Gobind scores First Place among 21 Elementary Schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District 5th Grade in the Science Alliance project in the field of Solution Chemistry.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Sunday, April 27, 2014
A small step but a Giant Leap forward by Gobind
NH Sugar Crystle Mania
About six months back, Shiv and Shilpy very promptly and smartly saw to that Gobind was picked on first come 'first serve basis' among 50 students picked for Science Alliance to be held in Daugherty Valley High School San Ramon. In all 21 elementary feeder schools participated from Four High Schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.
Every Sunday, Gobind had to go to DVHS for doing chemistry experiments under expert guidance of his mentor Yasmin.
Yasmin came to our place 3-4 times to help Gobind to this Crystle experiment. We recorded photographed the measuriements of the crystals under three varying conditions ie Inside, Outside and Freezer for seven days.
Finally the display was meticolously done by Yasmin, her friend and Gobind.
Gobind did remarkably well when he answered the aggressive queries of three panelists. He was up to the mark and knew his subject well. He explained his Project thoroughly without being over-confident or too timid.
Well done, Gobind. This is a small step though, but You have taken a giant step forward.
Medal in Science for Cemistry
First Place in Science Alliance
Gobind waiting with participants, his mentor Yasmin meticulously supported him by remaining always near by.
Gobind proudly showing his First Place Badge.
With thrilling mentor Yasmin after the award
The Project Display:
The Report:
Dated May 14, 2014
Today all the Fifth Graders presented their Science Alliance Projects. In the Multi Purpose Room of the Live Oak Elementary School. Gobind project was also on Display.
The Principal Nadine Rosenzweig accompanied by two Science teachers was also present to encourage the students.
Principal Nadine Rosenzweig went into details to listen to Gobind's presentation. She informed me that Gobind was fabulous student indeed as he has enhanced the stature of the School by taking the first position in the Unified School District contest.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Dastar Bandhi of Preet Mohan Singh in 1954
In many families, when a boy reaches a certain age (usually eleven to sixteen), he is taken to a Gurudwara and there, in the presence of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and following Ardaas, his first turban will be ceremonially tied on by the Granthi, an elder relation or another Sikh elder. The Granthi will explain the importance of keeping long hair and wearing a turban.This ceremony designates the respect with which the turban is regarded. The Turban is such a crucial article of faith that many Sikhs consider it to be more important than even all the other Ks. Turbans may be of any color, and is tied in many different ways and styles.
Shivpreet 13 at the time of his turban
Accordingly, invitations were sent to all relatives in Patiala, Delhi, Simla and Amritsar well advance in time to join the facilitations on account of new house in Brand New India. To meet the sudden demand of refugees from Pakistan, the Government started development of Model Towns in all North Indian states.
In Delhi all our near family members were able to get allotted houses in rehabilitation Colonies like Lajpat Nagar, Nizammuddin, Janpura Extension, Rajinder Nagar, Kalka Ji and Tilak Nagar. My Dad however could not get any as he temporarily settled in Panipat getting a job as Rationing Inspector and my uncle in the Financial Commissioners office, Simla. My mother was keen to be near to her sisters in Dalhi. Hence my father with the help of his old friend Jaswant Singh grabbed this opportunity to participate in the auction. While everybody else got it for Rupees 5000 direct from the government that too in installments, while my Dad had to shell out Rs 20000 owing to auction mode of procedure.
Once a while my Mom used to open her stock of clothes to clean and replace everything back into that big metal trunk beautifully painted green. This trunk had been gifted by her parents in the dowry and had amazing secret places to hide valuables and jewelry. This trunk was very descretly placed in a dark room inside our major living room. We had to take a lamp to work in that room even in broad day light, till my Dad engineered his mind to open a hole of 2 ft by 2 ft in the roof to work as a Sunroof. He also installed two iron rods to avoid any mis-step by humans to fall into the hole down to the dark room below. When the sudden rains came, we the kids will be given panic calls to go up the stairs immediately. A iron sheet meant for covering the same will be placed on the hole to escape the onslaught of sudden Monsoon/winter rains.
Run, run and run was the war cry often from our Mom to all my sisters and me to rush to cover the hole quickly as soon as the rains were about to come. Our sister Bobi was usually first to respond, followed by Ambu, Bhagwant and finally me who was lazy and bossy. Tipi always remained a toddler shirking school and studies both. We used to call this hole as 'Manghh'(a 2 ft Square). One winter day, we forgot to cover the hole and it rained really heavily and the rain water fell on the bundle of quilts in the dark room resulting in serious demage to them. It was hard to dry them in cold and wet weather.
