Global Learning Iss 3, June 2015

MCI (P) 113/01/2015

Issue 03, June 2015

AMBITION THAT DRIVES APTITUDE

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GIIS student wins ‘NRI of the Year Award’

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Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna at GIIS Singapore L CIA !

SPE TURE FEA

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BBC Article: The Lonely Planet

Presidium of Patrons

Founding President President and Co-Founder Vice-President Chairman and Co-Founder COO and Regional Director, Middle East & Africa Deputy CEO Governing Board Advisory Board – International

Advisory Board – Japan Advisory Board – Singapore

Advisory Board – India Advisory Board – Thailand Advisory Board – Vietnam Advisory Board – Malaysia

Dr Justice CS Dharmadhikari, Prof MGK Menon, Dr Karan Singh, Mr N R Narayana Murthy, Dr Hari N Harilela, Mr Basdeo Panday Late Dr L M Singhvi Mr Chandrakant Borde Mr Inderjit Singh Mr Atul Temurnikar Mr Kamal Gupta Mr Kaustubh Bodhankar Mr Subodh Gore, Mr Maneesh Tripathi, Mr Sudan Wargantiwar Sir J K Chande, Dr F C Kohli, Mr Arjun Malhotra, Ms Shabana Azmi, Mr Ashok Soota, Ms Nandini Prasad Mr Aftab Seth Mr Masahiko Kaji Mr Boon Yoon Chiang, Mr Karan Singh Thakral, Ms Kirtida Mekani Mr R Sundar, Lt Gen (Retd) Sudhir Sharma H E Mr Prapat Panyachartrak Mr N Kumar Tan Sri Dato’ Mohd Hussin Bin Abd Hamid (Chairman), Dato’ Sri Abdul Hamidy Abdul Hafiz, Datuk Lean Meng Seong, Dato’ Derrick Fernandez Pca, Mr Ralph Marshal, Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria

Advisory Board – Academics

Mr Laurie Ince, Prof Marmar Mukhopadhyay, Prof Mukul Asher, Dr M P Chaya

Publishing Consultant

Regent Media Pte Ltd

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Cecilia Woo

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Esther Faith Lew

Writer

Raewyn Koh, Ng Peiling and Lindsay Yap

Art Director

Junlong Loh

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Jeremy Ding

Photographer

Victor Toh

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Marina Chong

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All rights reserved. No part of the materoal protected by this copyright may be reproduced or transmitted or utilized in any form or by any means, recording, broadcasting or by any other information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of Global Schools Foundation, Singapore. Any person who does any unauthorizrd act in this relation to this publication may be liable to criminal and or civil prosecution for damages under the laws of Singapore and will be referred to the relevant authorities of the Singapore Courts in accordance with the Singapore Laws.

The Global Indian International School name/logo is a registered trademark of Global Schools Foundation in Singapore and other countries and use under license. Unless expressly authorized by Global School Foundation, use of its name and logo is strictly prohibited, and Global Schools Foundation will take whatever legal action necessary to prevent misuse.

Global Indian International School CPE Reg No: 200912349N | Validity: 25 Feb 2014 to 24 Feb 2019

CONTENTS INSIDER

06 08

ABOUT GIIS

Our Vision, Mission, Core Values and more

MESSAGES

Words of inspiration from GIIS leaders

10

JOURNAL

10

TRIBUTE TO LATE MR LEE KUAN YEW We pay our respects to the Founding Father of Singapore

12

GIIS STUDENT NAGAMANI TEJA WINS NRI OF THE YEAR AWARD 2014 - ASIA PACIFIC Nagamani wins recognition in the ‘Academics category’ for Solar Bag Prototype

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“YOUNGSTERS ARE THE FUTURE OF THE NATION” Mr Arnab Goswami to GIIS students

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12

14

16 18

SANIA MIRZA AND ROHAN BOPANNA Hightlight the importance of determination

20

INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS BESTOWS ‘Distinguished fellow’ award upon Mr Atul Temurnikar, GSF Chairman

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INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AWARD 2014-2017 Won by GIIS Bangalore, GIIS Chinchwad and GIIS Noida campuses

SUNIL GAVASKAR INSPIRES GIIS STUDENTS Former captain of the Indian cricket team imparts wisdom from life experiences

FEATURES

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BBC ARTICLE: THE LONELY PLANET NASA’s Dawn mission is scheduled to arrive at dwarf planet, Ceres, this month

Unique Happiness & Kindness Index to monitor every individual child’s happiness

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CONTENTS 50

IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE Implemented in 2009, Quality Circles at GIIS allow students to tackle real world issues while shaping their creative thinking, team building and communication skills

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BEAUTY FLOWS THROUGH IT Whether it’s the rhythm of a traditional dance, the caress of a healing onsen, the roar of a whirlpool or the silence of a valley, Tokushima prefecture moves the soul with its grace and beauty

54 50 66 60 70

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BEYOND TEXTBOOKS AND CLASSROOMS CBSE-i is an internationally benchmarked, enquiry and skill-based curriculum catering to individual learning styles

SPOTLIGHT

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AMBITION THAT DRIVES APTITUDE Strengthened by a stellar foundation of achievements, GIIS lays the groundwork for students to achieve success in life. We take a closer look at the awards that have defined the school for its excellence

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GIIS NOW IN ABU DHABI! A new campus with world-class facilities for a global education in UAE

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EDUCATION EXCELLENCE AWARDS GIIS is proud to have achieved 39 National and International awards from 2008 to 2015

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Global Schools Foundation

Global Schools Foundation (GSF) was initiated with an aim of providing quality education to the expatriate community in Singapore. The Foundation has completed more than 12 exemplary years marked by international recognition for achieving excellence in school education. Following high standards in governance, established academic criteria, and well-administered management processes.The Foundation’s mission is to cultivate and nurture its students into global leaders of the future.

Global Indian International School

Global Indian International School (GIIS) – established under Global School Foundation’s guiding principles – is an international network of award-winning institutions, with 20 campuses in seven countries. Known for their learner-centric and skill-based teaching methodology, GIIS schools offer holistic learning and personality development opportunities for students.

GIIS schools have been honoured with 39 international and national awards over a span of six years for achieving excellence in school education. GIIS boasts a strong multicultural environment as students from diverse nationalities are enrolled across its campuses.

GIIS is a preferred international school offering curricula for Nursery to Class 12 education, offering International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), CBSE-International and Global Montessori Plus.

VISION To Become a Global Role Model for Teaching and Learning.

MISSION We nurture GLOBAL students into men and women who will be distinctive leaders committed to the spirit of excellence, through high-quality education imparted by globally experienced and caring teachers who build strong virtues and values while focusing on all round development, creativity and entrepreneurship.

CORE VALUES Manage with Information and Metrics Agility and Adaptability Honesty, Integrity and Ethical Practices Attitude before Knowledge Team Work Mentor, Coach and Make a Difference Ambience for Learning

CULTURE STATEMENT GIIS schools – Schools that Learn GIIS Schools have become Safety Centered, Vision Directed, Values Driven, Student Focused, Analysis-based, Learning Enabled, Team Facilitated, Process Managed, Quality Managed and Result Oriented.

QUALITY POLICY GIIS strives to enhance Learning through: • Adherence to Quality Management System • Sharing of Best Practices • Actionable Feedback based on Stakeholder Satisfaction Surveys

QUALITY OBJECTIVES Based on GIIS Quality Management System, Quality Policy, and Vision, Mission & Core Values, GIIS will continually strive to ensure: a. Compliance with our Quality Management System b. Learning at all levels c. Stakeholder Satisfaction d. Adherence to our Values

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Experience your child’s learning moments....

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MESSAGES

Dr Justice C S Dharmadhikari

Chandrakant Borde

Co-Founder & Patron, Global Schools Foundation

I

t is not enough that the end is good and pure. The means to achieve such an end should also be pure; because we have control over means only. If we take care of means, the end will take care of itself. This is the golden rule.

School is a place where students spend an integral part of their lives; where young minds are shaped and personalities are moulded. It is here that relationships are born and friendships are nurtured. Friendship, according to me, is the most spiritual relationship. Students interact the most with their contemporaries, share ideas and evolve. The classroom environment must enable children to imbibe true values of life - to communicate positively, to act responsibly with honesty, to respect self and others around and to put in sincere efforts to excel academically and engage enthusiastically in non-academic spheres. Global Schools Foundation has established the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Universal Values (MGCUV) to inculcate in the students moral values and ethics that are universal in nature. It also instils self-awareness and self-management skills while strengthening their core social and emotional intelligence, apart from academics and extra-curricular activities. I am happy to see our students grow through experiential and service-learning. It is my earnest belief that GIIS students are mentored righteously to become global citizens, not just by their deeds but by virtues also.

President & Co-Founder, Global Schools Foundation

M

ahatma Gandhi once said, “I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”

With emphasis on experiential learning as an essential tool for crosscultural understanding, we at GIIS believe in providing education that is grounded, with creative and critical thinking. Over the years, our students worldwide have consistently received recognition for their achievements in academic and non-academic spheres. The guidance provided by our faculty and the relentless pursuit of our students drive these endeavours to the realm of reality.

For the holistic development of each child, imbibing the spirit of sportsmanship at an early age is essential. This goes a long way in making them leaders, boosting their confidence and deepening tolerance levels.

Moreover, it prepares them to undertake higher challenges in future. It gives me immense pleasure to share that the “Chandu Borde Global Cricket Academy” initiated across GIIS campuses, places focus on honing our students’ skill sets through specialised cricket training by experts.

Atul Temurnikar

Inderjit Singh

Chairman & Co-Founder, Global Schools Foundation

E

ducation to create ‘Global Citizens’ will allow our young generation to engage with the world outside and not just learn but also enact through valuable actions. At GIIS, the aim to integrate, inculcate and strengthen such core competencies in students from diverse nationalities, cultures, and calibre has been ever growing. The zeal to create future-ready ‘Global Citizens’ through a selfsustaining network of international schools under the Foundation, is envisioned. Our teams across the globe are empowered; processes are standardized to transform and raise educational benchmarks that enhance the overall student life. We have achieved this due to our adaptability towards adopting latest digital innovations.

We are living in a time of tremendous technological change. With new technologies evolving, come newer avenues for learning. GIIS schools leverage and integrate technological developments after analysing their cognitive implications, to improve the quality of education and the overall student experience of learning with joy. GIIS campuses are well equipped to facilitate knowledge sharing across campuses and foster a holistic learning experience.

The school has been honoured with 39 national and international awards for excellence in education, such significant accreditations provide assurance to our community of our quality and dedication. With a strong foundation of 20 campuses, GIIS continues to spearhead in the field of learning, making quality education accessible to more students around the world.

Vice President, Global Schools Foundation

I

am happy to note the progress of the Global Schools Foundation (GSF) over the past 12 years, where starting with one school in Singapore, the GSF today has a firm footing globally. As the Vice-President, it gives me immense pleasure to have witnessed the gradual growth of the schools, spanning into 20 campuses worldwide today. The newest campus in Abu Dhabi will be reflective of GIIS’ modern state-of-theart infrastructure and outlook. The success story of GIIS schools in Singapore stands distinguished because of the academic achievements, holistic education encompassing community engagement, environment conservation, adaptation to technology and more. Students at GIIS receive great opportunities, even at the global level and mentoring by the welltrained and proficient faculty. The organisation’s focus is to educate young students and transform them into leaders of tomorrow. The future looks bright for GIIS and for the children we educate.

JOURNAL // p10. TRIBUTE TO MR LEE KUAN YEW // p12. EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS

JOURNAL

Tribute to Mr L Students presenting their tributes for Mr Lee Kuan Yew

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Students forming “I Love U LKY” at the school field

Lee Kuan Yew A leader beyond definition and a visionary beyond words, Mr Lee Kuan Yew shaped a strong, dynamic and empowered Singapore.

His determined belief in creating a fair, equal and meritocratic society today is a living embodiment of the city state’s unique character. Mr Lee was revered among people and world leaders alike for his foresight, strategic acumen and statesmanship.

Global Indian International School (GIIS) was honoured to host Mr Lee Kuan Yew at GIIS Queenstown Campus in May 2009 during the inaguration of Mr Narayana Murthy’s book ‘A Better India: A Better World’.

GIIS joins Singapore in mourning the loss of its founding father and former Prime Minister. Mr Atul Temurnikar, Chairman and Co-Founder, Global Schools Foundation has written to Hon’ble Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, offering his deepest condolences to Mr Lee and his family on behalf of the GIIS fraternity.

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JOURNAL

Times Now NRI of the Year Awards Ceremony 2015

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n the second stint of the Times Now NRI of the Year Awards partnered by the Global Indian International School (GIIS), actor Shah Rukh Khan was awarded with the title of “Global Indian Icon” on 10 April 2015 in Mumbai.

The awards function was attended by distinguished NRIs from over 12 countries. Many eminent guests graced the occasion, including heads of international businesses, and winners of the Femina Miss India 2015 pageant. Also present at the event were Usha Uthup, Tisca Chopra, Jackky Bhagnani and Isha Koppikar among others. The coveted awards won by 16 individuals under seven different categories received nominations from North America, UK, Middle East and Asia Pacific.

“The 21 million Indian Diaspora now have a reputed and robust recognition platform to showcase their extraordinary

GIIS students cheer on for Nagamani Teja who won the prestigious award contributions to the 1.2 billion strong Indian community. The commendation conferred by the ‘NRI of the Year Award’ to these outstanding individuals with remarkable achievements, is a befitting honour. As an international school where excellence is in the DNA, GIIS is proud to be a co-founding partner of the ‘NRI of the Year Award’ with Times Now,” said Mr Atul Temurnikar, Chairman, Global Schools Foundation.

The award categories covered the Indian Diaspora worldwide and included Entrepreneur, Professional, Academics, Art & Culture, Philanthropy, Special Jury Award and India’s Global Icon Award. Five lucky students got the chance to represent GIIS to attend the

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event and interact with the award winners.

Award Winners GIIS East Coast Campus student, Vallamkonda Nagamani Teja won the award for his achievements in the Academics category.

Other award winners honoured for their roles in respective fields were Kehkashan Maushum Basu (Middle East) and Sarthak Sinha (North America), and Mr Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, for the Special Jury Award category.

Winners in the professional category included Anju Jaswal (Asia Pacific), Dr Rahavan Seetharaman (Middle East), Subhash Chandra Basu (North America) and Gauray Atreja (UK). Other winners

Global icon of the Indian film industry, Shah Rukh Khah (3rd from left) and GIIS East Coast Campus student, Nagamani Teja (4th from left) along with other winners

As an international school where excellence is in the DNA, GIIS is proud to be a co-founding partner of the ‘NRI of the Year Award’ with Times Now. - Mr Atul Temurnikar included Bharat Kumar Jayantilal from Middle East, Dr Asha Seth from North America and Manjit Singh Nijjar from UK (for philanthropy). In the art and culture section, Tripti Mukherjee (North America) clinched the top honour. Those who emerged as best entrepreneurs were Harindarparl Singh Banga (Asia Pacific), Arun Agarwal (North America) and Dr Ravi Pillai (Middle East).

The awards were presented by Chandra Kochhar, MD and CEO of ICICI Bank, Bollywood stars and jury members.

On this occasion, cartoonist Sudhir Dhar released a commemorative art of an NRI. More about Nagamani Teja Nagamani was recognised in the Academics category for ‘successfully constructing a prototype for a solar bag capable of charging mobile phones and laptops on the go’. He is also an allrounder with achievements in academics,

sports, and co-curricular activities.

Nagamani constructed the prototype of the solar bag for an inter-school competition organised in 2014 by GIIS, where it was selected among the top entries. Aside from academics, Nagamani shares passion for athletics and contemporary dance. He has won competitions in athletics and is one of the fastest runners in the school. As for contemporary dance, he has represented GIIS in various dance competitions.

Overwhelmed with joy on winning the award, Nagamani said, “This feeling cannot be expressed in words. Achieving such a prestigious award at such a young age is amazing! I am very humbled and honoured, and appreciate the effort put in by the organisers for recognising Indians living overseas.”

Nagamani also shared about his personal experience, sharing stage with one of the biggest Indian cinema icon, Mr

Shah Rukh Khan at the award ceremony.

He was ecstatic and felt that it was one of the best moments in his life. Mr Khan said to Nagamani, “Congrats, keep on doing well and do your best!”

Background of NRI of the Year Awards Instituted by Times Now in 2013 to honour high-achieving Non-Resident Indians (NRI), the NRI of the Year awards recognise individuals from diverse walks of life.

In its second season, the awards covered a larger Indian Diaspora base as it invited nominations from Non Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) residing in USA, Canada, Singapore, UK, and Middle East including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. This year, for the first time, the award also invited nominations from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand.

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JOURNAL

“The future of our nation is in the hands of our students”

Mr Arnab Goswami, Editor-in-Chief and news anchor, with students at the Times Now Studio in Mumbai

U

nder the GIIS Leadership Lecture Series, students from GIIS Singapore campuses interacted with the editor-in-chief and news anchor of Indian news channel Times Now, Mr Arnab Goswami on 9 April 2015 in Mumbai.

The highly interactive session saw him answering students’ questions about objectivity, sources and more. He also gave key insights to an ethical and efficient way of reportage in the Indian media.

Mr Goswami emphasised on the need to recognise journalism as a determinant of social, political and economic change. A key aspect of this interaction was defining news as not just factual information but an act of creative construction for the democracy.

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Elaborating upon the social media space and its dangers, Mr Goswami said, “A journalist should be wary of social media and should not let social media decide his/her journalism. I do not hesitate to put forth opposing views, which might seek the ire and disapproval of politicians, interests groups and other ‘powerful people’. I am more interested in the idea of digital technology than social media as it brings me and my viewers closer.”

