VACATION PROGRAMS FOR KIDS IN KOZHIKODE

Summer is in.
Schools are winding up after the academic year, 2010-11.
Kids are enthusiastically exploring for the innovative vacation programs being declared to woo them in!
Some of those that we came across are noted here. This shall be updated as we come across new ones.

ANTS ANIMATION TRAINING SCHOOL
S.M.Arcade, P.M.Taj road,
Mananchira, Calicut 673001
Phone: 0495-3040161

They are organising an introductory course on animation for kids. This course proposes to cover an initial session on drawing wherein kids would sketch simple cartoons as it appears at every stage of the animation during the first month. Thereafter they would be initiated into 2D animation using Flash and 3D animation using Maya software. Targeting to kindle the interest on animation and to give them a hands- on- exposure on the topic, the course period is during April-May from Monday to Friday, at 2 hours a day.

CHAVARA CULTURAL CENTRE
Amalapuri, Near 4th Railway Gate, Calicut
Phone: 0495-2769021

As during last year, Chavara Centre is organising a kids camp titled KALIVEEDU for kids from April 4th to 30th. Timing is from 9am to 12.30 noon. This program is a mix of innumerable components like arts and crafts, aerobics, personality development sessions, self defense, and so on.

During the two months, they are also organising special classes on extra curricular activities on weekdays from 2 to 4pm. Children can choose any one of their preferred activity from Chess, Keyboard, Drawing and Painting, Skating, Bollywood Dance, Classical dance etc.

Registration already commenced.

GURUKULAM SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS
Ceyon, 5/2310-A, P.R.Nambiar Road, Asokapuram,
Kozhikode. Phone: 9895835863, 8089626306

Vacation classes are being organised form April 4th, 2011.

The proposed programmes are as noted below.
 Instrumental Music- Keyboard, Tabala, Guitar, Violin - 2 classes a week.

Carnatic Music (vocal) , Bollywood dance - 2 classes a week.

Pencil drawing, water colour, Oil painting - 3 classes a week.

Chess - 3 classes a week (Tuesday, Thursday  9-10.30 am and Saturday 10.30-11.30am)

Spoken English classes - 3 classes a week for all age group

Registration has started at this centre.

IT MAGIC
G-TEC Education, City Centre,
Opp.SMGB, Kannur Road, Calicut
Phone: 0495-2762672

Summer Vacation Computer Courses for students of class 4 to +2 level. Duration of all courses is 2 months. There are 21 modules and kids can select any as per their taste and need. The different modules are : Computer Operator, Junior programmer, Junior Animator, 3D magic, Junior Architect etc.

KIDS WORLD
Near Reliance Petrol Pump,
St.Vincent road, Kozhikode.
Phone: 9895332132


Summer camp for kids from 4th till 30th of April, 2011. This is also a mix of various activities and targets to cater to a group of 40 kids. So rush in to join, as the early bird...

UNIVERSAL SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS
Aravind Ghosh Road, Near Gandhi Park
Kozhikode Phone: 0495-2765348

The centre is organising drawing and painting classes for kids during April and May on all weekdays. There are two batches every day and kids can choose the timing as per their choice. The morning batch is from 10-12.30noon and the afternoon batch is from 2-4.30pm. Kids up to 8years are trained on crayons and oil pastels and elder ones on water colours.

Almost all centres are getting ready with usual coaching classes, made intensive during the vacation, on swimming, martial arts, sports etc. Peep in for contact numbers at the link: http://shyama17nair.blogspot.com/2010/04/engaging-kids-on-vacation-in-calicut.html

LETS LEARN (8): SEASONS

Lets start with a simple song:

The seasons change four times a year

From spring to winter they appear

Spring is wet , the flowers grow

it rains a lot and melts the snow

Summer is hot, its full of sun

there's no school, its lots of fun

Fall is cool, the leaves fall down

the colours change all over town

Winter is cold, the snowflakes fall

We skate and ski and make snowballs

The seasons change from sun to snow

And that is all we have to know...

LETS LEARN ABOUT SEASONS

View more presentations from SHYAMATHANNIYIL.

