My Good School, Sunday the 15th June 2025

 

🐾  "A Pet Like No Other"

The villagers found a baby monkey near the forest and decided to keep it as a pet. At first, it was fun—swinging on curtains and eating fruit from her hand. But soon, the monkey began to act wild, biting furniture, screaming at strangers, and trying to run away. The villager realised love wasn't enough—what the monkey truly needed was its natural home.

🧠 Reflective Questions:

1. Focus on Curiosity and Choices
   Why do some people bring wild animals into their homes, even when it may not be the best choice?

2. Focus on Natural Behaviour and Environment
   What challenges arise when a wild animal is taken out of its natural habitat and brought into a home?

3. Focus on Responsibility and Consequences
   How did the decision to keep the monkey affect both the villagers and the monkey in the long run?

4. Focus on Care vs. Freedom
   Can love and care replace the natural freedom and environment a wild animal needs? Why or why not?

5. Focus on Learning and Growth
   What lesson can we take from the villagers' experience about the kind of pets we choose and how we care for them?

Hope you enjoyed today's session! 🌈 Now it's time to share your reflection 📝. Please write a few lines about your key takeaway from the session. 

If you have a pet, do share a cute picture along with a fun or unique behaviour that makes your pet special 🐾📸 — we'd love to see it! Additionally, include one line on how reflection helps develop 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, empathy, creativity, and communication 🌍💡.

📧 Kindly email your reflection to: mk@learningforward.org.in

Let's continue to learn, grow, and share together! 💫

The Koala on the tree - Rishona Chopra

There sat a cute koala on the tree, 

Eating all the fruits, he could see. 

There I came and cuddled him, 

We could hear the sound of hymns. 

He sat there lazily, 

Waiting to be petted by me. 

He was missing his family, 

Dreaming of a fantasy. 

Why do we enclose him in these bars?

It simply shows our ugly scars. 

Though we hurt him, 

He never shows he is grim. 

But loves us like anything, 

Waiting for his happy spring. 

Rishona Chopra

Grade VII

Gyanshree School

Abraham Lincoln - Nishan Karki

Picture Courtesy: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln_head_on_shoulders_photo_portrait.jpg

Abraham Lincoln was an American lawyer, politician and statesman, who served as the 16th president of the United States of America from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky on February 12, 1809. His family moved to Indiana when he was seven and he grew up on the edge of the frontier. He had very little formal education but read voraciously when not working on his father’s farm. 

Lincoln’s legacy is based on his momentous achievements: he successfully waged a political struggle and civil war that preserved the Union, ended slavery, and created the possibility of civil and social freedom for African Americans. 

Abraham Lincoln was also a good thinker and orator. Lincoln's emergence as a great orator dates from 1854 when he made a memorable speech in Peoria, on October 6, of that year. This was his first major attack on the position of Senator Douglas who was the leader of the Illinois Democrats. 

"His manner is neither fanciful nor rhetorical, but logical.

His thoughts are strong and are strongly joined together. 

He is a close reasoner, and has the faculty of making himself clearly understood." 

-Galena (Illinois) North-Western Gazette, 

July 1856. 

Abraham Lincoln has given many famous quotes which are known worldwide. 

Some of them are as follows:-

●“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” 

● “No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.” 

● “If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend.” 

● “Perhaps a man’s character is like a tree, and his reputation like its shadow; The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” 

● “I am not concerned that you have fallen; I am concerned that you arise.

Nishan Karki

Pestalozzi Children's Village, India.

The Tribal Warriors Of Bharat - Rishona Chopra

'In this, our 75th year of Independence … we needed quality literature around our great tribal freedom fighters. This book is a genuinely commendable start in that direction.

—Arjun Munda, Minister of Tribal Affairs

Our first war of Independence was not in 1857.
In fact, tribal mutinies against the British began at least 75 years before the 1857 revolution. These battles were fought with traditional bows and arrows and spears and predated the reported political movement that came to the fore in the latter part of the nineteenth century.

As we complete 75 years of Independence, it is only fair to acknowledge that a parallel freedom movement existed in our far-flung villages and jungles, away from the mainstream freedom movement recognised in the books of history.

The Tribal Warriors Of Bharat shows how we see only those we are shown, but behind the freedom of India, there are many unseen soldiers or, shall I say, fighters whose stories were never heard. 

I haven't read this book, but after reading the synopsis and the first few pages and meeting the author, I am super excited to read about it!!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Peace - What it means for us?

Thank you to all who joined us today; we are over 100, and you will see up to 75 names; there were many sharing devices, for which we are most grateful.

 [25/09/22]
We look forward to more quotes. Our value of the month is PEACE. Is it different from the piece?

