Sayonara Totto-chan! - Anvesha Rana

Yasuaki-chan left Totto-chan, and now Rocky also vanished. Everyone whom Totto-chan loved seemed to disappear one after the other. Tai-chan no longer spoke to her, Rocky could no longer be heard, and Yasuaki-chan no longer stayed with her. It was as if her little world of love was tumbling down and she was walking alone on a broken road with the rain constantly thumping over her head. Her near and dear ones had gone far away in sight but not in mind, for love is what remains even after you are gone. The little Totto-chan had learnt lessons that made her stronger and bolder in a world full of strangers. She now knew that she had to live up to her limited time in this race on earth, but Totto-Chan remembered to always run with happiness and happiness that makes others happy. 

I have often heard a story of a woman who lost her son but was so desperate to get him back that she went to Lord Buddha to bring her son to life again. In listening to her story, Lord Buddha said he would bring her son to life again only if she could get a fist full of mustard seeds from a house where no one had died. So the woman had set out on her task, she had gone to every home in each locality, but there was not a single house where someone had not died, be it the grandfather, father, mother, child, someone or other had always passed away. Lost and depressed when the woman returned to Lord Buddha, he had simply told her that human lives are like flickering lights. They light for a long time, but suddenly they extinguish. We need to learn to accept the loss and let the ones gone be always loved in our hearts. Just like Totto-Chan will always love Rocky and Yasuaki Chan.

When Ryo-chan, the janitor at Tomoe, had to leave for the War, all the students had organized a special Tea Party just for him. Everyone drank saké and shared something or the other for Ryo-chan. It was a fun time and the children continued the tradition of the Tea Party even after Ryo-chan was on the war ground. It was the last time they had ever gathered at Tomoe. 

Whenever I have to drop someone at the station and bid goodbye, I feel as if they could have stayed just a little longer; no matter how many days we spent together or how much fun we had, at that point, all that matters is whether they can be here for just a bit more time because no amount of time feels enough when you are with your loved ones. 

Sayonara, Sayonara is a Japanese goodbye, but it literally means 'if that's the way it is'. We have learned so much from Totto-chan, the Headmaster and Tomoe. It is even so unique that a young girl, simply through the means of her actions, has taught us friendship, responsibility, coping with loss, freedom and most importantly, love. So all we can say is Thank You and Sayonara, Totto-chan! 

Anvesha Rana,

Grade 10-B, 

Gyanshree School

Totto-chan: The Little Girl At The Window - Rishona Chopra

Totto-chan, you're great, 

You're someone with who I can relate,

You are kind,

You help the blind.

You are sweet,

You acted like you were meat!

You have amazing skills,

You bravely climb hills.

You wanted to be a ticket seller,

But you could even be a storyteller!

You want to be a spy and a musician,

You truly have a great ambition.

You're talkative and have so much to tell,

You're a great rebel.

I wish I were a bit more like you!

And that's true!

The school you go in,

It's so great, Where can I begin?

A unique school it is,

A bright shine it has,

No rules for studying or going in the pool,

It was truly so cool!

The headmaster was a musician,

And he had great ambitions!

He wanted students to learn with passion and fun,

He let the play in the gardens and run!

I wish I too went to this school,

There truly would be no strict rules!

They let students learn at their pace,

So that they learnt with grace.

They visited a hot spring at such a young age,

It kept them so engaged.

It is such a unique place,

It was something to embrace!

It was such a wonderful journey to be with you,

At first, you were new,

And  now everybody knows about you,

I wish I could be more like you!

Your school inspired me to embrace mine,

You are truly so kind!
I feel I could read about you again and again,
It'll remind me of the days when I was ten.
I love you, my friend,
Our friendship has no end!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Totto-chan's World - Anvesha Rana

Totto-chan was oozing with inquisitiveness; she always wanted to know this or that; she squeaked at the sight of anything new and liked it immediately. Similarly, when she saw the Health Bark, Tottochan wanted it for herself and her family, and after taking money from the Headmaster, she bought the health bark. The man selling the Health Bark was a fraudster who used tricks to sell the simple, ordinary bark by claiming it to have magical properties. Still, little Totto-Chan couldn't see the reality for the only thing that mattered to her was that her family, rocky and all her friends were fit as a fiddle, thanks to the miraculous bark. 

Another time a new student joined Tomoe; he was from America and hardly knew anything about Japan; he was Miyazaki. All the children at Tomoe helped Miyazaki to learn the Japanese way of life, and in turn, Miyazaki became like an English tutor for all of them. The amount of learning that can take place between people from diverse cultures is portrayed through the means of a few words.

Once Totto-Chan was also going to be a part of the school amateur drama, she was supposed to play Yoshitsune, but Totto-Chan didn't like her character very much because Yoshitsune was only supposed to be beaten. Still, Totto-Chan couldn't wait to retaliate when someone hit her, even if it was for a play! So, Totto-Chan was not a part of the first, and the last time an amateur drama took place at Tomoe Gakuen. 

Each year on an annual day at my school, I am part of the dance; since an early time, dance has been an art that attracted me the most, and I immensely enjoy it. My favourite dance was when we performed a classical item. 

The best part about Tomoe is that the students are let free; they are allowed free of discipline, stringent rules, and free of strict teachers. Sternness can only kill the imagination, but freeness can ignite it further. The Headmaster lets the students write music notes with chalk on the polished floor by keeping in mind that they will be the ones scouring the floor after their musical transition. This way, everyone learns to take responsibility for their actions. 

This was so far from Life at Tomoe Gakuen, a small school blended with love and values, making Totto-chan's small world complete. 