 WHAT DO WE MEAN BY SEASON?

Season is the division of the year marked by changes in weather, ecology and hours of daylight.

Seasons happen because of annual revolution of earth around sun and the tilt of the earth's axis in relation to the orbital plane. This angle of deviation is 23.5 degrees.

(For more read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season)

WHAT CAUSES EARTH'S SEASONS?

WHAT ARE SEASONAL VARIATIONS? 

( A must read for students working on this lesson: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/121632/climate-change/275776/Seasonal-variation)

Equinox = day and night are equal.

Solstice = Days when Sun is at the farthest North or South

Shortest day of the year: 22 December(Winter Solstice; beginning of winter)

Longest day of the year: 21 June(Summer Solstice; beginning of summer)

Vernal Equinox: 21 March (Sun crosses equator; Spring begins in Northern hemisphere & Autumn in Southern Hemisphere)

Autumnal Equinox: 22 September

During summer, days are longer than nights

In winter, days are shorter than nights.

Generally, during May, June and July Northern hemisphere faces sun. During this time, they have Summer and at this period, Southern Hemisphere has winter. During November, December, January; Southern Hemisphere faces Sun and they have summer while opposite side has winter.

In the tropical countries, hot summers are from March to May; monsoons from June to October and cool or mild winters from November to March.

In North India, during December -January, winter(frost or fog); February to April is Spring; may to June is Summer; July and September/October are rainy seasons and in November there is Autumn.

In Kerala, there are two monsoons. South West monsoon is called Kalavarsham or Edavapathy and it is from June to September. The land receives 60% of rainfall from this monsoon. The other is North East monsoon called Thulavarsham. Its during October- November.We get 30%rains from this. Premonsoon showers with thunder in May is another common feature. Thus the seasons of Kerala are predominantly 3, with a prolonged rainy season. From November end to January its winter and thereafter its Summer.

To read more on seasons of Kerala log onto:

http://www.prokerala.com/kerala/climate.htm

For a visual and poetic elude of rainy nightfall in God's Own Country, read:

http://calicutnet.com/articles/rajesh/night_fall.htm

http://calicutnet.com/articles/rajesh/rain_rhythms.htm

A photo gallery on Kerala monsoons:

http://calicutnet.com/news/news-reports/rajesh-07/rain_lashed_kerala.htm

To look for seasons of India, peep :

http://www.mrdowling.com/612-monsoon.html

To know more about monsoons, visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoon

Great Poet John Keats has penned a beautiful sonnet titled " The Human Seasons..."

"Four seasons fill the measure of the year

There are four seasons in the mind of man...

He has his lusty spring, when fancy clear

    Takes in all beauty with an easy span:
He has his Summer, when luxuriously
    Spring's honied cud of youthful thought he loves
To ruminate, and by such dreaming high
    Is nearest unto heaven: quiet coves
His soul has in its Autumn, when his wings
    He furleth close; contented so to look
On mists in idleness--to let fair things
    Pass by unheeded as a threshold brook.
He has his Winter too of pale misfeature,
Or else he would fore go his mortal nature..."

Summary of meaning:

The four stages of human life are like the four seasons of a year.Each stage has a compilation of lengthy dramas and stories of experiences from the cradle to the grave.It applies for both the human body and the human mind.For what is life here on earth? it is but a short journey we all undertake till our purpose is done.We all are formed from the dust and to the dust we shall all return one day.

The first stage of human life is the birth and the childhood days,which is compared to the season of Spring.This Season is believed to be the rebirth of Nature's life here on earth.It is characterized by warmth, spots of flora emerging everywhere on the naked ground,sounds of all types of birds in the air, movement of wild animals in the forest and very bright sunshine.This is the Season of optimism and hope.From birth till late childhood, life for every child is almost the beginning of a bright and a shiny future.Childhood is featured by innocence, physical stamina and vitality, tremendous urge for the outdoors and a tremendous appetite for fun and play.Activities have no limits.Each and everyone of us miss our childhood days.

