GSA Calendar January 2026

 My Good School

January 4th 2026

Book Reading- What You Are Looking For Is in the Library

Book Reading- दी व्हिसलिंग स्कूलबॉय और अन्य कहानियाँ

11^th January 2026

Book Reading- My Family and Other Animals
Book Reading- दी व्हिसलिंग स्कूलबॉय और अन्य कहानियाँ

18th  January 2026

We aim to inspire young minds, helping them navigate their dreams and aspirations as they embrace their goals. 

The YES workshop on Communication with Kartik Bajoria

Book Reading- What You Are Looking For Is in the Library

25^th January 2026

Book Reading- My Family and Other Animals

Book Reading- दी व्हिसलिंग स्कूलबॉय और अन्य कहानियाँ

The Teachers Academy

Learning Forward Saturday
Early Childhood Development training sessions for teachers at 3:00 PM every Saturday - Hosted by Brinda Ghosh and Neelashi Mangal. You may join the cohort from The Teachers Academy website www.DilJeeto.com

Saturday Masterclass 
Read And Lead at 5:30 PM: Co-hosted by Gurdeep Kaur and Sandeep Dutt, for subscribers only. We are reading The Courage To Be Disliked. Sign up on The Teachers Academy website at www.DilJeeto.com.

GSA Meetings and Events

GSA Squad

We review programs and plan for the coming week.

At 5:30 PM every Monday on Zoom - GSA Coordinators, Volunteers, and Mentors. #JoyOfGiving 

Brewing Knowledge Friday
Fridays at 5.30 PM: Book Reading with Neelashi Mangal, entry by invitation from The English Book Depot. We are currently reading: What Did You Ask At School Today: A Handbook Of Child Learning.

Meet and Greet 
5:30 PM on Zoom on January 9th 2026
With Neha Negi, author of When Birds Talked

Folklore of the Hills | Illustrated Himalayan Folk Tales of Birds & Nature | Uttarakhand Legends Filled With Myth, Magic & Transformation

#BrewingKnowledge Hosted by The English Book Depot

Governing Council Meeting

The meeting will be held at PYDS Learning Academy, with hospitality provided by the Fig Tree Cottage in Dehradun, on January 19 and 20, 2026. 

Sunbeam Ballia and Arthur Foot Academy Exchange
Three girls and one teacher from Sunbeam School, Ballia, will visit the Arthur Foot Academy from January 19th to 23rd, 2026. They are volunteers for the Jaabaaz Kishori Project of the Learning Forward India Foundation.

AFA Monthly Review 

Zoom Meeting for Arthur Foot Academy Special Projects Review: 4th Friday of Every Month

Good Schools of India

Are you signed up for the Good Schools of India Weekly? Don't miss valuable insights—published every Monday at 7:00 AM! #JoyOfLearning. Subscribe at: www.GSI.in

Open to All

Follow the Brewing Knowledge WhatsApp Group. If you wish to join, please send a request by WhatsApp to Vikram Kumar at +91 97331 97341 or email vk@ebd.in

Enjoy the latest edition of the Weekly, the last one of 2025!

Good Schools of India by Sandeep Dutt

Joy of Learning Weekly #45

Read on Substack

Good Schools of India (GSI) Joy of Learning Weekly emphasises reading, reflection, and building meaningful relationships, fostering a sense of community and lifelong learning. Join a lively community of like-minded individuals who share your interests. Engage in discussions or subscribe to support Good Schools Alliance. Whether you're an educator, parent, or someone concerned about your children, we have something for you. Good Schools of India is a reader-supported publication, and we'd be thrilled if you could become a free subscriber. By doing so, you'll get access to our latest posts and help us make a positive impact on the lives of individuals seeking personal and social development. Imagine the satisfaction you'll feel when you help young people prepare to face the world with a joy of learning. If you're a fan of our work and want to support us, join the #JoyOfLearning movement with Good Schools of India! Together, let's inspire you to explore our innovative ideas and insights #BrewingKnowledge.

A Purpose, Reinstated!

 

When I decided I wanted to teach and dedicate a significant part of my life to students, learners, and curious minds, I was in my early 30s, reasonably well settled in a media career in Bombay. I did not know what I would teach. I did not know how I would teach. I did not know where I would teach! 