Anvesha Rana,

Grade 10-B,

Gyanshree School

"Shabby Old School" - Rishona Chopra

Embracing your school is quite important. Whatever school you go into must have something special about it. Like Tomoe, it gives you the freedom to choose, and the teachers are pretty understanding. Loving your school and standing up for it is excellent quality. 

I love my school! Its teachers are pretty fun and understanding. Gyanshree is a volcano of opportunities, and I am honoured to be in this school. For me, my school is heaven. Whenever I enter it, I feel like this was the best day ever. Going offline from online was a pleasure, meeting my earlier teachers during dispersal and knowing they hadn't forgotten me. 

Gyanshree School is a wonderful school, 
Inside out, it's a wonderful school!
Gyanshree makes me feel proud,
It makes me confident in a crowd,
Its teachers are great,
It's the best school in the whole state!

Thinking about Gyanshree, I had almost forgotten about the school that helped me find my passion: My Good School!

My Good School is a wonderful school,
Inside out, it's a wonderful school!
I learnt all the values needed,
After going to My Good School, we all succeeded!
There are several things you can do,
Each thing is new!
Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Totto-Chan's Life - Anvesha Rana

Chew, Chew, 

Chew it well, 

Everything you eat, 

Your rice and fish and meat 

Little Totto-Chan

Can make a soldier

 Cry happy tears

Totto-Chan can 

Comfort an Importuned

Father

She can make Tomoe a good school, 

For she is a really good girl, 

She is Totto-Chan. 

Anvesha Rana,

Grade 10-B,

Gyanshree School

Their Worst Clothes - Rishona Chopra

Not every school allows their children to wear their dirtiest clothes to school, but as usual, Tomoe does! 

Wearing the dirtiest clothes to school so that there is no worry about the student's clothes getting torn or soiled is a very good idea. At my earlier school, they used to allow us to dance in the rain, play in the mud, jump over fences and do many more fun things. The idea of letting children play is all about letting them enjoy and cherish the fun of childhood.

At my earlier school, wheat used to grow in the gardens, so my friend and I used to go into the gardens and pluck the grain and eat it as it was so that nobody would take them. We used to hide them under our tables on the floor and, without washing them, eat them again.

Childhood is the best time to enjoy this fun, so why not cherish our time and make the best of it!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

A Trip To a Hot Spring - Amaira Bhati

It was getting dark when all the children of Tomoe Gakuen were ready for a three-day trip. It was almost time for dinner when all fifty students had finally arrived. The Headmaster hadn't brought along any food supplies with him, and he had an amusing thing for the students to do. 

The Headmaster sent all the kids to buy the veggies and fish. He knew that some kids would be afraid of this, but he wanted to make them experience the essential things in life. This simple action of buying vegetables could make them more open and make them learn more about doing calculations.

People at the market were eating their food and asking the students about them, and the students were supposed to reply politely. Some students took all the fish and veggies, but others either got lost or didn't get it. Some children went missing and had even cut their feet in the sand since it was filled with glass. This might have not been fun for some students, but in the end, it enclosed a lesson for life.  

When it was time to go back, everyone was sad that the trip was over, but they couldn't stay there forever…Half of the students slept on the way around, and the other half could not stop talking about this beautiful memory of the hot spring trip.

Amaira Bhati
Grade 3-F, Gyanshree School. 

Tomoe Gakuen - Anvesha Rana

I wish I were a student at Tomoe, 

so free and yet so connected, 

I could have met the headmaster, 

and made friends with Totto-Chan. 

If I were a student at Tomoe, 

I would have visited the Hot Spring, 

while enjoying the new bling. 

The Souvenir photo would have cracked me up, 

and the Oops boy would have been a fun hub, 

I really wish I were at Tomoe, 

for it would be so lively. 

If I were at Tomoe,

I would have learnt Eurythmics, 

Though it would be funny to be so Rhythmical. 

I do wish I were at Tomoe, 

but I already have my own right here, 

which is My Good School!

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 10-B, 

Gyanshree School

The School Song - Rishona Chopra

A school song displays the school but do we really need a song to display our school? Isn't the love of the teachers quite enough? Isn't the hard work of teachers quite enough? We don't need a school song to realize that this is a perfect place, or do we? At Tomoe, we don't have a school song, but the headmaster's love is quite enough to describe his school.

Even if we have a school song, we should sing it with pride because going to a good school is a blessing as it is a haven of knowledge. At Gyanshree, we have a school song, and it goes like this:

We, the Shreeyans, are virtuous and strong
To this heavenly place, we belong
We see our future gleaming in the light
We vow to be prudent and upright
Seeking knowledge, resolute to attain
At Gyanshree, excellence and acclaim
We, the Shreeyans, we are proud to be
Radiant and blissful, wise and worthy
All the Shreeyans, sing out loud
With such a lovely school, we are endowed.

Isn't that a wonderful school song? Although I don't really know the tune, I love to sing it!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Totto-chan goes to school - Reveda Bhatt

Book: Totto-chan. Author:Tetusoko kuroyanagi. Totto-chan is a book that speaks about a girl who has been expelled from a 'regular' school to a school name 'Tomoe Gakuen'.The school is totally different from the formal educational system and creates stress and threats to the children by the overloaded syllabus, subjects, books and strict rules and regulations. - Naturing Education Blog

"The book begins with Totto-chan's mother coming to know of her daughter's expulsion from public school. Her mother realizes that Totto-chan needs a school where more freedom of expression is permitted. Thus, she takes Totto-chan to meet the headmaster of the new school, Mr Kobayashi, where the two establish a friendly teacher-student relationship". Wikipedia

Illustration by
Reveda Bhatt

Class 9, The Aryan School

reveda0311@gmail.com

We are reading Totto-chan at My Good School.
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