"Sunday School" concept, emphasising curiosity and creativity without exams

My Good School Mar 8, 10:20 am, 1 hr 42 min

The discussion centred on the impact of exam-focused education systems, highlighting the stress and reduced instructional time they cause. Brinda and Jugjiv Singh shared experiences of residential school environments and the benefits of continuous assessment. The conversation shifted to the "Sunday School" concept, emphasizing curiosity and creativity without exams. They read a chapter from "The Treasure of the Spiders," discussing Gerald's interactions with Theodore, a biologist, and his fascination with trapdoor spiders. The session concluded with a quiz on reading habits and a presentation on "Atomic Habits," stressing the importance of small, consistent changes for building good habits. Manisha read a chapter in Hindi from Ruskin Bond’s The Whistling Schoolboy.

How your relationship with your parents has evolved with time ? - Saikiran Sahu

 

"A father's goodness is higher than a mountain. A mother's goodness deeper than a sea."
-Japanese Proverb

Every child has an extraordinary bond with his/her parents. Even if they scold, punish, or even sometimes ignore you for teaching you a lesson, they do this for our betterment. I have loving parents, who I sometimes want to get away from, but I know they will always be in my heart and soul.

When I was a baby or even when I was a toddler, what I could remember, they used to get me a lot of gifts and toys for me to play with. They used to coddle me a lot, and even now, as circumstances have changed as I have grown up and have a lot of burden for my studies, they have always given me what I want and shown support for every decision I made. I have many loving relationships, like with my mother and my grandparents, but the one I have an extraordinary place in my heart is of me and my father's relationship. My bond with my father is very unique. We are called a fantastic duo in our family. His opinions have always mattered to me a lot. My father rarely scolds me, and if he does, it is basically due to my academics, but if he has told me to do something, I make it my mission to improve it and make him proud. After all, even if a child becomes an adult, he/she will still be their parents' small children.

Saikiran Sahu

Class-IX, Gyanshree School

Understanding between animals and humans

As we know, an understanding person can understand how others are feeling and forgive them if they do something wrong. The four steps of understanding are " know, use, expand and surpass". We should also understand the feeling of animals as they can't speak for themselves in our language. As we studied in our Sunday School, many animals want to share their emotions with us.

The relation between animals and humans in which man understands the feeling of an elephant. The emotional state of many animals is easily recognizable by their faces, eyes and how their muscle-tone changes, eye size and gaze. Many animals need help and are in danger because people are trying to kill them. That is why they became man-eaters; we still don't understand them. Instead of making them comfortable and able, we are killing them. So we should respect wild animals by keeping a safe distance away, not approaching and removing their environment. If you are scared of wild animals or found while travelling, just don't chase them, stay quiet and calm, and don't touch or get close. So we should also understand the emotions of animals.

Aayushma Gaha

Understanding has a unique value that other epistemic states, such as knowledge, do not. This fact threatens the justification for the focus on knowledge that the history of epistemology displays. Elsewhere it has been argued knowledge does not possess this exceptional value. There are a couple of lines of argument, however, that threaten to extend and denial of this unique value for understanding. Underlying all such challenges is the apparent fact that the language of knowing and understanding are closely related. This discussion argues that the kind of understanding we prize most is immune from the concerns plaguing the theory of knowledge. Animals don't understand the language in a language,  but they understand what you want to mention by your gestures, body language, and tone. These are animals like parrots, monkeys, dogs etc.
Sunita Bk

Understanding is that without which you cannot be a good human being. To be a better human being, one should have understanding. Understanding can improve explanatorily when one has more true beliefs of fundamental epistemic value. Stepwise, we should have an understanding of animals. In understanding animals, Lars Sevendsen teaches us how humans can attempt to understand the lives of other animals. We should understand the feelings of animals then. Only animals and human beings can have a good relationship between them. Let's take the example of a dog and how a dog understands us. Dogs read more into our tone and body language than actual words. They focus on us and observe our physical clues to determine what we want them to do. Understanding why some animals help others at the potential cost of their own survival and reproduction, for example, not only gives us insight into their behaviour but could also help us understand our species' ideas of altruism and sacrifice.

Samarika Karki 

Since humans are more advanced and social, we should have empathy. We should be understanding, caring and loving not only between us and the other person, but we should be understanding, caring and loving to animals also, as they have feelings too. If would be trust between the animal and humans, the world would live in peace. We should betray animals that rely on us; only then will there be a bond between that animals and humans.

