Echo E-newsletter July (2022)
TRUSTEE MESSAGE
“Without continual growth and progress, words such as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning,”
Education empowers individuals and makes them the potential for gainful employment turning them into responsible citizens. Education is an asset and at Gajera Institutions we strive every day to provide the best of it. It is our goal to provide holistic education and set our students on the path to success from the very beginning. It is my humble aspiration that students at Gajera Institutions have deep-rooted values with a global outlook. Even as we impart education to match the advancements in technology and various processes, we guide our children towards the right principles, ethics, and morals.
We firmly believe that knowledge for its own sake is critical in a world where the pace of change is so rapid that it is difficult to imagine today what will happen a few years hence. Under such circumstances, the only insurance for the future is the capacity to learn and adapt. This can only be created if we inculcate habits of lifelong learning in our children.
At Gajera Group of Schools, we endeavor to provide our children with an environment where they may go beyond learning what is simply prescribed by the syllabus. The result will be well-developed individuals who can get along with a cosmopolitan crowd in an ever-changing world.
I am grateful to principals, educators, staff, parents & more importantly my dear learners who have helped trust, to fulfill the dream that was set up long back in 1993.
I am very happy with the progress the Schools have made by imbibing in its student's value-based education synergized with modern teaching-learning methods to produce a generation of well-informed and emotionally sound young minds.
I am positive that in times to come we will continue.
Keep Learning, Keep Contributing and Keep Growing.
PRINCIPAL MESSAGE
We always tell our children not to worry about recognition. We tell them to just commit to the cause cent percent, awards and recognition will follow. In recognition to our commitment to making the environment green again, Gajera Global School received the prestigious National School Awards 2022 as the Most Eco-friendly School of 2022. The award followed the efforts of the school to make Green Education and conservation a part of our core curriculum.
As part of our mission, we set up a butterfly garden in the school premises. The garden is now home to a variety of butterflies and a favorite visiting area for birds and bees. The visits by these small animals may not seem a big deal initially, but in the long run, they will have added considerably to the biodiversity of the ecosystem.
As part of our regular activities and competitions, a Talent Hunt was held this month. Content writing, singing, dance, PPT presentations and poster making were the categories of the Talent Hunt. Judges from different educational institutions were invited to adjudicate in the competitions.
Another notable event was the trips to Ahmedabad by the learners of grades 1st to 5th and 9th to 12th. Learners visited ISRO, Sundarbans and Sabarmati Ashram as part of the excursion.
The visit to Vatsalyadham was another notable event. It was organized to show them how the resident-children live a sustainable life there. The visit turned into an exchange of ideas as learners of GGS learnt how to make plates with leaves and those of Vatsalyadham learnt how coding automates traffic lights.
This month we have a series of activities lined up for the month as we are celebrating many occasions. More about that later in the month.
INTEGRATED LEARNING
EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS
VISIT TO VATSALYADHAM
Pre-Primary learners went on a visit to Vatsalyadham to show them how learners live and lead a life of self-reliance at the orphanage. Learners visited the farm, the barn and the 3D lab maintained by the learners themselves, with some help from educators.
VISIT TO AHMEDABAD
Learners of grades 1st through 5th went on an excursion to Ahmedabad and visited Sundarban, Sabarmati and the Centre for Environment Education. To turn this event into a unique bonding opportunity, mothers were allowed to accompany their wards.
EVENTS
DOCTOR'S DAY
Learners of GGS celebrated Doctor’s Day on 1 July in remembrance of the service they provide to the society. On the occasion, doctors … visited the school and showed learners how to lead a healthy life. They showed how to relax the muscles to keep the mind calm. They discussed the importance of a healthy diet along with the need for exercise
STUDENT'S DAY
Every year, GGS celebrates Student’s Day on the 5th of July. On this day, learners take part in activities like poster making, art and craft activities and other sustainable creatives. The day coincides Trustee Mr Chunibhai Gajera’s birthday.
