The Junior Journal: Vol VIII (2024-25) Monthly newsletter of Salwan Junior School (January 2025)

Celebrating Young Minds: The Junior Journal

Every year, school plans an exhaustive list of curricular and co-curricular activities to provide best of the opportunities to our young learners to foster the young minds with curiosity, innovation and critical thinking. "The Junior Journal" aims to showcase and celebrate the exceptional events and achievements of the students learning at SJS, Naraina. The publication is released on a monthly basis, providing a comprehensive overview of the notable accomplishments, events and projects undertaken by the learners in a month, within our educational community. This monthly journal will serve as a platform to recognize and applaud the outstanding efforts of the students.

Stay tuned every month to witness, discover and explore the remarkable talents and accomplishments of the learners at SJS with deep and meaningful learning experiences which are curated keeping in mind the skills, attitudes and beliefs of the children at this age.

Happy Reading!

Celebrating our heritage, embracing our culture

On January 13, 2025, Salwan Junior School celebrated Lohri with great enthusiasm and fervor. Students from classes I-V participated in the online celebration, which included interactive sessions, fun activities, and traditional performances. They learned about the significance of Lohri, its history, and cultural importance. they also learned about other festivals such as Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Bihu celebrated on the same date in other parts of India. The event concluded with a virtual bonfire and traditional Lohri songs. The celebration was a huge success, and students thoroughly enjoyed the festive experience.

Let’s celebrate the spirit of freedom and the pride of our Republic

On the occasion of India's 76th Republic Day, children of class Nursery and KG celebrated this special day on January 24, 2025, with much enthusiasm and joy. There was a short cultural program where one child performed a song about India, expressing her love for the country and explained why we celebrate Republic Day. Another child shared immense knowledge about different states and their capitals. The teacher explained the significance of the Republic Day in ppt form that was simple and easy for the little ones to understand. These performances, though simple, reflected the innocence and enthusiasm of young children, instilling in them the values of respect and pride for their nation.

Embracing Freedom: Republic Day Celebrations at SJS

The primary wing of the school also organized a special assembly to commemorate the 76th Republic Day, showcasing their patriotism and talent. The assembly was entirely student-led, with a student anchor confidently guiding the program.

The event featured a captivating video explaining the significance of Republic Day, followed by a thought-provoking play that highlighted the rights and duties of citizens. A vibrant dance performance celebrating India's cultural diversity further enriched the program.

All attendees joined in singing the National Anthem, symbolizing the values of freedom, equality, and fraternity.

This student-led assembly was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impression on all who witnessed the dedication and talent of the participants. It served as a fitting tribute to the 76th Republic Day and instilled a sense of national pride among the students.

Salwan Junior School Celebrates Patriotism with Colorful Crafts

The students at Salwan Junior School recently showcased their patriotic spirit through a vibrant array of craft activities. Engaged in a celebration of the nation's pride, students enthusiastically participated in creating colorful masterpieces.

The activities included:-

Flag-inspired creations: Students crafted Indian flags using techniques like tearing and pasting colorful paper

Tribute to heroes: Students expressed their gratitude to the brave soldiers by drawing inspiring posters.

Paper tricolour wonders: Creative minds transformed paper into tricolour planes, flowers, and flags, adding a touch of artistic flair to the celebrations.

These engaging activities not only fostered a sense of national pride among the students but also encouraged their creativity and artistic expression.

A Vibrant Celebration of Basant Panchami at SJS

Basant Panchami, the festival dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, was celebrated with great fervor at SJS on January 31, 2025. The school premises were decorated in vibrant yellow hues, symbolizing the arrival of spring and the blessings of the goddess of wisdom, knowledge, and the arts.

