ROOTS & SHOOTS Issue 1

Roots & Shoots

Love your neighbour as yourself (Bible)

Newsletter

N

OUR MOTTO: IN GOD WE TRUST ACADEMIC SESSION 2020-21

By God’s grace we completed our Academic Session 2019 - 2020 successfully in peace. However, the beginning of session 2020-2021 we find ourselves in a peculiar and grave situation. Of course ! It was the outbreak of the COVID - 19, the unprecedented global pandemic. Due to COVID 19, we could not start our classes as usual with students. Instead, we choose Online Classes / Virtual teaching as a sole option to conduct classes. It is basically a true saying, that no alternative teaching can really match up the status of the interactive teaching in a classroom between a pedagogue and the student. While accommodating to the current situation around us, we explored the idea of Online Classes using an application called ZOOM.

This is no doubt that a new and unusual variant for our students and teachers. It led to unrest amongst parents, as they were not familiar with this new paradigm of Education. But, by the Grace of Almighty Lord, our teachers started these online classes with all preparedness and regularly sought the responses from our students and their parents. For the advancement of ongoing classes, our teachers regularly attend Webinars which help a great deal by identifying and adopting new ideas shared there. During the lockdown period, on one hand we continue to provide full academic input to students, whilst on the other, we exhibit best actions to get rid of the COVID 19 monotony and despair. All the staff and teachers of Salvation Tree Family acted in a valouristic manner like those of the COVID warriors who nursed the mental as well as cognitive well being of our students who are a real treasure for us. Foremost, we need be thankful to God, for it was all possible due to the grace and wisdom provided by Him. Ms. Prachi Pant Editor

Friends, The world around us has drastically transformed within the past couple of months. COVID 19 has left most activities come to a standstill, however a large number of corona warriors are still going that extra mile to help people. We are immensely proud of the teaching community as they have embraced the present situation positively and used it as a growth opportunity. Our teachers are making online curriculum, curating the content for online classes while managing their own quarantined families. STS staff has done a stellar job, by setting up distance / virtual learning in no time, at every education levels. Our aim is to deliver the highest quality of teaching and learning during these trying times. STS takes this opportunity to thank the parents for having bestowed their faith and confidence in us. I am confident that our students will make themselves stronger and better equipped day by day by adding to the grandeur of their school. Further, I want to assure you that the Management and our team of experienced teachers are doing their best to give our beneficiaries the required edge to make a mark in this changing world. We pray the crisis shall soon get over, while you take good care of yourself, whom we count as our extended family. Ms. Suparna Mukherjee,

ROOTS & SHOOTS| Issue# 2

Coordinator

ONLINE CLASSES DURING

LOCKDOWN:

ACTIVITES DONE BY STUDENTS

FATHER’S DAY CELEBRATION

ROOTS & SHOOTS| Issue# 3

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B OONLINE CLASSES

“Necessity is the mother of invention” is a well known saying which we got to experience in this unprecedented situation. Each day we explored, we tried, we analysed and always came up with the best possible solution. Teaching under these circumstances has been extremely challenging. Most of us adapted technology which we were not familiar with. Rising above the challenges we surpassed all odds and stepped up. Video lessons,PowerPoint presentations, Live classes, Worksheets, Assessments and so on were undertaken to keep our students engaged, and to keep learning going on, even during these tough times. This new situation has taught me to unlearn a lot of things and learn new. As we master techniques of sharing screens and writing on Virtual Whiteboards, we feel newly empowered and equipped. Even our little kids learned to raise their hands virtually, mute and unmute themselves and got moulded into the new system. I believe this pandemic has eventually made us not only more equipped with technology but also with knowledge and experience, and when everything gets normal, we shall emerge stronger and better equipped to an advanced education system.

Ayesha Siddiqui (Science Teacher) Music heals. Music has soothed millions by curing distressed souls. Faith in this ethic of music affirms our belief. We proclaim music can be a saving grace for us during this lockdown. STS is offering regular music classes, which has proved to be a genuine source of enjoyment and relaxation for our children. Music makes their loneliness and isolation vanish into thin air. Renowned musician A.R. Rahman says :- "If the music heals you, makes you work and think, then the Music is surely working" and this is why we hold music so close to our heart. We wish best for our students' upcoming academic success and safe being at this time. Prachi Pant (Music Teacher) April and May 2020 was a difficult time and a very different experience for everyone including teachers, students and parents. Hats off to our kids who cooperated with their parents and teachers and adapted to the new change of online studying. Kids needed space to play but they couldn’t go outside, so they have found new innovative ways to enjoy staying at home. They learnt quickly how to cope up with the situation and be

