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the sesame project
Welcome to the VTO Blog!
January 2024- Editor’s Note
Welcome to the VTO Blog! Here, we hope to share articles featuring different resources, community events, and other opportunities for growth every month. Most importantly, we aim to celebrate the love of learning that is at the heart of our organization.
Should you have any content-related questions, comments, or suggestions, please share them with me at vtocdenglish@gmail.com.
On behalf of the VTO administrative team, happy reading!
Anoushka Majumder
Curriculum Director of English
January 2026: Creative Writing Competition Results!
Happy New Year to all our VTO families and students! We are excited to kick off 2026 with an exciting announcement- the winners of our 2nd Creative Writing Competition! We’d like to thank all participants for their patience during the judging process. A key note is that, for logistical reasons, we ultimately decided to select only one winner from both the upper and lower divisions. We received several strong submissions this year, all embodying the theme of “something unexpe
Anoushka Majumder
3 days ago1 min read
November 2025: Finding Your Writing Voice
For many students, writing can feel a little mysterious at first. What does it mean to “sound like yourself” on the page? How do you make your stories, paragraphs, or essays feel clear, concise, and uniquely you ? Just like staying organized, finding your writing voice happens in the small moments—and with a few helpful strategies, students can feel more at home in their writing. Tools & Strategies Brainstorming pages or idea notebooks Word banks or “favorite words” lists
Anoushka Majumder
Nov 30, 20252 min read
October 2025: Digital Balance- Tips for Students and Parents
In today’s world, screens are everywhere—in classrooms to living rooms, used for homework and entertainment alike. Technology offers incredible opportunities for creativity and connection, but it can also make finding balance a challenge. How can students and families make the most of digital tools while keeping time for rest, focus, and face-to-face connection? Digital balance begins with awareness. Just like we monitor our nutrition or exercise, it helps to notice our habit
Anoushka Majumder
Oct 28, 20251 min read
September 2025: Staying Organized (Back to School Edition)
For most of us, it isn’t long after the arrival of a new school year that someone’s lunch box goes missing or someone forgets to put...
Anoushka Majumder
Sep 28, 20251 min read
August 2025: The Magic of Reading Aloud (for All Ages!)
Whether it’s a bedtime story, a classroom read-aloud, or a student reading to their younger sibling, something magical happens when...
Anoushka Majumder
Aug 17, 20252 min read
July 2025: VTO’s 6th Annual Summer Program
Calling all VTO Families! We are excited to announce that our 6th annual summer program will run from Monday, July 28th, to Friday,...
Anoushka Majumder
Jul 17, 20254 min read
June 2025: VTO's Creative Writing Competition (Round 2)
Hello VTO Families! We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our 2nd annual Creative Writing Competition! Students in grades...
Anoushka Majumder
Jun 29, 20252 min read
February 2025: Art Competition Workshop!
Hello VTO Families! We are excited to share that we will be hosting a virtual workshop to support students with their submissions for the...
Anoushka Majumder
Mar 4, 20251 min read
January 2025: New Year, New Mindset
As we reach February, research data has shown that more and more New Year’s Resolutions tend to fall by the wayside. Often, these...
Anoushka Majumder
Feb 2, 20252 min read
December 2024: EYH’s 2025 STEM Conference!
As 2024 draws to a close, we have one final STEM opportunity to share! Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) is hosting its annual girls-in-STEM...
Anoushka Majumder
Dec 21, 20241 min read
November 2024: VTO's Student Art Competition!
We are proud to announce our first Student Art Competition! Students in grades K-9 are invited to create and submit an original piece of...
Anoushka Majumder
Nov 30, 20242 min read
October 2024: Test-taking Strategies
Test-taking is a not-so-exciting reality of higher education. Luckily for us, there are several tricks and tips for managing time during...
Anoushka Majumder
Oct 28, 20242 min read
September 2024: Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
The arrival of a new academic year is a time of change- new classes, teachers, schedules, and faces. Yet this uncertainty also offers...
Anoushka Majumder
Sep 23, 20241 min read
August 2024: Creative Writing Competition Results!
The moment you have been waiting for has arrived! I would like to begin by congratulating all VTO students who chose to participate in...
Anoushka Majumder
Aug 21, 20242 min read
July 2024: Introducing VTO's Summer Program!
Attention all VTO families! After extensive planning and preparation, we are proud to announce that our annual summer program this year...
Anoushka Majumder
Jul 20, 20243 min read
June 2024: Get Ready to Read!
Summer is ideal for visiting your local library or curling up with a Kindle! Reading is an excellent way to relax, unwind, fuel one’s...
Anoushka Majumder
Jun 14, 20242 min read
May 2024: VTO’s Creative Writing Competition
Calling all young writers! Looking for an opportunity to enhance your creative writing skills and share your work with the community? We...
Anoushka Majumder
May 13, 20241 min read
April 2024: Notes on Notes
Do you remember the last time you put pen to paper, trying to capture the essence of a lecture, but came away with incomplete sentences?...
Anoushka Majumder
Apr 20, 20242 min read
March 2024: Procrastination- A Breakdown
“I need to stop procrastinating.” I bet I’m not the only one who’s said that recently. Some form of procrastination- or putting things...
Anoushka Majumder
Mar 11, 20242 min read
February 2024: Attention All Girls in STEM!
Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) San Diego is hosting their annual STEM Conference for Girls in grades 6-10 on Saturday, March 9th, 2024. ...
Anoushka Majumder
Feb 13, 20241 min read
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