July 2022, Issue 14 Jebel Ali
Win times CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE, CREATING A LEGACY Official magazine of the Winchester school, jebel Ali
Summer’s here – time to rejuvenate!
Vision Our vision is to nurture a transformative learning community where all stakeholders feel loved, respected and encouraged to become globally responsible and achieve their potential and beyond. Mission Create and facilitate a culture of growth mindset, investing in all stakeholders to embrace learning by being resilient, innovative problem solvers and effective communicators. Empower unique, empathetic and self-directed members for a rapidly changing world and instill in them critical thinking skills and a global perspective. Foster a positive and stimulating environment with a holistic approach to nurture individuals academic, social and emotional wellbeing by embedding respect for core values of honesty, loyalty, perseverance, care and compassion. Every child matters, Every voice matters!
HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS EDITION From the Principal’s Desk
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Editor’s Note
8
Meet the Team
9
Brewing Happiness
14
Goodbye Seniors
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Amal the Winchester Ghaf
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Decoding Happiness
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6 Summer Reads to Make Your Heart Smile
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Learn Arabic with Nadia
36
The Animal Connection
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Mother Tongue – Embracing What Belongs to Me
43
Keep Learning to Feel Happy
46
Sweet Creativity
49
The Intrinsic Connection Between Environmental Wellbeing and Our Own
55
Happiest Time in Our Life?
58
Save Soil
62
Book-O-Phile Library
65
Read-O-Relay
66
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Winchester is a Willing Inclusive and Innovative school that Nurtures Curious and Creative learners in an Honest, Helpful, Happy, Humble and Enterprising, Enriching environment with Sincere Students and Staff who are Talented, Trustworthy, Energetic, Effective and Enthusiastic to Encourage all learners to
Recognize, Rise and Realize their potential and achieve their aspirations
Composed by Ms. Meenakshi Dahiya
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From The principal’s desk I would like to take this opportunity to applaud all the students and staff for their enthusiasm and energy in putting WIN Times together. I am confident you will all enjoy and celebrate the highly talented students and remarkably committed teachers and leaders in the continued strive for excellence.
D
ear WIN family,
The last edition of the academic year and so much to celebrate and share. I am so proud of our WIN students, staff and parents. Their commitment, care, and collaboration has resulted in a year of great achievements and engagements.
Wishing you all lovely holidays and looking forward to welcoming you back in the new academic year. Ms. Meenakshi Dahiya Principal and CEO The Winchester School Jebel Ali
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“I am so proud of our WIN students, staff and parents. Their commitment, care, and collaboration has resulted in a year of great achievements and engagements.”
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From the Editor’s Desk Dear WIN Family, Warm greetings! Hope you’re all well and safe and making the most of the summer break. The academic year gone by was a crucial one with everyone returning for in person learning after two years. We’ve all gone through this journey of unlearning old ways and adopting new ones and then once again relearning bits and pieces as the new and old ways merged- an unprecedented blend, albeit a progressive one for sure. I feel immense happiness and pride in handing over the latest issue of WIN Times to you. Team WIN Times promises that the contributions within will greatly add to your summer reading experience. Spearheading the fabulous articles we have an insightful piece about happiness by our dear Principal Ms. Meenakshi. Get ready to understand the “Happiness Brew” better. On the same note, Ms. Rachna, our Secondary Head of Teaching and Learning, has penned a thought-provoking article about decoding happiness and spreading it to everyone around you. Sophia Pogorelova and Kanchan Palakode, Class of 2022, have parting words of wisdom as they graduate from Winchester and begin the next chapter of their lives. Furthermore, we’ve also covered some fabulous student led initiatives. Not to be missed is the update on the Winchester Ghaf Tree, which was planted in March, and has gained quite a fanbase! Like always, we have a number of insightful articles addressing a diverse range of topics, from book reviews and baking recipes to pieces about the importance of the mother tongue, preventing bullying, the connection between environmental wellbeing and our own, learning new skills, and fascinating facts about the animal world. I would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to each and every WIN Community Member who was a part of another productive year of WIN Times. To all our diligent columnists, to everyone who contributed, whether it was an article, an artwork, or a poem. Thank you to Ms. Meenakshi, our inspiration and guiding force. And thanks to you, our readers, for being the impetus behind all that we do here at WIN Times. Wishing you all a restful, rejuvenating summer break. See you all in the new academic year! Warm regards, Mishal Faraz Founder, Editor-in-Chief, and Graphic Designer
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Meet the Team Editorial Team
Mir Faraz, Year 7 Founder, Managing Editor Columnist
Aarav Pradhan, Year 12 Senior Editor Columnist
Staff Columnist
Ms. Veronika Lambova, Primary Librarian
Victoria Nedyalkova, Year 7 Co-Editor Columnist
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Meet the Team Student Columnists
Nadia Gaber Sayah Year 4
Felan Thakkar Year 5
Prabud Vithanage Year 6
Martin Georgiev Year 10
Jaimee Felysse A. Reyes Year 6
Min Thuta Year 10
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Meet the Team Student Columnists
Toshith Bhaumik Year 11
Katie Ramanayaka Year 13
Sophia Pogorelova Year 13
Interested in writing a column for WIN Times? Get in touch with us with your pitch on our email wintimes2019@gmail.com
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CONTRIBUTE TO WIN TIMES!
GET IN TOUCH WITH US AND HAVE YOUR WORK PUBLISHED IN THE
OFFICIAL SCHOOL MAGAZINE! Nothing makes us happier than celebrating the Winchester family members. Students, parents, and staff members are invited to send their creative pieces to wintimes2019@gmail.com. Stories, poems, artwork, comic strips, recipes, tips for healthy living, book and movie reviews, puzzles, quizzes, initiatives, and column pitches are all welcome. The topics and themes you choose are absolutely your discretion because we believe that creativity is boundless.
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Missed out on an issue of WIN Times? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.
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https://www.thewinchesterschool.com/For-Parents/WIN-TIMES
Click on the link to read the past editions.
