THE CARMEL BAND

by Rhea Khanna
9-B

The school band has always been a success on all of the functions organized in the school. It was always in the lime light because of the immense hard work they had put in and their positive attitude towards it, today it has reached great heights and is known for its talent all over the school. This band started on 25th July 2009 and from that very day all the students have been putting their heart and soul together to get all of this in place and to achieve great success. However the band was not a solitary effort. It was a cumulative effort of almost 30 students. There were many more people involved behind this achievement. Special trainers and instructors were called from south India to teach the children to get their notes perfect and all those melodious tunes. Raju sir and Paul sir had given their best efforts so that the students of Carmel could be treated to something different from their original routines. The students stayed late in school and practiced. Even after school ended they spent 2-3 hours in the campus getting all their notes perfect. Sister Swati, the principle of the school was also very encouraging and used to stay late with the students making sure that they did not have any problems during their practices and also provided refreshments for all the students as practicing in the blistering heat is not everyone’s cup of tea. But as it is said

"Hard work pays and is never a waste."

Now the school band has been playing on every occasion and has been appreciated by all the guests present there. Even on our annual day which was the "biodiversity exhibition" the school band was given a chance to show the parents their skills and talents and was greatly praised. Even the media could not stop praising it in the newspapers that how great the band of Carmel convent is.

Simran Angrup a student of the Carmel band says that” it is just a beautiful experience playing in the assembly every morning which has actually given me a chance so that I can discover myself even better."

Sukhmani Singh another student of the Carmel band says that” I have been greatly honored to play on the occasion and it was great fun with everyone and I know these days of my school life are just very memorable ones."

We all hope that it maintains its success and keeps on making Carmel proud.

"Long live the Carmel band"

EARTH DAY !

EARTH DAY!

The need to protect the earth is increasing everyday. To spread awareness for the same, Carmel convent celebrated “earth day” on the 21^st of April. Students of all classes took part enthusiastically and hoped to protect mother earth.

Tiny tots of class 1 and 2 had a general discussion on ways to save the earth. Class 3^rd students planted a few saplings and learned how to recycle paper and tins. Anya a student of third class said, “we learned how to recycle paper , tins &, plastics bottles & not to cut down trees .” The students of 4^th and 5^th class took part in a rally and held vibrant and appealing charts and banners and walked around the school premises. The passerby’s stopped to have a good look at this little marvel and it turned out to be quite a success.Rehmat a student of class 6^th commented,”we enjoyed reciting and writing slogans.I would like to spread the message,that – don’t destroy your nature recklessly because she loves you selflessly.”Class 7^th conducted plays and dramas,depicting the increase in problems related to our earth.Class 8 students used paintbrushes and sketch pens as weapons and competed in a poster making competition. ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS, ANU MA’AM SAID,“THESE KIND OF ACTIVITIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO INCULCATE THE LOVE FOR MOTHER EARTH In THE CHILDREN . IT ALSO BRINGS OUT THEIR TALENTS.THE GIRLS’ CREATIONS REMIND US THAT WE ALL SHARE THE SAME PLANET AND SHARING EARTH MEANS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT WE USE AND HOW WE USE IT.”Students of class 9 had conducted a survey last week of the plants, flowers, trees of Carmel. They had covered the entire green belt of the school. The survey included the uses, age, location and special features of the plants. The information collected was displayed beautifully. According to Manju Ma’am (class teacher of 9^th A) “I am really happy that children have made a sample for others in conserving the beautiful nature. They have really put in lots of hard work and it’s really good to see them working so enthusiastically.”Class 10 marked the day by making paper bags, made of recycled paper, painted t-shirts, made bookmarks and exhibited posters.Riya,a student of class 10 said,”we had a lot of fun making posters. All the students initiated to go home and plant a tree.”

Students have the biggest stake in environmental protection. They are strong medium to disseminate environmental knowledge and concepts to the largest possible audience. Carmel’s earth day celebrations had it’s own grace and beauty and the students successfully spread the message.Remember, ' IT’S YOUR MOTHER CALLING.DON’T KEEP HER ON HOLD...!'

The world is ours to take,

-By

DEEKSHA BHARDWAJ

For a long time, I as a reporter have been in a quandary as to what to write. Should I be writing about India’s glorious triumph in the world cup? Or maybe Anna Hazare’s fast which seems to have brought about a revolution amongst the Indian generation to fight corruption head on? Maybe it should be about Japan’s courageous response to one of world’s greatest catastrophes? But maybe I need not look too far, or too big. Because alas! At the end of the day, these are not the problems that WE are going to be fighting for, as of now. These are issues we can follow from afar, not influence.

India’s triumph in the world cup as elating as it was, was a result of the team’s conscientious efforts and not ours. Fact is that they would have worked equally hard for either a win or a loss. Looking at the way the Indian electronic media seems to work had we lost the cup to Sri Lanka, there would have been numerous news flashes JUST to criticize and not to appreciate. Is that how capricious we are?

