The document discusses the benefits of changing classroom seating arrangements periodically. It notes that research shows seating locations can impact student achievement, behavior, motivation, and relationships. Changing seating arrangements each year allows students to interact with new classmates, creates a predictable environment for new students, and supports different teaching activities and schedules. The school's approach of annually assigning new sections to students reinforces better learning conditions and positive teacher-student interactions.

1. UDGAM MATTERS
THIS ISSUE
 Media Buzz
 2013To 2014: A Retrospect
 Research Reveals
 Glimpses Of March Sports Camp
 Fun Zone
 Shadow Art
 May Summer Camp Activities
 A Note from Editor
MARCH 2014 ISSUE VOL. 10
“Beware the ides of March!” So
said the Bard, and I understand the
reason now! Board examination
for the students of Std. X and XII!
And result time for others! It was
not less than an examination for us
too!
This year was as hectic as any other
year, the school bubbling with
activities and events. The high
point was the school being fixed as
a centre for the CBSE Board
examination of Std. X and XII.
Spread over 19 days, we conducted
examination in 24 subjects.
We had students from 4 other
schools, not Udgam. It was an
experience to observe the
behaviour of these students –
different from that of our students
yet similar in many ways.
On the personal front, I am going
to begin my career, all over again –
teaching English in class 6,
something I did years back when I
joined this school. I am as excited
and as nervous as I was then. It is
going to be a new experience for
From the Principal
Ms Radhika Iyer
th
me. I may not reach the 12 class
again but I can certainly make a
beginning.
March is the month of results.
Some students are elated while
others, disappointed on seeing
their marks.
I have just this to say to all the
students: If your result is not good,
don't worry, it is not the end of the
world, you will have many more
opportunities.
If your result is good, don't become
complacent, it is not the end of the
world, you will have to face many
more challenges.
For us, the new year starts in April.
Students come in with excitement
and expectation, eager to see their
new class, teachers and friends.
So, let us pledge to ourselves to do
better than last in every aspect.
After all we are one year older!

2. Media Buzz
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

3. Yellow and Orange day at Pre-primary
Earth Day Celebrations
Medical Camp at Pre-primary
March is the last month of this academic session. Overall this has been a wonderful year which began well
and ended even better. We take this opportunity to present a few random glimpses of the year that was...
2013 to 2014: A RETROSPECT
The year began on a wonderful note with the Grand Success of board examinees of Class 12 and 10.
Their results are par excellence and they have brought laurels to the school. The sincere efforts of the
teachers, parents and students have been rewarded.
Let us take a look at some important events of the year that was...
Classroom discussions, poster making, quiz and activities
sensitized children towards pollution and the need to save Mother
Earth for future generations.
Fit and fine is the main 'mantra' for everyday life, be it for adults or tiny
tots. A general health check up was conducted for the students of the
KG section to ascertain their well being.
Orange-Yellow day was celebrated by the Pre-primary Section. The
children were surrounded by these vibrant summer colours all day.
Bright and beautiful was the spirit here!
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

4. Young Champions
CBSE Chacha Nehru Sports Award
Udgam School adopts Thaltej Municipal School
Young Athletes
Quiz Competition
This prestigious award was won by Maana Patel of Class 9 A in Swimming
Individual Championship for Under 14 girls. Along with this Maana has
made us proud by winning several other awards this year.
In a bid to enhance the overall quality of the school, we adopted
this school which is just a few metres away from our Thaltej
Campus. The exemplary work done was awarded by the Mayor in
a recent ceremony.
“United we Stand” this proverb was proved when 12 young cricketers
of USFC won the winner's trophy defeating the other team in a city
Cricket League in Under 10.
Students participated in Day - Night Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament
2013 organized by a renowned city club and won the series in the
age group of 8 – 12 years.
Interclass quiz competition based on the epic Ramayana was
conducted for class 7th. We are proud of our students who are so well
informed about our great legends even in this digital age.
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

5. Derek's Faster Smarter Better Challenge
Quiz Competition was held for Class 8
Towards a Greener World
Visit to Park
Elocution Competition
Interclass quiz competition based on the epic Mahabharata was
conducted for class 8th. We give due credit to the children for being so
well versed with the many names and incidents of the world's largest
epic.
The students planted a sapling each, on the school grounds, and
pledged to take care of it. They enjoyed playful encounters with
earthworms too!
A quiz was organised by Derek O' Brien's group in school for students
of Classes 6 to 9. Our students excelled and won awards after a volley
of questions pervading all fields.
Children of Junior and Senior K.G. were taken to a park near the
school. This gave them the practice of moving in groups and
enjoying to the heart's content with friends and teachers.
Students of Class 9 and 10 spoke eloquently on varied topics. They
addressed the main issues that are dogging India's progress and were
very convincing in their speech.
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