The highlight of the celebration was a special assembly that commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. Students presented a skit emphasizing the importance of knowledge and Goddess Saraswati. The serene atmosphere was enhanced by a melodious shloka recitation by Tanish, Vivaan, Vihaan, and Suryansh, accompanied by karaoke. A soulful bhajan, featuring Anhad on harmonium, Nushka on manjeera, and Suhaan on hand taal, further enriched the spiritual ambiance. Students also recited a poem highlighting the festival's significance. A mesmerizing Saraswati Vandana was performed by Ayesha, Kavya, and Aanya, also with karaoke. The school choir’s rendition of the Sanskrit hymn "Jaye Jaye Hey Bhagwati Sur Bharti" and the entire school singing "Hey Sharde Maa" completed the devotional segment.

Engaging craft activities were organized for different grade levels. Students of classes IV and V created paper kites, while those in classes II and III designed Saraswati-themed bookmarks. Class I students decorated veena outlines, KG students enjoyed cotton dabbing to create floral designs, and Nursery children made yellow flowers using balloons and paints.

The celebration concluded with the distribution of yellow sweet rice as prasad, symbolizing prosperity and divine blessings. The students' joy and enthusiasm reflected their deep connection with the festival. The Basant Panchami celebration successfully blended devotion, creativity, and cultural learning, providing students with a deeper understanding of the festival's significance while fostering their artistic and spiritual expression.

Wings of Learning: Exploring Air Transport

The assembly on "Air Transport" was a delightful experience for all. It began with the teacher engaging students in an imaginative activity where they closed their eyes and pretended to hear the sound of an aeroplane. This interactive start set the tone for the event. The students then showcased wonderful props like aeroplanes, rockets, and helicopters, which they had made with great enthusiasm. They performed confidently, sharing key facts about air transport. The assembly concluded with a cheerful aeroplane rhyme, leaving everyone with smiles and valuable knowledge about air travel.

Spelling Success: A Spell Bee Triumph

A Spell Bee competition for students in classes I-V was held on January 31, 2025, focusing on enhancing spelling skills, vocabulary, and confidence in English. The competition tested students' listening skills and spelling accuracy, fostering enthusiasm for learning new words. Participants actively engaged, demonstrating a keen interest in language. The event provided a fun and engaging way to strengthen linguistic abilities. Students performed exceptionally well, with some achieving top scores. The competition encouraged healthy rivalry and highlighted the importance of accurate spelling. Teachers offered words of encouragement, motivating students to continue expanding their vocabulary and language proficiency. The successful Spell Bee competition instilled a love for words and learning in the young participants.

Eloquent Expressions: Inter-Class English Debate Competition

The final round of the Inter-Class English Debate Competition for Classes III to V was held on Friday, 24th January 2025, in the school foyer. The event saw enthusiastic participation from students who had been selected after the preliminary round, which was conducted virtually and open to all students.

The students confidently presented their arguments, with strong and valid points both in agreement and disagreement with the topic at hand. The topics included –

Class III: Uniforms should be compulsory in school.

Class IV: Technology had made our lives better.

Class V: Physical Books are better than e–books.

Their preparation was evident, as they spoke eloquently and supported their positions with logical reasoning and examples. Each participant demonstrated excellent public speaking skills, maintaining composure and articulating their views clearly.

The winners from each class were as follows:

Class III: I Position – Paviksha Bhatia III B

II Position – Divyansh Sonawat III A

III Position – Niharika Remisetty III A

Shivansh Kawatra III A

Consolation – Ayansh Pratap Singh III B

Class IV: I Position – Ridhaan Khurana IV A

II Position – Suhaan Anand IV B

III Position – Aarav Johar IV B

Consolation – Ikmann Singh Bhatia IV A

Class V: I Position – Team V B comprising of Karik Sachdeva, Priyansh Chopra,

Ritkriti Shresth, Seejal Sharma and Vivaan Sethi

II Position – Team V A comprising of Aanya Suryavanshi, Ayesha Afroz

Kartikeya Khudania, Praneet Singh and Rudr Kakkar

The atmosphere was vibrant as the students debated passionately for and against the motion. Their ability to express themselves in front of an audience reflected their growing confidence in communication. The competition was a testament to the students' hard work and the valuable lessons they learned in research, organization, and critical thinking.