Now lets talk about Mr. Anna Hazare, a social activist who’s name I’m sure you hadn’t heard until a few weeks back. How many of us know that Anna Hazare, “started his career as a driver in the Indian Army in 1963. He spent his spare time reading the works of Vivekananda, Gandhi, and Vinoba Bhave; they inspired him to become a social worker and activist. During the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965, he was the only survivor in a border exchange of fire, while driving a truck.” I will accept I didn’t. But his determination to help India fight the evil of corruption persuaded many to look up this man of extraordinary resolve and exemplary courage. He has brought about a revolution. A new will to fight for what is right. But how long will this last? I’m sure in a few days he too will be forgotten and so will the cause he’s fighting for. Until ofcourse another such man emerges from within US to take a stand for another such cause. Till then we will sit back and watch. Watch as our country suffers the ravages of corruption at the hands of a few politically driven individuals.

Japan showed immense will power and strength after the gigantic tsunami struck. Ever since, the world has been contemplating the great apocalypse. It is a clarion call. Maybe our end is near. But if there is anyone to blame, it is solely us. The human race. And our negligence and disregard for our planet. Japan has put in its best efforts to beat this calamity, just like they did after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And they will emerge better off than before. How many of us have even the resolve to fight our daily problems?

These issues are too major, too vast for us. What we need now is ability to control our own lives. To think for ourselves and to not be driven like cattle. If we know that a person is corrupt, we need to speak up and not wait for another Anna Hazare. Problems are a part of life, we need to learn how to solve them. Its like one of my teacher’s always said, “A problem comes with its solution. Its like this.. If you guess what’s in this basket, I’ll give you half the eggs and if you can guess how many there are, I’ll give you all 20”

The answer lies within the problem itself. What we need is a positive outlook and determination. The world is ours to take. So why not take it?

Saathi painting competition-22nd August

SAATHI-A FRIEND IN NEED!
by-Saina Kohli
The Nongovernment Organization, Saathi -a brainchild by puniita Singh, supported by the eager students of carmel held its most recent attempt for the underprivillaged children ,today itself on 22nd august.

To discover their hidden talent saathi organised a drawing competition for the 300 slum children on the topic “raksha bandhan”. The competition was held in the GOVERNMENT MIDDLE SCHOOL, sector 52, itself .The students of the school were very happy to see the saathi members and were extremely excited to participate in the competition.

The latter had provided each and every student with a drawing sheet colours, and other materials required. Every single need of the school children were taken care by the saathi volunteers.Saathi members not only guided the children but also motivated and interacted with them through out the competition.As the competition ended ,the saathi team awarded the prizes to the top 3 winners and councellations with a lot of excitement and exuberance.

To bring joy to the students and to encourage them, biscuits and chocolate were also distributed. As the initiative was successful,each student along with the saathi members were filled with delight.

Kushboo a student from government middle school, said “all the didi’s are very good , they talk to us very nicely”

Neha another student of the school added”it was very nice. I enjoyed so much with the didi’s”

Saina kohli , a saathi volunteer of class 9th said “Seeing the heartwarming smiles on the faces of the children, filled me with delight. I had a lot of fun working with them”

Ankita a volunteer of class 9th commented “it was so much fun.the children were very happy"

The slum children’s lives are woven with difficulties and need a helping hand which is being bestowed by Mrs. Puniita Singh and we hope to extend this spirit amongst each person!

thank you

saina kohli
Stay tuned!!

independence day!

by-Saina kohli
Hum chalein toh Hindustan chalien

This motto was opted by Carmelites today itself on 15th August while Carmel convent school celebrated India’s 63rd independence.
The program had started at 8 am with a welcoming speech by class 10th which concluded the honour and respect Carmelites feel for our country India. Then the chief guest, Mrs .Neelam, also the librarian of the school hoisted our national flag while side –by – side, for the honour of our country a parade was held in which participants from class 8th to 10th actively took part. The parade was lead by the school band and the different squad leaders.
The march past was soon followed by a devotional dance by class 4th, dressed in the tri colours. After which L.K.G performed a dance on the song ”Jis desh mien Ganga behti hai” proving that also the little ones dint stay behind when it came to our country India.
The dance was soon followed by the song “Jai Hind” harmonised by class 7th and “kandhon se milte hai kandhe” by class 10th.
Then our chief guest Mrs.Neelam announced “I feel very honoured today being the chief guest and i want to thank all of you and especially sr.Swati.” she also made the Carmelites repeat after her the motto of our country,”JAI HIND”.
As the programme finished all the students dispersed, enjoying the day and admiring the bulletin boards.
When asked later about the program Mrs.Neelam answered “I am so privileged that I was the chief guest of this function. According to me the program was very good and a lot of effort was put into it.”
The principle, Sr.swati said ”According to me the programme went very well despite the unpredictable weather. I want to thank all the teachers who put in so much effort to make this programme an honourable one”
Sr. Sushmita who helped a lot in organising the event concluded “It was very well organised. Teachers and children had taken up a lot of trouble and i feel very happy that this programme came out well”
amrit gosal, a student of class 9th said ”we had a lot of fun today and the programme actually reflected the respect we feel towards our country”

-saina kohli.
class 9th b.

