Academics

Meetings

Workshops

Co-curricular

Academics

Meetings

Workshops

Co-curricular

Sports

Scribble

ACADEMICS………………

Mid Term Examinations

Mid Term Examinations commenced from the 18th of February, 2014 and ended on the 1st March, 2014. Students started regular classes right after the exams. Mock Exams

Mock Tests-1 for Grade 10 – 12 commenced from Saturday, 1st March, 2014 and ended on Tuesday, 11th March, 2014. Students then continued regular classes until the final week of March. An additional Bangla Mock Test for Grade-10 had taken place on Thursday, 13 March 2014.

Entrance Test

Admission Department conducted an Entrance Test for 2013-14 and 2014-15 Admissions. On Saturday, 1st March 2014 a total of ten candidates were tested and interviewed for admission for Pre Primary and other classes.

Check Point Exams-Mock

Mock Check Point Exams for Grade 8 were held from 18th to 20th March, 2014 for the subjects English, Mathematics and Science.

MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS………………

The Report Card Day

On 11th March, 2014 the Mid-Term Report Cards were handed over to the parents during the last period. The Class Teachers remained in their respective classrooms with the students. Parents of Grade 1 to Grade 2 met the Class Teachers from 12.45-1.30 p.m. to collect the Report Cards and Grade 3 to Grade 9 collected their Report Cards from 2.15 - 3.00 p .m Mid Term PTM of Pre-Primary The Report Card Distribution and Parent -Teacher Meeting for Mid Term of Pre-Primary division was held on 15th of March 2014. Parents were given different time slots to attend the PTM between 8:30 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. There was sufficient time in each slot to have fruitful interaction between the Parents and Teachers. Some parents wrote their views on comment sheets which is a valuable method of communication. On Sunday, 2nd March, Head of Secondary Ms. Ishrat Imam Ahsan, attended a meeting with the members of the Bangladesh Private English Medium Schools' Forum at Mastermind School, Dhanmondi. On Sunday, 2nd March, 2014 Mr. Mostafizur Rahman-(IT Manager and Board Exam Coordinator),Mr. Golam Mostafa-(Deputy Manager Finance),Mr. Stickle M-(Manager -Admin),Mr. Mazharul Islam-(Maintenance Engineer),Mr. Rabiul Alam-(Executive Admin),Mr. Sayad Ata Us Samad (Executive -Accounts) and Mr. Obaidullah-(Executive-Store) had a Procurement Manual Meeting with STS Group Officials. Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award Ceremony On Saturday, 8th March, 2014 Ms. Tarana Majid Ahmed (HOD Commerce), Ms. Sonia Saadullah (HOD English), Mr. Mostafizur Rahman Mridha (IT Manager and Board Exam Coordinator), Mohammad Mushfequr Rahman (Grade 11 Student, The Achiever) and Faizus Saquib Chowdhury (Grade 11 Student, The Achiever) attended the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award Ceremony at The Westin Hotel.

On 11th March 2014, a seminar was organised in the Main Hall of DPS STS School Dhaka at 12.00p.m. on Opportunities of Pursuing Higher Education in Canada. The seminar was arranged by Tarana Majid Ahmed( HOD- Business Department)The purpose of the seminar to encourage the students of Grades 10 - 12. Ms. Joanne Elvy (Director, Student Services) Algoma University gave valuable information on studying in Canada. The students found the seminar very interesting and informative. On Saturday, 15th March, 2014 the Principal and the Vice Principal of DPS STS School along with Mostafizur Rahman Mridha (IT Manager and Board Exam Coordinator) had a meeting with Mr. Philip Atkinson, Development Director of STS Group to discuss issues on the proposed DPS STS School to be established in Chittagong. On Saturday, 22nd March 2014 Mostafizur Rahman Mridha (IT Manager and Board Exam Coordinator) from DPS STS School Dhaka attended the Inaugural Ceremony of IGNITE- a platform to encourage students in Science. The Head of Library Department of East West University had a meeting with the IT Department and the Junior and Senior Librarians of DPS STS School regarding library software KOAH on Tuesday, 18th March, 2014. On 18th March 2014, a 'Talk By Professional' was organised in the main hall of DPS STS School. The session was arranged by Tarana Majid Ahmed, HOD Commerce. Mr Giash Uddin, Chief Financial Officer of STS Group, gave his valuable speech on Accounting as a profession. The objective of the session was to expose the students of Grades 10 - 12 to the different kinds of professions that exist in Bangladesh and abroad. A Seminar was conducted by the representatives of the Malaysian Universities on Thursday, 20th March 2014 with students of Grades 10- 12 counseling students on their future education.

