UDGAM MATTERS MARCH-APRIL 2018

MARCH - APRIL 2018
udgammatters

2 UDGAM MATTERSMarch-April 2018
Long LiveTheWomen OfTheWorld!!!
Page 15-16
Plan an Offbeat and Experiential
Vacay for your Kids Page 17-18
10 Facts About Stephen Hawking
Page 19-20
Bored? Play Board Games Page 21-22
Let’s Read Page 4
Radiant Reflections Page 5
Emotive Expressions Page 6-8
Passport to Excellence Page 9-12
From the Counsellors Page 13-14
Wash only full loads of laundry
Always turn off running water
Take shorter showers
Eliminate all leaks
Reduce the flow of toilets and showerheads
PASSPORT to EXCELLENCE –
THE PARENT’S ROLE Page 3
WHAT’S INSIDE
5 easy ways to save water

FROM
THE DIRECTOR
PASSPORT to
EXCELLENCE –
THE PARENT’S ROLE
The Passport to Excellence program is a system of
motivating the children for achievements that do
not get assessed in exams and marks are not given.
These small achievements are required for overall
development of the child. Since implementation it has
helped to encourage students and create a love for
school. It has helped to yield desirable results among
children in the form of interest and accomplishment of
work and activities designed to attain a more holistic
education pattern. Alongside academics the project
has encouraged children to participate more in co-
curricular work to such an extent that children feel
that academics alone
cannot judge their
performance.Forthings
in which you don’t get
marks, you get stickers,
is the basic premise
of the system. The
project has also gone
a long way in boosting
the self-esteem of the
child and encouraging
him/her to try harder.
Small achievements
recognized regularly
motivate children to
keep up the efforts.
Children spend most of their time at home and only a
few hours in school. Encouragement at home is also
required if we want the Passport project to be fully
successful. Both the parents need to join in the project
whole-heartedly.TowardstheendofeachPassportBook
that has been assigned to each child there are 4 pages
of Parent’s passport page. These can accommodate
up to 16 stickers. These are pages wherein parents can
either use their own stickers - like a star or ones which
are readily available in the market, to reward their child
based on their behaviour, improvement in any field,
good habits or any remarkable act that is noteworthy.
Find your child’s area of improvement and whenever
you see any progress in that area or any other positive
aspect, give them a sticker. For instance,
1. Children don’t wake up on time – for waking up
consistently for about 3 weeks – give 1 sticker.
2. Children eat a lot of sugary foods – for showing
ability to curb the desire to eat chocolate – give 1
sticker.
3. TV / iPad / Video games are a problem – give
sticker when the child demonstrates any reduction in
use.
Remember once you
give a sticker – you
cannot take it back.
Also you have 16 spaces
only so use them wisely!
Parents should not be
‘bullied’ by the child
and should use their
own counsel. Also over
praising would not work
and the motivation
factor would be lost.
Use your reasoning
and take care of the 4
pages assigned to you
optimally. Your encouragement will do wonders in
ascertaining all round development of the child and go
a long way in creating happy individuals who feel loved
and appreciated.
In case you have any queries or suggestions on
improving the passport project – please feel free to
write to me. As of now the school gives passports to
students from Junior KG to 5th. Parents in older grades
can make their own system of motivating and tracking.
Mr. MananChoksi, Executive Director

4 March-April 2018 UDGAM MATTERS
FROM
THE DIRECTOR
LET’S READ
Francis Bacon has rightly said, “Reading
maketh a full man”.
Reading is a hobby that should be developed at a
young age. It is a habit that will stand us in good stead
all our life. Reading has several benefits and probably
no harmful effect, provided one reads good material.
And what better time and place to start this than the
school! Udgam School has an excellent library and
reading room and continually keeps adding books to
keep up with the students’ tastes and interests.
Today, educationists and parents lament that most
students of even English medium schools do not
speak or write good English. Our education board
too has realized this handicap of our students and is
recommending
methods to
cultivate
the
habit of
reading
to get
fluency
over the
language.
Regular
reading can
play a part
in developing speaking and writing skills.
Reading not only acquaints us with usage of words
but also enriches our vocabulary. There are phrases
and idioms peculiar to every language. They can
be understood and used only by extensive reading.
These are just the basic benefits of reading.
A more lasting and profound benefit of reading is that
it gives us ideas, develops creativity and imagination.
My professor once remarked that the Othello he saw
on stage was nowhere close to the grand image of the
character he had sketched in his mind after reading
Shakespeare’s play. Such is the power of beautiful
writing!
Reading enhances our understanding, our thinking
and debating skills. So, we must not only read but
ponder over what we have read, and whenever
possible, discuss and debate. There are many lessons
to be learnt from a good novel or play.
I remember, as a student of English Literature
and Psychology, I learnt more psychology from
Shakespeare’s plays and the Greek plays than from
the psychology book.
Students will
soon have a
vacation. I
hope they
make it
a point
to
read
a
book
a day,
or at
least
a book
a week.
One who has
cultivated the
habit of reading will never be lonely. As it is said,
books are our ‘never-failing friends’.
Yet another quote says, “Reading gives us some place
to go when we have to stay where we are.” How true!.
Ms. Radhika Iyer, Director