Come out and Play!

Always one to encourage participation in sports ,our Principal Sr.Swati along with the school cabinet organized an Inter-Squad Basketball Match on Friday,30th July.The match was held between Satya and Namrata who had started rigorous practice weeks in advance.The teams comprised students ranging from class 8 to class 12 who all displayed strong teamspirit.The match started at 9:15 A.M. with students of the participating squads enthusiastically cheering on the players.After a fierce game with tensions rising high the Namrata squad emerged victorious with the score 28-5.Roopam Attari of class10 scored the most baskets with 10 points to her credit.Sister Swati also came out on the field to encourage the players.Amla Srivastava,one of the organizers had to say,"It was a very exciting game and I really enjoyed organizing the event."A spectator Sehaj of class 9 said,"I was supporting Namrata so I am very happy with the outcome.They played so well, I was on my feet the entire time as the match was such a thrilling one!" It was a wonderful event and all the students went back glad and rejuvenated!

By

Ankita Srivastava

-BY SAINA KOHLI AND FIZA GUPTA

CLASS-9B

MINI FETE !!!

Born on October 1st,1823 sophie leeves received a new name -Sister Veronica of the passion for her deep faith and belief in God. Mother veronica and the apostolic carmel sisters together conducted the carmel convent institution on July 16th,1868.

Celebrations are those magical moments that define our culture, our life, our passions and our happiness.To celebrate this crucial day Carmel Convent celebrated its feast on July 16th,2010.The preparations of this fete started many weeks before. Every class came up with different ideas and worked on them 24/7. With a great spark of excitement carmel's feast started with an assembly in the school's auditorium. The assembly was followed by a prayer dance performed by the carmelites and a few words spoken by Sr.Swati expressing her gratitude towards carmel.

Now came the entertainment as we all engaged ourselves in the different activities going on in the school. The school was populated with carmelites dressed in casuals.Refreshments being an essential requirement for a fete this big,the school was buzzing with different varieties of stalls including the BFC- burger,fries and coke; the chana kulcha stall ,the candy shop,the bakers ,the bhel puri stall,fresh juice stall and many more.To keep the little ones entertained there were many games and fun activities.the latter had even organised a tatto making corner.Not forgetting the older carmelities a dj was called and the entire auditorium was filled with the rhythm of songs.Instead of the money the latter was selling and buying for money coupons.

When asked mrs.puniita singh about her experience she commented"It was very innovative and exciting.It was good to see every one coming together and hopefully,it would be an yearly effort."

Saina Kohli of class 9th-b chirps in "It was a very exciting to see the teachers and children working together on the carmel feast.we all had so much fun!"

Fiza gupta of class 9th concluded"it was such a blissful day and a great thanks to sr.swati for arranging all of this "

Naina of class 2nd added"i loved eating burgers and the games were so interesting"

In all it proved to be a very exciting memorable day and we hope it comes again soon!!

ROCK OUT FOR A CAUSE....!!!

SAATHI IS ORGANISING A ROCK CONCERT ON 27th MAY AT ROCK GARDEN, CHANDIGARH.

IT IS PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR THE BANDS OF CHANDIGARH AND IS ALSO RAISING FUNDS FOR THE UNDERPRIVELEGED CHILDREN.

HOPING FOR A GR8 RESPONSE.

COLLECT YOUR TICKETS FROM CARMEL CONVENT SCHOOL- SEC-9 B FROM 10AM TO 1PM ...!!!

Warriors of the Environment!

The Eco Club of Carmel Convent School had an educative session on 14th May with representatives of the NGO the Environment Soceity of Chandigarh.An enthusiastic group of 50 children prepared innovative posters and presentations to show their concern for nature.Ms Mrigya of the Environment Society said ,"Nowadays everyone knows about the environment,can prepare long speeches on the environment,why don't we just start acting towards it?''They showed inspiring presentations about how the effort of one individual can start a trail of hundreds.They also gave the students simple and practical tips to improve the degrading conditions of the environment at their own level.Mr Ranbir,another representative stated,''If you don't do some kind of social activity you should not be called a human.''They also gave the children information on some action plans formed by the soceity to preserve Mother Earth like the Batton Rally on the 4th of July and the I Care I Act plan for this year's environment day on 5th June in which they are urging people to avoid the use of private vehicles for one day.They hope to make Chandigarh global with this plan making it one of the main cities in the world fighting for the environment.All in all they greatly motivated the children who went back determined to make a difference in the world.

By-

Ankita Srivastava

"HAND HYGIENE!"