With a nostalgic tone to his voice, Mr Goswami communicated with the students about his journey in television so far. Taking this forward, the session was centred on the idea of democratisation of public opinion with the digitisation of news.

Elucidating upon the discourse of

the news media, he raised a pivotal question to students. Ranging from issues of sensationalism to stereotypes, Mr Goswami managed to engage students on a common platform. His witty rhetoric coupled with satirical anecdotes made the session worth remembering. “His words were inspirational and full of energy - the feeling of speaking to one of India’s best anchor was amazing,” said Rahul Parthasarthy, GIIS East Coast Campus student.

For students it was a spellbinding interaction where they had an opportunity to introspect and learn about different elements of journalism from Mr Goswami. He made a number of points that highlighted the opportunity in a

His words were inspirational and full of energy - the feeling of speaking to one of India’s best anchor was amazing.

- Rahul Parthasarthy, GIIS East Coast Campus student well-connected world. He advocates that Indian journalism is more fiercely independent than American journalism, and Indian media presents itself to the point. Further he asserted, “With the widespread use of technology, all the importance is now shifted to the content of the news. I believe Indian media will go global in about 2 to 5 years. Digital space is allowing people from diverse backgrounds and spread over large geographical areas to be at the centre of news coverage.”

Students were enlightened with the views presented by Mr Goswami on various national and international issues.

“Conversing with Mr Goswami was an honour for all us. His frank views, opinions, knowledge, confidence and the thought process enlightened us about the various practices in journalism and responsibilities attached to it,” said Rujuta Khanapurkar from GIIS Queenstown Campus.

When asked about personal attacks while anchoring debates, Mr Goswami

said, “I am prepared to take on an onslaught of personal attacks to ensure that the issue being raised is done so in the most efficient and direct manner. I have developed a ‘thick skin’ to stand tall against these attacks to help bring about social change and to mould public opinion over an issue. I prefer to think of the heated debate taking place today as one of the stepping stones to awakening of the Indian democracy.”

He believes, “To compete at the global level, Indian organisations are ‘technically capable’, ‘visually savvy’ and ‘technologically driven’. In terms of pure marketing and branding, they are as aggressive as the western competitors, and all this has to be done from a unique

Mr Anand Narasimhan, Sr Anchor & Editorial Consultant at Times Now, Mumbai

Indian matrix. We cannot be copycats.”

The interaction session was organised at the news channel, Times Now studio, where students were given a tour of the Times Now studio, ET Now and Zoom TV set. Elated with the experience of visiting a newsroom, Ishaan Mittal, a student from GIIS Queenstown Campus said, “As I stepped inside the Times now studio I felt a rush of adrenaline. All of us were excited yet nervous at the same time. I remember Mr Goswami insisting that the future of our nation is in the hands of our students.”

Another student, Neil Shah from GIIS Queenstown Campus adds, “We had the opportunity of seeing the studio of the show Planet Bollywood, which is telecasted on ET Now and the server rooms of Movie Now and Romedy. We saw various high-end editing software, which allowed the complete editing and inclusion of special effects on the show. The experience was so real and extremely informative.” Adding further, he said, “During the tour, we learnt that to produce 20 minutes of on air feed, four hours worth of effort to cut and compile pictures, voices and videos are required.

We were also familiarised with the data storage systems at TV stations and were stunned to understand that just one segment of the channel utilises over 50 terabytes worth of space.”

The interaction with Mr Goswami was stimulating and discussions were thought provoking, leaving the students engaged, productive and inspired.

GLOBAL LEARNING 15

JOURNAL

Students were thrilled to have renowned tennis players in GIIS Queenstown Campus

Inspiring role models – Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna

W

orld class tennis players visited GIIS Queenstown Campus as a part of the GIIS Leadership Lecture Series on 3 December 2014. Students were excited to have their dream come true when they served and volleyed with acclaimed tennis players Ms Sania Mirza and Mr Rohan Bopanna.

The exciting event was hosted at the GIIS Queenstown Campus and was simulcast ‘live’ across all 20 GIIS campuses through myGIIS, the school information portal, connecting thousands of students and parents to witness the inspirational event.

Ms Mirza and Mr Bopanna arrived at the campus to enthusiastic, cheering students and proceeded to pay homage

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at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi along with Mr Atul Temurnikar, Co-Founder and Chairman of GSF, and members of GIIS’ management team. The excitement among students was palpable as the guests made their way to the tennis court.

The iconic players took to the tennis court to test out the budding tennis stars of GIIS and gave students playing tips and valuable advice. Present on court were tennis players from GIIS campuses in Singapore and GIIS Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. While Mr Bopanna was impressed with IB Year 1 student Bhuwan Bansal’s powerful shots, he also encouraged Bansal to move around the court and to cover the shots. Ms Mirza, on the other hand, praised Rishab Namashivaya, Class 8 IGCSE student for his

excellent shots. Another student, Shivank Bhatnagar, from Class 9, stole the show when he scored a point against Ms Mirza.

The clinic ended as Ms Mirza volleyed while Mr Bopanna moved down to the court coaching the students to watch their pace and remind them on tennis rules.

Mr Bopanna and Ms Mirza then told the students that if they aspire to become international players, they need to play more than an hour every day. “Rohan and I play four to five hours a day,” Ms Mirza shared. “It is very important that you have fun and enjoy the game, only then you can succeed professionally. We hope to see a professional player come up from the GIIS campus soon,” Ms Mirza added enthusiastically as she encouraged the players to continue their practice diligently.

The tennis clinic was followed by a Q&A session as part of the Leadership Lecture Series in the auditorium. GIIS students Anuraj Rawat and Asmita Raja welcomed Ms Mirza and Mr Bopanna on stage before inviting them for the Leadership talk.

When asked to share some lessons and experiences, Mr Bopanna said, “I have been in the same position as you when I used to listen to international achievers. However, to become a professional, you need a lot of hard work.

I dedicate six to seven hours to tennis every day. For the past seven years, I have been waking up at 5 am every day.

To become a professional player, you need total dedication and commitment to the game. The more dedicated you are the better your chances in representing your country. I hope that Sania and I can inspire you in some way.”

While addressing students, Ms Mirza stood up to talk to them and proved yet again, why she is a role model and an idol for youngsters. She spoke from the heart when she said, “As kids, we all dream of being the best; this is attainable if we practice hard in our chosen field of sport.

I am humbled and honoured to be able to represent my country on an international level and I believe you all can too.”

Ms Mirza shared how she faced

The star players gave practical advice to budding tennis players from the school several hurdles in her career as a girl who was determined to play professional tennis. “I come from a middle class Muslim family and unfortunately, we set cultural barriers for girls. I faced much criticism myself as my uncles and aunts would often remind me that I am a girl; if I play in the sun all day and becomes too dark, nobody would want to marry me.

They would also ask me if I would be able to play in Wimbledon or beat Martina Hingis. Thus, it was a very proud moment for me and a personal achievement when I actually managed to beat Martina Hingis,” Ms Mirza shared, receiving a resounding applause from the audience.

She told the students to continue to believe in themselves and their dreams.

“Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. Adapt to your opponents. You have to be very strong mentally. For me sleep and hunger is secondary. Playing well and

Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do it.

Mr Bopanna paying tribute to Gandhi’s statue

- Ms Sania Miza

giving yourself the best chance to win comes first,” she said.

Ms Mirza truly inspired everyone when she added that infrastructure is much better now than when she had started playing tennis at the age of six.

Back then, there were no clay courts in India. “We used to play on courts evened out by cow dung. Nowadays, you are fortunate that you have supporting parents. If your parents support you, then you can conquer the world,” said Ms Mirza.

The visit was a motivational and memorable experience for the students across GIIS campuses in Asia Pacific to develop qualities of courage, character and strength – values that will guide these budding leaders throughout their careers. Previous speakers under the GIIS Leadership series have included industry stalwarts and achievers like Sachin Tendulkar – legendary Cricketer, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam – Former President of India, Abhinav Bindra – Olympic Gold medalist, A R Rahman – Oscar winning musician, Nobel Laureate Professor Richard Ernst, Former RBI Governor Dr D Subbarao and Interim BCCI President Sunil Gavaskar, among others.

GLOBAL LEARNING 17

JOURNAL

Sunil Gavaskar inspires GIIS students

F

ormer Indian cricket captain and one of the greatest opening batsmen in cricket history, Sunil Gavaskar, visited Global Indian International School (GIIS) in Singapore as a part of the GIIS Leadership Lecture Series on 21 November 2014. Mr Gavaskar, who was part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s delegation to Australia, was visiting Singapore and graciously accepted the invitation to meet GIIS students and interact with them in person.

Students from GIIS campuses in Noida, Bangalore, Indore and Pune in India, along with students from Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur, also joined the lecture via video-conference.

Every student, especially the U-14 and U-12 Gold Squad Cricket team members from the GIIS East Coast and GIIS Queenstown campuses, was left in awe of the cricketer and managed to interact with him one-on-one. His opening words, much like his batting style, left many of them stumped when he asked, “Who are the silly guys?”

Looking at the puzzled faces of the young cricketers, he smiled and added, “Opening batsmen are the silly guys, because they are the ones who face the fresh pitch when the ball is new and no one is certain about the state of the pitch,” leaving the students amused.

After paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi and interacting briefly with the students, Mr Gavaskar was escorted into the school auditorium and received a grand welcome. He was accompanied on the stage by four student panellists from the GIIS Gold Squad cricket team – Aditya Sudarshan (Class 12, GIIS Queenstown Campus), Ishan Mittal (IGCSE 9, GIIS Queenstown Campus), Janak Prakash (Class 9, GIIS East Coast Campus) and Rohan Mathur (Class 12, GIIS Queenstown Campus) – as well as emcees Simran Sokhi (Class IGCSE 9, GIIS Queenstown Campus) and Rohan Rangarajan (Class 9, GIIS East Coast Campus) along with Mr Atul Temurnikar, Chairman and Co-Founder, Global Schools Foundation (GSF).

Known for his strong defence on the cricket pitch, Mr Gavaskar spoke enthusiastically about how to “farm the strike” in the game of cricket and sustain the partnership between two batsmen. Mr Gavaskar, who is India’s global cricket ambassador, also shared his life experiences and valuable advice that struck a chord with many students.

When questioned about the importance of setting records in cricket, Mr Gavaskar, who has set world records during his career for the most Test runs and most Test centuries by any batsman, said, “Don’t set

Mr Gavaskar discussed cricket strategy, life experiences and valuable advice with students

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targets, play it your way!” Mr Gavaskar held the record of 34 Test centuries for almost two decades before Sachin Tendulkar broke it in December 2005.

Subsequently, Mr Gavaskar took a moment to catch up with former Test cricket stalwart and newly appointed President of Global Schools Foundation, Mr Chandrakant Borde, over videoconference. Mr Borde appreciated his readiness to be a part of the GIIS Leadership Lecture Series and felicitated him.

Mr Gavaskar also recalled an incident involving Mr Borde. “Mr Borde used to walk in to bat without any helmet and once he got off the mark, he would signal to the dressing room to get his cap. He scored a 100 against Wesley Hall and Charlie Griffith at Brabourne stadium, when the first couple of wickets had fallen for nothing. It’s been an absolute privilege to be able to know Mr Borde and to have fed off his experience because he is very generous with his experience and advice to youngsters.

Really, even as a player, I have tears in my eyes when I say that I have really been privileged, to have gotten all your experience and benefit,” said Mr Gavaskar. The event left students with pride and joy as they got to interact with the cricket legend and even got him to sign bats and autograph books.

GIIS wins acclaimed GPIPSA 2015

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Proud moment for GIIS. (L to R) Director Business Development and Project Portfolio Management, Commander Bharatkumar Unercat; Country Director, GIIS Singapore, Rajiv Vasudeva; His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Government of UAE; Chairman and Co-founder, Global Schools Foundation, Atul Temurnikar; Chairman, Golden Peacock Awards, Justice Dr Arijit Pasayat; Director of Global Centre for Education Excellence, BG Shenoy; and COO and Regional Director (MENA), Global Schools Foundation, Kamal Gupta GIIS received the Golden Peacock Innovative Product/Service Award (GPIPSA) 2015 at the 25th World Congress on Leadership for Business Excellence and Innovation held on 20 April 2015 in Dubai, UAE. His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Government of UAE, presented the award to GIIS in the presence of distinguished business leaders, jurists, academics, environmentalists, economists, legislators and policy makers. The three-day convention was organised by the Institute of Directors (IOD) India in association with Dubai Customs from 20 to 22 April at Dubai, UAE. GIIS won the prestigious GPIPSA for its ‘Kindness Movement’, initiated at GIIS Singapore campuses. ‘Kindness Movement’ also forms the core of the network’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. The movement is incorporated into the curriculum for Classes 1 to 8 as a free course, and

has been inspired by the beliefs and life of Mahatma Gandhi.

During the academic year, workshops are conducted with the objective of integrating extra-curricular activities like hosting festivals, exhibitions, contests, workshops, so on and so forth, that educate and encourage peaceful living. GIIS incorporates a variety of activities that promote kindness throughout the year - themed around peer relationship, understanding culture, harmony with nature, and various competitions in association with Friend of Singa (FOS) - an initiative by the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM).

Mr Atul Temurnikar, Co-Founder and Chairman of Global Schools Foundation (GSF) asserts, “We are determined to provide an education that teaches children to be responsible citizens and to inspire them to uphold values such as peace, tolerance, equality of sexes and racial harmony. The Kindness Movement does exactly

that, and the award we received today affirms its resounding success, trust and confidence our partners have had in our mission. We look forward to replicating our success story at our new Abu Dhabi campus.”

GIIS’ soon-to-open Abu Dhabi Campus will be managed by the Singapore-based GSF - a pioneer in K-12 education in Asia. GSF comprises 20 GIIS campuses in seven countries, providing high quality education in multiple curricula to over 13,000 students. GIIS is the only school network in the world to have won over 39 international and national awards in Education Excellence on the Malcolm Baldrige, SPRING, IMC, IOD and other frameworks.

This prestigious award is a testimony to GIIS established practices in Kindness Movement denotes an Education Excellence Award!”

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JOURNAL

GIIS wins IOD’s Special Commendation for Golden Peacock Innovation Management Award 2014 5 GIIS won Special Commendation for Golden Peacock Innovation Management Award (GPIMA) by the Institute of Directors (IOD) under the 4th cycle for the year 2014 in London, UK. The award was presented to the GIIS team led by Mr Atul Temurnikar, Chairman and Co-founder, GSF; Mr Kamal Gupta, COO and Regional Director, Middle East and Africa, GSF; and Mr B G Shenoy, Director, GCEE. The theme of the presentation made by Mr Temurnikar was ‘Nurturing Leadership in Education - Driving quality in the Boardroom’.

The Award Certificate was presented by The Rt Hon Theresa May

Present on the dais (Left to Right), Lt Gen J S Ahluwalia, PVSM (retired), President, IOD, India; Mr BG Shenoy, Director, GCEE, GIIS; Ms Theresa May MP, Secretary of the State for Home Department, UK; Mr Atul Temurnikar, Co-founder and Chairman, GSF and Mr Kamal Gupta, COO and Regional Director, Middle East and Africa, GSF MP, Secretary of State for the Home Department, Govt of UK. Also present at the event were Mr Nikhil Sahni, Senior President, Govt Relationship Management, YES Bank Limited; The Rt Hon Alok Sharma, Member of Parliament for Reading West, House of Commons, UK; Lt Gen JS Ahluwalia, PVSM (Retd), President, Institute of Directors, India; The Rt Hon Baroness Verma, Parliamentary Under Secretary

of State, Ministry of Energy & Climate Change, Govt of UK; Rt Hon Sir Richard Needham, Chairman, Golden Peacock Global Awards, Chairman Advisory Group, Stern UK and Vice Chair, NEC Europe, and The Rt Hon Shailesh Vara MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice, Govt of UK. denotes an Education Excellence Award!”

GSF Chairman receives prestigious Walter L Hurd Executive Medal The nominating committee for the Walter L Hurd Foundation and the Asia Pacific Quality Organization (APQO) selected Mr Atul Temurnikar, Chairman and Co-Founder, Global Schools Foundation and Mr B G Shenoy, Director, Global Centre for Education Excellence to receive the prestigious Walter L Hurd Executive Medal for 2014. The medal was presented at APQO’s annual conference on 23 November 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Walter L Hurd Executive Medal is presented annually to an executive (president, CEO, principal, owner, or senior vice president of a major corporation) who has demonstrated exceptional adherence to quality principles and provides leadership in the quality movement, both within his or her organisation and outside

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of that organisation. The winner of this award must be an excellent role model for executives throughout the Pacific Rim nations, with an excellent personal reputation and a high degree of integrity.

The Foundation is named after Walter L Hurd to honour his many contributions and continuous interest in furthering the quality movement in the Americas, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Recipients of the Walter L Hurd Executive Medal are role models for other business leaders to follow. Previous winners of this distinguished award include Dr Toyoda, CEO of Toyota; Tan Pheng Hock, President/CEO, Singapore Technologies, Singapore; Horst Schulze, President, Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, USA; Lt General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, UAE; Sister Mary Jean Ryan, SSM

Heath Care, USA; Ko Nishimura, Chief Executive Officer, Solectron, USA; Stuart Young, President, Interlock, New Zealand; Takanori Yoneyama, President of Konica, Japan and Mr Yuan Xing, Chairman, Alcatel Shanghai Bell Company Limited, Shanghai.

Medal conferment ceremony

GIIS students lead with ‘Top in the World’ award in Cambridge IGCSE exams 2014 Four students from GIIS Queenstown Campus, Singapore won the ‘Top in the World’ award for Mathematics and Additional Mathematics in the Cambridge IGCSE exam held on June 2014.

