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P
October 2012
Issue: 9
Pathways to
P
NEW BEGINNINGS
It is, on one hand, a moment of great pride and glory that as Pathways World School, Aravali
enters its tenth year of existence, we have received the delightful recognition in the recently
conducted 'Education World' Survey as the 5th Best International School in the country and
the top most International School in the NCR! On the other hand, it comes as no surprise to
many of us long associated with Pathways. Such fruits have only been borne because of the
untiring collaborative efforts of all stakeholders and the very ethos of the organisation; an
ethos that celebrates innovation and quality and welcomes challenges as a pathway to
further learning, growth and development. We hope our success stories lie in not just survey
results, but in the hearts of the students, whose lives we aim to make a difference to! As we embark on our further journey
of making the school an even better place, we usher in changes as a constant factor in life. We welcome the new
Principal, Ms. Meenakshi Singal, with her newer ideas and varied perspective; we welcome the little ones from Early
Years to their own new, warm and cosy space in the Nile Building; we welcome new challenges and the achievements
that tail them; and above all, we welcome the ever-growing number of new students and their families who have entrusted
their faith in this very spirit of Pathways Aravali. Let us together make a difference!
INDEX
Page
Director’s message Pg 1
Principal’s message Pg 1
Editorial Pg 1
The reading programme Pg 2
Home room mornings Pg 2
New Spaces Pg 3
PPP event Pg 3
News from the classrooms Pg 3
IB PYP News Pg 4
PPP: Farewell Pg 4
Walking the talk Pg 4
PPP: Welcome Pg 4
Understanding IB PYP Pg 5
Speak up: Student Council Pg 5
Dr. Sarvesh Naidu
School Director
EDITORIAL: NEW BEGINNINGS
“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate
ourselves, otherwise we harden.”
by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
These words have been a great inspiration to all of us at
Primary School, as we embrace, not only a new
academic year, but also welcome a landmark 10th year
of our journey at Pathways Aravali. We also welcome
the new Primary School, Principal, who with her warmth
and charm has blended in beautifully into the school.
We also have a fresh impetus under her vision and
guidance, to reach out to the community at large, more
and more. Thus, in the last couple of months, there have
been numerous interactions with schools, through
community service, participation in inter school events
and interacting with noted personalities. We are
planning to enrich our programme further with more
such exchanges and visits that will not only instill greater
confidence in our students but also nurture them as truly
lifelong and independent learners. Read more to find out
about all the exciting happenings over the last two
months! As our achievements get reassuring recognition
from two recently held surveys, placing us in the top
notch amongst international schools in
India and the NCR, we only aim to
strive harder and scale newer heights.
Cheers to new beginnings!
“Though no one can go back and make a
brand new start, anyone can start from now
and make a brand new ending.” Carl Bard
Many of you who have dropped into my room over the past two months have probably read
this quote displayed in my room. I do believe that it is never too late in life to make a New
Beginning. It is the excitement of challenge and change that is invigorating and energising.
A school makes its investment in its students, and there has been a strong commitment by
the leadership and staff to nurture the ethos of the school and create an environment that
encourages curiosity and analytical thinking, inspiring students to exceed their own
expectations. As the school enters the tenth year of its existence, and a new academic year,
the commitment to the principles of PYP are reinforced in classrooms and outside. The
teaching staff use their warmth and wisdom to create a fine balance of skills and
sportsmanship that allows each student to explore, experience and suggest alternatives.
The effort and the work by the students and teachers are clearly visible, and audible, as one
walks into classrooms and down the corridors of the school. In this edition, we attempt to
share and celebrate some of the
outstanding work that has been
accomplished in school, in the past
two months, so we are able to walk
this journey together, …… for our
child.
Abhimanyu Das Gupta,
Editor - in - chief
PYP Coordinator
Meenakshi Singal,
Principal, Primary School

THE READING PROGRAMME
“No matter how busy
you may think you
are, you must find
time for reading, or
surrender yourself to
self-chosen ignorance.”
Confucius
The beginning of a new academic
year and we resume the good
practice we began last year ‘The
Reading Programme’. This
initiative has been taken to expose
children to the world of books and
inculcate in them the love for
reading. Here at Nile, we have
quite a few parent volunteers from
each grade level, taking time out of
their busy schedules to come and
support us with our objective. We appreciate the parental
involvement and the fun activities planned by them. Children
enthusiastically look forward to these sessions when they snuggle
up and expand their imagination to explore the world unknown.
