Selling Greeting Cards

Date: 18 December 2013

Criteria of CAS – Service

Approximate time - 2 hours

Venue – D Y Patil International School, Nagpur

“Art is making something out of nothing and selling it.” - Frank Zappa

After making so many beautiful greeting cards, now it was time to sell them. This was a new challenge for me. The money we generated from this would be spend for a good cause. I and my classmate Tanmay Tembhurne sat with our art teacher and decided the price of every card.

We divided cards in to categories to decide the prices. After that we arranged the room with all cards with respect to their categories. Our art teacher Mrs. Deepshri Halve gave each one of us responsibility of one segment. I was given responsibility of most expensive cards in the range and plus I had to keep a record of every sale. I tried to show perseverance and commitment in this activity. I took this as an opportunity and tired my best. We did this activity for 2 days, 1 hour each day. By god’s help and our hard work we sold all cards in these two days.

Making Greeting cards

Criteria of CAS – Creativity

Approximate time - 8 hours

Venue – D Y Patil International School, Nagpur

Date: 2 - 12 December 2013

Our target is to make 100-150 cards and then sell them to raise funds to help poor children.

Day1

We planned the activity and made a timetable for it. We requested our art teacher Mrs. Deepshri Halve to teach us, to make greeting cards. Today she taught us to make various simple type of greeting cards. I practiced by making 2-3 cards of every sample. Making greeting card is a very creative and difficult, as it requires great concentration. Today I gave 2 hours in this activity and made 4 finished greeting cards.

Day 2

Today I was prepared for the job. We tried something new, we worked collaboratively and divided our work. We worked as an assembly line. Everyone got different responsibilities.

I was given responsibility of cutting the paper and giving it form of a greeting card. I and Tanmay worked very fast Today I gave 2 hours on this activity.

Day 3
Today I worked with Himanshu Halve and Rucha Verma  in decoration department. This was a new challenge for me, as I had no experience in this. My classmates and art teacher helped me. Art and craft requires patience. Today while making greeting card i made many mistakes but after that I didn't. Today I gave 2 hours in this activity.

Day 4
Today my classmate Himanshu Halve learned quelling, so I took his place in the assembly line. The work was to take all the raw material and make greeting cards. This activity needed dedication and commitment. Today I gave 2 hours in this activity and completed my target of 10 cards.

Teaching poor kids

Date: 4 September to 8 October 2013

Criteria of CAS – Service

Approximate time - 8 hours

Venue – D Y Patil International School, Nagpur

“The one exclusive sign of thorough knowledge is the power of teaching.” – Aristotle

Our CAS coordinator introduced this activity to us, believing we can help our society. Teaching is a great service in itself, and educating poor children is one of the best thing you can for our society. We planned the activity with her, she divided us into groups and gave us responsibilities of different classes.

4 September 2014

I was very excited for this because this was my first teaching experience of my life. We welcomed the tiny tots by giving flowers to them. As today was the first class, I introduced myself and spoke to the children about their interest (just to get comfortable with them). I asked them what they have learnt till now. They didn’t even knew alphabets correctly. So I started with alphabets and gave them homework, to rewrite what we studied in today’s class. Today I gave 2 hours for this activity.

17 September 2014

I was happy that they did their homework. Today I taught them numbers. I was an amazing experience, watching these small kids learning and understanding everything so fast. I taught easiest application of numbers, counting things. I took few cubes and made them count the number of the cubes. We also showed them educational stories and explain them moral of the story. I am very committed to this job now. Today I gave 2 hours for this activity.

24 September 2014

I planned the activities for today. I wanted them to learn the most important factor of education, application. I started with the mathematcis, with help of cubes I taught them addition and subtraction. I gave few simple sums for homework. Today I gave 2 hours for this activity.

1 October 2014

Today I cleared the difficulties they in their homework. We taught them painting and craft. They painted with happiness and passion. They all made a hand print with paint. Today was a day of fun plus studies. Today I gave 2 hours for this activity.

