April 26 - May 7, 2021

Featuring a teacher interview from Ms. Mark and some pictures of the new elementary school renovations, as well as pictures of the students!

DEAR FAMILIES:

We hope you are having a relaxing weekend! This Friday, the K-6 will start at Sudhana 5 days a week, with the same schedule of starting and end times.

Additionally, summer camp registration has begun! Camp is from June 7-18, 8 am - 12 pm. For more information, check out this link: https://igdvs.org/2021/03/31/igdvs-summer-camp-2021/

Lastly, the elementary school has some new renovations. Wooden floors were added, a fresh coat of paint, new flooring in the hallways, and new bathroom stalls and flooring. Thank you to Team Bodhi for all their hard work and the volunteer staff for cleaning the school afterward. We are looking forward to all the students coming back soon!

Warm Regards,

IGDVS

Renovations to the Elementary School!

NEW CLASSROOMS!

BATHROOM RENOVATIONS

PICTURES OF STUDENTS

COVID-19 EDUCATION

COVID-19 is affecting people all around the world, and it’s especially dangerous for elderly people and those with weak immune systems. However, besides the threat of contracting COVID-19, this time can also be challenging due to the social restrictions and social distancing. Thankfully, a program called Geriatric Buddy based in Little Rock, Arkansas is setting up virtual visits with seniors living in either nursing homes or by themselves. A lot of college students and students from UAMS are volunteering to meet with the seniors virtually, either through Zoom or Facetime. Besides chatting, they also do several activities such as puzzles, playing board games, or exercising.

Priya Mendiratta is a UAMS geriatrician who leads the program with a colleague. She explained the importance of the program: “Our experience in the past has taught us that social isolation in the elderly puts them at risk for further cognitive decline, worsening of depression and anxiety and other chronic health risks.” Additionally, “Isolating the elderly might reduce transmission of the virus, but we have to look into strategies to help them stay mentally and physically well. … We all need to reach out to older neighbors in our neighborhoods. We all need to take those small steps.”

This wonderful program makes sure that our elderly neighbors are not feeling lonely or isolated in this special time, and gives younger students an opportunity to interact with seniors. This kind of program is exactly the good news that we need during this time. What other ways can you help check on the elderly members of the community?

Source from Geriatric Buddy Program Eases Social Isolation During COVID-19 | AHA

VIRTUE OF THE MONTH: INTEGRITY

The virtue of the month for April is integrity. What does this mean? Integrity means having strong moral principles and being honest. Integrity is one of the most important character traits a person can have, and even though it may seem not as beneficial in some cases, it is the best way to go about a problem in the long run. The short story below illustrates what rewards integrity can reap if you are patient and honest enough.

A successful businessman was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you.” The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued, “I am going to give each one of you a seed today – one very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.”

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil, and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by — still nothing in Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn’t say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil. He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year went by and the CEO asked the young executives to bring their plants to work for inspection.

When Jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot, she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room.

When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful – in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the CEO. “Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!”

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He asked Jim to come to the front of the room. Jim was terrified. He thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!”

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed. Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, “Behold your next Chief Executive Officer — Jim!”

Jim couldn’t believe it. Jim couldn’t even grow his seed. “How could he be the new CEO?” the others said.

Then the CEO said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead – it was not possible for them to grow.

“All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!”

Source from Need Inspiration? Read this Amazing Story About Integrity - Michelle Hummel, Social Media Trainer, Speaker and Franchise Marketing Expert (michelleshummel.com)

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: MS. JULIA MARK

Ms. Mark is the junior high teacher at DVGS. She teaches Theatre Arts, US History, and ELD.