Ngawang Lhamo

Humans have various ways of survival. Animals are only dependent upon nature. So, they do not have any other means of survival. Humans have become much more advanced and know several ways to survive and sustain themselves. Animals do not have such survival techniques; therefore, they only depend on nature for food. We can speak a complex language. We use our logic. But animals only do their actions based on instincts. Apart from the differences, humans and animals are similar in certain aspects and have an outstanding bond. Their bond mutually benefits people and animals and is influenced by behaviour essential to health and well-being. This includes, among other things, emotional, psychological and physical interactions between people, animals and the environment. 

Akshra Singh

As we know that the human and animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between humans and animals that is influenced by behaviour to the health and well-being of both. This includes, among other things, emotional, psychological and physical interaction of people, animals and the environment. 

Animals have been protectors, companions, co-workers and even best friends. Humans need animals in their lives to stay healthy, mentally and even physically. Animals are used in standard therapy to increase movement in the handicapped. We should also understand animals' feelings. They can't speak or show their emotions as we can; it doesn't mean we will not respect or treat them however they want. Because they are also like us, they also have feelings. 

Shraddhanshi Rawat

Sharpening The Saw - Tenzin Jambey

"Sharpening The Saw" can be beautifully defined as preparing a person or trying to bring a change in one's mind and attitude. Some so many people have contributed a lot to get a change, a development in me. 

Now when I think about my past and try to remember the people who have contributed their efforts to develop me, then the picture of my family and the faces of all the teachers come into my mind whose efforts were brilliant but, at the same time, my hearts says that there is a significant effort made by the family of Pestalozzi and My Good School which is also helping me to bring a change, a development within me. 

Here in Pestalozzi, we are provided with all kinds of niceties, and a high level of education is offered to us. This place where I live is known as a hostel by almost everyone, even at my best friend's home or my father and mother's. Still, they are unaware that this place feels more like a home than a hostel, and sometimes I feel like I don't want to leave this place, but as we know, everything has an end. 

Living with people from different regions of India and some from other places of Nepal with their own language, customs, and beliefs helps me understand their traditions and beautiful culture. Our friendship bond is powerful, and we are always there to help and assist each other regarding work or studies. Friends teach each other many things, including sound and bad habits, and it's a sour truth of friendship, but it is in our hands, and it's our choice whether we take bad morals or suitable lessons. 

In the case of our friendship bond, we teach each other only those acceptable to the person; our bond is so strong that we come to know about the other person's thoughts. My roommates are very good at creating motivational quotes, and their words and views help me to keep moving when I am broken. Some of their quotes are:

" The business graph never goes in a straight line at some point. It has to divert ".

"Rome was not built in a day, but it can be destroyed in a second". 

"The bad thing is time flies, but the good thing is I am the pilot". 

"Failing is a good sign to make a difference in you".

Sometimes I feel lucky to be with such good friends, namely Nawang, Norsang, Aati, Passang, Sandip and Nishan, who try to develop me and always help me.

The office staff put a lot of effort and hard work into developing every child of Pestalozzi. Cheme la Ma'am, the Director of Pestalozzi, always try harder and harder to keep us on track, and she becomes strict with us just for our own benefit; she always uses the most suitable examples to make us understand things in the best way. Upasna Ma'am is found wandering around the campus to meet every child and communicate with them to discover the troubles children face. I remember she once came to me also when I having issues.

The eyes of Shelja Ma'am would pop out one day as she spends a lot of time near the screen. The reason behind this is she is concerned about every child's future. By looking at the students' names and their obtained subjects, she is busy seeking colleges and universities for children's further studies. Anudev sir, Rakesh Sir and Rahul Sir, the three handsome men, also contribute a lot to assisting every child with any queries, and they'll be found busy the whole day as their business calls on.

My charming and lovely House Mother, Minaxi Ma'am, is often misunderstood by many people as a student. When I saw her for the first time, I thought she might be our age, and I was surprised to know that she was serving us as a house mother. I thought, " Yeh madam kya house mother karegi ". Her outlook is like a student, but she is a wonderful multi-talented woman. Even after pursuing a master's in Micro Biology, she considered joining an NGO. She helped us out with almost everything thing and especially with our studies. I was shocked when I learned she knew everything about us, including our naughty and decent actions. Every day has been a learning day since she joined Pestalozzi and served as a House Mother. I never knew that "pakorde" is called fritters in English. She is always there to help us with everything, and I see a significant improvement in my studies and other activities, which is 60% because of her motivation. When I came  3rd in class, she was happier than anyone else, even more optimistic than me. I know our bond is strong, but sometimes we really eat each other's mind, and mostly I am one to irritate her, because of which she gets angry.