GLOBAL FORGIVENESS DAY
Learners of the school celebrated Global Forgiveness Day on 7 July. They performed a skit on the occasion to highlight the need for forgiveness. They showed how forgiving is more important for the giver than the receiver. It releases us from the negative emotions that hold us down.
GLOBAL FORGIVENESS DAY
Learners of grades 6th to 12th celebrated Founder’s Day and remembered how the Trust was formed that led to massive changes in education in and around Surat. As of now, the Gajera Trust is associated more than fifty-thousand learners and thousands of educators. It also runs an orphanage at Vatsalyadham. On Founder’s Day, we recall these contributions the Trust has made to the society.
EMOJI DAY
Prep graders of the school learnt about emotions and expressions as Emoji Day on 16 July. They imitated the emotions showed by the emojis. The activity reinforced the ideas of emotions and expressions that affect us all.
GURU PURNIMA
Teachers make or break a child’s career with their words. With their mere words they can bring about a revolution. In recognition of this immense impact of the Guru in our lives, GGS celebrated Guru Purnima on 13 July as part of its long standing tradition. Teachers were given bouquets as welcome gifts.
KARGIL DIWAS
Learners of GGS celebrated Kargil Divas today in memory of the brave soldiers who laid down their lives for he sake of the country. On this day, Kargil was reclaimed by Indian soldiers from Pakistan backed terrorists. Learners of the school discussed the contribution and sacrifice of these brave men in class that day.
WORLD CONSERVATION DAY
Learners of GGS celebrated Conservation Day reinforcing the need to protect the environment from the disastrous changes occurring over the past few decades. The climate changes have been so destructive that entire communities are now bearing the brunt of our thoughtless actions in the past.
RAINY DAY
Prep learners of the school welcomed the rainy season with a unique programme. The celebration not only gave the an opportunity to enjoy but also learn terms and words associated with the monsoons.
COMPETITIONS
SHOW AND TELL
Prep graders of the school took part in a show and tell competition on 23 July. Learners looked at pictures and concocted a story on the spot. This sharpened not only their speaking skills but also their creativity, as they needed to come up with the story on the spot.
OFF THE CUFF (EXTEMPORE)
Learners of grades 1st through 5th took part in an extempore speech competition on 20 July 2022. By taking part in the competition, learners sharpened their public speaking skills.
GGS TALENT HUNT
On 27 July, GGS organized one of its mega yearly events called the GGS Talent Hunt. Learners took part in the competition in various areas like, content writing, music, stand-up comedy, poster making and board decoration. Judges were called from other educational institutes to make the events more competitive.
PERIODIC TEST I
The first unit test was held from 11 to 18 July for all the grades of the school. While learners of grades 1st to 8th took the examination from 13 to 18, those of 9th and 11th appeared in the examination from 11 to 18 July.
PEM
On 30 July 2022, the PEM was held to discuss the performance of the learners in the first Unit Test. They came to take stock of the grades their wards had earned.
Learner's Corner
SEA CREATURES
Come along , come with me
Take a dive in the deep blue sea,
Put on your gear , Let’s explore
All the way to the ocean floor!!
See that snail wrapped in curls?
Look! An Oyster wearing pearls
Watch the octopus oh so dark,
But don’t you dare to pet shark
Giant blue whales start to stir
Bigger than dinosaurs even were!
Wave good bye to the squid and sponge
This is the end of our deep sea plunge!!
By Jakshkumar Roy Grade 4A
Educator's Corner
Take a break …It’s important!
"All work and no play makes jack a dull boy"
Holidays are very important parts of everyone’s life, be it a learner or a working person. Everyone deserves to take a break from the monotony to rejuvenate and maintain their health. Holidays help us do exactly that. Nowhere will you find a person who dislikes holidays. From a school-going toddler to your house help, everyone looks forward to holidays and sees them as a great opportunity to relax and enjoy.