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Brewing Happiness Ms. Meenakshi Dahiya Principal and CEO Ms. Meenakshi Dahiya started her career in education in a nursery as an Early Years educator. In the following year, she had the privilege to work with the start-up team as the Founder Supervisor of their new branch. She joined GEMS at The Winchester School, Jebel Ali in 2005 as an Early Years educator and in her 21 years of experience in the educational field, she has been primarily at The Winchester School, Jebel Ali for 17 years with the last 15 years in leadership. Ms. Meenakshi is an exceptional Principal and Leader, first as Head of Foundation Stage, then Head of Primary, Vice Principal before finally being appointed Principal/ CEO of GEMS Winchester School, Jebel Ali in 2016. She has continually grown and developed comprehensively as an outstanding leader, responsible for significant and continuous school improvement both within her own school as well as across the GEMS network. A firm believer in the growth mindset, Ms. Meenakshi encourages and inspires all students to be the best that they possibly can while placing the GEMS Core Values at the core of all that they do.
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“If you want to be happy, be.” Leo Tolstoy Happiness is something that people seek to find, and it is the underlying motive behind all the actions, goals, aspirations, and so on. Happiness can vary from one person to the next. It is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfilment. While happiness has many different definitions, it is often described as involving positive emotions and life satisfaction. Here's a simple message from me – spread happiness with a smile. Smiles are always contagious, and laughter, even more so. Be social, be kind, and smile. You can also create a very good balance for yourself to be happy every day. And if you’re happy, you will spread happiness. And here’s something fascinating – did you know that there are four primary hormones in our body which are responsible for inducing the feelgood emotions and sensations we associate with happiness? They moderate our feelings of wellbeing, and are influenced by our stress levels, self-care, and lifestyle choices. These hormones are dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. Let’s learn more about them!
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Dopamine
Serotonin
The Reward Chemical
The Mood Stabilizer
Dopamine is released when you are doing something which makes you feel happy and good about yourself. It could be completing tasks, doing self-care activities, taking care of your health, taking care of somebody else, eating healthy food, and celebrating little wins and ensuring you set realistic targets.
Serotonin balances out our mood and evokes feelings of wellbeing and happiness. Furthermore, it alleviates stress, worries, and is associated with learning and memory.
The release of dopamine increases wellbeing, and motivates you to seek things you enjoy and do well.
Make sure you’re doing some form of exercise, like running, walking in nature, swimming, cycling. I highly recommend anything to do with nature, with water, with trees, and with plants. Getting out in the sun is one sure shot way of boosting up your mood.
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Oxytocin
Endorphins
Oxytocin is released by giving and receiving love in all forms. It could be playing with a dog or a pet, or playing with a baby, seeing a friend, hugging your family members, or complimenting each other. It could also be taking care of yourself by doing activities which you love – it could be listening to music, reading a book, cooking, yoga, and so on.
Endorphins are produced by the brain to help us deal with discomfort or pain. They induce a sense of euphoria and make us feel good. These can be released by laughing, watching a comedy, eating dark chocolate, and exercising.
The Love Hormone
This amazing hormone, along with being a mood booster itself, also heightens the release of serotonin and dopamine.
The Pain Killers
Also, a good laugh is a fabulous inducer of endorphins, so look around and finds things that make you happy and people who make you laugh and feel good.
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Look for the good in everyone, there is always something. Appreciate it and be kind. If you don’t like something, share it politely with the person concerned so they can listen to you carefully and make it better. Smile, laugh, and enjoy. Be happy and spread happiness. Smile!
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Class of 2022 Goodbyes are never easy. But they are an inevitable part of any journey. The class of 2022 will always be remembered as one which showed commendable resilience, strength, and grit. After two years of disruption by the pandemic, students returned to the classrooms and picked up the thread from where they left it two years back – adjusting to a new normal and reviving the good old practices. Here’s something interesting – since exams were cancelled for the past two years, the class of 2022 wrote their A Level exams without having written either their IGCSEs or their AS Levels. We salute their amazing stoicism and impressive dedication. As we bid adieu to this amazing cohort, we are grateful to Sophia Pogorelova, Secondary Head Girl 2021-2022, and Kanchan Palakode, Deputy Secondary Head Boy, 2021-2022, for sharing words of wisdom for the Winchester family.
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Sophia Pogorelova
Secondary Head Girl 2021-2022 Sophia Pogorelova joined Winchester in 2007. Sophia’s achievements are impressively diverse – she was an IGCSE as well as an AS Level Topper, and at the same time, excelled in extracurricular activities like debates and MUN conferences, to name a few. Sophie is also the founder of the initiative Notes2You, a website which amalgamates all the essential resources students need to prepare for their CIE examinations. As a WIN Times Columnist, Sophia wrote the column Talking Politics , and contributed extremely insightful articles which deciphered myriad aspects of political philosophy. After serving as a Student Leader in the Winchester Student Government in several pivotal roles such as the Head of Community, and the Deputy Head Girl, Sophie was chosen as the Secondary Head Girl in her final year. Sophia’s legacy as the Head Girl is that of kindness and grace – a leader who everyone loved to follow and learned a great deal from.
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Sophia’s Message The question we were all asked starting at a young age, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, filled our minds with the most creative ideas. I knew kids who wanted to be gardeners, detectives, actors…we all shared equally big dreams. But as we grew up, this question became stressful and came with the pressure of having to know your interests and passions. It engrains us with this idea that what we do and accomplish defines who we are. For a long time, my own identity and self-worth was vested in what I did and achieved; activities, assignments and events that couldn't be listed on an application felt worthless to me. Because their benefits were insufficient to provide me with a tangible reward that corresponded to my definition of success. However, when I think back on my time at Winchester, the most joyful and exciting aspects weren't the grades or prize day awards that I so ardently pursued. The seemingly unnecessary adventures I had with my friends, teachers, classmates and the student government are my best memories. Whether it was planning the IYLS, attending our senior winter ball, painting the school walls or even being part of initiatives like Project Rona, all these memories are connected with you. Looking back from this new vantage point, I challenge us to rethink the question of what we want to be when we grow up and instead ask who we want to be. Because with this new change, the question takes on a new meaning. It creates a framework for our future plans and identities based on our self-image. Rather than allowing our accomplishments or careers to define us, it reminds us that who we are is not determined by heredity, prior acts, or luck. You get to choose who you are and what you value. It is these values that will determine how you will be remembered. I’d like to extend a thank you to our beloved teachers and staff, for moulding us into intelligent young adults. For their care, love and patience. Thank you to Ms Fiona, for always looking out for us and for making our experience at Winchester the most memorable. I want to thank all our students for showing me what being Head Girl really means. For your kindness, support and most importantly, your friendship. And of course the biggest thank you to Ms Debbie, for being a part of my life as more than just a teacher. I will miss you all so very much. I love you
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Sophia as an adorable cherub when she joined Winchester in 2007.