The second stage of human life is Youth which is compared to the season of Summer. Summer is the season of fertility and immense harvest. It is marked by pleasantness,warm Summer rain and a blooming of vegetation.The fish of the waters swim adventurously in the gushing streams and rivers.The Earth itself is manifested with esteemed life.Similarly, Youth is marked by the end of Childhood innocence,beginning of self consciousness and high spirits of Romance.It is the peak and the glorious age of life.Each and everyone of us decides which path in life to take and the plans to settle with the best of everything.Beauty and attraction symbolizes the physical color of youth.

The Third stage of human life is Middle age which is compared to the season of Autumn.Autumn is characterized by beginning of dryness and slow deterioration of leaves of trees and plants.Everything around begins to fade away and begins to look shabby.The incoming chilling breeze blowing in all directions add to the gloom of nature.Similarly, Middle age is featured by a very slowly degrading physical strength,slight change in outward appearance,relaxed mood,and burdened with matured activities.By this time, all are treading towards old age.We see life differently and quite often worry about the generation,quite often our own off springs.The main feature of Middle age is Parenthood.We also learn to look back at our own lives and become very nostalgic.

The last stage is the Old Age which is compared to the season of Winter.This season is marked by extreme dryness and cold.The days are short and nights are long.Physical strength begins to fall to an all time low.Health is always a major issue.At this stage people tend to become very Spiritual and become mentally prepared for death.Winter ultimately closes the year just like old age closes the life on earth of a person to eternal rest.

{Courtesy: http://www.shvoong.com/books/poetry/1961426-sumary-john-keats-human-seasons/)

LET'S LEARN (7) : TYPES OF HOUSES

There are different types of houses.

Depending on the size we can classify houses as small,medium or big.


Based on the type of roof houses are divided into sloped roof  or flat roof.Slope or slanting roof are used in places of heavy rainfall or snowfall.Different types of materials are used for slanting roof houses. This varies from dry leaves, palm leaves or grasses as in huts or clay tiles as in cottages or reinforced concrete as in modern villas.

Whether the buildings are dwellings for individual families or house many units each for a family, one in each separate building or all in a single building etc, we can call them independent houses and houses for community living or flats.

In remote areas and mountains etc, houses are simply made of readily available materials.Such houses are called kutcha houses. On the other hand, houses that are made of brick, cement etc are called pakka houses.

Some people keep moving from one place to another. They make houses that can be carried. These are temporary houses or mobile houses. Other houses that can't be moved can naturally then be called permanent houses!

Yet another classification that we can give for houses are as cheap and expensive. Huts are the least expensive. Cottages and Baker model houses are relatively cheap compared to Villas and Bungalows.
Those with the most costly interiors are categorised as luxury homes.

Thus we can find innumerable criteria to categorize houses. Whatever it may be, there are innumerable types of houses. I have listed some of the popular ones in and around Kerala and some others that may be of specific interest for kids from else where.

CAVES:

Primitive men and animals lived in caves or caverns. These are seen both on mountains and along seasides.

HUTS:

These are small crude shelters. Mostly made of natural and locally available materials. Its swift and cheap in construction. Nowadays we can see such huts on remote tribal areas only.

TENTS:

These are portable temporary shelters. Mostly made of assembled fabric and poles. Its used by nomads, military personnel and to aid disaster victims.

CARAVANS:

These are mobile homes. Its prefabricated material, shifted from one place to another by trailers as tow. Its a common camp dwelling.

STILT HOUSES:

 These are also called pile dwellings. Seen on mountains. When constructed near lakes, it gives primary protection from flooding.

TREE HOUSES:

These are seen in forests for protection from animals. Its made among the branches of mature trees. Now used as recreation shelters in wild life tourism also.

IGLOO:

This is a snow house. Seen in Arctic regions. It is usually dome shaped. Its a traditional shelter.

HOUSE BOATS:

These are modified boast for human dwelling. Its either moored or motorized. In Kerala, house boats used for leisure trips are locally called kettuvallams.

MARQUEES:

These are large tents. Its made using aluminium frames and canvas. Though not used as dwellings, these are popular as circus tents, at fairs, for performance and banquets etc.

