My favourite book

My favourite book is ‘The Cat in the Hat’, by Dr. Seuss. This is the funniest book I have read. All the words in this story rhyme and repeat. I think that Dr. Seuss is the funniest writer for kids. I am a big fan of his books.

Myself

By Shafiqah Kareem, (13 years) Dehiwala

Hello everyone! My name is Shafiqah Kareem and I am 13 years old. My home country is the Philippines Island. My dad is a Sri Lankan. Now I live in Sri Lanka with my family. I am the eldest in my
family. I have a brother by the name of Rayhan. He is four years old and also I have a little sister who is six years old.

I like reading storybooks. I also like to write. Someday when I grow up I hope to write my own book.
I like Sri Lanka and now I can eat Sri Lankan food. Though spicy, they are very tasty. In the Philippines,
I studied in Grade Six. My school was Tabuelan Central School. Although I am in Sri Lanka, I miss my friends and relations in Philippines. I hope to attend a school in Sri Lanka.

Teacher’s Day

By Maria Cassendra (13 years), Lyceum Int. School, Nugegoda

“The teacher is the needle while the student is the thread,” said Miyamoto Musashi. All across the world, Teacher’s Day celebrations are undertaken to commemorate teachers. On this day we convey the message that we care for our teachers. Teacher’s Day recognizes the devotion with which teachers undertake the responsibility of educating a child.

On this day, school students dress up like their teachers and attend classes, acting like their teachers. As the day passes, the students perform the activities of the teachers. Sometimes the teachers also sit in the classes and relive the time when they themselves were students. This creates an understanding between the students and their teachers.

This day enables a healthy interaction between students and teachers. However simple the celebrations may be, they reflect that we care for our teachers. So, we should never forget to celebrate this special day.

A visit to Myanmar

By Afrah Amsudeen (Grade 8), Crescent School Int.

I spent the last vacation in Myanmar. My grandparents live there. Myanmar is a beautiful country with many pagodas and monasteries. In the capital Yangon, we saw the Shwedagon pagoda which is the Heart of Myanmar. My grandparents took me to see some beautiful temples and sceneries.

One day we went shopping and I bought a new frock and a Cindrella dress. My sister couldn’t help laughing when she saw me wearing it. I bought a few bamboo pen-holders for my friends in Sri Lanka. On the last day of our stay we all cried. I couldn’t bear to leave my gentle and kin grandpa and grandma.
I enjoyed my visit very much. I hope to visit Myanmar again.

Encounter with a ghost

By Shashini Bogoda (Year 6), St. Nicholas Int. College, Colombo

Ghosts are not always fearsome. Though encountering ghosts can be a terrifying experience for some, there are some friendly ghosts too, like “Casper” on television.

I recall an interesting experience that my family and I had last year, when we visited friends who owned a hilltop bungalow in Kegalle. When we arrived, the villagers were agog with the news of a bright light moving around the premises of the bungalow and said that it was an apparition carrying a
rosary called ‘Navaguna malaya’. They called the apparition ‘Devatha Eliya’, meaning that it was like an angel. We were very excited too.

That night after dinner, everyone sat and chatted about the ghost. Suddenly a large light, somewhat like a shooting star fell into the rose garden close to the bungalow. We knew at once that it was the ‘Devatha Eliya’ and we gathered in the large verandah.

The light started moving and then settled on an oleander tree nearby. It slowly took shape into a whispy, white, cloud-like figure. It seemed to have arms but no feet and floated in the air. My father did not believe in ghosts and wanted to bravely investigate.

I was so scared, my legs were shivering. I clung to my father and prevented him from moving away. Someone among us spoke to the ghost. He said, “Please show us a sign that you are there”. At once the ghost raised one arm, and on its hand appeared a small bright light. We all knelt down and said, “Sadu, Sadu, Sadu”. Then the ghost slowly faded away.

Not everyone can see a ghost and I think I was very fortunate to have seen a ‘Devatha Eliya’.

My mother.

By Zahra Hassan (Grade 3), Muslim Ladies College, Colombo 4

My mother’s name is Raiha. She is a
teacher. She is tall and nice. She helps me to do my
homework. Her favourite colour is blue.
I love my mother.