The results were declared on 10 December 2014, in which Amitesh Sivaraman Jayaraman and Revvand Rajesh emerged winners of the Cambridge ‘Top in the World’ award for Additional Mathematics, while Rasika Sugam Kale and Sundeep Veluchamy proved their mettle with the award for Mathematics (without Coursework). All four students are currently pursuing the IB Diploma programme at GIIS, and have outperformed thousands of candidates worldwide in the Cambridge IGCSE examinations.

Principal of GIIS Queenstown Campus, Ms Madhu Khanna, in her congratulatory message to the students said, “The students’ combined enthusiasm and commitment to excel has contributed to this glory.” Ms Khanna also extended congratulations to the team of dedicated teachers, including Ms Deepika Sodhi, IGCSE Coordinator; Mr Gowri Shankar, Teacher for Additional Mathematics, and Ms Anita Garg, Teacher for Extended Mathematics.

Consistent High Level of Academic Achievements It is the second consecutive year in which the GIIS Queenstown Campus has received the ‘Top in the World award’ in the Cambridge IGCSE exams, making it the best year of results for the school in the IGCSE examinations. In 2013, Akshai Vengat from GIIS received the ‘Top in the World’ award for Mathematics (without coursework).

Akshai appeared for the Extended Mathematics examination held in June 2013.

Toppers Speak Sundeep Veluchamy, student topper in Mathematics (without coursework) and IBDP Year 1 student said, “I was not very good in maths initially. My teachers encouraged me and motivated me to do practise regularly and that helped me to achieve this award. In maths, I usually had several doubts, but the teachers always took extra efforts to help me with my queries.”

Revvand Rajesh, student topper in Additional Mathematics and IBDP Year 1 student said, “My parents and teachers encouraged me and supported me for this exam. I love maths - it is an interesting subject. With regular practice we can achieve good scores.”

Exceptional Milestones in 2014 The year 2014 has been one of the most successful years for academic proficiency for GIIS. The school produced a world topper in the IB Diploma exams 2014, as Kaustav Das scored a perfect 45 out of 45. Seven students also secured near-perfect scores of 44 out of 45.

In CBSE Class 12 exams 2014, Lekshmi Madhukumar topped the cohort with 97.4 per cent, while 46 per cent of students scored 90 per cent and above.

Amitesh Sivaraman Jayaraman World Topper in Additional Mathematics, IGCSE Exam 2014

Revvand Rajesh World Topper in Additional Mathematics, IGCSE Exam 2014

Rasika Sugam Kale World Topper in Mathematics (without coursework), IGCSE Exam 2014

Sundeep Veluchamy World Topper in Mathematics (without coursework), IGCSE Exam 2014 GLOBAL LEARNING 21

JOURNAL

GSF Chairman honoured with ‘Distinguished Fellow’ award

(From L to R) Justice (Dr) Arijit Pasayat, Co-Chairman, IOD & former Judge, Supreme Court of India; Dr Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of State of Culture and Tourism; Lt Gen JS Ahluwalia, President, IOD, India and Mr Atul Temurnikar, Co-founder & Chairman, Global Schools Foundation, Singapore

T

he Executive Council of the Institute of Directors (IOD) conferred the ‘Distinguished Fellow’ for the year 2014 on Mr Atul Temurnikar, Chairman and Co-founder of Global Schools Foundation on 20 December 2014 at The Ashok Hotel in New Delhi.

The award was presented to him by the chief guest, Hon’ble Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Ministry of Civil Aviation (India), Government of India, Dr Mahesh Sharma; Justice (Dr) Arijit Pasayat, former judge of the Supreme Court; and Lt Gen JS Ahluwalia, President of IOD and of the ‘World Environment Foundation’ (WEF), during IOD’s National Convention on Corporate Governance and Sustainability. Also present for the award ceremony were Mr Nikhil Sahni, Senior President and Country Head of Government Relationship Management & Strategic Government Advisory at Yes Bank Limited, and Ms Meenakshi Lekhi, Member of Parliament and a Supreme

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Court lawyer, who was the Guest of Honour for the evening.

“It’s a great honour to receive the prestigious ‘Distinguished Fellow of IOD’ award this year. Being in the field of education for over 12 years, we believe that value-based education plays a fundamental role in shaping individuals and developing societies. Our journey with corporate governance started in 2006 and I am truly grateful to IOD for bestowing this recognition – for identifying efforts of our teachers, staff and management at GIIS; for giving us the opportunity to live up to the responsibilities that this award confers on each individual present here,” said Mr Temurnikar.

Dr Sharma complimented IOD for the holding of the convention in order to establish the role of corporates in the sphere of corporate governance.

He said, “The outcome of such deliberations will be fruitful as it will be utilised for the benefit of humanity. The

world is looking towards us, and there is a lot of potential in our country. We talk of our rich Indian heritage in India and it is the right time to take the leap towards a positive outcome.”

Commenting on the importance of corporate governance, Justice (Dr) Pasayat added, “Corporate governance should be looked upon as a long-term investment by companies. The planning needs to be all-encompassing and oriented so that it is self-sustainable.”

“Corporate governance is a responsibility that corporate India needs to take seriously. It could be a simple thing like organising a cleanliness drive in the city, introducing concepts of waste management at a grassroots level and eventually streamlining the processes accordingly,” noted Ms Lekhi.

Conferred upon eminent people for their outstanding contribution to public causes and society, the award recognises individuals for their expertise and experience in matters related to

public affairs and rendering support to promote the Institute’s ideologies.

The advisory council of IOD is currently headed by Hon’ble Justice M N Venkatchalliah, former Chief Justice of India. The first ‘Distinguished Fellow’ award was presented to Bharat Ratna Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, former President of India. Other prominent personalities to

have received the award include Mr Naresh Goyal, Chairman, Jet Airways; Atul Singh, CEO, Coca-Cola India; Jagdish Khattar IAS, former Managing Director, Maruti Udyog; R Seetharaman, Group CEO, Doha Bank, Qatar; Rt Hon Baroness Verma, Minister in UK Government and Chief Whip Spokesperson for International Development, House of Lords, UK;

GIIS Balestier Campus receives Gold Award 2014

General Ved Prakash Malik, former Chief of Army Staff; Dr V K Agnihotri, IAS, Secretary General, Rajya Sabha; Mr Atul Chaturvedi IAS, Chairman PESB; Mr KM Chandrasekhar IAS (Retd), former Cabinet Secretary; Mr TK Viswanathan, former Law Secretary and Secretary General, Lok Sabha and Mr N Gopalaswami IAS (Retd), former Chief Election Commissioner of India.

GIIS Balestier Campus received the Gold Award in the education category at the ‘Community in Bloom’ (CIB) 2014 for creating a clean, safe and environment friendly garden in the campus. The award is a testimony to the immense efforts put in by students, staff and teachers in setting-up and maintaining the garden over a long period of time.

‘Community in Bloom’ is an initiative by the Singapore National Parks Board to promote community involvement in gardening by recognising the good efforts in creating and maintaining community gardens. It also aims to encourage the sharing of creative ideas of gardening among the community at large.

In conjunction with ‘Community in Bloom’, students of GIIS Balestier Campus showcased a model on Drip Irrigation System at a booth set up during the ‘Singapore Garden Festival’ at the Gardens by the Bay. GIIS students demonstrated, explained and answered queries on the functions of the Drip Irrigation System to the visitors. The students not only had a wonderful opportunity to interact with other participants, but also managed to learn more about the intricacies of gardening.

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JOURNAL

GIIS in Singapore awarded with the SQC Star

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From Left to Right: Mr Ang Hak Seng, Chairman, SQA Management Committee & Chief Executive Director People’s Association; Prof Cham Tao Soon, Chairman, SQA Governing Council Chancellor & Chairman; Mr Rajiv Vasudeva, Country Director, GIIS Singapore; Mr Kaustubh Bodhankar, Deputy CEO Global Schools Foundation; Mr Tan Kai Hoe, Chief Executive SPRING Singapore

GIIS was recognised with the Singapore Quality Class Star (SQC) by the Business Excellence Secretariat from SPRING Singapore on 30 October 2014. Presiding as the Guest-of-Honour for celebrating

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20 years of Business Excellence (BE) at the ‘Plaque Recognition Ceremony’ was Professor Cham Tao Soon, Chairman of the SQA Governing Council Chancellor & Chairman who presented the award to the GIIS team during the ceremony.

Present at the prestigious event were members of the GIIS team, comprising Mr Rajiv Vasudeva, Country Director, GIIS Singapore; Ms Madhu Khanna, Principal of GIIS Queenstown Campus; Ms Melissa Maria, Principal of GIIS East Coast Campus; Ms Rekha Varghese, Vice Principal of GIIS Queenstown Campus; Ms Shoba Silvia from the Global Centre of Education Excellence (GCEE); Mr Kaustubh Bodhankar, Deputy CEO, Global Schools Foundation (GSF) and Mr GSS Rao, Director Operations, GIIS Singapore.

GIIS campuses including GIIS Queenstown Campus, GIIS East Coast Campus and GIIS Balestier Campus have also been recognised individually with the SQC Star for BE previously. The internationally benchmarked BE initiative assesses the performance of an organisation and obtains significant insight on areas of strength and improvement. GIIS surpassed the certification score set for a comprehensive set of management standards. The BE framework comprises seven categories namely Leadership, Planning, Information, People, Processes, Customers and Results. denotes an Education Excellence Award!”

GIIS Tokyo Campus wins awards in UNSW examination 2014

GIIS Tokyo Campus students stood out in the University of New South Wales’ (UNSW) 2014 assessment of English language, writing and spelling skills. UNSW organises the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) annually all over the globe to allow students to test themselves in the international arena.

The following students of the Tokyo campus outshone their peers in the English language, writing and spelling exams.

In the English language category, Arjun Deodhar received a Distinction.

Maharu Kawato, Johann S Josephraj, Anushka Deshpande, Abhinava Tejas, Mikhail Paglinawan and Riya Alluri received a Credit. Khay Ito, Ryohya Satake, SeungWoo Yoshihara and Atharva Rele were awarded a Merit.

In the English writing skills category, Abhinava Tejas received a Credit. Shin Morimoto, Anushka Deshpande and Atharva Rele secured a Merit in the competition.

In English spelling, Mrigank Mookim, Johann S Josephraj, Abhinava Tejas and Saurav Modi received a Credit while Parth Dake, Ranjan Isami Nozaki and Prasha Sheth secured a Merit in the competition.

International School Award won

by GIIS Campuses

From L to R: Ms Guneet Kochar, ISA Coordinator; Ms Nandita Dasguta, Principal GIIS Noida Campus; Ms Sheela Menon, Vice-Principal & ISA Coordinator; Ms Amrita Vohra, Principal GIIS Chinchwad Campus; Ms Preetha D Mello, Pre-primary Coordinator; and Mr Ganesh Sharma, Principal GIIS Whitefield Bangalore Campus at the award ceremony The International School Award (ISA) is a benchmarking scheme that accredits schools that have an outstanding level of support for nurturing global citizenship in young people. Three campuses of Global Indian International School (GIIS), GIIS Bangalore, GIIS Chinchwad and GIIS Noida, developed an action plan and implemented international activities throughout the year as per the framework provided by the British Council (BC). Each GIIS campus won an ISA trophy and certificates that recognises efforts of the school, principal, ISA coordinator and members of the ISA team. The three campuses will have the opportunity to showcase their portfolios at BC offices and libraries, speak at events as resource authorities, participate in selected events and workshops and get invited to join the ISA. GIIS Bangalore Campus The ISA journey for GIIS Bangalore commenced in June 2013. Students of Class 5 engaged in discussions with students of GIIS schools in Singapore via videoconferencing to talk about effective

methods of waste management and the impact of social media on education across the world. They created a blog and discussed trends in social media through blogging. Students studied numerous topics ranging from different cuisines and birthday celebrations around the world. Students of Class 1 also had opportunities to link up with Beddington Park Primary School in Croydon and Blackshaw Primary in Bolton to share their experiences through mails and photographs. Another enriching experience was hosting an international visitor, Ms Kathy Browes, Vice-Principal of Taughmonagh Primary School, Belfast, Ireland. Ms Browes’ visit to the GIIS Bangalore Campus opened up a platform for knowledge-sharing and helped give insight on teaching and learning practices in overseas schools.

The GIIS Bangalore Campus is currently linked up with Sutton Manor Primary School, and students of Class 5 have been corresponding and sharing about India and its rich heritage with their international counterparts while students of Class 2 are doing the same with Beddington Park Primary School.

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JOURNAL GIIS Chinchwad Campus The GIIS Chinchwad Campus formulated an ISA Coordination Committee, which was responsible for looking into the planning and execution of all projects.

The International Coordinator was appointed to establish contact with their international counterparts. Eight projects were finalised, and students realised through these projects that although they came from different cultural backgrounds, they faced similar global problems, and found creative ways of addressing them. The projects like ‘e-Waste’, ‘Deep Dive into Sea’ and ‘Migratory Birds’ created environmental awareness and redressed global issues such as waste management, recycling and reusing resources. Through the projects ‘Compassion as Value’, ‘Folktales from around the World’ and ‘Renaissance of Mathematics’, students were exposed to cultural diversity and the contribution of different cultures for the progress of mankind. The final project, ‘Martial Art Forms’, introduced martial art forms from Japan and India and helped students understand the importance of learning self-defence.

Their sense of responsibility for our environment was highly appreciated by everyone. Students who took part in the programme have greatly improved their skills in language, research and collaboration, all of which will help them grow as global community leaders. Successful completion of all the activities has also brought international dimensions to the curriculum.

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GIIS Noida Campus The GIIS Noida Campus initiated an interactive Action Planning Workshop to understand the ISA’s assessment criteria and standards.

The ISA Coordination Committee put together the project list ranging across various subjects. ‘Adopt a monument’ consisted of a heritage walk through the old monuments of Delhi to enable visitors to learn more about the area’s history. Students noted the architectural patterns on gateways, minarets and arches of the monument and made sketches for them. ‘Money makes the world go round’ was a project with a UK school, where students showcased various currencies and enacted a virtual marketplace.

‘Traditional Games’ involved centuriesold games like Shatranj from India and Shogi from Japan, and students played with those from GIIS Japan over Skype to explore the subject of evolution together. ‘Tiger’s - Let’s Protect our Stripes’ involved creating campaigns for the protection of endangered tiger species and students collected donations for tiger conservation organisations. ‘Mapping Famous Rivers’ was an exchange programme with Malaysia on river legends and local river life, while ‘Folk Tales’ comprised a book-week, storytelling, character parade and tale/character guessing game. ‘Transport’ was another topic for which there was an exchange of information on transport density and systems.

It gives me immense pleasure and pride to see the tiny steps that I had taken to initiate the process have been beautifully taken forward and built-up to perfection that resulted in winning awards of international standard.

- Ms Sunita Jaisingh, National Head-Academics, GIIS India

Dr Madan Kataria teaches GIIS students ‘Laughter Yoga’

GIIS Queenstown Campus students on the dais with Dr Madan Kataria and Mr Rajiv Vasudeva, Country Director - Singapore, GIIS Dr Madan Kataria, popularly known as the ‘Guru of Giggling’ and founder of the Laughter Yoga Club, visited GIIS Queenstown Campus on 2 February 2015 as part of the GIIS Leadership Lecture Series. The event was telecasted ‘live’, and students from the GIIS Tokyo, GIIS Noida and GIIS Kuala Lumpur campuses joined in via videoconference to interact with him.

A renowned physician and an exregistrar of internal medicine and cardiology at the Jaslok hospital in Bombay, Dr Kataria assists thousands of followers in laughing their way to better health, more happiness and deeper friendships. According to Dr Kataria laughter yoga is a combination of self-induced laughter and breathing and

stretching exercises. A medical doctor and motivational speaker, he is also a corporate consultant for holistic health, stress management, and skills in teambuilding, leadership, peak performance and communication.

Rasika Kale (IB Year 1) and Ishaan Mittal (Class 9, IGCSE) welcomed Dr Kataria and introduced him to the audience. Dr Kataria was accompanied to the stage by Mr Rajiv Vasudeva, Country Director Singapore, GIIS and a panel of students including Meghna Ray (IB Year 1), Raghav Seth (Class 9, IGCSE), Aayushi Deshmukh (Class 9, IGCSE) and Abhiman Yadav (Class 9, IGCSE).

In trying to make everyone laugh, Dr Kataria insisted that he would like

to connect with everyone present before interacting with the students. He demonstrated laughter exercises and commanded everyone present in the auditorium to follow. Soon enough, the entire auditorium filled with spontaneous laughter, and everyone was both clueless yet thoroughly amused.

From performing comical antics to mixing imaginary drinks in hand and jeering out loud, Dr Kataria’s laughter exercise cheered up the students and helped them loosen up. Dr Kataria’s rejuvenating laughter demonstrations included milk shake laughter, mobile laughter, and hot soup laughter. The whole experience was exhilarating and left students and members of the school management in peals of laughter.

“Laughter yoga is a form of exercise.

As our body cannot differentiate between real and fake laughter, it incurs the same physiological and biochemical changes in the body. Laughter is a kind of exhalation where you laugh a bit longer so that you exhale a lot of carbon-dioxide from your lungs and replace it with fresh air that contains oxygen required by the body,” Dr Kataria said.

Former RBI Governor Dr Subbarao addresses GIIS students

Dr Subbarao imparting wise words to attentive students of GIIS

On 9 October 2014, distinguished Indian economist and the 22nd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Dr D Subbarao, visited GIIS Queenstown Campus in Singapore as part of GIIS Leadership Lecture Series. It was a privilege for the entire GIIS fraternity to attend the lecture by Dr Subbarao, who humbly accepted the invitation to interact with GIIS students. Students from GIIS East Coast, GIIS Tokyo and GIIS Kuala Lumpur Campuses also joined in through video conference.

