Children

The appearance of a disease is swift as an arrow; its disappearance slow, like a thread. - Chinese Proverb

Leave no room for dengue!

Dear children,

Need I tell you once again that the greatest wealth is health? We all know how uncomfortable we feel when we fall sick. When a family member is sick, all at home are sad and restless. These days the main sickness the entire country is worried about is dengue fever. You all know that quite a number of valuable citizens fell prey to this deadly fever.

Better be aware of the gravity of dengue fever. The Ministry of Health has declared a month period from June 25 to July 25 as Dengue Prevention Month. We all have a role to play to control the spread of dengue fever.

Dengue fever is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes and the best way to prevent it is to destroy dengue mosquito breeding places and use mosquito nets. I am sure you all are helping your parents to clean your home surroundings. Your school teachers too must have advised you to help destroy mosquito breeding places.

Be vigilant and keep an eye out for places where water collects specially after rainy days. Coconut shells, discarded tins and even flower vases which contain water and old tyres provide a haven for dengue mosquitoes. Always go through newspaper reports and listen to news bulletins related to dengue, so that you can keep yourself updated and be aware of the latest preventive measures.

We have to look after ourselves and our loved ones. There is no substitute to good health!

Bye for now,

Sanju

sanjuw2012@gmail.com

Sunny Stories

A lesson in love

"Prrreep" Sandun stopped tugging at the string of his kite and listened. However hard he tried the kite simply refused to fly. He was about to give up when he heard the sound.

"Prrreep." Sandun kept the kite on the grass and walked towards the green hedge between their garden and the garden next door. He parted the bushes to see who was making the sound. At first he could not see anything except a lot of green leaves and green twigs.

Then he saw a red beak. He realized he was looking at a baby parrot. "Prrreeep," said the parrot again.

Rathu was happy on the guava tree

"What is wrong?" Sandun asked in a gentle voice. He bent down and took the parrot into his hands. He stroked the soft green feathers.

"Don't worry" said Sandun. "I will look after you. You will be safe and happy with me."

Sandun took the parrot into his bedroom and placed the parrot in a drawer inside his clothes cupboard. He kept the drawer slightly open so that the parrot would have enough air inside his new home.

"You have a beautiful red beak" Sandun talked to the parrot. "I will call you Rathu. "

He brought his favourite tin of biscuits and gave one to Rathu. But to his dismay Rathu was not interested in the biscuit. "These biscuits are really tasty. Try one and you will want more." Sandun tried to explain to Rathu. When Rathu still refused to eat a biscuit Sandun went in search of his brother, Kishan.

"I found a parrot in the garden. I gave him a biscuit but he doesn't like biscuits."

"A parrot?" asked Kishan. "He must have fallen from his nest. Parrots like fruits. Give him a banana."

"But I like apples. I will give him an apple" said Sandun and took a piece of apple to give Rathu. Rathu took no notice of the apple.

"Are you feeling bored?" asked Sandun. "Let us play with my toy train."

Sandun kept Rathu on the desk. He placed the toy train on the railway track and switched it on. "Hooooo" the train blew its whistle. "Prrreeep" cried Rathu in a loud voice and flew towards the ceiling. He fluttered his wings and landed on the light bulb.

"What is that noise?" asked mother walking into Sandun's room.

" Rathu got scared when I switched on the train" Sandun explained to mother and told her how he had found Rathu in the garden. Mother suggested Sandun should return Rathu back to the garden.

"Please let me keep him, mother," pleaded Sandun. "I gave Rathu an apple and my favourite biscuits too. I asked him to play with my train. I am sure he is happy here with me."

" Rathu is a parrot," said mother. " Rathu does not like the things a little boy likes. He likes to be out in the garden. He likes to fly and find his own fruits to eat."

"But I love Rathu " Sandun protested. "I will miss him if I take him back to the garden."

"If you love him, the best way to show him that you love him, is to set him free," said mother.

Sandun took Rathu back into the garden and kept him on the branch of the guava tree.

Rathu jumped to a higher branch and started to peck at a ripe guava. "Prrreeep" he said looking down at Sandun.

"Are you saying thank you?" Sandun asked Rathu. "Prrreep, prreeep" said Rathu.

"Throw me a piece of guava too, Rathu. "

Rathu dropped a piece into Sandun's hands.

"Prreep" said Sandun. "I am happy I did the right thing by setting you free."

He picked up his kite again. This time the kite seemed happy to fly. Rathu started to sing from the guava tree. "You sound happy," said Sandun and realized he felt happy too.

- Aditha

aditha.dissanayake@gmail.com

Myself

1. My name is Nirmal Perera
2. I go to St.Sebastian's College, Moratuwa
3. I am eight years old
4. I like to eat cake
5. I like to drink milk
6. My favourite colour is red
7. My favourite subject is religion
8. My best friend is Saveen
9. I don't have sisters and brothers
10. I like to be a doctor
11. I love myself very much

I P Nirmal Perera
grade 3B
St.Sebastian's College
Moratuwa

An adventure I had

It was the month of December. My sister was getting married soon after Christmas.Everyone was busy preparing for the great day.

There was some last minute shopping to be done.We had to go to Colombo.So my younger sister and I set off.We were not very familiar with the city but there was no one else to do this for us. We managed to do most of our shopping.We had to find a small shop where we had to buy some trinkets.We could not remember the exact spot.Time was running short.

We had to go back home by 3o'clock train. So my sister and I decided to go along two different streets.Very soon, I was in a very unfamiliar place. I just did not know where to turn.There was no trace of the shop and I did not know where I was. I was confused and afraid.I was so upset that when someone tapped on my shoulder.I screamed.It was none other than my sister.She had found the shop and bought the trinkets.She had been looking for me.

At last we rushed to the train.We just got into it and before we sat down the train puffed out of the station.

Aysha Sheenas Aswer

Mr.Holland’s Opus

Mr.Holland's Opus (1995) will be screened on July 7 at 3.30pm at the American Centre, No 44, Galle Road, Colombo 3. (Running Time: 143 minutes). Glenn Holland is a man with a deep love of music and a desire to write at least one piece of lasting significance. However, playing piano in cocktail lounges while he works on his own compositions does not pay the bills, so in 1965 he reluctantly accepts a job as a high school music teacher. Over the next 30 years, Holland is able to teach a great deal about both music and life to thousands of kids who pass through the various classes he leads and school bands he directs; however, he finds it easier to reach his students than his son Cole. Please contact the American Centre at amcentersl@state.gov or at (011) 2498100 with any inquiries.

Poson Bhakthi Gee by Visakha Nursery kids

Visakha Nursery School held their annual Poson programme at the Visakha Vidyalaya Jeramias Dias hall recently. While children in the age group of two and a half to six years took part in this event, there were about 300 children from different religions who showed their talents on stage. The Bhakthi Gee programme was organized under the guidance of Principal of the school, Chryshanthi Lewke. The special feature was that every single child participated in the event. There was also an item by the teachers and staff of the nursery as well. This year the nursery invited Visharada Sanath Nandasiri and wife Malkanthi Nandasiri along with Visharada Jagath Wickramasinghe accompanied the children in singing Bhakthi Gee. The Board of Directors, well wishers, parents and teachers of the school graced the occasion.

Poson Bhakthi Gee by CSI students

The Buddhist Society of the Colombo South International (CSI) College, Dehiwala presented a largely attended, diverse programme of Bhakthi Gee on account of Poson Poya recently at College premises. Here the participants singing Bhakthi Gee at the performance. Picture by Kavinda Perera