Sophia’s official picture as Secondary Head Girl, taken in September 2021
Graduation Evening 2022
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Kanchan Palakode
Secondary Deputy Head Boy 2021-2022
Kanchan Kumar Palakode joined Winchester in 2018. He was the Deputy Head Boy for the Academic Year 2021-2022. He enjoys public speaking and has regularly participated in MUN conferences as well as debates. He has represented the school internationally for the World Scholars Cup, held in USA and China. A passionate reader, Kanchan won the first place in the Winchester Summer Reading Challenge 2020. Music plays a big part in his life. He also loves sports and especially enjoys basketball, swimming and chess. Kanchan has led the Winchester Wellbeing Calendar for the last two years and has curated extremely helpful wellbeing activities for the Winchester community. He sincerely believes in elevating himself and everyone around him, and once he takes up a task he always makes sure to finish it to the fullest of his potential. Kanchan will always be remembered as a senior ever ready to help and always present for his peers and teachers alike.
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Kanchan’s Message As the class of 2022 finally graduates, I can't help but feel melancholic as my school years come to a close. It has been one long ride all the way to sixth form and it has been unforgettable truly. Here is some advice I want to share with my juniors. Get out of your comfort zone First, get comfortable with uncomfortable. Don’t stay fixated on doing things that you’re comfortable with. Make sure that you take time to do things that you’ve never done before, no matter how much they scare you. This could be anything from public speaking to bungee jumping. Treating failure as a stepping stone to success; instead of viewing failure as an ultimatum, use whatever small or big failures (academic, personal, social) you experience as a character-building experience and move on. This will provide you with the resilience to overcome many obstacles in the future. Focus on holistic progress Focus on holistic progress, not just on how well you’re doing academically; make sure you’re evaluating all aspects of your life. Evaluate the people you surround yourself with, the books you read, the content you consume, your thought process, your daily habits, and your goals. Try progressing from an overall perspective. I do not follow the herd mentality; doing something just because everyone is doing it. If you’re interested in something else that nobody else is doing, go for it. Everyone has to follow their personal career path, so make sure to make yours one that you like. I believe that maintaining a balance in most aspects of your life, whether it's academic or social and prioritising your responsibilities makes you more happy and calm. It becomes a lot easy when you learn to manage your time wisely and figure out what works best for you. Listen to your heart Remember to always listen to your heart. You are the best person to know what is best for yourself. Take your time to find the right resources that will help you succeed. It is worthwhile to be organised when you are studying, this has helped me a lot during my exams. Above all, your happiness and wellbeing can do a lot to improve your focus.
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Diversify Getting involved in additional activities, as well as being realistic and knowing your limits are extremely important. I feel this will lessen the pressure put on you and turn procrastination into action. To experiment is cool, but try not to be easily influenced, or be something you’re not in order to please others. Kindness always matters Be yourself; be genuine and sincere with your friends. If you mess up a test, a friendship or yelled at someone or anything else you might regret, have the confidence to get over it as a learning opportunity. It is a pleasure to treat your peers the way you want to be treated, even if you don't get along with someone, show them respect and politeness. Each of us have our own unique experience at Winchester, a combination of good times and bad times, times of laughter and of joy, times of school spirit. Being a member of the student government, I can honestly say that our school provides each student a great platform to rise and shine. Keep a positive mindset and grab every opportunity that comes your way. Take those experiences with you. Keep close with the student and teacher friends you have made here at Winchester school. Do well wherever you go and in whatever you do. Make good memories and cherish the time you get in school and the time you get with your friends! Enjoying every moment in school with no regrets is the key to feeling good when you look back at your school years. I heartily thank my teachers and fellow students for making each day worthwhile in Winchester and your company will be sorely missed as we the class of 2022 move on. Keep dreaming big!
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Amal the Winchester Ghaf
Mishal Faraz, Year 10, Secondary Student Head of Wellbeing
In our last edition, we had shared that The Winchester School Jebel Ali is now home to one of the fifty Ghaf trees which were given out by The National newspaper to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the UAE. The Ghaf seeds were planted with the joint effort of students from FS1 to Year 13 and the WIN Senior Leadership Team on the 21st of March, 2022, in honour of the International Day of Forests.
Some snippets from the tree plantation ceremony And we’ve got some news for you! After a school-wide poll, our Winchester Ghaf Tree now has a name
Amal
Meaning Hope in Arabic
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Amal, the Winchester Ghaf, got featured in The National! Here are some snippets! “The ghaf tree symbolises so much about what the UAE stands for so it was great to see the whole school community get behind this project. We’re looking forward to watching it grow taller and taller — and it shows you can grow stronger despite whatever severity comes. It symbolises what we have been through in recent years and how we can survive with a positive energy in life.” - Ms. Meenakshi Dahiya, Principal and CEO, WIN Jebel Ali, to The National
Screenshot of the news report published in The National
Ms. Debbiejo Miranda, Head of Wellbeing, WIN Jebel Ali, Mishal Faraz, and Mir Faraz with Amal, the Winchester Ghaf
Join us in watching Amal the Winchester Ghaf grow. Follow us @winghaftree
https://www.instagram.com/winghaftree/
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Decoding Happiness Ms. Rachna Shukla Secondary Teaching & Learning Coach Ms. Rachna Shukla is the Teaching and Learning Coach for Secondary. She was Head of the Business Department since 2015 and has twenty plus years of teaching experience during which she has developed an insight of innovative teaching and pedagogical approaches. With her leadership inputs, she was able to ensure consistently outstanding learner outcomes and high quality teaching standards. Ms. Rachna is committed to support her students and colleagues to ensure they maximize their potential and achieve their aspirations.
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The United Nations has recognized that progress should be measured, not just in terms of growing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and wealth of a nation, but by increasing human happiness. Countries across the world, including the UAE, are giving topmost priority to happiness and wellbeing for its people. Here’s a fun fact – did you know that Finland is one of the highest-ranking countries in terms of happiness?
