SelaQui International School, among the best residential and CBSE boarding schools in the country, boasts of excellent ground facilities.
The school cricket ground was chosen by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the venue for the Uttarakhand State Women’s Cricket Camp! The same began on the 15th of November and the selections will conclude on 28th November.
The selected women will be the part of Uttarakhand Cricket team.
“Cross Country: No half times, no time outs, no substitutions. It must be the only true sport”.
It was that time of the year again! The entire school was out in the crisp morning air, SeQuins were trying to gather whatever warmth they could and failing spectacularly at it. However, the cold could not dampen the spirit of the SeQuins and the enthu-siasm that surrounded the Inter-House Cross Country. The values and traits that cross country running inculcates in athletes stay with them long after they have crossed the finish line.
Cross country running is a unique test of endurance because it puts emphasis on conquering the course rather than beating fellow runners and consequently fosters camaraderie. The parking lot was filled with excited chatter as the senior boys lined up at the starting point. The Headmaster flagged off the race and the SeQuins bolted. Rapturous cheering kept egging us on throughout the 5 km course.
When the dust settled, Kabir Kapur emerged as the winner in the Senior Boys’ category followed by Shaurya Veer Singh and Bharat Tokas in the second and third position respectively.
The course for the juniors and girls was 3.2 km long and Kalyani Singh put up a remarkable performance to earn the top spot in the Girls’ category while Inaiyat Kohli secured the second position and Praanjal Wason was the second runners-up. In the Junior Boys’ category, Vansh Singhal fought off some determined competition to bag the first position while Debi Prasad secured the second position fol-lowed by Advait Datar who came third.
– Shaurya Veer Singh
On 4th August all the science geeks came out of their dazzling world of books to represent their houses in the First Science Jeopardy Quiz. Despite burning the night oil for days, they were shocked out of their wits when they saw the questions as they felt underprepared. Mr. Soham Roy and Mr. Sahil Bhardwaj succeeded in proving it to the contestants and the members of the audience that science was not just about books, it has a lot more to it.
The quiz had two rounds and while the first was the regular jeopardy (that the students were familiar with) and equal marks were awarded and deducted for every correct and incorrect answer respectively. What shocked the players were the rules for the second round! The players were informed that they would be getting double points for every correct answer but that they would still lose four times the score upon giving an incorrect answer. The quadruple loss made even the simple answers considerably tough (and undoubtedly risky) for the participants to answer. As a result, Jal House emerged as the only team with a positive score (i.e. more than zero points) while all other teams scored in negatives. The runners-up were the Akashians, followed by Agnians and Prithvites. The event was a smash hit as it not only added to our knowledge but also managed to do so while entertaining. We await the next edition of the same.
The school hosted a group of delegates from the University of Canterbury on Thursday, 23rd August. They addressed grade XI and XII students and introduced them to the University culture, departments and the courses they offer. They also discussed the opportunities in New Zealand for the students after graduating and the friendly immigration rules to support the international students. A competition called “ACE THE CASE” was organized for grade XII students by the University. Students were asked to identify one local/national problem, analyze it and work on the framework that can provide a solution to the problem. They were also asked to participate in an essay writing competition on the prompts provided by them. Students get two weeks to submit the same online. Five winners of this competition will be awarded the Dean Award Scholarship by them to study a course of their choice at the University.
The event witnessed an overwhelming and enthusiastic participation from the students. Burning issues like Women safety, Sexual Health, Environment Degradation and Poverty were addressed by them. Students were judged on their problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and teamwork.
Winners of the Dean Award Scholarship will be announced on 10th September 2018.
— Hina Sharif Khan
The most widely played sport on the planet; ‘the beautiful game’ as it was called by Pele is truly unparalleled in absolute reach and drama. Football is the largest religion in the world and one which commands startling levels of devotion from its followers. Since the inception of the progenitor of football in 476 B.C. to the invention of the modern game in England and the fiercely contested World Cup in Russia, football has never failed to amaze and fascinate spectators and players alike.
The contemporary history of the world’s favorite game spans more than 100 years. It all began in 1863 in England when rugby football and association football branched off on their different courses and the Football Association in England was formed – becoming the sport’s first governing body. The very earliest form of the game for which there is scientific evidence was an exercise from a military manual dating back to the second and third centuries BC in China.
This year’s world cup perfectly captured this gamut of emotions and threw up surprises along the way that left everyone bewildered. From the pitiable state of Messi’s Argentina to Neymar’s Oscar-worthy theatrics, there was a dash of the unexpected around every corner. The tournament also unearthed some of football’s young gems, who missed no opportunity to showcase that they were ready to relieve the old sentinels of their duties. In that sense, the competition signaled the end of an era and ushered in a new generation of players to adorn bedroom walls and dreams in the years to come.