There is a saying, "Where two utensils are kept together, then ultimately would become one". I don't feel she is my Ma'am, but I think of her as more like my older sister. My mind prevents me from touching her as my mother because she is young to be a mother, and people might get a heart attack when I start calling her mummy because she looks like a student.

Nowadays, I can focus on my studies and other activities too, but once, I was also a very distracted child and never got full marks in any subjects; many thoughts came into my mind. When I was in class 6th, it was a nightmare going to school as I had no friends nor was I doing good in my studies. While returning from school, I would sit at the window seat and look at the environment, and strange thoughts filled my mind. I used to think I was useless. I was wasting Pestalozzi's resources, I am wasting the food, the books in my bag, the uniform that I wore and the fuel of the bus, and at last, a lot of money and reason behind doing not well in academics, and because of my rude behaviour and attitude that I had, at that time I hardly had a smile on my face but, from now onwards I would never get to see these days as the family of Pestalozzi and My Good School are sharpening me. They have become the tool of sharpening when I am a saw. 

My Good School, or The Sunday Good School, is a good learning platform that helps me think beyond my limitations of thinking abilities. It's not only the school's name which is good but also the morals and lessons taught here are excellent and fun. By being regular in classes and because of writing my reflection continuously, I can understand things in a better way. I also thought how Good School would change me and develop my writing, reading and speaking skills, but now I know. I can now reflect on my actions and think deeply about them because I have no limitations on writing, like in school, we write an essay of 350 words, and I am allowed to put my thoughts on a piece of paper as many words as I wish too. 

When I sit to write a reflection, I automatically forget all other work, and my hands continue until I finish writing. My Good School is really 'Sharpening the Saw' for me and bringing a vast development in me, it would be great if more students joined My Good School, but I feel like the current strength we have is better than better as we are starting with a small step by taking that small step ideally.

Here are the pictures of the people who are my sharpeners! 

Upasna Ma'am, Chemela Ma'am and Shelja Ma'am

Rakesh Sir

Rahul Sir

Anudev Sir 

Minaxi Ma'am

Reflection on the topic Peer Pressure - Tenzin Jambey

In the Oxford dictionary, the word "peer " means people of the same age as you, and "pressure" means forcing someone to do certain things or activities.

It feels fun to do things with our friends; we play, study, and spend time with our friends in school and without friends, life would be pretty dull. When we make friends at first, we never know who is nasty or good; only after spending some time do we learn about our friend's personalities and mentality. A good friend will always think and wish for good welfare, but a lousy friend will try to pull you in the wrong direction. Bad friends often put pressure on you to do the activities which they do. 

If I had to tell you how to overcome peer pressure, then I would say we should break our bond with the wrong people or bad friends as we know a bad person always puts pressure on you and will always emphasise on wrong things, but we should first try to change them and if they don't change then we must simply end our bond with them. A good friend would never pressure you and always teach you productive things.

Tenzin Jambey

Pestalozzi Children's Village India

Owls In The Family

The brother school of The Doon Girls' School, Dehradun! Discover books and stories by Ruskin Bond. Listen to Ishwar and Tenzin. Thank you, Ms Sumali Devgan, for showcasing the beautiful art of storytelling! #JoyOfLearning

 

Friendship - Linisha Agarwal

Linisha Agarwal 

Grade 7

The Doon Girls School

Friendship - Sayogita Kunwar

Friendship is the fragrance of a flower, 

Friendship is purity of heart,
Friendship is the flow of air.

Friendship is a beautiful part of our life. It is the second name of happiness. Whenever we feel down or exhausted, there will be a person who will be patting our head with vibes of relaxation. It is difficult to describe this as a bond because it's is widely spread era of joyfulness. Having a special friend in life is like having heaven on the land. A friend is like a shield that protects us from this cruel world. If you are blessed with such a friend, you are the luckiest person in the world. 

Never ever let go of your friend's hand; you are incomplete without them in your life.

Name: Sayogita Kunwar

Grade: XA

The Fabindia School

Friendship - Arindita

Friendship is a bond between two people that can never fall apart if it is true. It is when you and another person feel comfortable and happy when you are together. 

