‘The Color Purple’ is a novel by Alice Walker; a powerful, moving narrative about how atrocious the life of an African-American woman could be in the USA of the early twentieth century. The novel addresses themes of race, gender, oppression, and the healing power of love and sisterhood.

A novel starring a wealthy and vain Manhattan investment banker who finds gratification in his hedonistic fantasies brought to life, sounds like a perfect read to me! And maybe, I do relate to Patrick Bateman’s obsession with money, after all, who does not? Also, Bateman being equal parts “Alpha” and “Sigma” is just the cherry on cake! Don’t worry, my dear readers, if you think I admire the protagonist’s sadistic personality, I most certainly do not.

If a wizard asked me, “Which fictional character you would like to be?” I would reply in an instant, “Dorothy from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written by L Frank Baum in 1900. It is a fairy tale that follows the adventure of Dorothy and her dog Toto, who were swept away from their home to the magical land of Oz. They meet a variety of characters including the scarecrow, Tin-woodman, and Cowardly Lion. Together they embark on a challenge-filled journey to meet the Wizard of Oz and have their wish granted.

• Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and overcome adversity. By teaching students to embrace failure as a learning opportunity and develop coping strategies for stress and setbacks, schools empower them to thrive in the face of challenges.
• Through resilience-building activities, mindfulness practices, and social-emotional learning programs, schools provide students with the tools and support they need to develop resilience skills.

A rape case was being broadcast where the rapist was being supported by social media. Why? For he looked too pretty to commit such a crime.

The Halo Effect is a cognitive bias which we find in every aspect of our lives. It claims that positive impressions of people, brands and products in one area, positively influence our feelings in another. The image, once cast in our minds, hinder our ability to think critically and make rational judgments. As a result, our perceptions abut people often turn out to be inaccurate at first glance.

In Barbie’s world, a tale unfolds,
A movie filled with dreams untold.
Amidst the whispers and the scorn,
A truth emerges, newly born.
Upon the screen, we witness strife,
Where limit marks the path of life.
For Barbie, once a charming doll,
Her journey starts to break the thrall.
In pink-tinged lands, she stood confined,
By stereotypes that undermined.
Her worth reduced to looks alone,
A fate that she would not condone.
They say it’s anti-men, unkind,
But let’s look deeper, we shall find,
A message strong, a fierce display,

• Critical thinking skills are essential for navigating the complexities of the modern world. By teaching students to analyse information, evaluate evidence, and think logically, schools empower them to become independent thinkers and lifelong learners.
• Through inquiry-based learning, problem-solving activities, and Socratic questioning, schools can cultivate critical thinking skills in students across all grade levels and subjects.

Twelve years ago, YouTube videos about apocalypses were streamed online worldwide. David Morrison, planetary astronomer at NASA estimated that two million websites discussing Earth’s impending doom had been set up.

“At least a once a week I get a message from a young person ― as young as 11 ― who says they are ill and/or are contemplating suicide because of the coming doomsday,” Morrison told Life’s Little Mysteries.

In 2012, the fear of a cataclysmic clash of Earth with a large planetary object (Planet Nibiru) gripped the world.

A school trip to Chennai and Sriharikota was organized from July 13 to July 17, 2023, by Sushila Birla Girls’ School. A group of forty-nine students from classes 8 to 12 and four teachers from our school participated in the program. 

We were able to witness the much-anticipated launch of the Chandrayaan-3 satellite

We arrived in Chennai early in the morning and proceeded to our hotel, the Chennai Gateway. There, we were given a warm welcome by the hotel staff and soon left for the renowned amusement park of VGP.

They say the past can often blur,

In collective memory, it may occur,

False recollections may take hold,

Yet let’s explore the stories told.

Berenstain or Berenstein, we debate,

In spelling, we fi nd a curious weight.

But textbooks and pictures, they remain,

A testament to the latter’s name.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,

Is it the phrase we all recall?

No, it’s “Magic mirror,” with precision,

The original line’s true rendition.

Fruit Loops” or “Froot Loops,” the choice is heard,