activities helped them to understand the magnetic concept. The students enjoyed the activity.

The Department of English organized a ‘Poster Making’ Competition for the students of Grade IX to commemorate the National Education Day (which is an annual observance on 11^th November every year) and also to pay homage to Maulana Abul Kalam ‘Azad’, the first Education Minister of Independent India.

 

The theme for the competition was ‘Education and Literacy’. Prior to the activity, the English teacher, Ms. Jyotin Prinja engaged the students in a discussion about the outstanding contribution of Maulana Azad to our country’s freedom struggle movement and education field in post-Independence era. Students participated enthusiastically in the discussions and expressed their views clearly in words and through paintings/posters. The students were asked to express their ideas through paintings, collages or sketches. The students came out with paintings, etchings and collage with catchy captions and information.

 

It was heartening to see the young scholars pay a reverent homage to our national leader, Maulana Azad and remember his achievements.

An Inter-Class English Writing activity was held on 3^rd November, 2016 in all sections of Grade V.  The aim of the Poetry Writing Competition was to develop creative instincts in students. The students were encouraged to write a short poem in their own original words and style on the given topic ‘Lanterns’. The topics were given a few days in advance so that the students got enough time to research on the theme and then create their own writing genre.

The participants were judged on different rubrics - the content of the poem, style of the poem, whether relevant to the topic and on the overall impression. Through this activity, the students got a chance to display their innate talent as a poet. Our budding poets used this platform to prove their mettle. English teachers guided the participants how to show their aptitude and writing flair. All the students thoroughly enjoyed the activity.

The best three poems from each section were selected and were displayed on the soft board to motivate the students and showing public appreciation of their creative attempts at poetry.

India – our motherland is a symbol of National Unity and Unity in Diversity in itself. The imperative message of the importance of maintaining and contributing unity in the face of divisive forces needs to be re-enforced in the minds of the students. They need to be reminded that it is the duty of each and every citizen to safeguard the unity of our country.

The students of Grade VI to VIII of Shalom Hills International School took keen part in the Slogan Writing activity on the theme of National Unity. Being a bi-lingual activity, the Hindi and English Faculty members, Ms. Lalita Yadav and Ms. Esha Sethi delivered lectures in all the sections of Grades VI-VIII and also made the children repeat a Pledge on Unity (in Hindi and English) which highlighted the need for the entire country to stand united and be vigilant and ready to defend the integrity, unity and sovereignty of our country at all times.

SHIS believes that ‘School is Cool’ for parents if they too are provided with fun opportunities to revisit their student days and relive precious childhood memories. Through yet another ‘one-of-it-kind’ initiative of Dr Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director of Shalom Group of Schools, Shalom Hills International School hosted ‘Shalom Sportsvito 2016 – Reliving Childhood’ on 5^th Nov’16 to engage the parents in a plethora of energetic, full of beans and stimulating sports activities along with their children.

Parents dressed in sportive clothes had great fun taking part in the sports events - three leg race, Tennis Bottle Race Brick Block race, Bhangra Dance with balloon, Sack Race and Tug of War. The event was declared open by Dr Lilly George with the release of balloons followed by a spectacular Skating Presentation dedicated to the Indian soldiers and sentinels of our borders. Dr Lilly George took an active interest in the sportive revelries encouraging the sports enthusiasts and joining in in the Final round of the Tug-of-War. The highlight was the 500 metre race in which both the parents and child took part to determine the Fastest Family.  In a felicitation ceremony, Dr Lilly George conferred special Award Certificates to the winners among the parents. 

The parents were vastly appreciative of the school initiative and one parent, Mr Sarvesh Narang (father of Stuti Narang) specially flew from Saudi Arabia to join in Sportsvito.

An Inter- Dynasty Final Round of Math- O- Mania was conducted in all sections of Grade III. Earlier on 17^th October’16, worksheets were given to the students in the dynasty meet as a preliminary round. The four best students were selected from each dynasty.

The quiz began with a lot of anticipation and excitement. There were 4 rounds in the Quiz-The General Round, Application Round, Brain Teaser Round and Rapid Fire round. The difficulty level increased as the rounds progressed.

Oak-1^st

Udyan Goyal,  Abir Kumar, Tvisha Khurana, Aahana Shaikh

Ebony-2^nd

Shaurya Gupta, Noyonika Banerjee, Titiksha Jindal, Riyanshee Yadav

Cedar-3^rd

Toshani Mehra, Mahira Vashisht, Anoushka Kotra, Shreya Tiwari

The final round of Math- O- Mania was conducted for Grade IV students on 3^rd Nov’16. The children were selected on the basis of their performance in the first round held on 17th October’16 where the students were given a worksheet to be answered in their dynasty meet. Four students from each dynasty were selected by the end of the screening round.  

The Quiz started with the 1^st round, wherein the students’ aptitude was checked and the time limit was of 10 seconds.

In the 2^nd round, the difficulty level was further increased and the time limit for each question was of 20 seconds. It was a transferrable round. The quiz concluded with the final round based on the sequence and patterns of numbers.

Cedar Dynasty came 1^st.

 Maple Dynasty came 2^nd.

The birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India is celebrated annually as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) on 31^st October. As part of this annual commemoration in which CBSE affiliated schools also join in, Shalom Hills International School conducted activities highlighting the sterling role of Sardar Patel in shaping the destiny of our country in the Post Independence era and his outstanding contributions to the freedom movement and national integration.

On 3^rd November 2016, the students of Grades V were encouraged to express their gratitude towards ‘Sardar Patel’s vision for India’ and ‘Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as architect of modern India’. Students were invigorated to discuss, reflect upon and study the pivotal role played by him in unifying our country after its Independence. The young students of SHIS gave creative expression to the role and contributions of our national legendary leader, Sardar Patel by writing self-composed poems, reflexive and well-researched articles/essays on his vision and stature as ‘Unifier of India’.

The birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Mnister and Deputy Prime Minister of India is celebrated annually as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) on 31^st October. As part of this annual commemoration in which CBSE affiliated schools also join in, Shalom Hills International School conducted activities highlighting the sterling role of Sardar Patel in shaping the destiny of our country in the Post Independence era and his outstanding contributions to the freedom movement and national integration.

On 2^nd and 3^rd November 2016, the students of Grades VI-XII were given certain topics like ‘Sardar Patel’s vision for India’ and ‘Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as architect of modern India’ to discuss, reflect upon and study the pivotal role played by him in unifying our country after its Independence. The young students of SHIS gave creative expression to the role and contributions of our national legendary leader, Sardar Patel by writing self-composed poems, reflexive and well-researched articles/essays on his vision and  stature as ‘Unifier of India’.

The school management has always sought to endow her students with eternal values like brotherhood, secularism and respect in today’s multi-cultural society. SHIS under the auspices of Dr Lilly George uses such festival celebrations to teach the children how to live together in a diverse society and harmoniously partake of the festivities.

On 28^th Oct’16, Dr Lilly George joined in the festivities at the warm behest of the entire staff and student fraternity. The idea of Diwali fiesta mooted by the Student Council was given a go-ahead by Dr Lilly George. With the Managing Director’s blessings, the students danced till they were breathless on the outdoors dance floor.  Savoury dishes were served at the food counters set outside. Bonhomie and gaiety pervaded the entire atmosphere as the teachers and senior graders danced, laughed and ate together.

In the vote of thanks, the Vice-Head-Boy and Vice Head-Girl thanked Dr Lilly George for her loving care and thoughtful gestures like allowing special festivities for the students which make every occasion so memorable in the school.

All the students and staff had one of the enjoyable and memorable Diwali celebrations this year.

Corruption, a social evil has an adverse effect on the development of nation; it needs to be eradicated so as to ensure the prosperity of a nation and quality life to its citizens. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has declared 31^st October, 2016 to 5^th November, 2016 as the Vigilance Awareness Week. The theme this year is “Public participation in promoting Integrity and eradicating Corruption.”

The students of Grade VI to VIII of Shalom Hills International School took keen part in the Slogan Writing and Poster Making to spread awareness about the social evils prevalent in the society. Being a bi-lingual activity, the Hindi and ENGLISH Faculty members guided and encouraged the young scholars to project their reflections and thoughts on the given topics through catchy and thought-provoking slogans and posters. The enthusiasm with which the students came forward and took part in this activity was praiseworthy.

Topic for elocution: Promoting integrity ensures prosperity of a nation. 

Topic for Debate : ‘E-Governance: an effective tool to combat corruption’

Shalom Hills Int. School lent its whole-hearted support to the laudable endeavour of Central Vigilance Commission to promote transparency, probity, accountability and integrity in public life. This year too the Commission observed the Vigilance Awareness Week and the theme this year is “Public participation in promoting Integrity and eradicating Corruption.”

A rich vocabulary and lot of conviction are required during an Elocution Competition and Debate in Grades IX-XII.  These interactive elocutory activities gave the students a good opportunity to combat with the biggest factor i.e. stage fear, chisel their public speaking skills and of course, mull, brainstorm and articulate their views on the thought-provoking topics of ‘Promoting integrity ensures the prosperity of a nation’ and ‘E-Governance: an effective tool to combat corruption.’

Based on overall performance by students under various criteria framed by CBSE, the winners were selected.

The second term of the current session 2016-17 began with an air of festivity pervading the school premises and classrooms. Keeping up with the joyous and upbeat mood of the festive month, an Inter- Dynasty Rangoli Making Competition was held for Grades III – V was held on 24^th October’16. The students were told about this event a week before and they came armed with flowers, petals, rice powder, turmeric, coloured rice powder and lovely attractive designs for the competition on 24^th Oct’16.

The students of each dynasty along with their teachers were allotted an area to make the rangoli designs.  The designs were made in beautiful geometric shapes, shapes of deities, flowers etc.  The Rangoli motifs and designs drawn by the nimble-fingered students were breathtakingly beautiful.

It was a tough task for the judges to decide on the winners.

Grade III’s positions were 1st – Cedar

                                           2^nd – Maple   

                                           3^rd – Oak

Grade IV’s positions were 1^st – Maple

                                           2^nd – Oak

                                           3^rd – Ebony

Grade V’s positions were 1^st – Cedar

                                           2^nd – Ebony

                                           3^rd – Oak  

To understand Science, the curiosity of a child to ask ‘How’ and ‘Why’ of things and a keenness to learn need to be kindled. ‘Science is Fun’ is the motto of the How and why section. To impart practical knowledge about the human skeleton and its various functions, the students of grade V were taken to the Bio Lab. There is a lively discussion and reinforcement session was conducted on the chapter taught – The Skeletal System and the Nervous System. The Biology Laboratory houses a good collection of various plant and animal specimens, models as well as instruments required for biological studies.

The following observations were drawn by the students from the models of various organs in our human body.

1. The structure of various organs in the human body and its functions.
2. The skeletal system and its different organs
3. Joints and its role
4. Muscles and movement
5. The nervous system and its different organs
6. Reflex actions
7. Sense organs and how to take care of them

The students considered this to be an amazing experience to discover the truth of scientific facts all by themselves.

A festival is an event celebrated by a community based on its religion and traditions. In India we celebrate two types of festivals namely religious and national. There are some festivals which are celebrated due to the importance of food and agriculture in our country and they are known as the harvest festivals.

The students spoke about the different types of festivals like Diwali, Eid, Christmas, Holi, etc with great enthusiasm and vigour. They also brought beautiful props according to their topic.

The students had collected information about these festivals from various sources and were able to understand the importance of celebrating these festivals much better now. This activity enhances their knowledge about the different traditions, cultures, customs and rituals in India. Thus it was an enriching activity which the students also enjoyed.

Fun and merriment ensued in the English class when the students of Grade IX veritably donned the caps of chefs and shared interesting recipes with their class-mates. Their English teacher, Ms. Jyotin Prinja had linked this activity to the Grammar topic of Active and Passive Voice. The students had to prepare a recipe (in Active Voice) for cooking savoury dishes. Previously Ms. Jyotin had explained the rules governing Active and Passive Voice.

Each student stood in front of the class as a Master Chef aspirant and gave succinct instructions on how to cook noodles, prepare a cup of tea, rustle up a quick bowl of pasta, sandwich, how to make and serve cake. The students took immense care to give crisp and clear-cut instructions in Active Voice and then repeated the same in Passive Voice since the class as a collective jury would have disqualified them for stating any direction the wrong ‘Voice’ by saying ‘checkmate’.

“Mathematics is one of the essential emanations of the human spirit, a thing to be valued in and for itself, like art or poetry.”

Inter Dynasty Math Quiz Competition Math-O-Mania was conducted on 21st October, 2016 for Grade V. Four teams representing each dynasty from Grade V participated. It created an opportunity for the children to bring their potential on a common platform. After a brain teasing tussle in the form of worksheet as preliminary round, these teams were chosen for the final round. Various rounds like Visual, Mental Math and rapid fire were held based on presence of mind, number patterns, fraction and geometry. The audience cheered loudly to motivate the participants. The quiz came to an end with a tie between Ebony and Oak. After the tie-breaker buzzer round, Ebony dynasty took the lead and its members K. Abhiishek, Prachi Yadav, Palak Ahuja and Erin Sarah emerged victorious.

The objective behind conducting this competition was to enhance students’ analytical, logical, calculative and reasoning skills. It was an engaging session filled with excitement and anticipation, assumptions and fast reflexes. This was an attempt to prepare young minds for a journey to the world of mathematics.

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With the aim to augment creative writing skill, students of Grade V were encouraged to write a paragraph on ‘How I celebrated Dusshera’ on 20^th October, 2016. Students took great interest in expressing their thoughts about the festival. Keeping in view the current grammar topic ‘Verbs’, the students were asked to identify verbs in their paragraph and encircle Transitive and underline Intransitive verbs. To make this concept easily understandable and interesting, students were given sheets to make a card with. In the card, students were encouraged to draw a picture relevant to Dusshera festival on one side, and on the other, a paragraph articulating the importance of the festival and their recent experiences.

The students were exhilarated to draw a pictorial display and write about the festival. Premised on the maxim that students often show immense interest in sharing real-life experiences, this activity proved extremely beneficial. This activity also helped students comprehend the concept of verbs well and they enjoyed learning grammar via interactive method.