5 UDGAM MATTERS
RADIANT REFLECTIONS
“Too often we underestimate the
power of a touch, a smile, a kind
word, a listening ear, an honest
compliment or the smallest act of
caring, all of which have potential to
turn a life around.”
Empathy is considered by many
experts to be one of the growing
measures of intelligence. Personally,
I think empathy is one of the most
important personality traits to be
encouraged and fostered in a child’s
development.
Empathy is the ability to come
alongside someone, and not only
see a person’s point of view but
also experience the other person’s
pain.You go beyond feeling sorry
for that person, since that would be
sympathy.You seek to understand
that person’s pain until you are able
to feel the hurt, which in turn should
move you to a comforting response.
When we put ourselves in other
people’s shoes, we are often more
sensitive to what that other person
is feeling and are less likely to tease
them or bully them. By explicitly
teaching children to be more
conscious of other people’s feelings,
I believe that we can create a more
accepting and respectful school
community.
Empathy touches. Empathy
soothes. Empathy heals. Empathy
fills the gap. In fact, I think empathy
is like the “super glue”. It can pull
people together.
Learning from children has
helped me become much more
compassionate than I was when I
first started 20 years ago. I always
feel I can make a difference from the
first day I start to work with them.
I don’t think that has ever changed.
The more I learn, the better I can
teach.
My best wishes to all my kids in their
endeavour to be BETTER HUMAN
BEINGS –TRUE UDGAMITES.
I would like to sum up with these
beautiful lines for teachers.
“Great teachers empathise with
kids, respect them, and believe that
each one has something special that
can be built on.”
Mrs. Reema Sharma,
Supervisor, Middle School
March-April 2018

EMOTIVE EXPRESSIONS
MOTHER IS LIFE
My mom, she’s a woman of grace
From her head to her toes;
Radiance shining on her face
Like a freshly blooming rose.
She makes me feel safe always
She keeps me well fed;
With her sweet voice she prays
As she tucks me in my bed.
My mother is eternal Spring of flowers
InWinter she’s the warmth of love;
In Summer she’s like cool showers
Of blessings from above.
My mother is a treasure of all that’s good
Shields me from all sorrow;
She does all that she could
To make for me a better tomorrow.
Ramya Modi Std.VII-E
A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND
Whoever said that diamond is a girl’s
best friend, never owned a dog.
A house is never lonely where a loving
dog waits.
AmItheonlyonewholooksatmydog
rubbing its neck and wondering, what
would this pooch say if it could talk?
I wonder if certain breeds have
accents.
I wonder if I would love my dog if it
had voice.
Would we argue and bicker on every
small thing?
Verbal communications are difficult
and painful in some situations.
As much as I wish my dog could talk,
there surely might be a reason why
it cannot. Dogs can teach us more
about love and happiness.
However, if dogs did talk, they might
say some of these things:
• Are you going to feed me today?
• Why do I get little food? I am
still hungry.
• Throwing the ball is not difficult
when I am the one chasing it.
• Yes, I played with the toilet
paper. You left me alone for 7
hours.
• And so on... These may be some
messages they want to convey
but are not able to due to lack of
speech.
• Lastly, I would say, “Love is a
four legged word.”
ShubhrajyotsnaAdhikari Std. XII-D
CHAMPION
Who is a champion?
A person like us all
Who refused to give up,
In spite of a many a fall.
He plays many times,
With a hope to win
He loses many of them,
But never loses his will
At last, he becomes a
champion
And attains fame and
greatness
He climbs the ladder of strife
To the door of success.
Harman Dave Std.VII-E
THE STRESS
MONSTER
• Why are you always inside me?
Like a shadow you follow me,
In front, behind and beside me.
• Chasing me everywhere, in
work or play,
Like a lion stealthily chasing
its prey.
• You are the interest,
Which I never want to pay.
• You make me as dull as
dishwater,
But sometimes you make as
brave as a lion.
• Yet I know without you
I cannot take up challenges.
• You are the one
I try to avoid the most,
You’re no less than
a horrible ghost.
SuhaniThakkar Std. XI C