Dr Subbarao was welcomed by Principal, Ms Madhu Khanna, and Vice Principal, Ms Rekha Varghese, at the campus. His visit began by paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi before being accompanied by GIIS student emcees

Abhishek Dasmunshi and Archana Pradeep to the auditorium to begin his lecture.

Dr Subbarao spoke about the role of monetary authorities in various countries, such as the RBI in India and how they affect the economy’s development. He elaborated on the functions of the RBI and the role it plays in the Indian economy.

His talk helped students understand inflation, its repercussions and process of printing and distribution of currency. Dr Subbarao also spoke in-depth on the complexity of financial terms and jargons in simple terminology.

After his insightful speech, Dr Subbarao invited students to ask questions and clarify any doubts that they had on the subject of finance and economics.

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JOURNAL

Gandhi’s 100-year homecoming celebrated

by GIIS

A

fter returning from South Africa, Gandhi established Satyagraha Ashram in Ahmedabad to serve the country with universal welfare through his own means, with the message, ‘Serving your own people is serving the whole universe’. Gandhi spent almost 21 years in South Africa fighting for the rights of the Indian people by highlighting the problems they faced before finally returning to India in 1915. The message of his return was ‘never forget your roots’. Despite his constant contact with India and his resolution of its problems, Gandhi went the extra mile by taking the advice of and going around the country to understand and identify its problems.

On 19 January 2015, a special assembly was conducted in the school’s multi-purpose hall after the children returned from their winter vacation to salute Gandhi’s homecoming.

All the students from Classes 1 to 7, along

with Ms Nandita Dasgupta, Principal of GIIS Noida; Ms Rachna Jain, Pre Primary Coordinator; and the other Primary School teachers attended the assembly. After the prayer, the students of Class 5 sang Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan, ‘Vaishnav Jana To’.

Ms Jyoti Bisht, teacher at GIIS Noida, spoke about how Gandhi went from being a lawyer in South Africa to a leader of the masses, eventually being named by Rabindranath Tagore as the ‘Mahatma’ who inspired movements for civil rights, freedom and independence. He led India to freedom from British rule. Ms Geetanjali Rawat, another teacher at GIIS Noida, read out Gandhi’s Talisman and explained its importance to the students. She conducted a discussion session with the

students and prompted them to think and share their responses on various situations.

The principal also interacted with the children, sharing her thoughts on the importance of Gandhi’s Talisman and the need for today’s generation to understand and accept the same with an open mind.

Dr Justice CS Dharmadhikari enlightens the teachers of GIIS Noida Campus Learning is a journey that carries on from the cradle to the grave and teachers need to learn and re-learn while nurturing young minds. It is essential that the thoughts and values of teachers are aligned with that of the vision of the schools. GIIS understands the fundamental need of mentoring and guiding the teachers through a series of workshops and sessions to motivate and bring out the best in them.

Dr Justice C S Dharmadhikari, Patron and Co-founder of Global Schools Foundation, recently visited GIIS Noida and held an open forum with the teachers.

He spoke on the relevance of education in

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today’s world and how teachers need to build their characters in order to shoulder the responsibilities of shaping tomorrow’s generation. He explained that teachers should be parent figures for their students and hold each one in equal measures, as with how a mother does not divide her love for her children in percentages.

He also asked the teachers for their dedication and commitment towards the school in order to make the school a model school in Noida.

Justice also spoke on the importance of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Universal Values as a means to inculcate

values and self-discipline. He highlighted Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on music in education and explained how community singing helps develop rhythm and coordination and a collective expression of emotions. He urged the teachers to choose songs in different languages and from different parts of India so that all the students will be able to sing together with their teachers and would create a harmonious community.

GIIS Tokyo Campus celebrates India’s 66th Republic Day

Students seen with the Honourable Ambassador, Ms Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa; Principal, Ms Rajeshwary Sambathrajan, teachers and other guests As India commemorated its 66th Republic Day on 26 January 2015, celebrations were also held at the Indian Embassy at Kudan

Minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. The celebrations started at 9 a.m., and like every year, GIIS Tokyo Campus students

No stage fright… (from left) GIIS students Surabhi, Shreya, Mathangi and Rujuta singing ‘Zoobi Doobi’ with confidence at the concert

Spellbinding performance by GIIS’ singing stars at Shreya Ghoshal Concert The ‘Queen of Melody’, Shreya Ghoshal was in Singapore to perform at a mega concert on 14 November 2014. Seven singing stars from GIIS were also given an opportunity to showcase their singing prowess in front of an audience of more than 10,000 people during the event.

GIIS students Surabhi Athalye, Mathangi Krishnan, Rujuta Khanapurkar, Shruthi Nagarajan, Neeraja Menon, Rachna Murli and Shreya Tripathi sang two of Shreya’s most popular songs “Zoobi Doobi...” and “Nagada sang dhol” in two groups, crooning each

were invited to take part in the event. The Honourable Ambassador of India to Japan, Ms Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, chaired the flag hoisting ceremony.

At school, a special assembly was held to mark the special occasion of Republic Day celebrations. Students sang patriotic songs, delivered speeches about various prominent figures of India’s freedom struggle and watched the Indian police and paramilitary officers’ parade.

The school Principal, Ms Rajeswary Sambathrajan and teachers accompanied students for the event.

GIIS Tokyo Campus students sang and danced a mix of various patriotic songs. The students were praised by the audience and the Honourable Ambassador, Ms Wadhwa.

number with confidence.

Out of the seven singers, four have been winners of the inter-school Global Indian Stars competition – a unique platform for budding singers to showcase their vocal skills. For this event, the singers were chosen after several stringent rounds of auditions.

At the concert hall, the singers reached early for a sound-check and dry run on the vast stage. They also met Mr Hrishikesh Ranade, the winner of a popular Indian television show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in 2009; who also performed duets with Ms Shreya Ghoshal later that evening. The excitement of the evening was best summed up by Shreya Tripathi, “It was time for our performance and we were on standby, backstage, when out of nowhere, we spotted our idol, Ms Ghoshal approaching us and getting a clear view of the crowd and the stage. She looked gorgeous in person and seeing her just a few feet away from us left us surprised and speechless. Soon our names were announced and we went up to the stage. This was one of the greatest moments of our lives!”

Captivated audience at the Shreya Ghoshal Concert GLOBAL LEARNING 29

JOURNAL

Inaugural GFLCC by GIIS Kuala Lumpur It was indeed a proud moment for Global Indian International School (GIIS), Kuala Lumpur Campus as they organised the first ever Global Fest for Literary & Cultural Championship (GFLCC) on 8 and 9 August 2014. The two-day fest brought together students from different cultural backgrounds under one roof to facilitate an exchange of ideas and interactive dialogues. The fest saw the participation of 11 schools from five nations: KR Mangalam World School, Delhi, India; Maharani Gayatri Devi School, Jaipur, India; GIIS East Coast Campus, Singapore; DAV Sushil Kedia School, Nepal; Children’s Skill Development Program, Sri Lanka; SMK Vivekanand, Malaysia; SMK Selayang, Malaysia; SMK Seri Selayang Baru, Malaysia; SMK Sentul Utama, Malaysia; GIIS, Cambridge, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia and GIIS, CBSE, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

GFLCC reflected the very best of the plethora of activities ranging from art, dance, music, quiz, ICT and open debate and was an amalgamation of a cross-cultural enterprise, which presented an enriching experience for the young students.

The SUARA 2014 Western SoloSinging Competition also allowed the audience to witness a symphony of melodious voices on stage.

The Debate based on ‘We, The People’ provided participants with a platform to make impromptu speeches on current topics such as, ‘This house believes that violent video games must be banned’ and ‘This house believes that reality television does more harm than good’.

The young speakers kept the audience spellbound as they provided worthy arguments to support their

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Students of different cultural backgrounds under one roof participated in the inaugural GFLCC stand on the issues and faced questions from the panelists.

Crazy AdZap had the participants cracking their minds to find the funniest ways to promote their products such as ‘Pen without ink!’, ‘Itching Lipstick’ and ‘Flying Shoes’.

The audience was kept amused and rapt as they watched the participants try their very best in this absolutely original contest.

Splash, the art event at the Global Fest, brought in creative fun while masterpieces of artwork were displayed.

Participants worked in pairs to paint clay pots adorned with their own ingenious concepts.

The judges interviewed the students and were utterly enthralled to see novel ideas emerging in the form of art.

Khoj, the Math & Science Quiz, tested the critical thinking skills and mathematical acumen of the students.

Technology is an integral part of today’s life, and during the Viztech event, students made PowerPoint presentations on the topic of eco-waste to create awareness and bring out

innovative ideas in managing eco-waste.

The Contemporary Group Dance event was based on the theme of celebration. The stirring dance drama portrayed various concepts on which each group choreographed their dances. The panel of judges, comprising of professional dancers, could not contain their admiration for the scintillating performances.

His Excellency, the High Commissioner of India to Malaysia, Mr T S Tirumurti, was the Chief Guest who graced the valedictory and prize distribution ceremony. He was awed by the confidence and professionalism displayed by the participants.

The event ended on a high note as all the participating schools expressed their appreciation at the ‘Impressions & Reflections’ session about the amazing opportunity they availed at GFLCC. It was a momentous day for the GIIS Kuala Lumpur Campus’ CBSE team as they bagged the Overall Championship Trophy and for the DAV School, Nepal, who won the runners-up trophy amidst thumping applause.

CBGCA inaugurated at GIIS Ahmedabad GIIS celebrated the inauguration of Chandu Borde Global Cricket Academy (CBGCA) at its Ahmedabad Campus recently by organising a cricket match. Mr Chandrakant Borde, President and Co-Founder, Global Schools Foundation is a renowned cricketer who was the captain of the Indian national cricket team. Mr Borde has been the Chairman of the Selection Committee of BCCI for the past two terms and the manager of the Indian National Team since 2007. He has also been the recipient of various awards, including the Arjuna award, Maharashtra Bhushan, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.

To mark the occasion, Mr Rajeev Katyal, Country Director, GIIS India was present along with Mr Anil Das, Head Marketing Godrej Properties. “At GIIS, we are

focused towards creating an appropriate infrastructure to support the sporting needs of our students. CBGCA is one such endeavour to introduce the game of cricket in a structured manner to achieve sports excellence. Our holistic approach to learning helps GIIS students develop multidimensionally,” said Mr Katyal.

Mr Borde addressed the audience by saying, “GIIS Ahmedabad Campus in its first year of inception has launched the CBGCA and we are happy to announce that training in cricket starts today. The pitch is ready and we have fine coaches in place. We will now go ahead and start intense training and practice. I will be making periodic visits to mentor and guide the team. I look forward to our students becoming leading cricketers in the future.”

An interesting cricket match was organised between the GIIS Team comprising students, staff, and the GIIS Parents Team to celebrate the inauguration of the cricket pitch. The GIIS Team won the match and received the Winner’s Trophy from Mr Borde.

Another match was conducted between two groups of GIIS parents. It was the spirit of sportsmanship that came most alive on the grounds.

Mr Caesar D’Silva, Principal, GIIS Ahmedabad Campus said, “I am honoured to have a legendary cricketer like Mr Borde to inspire and mentor my students. We will provide the best facilities to our young students so that CBGCA at GIIS becomes a foundation ground for formative training.”

Pitch inauguration by Mr Chandrakant Borde, Mr Rajeev Katyal, Country Director GIIS India and Mr Caesar D’Silva, Principal of GIIS Ahmedabad Campus

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JOURNAL

Collaboration between GIIS Malaysia, INTI International and HELP University

Students of GIIS Bangkok Campus celebrate 68th Indian Independence Day with enthusiasm

GIIS students with His Excellency Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Ambassador of India to Thailand On 15 August 2014, students of Classes 4 to 9 from GIIS Bangkok Campus, Thailand, participated in a cultural performance to commemorate the 68th Indian Independence Day celebrations hosted

by ITCC at Shangri-La Hotel. The event was graced

by His Excellency Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Ambassador of India to Thailand. Students of GIIS presented a Bharatanatyam recital followed by a foot tapping dance to the tunes of the patriotic song ‘Made in India’. The students were applauded for their performances by everyone present during the event.

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In a competitive world where admission into reputed colleges has become an aspiration, GIIS Malaysia has entered into an alliance with INTI University & Colleges and HELP University to provide an education progression path from School to University kindergarten to postgraduate (KG to PG).

Among the highlights of the partnership, INTI & HELP will provide students of GIIS with soft skill classes at their campuses from time-to-time thus equipping students with life skills required for a successful career, a contributor to holistic development as envisaged by the GIIS’ 9 (Nine) GemsTM model.

GIIS Tokyo Campus students celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary GIIS Tokyo campus commemorated the 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi with the theme of peace, harmony, non-violence, truthfulness and unity. Students celebrated the event with great enthusiasm through various activities from 29 September to 3 October 2014.

Students of various classes took the audience through different stages of Gandhi’s life through PowerPoint presentations, quiz competitions, his quotes and songs. Every performance and activity depicted Gandhi’s life and his principles. Students sang patriotic songs and paid homage to the beloved leader by delivering speeches and performing moving parodies.

Throughout the week, students

Students from Class 7 sung a patriotic song took turns to perform during morning assemblies and house members made innovative sketches of Gandhi as well as participated in several other activities in memory of the Father of the Nation.

Ms Rajeswary Sambathrajan, Principal of GIIS Tokyo Campus, encouraged the students to follow Gandhi’s path of honesty, dedication and determination.

Student performances at GIIS Jhankar enthrall the audience Around 70 students took part in GIIS Jhankar, an inter-school dance competition and 10 students took part in GIIS Idol, a solo singing competition on 8 November 2014 at GIIS Noida Campus. The children captivated the audience with their well-choreographed dance sequences as well as their graceful and energetic moves.

The competition was hosted by the GIIS Noida Campus. The objective of this inter-campus competition was to make each child’s visit and interaction a memorable one. The event started with a short ice-breaker session and an evening party complete with Dhol beats and swaying music. It was great to see the students of all India campuses mingling with a great sense of camaraderie.

A wide range of folk dances including Rajasthani, Gujrathi, Chattishgarhi were presented by GIIS Ahmedabad, Indore, Bangalore, Surat and Noida campuses. The stage was set on fire by the colourful and energetic performances and the use of numerous props, which enchanted the audience, compelling them to cheer and applaud.

Well-known vocalists and danseuses judged the finals. Disciples of Pandit Birju Maharaj; Mrs Mahua Shankar, Kathak exponent and artist of international repute; Pandit Pulkit Mishra and Mrs Anandita Dhawan, a Sangeet Visharad and Kathak exponent, judged GIIS Jhankar. Pandit Govind Saraswati, Mrs Meera Gairola, Mrs Sonali Dixit and Ms Dhawan judged the GIIS Idol competition. The event was anchored by students of GIIS Noida Campus.

Mr Rajeev Katyal, Country Director, GIIS India, congratulated each team

Students performing during the competition and praised their coaches. He noted that this is the first step to future completions to be held at campuses in Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. Also present during the occasion was Ms Sunita Jaisingh, National Academic Head. Ms Vaishali Borde, National Head for Co-scholastics said, “This event has definitely livened up the atmosphere and achieved its aim of developing a bond amongst schools across various geographies. Students have performed exceptionally well and I feel all the performances were praiseworthy.”

The day ended with a prize-distribution ceremony to students for solo singing as well as group dance performances.

Poetry Slam Workshop at GIIS Kuala Lumpur A Poetry Slam Workshop was organised for the students of Classes 7 to 11 at GIIS Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 18 October 2014.

The English Faculty encouraged students to participate in the poetry presentation where students voiced out their opinions on important issues happening in the world.

It was a three hour workshop, which lasted from 9.05 am to 12.15 pm.

The trainer, Ms Elaine Foster from Bluebricks Institute in Kuala Lumpur, introduced the students to poetry writing through various activities that allowed students to write and present their poems in a confident manner.

“It was an excellent workshop as it

Participants of the poetry slam workshop helped the students to look deep within themselves and voice out truthfully with regards to their personal views on various matters – it gives credence to truth! A good variety of activities to stimulate the thinking capacity of students and encourage team work amongst the individuals. The students managed to collaborate easily and impressed the trainer, Ms Foster,” said Ms R Vijayalakshmi, Speech & Drama teacher, GIIS Kuala Lumpur Campus.

The students enjoyed participating in activities such as ‘Circle of Truth’, ‘Angels & Devils’ and ‘A List of Things that Bug

Me!’. In the first activity, students had to share their opinions about various everyday occurrences and issues. They freely participated in the activity and it encouraged them to be more open about their views. In the second activity, the students worked together to present their feedback using figurative language and gestures. Finally, the students presented their poems in groups of four. The students learned how to use rhythm, voice modulation, and body language to create an impactful stage presence while reciting their insightful poems.

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JOURNAL

GIIS Indore Campus showcases Hamara Desh

Students at the conclusion of ‘Hamara Desh’ at GIIS Indore Campus’ Annual Day GIIS Indore Campus organised its Annual Day - Hamara Desh, the evolution of a modern and vibrant India. It was a journey from past to present, art to science and heritage to modernity.

GlIS believes in holistic development of its students and ‘Hamara Desh’ was a depiction of the values and futuristic vision that the school endeavours to imbibe in its students. Through dance, music and drama the students touched the hearts of the audience. The Annual Day celebration was attended by a large number of parents.

While the pre-primary students, dressed as the national symbols, depicted heritage and national identity, the primary kids presented a beautiful saga on how the country has evolved from ‘the land of saints’ to a ‘contemporary Indian society’.

