“UA went Academics. UA went ground. Now UA go water!” 

On Wednesday 30^th of September, 2015 everyone was excited about the SWIMMING GALA. Everyone lifted their feet to catch a glimpse of the decorated swimming pool. The arrangements were picture perfect that there was no doubt at the hard work of the house captains, coordinators and the helpers. 

The Dasho S.P, Chief DEO and the principals of other schools graced the Gala. An open exhibition was performed by the senior boys, gave a great enthusiasm to the spectators and the participants for the grand Gala. Hopes of the House Masters and the Captains amplified as they saw their team members warming up.

Different swimming styles were demonstrated: Freestyle, Backstroke and Breaststroke. The participants were all juniors from class VII to IX. The Gala became stiff as time passed, while the audiences were seen with lifting eyebrows and were impressed with the performance of every individual.

After two joyful hours of anticipation, the results were finally declared and medals and certificates were awarded to the participants. 

Regional Sport Meet

The regional sports meet was held at Bajo HSS, Wangduephodrang from 25^th -27^th September, 2015 where students from various schools of three Dzongkhags i.e, Punakha, Wangduephodrang and Gasa gathered in order to enhance the five S’s through sports.

1.        Stamina
2.        Speed
3.        Skill
4.        Strength
5.        Spirit

The regional sports meet indeed provided students like us the opportunities to interact with the students from different walks of life and know each other better.

Amongst the different participating schools, our school Ugyen Academy stood victorious. Not only did we swipe away the trophies but also the hearts of the spectators by the talented players with ineffable discipline and sports ethics.

Winning the small players in the Dzongkhag level had paved a better way into the regional competition and by breaking the strong ties through it, UA will be joining in the National meet and indeed we will be counting onto heart-felt moments.

Rigzin Choden XII/SA

6^th Punakha Dzongkhag Open Taekwondo Championship

On Saturday, 26^th of September, 2015 the 6^thIntra Dzongkhag Taekwondo Championship was held amongst three schools of Punakha Dzongkhag. The event was held in Punakha Higher Secondary School. Ugyen Academy participated in the event and it was for the first time that Ugyen Academy took part in Taekwondo. The first time entry proved to be strong contender and gave tough play to already participating schools of Punakha dzongkhag.

There were 21 participants from UA and they backed up with 6 Gold medals, 3 Silver Medals and 4 Bronze Medal. It was observed that students had keen interest in Taekwondo and portrayed all the essential defense technique. 

U_16 Cricket Championship

On 6^th September 2015, UA boys lifted the U_16 Cricket Championship cup which was held at Ugyen Academy. There were total of four teams participating in the tournament within Punakha Dzongkhag, organized by Bhutan Cricket Council Board in commemoration of the 60^th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.

UA Staff Football Team Lifted Trophy  

The Shering Thruendral league-cum-knockout tournament was organized by Tashidingkha MSS. It was organized to commemorate the 60^th Birth anniversary of the Fouth Druk Gyelpo. The total of nine schools participated in the league from three Dzongkhags (Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang and Gasa).

The final match was played between UA staff team and Bjishong staff team on 29^th of August in which UA staff team lifted the trophy with 3-1 goals.

BY: Dechen Yeshey Choden XI/ARts/D

Bicycle Club

On the 30^th August 2015, the bicycle club was inaugurated by Dasho Principal of Ugyen Academy.It was helped and organizied by Lop. Kiba Tshering . On the opening day of a new club, seven UA teachers rode 20km from Khuruthang to Punakha and then back to Khuruthang.

This is a new start to old sport as UA always creates new way to develop itself.

With the new recreational establishment, we aim to:

       1) Provide skills to the students in internationally celebrated sports.

       2) Enhance the availability of recreational facilities in the school.

       3) Improve the physical fitness of the students.

       4) Draw student’s interest in cycling.

Moreover, it is started with the ultimate aim to produce Bhutanese cyclists in the cycling world.

BY: Dechen Wangmo XI/Arts/D

UA Joins Mountain Echoes Program

What exercise is to the body, reading is to the mind. With same objective, the Mountain Echoes program held at Tarayana center, Thimphu on 20^th of August, 2015 was organized to commemorate the Reading Year along with the 60^th birth anniversary of His Majesty, the Fourth Druk Gyelpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuk. The Sixth session of Mountain Echoes is very important, especially for Bhutan as we are celebrating  the National Reading Year. The programme consisted of national and international writers such as Lucy Hawking, the daughter of Stephen Hawking, writer of George series.Students from different schools interacted with the international writers as well as the Bhutanese writers Rinzin Rinzin, Pema Gyeltshen and Chador Wangmo.

We were welcomed at the Tarayana center with a welcome dance by the Royal Academy of Performing Arts. The first session called Cosmic Treasure Hunt was with Lucy Hawking and Paro Anand introduced by reading expert Amita Sathe Bambawale and followed by series of presentations.

The journey then took us to VAST gallery where there was an Art Exhibition by Bhutanese women called "Her Expression" II. The Art Exhibition compromised some of the paintings from the private collection of Azhi Sonam Dechen Wangchuk.

With that our programme ended but it instilled within us an understanding of how important reading is. The programme was a very wonderful experience and also a fruitful one.

Gaki Lhamo XI/Sci

U_19 Boys and Girls School Cricket Championship

On 16^th August 2015, the finals of the School Cricket tournament were held at Ugyen Academy. There were total of four teams participating in the tournament within Punakha Dzongkhag, organized by Bhutan Cricket Council Board in commemoration of the 60^th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyelpo.

Nevertheless, the super league tournament was played between UA and PHSS who had qualified for the finals in both the categories (Girls and Boys). Punakha HSS clinched the championship by two wickets in girls’ category and UA boys defeated the Punakha HSS by three wickets and clinched the trophy for 2^nd consecutive year.

The objective and the main purpose of conducting such a tournament were to develop the cricketing skills of the students and mainly to select a squad consisting of 14 players for upcoming U_19 National District Championship. Out of 14-players, 7-players (boys) and 6-players (girls) have been selected for U_19.

 By: Lhapchu Karma Wangdi XI/Arts/A  

School Kurim

Today  the School is having the third round of School Kurim. It is indeed a blessing because  of the Kurim Pelchen Dorji Zhenuyi Choga being headed by Lopen Tshedep Kaka mainly for the well being of all the students, teachers and all sentient beings at large.

An ostentatious and an examplary feature of this pooja is that the offerings(tshogs) are none of the packaged items but all are  the homemade ones.Such a step has been taken mainly to reduce the waste and also to ensure offerings with unadulterated items.

Such religious activities are in pipeline  and yet to be perfomed in the coming months for the physical and moral posperity of all the inmates of the UA family.

By: Dawa Zangmo XII/Sci/A