7 UDGAM MATTERS`March-April 2018
EMOTIVE EXPRESSIONS
Yet another day passed by and I am
still here, standing in the middle of
nowhere. It feels like someone keeps
oncallingmeandasksmetowakeup
but despite my utmost willingness
I fail to do so. Some heavy stuff,
right ? But, maybe atleast some of
you might have found yourself in
this trance at one or other point.
Excluding the extraterrestrial
ones who seem to have sorted out
everything in their life, we humans
surely do have a lot of
problems to counter,
which actually we
have dared to be born
with. I mean, the
biggest headache you
ever created for your
parents, is no offence
but the fact that you
were born to them.
This doesn’t stop
here….. This was just
The God’s part, now
comes the voluntarily
actions. Initially, there were minor
issues like what games to play or
the choice of friends but later on
with the increasing intensity of
age we mature ourselves to create
mature problems like “mai kal kya
pehnu”. Surely, it’s a big problem!
But foremost of all, the ‘Oh no! fact’(
as I like to call it ) is that despite
problems consuming a giant slice
of our life ,some great people with
numbers (who invented maths)
decided to mess it up even more by
creating another nightmare called
the world problems, as if so many
numbers, theorems and formulas
weren’t enough. I think it basically
defies the fundamentals of the
subject itself that ‘Maths has to be
hard’.
Actually the point of all this is, mere
holding a mirror to our society and
showing them the kind of miserable
lifestyle we live. I mean, Right
from childhood we have been over
complicating everything so much so
that now even the silliest of things
appear to be havoc.
If it were just the problems then we
could have got away with it but,
it is the consequences that haunt
us even more. People who are
unable to live with the thoughts of
failure and defeat mostly get into
depression following with indulging
themselves in substance abuse and
other harmful appetites, and some
extreme cases even end up taking
theirlife. ThisissaddeningbutIthink
if we have created it then we can
change it too. According to me most
of these so called problems arise
because we are not able to perform
upto our expectation or in other
words we are scared of being tagged
as unsuccessful by the society, but
what I don’t understand is why to
make such a society which does not
promote harmony and
peace , rather makes
us live an unhappy life.
Well, there is another
way to this too. For
most of my life,
I have been fascinated
by humans and our
inexhaustible talent
of having a substitute
for everything or as we
call it the “jugad”. Be it
winning the elections,
passing maths exam
or even in Gujarat
arranging for the “batli”; Everything
is possible. So folks, let us use this
super power to resolve our problems
instead of wasting it being sad and
disgusted about the problems
Problems are never ending ….so
concluding this I would like to say
that “there are no problems in life
unless you create them and aren’t
willing to work hard to resolve
them”.
PROBLEMS ARE OURS
AISHWARYA MOHANAKRISHNAN XII-D

People are usually as happy as they
make their minds up to be. It’s a
wonderful paradox, that one can
be truly happy for oneself when he
gives happiness to others. Happiness
is like a warm puppy, it brings a big
smile on your face, and a childish
sparkle to your eyes.
Happiness is not something ready
made. It comes from your own
actions. More often than not, people
live in jails of their own making. It is
not about who you are, what you do,
where you live, but it’s about what
you truly think.
The circumstances of our life are not
the reasons for making us happy
or unhappy, but it’s the way we
see them. It is all in the mind. The
true source of happiness is other’s
happiness. A person can break free
from the jail of his own making, by
being wisely selfish. Being wisely
selfish means, every time you
find yourself wandering through
those dark alleys of your fears and
insecurities, try to distract yourself
by doing a small act of kindness.
And I assure you, the reward you
will receive in the form of someone’s
laughter, someone’s blessing,
someone’s gratitude, will surely give
you that glimmer of hope, which will
help you successfully cross your sea
of fear and hardship.
Happiness is only real, when shared.
Always be kind to others and make
people smile.We aren’t aware of the
sufferings of the people around us,
but we can surely be their Messiah.
A small act of kindness can do
wonders. It can make someone’s
day, help someone feel better and
even save someone’s life. John
Lennon has truly said “ count your
age by friends, not years.Count your
life by smiles, not tears.” All it takes
is a small curve, to set the world
straight.
THE WONDERFUL
PARADOX
VASUNDHARA SINGH XII-B
UDGAM MATTERS8 March-April 2018
EMOTIVE EXPRESSIONS

