CHILDREN

Macedonia

Macedonia officially the Republic of Macedonia, is a landlocked country located in the Vardar Macedonia region in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeastern Europe.

It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991.

It became a member of the United Nations in 1993, but as a result of a dispute with Greece over its name, it was admitted under the provisional reference of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, sometimes abbreviated as FYROM.

A landlocked country, the Republic of Macedonia is bordered by Kosovo to the Northwest, Serbia to the North, Bulgaria to the East, Greece to the South and Albania to the West.

The country’s capital is Skopje, with 506,926 inhabitants according to a 2004 census. Other cities include Bitola, Kumanovo, Prilep, Tetovo, Ohrid, Veles, Stip, Kocani, Gostivar and Strumica.

It has more than 50 lakes and sixteen mountains higher than 2,000 m (6,562 ft).

Macedonia is a member of the UN and the Council of Europe.

Since December 2005 it has also been a candidate for joining the European Union and has applied for NATO membership.

Courtesy: Wikipedia
 

World Water Day on March 22:

Clean water for a healthy world

Dear children,

Water is pure,

Water is natural,

Water is healthy,

Water can help all

Water is simple,

Water is free,

Water can help the lives,

The lives of you and me

- Olivia Taylor

******--------

The value of water is well described in the above poem. Water covers 71 percent of the earth’s surface. This alone shows the impact of water on us. Although we cannot survive without water we should not waste it. As we see on TV specially on Discovery Channel how people and animals struggle to find a little water for survival. We are fortunate to have access to pure water.

Since World Water Day falls on March 22 let us focus on the origins of the day.

In 1993 the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22 as World Day for Water (also known as World Water Day).

The UN and its member nations devote this day to implementing UN recommendations and promoting activities within their countries regarding the world’s water resources. Each year, one of the various UN agencies involved in water issues takes the lead in promoting and coordinating international activities for World Water Day.

World Water Day is celebrated every year with a new theme. This year’s theme is Clean Water for a Healthy World.

This day provides an opportunity to remember our commitment to achieve the true significance of the day when everyone in the world can have safe drinking water.

Maha Sivarathri Day

Our Hiindu friends celebrated a very important religious festival last week which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

On this day devotees fast and keep vigil throughout the night repeating the words ‘Om Sivayanama’.

The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to Lord Shiva.

Bye for now.

Aunt Anji

Regaining strength

In ‘Kid’s Den’...

Four children, Pramodaka, Nalaka, Champika and Chinthaka, go on a trip to the woods with their parents for their school holidays. In the middle of the night the children are awakened by a strange noise. On following their dog, Scooby, Chinthaka is snared by the spell of the ‘luring stones’. Pramodaka departs with Ruwi, a pixie, to recall a book of spell to cast off the spell while the others remain behind with Sachi, a gnome. A storm breaks and the kids are scattered.

Meanwhile Sulo, the goblin who is always trying to make trouble for the mythical creatures, comes up with a nasty plan. She rushes off gang up the rest of her pack and reveals an age old secret.

However the group discovers that it is not only Sulo’s secret that is uncovered by the storm. Something dark and deadly had been hidden in the depths of the earth waiting to release itself and return for revenge...

(‘Return of the Kids’ is the sequel to ‘Kid’s Den’)

Part of his plan had worked. All the forest animals and none-mythical creatures have fallen asleep. It was time for him to make a move. For that he had to change his appearance so that no one will be able to recognize him. He cannot be a forest animal because they were not allowed access to some of the most crucial aspects on what will be going on.

He becoming an elf was out of the question. Even by pursuing the depths of dark magic you cannot go through the transformation properly.

That left a choice on whether to become a pixie, gnome or a brownie.

He thought about it and a slow smile spread across his lips. Of course, the answer was right there before his eyes. It will be very easy for him to transform himself into a goblin.

Goblins are cunning and slimy creatures which glide by slowly. They are very clever at eavesdropping into other’s conversation. By being a goblin not only will he be able to track down the female goblin but he will learn lots of things on the way.

He rushed to the potions cupboard, glanced at the labels and grabbed at three bottles. Each contained bubbly forms in three different colours. One was yellowish, the other slimy green and the last dark brown, the colour of mud after a rainy day.

He approached what looked like a cauldron at the center of the room. It was caked with layers of dust and flanked by cobwebs.

He drew back his cloak and flung back his arm and in that instance all the dust flew out of the room and out of the small cubbyhole. For an instance he stood back as a feeling of satisfaction swept over him.

He was getting stronger. He was getting back his strength but then that was not enough. He had to be stronger, stronger then ever before not to fail once again.

It took less than two minutes to brew the spell. Once it had turned a deep yellowish shade of green and bubbling away Balthazar pushed down his hood.

The image was startling! Anyone would have mistaken him for an old man. His nerves stood out like branches of a river in his bluish skin covered with blemishes. His head was bald and he had a hooked nose. The most prominent feature was his yellow eyes which was the only sign left to indicate that he had been a goblin many decades ago.

To be continued

A visit to an Australian zoo

My first visit to the zoo was in Australia.

We woke up early in the morning and went to the Royal Park zoo.

In there I saw many many animals.

First I went to see the monkeys jumping up and down. Then I went to see another monkey called Malu.

Malu was fond of bubbles, and he’s trying to catch them.

I can’t believe that Malu likes bubbles like me.

Then we went to see the butterflies.

Then we ate lunch and went to see the platypus.

I will never forget this nice trip to the Australian zoo.

Ranuli Palipane / 8 years / Musaeus College / Colombo 8

My Pet

My pet is a cat. It is very playful. Its name is Tarny. Tarny is black and white. It likes to drink milk. Tarny is friendly.

It plays with me. It always follows me. When I sleep, it too sleeps near to me. I love Tarny.

Navidu Nirman Jayaweera 4C

Hiripitiya Primary College, Veyangoda

My Village Kalana Nethsara Ponnamperuma, 1C St. John’s Girl’s School, Panadura	Giraffe Kalanavi Pasheendra Perera, Anula Nursery, Nugegoda
Rubber Estate Achini Lakmali, 6B Sailan International School, Negombo	My House Dinindu Nethkalu, 3C Thurstan College , Colombo 7