Pre Primary Events Pre K.G Field Trip 2013-2014

The Field Trip of Pre KG to The National Botanical Garden, was arranged in two slots. Pre KG Rose and Sunflower went on their trip on 16th March while Pre-K.G. Tulip and Lotus went on March 18th. The Pre K.G. Class Teachers, Coordinator and Support Staff accompanied the students to the destination and back. The purpose of the Field Trip was to enable the children to practically see how the environment looks in a particular season as the students had just learned about ‘Seasons’ and ‘Plants’. At the National Botanical Garden the children saw different kinds of plants, trees and flowers. They observed the surroundings and learned new things which reflected on their art work in the class the next day.

Kindergarten Field Trip

The students from Kindergarten went to The National Zoo in Mirpur. The students learnt about many animals and their characteristics as they are learning about Animals in Environmental Science. The children of Jupiter and Mars went there on 19th March and Neptune and Venus availed the trip on 20th March. The students saw

different kinds of Animals and their habitats. They had their snacks before leaving the Zoo. Children enjoyed the bus ride by as they sang along to Rhymes on Animals. This field trip gave the students the opportunity to bond with their classmates and to open up with their teachers in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Kid Mate 3-D Show

Kid Mate had arranged 3-D show in the Main Hall of the School for Grade Pre-KG and KG on Thursday , 13th March for Grades Play Group, Nursery ,Grades 3-4 on Sunday, 16th March and for Grades 1 - 2 on Wednesday, 19th March, 2014. All the Grades of Pre Primary section had enjoyed the short-length 3-D show in different slots ,throughout the third week of March. It was indeed a new experience and was thoroughly enjoyed by the children.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES……………… The Spelling Bee 2014 Four students from DPS STS School, Dhaka attended the Divisional Round of The Daily Star Spelling Bee Competition on Thursday, 6th March, 2014 at Kakrail IDEB Bhaban, Dhaka. The students were Fiza Ahmed Sheikh 6A, Farnad Ilmi Bakshi 6C, Kashfia Alam Nijum 6C and Abrar Arafat 9C. After School Programme Students of Grades 1 and 2 children have started After School Activity Programme (ASP) with a great enthusiasm from 13th March 2014..The activities are in full swing now. They have different activities on different days. This programme is under the guidance of faculty members skilled at different areas .Children are enjoying Drama Club, Music Club, Aerobics club, Art and Craft Club and Table Manners Club as After School Activity Programme (ASP). The Variety Show 2014 Primary Section

The name says it all! The students of Grade 1- 4 kept the parents and teachers busy with a variety of entertainment on the15th of March, 2014 for almost an hour.The programme was anchored by Amasha Nethmi 3C and Surah Fatiha was recited by Rida Ahmed Sheikh 4D.The audience were enchanted by solo performances of Asmiyaat Tahzia 2B, Jamil Ahmed 3A, Fairuz Tabassum 3A, Dhrubo Jhoti Saha 3A Umme Affa 3A, Ridita Chowdhury 3A and Nabiha Tasnuv 4A. Kashfia Binte Masud 2C recited a poem.Dancers Faiza Farzana 1A, Momtahina Ali Khan 1A , Faiza Karim 1C Tasnim Raihan Shariqa 2D, Brimhi Shaha 4A and Faiza Farzana 1A, were applauded hugely for their

brilliant solo performance. Group Dance was performed by Ali Tajammul Karim 4B, Nasif Uddin Ahmed 4C, Faiaz Ahmed Kabir 4C, Chowdhury Jawad Haidar 4C on ‘Dhum Machale’ and Zayan Rafiq Chowdhury 3D, Nafis Mortuza 2A, Niloy Mitra Barua 3C, Shah Aarik Iqbal 3C on ’Hip Hop’.The aim of the show was to encourage a wide variety of participation from students in each class and it was hugely appreciated and successful. Secondary Section