Closer home, the run-up to our very own Invitational Soccer Tournament had its fair share of excitement and fervor. The exploits of last year’s team-a dominating run to the final culminating in a climax that saw them settle for silver after a spirited show-undoubtedly whetted the appetite for more intense and edge of the seat action this year. Even the heavens seemed to have high hopes from the teams this year and, along with a truly remarkable pitch, provided a magical setting for this year’s tournament. All of this, coupled with the gritty determination and undying resolve possessed by all the participating promised to create a truly sumptuous week of football action.
True to the promise, St. George’s kick-started their campaign in grand fashion, sailing past Pinegrove School 6-0. Alas, the hosts themselves could not emulate the heroics of last year, going down rather meekly to Pinegrove School in their opening fixture. Although they showcased undeniable fight and determination against St. George’s, it proved to be insufficient in overcoming a single goal deficit and our challenge came to an end in the group stage itself as we succumbed to a 1-0 defeat.
Once we entered the business end of the tournament, though, after having witnessed a fair share of lopsided and well-fought contests alike, only two teams remained. As Kasiga School and Wynberg-Allen took to the field, each player undoubtedly thinking of scripting a triumph; the heavens opened up, perhaps just to test the caliber of every playing soul and to make sure that at the end, the trophy was truly earned. The first half beyond ordinary saw Kasiga grabbing the lead through two exceptional efforts, a late surge by the Alwynians did little to repair the damage, though, as Kasiga School ultimately triumphed to emerge as the champions of The 5th SelaQui Invitational Soccer Tournament.
— Shaurya Veer Singh
Today, we live in exponential times, where products and services often become obsolete overnight and one is competing with innovations and startups by 15-year-olds and the likes of Tanmay Bakshis who are getting hired at the wise age of ’13’ by Google with 66 lakh pay package! Welcome to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Fourth Industrial Revolution is a digital revolution that brings together digital, physical and biological systems. The interplay between fields like nanotechnology, 3D Printing, coding, computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Augmented Reality will create realities that were previously unthinkable. Data and technology will overwhelm us. This will bring change at a speed, scale, and force, unlike anything we have experienced before. It will affect the very essence of our human existence. The predic-tion of five million jobs lost to technology by 2020 is serious.
The First Industrial Revolution brought mechanical innovations like the steam engine, cotton-spinning and railroads. With the Second Industrial Revolution came mass production through assembly lines and electrification. The third Industrial Revolution brought mainframe computers, personal computing and the internet to the fore. Now, at the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the questions we need to ask ourselves are ‘What do we need to know to prepare ourselves for jobs that don’t yet exist? How can college prepare you to thrive in an uncertain future? How are we going to deal with this disruption, joblessness, and uncer-tainty?’
Be that as it may, the fourth Industrial Revolution calls for a paradigm shift in the approach to career planning. Gone are the days when you ask a child what they will be when they grow up. It is time to ask them what they enjoy doing. World Economic Forum has compiled a list of ten ‘skills’ which will help in facing the challenges thrown by the new technology. As Artificial Intelligence begins to impact the workforce and automa-tion replaces some existing jobs, there is an increased need for skills like creativity, curiosity, adaptability, emotional intelligence, critical thinking and communicating ef-fectively for a smooth transition. The top ten in-demand jobs in 2010 did not even exist in 2004. One must strive for developing skills for the jobs that have not been created yet, for technologies that have not been invented, to solve problems that have not yet been anticipated. We have to create a space which enables people to think creatively, to come up with divergent ideas and be innovative. Ken Robinson, in his famous Ted Talk on education, has remarked that “creativity is as important as literacy”
As they say, every cloud has a silver lining. While new technology may cause the disruption of some jobs, it will also create many new jobs, some of which we can’t even imagine today. While technology may wipe out many jobs as predicted, it will end up opening new avenues too. If automation and computers have replaced humans, they have also increased the demand for computer-based work and created new jobs related to developing, coding, and programming computers. If we prepare ourselves well and embrace the changes, it will open up infinite opportunities for us. The extent of these opportunities could not have been fathomed two or three decades ago.
So to answer the question: what is coming around the bend?
You have W.B. Yeats, whispering to you
“Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand”
Is It?
— Hina Sharif Khan
One of the greatest coincidences in the history of our school,
would be football season kicking off with the FIFA World Cup
with the Inter-house Soccer Tournament. With the fever hitting
anyone and everyone on campus, the symptoms would include:
a. Not leaving your dorms without a pair of studs and stockings
(Even during the academic hours).
b. Being crazy enough to play in the rain with water up to your knees and then
going on to visit the infirmary later that night.
c. An increased sense of house spirit (With some losing their voice and others the ability to walk without a limp).
d. Repeating steps a. through c.