Avni Kochhar

11:00
"Peace means everyone being treated equally. Peace means harmony."

Shambhavi Nautiyal

11:10

A piece can be a piece of mind, but peace is much more than that. It's trust between two individuals; it's having self-belief and perception of yourself. If you have made peace with yourself and your mind, you can have a whole new vision of the world, and simply nothing can go wrong.

Rishona Chopra,
12:03 PM

Peace is one virtue we must maintain in the smallest of things. Even sharing a piece of cake will have to be shared with peace as we tend to fight over the smallest of things, neglecting that this small piece of cake can ruin our relationships.

kanikadogra946
12:10
Peace, for me, is when you gain complete self-confidence without worry or fear. It is mental strength and brings happiness to me.
Kanika Dogra and Tenzin paldon

kanikadogra946
12:24
"Peace is mental freedom. Free yourself to achieve it."

Nidhi Chauhan
12:35
Peace allows us to overcome our problems. It will help us to live the best of all possible lives, and "Never let anyone destroy your inner peace".

Tenzin Lhadon
12:42
Peace begins with a smile.
When a person has patience and is happy and grateful for all the things

Best post as a Comment as mentioned at The Sunday School. 

What Independence means to me - Rishona Chopra

Independence is not the right to do as we wish but the right to do what is right. Independence is the essence of freedom, the feeling that we are not ruled by anyone else but have the opportunity just like others to explore and learn. Independence is to make our own decisions. In the national flag of India, the top band is of Saffron colour, indicating the strength and courage of the country. The white middle bar indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra. The last bar is green in colour, showing the land's fertility, growth and auspiciousness. Our country is developing, but its heart is devolved with unity and pride.

We have so many languages,

Each of them gives us so much knowledge.

Lots of different cultures,

Each one of them is precious!

This rich diversity,

Gives me a new identity.

Everyone is so unique,

Together when we come, no one is weak!

Even though our differences create problems,

We should understand our differences are our customs!

We are all united as a team,

We can together make a dream.

After all, it's unity in diversity,

We are just so extraordinary!

This country makes me feel proud,

It makes me unique in this big crowd.

I love my country the way it is,

All the fights were challenging quizzes.

Salute to those who lost lives for us,

So we live in a better world, and there is no fuss.

I see people dancing with pride on the street,

And giving each other sweets.

I see them saying "Jay Hind" proudly,

They say it clearly and loudly.

Rishona Chopra Grade VI Gyanshree School

What Independence means to me - Yashraj Sharma

Freedom to me is to express and enhance my ideas freely. When I am free to learn from my mistakes, it is a token of privilege.

On this occasion of Independence day, I want to be grateful to my parents, my Shreegurus and all my well-wishers to keep trust in me and for always give me my space to enhance my thoughts and creativity.

But as it's said, freedom comes with responsibility,

They are the two sides of a coin.

Genuine freedom is the ability to choose the most beneficial action or direction for ourselves at every moment. This is not easily accomplished. It requires a keen sense of self-awareness. Without self-awareness, it is unlikely that we would understand the real meaning of freedom.

To maintain self-awareness, we need to cultivate responsibility. 

Like it's not just sufficient to host our national flag at national festivals and sing some patriotic songs, but along with this, we should make sure to do our bit for our country to make it a happy and prosperous nation.

Happy Independence day, everyone!!

Yashraj Sharma

Grade: VIII

Gyanshree school

What does Independence mean to me? - Anvesha Rana

It’s uncanny that our forefathers had to strive and struggle so desperately for an Independent India. It’s even more strange that we treat our independence as a birth-given right. Today, what we take for granted resulted from combined forces forged throughout British Indian history. It was a blend of hues, cries, rebellions and massacres all because of one motherland, Bharat.

Independence is the ability to obtain basic fundamental rights. It is the state where we can freely express ourselves, work as per our wishes and simply do whatever we want. Independence is when we have no obstructions or restrictions and are free to fly high and soar in the sky.

But that is independence for a citizen. What is independence for us, as distinct individuals? For some, it would be being able to make all their decisions rationally and independently, but ideally, independence should be a state of mind and not a right.

 If we are pulled down by the people at our side,

 but in our minds, we are transparent and wide

If we don’t show it, but we know it, 

That when the time comes, we will fly.

If we have enough faith and courage, 

To be the first on a different path, 

If we have the belief and encourage, 

To be alone but still be without wrath. 

If we are disheartened when we fail, 

But we don’t give up on our trail

If we can rise after each fall, 

But never give up on the target, however tall. 

If we know to help the wounded in a race,

And pick them up and slow down our pace, 

If we can walk together till the last, 

And still, show no glory and no hast. 