Students from Grades 5 to 7 had their Variety Show in the afternoon of 15th March. They came up with a wonderful package of entertainment which began with the recitation of Surah Fateha and its translation done by Saad Nabil Mustafiz and Taskin Ahmed Eera from Grade 7. The programme included recitation of Bangla poems by Meftahul Jannat and Syed Tashriq Estiaq from Grade 5 while Nafisa Ayman Koena (Grade 6 ) recited the poem ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling. Mohita Mobashara of Grade 6 enthralled the audience with the bhaoyia song ‘O ki o Bondhu’ while Aariyana Hussain, Ridan Mehran Mahbub and Abrar Daiyan Haque from Grade 5 presented English Songs. Aitijhyya Pal from Grade 6 sang a Classical song ‘Akhiya Mori’ The dance performers were Samanzar Sayeed and Fiza Ahmed Sheikh from Grade 6 and Tiva Tasha from Grade 5 while a Group of Grade 6 boys entertained the audience by dancing to Michael Jackson’s famous song ‘Bad’. The hosts for the afternoon were Abhijeet Roy Chowdhury and Maisha Ibnat from Grade 7. The programme ended in a patriotic mood with the rendition of the National Anthem. Higher secondary section

The Variety Show for Grades 8-12 was held on 20th March, 2014, Thursday from 2-3 pm. It was presented by Ayman Haque of Grade 9 and Reyan Ferdous of Grade 8. The program was initiated by the recitation of Surah Fatiha and its English translation, done by Farhan Ishraq and Sumaiya Zarin of Grade 8 respectively .The programme

commenced with a song composed by Grade 8.Nowrose Galib Khan was on guitar, Fayed Zaman and Deep Hasan Hussain were on vocals, Nahain Rahman on drums and Shihab Hossain on guitar respectively .Yousra aisha Hussain from Grade 8B enchanted

the audience with her piano recital based on the song ‘Tacatto’. The third performance was carried out by another group of Grade 8 students playing the song ‘Numb’ with Aryan Kabir as the lead vocalist, Aswaad Ahnaf Kamal on Drums, Abrar Fyad on keyboard, Ridwan Rahman on Rhythm guitar and Martin Francis on Lead guitar Later Kazi Asifa Ashrafi from Grade 9C recited the poem ‘Vocation’ by Rabindranath Tagore followed by two semi classical dance performed by Kazi Nawshin from grade 8A and Maisha Maliha from Grade 8A.Tanvir Ahmed of Grade 12 showed a brilliant act of being able to manage solving the Rubrik’s Cube in less than 2 minutes which was applauded by all.The song ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ were be performed by Grade 11 and 12 students with Ayesha Jahan on Vocals, Ashiqur Rahman Khan on Guitar, Tanvir Ahmed was the Bass guitarist, Ishaan Shezad on drums and Abrar on keyboard. This was followed by Raidah Morshed singing the famous song “Halo”.There were other song performances entitled ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by the students of Grade 8C with Aswaad Rajeshri Khan on Guitar and Vocals, Ibrahim Wais on Guitar and vocals and Dibakar Roy on Drums.Individual performances by Raisa Marisa Jamaly from Grade 8B singing ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ and Tanjida Sultana Momo from Grade 12 singing “Black Bird” were praiseworthy.The program ended with Grade 12 students, Safwan Ull Karim and Tahmina Tabassum performing a dance on a famous German tune.

Essay Writing Competition On March 16, 2014 an English Essay Writing Competition took place on March 16, 2014. The students of each Grade wrote on a given topic in the first two periods. The event was organized to encourage the spirit of imagination and creativity among all the students. The students really enjoyed the event. Art Exhibition 2014

Around five hundred paintings were displayed by students from Pre KG to Grade 7 on the 18th of March. The artistic arrangement of the various paintings on the fourth floor and the vividness of the paintings themselves combined to create a truly magnificient atmosphere.The program started at exactly 9:00 AM. After the recitation of Surah Fatiha and its English translation .The Vice Principal gave a speech inaugurating the Annual Art Exhibition Welcome Speech by Vice Principal Ms. Madhu Wal. On behalf of the school Management ,I extend to all the parents a very warm and cordial welcome at the Annual Art Exhibition .Art is a very vital component of the curriculum and an integral part of education. Art is a reflection of life colored by the imagination and perception of the artist. It stirs in the human soul nobly and pure thoughts and brings to the fore our aesthetic sense. It instills in the human heart an appreciation of all that is noble and sublime .I’ve spent some time in looking at the paintings done by our young artists and I had been given the difficult task of judging the paintings as well. I was really impressed to see the creative genius

of these children. I congratulate not only the winners but all the children whose work has been displayed in this Exhibition .Each piece of work is truly unique and a masterpiece in itself. At times I feel it is really unfair to judge and compete as far as Art is concerned but then I suppose it has to be done, congratulations once again. I hope the parents enjoy the Exhibition and Thank You once again for being with us. List of the winners:

Class-3 Class-4 Class-5 Class-6 Class-7

1st-Sanjida Ali 3A,Topaz

1st-Samia Tasnim 4C,Sapphire

1st-Irfan Imtiaz Baset, 5C,Ruby

1st-Md.Emadur Rahman, 6A,Sapphire

1st-Fariha Rifath Khan, 7C,Ruby

2nd-Jamil Ahmed, 3A.Sapphire

2nd-Golam Abrar 4B,Topaz

2nd-Mithila Bonik, 5A,Sapphire

2nd-Tasnoba Islam, 6C,Ruby

2nd-Sameen Yasar, 7A,Sapphire

3rd-Amasha Nethmi, 3C,Ruby

3rd-Md.Mustakim Rahman, 4B,Ruby

3rd-Iram Rayat, 5A,Sapphire

3rd-Aitijjhya Pal,6A,Topaz

3rd-Ilma Buraira, 7B,Emarald

Consolation- (1)Shah Arik, 3C,Sapphire

Consolation- (1)Maheer Ashhab, 4A,Topaz

Consolation- (1)Sahad Ibne Salam, 5A,Sapphire

(2)Sumehra Ahmed, 3D,Topaz

(2)Mahamuda Akter, 4D,Sapphire

The Vice Principal handed over the certificates to the winners of the contest. She then inaugurated the Art Exhibition by drawing a face on an easel.The parents of the students went around admiring the paintings of their wards and were very impressed by the efforts of all students and teachers. Special Assembly Celebrating Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Birth Anneversary

A Special Assembly was held in the Auditorium on the 20th of March 2014 for Celebrating the BirthAnneversary of The Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Students of Grade 1 to 4 participated in the programme. The programme started with Sura Recitation by Tamjid Hossain of 4C. Later Nume-E-Jannat of 3B recited a patriotic poem. The students of Grade 3 and 4 sang a patriotic song and the programme ended with the National Anthem .

The Secondary Section celebrated the birthday of the Father of the Nation on 19th March. The special assembly was conducted by

Samin Yasir (Grade 7A). Surah Fateha was recited by Zunain Askee Mallik (Grade 5D) and the translation by Tahfim Ishrar

Mustafa(Grade 5D).The Life Sketch of the Father of the nation was read by Ahnaf Rahman (grade 8B) and a Patriotic Song was sung

by selected students from Grades 5 and 6. This was followed by a Bangla Poem recitation by Shahed Ovi and Afridee Islam (grade

9). The assembly ended with the National Anthem.

Special assembly for Independence Day, 2014

On Monday, 31st March, 2014 Flag Hoisting Ceremony and Special Assembly for Independence Day Celebration were held for both the Junior and Senior Sections. Vice Principal hoisted the National Flag of Bangladesh and Head of Secondary hoisted the School Flag of DPS.

TSSEP : ‘Tech Solutions to Socio-Economic Problems’

On the 15th of March, 2014, three students of Grade 9, Tawsif Hasan, Mrinmoy Tasneem Sobhan, Sharizad Zaina Choudhury,

and substitute member Tahiyat Ahsan Sandra, took part in an Interschool Event with 9 other schools in ‘Tech Solutions to Socio

Economic Problems’. This program was hosted by YES ALUMNI Association, iEARN-BD, S.P.E.E.D. Youth, and The US Department

of States, with media partner The Daily Star,

Shout, Radio Koler Gan, Diamondback

Productions and ATN Bangla. The first event

was a workshop at EMK center, Midas Tower,

which covered all the requirements that the

participants must have, and taught the

techniques. A series of classes were held by

reputed trainers of the society, on

journalism, writing reports or features,

editing, interviewing, digital storytelling,

videography, photography, drawing, use of

social networks such as Facebook, Twitter,

etc. and finally web making. Trainers came

from The Daily Star, B-SCAN, Mozilla,

Lifestyle and so on. The participants then had

to apply their newly gained skills into action

and prepare a two-minute digital story, in the

form of a video clip, photo clip, or even by means of drawings. This clip was then uploaded to social networks like facebook to

reach out to people of the society and notify them of socio- economic problems around us and to prompt them to provide us

with solutions. By the 22nd of March, these clips went viral at a global level. It was found that over 1000000 people browsed

through all the TSSEP clips. On the 27th, the closing ceremony was held at The American Center, US Embassy, where the event

was concluded with short speeches from the coordinator Gulshan Jubaed Prince, organizers, and Members of the Jury.