UAE is one of the happiest countries in the world. It ranks highest among Arab countries in the World Happiness Report 2021: a position it has held for the last seven consecutive years. The UAE has also been ranked as the fourth best place in the world for expats to live and work and ranked at the top for its response to COVID-19.
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Decoding Happiness So, what makes people happy? More importantly, what makes you happy? There is no secret formula for happiness, but we need to nourish our body, mind, and soul, to improve our wellbeing.
Nourish the body by observing healthy routines which uplift your mood. Identify what you enjoy the most. Is it a job, a swim, any outdoor activity, or maybe hiking with friends? Nourish and enrich your mind by reading, as it has been scientifically proven to put our brains into a pleasurable state, and it brings immense health benefits. Keep learning new things, and developing new skills. Have goals to look forward to. Keep a positive approach, and never let failure dampen your spirits. Be kind and accepting of yourself. Nourish your soul by appreciating the world, and take in the natural beauty all around you. Look at the beauty of the sunset. The magic of the waves on the beach. Try random acts of kindness, and build connections with people. Or support a good cause, even if it is in a very small way.
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Here is a poem by Karen Hamilton that beautifully captures the meaning of happiness –
What is happiness I hear you say, What helps us smile on dreary days, What sends a tingle through our bones, What helps us talk in cheerful tones? How does it pick and how does it choose When to arrive or when to move. How does it know to run right through Every person, like me and you? Some people try as hard as they can, To steal it from another man It's yours forever, it's yours to keep Don't let them take something so deep You must search within when times are blue For, Happiness lives inside of you
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6 Summer Reads to Make Your Heart Smile Mir Faraz, Year 7, Community Coordinator Greetings everyone, my name if Mir Faraz. I study in Year 7 and I’m currently the Community Coordinator for my year group. As we begin the summer holidays, I look forward to all the time I will have to explore new books, exotic lands, and intriguing characters, I’ve loved books ever since I remember, and believe that nothing enlightens the mind the way reading does. Books hold the potential to shape our thoughts and values. In this article I’ve shared some books, which I believe will definitely leave an impression on the minds of readers. Though these are books are meant for younger readers, say 12 and under, take my word that older readers will love them just the same for the inspiring worlds they hold within their pages.
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My Little World by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai My Little World is the latest writing venture by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who is a prolific writer. Released during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2021, this set of 5 books is a must have for any young booklover. His Highness has a very unique style of storytelling, a brilliant way of connecting with the readers which makes them feel as if they are being talked to. Each book of My Little World is centered around a particular subject or incident from His Highness’s childhood which left a lasting influence on his mind and shaped his values. The books have engaging storytelling with keen observations about human relationships. The absolutely stunning illustrations make the stories come to life. My Little World is one for the bookshelf for sure- remember, each word in My Little World is that of one of the most inspiring leaders the world has ever known- revisit them whenever you are looking for motivation.
Amina's Voice by Hena Khan Amina’s Voice, written by Hena Khan, is a compelling, thought-provoking journey of a young girl who must win the battle within her own mind, face her fears, find her voice, and learn how to use it. Amina, the titular character and protagonist, lives with her parents in an American town called Milwaukee. She is musically gifted and has a beautiful singing voice. But she is too afraid to use it in front of others. With the exception of her family and two best friends, no one knows that Amina sings like an angel. Amina remains sidelined in her school and her fears to let her voice be heard results in many a missed opportunity. On one hand, Amina’s Voice chronicles the journey of a young girl striving to find courage within her own heart, on the other hand, interwoven within the storyline, is the theme of diversityof different cultures, nationalities and ideologies coming together. Amina’s Voice teaches us unforgettable lessons of self-acceptance, courage, giving others and ourselves second chances and above all, to always believe that there is something better waiting for us if only we persevere.
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The Parent Agency by David Baddiel 9 years old Barry loves James Bond and football, and with the same fervour, resents his twin sisters, who he feels are favoured over him by his parents. To add to his chagrin, he feels that his parents aren’t cool enough and wishes that he had better parents. He even makes a list of all the things that his parents are not- fit, rich, famous, and lenient, to name a few. In a twist of events, Barry finds himself at a “parent agency” where he gets to choose his parents! He is given 5 sets of parents whom he gets to “trial” for a day each before deciding who he wants to be with for the rest of his life. What follows is a comedy of errors – prospective parents, each eccentric in their own ways, try to convince Barry why he should choose them as his forever parents. This book will make you laugh out aloud and you would not want to put it down. Barry’s encounters with each set of parents are downright hilarious. The book also has a very heart touching message at the end- for that you have to pick up a copy of The Parent Agency. You won’t regret it, that’s a promise.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer Some real life stories are grander and more profoundly inspiring than any fictional tale could ever be. Such is the story of William Kamkwamba, who at the age of fourteen, saved his village from falling into utter doom. Kamkwamba was only fourteen years old when his village in Malawi was hit by a debilitating drought. As the crops started withering away, so did the hope for any salvation for the villagers who were largely dependent on their agricultural produce. Lack of funds compelled many children, including Kamkwamba, to miss school. The young boy spent his days in the library reading books in the hope of finding a way to bring electricity to his village. With his innovative skills and ingenuity he built a windmill out of scraps and became “the boy who harnessed the wind”. This book is a tribute to human resilience, grit and perseverance. Add it to your mustread list to fortify your belief that heroes don’t really wear capes- they walk amidst us, they are within us.
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The Night Bus Hero by Onjali Q.Rauf “The boy's an absolute menace” “He's a bully. A lost cause!” “Why can't he be more like his sister?” So starts the award winning book The Night Bus Hero by Onjali Q. Rauf, who is an Emirates Airline Festival of Literature author. The opening lines explicitly give away the domain of the bookthis is clearly the story of a bully. But so are hundreds of other books. What makes The Night Bus Hero different? Simple, it’s the treatment and perspective. This book has been written from the point of view of the bully himself- it’s a journey through the mind of a young boy named Hector who could not care less about the feelings of others and constantly troubles his classmates and treats a homeless man with utter lack of consideration or respect. But something happens which makes him take a hard look at his behavior. He realizes that all that his identity has been reduced to is that of an insensitive bully. This realization makes him want to change and make everyone believe that he has the potential to be a hero. A heartwarming story that gives the message that empathy and compassion have the potential to change people for better.
