My Good School 1st March 2026

Sunday School

To read and discuss two books, focusing on themes of ambition and school life.

Key Takeaways

• Low Attendance Due to Exams: Final exams for classes 9 & 11 (home) and 10 & 12 (board) significantly reduced student attendance.

• Dual-Book Format: The session featured two books: a Japanese novel, What You’re Looking For in the Library, and a Hindi story, “The Whistling Schoolboy” from Kabhi Kabhi School Masti Ka Adda Lagta Tha.

• Core Themes: The English novel explored ambition vs. responsibility through protagonist Ryo’s dream of opening an antique shop. The Hindi story used humour to highlight the fun, non-academic parts of school life, like plays and food.

• “Parallel Career” Concept: A key idea from the English novel, a “parallel career” (coined by Peter Drucker), was introduced as a way to pursue two complementary careers without one being secondary.

Topics

Context: Low Attendance & New Participant

• Low student attendance was attributed to ongoing final exams across many schools.

• Shailaja from Holi Sai International School (Chennai, IGCSE) joined for the first time to observe the session.

• Jugjiv Singh provided an overview of the program’s goal: using books to spark dialogues on life skills and socio-emotional learning.

English Book: What You’re Looking For in the Library

• Recap: The session began by reading student blog reflections to recap the story.

  • Plot: Ryo, stuck in a finance job, dreams of opening an antique shop.

  • Librarian’s Role: Ms Komachi gives Ryo a book on worms and a felted cat, prompting him to discover a cat-themed bookshop, “Cats Now Books.”

• Reading & Discussion:

  • Ryo’s Work Stress: Ryo is burdened by his boss’s lack of software skills and an unmotivated assistant.

  • Hina’s Family Pressure: Hina’s parents see Ryo as a “steady chap” and hint at marriage, creating pressure that conflicts with his dream of running an antique shop.

  • “Parallel Career” Concept: Ryo learns this term from Peter Drucker, defined as two complementary careers in which neither is secondary.

Hindi Book: Ekanki Swang - Natak

• Pre-Reading Quiz: A quiz on “fun school moments” served as a warm-up, with students identifying activities like sharing jokes and playing during free periods as key to enjoyment.

• Reading: The story, read by Manisha Khanna, used humour to describe the author’s experiences at boarding school.

  • Plays: Rehearsals were a fun escape from mandatory study.

  • Food: The author would intentionally finish last in races to stop at a tikki/samosa stall, highlighting the importance of food in school life.

  • Library: The library was a favourite place, made lively by the senior master, Mr Knight.

• Discussion: The story sparked a discussion on the importance of food in boarding schools, with participants sharing anecdotes about hunger and the quality of school meals.

Program Calendar & Logistics

• Manisha Khanna shared the March calendar to provide context for new participants.

• Weekly Schedule:

  • Sundays: Dual book readings (English & Hindi).

  • Saturdays: Professional learning for teachers and a masterclass for students.

  • Fridays: “Brewing Knowledge” meet-and-greets with published authors.

• Upcoming Event: A retreat is scheduled for April 10–14 at Mayoor School Jaipur.

Next Steps

• Students: Write and submit reflections on the stories.

• Manisha Khanna: Publish student reflections on the program blog.

2023 and all it had to give - Rishona Chopra

2023 has been a fantastic year for me! There were lots of ups and downs and lots of learning to take away!

The start of the year was rather bumpy. It started with annual exams which weren't the best so that was a letdown for me.  But then the fact that I was going to another higher grade made me quite cheerful and excited. I must say, the new semester was a fresh start. It allowed me to improve from my past mistakes and learn from them. 

The first day of school was a new door. It was the day when I met a lot of new people. New students and teachers too. I did have some negative perceptions about a few people but now that I think about it those perceptions have changed drastically. I suppose you can't assume things without knowing someone first!

Then there were exams. I had mathematical formulas, equations and a ton of nervousness rushing through my mind but we did make it through the exams too. 