Today we live in a high tech world, where we are using technology for almost everything. In order to create awareness among our students about the harmful aspect that ensue out of overuse or immoderate use of electronics, an interactive parent-student session on “Effective usage of Technology” was conducted for the students of Class IV. It was conducted by Dr. Akanksha Srivastava, mother of Ishita Srivastava of IV F on 20^th October’16. Such initiatives engaging parents form a key part of the Parental Interaction Programme which has been specially conceptualized by Dr Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director. The school invites and engages parents in a wide spectrum of activities ranging from guest lectures to interactive sessions to assembly by parents.

In this session, the students were clearly told about how excessive usage of technology leads to lack of social skills, obesity, lack of concentration, depression and poor sleeping habits. The students found the session most illumining as they learnt about the pitfalls of technology and the need to use electronics, gadgets and technology judiciously and in moderation.

CBSE has joined hands with the Ministry of Power and Bureau of Energy Efficiency to organize the 12^th Painting Competition on Energy Conservation.  Shalom Hills International School used this competition as an effective platform to spread awareness among its students about energy conservation and also to sensitize them about the problems relating to this issue and subject.

The students of Grades VI to IX were engaged in this Competition on 21^st October’16. The students of Grade VI who fell in Category A showcased their artistic skills and their understanding of the subject of ENERGY CONSERVATION by skillfully drawing and painting on the topic of ‘Save a watt to save a lot’ or ‘Be Aware and Use Energy with Care’. The students of VII-IX who come in Category B choose one of the interesting topics from ‘Save the Polar; Go Solar’ or ‘reduce Carbon footprint’ to exhibit both their awareness of the theme and their artistry,

This Competition gave an excellent opportunity to all the students of Grades VI-IX to reflect on this serious and thought-provoking topic of Energy Conservation and translated their ideas and thoughts beautifully on paper through drawings/etchings.

The talented students of Class- IV F presented an Assembly on 20^thOctober’16 which  commenced with warming up exercises followed by the Lord’s Prayer and Shloka, Shalom Mission and Vision, My Pledge, Thought and Word of the Day and important headlines.

Bhavyata Nikhra and Krishna Mishra were the anchors for the assembly.  All the students of the class participated in the assembly, wherein the first fifteen students started with the session and the remaining half concluded the assembly. The young students participated in the talent show and showcased their hidden talent in front of the audience.

Tanishq Deshpande played music using his octopad. Bhavika Gupta and Vanipreet Kaur gave folk dance performances - Haryanvi and Kathak respectively. They came beautifully dressed up in the traditional folk costumes. Aman Narang and Krish Ahuja played the guitar. Mugddha Bezbora played a beautiful song (Tum hi ho) using a piano.

The students took an active part in the assembly. Certificates were also given to the winners of Poster Making competition held on 30^th September’16. The assembly concluded with the Shalom Anthem followed by the National Anthem.

SKATING & FUTSAL

SHIS organized its 1^st Annual Inter School Sports Competition ‘Sports Crush’ and became the first school to organize an Inter-School Competition in Futsal.

Skating Tournament was organized on 3^rd and 4^th Oct’16 in Quads & Inline category for both boys & girls. A total of 220 students from 25 different schools participated in the above championship. A total of 75 medals were kept at stake in five different age groups starting from U-6 to U-16 category. Shalom Hills International School topped the table by securing 39 points and was crowned  as the winner, followed by DPS, Sec-45 as the 1^st runner-up and Blue Bells School & Presidium School shared the 2^nd Runners-up position.

Futsal was organized on 6^th and 7^th October’16 in the Boys’ Category of Grade VI-XII. A total of 96 students from 12 schools participated in the championship. A total of 11 matches were played on a knock-out basis to locate the winner. Heritage School continued the winning streak by winning 3 matches in a row without giving a chance to the opponent to even score a single goal.

CBSE conducted yet another laudable initiative this year as well in conducting CBSE Creative Expression series on the topic of Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam.

Students of Shalom Hills International School took keen part in the competition and showcased their artistic and writing proficiencies. They wrote reflexive articles, self-composed poems in Hindi and English and also did art work.

The students of Grades VI-VIII wrote on the topic ‘I will always remember Dr A.J.P Abdul Kalam for………………..’ and the senior graders of IX-XII wrote a poem/an essay of about 700 words on the topic ‘What can I do to fulfill the vision of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for India’?

Their articles/art expressions and poetic outpourings revealed their depth of patriotic feeling as well as their high degree of respect for Dr Kalam’s contribution and vision for India?

Extra coaching took place for remedial students of Grade 3 on 8^th October’16 in all the main subjects.

English: The students read L-5 ‘Sona’s Adventures’ and then the lesson was explained to them along with word-meanings. This extra revision helped them to improve their comprehension and reading skills.

Maths:   The concept of division was explained to the students and various exercises based on it were given to them.

Science: Topics from the lesson –Light, Sound and Force were taken up. Relation between Light and Shadow as well as difference between Force and Friction was explained in detail.

Hindi: Reading of the lesson ‘Main hu Rubber’ was taken up. Difficult words of the lesson were thereafter explained to the students.

Group activities conducted at school level help the students to achieve many skills. Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work.

Group enactment can be effectively employed as tool to promote a better understanding of a topic assigned and at the same time empower them to create an environment of friendship and inter-dependence so as to deliver an exceptional outcome as a team. It proves to be a challenging activity in which each group not only displayed confidence and humor but showed their ‘original’ thinking by giving unexpected and intriguing end to the poster making organized by them.

Grade VIII was divided in various groups by their English teacher, Ms. Esha Sethi. The children were given complete freedom to experiment with the topic given and a group leader was elected to ensure smooth interaction and discussion.

India is known as a land of festivals and celebrations. I Shalom Hills International School, under the guidance of Dr Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director, all festivals are celebrated the traditional way and their significance and import are highlighted for the benefit of the students.  Dussehra is an important festival which is celebrated all over India. Dussehra is also called Vijayadashami and is celebrated as victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahisasura. Dussehra celebrations took place in all sections of Class 3^rd on 7^th October 2016. Dussehra is a festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. Dussehra celebrates Lord Rama's victory over the demon king Ravana.

A mask making activity was organized in which the students made the mask of Ravana. The students were given sheets of paper cut in the form of Ravan’s face. They pasted eyes cut out of black glitter paper and pasted a moustache which had also been made out of glitter paper and given to them. The children also pasted a crown on Ravan’s head which was made of  colourful glitter foam sheet. The children made outlines with pencils on the mask. This was a fun-filled activity and the students participated in it with a lot of enthusiasm.

A Maths activity on the topic of Factor Tree was conducted for Grade-IV students on 6^th Oct, 2016. The children were introduced about the concept of Prime Numbers and Composite Numbers through various examples. Then they were explained about how to split a number as the product of its prime factors using the Factor Tree method. Each child was provided with a flash card and they were asked to represent the number given to them as the product of its prime factors using this method. The children also decorated their flash card wonderfully.

               

The students of Class V participated in a Card Making Activity on Animal Habitat and Adaptation held on 5^th October 2016. The main aim of the activity was to reinforce the topic taught in class.

The students were given an A4 sized sheet. They pasted the pictures of 2 animals from different habitats on it. They wrote about their special features which enable them to live in that particular habitat. They also furnished details of their different adaptations.

The activity was a reinforcement session for all the students on Animal Habitat and Adaptation. The activity helped the students to get a better understanding of the concept taught by adopting the ‘Learning by doing’ approach. They realised how different animals have different features which enable them to live in their habitat. Overall, it was a fun learning and interactive session for the children.

The purpose of the Collage Making activity conducted in Grade VII was to make the students understand the need of transport and communication for development of the country and also to familiarize them with the new developments making today’s world a global society. It focussed on how this lifeline of the country is important in our daily life.

All the students took an active part in it and came prepared with newspaper cuttings, pictures of human settlements, transport and communication along with important information and pasted in chart papers. The students participated with enthusiasm and found the activity as an alternative experience for learning.

An activity was carried out in Grade-2 on 3^rd Oct, 2016 in which the students were told the concept of multiplication through the method of repeated addition. The children were told to draw pictures repeatedly by  putting addition sign in between ; after that they were asked to write how many times each picture was repeated.

They all understood the concept very well. The logical and analytical skills were brushed up through this activity and the concept of multiplication as repeated addition became clearer and stronger.

Shalom Hills International School under the creative leadership of its Founder-Managing Director, Dr Lilly George encourages its students to challenge their competencies, acquire diplomatic skills as well as get a ‘real feel and taste’ of international affairs.

Under Dr Lilly George’s personal guidance, SHIS was the only school delegation with students below 15 years competing at a college and National Level Competition held at Shriram College of Commerce, New Delhi on 1st and 2nd October, 2016. 250 plus delegates from 20 states took part. The Shalom students groomed by Ms. Lopa Mudra Mishra represented themselves in the various committees of the Model Youth Parliament:

1. Bavneet Kaur as MP
2. Lishika Sahni as Minister of Rural Development
3. Ananya Acharya as MP
4. Vedant Swain as Minister of Urban Development

Congrats to Bavneet Kaur (XI) and Lishika Sahni (XI) for earning a Special Mention and Direct Selection (in the Team of 10 out of 250 delegates) in Winter Session of My Parliament.

Under the leadership of Dr Lilly George, Founder-Managing Director of SHIS, many initiatives are taken to involve and engage parents in the school mechanism. As another special initiative of the school management, parents of a few Grade VI-VIII students were given an opportunity to present an assembly before the students on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
Mr Shah Amber started the assembly with the Lord’s Prayer. Mr Shah Amber was then joined by Mr and Mrs Dilraj and Ms Ashima who gave a soulful and musical rendition of ‘Itni Shakti Hume Dena Data’. The students connected beautifully with Mrs Ashima’s encouraging words that we should always proudly exhibit a ‘ Proud to be an Indian’ spirit and attitude. Mr Dilraj shared mature counsels with the students on how they with their talent and drive can put India on the world map.
The students were enthralled by Mr Shah Amber’s drum performance. The parents thanked the school management and school for providing them with such a platform. Ms. Jyotin Prinja conveyed Dr Lilly George’s appreciation of the parents’ talented performance and their efforts.

Under the able leadership and guidance of its Founder-Managing Director, Dr Lilly George, the students of SHIS are engaged in a plethora of creative and challenging activities. A Poster Making Competition was organized for the students of Grade V based on the Theme ‘Relevance of Gandhi’s Teaching in Today’s world’ on 30th September 2016, as a tribute to the legend of the era ‘Mahatma Gandhi’ on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. The students participated with immense zeal and enthusiasm and made very beautiful posters showcasing the importance of Gandhi’s teaching in today’s world. The objectives of this competition were to instill patriotism in students and to encourage them to showcase their views and notion about the significance of Bapu’s teaching in the current scenario.

Three best posters were selected from each section and students were appreciated and lauded for their best efforts. All the students enthusiastically participated to make it a success.

SHIS, under the able leadership of its Founder-Managing Director, Dr Lilly George believes that language development is the precursor and prelude to literacy development. A host of activities are carried out in the school to improve their students’ four language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. And since ‘Only a generation of readers will spawn a generation of writers’, the school encourages its students to read all kinds of genre of books and gives them exposure to different writing styles by arranging for Author Meets regularly. One such ‘Meet the Author’ session with Mr. Rustom Dadachanji, the author of ‘Ravana refuses to die’ was organized in collaboration with Mr Ankit Agrawal of Book Vook for the students of Grades V.

The students interacted keenly with Mr Rustom and showed great interest in learning from hIs experiences and insights. Alyona Ranhotra, the Student Editor, Doyel Agrawal, Shubhangi, K. A. Abhishek,  Urshita Dhir, Riddhi Sehgal. Alita Fernandes, Khushi Gangal and Shresth Vishwakarma  of Grade V then engaged the versatile in an interview session in the principal’s room. The writer enjoyed answering their questions and shared his experiences of authoring the books.

A Poster Making activity was held on the topic ‘Energy Conservation’ to create awareness among the students on the importance of conserving energy - the elixir of life. The students of class 4 and 5 took part in the event. At Shalom Hills International School under the inspiring leadership of Dr Lilly George, we subscribe to Mahatma Gandhi’s immortal words ‘Be the change that you want to see in this world’.

The children involved themselves enthusiastically in this activity and made impressive posters which included information on the different ways of energy conservation.

The students expressed their ideas and knowledge through an imaginative inter-play of colours, drawings, pictures, accompanied with relative information and facts on various ways of energy conservation and its importance in our life.

 The narrative posters crafted by the dexterous fingers of the young Shalomites conveyed a strong message on the importance of energy conservation and its impact on generations to come.

The best two posters were selected by Mr Atul Bhatt, Principal and have been sent to the Ministry of Power for selection at state level competition.

The Shri Ram School, Aravali had organised SHRI UTSAV 2016 – An Inter-School Theatre and Choreography on 28^th September 2016. Students of Grades VIII-XII competed with other premier schools of Gurgaon and Delhi. In this coveted competition, Shalom Hills International School bagged 4 trophies out of 8 as they walked away with the Best Dance Performance, Best Choreography, Best Director and Best Interpretation of Theme’ in the Dance and Theatre Competitions respectively.

Dr. Lilly George, Founder-Managing Director of Shalom Group of Schools had uniquely conceptualized the 2 themes given to the school for its Dance Presentation and Theatre performance.          Under her personal directorial guidance, the 2 performances acquired out-of-the box dimensions and emotive ’ quotient.

The Theatre Competition was based on the theme “Possessions that evoke emotions” and the prop to Shalom Hills International School was “quill”. Shalom team of students scripted a thought-provoking and gripping story that was replete with nationalist fervour titled ‘Kalam Ko Salaam’. The students of Shalom Hills were hailed and applauded equally for their humane depiction as well as their sensitivity towards such a powerful medium.  

The theme of the Choreography Competition was “Festivals of the world” wherein the students of Shalom Hills showcased their dance prowess and dramatic flair both, through an enthralling dance capsule capturing the essence and selflessness of the festival of ‘Thanksgiving’.

Investiture Ceremony for the Junior Student Council was held in SHIS. It was graced by  the principal and  the Head Mistress of Primary Wing.

