INTERHOUSE ACTIVITIES....INTERHOUSE ACTIVITIES....

                                                                       by Kaagni Harekal of Std VI A ‘A’ school

It all started on my birthday. My mother was returning from the deserts of Egypt and she told that she had a surprise for me. What would it be? I thought may be a camel or my very own set of hieroglyphics. In any case, I was very excited and couldn’t wait for my mother to get home. Suddenly, the doorbell rang and in came my mother. She was holding a surprisingly big, blue, oval stone in her hand. I thought that it was a lapis lazuli chunk that she had brought for me. It was unnaturally pretty. Suddenly, a crackling noise was heard and the stone broke. Out popped a baby dragon.
My mother took one look at the dragon and another look at me. She said “Happy Birthday ! This is your gift” Now, I agree I wanted a pet, but how on earth could I handle a dragon ! ? ! I am an aspring writer and I decided to write a manual on how to tame and train a dragon. It would probably be very useful for another person fortunate (or unfortunate !) who gets a dragon.
Well, now we come to step 18, never ever leave your dragon free, when you are away at school, or you might just end up having to renovate your room. I learnt this valuable lesson a day after I got my dragon. I had just christened her Saphyra (Saphy for shout) and left for school. When I returned, I was surprised to see a fire engine and an ambulance in front of my house. I ran towards the nearest firefighter and asked him what had happened. It seemed that my room had
caught fire due to the sun. I knew it was highly improbable, and I realized who was the real culprit. It had to be Saphy! My room got renovated and after that I always tied Saphyra to a chain and put her into Mom’s best fireproof scratch proof cooker.

Lesson number 2 : Whatever you do, never play ‘fetch’? with your dragon. While I studying, I felt Saphy’s claws on my shirt. I pushed her off, but she kept clawing at me. Then, I had a brainwave and threw my Maths book out of the window, hoping that she would take the hind and play fetch with me that resulted in my math’s book vanishing and a very satisfying burp from Saphyra. Now, I had an excellent excuse not to submit my Maths homework; My dragon ate and burnt my homework. (like that will work !). Lesson no.3 : Always make sure that your dragon has not chewed your socks, or you may end up with one unwell dragon (who will take a dragon to a doctor !)and socks that stink of dragon breath (Trust me, you would never, ever want to smell that !)
Those are the three main lessons you must learn when you get a dragon. Others one never let it swim for too long, or all the water in you house may get polluted don’t let it dig, or you might have tunnel to China and some very angry neighbours. And always, let it fly at night. There is also another lesson that I learnt, that is more important than anything else. I learnt to love my little trouble makes. Saphy had to leave when she was two, as she had grown very big. I was very sad to see her go and also pitied the poor people who lived on farms and in jungles. They might just get to see a dragon, who might want them as her dinner. After Saphy left, I got a dog. I called her Saphyra Beta (two). I miss Saphy, but sometimes I can see a hug shape against the back ground of the moon. I always knew she was high flyer. Oh! And about my manual, I did write it an publish it too you, have just finished reading my very first manuscript.

I sneaked into the old abandoned house at the end of the street. I was surprised to find a small padlocked treasure chest on a dresser in a upstairs bedroom. There was a note that said, “DO NOT OPEN EVER !” I also noticed a small key hanging on a wall. I tried the key in the padlock it was a perfect fit! Before completely lifting the cover of the chest, I shivered with fright. I could not stop wondering what could be inside ever since I had seen that note on the cracked mirror. While entering the house, I had seen a reddish liquid on the floor; there was a small puddle of what seemed to be blood. After all the events of that spooky Halloween night, a cool chill ran down my shoulders and passed by my backbone. I felt numb, but finally gathered the courage to lift the cover of the chest, with pictures of skeletons and ghosts all over it. My eyes were shut tight. I opened one eye, and then the other. I started missing my friends, as they would have been eager to come here, as we had planned a week ago. The padlock chest was open in front of me. The weird part was that the only thing inside was a black piece of a paper in bold white letters, the piece of paper read, “OH, SO YOU ARE THE NOISY VISITOR WHO DARED TO OPEN THIS CHEST.WELL, SINCE YOU ARE ALREAY READING THIS NOTE, YOU ARE IN FOR A THRILL. IF YOU WANT TO MOVE ON, THROUGHT THIS SPOOKY HAUNTED HOUSE, THEN LOOK AT THE CLOSET TO YOUR RIGHT. “ I glanced to my right, and there it was, the closet it had a small broken mirror, and a key hanging from the lock. I came back to the note and continued reading. “WELL, THIS IS NOT ANY REGULAR CLOSET, IN WHICH YOU CAN RFIND TONS OF CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES. OPEN THE DOOR, AND STEP INSIDE. DO NTO FORGET TO KEEP MOVING, AND REMEMBER, BEWARE ?