-Saina Kohli , Ankita srivastava and Sehaj Kaur Ghuman

To make students aware on how important it is to keep our hands clean for better hygiene Mr.Rajesh Kumar an expert in hygiene and science visited Carmel Convent School on May 10th at 10:30 A.M to provide us with facts and the importance of keeping our hands clean.

The action was named as Hand Hygiene and as an effort to make the surroundings hygienic and worth residing, educative pamphlets which informed the students about the 7 steps of washing hands were distributed.
Promoting- Pura Hand Sanitizer- a discount coupon was given to all students.The only way to save ourselves from pandemic diseases is to stay Germ-Free.

Later Mr.Kunal Seth of Times of India took over and promised and motivated us to take a pledge to pass on this message and educate everyone on hand hygiene.

Mrs.Puniita Singh concluded saying that the session was very informative and she hoped that all of us would benefit from it .She thanked Mr.Rajesh and Mr.Kunal for taking out valuable time from their schedules to make us aware about hand hygiene.

So "Clean hands, Save lives"
Make it a mantra for life.

saina kohli, Ankita srivastava and sehaj kaur signing of

stay tuned!

BY FIZA GUPTA,CLASS-9B

MOTHER

As it is rightly said by Brown,

"The sweetest sound to mortal given,

Are heard in mothers home and heaven."

Nine months of courage and hours of labour pain designates a woman with the most beautiful title on earth 'THE MOTHER' ."Ma, Mom, Mum, Ami Jaan, Mother, Mum" Whatever the language, the region, the religion or the country may be the meaning of the word mother remains the same.She is hybrid of love, passion, courage, patience, etc.

Mother- a preacher, a teacher, a friend and an idol.She is the one who holds our hand when we take our first step.she is the one who teaches us the letter of our life.She guides us on the right path and teaches us how to discern between right and wrong.She acts as a blanket in cold,shelter in rain and protects us from any mischief.

"God could not be everywhere so he invented mother".Mothers are meant to be the cheerleaders of their kids,sometimes in loud and visible ways,sometimes in loud and unspoken ways in the background.Mothers are often the backbone of the family.Mother's job is not always an easy one.Mothers have to make sacrifices. Mothers can have their heart broken.

"The heart of a mother is a cup abyss at a bottom of which you will always find forgiveness."She teaches how to crystallise our thoughts into reality. she is an angel in disguise. She makes us laugh when we cry. she has an answer for every question and makes life simple and easy for us. When we grow up she does not back up from her responsibilities but take the charge of even our duties.She sacrifices millions of seconds of her life for us and never exaggerate it. She has only learnt how to give and forgotten the lesson of asking.

"All that I am, my mother made me". My mother is a representative of God on Earth.She is a very inspiring person, the reasons for this are endless.My mom has been through multiple hardships over the course of her life and throughout it all she has become an exceptionally strong, loving an wise person. She has taught me all of the founding principles of my life and for that I am extremely thankful.I dont conceive when she gets up in the morning because when i get up, she is already bathed and dressed. Usually,I find her in the corner of her room resiting some prayers and telling the beads of rosary. After her prayers she comes to the kitchen. She's is gifted with pleasant nature. I have yet to know her loose temper. Many a times she has saved me from my dad's wrath, but this does not mean that she has coddle me with her pamperings.After every such occasion she tells me to behave properly in a notably gentle manner. She drives her points in a very understanding way.

To me she is pillar of strength.Even in the face of adversity she never looses her calm. She usually says that one should be independent enough to make one's own decision and choices,elders are merely their to guide them.

"A mother is the one to whom you hurry when you are in trouble."Every year their is a day set aside to celebrate the role of a mother.-MOTHER'S DAY.It is celebrated on 8th may.It is a great oppurtunity for the children of all the ages to show love and affection for their mothers.Gifts and cards often handmade are given as the sign of love.Mothers day is a special day for the mothers, as they get the flowers of what they deserve. Describing mothers love is virtually impossible.

A Soldier’s Epitaph

Dark clouds seemed to have
Enveloped the dawn,
Crowded thoughts seemed
To run across as a fawn.

The night was long
And full of blood,
When the battle cries had
Rung wide and loud.

Metals had screeched
And voices had cried,
Bodies in agony had
Crawled and wriggled.

The soldier now lay quiet,
Reminiscent of his glory;
The vicious scenes all around
Reverberating a sorrow story.

He had kicked and punched
And fought as a gladiator;
Alas,when the bells of victory rung
He was no more the same warrior.

The beats of life had slowed down
The soldier had only one fading thought
He had done his country proud-
The honour-he had never sought.