8 October 2014

Today, I took their test on what I have been teaching, alphabets and numbers. My students were very much scared because of test. But they all scored good grades. After that I taught them simple words, like apple, ball, cat, dog etc. They learnt everything with ease. By this activity I have also learned something that talent can be found anywhere. If these kids get educated, they can become great personalities. Everything is about resources, I am thankful to school for giving us this opportunity to do such great work. Teaching is a new skill I have developed. I hope I will continue teaching these kids and help them become good human beings.  This was a new challenge I undertook. Today I gave 2 hours for activity and completed 8 hours.

Learning Gardening

Date: 1 - 6 October 2013 

Criteria of CAS – Service

Approximate time - 8 hours

Venue – D Y Patil International School, Nagpur

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” - Luther Burbank

1 October 2014 : Gardening is a very popular hobby and people do it to connect with nature. In our school campus we have a huge garden area. Our CAS coordinator suggested that we should learn gardening, as it makes us a better human being. So we planned the activity and asked our gardener and Vijaylaxmi ma'am to be our mentors. With our two mentors we today spent 2 hours in this activity. Our gardener gave us a round of whole garden area and explained how everything is done. As our first day we learnt technique of pulling out weed from our garden. I believe gardening is a new skill I am developing.

Our School's Gardener

2 October 2014: Today I learned about planting saplings. Our gardener took us to the empty are of our garden. He taught us how it is done.

1] Take a suitable shovel and dig a hole that is 4-5 times the width of the root ball, more than enough so it will fit, and give room for the fresh roots to grow without stress. This lets the roots ease in more easily and begin to grow outwards into the soil. No need to cut off the wire root basket if there is one, the roots will grow through and it will prevent damage to the root ball during planting.

2] Place the sapling into the hole gently. Be sure the hole isn't too deep or too shallow. The ground level of the plant in the pot should match up with the ground level after you fill the hole in. Do not bury the sapling or leave any roots exposed.

3] Refill the soil and water it.

3 October 2014: Today I learned how to take care of Bedded flowers.

First thing we need to do is protect them from pests.

Second thing important thing is protecting them from sunlight. Most of the flowers don’t need sunlight, so excess of sunlight can harm your hard work.

Third thing is pulling out weed. Weed can take all resources from your flowers and can make them dry.

Forth important thing is deadhead, prune and disbud. We need to cut the over grown branches and cut excess flowers.

Today I spent 2 hours in this activity.

6 October 2014: Today I learned how to cut grass from the lawn. Our gardener a lawn mower, taught us how to push it and move it all around the lawn. It was a herculean task and  to move that lawn mower, as it is very heavy and after sometime grass get stuck in it. Today we worked for 2 hours.

Medical Camp

Activity Started - 9:30 am

Activity Ended - 2:30 pm

Approximate Time - 5 hours

Criteria of CAS - Service

“Next us” a group of young men who always volunteer to help the poor, this guys are not rich by money but by heart, organized free Medical Camp for poor people which was sponsored by no one but them and we students of D. Y. Patil International School volunteered and participated to help them for organizing the event and assisting doctors.

“Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, 'What's in it for me?'” - Brian Tracy

The Camp was set-up on Plot no. 07, Sonegaon, Nagpur; I reached there by my cycle. As everybody got there “Next us” members divided us and gave us our duties, my job was to assist Dr. Preeti Meshram she is an Ophthalmologist (a doctor specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases). First I helped her to set-up clinic for her by keeping chairs and table and pasting eye-check charts on walls and keeping all things she need for check-up. We started and there was a long queue of people holding forms, waiting for their check-up. The first patient we got his problem was Farsightedness, he was not able to see objects from a distance so we check till what extend he has spoiled his eye sight for that vision correction problem she gave him eye-drop Tobra D and wrote him the lens number then I guided him to Mr. Irfan who was writing names and lens number of people who need spectacles, which will be distributed on 14/10/13.