Certificates were given out and the award for the best TSSEP project was given to Team Scholastica, which consisted of three

twelfth grade students.

Sports………………

Pre Primary Annual Sports Day-2013-14

The long awaited Annual Sports Day of the Pre-Primary Section for the session 2013-14, took place on 8th March'2014 in the Basketball court where parents were invited as spectator. Play Group, Nursery, Pre K.G. and K.G. Students participated in various sports events from 9 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. in four different slots respectively. The opening ceremony started at 9:00 a.m. when balloons were released into the air marking the opening of the Ceremony by the Vice Principal and after the flag hoisting ceremony, the Sports Meet was declared open by the Principal. The students of all four sections of Play Group performed a musical display together to the song "Catch the Stars". Then they participated in the events wearing colourful and attractive props according to their sections .The enthusiastic children of Nursery presented their musical display to the song "Waka Waka". The four sections then participated in their respective events. Pre-K.G. students performed soon after with their P.T. and musical display. Each section had two events each, one for boys and the other for girls. There were eight events altogether. Then a group of children from all four sections presented a wonderful 'Dress as you Like' parade. Last but not the least, was the turn for K.G. students to perform their P.T. and musical display as a team. The boys and the girls had separate events according to their sections. After all eight events, some children of K.G. participated in "Dress as you Like" ,which was spectacular. All the children of Play Group and Nursery, received the certificates of participation from the Class Teachers. The

students of Pre K.G. and K.G. who attained the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in the events, received medals. The School Authority distributed cupcakes among all the participants. The event was a wonderful success.

Aga Khan International School Basketball Tournament

On Friday, 7th March, 2014 Aga Khan International School hosted the Aga Khan International School Basketball Tournament at their school. DPS STS School competed with Sunbeams School and Bangladesh International tutorial School and played well. Football Tournaments In the Football match(under 18) against Turkish Hope School and DPS STS Schoolheld on Thursday,20th March,2014 at Turkish Hope Int. School,the score was 3 – 2 in favour of Turkish Hope School. On Friday, 21st March, 2014 a Football Match(under 18) was held DPS STS School VS Sunbeams school at Turkish Hope Int. School which ended on a tie.On 22nd March 2014 at the same venue DPS STS School VS Green Herald School scored nil. A Football Match (under 14) was held at International School Dhaka on 21st March 2014 where DPS STS School could not score any goal against Pledge Harbour School.At the same venue On Friday, 28th March, 2014 in the match (under 14)DPS STS School scored 2 goals against Canadian Int. School.On Friday 28th March in the match against scholastica DPS STS School scored 3 goals. The Sports Department organized a Spring Camp for Football, Table Tennis & Chess for Grades 3-12 started from Saturday, 22nd March till Wednesday, 26th March 2014. Kalyan Samity Field was the venue for Football. STOP PRESS!

Stop the Press Muzakkir Hossain of Grade 10 received admission in Atlantic College Dear Vice Principal Ma’am, It is with great pleasure and gratitude that I inform you that I got accepted into Atlantic College of the United World Colleges in Wales on condition of securing 6 As in my IGCSEs/ O levels. I already secured 2 As (1 in Accounting IGCSE and 1 in Statistics O levels) in the October 2013 session. Even though I am really looking forward to go to Atlantic College, I have to admit I have had a wonderful experience at DPS STS, met new friends, new teachers, and I am looking forward for an even better experience at UWC. Regards Muzakkir Hossain Dear Muzakkir Though we shall greatly miss a bright student like you, I am personally very happy and proud that you have been selected for the UWC in Wales. The UWC's are very highly esteemed and prestigious institutions, acclaimed internationally. Mr Wal and I have visited the UWC in British Columbia (Victoria) Canada and the one in Pune. These are great institutions and you will get a truly global education. It is a matter of pride for the School, and a great achievement for you, that you have found a berth in the UWC. I wish you the very best for your future . Best wishes Madhu Wal Vice Principal SAY YES Program! Orgho Anoronyo Neogi has been accepted in the SAY YES Program to travel to the US and live there for a year. He will have to live with a host family and study at a local high school in a state in the US.