happy, we adults should learn from them how to be happy in every situation. As teachers we were not been able to interact face to face with students however, with online teaching, we interacted with kids and it was a great and new experience for us and the students. Students were very co-operative and listened to the instructions given to them. We felt very satisfied when the assessment was responded very well, that showed the hard work of our students and parents. Vidushi Aggarwal Incharge Pre-primary department According to me Coronavirus is a very fatal disease.Till date it has taken the lives of many. I have learnt many things from this pandemic but the main is to 'SURVIVE' in all kinds of adverse and difficult situations. I have learnt not only to be physically fit in order to face this disaster but to be mentally strong in order to face all kinds of situations like being isolated, being without work,facing lack of finances,not being able to meet friends and dear ones,siting idle etc. I have learnt to save resources for worse situations and to live with little and be happy and satisfied. I have learnt how valuable our friends and our dear ones are for us because their absence has really flushed us in and out. I have learnt to be a helping hand to those who have no or less resources like the workers clan ,the beggars and those who need desparate help. Health and hygiene has to be our first and foremost priority, being a teacher I will guide my students to live a healthy and hygienic life so that they can be strong and healthy. Mother nature has already refreshed herself as everything that was destroying her was lockdown. The ozone layer that was depleting has been bandaged and repaired,so I will train my students to maintain this and protect Mother Nature so that in future they will have less disease like Cancer, asthma,heart attacks, skin disease and pandemic like SARS COV-2. Life and living will become beautiful. Sonakshi Ayesha lall Class Teacher –Grade I

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In this pandemic situation, e-learning has emerged as the most effective option – both for the students and for teachers. E-learning signifies the method of sharing and communicating knowledge via multimedia platforms. Parents and teachers have an important role to play by providing students with encouragement and feedback. For me as a computer teacher, this is a new learning. Online education is not a new trend but it is becoming popular as we speak.

The e-learning method requires an internet connection with good speed and a computer or mobile. The teachers and the students can interact with each other at any time without the limitations of time. It’s used to provide study material, clears doubts also for taking tests. I believe in integration of information technology for accelerated school education. Dolly Vashney (Class Teacher- Grade III)

By Virender Sir Art Teacher

STUDENTS BLOGS

Travelling is fun

Why Travelling is fun.... Travelling is fun , it

opens up your eyes and mind about the world

and other great places. Even though we prefer

being comfortable in our house , it will still be

better if we try exploring things and amazing

locations once in a while. It is also a way to

learn more about the world.

Learning is a strong reason why people love to

travel . They want to experience something

unfamiliar and leave with new skills or

knowledge . Another reason why people love

to travel : it helps open your mind you realise

that there's no one way to live life . Meeting

people from other places will show you that

your world view isn't the same as everyone

else's.

There's always a happy reason to take a trip. It

could be a landmark birthday or grand party . A

special occasion is made even more special by

celebrating away from the hectic pace of life at

home. It's also a good way to gather family and

friends from distant corners to mark the

milestone. Celebrating vacations provide a

lasting benefit as well : shared memories for a

lifetime.

Udita Dey

Class VI

Urban Balcony Gardening

According to me, gardening in unused space needs experience and patience to convert it into your dream garden. I was able to overcome the challenges by learning from my own mistakes.

In my view, gardening works as a stress buster and it also needs continuous care and attention. Few of the common mistakes which not only I but it is also observed that the novice can make. I would like to share my own experience of metropolitan gardening with a hope that others will benefit from it.

1. 1. Always start with a pilot: It is my recommendation to initially begin with

a couple of pots to ensure you are making the right selection of pots and gain some knowledge to grow the plants and how to take care of them.

/ 2. 2. Selection of Pots: Choosing the correct container and its size is

an important part of setting up an Urban garden. The container needs to have proper drainage hole as it helps the roots for the required growth.

3. Selection of soil:

Always ensure that instead of red soil you should opt for potting mix as it allows to have a proper drainage and aeration which is the key to set a balcony garden. A potting mix is based on organic compost mixed with coco peat, red soil, vermicompost and other nutrients.

4. Selection of plants for your balcony:

Before buying plants for your gallery, plan your garden according to the duration of sunlight and space availability. Do not simply purchase plants that you think looks beautiful, and then expect it to grow in your shady space.

5. Watering:

ROOTS & SHOOTS| Issue# 6

Common mistake of Urban gardening is to over watering or forget to water the plants. If you over water the plants so the leaves turn yellow and fall off or the plant do not bloom. The plant will shrink If you fail to water the plants in proper duration and if it goes long enough, without water the potted plant will die. These were my initial mistakes and most of the beginner might have overlooked. One can avoid it by implementing some basic techniques stated above. Have fun with your garden and take care of it. Improve your health and lifestyle. Creating an organic terrace garden will fill you with joy and bring beauty to your surroundings. Niket Golcha Class VI

From the Desk of The Principal

Dear Parent,

Covid 19, at first, was a gentle whisper from a far off land. We were dimly interested. When the whisper became a murmur and the murmur became a shout, we sat up and took notice.

Our challenges were how to teach our syllabus in full measure ? How to train our teachers, parents and students to speedily and seamlessly adapt to this new platform? How to ensure that students are engaged and inspired ? That their eyes don’t hurt from the glare of electronic devices ? That they exercise in the absence of P.E; that they remain safe in the cyber world? How to safeguard the wellbeing of our teachers? How to ensure that parents are on board, often juggling careers, kids and housework, all at once? How to know that our children are actually learning ?We established multiple channels of communication to muster innovative solutions, research & technology, to reestablish protocols.

With great pleasure and humility we look forward to serving you. Let’s hold hands in building tomorrow's future.

Dr.Hepesh Shepherd