Shilpa Narang
NEW MUSIC ROOMS
Home Room Mornings
Home Room Mornings provide a platform for the first formal interaction
between the parents, the teachers and the school. To meet, to bond, to
understand and create a beautiful relationship with the school is what
sums up the Home Room Mornings. Amidst the hustle bustle of the
reopening of the school, Home Room Mornings for all grades were
organised in the month of August. Home Room Morning presentations
were led by the Home Room Tutors of the respective grades. Following
an ice breaking activity a brief outline of what an IB education entails was
shared. Specialist teachers from different departments as well as the
curriculum outlines were also introduced. Other information related to
assessments, class blogs, homework, communication policy, transport
rules, birthday policies, upcoming events like camps was also provided.
Alka Balain
T h e t w o n e w Music Rooms in the P r i m a r y S c h o o l
(Panini) and Early Years (Nile) provide a nurturing environment to engage the
children with the finest PYP Music education at Pathways World School,
Aravali. With a range of percussion, string, key and electronic instruments as
well as versatile instruments such as xylophones, keyboard, dzembe, and
junior drums, students are provided with the very best exposure in music.
These facilities will surely give the students greater opportunities for
exploration and hands on experiences and will thus, enhance their musical
abilities.
Jim Elvin
Nile, is not just a new set up for us but a new home for all of us; a place,
which gives us a sense of belonging and personal space. This cozy set
up has brought our small community of learners, students and adults
closer and has enhanced our working environment.
The sound of the scurrying footsteps, innocent conversations and
laughter has brought life into Nile and given us an identity of our own.
Each day at Nile is a day of celebration, birthdays, events and
ceremonies which keep the building abuzz with vibrancy.
September 17th, 2012, was a special day for us as our building was formally inaugurated by the gracious
hands of our Founder and Chairman, Mr. Pramod Jain. Our little ones showcased their talent through
dance and song performances, which were appreciated by all guests and dignitaries.
We are confident that this new learning space will enable us to create richer experiences for our little
ones and will contribute to building and strengthening a positive learning environment for all.
Monica Bhimwal
Early Years Coordinator
Meet and Greet
This year's Meet and Greet (MAG) Event, hosted jointly by the School and the
Pathways Parent Partnership (PPP) was held in the Multi-purpose Hall in Panini
Event
on Tuesday, 18th September, 2012.
The event was organised by the 'MAG' team who painstakingly worked hard at
planning
and executing the event which turned out to be a very successful and enjoyable occasion.
The walls and ceilings, were adorned with Stars and Planets which was also part of the theme of the entire event. The
session opened with an ice breaker game under the theme of Planets, followed by an opening address by our President
Pratibha Kedia. She outlined the purpose of the PPP and the importance of the strong partnership with the school. A
presentation was shared, capturing the essence of the PPP and showcasing the events held over the last year and
celebrating the spirit of Pathways.
Dr. Naidu's address, highlighted the growth of Pathways over the years culminating to its 10th anniversary this year. This he credited to the students
themselves with their unique experiences and the different Nationalities that they represent, the excellent teaching team, the unique location and
learning environment the school offers. Ms Meenakshi Singal, Principal was then invited to share her thoughts and she was keen to encourage and
nurture the partnership between the Parents and the School. She stressed on its significance and priority within Pathways. She also emphasised and
encouraged open communication and encouraged feedback, both negative and positive.
A fun quiz focussed 'around the school' followed which brought about much competition and enthusiasm among the 4 teams. The event concluded with
high tea provided by Sodexo.
A successful event, well organised by the MAG team comprising of Team Leaders- Sharmila Naresh, Tushi Sardana, Jacky Ouseph, Divya Kapur and
Ami Popat, assisted by Advisory members, Preeti Malik and Manavi Ghosh. They were supported by Ami Shukla and Caroline Gowlett.
The event was enjoyed by all for the informative and fun session that it was intended to be.
Caroline Gowlett,
Secretary PPP

The students of Grade 4 showcased their
understanding of the central idea of the unit
under the TD theme 'Who we are' through a
Health Fest. It was a celebration of the students'
learning as they shared information regarding
factors affecting health with other classes.
Exhibits
like posters and
charts were on
display in
Corridors. There were stations for
each factor affecting health. The
students' work from the entire unit
was showcased at the Health
Fest.
