Read the wonderful reflections from Sunbeam School, Lahartara, where the students share their joy of reading the book My Family and Other Animals with Brinda Ghosh. Literature can bring together humour and lead us with meaningful lessons.
Saturday, 25 April 2026
Literature and meaningful lessons - Sunbeam School Lahartara
Sunbeam School Lahartara“My Good School session with Brinda Ghosh on My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell was a rich and engaging example of how literature can bring together humour, observation, and meaningful life lessons. The episode of Larry inviting guests without planning highlights a familiar and relatable family conflict: his carefree, impractical attitude contrasts sharply with Mother’s sense of responsibility and concern. This dynamic not only adds humour to the narrative but also reflects how different personalities coexist and adapt within a family.” Samriddhi Banerjee
Friday, 24 April 2026
Building Bonds Beyond Borders: MGS Retreat
As we spent more time together, we began to understand each other better, respect our differences, and appreciate the uniqueness each person brought. These interactions helped break down barriers and created a warm, friendly environment where everyone felt included.
By the end of the retreat, what began as a gathering of strangers turned into a community of friends. The bonds formed here went beyond the classroom, teaching us the true value of trust, connection, and unity in diversity.
A Journey of Learning and Growth: MGS Retreat
The Retreat is a meaningful journey of learning and personal growth. It provides a space to explore new ideas, interact with inspiring individuals, and gain knowledge beyond textbooks. Through engaging sessions, discussions, and shared experiences, the Retreat encourages us to reflect, develop new perspectives, and grow both intellectually and personally. It is not just about learning facts, but about understanding ourselves and the world around us more deeply and thoughtfully.
A Peaceful Journey into Literature
The discussion about mummies, animals, swallows, and birds made the session more interactive and broadened my understanding beyond just the text.
In the chapter, we also saw how Larry invited eight of his friends, which created a lively situation and even led to a short argument with his mother. This part showed the family dynamics in a realistic and slightly humorous way.
Overall, the session felt peaceful and informative, and it helped me connect better with the story and its characters.
Ishika Singh
Class 10-B
Sunbeam School, Ballia
A Circle of Reflection - MGS Retreat
In the calm and open environment of a retreat, students come together to read, reflect, and truly listen to one another. These shared moments encourage honest expression and deeper understanding. As stories are exchanged and ideas unfold, barriers fade, and connections strengthen, allowing students to build relationships rooted in respect, empathy, and mutual growth.
Learning Life Skills Through Sunday School - Sunbeam School Lahartara
Sunday school gives us more than just knowledge—it helps us build important life skills. Through stories, discussions, and reflections, we learn how to think deeply, express ourselves, and connect lessons to real-life situations. It teaches us values like courage, patience, kindness, and gratitude, which guide our everyday actions. Sunday school also strengthens our ability to listen, understand others, and grow as individuals. Each session becomes a step toward becoming more thoughtful, confident, and aware, helping us develop skills that shape both our character and our future.
Learning Beyond Walls - My Good School Retreat
Together We Grow - My Good School Retreat
Sunday, 19 April 2026
My Good School 19th April 2026
PLEASE NOTE, FROM NEXT WEEK WE WILL HOST MY GOOD SCHOOL IN WEBINAR MODE AND THE RECORDING WILL BE SHARED ON YOUTUBE AS ALWAYS.
Sunday School for Reading and Reflection
To read and discuss two books, “My Family and Other Animals” and “Time Stops At Shamli (Hindi).”
Key Takeaways
“My Family and Other Animals” Reading: The Durrell family moved to the “Daffodil Yellow Villa” to accommodate unexpected guests. Gerald’s observations of swallows and an oil beetle (Melloproscarabeus) highlight the book’s core theme of nature discovery.
“Antim Sanskar” Reading: A boy processes his father’s death, feeling isolated from the adults. His unique coping mechanism—imagining becoming a flower to help new life grow—was praised for its maturity.