Plastic Sucks! You Can Make A Difference by Dougie Poynter The plastic overload that the planet is facing needs to be addressed with a relentless urgency. And how do you become a part of the solution? By understanding the problem! Right from the evolution of plastics to its modern day overuse and what we can do as individuals to alleviate the problem- it's all there in this one amazing book! For any readers who might hesitate in picking up the book thinking that it might be too boring or factual, here’s the deal- the book has been written in such an easy-to-comprehend manner that it piques one’s interest immediately. There are lots of interesting illustrations and fun facts in the book which ensure that the book does not become a tedious read. Pick up this book and gain an expert level of understanding of the global plastic crisis. Above all, this book leaves you with a sense of responsibility as well as the belief that YOU can make a difference.
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Learn Arabic with Nadia Hello! My name is Nadia Gaber Sayah, I'm in Year 4, and I'm back for the third consecutive year as a WIN Times columnist! In this column, I will continue to teach the WIN Times readers Arabic phrases. So let me take you on a journey to learn more about this beautiful language.
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حظ سعيد
عيد ميالد سعيد
Hazz Saeed
Eid milad saeed
Good luck
Happy birthday
رأس سنة سعيد
عطلة سعيدة
Ra’s sana saeed
Utla saeeda
Happy New Year
Happy holidays
بارك هللا فيك
جزاك هللا خيرا
Baraka Allahu feek
Gazaka Allahu
May Allah bless you
May Allah reward you
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Hello everyone! My name is Victoria Nedyalkova. I’m in Year 7J, and this is my second year as a very proud columnist for WIN Times. I love writing, baking, playing the piano, and playing with my dog, Teddy. With the start of a new school year, comes new beginnings, and new exciting experiences. I am glad to introduce my new column in WIN Times. As an enthusiastic animal lover with a passion for animals, I chose the topic of discovering different aspects of all the living things around us, other than humans. So, if you love animals just like me, stick around and I can assure you that you will enjoy the content of this column as much as I enjoy writing it!
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They are wonderful and they matter Victoria nedyalkova, year 7
7.9 billion people. 8.7 million species of diverse types of animals in the world. Everywhere you look, there are living creatures all around. We might call home four walls and a roof, but for 8.7 million types of animals, our interpretation is far from theirs. Here I will reveal some remarkable facts about animals you may never heard…
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THE IMMORTAL JELLYFISH Turritopsis dohrnii is a jellyfish found in the Mediterranean Sea, although you can find them in most oceans nowadays. They have been labelled as “biologically immortal” as they are thought to be able to live forever. They were first discovered in 1883, and their immortality was first discovered in 1980. When one of the jelly fishes’ tentacles gets damaged, or it feels stressed from predators, or even if it feels starvation, it will reabsorb its tentacles and lose the ability to swim and turns into a sack. After that, over the time period of 24-36 hours, the jellyfish returns to its first life stage. Now, even though it might seem to live forever, that is not the entire truth. During the 24-36 hours, this sack-like polyp that sinks to the ocean floor is a defenseless target for sea slugs and crustaceans. Now, because of this, their average lifespan is not known, however, they usually tend to live for about 1,000 years.
POLICE DOGS Dogs are more than just pets for a lot of people. For most, they are part of their family, but for some, they are their partner for work… A dog’s nose is 10,000-100,000 times stronger than a human. This makes them a “paw-fect” partner for police officers, or people who investigate crime scenes. When trained, they can learn to sniff out bombs, weapons, objects and even people. This ability makes them extremely helpful when human’s capabilities don’t come in handy. Despite the fact that many dogs are smarter than most police dog breeds, trainers often look for specific strengths when training in a breed, such as obedience, agility, tracking, evidence searches in unsecured area and the ability to complete building searches. Police dogs usually work for 8-9 years, and then spend the rest of their days with their beloved owners.
THE 2ND SMARTEST ANIMAL The Chimpanzee is a part of the great ape family, which consists of chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobo, humans, and orangutangs. The IQ of a chimpanzee ranges between 75-95, while the average human scores an average of 85-115. The chimpanzee can also be taught sign language and learn over 2,000 symbols. Moreover, they can learn to understand the human’s signs, therefore communicating with us. Unfortunately, chimpanzees are listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as the leading cause of endangerment being destruction of their habitat. Luckily, since 1931, there has been a law, stating that it is illegal to own, kill, or capture these species.
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THE RICH HISTORY OF CATS Even though people keep cats as pets, they have a deep and significant meaning. Cats symbolize elegance, curiosity, independence, protection, and magic. However, they aren’t just a pet. Not only is it scientifically proven that cat’s purrs can lower blood pressure and heart rate, but they have important meanings in some countries. In Japanese folklore, they symbolize luck and good fortune. If you have ever been to Japan, or simply have watched videos about their culture, you most definitely might have seen a tiny figure of a cat waving its paw back and forth. It’s called a ‘Lucky Cat’ or in Japanese, ‘maneki-neko.’ But not only that! In Egypt, cats are worshipped like gods, and serve as a reminder of the power of gods. They are incorporated into Egyptian artwork, patterns and ornaments.
Pigeon mathematicians You might know that in the past, pigeons were used for many different purposes: sport, food and message carriers. Pigeons are the smartest type of birds, evolving from the “rock dove.” They have been domesticated over 10,000 years ago and have been kept as pets. Would you have ever guessed that pigeons can do math? That’s right! How cool is that? Over the span of a couple of years, pigeons can be taught to peck numbers on a screen, solving simple math problems. They can complete numerical questions. In monitored tests, pigeons have been established to be intelligent enough to differentiate between photographs, and even recognize two different people in photographs.
VAQUITAS The vaquita is one of the world’s least known animals. This species of dolphin evolved from the “Burmeister's porpoise” when they moved into warmer waters one million years ago. They are also the rarest sea mammal in the world. Unfortunately, despite being studied on for less than a century, they have already made it in the list of “Critically endangered.” With less than 20 remaining in the wild. Due to illegal fishing practices, Vaquitas get stuck in the fisher’s nets, and drown within minutes after not being able to reach the surface for air. Luckily, there is a chance that this magnificent animal can be saved. Scientists have informed us that in order for that to happen, we would have to put an end to Gillet fishing in the area that they live in. These mesmerizing creatures, who are labelled rather shy, and secretive, and serve as both predator and prey in their natural environment. They are the food for sharks, and without them, there will be a tremendous change in the food chain, effecting all the animals in its ecosystem.