Shelly Singh & Priya
We have just finished our first unit under the
transdisciplinary theme "Who we are" and
covered health and healthy choices. A lot of
student action has emerged, ranging from a
simple act of selecting the healthy food
HEALTH
consciously, to adding lots of vegetables and fruits
in their meal. The students have started avoiding
soft aerated drinks and started taking fresh juice or
buttermilk. They came to know about the importance of protein and
tried to make a healthy platter for themselves. They have become so
conscious about eating fried and oily food, hygiene, exercise that
students consciously spread awareness amongst the adults to prevent
diseases. They also understood
how to maintain a balance between
work and fun and the importance of
sleeping on time.
CHOOSE
Kushaagra 's Robot
Action is the manifestation
of learning. It is the outcome of
the learning
process and is generally initiated by the
students. The unit 'Cyber Speaks' which is a technology based unit and
falls under the transdisciplinary theme 'How we express ourselves'
inspired Kushaagra Kapoor of 5x to share the robot he had created, with
the rest of the class. The name of his robot is ALFAREX , Alfa for short.
He is a humanoid form, standing at the height of 13 inches. He is made
up of over a thousand parts which include connectors, beans, axles, the
NXT software, wires and sensors. It took him more than 8 hours to put
him together. Kushaagra liked assembling the robot and also enjoyed
programming him to do things like walk, dance and move his hands.
Priya Jayant
Kushaagra's robot was one such
effort to combine the mechanical,
electronic, electrical and
programming skills into creating a
multitasking device which in many
areas have replaced humans and
increased work efficiency.
Shalini Ranjan
IB New PYP initiatives NEWS
at NINS
The member schools of the PYP North India Network of Schools (NINS)
met for their 8th meeting on Friday, 21st September, 2012 at the Genesis
Global School, NOIDA. The network had an important agenda to discuss;
a new initiative at the network level. Details of the network's 1st Job
Alike Session were discussed by those present, leaving us with a great
sense of achievement. The date
has been fixed for 8th
December, and we hope it will
turn out to be a meaningful meet
for teachers from the member
schools. More details will be
shared soon!
Abhimanyu Das Gupta,
Chairperson, PYP NINS
ONLINE WORKSHOP
Online training is a tool through which a learner can enhance
his/her knowledge and skills. This is a very important platform for
the IB learner community. The online training started on 12th
September, 2012 for a duration of 6 weeks and consists of 6
modules covering all the aspects of TD learning and PYP with a lot
of learning engagements that help a learner to actively participate
and broaden his/her knowledge horizon.
PYP A LEARNING COMMUNITY
Monica Bhimwal, Early Years Coordinator, was invited by
the IB as workshop leader at the Scottish High International
School, Gurgaon. It was a two day intensive workshop on
familiarizing a group of fifty participants with the Primary Years
Programme and entailed sharing of good classroom practices
and strategies, which could benefit the students and the
teachers in the learning process.
Monica Bhimwal
Early years Coordinator
Getting the opportunity to be a part of
online workshop is a very enriching
and exciting experience for me. My
training is about “Transdisciplinary
learning in classroom”. An informative
workshop which has expanded my
horizons of learning.
Prachi Khanna
Ritu Sehgal
The Online workshop has proved a
thrilling and exciting experience for
me. My workshop is for ‘’Making PYP
happen in the classroom” It provides
me a feel and exposure of international
level PYP education. I am extremely
grateful to my organization in
extending this excellent learning

Pathways Parent Partnership
An amazing year has gone by. As I sit to pen down my thoughts, I am immensely proud of what the Partnership has achieved over the last year, and
I am tremendously grateful that I have been able to play some role in its evolution and success.
My belief that the Partnership has an indispensable role to play in the coming years is unwavering and I am confident that the rationale, and
objectives of the collaborative strategy adopted by the PPP last year provide a strong framework for the Partnership in the years to come.
At the onset, I would like to thank the School Management, Primary School Teachers and Support Staff for their unparallel support extended to the
Partnership.
Without the continued encouragement & support from Dr. Naidu that I have seen in action, PPP could not make such impact. His thoughts and
ideas for supporting the less privileged have been a tremendous source of personal inspiration.
In the brief time since the start of this term, I have been fortunate to have meaningful interactions with Ms. Meenakshi Singal. I share the confidence
expressed by many parents, that in her, we have an able Administrator, who welcomes suggestions and will strive to bring improvements keeping
our children at the center of it all. I thank her for extending her support and acknowledging the critical areas of concern raised by the PPP.