My Good School Retreat: A recap of the Jaipur retreat showcased its focus on reflection and community building. All future My Good School sessions will be held in webinar mode to increase capacity and improve YouTube recording quality.
Topics
My Good School Retreat Recap
Manisha Khanna shared photos and a video of the recent Jaipur retreat, which hosted 11 schools.
An art exhibit where participants turned line drawings into full artworks.
“Discovery of India” session based on a book about travelling across the country.
Talent night for student performances.
Reflection Method: Participants used flip charts (“joy of learning diaries”) to document their experiences, prioritising human intelligence over electronic media.
Resources: All retreat photos and flip charts will be posted on
schooleducation.com.
Program Updates
Webinar Mode: All future My Good School sessions will use webinar mode.
Rationale: To increase capacity, reduce interference, and improve recording quality for the My Good School YouTube channel.
Program Overview: Sandeep Dutt reviewed the My Good School ecosystem.
Sunday: My Good School sessions.
Saturday: Teachers Academy & Youth Engaging Society (YES) master classes.
Retreats: Held twice annually (April & October).
Membership: Open to schools and individuals (via a small donation).
Book Reading: “My Family and Other Animals”
Brinda read from Gerald Durrell’s memoir, set on Corfu Island, Greece.
Plot Summary:
Larry’s unexpected invitation of 7–8 guests forced the family to move from the “Strawberry Pink Villa” to the larger “Daffodil Yellow Villa.”
The new villa was a decaying Venetian mansion with an overgrown garden.
The new maid, Lugresia, was a hypochondriac who constantly detailed her ailments, causing the family to avoid her.
The family was swept into a festival for Saint Spiridion, the island’s patron saint.
Ritual: Kissing the mummified saint’s feet.
Outcome: Margot kissed the feet and contracted influenza, while Gerald feigned it.
Gerald observed swallows nesting under the eaves, noting the distinct personalities of the male birds.
He found a flightless oil beetle (Melloproscarabeus) with shrunken wing cases.
Life Cycle: Its larvae prey on a specific bee species.
Significance: This discovery was identified by Gerald’s biologist mentor, Theodore, who visits weekly to help with specimens.
Book Reading: “Antim Sanskar” (The Last Rites)
Manisha Khanna read a Hindi story by Ruskin Bond about a boy at his father’s funeral.
Plot Summary:
The boy felt isolated from the adults, who were focused on their own grief and social etiquette.
He reflected on his father’s lessons about nature during their walks.
Coping Mechanism: He imagined that after death, he would become a flower, and a bird would carry his seeds to help new life grow.
Final Thought: He recalled his father’s words, “The strongest person is the one who stands alone,” as he walked home through the fog, feeling alone but determined.
Next Steps
Manisha Khanna: Post Jaipur retreat photos and flip charts to
schooleducation.com.My Good School Team: Transition all future sessions to webinar mode, starting next Sunday.
Participants:
Use a notebook to record new vocabulary and concepts from the readings.
Join the next session in webinar mode.
Saturday, 18 April 2026
Inme: The Art of Becoming
Where the outdoors is not an escape, but a return
It begins, as all meaningful journeys do, quietly.
A bus pulls away.
A city fades into the background.
And somewhere between the noise and the stillness, something shifts almost imperceptibly.
No one announces it.
No one points it out.
But it’s there.
A beginning.
The Classroom Without Walls
In a world that has long confined learning to four walls, Inme gently dismantles the idea altogether.
Here, the classroom stretches as far as the horizon allows.
A mountain trail becomes a lesson in persistence—not because someone said so, but because your legs insist on stopping and your will refuses to.
A river crossing becomes an exercise in trust—quietly asking you to rely on strangers who, moments later, no longer feel like strangers.
Even silence has a role to play.
Because in the absence of constant noise, something rare happens:
You begin to listen.
Not to instructions, but to yourself.
Curriculum of the Wild
There are no textbooks here.