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The planet is full of animal’s species that are remarkable and incredible. Every one of them is unique and different in its own way. From the tiniest insect to the largest mammal, all of them are interesting. Did you know that scientists are still discovering new species of life on Earth, even today, after all these years? We are not aware exactly how many types of life are yet unrecorded in scientific literature, but a study in 2011 suggested that 86% of species are still waiting to be found. We are living in time of a great biodiversity loss, with reports of massive extinction. There is a large chance that by the end of the next decade, we not going to be able to witness these wonderful creatures. But we should not give up, on the contrary, we can change the world and the statistic. The change can begin with the animal lovers like you and me and spread the compassion and respect towards the animals, because they matter.
“Let us remember that animals are not mere resources for human consumption. They are splendid beings in their own right, who have evolved alongside us as co-inheritors of all the beauty and abundance of life on this planet.” - Marc Bekoff, an American biologist, ethologist, behavioral ecologist, and writer
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Mother Tongue Embracing What Belongs to Me Tamanna Mathur, Year 9 Tamanna Mathur is a Year 9 student who excels in multidimensional arenas – academics, cocurricular activities like debates, MUNs, World Scholars Cup, and so on – Tamanna is an exemplar for her peers. In this very unique article, she discusses an extremely pivotal topic – that of the relevance of one’s mother tongue and how it forges relationships and helps an individual gain a real perspective of his or her roots.
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An Inexplicable Void An empty void had been accumulating in me for the past 14 years and filled me with loneliness. It's been growing in size and mystery despite me analyzing every aspect of my life to feel a little less alone. I would lay myself out on the floor like puzzle pieces and always find a piece missing. However, my subconscious self knew exactly what was wrong. The absence of something that was causing this wasn't because it was misplaced like a pair of glasses but was hidden like a key under a doormat. I was missing my identity, my nationality, and my heritage. I was hiding what binds me to 1.38 billion people. And once I realized that my culture is something to be proud of and not ashamed of, the world felt a little less lonely.
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Seeking Answers Within It was a mental strain to avoid the language my ancestors spoke and hate the food that nurtures my people. I played a constant game of hide-and-seek where I trapped my culture and prayed no one would find it. It was tiring and selfdestructive. I felt isolated and confused. I was the cause of this void, the cause of my own unhappiness and it took one simple moment, that lasted less than 30 seconds to finally love who I am. In a class of 33 students, it's bound to get hot and stuffy, so we asked a staff member to change the temperature of the AC. As usual, the class broke out in chaos and everyone screamed different temperatures, leaving the man confused. I was sweaty and exasperated and just wanted the class to be cooler so I told him to decrease the temperature in what I assumed was his native language to which he promptly pressed a button and left the class. I realized that just a few words have such a great impact, my words superseded everyone else's because he could actually understand me. It was that moment when I found out could talk to 566 million Hindi speakers. That I could ask 566 million extra people for help, and vice versa and we would understand each other. Everything felt a little less lonely since then.
Embracing What Belonged To Me I'm finally not afraid to talk in my mother tongue, I’m not embarrassed to love what’s cooked at home, or the clothes I wear at traditional events, and I'm not embarrassed by being me. It was like this massive jacket I always wore was unzipped and let me free of its stuffiness, of its heaviness. I freed myself from such a dark and lonely place by just embracing what always belonged to me.
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Keep Learning to Feel Happy Shaan Miranda, Year 4 Shaan Miranda, a Year 4 student, is an enthusiastic learner who believes that the potential of the human brain is limitless, and you can teach yourself anything if you’re focused and passionate about it. In this article, Shaan explains how learning something new can act as a great boosting factor for happiness and wellbeing.
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Learning a new skill In Year 3, I got introduced to something really interesting. It was this exciting new coding language called Scratch! This language was like magic! Using this we could do things like create new objects, change the colour of that object and moving them left, right, up and down. I was totally fascinated by this new found knowledge and I found myself exploring it more and more everyday making use of most of my free time. I taught myself so many new things. By the end of the year, I had learned more than the teachers had taught me and guess what? I actually made my own small games on Scratch! Eventually, I was invited to a competition related to coding. One of the topics was to create something to spread awareness about pollution which I found really interesting. I needed a target audience and who better than children who are the future of the world and who play a big role in saving the world we live in. Children love to play games and love superheroes. With this I thought I could build an interesting game using Scratch to convey the message. I came up with a simple concept where the game player becomes the Superhero who cleans the all the oceans to free them from pollution. I was proud of myself that I could achieve this using all the knowledge I had gained by learning Scratch.
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Being my own teacher So think about it, in the span of a few months I taught myself about something which was totally new to me and in the process had this sense of satisfaction. I felt good about myself and became aware of the endless potential of the human brain. You can learn anything that you set your heart on.
Learning = Happiness And here's something elselearning new things has been shown in the research to help improve and maintain our wellbeing. It can boost self-confidence and self-esteem, help build a sense of purpose, and foster connection with others. So I want to say that if a new activity or learning a new skill makes you happy, pursue it further and see the joy, satisfaction and sense of wellbeing it brings to you.
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Studies have shown that baking can help lower stress hormones, such as cortisol and epinephrine. Not only is this good for lowering your levels of stress and anxiety, but that also has a knock-on impact on your sleep, immunity levels, blood pressure and more, thus making baking good for your overall health too. Furthermore, studies affirm that people who engage in small creative projects, such as cooking and baking, feel more enthusiastic about what they did the following day. In Sarah’s own words – “I started baking at the age of 9, even though it may not have been perfect baked goods every time I attempted to make something I still enjoyed it. It’s always been a sort of stress reliever for me, to go online search up a recipe and try something new and of course eating something delicious at the end of it was an incentive too! It’s an easier skill to acquire than other talents as there are millions of recipes that guide you through the process of baking, so you simply need to follow those instructions. It has also been discovered that baking provides various benefits to your mental health such as improved concentration and it acts as an outlet to relieve stress. So enjoy these recipes and always remember to prioritize your mental wellbeing!”
