Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

A streak of light emanates so bright,

In the clear sky at midnight.

I crane my neck out to see it clearly,

The light rushes at me, blinding me nearly.

‘We are not alone’ my mind tells me,

Out I rush to the spot where it fell to see.

A stunned- looking alien climbing out of the cockpit,

Of a giant lean and mean rocket.

It grabbed my hand and spoke in a language unknown,

Then its voice faded to a low-pitched tone.

I shrugged and indicated that I didn’t understand,

It zapped me and took me back to its land.

When I woke up, I could see the stars,

I don’t believe what I see, I think its Mars.

I was put on a float and paraded around,

I felt too terrified to realize what I had found.

They treated me well, gave me some water to drink,

‘Water on Mars?’ Strange but I started to drink.

Finding that the water was as pure as it could be,

To my surprise I splashed it all over me.

I sat up all of a sudden to find,

That it all had been a trick of my mind.

I could see my mother laughing in glee,

So, she was the one who threw the water at me.

I let out an inaudible scream,

With the realization that it all had been a dream.

Pranav R of XII B

The Railway Station

The big hunk of metal pulls in, its frame shuddering,

Passengers get down, some sleepy, some lumbering.

Porters mill about, hawking their sweat for money,

Against a few seats, piled up are sacks of gunny.

Children start to wail and cry,

Their gleaming eyes staring at passers-by.

And along comes an occasional dog or two,

They start to bark and snarl in protest too.

The vendors are busy, selling their wares,

Suddenly, to the train, a passenger tears

past ‘cause the train is leaving,

While the station gets busy for the next train to come calling.

Pranav R of XII B

Before It Rains

It is a dull blanket

A dirty white like a shawl across the sky

Its shadow projected upon the dry earth

While daylight is thinning.

The parched earth is filled

With much expectation

Its undying thirst

About to be momentarily quenched.

Yet the heavens do not share this joy

A monotone of moaning and rumbling

Set against the background

Of a sorrowful atmosphere.

Serene but sad,

The silence is hollow

The air, once filled with vibrant life

Is reincarnated as a stillborn.

The wind begins to howl

Like a wolf baying for the moon

From above, a monstrous cackle

Evokes nightmarish thoughts of witchcraft.

This gloom,  suffocating as it is,

Hypnotizes all life around,

Enticing all into a state of depression

Robbing the world of its colour.

There is one final manifestation

Of the emptiness embodies in this scene:

A swarm of celestial tears falls from the sky;

Messengers of the Lord's sorrow.

Anish Pratik Yayavaram of XI - A

Art III

Impact Of Media On Society

Living in a society that depends mostly upon technology for news, entertainment and education, the mass media is one of the greatest influential factors on the opinions and viewpoints of the younger generation. Some examples of media influences include magazines, internet, television, books and radio. All of these sources help shape the beliefs of what social life, culture, religion, or politics should be in the minds of younger people, sometimes at unrealistic standards. The mass media is a very helpful and relatively quick way to gain knowledge and insight as to what is going on in the world.

The media like television, radio and the Internet increase the overall awareness of the masses. They enhance the general knowledge by providing us with information from all over the world. News broadcast through different media helps us know about the day-to-day events in the world. News, tele-films and documentaries revolving around social issues increase a social awareness. Research has revealed that media is responsible for influencing a major part of our daily life. Media contribute to a transformation in the cultural and social values of the masses. Media can bring about a change in the attitudes and beliefs of the common man. The persuasive nature of the content presented over media influences the thoughts and behavior of the general public. Media has a direct impact over the lifestyle of society. The recent advent of blogging in the media world and practices like public polls and citizen journalism, have led to the achievement of a social control. These concepts have strengthened the relationship between the media and the common man. They have brought the general masses closer to their society. Media has brought about a major transformation in the way people think. Media has given them an excellent platform to present themselves before the world and contribute in their own way to the changing world scenario. Media has been responsible for making the world a smaller place to live.

Thus Media has served as a boon to mankind.but as every coin has two side media has its negative impact on the society also.