And yet, the learning is undeniable.
Leadership is not explained: it emerges.
Confidence is not assigned: it is discovered.
Resilience is not measured: it is lived.
Each experience is carefully designed, yet never feels imposed.
Each challenge is intentional, yet deeply personal.
Inme does not teach lessons.
It creates conditions where learning becomes inevitable.
The Quiet Work Within
Perhaps the most profound transformations are the ones no one sees.
Away from familiar identities—student, friend, sibling—participants encounter a rare kind of space.
Unstructured. Unfiltered. Honest.
And in that space, questions arise:
Am I capable?
Can I lead?
What am I afraid of, and why?
The answers don’t come all at once.
But they come.
In steps. In moments. In quiet realisations that stay long after the journey ends.
Of Strangers and Shared Skies
There is a certain alchemy to shared experience.
What begins as polite introductions soon transforms into something far more meaningful.
A shared struggle becomes a shared story.
A fleeting moment becomes a lasting bond.
Under a sky scattered with stars, conversations deepen.
And somewhere between laughter and silence, a sense of belonging takes root.
Not forced and not manufactured. … found.
The Moment of Realisation
There is no fixed point at which transformation occurs.
No ceremony. No announcement.
And yet, it happens.
In the steady rhythm of a climb.
In the courage to speak.
In the instinct to help someone else before yourself.
A quiet recognition emerges:
I am more capable than I thought.
Beyond the Journey
When participants return, they carry little that is visible.
No grand trophies. No obvious markers.
And yet, everything is different.
A little more confidence in their voice.
A little more clarity in their choices.
A little more belief in their own potential.
Because Inme was never about the mountains or the rivers.
It was about what those places revealed.
Inme
Infinite Me
Not an escape into the outdoors, but a return to oneself.
Follow us:
Instagram: @inme.in
Website: www.inme.in
Thursday, 16 April 2026
MGS Retreat 2026: Nurturing Learning, Reflection, and Relationships
Enjoy the Photo Book courtesy Varun Arora of Mayoor School Jaipur.
The retreat focused on the 3R’s—Reading, Reflection, and Relationships—providing students with a holistic learning experience. The four-day camp included enriching book-reading sessions led by eminent authors, including Ms Bhairvi Jani and Mr Jugjiv Singh, during which students explored excerpts from inspiring works such as Highway to Swades.
Each day began with engaging sports activities, including basketball, badminton, swimming, tennis, and indoor games like chess and carrom. A special art session by Prenita Dutt introduced students to creative techniques using various art media. Interactive sessions by INME encouraged teamwork, critical thinking, and emotional awareness.
Students also enjoyed an educational excursion to the City Palace, where they experienced its rich heritage and architectural grandeur. The retreat featured a vibrant talent show where students showcased their skills through music, dance, skits, and cultural presentations.
FLP for Educators at Jaipur by Learning Forward India FoundationThe closing ceremony included an insightful session on financial literacy led by Mr Manoj Kumar (Executive Director, SEBI), Mr Venkat Chalasani (CEO, AMFI), and Mr Suryakant Sharma (Sr. Consultant, AMFI), emphasising the importance of financial planning and investment.
The event concluded on a positive note, fostering unity, learning, and inspiration, while opening new avenues for future generations.
Regards
Team Mayoor School Jaipur 🦚
Their creativity knew no bounds, and the results are there for all to see!
Discover the Artist in you!
The simple yet powerful artworks created by the participants during the Art Workshop at The My Good School Retreat.
The Retreat opened with an inspiring interaction with Bhairavi Jani, author of Highway to Swades. The students and teachers chose one word that the reading session evoked in them.
Inspired by their choice of words and with that feeling in mind, each individual worked on one piece of paper with an identical line form drawn on it. They were free to move the paper around and choose an angle that could best express their thoughts.
Their creativity knew no bounds, and the results are there for all to see!