Archita Ahluwalia

**From the wanting to be a ‘CADET’s’ pen..**

“So how was it?’
Asked my Dad, as he drove me out of the PJ Gate.I looked back at the College for the ‘final glimpse’ and found a plethora of emotions welled up inside me.Irealised that my own school would be seen differently by me now....it’ll not be the same and that is exactly what happened..it seemed my Dad’s question wasn’t so easy after all.My almost moist eyes were an amalgamation of feelings of being joyous and poignant..Yet I couldn’t guess why the four letters RIMCmeant so much to me.
RIMC or The Rashtriya Indian Millitary College(original name was The Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College but re-named later) is a prestigious institution for boys
situated in the beautiful Doon Valley of Dehradun .Taking only 25 cadets in the six month term and with fixed admission of only 1kid per state, the school enjoys a great tradition as a feeder institution for the National Defence Academy and subsequently the Indian Armed Forces. Rimcollians, the name by which alumni of the RIMC are usually denoted, have gone on to hold the highest ranks in the Army, Navy and the Air Force.

My Dad a fighter pilot , currently a serving officer in the IndianAirforce is a pass out from the RIMC. Dad o’ways talked with great passion about his school which I could never relate to since I wasn’t all that passionate about mine.I used to rather find it funny when at random parties he would meet a stranger and after conversing with him realise that he was aRimcollian and then he would not be a stranger any longer.The camaraderie these rimcos share is amazing and now I too enjoy every iota of watching them celebrate!
Attending the passing out ceremony and talking to varied cadets taught me something..
This small journey had been an eye opener for me as I discovered myself.After meeting these cadets I learnt the joy of pushing and pushing myself’and then the satisfaction of ultimately emerging victorious.Ihad learnt to challenge myself beyond limits.
But in their journey what made it all the more invaluable for these guys was the memories of the special people they shared them with.Standing on the other side now iwould like to tell you that these cadets have been divided into 4sections and practically their lives our divided by these sections..
The pearls of sweat with the juniors and seniors alike on the grounds,the dorm bearing a silent testimony of these precocious cadets, the gates of their innumerable CB’s, the euphoria of winning a Cup with section mates as well as taking defeats in their strides--everything like a family ..

And above all what made it all the more interesting were the people who taught each other the unwritten values of friendship and accepted each other for what they were-‘course mates..’ Their never ending ‘lotteries’,their kitroom adventures and the rolling on bajri-- was a journey for these termers from “Greenhorns to Gentlemen”.
Well one thing I was sure of, that these memoirs are my philosopher’s stone turning every obstacle into an opportunity only for that quitessential spirit called RIMC.
Perhaps I now had the answer to my Dad’s question .I said “Thanks Dad…”

Cheers RIMC
Signing off
Archita Ahluwalia

I'M GOING TO HARVARD!

Step towards your Dream College!

A career counseling session was held on 6th May,2010 for class 12 in Carmel Convent School in which they were given information on SAT(Scholastic Aptitude Test).Professionals from the Manya Abroad Group in partnership with the Princeton Review gave detailed information and answered all the queries of the students.Ms.Meghna Kapur,a representative of the institute stated,''SAT is a smart test.They test the basic concepts of the students in reading,English and Maths.''Telling students about the Ivy League i.e. the top universities of the world including Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth and Stanford they also explained the admission procedure,requirements and training programmes for different universities.Mrs Mukhmani,an ex-Carmelite who is now working with the Manya Group said,''Cracking SAT is not difficult.However they put tricky questions to confuse the students as they only want those who have logic-based intelligence and not fact-based.''With the help of an interesting presentation, the representatives gave the students useful information regarding exam dates and the preparation required to get high scores.Gultash,a student of class 12 said,''I found the session very interesting and informative.The students who are thinking of applying to foreign universities will now start considering their options seriously."Along with the SAT scores the students found out about other co-curricular activities that are of relevance in applying to universities abroad.All in all the students went back with their heads full of important information and dreams of touching the sky!

By-

Ankita Srivastava

PARADISE.....

HIDDEN HEAVEN IN HILLS..

BY - SEHAJ GHUMAN

Away from the hustle-bustle of cities, hidden in a valley - SURYAVILAS is the place to rejuvinate. Just 60 km from Chandigarh,serenity of a pristine valley can be felt.

My experience of a holiday at this luxury and spa resort was extraordinary. With facilities ranging from a personal theatre to a gymnasium all in the midst of nature. While listening to the wind whispering through the pine trees one can take a dip in the outdoor Infinity pool.

The green cover spread across the resort revitalizes our health. In the Spa the mineral and sea salts spread an aroma that is extremely refreshing and relaxing. The emphasis on nature represents the source of life. Exotic world cuisines are put forth to feast on.

Days spent at this resort leave an indelible mark on one's life. It is indeed a land of subline tranquility.

VIPIN PUBBY ATTENTS REPORTERS MEETING IN CARMEL....

-SAINA KOHLI

VIPIN PUBBY AT A MEETING IN CARMEL

Vipin Pubby, a journalist by profession, currently the resident editor of THE INDIAN EXPRESS ,chandigarh and the author of the book - "shimla then and now" appeared in a meeting held at carmel convent school on 1st may'10 for the young reporters.Puniita singh and all the carmelities of the reporters and the photography club were present in this meeting.