The media affects the way we act and think. It has a profound influence on the behavior of its audience. When people try to imitate something we had seen or heard, are they capable enough to distinguish between right from wrong? Young people often imitate their role models blindly. What is being highlighted in the entertainment industry is the wrongdoings of these celebrities whom the young people idolize. And because they are heroes in the youth’s minds, they are still celebrated despite the bad behavior they have been showing to the public. This highlighting of the media is a negative effect on society. They satiate the people’s hunger for trivial information and rumors. They create buzz by hyping the issues with flowery words and provoking descriptions. Controversies are created left and right to get the attention of people. Another negative influence of media is eating disorders. A significant number of youth nowadays are suffering from eating disorders attributable to unhealthy lifestyles that are emerging. The television programs, movies, and even print materials often showcase this lifestyle as fun activities despite their negative effect on health. Media hypes the acceptability of vices.

It has also been observed that children nowadays do not do the same activities as children of before. Instead of reading books, studying, playing outdoors with other children, and engaging in social activities, they end up being cooped up in their rooms watching television. And because of technological advancements and the availability of gadgets to young people, these children end up spending a significant amount of time in front of their computers and handheld video games. Because Internet is readily available to children, they end up reading and learning things, which are not suitable for their age. They get exposed to indecency and inappropriate acts. They become wrapped up in a different world—a world of fantasy. The changes in the behavior and outlook of people towards life are attributable to the negative psychological effects of media. Changes in cultural and moral values have been observed. Many people believe that what is depicted by the media is true and acceptable, altering their judgment and causing altercations. The negative influences of media are vast. It affects the physical self, the emotions, the psychological aspect, and even the spiritual stand of many people. One negative influence can trigger another negative effect and this can cause a chain of reaction leading to destruction of relationships in society.

Contradicting, view inflicting, sharp vindicating that is you. Patronizing, soul disguising, yet appetizing that is you. Forming dusty, lusty dreams, ripping hope at the seams that is you. Complicated, aggravated, frustrated and hated that is you. Creating rebels, lovers, fighters and others that is you. Lying, prying and successfully dying that is you. Tantalizing, society miser, capitalizing that is sometimes you. Intrigue me, manipulate me, make my mind at ease What does the media do to you?

That is up to you to decide……

Henna K of XII - B

Word Search

Art - II

Art - I

The Fall Of The Great Rupee

When each of you were young you would have been least bothered by what value Rupee was to Dollar but now when you slowly grow up you know of its extreme importance to you and to the economy of India. Around two years back the rupee to dollar ratio was 45 rupees =1 Dollar (approximately). Which itself shows that India is not a very economically stable country. In light of recent events In India and the U.S.A the rupee to dollar ratio shot up. The rupee to Dollar ratio 65.56 = 1 Dollar (approx). There was 20 rupee gain in the dollar ratio but however small an amount you think it is, it is a great deal for our country as it affects our international trade.

          

The Indian government had to sell the dollars stashed away in federal reserves just to decrease the ratio by 2.30. The government or more specifically our finance minister has taken a few reforms to stem the growth of the fallen rupee by which they are going to mediate the demand of non essential imports which are of high costs and they plan on enhancing the capital flows in the country because the only way the value of rupee will increase is if people invest in it or else the value will go down. The value of one pound has shot up to 105 rupees. So you can see while all other economies are gaining we are depreciating which may cause a financial problem for the whole country and we might be in the same situation in which USA was for the past 5 years.

C. Viswesh Kumar of XI - B

Passion Unplugged

Never has such an event gripped a nations imagination so tightly. A heartthrob of a billion, a man so closely revered as god himself in his own right. A person who has probably shown our nation as a light burning bright. Donned the Indian responsibility at a mere age of 16, and showed the world something no man had ever seen. The tremendous skill and ease with which he wields his weapon of magnificence a simple humble piece of wood, which has humbled almost everyone who gazed upon it. This is the ultimate sign of passion that we can refer to Sachin Tendulkur the little master, master blaster. The scorer of 100 centuries a player of 100 test matches and the hitter of the longest six in the world not only was the ball lost also was a couple of breaths and hearts. A man ultimately who was true to himself more than anything else always aware that the ultimate witness to our life the conscience wasn’t lied to. Passion is like wildfire it consumes everything in its path. New growth isn’t possible in the jungle without a fire the same for us growth cant happen in our lives without passion fuelling it. Passion is like an itch that needs constant scratching and Sachin Tendulkar seems to have kept his scratches constant. A look at the marks on his scorecard shows how passion was for the game. This passion was for joy; this passion was ultimately for himself. Passion is all, passion is Sachin.