6. Independence Day Celebration
Debate Competition
Mock Elections
Rakshabandhan Celebration at Jodhpur Campus
Janmashtami celebration at Jodhpur Campus
Interclass Debate competition was organised for class 6th. Students
spoke vehemently on topics that have two distinct facets and put their
points across.
Students of Class 7 got a taste of voting in a democracy. They
arranged campaigns for which they made posters and gave
speeches; made ballot boxes and electoral mandates; cast their
votes and finally had a fair evaluation.
In both Udgam campuses, this important day for all Indians was
proudly celebrated by the children. After flag hoisting, there was a
series of programs that followed the patriotic fervour.
This important day for all brothers and sisters was observed in the
Jodhpur campus. Children enjoyed the event and the day of
bonding.
The antics of Bal Krishna were enacted by the little kids who came
dressed for the special fanfare arranged in their classes.
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

7. Champs bring Pride
Rangoli making
Gita Champions League exam at Thaltej Campus
Teacher's Day Celebrations
Traffic awareness for Preprimary children
Even our Class 2 students are artists in the making which was proved
by their rangoli making skills as a prelude to Diwali. The way they
cooperated with each other to make beautiful designs is worth
praising.
We are indeed proud of our students who can chant shlokas from
the Bhagavad Gita as easily as playing 'Temple Run'. Needless to
say Udgamites won awards for their effort.
School bagged the Independence cup Inter School Chess
Championship Trophy because of the outstanding efforts of our
students. Along with chess as a part of their curriculum, Udgam even
has a live chess room where the children are the chessmen.
This was a special day for the 'gurus' - the bestower of knowledge
that the whole world bows down to. Special programs were
arranged to make the day special for those who make each day
special for the children.
'Catch them young' is 100% true when it comes to teaching traffic
rules. So, we began with the tiny ones and now they can give a lesson
or two to the adults who ply their vehicles so dangerously on the
roads.
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

8. Green and Brown Day at Pre-primary
Drawing Competition for Classes KG to 10
Cleanliness Drive
Stress on reuse with garbage in and out
Various activities were arranged to commemorate the day to
celebrate our National Language. English may be a way of life but the
importance of Hindi is always stressed upon on our campuses.
A drawing competition was held in the month of August for Class
KG- 10. The entire school participated very enthusiastically and the
outcome was a grand collage of colourful drawings.
Importance of nature was the theme of the day and the children were
involved in activities to suit the theme. They were dressed in these
colours. They played with these two colours of nature. They even ate
food based on the colours of Mother Earth.
Students of class 9 participated enthusiastically in this 'Community
Service.' They were fully equipped and went out and attacked the
dirt on the roads and taught the careless litterers a lesson or two.
As a part of their Science project children of Class 6 made beautiful
and useful articles out of waste. They proved that even waste can be
used to make useful objects and need not be thrown out everytime.
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FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

9. Charity Drive
Dal by Dal
Purple Day at Preprimary
Akanksha the Super Tennis Star
Navratri celebrations
Dressed in jazzy outfits, the tiny tots danced to the tunes of dandiya as
they pirouetted around to welcome the 9 days of Navratri
celebrations. A grand Garba Nite was also arranged at Convention
Hall for the Udgam staff.
By donating toor dal, Udgamites helped to feed the
underprivileged all over the country as a part of a Dal by Dal
campaign. The collection was very good and will definitely make a
difference where it matters.
This was a market of the children, by the children and for the children.
Students of Class 6 to 11 made crafts and cakes and sold them to
make a whopping sum that was handed over to charity. Such activities
foster the 'art of giving' from an early age- giving without a care!
Purple clouds and purple sands, Purple robes and purple wands.
Purple cake on a purple plate, Purple school with a purple gate.
My teacher is purple too, So am I and so are you!
Akanksha Bhan of class 8 D participated in 'The Road to Wimbledon
in India' – AITA National Series Tennis Tournament Under – 14 held at
MSLTA in the event of Girls Under 14 Doubles and girls under 14
singles and was declared as Semi Finalist in both.
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

10. Reading Week
Hour of Code for all
Picnic for Preprimary
Painting Winners
Science Exhibition by Class 6
Guided by their teachers, the students made and displayed innovative
models that brought their scientific minds to the fore.
An hour of coding for all students, teachers and staff was held at
Udgam and the rest of the world. The event was 100% successful in
our school and proves that Udgamites are very sound technically.
In a bid to keep alive the age old habit of reading, this week was
dedicated to encouraging children to chuck the digital world aside for
sometime every day and read more. A book fair was organised too
with a wide range of books for all ages.
It was a very happy day for the kids and the place proved to be a
perfect place to play and enjoy. The merry laughter and enjoyment
was resplendent in the air as the little ones spent an entire day
playing, eating and simply being kids.
Students participated in a Drawing cum Slogan competition
organized by WIAA- Castrol in association with Ahmedabad
Education Society and won awards.
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