PASSPORT TO EXCELLENCE
- Steering Students towards Excellence
“The reward for work well done is the opportunity to
do more.”
Believing exactly in the quote, the school has
developed a Passport to Excellence Program for its
students. It is an effective reward and recognition
program designed to impact students holistically.
The main feature of the program is to recognize the
efforts of the child by integrating their curricular
and co-curricular activities at the school and home.
The process includes providing stickers to the child
for their efforts and improvisations shown in
academics, sports, behaviour, for excelling in any
talent/skill. Each student is given a passport at the
beginning of the academic year, where for each of
their efforts they receive a sticker from school
teachers and even from their parents (in the assigned
pages) and gather as many as they can until
the completion of the academic year.
The Passport to Excellence has proved to be an
effective reward scheme for the students. For every
time their efforts are recognized, at school and at
home, they’re sparked by the enthusiasm and an
intrinsic motivation to excel and produce the best. It
has worked wonders in boosting their morale.
This, in turn, has increased their productivity levels
and overall, has made them happy about their
accomplishments and, as we know, happy students
make a happy school.

GLOBAL CITIZEN AWARD
10 March-April 2018
Maximum Stickers Winner in Class
DhyaniTrevdi III E
Jayraj Zala I A
Anvita Munshi - II H
Pranshi Gandhi II D
HiyaVasavada IV D
Sneha Keshri - II B
EeshtaTagade III GTanishaVerma - III F
AnshikaTaparia III E
Yashvi Amin - IV G Shubham Gupta -V C
UDGAM MATTERS

BEST TRAVELLER
Maximum Stickers Winner in Section
Aaheli Choudhary III D
Chahana Shah IV H
Falak Doshi IV E
KhushiVora I D
Aarav Shah - II F
Ananya Rachh I D
Khushita Dave IV F AARUSH SHAH -V D
Anoush Kathe II GDrishaGhatta IG
Jainam Shah I E
Krisha Girish III H
Aarya Patel - II E
Drishti Parikh IV E
Aarya ShahV F DevanShahVG Harvy ShahV H
Asmi SehraV D
Kavya MehtaV G
Maanit Patel I C
UDGAM MATTERS 11March-April 2018

12UDGAM MATTERS March-April 2018
BEST TRAVELLER
Maximum Stickers Winner in Section
Nishtha Purohit IV B
Shiv PatelV B
Paridhi Dave III C
Navya RathiV B
Pratham Prajapati I F
SanayAhuja IIICSaumya Shah III B
Tvisha Goyal I HVedita Awtani I B
Manya Shah IV A Samriddhi Bengani IV AVihaan Shah III D
Meet Patel IV CShriya Dave IV B Vraj ChokshiV A
NeevShah IIC
Ravin ChokshiV B Shaurya PatelV F
Vansh vora II A
Kahan Shah III A

13
Health, can, generally,
be measured on three
major parameters:
Physical, Psychological
and Nutritional. Physical
health means the physical
appearance of a person;
Nutritional health means
the presence of essential
nutrients in the body
to fight diseases with
immunity. Psychological
health means the
ability in a person to
maintain patience, calm
and composure in all
circumstances of life.
Health professionals
consider cancer, diabetes
and several other mental
and physical health issues
such as depression, lethargic
attitude, etc. to deficiencies
in fitness and well-being of
a person. Unhealthy or unfit
lifestyle of a person also
results in premature death.
Obesity and lack of physical
fitness in young generation
sets the stage for diabetes,
heart disease, and other
serious health problems.
Walking, running, cycling,
playing, swimming,
gardening, skipping,
weight-lifting and Yoga
are some of the important
activities which help us
maintain fit and healthy
lifestyle. A person who
is fit both physically and
mentally is strong enough
to face the ups and downs
of life, and is not affected
by drastic changes in the
circumstances.
One should also spend
time outdoors in the sun,
inhaling fresh air and taking
part in healthy activities.
Staying active makes you
stay energetic. Out of the
several components that
affect one’s health, following
are the seven key physical
UDGAM MATTERSMarch-April 2018
From the Counsellors…
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Dr. Anjana Dongre
13