Mr.vipin bestowed everyone with his knowledge and experience on article writing and reporting and took up many questions asked by the students.He also shared his working techniques with carmelities and told us briefly about the editing of the newspapers.Being an experienced professional ,he also gave us the basics on how to make a report interesting.The meeting was held for about 1 hour and clearly was a very informative experience.

According to puniita singh,the organiser of the clubs,"Mr.pubby has been with us for 3-4 years.In fact our first endeavour started with indian express itself. He has shown a remarkable personal intrestin reporters club from the begining and we are very honored to have him."

Anhadh rai a participant of class 9th concluded "It was a very good experience.If meeting's like these are held often we carmelites will surely be awesome journalists and photographers someday" . Saina kohli chirps in "Mr.vipin not only did told us the basics on writing but also updated us on current facts "."we are very keen to meet him again."points out Ankita srivastava."We all look forward for this kind of meeting again" added Anushka ghai.

“International Worker’s Day”

By Prerna Sharma and Fiza Gupta
Class-9B

“The only liberty an inferior man really cherishes is to quit work, stretch out in the sun and scratch.”

International Labour Day or most commonly known as May Day is a day observed all over the world on May 1 to celebrate the social and economic achievements of the workers.

The students of Carmel Convent School today celebrated this day with lots of joy and fervour. The programme started with Sr. Swati, principal of the school lighting a diya and praying for the good health of the workers of our school, who selflessly help us in all the tasks. A Power point presentation was shown to all the students so as to make them familiar with the faces behind our lives of comfort in the school. On one hand where Baijnath Bhaiya has been in school for 37 years, Meena Aunty on the other hand has just joined the school 9 months ago, but all the workers unselfishly fulfill our demands in every possible way. It is because of their hardwork that our school remains spick and span all the time.

Strange is the situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however there is one thing we do know, that we are here for the sake of others, for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy and working for their well being selflessly. The workers in our school altruistically work all day in the scorching heat, so as to give us a day of relief and comfort. A student of class 9^th Nikhita Kansal said, “It was fun doing something good for our workers and it was the best to know that they liked it,” It was a great pleasure for everyone to see all the workers smiling. “Senior Girls don’t respect the workers anymore, we should be more concerned for them in the same manner as they are concerned for us.” said Keerat. One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men but a machine can’t do the work of an extra ordinary man. All the workers in our school have some extra ordinary capacities which helps our school in all aspects.

So remember always, without labour nothing prospers.

-by FIZA GUPTA CLASS- 9B

Aping Of Western Culture By Younger Generation

Life in the big city is fast paced. The influence of modernization and western culture is reflected easily in the attiude of young generation.The glamour of big cities attracts the young generation to the cinema halls,restaurants,and discotheques.They consider to be 'cool' to be seen at the parties ,where alcohol flows freely and all inhibitions are shed.Bunking classes, using abusive language,truancy,bringing cell phones and electronic stuff,etc are becoming common in schools.They feed on coca-culture,pop-music and disco dance, the youngsters are forgetting there values and traditions completely.In there blind aping of western culture,maxims like 'simple living and high thinking'seem old fashioned and outdated.The youngsters are becoming more demanding,many a time going far beyond their means to fulfil their temptations for fancy things.They seem to have lost respect for the elders.The gap between the old and young is widening gradually as the youth is developing a rebellious attitude towards everything.They are being more aggressive than before. Very early in life,they are being exposed to too much violence and relationship through cinema,television and Internet.

Where will all this lead the younger generation to ??? I think the schools should insist upon value-orientation programmes to discipline and quieten the minds of the youngsters.The energies of the young must me employed in constructive ways so that they feel proud of being what they really are.

CABINET 2010-2011

CABINET TAKES ITS OATH!

The new cabinet elected for the academic session 2010-2011 took its oath on 30th April, 2010 promising to uphold Carmel ’s flag and its noble ideals. The ceremony started off with the entire Cabinet taking the stage brimming with enthusiasm and excitement. The School Pupil Leader Gultash Guron started the proceedings with a solemn promise of doing her best to make Carmel reach new heights in all spheres be it academics, sports, art, cultural activities or any other and invoked Mother Mary’s blessings. She was followed by the Assistant S.P.L. Amla Srivastava and all the other members of the cabinet. The Principal Sr.Swati then pinned on their badges and congratulated each girl heartily. She spoke a few inspiring words saying, ‘‘We have only one chance to walk down the path we are working in. The stage has been set for you. How you make a difference now depends on you. I wish you all the best.” The new cabinet seems set on putting in their heart and soul to fulfill their promises to the school and their fellow students. When asked an excited cabinet member Amla said, ‘‘I am delighted to have been appointed to this position of great responsibility. I fervently hope that I am able to live upto the confidence my teachers have shown in me.” This year the cabinet certainly seems to be charged up and ready to lead Carmel to greater heights.

-By Ankita Srivastava

NO MEMORIES..NO HEIRLOOM...

