The official newsletter of Taktse International School
Students pitching tents during YLR Photo © : Ms. Shreya Lama
Page 01 NOTE FROM THE OUTREACH TEAM
A small intro from the Taktse Outreach Team. Page 02-03 YLR
Updates from the Young Leader Retreat Page 04 US CONSUL GENERAL'S VISIT
The CG along with a team from USIEF Kolkata had visited Taktse on 20th February Page 05 TEACHER ORIENTATION
Reflections of the teachers orientation program on the 1st week of school
Page 06 STUDENT ORIENTATION
Reflections from the student orientation. Page 07 WELCOMING OUR NEW STAFF MEMBERS
New members of the Taktse Community Page 08 BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Some good reading suggested by our students
NOTE FROM THE OUTREACH TEAM
A greentailed sunbird (Aethopyga nipalensis) spotted at Taktse. "She" is a regular visitor at this time of the year when it comes to feed on the nectar of the cherry blossom.
Photo © Mr Karma
Dear Taktse Supporters, Early spring brings in warmer temperatures, longer days, and the promise of new growth and renewal. However, early spring can be tricky, with unexpected weather patterns and all sorts of mishaps that can make it a hilarious and somewhat frustrating season. As Taktse gears itself for a brand new academic year, we admit we are a bit giddy with excitement. We welcome this season as a time of hope and renewal, as we see the first signs of new growth and the promise of warmer days ahead. So, let's embrace the humour and absurdity of early spring and look forward to the joy and promises that the season will bring.
Page 01
To me, YLR was a multitude of things at the same time. It was a fresh breath of air for me as I walked back into my tenth year of school at Taktse. Various feelings enveloped me all at the same time. My experience wasn't exactly full of roses and daisies, but alas nothing is in life. With this, I refer to the immense fear that abruptly bombarded me as I realized I was thirty feet in the air. However, in this situation, it was do or die, and I was compelled to do my best. This was a truly eye opening experience, and taught me that in life you need to face your fears at certain times. Now, as we move away from the challenges, I would like to share the part of YLR that I enjoyed most. I truly loved spending time with my closest friends. I felt elated as I bonded with them sitting next to each other around a warm fire we built for ourselves. YLR was truly an amazing experience. -Avi Pradhan, Grade 10
Climbing lessons
Hike
Getting familiar with the Equipments
Students learning the ropes (literally)
Sport climbing
Pitching tents for the night
Reflections
YLR was an exciting experience, and a great start to the academic year of 2023. My initial reaction was not to go as one activity tormented me, “Rock Climbing”, everything about it scared me, the height, the way you needed to find little crevices to fit your hand into. Sounds like such a strenuous task doesn’t it? But in the end, I overcame my fear and did it! It felt like one of the proudest moments of my life. YLR really changed some things about me, I was more disciplined and I felt strong mentally and physically. My friends and I got even closer, it was an emotional rollercoaster. YLR was so much more than just an adventure course. It really was the best 3 days of this year and I hope we get to go again. Certification
-Aarnesh Thapa, Grade 10
Page 02
The YLR experience was a very new thing to all of us- the activities, the classes and even the stay at Chemche. We can proudly say that we had a frolicsome time. It began with a warm welcome as we entered the magnificent campus, followed by an introduction to the various equipment we would be using throughout the whole event. The second day had tons of activities lined up for us beginning with climbing a giant rock about 50 feet high with an inclination of around 80 degrees- just at the sight of it,gave us the chills as we had never dared such an enormity, we weren't even sure of the fact that we were ready for it, but as they say, success is the conquest of fear, we went headstrong towards it. A great sense of achievement flooded my veins on completion as if I was born for it. Our joyful faces were then led to an artificial wall about 15 metres high. Even though this was much higher and steeper than the previous one, our fear gave in before all the other emotions that we were experiencing. We took it by the face and conquered it too. The third day was the one we all were looking forward to eagerly. We hiked for around 2 hours and reached a spot where we would camp for the night. As soon as we reached our destination, we pitched and assigned ourselves jobs and started preparing dinner. As night fell, we ate what we cooked, scrumptious not because the chef was talented but because of togetherness. We then wrapped up the day with a warm and wonderful bonfire along with music and stories about ourselves. The whole trip was a marvellous learning experience for us which brought us even closer and taught us to think from different perspectives. I’m very sure that we would love to go on more trips like this again in the near future. -Ebbani Sharma, Grade 10
Bonfire to end the day
Page 03
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We were very fortunate to opportunity of welcoming the fantastic team from USIEF and US Consulate on the 20th of February. It was led by US Consul General, Ms Melinda Pavek, who graced us with an insightful session on “Further Studies in The United States of America” which tended to the queries of our High School students who were keen on pursuing their studies in the USA in the near future. Moreover, here is what Ms Unnati Singhania (Education USA, Advisor) had to say about the visit“Thank you so much for the warm hospitality at Taktse International. The program went well and we apologize once again for arriving early and appreciate your accommodating us. We were so impressed by the cultural performances of the students and spoken word performances which displayed the depth and holistic development of students. The Consul General and Director of the American Center both appreciated the competent and diverse students. Especially asking tough questions such as if the U.S. socio-economic environment is conducive to international student reception, and how one can deal with the change of moving away from home. This is exactly the line of critical questioning that will allow students to succeed in U.S. classrooms. And we look forward to aiding some of them in their future applications. It was also good to learn that the school is equipped and open to virtual programming so we can include you in any hybrid or live streaming follow-up sessions we may plan. I will appreciate it if you can circulate the attached short posters and this message so students/parents may sign-up for our system to directly receive future updates. You may include this link too: https://bit.ly/SignupforEdUSAEvents " What can we say, we are elated!