 

All I knew was that I wanted to interact with students. It was this deep desire that made me forsake what would ostensibly evolve into a successful stint in ‘Bollywood’, perhaps including directing a film or two, and move back to my hometown in Jaipur. Why move back? Because crossing this existential bridge in the Maximum City is painfully expensive. And because having been away from home for the better part of two decades, I suspected, quite strongly, that a return home would help centre me.

 

Perhaps a cosmic conspiracy played its hand when, during the first school summer holidays since returning to Jaipur in the winter of 2013, a friend graciously hosted a fairly rigorous Communication Skills Workshop with her own high-school daughter & son, and a few of their peers, at her primary school.

 

That month-long workshop was twelve years ago! It is difficult, if not impossible, to encapsulate my journey into and out of Education since. Suffice it to say that the years have brought wisdom, understanding, insight, and a clarity of purpose. That, truly, my entire teaching & mentoring endeavour has been a uniting of two profound influences in my own life. First, a deeply emotionally deficient relationship with my biological father has led to a fractured self-concept. Second, and subsequently, my Master's at The Doon School, which didn’t serve merely as subject-teachers but rather as life-mentors, creating an environment of completely uninhibited self-exploration, and then a self-exemplified ethos (not a preached or theoretical one) which espoused courage of conviction, to doggedly pursue passions one had unearthed through the aforementioned self-discovery!

 

More recently, and in case you’re wondering why I am essaying a mini-autobiography, I have had the privilege of knowing Jugjiv Sir and Sandeep Sir. Sandeep Sir is someone I have known for many years. At some point after my return to Jaipur, he’d generously invited me to The Fabindia School, where I was most struck and inspired by the incredible work he’d done. Would have loved to visit and interact routinely with the students had it not been for logistical limitations. Jugjiv Sir, I met more recently in the context of another education-allied project. And as I became more invested in the work that My Good School (MGS) has been doing, the plans & projects that are active, the vision of the organisation, the collaborative spirit of the cohort, I got the same feeling I did, many decades ago, as a young student at The Doon School, all over again. I could feel palpable excitement from these two senior gents, who were refreshingly exuberant and passionate, untarnished by life's numerous drudgeries and challenges. It awakened a renewed sense of purpose in me, and a small step they allowed me to take was to start a series of interactions at and through the Sunday My Good School sessions. 

 

Those have been some of my most memorable sessions, and, if I may say so myself, amongst the literally hundreds I’ve mentored now across schools, NGOs, colleges, and hallowed institutions like the NIFT and the Indian Institute of Crafts & Design. Why? Because the children who attend these sessions of The Sunday School, their investment, their ingenuity, their self-motivated zeal, their hunger & curiosity, are infectious. Because all the external resources and domain-experts who associate with MGS bring with them, in addition to the given heightened subject-awareness, a sincerity that is nowadays seldom seen. And because the manner in which this entire entity is in singular service to ensuring quality education to those who need it, and arguably deserve it the most, is intensely inspiring.

I am so honoured to have been made a member of the alliance and look forward to contributing in several ways. I’d be lying if I didn’t share my recent and growing dismay looking at any number of the allegedly ‘best’ schools out there. Now, however, with MGS, I am of renewed hope, vigour and purpose.

 

Kartik Bajoria is a member of the Good Schools Alliance #JoyOfGiving is a Jaipur-based Writer, Educator, & Mental Health Advocate

Teaching of Guru Nanak Dev Ji - Sunbeam Gramin School

Introduction –

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the founder of Sikhism and the first Guru of the Sikhs. He was born on 15 April 1469 in Talwandi, which is now known as Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. He was a great spiritual leader who taught people to live a truthful, simple, and meaningful life.

Early Life –

From childhood, Guru Nanak Ji was very intelligent and thoughtful. He was not interested in rituals or material things. He believed in equality and asked deep questions about God and life. His parents noticed that he was different from other children.

Teachings of Guru Nanak Ji

Guru Nanak Ji taught that there is only one God, who is present everywhere. He believed in:

• Equality of all human beings

• Honest living (Kirat Karo)

• Sharing with others (Vand Chhako)

• Remembering God (Naam Japo)

He strongly opposed the caste system, superstition, and discrimination.

Travels –

Guru Nanak Ji travelled to many places in India and abroad to spread his message of love, peace, and unity. He spoke to people of different religions and encouraged them to live in harmony.

Later Life and Legacy –

Guru Nanak Ji settled at Kartarpur, where he spent his last years teaching his followers. He passed away in 1539, but his teachings still guide millions of people today.