Learnings from icons like Gautama Buddha, Emperor Akbar and Mahatma Gandhi on universal truths to the expression of nonviolence and Swadeshi Movement that

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resulted in India’s freedom were depicted as the centre-story of the performance. The story of Ahiliyabai Holkar, an exemplary figure of Indore who represented women power, was not only an attempt towards revisiting history but also stood for respect and social positioning of the girl-child and a call for social reforms. Today, India is leading as a developing country fostering new ideas and innovations. The successful execution of the ‘Mangalyaan’ project is one such step towards marking its presence in global affairs. The launch of the Mangalyaan, the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ initiated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was beautifully enacted by the students. The programme ended with a grand finale where all the students, teachers and the entire GIIS staff participated to welcome the challenges and successes of the future. Mrs Abha Raj, the School Coordinator, then presented the annual report.

Honourable Mayor of Indore,

Mr Krishna Murari Moghe graced the occasion as the Chief Guest for the evening. “Education should focus on developing the student’s character and building a strong value system that would not only benefit the individual but society at large. I urge the school to continue with their good work,” said Mr Moghe.

Ms Vaishali Borde, National Head for Co-scholastics, GIIS India said, “Being part of the Annual Day celebration, starting from planning the theme with the staff, participating in the progress of the concept, watching the rendition in the form of performing art and eventually experiencing the joy of a seamless performance is a tremendous journey that I will cherish.”

“The students of Indore have immense potential and I am impressed with the quality of their performances. I wish them the very best,” said Mr Rajeev Katyal, Country Director, GIIS India.

GIIS Open Day 2015

SG50-themed event saw enthusiastic participation from students and parents

O

ne of the most important academic events of the year, the GIIS Open Day 2015 took place on 7 February 2015 at the GIIS Queenstown Campus in Singapore.

The event drew over 1,200 people who interacted with students to learn more about GIIS’ curricula offerings.

This year’s Open Day saw varied activities catering to a multi-faceted audience. A special talk by Mr Daryl Khong, Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) representative, on IGCSE and its prospects impacted the perspective of many parents present at the session. Supporting activities such as an art competition themed on SG50 celebrations, an exhibition of extracurricular activities by students and the promotion of ‘Safer Internet Day’ to create awareness among students on safe practices of using online technology, earned absolute appreciation by the parent community.

Six universities viz. SP Jain School of Global Management, Yale NUS College, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Singapore University of Technology &

Students at work with their creations Design, SIM University and Singapore Management University (SMU) also held interactive sessions.

Mr Austin Shiner, Senior Admission Counsellor, Yale NUS College, said, “It is a great platform to address questions that parents and students usually have while applying at the university level.

Most of them asked us if CBSE, IB and IGCSE background is accepted at our college and we told them they are all recognised accepted courses and we do accept students with these programmes in our college. We also provide flexibility in choosing the course. Most students are interested in a particular course with

a different combination of modules, which helps in pursuing their interest and passion in education.”

Mr Deval Shah, parent of student Pratik Shah, who is seeking admission into IB Year 1, said, “What I like about this event was that it had a welcoming and open approach. Students spoke to us frankly and gave us information about the courses and style of teaching, which is very impressive. Even the universities present here shared useful information about the various programmes they offer.

As a parent, you have to be well informed to take the right decision and guide your child on his/her higher education.”

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JOURNAL

An Inter-GIIS competition on project-based learning through usage of Britannica

GIIS Tokyo Campus The first team to present was from GIIS Tokyo. They showcased their presentation and shared information about the seasons of Japan and the weather pattern in Tokyo. They spoke about the effect of weather on the lives of people and explained the reasons behind the changes in weather of Tokyo.

GIIS Surat Campus GIIS Surat displayed a detailed model of a village and a city in Gujarat. They explained why the village was greener and less polluted in comparison to the city. They also explained the meaning of the area’s weather and weather pattern and spoke on the impact of global warming on Earth.

GIIS Bangalore Campus The students of GIIS Bangalore explained Bangalore’s weather pattern and talked about how global warming is impacting the universe with the help of an Intel resource tool. They presented a mind map on global

An Inter-GIIS competition was held on the topic, ‘Weather for You’. A group of 5 students from GIIS Tokyo, GIIS Surat, GIIS Bangalore, GIIS Ahmedabad, GIIS Indore, GIIS Chinchwad and GIIS Noida Campuses joined over video-conference to participate in the competition. The task was to present information about the weather in their surroundings and the change of weather

conditions over the past few years in that region. The project was executed through the usage of Britannica online tools.

Mr Sumit Gupta, CFO Britannica India and Mr Rajeev Razdan, Associate VP, Britannica (India Schools) joined as judges for the competition. The competitors were chosen at random and each group presented its project to the judges.

warming and made suggestions on measures to reduce it.

GIIS Noida Campus The students explained the difference between daily weather and extreme weather by giving relevant examples and shared information about the weather pattern in Noida. They explained how different instruments can help in the measurement of weather and demonstrated the use of an Anemometer made by them. The team also presented the compiled data of change in weather of Noida within a period of ten years (i.e. from 1991 2000) and explained how the increase in global warming has affected the atmospheric phenomena of Noida.

GIIS Ahmedabad Campus The enthusiastic team shed light on the landform of Gujarat, its effect on the weather of Ahmedabad and the reasons behind the rise in the city’s temperature.

They highlighted the actions the government has taken to raise awareness about the change in the city’s weather and explained about global warming, the reasons behind global warming and its impact on humans.

GIIS Indore Campus The students made presentations on general weather, extreme weather conditions and the weather pattern of Madhya Pradesh and explained the data collection on humidity, maximum and minimum temperature and precipitation through the use of graphs. They also prepared a beautiful and vibrant chart on different seasons and concluded their showcase with a poem on weather in Hindi and English.

GIIS Chinchwad Campus The excited team started with an introduction on the city of Pune with the help of a map and shared information about the region’s weather and its pattern over the years. They presented a case study on Hinjewadi and explained how development activities have resulted in changes in the climate.

GIIS Tokyo Campus excel in Mathlathon Contest The students of GIIS Tokyo Campus have continuously challenged themselves in the International Mathlathon Contest, ‘Mathbuddy’. ‘Mathbuddy’ is an interactive, activity-oriented platform for children to learn and understand math concepts. More than 50 percent of the participants from Classes 3 to 7 have made it to the top 10 of their respective classes worldwide.

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Students holding their Mathlathon certificates

Checkmates at Inter-GIIS Chess Championship

Inter-cultural festivities at GIIS in Singapore

Painting diyas with SKIS students

Competitors contemplating their next move The second inter-GIIS Chess Championship 2014-15 was hosted at GIIS Indore Campus and was a priceless opportunity for students from the GIIS campuses of Bangalore, Surat, Noida, Indore and Chinchwad to participate in this exigent championship.

Team GIIS Indore, as the host campus, had taken care of every detail and even threw a grand and traditional welcome involving garlanding and turban-tying for the teams. The reception was followed by an evening full of fun and games around a campfire, as an ice-breaker for the students.

On 12 December, the championship was inaugurated by Mr Rajeev Katyal, Country Director, GIIS India. After administrating the oath for fair play, he implored the students to give it their best shot and to take winning and losing in their stride.

The venue for the championship was as per international standards and during the mainframe chess tournament, the enthusiasm of the ingenious students was palpable. The results were later declared in a sensational closing ceremony and Mr Akshat Khamparia, an International Chess player, awarded the trophies to the winners.

“We started our preparations for the 2nd Inter-GIIS Chess Championship earnestly! It was our dream that this event would turn out to be the most memorable with memories to cherish forever. I am glad that the tournament received a huge response in terms of participation and the quality of the game was immensely enhanced,” said Ms Vaishali Borde, the Co-scholastic head for Academics and the chief organiser of the event.

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, has long stood for the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil and hope over despair. A splendid Diwali celebration was organised

by GIIS Queenstown Campus’ Interact Board on 21 October 2014 to commemorate the beginning of the festivities.

The students of the Interact Board pulled off a vibrant and lively event filled with dance and music, showcasing the diverse and incredible culture of India. Dressed in traditional Indian clothing, the students placed their strong cultural heritage on display.

The celebration became a whole new experience when the students of Singapore Korean International School (SKIS) visited

our campus. They were welcomed by an assembly of over 300 students from Classes 9 and 11.

The celebration began with Indian classical music and dance followed

by Korean music, which brought two cultures together in this fantastic event.

They were served traditional Indian snacks and sweets which they thoroughly enjoyed. “This is my first time experiencing Indian culture and I think it’s great,” said Stephanie Lee, one of the students from SKIS. GIIS students then led the SKIS students to the Art Room, where they painted diyas or earthen lamps, one of the most integral aspects of Diwali. Mihika Seal, one of the GIIS performers from IB Year 1, said: “My dream to sing a Korean song on stage has finally come true and I couldn’t be more thankful to the Interact Board for this wonderful opportunity.”

Earthquake evacuation drill at GIIS Tokyo Campus In preparation of an emergency evacuation, GIIS Tokyo Campus conducted an earthquake evacuation drill for all students and staff members on 5 February 2015.

The students and staff members were alerted of the evacuation through an alarm. At first, they were told to duck under tables

and then instructed to evacuate the building with their headgears on. The students, assisted by their teachers, were taken to an open space in a nearby park. At the park, the students and teachers were briefed about safety rules and how they should respond when an actual earthquake takes place.

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JOURNAL

Students bring glory to GIIS Tokyo Campus in Regional History Bee & Bowl

GIIS Tokyo Campus students from Classes 6 to 8 - Middle School Division and Classes 9 and 10 - Junior Varsity, took part in the Regional History Bowl and Bee Competition on 29 November 2014. The competition was held at the International School of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo. The students achieved the feat by qualifying for the Asian Championship to be held in Thailand

and the International History Olympiad to be held in the USA. Rahul Joshi of Class 8 secured third position in the Individual Bee competition. Students who qualified from junior varsity division for the Individual Bee are Rithvik Alluri, Afrah Sultana and Noah Miyazaki.

Principal Rajeswary Sambathrajan who initiated and introduced the contest

Sports Day 2014 at GIIS Noida Campus

Winners at GIIS Noida Campus’ Annual Sports Day 2014 The 2nd Annual Sports Day of GIIS Noida was held with great zest and fervour. All GIIS students, from Pre-primary to Class 7 participated in the event. The Sports Day began with a spectacular marchpast by students from Classes 5 to 7.

The Chief Guest for the event, Dr Richa Sood, a reputed educationist and a former representative of Indian women’s Hockey

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team as well as a noted Netball player, took the salute and declared the meet open. Present on this occasion was Mr Atul Temurnikar, Chairman of Global Schools Foundation, who handed over the lighted torch to mark the start of the sports fiesta.

He addressed the gathering of parents and shared with them future plans of the GIIS network of schools. Ms Nandita Das Gupta, Principal of GIIS Noida welcomed the parents and highlighted the importance of sports and physical fitness.

The students of the Kindergarten classes presented “Surya Namaskar”, yogic exercises that show discipline and control in the agile bodies of the children.

The students of Classes 1 and 2 presented a Flexi-pole drill while students from Pre-primary to Class 2 participated in a number of fun races. Students from Classes

at GIIS Tokyo Campus, praised and congratulated all the students on their remarkable accomplishment. Yasmeen Jahir, HOD of Social Studies said, “Success has no limits and our students will come through with flying colours in the next championship too.”

Rahul Joshi (Class 8), Riya Alluri (Class 6), Rohit Niranjan (Class 7), Shiori Ogino (Class 7), Dyanda Kulkarni (Class 7) and Shravan Kurthick (Class 6) represented the Middle School Division.

Rithvik Alluri (Class 10), Krishna Bhatia (Class 10), Afrah Sultana Jahir (Class 9), Noah Miyazaki (Class 9), Atharva Sharma (Class 9) and Mayuri Prasad (Class 9) represented the junior varsity division.

The History Bee & Bowl quiz competition students first compete at regional qualifying tournaments, from which the top students advance to the National Championships for the History Bee & History Bowl. Participating students progress from the school level to the regional level and finally to the National Championship. The Bee is for individual students and the Bowl is for teams.

3 to 7 competed in several races while Taekwondo was showcased by students of Grades 1 to 4. The aerobics drill performed

by Classes 3 to 6 received thunderous applause for their energetic and rhythmic moves. The race track was the centre of the annual sports event as children proved their mettle in true spirit of sportsmanship.

The best award for the athlete of the year went to: 1. Boys (Class 3-7) Ritendra Singh Baghel – Class 5A 2. Girls (Class 3-7) Pranjali Singh – Class 4A Children competed and represented their respective houses viz., Chrysanthemum, Hibiscus, Orchid and Sunflower with a great spirit of sportsmanship and teamwork. The winners for both field and off-field events were awarded with medals and certificates.

“Chrysanthemum House” was declared as the Champion House of 2014 to 2015 as it won the most number of medals.

GIIS Indore Campus celebrates sportsmanship spirit

GIIS Indore Campus organised the third Annual Sports Meet 2014-15 with the objective of developing the spirit of sportsmanship in students and to give them a chance to display their level of physical fitness. Held on 24 January 2015, the event celebrated the importance and love for sport. The Chief Guest for the event was Mr M I Qureshi, Ex-Director Physical Education and Sports, DAVV and esteemed guests such as Mr K S Raghuwanshi, Senior Branch Manager LIC; Mr C K Chouhan, Asst. Branch Manager LIC; Mr Dileep Pariyani, Senior Agent LIC; Mr Sumit Suri and Mr Hemant Suri, infrastructure partner of GIIS Indore Campus.

Ms Vaishali Borde, National Head of Co-scholastics, was also present on this occasion. The programme started with the devotional song, ‘Saraswati Vandana’, to mark the event of Saraswati Puja. The

Sports Meet was declared open with the lighting of the torch by Mr Qureshi and the school council members, and was followed by a march led by the Head Boy, Head Girl and the Sports Captain.

There was also a prize distribution for outstanding performance in academics for session 2013-14, which greatly inspired the students. The event was followed by a speech by Mr Raghuwanshi, Senior Branch Manager LIC. The most inspiring moment was when Ms Borde emphasised the importance of academics and all-round development of the students. New faculty members of GIIS Indore, Ms Priyashri Dubey, English teacher; Ms Shweta Vyas, Hindi teacher and Ms Ritu Sen, Pre-Primary teacher, were introduced. Ms Borde also took the opportunity to announce the joining of the new Principal of the GIIS Indore

Campus, Captain Dr Dinesh Kumari Bharadwaj, who inspired the students to be global by status but Indian at heart.

GIIS believes in holistic development of its students and Hamara Desh is a depiction of the values and futuristic vision that the school endeavours to imbibe in its students. Through beautifully coordinated dance, music and drama performances, the students touched the hearts of the audience.

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JOURNAL

GIIS Kuala Lumpur Campus Sports Day

Taekwondo students exhibiting high level of discipline On 16 October 2014, GIIS Kuala Lumpur Campus students and teachers of CBSE and IGCSE curricula assembled at the University of Malaya Stadium for a Sports Day. This momentous day as planned and directed by the Head of PE Department, Mr Bitto Saini. The Chief Guest, Country Director Mr Manoj Nair declared the Sports Meet open as he released a flock of birds, representing freedom.

Everyone took their places, ready to watch the rows of smartly dressed students in the March Past Event. The students from each house: Chrysanthemum, Hibiscus, Orchid and Sunflower proudly paraded in synchronised movements and stood at attention while partaking in the Oath Taking Ceremony led by the School Captain and the Games Captain. This was followed by the students of Classes 3 and 4 proudly marching into the arena with fluttering flags of countries symbolic of the multinationalities that are a part of the GIIS ethos.

The atmosphere was very exciting with the cheering teams shouting out loud and waving their brightly coloured pom-poms

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wildly to boost the morale of their house members. Classes 1 and 2 took to the field to participate in breath-taking displays.

The human pyramid thrilled the audience as they watched the formations

by students who formed towering structures only made possible by trusting and cooperating with each member of their respective houses.

The audience cheered excitedly as they watched the track and field events, and revelled in the indomitable spirit of each sprinter trying to secure a winning spot for their respective houses.

Students from Classes 4 and 5 exhibited their agility and stamina by presenting various yoga postures. Their performances depicted that yoga was a powerful stream of knowledge that enabled the practitioners to achieve radiant physical health and a composed mind.

Similarly, the taekwondo students exhibited high levels of discipline, concentration and perseverance through their well-rehearsed moves.

The Class 4 students mesmerised the audience with their highly synchronised aerobic movements, which were matched well to the foot-tapping music.

All the performances indicated the hard work and dedication of the students and teachers-in-charge, who had trained them with utmost diligence.

First GIIS Invitational Soccer Tournament

On 24 May 2014, GIIS Kuala Lumpur Campus organised the First GIIS Invitational (U15) Soccer Tournament for the year 2014. It was a day filled with prodigious sportsmanship as the footballers played with fervour and fortitude. The DBKL ground in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia witnessed the formation of lasting acquaintances and the exchange of

skills between the participants.

Eight prestigious institutions participated in the tournament, including GIIS Kula Lumpur Campus, ELC International School, Sg Buloh, ST John’s International School, The Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur, Regent International School, REAL International School and Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar Secondary School.

Final result of the tournament is as follows: 1st Position - Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar Secondary School 2nd Position - The Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 3rd Position - ST John’s International School

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FEATURES // p44. THE LONELY PLANET // p50. IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE // p54. BEAUTY FLOWS THROUGH IT // p60. BEYOND TEXTBOOKS AND CLASSROOMS

FEATURES

ILLUSTRATION: SAMUEL FREEMAN

N A S A’s D a w n m i s s i o n i s scheduled to arrive at Ceres this month. Colin Stuart reveals how our understanding of this intriguing dwarf planet has evolved over time

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icture the scene: Italy, 1 January 1801.

of the population are ringing in the P Most new year, but Giuseppe Piazzi is scanning the skies with a telescope.