Overall, the event was a huge success, showcasing the students' debating skills and fostering a spirit of healthy competition and intellectual growth. The final round left everyone impressed with the students' maturity and skill in handling complex topics.

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." – Aesop

On January 31, 2025, Class 2 students participated in a Speaking Activity on "Helping Others." They shared stories about kindness at home, school, and in the community. Their confidence and creativity shone through as they spoke about helping friends and nature. The activity improved their speaking skills and encouraged empathy

Unlocking Learning Through Storytelling

The workshop on "Storytelling as a Teaching Pedagogy" delved into the power of narratives in the classroom. Led by Sonia Wadhwa Ma'am, Principal of Salwan Junior School, Naraina, the session aimed to equip educators with the skills to effectively utilize storytelling to engage young learners.

This workshop explored the significance of storytelling as a teaching pedagogy. It highlighted the benefits of storytelling, such as engaging young minds, building language skills, and fostering socio-emotional development. The session covered various aspects of storytelling, including its different forms, key elements, and practical implementation in the classroom. Participants learned about the importance of inclusivity and the role of storytelling in moral education and societal reform. The workshop concluded with a breakout room activity where teachers demonstrated creative storytelling activities for children. Overall, the session provided valuable insights and practical strategies for teachers to effectively utilize storytelling in their classrooms.

Coding for Young Learners: A Foundation for Literacy and Numeracy

This online workshop, led by Dr. Swati Popat Vats, explored the significance of coding in early childhood education. The session emphasized that coding, when integrated with play-based learning, enhances cognitive development, problem-solving, and creativity.

Dr. Vats highlighted the connection between coding concepts like decomposition, sequencing, and pattern recognition with foundational literacy and numeracy skills. She stressed the importance of age-appropriate instruction and the gradual introduction of coding concepts through hands-on activities and games.

The workshop provided valuable insights for teachers on how to incorporate coding into their teaching practices, fostering a love for learning and preparing children for the digital age.

Re-inventing Early Years: A New Perspective on Education

This workshop, led by Ms. Sona Gombar, Head of SMS Gurugram, emphasized the crucial role of the foundational stage in child development. Key focus areas included:

Digital Literacy & Future Skills: Preparing children for the future by fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Brain-Based Learning: Understanding how children learn and incorporating strategies to capture attention, enhance memory, and facilitate real-life application.

Montessori Approach: Emphasizing hands-on learning, observation, and independent exploration to foster a love for learning.

Cultivating Curiosity: Encouraging exploration, questioning, and a growth mindset through interactive activities and open-ended questions.

Parent-Teacher Collaboration: Highlighting the importance of a strong partnership between home and school to support the child's holistic development.

The workshop provided valuable insights and practical strategies for teachers to re-imagine early childhood education and create a nurturing and stimulating learning environment for young minds.

Bringing French to Life: A Role-Play Activity

On January 27th, the French class engaged in a lively role-play activity. Focusing on "Daily Life Conversations," the activity aimed to simulate real-world interactions. Students enthusiastically participated, practicing essential French communication skills in a fun and interactive setting. This engaging exercise enhanced their language fluency and confidence in using French in everyday situations.

Shining Stars of SJS: Celebrating Student Achievements

Pavika, a bright star from Class III A, has brought laurels to the school by securing First Position in the Dance category at the Kala Mahotsav 2025, organized by the Apni Sanskriti Foundation. Her dedication and talent shone through in this prestigious event.

Kayra Bhalla, a talented student of Class IV A, has achieved a remarkable feat by securing Rank 3 in the National Level Abacus Championship 2024. Her hard work and perseverance have paid off, and we applaud her outstanding achievement.

Aaditya Bajaj, a proud member of Class IV B, has made the school proud by winning the Abacus Championship with Rank 1 in the National Level Abacus Championship 2024, he has also won a silver medal in English handwriting competition organized by the Abacus Champs Academy. His exceptional skills and dedication are truly commendable.