Conclusion

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a great saint and reformer. His life and teachings inspire us to be kind, truthful, and respectful towards everyone.

Swati Tripathi

गुरु नानक देव जी की जीवन-गाथा पर आधारित यह श्रृंखला केवल एक प्रस्तुति नहीं, बल्कि आत्मचिंतन की यात्रा रही। इसने मुझे यह गहराई से समझाया कि सच्चा धर्म बाहरी आडंबर में नहीं, बल्कि प्रेम, सेवा, समानता और मानवता में निहित है। गुरु हमें सही दिशा दिखाते हैं, ताकि हम अपने भीतर झाँक सकें। यह अनुभव मेरे लिए भावनात्मक, प्रेरणादायक और एक शिक्षक के रूप में स्वयं को बेहतर बनाने वाला रहा।

न मंदिर में, न मस्जिद में,

ईश्वर बसता है हर एक दिल में।

गुरु नानक जी ने राह दिखाई,

मानवता ही सबसे बड़ी सच्चाई।

सेवा में शक्ति, प्रेम में प्रकाश,

यही जीवन का सच्चा आकाश।

रवि प्रकाश

गुरु नानक की शिक्षाओं ने मुझे सिखाया कि सच्चा आचरण करने के लिए चेतना को चंचल मन के विचार ,विकारों से बचाना आवश्यक है। जब मन विचलित होता है तो वह हमें सही मार्ग से भटका देता है, लेकिन जब हम अपनी चेतना को जागरूक रखते हैं ,तो हम सच्चे आचरण की और बढ़ सकते हैं। मैं अपने जीवन में इस क्षण को लागू करने का प्रयास करूंगी, और अपने मन को शांत और जागरूक रखने का प्रयास करूंगी गुरु नानक की शिक्षाओं ने मुझे अपने जीवन में एक नए दृष्टिकोण को अपनाने के लिए प्रेरित किया है ।उनकी कहानियों ने मुझे सिखाया की जीवन में सबसे बड़ा धन दूसरों के लिए करना है, और सबसे बड़ा सुख दूसरों के साथ जीने में है। जीवन में सकारात्मक आशा और विश्वास को बढ़ाने में मदद की । मैंने सीखा की जीवन में सबसे बड़ा धन आत्मविश्वास है। अपने जीवन में सच्चाई न्याय और समर्पण के महत्व को समझने में मदद की। 

 सुनीता त्रिपाठी

Rooted in the Word, Growing in Relationship - Lotus Petal Foundation

 

Reading plays a vital role  as it expands knowledge, strengthens vocabulary, and improves comprehension. It helps students think critically, understand different perspectives, and develop imagination and creativity. Regular reading also builds concentration, discipline, and confidence, making learning more effective. Beyond academics, reading shapes character, inspires values, and prepares students to face challenges with wisdom and understanding

Sunday Reading Circles: Students Reading, Reflecting, and Sharing Together - Sunbeam Bhagwanpur

Finding Voice Through Stories: Deen Shah’s First Steps with My Good School

I applied for the Good School Alliance Internship because my school shared meeting links for the reading sessions that were held on Sundays, and I joined a few of them. I really enjoyed these sessions as they were calm and interactive, and they gave everyone a chance to read and share their thoughts openly. Being part of such discussions helped me feel more confident and interested in reading. A friend also encouraged me to apply for the internship, which motivated me to take this opportunity.

My aim is to develop a better reading habit and improve my communication skills. I also want to learn how these reading sessions are planned and conducted. Through this internship, I hope to actively participate in the sessions, share my reflections, and encourage other students from my school to join and benefit from them.

Thank you. 

Sunday School Reflection

The reading sessions were really interesting and fun for me as a student. The session on The Inner Life of Animals made me realise that animals have feelings and emotions too, which taught me to be more caring and kind towards them. The session on The Whistling Schoolboy and Other Stories was enjoyable and easy to understand, and I could relate to the simple situations and innocent thoughts in the stories. These sessions not only improved my listening skills and imagination but also made me think more deeply about life and the world around me. I really enjoyed these sessions and feel grateful to the Good School Alliance for organising such exciting and meaningful reading experiences.

Deen Shah Najam Sunbeam Ballia

Learning Empathy Through Animal Communication and Literature - Akanksha Rai

Today's session was meaningful and thought-provoking. The first part helped us understand how animals communicate through signs, body language, and expressions, allowing us to sense their feelings and emotions. We also learned that animals understand human behaviour and have souls like us, which taught us empathy and kindness towards them.