I can never forget Ms. Rima Singh and thank her enough for her guidance and support extended to the PPP last year.
PPP is a magical place - of that there is no doubt. But we do still face challenges. I suppose it's a lot like a day at the beach - magical and amazing!
But then there is also the sunburn, the scratchy sand in your costume, cold water, hot sand… We can look for the obstacles and it will spoil our day
at the beach. Or we can look for the stepping-stones - and it will be magical!
Like in any small or big team, at PPP we continuously face challenges - how we view them defines us! Do we choose to see the challenges as
stepping-stones or as obstacles?
I believe that if we choose to see them as obstacles, then the challenges we face will be viewed as problems - problems that need to be overcome
along with all the negative connotations associated with problems. A great deal of wasted energy can be spent focusing on a negative mindset.
We at the PPP however, choose to see challenges as stepping-stones - opportunities that we have encountered along the way for us to use, to
"step on" so that we can achieve more, develop further and ultimately actualize more of our goals!
During the last year, we tried to create a team whereby our name became synonymous with respect, excellence, innovation, honor, integrity and
outstanding quality.
We had a kaleidoscope of parents different in so many ways. We saw this diversity as a stepping-stone. We tried to focus on the individuals'
strengths and use their strengths in a very goal-directed niche within our teams.
We have been blessed to attract an extraordinarily talented group of parents who believe passionately in humanistic ideals. Working together, they
have created an environment where people and relationships are cherished and one where each PPP Family member can experience a personal
sense of belonging. I believe this makes us a truly special kind of team.
I sincerely thank all Core & Working Committee and Advisory Board members of the PPP for their commitment to the Partnership. Each and every
person working in the teams makes a direct and invaluable contribution to our children. It has been a true privilege to work with such a committed,
diverse and talented group of people.
I believe that THEY are the reason for the Partnership to gain its visibility and success today. My heartfelt gratitude to each one of my Team
members.
In closing, I would like to share a quote of Warren Buffet when he said, “Someone is sitting in the shade today because
someone planted a tree a long time ago.” In our case, this tree was planted by the founder PPP team, and since then, every
small effort made within the Partnership, in collaboration with the school, has nurtured our 'Value Tree' enabling it to shelter our
children in their formative years.
I congratulate our new PPP Team for the year 2012 2013. I am confident that with your support, they will continue to carry the
Partnership flag with compassion, responsibility and grace.
It is with great pleasure I welcome you to the Pathways Parent Partnership (PPP) community. This being
a special “decennium” year I am looking forward to your active participation in the interesting activities we
Preeti Malik
undertake as we pursue our goal to support & strengthen our partnership with the school so that children
learn & experience delight at school.It is the PPP's aim is to build an involved, interactive and cooperative
Pathways parents community where concerns & suggestions are addressed by working closely with the school in a positive & constructive
atmosphere.
A quick recap: It all began four years ago with few volunteer parents coming together to meaningfully collaborate with the school in many activities to
increase interaction between themselves. Some of these activities grew to become popular and have now become regular calendar events.
The PPP collaborations extends to each grade in primary school where it works with parent coordinators / teacher to address the issues raised by
parents on the one hand, and, on the other hand, also works with them to get parent volunteers to successfully participate, plan and help execute
children events. Some of the calendar events popularly being pursued by the PPP are:
Meet and Greet where new parents are welcomed to the Pathways family. This gives the new parents an opportunity to meet other parents and
understand the school environment in an informal setup. Breaking the ice if you like.
The Make a Difference Day is an endeavor to relive and experience the IB learners profile 'Caring', by extending our
support to the under privileged. Events such as this, allow our children to understand and appreciate the significance of
their contributions to environment and lives of many children around them.
The Reading Program jointly conducted by the school and the partnership has been a big success. Several parents
volunteer each week to come forward and read to their respective grades. The Used Book Fair is a reflection of our
commitment to promote the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and also the Reading culture in our children, by way
of recycling used books within the Pathways community. All collections received from the Used Book Fair are used for
funding other PPP endeavors like the Make A Difference Day and Staff Appreciation Day.
Staff Appreciation Day The PPP helps children express their gratitude to their teachers and support staff, who work
tirelessly each day to create a joyous learning experience for them. The Staff Appreciation Day is a small way to thank
them for their efforts.
