Never say you’re too powerless

Some like the idea that to have money
Means you instantly have power
To me that proves their mentality
Is simply petite and sour
As power is the ability
To plant a smile on someone’s face
Or give a few rupees to the homeless
As your kindness they embrace
Power is dragging someone out of the wrong
And bringing them into the right
Or giving a hug to someone blue
Leading them to delight
Power is teaching a child
Something they’ll remember forever
Or letting someone know their appreciated
With a card; as light as a feather
So never say you’re too powerless
To make a change for good
It’s not a matter of what you should do
It’s a matter of what you could

 

 

How the poor live

                                   by Stephen on September 16, 2009

One day, a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

“It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

“Oh yeah,” said the son.

“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless.

Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.”

 

What Do Teachers Make?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." To stress his point he said to another guest;

"You're a teacher, Susan. Be honest. What do you make?" Susan, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied,

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I make a C+ feel like the winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder.

I make them question I make them criticize.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them write.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math and perfect their final drafts in English.

I make them understand that if you have the brains, and follow your heart, and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, must pay no attention because they just didn't learn.

Susan paused and then continued.

"You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?

-Taylor Mali

 

                                                                                                                                                 



Who is a true friend? 

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”

 Henri J.M. Nouwen



Kids risking their lives to reach school

This might sound incredible to some, but it isn’t uncommon for children from less privileged regions in countries like China, Indonesia etc. facing immense hardship on their commute to the institute of learning. You will be surprised at the great lengths some children are willing to go to reach school.

 

 

The Most Caring Child

Love is everything.

It is the key to life and

its influence moves the world.

 

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four‑year-old child, whose next-door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman´s yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."

 

Forgive and Forget

Come, my friends, let us rejoice,
And listen to the very voice
That tells us to be good,
And move away from the place
Where we had once stood.

It is time for us to move on,
To know the difference
Between right and wrong.
We must change our ways
From the days
When we were immature and young.

We will be nice
To those who were mean,
And be sorry for what they have been...
Or what some have become.

We must forgive and forget,
Give another chance
To those we have met,
That have done wrong.

For it is the only way
That we, the human race
Can make the world
A much better place.

Beautiful Quotes

 

Time is precious

 

The famous general, Napoleon Bonaparte, once invited some of his general to dine with him but as they did not arrive at the given time, he began to eat without waiting for them. They arrived when he was just about to finish his meal. Napoleon rose from his chair, having had his dinner and said, "now that dinner is over, gentleman, we can get down to business."

 

This little anecdote teaches us two important lessons.First, we have no right to waste the time of others. Time is precious. The second lesson is that we might very well lose something important by being unpunctual.

 

In this case all that the generals lost was a dinner with one of the greatest generals of the world, but often unpunctuality can cost a person his job or a promotion. There is also no doubt that those who are late for their appointments do not create favourable impression.

A Scorpion Moment

There was a Hindu who saw a scorpion floundering around in the water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the scorpion stung him. The man still tried to get the scorpion out of the water, but the scorpion stung him again.

 

A man nearby told him to stop saving the scorpion that kept stinging him.

But the Hindu said, "it is the nature of the scorpion to sting. It is my nature to love. Why should I give up my nature to love just because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?"

 

Don't give up loving...

Don't give up your goodness...

Even if people around you sting.

The task ahead of you, is never as great as the power behind you       

       

Once all the villagers in a village decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer all the people gathered, but only one came with an umbrella.

THAT'S FAITH

When you throw a baby in the air, she laughs because she knows you will catch her.

THAT'S TRUST

Every night we go to bed without assurance of being alive the next morning but still we set the alarms to wake up.

THAT'S HOPE

We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future or having any certainty of uncertainties.

THAT'S CONFIDENCE

Kill ego and save love

Sometimes love is for lifetime, 
Sometimes love is for a moment,
Sometimes that moment is for lifetime...

Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings lived together.

One day there was a storm in the sea and the island was about to get drowned.

Every feeling was scared but love made a boat to escape.

Every feeling boarded the boat; only one feeling was left.

Love got down to see who it was...

It was ego...

Love tried and tried but ego wasn't moving also the water was rising.

Everyone asked love to leave him and come in the boat, but love was made to love.

At last all the feelings escaped and love died with ego in the island.

Love died because of ego...

So kill ego and save love.

Positive thoughts lead to destiny

Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words...
Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviour...
Keep your behaviour positive because your behaviour becomes your habit...
Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values...
Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.

-Mahatma Gandhi-

                 Death of a great leader and a peacemaker

Nelson Mandela is remembered as master peacemaker. He was a master of forgiveness. He is not a saint, but a great human being.

South Africa's first black president spent nearly a one third of his life as a prisoner of apartheid, yet he sought to win over its defeated guardians in a relatively peaceful transition of power that inspired the world.

This spirit made Mandela, who died on the 5th of December 2013 at the age of 95, a global symbol of sacrifice and reconciliation in a world often jarred by conflict and division.

Activities done in classes-Role plays

Theme-Do not bully anyone

Theme-Be cooperative to receive cooperation

Theme- Be humble to everyone

Friend our world

In connection with the International Peace day, children from Yr. 3 to Yr. 6 took part in the international programme ‘friend our world’ Four of our students Mohamed Tariq Faqir, Amrin anna Haleem, Seyara Rozen Talawinna and Muzaffar Ahamed were among the best achievers in the online competition associated with this programme. I am proud to say that Amrin Haleem has been selected to visit the United Nations as one of the ten student representatives worldwide.