Question: What is your most memorable experience when teaching? Ms. Mark: My most memorable experience would be to see our students creatively and enthusiastically engaged in performing a play from start to finish. Handmade and beautifully artistic costumes, as well as set designs, came along with each production. This question made me realize just how many incredible memories I have been blessed with from our school. Question: What is your favorite subject to teach? Ms. Mark: The subjects I enjoy the most to teach are History and Theatre. It is through these subjects that I get to see the students "light up" with interest. Question: What inspires you the most? Ms. Mark: My inspiration is the actual embodiment of goodness in our students. It is both unique and influential. Question: What is an interesting fact about you that students would be surprised to learn? Ms. Mark: Something my students wouldn't know about me is that I have a small, treasured, pink pig (stuffed!) that keeps me company when I'm feeling rather lonely :) Question: What is the best thing about being a teacher? Ms. Mark: The most wonderful thing about teaching is that you give your best and you receive in abundance. Question: What is your favorite way to relax? Ms. Mark: Favorite ways to relax are doing yoga and plunging into hot mineral springs.

ENVIRONMENTAL ARTICLE

IKEA Buys 11,000 Acres in Georgia to Protect Forests from Home Development Written by Katie Finnegan for Cool Beans

Southeast Georgia is home to diverse ecosystems, which have been overruled by home development. Lately, IKEA has been working on its brand’s eco-friendly status. According to Georgia’s law, 98% of forests are available for timber, which is why actions like these can help save the unprotected forests. Along with this, IKEA has begun making miniature homes for an off-the-grid sustainable life, allowing more people who are on a lower budget to enjoy nature-friendly lives and comfortable housing. Although these lands are unprotected by government law, they will be sheltered and properly cared for by IKEA.

VEGAN RECIPES

Vegan Minestrone Ingredients:

• 1 tsp olive oil

• 1/2 cup chopped celery

• 3/4 cup chopped carrots

• 28 oz can diced tomato

• 15 oz can cannellini beans or other white beans or a combination of white and kidney beans

• 1 cup chopped zucchini

• 3 cups water

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp oregano

• 1/4 tsp thyme

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• 1/2 cup elbows or other pasta use gluten-free if needed

• 1 cup baby spinach

• 3 tbsp chopped basil

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add celery, carrots and tomato and bring to a boil. 4 to 5 mins.

2. Add the beans, zucchini, water, salt and spices and cook for 15 to 18 minutes.

3. Add 1/2 cup pasta and simmer for 12 or more minutes. Taste and adjust salt, herbs and heat.

4. Fold in spinach and 2 tbsp chopped basil and simmer for another minute. Serve hot garnished with fresh basil.

Recipe from Vegan Richa https://www.veganricha.com/vegan-minestrone-white-bean-soup/

SPRING CROSSWORD!

It's officially spring! Start this season off correctly with this wonderful crossword created by Kaitlin Harness! https://crosswordlabs.com/view/newsletter-crossword-happy-spring

CRAFTS TO DO AT HOME

Flower Bookmarks Since spring is here, flowers are coming to bloom and they are perfect to make bookmarks with. Here are the steps to make pressed flower bookmarks:

1. Go on a walk and pick some flowers that are preferably in full bloom

2. Find a heavy or a thick book and place the flowers on one of the pages. Arrange your flowers and make sure they don’t overlap.

3. Weight down the book by placing some more heavy books or other items.

4. Wait for a week or two and try not to check them too often to prevent damaging the flowers.

5. When the flowers are completely pressed down and dried up, take a piece of paper and cut it to whatever size you would like your bookmark to be. You can use colored paper, but for better results, use harder paper so that your bookmark won’t be too flimsy.

6. Design your bookmark as you like with color pencils or watercolor, and arrange the flowers however you like.

7. Lastly, you can use liquid glue to apply it on the back side of your flowers to glue it onto the paper OR you can use tape, preferably clear and larger ones, and tape down the flowers onto your bookmark.

Feel free to also stick these flowers onto cards or journals!

FUN FACT OF THE MONTH Squirrels are behind most power outages in the US.

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.” - Oscar Wilde, The Happy Prince and Other Stories