Dedication of the teams was showcased in their early morning sessions. Ignorant of the dark or the rain, we witnessed dedication that moves mountains. Dribbling all the way, showing their skills, passing, running, building up their stamina, the players geared up to give the school a show of a lifetime (and indeed they did!).
All the players worked hard to win the Inter-house soccer trophy. Won by The Agnians last year, the four houses, claws sharp and teeth bared set to snatch all the glory. There was a lot of action and surprises throughout the event. At the end of the competition, The Prithviites in a claim to their former glory emerged as the winners.
— Kartikeya Puri and Arsalan Shamim Imam
3rd May, 2018. Terminal 3, IGI Airport, the stage was set for our departure to THE US of A.
The excitement was racing in my veins. The ticket to Boston was in my hand and the plane was about to take off. Within 20 hours, we were in Massachusetts. Going to a place that great gives me the chills even now. The first location that was to be explored was… HARVARD UNIVERSITY. We were guided by Noah (our tour guide), who gave us hints of some mysterious incidents that the place had seen in the past.
To maintain the momentum of the trip we opted to go to MIT the following day. The science geeks had proven themselves yet again. They had a roller coaster in their backyard and a cop’s car on the top of the building. Who says science guys aren’t cool?
After looking at places which ask of great academic results, you need some self-confidence and relaxation. Guess what? We went to the Niagara Falls and also saw the ‘scrapers of Manhattan. Relaxation done, it was now time for gaining some self-confidence. For that, we reached main destination of our expedition. On 11th May we entered the gates of NASA for the “Space Pass Program”. The two-day long program included a guided tour of the NASA launching and manufacturing facility and attending various presentations based on the past expeditions and on the ones that are planned for the future.
Education was now over for the trip. Now was the time to do some fun. Universal Studios was what we had in the plan to make the trip perfect. This marked the end of our stay in the United States of America. The trip will never be forgotten, it had everything that you could have, and in good company.
— Pragyan Rajkhowa
Summers! The culmination of everything hot, humid and all that falls in between those lines. We, at the SeQuin, welcome you back to our beloved 52 acres of lush green campus after a month and a half of sweltering heat, ice creams, pool parties, visiting relatives, night outs and much more. (The lucky ones got the ‘Foreign Trip’).
We’ll not be assessing the type of things that we all might have done in these 40-45 days in detail. Like what’s the point of talking about the ‘nani ke ghar…’ tales every time we come back and meet one another. Let us not commemorate what we all have done repetitively in our life gone by, and begin thinking of what we have to do and get back to the things that have been happening at the place where you come back to ultimately. Yeah, I am talking about school. We know it’s hard for one to just leave their parents and come to a place foreign to them. But cheers to the newbies, who had joined us in April and have joined us post vacations, you are the ones on the task.
Talking of getting the hang of things, we should all not forget about the term that has gone by. Way more than handful inter-house competitions were witnessed and enjoyed by every SeQuin. The holidays have given the school a new dress, I mean it got renovated, classes were whitewashed and painted. Our new senior master Dr. Col. Atul Bhandari is now in full control, so you better have those haircuts done and nails trimmed already! A new math teacher has joined us on the expedition to glory (psst… our team has done some talking with him in the latter part of this issue).
This term has got a lot waiting for us already. Along with some confidence and courage, class 12 has been gifted the Monday Board Pattern Tests. We hope they cruise through it smoothly (applicable to only the toppers out there, the rest of us are bare feet on a bicycle with flat tires). Several inter-house competitions are pre-scheduled for the term, not forgetting the big thing, Founder’s Day awaits us at the end of the term.
— Kartikeya Puri and Vansh Jain
Students of SelaQui International School created a new School record in the class 12th CBSE exams that were declared on Saturday. The batch of 2017-18 improved on the school record by 4%. Lipi Koyu of humanities stream not only topped the school but also created a new school record by scoring 97%. The results of humanities stream aggregated an average of 89.2%. More than 85% of 61 students who appeared scored above 80% and 13 students scored above 90%. Lipi Koyu, the school topper credited the hard work of faculty, academic process and trust of her parents for her achievements. Speaking to the press, she expressed her desire to join the prestigious St. Stephen’s College. Headmaster, Mr. Rashid Sharfuddin informed the press that the myth of Boarding Schools not doing well in academics has been shattered. One has to only look around at academic achievements of boarding schools in Dehradun both in CBSE and ICSE boards. At SelaQui, we aim to create a spirit of academic excellence as well as of sports and co-curricular activities. Mr. Sharfuddin credited the good results to not only a very committed and spirited faculty, focused students but also to the rigorous academic process of the School. The School also sends a large number of students to IIT and Medical colleges every year due to a much focused Gurukul programme. The aim now is to raise the bar and work on good college placements in the coming days informs the Headmaster.