In today’s stressful world everyone is busy from morning to night. Earlier people enjoyed doing work but nowadays people are so much engrossed in their work and earning their livelihood that they forget their health and their personal life.
Studies have shown that time away from the job can have physical and mental health benefits. People who take vacations have a lower stress rate less risk of heart disease a better outlook on life and more motivation to achieve their goals strengthen their relationships and also know themselves properly, prolonged lifespan, and Life satisfaction.
People who travel more and take a break from work are physically and mentally more fit and fine as compared to people who don’t travel at all.
Going on a wellness holiday gives you the chance to step back from any responsibilities,
obligations, and problems you have at home or work, and taking a break from these sources of anxiety has been proven to drastically reduce stress levels. By separating yourself from situations and places you normally associate with stress and distracting yourself.
So go, get it to take a break from your stressful life and rejuvenate yourself by going on a holiday. It's really important.
By Tasneem Dewaswala
English Educator
My Nation, My Pride
India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, dating back more than 4,000 years. During this time, many rituals and traditions have come together, reflecting the country's rich history and legacy.
The country's history provides a window into the magnitude of its transformation, which took place over the course of 150 years, from a country struggling under colonialism to one of the world's top economies. More than anything else, the people's patriotic pride is what contributed to the completion of such a development. This section is a modest attempt to maintain the national pride that this transformation of the country has instilled in every Indian both inside and outside of the country.
We take pride in being citizens of a country that has provided asylum to those who have been persecuted and refugees from all walks of life.
By Jinal Parikh
Maths Educator
GOOD READS
A Spoonful of Frogs by Casey Lyall: The most crucial component of a witch's favorite delight is frogs, but getting them into the cauldron is the most challenging. A Spoonful of Frogs, a funny and entirely unique picture book by renowned author Casey Lyall and Caldecott Honor artist Vera Brosgol, is a surefire hit with those who adored Dragons Love Tacos and Room on the Broom.
The Last Beekeper by Pablo Cartaya: The Last Beekeeper, the latest middle grade novel by the acclaimed author Pablo Cartaya, follows 12-year-old Yolanda Cicerón as she struggles to save the last known beehive in the world from extinction while facing nearly insurmountable challenges, including a climate change-affected environment and greedy people who will profit from the bees.
The Language of Seabirds by Will Taylor: A charming, touching middle-grade tale about two boys falling in love for the first time during a summer by the sea.
The idea of spending the summer in an Oregon beach cabin with his dad and his uncle does not excite Jeremy. The first summer since his parents' divorce, he hasn't exactly been looking forward to spending time alone himself with his father. He has no choice but to go, so he does. On his first day, he goes for a walk on the beach and becomes captivated by a boy his age who is passing by. When he eventually meets Runner Kid (Evan), what begins as a friendship blossoms into something neither boy anticipates—but something both boys had been secretly longing for.
The Elephant Girl by James Patterson: A girl, an elephant, and their profound connection are the subjects of an amazing tale by James Patterson and acclaimed author Ellen Banda-Aaku.
Clever and delicate Jama prefers elephants to people. Twelve-year-old Jama seeks safety at the bar outside her hamlet as her classmates gossip, particularly about the new lad, Leku. There, she becomes a relationship with an infant elephant whom she names Mbegu (Swahili for "seed")
Lumber Jackula by Mat Heagerty: In this middle school graphic novel, a youngster who is half-vampire and half-lumberjack has to choose between his parents and his desire to become a dancer.
Jack is stuck in a bind. His mom is a lumberjack, and she wants him to attend Mighty Log Lumberjack Prep so he can learn how to cut wood and put on flannel. In order to learn how to transform into a bat and consume blood-orange juice, his vampire father wants him to enrol in Sorrow's Gloom Vampire School. Additionally, Jack has a secret: dancing is what he really wants to accomplish.