Knowing Your Teacher………………

1. My Name: Imrana Iqbal

2. My Date of Birth: 10th October 1978

3. My Favorite Authors: Stephen King, John Corrolly, Frederick Forsyth, Enid Blyton, P. G. Wodehouse

4. My Favorite Food/ Cuisine: Asian

5. My Passion/ Hobbies: Reading, Drawing

6. Person Who Inspires Me Most: At different stages of my life, different people. Like my Chemistry teacher at university

7. My Favorite Genre of Music: Anything except rap and hard rock/ metal

8. My Favorite Genre of Movies: Horror, Supernatural, Thriller

9. My Worst Fear: Being trapped somewhere

10. My Most Embarrassing Moment: There’s no way I’m telling that one

11. My Least Favorite Subject From When I Was at School: Economics

12. One of the Best Memory of My School Life: When we got our O’level results

13. The Best Thing About Being a Teacher: My Students’ Successes

14. My Favorite TV Series: The Simpsons

15. My Favorite Quote: An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

16. I Dislike: Dishonesty

17. The Person I Admire The Most: Mahatma Gandhi

18. The Scariest Moment of My Life: Whenever a cockroach flies towards me

19. Some Places I’ve Enjoyed Travelling To: Bhutan, Malaysia, Phuket, Bandorban

20. The Happiest Moment of My Life: The Birth of My Daughter

VOLUME 2

Undying

By: Shadab Hafiz, Grade: 10A A comet passed overhead, slashing a white starlit trail through the twilit sky, visible only through gaps in the low-hanging all-encompassing grey clouds. I sat down at the edge of the cliff and she sat down beside me. Our legs, swung in midair. Below us was an endless expanse of a wasteland, a dry plain of hard coarse dirt and interspersed husks of trees. It was a landscape without colour, save varying shades of sand and grey. Above us was the sky, eternally overcast and stormy, but with what seemed like great rends in the clouds that gave view to twilight fading to inky blackness dotted by glimmering specks of light. In the distance, stretching from horizon to horizon, was a colossal city, a metropolis that I knew spanned a continent and a quarter of an ocean. It was just a silhouette brought to view by the pale amber light of a dying sun.

Close as we were, she moved closer to me, her body shivering from the cold. I knew it was cold, this high up, but I barely felt it. A stray wind fluttered by and blew several strands of her black, beautiful hair onto my face. I didn't move them away.

The city in the distance, that I called the gray city, for it was completely grey, complementing the desolate wastelands and the stormy sky surrounding it, was about to meet its end. So was this world. Above it, the storm clouds swirled into a vortex, a charybdis of the heavens. From it, a single speck of light, as bright as a star of the night sky, began to fall. It fell slowly in a vaguely spiral way, like a glimmering snowflake that is blown hither and thither on its journey to the ground. I began to murmur, taking lines from an ancient poem I remembered like some half-forgotten dream,

Twinkle, Twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are; Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.

Then the sun went down under the horizon completely, and the dying world instantly turned into a shadowed one. The glimmering speck of light was now intensely bright. Slowly, so very slowly, it disappeared behind the grey skyscrapers. There was a momentary stillness, like an entire period of calm before the storm compressed into a single moment. I continued,

A single speck of light, Set amidst the black night, Softly, gently, ever falling,

To bring the world's ending

Then the earth roared, shaking and groaning in an earthquake to break continents. From the center of the city, a sphere of crimson and orange began to expand, its surface as tumultuous like that of the planet's core. It expanded to a titanic dome, covering the entire city. Then there was a rush of wind, and the dome imploded before blasting out with the all power and glory of a supernova. A blinding sun replaced the city for an instant and a shockwave of such power lanced out that the entire city that which had stood for nigh two hundred years, simply turned to dust and collapsed. The shockwave began to spread over the barren outlands, and as it passed over the ground sunk a dozen feet, the dirt being burnt red. Thousands of cracks, some minute, some colossal and belching out hellish magma began to form in the ground in its trail. As it approached us, she spoke from beside me. "Thank you," she said simply, "for letting me see the end of the world,". I said nothing, but took her hand and squeezed it gently. I looked into her eyes; eyes in which a man can get lost. They were breathtakingly blue, the same shade as the sky, the sky of the first Earth where I had been born, not this eternally gray Earth. I stared into them for a moment that lasted forever. Then the shockwave reached us and obliterated her, passing through me painlessly. She turned to dust in the wind and even as I tried to grasp her remains in my hand, they slipped through my fingers. It was a sobering analogy of what my life was now like. I didn't shed any tears for her. Such human emotions, such as sorrow, grief, rage, they had all been blunted for me after so many million years of experience. Except love of course, because love never grew old. I sat in silence. And so that world died, the Final Earth, for there would be no more healing or evolution after the detonation of this weapon. I didn't want there to be any more, because Mother Earth deserved a rest from mankind. "Unto Dust," I murmured, and bid my kind a farewell.