Page 04
By:Mr Gyan
Include photographer's name in the caption.
At the onset of every academic year, we at Taktse , deliver the Teacher Orientation Program to empower our teachers to set the tone for the year . The modules that are covered under this programme, enables the new and old teachers to gain an in-depth understanding of the philosophy, culture, systems and the best evolving teaching and learning practices . The five-day orientation programme starting from 6th February until 10th February, ensured that all teachers new to the school, are promptly and effectively socialised into the school culture and allowing them to seamlessly integrate into the school community.
Page 05
Student orientation is an important event at Taktse that happens at the beginning of the academic year to help students get acclimated to their new school environment. The purpose of this event is to provide students with essential information about their school, its policies, procedures, expectations, and resources so that they can have a successful academic year. The dates of the orientation program were as follows: 1. Upper School- 13th February 2. Middle School- 15th to 17th February 3. Lower School- 22nd to 24th February 4. KG and Grade 1- 1st March Our aim was to provide a comprehensive orientation to students of all grades in order to help students feel more comfortable and confident in their new school environment, which can improve their academic performance and overall school experience. We genuinely feel that we delivered and then some more.
Page 06
Hello, New Members, Welcome to the Taktse family! We hope you brought your sense of humour with you because we love to laugh around here. We are excited to have you join our team of academic superheroes. We promise not to make you wear a cape (unless you really want to, of course). We're excited to have you on board and can't wait to see all the great ideas you bring to the table. In all seriousness, we are thrilled to have you bring your unique talents and perspectives to our school. Just remember, if you hear strange noises coming from the teacher's lounge, it's probably just our resident ghost. We're here to help you settle in and make this the best school year yet. So if you have any questions, just ask! Welcome once again, and let's make this school year one for the books! The Outreach Team.
NAME: Ms Tshering Doma DESIGNATION: Dharma/ Tibetan Teacher
NAME: Ms Lhaki Doma Sherpa DESIGNATION: School Nurse
NAME: Ms Manisha Thakuri DESIGNATION: Intern (Library Dept)
NAME: Ms Anjalee Sharma DESIGNATION: Hostel Supervisor
NAME: Ms Atish Tamang DESIGNATION: Music Teacher
Page 07
A book recommendation is a suggestion of a book that someone else has enjoyed and thinks others might enjoy as well. Book recommendations can be for fiction or non-fiction books and are often based on personal preferences or interests. They can be a great way to discover new books and authors that you may not have heard of before. Whether you're an avid reader or just looking for something new to read, a book recommendation can be a great place to start.Here are some recommendations by our experts!
Bad guys by Aaron Blabey In this hilarious new illustrated chapter book series, bad guys are doing good deeds... whether you want them to or not!
click here to read preview
Aryan Prasad Grade 7 One Piece by Eiichiro Oda As a child, Monkey D. Luffy was inspired to become a pirate by listening to the tales of the buccaneer "Red-Haired" Shanks. But his life changed when Luffy accidentally ate the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit and gained the power to stretch like rubber...at the cost of never being able to swim again! Years later, still vowing to become the king of the pirates, Luffy sets out on his adventure...one guy alone in a rowboat, in search of the legendary "One Piece," said to be the greatest treasure in the world... Click here to read preview
Dorjee Wangchuk Sherpa Grade 7 Elmer and the rainbow By David McKee Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Elmer who loved to explore the outdoors. He would often go on long walks in the countryside, climbing hills and wandering through fields, searching for new adventures. One day, as Elmer was walking through a meadow, he noticed a beautiful rainbow stretching across the sky. The colors were so vibrant and bright that he couldn't take his eyes off it. Click here to read preview
Rikzim Chomu Lepcha Grade 3
Page 08
ADMISSION OPEN 1 MARCH 2023
TAKTSE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL GANGTOK, SIKKIM, INDIA
GRADE XI CAMBRIDGE ADMISSION OPEN MORE INFO admission@taktse.org +91 8348118499 www.taktseschool.org
PERIOD
ENROL NOW
2023 - 2024