O!Those Letters!

The world today has become a fast -moving, technology-based place.This has changed the lives of the people in many big ways.But the smaller changes which are not that significant are the most touching!Imagine the joy a granddaughter used to feel when she would find a hand written letter from her grandfather in the letter-box.This was the scenario just fifteen years ago.And it is something that our generation can never experience!Because today it is considered old-fashioned and silly to send a letter which will probably reach a fortnight later.Why waste time!Just type out the message,click Send andVoila!your email reaches your loved one before you count to ten.However one virus and all those typed electronic messages are gone forever.The hand written letters are treasured and preserved for the generations to come.They are much more personal and precious when you can hold a piece of paper over which the pen of your long- lost relative once moved.The emails are nothing more than dull,lifeless black words on a white screen which you read once and never spare a thought for again till the day they are lost beyond recovery.Bring back the letters,bring back the love!

-By Ankita Srivastava

STUDY...ALL DAY??

Remembering School Life!

I studied in Germany for two years. And when I came back I was struck by the harsh differences in the education imparted by these two countries. I remember my first day there, when my teacher took us out in pairs and taught us how to cross a road. We then went on to a nearby forest where we picked acorns as part of our nature class. I returned home amazed to find that a school day could be so enjoyable. The days flew by in a jiffy while I visited the municipal corporation, went to church to listen to the choir and went to a nearby ground on a sunny day to collect wild flowers! For Maths homework, the teacher used to say that we had to spend only ten minutes with our books and do as many sums as we could in that time. Some could do two, others five. But the teachers got to know each child's individual ability. We would listen to audio tapes of nature sounds where we were supposed to identify the different seasons! Even though those two years were the happiest school days of my life, some teachers were of the opinion that Indian and other foreign students were much more hard working than the students there, probably because they were used to it. The German children became so used to the easy lifestyle that when the time came for serious study they could not adapt to the workload. Here the students are assessed according to the number of hours they put in cramming facts while there the assessment is according to what they put into those hours. Thankfully our education system is changing for the better as the Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) being introduced in schools is a good mix of Indian and European techniques involving hard work and fun. This system will hopefully make school life for students what it should be - enjoyable years of fruitful learning!
-By Ankita Srivastava

TASTE THE WORLD.....

CUISINES OF THE WORLD
BY- SEHAJ GHUMAN

Food is the most significant symbol of a country. It is a notable fact that almost every country on Earth has its own extraordinary and exceptional cuisine. The tradition and rituals of a country have an effect on the genre of food. The cuisine reflects the lifestyle of the people.
One of the most prominent cuisines of the world, is the American cuisine. The food eaten by the Americans has always been the object of criticism, as it is unhealthy and calorie-laden. The deep fried burgers along with the ready-made drinks like beer make the American cuisine universal.
The aromatic Italian food with its distinctive herb fragrances is considered the ancestor of fine culinary art. Italian pizza, pasta and wine are always in limelight.
Indian cuisine is one of the oldest and most diverse cuisine in the world. Its rich and unique flavours are emerging in the world.
The location of Thailand has a great bearing on it's cuisine. Thai cuisine has many food products with fish and other marine animals. Seasonings of coconut milk, pineapples and citrus plants make it exclusive.
Ancient civilization of Aztecs and Mayas used to feed on Mexican cuisine. It is based on the assortment of products like maize, avocado and pumpkins. Mexican tequila, tacos, burritos, tortillas and fajitas are very sought after.
Food is God's gift to humanity and each cuisine in this world satisfies our taste buds.

STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE SOCIETY

The female is an ignored spiecie in our male dominated society which still practices gender bias.There is an apparent discrimtionin the upbringing and eduction of the girls in the rural areas,middle and lower classes of the society.This is all due to our old traditional customs, values and ethos of the society which do not encourage women to contest against men and come out victorious,also the harassment of working women resuts from the dominant position of the male bullies and the fear of economic insecurity of the female workers.

From the starting of birth the only sufferer is the female.Most of the people of the country consider the birth of a girl as a sin commited in their previous lives for which they are paying now.In our male dominated society , female education is relegatted to the back ground and all the family funds and resources are lanished on the upbringing and education of the sons.

As someone pointed out "if we educte a boy we educate a person , on the other hand if we educate a girl we educate a family." Some conservative section of the society regard women as weak and inferior to men and hence unsuitable for outdoor work .These people are highly mistaken.In now days , modern women are fully equipped with education , expertise, confidence,self esteem and respect and independence . If we glance at the result of public examination we reveal that the rank and the percentage of the girls is superior. If women can run home efficiently, they can manage the affairs of the state with the same procession.Women do not lag behind men in any sphere.

The rise in the standard of living is possible when women supplement the incomes of the males. National development is impossible without the whole hearted contribution and active participation of women .We can also root out the evil of male domination by reserving seats for women in parliament on the lines of reservstion in local bodies.This measure will end the marginalistion of women in the supreme policy bodies and pave the way for their emancipation,enlightment and empowerment.