If we can be clutched in tight chains, 

And still, be strong and free as an eagle above the clouds

In high rains, 

If we can be crushed like a flower, 

And still not lose our essence, 

Then that is Independence. 

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 10-B, 

Gyanshree School

My Aspirations - Gaurangi Rastogi

Childhood has been miserable,

Because you have to learn something basic,

When we grow up as a teen 

I got pressured to top the boards 

I got pressured to become a doctor 

Will the world still accept if I am something else?

I feel like running away from home, 

I think I am not safe in my home sweet home, 

I want to speak to this world, 

I have my aspirations,

To change the mindset of the people 

Who judges me based on occupation,

Who are you to control me? 

I am a phoenix who takes the rebirth from its ashes

Which is from its failures.

If you control me, 

I will control you every time,

As you made my life miserable

I will make yours, 

At the end of the story 

I have my aspirations! 

Gaurangi Rastogi 

Class VII 

The Doon Girls’ School 

The 22 Values - Rishona Chopra

Joy Of Learning (JOL) is based on The Little Book of Values: Educating Children to Become Thinking, Responsible and Caring Citizens. Learning happens through these values.

The future of education will be built on these values alone: 

Appreciation, Caring, Cooperation, Courage, Freedom, Friendship, Happiness, Honesty, Hope, Humility, Love, Patience, Peace, Quality, Respect, Responsibility, Simplicity, Thoughtfulness, Tolerance, Trust, Understanding & Unity.

These values make up our life. We don't have to do anything significant to master these. Just opening a door for someone, bringing a smile to someone's face, making friends with someone, trusting someone, understanding someone, and other little acts can do it all.

Why don't we promise ourselves that we will try our best to inculcate these values?

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.
Join us every Sunday at 11 am on Google Meet, join the school for Rs 1800.00 per annum only.

Happiness - Anushri Palnitkar

We all are happy in our lives, with my point of view

But there are my friends who feel that they are not happy,

But only a few.

Once my friend was in the garden,

And was thinking alone in her freedom

We asked here the reason

And she said," I love mangoes but this is not the season."

The second day she was at the same place,

Looking at us with a weird face

We asked her the reason

And she answered," I love social studies but because of studying social studies

I don't get time to play with my buddies.

The third day at the same place

She was sitting with an awful face

We asked her the reason

She replied," I love chocolates madly

But because of that, I am getting fat very badly

After this, I went to her house

And told her that being always sad will not work

And reminded her of the quote that will help her to be successful

And that was

Happiness is the key to success.

Name: Anushri Palnitkar

Grade: 5A

Billabong High International School, Thane

My Life My Way - Saisha Jain

'' Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes."

Mahatma Gandhi

The Doon Girls School
Saisha Jain 
Grade - 8

What do cows think? - Rishona Chopra

Cows think about having lots of fun with their children.

While delivering milk, their children are taken away from them, so they can't drink it as we selfish humans need it! Cows think about having lots of fun with their children without restrictions. They wish to dance and play with them like any parent. 

Cows would love to have lots of food. Although they can eat little food for a longer time, they would like to have more if they don't get food to eat the other day! When people hit them to get milk, they obviously feel hurt and want to hit them back. They think about taking revenge on them and going out of the shed and being free, having freedom.

We humans talk about having freedom, but we don't realize how we take others (animals) liberty away.

Rishona Chopra
Grade V
Gyanshree School

Freedom- Tanishq Kaushik

Every Citizens Duty to free India from clutches of Crimes and Negativity

Freedom is the ability to think and do something without any constraint. 

India got Freedom in 1947. Still, all of us are not entirely independent. Children, the future of our country, need Freedom. Child labour child trafficking exists in our country because poor people need money to eat and send their children to work even when it is a crime. 

Child marriage robs girls of their childhood and threatens their lives and health. They can’t use their constitutional right to education and do not enjoy the flavour of Freedom. 

Corruption is another hindrance to Freedom that exists in politics, private and public health, food, education, transport sectors. Even the legal system is not spared, diminishing trust in the law. I believe being honest to ourselves and creating awareness about education is the sole solution to attain Freedom.  

About me- Tanishq Kaushik, 7A, Ahlcon Public School. I like reading books as it gives me lots to talk about with others. I like writing stories and painting to express my thoughts, and they are stress busters.