Samrat Grover, a promising athlete from Class V B, has been awarded a medal for his outstanding performance in cricket by the Sandeep Sharma Sports Academy. Congratulations to Samrat on this recognition of his talent and hard work.

The Future of Tech is Human: Redefining the Role of Educators in the Wake of Industry 5.0

The School Principal, Ms. Sonia Wadhwa attended a thought-provoking panel discussion at Bett London 2025, focusing on the evolving role of educators in the era of Industry 5.0. The panel explored the critical shift from technology-centric approaches to human-centered values in education.

The panel highlighted the need to move beyond simply delivering content, as readily available online resources have made information easily accessible. Instead, educators should focus on inspiring a love for learning and engaging students in meaningful ways.

The discussion also emphasized the importance of a cautious approach to integrating generative AI in education. It was stressed that there should be a clear need and well-defined use cases before widespread implementation, with a strong focus on the safety and well-being of students.

#SJSStudioCredits

On behalf of the entire school community, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated podcast team. The weekly episodes, filled with informative and engaging content, are a valuable resource for our students. We especially want to acknowledge the contributions of Ms. Chandrika, Ms. Harsheen, Ms. Rijak, Ms. Radhika, Mr. Rahul, and Mr. Ajay from the teaching staff, and Tanish Vinay, our talented student contributor. Your hard work and creativity are deeply appreciated!

Empowering Community of Educators

With the focus on empowering teachers with essential knowledge and skills, a successful Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program for educators was conducted by the School Principal Ms. Sonia Wadhwa and Ms. Tajinder Kaur

Ms. Sonia Wadhwa delivered an insightful session on Cyber Safety and Security, highlighting the importance of digital citizenship in the age of technology. She also provided valuable insights into the National Education Policy 2020, emphasizing its transformative vision for education in India.

In another session, Ms. Tajinder Kaur addressed the critical issue of Cyber Safety and Security. This session aimed to equip them with the knowledge and tools to educate students on online safety and responsible digital behavior. She also conducted a session on 'Learning Outcomes and Pedagogies'. This session explored innovative teaching approaches that align with the principles of NEP 2020, focusing on student-centered learning, experiential education, and the development of 21st-century skills.

The CPD program proved to be a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and professional growth. It empowered educators from other schools, contributing to a stronger and more informed educational community.

Art Corner

Students enthusiastically participated in Republic Day activities, creating portraits, a Tiranga poster, a gun and hat poster symbolizing soldiers’ bravery, handmade flags, and tricolor origami jet planes. Their creativity and patriotism shone through these meaningful artworks.

In honour of Saraswati Puja, students transformed colourful circles into exquisite rose blossoms. This hands-on activity added a personal touch to the festivities while blossoming their artistic skills.

Our little artist from Kindergarten created a stunning Water World showcasing her creativity beautifully!

Inspiring Learning: A Teacher's Reflections

The Power of Storytelling in Early Childhood and Primary Education

Storytelling is an ancient art that has captivated human minds for centuries. Its importance in education, particularly in early childhood and primary classrooms, cannot be overstated. Renowned educationist Gijubhai Badheka, often regarded as the pioneer of innovative teaching in India, emphasized the transformative power of storytelling in making learning joyful and meaningful. Integrating storytelling into teaching not only brings subjects to life but also nurtures critical life skills in children.

Storytelling: A Gateway to Holistic Learning

Gijubhai Badheka believed that storytelling was a dynamic method to connect children with learning. His stories, often imbued with moral values and practical lessons, encouraged children to think critically and relate to the world around them. By weaving lessons into narratives, educators can create memorable and engaging learning experiences that resonate with young learners.

Teaching Through Stories: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Storytelling has the potential to teach concepts across various subjects. Here are some practical examples:

1. Mathematics:

a. Example: A story about a merchant who needs to distribute 100 apples equally among 5 baskets introduces division in a practical context.

b. Children can solve problems alongside the character, making abstract concepts tangible and relatable.