FIZA GUPTA,CLASS-9B

NEW VENTURE OF SAATHI

SAFETY DRIVE

by - SEHAJ GHUMAN

Scars of Accidents don’t heal easily, sometimes they last a lifetime. Accidents hurt a lot but Safety doesn’t…..
By following the traffic rules, there is no jeopardy.
Persisting with the noble endeavor of removing the economic divide, for the underprivileged, Ms. Puniita Singh organized a seminar for the students of Government Middle School, Sec-52 Kajeri educating them about the traffic rules. A group of 160 students reached the Traffic park, Sec-23, with transport facilities organized by the NGO – SAATHI.
Ranbir Singh, an official at the Traffic Park gave an informative and interactive lecture, followed by awareness videos directed by Mr.Jaspal Bhatti. Mr. Ranbir stated, “The initiative of educating these children about the traffic rules is admirable. It is imperative for the young children to know all the traffic rules, as the number of accidents taking place in Chandigarh is on the increase. Tools and machinery can be repaired but our lives cannot.”
The children gave an eager response and appreciated the NGO’s efforts. They were given souvenirs, which would remind them of the safety rules.
Inspector Prem Singh Dalal, said, “Hope that Saathi keeps carrying on the great work. Youngsters are the most likely victims of the accidents, they don’t wear helmets or seat belts which cost them their lives .After today, I hope these students will follow the Traffic rules.”
So, when you drive safely, you arrive safely.
Better late than never….

INTERVIEW WITH SISTER SWAATI -SAINA KOHLI AND FIZA GUPTA

Interview With Sister Swati
Saina : How do you feel being the prnciple of carmel convent school?
Sister : it makes me feel no difference .it makes me feel proud .i am happy to serve carmel.
Fiza : what is your vision for our school?
Sister : my vision is to make children happy and make them bloom in what ever capacity they posses.I wish to get support from the school committee and to render my support.
Jaisha: How do you feel about the creation of the carmel band?
Sister : i feel very proud.when i do any thing i do my best, and rest i leave to the day to come.When you do anything with 100% effort the results are always in your favour.
Saina : can you tell us briefly about your childhood journey to being the principle of carmel?
Sister : My teaching career started in 1987.i teached 2 years in Goa,3-4 years in gujrat and 4 years in jammu-jammu was the best experience.whenever i talked to people they phrased "you should be a principle ; we expect you to came back as a principle".
Fiza : what do you think is lacking in the carmelites?
Sister :no ...nothing is lacking that way . everything is provided in carmel.But i sometimes feel integrating that what we learn and teach in the school , we dont see it being practiced.
Fiza : How do you feel about the discipline of our school?How do you think can you change it?
Sister : Well it is my feeling....that from the day I have come the discipline has improved alot.

(we all laugh with her) I dont want you girls to follow 'policeman' discipline , i dont want you to pass by the corridors with your hands at the back and a finger on your mouth showing 'i am quite sister'.But in the class i want that the students should be responsible enough to maintain discipline whether the teacher is their or not.
Prerita : what are your expectations from us?
Sister : As students i expect you to be children of prayer, because carmel represents prayer.I want the students to stop their bad habits like using foul language and bullying,etc.
Fiza : what do you want the future of carmelites to be?
Sister : School should excel in quality not in quantity.Whatever we do we should put in our best .Multiplying children is not necessary but the quality we bring out is .
Jaisha : What does carmel mean to you?
Sister : to me carmel means prayer.
Saina : You have often pointed out in these past years about our uniforms and flicks being inappropriate , what do you think about it now?
Sister :What i dont like is that the girls are altering your tunics with your own taste. Its not like that i want the student to make 2 plaates and apply oil but i just want hair to be neatly tied.
Prerita : As the news travels fast ,there were rumours that our dress code would be changed into suits...is that true?
Sister : As long as your uniform is neat it should not come to your worries.......and anyway changing uniform requires little time.
Saina : What are your views about the CCE System currenty in 9th and 10th?
Sister : Im very happy about it,i feel that children are getting more opportunities and i specifically feel that cce system should be alloted to every class from middle school,that way everyone will participate in the upcoming events.
Saina and fiza : how do you feel about the upcoming clubs like reporters club,photograph club,ngo,etc.....??
Sister : to be frank i feel the oppportunities are only given to very few students and by increasing the number of clubs every student can participate one way or another.i just love children and want to do what is best for them.
Saina:since you are such an inspiration,who was your first inspiration i mean your role model?
Sister: well i remember my class teacher of 2nd class.he teached me many values with love though he was strict he was very affectionate.he was my inspiration. that's what i wish to give you.i want you to do the best.
THEN WE ALL GREETED HER BEST OF LUCK AND PROMISED TO COORDIATE WITH HER..............
-interview taken by Prerita Nandwani,Saina Kohli,Fiza Gupta and Jaisha Garg