11. Pre-primary Grandparents' Day celebrations
Quiz Champs
Essay Competition Winners
Quiz
Pre-primary visit Madhuvan Farm
The kids had a lovely time and came back with endless tales of the
animals and birds that they had seen and the fun they had in the farm
with their friends.
Priyam Patel, Arnav Buch and Nihar Patel all of Class 9 represented
Udgam School at Inter School Quiz Competition organized by and
at Maharaja Agrasen Vidyalaya and stood on 2nd position
defeating 3 schools.
I believe that God sent us grandparents,
As our legacy from above.
To share the moments of our lives,
As extra measures of his love.
An Essay competition was held in School in order to motivate the
students towards thinking about Nation Building. They evoked
wonders on paper with their out of the box thoughts.
An Interschool quiz competition was held at St Kabir School which our
school students won. Udgamites are not only academically sound but
have a deep knowledge of the outside world too.
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

12. Auditorium
Workshops for parents on Special Education Needs
Republic Day Celebrations
Sports Day celebrations
Udgam School enters its 50th year
As Udgam enters its 50th year, we as Udgamites pledge to uphold the
quality that our school is synonymous with and bring future accolades
for our school.
No two child are alike and some of us are more different that others
and need that little extra to bring out the best in us. Various
workshops were arranged by the School Counsellor and the
Special Educators to increase awareness among parents.
Grand in every way is the new school auditorium which was
inaugurated recently. This state-of-art facility is going to host a
multitude of school events in the coming years.
Patriotism rent the air as children celebrated Republic Day with
gusto. They sang and danced and performed skits to stress on the
need for 'love of country' above everything else.
The Primary and Middle School celebrated Sports Day with a variety of
activities and sports that were well coordinated and brought out the
sportsman spirit in the students.
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

13. CBSE Board centre
Preprimary Annual Day
The children presented a program that held each and every attendee
spellbound in the Convention Hall. Colours, dance and variety was
the order of the day that won so many hearts.
This was the first year that Udgam School was a centre for the CBSE
board exams. Children of 3 different schools came to our campus
to appear for their boards.
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

14. Change of Seating Arrangement - A Wise Move
“Location, location, location - a phrase mostly used in
real estate is also applicable and important to the
classroom seating plan”
Before school begins anew, teachers establish a seating
and learning environment unique for their classes.
Teacher assigns a classroom location and selects the
student's seat in a classroom. This is done as classroom
layout plays a role in how students learn, concentrate and
behave. Yet, students often don't see the purpose behind
the allocated seats or read the logic behind it. Hence, it is
important to understand what is in best interest of
students' learning orchestration, rather than just
circumventing it.
Empirical research work on the classroom environment
has shown that a well-structured classroom tends to have
fewer behaviour problems and establishes a climate
conducive to learning. In line, seating locations are
related to academic achievement and classroom
participation. The influence is also on students learning
motivation, student-student and teacher-student
relationships, the nature of different tasks and activities
performed.
Besides, prevention strategies such as having seating plan
and location minimizes the chances that problems will
occur. It helps to control disruptive and easily distracted
students and encourage desirable behaviour and
interaction while limiting the opportunity for
misbehaviour. Seating arrangements have the potential
to help prevent problem behaviours that decrease student
Ms. Aarzoo Daswani
Research Coordinator
Research Reveals
attention and diminish available instructional time.
Equally, it is important to understand that the goal is not to
restrain students' freedom; seating plans have proven to
encourage certain types of behaviour, which may be best
suited to the different learning experiences teachers wish
to provide their students.
In Udgam School, we put great efforts to improve student
academic and behaviour outcomes. The school has been
following the process of shuffling students seating
arrangements by allocating new sections to its students
year on year. Such an approach reinforces better learning
conditions and facilitates positive teaching interactions.
The other benefits include:
 An organized classroom environment replaces new
enrolled students' feelings of timidity, distrust and
discomfort, with predictability and stability.
 Having switch the seating arrangements make
students interact with more of their classmates -
creating various social interaction opportunities.
 Seating arrangement plan also support the type of
schedule and activities a teacher has planned, as well-
arranged classroom environment may not impede the
functioning of the day as well as not limit what and how
students learn.
This is indeed one way to more effectively manage
classroom instructions and keep students interest,
engagement and thereby influence their attainment.
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March 2014

15. Glimpses of March Sports Camp
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

16. Fun Zone
Solve and win exciting prizes. Send in completed answers to newsletter@udgamschool.com
Where it is not possible to send in the answers, parents may click a picture and send.
This puzzle is for Classes Nursery and KG
KITTY CATCH
Help Kitty find her ball of yarn
Start
Finish
This puzzle is for students of Classes 1 and 2
PICTURE PUZZLE
Write the picture names in the boxes. One is done for you.
This puzzle is for students of Classes 3 to 5
Use the code breaker given and decipher the message
This puzzle is for students of Classes 6 to 12
Each salamander is worth a different value between 0.1 and 0.9
The total of each vertical line of salamanders is worked out for you.
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FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