2. Science:

a. Example: A story about a curious bird learning why the sun rises and sets can explain basic concepts of the solar system.

b. Stories involving animals or plants can teach ecosystems, habitats, and life cycles.

3. Language Arts:

a. Example: Narrating folk tales or fables enriches vocabulary and comprehension skills.

b. Encouraging children to retell stories helps develop speaking and listening abilities.

4. Social Studies:

a. Example: A tale of a traveler exploring different countries introduces geography and cultural diversity.

b. Stories about historical figures or events make history more engaging and relatable.

5. Moral Education:

a. Example: Stories like "The Honest Woodcutter" instill values such as honesty and integrity.

Key Benefits of Storytelling in Early Education

1. Problem-Solving Skills:

a. Stories often present challenges that characters must overcome. When children analyze and predict solutions, they develop critical thinking and decision-making skills.

b. Example: In a story about a rabbit finding its way out of a maze, children can brainstorm solutions, enhancing their logical reasoning.

2. Creative Thinking:

a. Imaginative tales encourage children to think beyond the ordinary and envision possibilities.

b. Example: Asking children to create alternative endings to a story fosters creativity and originality.

3. Vocabulary and Language Development:

a. Exposure to diverse words and expressions in stories enhances language acquisition.

b. Repetitive phrases, rhymes, and dialogues help children remember and use new vocabulary.

4. Emotional and Social Skills:

a. Stories provide a safe space to explore emotions and develop empathy by identifying with characters.

b. Example: A story about a child sharing toys teaches the importance of kindness and cooperation.

5. Cultural Awareness:

a. Folk tales and myths introduce children to traditions and values from around the world.

b. Example: Stories from different cultures help children appreciate diversity and promote inclusivity.

Implementing Storytelling Effectively

To maximize the impact of storytelling, educators can adopt the following strategies:

1. Interactive Storytelling:

a. Use props, puppets, and visual aids to make stories more engaging.

b. Encourage children to participate by asking questions or acting out parts of the story.

2. Integration with Art and Music:

a. Combine storytelling with drawing or crafting to visually represent story elements.

b. Add songs or rhythms to stories to enhance memory and enjoyment.

3. Encouraging Story Creation:

a. Motivate children to create their own stories, helping them express their ideas and imagination.

b. Collaborative storytelling activities build teamwork and communication skills.

4. Relating Stories to Real Life:

a. Discuss how story scenarios connect to everyday experiences.

b. Example: After a story about saving water, children can brainstorm ways to conserve water at home.

Gijubhai Badheka

Legacy in Storytelling

Gijubhai’s methods showcased how storytelling could simplify complex ideas and create joyful learning environments. By infusing storytelling into classrooms, educators honor his vision of education that is child-centric, exploratory, and fun. His works, such as "Divaswapna" (Daydreams), remain a testament to the power of stories in shaping young minds.

Storytelling is not just a tool for entertainment; it is a powerful educational strategy that integrates academic learning with the development of essential life skills. By teaching through stories, educators can ignite curiosity, foster creativity, and build a strong foundation for lifelong learning. As Gijubhai Badheka aptly demonstrated, stories have the power to transform the educational landscape, making learning a joyous and memorable journey for every child.

Written by- Ms. Harsheen Kaur

Ignite a Love for Reading with Karadi Tales!

Reading is a magical journey that opens doors to imagination, knowledge, and wonder. It fosters creativity, develops language skills, and builds a strong foundation for future learning.

We believe in nurturing a love for reading in every child. To support this, we encourage you to explore the delightful world of Karadi Tales picture books.

These beautifully illustrated books cover a wide range of topics, from captivating animal stories and enchanting Indian folktales to insightful stories about gender, the environment, and kindness. With vibrant illustrations inspired by Indian folk art, Karadi Tales books are not only visually stunning but also culturally enriching.