Amrin

Mohamed

Muzaffar

Rozen

Peace Ambassador

I have been appointed as an international Peace Ambassador and I express my sincere gratitude to our dear principal Mr. Somabandhu Kodikara who introduced Citizenship to the school curriculum in 2011,  for his guidance and support in this endeavour. I hope I can do something valuable to this world of declining morality and human values. I believe true education makes a child fit for life, not just fit to earn a living.

Anjalie Chandima Silva, Citizenship Teacher at Sri Lankan School Muscat, OMAN.

Embrace the fundamental principle of spirituality; look inward in order to look outward with courage, purpose and meaning. Love everyone without expecting anything.

Poster making competition

A poster making competition was held in September 2013 to commemorate the International day of peace which falls on 21^st September. It was conducted class wise from yr. 6 to yr. 9 to promote unity among children. They actively participated in this competition and worked co-operatively for a common goal. The enthusiasm shown by them was unbelievable. The winners of first, second and third places were given prizes.

First place – 8R

Second place -7B

Third place – 8B

 

Year 8B

Year 8R

Year 7B

 

 

 Year 3 and Year 4

 To introduce a conflict resolution table (problem solving table)

Objectives

-       To make children aware that discussing about the problem with the person involved is the best way to solve the problem.

-       To make children aware that accepting their fault and apologizing is not condescending.

-       To develop their problem solving skills. ( so that the solution will not generate another problem; a solution should be one that both parties agree)

-       To make the children aware that the peace makers are everlasting personalities and admired by the society.

 Action Plan

Rules to be maintained at the peace table and how to do it

-       Things they need- a table, two chairs, a vase with a rose, picture of a peace maker or a poem regarding friendship.

-       There shouldn’t be audience when two children are seated at the peace table.

-       The person who is talking should always hold the rose .

-       Equal time to listen to each other should be taken respectfully.

-       No loud tone of voice when discussing.

-       Should not be seated more than 15 minutes at the peace table.

-       At the end of the discussion to part with a hand shake.

Note: Children will be explained how to use the peace table in their classes during the Citizenship period, so that they can come up with their own initiatives when necessary. This concept was introduced in 2011 and it has been very effective. Present class teachers of year 3 and 4 are invited to implement this valuable concept in their respective classes.

A Triple partnership in moulding a valuable citizen

 Children

Children are generally good by nature and willing to perform their duties and shine brightly in their studies. One cause of their waywardness and occasional indiscipline lies with their elders who set poor examples of truth and self-control. Children growing up in today’s world are exposed to countless influences. It is not only teachers and parents who affect children, but also their surroundings, including television, films, videos etc. At the same time, most students are under tremendous pressure to ‘succeed and to pass examinations’. Education which does not stress character development or is not value-oriented, leaves children to grow up without knowing how to cope with themselves and the world  around them and in  possession of a false set of priorities and values. Children usually learn that being successful means wanting to get a good job and earn plenty of money, rather than wanting to work for the betterment of society and the world.

  Teachers

Teachers have the greatest role in moulding the future of a child. Of all professions his or hers is the noblest, the most difficult and the most important. Good teachers are those who realize the worth and importance of their work and consider the children they teach as dear to them as their own. For children to imbibe good values, teachers must practice them and be examples to their students. This will play a vital part in the building of good character of the students.

If a teacher is dedicated and pure, thousands of children will be improved and the nation will gain from educated men and women of character.

 Parents

The influence of parents on their children’s minds is very significant. It is actually the primary and predominant influence on the children’s personality and behaviour patterns. The early years of a child’s life are the most important for character development. Therefore the role of parents is vital, as they are the first teachers. Parents have the responsibility to be good role models for their children, which means that they must practice what they want them to follow.

If parents and teachers set right example, students will automatically blossom into models of excellence, capable of bringing glory to the nation.

 

Citizenship teacher - Ms Anjalie

                                 Why Citizenship ?

It is a well known fact that the child is interested in concrete things. There is nothing more concrete than life itself. Citizenship is the subject of school curriculum which aims at giving education for life.  A hardest lesson that a child has to learn is how to adjust in the society. Citizenship gives a practical training to the child to live well. Citizenship is designed in a way that the children develop understanding of the facts and problems in the right perspective. This enables the child to understand his own nature. And also it enables him/her to develop attitudes and skills of social mindedness, truthfulness, loyalty, tolerance, compassion, cooperation etc. It creates new patterns of thought and ideals for social living. It lays emphasis not only on right knowledge but also on right doing.

Citizenship also gives children the knowledge, awareness and understanding to play an effective role in society. It helps them to become informed, thoughtful and responsible citizens who are aware of their duties. It promotes their spiritual, moral and social development, making them more self confident and responsible both in and beyond the classroom. It encourages children to play a helpful part in the life of their school, neighbourhood, community and the wider world.

As a whole, this subject is intended to help children develop an insight into human relationship, social values and attitudes and get rid of what is undesirable especially in the context of social change.

Good citizens alone can make a good world.