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Ingredients For the Chocolate Frosting (make in advance): 18 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate (finely chopped) 2 cups heavy cream 1 cup unsalted butter For the Chocolate Cake: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ cup granulated sugar ¾ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder (sifted) 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs ¼ cup vegetable oil ¾ cup buttermilk (room temperature) 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ¾ cup hot water
Preparation Make the Chocolate Frosting (in advance) 1. Place chopped chocolate into a large heatproof bowl. 2. In a medium saucepan, combine heavy cream and butter. Cook on medhigh, stirring often, until just simmering. 3. Pour hot cream over chopped chocolate and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let sit 5 minutes. 4. Stir gently until completely smooth. 5. Place plastic wrap on top of chocolate. Allow to thicken and set overnight. Make the Chocolate Cake: 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease two 8″ cake rounds, dust with cocoa powder and line bottoms with parchment. 2. Place flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix until well combined. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla. Very slowly pour in hot water while whisking constantly. 4. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix on medium for 2 to 3 minutes. Batter will be very thin. 5. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. 6. Place cakes on wire rack to cool for 10 minutes then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely. 7. Once cooled, cut each layer in half horizontally, if desired 8. Finally assemble the cake as you desire and be creative!
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Ingredients 5 ounces (140 grams) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces 2 tablespoons (15 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder (regular unsweetened or Dutch-processed) 1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar 1 teaspoon (4 grams) pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon (4 grams) pure coffee extract (optional) 3 large (150 grams) eggs, at room temperature 3/4 cup (95 grams) all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) salt 3/4 cup (125 grams) semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips (optional)
Preparation 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place the oven rack in the center of the oven. Line the bottom and sides of an 8 inch (20 cm) square baking pan with foil. Butter the foil. 2. Melt the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl (I use stainless steel), placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove from heat and stir (or whisk) in the cocoa powder and sugar. Next, whisk in the vanilla extract and coffee extract (if using). Then, whisk in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Finally, stir in the flour, salt, and chocolate chips (if using). 3. Pour into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the back of a spoon or offset spatula. Bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. Serve at room temperature or chilled. These Brownies freeze very well.
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Ingredients 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, preferably Valrhona 2 eggs 2 egg yolks 1/4 cup sugar Pinch of salt 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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Preparation Preheat the oven to 450°. Butter and lightly flour four 6ounce ramekins. Tap out the excess flour. Set the ramekins on a baking sheet. In a double boiler, over simmering water, melt the butter with the chocolate. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with the egg yolks, sugar and salt at high speed until thickened and pale Whisk the chocolate until smooth. Quickly fold it into the egg mixture along with the flour. Spoon the batter into the prepared ramekins and bake for 12 minutes, or until the sides of the cakes are firm but the centers are soft. Let the cakes cool in the ramekins for 1 minute, then cover each with an inverted dessert plate. Carefully turn each one over, let stand for 10 seconds and then unmold. Serve immediately.
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Ingredients ½ cup granulated sugar(100 g) ¾ cup brown sugar(165 g), packed 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup unsalted butter(115 g), melted 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour(155 g) ½ teaspoon baking soda 110 g milk 110 g dark chocolate chunk, or your preference
Preparation 1. Whisk together the sugars, salt, and butter in a large mixing bowl until a smooth paste forms. 2. Whisk together the egg and vanilla extract until light ribbons fall off the whisk 3. Sift in the flour and baking soda, then fold with a spatula (Ensure to not overmix). 4. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line the tray with parchment paper. 5. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into a tray, leaving at least 4 6. inches (10 cm) of space between the cookies to ensure the cookies can spread evenly. 7. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges have started to barely brown. 8. Enjoy it with your family and friends!
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Ingredients 3 tbsp Unsalted Butter (43 gms) 3 tbsp Sugar 1/2 cup Graham cracker crumbs (I used Digestive biscuit crumbs) 1/2 tbsp of instant coffee powder 1/2 tbsp sugar 1/4 cup of hot water tin (395 gms) Condensed milk 1 cup Chilled whipping cream
Preparation 1. Melt butter in heavy small skillet/saucepan. Once it is melted, add sugar and stir until bubbling, about 1 min. Mix in the biscuit crumbs. Stir until colour deepens, about 3 mins. Turn out onto a plate and let it cool completely. 2. Stir condensed milk, the coffee version, add instant coffee powder and sugar to hot water. Dissolve it and let it cool. Using electric mixer, beat whipping cream in a medium bowl until firm peaks form; fold the whipped cream into the lemon mixture. 3. Place 1/4 cup of coffee and cream mousse in the individual serving dish. Top each with 1 tbsp crumb mixture, then 1/4 cup of mousse. Top parfait with remaining crumb mixture. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
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The Intrinsic Connection Between Environmental Wellbeing and Our Own Marcus Fernandes, Year 6, Primary Head Boy
Marcus Fernandes, Year 6, is the Primary Head Boy who believes in leading by example. Marcus is extremely conscious of the fact that our planet is unique and is the nurturer and provider of billions of life forms. In this article, Marcus explores the intrinsic connection between environmental wellbeing and our own, and underscores the fact the wellbeing of the planet is linked the wellbeing of its inhabitants.
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Environmental protection is being talked about more and more with every passing year. The urgency to protect the planet has been stressed on repeatedly and rightly so. The planet gives us everything we need to survive and the wellbeing of the planet is directly linked to our wellbeing in every other sphere of life. Yes, let’s put the focus on environmental wellbeing. Environmental wellbeing means being mindful of the space surrounding you. Human beings are a part of the ecosystem. Nature plays a very important role to human life, health, and well-being. Natural environments affect human health and wellbeing directly and indirectly. A clean and green environment is an asset to good health. Pollution is a major threat to life. The Father of Medicine, Hippocrates was the first physician to say that illness is not the consequence of mystical forces or punishments from the gods. He felt that his patients’ conditions are related to environment, diet, and living habits.
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• Am I aware of human impact on the environment? • Do I recycle, reduce and reuse? • Do I engage in environmentally friendly behaviours like turning off lights/faucets etc. • Do I take time to appreciate my surroundings? • Do I find time to spend outdoors in nature?