Pratibha Sandeep Kedia
President- Pathways Parent Partnership 2012-2013
To take their learning about healthy practices HALF MARATHON- FULL ENTHUSIASM
further, in conjunction with their unit based on
Health, Nolan Rohl and Samarth Chopra from Grade
4 participated in a Half Marathon organized by the residents of
Nirvana last month. They were up at the crack of dawn, full of
enthusiasm to run the marathon. They were so energetic and determined that they were able to
motivate the elders to run in the marathon. At the end of the marathon, Nolan was able to complete
2.5 kms and Samarth ran the entire marathon course completing a distance of 7.5 kms.
Kudos to the kids!
Devika Elvin &Priya Jayant

UNDERSTANDING IB
KEY CONCEPTS
The word concept is defined in the dictionary as, a general idea derived or inferred from specific
instances or occurrences. IB PYP describes concepts as powerful ideas that have relevance within
the subject areas and also transcend them such that students must explore and re-explore to
develop a coherent, in-depth understanding.
The eight key PYP concepts generate a set of questions which forms the basis of student inquiry
acting as a provocation. These concepts FORM, FUNCTION, CAUSATION, CHANGE,
CONNECTION, PERSPECTIVE, RESPONSIBILITY and REFLECTION not only structure the
inquiry, but also enable both students and teachers to stay on track. Each inquiry is governed by two
or three key concepts and a related concept under each key concept, thus enabling the students to focus on their area of learning.
The questions governing the key concepts are simple and easy to apply in all one sees around. For example it would not be difficult to inquire on a
simple object like a clock using all the eight key concepts. FORM - What does a clock look like? FUNCTION- What are the major functions of a clock?
CAUSATION - Why was there a need for a clock? CHANGE - How have clocks changed over time? CONNECTION - How is a clock connected to our
daily life? PERSPECTIVE- What would a day without a clock look like? RESPONSIBILITY - What are our responsibilities in managing time effectively?
REFLECTION- How could I change my schedule to manage time effectively? All these questions, related to the eight key concepts, would enable one
to inquire about clocks in a structured manner.
So what are you waiting for? Pick up any object around you and go ahead in making your understanding concept based.
Malini Ghosh
Grades 2,3,4 Coordinators
SPEAK
UP
Becoming a part of the Student Council has been one of the most exciting
experiences of my life till now. It was humbling to be elected the Captain of
Water House. It is a great feeling to see the trust my teachers and
friends have in me. It made me proud to be holding the Water House
flag and wear my House Captain badge at the Investiture. The captaincy has
given me a whole new set of responsibilities and I am learning how to
manage them. I hope to be a good role model for the younger ones while
meeting the expectations set by my peers and mentors.
I am very pleased to be
Head Girl this year. I have great, hardworking teammates, and I know
that with team work everything is possible. We may have ups and downs
just like life, but I feel confident enough to say that we will balance all
the weights thrown at us. The teachers expect more than
responsibility, they expect us to take our task to another level and
work with our friends. I really love being a Council member. I have to
admit it is a little daunting because, you have to always be the best you
Sofia Fajardo
can possibly be and can never give up, as the whole of Primary looks up
Mihir Sadana
to us. Being a Council member is going to be an amazing journey.
I feel
really happy that the whole Primary School
It is a big responsibility being a council
chose me to be Earth House Captain. Being a
member and at the same time the senior
council member is not easy because you miss
most class in Primary School. This year will be
classes and teachers expect you to be more
full of excitement and a lot of hard work.
responsible. But I have learned to overcome
that with the help of other council members
and non-council members. I think being a Council
member requires me to be more disciplined
I was very excited
and responsible and I am loving the challenge.
when I was elected
Aliya Mahajan
to be a member of
the Student Council.
In the last few weeks I have had an opportunity to participate in two
important functions: the Teacher's Day celebration and the inauguration
of Nile. In these functions, I enjoyed my interaction with PPP (Pathways
Parent Partnership) members and the members of the school board. I
also like helping maintain discipline in the Primary School. I am looking
Aryan sharma
forward to participating in more Council activities in the future.
Abhinav Jain
For any questions or feedback, do write to the Chief Editor at abhimanyu.dasgupta@pathways.in
EDITORIAL TEAM
Chief Editor: Abhimanyu Das Gupta, PYP Coordinator
Editors: Renu Kaushal, Kavita Reigo
Content Coordinator: Monica Bhimwal, Malini Ghosh
Designer: Isha Joshi
IT Support: Jim Elvin
With the support of Ms. Meenakshi Singal
(Principal, Primary School)
www.google.co.in is the source for some images.