components to ensure the
overall good health, fitness
and mental well-being:
1. Cardiovascular/
Aerobic Conditioning
2. Strength Training and
Muscular Development
3. Stretching – Muscles,
Ligaments and Tendons
4. Core Stability – Both
physical and mental
5. Nutrition and
Supplementation –
Balanced Diet
6. Mental Rest and
Relaxation – Balanced
lifestyle
7. Sleep – Regular
sleep Eating healthy
and nutrients rich
food, exercising,
taking sufficient sleep,
avoiding intake of
harmful substances
are just few simple
ways to stay healthy
and fit. These are
directly related to our
mental, physical and
emotional health.
Fitness and mental
well-being are
essential parts of
a healthy life. The
benefits of an active
and healthy lifestyle
are undeniable by all
means.
Whether you decide
to increase your
activity levels slightly
or develop and participate
in a thorough fitness plan, it
will pay you off in the long
run. Exercise is good for your
health of various organs of
your body and makes you
feel stronger.
Nutrition and fitness are
essential for a healthy living.
Not only we look and feel
good, but by eating the
right nutritional food and
doing the right amount
of exercise, we could also
lower the chances of getting
some pretty serious life-
threatening diseases.
Things to be done for
maintaining balanced
healthy and fit lifestyle:
1. Keeping body
hydrated – Drink
ample water
2. Washing hands
before and after meals
– Maintain sanitation
3. Regular exercise
4. Intake of nutrients
5. Regular, sound sleep
Conclusion: Sound
health not only means
keeping a health body
but it also includes
a healthy mental
condition. Our health
depends upon several
factors such as food,
pollution, regular
sleeping habits, fresh
air, water, sunlight,
and healthy mental
condition. Morning
walks and physical
exercises are very
helpful for ensuring the
fitness of our mind and
body.

15 March-April 2018 UDGAM MATTERS
Who is the enemy?
The enemy is not an individual
or any circumstance; it is the
big H…Health!
In the relentless race against
time trying to do justice to her
many roles, the woman of today
has forgotten one huge factor
in her life…her health. Often
diet takes a back seat and a
rushed coffee in the morning
is all she can squeeze in to her
schedule while preparing for
the day. She swims through
the tide of the day with as
much strength as she can put
in and in the process sacrifices
food, sleep and exercise. Over a
period of time these sacrifices
start showing up initially in tiny
ways in the form of aches and
pains and then in ugly forms like
severe back problems, diabetes,
obesity, heart diseases and
even cancer. Since her diet has
Long Live
The Women
Of The World!!!
The homemaker has gone
places…she is no longer
confined to bringing up
the brood and nurturing
the hearth. She is taking
great strides and is ruling
the world along with her
counterpart. But her roles
have not reduced; they
have diversified. Her self-
esteem has increased and
she is not just a shadowy
figure content to hover
in the background. She
has stopped justifying
her sacrifices by finding
solace in her family’s
achievements. Today she
is a proud figure, ready
to rise and conquer the
world. However, there is
an enormous enemy that
is raising its hood time
and again to stop her in
mid flight, waiting behind
the curtains to trip her in
her journey and bring her
crashing down to earth.

been inadequate all forms of
deficiencies gradually show up
and are often diagnosed after
it is quite late. Moreover, lack
of sufficient sleep and exercise
leave her feeling tired and unfit.
All these combine with diet
deficiencies and cut short a life
that was roaring to go. The vast
number of diseases that afflict
women today in the prime of
her youth stand testimony to
gross negligence to her health.
So what’s the remedy?
The panaceas of all ills that
afflict a woman are well within
her reach. These are-
1. Nourishment:
Good food that is rich in
nutrients should be a part
of the daily diet. This should
include carbohydrates,
fats, proteins, vitamins and
minerals in the required
proportions.
2. Timely meals:

Food is the fuel of the body
and runs it so it should be
partaken timely to provide
the body with energy to
survive the entire day.
3. Exercise:

WHO recommends at least
2.5 hours of weekly exercise
which could be in the form
of brisk walking, cycling,
swimming, jogging, sports or
any physical activity.
4. Sleep:
At the end of a tiring day
only repose of 7-8 hours will
energise the body to tackle
yet another grueling day.
5. Relaxation: Along with the
above, it is imperative that
there is ample scope for
relaxation by indulging in
activities that help the mind
and the body unwind.
The truth about Vitamins and
Minerals
Today, about 90% of women
have low levels of Vitamin D and
about 50% have low levels of
Vitamin B12. These deficiencies
are enough to hamper good
health and lead to a host of
diseases and symptoms. Added
to these, low levels of minerals
like potassium or magnesium,
makes things worse.
Most women need vitamin
and mineral supplements
as the food that we eat is
not nourishing enough to
provide our body with all
its requirements. It would
be a good idea to have a
multivitamin and multimineral
supplement everyday. If Vitamin
D and B12 levels are low, then
probably one needs to start
taking specific supplements
after consulting a doctor.
While these inadequacies
may not seem to be serious
by themselves, prolonged
deficiency may lead to severe
outcomes.
As compared to an adult male, a
women’s body requires specific
nutrients in extra amount and
that is quite obvious since
the body undergoes such
vital changes as pregnancy,
menstruation and menopause.
But most of the time that
need of nutrients in women
is neglected leaving them
undernourished with weak
immune system and internal
functions. More stress must be
put on the awareness regarding
the extreme need of these
nutrients in a women’s body to
stay healthy and fit in a long run
with undisturbed metabolism.
A multivitamin isn’t a magic pills that’s
going to prevent all manner of diseases,
but it will fill in nutritional gaps and
keep your body running efficiently.