17. Shadow Art
In a world of digital media and gadgets, we hardly find place for the good old art forms that were so relevant
only a few years back. Reviving them is not very difficult with a little push in the right direction.
Given below is the Shadow Art, a delightful way to keep the young minds occupied while bringing their
creativity to the fore.
Make a shadow puppet theatre
A cardboard box is a great starting point for many great activities for kids. Try making this easy shadow puppet
theatre and then help your kids put on their own puppet show. If you're stuck for story ideas, try using a
favourite nursery rhyme like Hey, Diddle Diddle.
What you need:
 1 cardboard box
 1 sheet of tissue paper (large enough to cover one side of your box)
 Sticky tape
 Scissors or a craft knife
 Black marker pen
 Bedside lamp or large torch
 A table
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UDGAM SCHOOL
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March 2014

18. Budding Chefs
This is a delightful recipe that kids can make on their own. Parent's supervision may be required while handling
hot substance.
Baked Potatoes With Broccoli and Sour Cream
Serves: 4 | Hands-On Time: 15m | Total Time: 25m
Ingredients
4 medium potatoes
1 16-ounce package frozen broccoli
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and black pepper
1/4 cup sour cream
Directions
Prick the potatoes several times with a fork. Microwave on high
until tender and a fork easily slides into the centre for 12 to 15
minutes. Transfer the potatoes to a bowl and cover with a plate or
foil to keep warm.
In a medium microwave-proof bowl, combine the broccoli, butter, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
Microwave on high for 3 minutes, stir once, then microwave until hot, 3 to 4 minutes more.
Split the potatoes (be careful of the steam). Top with the broccoli mixture and sour cream and sprinkle with ¼
teaspoon pepper.
This yummy snack can be great for evenings when you are back from the play area.
Laugh Out Loud
Facebook Addiction
Dad writes on son's wall.
“Son, how have you been? Your mom & I Am fine. We miss you a lot.
Please Turn off your PC & come down for dinner.
Sweet Letter
Sweet Letter Written By a Small Child To Lays Company.
Dear Lays Chips Manufacturer.
You Forgot To Mention 1 Thing Under ingredients.
75% AIR.
I Was Watching TV
Sonu: Last night thieves stole everything in my house except TV
Monu: How Strange! Then what were you doing??
Sonu: I was watching TV!!
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

19. May Summer Camp Activities
Udgam Proactivity Club has a variety of activities for this summer. Please enrol early to avoid disappointment.
Get in touch with Mrs. Hitiksha Soni at 8238002012 or hitiksha@udgamschool.com
A to Z Activities
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UDGAM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN
March 2014

20. A Note from the Editor
Udgam School For Children
Opp. Sardar Patel Institute,Thaltej, Ahmedabad- 380 054. Gujarat.
Phone No: 26850339, 99251 53153 | Email Id: info@udgamschool.com
Pre-Primary Section
Near IOC Petrol Pump,Jodhpur Cross Roads, Satellite, Ahmedabad - 380 015 Gujarat.
Phone No: 26769595, 90999 02221 | Email Id: jodhpur@udgamschool.com
Mrs. Sagarika Sahana
Content Manager
The new academic year has begun and the happy faces are back in school. One can hear lively sounds from every nook
and corner of Udgam. The hustle bustle is on with each child feeling a little more grown up as they are in an older class now.
Along with the old familiar faces, one comes across some new faces too who will soon be an integral part of the Udgam
family.
In this issue of Udgam Matters we have included a pictorial representation of the year that was. We have included 50 events
at random, mainly activities. This is an attempt to summarise the year – a retrospect that takes us down the memory lane
while encouraging us to go even further than we have come.
Celebrating the year that was with 50 events, we look forward to bringing to you many more events and wonderful articles in
the 50th year of Udgam. Please join us in our effort by sending in your poems, stories, articles, drawings, feedback and
anything you think is worth sharing to newsletter@udgamschool.com
Udgam Matters was re-launched in June 2013 and we have published 10 wonderful issues. This is the last newsletter of this
academic year.
I would like to thank the Executive Director, Principal, Vice Principals, Admin Office, IT Department, Academic Coordinator,
teachers, staff, parents and children for their unfailing support and encouragement which has made the newsletter
successful. The participation for Fun Zone has been overwhelming and we have resorted to lottery to pick out the winners. In
the process a few disappointments have been unavoidable.
Udgam Matters will be back soon with a new look and a BIG SURPRISE!!!
Editor:SagarikaSahana,ContentManager
Designer:AnujaKathiaraShah
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March 2014