The second part included a Hindi reading from Ruskin Bond’s The Whistling Schoolboy. The opening lines showed how even our shadows share our sadness, making the story emotional and relatable. Overall, the session helped us become more sensitive, observant, and compassionate.

Akanksha Rai, 9C, Sunbeam School Ballia

Voices Beyond Words: Understanding Souls, Emotions, and Bonds Between Humans and Animals - Sunbeam Bhagwanpur

I think communicating with animals depends on how long you have spent time with them. As animals don't know our language and we don't know their language, they still do some particular actions to tell us about a particular thing. We understand each other's emotions and what we are trying to say.

An animal's soul is not different from our soul. Their souls don't allow them to speak like us, but they feel the same, even though they have more powerful senses. Every living being has feelings on Earth. Animals are one of the important parts of the ecosystem. We all live together with almost the same feelings and emotions, and live just like a society.

Khyati Madeshia, 9th E

Sunbeam Bhagwanpur

Everything in the world that is natural has its own way to express emotions and feelings. Humans express through words and actions, and so do animals. They produce some sound or radiate some energy to another, or they perform certain acts to other mates. Personally, I've never had a good experience with animals, but I've heard my mother talk about them. When she was a kid, her grandmother used to have a cow and it had a baby calf. My mother, along with her siblings and cousins, used to play with the calf, and it also enjoyed as much as my mother did.

Deepanshi Maurya, 9th F

Sunbeam Bhagwanpur

Souls are those feelings and energy existing in a living body which urge it to be free from the chakra of life. Souls may have different characters but have the same aims. Animals are one of us, created by God, but were not provided speech, which made a big difference between us humans and animals. These animals are innocent and want human support despite harassment and cruelty. Animals also have sympathy and empathy just as humans, but a lot of humans use them as a key to money. Some make them pets, and some pathetically enjoy harassing them. We humans are special; we should help them instead of using them.

Rishima Rastogi, 9th J

Sunbeam Bhagwanpur

Everyone has a soul. Animals, birds, and human beings have feelings and emotions. People say a soul never dies; it only changes from one body to different living beings.

Animals have feelings and emotions. When we have a pet, it sometimes becomes attached to us. They start feeling safe and comfortable with us.

Amie SriRam, 9th B

Sunbeam Bhagwanpur

Today's session was led by Manisha Mam, who told us about "The Whistling Schoolboy" by Rustin Bond.

How do animals communicate with humans?

Animals and humans connect or communicate with each other through bonds, for example: when we are coming from the office to home or from school, the dog starts jumping or running towards us because of a relationship built over one year.

The story of The Whistling Schoolboy was mysterious and suspenseful, and people think about who that boy was who was whistling and why.

Ezra Minsen Matthew, 7 G

Sunbeam Bhagwanpur

Today's session with Manisha Mam was a blend of fun and learning. We read a story, The Inner Life of Animals, which changed my whole thinking about the soul. Everybody possesses a soul and feelings—humans, animals, and birds. Souls change from one body to another. Animals also have feelings; we should make them friends and make them our pets, care for them instead of embarrassing them.

Darshi Baranwal, 9 G

Sunbeam Bhagwanpur

Today's session was special. It made me realise that everyone might have different perceptions of viewing the world, but after all, we are living beings who breathe the same air and share the Earth, and ironically, we will all meet the same end called death. Today, I got to know that the soul may not be defined, and interestingly, its perception may vary from one person to another, but the common ideology we share is that the soul is the very essence of life. It is not static and keeps moving from one body to another, whether a human being or any living entity, connecting the universe and rejuvenating the cycle of life.

To conclude, I argue that we should treat everyone with all the kindness we have because we never know how it will come back to us in some form and will make our and others' day happy too. Hence, humans and animals sustain life, and that is why we have an existing idea called the ecosystem.

Snigdha Singh, 9 H

The Power of Positive Thinking and Reading - Sunbeam School Ballia

The students of Sunbeam School Ballia, beautifully reflected on their book-reading habit on a peaceful Sunday morning. For them, reading is not just an activity—it is a wonderful way to utilise their Sunday meaningfully. As they immersed themselves in stories, ideas, and imagination, their minds felt calmer, clearer, and more inspired. This thoughtful practice helped them begin their day with positivity, curiosity, and a sense of quiet joy, turning an ordinary Sunday into a refreshing and enriching experience.