The summer holidays are around the corner, and kids and parents both richly deserve a time off and
celebration after completing a rewarding year. As it goes, vacation is the time to relax, rewind and
rejuvenate. While it is important to relax, you don’t want to yourself and your kid to be glued to TV and
phone all the time. It is that time of the year, which, if used productively and meaningfully, can add value
to you and your kid’s life. A vacation beyond the normal sightseeing of a place to exploring experiences,
there are a plentiful of things-to-do and where-to-go ideas to ensure your kid’s summer doesn’t go to waste.
From meaningful and experiential family bonding holidays to solo kids’holidays/summer camps, ditch those
classical expensive Disneyland or Dubai trip, and invest in some of these impactful trips/camps.
Here’s a list of travel curators to help you plan for an offbeat, creative and experiential summer vacation for
your kids as well as for the entire family:
Plan an Offbeat and Experiential
Vacay for your Kids
1. Unique Family Bonding Travel
Ideas:
Bask in the glory of the most
picturesque locations, and, even
get a chance to mingle with the
local community, their culture,
traditions and get a whole
new level of experience. It is so
appealing to get the feel of the
place through the locals by staying
with them than by merely staying
at a five-star hotel and clicking
pictures in colorful clothes of your
little ones and then moving away.
There are several travel curators
in India helping to plan such
authentic travel experiences.
• The Blue Yonder (http://
theblueyonder.com) provides such
insightful family experience travels
both for children and the parents.
Their destinations range from
anywhere in India to Nepal, Bhutan,
Sri Lanka and South Africa. They
provide the tourists meaningful
encounters with the locals, their
art, craft, culture, stories and
community initiatives. One of
such experience includes visits
to local pottery shops and trying
your hands at it. Or trying organic
farming at farms in Kerala.
• Little Passports
(http://www.littlepassports.
in) and Extraordinary Travel Co
(check out their Facebook page
Extraordinary Travel) are such other
toddler and family holiday curators.
Based in Mumbai and Bangalore
respectively, they customize trips
in a way that appeal the kids, that
which is the right mix of fun and
learn. These travel companies
are known for organizing yoga
retreats for the entire family, art
and craft workshops for the parents
and kids that help them to be
creative outdoors, activities such as
splashing in natural mud pools to
talking to tribal kids in Kaziranga,
to mediation sessions to cherishing
fun-based treasure hunts on
beaches.
One such another notable traveling
company is
Shikhar Travels based in Delhi
which offers theme-based travels.
From soft adventure to wild,
educational, cultural, to spiritual
you name it and they make it for
you. For family travel or solo travel
for your kid, Shikhar travels has all
for each. Their educational trips/
holidays are subject based too,
and as per your interest, they may
be able to curate your subject’s
interest trip. For instance, in
their Indian Himalayan Journey
package, they make you a part
of the cleanliness drive in the
Himalayas and your kid gets a