This went for a while patients came and went but soon we met with man who is suffering from cataract (a clouding of the lens inside the eye which leads to a decrease in vision. It is the most common cause of blindness and is conventionally treated with surgery.) So we did the check-up and finally Dr. Meshram decided that his problem is very big and he need an operation or otherwise he is going to be blind so I added his name in list of operations he was first in that list, I felt very bad for that poor old man because I knew he didn’t have money for operation but soon my tension was released after I heard that “Next us” group has organized free operation facility for poor and needy.

I also had job of guiding patients to clinic and introducing them to Ma’am. I and Ma’am attended many patients with Farsightedness, Nearsightedness, Cataract, Night blindness, Lazy eye, Red eye and Color blindness. Commonly people had Farsightedness and Nearsightedness. Some patients’ vision was so bad that couldn’t even see the chart on the wall. But after so many patients we were visited by a teenager who had Scotoma also known as blind spot (an area impairment of vision surrounded by a field of relatively well-preserved vision.) so Ma’am recommended her for operation but after that also she will not have full vision just she will have some more clear vision. This was going-on and-on and I was tired and thought of giving up but then I saw the “Next us” guys working without a sweat, I got inspired from them and gathered all my strength and started working. One more thing inspired me was face of those indigent people who were waiting and asking for help which they are asking from 66 years to our government, I thought somebody has to stand up for this people so why not me.

We were also visited by many children of age 3-10 having different eye diseases I was mournful but Ma’am was looking focused and clam might because it is her day-to-day job if it is so she is doing great as an Ophthalmologist. Some visits were of old-aged people who were argumentative, restless and sometimes irritating keep on asking same question but it is not their fault because they are not educated.

This was an awesome and never before experience I have learned many things like helping people, showing responsibility towards the needy, medical treatment should be free, vision is one the most precious things in life. Through this activity I engaged with issues of global importance.

“If you could do good things for other people, you had a moral obligation to do those things.”

Newsletter

Date: 22 September 2013

Criteria of CAS – Creativity

Approximate time - 8 hours

Venue – D Y Patil International School, Nagpur

“The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.” - Gustave Flaubert

I and my classmate Himanshu Halve suggested our CAS coordinator, like every school we should have a newsletter. We have many students who like write. Some have also chosen journalism as a career. Our Coordinator ma’am gave both of us the responsibility of project. So we planned everything. It was our job to organizing everything, select the writers, and make a proper and sophisticated newsletter. We selected Asmita Meshram, Jaidev Pahade, Shradha Wakode and Jagveer pal as our writers.  Asmita wrote an article on “Homosexuality in India”. Jaidev wrote amazing article on the school’s football team’s performance. Shradha and Jagveer reflected their CAS activies through spectacular articles. Jagveer also wrote a poem. I and Himanshu edited every article, design the Newsletter and add animation. We worked collaboratively to make this Newsletter a success.

We decided to write an editorial together, about this newsletter and CAS. Through this I have developed a new skill. I gave 8 hours in this activity. This activity required great amount of focus, creativity and skill.

                                                               DYPIS Newsletter

Hindi Divas

Activity Date – 20 September 2013

Approximate Time - 2 hours

Criteria of CAS – Creativity

Hindi is an official language of India. It has got respect of our national language as there thousands languages in India. In India language changes in every 50 km, still Hindi is the most convenient and used language in India.

Hindi Divas is an annual literary-day celebration in India and other Hindi speaking countries. Hindi is not seen just as a language in India, it is pride and honor of our country. When my Hindi teacher Miss. Vijaylaxmi Kanate asked me to organize the Hindi Divas celebration to be held in our school and do the comparing. I agreed to undertake this new challenge as I saw it as an opportunity to rise up as a leader and a speaker. I belong from an Urdu speaking family, Urdu and Hindi are similar languages. So I thought it would be easy for me but it wasn’t, as Vijaylaxmi ma’am explained me the difference between spoken language and authentic language. The authentic language has words with difficult pronunciations and you have to use them with very grammatically sentences. Whereas stage skills comes I never got chance to be the anchor and manage the whole function. I always saw my seniors do it and thought how it would feel to manage such big audience. Being on the stage and explaining things to such big audience is very difficult. Many people suffer through stage fear. I have seen many of friends have that problem, I was hoping I don’t get that.