My puppy Moti fell down through this hole and broke his leg and ultimately died. I never forgave this hole till I got a big soft dog and christened it 'Pearl' which I posses it till date who will never die. The idea was to give a company to Shilpy so that she does not miss her dog Tintin left back with her parents. But this did not work as she is hardcore animal lover and likes the real ones. She now proudly posses a parrot called Tweety who is supposed to have life span of 80 years plus as being a yellow headed Amazon specie.
And in this trunk our Mom will show us her dowry Sarees and other valuables and some money tucked in one corner. This trunk usually remained locked all the times. One piece of pink silken long cloth used as a turban was taken out and re-wrapped every time. She told us that this was gifted by my grandmother's parents in Shikarpur to my Dad for his Dastar Bandhi. But I never saw my Dad wearing this pink turban on him. She was very discreetly keeping it secured to be used on me at the time of my Dastar Bandhi. I felt elated every time I saw that pink cloth
So I was determined to use a pink color turban on Shivpreet Dastar Bandhi. Harvinder agreed and got pink silk cloth from USA specially herself for the purpose.
After the priest had tied the pink cloth turban on me in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, I went straight to my one of my much older cousin on my mothers side as he was a hero to me. I requested him to re-tie a good turban on me. Incidentally I married his daughter as arranged among the family. And Harvinder as a bride joined us in the same house.
After the Dastar Bandhi, Enunchs came to dance & sing with Gurbani to start with. They were the same set of people who came at the time of my wedding, Shivpreet birth and Shivpreet wedding and at Gobind's birth. At the time of Gobind, the demand was too high asking only imported items besides money in lakhs. Harvinder and me very happily and graciously gave them gifts of kind and money to their satisfaction.
But at the time of my Dastar Bandhi, they caught hold of my Dad and lifted him in their laps and danced with him in spinning circles. In spite of their best efforts they could not grab my uncle who managed to slip to my Aunt house in the neighborhood. While they danced with my Dad and searched for uncle the whole rest of the clan burst into mountain of laughter in loud cheers which echoes in my ears even today.
Monday, April 21, 2014
A Piece of Art In our Back Yard
Toy House
Outdoor fun and games are essential for growing kids. Fresh air and recreational activities can be both invigorating and educative.
G&J along with me decided to renovate and decoratively paint the Toy House originally a gift for Jania on her First Birthday by her Mom Dad.
This piece of furniture has been placed on an elevated corner of our back yard since it was fabricated on the present location. Jania has been playing in this Toy House with her friends all these years. It became a part of back yard furniture.
I took the job heads-on with the help of Jania who did the details with a smaller brush and did it remarkably well.
Paint job under the way
The freshly painted Toy House has augmented the beauty and ambience of the spring decorated back yard.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Surprise Treat by our Friends Balbir and Lovleen Sahnis
It is a stunning piece of property just about 45 minutes from our home in East Bay. The location is gloriously spectacular. The view with the sound of ocean waves is peaceful and tranquil. What a place not so away from home where you can reach not in hours but in minutes.
We were invited by our same friends who have been lately introducing us new unique places of eateries.
This was a surprise treat, we were supposed to park our car at a convenient place where Balbir and Lovleen will pick us for onward drive of 40 minutes for something exciting.
The forty minutes flew away like one minute, as we reached a far end place of the San Francisco. Suddenly after passing through a bit winding road with Ocean front Banglows, there came a huge magnanimous stone studded Euoropean style building standing on the edge of the earth.
This was Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, when the identity of destination was disclosed to us, as there are no big signs displayed or we missed them out of excitation of surprise lying ahead.
Inspired by the grand seaside lodges of the 19th century, this resort is perched on a bluff overlooking a golf course and a wild stretch of Pacific coastline, three miles from the town of Half Moon Bay.
Harvinder and Lovleen seen giving a pose in the lobby.
Sahnis had reserved a table for four at the Navio restaurant in this resort and Hotel. We were very warmly welcomed at the enterance by a smiling restaurant staff.
The server of Japanese origin waiting on our table was too courtious and friendly and in fact known to have served Sahnis on previous occasions.
Food was so filling and tasty to our requirements. The veggie sandwitch reminded me of similar taste at our local confectionery store at Novelty in Jangpura in our young days.
After dinner walk was fabulous with magical weather.
The beautiful view of the ocean from the lawns.
Fire pit overlooking the Golf Grounds and the ocean.
Some adventurer photographers were seen busy using their tele-lenses for snapping the far Whales supposedly dancing and exhibiting a free performance.
The Golden shine of the building was well captured by the iPhone.
The Panaromic views from Ocean to the Golf course to the Hotel Lawns to the Main building came out gorgeous.
Enjoying the ambience of the Hotel one last time before saying good bye to our gorgeous party.
Harvinder thanking Lovleen again for the lovely evening full of friendly tit-bits accompanied by sumptuous early dinner.
Thanks Sahnis once again!
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