chance to interact with the locals
and the authority by discussing
environmental concerns plaguing
the region. Check out their website
(http://www.shikhar.com) for the
best educational and family trip
programs.
2. Summer Camps and Programs
for kids:
We have all heard about the
classic summer camps in Shimla
and Manali where the kids are
merely seen engaged in certain
soft adventure activities, making
friends and indulging in a lot of
fun activities. But, those were the
old days. Now, there are summer
camps which provides with a
range of activities for a child’s
overall development. From soft
adventures to creative activities
like painting, cooking, storytelling,
writing, acting to spiritual based
learning like teaching meditation,
yoga to even focusing on activities
specializing subjects such as
media, robotics, entrepreneurship
and much, much more. Here’s a
list of such fascinating summer
programs/camps in India you could
enrol your child to:
a. Udgam Summer Camp: Udgam
School of Children in Ahmedabad
organizes a summer camp every
year. The camp has an eclectic mix
of programs ranging from sports,
arts and crafts, music writing and
reading skills, to language learning
skills. There are a various of
programs you could help your child
to enrol in and ensure a marked
development in their personality.
Reach out to the Proactivity Club of
the Udgam School through http://
www.udgamschool.com/pro-
activity-club link.
b. Arobot Summer Camp: Suitable
for the age group of 10 years and
above, it’s a 2-week long camp in
Chennai designed for students
having an interest in robotics. Refer
the link for further information
about the summer camp- http://
arobot.in/summer-camp-2/
c. Frolic Boonies: The traveling
company curates domestic and
international camps for children
from 10 years and above. The
activities at the camp include
watching wildlife, indulging in
soft adventures, creative classes,
learning barter system with the
tribal (on one of the trips in South
Africa) and many of such fun-based
learning. Check out their website
http://www.frolicboonies.com/ and
trips and tours on it to give your
child an experience of a lifetime.
d. Kshitij World: A travel company
based in Mumbai, specialises
in child development through
experiential travel. They curate
travel programs for kids above
the age of 10 years. From offering
soft adventure activities to playing
treasure hunts to learning organic
farming and helping the villagers
in their daily chore, such trips will
certainly be a lifelong learning and
a cherishing experience for your
kid. Don’t forget to visit their site
http://www.kshitijworld.com/ for
more exciting and awesome travel
programs for your kids.
e. Youreka Summer Camps: It is
a traveling company pioneering
in adventure and life skill-based
learning camps designed for
children aged 9-17 years. The
camps are offered at different
locations across India, where each
camp has designed activities into
four zones namely the Endurance
zone, Endeavor, Exploration, and
Excitement zone. Check out their
website http://www.youreka.
in/m/ and gift your child a thrilling
summer holiday.
f. INME Summer Camps: Make
your child life ready with the travel
programs curated by inme. It
offers summer travel camps across
different locations in India and
abroad for the children in the age
group of 9-17 years. Their activities
are divided into three programs
namely the Discover, Explore and
Challenge program. For more
information on their camps and
trips, check out their website
https://www.inme.in.
“When people went on vacations,
they shed their home skins,
thought they could be a new
person.”Following exactly the
essence of the quote, this summer
disembark from the traditional
holidays, go offbeat, add value to
the vacation by gifting yourself
and your kid these unique and
authentic travel experiences.

10 FACTS ABOUT
STEPHEN HAWKING
Learn about one of the most influential
scientists of our time…
On 14 March 2018, Stephen Hawking
passed away aged 76.
Meet the inspirational British scientist
in these UM pages dedicated to him.
Full name: Stephen William Hawking
Born: 8 January 1942
Hometown: Oxford, England
Occupation: Scientist
Died: 14 March 2018
Best known for: His work on explaining the origins of
the universe and black holes
1) Stephen grew up in a house
where education was very
important. His parents were
both academics who had
studied at Oxford University.
Dinner times were often spent
in silence while the family read
books!
2) When he was a teenager,
Stephen and his friends built a
computer out of old clock parts,
telephone switchboards and
other recycled items. His friends
nicknamed him,‘Einstein‘!
3) When Stephen was 17, he
went to Oxford University to
study physics and chemistry.
He later said that he found his
first year very boring! After
graduating from Oxford, he
went to Cambridge University to
further his studies in cosmology
(the science of the origin of the
universe).
4) Sadly, when he was 21,
Stephen was diagnosed with
motor neurone disease (MND)
and told that he only had two
years to live. MND gradually
affects the brain cells that
communicate with the body’s
muscles. Over time, sufferers
struggle to walk, talk and even
swallow without help.
5) Stephen used walking sticks
and crutches after his diagnosis,
butashisillnessgotworsehehad
to use an electric wheelchair to

get around. He became notorious
for driving it a little too fast around
the streets of Cambridge and
running over other students’toes!
6) Stephen made many important
contributions to the world of
science. He developed theories
about how the world began and
furthered our understanding of
black holes, stars and the universe.
7) Stephen was always keen for his
work to be accessible to everyone,
not just scientists. He wrote
books that explained his theories
in simple terms for everyone to
understand, including a children’s
book. His most famous book, A
Brief History of Time, sold more
than 10 million copies!
8) In 1985, Stephen developed
a life-threatening infection. He
had an emergency operation that
saved his life but left him unable
to talk. He was given a special
computer that talked for him,
which he controlled by moving a
muscle in his cheek.
9) Stephen has received many
awards for his work including
the 1979 Albert Einstein Medal,
the Order of the British Empire
(Commander) in 1982 and the
1988 Wolf Prize in Physics.
10) Stephen is remembered as an
inspiration to many people. He
had an amazing mind, incredible
determination and didn’t let his
illness stand in his way. He defied
doctors’ predictions, living for a
further 55 years after his diagnosis.
Source: National Geographic