First of all I planned the activity. Then I gathered some information on Hindi Divas for introduction of the function. After my research I realized that Hindi is growing language and before 2 or 3 years back it has realized in internet. It is shame for all of us Hindi speaking population that Hindi has still not got the recognition in the world it deserves. Many great poets and writers of India chose Hindi as medium to represent their thoughts to the public. I think Hindi is great language which represents India’s culture and history in a fabulous form.

We made and sent a formal invitation to our teachers. Before we started the function I was very scared for my performance, my heartbeat got fast, there were many thoughts in my mind at that situation I wanted to run away but I chose be there and face my fear. I didn’t wanted to be known as a coward I wanted be known as the courageous one. As we started the program I don’t know from where but I got some amazing confidence and started the celebration with a very good introduction. Then we had a quiz by Himanshu, where students had to convert given English word in Hindi and vice versa. We also had some patriotic songs by students to show us the importance of the bond between Hindi and India. Our CBSE principal Mr. Nair recited a poem “Secular Machar”. Then some of schoolmates also recited poems, in my perspective Asmita Meshram did the best. We ended the program with our national anthem. I think by this activity I developed a new skill of hosting events.

To School by Cycling

Criteria of CAS - Action
Approximate Time - 2 hours

Reflection - 1] How to work in a team

                  2] Get knowledge about my skills

                  3] Enhance my cycling skills

Cycling is one of the way of transport and also a great sport, and it is a good exercise too it enhances our stamina,improve our health and increase fitness. Some people regularly do cycling to lose their fat and stay fit and some people do it just because they loving doing it. I do it for both. I got to know that our school has started extra classes on Saturdays where we would cover our lagging portion. I and my friends Himanshu Halve and Jaidev Pahade thought it would be great to come to school by cycling because we always search for new adventures but some of my friends disagreed by saying that it would be such a labour and also suggested us not to do that, but we didn't listen to their suggestions. So finally we decided to come by cycling.

Cycling Day

“Cycling is a sport of the open road and spectators are lining that road.” 

- Lance Armstrong

From home to school

07 September 2013 It was a great morning birds chirping, rays of sun coming through fluffy clouds it was the sunrise. I took my cycle to get at Radisson blu hotel because at that place I and my friends decided to gather, it is 3km way from my home to Radisson blu hotel and It took me 5 minutes to get there because I was enjoying the wind which was challenging me. After that we started our cycling journey of 17km with destination our school  but also had one many thoughts in my head because of the curiosity as we started three of us were irritated by traffic, car & truck drivers blowing horns and people shouting and some were just busy doing their work, but soon we got in the area of forest where there was a moment of silence where I forgot all my tensions and worries, where I felt my existence in this world it was like God directly showering his blessing upon me, I will not forget that experience in my whole life.

After half-an-hour we were in MIHAN an unfinished project but it was amazing because there was nobody but us on road,

I felt like I am the king of that road riding my horse with pride and honour, As there was no one there so it was a no man’s land I can do anything I wanted to do we thought racing but there was no finish line and starting line and no prize but satisfaction rules were just to be ahead of other two. Soon I was tired and I thought I won’t be to able do it,

and then a voice in came from my heart asked me what happened? I said I can’t do it, he asked do you want to do it? I answered yes I want to do it, and I started thinking how do I do it? I saw my friends away ahead of me and I thought I will try to do it, then I said to myself I can do it and I started cycling and it was the wind again challenging me but this time it was again my will a voice which came from my heart who said I will do it and I began pedalling as fast as I can with all my physical power applied on it. Then with my head up with courage and seeking destination, I saw the gate of my school it was the same feelings that a man would have watching gates of heavens. It sounds funny and little crazy but when I entered the school through the gate the title track from the movie Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander started playing in my head and I said to myself yes! I did it.