 

District Level Roller Skating Championship was organized from 03/09/16 to 05/09/16 at D.P.S. sector-47, Gurgaon. Six of SHIS students participated in the above said championship out of which Advaith K Menon of Grade VI bagged 2 silver medals in different races & Ishan Kalra of Grade X won one bronze & one silver medal. AstitvaThukral of Grade XI, the school’s flying skaters of grade XI made us proud again by bringing in both gold & silver medals.

Advaith & Astitva have been selected for State Level championship.

The students of Grade III-V participated in an Inter-Dynasty Award Certificate making competition on 2^nd Sept, 2016 on the occasion of Teacher’s Day. The students took part in this competition whole heartedly as it provided them an opportunity to award their teachers. They expressed their gratitude for their teachers by crafting beautiful hand-made certificates. Through these certificates, they expressed their reverence for their teachers as embodiment of virtues and knowledge, pole star in the dark and the proverbial ‘ladder’. It also provided an excellent opportunity to showcase students’ proficiency in English language and their artistic skills.

The students displayed their aesthetic sense in the layout they chose for the certificates. It also gave them deep sense of gratification and joy to craft these certificates and award them too. This activity definitely touched the hearts of teachers and made the day as an unforgettable day in the life of a teacher.

In Grade V, Ebony Dynasty took the first place, followed by Cedar, and Maple stood third. Cedar dynasty was declared as first in Grade IV, followed by Ebony, and Oak. In Grade III, Oak, Ebony and Cedar first, second and third.

“The best teachers don’t give you the answers. They just point the way and let you make your own choices, your own mistakes. That way you get all the glory and you know that you deserve it.”

When a day transcends into the realm of euphoria and exhilaration and is equally celebrated and cherished by the students and staff alike, it is called Teacher’s Day Celebrations in SHIS. The preparations by the Student’s Council members in the days leading up to the Teacher’s Day were a clear barometer to the love and thoroughness with which the students were intending to pay a tribute to their teachers. On 5^th September’16, the teachers were warmly greeted by the students and escorted to the auditorium.

The fun quotient upped when the students put up amazing band performances, dance sequels and a fashion. The spoof on ‘Exam Terror’ put up by Grade XII was the real showstopper.

Fun unlimited continued when the teachers danced to their heart’s content and partook of the special feast arranged by the management. Ms. Ruchi Bhatia read aloud Dr Lilly George’s loving message for the teachers and Mr Atul Bhatt stressed upon the importance of a teacher’s role and the need for them to connect with their students.

SHIS, under the able leadership of its Founder-Managing Director, Dr Lilly George believes that language development is the precursor and prelude to literacy development. A host of activities are carried out in the school to improve their students’ four language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. And since ‘Only a generation of readers will spawn a generation of writers’, the school encourages its students to read all kinds of genre of books and gives them exposure to different writing styles by arranging for Author Meets regularly. One such ‘Meet the Author’ session with Ms Shalini Srinivasan, the author of ‘Gangamma’s Gharial’ was organized in collaboration with Mr Ankit Agrawal of Book Vook for the students of Grades VI.

The students interacted keenly with Ms Shalini and showed great interest in learning from her experiences and insights. Tanav Arya of Grade XI, Medhabi, Apoorva, Aishwika, Kirti, Imroz and Sushrut of Grade VI then engaged the young author in an interview session in the principal’s room. The writer enjoyed answering their questions and shared her experiences of authoring the books.

A Poster Making activity on the topic of ‘Communicable Diseases’ was conducted for the students of Class V with the urgent aim of making them aware of common communicable diseases like malaria, chikungunya, dengu , chickenpox, jaundice and typhoid.

The children involved themselves enthusiastically in this activity and made impressive posters which included information about communicable diseases, its symptoms, causes, prevention and remedial measures.

All the students showed great creativity in making posters with meaningful message regarding timely prevention and control of communicable diseases. The students expressed their ideas and knowledge through an imaginative inter-play of colours, drawings, pictures, accompanied with relative information and facts about the various diseases.

At Shalom Hills International School, we believe that ‘prevention is better than cure’, so in order to bring any change in the community and society at large, we must train young minds to become the catalysts of change. This activity was not only a reinforcing session but served to make the children aware of their responsibility not only towards themselves but also others in helping in early detection and prevention of communicable diseases.

A Slogan Writing Competition was conducted in all the sections of Grades VI-VIII by the Hindi Faculty of Shalom Hills International School. The purpose of this competition was to recognize the impact of our freedom struggle and our freedom in our students’ mind and also to allow them to translate their patrioti feelings on paper in the form of catchy, thought-provoking and beguiling slogans.

The activity focussed on the contribution of our national heroes , how the great people sacrificed their lives for the nation.  The students  wrote inspiring slogans in Hindi related to the topic. All the students enthusiastically participated to make it a success.

Shalom Hills International School sent its talented students to participate in the 43rd All India Platinum Jubilee Memorial Inter School English Debate and Inter School Quiz 2016 organized by The Scindia School, Fort, Gwalior from 19th August, 2016 to 22^nd August, 2016. Alyona Ranhotra of Grade XI, Lishika Sahni of IX and Devishi Sahai of Grade X took part in the epic battle of wits on a thought-provoking topic ‘Education and Success – Is there a correlation?’. V. Yash Vinod and Ritish Grover of Grades XI and X respectively attempted the written preliminary round of the Quiz Competition creditably.  They were accompanied by their senior grades teacher, Ms. Lalita Yadav.

The 5 students got a chance to explore the History of Gwalior and also gained insight and hands on experience of boarding school life and discipline. They enjoyed this educational cum historical trip.

The 10^th Founder’s Day Celebrations were graced by the Managing Director, Vice Chairman and Director of the school.  After the auspicious lighting of the lamp by Dr. Lilly George, the founder students and teacher presented an evocative number ‘Waving the flag’ and Dashatabdi Scroller to Dr. Lilly George. The cultural extravaganza titled ‘Celebrating a decade of excellence’ commemorated jointly 70 years of our country’s Independence and a decade of school’ s milestones. The students and staff put up a Mayalli song, enthralling dance-sequels and a riveting dance capsule ‘Journey’ dedicated to the contributions of our nation’s great leaders and the school’s exemplary leader – Dr Lilly George. The Head Boy and Head Girl also delivered speeches on the occasion.

The Principal, Mr Atul Bhatt saluted Dr. Lilly George as an intuitive leader. Mr Ajay Poonia, a renowned Quizzing expert and Quizmaster of National level Quizzes hosted an Inter-Dynasty Quiz in front of the gathering. The students took the pledge made up of 20 gospels of ideal student behaviour.

Dr. Lilly George spoke loving words to the students and faculty. She gave a special token of love to the housekeeping representative, Mr Arun.

Independence Day, is annually observed on 15th August as a national holiday in India commemorating the nation's freedom from the shackles of British Raj 70 years back. India attained independence following a Freedom Movement noted for largely its non-violent resistance. The holiday is observed throughout India with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades and cultural events.

The students of class 1 and 2 celebrated Independence Day by taking part in a drawing activity. In the activity, they drew “The Indian National Flag in their art files. Some little ones made varied scenes of our motherland with great enthusiasm. This activity made all the students feel a sense of patriotism. They were also shown a presentation on the Independence Day. The students realised importance of freedom. The students also pledged to respect and love their country.

Topic of skit: Independence Day

The world’s perception of India has certainly changed drastically in the last few decades. ‘Silicon valley of the east’, ‘Cradle of software industry’, ‘The fastest-growing economy’, ‘Charging elephant’, and ‘The world’s outsourcing hub’ are titles now used for her. Just as we rejoice and celebrate the growing power of India, the students of SHIS are also taught about how hard-earned our freedom is; that it has been won at a heavy price.

The senior graders of Grade VIII of Shalom Hills International School paid a befitting homage to the countless unsung and celebrated heroes of the freedom struggle movement through a gripping and emotional skit. It was followed by a Hindi Poem on Independence Day. The young students had also prepared a small enactment highlighting and depicting India as a secular country. Last but not the least, the students also gave an emotive dance performance on the occasion of our country’s 70^th Independence Day.

Mr Atul Bhatt, the school principal shared his motivational thoughts on the freedom struggle of India. He took the opportunity to urge all the students to respect and cherish our motherland and our freedom.

India has come a long way and finally arrived in the international arena after 70 years of independence, progress and globalization.  To celebrate the emergence of India as a global power and to commemorate its 70^th Indepence Day, a patriotic Song Competition was organized in Shalom Hills International School close to the eve of the Independence Day. Dr Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director too was present to grace the occasion.

The atmosphere and ambience in the school and hall were redolent with feelings of patriotic fervor. The tri-colour was present in full glory in the school decorations. This fervor and pride in their motherland reflected in the pulsating Patriotic Songs sung by the students of  Grades VI and VII. The principal, Mr Atul Bhatt and Head-Mistresses, Ms Priyaa Chauhan and Ms Rima Gaekwad were also present for the competition along with students and teachers of Senior Wing.

The mellifluous voices of the young students raised in glory of their motherland, pulsating numbers brimming with patriotic feelings and of course the impassioned voices filled the auditorium during the span of the competition and were the highpoint of the day’s competition.

The Health and Wellness Department of Blue Bells School organized an Inter-School Event titled ‘Metamorphosis’, which offered a range of various competitions from Critical Thinking and Poster Making to Street Play to Debate Competition from 1^st to 2^nd August, 2016. Almost 23 schools across Gurgaon took part in the two-day event.

On 1^st August’16, the students of SHIS, Shreya Gaur (VIII) and Dhanya Gir (VI) represented their school and showcased their amazing  caliber and ‘out-of-the-box’ imagination in a “Poster Making’ activity. They made brilliant use of a powerful message and subtle colours to strongly convey the importance of Woman Empowerment.

Kushagra Mishra (Grade VIII) and Harsimran Kaur (VII) displayed their analytical skills with confidence, enthusiasm and alertness while participating in the competition. They expressed their views about the importance and urgent need in the present society for the ever challenging youth to understand the relevance of Life Skills. The contest witnessed a neck and neck contest among all the participants of various schools. The Shalomites as usual put up an impressive show and were appreciated by the judges for their sincere and talented efforts to excel.

SHIS Boys & Girls basketball U-14 team participated in District Level Basketball Championship organized by District Basketball Association from 28/7/16 to 09/08/16 at Scottish High School, Gurgaon. The competition was among 29 teams of schools across Gurgaon.

SHIS girls’ team displayed wonderful athleticism by winning three matches and making it to quarter finals by winning over Presidium School in first round, Delhi Public School in second round and by registering their last win against Ajanta Public School and reaching to quarter finals and playing against the host team where they exhibited well-coordinated basketball skills.

 

The boys’ team too put up a tough fight and showed their athletic prowess to the fullest.

A cornucopia of invigorating, literary, cultural and intellectual contests made Shalom Conclave 2016 a show-stopper event. The host school bore the ambience of a non-stop action junction as it conducted Cartoon Play, Debate, Science Project, Book Review, International Folk Dance and Quiz. It was graced by Dr. Mrs. Lilly George, Founder-Managing Director, Mrs Karishma George, director and a panel of distinguished judges.

12 schools across Gurgaon took part in the events. Their participants were in fine fettle as they showcased their proficiencies in an array of competitions. The Dance Competition was a truly visual delight to witness as the young contestants displayed promising dancing flair set to amazing choreography.  The young contestants of I-II made Toonami an  enjoyable affair. The participants of ‘Eyeing the sky’ were a perfect study of concentration, dedication and imagination as they made sundials in this Science-based event. Participants challenged their writing and oratory prowess in Book-O-Pedia and Debate Competitions respectively. The Quiz titled ‘Knowledge Edge’ hosted by the famous quizmaster and quizzing expert, Mr Ajay Poonia made it a highpoint of the event.

Dr. (Mrs) Lilly George’s Rolling Trophy for Overall Winner went Meenakshi Public School.

Today there was a different mood to all the sections of grade IV each had to put up a presentation for the perusal of HM ma’am - Ms. Rima Gaekwad, Ms. Swastika Acharya and Ms. Suniti Bhai.

The Students of Class- IV were very excited and put their best foot forward exceeding the expectations of their teachers too.

Each section took one unsung hero and showed incidents and unnoticed contributions by them. Their small efforts be it educating the masses about independence or actually leading their friends and townspeople to a satyagraha with Gandhi ji was depicted very well, with dramatisation of incidents.

The presentations were small and to the point driving home the importance of small things to a bigger picture – India’s Independence.

During childhood, each day holds a new magic!!

The publishers of Primary Plus organized a magic show for the students of Grade III with the dual objective of delighting the young readers and to promote their magazine. To the children’s complete delight, a magician appeared before them, attired in a red coat, green shirt and a pair of black pants. To add more authenticity to his look and show, he produced a black top hat from thin air.

He spoke in sign language with the young audience. He awed the children by performing several tricks like producing umbrellas, scarves and bunches of flowers along with joining torn strips of cloth to make a whole.

The audience was so spellbound that they sat as quiet as mice. They followed all his instructions and appreciated his magic tricks with thunderous clapping. He called for volunteers - two teachers and a student from the audience to help him out with his tricks.

An Inter-Dynasty Computer Competition was conducted on 23rd August’16 in which the selected students of Class IV were required to write the school pledge on word-pad as well as format it.

A few days prior to the competition, all the students of class IV had been asked to send a sample each of the same on word-pad containing the pledge. The students were selected from each dynasty on the basis of best formatted word document samples sent by the students previously. The selected students from each dynasty worked together as a team. The students were judged based on their team-work, formatting skills, creativity and time-management.

The students from all the dynasties participated actively in the competition and showed their skills and expertise in the use of word-pad.

Cedar dynasty came first, Maple second, Ebony third and Oak came last.

Debate is one of the academic and oratory activities that give students ample scope to express what they feel and articulate their opinions. Keeping this dual objective in mind, a Debate Activity in Social Studies class was held for the students of Class VII by their teacher, Ms Swati. The topic was ‘Should Voting be mandatory?’. The students were divided in two groups (students that favoured the topic of the day formed one team, and the students that disagreed with the topic formed the opposing team).

The participants put their arguments both in favour and against the topic very convincingly. The purpose of this activity was to help students to express their position as well as opposing arguments, on a particular issue and also to provide them with an opportunity to hone their listening skills and acquire debating acumen. The students spoke vehemently on the issue, used appropriate logic and articulated their dissenting viewpoints persuasively.