The Retreat was such a wonderful joy of learning—a journey that has left an indelible mark on my life.
Thank you,
Prenita Dutt
Artist-in-Residence
My Good School Retreat 2026
Mayoor School Jaipur
Wednesday, 8 April 2026
Reflections That Changed My Thinking - Sunbeam School Ballia
Today's session of My Good School was engaging and interactive. It began with the reading of reflections from our school, Sunbeam Ballia, where students from different schools read reflections written by our students. It felt nice to see our work being shared and appreciated.
Many new students joined the session. Jugiv Sir introduced them to the Good School Alliance and gave a brief overview of its purpose.
Later, Sir read a story titled “What You Are Looking For” in the library. The story showed how Ryo reflected on his behaviour and eventually understood the negative impact of his pride and male ego. In the end, he apologised to Hina.
One line from the story that really amused me was when Hina said, “The owner of a handmade object is decided even before the object is made.” I found this thought very meaningful.
Sir also discussed the significance of Easter. During the discussion, I shared that people celebrate Easter with activities like egg hunts. Overall, the session was enjoyable and meaningful.
Ishika Singh, Class 10-B
Ishika Singh, Class 10-B
The reading sessions so far have taught me many valuable lessons and made me reflect on my own thinking and actions. One of the strongest learnings for me has been the importance of trust—in people, in situations, and in oneself. It made me realise that many times we assume the worst outcomes, but things can actually turn out positively when trust exists.
Another important idea I understood is that no work is small or less important. This changed my perspective on how I see different roles in life. Also, the concept of parallel efforts, like the unseen part of a plant, helped me understand that not all hard work is visible, yet it still plays a crucial role in success.
Hina’s character made me reflect on how age does not define maturity. Her confidence, clarity, and belief in her ideas showed me the importance of standing by what we believe in and expressing it effectively. It also made me realise how communication and understanding can resolve conflicts better than reacting emotionally.
From all the readings, I also connected with the idea of turning doubts into plans and having the courage to face situations instead of avoiding them. These lessons feel practical and are things I can apply in my own life.
Through the Hindi reading sessions, I have developed a strong sense of curiosity. The setting of a school near the hills makes the story interesting and unpredictable. I always find myself wondering what will happen next, especially with the presence of nature and animals. The lives of the students and teachers feel simple yet engaging, and the humorous and joyful moments make the reading even more enjoyable.
Overall, these sessions have helped me not only understand the text but also think more deeply about life and my own mindset.
Akanksha Rai, Class 10-B
Monday, 6 April 2026
What Is the Biggest Dream of a Slave? - Arfa Khan
What is the biggest dream of a slave? We think it is freedom, but as philosopher Nietzsche pointed out, the biggest dream of a slave is not freedom, but to become a slave for himself. And the day a slave gets his own slave, he forgets that he was once controlled.
You see this everywhere: someone who has been raised under harsh authority will repeat it when they gain authority. Mothers who were once mistreated by their families may mistreat their daughters or daughters-in-law. Workers who once hated exploitation may exploit others when they become managers. When someone’s identity is shaped by hierarchy, instead of escaping it, their goal becomes moving up in the hierarchy.
Everyone wishes to become a millionaire, own a yacht, and buy a sports car. But no one questions the unjust system of capitalism, which doesn’t reward hard work, but rather the ownership of assets. A cobbler who does not own assets but works every day and gets his hands dirty makes minimal profits. But a billionaire who barely works and owns multiple stocks and properties makes enormous profits. People want to climb the financial ladder, but do not criticize the income inequality that capitalism brings. This can also be seen in the surge of misandry. Many women, distraught by the ill effects of patriarchy in the modern world as well as in history, resort to misandry, otherwise known as pseudo-feminism. Unlike feminism, which believes in equality between men and women, misandry is the belief that women are superior to men.