Our planet, our responsibility As dwellers of the planet, it is our duty to live sustainably and consider the impact of our actions on the environment. It is vital for people to have a clear understanding of how health and wellbeing of humans is inseparable from the health of the surrounding environment. The choices we make to care for our planet are also steps to care for ourselves. Taking care of the environment not only benefits the physical health of humans, but also helps to reduce feelings of stress. As children we too can play our part through small actions every day. Here are a few ways you can contribute to environmental wellbeing• • • • •
Not waste food. Not littering our surroundings. Reducing our use of plastic items. Not wasting water or electricity. Participating in school and community sustainable projects.
These are small actions but can have a huge impact on environmental wellbeing. So start today!
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Happiest time in our life? Anna rekun, year 8 WELLBEING COORDINATOR
Anna Rekun is the Wellbeing Coordinator for Year 8. She passionately believes in the GEMS Core Value of care, kindness, and giving. In this article, she discusses a malice which inflicts people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, etc – bullying. Anna hopes to see a transformation in the world which enables every child to say with conviction that their time spent in school is indeed the happiest time of their lives.
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School days should be a jovial time in a youngster's life, perhaps, the happiest time of their life. So what can make people's lives a misery during this time, then? In my opinion, there is one word which answers this question - bullying. Unfortunately, bullying is quite common in schools; one in five children have reported being bullied. It can affect students of any age, ethnic background and status, and both boys and girls but slightly higher portion of female than of male students report being bullied at school (24% vs. 17%). Students who experience bullying are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement and discontinuing their scholastic journey. Students who are both targets of bullying and engage in bullying behavior are at greater risk for both mental health and behavior problems than students who only bully or are only bullied. Bullied students indicate that bullying has a negative effect on how they feel about themselves, their relationships with friends and family, their school work as well as their physical health as students who experience bullying are twice as likely as non-bullied peers to experience negative health effects such as headaches and stomach aches.
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SO why do people bully? There aren’t clear reasons for bullying. Most often people who aren't comfortable in their own skin can't stand to be around people who are or maybe, they target their victim because certain prejudices have been passed down through their family. Making sense of why kids bully others can help victims, teachers and parents alike better understand what is going on— and provide insights into how to stop it. While this does not in any way excuse the behavior, rarely is the bullying really about the person who is getting bullied. Instead, the behavior is often a reflection of the struggles the person who is bullying is going through.
We can say with pride that The Winchester School strives to be a safe place for all students by creating a bullying-free environment of acceptance, tolerance, compassion and diversity. On the other hand, any cases of misbehavior, such as any form of bullying, are swiftly and very firmly dealt with in the best interest of the students, meaning that not only would the bullied person be set free of their sufferings but also the school leaders and counselors would communicate with the bully to help them deduce and analyze the reasons for bullying. Moreover, the Winchester School allows students to anonymously share their burdens, worries and feeling and provides help by trusted professionals. All this helps in creating a safe space for all students. Hopefully, every school in each part of the world would take up zero tolerance proactive measures against bullying so that this menace can be a part of the past.
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Save Soil A Global Movement Mruda Bhatt, Year 5, Primary Head Girl
Mruda Bhatt, Year 5, Primary Head Girl for the Academic Session 2021-2022 is a firm believer in global responsibility to address the most pressing issues, Mruda introduced an initiative at Winchester to support the global movement, “Save Soil”, which is spearheaded by Sadhguru. She organized web sessions in collaboration with Isha Foundation to brief students and teachers about the Save Soil initiative. The sessions were highly enlightening for everyone and inspired them to take action at their own levels.
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ABOUT SADHGURU Yogi, Mystic and Visionary, Sadhguru is one of the most influential people of our times. An Enlightened Master of enormous capability, he has undertaken some gargantuan challenges, work that has been as sweeping as it has been varied. All his efforts, however, have always been towards just one goal: Raising Human Consciousness. Over the past four decades, Sadhguru has offered the technologies of wellbeing to millions of people across the world through his foundations, which are supported by over 16 million volunteers worldwide. Sadhguru has been conferred with three presidential awards among which are the Padma Vibhushan for distinguished service to the Nation and India’s highest environmental award, the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar, in 2010. Over the years, Sadhguru has launched mega ecological initiatives. Project GreenHands, Rally for Rivers and Cauvery Calling address the urgent need to increase green cover, revitalize Indian rivers and restore soil health. These initiatives have been recognized globally as game-changers for establishing a blueprint for economic development that is ecologically sustainable. Sadhguru has been invited by various UN and international agencies including the UN, UNE, UNEP, IUCN, UNCCD and WEF to discuss global solutions to the world’s ecological issues.
What is the Save Soil Movement? Save Soil is a global movement launched by Sadhguru, to address the soil crisis by bringing together people from around the world to stand up for Soil Health, and supporting leaders of all nations to institute national policies and actions toward increasing the organic content in cultivable Soil.
“Soil – the only magic material that turns death into life.” - Sadhguru
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Objectives of the Save Soil Movement
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Turning the world’s attention to our dying soil. Inspiring about 4 billion people (60% of the world’s electorate of 5.26 billion) to support policy redirections to safeguard, nurture and sustain soils. Driving national policy changes in 193 nations toward raising and maintaining the organic content of soils to a minimum of 3-6%.
Mruda propagating the Save Soil movement
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Book-O-Phile Library An Initiative by Madiha Javed, Year 5, and Sarah Javed, Year 3 To spread the joy of reading, Madiha Javed and Sarah Javed set up a library at their home encouraging readers of all ages to contribute as well as borrow books. The initiative was much appreciated by all. To see the initiative in action, please visit the Instagram page @bookophile_library
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Read-O-Relay Marcus Fernandes, Year 6, Primary Head Boy Reading is crucial for the development of language. To encourage students to read a diverse range of books, Marcus Fernandes introduced the initiative Read-O-Relay, which required students to read a book of their choice and then recommend the book to their friends, thereby creating an interesting relay of books. The Read O Relay initiative did not only inculcate the love for reading, but also helped to develop cognitive, writing and comprehension skills. https://padlet.com/marcusaidenfernandes/og97kp9p6cixbuml Click on this link to read the reviews written by students.
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We’d love to hear about how your summer break goes. Please do tell us about the new places you visit, the delectable recipes you try, the amazing books you read, the exciting movies you watch, etc. You can share it all on wintimes2019@gmail.com Happy summer!