Overall it was an enjoyable and fun filled activity which the students enjoyed thoroughly.

The Students of Class- III presented a Special Assembly on 10^th August’16 in the Middle Wing Auditorium. The assembly commenced with the Lord’s Prayer followed by the reading aloud of the Shalom Mission and Vision, News Headlines and Thought of the Week. A Power Point Presentation on Independence Day was shown and explained by the students. A Hindi group song was then performed. Kapish Sharma of Class III F spoke about the contribution of Indian soldiers and paid a tribute to them. This was followed by a speech in Hindi.

The students of Grade III then presented a role play on the evolution of the national flag. The story of the creation of the national flag was told by showing the different  stages in which different flags were designed before the final selection of the tricolour. The programme ended with a group dance celebrating the 70^th Independence Day. The Head-Mistress, Ms Rima Gaekwad, Ms Swastika  and Ms. Suniti were also present in the assembly to encourage all the participants. They appreciated the young performers for their wonderful performance.

Healthy food is good for us and for our growth. It gives us energy to work, study, think and play. Good food makes us healthy and strong. Junk food is not good for our health as it contributes to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, weight gain and many other chronic health conditions. Examples of healthy food are fruits, vegetables, milk, juices etc. Examples of junk food are burger, pizza, noodles, cold-drink, cake etc.

To make this concept a little interesting, an activity was conducted in the M.I Lab for the Grade 1 children. They were told to put the flash cards (pictures) of healthy and junk food items under the correct column. They understood the concept and promised to have more of healthy food to stay fit and healthy rather than consuming junk food.

This activity helped the children to learn about advantages and disadvantages of healthy and junk food.

A Computer activity was conducted in July’16 involving the students of Class VI, in preparing presentations on the topic of “World Population Day” in MS PowerPoint.

Their Computer teacher, Ms. Ambika Yadav conducted the activity in the Computer Lab. Under her able guidance, the students gathered the relevant information from the Internet and made nice presentations.

These students were then asked to make a presentation associated with population on the occasion of “World Population Day” using animations, designs and effects.

The students took enthusiastic part in the activity and used this opportunity to display both their good presentation skills and sharp creative thinking skills.

A Computer activity was conducted in July’16 with the students of class VII in which the children had to prepare MS Excel sheet on the topic of “World Population Day”.

Their Computer teacher, Ms. Ambika Yadav conducted the activity in the Computer lab with a lot of planning. Prior to the activity, the students were given step-wise instructions by Ms. Ambika how to perform this activity. For the activity, they gathered the information from the Internet and made nice datasheets.

The students were asked to make a datasheet associated with the world population on the occasion of “World Population Day” using data, tables and charts.

The students enjoyed  and  gained  lot  of  information.  They  exhibited their critical thinking and showcased their presentation skills.

The students of Grade VIII collected data from the Internet on the population of major countries all over the world. They represented the data they had collected in MS Access. The students then created fields and mentioned their data types & description in design view and later on entered records of major countries of the world in the datasheet view. The students enjoyed the activity very much and the activity amply proved that the concept of designing a database had been well understood by the students.

 

A Computer Activity was conducted on 22nd July’16 in which the students of Class XI, created a website on the topic “VanMahotsava” in HTML.

Their Computer teacher, Ms. Megha Gupta directed and guided the students to perform the task to the best of their ability.

The children were asked to create a website related to Green Environment using various tags like inserting image, tables, frames and linking the webpages to each other in Hypertext markup language.

The students created wonderful and informative webpages with full enthusiasm and made the best use of the knowledge that they had gained in their Computer Science classes.

Under the learned and visionary leadership of its Founder-Managing Director, Dr Lilly George, the students of SHIS are taken on educational visits and excursions throughout the academic session. Students of Grade VI went on a visit to the National Zoological Park, located in Delhi. The trip was organised by Ms. Vimala Jossy, Subject Incharge – Science Department. The students went along with Ms. Apurva and Ms.Rita Dey.

The trip exposed the students to a broad spectrum of knowledge about the biodiversity and the need for its conservation. Under the guidance of Ms Aditi and Mr. Parth, the students learnt about the history of the park. It was an interesting walk. The students learnt the value of adapting and adjusting to our surroundings and environment from the live example of a “Herbivore Tigress”, who was 7 years old and had adapted to being a herbivore.  

On 19^th July 2016, a Collaborative Writing activity was conducted in Grade IX on the topic- “Ballot is stronger than the Bullet”

The students substantiated their understanding of the broader meaning of the questions ‘what ‘and ‘why’ in democracy. They collaborated with one another, jointly researched on the topic and worked in teams to express their perspective in writing on the topic in 250-300 words. The students expressed the ideals of liberty, equality, fraternity, citizen participation and rights in order to add to the notion of “one person, one vote, and one value”. The ‘people’s will’ is always stronger than the force that suppresses the ‘will’ in any democratic system.

The students learned to dwell on the given topic analytically and intellectually.  This broadened their approach and outlook on various democratic issues of present times and they learnt to articulate their views forcefully in writing as well.

The students participated in this activity wholeheartedly and learned to problematize the political processes in any democratic or non-democratic regimes.

The Science Department celebrated Nature 2016 on the focal theme of ‘’Go Wild for Life” with the express objective of making the students understand the prominent environmental problems being faced by our country.

The students of Grade VIII were involved in an interesting activity to prepare a poster along with a meaningful message for the people to keep our surroundings and also stating ways to prevent the spread of a number of diseases, especially during summers.

The students were divided into several groups. They worked together as close-knit teams and prepared attractive posters on common diseases caused by microbes like fungus, bacteria, virus, protozoa and algae especially during summers. They made posters highlighting common diseases like malaria, dengue, viral fever, cholera, food poisoning etc. The students enjoyed the activity and came up some beautiful and thought-provoking posters and messages on the topic.

The Science Department celebrated Nature 2016 on the focal theme of ‘’Go Wild for Life” with the express objective of making the students understand the prominent environmental problems being faced by our country.

The students of Grade IX were engaged in an activity to collect information and prepare a Power Point Presentation covering various aspects like the causes, effect and prevention of a massive forest fire which recently erupted in the hilly areas of our country.

The students were divided into various groups. They worked together as a team and prepared impressive PPTs on forest fire which is common occurrence during hot summer days. Through their presentations, they explained the fact of ignition temperature of dry grass which makes the dry grass catch fire easily and how this fire spreads to bushes and trees in short period of time. They also suggested possible ways by which it can be prevented.

The Science Department celebrated Nature 2016 on the focal theme of ‘’Go Wild for Life” with the express objective of making the students understand the prominent environmental problems being faced by our country.

The students of Grade VIII were involved in an interesting activity to prepare a poster along with a meaningful message for the people to keep our surroundings and also stating ways to prevent the spread of a number of diseases, especially during summers.

The students were divided into several groups. They worked together as close-knit teams and prepared attractive posters on common diseases caused by microbes like fungus, bacteria, virus, protozoa and algae especially during summers. They made posters highlighting common diseases like malaria, dengue, viral fever, cholera, food poisoning etc. The students enjoyed the activity and came up some beautiful and thought-provoking posters and messages on the topic.

Co-curricular activities form an integral part of the curriculum in SHIS. To provide the students an opportunity to exhibit their elocution skills, an Inter-Dynasty Hindi Declamation Contest on the topic ‘Save the Tigers’ was organized for the Grade V students on 22^nd July’ 2016.

 Two students from each dynasty were shortlisted to represent their dynasty in the Final Round. Public speaking is often described as people’s greatest fear but that certainly wasn’t the case for the finalists. The enthusiastic students took turns and articulated their thoughts clearly and eloquently. They displayed confidence, enthusiasm and alertness while participating in the competition. They expressed their views about the importance and urgent need to be more cognizant of the plight of a rapidly decreasing number of tigers.

The contest witnessed a neck and neck struggle of dexterous articulation between participants.

Result -

Samrendra (VC) from Oak Dynasty begged the first position, Vidhi Narang  (VE) from Maple Dynasty stood second and Aadhya Mathur(VA) from Cedar stood third. Overall, it was a knowledgeable and enthralling experience for all the students.

An activity "Pick up the answer card" was organized for Class III students of all the sections in the M.I Lab. The students were divided into groups of 6 members each. Then 6 problems pertaining to the subject "subtraction" were written on flash cards. 

The solutions to these jumbled with few other numbers were kept at a discreet distance from the question cards. Each group was supposed to pick out a flash card and solve the question asked in it. Once the solution was reached, the flash card having the answer had to be picked up by that team of students.

All the students participated with full enthusiasm and zeal. They had a field time and day learning numbers and cracking subtraction sums in a fun and playful manner.

‘Literature is as old as speech. It grew out of human need and has not changed, except to become more needed.’

Language and Literature are considered to be the pillars on which English literacy proficiency is built upon. In order to stimulate deeper interest and understanding of Literature, many activities are conducted regularly by the English faculty based on the course syllabi.

A Scene Enactment activity was carried out by Ms. Jyotin Prinja in Grade IX B. Observing the keen interest exhibited by the students in the play ‘Villa For Sale’, Ms. Jyotin divided the class in groups and asked each group to act out any scene from the drama and allowed them the leverage to add a ‘twist to the scene’. Much to her delight, each group not only displayed a cornucopia of dramatic skills, confidence and humor but showed their ‘original’ thinking by giving unexpected and intriguing end to the scenes acted out by them.

The students and teacher enjoyed the delightful enactments and the most fruitful upshot was the deeper understanding of the story and characters that followed as a result of this activity. 

An interactive parent-student session on Relaxation and Meditation was conducted for the students of class III - V on 19^th, 22^nd and 20^th July respectively. The session was conducted by Ms. Bhumak mother of Sudhir Bhumak of IV F, along with her team of volunteers.

At the outset of the session, the students were instructed to sit comfortably with closed eyes. The process of relaxation started with ankles and toes moving on to legs, hand and to the head at the top. The volunteers made sure that their whole bodies were relaxed. After relaxation, the students were asked to remain still, calm and quiet, till they were asked to open their eyes. It was really a very informative and relaxing workshop for the students.

They really enjoyed the process of meditation and were excited to learn about new things. The students asked questions which were satisfactorily answered and showed eagerness to learn more.

Group activities conducted at school level help the students to achieve many skills. Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work. Group enactment can be effectively employed as tool to promote a better understanding of a chapter and at the same time empower them to create an environment of friendship and inter-dependence so as to deliver an exceptional outcome as a team. It proves to be a challenging activity wherein their writing, thinking and speaking skills are polished to the utmost.

Grade X was divided in various groups by their English teacher, Ms. Meenakshi Madan. A group leader was elected to ensure smooth interaction and discussion. The children were given complete freedom to experiment with the script thus giving them an opportunity to exhibit their creativity and dramatic flair. What was really interesting was the team effort they put to put up that great show.

At SHIS, Author Meets are regularly organized by the English Faculty, under the aegis of Dr Lilly George, Founder-Managing Director, primarily to spark students' life-long interest in reading, and also to add an intriguing factor for new readers and reluctant readers. Through such sessions, the school is building up a community of reading enthusiasts. The other reasons for such sessions are to expand students’ reading experiences and to develop their writing competencies influenced by the author’s experiences.

Mr. Aditya was welcomed by Ms. Esha Sethi and Ms. Jyotin Prinja. The author connected with the youthful audience and shared about some of the interesting characters from his latest book, ‘King’s Fall’. Grade IX students were exposed to an ‘author mentoring’ concept and intriguing historical fantasy facts when Mr Wig shared his experiences with them.

The students’ editorial board, Animesh Gupta, Aryan Gupta, Ritish Grover, Rishika Arora, Suchita  Poddar and Doyel interviewed him and asked Mr Aditya about his favourite books, what prompted him to write a historical fantasy and how he had dealt with the writer’s block.

A Model Making Presentation activity in Social Studies which was the part of Holiday Homework was carried out in Grade VII where the young students worked in groups and made innovative models on topics such as the Interior of the Earth, Volcanic Eruptions and River basin using waste materials. The students brought innovative models and presented in the class.

The purpose of this activity was to understand about the changes inside and outside of the Earth. The students worked enthusiastically to demonstrate their subject knowledge through their creative expressions Overall it was a fun filled activity and the students it thoroughly.

The students of Class V presented a Group Role Play on National Leaders who have left a transformational impact on our nation to commemorate the 70^th Independence Day of our country.

It was an all-inclusive participation in which every student took keen part. The children chose to depict the lives of many great leaders to whom we owe our freedom. The purpose of this activity was to make the school students aware about famous personalities and legends who played a pivotal role in changing lives of million Indians and changing the course of history.

The activity also served to instil feelings of patriotism, liberalism, freedom, secularism and democracy among the students. The students learnt about contribution of national heroes and how many people sacrificed their lives for the nation.

The talented students put up a staggering show depicting the lives of several unsung heroes. The students were dressed up as famous personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rani Laxmi Bai, Bhagat Singh, etc. The role play also beautifully put forward their acting skills and enhanced their theatrical knowledge. This activity kept  the students involved and enthralled.

The 10^th Founder’s Day Celebrations were graced by the Managing Director, Vice Chairman and Director of the school.  After the auspicious lighting of the lamp by Dr. Lilly George, the founder students and teacher presented an evocative number ‘Waving the flag’ and Dashatabdi Scroller to Dr. Lilly George. The cultural extravaganza titled ‘Celebrating a decade of excellence’ commemorated jointly 70 years of our country’s Independence and a decade of school’ s milestones. The students and staff put up a Mayalli song, enthralling dance-sequels and a riveting dance capsule ‘Journey’ dedicated to the contributions of our nation’s great leaders and the school’s exemplary leader – Dr Lilly George. The Head Boy and Head Girl also delivered speeches on the occasion.

The Principal, Mr Atul Bhatt saluted Dr. Lilly George as an intuitive leader. Mr Ajay Poonia, a renowned Quizzing expert and Quizmaster of National level Quizzes hosted an Inter-Dynasty Quiz in front of the gathering. The students took the pledge made up of 20 gospels of ideal student behaviour.