SHAMIANA:

Popular ethnic tents of India. Used for outdoor parties or restaurants. These come in excellent designs and multicolours. Mostly used as temporary venues only.

COTTAGES:

These are modest dwellings and cosy homes. Its a blend of traditional build and modern amenities. Now popular in tourist resorts and home-stays.


VILLAS:

Formerly this referred to elegant, upper class country homes. Now modern detached town houses are also called villas.

BUNGALOWS:

Low rise Indian dwellings with verandahs. Spacious homes used as single family unit.

KERALA HOMESTEADS OR  MANSIONS:

Popularly called Nalukettu, Ettukettu or Pathinarukettu; these are traditional tharavads of Kerala now called Heritage homes. These have excellent natural modulation of light, air and heat. This is maintained through a special component called nadumuttam or courtyards that open to the sky and are within the buildings. The number of courtyards ranges from 1,2 or 4 and the names accordingly.(ex: 1 courtyard = nalukettu; 2 = ettukettu and 4 courtyards = pathinarukettu)

SHARED VIDEO OF A MODERN NALUKETTU

PALACES:

Royal residences of yester years, some have been converted as hotels, museums or tourist centres. Some are used as homes of Heads of State. The Kowdiar Palace in Thiruvananthapuram is still used by present generation of Thiruvithamcore dynasty.

KOVILAKOMS:

Traditional large palaces that refers to the residence of all members of the Royal dynasty who are not heirs of King or Queen.

ECO FRIENDLY HOMES:

These are houses that pool together many factors like rainwater harvesting, multi-fuel burning stoves, gardens, glazed windows, insulated loft, solar panels, wind turbine, compost heap, waste recycling, energy efficient appliances etc. 

 HABITAT HOUSES:

Baker model houses are cost effective, sustainable, organic architecture initiatives. Concept visualised by British Indian Architect, Laurence Wilfred Baker, this has been popularised in Kerala as the Eco-friendly low cost houses. Each building is unique and beautiful with space considerations that blend with nature of that plot.
For more information peep into: http://lauriebaker.net/

PAPER HOUSES:

Modern modular homes designed by a Swiss Company. These are structures made of resin soaked cellulose; proposed to be used in Nigeria and Angola.

GREEN HOUSES:

The term means 100% energy efficient houses. An isolated house with less impact on environment has been reported from Costa Rica.

GLASS HOUSE:

A house where the structure is natural glass enclosed rooms. First made as the residence of Philip Johnson in 1949. He is the apostle of modern austere architecture.

APARTMENTS/FLATS

These are self contained multi-storeyed housing units. the lower floors are called basement suites and top floors are called pent houses. The small ones are called studios or Bachelor's Quarters. Here, many families dwell in the same building. most public facilities are common. Popular community living of present urban locales.


TOWER BLOCKS:

Also called residential towers, these are extremely tall high rise buildings. These are popular as dwellings since 1940 in dense urban environments.

ANTILLIA

This is the world's first billion dollar house and is on Malabar Hills at Mumbai. A 27 storeyed building, it is Mukesh Ambani's new residence for his single family. With a proposed construction cost of more than 2 billion dollars it has 3 helipads and 9 elevators.
For amazing pictures and a quick look click:
http://lifeisreallybeautiful.com/lifeisreallybeautifulandsuchawonder/antilia-mukesh-ambanis-palace/

Video shot covered by News tonight shared from you tube:

For complete details see links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilia_%28building%29
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2010/oct/13/mukesh-ambani-antilla-mumbai

ROLE OF PARENTS IN PRESENT EDUCATION SCENARIO

The Hindu Sunday Magazine carried a topic of great interest on 13th March 2011. Covering pages 1 and 4 of the supplement in three different articles, it highlights the misconception of parents towards English medium schools in Tamil Nadu in general and the trauma that parents undergo to get their kids admitted there.

In the background of a similar program in Kerala,the reading triggered a rewind of my experience few years back. The anxiety was just the same, so I quit the play!

Read along side with the conclusion of education reality show of Government of Kerala, entitled Haritha vidyalayam the write ups clearly underscores the success of working alternatives based on Activity Based learning at LP and Active Learning Methodology in UP sections of Government schools. Reverse migration and paradigm shifts are already recorded by the evaluations conducted in Tamil Nadu, by Planning Commission and NCERT.