Hariharan of XII - B

The Syrian Civil War

I hope most of you students know the situation in Syria it was on March 15, 2011 that protests against Syria's authoritarian regime first erupted. The reason of these protest were because the Syrian government tortured 5 children below the age of 17. The incident provoked a huge number of nonviolent demonstrations, with Syrians demanding justice from the President Bashar al-Assad. Assad responded with using his army and entire military force to suppress this movement. Violence failed to crush the uprising. The regime military measures led not only to the protest movement’s spread, but also, over time, to its militarization. This shift from peaceful protest toward armed resistance occurred gradually throughout the first year and a half of the uprising until, in summer 2012, the world acknowledged that Syria had reached a state of civil war.

 You might ask how is this news relevant for you the children of India. Well as we are the children so are we the future of our country in each student in our school lies a potential business man, lawyer, doctor and the most important the politician of tomorrow. Hence we should know all details, which affect not only our country but our neighbors as well. In Syria right now around 500 kids might

have been killed in their sleep while you are in the comfort of your home. While your parents beside you in an A/C room their parents are out their in a war for protecting their children’s future so I ask

you to be aware and alert in all fields of importance and don’t turn a blind eye to which does not involve you because everything affects everyone somehow and always be grateful for what u have

because out there in the world people are dying and they don’t have half of what you have.

C. Viswesh Kumar of XI - B

My Experience As A Newcomer

I still remember the day I entered XI B, full of strange faces and a lot of lively noise. I bet everybody was excited and nervous about being in one of the life defining classes. A few days after sitting in the class recluse the silence started to break and I slowly began to converse with the new class mates sharing polite smiles and a few laughs. The friendship’s began that would blossom into something beautiful.  We passed into twelfth std. The class became known for its unity. Through thick and thin the tenth students are known to stick together. The class is made up with people with all different interest’s talents and sizes. There are jokesters , who crack jokes to keep he class lively, dancers, athletes, artists and “padipists” who make up the different colors of the class’s pallet. 

Sure there is a bit of resistance amongst people of different strata and a few strings that are still struggling to from the perfect knot. Yet the ones, which have tangled themselves in strong friendship, are a unique sort. We share a similar kinds of rebellious behavior towards particular subjects school including teachers decisions. In a way this adds to our unity. Our class strives towards fun entertainment and PT without doing this a few of us couldn’t smile. Our class is like people each of us are a vital part. We need everyone in order to be a whole.

Hariharan of XII - B

Animal Fun Facts

Large Kangaroos can jump more than  30 feet in one hop - that's the length of 12 skateboards ! 

A rabbit's teeth never stops growing !

An elephant's tooth can weigh as much as 5.4 kg !

Strands of spider web are stronger than the steel wire of the same thickness !

The favorite meal of whale shark, the world's largest shark, is microscopic organisms called plankton !

A blue whale's tongue alone can weigh as much as an elephant !

A newly hatched fish is called as "fry" !

Did you know that elephants can swim as long as six hours at a time and as far as 48 kilometers without a break?

Termites are actually cockroaches that evolved to eat wood !

The nine-banded armadillo always gave birth to same gender quadruplets from a single egg !

The highest known jump ever made by a pig is 27.5 inches - that's the height of St. Bernard !

The smallest shark species grows around 15 cm long !

Sharks go limp when turned upside down !

Yamini .V of XI - A

Laws Of The Natural Universe

Law of Mechanical Repair:
After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.

Law of the Workshop:
Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

Law of probability:
The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Law of the Telephone:
When you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.

Law of the Alibi:
If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tyre.

Variation Law:
If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now. (works every time)

Bath Theorem:
When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

Law of Close Encounters:
The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

Law of the Result:
When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

Law of Biomechanics:
The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

Theatre Rule:
At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.