This actually was getting better, and fun too! I folded the note and put it in my pocket. I was surprised when I opened the closet door. It was empty and large as well. I stepped inside when I unfolded the note, the letters were glowing. There was door behind me. I opened it, but is made a large screeching noise, as if it had not been opened for years. I looked back before continuing. I dreaded looking back, as there was a skeleton with bulging eyes. I got so scared that I almost tripped before running out of the closet. I ended up in a small yard, surrounded with gates. The trees and grass were looking very spooky. I noticed a red powder on the grass it seemed to form an arrow painting to a small outhouse ahead of me. As the note told me, I moved on. Now I was feeling very frightened, as the outhouse was covered with broken windows and cobwebs. I felt as if a spider crawled over my foot, so I ran into the outhouse. It was quite dark. In the blink of any eye, lights went on, I could here music and my friends shouted, “HAPPY HALLOWEEN !”, while showering me with candies and small gifts.

That day, I was so shocked and embarrassed, I could not think of what to say ? I was quite happy and surprised that my friends had gone to playing such a prank on me. Now, I knew why they had persuaded me to entering the haunted house, and making me so curious that I dared to enter alone !

The Evil Scientist
by Ishika Chakraborty of StdVIII A – Tagore house

I followed the evil scientist into a dark room. What I saw, I would never forget. My ingenious neighbour was standing in front of a laboratory table. Skills, tusks, skins, bones everything that would make one feel sick lay on the table. On the man’s fare, I could see the same, terrible malicious menacing smile, that made me shudder. It made me want to run away, get as far as possible from that cursed peace. Yet, I watched, my resolve was unchangeable. He picked up the remains of innocent creatures, tossed them carelessly in a boiling pot (as if he were throwing sort into water) and gave a short. The kind one gives when he is glad of his solitude. Then, he spitted into the pot, another addition to his ingredients.
That was enough, rather, it was more than enough to make a thirteen year old girl never fail. I felt my senses give away, I felt the numbness of my feet. They gave away and that was the last thing I remember of that night. A week later………….
I sit on my bed now, trying to nail down every moment of the past seven days. They are two precious to be forgotten.
Six days earlier. I found myself lying on a cot, the only thing that would pass off as furniture in the room I was in. As soon as I opened my eyes, she knew that this was not my room. The next ten seconds passed, and I remembered myself fainting. After few minutes, I knew exactly where I was and who has me. Before my thoughts could take off.
“Good morning clear!”, a voice came booming into the room. The evil scientist looked different now, nearly human. His hair was washed and geued, he wore a plain safari suit (the reason clicked in my head). He was smoking a pipe and looked as guiltlers as innocent man could be. “I apologize for the accommodations, but you see, one like me does not have a big bank balanced”. He smirked and winked delightfully at me. “Leave me alone, you” ------

“Ah! my dear, hold your breathe for a while won’t you, I seem to have some – un- obstructions in my way”, with that, he disappeared ending our abrupt introduction. I had not missed the sudden nervousness that had crept into his fare just moments after he worked in. I wondered what could be the matter. I crept on that bed, wondering why I was not tied to it and ginned as I thought of the scientist saying – “what harm can a tiny teenager do”? – so adult ! I worked out the door, knowing hat the moment of truth was just a few minutes away – would I survive if I found something I am not supposed to ? Would I be able to care for help if I needed it? Pushing these thoughts away, I continued down the passage. On my right I could see a bedroom events furnished below the passage, leading down the stairs was the hall, straight ahead on my left was the laboratory. My feet suddenly seemed to be made stone; I would hardly move. Then, I thought of freedom – of fresh air and some strength seemed to return to my limbs. The door was open, and beyond it was the evil scientist. I imagined another horror scene …….but it never came………
“So, that was about it”, Uncle Al finished his story. “Fancy a girl like you, thinking so much of an old mad man, like me !.
He had told me everything, how he had found animal remains in a forest, how he had decided to use them for his experiment, an experiment that keep in building a product for mankind’s own good, how the smell of the chemicals had made him want to resign right at that moment, I came in and fainted and he took me to an empty room, not knowing of my whereabouts. Uncle was working on a project, today morning he had ignited the pet containing the mixtures, in hope of attaining a chemical. While talking to me, he felt that smell again and all his hopes had faded, then on adding just a bit of chlorine to the mixture, he got it ! Ho, attained the strange chemical (the properties of which I would never grasp) and was laughing with delight at this mistake and its outrageously simple solution, when I entered his laboratory again. That was it ! That was all there was! The evil scientist was dead, a fragment of my imagination……… I was terribly frustrated at my foolishness. Grooming I muttered – “ empty vessels make more noise”, before we realized uncle Al and I were both guffawing away.