For the previous few decades, astronomers had noticed a sizeable gap in the Solar System between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Some had even predicted a missing planet in the region. That night, Piazzi found it. Our neighbourhood’s new addition was christened Ceres, after the goddess of agriculture. The number of known planets nudged up by one – at least temporarily.

At 950km across, and sitting 2.8 times further away from the Sun than the Earth, today we know that Ceres is the largest body in the asteroid belt – the group of small, rocky objects

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FEATURES The Delta II rocket launched the Dawn spacecraft in September 2007

tumbling around the Sun between the inner and outer planets. Ceres makes up around 25 per cent of the entire mass of the belt. Even today, the debate still rumbles over what to call it. After Piazzi’s discovery, it was labelled by some as a fully fledged planet. It remained that way in a number of scholarly texts for over 50 years. It then spent the 20th Century as simply the largest asteroid, and is still considered one today. In 2006 came yet another revision. The decision by the International Astronomical Union that saw Pluto demoted from a planet to a dwarf planet saw Ceres gain the same status.

Ceres remains the only dwarf planet in the inner Solar System – the rest orbit further out than Pluto.

PHOTO: NASA X4, UCLA

Class wars It is easy to see why Ceres and its flip-flopping classification continues to attract attention from astronomers: its true nature needs nailing down once and for all.

Until recently, our best images of Ceres came from the Hubble Space Telescope.

Over 200 images were snapped in an

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Above: In this artist’s impression, Ceres is seen in the foreground, looking towards the Sun and the inner planets

V E S TA

Dawn visited this asteroid before continuing its mission to Ceres Vesta is both the second and third biggest asteroid, depending on how you classify size. At 525km in diameter, it is smaller than Ceres and Pallas. However, only Ceres is heavier.

Vesta was detected on 29 March 1807 by Heinrich Olbers, almost five years to the day after he discovered Pallas and six years after Piazzi spotted Ceres.

Vesta’s surface sports two enormous craters named Rheasilvia and Veneneia. The former covers 95 per cent of

the southern pole and takes its name from the mother of Rome’s founders, Romulus and Remus.

As well as craters, the surface of Rheasilvia features long troughs. The largest – Divalia Fossa – measures 465km, which is longer than the Grand Canyon.

Vesta is one of only five Solar System bodies that we have samples of here on Earth. These arrived via meteorites. The others are from Mars (meteorites) and missions to the Moon, the comet Wild 2 and the Itokawa asteroid.

CERES The Dawn mission should help clear up this dwarf planet’s identity crisis Ceres is the smallest of five currently recognised dwarf planets. The others, from biggest to smallest, are Eris, Pluto, Makemake and Haumea.

A total of 24 astronomers (known as the ‘celestial police’) were searching between Mars and Jupiter for planets at the turn of the 19th Century. But it was Giuseppe Piazzi, not one of them, who found Ceres in 1801.

Dawn will orbit Ceres at a height of 5,900km. After five

observing run between December 2003 and January 2004. The photos revealed an almost perfectly round, planetesque form – strikingly different from the asteroids with their jagged, irregular shapes. From its density and rotation rate it seemed plausible that, like a rocky planet, Ceres has layers. These constitute a rocky core, an icy mantle and an outer crust. The debate intensified.

The view from Hubble was intriguing, but could only take us so far. “Hubble’s resolution is good, but it wasn’t telling us everything we wanted to know,” says Dr Carol Raymond, from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Enter NASA’s Dawn mission, for which Raymond is deputy principal investigator.

Dawn was launched in September 2007.

By July 2011 it had reached Vesta, which is one of Ceres’s large neighbours in the asteroid belt. It spent over a year in situ before departing in September 2012 with a course set for Ceres. It is the first craft designed to go into orbit around two Solar System bodies. Earlier this year, on 25 January, it edged close enough to Ceres for its cameras to exceed the clarity

“Planetary scientists generally think the planets were made out of smaller pieces.

Is Ceres one of those building blocks?”

Prof Christopher Russell is the principal investigator of the Dawn mission

months it will be lowered to 1,300km, then drop to 700km after a further five months.

Being small, Ceres’s gravity is only 3 per cent of Earth’s. Such low gravity makes it an ideal target for human space exploration as it is easy to take off again from its surface.

Ceres is located almost three times further away from the Sun than us, so it will take over 20 minutes for data from the dwarf planet to be relayed to Earth.

of Hubble’s view for the first time. The mission plan was for it to enter into orbit around Ceres on 6 March 2015. Once there, it is set to spend almost a year trying to unlock its secrets.

Early origins As Ceres is such a unique object in the asteroid belt, one of the main goals is to work out its origins. One theory is that there were once many more objects like it, but over time they came together under gravity to form the rocky inner planets. Ceres was left out in the cold.

“Planetary scientists generally think the planets were made out of smaller pieces.

Is Ceres one of those building blocks?” asks Dawn’s principal investigator Prof Christopher Russell.

A more extreme option is being considered by some astronomers: Ceres is an imposter. The suggestion is that its uniqueness in the asteroid belt is because it didn’t actually form there. Instead, they say, it began life out beyond Neptune in the Kuiper Belt – the same region of the outer Solar System in which GLOBAL LEARNING 47

FEATURES

DAWN SPACECRAFT The craft is full of innovative tech to help it complete the mission to Ceres

PHOTO: SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY X2

The Dawn mission is part of NASA’s Discovery Program, which seeks to unlock the mysteries of our Solar System.

The programme launches lots of smaller space trips to work in harmony with NASA’s larger and more expensive ‘flagship’ missions. Dawn combines cutting-edge technology from other missions with spare parts and apparatus from earlier space trips.

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Star tracker Dawn is able to orientate itself in space by using its two star trackers to keep watch on its position relative to fixed stars

Cameras Two 5.5kg cameras will snap close-up images of Ceres throughout the mission. The images will then be sent to Earth

Spectrometer By gathering sunlight reflected

by Ceres, scientists can calculate various values such as its surface temperature

Gamma ray and neutron detector This can help determine which elements comprise the surface of Ceres

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Ion thruster (1 of 3) Three high-tech ion thrust units allow for greater manoeuvrability.

Dawn has been able to visit Vesta and Ceres in one mission

Antennas The Dawn spacecraft has four antennas which can be used to communicate with Earth. The longest is 1.52m in length

Solar panels The ion thrusters are powered by energy gathered through Dawn’s solar panels. When extended they make the probe almost 20m wide

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“The Herschel Space Telescope spied a cloud of water vapour around the dwarf planet” Pluto resides – before drifting to its current location. That would mean Ceres and its dwarf planet cousins have more in common than just a name.

So which is it? Some clues have already been gleaned from Dawn’s initial stop at Vesta. “We chose Vesta because it was thought to be the parent body of the HED [howardite-eucrite-diogenite] meteorites which are very ubiquitous in our collection,” says Raymond. Chemical analysis using Dawn’s instruments confirmed that suspicion. In situ measurements of Vesta were conducted alongside detailed lab studies of the HED meteorites. The results pointed to a swift beginning. “It seems Vesta formed very quickly, perhaps within the first million years of the Solar System,” says Raymond.

The key is a radioactive isotope of aluminium, known as aluminium-26. This isotope is known to have been present in the early Solar System, but decays over time. As Vesta formed early, it was able to gather up a significant amount of aluminium-26. The decay happened inside the asteroid, and the heat produced helped govern its geology. By comparing the structures of Vesta and Ceres, it should be possible to estimate when the latter formed. The older it is, the more likely it formed in its current location and not in the outer Solar System.

From left: Earth, Ceres and the Moon

Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi discovered Ceres in 1801

Water problem Another important indicator is the movement of water, or lack of it. From measurements of its density, it is thought that H2O accounts for around 30 per cent of Ceres’s mass. It is likely that in the past some of this water was liquid (perhaps heated by decaying aluminium). As this liquid moved around, it would have come into contact with layers of silicate material and would have altered them chemically.

The extent to which this happened depends on where Ceres formed. If it formed in the colder, outer Solar System, the frigid temperatures would have meant the water was more restricted. That would lead to fewer signs of interaction between water and rock.

Wherever Ceres came from, there are recent clues that not all of its water is constantly frozen. In early 2014, the Herschel Space Telescope spied a cloud of water vapour around the dwarf planet.

It was the first time that water had been found in the asteroid belt. And wherever there is liquid water, thoughts inevitably turn to the possibility of life. A tantalising clue to the possible source of that water came in January this year as Dawn began its approach to Ceres. Images from the probe revealed a white spot on its surface.

The same spot appeared in the Hubble images over a decade ago. Some researchers have suggested it could be a geyser that is shooting jets of water into space as heat from the Sun warms the ice.

That would make it similar to Saturn’s moon Enceladus, which is known to be spewing water and is a heralded place to look for life in our Solar System.

So the stakes are high. Depending on what Dawn finds, we could look back at its arrival at Ceres as the first time the asteroid belt became a viable place to search for extraterrestrial life. This year could be a watershed moment in our understanding of planets. Not only is Dawn exploring Ceres, but later this year NASA’s New Horizons mission will arrive at Pluto. “We’ll start to get a much more nuanced view of the evolution of bodies in the Solar System,” says Raymond. “Rather than starting with stuff and ending up as a planet, we’re starting to see it more as a spectrum of stages in-between.”

We’ll soon know how Ceres and Pluto fit into that picture. What’s certain is that the dwarf planet debate is far from over.

COLIN STUART is an astronomy writer and co-author of The Big Questions In Science

GLOBAL LEARNING 49

FEATURES

In Pursuit of

Excellence

Implemented in 2009, Quality Circles at GIIS allow students to tackle real world issues while shaping their creative thinking, team building and communication skills

GIIS students from Singapore and Malaysia at the Annual Productivity & Innovation Conference and Exposition organised by Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC)

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W

hile Quality Circles are not unheard of at educational institutions, Quality Circles undertaken entirely by students is a novel concept. This is why when four students from the GIIS East Coast Campus presented their Quality Circle at the Asia Pacific Quality Convention in Kuala Lumpur on 23 November 2014, people took notice. Class 7 students Varun Shah and Rujuta Athalye, and Class 8 students Niveditha Nerella and Pranit Dutta went head to head with researchers from tertiary institutions and multinational corporations to present the research topic, “An Enemy Called Average” in the Team Excellence Competition. It was a momentous achievement for GIIS because the team was ranked under top 15 in the competition.

The Quality Circle presented by the GIIS students was a study based on John Mason’s book, “An Enemy Called Average”.

It presented research and recommendations on how the right attitude and motivation are key factors in achieving success. The students’ presentation included identifying issues that lead to average performance and finding solutions to help overcome them using methods such as the Ishikawa diagram, setting goals and working on action plans.

The convention is an annual international conference held by the Asia Pacific Quality Organisation (APQO) as a platform to present and share scientific and technical advances on quality. Each conference is an opportunity for industry practitioners from the finance, medical and education fields to meet leading quality gurus and practitioners, and glean knowledge on best practices, skills and experience in service excellence.

QUALITY BEGINS IN SCHOOL

Teacher and student Quality Circles were introduced by the Global Centre for Education Excellence (GCEE) in 2009 to pursue continuous improvement at GIIS campuses and beyond. Under this initiative, students, teachers and faculty members form Quality Circles where everyone is encouraged to identify current problems, provide solutions and monitor results for continued development.

The emphasis on quality has cultivated a culture of improvement at GIIS. This is further enhanced by the annual Real World Challenges (RWC)

GIIS students solving problems in a team discussion under the Quality Circles programme

held at GIIS campuses in Singapore where students present their Quality Circles to teachers and faculty members.

GIIS students from kindergarten onwards are encouraged to participate.

Some Quality Circles taken on by students at GIIS have even evolved into sustainable projects taken on by all GIIS campuses and the wider community.

Mr BG Shenoy, Director of GCEE, explains that Quality Circles taken on by students are judged on five factors: whether the solution or recommendations given are sustainable, whether the Quality Circle can lead to continuous improvement, whether it can be implemented in other schools, whether it is beneficial to a wider community, and whether it is a sharing and learning process.

“Quality Circles actually help foster teamwork and improve communication skills.

Students not only perform well in their academic and co-curricular activities, they also interact with industry leaders and are given opportunities to present their ideas on a larger platform at national and international conventions and awards,” said Mr Shenoy.

IMBIBING THE CULTURE OF PROBLEM SOLVING “The Quality Circle programme stems from the idea that good leaders are also good problem solvers,” explains Chairman and Co-founder of Global Schools Foundation (GSF), Mr Atul Temurnikar. “Solutions do not exist on a platform. Solutions need to be thought about. With Quality Circles, we have created a forum for problem-solving skills to be imparted to students. It allows us to scale up problem solving and solution finding, which encourages students to use creative analytical thinking,” said Mr Temurnikar.

GIIS has a dynamic programme for achieving excellence in education.

Mr Rajiv Vasudeva, Country Director of GIIS Singapore explains that the Quality Circle programme was designed on the vision, mission and core values of the school.

GLOBAL LEARNING 51

FEATURES

GIIS student excellence at an award ceremony in the Annual Productivity & Innovation Conference and Exposition He said, “Through Quality Circles, we want to become a global role model for teaching and learning. The conventional practice is that children come to school to learn and the teachers’ job is to teach.

However, we are one of the very few nursery to Class 12 institutions that give a lot of weightage to learning. Learning here not only refers to students but it refers to staff and faculty members as well. If faculty do not learn, there will be no innovation and no upward curve in terms of knowledge.”

Through Quality Circles, students from all levels are encouraged to identify issues in class and come up with viable solutions and recommendations to improve productivity and efficiency in school and beyond.

52 GLOBAL LEARNING

Mr Kaustubh Bodhankar, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GSF, said that GIIS started the Quality assessment programmes to foster a culture of continuous growth at the grassroots level. He explains, “The idea is that students are encouraged to identify challenges and come up with innovative solutions. It’s not so much about solving those challenges but that children go through critical and creative thinking processes. This will enable them to solve any problem they come across when they enter the real world, so that when they come out into the real world, they will be able to solve any problem that they come across.”

An example of a Quality Circle where students displayed their critical and

creative thinking skills is a project in which students from GIIS Queenstown Campus initiated to address the issue of wastage of water in Singapore. Through brainstorming sessions, discussions and surveys, the group found that putting thimbles in taps to fix leaking taps could reduce water consumption in school.

Thanks to this student initiative, thimbles have been installed in all three GIIS campuses in Singapore to save water.

Another Quality Circle initiated by GIIS students revolved around reducing traffic congestion during peak hours around campuses. The Class 8 students who took on the project identified and implemented solutions that actually resulted in smoother traffic flow.

These examples are only some of the

many sustainable ideas that have helped GIIS campuses to achieve Quality Excellence.

Mr Shenoy said that what makes Quality Circles more than mere student projects is that each and every Quality Circle is validated by teachers and faculty members.

For Quality Circles submitted for national and international awards such as the Green Lotus Eco Awards, the Golden Peacock Eco-Innovation Award and the APQO Global Excellence Awards, Quality Circles are validated by industry leaders and

professionals, such as Mr George Madhavan, the former director of the Public Utilities Board, which is the government agency in Singapore that manages the country’s water resources, water reclamation plants and sewerage system.

As all stakeholders at GIIS are invited to initiate and execute Quality Circles, the educational institution has transformed from a teaching environment to a learning environment.

Quality Circles have changed the way

students learn at GIIS. With the Quality Circle initiative, the usual power structure of a teacher and a student has become more collaborative. It has transformed the learning journey of the students. Along the way, teachers discover that there is a lot of latent talent that they have identified in students through Quality Circles. While explicit knowledge can be identified through exams, implicit skills, come out through these kinds of innovative learning experiences.

GLOBAL LEARNING 53

FEATURES

Beauty

Flows Through It Whether it’s the rhythm of a traditional dance, the caress of a healing onsen, the roar of a whirlpool or the silence of a valley, Tokushima prefecture moves the soul with its grace and beauty words ESTHER FAITH LEW images COURTESY OF TOURISM SHIKOKU, ESTHER FAITH LEW

K

eep moving. And don’t forget to engage your senses wherever you are. The beauty of two of Kansai’s natural gems lies in discovering the flow of their landscapes and the unique rhythm in which they create their music of attraction. Tokushima is touted as an aqua-metropolis island that blooms with nature and is home to unique cultural traditions such as the distinctive Awa culture, natural treasures and highly sought after produce.

MUST VISIT Hidden in the nondescript building of Taimaru Hotel is Taimeisho Restaurant (Oge-82-88 Narutocho Tosadomariura, Naruto; tel: +8188 687 0077; www.taimaru.net), which has been around for 35 years. Third-generation owner and chef Yuuki Ui continues the tradition of serving fresh and succulent seafood a la minute, straight from the tank to the table. A

54 GLOBAL LEARNING

speciality is the sea bream that is commonly caught in the strong currents of the Naruto Straits, which gives it a wonderfully firm, dense and succulent flesh that is best savoured fresh in a sashimi set (1,950 yen). The set came in a delectable platter of sea bream, yellowtail, tuna, cuttlefish and shrimp, which leaves you wanting more.

THE RIGHT MOVES Start off on the right tempo with a visit to Awa Odori Kaikan (2-20 Shinmachibashi, Tokushima; tel: +81 886 111 611; www.awaodori-kaikan.jp) where passion tempts you with the 400-year-old Awa odori (Awa dance).

At the Awa Odori Hall on the second floor, the Kaikan and Yumeiren dance troupes perform daily to regale visitors.

One of the popular dances is Odorana Sonson Awa Odori, which invites everyone to dance. It comprises various segments with different themes. Awa Odori Konjaku (Awa odori then and

NATURE’S POWER

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now) and Hana, Tori, Kaze, Tsuki (Flowers, birds, wind and moon) are popular parts of the performance.