Another recent compilation of the views of jury members and program coordinator during the Grand Finale published in the following link vibrates on the same tune. These have triggered many parents to think deep at least now.

http://calicutnet.com/articles/rajesh/harthavidyalya/harithavidyalaya_interview.htm

As the discrepancies are remedied and system promoted further let us strongly hope for a positive reverse migration in Kerala also.

Most of the experiences highlighted in the writeup referred to seemed a replication of exactly the scenario of any parent in a similar state in  Kozhikode (Calicut) also.

There are many reputed schools around the city. In most schools, admission procedures start during October this year for admissions to coming academic year.

Some of these schools release thousands of printed applications for hundreds of seats. As quoted in the write up, here also parents or representatives start the queue from the midnight of the day before issue of forms! Getting information on the exact date of issue of forms by itself is a blessing for the lucky fellows only.

Some other schools don't issue application forms. It is simple submission on white paper.

The range of "donations" as liquid and "secure deposits" are to the tune of  1 to 3 lakhs in the most prestigious schools. Education is indeed big business now. Ironically, most of these are run by missionaries who have made great contributions to our education scenario!

There are still other private schools and franchisees of established brands elsewhere trying their hands in the consumer state.

Some other private schools don't have hectic donations at the time of admissions; Oh!Thank God! No, dont be consoled....

They have a higher extent of term fees, ranging from 4-5000 INR per term. Most of these schools don't have recognition or lack adequately trained staff and some don't even have a good playground nor library nor laboratory.

I personally feel during discussion with other parents that even some of the policies at some centres are not even child friendly and so on...But who cares? rather who is responsible for this degradation and decay?

Its quite pathetic that this is happening in the elite literate state of Kerala !Ultimately each and every one of us are to be blamed!

Our education scenario, which should be handled with so much care and caution as they mould the citizens of tomorrow is expecting a revamp soon.

There is no written test for play school admission, but they observe kids for decent behaviour and etiquette! Of course the parents are interviewed!

For KG classes and higher levels, there is an undeclared screening test, which is mostly written.

While some schools evaluate the education background of parents; others are simply interested to observe the vehicle used by the family, the brand or cost range of dress materials used by family members, the model of the mobile phone used and so on; which are obvious indicators and symbols of status, at least  in the city.

From the parents view point, the selection and decision criteria are yet another. They seldom get all desired components in one place, so they prioritize and opt for the best of their choice. Those who consider finance as the criteria, opt accordingly; those who take Spoken English select accordingly; those who wish discipline as the standard select thus and those who prefer more participation in extra curricular activities go thus. Those who follow only prestige have no other option ! This varies from parent to parent ...

There is also a world school in Kozhikode now. Here the fees is in 10 multiples, as the name implies! Here kids are picked by the school vehicle and they are provided breakfast and lunch based on a variety menu at school itself. Kids are also trained on various extra curricular activities and taken on field trips also. It is indeed a blessing for employed mothers to enroll kids there, if they can meet the same. Also others who follow prestige and consider it as an esteem to enroll kids there try out that as the first choice.
Visit them at: http://sadhbhavanaschool.org/

Regarding schools in the general stream in Kozhikode, apart from Kendriya Vidyalaya and Nadakave Girls High School, I personally doubt whether there are any good ones at least in the city. So I enrolled my kids in a small adjacent private school.

The ones I visited thereafter because of my attraction to the DPEP and Activity based methods revealed a truly pathetic status.

Most schools didn't have well maintained roof's; adequate or good seating arrangements and some didn't have side walls (so that kids would get wet during rainy days) or good toilets (no doors) and so on. In most places the whole show was run by hand countable staff and in some places by the Ayahs who came to cook food.

I recalled my friends, who opted for teaching because it was the most lucrative career for girls.

One of my close friend used to say, there are innumerable benefits. A teacher need work only 150-180days a year unlike other government staff. The timing is also in tune with your kids, so taking care of the family during working days is also not a hectic task.  If posted in a different or difficult area, you have the privilege to avail leave.