Report of Tiger Fest
by Kaagni Harekal of Std VI A ‘A’ School

The Tiger Fest was conducted by Kids for Tigers on the 27th of February at Maharashtra Nature Park. As it was my first time at the competition, we were very excited. I was taking part in the Game stall, along with my friends Lamiya, Aishwarya, Tanak, Mihir and Varun. We all were very proud that we were given the opportunity to conduct the game stall. There were many great competitions like puppet show, quiz, slogan writing, poster making and rangoli making. There was even a clay-making workshop and many children made wonderful objects.

Other schools had put up many wonderful stalls. There were some very exciting games, and when we were not at the stall, we enjoyed ourselves and played games. The ‘B’ school had a very interesting board game and it was appreciated by everyone. Our game stall was also frequently visited and everyone liked our game. Apart from schools, many other NGOs also set up their stalls. Some of them were Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness, Welfare of Stray animals and Eureka Forbes Institute of Environment. There was also a stall where you could vote for the new national animal. They had organized wonderful stalls, showing ways of conserving water, traffic rules and ways to prevent rabies

An Interactive Session with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
by Semanti Ray, XI – D

The 15th of April, 2009 saw Jamanbai Narsee School organizing an interactive session between the ex-president of the country – Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam and students from various schools across Mumbai. Our school, Lilavatibai Podar Senior Secondary School was among the lucky few schools which received an invite to the event. Five students from std.XI – Sampoorna, Ayan, Rohit, Rohan and I accompanied by our teacher Mrs. Renita D’Silva had the great honour and privilege of representing our school at this event. Learning about this tremendous opportunity, the five of us had prepared ourselves by reading up on Dr. Kalam and his views and achievements and also come up with important questions to ask him.

The programme began at 12 noon, at Bhaidas Hall with the arrival of Dr. Kalam. The school choir sang the JNS anthem followed by a performance of the Ganesh Stuti by six students from the school. Dr. Kalam was presented with tokens of appreciation by the students of the school and invited to address the eager audience. He spoke about his vision for a developed India by 2020, empowerment of the youth and most importantly belief in self, to achieve one’s dreams and goals. He spoke about the meaning of knowledge and the importance of righteousness in the heart. As he said, “Righteousness in the heart leads to beauty in the character, beauty in the character brings harmony in the home, harmony in the home leads to order in the nation and order in the nation leads to peace in the world.” He also stressed on the important role that teachers play in moulding the character and performance of the students and thus building the nation’s future. The entire auditorium took an oath to fulfill their duties in building a developed India where everyone may be self-reliant, live in peace, safety and harmony. After his stirring and inspirational speech, he invited queries from the audience. He answered questions regarding religion, what inspired him and the mindset of the youth of the nation. Unfortunately we were able to ask our questions as we had not known that they had to be sent in beforehand. However, it had been a wonderful experience and one, which I am sure none of us will forget in a hurry. As we went back to school after the event, the thought that was foremost in our minds, was a desire to live up to Dr. Kalam’s expectations and do our bit to fulfill the dream of a developed India.

On 14 April, 2009, Lilavatibai Podar Senior Secondary School hosted a career guidance workshop for the students of Std 11 and 12 of the commerce and humanities s workshop was titled “Commerce – a mable and enterprising career option”. The research person was Mr. Bhaskar (IDBI Manager). The main topics of discussion were :-

• Career Options after Std 12
• Effect of Recession.

The workshop started with Mr. Baskar addressing the students. He told the students to analyze themselves i.e realize what they like doing and what they are best at. This is the first step that one should take while choosing a career.

After this analysis, Mr. Baskar spoke about all the available career options like M.B.A, C.A stock broker etc. He also mentioned the best institutes for these various degree courses. After having an interactive session with the students on career options Mr. Basker spoke about the current economic scenario-recession. He enlightened the students on the ways that various governments are opting for, to get out of this economic state. The students got a chance to learn a lot of new things and a number of terms used in the economy and in the business.
At the end of the workshop, all the students were handed over a questionnaire which had questions based on all the topics that the students had earlier discussed with Mr. Baskar.
Over all, it was a very enriching experience us, and at the end of it, each of them was a little more sure, about the career that they would choose.