A gift of Freedom - Bhavya Mahajan

Bhavya Mahajan,
7A, Ahlcon Public School

It was my birthday last week. But due to the pandemic, no one could come. So I thought of celebrating it differently by giving somebody a unique gift of Freedom. Before my birthday, I purchased a caged parrot for thousand rupees. The parrot was charming and adorable. On my special day, I gave him food and released it. The moment I opened the door of the cage, the parrot flapped its wings and happily soared high, away in the sky. After doing this good deed, I felt elated and satisfied. However, when my little sister saw that the parrot had flown away, she started crying. I explained to her that birds are born to fly free, and no one should steal their Freedom from them. It is a sin to trap them in a cage. Through this incident, I learnt that giving Freedom to somebody is the best gift we can provide. My little sister nodded and smiled.

I am an avid reader of mystery and fictional stories. I am fond of writing short stories, poems and articles to vent my thoughts and feelings. My hobbies include dancing and singing. I employ my creativity and imagination in making various art forms.

Freedom - Aayan Biswas

Aayan Biswas, VI-B, Ahlcon Public School
I have a hobby of reading books on fiction and mystical lands. I write stories and poems as I find writing the best way to express my feelings and tell people what I think. I really enjoy writing and reading as it is delightful.

 

Freedom

He committed a crime and had paid a fine,

I went to jail and waited for bail.

He drove cars and ate a chocolate bar,

I trotted all day; even my birthday passed away.

He ate burgers and French fries,

I had eaten some bread and plain rice.

He had friends and family,

While I had no one beside me.

Framed me for a crime that he had done,

They didn’t let me say a word, not even one!

As I rotted in a black box,

He went hiking and climbed rocks.

I had soon lost all hope and might,

My life was all black and not a spot of white.

Suddenly, I saw a beautiful sight.

Justice was served, right and well,

I was freed, and he was confined.

Everything had changed after such a long time,

It felt as it was the first time the sun had shone!

Constitution: Our Pride - Archita Saxena

The Constitution of India was created for each citizen of India. It has rules and duties in it. It was completed in 1950. The Constitution is a book filled with fundamental rights and responsibilities. Some rights of the Constitution are- the right against exploitation, right of freedom of speech, emotions, professions and trade, right to freedom, right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights and right to constitutional remedies and right of equality. The laws are written in the Constitution ensure that our country is not in chaos. We also have essential duties, and with these duties, we can help our country progress. These duties are to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem, cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired our national struggle for freedom, and uphold and protect the sovereignty and unity of India. 

India became a republic on 26th January 1950 when it adopted the Constitution. We celebrate this day as Republic Day to show our gratitude and respect toward our Constitution. 

We should always respect our Constitution and always follow the laws defined by it. 
I am proud of our Constitution. It makes India a great nation. 
I am proud to be an Indian citizen. 

Archita Saxena
Grade 3
Gyanshree School

Freedom - Gaurangi Rastogi

Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?” -Mahatma Gandhi.

Freedom is a short word in English, but it has profound importance in our life. I hope you know about British Reign in India. We fought for two centuries for our country’s freedom. Some people were violent, and some were non-violent, and why shouldn’t we fight for freedom?

We were burdened with so many taxes that India came into poverty at that time; the crops were failing. There was bloodshed. None of us can forget what happened in 1919, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. We fought for our rights and stood with unity. But the real meaning of freedom is when we are captured, and we want to get free from that captured scenario and fight for it. 

When we have freedom with us, we don’t value it, but we realise its preciousness when we lose our independence. 

Let me tell you a story that occurred in my family.

Before the 21st century, that means us, my father and his brothers and sisters and my grandparents were there under the scare of my eldest grandfather, Mr Hari Krishan Rastogi. My father’s destiny was already set to be a businessman, but there was a dream to become a cricketer in his heart. Now, whenever my dad is free, he sits and gazes at his cricket kit, But, My father says, “ You can become whatever you aspire, for and you have my consent.” 

This story reminds me of how important freedom of choosing your occupation and speaking your voice is, isn’t it? 

Gaurangi Rastogi

Grade VII

The Doon Girls School

Freedom - Aavansh Gupta

 August 15 is Independence Day, also known as Freedom Day. We celebrate it because, on this day, our country was free from the British. But did you know this was half of the freedom? We make poor people our maids and make them do whatever we want. Some people don’t even give them enough salary. We trap birds in cages and do not let them fly independently. We also tie a steel chain around dogs and cats. Can’t every living being live with freedom? So let me share a self-composed poem that will tell you about freedom.

Freedom is the right to do 
Whatever we want.
Like flying in an aeroplane
Or searching about thorn.
 
August 15 1947
When the British left our country
Everyone did whatever they wanted
But that wasn’t the whole freedom
 
We trap birds in cages.
Do not let them fly
They roam all around the cage
Escaping is what they try
 
So, on Republic Day
On January 26
Let us make a promise
That freedom will be our bliss.

Aavansh Gupta
Grade IV-C
Gyanshree School