Those who wish to immerse themselves in a cultural experience will have the chance to dance on stage at the end of each performance.

Lasting 40 minutes, these performances are held daily at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm on weekdays and at 11am, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm on weekends. Admission fee is 600 yen for daytime performances and 800 yen for 50-minute evening performances.

From there, head to the museum on

the third floor to learn more about the costumes and instruments of the Awa odori. Admission fee is 300 yen.

It would also be worth your while to head up to the fifth floor to take the Bizan Ropeway at Sanroku Station to the summit of Mt Bizan. You will be rewarded with an impressive view of Awaji Island to the north and Kii Peninsula to the east. Tickets are 1,020 yen (return) for adults. If time permits, the Bizan Awa Henro Soba Making School allows visitors to make and eat soba in a fun and interactive 70minute session. Fee is 1,180 yen.

1. A sprawling city view awaits at the peak of Mt Bizan 2. Witness a Naruto whirlpool from the constructed promenade on the Onaruto Bridge 3. Follow the rhythm of an Awaodori dance

Intensify the pace by heading to the Uzu no Michi walkway (Naruto Park, Naruto-cho, Naruto-shi, Tokushima; tel: +8188 683 6262; www. uzunomichi.jp) to witness a natural phenomenon – the Naruto Whirlpools. The Naruto Straits is the site of some of the world’s strongest currents and whirlpools, and in optimal conditions in the spring months of March and April, visitors will be able to witness perfect whirlpools that are as large as 20m in diameter, with tides swirling at speeds that reach 20km/h.

These whirlpools are created by the tidal force of large volumes of water moving between the Seto Island Sea and the Pacific Ocean during low and high tides, creating this phenomenon that is further exacerbated by the narrow straits. Occuring every six hours or so in the morning and afternoon, the whirlpools appear for an hour or two and visitors may enjoy the sights from the safety of the 450m floating promenade that has been constructed on the girders of the Onaruto Bridge. In the observation room, glass panels installed on the floor provide direct views of the whirlpools that are 45m below. During peak periods, throngs of visitors will be milling about snapping scenic moments from this unique location. Admission fee is 510 yen for adults. Opening hours are from 9am to 6pm daily (Mar to Sept) and from 9am to 5pm (Oct to Feb).

Those with a taste for more up close experiences may opt for a sightseeing cruise that takes them to the whirlpools.

Uzushio Kisen operates small boats from a pier outside Naruto Park, while Uzushio Kankosen operates a larger two-deck Wonder Naruto nearby, which provides better viewing of the whirlpools due to the higher vantage point. These boats depart every hour for 20-30 minute cruises.

GLOBAL LEARNING 55

FEATURES PEACE ON A CLIFF A long journey awaited us as our bus left Naruto and headed for the mountainous depths of Iya Valley, where a luxurious onsen set against the dramatic landscape of the valley promised to soothe our minds. Our accommodations for the night was at Hotel Iya Onsen (367-2 Matsuo Matsumoto, Ikeda-cho, Miyoshi-city, Tokushima; tel: +8188 375 2311; http://iyaonsen.co.jp/english), a 20-room boutique ryokan that is the only one in the immediate vicinity and which draws its mineral waters directly from the source. We drove along a narrow road that wound its way into the depths of Iya Valley, and when we finally arrived, it was a sight to treasure. Perched on the edge of a cliff, the ryokan casts a romantic glow amidst the serene ambience and the falling darkness, setting the mood for a relaxing evening.

Iya Valley is one of the most unexplored regions of Japan and visitors will find themselves

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1. A perfect postcard-picture view of Iya Valley 2

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2. The vastness of Iya Valley is accessed via car from visitors who park at the main camp grounds 3. A stylish suite with a private bath that faces Iya Valley

surrounded by nature that has been largely left untouched, guaranteeing a pristine environment that will delight visitors looking to discover new territories that promise luxury and seclusion. The pace may have slowed, but the experience takes on another rhythm that intensifies and excites the senses even further. The outdoor onsen is spectacular. Accessed via a cable car that takes guests to the bottom of the valley, it faces the lush terrain of the valley, allowing guests to lose

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themselves completely in the beauty of the moment. There are two separate outdoor onsens for men and women, and both are built along the edge of the onsen building such that it juts out along the Iya River, allowing a splendid view accompanied by the flowing music of the river. As the healing water eased the tension in our bodies, we lost track of time and it wasn’t long before dinnertime beckoned.

After changing into traditional yukatas (a casual summer kimono),

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we sat down to a kaiseki-style and Omiki-nabe dinner and were treated to a stunning visual feast of delicately presented dishes that came alive in a vibrant burst of colours. This was artistry in edible form. The dish that immediately caught my eye was the chestnut; presented in its shell, it was surprisingly crunchy and savoury as

even the shell was crispy. The venison and eel were full of umami flavour and their textures left a robust and lingering taste, while the river fish served with dried persimmon provided a contrast of salty and sweet flavours that left a deep impression on my taste buds.

To warm the palate and heart even further, the hot pot of highly 8

4. The outdoor onsen for women has a breathtaking valley view 5. Built along the edge of the onsen structure, this bath follows the flow of Iya River 6. A pretty kaiseki-style dinner to complement the beauty of nature 7. Covered in vivid autumn colours, the landscape makes going to the onsen a memorable affair 8. Hotel Iya Onsen casts a romantic glow amidst the secluded clifftop enclave

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expensive and treasured Matsutake mushrooms and pork shabu shabu hit the spot perfectly. I was almost reluctant to complete my dinner the traditional way with soba and rice with tea to cleanse the palate. This was Washoku cuisine at its best, where seasonal ingredients were showcased to connect diners with the elements of nature and its seasonal tastes.

Enraptured and blissfully satiated, we retired to our rooms and enjoyed the view. There are various room types to appeal to everyone; whether it’s a private onsen or terrace with panoramic views, each room provides a stylish blend of traditional and modern dÊcor that makes your stay a luxurious one. Room rates start from 20,000 yen for a standard room and 30,000 yen for a deluxe room with spa facilities. Do note that there are no escalators or lifts leading to the guest rooms, which are located on levels three, five and six. Hotel Iya Onsen has been awarded two stars by the Michelin Green Guide.

GLOBAL LEARNING 57

FEATURES

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE Feeling balanced and in harmony with both body and mind, we started the next day with vigour and really got in touch with nature’s wild side. We headed to the Iya Kazurabashi (Vine) Bridge (Zentoku 162-2, Nisi-Iya Yamamura, Miyoshi City; tel: +81883 760 877), which stretches 14m above Iya River and 45m across the valley.

The reward? A beautiful photo spot right in the centre of the bridge, which provides a gorgeous backdrop of blue sky, clear waters and lush greenery. In autumn, the picture is even prettier with the changing hues of red and orange to provide contrast. Originally built by samurais, the bridge is made out of vines and wooden slates that offer peeks of the river below. The sure-footed will have no problem navigating this bridge, which has been reinforced with steel cables for safety.

Fee is 550 yen for adults.

Another spot that guarantees that perfect photo moment is Oboke Gorge, which is famed for its natural scenery. In spring, the terrain is covered in the pink of cherry blossoms; in summer, a vivid green covers all, while in autumn a red and yellow blanket cascades through the slopes. Oboke is a narrow steep gorge located near the entrance to the Iya Valley. We took a leisurely 30 minute cruise down Yoshino River, but the adventurous may opt for a river rafting tour. The river is popular for water sports such as whitewater rafting and various companies organise half- or full-day tours, including canyoning and hydrospeeding adventures.

The Oboke sightseeing boat operates from 9am to 5pm daily. Fee is 1,080 yen for adults; tickets are purchased from Oboke-kyo Mannaka Restaurant located near the jetty. For whitewater rafting, Happy Raft (tel: +8188 750 500) provides half- and full-day tours at 5,500 yen and 10,000 yen

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1. Crossing Iya Kazurabashi Bridge is a breathtaking affair 2. A contemplative moment at Oku Iya Double Vine Bridge 3. A fun ride on a cable-cart while crossing the Yaen Bridge

respectively from July to September.

Now for novelty of a different type, and the most unusual attraction I have seen for a long time, head to Nagoro Village where the past comes alive. One of its residents, 55-year-old Mizuki Ayona has placed this forgotten village on the map with her efforts to conserve village life, and her

magic touch was evident in the village. A gathering of elderly Japanese sat contemplatively on a bench and a group of women tended to the garden while a boy nearby fiddled with his bicycle. Farmers and workers coud be seen out in the fields and the children too seemed industrious as they sat in the classroom. Mizuki created all of them – out of recycled clothes. These dolls are all hand-made by Mizuki and she has even taught other villagers to make these colourful characters.

According to Mizuki, she had created these dolls to represent family members and villagers who had passed away as she felt lonely and wanted to preserve their presence in the village. Her creations are so lifelike and unique that she has even received

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4. The quirky Nagoro Village with its “scarecrow dolls” gets attention from international visitors 5. Ochiai Village dots the landscape with its distinctive folk dwellings 6. Cruise Lake Biwa in Mississippi style on board Michigan

requests from tourists who wanted custom-made dolls. She charges a minimum of 10,000 yen for custom-made dolls. To meet growing demand, Mizuki now conducts workshops for visitors, but they require participants to commit for three days in order to create a doll from scratch.

From quaint to historical, head to Ochiai Village to appreciate the architecture of folk dwellings built during the Edo and Showa periods.

Accessed by a local bus that stops at the base of the village, Ochiai is one of Iya’s most scenic mountain villages and has been designated a national preservation area. Visitors may stroll through the village paths and observe how hillside and rock embankment farming techniques allow the villagers to cultivate local produce.

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FEATURES

Beyond textbooks and classrooms

CBSE-i is an internationally benchmarked, enquiry and skill-based curriculum catering to individual learning styles. Over the years, GIIS students under this programme have secured positions in top global universities following excellent academic results

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ess structured classes may sound antithetical at a school like GIIS, which has been garnering excellent academic results over the years. However, contrary to traditional belief, the very format has been instrumental in building an academic success story. This has been possible under the CBSE-International (CBSE-i ) curriculum that was introduced across campuses in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo in 2010.

“CBSE-i students have become thinkers and do not simply memorise the lessons – instead, they come up with innovative activities and solutions.”

CBSE-i engages students in innovation and creative solutions

CBSE-i’s enquiry and skill-based approach engages students in innovative discussions

Ms Madhu Khanna, Principal of GIIS Queenstown Campus

While GIIS offers renowned courses like the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), CBSE and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), with the introduction of CBSE-i, students can now become more captivated and creative learners and thinkers.

CBSE-i is an internationally benchmarked, enquiry and skill-based curriculum catering to individual learning styles. Launched by CBSE in 2010, CBSE-i is a pioneering approach by CBSE to deliver education with a global outlook to overseas Indian students. At the heart of the

programme are core components like development of Perspectives, Research, Life Skills, and SEWA (Social Empowerment through Work and Action).

“CBSE-i provides opportunities for extended learning and helps develop perspectives, with emphasis on research orientation and social empowerment. It aims to promote critical and creative thinking skills, effective communication skills, interpersonal and collaborative skills and information and media skills,” explains Mr Rajiv Vasudeva, Country Director of GIIS Singapore.

COMPREHENSIVE STUDIES

What makes the CBSE-i curriculum different from the standard CBSE curriculum administered in India is its holistic concept.

The International curriculum has an ‘enquiry and skill-based’ approach. The programme also encourages extended learning and helps develop perspectives by urging students to learn through research and social activities.

Students from Class 1 all the way to Class 10 at GIIS Queenstown Campus have benefitted from this rounded approach. Ms Madhu Khanna, Principal of GIIS Queenstown Campus, says that classes are less structured and students are encouraged to find solutions in their own unique manner. She says, “The core of the curriculum is research leading to imbibing of life skills. This approach is aligned with our school’s vision, mission and core values.

CBSE-i students have become engaged learners and that has been the biggest benefit of the curriculum. They have become thinkers and do not simply memorize the lessons – instead, they come up with innovative activities and solutions.”

While the standard CBSE curriculum consists of three streams—science, humanities and commerce—the CBSE-i curriculum includes subjects in languages, arts, physical education, social science, life skills, research projects, sciences and mathematics. The international programme is also more flexible in terms of structure and execution. For example, core subjects GLOBAL LEARNING 61

FEATURES

“All the modules are participative, as opposed to a mundane one where a teacher leads the class and reads from a textbook.”

Ms Rekha Varghese, Vice Principal at GIIS Queenstown Campus

take on learning methods where students are encouraged to pursue topics and issues they are interested in and embark on their own research and enquiry. They are then encouraged to present their findings through presentations, group discussions and debates.

Furthermore, subjects are taught in a manner that is tailored to students’ need and relevance in a globalised setting.

For example, Mathematics is divided into ‘Elective’ and ‘Core’, so that students can learn according to their aptitude. Social Science syllabi incorporate locally relevant components depending on the location of the school, and Science has an added enrichment component.

Vice Principal at GIIS Queenstown Campus, Ms Rekha Varghese, gives an example of how lessons are conducted under the CBSE-i curriculum: “Classes are centred around certain modules and topics. For example, it could be about society. Here, students are assessed on depth of their analysis and social context. All the modules are participative. We ask students for their perspectives on topics in the class, which

62 GLOBAL LEARNING

Students are encouraged to conduct research beyond the classrooms to improve their knowledge and understanding of information imparted in class encourages them to be articulate and collaborative. It becomes an interactive class as opposed to a mundane one where a teacher leads the class and reads from a textbook.”

Ms Rajni Parasher, CBSE Co-ordinator for middle school at the GIIS Queenstown Campus adds, “Through the CBSE-i programme, I have noticed that students have become very expressive in the way they communicate and interact. They are very confident. This is because our classrooms provide them with a platform to build their confidence, especially with public speaking skills.”

The CBSE-i programme assesses students on applications of learned theories

EMPOWERING TEACHERS

One key feature of the CBSE-i curriculum is that teachers are required to keep up to date with the latest teaching methodologies and tools. Towards this, yearly Teacher Empowerment Workshops are held in Singapore by CBSE to equip teachers and co-ordinators with ideas to update their skills. This helps to effectively and wholly implement the CBSE-i curriculum.

In September 2014, Dr Sadhana Parasher, Director of Academics Research Training and Innovation at CBSE, held a workshop at the GIIS Queenstown Campus. Teachers from National Public School Singapore, GIIS Tokyo, GIIS Kuala Lumpur, GIIS Queenstown, GIIS East Coast and GIIS Balestier Campuses participated in the sessions and workshops that elaborated on the enquiry and skill-based learning approach that CBSE-i advocates.

Resource personnel from the Board introduced participants to educational sites such as ‘Visuwords’, ‘Toondoo’, ‘Dipity’ and ‘Poll Everywhere’ that could be used as teaching aides. Participants also discussed the importance of life skills and various methods of evaluation in an interactive session.

CBSE Co-ordinator for Junior College at GIIS Queenstown Campus, Ms KP Sheeja said at the CBSE-i workshop that the International programme adopts an interdisciplinary approach towards education.

One of the initiatives under the curriculum is the introduction of ‘Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation’ (CCE), replacing marks with grades, and doing away with Board examinations with school-based assessment in Class 10.

These changes mean that traditional teaching methods are less relevant now.

Ms Rajni Parasher explains that teachers’ roles have evolved too. She said, “Teachers have to work harder now; they have to prepare well for the class.”

Ms Vinola Williams, CBSE Co-ordinator for High School at the GIIS Queenstown Campus adds, “Students have access to the CBSE-i portal where they can go through notes and hand-outs well in advance so the teacher has to be one step ahead. We are in the position of facilitators; therefore, we have to upgrade ourselves on a day-to-day basis. In the CBSE-i curriculum, we give students a topic, following which they are on their own to find out all about it. In the class, we have ‘sharing sessions’ where everyone contributes their own thoughts and ideas. The role of the teacher has become very crucial.”

A FAMILY AFFAIR

According to educators, this method of teaching is helpful in addressing the different ways of learning in class. Some children are visual learners, while others are auditory learners. Ms Khanna explains, “Students who are visual learners can benefit from hands-on activities, while those who are auditory learners can benefit from presentations and debates. The CBSE-i curriculum is uniquely positioned to make learning more interesting for all students.”

Another feature of the CBSE-i programme is that parents are encouraged to be more involved in the

Students actively participating in classes in the highly collaborative programme learning journey of their children. CBSE-i Chairman Mr Vineet Joshi has emphasised that parent involvement is critical to the effective implementation of the CBSE-i curriculum. He said during a Parent Interaction Session held at GIIS Balestier Campus, “The idea is to involve the parents so that they act as a positive bridge between the regulators and place where (teaching) is actually happening.”

While parents were initially apprehensive about the discontinuation of traditional examinations, Ms Khanna says that parents are very appreciative of the CBSE-i curriculum after they have seen the positive growth in their children. She added, “External observers like teachers from the Ministry of Education or external examiners who visit us on learning journeys have said that our students are very confident and expressive. Most importantly, they know how to speak their mind, which is essential in the 21st century.”

Students who are enrolled in the CBSE-i programme say that classes are more interesting because of the interactivity and hands-on learning. Class 8 student Subiksha Ganesan from GIIS Queenstown Campus said, “What I like is that teachers are very interactive and that they are open to our suggestions. I feel

that I enjoy my classes because teachers explain using recent events. What the teachers tell us in class encourages us to conduct our own research at home—it actually improves our knowledge.”