I have seen other cases where alternate hands are employed by the Headmaster or Managers of aided schools on contract basis and the listed teacher derives salary from the Government and sits at home for personal reasons, but of course contributing to the wages of the recruited employee. They are invited to attend the school functions on days of inspection alone! Definitely the system has to function somehow...

These are not isolated cases and its as transparent as ever. but we have learnt to accept the same and adjust accordingly.

Education for our kids has become a matter of concern only for the parent. No school environment is perfect either.At least that's what I concluded from my personal survey six years ago.

The proximity of the school, the safety in transportation, the infrastructure, etc are some standards which we can observe and understand; but how about the qualification of staff (who changes every year in most private schools), the standard of education(all schools project only the repeatedly trained smart ones), the overall development of the children, no idea....

So as parents let us devote some time for our kids and try our best to engage qualified teachers where necessary to guide them (not as tuition but only facilitation and interactive learning) and otherwise keep the curiosity lit and lets just be with them....

Recently during one of my regular visit to CSE site, we came across the green school program in other states. If interested, read more about that at: http://www.cseindia.org/taxonomy/term/20071/menu

This made us search for an excellent green school and we came across one ... drop in to see the link of this school...http://www.greenschool.org/
Truly amazing...

The Rishi Valley school is yet another which kids aspire for... It is an epitome for Jiddu Krishnamurthy's vision on education.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishi_Valley_School


To conclude, let us positively hope for a transformation for better holistic education, accessible for common man and beneficial to build an upcoming generation that we can be proud of.

OUR HOME LIBRARY (PART II)

ENGLISH BOOKS FOR READ-BY-YOURSELF GROUP

The category Read by yourself is an elaborated version of many of the earlier fairy tales; classics etc which kids enjoy reading by themselves. Because children are familiar with most of the initial crisp summarized versions, they enjoy reading this type in simple lucid style and it automatically enhances their language ability.

OUR HOME LIBRARY (PART I)

Books are indeed a fascination that draws us like junkies…

Once into a bookstall, we seldom feel like coming out…

That’s the basic nature of book lovers.

Anybody who is interesting in reading would naturally have their own personal taste and my experience shows it’s the same with kids as well. I personally feel that the best way to kindle reading habit in children is to facilitate them to select books of their choice and help them understand the meanings or explain only when they seek help from us.

Simply let them enter the ocean of books and see them getting equipped all by themselves.

CHILDREN'S PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT- A CURTAIN RAISER

A talk by Shri.L.Gireeshkumar, Acharya, Shripuram Trust, Irinjalakuda on personality development of children. A must read for every parent to better understand their role and mould kids in accordance with their inborn talent instilling morale and values. Listening at leisure would help us retrace our roots... Any description in words would only belittle the effort...So,...

This video is an ice breaking session. Kids answer honestly and with confidence.Basic starting point: Why do you study?

This video searches for truth of sustained happiness. Here again we can see kids arriving at the answers all by themselves by minimum facilitation.

Video3 is on How to be happy ? What should we learn?
 Most attractive part is the explanation of meaning of rhymes...

This video instills values in a most touching manner. A must watch for modern parents...

What is the aim of education? How to achieve excellent results from limited resources? The track rather right path- it starts here...

This takes us to the true definition of Chatur Varnyam...the composition of a human self...

On the must do of Indian Culture...

This thrusts on the daily duties and rights of a human being in order to become a cultured person. It warrants that we should follow Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha; all 4 sutras, 5yajnas, 4 varnas and 4 ashramas - essence of the talk- for proper evolution of our self and gradual development of our personality, helping us submit ourslef for collective good will  which is inevitable for rejuvenating our degrading society...

Interactive session that establishes significance of truth and honesty, relates confidence, courage and success..MISSION WITH A VISION...

Brilliant questions from our upcoming generation...
Intelligence is that which tells you what to use when you don't know what to do...by Swiss Development Psychologist Jean Piaget has been linked or rather related well to the gem of mantras in Indian Tradition, Gayathri so beautifully explaining on intuitive intelligence...