Dr. Lilly George spoke loving words to the students and faculty. She gave a special token of love to the housekeeping representative, Mr Arun.

The environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or other region thereof. It is due to environment only that the species interact with each other. To generate the need of protecting the environment and help the society to maintain the serene beauty which we get from the natural environment, a Poster Making activity was conducted in Grade VII. All the students actively participated in the activity. Not only did it enhance their creativity and made them sensitive to the need to protect the environment but it also helped in developing their sense of responsibility towards our environment.

The students in groups designed attractive, thought-provoking and meaningful posters in their English class as a part of FA 2 activity.

A Collage Making activity was conducted in Class VII. The purpose of this activity was to help the students to understand about the differences between the two Health Care systems i.e. Public and Private Health Care facilities. The activity focused on the functions of these health care services. The students took an active part in it and came prepared with newspaper cuttings, pictures and catchy slogans related to the topic which they pasted in their notebook.

All the students enthusiastically participated in the class activity and were able to understand about the role of government in Public and Private Health Care services.             

The students of Grade IV participated in a Science activity on “Oceanic life” on 15^th July 2016. The main aim of conducting the activity was to create an understanding of the life in ocean, its importance in the life cycle and how due to various activities, it is getting degraded and polluted in the minds of the young scholars.

The students were explained about marine life and how the various human activities are destroying the aquatic world and life in the oceans.

The class was divided into 4 groups, each group with 5 students. The students discussed how the marine life is important in regulating the life cycle and maintaining its balance. Later in the session, it was also told how through different ways the pollution can be minimised, hence saving the life in the oceans. Then they translated their thoughts on papers by making attractive posters on the theme.

The Poster Making activity was a reinforcement session for the students. It helped the students get a better understanding of the concept taught with few live examples.

Under the aegis of Dr Lilly George to whom the cause of Green Earth is very dear, great importance is attached to spreading environmental consciousness in SHIS. All Shalomites are encouraged to become Earth soldiers from a young age. Plantation Drive was organized as part of Van Mahotsav Week celebrations in the Primary Wing.

To celebrate this festival, the children planted 500 tulsi saplings in the school premises. Tulsi, a herbal plant, was chosen because it gives out oxygen for 20 hours along with the formation of nascent oxygen which absorbs harmful gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide from the environment. Its extracts are widely used for curing common ailments like common cold, headache, stomach disorder etc.

The message of Environmental Conservation’ was conveyed through slogans such as “Go Green”, “Each one-plant one”, “Save Earth- Save Life”, “Clean Earth–Green Earth to create awareness about the environment in the young minds.

The children and the teachers took a pledge to sensitize people in their vicinity about the importance of trees and how we can save our Mother Earth from destruction and work towards conserving them.

The students of Grade IV participated in an MI activity on “Debate on Deforestation” conducted in MI lab on 14^th July 2016. The main aim of conducting the activity was to create an understanding of the impact of deforestation.

The students were explained about both the benefits and harmful effects of cutting down of tress with a few live-examples. The class was then divided into two groups, one group speaking ‘for’ and the other group speaking ‘against’ deforestation. Each group was given the task of talking on its topic. Both the groups came out with good points thus contributing to a meaningful and stimulation debate.  

The MI activity was a reinforcement session for all the students to help them to understand the importance of both planting of tress and deforestation in relation to human activities. The activity helped the students get a better understanding of the concept taught with few live examples. The linguistic, logical, spatial, kinaesthetic and interpersonal skills were enhanced with this activity. Overall, it was a fun learning and interactive session for the children.

The students of Class- IV presented a Special Assembly on 14^th July’16 in the Middle Wing Auditorium. The assembly commenced with the Lord’s Prayer followed by Shalom Mission and Vision, News Headlines and Thought of the Week.

A video on the topic (Vanmahotsav) was shown, which highlighted the importance of forests in our lives and harmful effects of deforestation. The students of class IV A and F presented a skit while the students of IV E presented a Hindi song on environment. The talented juniors of Class – IV G presented amazing facts related to forests followed by Shalom Anthem and National Anthem.

A Quiz was conducted to check the understanding of the students (audience). Ms. Suniti Bhai, Coordinator I-IV was present there to encourage all the participants and appreciated them for their wonderful performance.

At SHIS, Van Mahotsav Week is celebrated with great fervor, under the aegis of Dr Lilly George, Founder-Managing Director, primarily to spark the enthusiasm among the students for forest conservation and planting trees. Through such programme, the school is building up a community of green warriors determined to save the environment.

As part of Community Outreach Programme, Grade V students went to Huda market at sector 56, Gurgaon, with the express purpose of sensitizing the people about their responsibilities towards environment and society. Students went about interacting with people in all the nearby shops, eating joints such as Easy Day, More, Clinics etc. As confident Green Earth warriors, they spoke about the importance of planting trees and categorically stated that the environment should not be vitiated.

They spoke about innovative ideas for sustainable development without jeopardizing the non-renewable resources. They particularly stressed on banning plastics, its harmful effects and urged people to say ‘no to plastics’. The young students even distributed handmade paper bags and urged people to do their bit to save the environment by each one planting one sapling to prevent further desertification of the earth. 

SHIS is a fertile breeding ground of fine scholars and future leaders. Investiture Ceremony 2016-17 was graced by Dr Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director who conferred badges of office and her blessings upon the Student Council members.

The entire ceremony was marked with solemnity and tradition as the outgoing Head Boys and Head Girl relinquished responsibility to the new council in grace and by example. The oath of office was administered by Mr Atul Bhatt, the principal. The Dynasty Incharges, Ms Ambika Yadav, Ms Suman Bhanwala and Ms. Harsimrat Kaur along with the dynasty wardens too took the oath.

Soulful choir songs and a pulsating dance sequel added the ‘emotional quotient’ to the event. The outgoing and incumbent Head-Boy and Head-Girl thanked Dr Lilly George and the faculty for the grooming they have received in the school. Mr Atul Bhatt hailed the Dr. Lilly George as an exemplary leader who truly ‘walks the talk’.

Dr Lilly George blessed all the students and office-bearers and called them the ‘Stars of SHIS’. The ceremony ended with the Shalom Anthem and signing of the Charter of Duties by the Student Council.

 

 

 

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In SHIS, Environmental Awareness is developed in the school children from the early years and every occasion is utilized to engage them in tree-planting and other related environmental activities. 'Van Mahotsav' – the festival of trees is a beautiful initiative to save the environment which is undertaken in SHIS with great enthusiasm and vigour.

A Poster Making Activity on the occasion of Van Mohatsav was organized for Grade V students. Generally, native trees are planted as they readily adapt to the local conditions, integrate into eco-systems and have a high survival rate. Besides, such trees are helpful in supporting local birds, insects and animals as well.

The intrepid students participated with immense zeal and made beautiful posters which gave the message ‘ How we can save our environment and provide a greener environment to our future generations’.

The posters made by the young Shalomites also were an eye-opener as they served as a tool to spread awareness of trees among people and portray the need of planting and tending to trees.

The activity also helped in strengthening the bond between plants, animals and children.

An Inter-Dynasty Drawing Competition was held in the Senior Wing on 8^th July 2016. The competition was conducted with a view to reinforce the vision and mission of the school in a unique way so that the students could express their faith and love towards their school in an artistic way.

 Students of Senior Grades VI-VIII of the four dynasties – Cedar, Ebony, Maple and Oak used this platform to show their aesthetic skills and understanding of the school’s goals and how their student life, progress and future goals are intrinsically inter-woven in SHIS  Vision and Mision.

The dynasty wardens and tutors along with the captains, vice-captains and house members of the four dynasties played a pivotal role in motivating the students, guiding them and reinforcing the school’s Vision and Mission. On the day of the competition, the students were given one-hour slot to complete the activity.

 The panel of judges, Ms Priya Chauhan, Head-Mistress of Senior Wing and Ms Jyotin Prinja ,the Subject-Head of English Department went around the classrooms to give the final judgement.

An activity on “Parts of a Plant” from the chapter “Plants around Us” was conducted in all the sections of Grade I. The young children got to know about different parts of a plant like stem, root, flower, bud, leaves and fruit. They also learnt how and what a plant needs to grow (sunlight, air, water and soil) and at the same time, they learnt what all things we get from plants like medicine, fruit, wood, gum etc. They all understood the topic as they were actively involved in the activity.  The children were provided plenty of opportunity to touch, examine, explore and observe real plants, thus feeling and seeing the parts of a plant by touching it. They enjoyed learning about parts of a plant.

An Inter-Dynasty Friendship Band Making Competitionwas held for Grades VI-X on 2^nd July 2016. The students from each dynasty participated with full zeal and vigor. The students displayed their creativity and let lose the inner artistlurking with them in order to make friendship bands for their friends and teachers.

The competition was conducted successfully and the results are as follows:

Class VI: Cedar

Class VII: Maple

Class VIII: Cedar

Class IX: Oak

Class X: Ebony

Sixty seven students went on a school trip to Manali accompanied by Ms. Priyaa Chauhan, the Head-Mistress of Senior Wing and other senior faculty members. After reaching their destination on 22^nd May, the students and teachers partook of a hearty breakfast before setting off on a sightseeing tour to Hidamba Temple, Temple, Club House Tibetan Monastery, Van Vihar. Post-lunch, they went on a day excursion to Naggar Castle. After an eventful day, they returned for a leisurely dinner to the hotel and then enjoyed a music and dance session.

On 23^rd May, the students went off a half day excursion to Solang Valley and later, they engaged in Adventure Activities (Firefox, Rappling, Burma Bridge, Commando Net , Rock Climbing with safety Gears) at a nearby Adventure camp site. On 24^th May, they visited the Vashisht Temple famous for its Hot Spring Bath.

The students had a taste of local shopping and picked up local handicrafts and souvenirs for their family members. With their customary high spirits, they embarked on their return journey back to Gurgaon wishing that the trip had been a longer one.

A Scholar Badge ceremony was held on 12.05.16 in the Middle Wing Auditorium for Classes I-V.  Scholar badges were awarded to all the scholars who had scored excellent marks in previous year’s assessments.

Every year, awards and badges are conferred upon the top achievers and meritorious students, under the guidance of our loving management. The Principal Mr. Atul Bhatt graced the occasion and applauded the students for their hard work and sincere efforts. The Head-Mistress of the Primary Wing, Ms. Rima Gaekwad was also present at the ceremony.

Ninety students from Grades VI to VIII embarked on an expedition to the Queen of Hill Stations - Mussoorie. They were accompanied by nine school teachers who took complete care of their enjoyment, safety and security during the journey and stay.

After reaching their destination in the evening of 18^th May, the children enjoyed shopping on Mall Road, then they danced merrily to lively beats and had a hearty dinner. The next day the children visited Kempty fall. After a sumptuous lunch in the hotel, they set off with high spirits for an uphill drive to the picturesque hill town of Dhanolti, known for its eco-parks and scenic beauty.

On the third day, everyone packed up and boarded their coaches to start back for Gurgaon. On the way back, they halted at the Malsi Deer Park in the outskirts of Dehradun. After a round of appetizing snacks at Mac Donald’s, the students and teachers completed the last lap of the journey and returned back to the school premises, full of great experiences, happy moments and memories to share with parents and to cherish forever.

Mr. Rohit Raghav, a member of IT Department took a workshop of the students of class VIII on the topic of Networking Concepts. The workshop was arranged in the senior computer lab where the main server is placed.

Mr. Rohit explained the whole arrangement which was done to provide internet facility in the whole school. He showed the networking devices like Switch, Hub, variety of cables used for connections to the students. The students were also shown the Firewall device and explained its working and utility. The concept of LAN and the arrangements done for its working were also expounded to the students. The students were told how the internet in different wings is controlled from one place.

It was really a very profitable workshop for the students. They found it too interesting and enjoyed learning about new things. The students asked questions which were satisfactorily answered and showed eagerness to learn more.

We in SHIS believe in the philosophy of nurturing the intellect of each student. It is our endevour to bring about a qualitative change in the all round development of each student.

The students of Grade VI participated with great enthusiasm in the Social Science Quiz held as part of the Amartya Sen Week celebrations. Ms Swati Srivastava and Ms Richa Jaini conducted the preliminary round in all the six sections and selected two students from each section for the Final Round of the Quiz. The 4 Rounds covered questions from Heritage, Geography, Politics, Famous people of the world and Current Affairs. These three teams with 4 participants took keen part in the Quiz which tested their knowledge, challenged their presence of mind and spontaneity.

Ms. Priyaa Chauhan, Head Mistress was present to encourage the contestants. She emphasized the importance of reading news papers daily to keep abreast with the current news etc. All the three teams performed very well and gave a tough fight till the end.

Kudos to winners - Khushi Narang, Gourvi Chawla,  K. Abhinaya and Srishti Sharma of Team C

To ensure keen participation by the students in the ‘Cooking without fire’ activity, the students of Grade IV were informed in advance which necessary ingredients to bring for the activity. All students enthusiastically brought the required ingredients and took keen part in the activity held in all the sections of Grade IV on 17^th May’16.

Some children made bhelpuri, some rustled up appetizing sandwiches and savoury papri chat. A few creative ones were seen making different kinds of fresh salads and biscuit toppings. Tang and lemonade were the most drinks among the children for making as well as tasting. After the ‘young chefs’ had prepared his/her special dish/drink, they were all put up for sampling in their classrooms. The children were very proud of their creations and were eager to give their dishes to other class-mates and their teachers for tasting.

The young ones enjoyed ‘cooking without fire’ as well as eating their dishes. They shared their food with each other and enjoyed the activity.

The students of Class 2 were engaged in an enrichment programme in the school to make them aware of the new and higher academic level of studies. The enrichment programme began with a brief assembly followed by music class to rejuvenate them.

In English , the students were introduced to further classification of nouns that is countable and uncountable nouns. The students then framed sentences. In Maths students were taught  Roman Numerals from 1 to 20. They were given some Hindu Arabic Numbers, which they converted into Roman numbers. In EVS, they were told about different types of families and about  the importance  of a family in our life. They were also briefed about how they should take care of each other and share their work. In Hindi also the students were taught about nouns after the narration of a story and question answer session based on it.

Over-all it was a very elevating experience for all the students.