An ordinary man who climbs up the financial ladder by transitioning from earning income as a labourer to owning profitable assets never blames capitalism. This reflects a common mindset: “I don’t hate the system as long as I benefit from it.” Great are those who see light through the cracks of the system.
Nelson Mandela once said, “Depths of oppression create heights of character.” Humans realise the importance of something only when it is absent. We realise the worth of freedom when we are restrained, the importance of liberty when we are enslaved, and the importance of compassion when we are dehumanised. Enlightened individuals realise that the common enemy is not the elite, but the system that allowed them to become elites. The elites will die, but the system may not. Many visionaries choose not to climb the hierarchy but to end it altogether.
A real-life example of this is apartheid in South Africa. Nelson Mandela and other freedom fighters never wished to oppress white people in revenge, but instead worked to build a system of equality.
So, the answer to the question of what the biggest dream of a slave is depends entirely on his or her moral compass. Human thought cannot be confined to a single ideology; it is subjective to every individual. Some may wish to have a slave for themselves, but many would wish for the abolition of slavery for everyone, including future generations. And of course, the latter stands as more virtuous.
Circumstances do not just make the man; they reveal him to himself. Only in the deepest pits of life, where he has nothing but himself, does a man discover his true nature: his resilience, his morals, and his determination. And in the depths of oppression, a slave reveals his true values: his desire for vengeance or his desire for liberation and the greater good for all.
Arfa Khan
Grade 11
Ahlcon Public School
Saturday, 4 April 2026
Learning Beyond the Classroom: Reflections on Proposal Writing and Life Lessons - Sunbeam School, Ballia
The session I attended today focused on teaching how to write an effective proposal to a person or an organisation. Through the concepts explained by Kartik Sir, I understood the importance of context, tone, word choice, and clarity in framing a strong proposal. I learned that a proposal should clearly present its advantages and possible disadvantages while maintaining a professional and respectful tone. One key takeaway was to avoid making unrealistic promises and not present ourselves as inferior to the organisation. The session also encouraged me to think from the perspective of the other party, helping me anticipate possible concerns and address them in advance.
Through the reading session by Jugjiv Sir, I learned valuable life lessons about personality, passion, and self-belief. It highlighted how a person’s personality reflects their profession and relationships. From the example of Yasuhara, I understood how one can find happiness in simple interactions and personal passions, even without fulfilling conventional desires like travel. The session also emphasized having courage in one’s convictions, which means trusting our beliefs and taking risks with confidence. Another important lesson was to turn 'don'ts' into goals and not wait for the perfect moment to begin, but instead take initiative and trust our instincts.
Akanksha Rai
The first session with Kartik Bajoria was really inspiring. He explained how to write a good proposal using simple and clear language. The best part was learning about the collaboration with Penguin Random House, where students can share their book ideas and even get a chance to publish them while keeping their work safe. He also talked about AI and writing, which made the session even more interesting.
The second session with Jugjiv Sir was very engaging. He discussed the book “What You Are Looking for Is in the Library” and asked us many thought-provoking questions like why trees grow tall, whether plants can talk, and why some people talk to plants. It made me think in a different way, and I really enjoyed the session.
Deenshah Najam
In today's wonderful session, firstly, Manisha Khanna Ma'am introduced Mr Kartik, a person who always motivates students and takes the initiative to talk about communication skills.
He told us about effective proposal writing to a person or an organisation. According to me, the main motto of Sir was to teach us about proposal writing, context, clarity in writing a proposal, tone, word choice, etc. This session was truly knowledgeable and informative.
The next session with Jugjiv Singh Sir was truly informative, where Sir read a storybook called “What You Are Looking for Is in the Library.” It was really an interesting book, and Sir also explained it very nicely.
I am really thankful to all the mentors of My Good School Alliance for taking this initiative and giving us this amazing opportunity to improve our vocabulary and our English speaking skills.
Closing the session, Manisha Ma'am told us more about the Good School class as some students were new.
Thank you,
Talat Bano
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