By Shezina Tasneem, Grade 6

Street

By: Alavi Wahid Zaman, Grade: 10A

Taking a step forward through the high arched gate and stealing a glance back over your shoulder would make you feel like a traveller of time, its opaque shadow remaining as an inanimate barrier between two entirely different worlds. The shadow falls mysteriously in the early hours of morning dividing the straight road into two opposite poles. One side clad with freshly paved concrete and glass faced buildings, the other made up of narrow earthen roads and temporarily set up stalls with energy saving light bulbs dangling from their sides. standing near the entrance of this alien world, one feels subconsciously drawn to peek behind its curtains. A range of exotic aromas and queer sounds radiate through the opening like a wormhole connecting two places, all the sensations feeding off the curiosity of passers by. The streets beyond the gates are always bustling with life and activity, even in the wee hours of morning, the unknown numbers never seem to dwindle. A man can find anything he searches for in the countless stalls installed in the nooks and crannies of the main street, the stalls themselves all follow the similar structure of bamboo poles driven into the dirt with waterproof sheets of aquamarine plastic covering their tops. However, the similarities end there, each stall was uniquely decorated and no two sold the same goods. Their ‘owners’ took time and care to carefully craft their shops, adding subtle touches like carvings into the bamboo supports or decorative pearls, beads and multicoloured LEDs strung from the ceiling to add some razzle dazzle. The street would be crowded with men and women of all origins and sizes, ranging from ordinary folk dressed in simple trousers and shirts to those in glossy suits with neatly ironed ties. The street was a place where all could congregate regardless of their wealth or status. Everyone here was on a road to discovery, each day a new treasure would shine through the darkness and repeatedly draw people deeper and deeper into the maze. This was the charm of the street, every day presented a new adventure and admitted even more people into the parallel world.

Halfway down the street is the point of no return, once you get there you will find it impossible to turn around. This section of

the street is dominated by unnumbered food shops small and large, the fragrances emanating and combining to form an

intoxicating concoction. The crowds flock here like hungry wolves to take in the various tastes and smells. No single shop has

the same menu on any given day; it evolves like the street itself, adding and subtracting dishes with the changing seasons. The

one staple however is the specialty of the street’s oldest vendor; small four inch round golden discs of fluffed buttery

gooeyness stuffed with silky molten chocolate filled to the brink of exploding. This mixture of sweetness dissolves at just the

slightest touch, inside the warm oozing chocolate adds more softness to the glowing doughnuts.

By nightfall the street is abuzz with energy, people flood it by the hundreds and congest the already overcrowded dirt roads.

This is also when all should be wary of what’s in their pockets as conmen and pickpockets oft stroll by. The street is most

vibrant after sundown, vendors uncover their intricately designed neon and LED signboards to attract the hordes of sprawling

visitors. Haggling is like an epidemic at this hour, the vendors try to charge fresh faces absurdly but returning customers are

seldom fooled into paying a penny more. By the strike of midnight the once crowded street goes quiet, its commuters

retreating to their homes on the other side of the gate and its eagle eyed vendors pack up their goods and string hammocks

across their stalls, getting all the rest they can before the new day.

Pic-1-A panoramic View of the rolling hills of Bandarban from the Chimbuk Summit which stands 1600ft above sea level! Photo courtesy-Ahnaf Rahman 8B

Pic-3-A glorious sunset at Cox’s Bazar. Photo courtesy-Ahnaf Rahman 8B

Pic-2-The natural setting in Bandarban is amazing. Here the beautiful natural lake in Meghla, Bandarban can be seen. Photo courtesy-Ahnaf Rahman 8B

Pic-4-Life is wonderful no matter how insignificant. Live it to the fullest. Photo courtesy-Ahnaf Rahman 8B

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Credits for this Newsletter goes to Tawsif Hasan(9A), Raidah Morshed(10A) and Alavi Wahid Zaman(10A)

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