I can't go on about 2023 without mentioning my journey with My Good School. It was a fantastic year! From Meet and Greets with several authors and entrepreneurs, I not only expanded my collection of books but also expanded my learning by miles. Each Sunday session was valuable and priceless. There was something new to take away each time. 

Another highlight of the year was My Guide Inside. The sessions I did with Ms. Christa Campsall were invaluable and being able to conduct similar sessions with younger grades was the icing on the cake. MGI has been a huge part of 2023 and it's all thanks to the mentors who work hard to give us this meaningful bundle of learning and joy. 

My most trustworthy and silent companion was with me throughout this journey; That companion is a book. Books were a crucial part of 2023. I explored new genres and read some amazing books that are indeed no less than a treasure. I dived into the world of polar bears and dogs and some very touching stories of families. Books just take me to another world and make the year more memorable. 

I wouldn't have made it through the year without my family. They are the ones I do have disagreements with but also the ones most dear to me. I believe sometimes we take the gift of family for granted but it's important to realize that having parents to hold on to is a blessing. It's perhaps the greatest gift in the world and they are what made my year better than ever. 

There were a lot of highlights of 2023 and these are just a few of them. There were a lot of times in the year when my behaviour was rather negative and I will try to improve upon it. Of course, you can't permanently remove negative feelings from your life but it is vital to work towards positivity. 

Rishona Chopra
Grade VII
Gyanshree School

My graduation speech at school - Rishona Chopra

Good morning my fellow graduates!

I stand before you on this special day to give my parting speech. This school has opened up several opportunities for me. Everything had unique value, from exams to lunch, sports to competitions, and left me with priceless learning. 

I've made some beautiful and memorable memories in this school. The fun of running out of the class for the sports class, the nervousness and happiness in the annual day practice, the excitement of seeing the science labs for the first time, the peppiness of travelling for a school trip and the agitation during my exams. It all mattered to me a lot and made quite a difference. 

One of the decisions that really made a significant change was joining My Good School. It helped me a lot and opened many doors for me. 

This journey wouldn't have been so incredible without all my teachers supporting me at every step. So thank you to all my teachers who have guided me. Yes, I've had tough and challenging times, but life isn't that fun without its ups and downs!

I would like to thank my exceptional parents, who sent me to this beautiful school and opened this extensive window. 

The memories I made in this school and the learning I took away will always be a big part of my life, and I will never forget them. 

Today, we are at a turning point in our lives, and I hope this will be the best turn we have ever made!

Thank you!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VII
Gyanshree School

Reflecting on the dilemma between the heart and the mind - Monika Singh Pundir

A dilemma is a situation which mainly occurs in everyone's life, especially in students' life. Recently it happened to me when I went to receive my report card. I checked my marks and noticed I wasn't getting what others expected. They thought I was very talented and would get excellent marks, but I needed help to make it up. At that time, my mind told me not to show up to anyone I had let down and to tear off my report card. But the weird thing was that at the same time, my heart told me not to think much about such things because, somewhere, it was my own fault for not studying and not doing well. 

When such a situation occurs, one should think more than once before taking any step so we don't regret it later.

Monika Singh Pundir
Pestalozzi Children's Village India

Reading The Art Of Focus by Gauranga Das, with Jugjiv Sir at the Sunday School

Did you ever experience the dilemma between the heart and mind? - Smriti Rai

A dilemma means when you have to make a different choice between two things. This situation is something which we all face in our daily life. We have to face a dilemma when we have two options.

The dilemma between the heart and mind is a common experience in our daily life. The brain always wins, even if it gives more challenging and complicated options. It takes a more extended period to believe as the heart is always soft, so it provides more accessibility, making us regret it later.

Recently I experienced a situation where I faced a dilemma. Before my exams started, my brain told me to study from the beginning and complete the syllabus before the exam, but my heart said to go out and play and enjoy. It told me that there was still more time to study and even I could learn a month before the examination, then I chose my heart's advice, then later, even when I looked till late at night, I could not finish the syllabus, and I regretted the choice which I made.

Smriti Rai

Pestalozzi Children's Village India

We are reading the book with Jugjiv Sir at The Sunday School.