Exploring Nature and Beliefs: Reflections on “Sweet Spring” My Godd School Session- Lotus Petal Foundation

Today’s session was very educational and engaging. We read Chapter 6, “Sweet Spring”, from Gerald Durrell’s book, focusing on the meeting of Theodore Stefanides, his second important teacher after George.

Today’s session mainly focused on the following:

1. We discovered the fascinating trapdoor spider (Teniza) and learned how it creates silk-lined burrows with camouflage doors to catch its prey.

2. We understood that Theodore’s character is calm, patient, and knowledgeable. He treated young Gerald with respect and spoke to him as an equal despite the age difference.

Also, Bindra Ma’am asked us all to collect some superstitions:

1. Sneezing twice before leaving the house is considered bad luck.

2. An itchy left palm signifies losing money, while an itchy right palm means you will receive money.

3. Crows cawing near a house is believed to indicate that guests will arrive soon.

Special thanks go to all the teachers who gave us their precious time. I am grateful for today’s session and am looking forward to the next one.
Yuvraj Negi – Grade 5

Today’s session was very engaging. Today we dived into Chapter 6, “Sweet Spring”, from Gerald Durrell’s book and met Theodore Stefanides, Gerald’s teacher.

Highlights:

1. We discovered the interesting trapdoor spider (Teniza) and its amazing silk-lined burrows.

2. Theodore’s calm, patient, and knowledgeable nature was inspiring. He treated Gerald like an equal.

Bindra Ma’am also asked us to collect some superstitions, which made the session more interesting.

Examples include:

• Sneezing twice before leaving the house is considered bad luck.

• An itchy left palm means losing money, while an itchy right palm means gaining money.

• Crows cawing near the house means guests may arrive.

A big thank you to all the teachers for organising the session. I am grateful for today’s class and look forward to the next one.
Thank you.
Disha, 5A

Today’s session was truly amazing and full of excitement. We explored Chapter 6, “Sweet Spring”, from the book My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. In this chapter, we met the wonderful teacher Theodore Stefanides, who guided Gerald with patience and kindness. His calm nature and deep knowledge were truly inspiring. What made him special was the way he treated Gerald like an equal and encouraged his curiosity about nature.

One of the most fascinating things we learned about was the trapdoor spider (Teniza). It was incredible to discover how it builds a silk-lined burrow with a hidden trapdoor and patiently waits for its prey. Nature is truly full of wonders.

Another interesting part of the session was when Bindra Ma’am asked us to share different superstitions we know. That made the discussion enjoyable. Some examples were:

• Sneezing twice means bad luck.

• An itchy left palm means losing money, while an itchy right palm means getting money.

• When crows start cawing, it means guests might be arriving.

Overall, the session was engaging, fun, and full of learning. A big thank you to all our teachers for making the class lively and enjoyable. I am truly grateful for today’s session and already excited for the next one.
Thank you.
Aditya Yadav – 5/C 

The Power Of Reading

My Good School

To read and discuss two books, focusing on themes of nature, friendship, and history.

Key Takeaways

• “My Family and Other Animals” (Gerald Durrell): Gerald’s plan to get food from shepherd Yanni during siesta backfires. Yanni, a deep sleeper, only wakes after Roger the dog’s barking accidentally sends a cat fleeing up a grapevine, making the trellis shake.

• “The Whistling School Boy” (Ruskin Bond): The story details Bond’s friendship with Umar at Bishop Cotton School, formed over shared experiences and a secret, satirical manuscript. Their Bond is tested by the 1947 Partition, which forces Umar to leave for Pakistan.

• Reading as Reflection: The session opened with a discussion on reading’s power to cultivate patience and reflection, citing Manisha’s blog on libraries and Brinda’s reference to Barbara Kingsolver on how reading shapes temperament.

• Next Week’s Special Session: Kartik Bajoria will lead a session on writing effective book reviews to help students share their reading and encourage others to read.

Topics

The Power of Reading

• The session began with a reading of Manisha’s blog post, “Championing Readers,” which reflected on students talking in the library rather than reading.

• The post questioned if reading has become a “leisure activity” and argued it requires patience, attention, and imagination.

• Brinda connected this to Barbara Kingsolver’s view that reading changes temperament and is a source of hope for humanity.

• Jugjiv Singh added that reading cultivates self-reflection, citing the example of Eichmann’s unthinking obedience during the Holocaust.

“My Family and Other Animals” (Gerald Durrell)

• Context: Brinda introduced the book about naturalist Gerald Durrell’s childhood on Corfu Island, Greece, providing background on his family and passion for animals.

• Plot: Gerald and his dog, Roger, are hungry after a swim. Gerald avoids Leonora’s house to escape her daughter’s health updates and Taki the fisherman’s siesta.

• The Plan: Gerald decides to visit the shepherd Yanni, a light sleeper who rests under a grapevine trellis. He instructs Roger to bark loudly to wake Yanni.

• The Outcome: The barking fails to wake Yanni. However, it startles a cat, which flees up the trellis, causing it to shake violently and finally waking the shepherd.

• Hospitality & Lore: Yanni offers Gerald food and wine. He then shares a local remedy: a scorpion steeped in olive oil to cure stings, and a cautionary tale about a shepherd who died from a scorpion bite in his ear.

“The Whistling School Boy” (Ruskin Bond)

• Context: Manisha Khanna read the story in Hindi, noting that it is autobiographical and provides a historical lens on the 1947 Partition.

• Friendship & Shared Experiences: Bond, a quiet boy, befriends Umar, another quiet student. Their Bond strengthens as they play hockey together (Bond as goalkeeper, Umar as fullback) and share a secret manuscript.

• The Manuscript: Bond writes a satirical manuscript about school life and teachers, with Umar as his first reader. It includes a poem mocking Mr Oliver.

• Discovery & Discipline: Housemaster Mr Fischer finds the manuscript under Bond’s mattress. Bond receives six cane strokes but becomes a temporary “hero” among his peers.

• The Partition’s Impact: Lord Mountbatten’s visit to Bishop Cotton School, where Bond’s father was an alumnus, is followed by the devastating 1947 Partition.

• Separation: The school announces that Muslim students must vacate the hostel and be escorted to the new border. Bond and Umar meet one last time in a tunnel, discussing their uncertain future before Umar leaves for Pakistan.

Next Steps

• All Participants:

  • Submit reflections (write-ups, drawings, role-plays) on today’s stories for publication on the “Joy of Learning Diaries” website.

  • Prepare for next week’s session with Kartik Bajoria on writing book reviews.

• Students:

  • Keep notes on characters and vocabulary from “My Family and Other Animals” to aid recall.

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Rediscovering the Magic of Reading - Garima, PYDS

Today’s session was genuinely engaging and enriching. During the English class, I observed how vividly a character can be brought to life through words, much like Gerald Durrell does in his writing. One of my favourite characters was the Rose Beetle Man, whose description left a lasting impression.

The highlight of the session, however, was the reading of the chapter Glacier Par Chadhte Chaar Ladke. This chapter felt incredibly powerful and close to my heart, as it is deeply connected to my region, surroundings, and way of life. Moreover, the approach Manisha ma’am chose to introduce the chapter was both thoughtful and beautiful, making the experience even more memorable. The story also inspired me to dream of climbing mountains in the future, awakening a sense of adventure.

Today also helped me rediscover the magic of reading. I finally understood why books matter so much to me—because they inspire me to imagine the future, reshape stories, and create new ones by drawing on the ideas I gather from everything I read.

Garima
PYDS Learning Academy