On 13^thMay’16, a thought-provoking Role Play activity, titled “Gender Empowerment in Villages Leads to Social Development” was conducted by the students of Grade XI. The students took an active part in it and came aptly dressed according to their characters. The main goal of the activity was to convey the message to our society to change the age old chauvinist and stereotypical mindset that prevails against the women.

During the process of performing their parts and interacting with the audience, the audience and the performers alike actively discovered and processed the impact of dowry in the society. As a result, the programme bred new agents of change by enlightening and empowering youth to identify and eliminate discrimination against women. Ms Priyaa Chauhan, the Head-Mistress of Senior Wing appreciated the efforts of the Social Science Department Faculty and  complimented the students on their convincing and realistic portrayals. The Role Play activity was a grand success.

A skit activity was carried out in Class VII. The purpose of this activity was to make children aware about the ‘Role of government in Health facilities’ and of the ‘Role of Public and Private Health Care services’. The activity focused on how it is the primary duty of the government to ensure the welfare of the people and provide health care facilities to all.

The students of Grade VII were divided in groups and each group presented the skit in the class. The students performed this activity enthusiastically to demonstrate the subject knowledge and creativity. Overall it was a fun filled activity and the students thoroughly enjoyed the same.

The desirable objective of making the students visualize the ideal or desired role of government, and the meaning behind its structures was achieved through this activity.

On 11^th May 2016, a Group Discussion was conducted in Grade XII on the topic- Why do we need an educated, healthy workforce to sustain economic development? The class was divided into two groups and each group deliberated on the issue with great enthusiasm. Some students criticized the government of India for putting too much focus on physical capital and too little on human capital-education and healthcare. Group one pointed out that there is a need for increased literacy in India. Opening classroom doors to all children will help break the inter-generational chains of poverty because education is intrinsically linked to all development goals, such as supporting gender empowerment, improving maternal health, reducing hunger and poverty, fighting the spread of HIV, spurring economic growth, and building peace.

Group two talked about the impatience of the Indian elite and held them responsible for not caring enough for those less privileged. They further raised arguments that better policies can help the children to receive better facilities by strengthening infrastructure and education systems in schools, increasing job opportunities, accelerating economic growth, and providing safe and affordable housing and transportation facilities.

In SHIS we believe in nurturing and fostering social awareness amongst the students. To afford them ample exposure and a platform to showcase their knowledge and understanding of the concepts of socio-economic linkages, a Slogan Writing activity was held on 10^th May 2016 in VIII C and D as part of Amartya Sen Week  celebrations.

All the students of these sections took an active part in the activity and poured their  heart, mind and creativity in writing slogans on the topics of Poverty, Development, Empowerment of women, Economic Stability, Sustainability, Societal Growth.

The slogans written by them were thought-provoking, expressive and impressive and revealed clear grasp of concepts elaborated by Dr. Amartya Sen’s Poverty & Development Theory, Capability approach, concepts of Economic stability & Sustainability, Empowerment of Women & Societal Growth.

The presentation and creativity of the students earmarked the beginning of new era of thought process among our ‘right-minded and empowered’ youth which showcased how our society is getting ready to a power house of development in the coming future.

An integral part of SHIS philosophy is to venture out in new domains of growth and creativity and steer the young minds to reflect on the socio-economic issues. As part of this initiative, the Social Science Department celebrated the ‘Amartya Sen Week’ from 9^th April to 13^th April 2016.

On 10^th May 2016, a Collage Making activity was conducted in Grade IX on the thought provoking topic –Poverty is presence of powerlessness, voicelessness and social exclusion. The students explored this sensitive and thought-provoking topic with great zeal and zest. The students expressed their concept thematically and artistically on the collage spreads through catchy slogans, sketches, 3D images, recent facts and figures. They had consciously put into practice the use of recycled paper in this activity as part of the awareness programme on nature conservation. It was indeed a very exciting activity for the students and has become an unforgettable learning opportunity for them to cherish.

On 10th May’16, an engrossing activity was conducted for the students of Grade XI as part of Amartya Sen Week celebrations. The main purpose of conducting this activity was to sensitize the students with the need to be aware of the consequences of global warming etc. The senior graders took an active part in it and came prepared with newspaper cuttings, pictures and catchy slogans. During the activity, Ms. Vineeta Bhatt analyzed the issues raised by the students and answered them in-depth so that the students could develop a heightened awareness of the many diverse and sustainable ways to save environment. She further encouraged the students by giving them a title of “Green Warriors” and explained the conventional ways to save energy and also focused upon the importance of conservation of energy.

The students prepared captivating collages which served as an open window to India’s environmental issues such as biodiversity, ecosystems management, pollution control, environmental monitoring and governance. They participated in this creative yet informative activity with enthusiasm and found the activity as an alternative experience for learning.

At SHIS, Author Meets are regularly organized by the English Faculty, under the aegis of Dr Lilly George, Founder-Managing Director, primarily to spark students' life-long interest in reading, and also to add an intriguing factor for new readers and reluctant readers. Through such sessions, the school is building up a community of reading enthusiasts. The other reasons for such sessions are to expand students’ reading experiences and to develop their writing competencies influenced by the author’s experiences.

The students of VI-VIII Grades had fun interacting with Ms. Rupa Gulab and literally bombarded her with questions relating to the plot, the characters and the themes from her recent best-seller ‘Daddy Come lately’.

Ms. Natasha was welcomed by Ms. Jyotin Prinja, Subject-Incharge of English and other faculty members. She read aloud a few pages from her latest book, and answered all the students’ questions. The students’ editorial board, Animesh Gupta, Alyona Ranhotra, Divya Sharma, Deveshi Trehan, Deveshi Sahai, Ayran Gupta questioned the author about her earlier books and writing experiences in the interview round.

“We are what we do repeatedly. Excellence then, is not an act but a habit – Aristotle"

Scholar Badge Ceremony is a much awaited event and a time-tested tradition in SHIS. Every year, the school awards scholar badges to celebrate the triumphant spirit and unwavering efforts of the students to forge ahead on the path of academic excellence.

On 16^th May, 2016, the students from Classes VI-XI were awarded scholar badges as recognition of their brilliant academic merit. Regular attendance also being a laudable achievement that merits due recognition, even the students who had got 100% attendance in the last academic session were given special badges. Certificates were also awarded to the young ‘buddy scribes’ who had answered Summative Assessments on the behalf of children with special needs.

The Principal, Mr. Atul Bhatt gave the message to the young scholars to keep striving and not to confine themselves to conventional career pursuits. Citing the examples of his former students, he exhorted the students to recognize their worth, channelize their interests and avail all opportunities that their school provides in abundance to realize their potential. The ceremony was a grand success.

SHIS believes in enhancing economic and social awareness amongst the students’ right from their formative years. To foster and strengthen this awareness , myriad activities were held to mark the observance of Amartya Sen Week commencing from 9^th May 2016. Interesting skits were presented by groups of students of VIII E.

The basic plot of skit on ‘Poverty & Right to Education’ revolved around a poor boy who was deprived of the basic right to education. The students depicted his struggle and determined efforts to alleviate his lot in life.

Through the skit on the theme of Right to Religion & Development of society, another group of students enacted the story of four children hailing from different communities with different mindsets and perspectives.  

The skit on the subject of Equality & Development of Society highlighted the issues of discrimination towards a boy of a particular religion and how the elders come together to resolve these sensitive issues.  

The thought process of the students regarding eh of these thought-provoking topics were clearly revealed through the skit enactments. The performances were authentic depictions of the issues that one experiences or witnesses in one’s daily life.

 “Building a Cyber Safe world for all its stakeholders”

Through various safeguards and initiatives, SHIS strives to make its students and their parents aware of the menace of fast escalating cyber threats and also  apprise them about the preventive measures necessary to pre-empt such threats.

 Keeping this in mind, a workshop on “Cyber Safety” was organized for the parents. Ms. Pooja Malhota, a Cyber Safety Counselor and the writer of the book, ‘Be Safe in Cyber Space’ spoke of the DOs and DON’Ts of Cyber Security.

During the session, she elaborated on the need for parental controls, how children and parents need to watch out for warning signs of Cyber Bullying, practice safeguards to create ‘Clean digital Footprints’  and prevent occurrence of incidents that may range from inconvenient to life-threatening. The focus of the talk centered on Smart Surfing, Smart use of Smart Phones, Social Networks/Chat and Mobile Safety Tips. This exposure gave the parents an opportunity to gain awareness of the dangers in Cyber Space and to learn various ways to navigate their way securely as they make the most of this modern age technology.

Every year, just as the Mother’s Day is celebrated all over the world on the 2^nd Sunday falling in the month of May, it is similarly celebrated with a lot of love, warmth and feeling of kinship by the little ones of the Primary Wing of SHIS. An interesting activity involving ‘Photo Frame Making’ was carried out in Grade III, whereas the young children of Grades IV – V showcased their creativity and expressed their love for their precious moms by designing cards in a ‘Card Making’ activity.

The stationery items and cut outs required for the activity were kept ready by Ms. Rakhi, the Art teacher and then provided to the children, at the outset of the activities.

Grade III children not only made attractive photo frames but also decorated them neatly and artistically. The students of Grades IV-V conveyed their love for their mothers by designing cards and writing loving verses, messages and words dedicated to their mothers.

It is never easy when someone disagrees with you or you have to disagree with someone. Debating is one of the most difficult oratory skills to acquire. It has been rightly described by a famous statesman as the ‘bloodless battle of wit and words’. In order to develop the art of fine debating in its students as well as afford a powerful podium for interaction for youth across Gurgaon, English Faculty under the inspiring leadership of Dr Lilly George, Founder-Managing Director, conducted a debate on the topic “Should Human Cloning be banned? The rules and judgement criterion for the competition were shared by Ms. Jyotin Prinja, Head of English Faculty.

 A veritable duel of words began as speakers for and against the topic took to the podium. Opinions flew thick and fast across the hall as the Gen-Next proffered cogent reasons in support of their arguments. What impressed their teacher was the degree of research and spadework done by the participants which reflected in the statistics, figures and data they quoted in their speeches.

It was a very satisfying and illuming activity for the teacher and the students.

Shalom Hills International School, under the able leadership of its Founder-Managing Director, Dr Lilly George believes that language development is the precursor and prelude to literacy development. A host of activities are carried out in the school to improve their students’ four language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. And since ‘Only a generation of readers will spawn a generation of writers’, the school encourages its students to read all kinds of genre of books and gives them exposure to different writing styles by arranging for Author Meets and ‘A Day with an Author’ regularly. One such ‘Meet the Author’ session with Mr Christopher Doyle was organized in collaboration with Mr Ankit Agrawal of Book Vook for the students of Grades IX-X.

The students interacted keenly with Mr Doyle whose debut novel, The Mahabharata Secret, published in 2013 was an instant bestseller and featured in the top 10 Crossword Best of 2013 list. His second novel – The Mahabharata Quest: The Alexander Secret – was released on 9^th October 2014 and became a source of immense interest for Shalom students as the author revealed gripping details involving the basic plot and interesting facts relating to Mahabharta Quest.

The student editorial members, namely Animesh Gupta, Alyona Ranhotra, Aryan Gupta, Mannat Kaushik, Muskan Gogia, Lishika Sahni, Rishika Arora and Parleen Ranhotra then engaged Mr Christopher in an interview session in the principal’s room. The writer enjoyed answering their questions and shared his self-learning experiences of authoring the books.

On 2^nd May’16, Buddy Teaching was conducted in the Grade X. The students were divided into groups and the topics were allotted to each group. Each group had to choose one leader who was to speak on the topic. The topic was based on the content taught in the class “Resources and Development”.   The other members of the group with the help of the teaching aids like Smart Board, wall maps, diagrams etc had to further explain to the class what their leader was teaching. The questions from the audience had to be answered by that particular group.

The learning outcome was most satisfactory as the students were able to go beyond the local understanding of the topic. They learnt how to research on a topic from different sources and explain it in front of the class. The students donned the mantle of imparters as they became “the teachers of the day”.

To get a practical understanding of the presence of Starch, Fats and Proteins in the food materials, the students of Grade VI performed a series of experiments to test for the presence of Starch, Fats and Proteins in the composite lab.

The following observations were drawn by the students from the tests.

1. The appearance of blue- black colour in the potato solution when Iodine solution is added to it indicates the presence of Starch in Potato.
2. The appearance of purple/violet colour in egg white in the presence of Copper Sulphate & Sodium Hydroxide indicates the presence of Proteins in Egg white.
3. The transparent mark left on the paper, indicated the presence of Fats in the food.

The students were elated with the results. They considered this opportunity to be an amazing experience to discover the truth of scientific facts all by themselves. Furthermore, these experiments helped the students to develop their scientific skill, thinking skill and practical understanding of the Concepts.

“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.”

― Friedrich Nietzsche

To highlight the importance of Dance as an art form and to celebrate the annual observance of The World Dance Day on April 29^th,the children were engaged in some activities by Mr Saikat.

The children were explained that dance is the expression of emotions, feelings and opinions through the movement and manipulation of the body. More importantly, Dance is a great form of exercise, every routine is a workout. It is great for balance and focus.  

The young ones recorded their thoughts and presented before their Dance teacher.

They received the message - Keep Dancing as it is one of the short cuts to Happiness. 

With the laudable aim of developing English proficiency and improving communicative competencies, the English Faculty under the guidance of Dr Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director conducted a series of meaningful and fun activities in the aptly named ‘English enthusiasts’ Celebrations.

In Grades VI-X, groups of students showcased their creative poetic attempts by writing beautiful poems on themes. Each poem had a rhyming scheme, poetic structure and was laced liberally with Poetic Devices.

Senior graders of Grades IX-X amply proved that ‘Intellectuals debate while idiots argue’ by taking enthusiastic part in Intra-Class Debate on the burning topic: ‘Should Human Cloning be banned?’.The views shared by the students were impressive and well-meditated. Each one was well armed with a special argument and used various rhetorical skills to sway the audience. Their facial expressions, body movement and gestures made the presentation really convincing and outstanding.

To spark off reading enthusiasm, two Author Meets were organized for Grade IX-X students with Mr. Christopher Doyle on 20^th April and with Ms. Natasha Sharma for Grade IV-V students on 29^th April’16. The children were exposed to different writing genres through these sessions and the editorial board sharpened their skills by asking skilful questions in the interview sessions.