 

सोने से पहले पढ़ने और सकारात्मक सोच की शक्ति - Chanchal

रचनात्मकता और सोच में सुधार: यह नए विचारों को प्रेरित करता है, दुनिया को नए नज़रिए से देखने में मदद करता है और रचनात्मकता बढ़ाता है।

बेहतर नींद: यह आपको आरामदायक और गहरी नींद लेने में मदद करता है।

ज्ञान और कौशल: यह शब्दावली बढ़ाता है, सामान्य ज्ञान में वृद्धि करता है और तार्किक क्षमता विकसित करता है।

एकाग्रता: यह एकाग्रता बढ़ाता है और आपको अपने लक्ष्यों पर ध्यान केंद्रित करने में मदद करता है। आपको क्या पढ़ना चाहिए?

प्रेरक और सकारात्मक किताबें।

ऐसी किताबें जो आपको दुनिया और समाज के बारे में सोचने पर मजबूर करें।

उपन्यास जो कल्पनाशीलता और रचनात्मकता को बढ़ावा दें।

संक्षेप में, सोने से पहले अच्छी किताबें पढ़ने और सकारात्मक सोचने की आदत आपको मानसिक रूप से स्वस्थ, रचनात्मक और शांत बनाती है, जिससे आपका पूरा दिन बेहतर बनता है।
सोने से पहले अच्छी बातें सोचने के फायदे:

सकारात्मकता: यह नकारात्मक विचारों को दूर करता है और आपको चुनौतियों का सामना करने के लिए तैयार करता है।

शांति: यह मन को शांत करता है और दिनभर की परेशानियों को भुलाने में मदद करता है।

सोने से पहले किताबें पढ़ने के फायदे:

मानसिक स्वास्थ्य: यह स्ट्रेस लेवल को कम करता है और मानसिक स्वास्थ्य को अच्छा रखता है।

Chanchal
Sunbeam Gramin School

Lessons from the Guru–Chela Tradition - Sunbeam School Suncity

After watching this episode, I understood the guru–chela (mentor–seeker) relationship as a living bond rather than just a title. The way Guru Nanak ji patiently prepared Bhai Lehna to receive the "spiritual baton" showed me that a real teacher quietly shapes a student's character over time—not through miracles, but through daily example, guidance, and trust.

Mayank Malani

The video made me reflect on my own attitude as a learner. Bhai Lehna's humility, obedience, and willingness to do any seva without questioning reminded me that authentic learning requires surrendering the ego and openness to correction. I realised that if I want real growth, I must accept feedback as Bhai Lehna did—seeing it as a blessing that polishes me, not as an insult.

Adwik Gupta

I was especially moved by the idea that Guru Nanak ji chose Bhai Lehna as his successor based on inner spiritual merit rather than blood relations or social status. In a world where preference is often given to family and power, this decision taught me that leadership should be given to the most deserving and sincere person, no matter their background. It challenged me to rethink how I judge people and to value inner qualities over external labels.

Ajeya Vardhan

The visuals of Guru Nanak ji travelling to different places and interacting with people of many beliefs helped me see oneness in a practical way, not just as a big word. Seeing him engage respectfully in dialogue with diverse communities made me realise that I must also listen to and learn from those who think differently, instead of trying to prove myself right all the time. This inspired me to see diversity in my classroom and society as an opportunity to grow spiritually.

Divyansh Kumar

The episode changed the way I look at success in life. Guru Nanak Ji and Bhai Lehna showed that the highest success is not money or fame, but living a life of service, compassion, and truth. Their example motivated me to set goals that include helping others, being honest, and staying connected to the Divine, rather than chasing only marks, careers, and material achievements.

Naman Kumar Aryan

The Power of a School Retreat - Sunbeam School Ballia

Good School Retreat

My Good School Retreat is more than just a break from routine—it is a thoughtful expression of how deeply a school cares for the holistic growth of its students. It reflects a commitment to the four pillars of development: Study, Service, Sports, and Skills. Through meaningful activities, reflection, teamwork, and experiential learning, a retreat creates space for students to recharge, rediscover purpose, and realign with values. It strengthens academic focus, cultivates empathy through service, builds resilience through sports, and sharpens life skills essential for the future. In essence, a well-planned school retreat is a powerful way of saying, “We care for every dimension of your growth.”

Sunbeam School Ballia