A friend will never let you feel lonely. It is essential to have friends as they will give you company in your journey. You may often have friends that you do not talk to anymore or ones that you may have forgotten about. Sometimes when you or your friend are shifting to a new place or city, you both may feel upset to not be together anymore. But friendship doesn’t end here. Even if you two are not close or apart, a true friendship will still find a way to continue. 

If you have a true friend, they would never leave you or judge you by your colour, figure, money etc. They will always be by your side, no matter what. With a true friend, you wouldn’t need to find a reason to smile; you would already have it.

My elder sister is my Best Friend as I always feel free to talk to her tell her everything and all of my feelings that I don’t feel free to tell someone else. We laugh together at random things; we talk about what we think about others. We NEVER run out of topics. We also watch Peppa pig together. I always wish that we never fall apart. We also have fights, which is always common between friends.

“The most valuable gift you can receive is an honest friend”-Stephen Richards.

Arindita
Grade V-A
Gyanshree School

Positivity - Anusha Jain

 POSITIVITY: SUNSHINE TO THE SOUL

It was a fantastic day for Amit. He received his German test paper justice and was the only one to secure full marks. Amit was feeling very proud. At 4'o clock, he received news that turned his world upside down the same evening. He could not control his emotions, and there was a flood of tears everywhere. The family was devastated to receive the news of Hari's accident.

Hari is Amit's cousin brother. The two of them were so close to each other that they could comfortably share all their secrets together, and their bond of love set an example for everyone. As soon as Amit received the shocking news, he argued to go to the hospital and see Hari. However, as it was his science test the day after tomorrow, his parents denied his plea. Amit was shaken to the core. He was in great disbelief. His brother was hospitalized, and his parents wanted him to give an exam. His tears did not have any effect on his family. They firmly believe that Hari will be healthy and fine and that Amit shouldn't miss his test. Eventually, when everyone left for hospital and Amit had to study, he couldn't concentrate. He then called his uncle for help and explained the situation. His uncle, who was a kind and wise man, said to Amit that by being sad like this, he is harming himself and showing that he doesn't trust the doctors, which is not good. After half an hour, Amit finally got relief, and the conversation proved to be a stressbuster for him. He was now able to concentrate on his studies and started afresh. 

The day of examination came. It was the day that would decide which would give fruits for Amit's hard work and dedication. 

Days passed by. Hari got better and started recovering fast. Amit received his exam result and was delighted that he had passed with flying colours and that his hard work paid off. Everyone was happy once again.

Anusha Jain, IX, Ahlcon Public School

I am very fond of reading. Harry Potter is my favourite series. I want to explore my culture and heritage. I love helping others.

Friendship - Anusha Jain

The beautiful story of Lord Krishna and Sudama shows friendship's love, and bond.
Name: Anusha Jain
Grade: 9
Ahlcon Public School

Friendship - Anusha Jain

 Today I am expressing my thoughts upon something which adds spices to life; it's a blessing that can make us the happiest and most successful people in the world. 

I'm talking about friendship and friends. 

Friends at the flowers in the garden of life. Beginning with the seed of trust, nurturing laughter and tears, growing into loyalty and love. True friendship isn't about being inseparable, it's being separated, and nothing changes. 

The extraordinary friendship of Krishna Ji and Sudama Ji tells us the true meaning and value of friendship in this world. After numerous years, the entire incident when Sudama met Krishna is very touching and unforgettable. Even today, once we remember those times, we have tears in our eyes thinking of the bond, the love that the two of them had for each other.

"Real friends are the ones you can count on no matter what. The ones who go into the forest find you and bring you home. And real friends never have to tell you that they are your friends."

Anusha Jain, IX, Ahlcon Public School
I am very fond of reading. Harry Potter is my favourite series. I want to explore my culture and heritage. I love helping others.

Friendship - Arav Agarwal

As we are celebrating the value of Friendship at My Good School, I would like to share my experience of being a part of My Good School. 

I have experienced that friendship at My Good School is learning, sharing and growing together. We meet every Sunday and together read a book, learn different life values from the book and share our reflections and experiences with each other experiencing the joy of reading, writing and speaking.

As part of an internship, we learn from each other by sharing our skills and being mentored by teachers from different schools all over India.

Yes, we are growing together at My Good School to become a better version of ourselves. 

Thank you, My Good School, for this beautiful bond of friendship that you have created.

Name: Arav Agarwal
Grade: 5C
Billabong High International School, Thane