Students of Grade V celebrated Earth Day, an annual event celebrated worldwide on April 22^nd, through myriad of educational and fun activities.

The day began with a Special Assembly dedicated to spreading awareness about the importance of protecting our environment and becoming proactive environment ambassadors. The assembly began with the Lord’s Prayer, daily news update, thought of the day and the word of the week. Post this, students presented a skilfully crafted skit called ‘Little Heaven on Earth’. The skit presented by these students was highly informative and inspiring. The programme included songs and poem recitations expressing gratitude towards Mother Earth.  The junior choir team ended the assembly with a melodious Earth Day anthem.

Also a badge- making activity was carried out. Each child made a badge and inscribed his/ her earth day pledge on it. Students proudly wore those badges throughout the day.

This day was also observed as ‘No Dustbin Day’. The events organized were a conscious effort to teach the young minds to develop compassion and mindfulness for all species of life.

The Earth Day is celebrated every year on 22^nd April, to demonstrate support for environmental protection around the world. It was started in 1970 and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year. The students of Class I and II were told about the significance of the Earth Day and also shown a PPT on it.

They were explained about the importance of “Going Green” and how to reduce, reuse and recycle for curbing the environmental pollution. They pledged to keep their Earth clean and green. The students also made badges on the Earth day which they enjoyed very much.

On the 29th of April’16, an interesting role play activity on "Political Thinkers Who Saw Windows Where Others Saw a Door" was conducted for senior grades of XI-XII. The students of the Humanities section took an active part in it and came dressed up as Karl Marx, Subhash Chandra Bose, Aung San Su Ki, Nelson Mandela and Sri Aurbindo. Ms. Vineeta Bhat encouraged XII graders to raise questions about the actions and theories of these political revolutionaries, which were answered precisely by the XI graders.

The thought process of each political thinker was enunciated precisely through the speeches. 

In the course of the activity, some surprising facts about these politicians and revolutionaries were revealed. One of the most interesting facts was that Mahatma Gandhi, who is considered the father of the nation, had not been awarded the Nobel Prize for any of his prestigious work. But, Sri Aurobindo, a famous revolutionary and writer, got two Nobel Prizes, one in 1943 for Literature and another in 1950 for Peace.

Students found the activity as an alternative experience for learning.

On 28^th April 2016, a Group Discussion was conducted in Grade IX on the topic- How far is it true that absolute power in any political system corrupts the democratic values absolutely?

The class was divided into 5-6 groups and each group deliberated on the issue with great enthusiasm. The students discussed amongst themselves and offered insight on the non-democratic countries of the world that were once democracies.  They took up case studies of North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Iraq, Syria, Omen and Pakistan on the reference of their topic. They travelled through each of the histories of these countries and threw light upon the ideologies of absolutism and power.

The students in the course of their discussion even connected the theory of absolutism and power through fictional works of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Percy Jackson series, and Harry Potter etc. It is in human nature that the more power one desires the more corrupt actions one must do to attain it. In Shakespeare’s tragedy of Macbeth, a Scottish noble's craving for power leads him to do terrible deeds that lead to his demise.

A Maths  activity was conducted on the topic -  Place Value, greatest and smallest numbers and odd even numbers. The abacus was shown to the students and a number game was played. Turn by turn, the students placed  the beads according to the numbers given.

Then an Extempore activity was conducted as a link-up activity. The students were given different topics  to speak a few lines on. Iin the EVS activity on ‘My Body’, the teacher showed different actions whereby the students guessed the correct body parts, type of body part and its functions.

A ‘’Student Enrichment Programme ‘’ was conducted for Grade I students, under the supervision and guidance of Ms. Rima Gaekwad, the HM of Primary Wing. The students were enlightened with new ideas and introduced to a new pattern of Classroom activities. Since the children are bright, they were able to easily grasp the concepts taught to them. In E.V.S, they learnt about heavenly bodies. In English, they learnt blend words through various activities. The Maths teachers introduced odd and even numbers through playway activities.

The children thoroughly enjoyed their fun filled learning activities and spent a productive day engaged in experiential learning.

The day started with the children seeing videos and PPTs on Earth Day highlighting its importance  and how we must look after our earth for ourselves and the future generations. The children then drew an Earth day badge for themselves and also wrote slogans on saving the Earth. These were then stapled to the children’s lapel which they proudly wore the whole day.

To underscore the importance of this day, in the Maths class, addition problem sums were based on trees and plants along with slogan writing – Save trees in their notebooks. In Social Studies the children wrote five ways on how they would try to contribute to save the Earth. In Science period,  the class put forward their ideas and suggestions on how they could contribute to the betterment of the Earth. In the English class, they wrote a paragraph on ‘earth Day celebration’. In the Hindi class, there was a general discussion on cleanliness, hygiene and water conservation.

This day was also observed as ‘No Dustbin Day’. The children took home a lot of information and an empowered  mindset of conserving their natural surroundings.

Activities and fun games are probably the most enjoyable way as well as the most effective tool to re-enforce topics, introduce concepts or simply to test current/previous knowledge. The biggest advantage is that it adds an element of intrigue to the lesson and the students look forward to it.

The students of Grade IX were pleasantly mystified when their English teacher, Ms. Jyotin Prinja walked into their classrooms on 25^th April’16 carrying inanimate objects like a photo-frame, pen stand, a calculator and a few flash cards. The students were quick to identify them as non-living things. This led to the teacher explaining Literary Devices through an interesting PPT. Then the teacher tested the children’s understanding by passing them flash cards with ‘simile’, ‘metaphor’ or ‘alliteration’ written on them. In groups, the students had to either write pairs of oxymoron or create their own similes/metaphors or make rhyming words in alliteration. One group had to personify the objects brought by Ms. Prinja and give a first-person   account of them.

Amidst great merriment, the students came up with accurate examples of the literary devices taught and explained in the class.

A Maths activity ‘BINGO’ was conducted in all the sections of class IV on 21^st April’16.The children were explained about the rules of the activity. Children were given sheets on which a 5 X 5 matrix was already drawn. It was divided in to five rows and five columns. In the first column, the students were asked to fill the numbers from 1 to 10 and in next column from 11 to 20 and so on. Then some of the maths related problems were given to the students and they were asked to mark their answers in their Bingo Card. If those numbers were in their Bingo Card, they needed to colour that box. If all the squares in any of the column, row or diagonal were filled completely, they had to call out BINGO.

The activity was conducted in a very disciplined manner. The children actively participated and enjoyed the activity.

The students of Class II did an activity on numbers using Bingo tickets. The students were given sheets in which students were told to write numbers ranging from 100 to 500. They were asked to fill different colours in the grid according to the questions asked. The child who completed first was the bingo winner.

This activity helped them understand the concept of what comes after, before, between and smaller and bigger number.

The English teacher of Grade X, Ms Meenakshi Madan had introduced the important figures of speech like Hyperbole, Alliteration, Simile, Oxymoron, Imagery, Personification, Metaphor to the students and explained how they areused as part of figurative language in the previous classes.

As part of English Formative Assessment 1 activity, the class was divided into groups of 5-6 students and each team took up an ‘out-of- the-box’ theme on which to compose their own poems. Their foray into the world of poetry, literarydevices and rhyming scheme was met with success as they wrote and presented poems on intriguing topics like ‘Thunderstorm’, ‘The shattered dreams’,‘Friendship’ , ‘Nature’ and ‘Ambitions’ to name a few.

The various groups gave the entire activity a novel outlook by providing a rhyming scheme, and figures of speech and by writing even the central theme of their poems imaginatively. The children even decorated and illustrative the written texts beautifully.

The students of class III did an activity on numbers using bingo cards. The students were given a 5 by 5 grid lines and were told to write their own numbers ranging from 1 to 50. Then they were asked simple questions based on different mathematical operations and were told to shade the respective answer with pencil colours like 1 more than 24, 5 times 2 etc.  The child who crossed and shaded one row/ column either horizontally, vertically or diagonally first was the bingo winner.

This activity helped them to solve and apply mental mathematics strategies. They participated keenly and enjoyed the activity a lot.

A Maths BINGO activity is the best way to play with Numbers. Much of mathematics teaching revolves around giving the students practice in newly acquired skills and reinforcing and revisiting already introduced skills.

In this activity, the children were given worksheets with some grids of 4X4. Children were supposed to write the random numbers from 1-50 and after that teacher was supposed to speak some numbers, where they cut down the numbers if they had written them in their grids and said “BINGO”.

The most important reasons for introducing this activity into the mathematics classroom are to generate enthusiasm, excitement and secure total involvement of the children as well as help them to gain more confidence. It was a fun-filled activity based upon hands-on learning and it promotes positive attitude towards Maths.

As soon the Emergency siren sounded alerting the children and teachers of the Middle Wing about an Evacuation Mock Drill, children were made to fall in lines for a  quick, safe and orderly evacuation out of the school building.

Within a matter of 4-5 minutes, the teachers and students of the Middle Wing were gathered Class wise in the ground and a headcount by the teachers was done to ensure no child was missing. The students were appreciated for their prompt and orderly response to the siren and drill practice and were then taken back to their classes to resume their studies.

 

SHIS under the inspiring leadership of its Founder- Managing Director, Dr Lilly Geroge, always strives to achieve excellence by challenging its students’ competencies and pushing them beyond their limits.  With this aim in mind, an Inter-Dynasty Quiz Competition on Earth Day was held for Grade III-V students. The objective behind this competition was to enhance students’ sensitivity towards environment and to make them proactive environment conservationists. It also rewardingly enhanced students’ analytical, logical, verbal and reasoning skills.

The competition had three different rounds.  The questions were displayed on the screen with a multiple choice of four answers each. The teams were given ten marks for each correct answer. There was no negative marking for the rounds.

It was an engaging session filled with sheer excitement and anticipation, assumptions and fastest responses. It was a neck and neck contest with all teams vying for the top position.

Dynasty Winners-

Class V: Maple (Yashveer Singh Tomar(VA), Vidhi(VE) and Vedant Jha (VF)

Class IV: Ebony (Tanav Adlakha(IV D),Atharva Srivastav(IV E) and Aryan Singhal(IVB)

Class III: Maple (Riya Jalaaludeen (IIIB), Yash Sharma (IIIF), Keshav Venkataraj(IIIF), Aditya Kumar (IIIA)

A Dynasty Meeting was held on 18th April,2016 in the allocated classrooms. The agenda of the meeting was to apprise the students about the World Heritage Day 18 April - World Heritage is the shared wealth of humankind. Protecting and preserving this valuable asset demands the collective efforts of the international community. This special day offers an opportunity to raise the public's awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as draw attention to its vulnerability.

1. A PPT on World Heritage Day was shown.
2. Students were briefed about the World Heritage Day and why this day is celebrated.
3. The children were told the importance of preserving the important monuments and sites.
4. A small Quiz was conducted in which children were asked to name a few world heritage sites.
5. In all, the dynasty meet helped the children understand the importance of celebrating world heritage day.
6. All the children participated enthusiastically.

A Dynasty Meet for Classes III-V was conducted on 11^th April, 2016 in the allocated classrooms. The students took part in the Prelim Round of the Quiz which was conducted for the screening of the children for the Final Quiz to be held on 12^th &13^th of April.

A Power Point Presentation based on the topics was shown to the children and a rapid round of set of questions related to Our Amazing Earth were asked from the students of Grades III-V. The children enthusiastically participated and showcased their knowledge related to the Green Planet.

Six students were selected by the dynasty teachers in round 1. Out of 6 semi-finalists, the 3 best were chosen based on the maximum number of questions answered correctly during the meet. The selected names for final round were given to the respective dynasty wardens.The meet was highly beneficial as the students realized the importance of saving water, soil, using more of paper bags, use of cycle/walking instead of cars wherever possible.

SHIS has joined Green Rhino which is an ecological programme on Nature Conservation making rapid in roads, among various schools across the country. Its mission is to create, educate and motivate young minds to preserve and conserve the rich biodiverty.

On 18^TH April 2016, Mr. Ananda Menon, a National Coordinator for Green Rhino and a keen Nature Specialist who has also worked on Nature Conservation in Sunderbans, West Bengal, interacted with the school’s Green Rhino team members and learnt about the progress of the project. The teacher representatives, Ms Ambika Yadav and Ms Richa Jaini shared valuable ideas and approaches with Mr. Menon and students.

We all know about environment but our knowledge goes in vain if we are unable to sensitize others about the cause on Conservation. It was with this approach of making a difference in our society that some of our students aim to be active citizens by visiting nearby slums for an awareness drive or starting an online petition against the cutting down of trees. Mr. Memon was quite impressed with the progress made and students’ efforts in the project. 

To give the students a practical understanding of the concept of structure and function of stomata, the students of Grade X performed an experiment (under the guidance of Ms. Anjali Drolia) to prepare a temporary mount of a leaf peel to study stomata in the Biology lab.

To reinforce the concept that stomata is more on the lower surface than on the upper surface of leaves –the leaf peel was removed from the lower surface of the leaves. Further the structure of stomata was studied in greater details under a microscope. The students enjoyed the activity.

This experiment helped the students to develop their scientific skill, thinking skill and engendered a deeper and more practical understanding of the Concepts.

In order to identify the gaps in knowledge and to retain the concepts through regular practice, the school management encourages all departments and faculty members to explore, improvise and try out various strategies that allow the students to assimilate facts easily and to challenge their proficiencies through some activity or the other.

A sentence is the basic unit of language which expresses a complete thought. Understanding of different kinds of sentences can breed additional activities and they, then, turn on the students to the joys of learning and discovering. To inculcate the habit of proper usage of English Grammar rules  and to guide children how to frame different kinds of sentences more easily while writing or speaking, an activity was conducted in Grade VII as part of their FA 1. All the students actively participated in the activity. Not only did it enhance their knowledge of the Grammar topic ‘Sentences’ but also helped in enhancing their language skills.

Poetry acquired a larger than life form and dimension when the aspiring poetesses and poets of Grade IX tried their hand at self-written poetic attempts. Their English teacher, Ms Jyotin Prinja had introduced them to the popular Poetic Devices like Alliteration, Simile, Oxymoron, Imagery, Personification, Metaphor etc which are essential ingredients of all good poetry. On 12^th April, all the students threw their heart, mind and creativity in putting up presentations, enactments or recitals of their self-composed poems in an English Formative Assessment activity.