BORED?
PLAY BOARD GAMESThe board games of yore that are gathering dust sitting on the cupboard, hold the key to an
active mind and body. Board games entertain and bring people together through competitive
and cooperative game play. Games like Chess, Monopoly, Connect 4, Battleships, Life, Clue,
Scrabble and many more are interesting and tickle the imagination.
• Laughter and fun: Rarely can
you keep back smiles and
laughter while playing board
games. Laughter releases
endorphins that create the
feeling of being happy.
This feeling makes a person
compassionate towards others
and more tolerant.
• Quality time with the family:
Nowadays the common
scenario is members of the
family sitting together in a
mobile or TV induced stupor,
hardly exchanging a word
with each other. Playing a
board game after a family
dinner is an excellent way to
get closer to your family, while
strengthening your family
bond.
• Developing memory functions
and cognitive skills: Board
games help to develop
problem solving capacity
in children. The areas of the
brain that are responsible for
complex thought and memory
formation especially benefits
from playing board games.
Board games help the brain
retain and build cognitive
associations well into old age
too.
• Reduces risks for mental
diseases: Risk of cognitive
decline that is associated
with chances of developing
dementia and Alzheimer’s is
considerably reduced when
one plays board games
regularly. When the mind is
engaged it becomes stronger
and this reduces the risk of
losing the brain power.
• Lowers blood pressure:
When endorphins are
released from laughing, they
also help to lower blood
pressure by helping the
muscles relax and promoting
better blood circulation.
High blood pressure is
harmful for health as it could
lead to damage of artery and
diseases of the heart.
Board games offer a lot and are more than just entertainment.

• Increases responses: Amazingly
enough, when you play board
games like chess or monopoly,
within no time forgetfulness
becomes a thing of the past.
Research has revealed that
people who indulged in
board games were quicker in
their responses and though
processes.
• Reduces stress: When you
are stressed before an exam
or an important meeting,
playing these games can
provide relaxation that eases
you. In fact it has been seen
that people nowadays prefer
to take a work break to play
such games in order to reduce
stress levels and companies
are encouraging such steps
to reduce stress in their
employees.
• Strengthens the immune
system: Negativity, stress
and depression reduces
the body’s capacity to fight
diseases. Board games nurture
positivity and laughter which
helps to build the immune
system better. Since the brain
is more active and the mind is
happier, feelings of loneliness
and boredom do not creep in
silently.
• Child development: Playing
board games help to promote
child’s health and brain
development. They hone
critical thinking and reasoning
skills while developing logical
thinking and spatial skills.
Parents need to encourage
children to participate more
in board games in order to
improve communication skills
and the ability to focus and
concentrate better.
• Therapy treatment: When used
in addition to therapy, these
games have been found to be
very beneficial. Several board
games make use of fine motor
skills that are required to move
pieces and promote actions
that require coordination and
dexterity. These are basic skills
which improve when practiced
regularly by children and
grown ups with special needs
or the convalescents. These
games help improve muscle
and nerve functions and
hence are used in adjunct to
conventional treatment.

Udgam School of Children organizes a summer camp every year.
The camp has an eclectic mix of programs ranging from sports, arts and crafts, music,
writing and reading skills, to language learning skills. There are a variety of programs
you could help your child to enroll in and ensure a marked development
in their personality.
The participants will be entitled to enjoy free transportation services and a special
picnic organized on the last day. So, wait no more, come, register and have a blast this
summer, with Udgam Proactivity Club's Summer Camp!
Udgam Pro Activity Club’s
2 Weeks
fun filled camp
with 3.5 Hrs
engagement
9.30am to
1.00pm
For Students
of Classes
Nursery to 8
1 MAY – 12 MAY
Monday to Saturday
@ Udgam School
Thaltej Campus

FUTURE OF SCHOOL TRANSPORT IS HERE
SAFE & SECURE
CLEAN and COMFORTABLE
SAVE FUEL
MAKE FRIENDS
SAVE TIME
REDUCE POLLUTION
REDUCE TRAFFIC
AVOID PARKING PROBLEMS
Visit us on
www.udgamschool.com
Follow us on
www.facebook.com/udgamschool
THALTEJ :
079-71012301
/ 71012345
JODHPUR :
079- 26769595
/ 9099902221
Choose from RTO approved AC school buses and Wingers and avail
a range of benefits. Each vehicle has a lady attendant and CCTV camera.

UDGAM MATTERS MARCH-APRIL 2018

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