After all of this realized the feeling of accomplishing something for which you have been trying so hard, I can just say that I got the moment of peace and satisfaction in my mind which I was seeking in the starting of my journey.
From school to home

Time for the return journey was 1:40 but the weather was changed; it was not as good as it was in morning, the sun was on our heads its rays were on fire I felt like my head was burning and all wet with sweat. But it was not tough as it was in morning because I knew if can do it one time I can do it again. 17km in sunny weather with hot breeze if there is hell on this world I promise won’t be worst than this, but somehow I managed to keep up. Then after-an-half hour we decide to take a break and as we were in city area we stopped at near grocery store and bought some cold drinks when drunk that bottle finally my head stopped burning. Soon we were at Radisson blu hotel where our journey started and only one thing was going on all of us mind that finally our journey has ended. After all of this I learned so many things like know about my skill and capability and one more that it is not the destination which matters it’s the way which matter.

Candle Making

“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

Criteria of CAS – Creativity

Approximate time - 8 hours

Venue – D Y Patil International School, Nagpur

Our target is to make 100 candles and then sell them to raise funds to help poor children.

Thursday, 1 August 2013

Today I gave 2 hours in this activity, my aim is to make 4 candles each time. Today was the first day of candle making, I never thought of doing such a creative activity, but I always use to think that how a candle is made and how the manufacturers put a thread/wick into a candle. But today finally I got my answers.

Today I learnt how to make a candle.

1] Take two utensils or steel containers one big and other small and pour water in big one and put the candle wax in the small one, put the small one on big one and heat them.

2] By the time grease the mould.

3] Add colour in wax.

4] As the wax gets melted put a wick in it.

5] Take out that wick and stretch it and try to keep it straight.

6] After the wick gets dry put it into a mould.

7] Pour the wax into the mould.

8] After the candle gets solid take it out.

Today I understood that making candles is not game it takes a lot of patience and good steady hands. There is always a tension that the container will fall because it is made in double container as boiling there are chances of falling and your work getting waste. I made 4 candles today and I am very happy with that.

Thursday, 8 August 2013

Today I gave 2 hours on this activity. As today was second time of candle making, I was prepared to make candles and use to that process of making. For today the target I made for myself was 5 candles. My supervisor Mrs. Deepshri Halve suggested me that I should make star mould candles as it looks very beautiful and everybody likes star shape. I started the process and thought that as this is my first time of making star candles I should make 1 trial candle. But soon I was in danger as I was out of wax, the wax I melted for making my first candle was not sufficient, I discussed this problem with my supervisor and she suggested me either I can present it that way or I should wait for the wax to dry up and add another colour so it will look a double coloured candle.

Today I accomplished my target by making 5 candles, which were looking very beautiful; it was a joyful experience making those pretty candles. Today I learned that there are many ways by which we can hide our mistakes, as I have tried one today I can tell that they are tension releasing things. These things taught me to keep claim and always look for solutions for problems.

Thursday, 22 August 2013

Today I gave 2 hours in this activity. Last week I missed this activity because we had our Independence Day celebration. Today my aim was to make 5 candles I was well known to this process, I did my work punctuality and obedience thinking of people who will get money from selling this candles. These candles will bring brightness and happiness in their lives. Today I made candles of different colours and in diverse moulds.

Thursday, 29 August 2013

Today was the last day of this activity. I gave 2 more hours to this activity which has taught me so much. This activity has been a great experience and fun. As I am doing this activity for weeks, today was the easiest day for making candles. Today we also gave final touch to the candles we have made and pasted price tags on them. Making designs on candles is a very difficult job because you have to be very artistic for that but sticking price tags was easy for me as I am an IB business and management student, so I have a skill of telling which candle is worth of how much money. I was very happy that I have completed this activity and hope that this is just the beginning of my CAS activities.

This activity was not just about making candles but of “helping”, doing a job that will benefit others is difficult but gives you satisfaction that any other thing will not give.