The class was divided into groups of 5-6 students and each team took up an ‘out-of-the-box’ theme on which to compose their own poems. Their foray into the world of poetry, literary devices and rhyming scheme was met with success as they wrote and presented poems on intriguing topics like ‘Nightmare’, ‘Pirates’, ‘Oceans’ , ‘Five elements’ and ‘Dove’ to name a few.

Each group had given a rhyming scheme, used different figures of speech and written the central theme of their poems. The folders and sheets made by them had breathtaking illustrative covers which could give professional book cover designers a run for their money.

Research has proved that pair share work, collaborative working and peer teaching bolsters not only the involvement of the students in a particular class or topic but can be very effective in getting students to engage in critical thinking; thus, producing deeper learning outcomes. In order to involve the children more deeply in the teaching-learning process, such strategies are regularly deployed by the teachers of SHIS in most subjects.

One such activity of musical chairs was merged with Peer Teaching by Ms. Jyotin Prinja in the English period in IX A. The students were made to run to the accompaniment of a lively number. Groups of all the children who were getting ‘out’ were given some direct questions from a poem in their Literature syllabus, ‘The Brook’ to explain before the class. These groups of students quickly put their heads together, discussed key points with one another and then gave answers to the rest of the class.

The students of Class III did a hand on activity of 4-digit number formation using flash cards in the MI -Lab. The students used number flash cards and then arranged those flash cards in their notebook, pasted and framed the greatest and the smallest 4-digit number and wrote their number names as well in the notebook.

The students participated enthusiastically and enjoyed the activity and learnt the formation of 4-digit numbers more clearly and easily.

Theme : Shalom Vision and Mission

The students of Grades III-V were all geared up for their drawing competition on the topic of Shalom mission.

In the first session which happened on 04.04.2016, the students were explained about the broad expectations that the school has from them and how they can become an ideal Shalomite.  This was done through a Power Point Presentation on the school’s mission of social, psychological, emotional, physical and mental development of the children along with the vision of empowering and enlightening them with knowledge, virtue and ethics under the loving and caring guidance of Dr Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director.

 Young Shalomites were eager to share about their experiences of their dynasty meets and day camping trips and how these have helped them to develop their inter-personal skills, learning by doing and how the  assemblies, intra and inter- class activities  have helped them to explore their hidden talents.

They took part most enthusiastically in the Drawing Competition and their artistic attempts showcased how whole heartedly they seek to become a responsible Shalomite.

Overall it was a very interesting and fun-loving session.

Under the creative aegis of its Founder-Managing Director, Dr Lilly George, every possible avenue is explored and all opportunities are provided to find out how multi-faceted and knowledgeable the Shalom students are. Every year, the English Faculty plans and conducts a series of brain- stimulating and invigorating Quiz Competitions to discover, develop and challenge the cognitive and critical thinking skills of the students.

In order to test and challenge the cognitive and collaborative skills of its children as well as sharpen their razor sharp reflexes, an English Literature Quiz was conducted in Grade IX. The Quiz proved to be an effective way to identify the gaps in knowledge and to retain the concepts through regular practice by the English Faculty.  The class was divided into 6 teams. An interactive, engaging and invigorating Quiz PPT on the recently completed Literature chapter was shown to the students by Ms. Jyotin Prinja.  

All the students actively participated in the quiz. All teams put up a valiant fight and the winning team trumped it only a whisker’s margin.  

With the express objective of allaying parental apprehensions and seamlessly helping their young children (former kindergartners) make the transition into Primary Wing, a special Orientation was held specially for the parents of all students who would now be entering Grade I in the new session.

Mr Atul Bhatt, the Principal extended a warm welcome to the parents, telling them a bit about the school and the importance of parent’s role in their child’s education.

During this session, the parents were taken through each aspect of school’s innovative pedagogy, collaborative learning strategies, assessment and evaluation processes to name a few and what one can expect as a parent throughout the year. Key points highlighted were the importance of a parent’s support, constant communication, importance of observational learning and child-centric education.

The day ended with the parents meeting their child’s class teacher who shared specific information about arrival and dispersal of buses, voluntary opportunities, classroom schedules, and special activities. This session created a special bond among the triangulation network of teachers, students and parents as well as led to deeper understanding of parents about school functioning.  

The new session 2016-17 kick started with an Orientation Programme held for the parents of the new admissions to the Primary and Senior Wing. Mr Atul Bhatt, the school principal, Mr Priyaa Chauhan, Head-Mistress-Senior Wing and Ms. Rima Gaekwad, H.M of Middle Wing were also present. In his welcome address, Mr Atul Bhatt greeted the new parents and discussed the recent workshops attended by the faculty members. The principal urged the parents to freely share their concerns and constructive feedback with the management, school principal, heads and teachers.

Ms. Rima Gaekwad briefed the parents about almanac details, planners, fee payment details, safety arrangements, transport etc. The IT Incharge explained about the RFID, Transport d GPS tracking app. She revealed how the school draws its inspiration from Dr Lilly George’s vision and mission of holistic development and academic excellence.

Ms. Rima explained the exam pattern, FA-SA marks distribution and weight age, Scholastic-Co-Scholastics areas prescribed under CCE to the parents through a PPT. Ms. Rima particularly touched upon how  the CCE specifications– academic, co-curricular, life skills, values and attitude are skillfully integrated into the curriculum in Shalom since its inception..

Students of Class IV and V were taken on an adventure trip to Farmstead near Baliyawas, Gurgaon.  The students reached school at 8:00 a.m. in great excitement and anticipation on a bright, sunny day- just the right ingredient for an ideal outing. The students were divided into groups and were assisted by the team members of the Rockport group. They started with a warm up session followed by activities and games like Burma Bridge, Rope ladder, Commando crawl, Zorbing ball, Wall climbing, Commando net and tug of war etc. Students were given demonstrations and instructions for each activity.

A healthy and delicious breakfast was savoured by all. At 1:00 pm the children returned for their lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the delicacies like puri, sabji, halwa, Shahipaneer, rice, rajma and hot jalebis. After lunch, they were back with a final round of activities until 3 pm. Another round of juice and noodles was well-deserved after the session of activities.

This trip seemed to have invigorated the children with a new zeal and was a great wrap up activity for the academic session.

A session on Collaborative Teaching of English, Maths and E.V.S was conducted in all sections of Class I by the students of Class II on 19th February 2016. Collaborative Learning is Peer Learning that encourages the students to work in pairs or small groups to discuss concepts or any decided topic. They were introduced and briefed on the importance of peer teaching. On the day of the activity, the selected students from Class II were given a topic from the syllabus of class I.

Students took some time to prepare the lecture content on the given topic and then they taught the other students. They also posed some questions to their class-mates and had an interactive session with them. In all, it was a learning experience for Class II students. Also, it helped to enhance their oral communication, inter-personal skills and leadership skills. Students of class I enjoyed learning and at the same time students of class IInd enjoyed teaching.

On 12^th February’16, the Social Science department a Debate Competition for students of Grades IX and X on the topics:

• Is Uniform Civil Code a Step towards India’s National Integration?
• Is Reservation Policy an Affirmative Action in True Sense in India?
• Censorship on Media should be Removed or Not?
• Installation of Democracy is not Enough, We Need Vigilant Citizens to Run the Democracy

The Judges were Ms. Jyotin Prinja with Ms. Shikha Nagpal, Ms. Vineeta Bhatt and Ms. Richa Jaini. They judged students on the basis of their level of understanding, content, quality and presentation. Judgement criteria for Interjector were content, clarity, relevance and lucidity of the question. The students were well prepared and used various skills like overstatement, articles of Indian Constitution, incidents etc. to convince the audience. Devishi Sahay (IX) was declared as Best Speaker (for) and Aarushi Hans (IX) got the title of Best Speaker against the motion. Shruti Bajpai (X) and Bhavneet Kaur (X) were declared Best Speaker for and against the motion respectively. Best Interjector title was given to Avdesh.

Judges gave Aarshi Ray and Alyona Ranhotra from Grade X the Special Jury Award.

Laced with solemn moments and loving send-off remarks, Shalom Hills International School held a Citation ceremony on 23^rd Feb’16. This mega event was held to bid adieu, to give recognition to the talents of the outgoing students of Grade XII and to encourage them to exit the school portal’s as fine Shalom ambassadors.

Under the loving mentorship of Dr Lilly George, the Founder-Managing Director, each student appearing for the class XII board exam was felicitated with a citation during the ceremony. The framed citations highlighting their talents and positive attributes revealed during their fruitful years were handed over by the principal, Mr Atul Bhatt to each and every student with good wishes messages. Ms. Priyaa Chauhan, the Head-Mistress of Senior Wing, Ms Ruchi Bhatia, Senior Coordinator – Senior Wing and other Senior faculty members, namely Ms. Maya Vinod, Ms. Vimala Jossy, Ms. Meenakshi Madra, Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Ms Mitu Singh, Mr Madhusudan Rao and Ms. Jyotin Prinja were also present at the ceremony. This was a sentimental occasion for the students, heads and teachers especially when Dr Lilly George blessed the children and these special moments were captured on lens for posterity.

Maths M.I. activity is the best way to encourage mathematical reasoning. Much of mathematics teaching revolves around giving students practice in newly acquired skills and reinforcing and revisiting already introduced skills. In this activity, the children were given dodging of tables or multiplication sums and answers were written on the chits or flash cards. Children were supposed to tell the right answers as they had been earlier shown dodging of tables on the smart board.

The most important reason for introducing MI Activity into the Mathematics teaching methodology is to generate and garner enthusiasm, excitement and total involvement of the children and to ensure that they gain more confidence.

There are several well-known formulas for the areas of simple shapes such as triangles, rectangles, and circles. Area plays an important role in modern mathematics. To find the area of irregular shapes, the first thing to do is to divide the irregular shape into regular shapes that you can recognize such as triangles, rectangles, circles, squares and so forth. To clear these concepts, the students were asked to bring a graph paper and a leaf to calculate the area of a leaf.

Then the students were asked to trace the outline of a leaf on a graph. Usually on a graph, we can find squares of side 1 cm each. Hence, the area of each square is 1 sq. cm. Since the side length is 1, it is also called a unit square and its area is given in sq. units. While calculating the area of such shapes always first count the full squares. Any part which is more than half can be counted as 1, then the parts which are less than half are to be left out. In this way, students can find the area of any shape by counting square on the graph. The students were asked to do same after explanation. Thus this simple activity helped them to understand the concept of area more clearly and evidently.

Walk for Hope is a padayatra for peace and harmony by the Manav Ekta Mission – covering 6500 kms from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. The Walk for Hope was flagged off on 12^th January  to commemorate the birthday of a great prophet of interfaith harmony, Swami Vivekananda. Led by Sri M, the founder of this mission, the padayatra reached Gurgaon this week. This initiative seeks to have a nation – fit to be bequeathed to our future generations.

Whenever a social cause has to be espoused, Shalom Hills International School under the aegis of its Founder –Managing Director, Dr Lilly George is in the forefront. On 16^th January’16, the students of Grade VIII accompanied by Ms. Priyaa Chauhan, Head-Mistress of Senior Wing, Sports teachers, Ms Sanjana, Ms Lopa, Ms Vineeta and Ms. Vanita Verma joined the padayatra as it neared the school. Walking briskly and lending their support to this laudable initiative, the youthful Shalomites walked till Sushant Lok.

Abdus Samad Hashmy and Surya Iyer of Grade XII showed great resourcefulness in conducting a walk n talk interview with Sri M while walking along with him.

An Inter-Section Competition on ‘Animations in Flash’ was conducted in the Computer Lab. All the students of class VIII created beautiful animations using Flash and enhanced their creative and presentation skills. The animations prepared by the students were judged for their Concept, creativity and presentation skills.

 

Winners

I Position: Vedant Swain VIII C

II Position :Bidushi Roy VIII B

Under the creative aegis of its Founder-Managing Director, Dr Lilly George, a platform has been provided for all the students of SHIS to showcase their talent in the field of Information Technology.

“Knowledge is power, information is liberating and education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family”. This adage was very much in evidence when the students of Classes VI-VII, IX-X took part in an ‘IT Quiz’ conducted in the Computer Lab. There were 5 teams namely Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Whatsapp and Blog and the Quiz comprised of four challenging rounds: Multiple Choice Round, Identifying the IT personalities, Current Affairs and Dumb Charades.

The students participated with full enthusiasm and zeal. The Quiz served as an excellent opportunity for the young students to enhance their creative and thinking skills.

Winners

I^st Position –

Shreya Gaur – VII and Raisa Chugh – VI

Tushar Gupta – X and Avdhesh Vakil -IX

 

2^nd Position –

Ashmit Bansal – VII and Khushi Narang – VI

Krishna Deorari–X and Aarsuhi Hans - IX

The students of class-II were involved in Maths activity on Fractions in the MI- Lab. A fraction represents a part of a whole or any number of equal parts. In Latin fractus means” broken”. The students were told how to equally divide any whole figure or size into equal portions. A fraction describes how many parts of a certain size are there. They were explained about various types of fractions starting from half, one-third then moving onto one-fourth, three-fourth, etc. They learnt how to make a whole by using different fractions like 2 halves or 4 quarters make a whole. Thus, this simple activity helped them to understand the concept of fractions more clearly and evidently.

MICROSOFT ‘CREATE TO INSPIRE’ SCHOOL PROGRAMME
TOPIC: Organic Food – Good for You! Good for Earth!

 

The student of Class X presented their research work on the various aspects of Organic Food to the parents on 19.12.15.The students were asked to make advertisements, scrap books, catchy slogans on Organic food, its benefits and quick recipes of rustling up organic meals. They used their creativity to make poster advertisements on Organic Food. The advertisement posters were hung on the stage area for parental viewing and subsequent enquiries.

The students explained the benefits of organic food to the parents and their school mates namely that they don’t have pesticides or insecticides. Parents were informed about various other benefits of organic food. Ashwin, Jyoti, Nutika and V.Yash of Grade X presented the creative work prepared by their class-mates and confidently expounded upon the health benefits of organic food.