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Children
Hi Children,
In just a few days time you will be celebrating the Sinhala and Hindu
New Year (Avurudu) on a grand scale. It is a festival which is loved by
the old and the young alike.
Your grandfathers and grandmothers have witnessed many a Sinhala and
Hindu New Year.
But have you ever heard them talking less enthusiastically about the
next
Enjoy Avurudu!
 New
Year despite their weak physical conditions? It is a festival of
rejuvenation, new hope and peace.
You all know that the Sinhala and Hindu New year dawns annually when
the Sun moves from Meena Rashi to Mesha Rashi.
It is a special occasion where we all pay gratitude to the sun, which
gives us life and the strength to live. On the day of the New Year all
of us irrespective of our disparities, prepare meals and eat at the same
time. Isn't this something unique to make every one have meals at the
same time? Do you think even a king's order can do it?
Also this is the time to make new friends and renew old friendships.
My dear children, just think whether you are angry with someone at
school or in the neighborhood? Then this is the time to forget those
past incidents and get friendly with them again. You can engage in new
year games with your sisters, brothers and friends.
Hope you can take a break from your day today activities and have
fun. But be careful not to let the beautiful days ahead go waste by
engaging in risky activities such as lighting crackers.
Do not forget to send us your essays and drawings on how you
celebrate the New Year.
Wish you all a very happy and prosperous Sinhala and Hindu New Year.
Bye for now,
Sanju.
[email protected]
Failures are the pillars of success
Man is destined to face challenges in life. Difficulties are bound to
come in the way but all desire for success. However, everybody does not
succeed in achieving his or her goals. Failures are a part of our lives.
But not everytime in a man’s life.
Success is the result of an industrious and hardworking nature of an
individual with a firm determination. Sometimes the attempt may be a
failure and it is a natural thing in our life but it carries a treasure
of invaluable experience.
Like the coin which consist of head and tail like that success and
failure are two faces of the same coin.
Every failure must be treated as a pillar of success. Failure teaches
us a lot. It informs us about the problem areas in our work and guides
us more effectively on that particular subject to face any situation.
Failure, thus prepares a person to go for the next endeavour with better
chance of success.
A man who has not tasted failure does not know of such success. The
invention and discoveries are the results of hard work and effort. All
inventions and discoveries have met with failure on their way, but they
never left their work at mid way.
We should aspire to be like Thomas Alva Edison who was a great
scientist who invented the electric bulb which was more useful to the
modern era.
One cannot enjoy one’s success to the maximum unless one has tasted
failure. So, failure prepares the foundation for major projects in life.
Failures are therefore pillars of success as they have gone through
trials and tribulations with more experience.
B.M. Zaharan, Gr – 9, Kingston College, International, Colombo 15
Sunny stories:
Mr Skinny’s smile
Now that the term tests were over and the April school holidays were
round the corner Marshi had lots of free time on her hands after she
came home from school.
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Mr. Skinny |
So did her younger sister, Hasini. But Marshi did not want to play
with Hasini. She loved Hasini but try as she might she could not help
losing her temper over the things Hasini did.
Everyday on their way home from school in the school service van
Hasini finished all the water in Marshi’s water bottle without leaving a
drop of water for Marshi. The moment they got home Hasini always ran to
the shower first, scattering her socks and shoes all over the bedroom
floor.
Marshi who always removed her shoes and kept them near the clothes
cupboard and put her uniform and socks into the laundry basket found
herself waiting for almost ten minutes outside the bathroom door till
Hasini came out, often singing a silly song she had invented. “Waiting,
waiting is sooooo goood for yooooou” Hasini sang making Marshi even more
angry with her little sister.
But what made Marshi get angry with Hasini the most was when Hasini
wanted to play with Marshi’s dolls.
Marshi loved all her dolls, she was scared to give one to Hasini
because she was worried Hasini would treat the dolls in the same way she
treated her own dolls; break their arms and bandage them, wash their
hair, paint their faces. “You have so many dolls. Give one to Hasini,”
said mother, one day when she overheard Hasini asking for a doll from
Marshi.
“Alright you can have this,” said Marshi giving Hasini a doll she did
not particularly like because she felt the doll’s face looked like the
face of the wicked queen in snow white.
“But I do not want this one,” said Hasini. “I want Mr. Skinny.”
Mr. Skinny was Marshi’s favorite doll. He was made of rags and looked
as thin as a pencil.
He had a lovely smile on his face. Whenever Marshi felt sad she took
Mr. Skinny into her hands and gazed at his face.
When she saw him smiling back at her she felt like smiling too. Mr.
Skinny’s smile was so catchy.
“Why can’t you play with the one I gave you?” asked Marshi.
“I don’t want her” explained Hasini. “We are flying to a country
called Daysriya and we need Mr. Skinny to be the pilot. You can come
too. Please do come.”
“No,” said Marshi. “I don’t want to come to Daysriya. Especially not
with you. Anyway what a silly name for a country. I am sure Mr. Skinny
wouldn’t want to go there either. He wants to sit with me and read this
book.”
She began to read. But though her eyes were on the book she could not
help listening to Hasini as Hasini played with her dolls, who had funny
names; Sarpet, Polosbolos and pinky binky. The settee was their plane.
“Do come” called Hasini to Marshi again. You can have the window seat
if you like”
But Marshi pretended not to hear. She frowned and covered her face
with her book.
“If you are not coming please give us Mr. Skinny,” said Hasini and
tried to pull Mr. Skinny from Marshi’s hands.
Suddenly as she pulled him she accidentally tore Mr. Skinny’s mouth.
He now had only half a smile.
“I am sorry it was an accident,” said Hasini. Marshi was so furious
she could not speak.
But before she could shout at Hasini in anger mother came into the
sitting room saying she had finally managed to make an appointment for
Hasini with the dentist. Hasini was to get ready at once. Marshi could
stay at home with grandma.
After mother and Hasini left, the house felt very quiet. Grandma was
absorbed in filling the crossword in the newspaper. Marshi sat alone in
the sitting room and read her book.
She did not want to look at Mr. Skinny. She was still angry with
Hasini for tearing one half of Mr. Skinny’s lips. The clock struck four.
Five. Grandma made Marshi a cup of tea.
Marshi started to get worried. Why was mother and Hasini getting
late? Would something be wrong with Hasini’s teeth? Would the doctor
have wanted to pull all of Hasini’s teeth out? Poor Hasini. Marshi felt
sad.
She felt sorry she had not shared Mr. Skinny with Hasini.
After all Hasini was right. Only Mr. Skinny would have managed to fly
her plane.
Suddenly Marshi heard voices at the front door. Mother and Hasini
were home. “How did it go” asked grandma. “Not too bad,” said Hasini as
she ran to the dolls on the settee.
Marshi gave Mr. Skinny to her. “I am sorry,” she said.
“But I am the one who should say sorry,” said Hasini. “You can have
the best seat on my plane.”
Suddenly Marshi realized Mr.Skinny looked better with his lopsided
smile.
“He really should smile like this all the time,” said Hasini.
“Perhaps he looks happier than before because we are friends now,”
said Marshi.
And Mr. Skinny smiled some more.
-Aditha
([email protected])
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