Law of Coffee:
As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

Murphy's Law of Lockers:
If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

Law of Dirty Rugs/Carpets:
The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich  landing face down on a floor covering...are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.

Law of Location:
No matter where you go,... there you are.

Law of Logical Argument:
Anything is possible... if you don't know what you are  talking about.

Brown's Law:
If the shoe fits, it's ugly.

Oliver's Law:
A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Wilson's Law:
As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

Muhilan of XI - B

Nails In The Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.  His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.  Over the next
few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.  He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.  Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.
 He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
 
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.  He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.  The fence will never be the same.  When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.  But It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will still be there.  A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

Remember that friends are very rare jewels indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed; They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Muhilan of XI - B

How Students Improve Their Study Skills

Without a doubt, studying for school work plays a vital role in the status of a student’s grade. Getting good grades is imperative in school, so that the student will be more prepared for college and the future. Study skills are important because they prepare the student for the test or quiz that he or she is going to take. Study skills, such as studying for a certain amount of time each day, doing
practice problems for the lessons learnt, and preventing procrastination can lead to a higher grade for the student. In general, students who prepare themselves and study for tests and quizzes will receive higher grades and learn more information than those who do not study or prepare. Study skills are necessary in order to receive satisfactory grades in school. One way to improve study skills is by studying for a certain amount of time each day in order to ensure that the knowledge will be retained. For example, if one wanted to receive a commendable grade in their AP Psychology class, then they would take a certain amount of time each night to study the proper terms and main points for the section for which they are learning. Spacing out your studying proves to be more beneficial
than studying the night before the test, as one has the opportunity to review class materials several times a week, focusing on one topic at a time. New information can be absorbed more easily when studying this way. It is evident that in order to improve study skills, one must allot time each night to study the information learnt throughout the course of the school day. Students who are optimistic towards becoming smarter and acquiring good grades need to improve their study skills by completing practise problems and exercises on a daily basis to ensure that knowledge is being retained.

N. S. V. Surya of VIII - A

iPhone 5s

The iPhone 5s is a smartphone developed by Apple Inc. It was released on September 20th, 2013 in the United States of America. Just like iPhone 4s, iPhone 5s is a revised model of iPhone 5. It has a new home button design using a laser-cut sapphire cover surrounded by a metallic ring. The iPhone 5s has a fingerprint scanner which will recognise only 5 people’s fingerprints which the owner of the phone has saved. The phone has also introduced the 64-bit A7 processor and M7 ‘motion co-processor’. The phone runs on iOS7 , the seventh version of Apple’s iOS system. The new
features in iOs7 are control center, Air Drop and i-Tunes Radio. Its weight is 112g.

K. Akila of VII - A

Lamp And Shadow

As the lamp fades

Its glow ever dimming

An aura of resignation 

Emanated from it.

It is the flame that feeds on the oil,

Yet it is the shadow that grows.

Their conflict fills the silence

The gray is more pronounced with each passing instant.

Yet the struggle persists,

There seems to be no near end

It is taxing on either front;

More so on that of Light.

The black cloak,

A shroud of evil,

Engulfs all that resist it's spread

In its unending oppression.

The white is no longer white,

Impurity is its disease,

Brought forth by the powerful plague

Remedy is an impossibility.

The oil is the flame's lone medicine,

To tide over the bitter struggle

Yet it doesn't heal; only gives longevity

To suffer the steady darkening.

The lamp bears the dark,

Like Atlas the sky.

The temptation to fall is felt,

But the Curse is honored instead.

Though its reserves diminish  

And the shadow conquers

The flame, though flickering,

Cuts through the dark with its glow.

The flame summons one last effort

To assert its defiance

It glows now brighter than ever

Even the darkness seems stunned momentarily

Passionate rage radiates from it

Pushing back the darkness

Like an order to kneel and cower

A compulsion to oblige.

But the dark recovers, no longer stupefied

The Light is weakened from its strain

This weakness thus exploited,

The flame is slain.

The battle is won,

The silence is no longer a void

As the Dark rejoices

Yet another triumph over the Light.

There is none to lament the flame

For the struggle is forgotten; only the victor is remembered.

Anish Pratik Yayavaram of XI - A