C Dhamini, a Class 9 student from GIIS Queenstown Campus shared, “We do a lot of activities and I like interacting with teachers and classmates in this particular way. It has also improved my motivational skills.” The 14-year-old adds that she looks forward to classes because she will be able to have a good discussion there. “I am more interested in science now. I find it very fascinating because when we talk about plants, we can learn anything about it. We get to explore what we wish to learn.”

For GIIS Queenstown Campus Class 8 student IG Ananda Varshini, the CBSE-i curriculum has improved her English because of the way these subjects are being taught in class. She says, “Thanks to the way classes are conducted, I don’t actually feel like I’m studying in class. I believe we learn better because teachers employ a lot of activities and examples in class. For example, we are asked to talk about our holidays through public speaking activities. Other activities include participating in vocabulary games that have definitely improved my language skills.”

GLOBAL LEARNING 63

My son looks forward to school everyday with enthusiasm, thanks to the fun, open and positive learning environment at GIIS.” Ms Lavanya Lakshmanan Parent of Shiv Banerjee (K2), student of GIIS East Coast Campus (2015 Testimonial)

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admissions@sg.globalindianschool.org

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SPOTLIGHT // p66. AMBITION THAT DRIVES APTITUDE // p70. GIIS NOW IN ABU DHABI // p72. EDUCATION EXCELLENCE AWARDS

SPOTLIGHT

Ambition that Drives Aptitude Strengthened by a stellar foundation of achievements, GIIS lays the groundwork for students to achieve success in life. We take a closer look at the awards that have defined the school for its excellence

I

n business, the most successful companies are those that can stand up to the examinations of others around them, fall under an independent microscope and emerge stronger. Under such barometers, GIIS can feel justifiably proud. In just 12 years since the Global Schools Foundation (GSF) opened the first GIIS campus in Mount Sophia, and seven years after it applied for its first award in 2008, GIIS has racked up an impressive 39 awards in categories as diverse as management innovation, global performance excellence, eco-innovation, and overall excellence in education.

“The awards are a reassurance that the school is looking at its processes,”

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declares Ms Melissa Maria, Principal of GIIS East Coast Campus. She also added that, “These awards are a reiteration of the focus and emphasis that all stakeholders within the school are working for the children.”

Laying the Groundwork The genesis of applying for awards can be traced to the school’s opening in 2002, though efforts truly ramped up in 2006, when mother organisation GSF opened the Global Centre for Educational Excellence (GCEE).

Underneath the leadership of Director Mr BG Shenoy, and driven by his belief that what cannot be measured

cannot be improved, GCEE spent the next two years identifying how and where it should apply for awards. The initiative was undertaken not just to win accolades per se, but to help the school understand how it performed in various aspects based on benchmarks set by independent award bodies. It was a means to challenge themselves and to improve its academic and non-academic performances; a self-measurement tool to gauge their performance against other applicants and themselves over the years. Results of applications always come with feedback from the assessors of these awards and this has enabled the school to improve on what has already

been established, and to help refine and adopt better practices over the years.

“Self-initiated scrutiny,” is how Mr Rajiv Vasudeva, GIIS Country Director of Singapore, describes it.

There are a number of awarding bodies across the globe and the school had to winnow down which ones to pursue. As an institution largely dominated by Indian expatriates, GIIS researched and focused its energies on awards that emphasise education excellence and are recognised by world bodies — merits highly valued by this demographic. Ms Madhu Kanna, Principal of GIIS Queenstown Campus explained that based on these criteria, garnering for the IMC Ramkrishna Bajaj award made the most sense in this pursuit. “We wanted to ensure that processes get standardised. The award was the outcome of it,” she said. Hard work in that area paid off for the GCEE body as they have won IMC Ramkrishna Bajaj awards equal to the number of times they have applied.

The Long, Hard Road to Success The impressive list of citations suggests that the school has struck a winning formula but that doesn’t mean that the journey has been effortless. It has taken hours of strategic planning, dedicated work and a sound, focused vision for the awards to stream in. Each award application involves a team of three to nine independent assessors who spend three to five days at the school. These assessors are objective and highly knowledgeable in their own fields. As part of the assessment, the assessors randomly interview parents of current students to gain insight and feedback on school governance and even ethics. These are passed on to be analysed by a lead assessor who then submits the information to a jury for a final decision on awards. The school estimates that more than 160 internationally certified assessors have visited the school in the last seven years, contributing 10,000 man-hours

of experience during that time.

Although initially focused on IMC, the school has since branched out and applied to IOD (India), SPRING Singapore, Asia Pacific Quality Organization and Malaysia Productivity Corporation. For the 2015/2016 academic year, the school aims to focus on the 18-month long rigorous application of the Japanese Deming award.

The award applications and processes border on tedious but continue to be important to the school’s board and leadership. The institution has grown from 48 students to an impressive 13,000 in 20 campuses in seven countries. For a school to grow and expand this quickly and steadily takes a model that more than just works; it has to be replicable as well. Across the board, a documentation of the processes in Singapore was done and replicated across other campuses.

From there, the journey of recognition and verification from third parties was initiated. As these assessments require qualified assessors with years of experience in the industry, they are done in an objective manner that helps to identify areas that need strengthening and improvement. “These applications and awards validate what the schools are doing,” stated Mr Vasudeva.

A System that Works A quick look at the recent achievements backs up the efficacy of GIIS’ methods.

The GIIS Balestier Campus won an eco-innovation award in 2013, partly in due to the made-over bathrooms painted with designs revolving around forests, grasslands, deserts and marine life. Students were instrumental in the designing of these bathrooms and their efforts were proudly recognised. All three campuses also received APQO awards for global excellence in education in 2013. In 2014, two Golden Peacock awards from IOD were given to the school for innovation management and innovative product/service. And these are just the tip of the iceberg to the many accolades won over the years.

GIIS is also one of a few international schools in Singapore to have a four-year EduTrust certification. Another award that reflects well on the school is the SQC Star from SPRING Singapore, where all campuses have won individually. This award is normally given to Singapore organisations such as the IRAS and Immigration and Checkpoint Authority — strong contenders in areas such as Leadership, Strategy, Processes, Knowledge and Results. This only proves that GIIS stand by their strong belief in

denotes an Education Excellence Award!”

2

GIIS has won distinguished awards in innovation management, eco-innovation and much more.

GLOBAL LEARNING 67

SPOTLIGHT denotes an Education Excellence Award!”

2

Research went into applying for awards that focused on education excellence and are world-recognised educating the young but as a school that also learns.

Continuing the Push for Improvement While the awards look impressive displayed on the walls of reception and in the offices of the principals, the reiteration here is that the application processes matter the most in the school’s continuous efforts in striving for excellence. The application processes most critically enable reflection, assessment, a push for efficiency and, in the end, a smarter,

68 GLOBAL LEARNING

better product. “The work that goes into the application of awards allows us to streamline and deliver consistency,” explains Mr Vasudeva. Various concerns are looked into to provide such feedback, such as communication channels, engaging with parents and how often feedback is received.

Vendors are not spared from internal assessment either, as the school ensures that they too are aligned to the school’s vision mission.

Many things happen behind the scenes of an award application that may not be visible to parents but they

are definitely reflected in the results.

GIIS has delivered with world-class grades. The school has produced IB toppers, world record holders in IGCSE, and is in the 98th percentile for CBSE. These are the achievements that stem from the streamlining of processes.

The constant disciplines of applying and assessing (approximately eight per year), have also greatly benefitted GIIS internally. Both Principals Ms Khanna and Ms Maria are IMC and SPRING Singapore assessors, in addition to individual teams on each campus.

The school is possibly the only one

in Singapore to have close to 40 ISO auditors on board.

But should the system weaken and the awards stop, the school will not be disappointed. Mr GSS Rao, Director of Operations, GIIS Singapore illustrated simply the challenges of keeping a level of consistency in something as fluid as a school. “What the best practices were two years ago might not work today but we show adaptability in changing our practices to suit our current needs,” he said.

The awards are also not something that is actively being used in marketing campaigns and promotions for the school. “No parent will place a child in a school just because it has awards,” said Mr Vasudeva. Awards help with policymakers and governments as they appeal to ministries in allocating resources. The awards show that

the school has a proven track record and its processes are internationally recognised. There’s now independent proof, done by third-party assessors, to show that what the school claims to be is true, which is why the processes of the applications are of utmost importance as compared to winning the awards. The processes involve a lot of learning and the school take in suggestions from stakeholders, the board, faculty members, students and parents. The application process helps to show that the school is on the right track and the awards are simply a byproduct. Mr Vasudeva also stressed the point of consistently learning new ways of streamlining processes and creating innovation and creativity among students. For example, an internal portal is used, where principals sift through lesson plans and keep the best

in a repository. Teachers benefit from this system because less time is spent on creating a lesson plan from scratch and instead, more effort can be focused on actually teaching the students.

The applications and results help the school to find out the best practices in the market through the awarding bodies looking at the processes. Key areas that they look for are that the school is open to learning and sharing, picking up new initiatives, deploying these practices and being able to cope with that cycle of change.

If there is one thing that is clear, GIIS has the best interests of its students in mind. The refining process through each award application is a continuous one and all involved with the school should be proud of what it has achieved so far.

GLOBAL LEARNING 69

SPOTLIGHT

GIIS NOW IN ABU DHABI! Indian expat parents in Abu Dhabi will be able to cultivate the young minds of their children in a world-class Indian curriculum institution when the GIIS opens its doors to a brand new campus in the capital city. The GIIS Abu Dhabi Campus is set to transform students into discerning global citizens by way of its excellent educational system and outstanding facilities, as it has been doing so in its other campuses in seven countries.

Aside from offering a holistic learning atmosphere and a multitude of personality development opportunities, the renowned school will also avail to the students an exceptional host of facilities and activities – be it music, art, dance or sports – so that they may graduate versatile and accomplished.

70 GLOBAL LEARNING

The new GIIS Abu Dhabi Campus will provide world-class facilities to aid students in learning

GIIS ABU DHABI CAMPUS’ FACILITIES INCLUDE: 9. Science laboratories 1. Curriculum enhancers such as STEM, 10. Cafeteria will serve Indian/Arab HeyMath! etc to achieve excellence in delicacies approved for school children academics 11. Multimedia e-learning technology 2. Wi-Fi-enabled classrooms through video-conferencing facility 3. Computer laboratories with wireless 12. Multi-purpose auditorium connections 13. Swimming pool 4. Digital library for hands-on approach in 14. Badminton courts digital learning along with a resourceful 15. Basketball courts library with sufficient number of 16. Tennis courts reference reading materials, magazines 17. Soccer ground and periodicals 18. Cricket ground 5. Music studio 19. Table tennis 6. Dance hall 20. Synthetic track for athletes 7. Yoga centre 8. Audio-video presentation room

Established for its remarkable track record in both academic and nonacademic areas, GIIS Abu Dhabi Campus will provide an IT-aided learning environment with interactive boards in each class and use of online content mapped to the syllabus.

GLOBAL LEARNING 71

Education Exce GIIS is proud to have achieved 39 National and International awards for Innovation and Excellence in School Education from 2008 – 2015 1

Golden Peacock Innovative Product/Service Award - 2015

Global Indian International School in Singapore

2

MQH Best Practices Competition 2015 IMC RB National Quality Award Trust GIIS East Coast Campus, Singapore

3

14 15

6

Global Indian International School in Singapore

16

7 8

Global Performance Excellence Award World Class 2014

17 18

19

10

Global Performance Excellence Award Best in Class 2014

20

Golden Peacock Innovative Product / Service Award 2014

21

IMC RB National Quality Award Performance Excellence 2013 GIIS East Coast Campus, Singapore

11

2nd Global Benchmarking Award 2013 Finalist

Global Indian International School in Singapore

12

2nd International Best Practice Competition 2013 Top Four Finalist and Runner-Up

Global Indian International School in Singapore

Special Commendation for Golden Peacock Business Excellence Award 2013

Global Indian International School in Singapore

IMC RB National Quality Award Trophy 2012 GIIS Balestier Campus, Singapore

GIIS Balestier Campus, Singapore

Global Indian International School in Singapore

Global Performance Excellence Award Quest for Excellence 2013 GIIS East Coast Campus, Singapore

Golden Peacock Innovative Product / Service Award 2012 Global Indian International School in Singapore

GIIS East Coast Campus, Singapore

9

Global Performance Excellence Award Best in Class 2013 GIIS Queenstown Campus, Singapore

Global Performance Excellence Award World Class 2014 GIIS Queenstown Campus, Singapore

Global Performance Excellence Award World Class 2013 GIIS Balestier Campus, Singapore

Singapore Quality Class Star 2014 Special Commendation for Golden Peacock Innovation Management Award 2014

Golden Peacock Eco-Innovation Award 2013 GIIS Balestier Campus, Singapore

Global Indian International School in Singapore

5

Golden Peacock HR Excellence Award 2013

Global Indian International School in Singapore

IMC RB National Quality Award 2014 GIIS East Coast Campus, Singapore

4

13

Singapore Quality Class Star 2012 GIIS Queenstown Campus, Singapore

22

Singapore Quality Class Star 2012 GIIS Balestier Campus, Singapore

23

Global Performance Excellence Award World Class 2012 GIIS East Coast Campus, Singapore

24 25

Global Performance Excellence Award Best in Class 2012 GIIS Queenstown Campus, Singapore

Global Performance Excellence Award Quest for Excellence 2012 GIIS Balestier Campus, Singapore

llence Awards 26

IMC RB National Quality Award Performance Excellence Trophy 2011 GIIS Balestier Campus, Singapore

27

Global Performance Excellence Award World Class 2011 GIIS Queenstown Campus, Singapore

28

Global Performance Excellence Award Best in Class 2011 GIIS East Coast Campus, Singapore

29

Global Performance Excellence Award Quest for Excellence 2011 GIIS Balestier Campus, Singapore

30

IMC RB National Quality Award 2010 GIIS Queenstown Campus, Singapore

31

Singapore Quality Class 2011 GIIS Balestier Campus, Singapore

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Singapore Quality Class 2011 GIIS Queenstown Campus, Singapore

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Singapore Quality Class Star 2010 GIIS East Coast Campus, Singapore

34

Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Award 2010 Global Indian Foundation

35 36

International Asia Performance Quality Award Best in Class 2010 GIIS Kuala Lumpur Campus, Malaysia

Industry Excellence Award 2009 GIIS Kuala Lumpur Campus, Malaysia

37 38

International Asia Performance Quality Award Best in Class 2009 GIIS East Coast Campus, Singapore

Singapore Quality Class 2008 GIIS East Coast Campus, Singapore

39

IMC RB National Quality Award Performance Excellence 2008 GIIS East Coast Campus, Singapore

At GIIS, the PREPARE TO MEET NEW biggest Rasika Kale WORLD CHALLENGES benefit isever evolving growth Today’s globalised economy – faced with platforms and dynamic change agents – needs people with the level of practical knowledge and critical thinking skills. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) addresses this need commitment by honing young minds through its well-balanced curriculum; focused on research, academics and practical application. that teachers put into the programme.”

IB Year 1 student, GIIS Queenstown Campus IGCSE Class 10 2014 topper with 8A*s

(2015 Testimonial)

From top left clockwise:

Ashwini Samita, Kaustav, Varun &

EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS Three GIIS students ranked amongst IB world toppers, securing 100% score of 45/45. Since 2007, 52 students have achieved IB scores of 40 and above. In 2014, seven students achieved nearperfect scores of 44/45.

Why IB Diploma at GIIS?

Exceptional results Three GIIS students ranked amongst IB worldOFFERS toppers, PLACEMENT securing a perfect score of 45/45. FROM In 2014,LEADING seven students UNIVERSITIES achieved near-perfect scores of 44/45.

WORLDWIDE IB graduates have Placement offers from leading GIIS’ universities secured offers from prestigious FOCUSED worldwide universities, including University APPROACH 47% IB graduates of 2014 secured in world’s of placements California, Berkeley, TO HOLISTIC University of Oxford, National EDUCATION top 50 universities.

Institutes of Technology (India), GIIS’ curriculum delivery London School of Economics mechanism prepares our Focused approach to holistic education & Political Science, National students into confident, GIIS’ curriculum delivery mechanism prepares our University of Singapore and future-ready, and well-rounded students become confident, future-ready, and wellNanyang Technological personalitiesto through the rounded personalities through theUniversity, Nine Gems™ model. among others.

Nine Gems™ model - GIIS’ proprietary and award-winning tool for all-round character development.

The faculty at GIIS helped me master the art of dedication and perseverance.

Samita Kamat IBDP 2014 Topper with a near-perfect score of 44/45 GIIS student from 2010-2014 London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

There is so much to do in IB Diploma in the two years and our teachers were always there to guide The holistic approach the IB us even after school in everyof aspect. programme at GIIS has helped me build Kaustav Das IBDP 2014 Topper with a perfect score of 45/45 strong leadership qualities.

GIIS student from 2005-2014 Neha Iyer CollegeIB ofYear Engineering, Tech, USA Campus 1 student,Georgia GIIS Queenstown

I feel what makes GIIS at experience Our IB teachers GIIS guideunique us in is firstly, the personal dedication of the teachers creating effective profiles throughand the attachment they share with their students. various events and opportunities for This alongside the focus on education that GIIS has university applications. makesAnuraj this environment a very competitive one.

Singh Rawat Varun IB Rajgopal Year 1 student, GIIS Queenstown Campus

IBDP 2014 Topper near-perfect score of 44/45 IGCSE Classwith 10 a 2014 topper with 8A*s GIIS student from 2003-2014 Dept of Economics, University of California, Los Angeles, USA

I think what makes IB Diploma programme special at GIIS is the competitive environment which pushes you do better each time and peers who always help you do your level best.

Ashwini Sridhar, IBDP 2014 topper with a near-perfect score of 44/45, GIIS student from 2002-2014 School of Medicine, Newcastle University, UK