Beyond Books: Life Lessons from Sunday School - Jayant Raj

Yesterday’s Sunday school session was more than just an ordinary reading activity—it taught me something far more valuable than what we usually learn in school. Reading The Door-to-Door Bookstore gave me insights into managing my emotions. However, what truly stood out was when Manisha Ma’am spoke about a topic that, in my opinion, is often overlooked in education: the five essential skills every student should develop.

This topic deserves much more attention and should be promoted in every school, as it helps students stay focused on their goals while fostering self-awareness and resilience.

Jayant Raj 
Sunbeam Suncity

The Power of Student Observation- Tejas Kumar

The Power of Student Observation

Student observation is an often overlooked but potent force in education. Beyond textbooks, observation offers real-world relevance, fostering curiosity, inquiry, and empathy. By engaging with their surroundings, students deepen their understanding and develop essential skills for navigating the complexities of the modern world.                                                                 

Strengthening Analytical Skills

Observation sharpens students' analytical abilities as they dissect and interpret the information gleaned from their surroundings. This analytical prowess serves them not only in academic pursuits but also in problem-solving scenarios encountered throughout life.

Encouraging Active Participation

Through observation, students become active participants in their own learning journey. Rather than passively receiving information, they engage with their environment, taking ownership of their education and fostering a sense of empowerment.

Inspiring Creativity

Observation fuels creativity by exposing students to new ideas, perspectives, and possibilities. Whether it's through studying the natural world, analyzing works of art, or observing human behaviour, students draw inspiration from their observations to fuel their own creative endeavours.

Building Communication Skills

Effective observation lays the groundwork for strong communication skills. By articulating their observations and insights, students learn to convey information clearly and persuasively—a skill set invaluable in both academic and professional settings.

Promoting Lifelong Learning

The habit of observation transcends the classroom, instilling in students a lifelong thirst for knowledge. By continuously observing and learning from their surroundings, students cultivate a mindset of curiosity and adaptability, essential traits for success in an ever-evolving world.

Tejas Kumar

Grade-IX

Sunbeam School Lahartara 

The power of observation in a student's life- Priyanshu Arya

As students practice observing, they see more and can represent more and connect it to what they already know. Observing becomes habitual, not bound to specific times or locations or experiences (e.g. 'school' or 'science class')

The power of observation is the ability to mindfully observe the things surrounding you. And you can develop it by practising certain traits. The key to critical observation is paying attention to every bit of detail.

Observation isn't solely reserved for students; it's equally valuable for educators. By keenly observing students in various contexts—whether in the classroom, during group activities, or on the playground, their interests, who they are, what puts a smile or frown on their faces, and what they know and can do. Using observation in this way makes teaching more rewarding!

Priyanshu Arya

IX- D

Sunbeam school 

What Restrictions Do - Reveda Bhatt

Restrictions put on children make them disciplined. Now, that would be the common opinion.

But do I support it? 

No.

I don't because there shouldn't be restrictions stopping children from doing acts. It should be their morals. Putting restrictions, now be it for their good, makes them question, "Why?" Not getting a proper answer to it just makes them feel more attracted towards the thing restriction was put on because, as we all know, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Then the child just feels like he or she is being stopped from living fully now. That is the worst feeling. 

On the other hand, a child inculcated with morals has a sense of what's right or wrong because it's not for the restriction but for the teaching experience!

Therefore, I firmly oppose the idea of putting restrictions because discipline comes from the inner core of your character, which you've maintained not due to being feared but due to having your morals.

Reveda Bhatt
The Aryan School

One Life At A Time - Reveda Bhatt

We limit ourselves. We bind ourselves. We let the world define us.

Why?

Is that a right they have?

No

That's a right you gave them.

People say, "You only live once."

Then, again, they comment, "Don't waste your time doing stupid things."

Well, how can they declare what you do is stupid?

If you accept that, how can you believe what they say is right?

Don't let the world define you, sweetheart. It's your job, it's your duty, it's you who'll do that. You know, there's more to discover in this "small world"; mainly, it's you who you need to discover! Those who think that they know themselves, well, they might if ever they've set out on an expedition to look for the meaning of their lives. The problem is when we allow all that others think or say to get to our hearts and make the blocks. You know how to reach a destination; there is more than a single way-if they tried out one, which turned out unfavourably, then you make another.

Mind blocks are just what limit us!

It's in your control to-

keep them if you wish to have a "common" fulfilling life

OR

go above and beyond to make it a memorable one.

One step at a time. One life at a time.

Go crazy. Go mad. One life, baby.

Live it large!

Coffee With The Coach : Our Culture - Anvesha Rana

Today We Talk About Our Culture

People are only mean when threatened, which is what our culture does. That's what our economy does. Even people with jobs in our economy are threatened because they worry about losing them. And when you get threatened, you start looking out only for yourself. You start making money as a god. It is all part of this culture. 

We should build our own culture. It doesn't mean disregarding every rule of the community, but while obeying the little things, we create our own choices for the big things - how we think, what we value - those you must choose for yourself. You can't let anyone- or any society - determine those for you. 

Our culture conditions people. It's the same for women not being beautiful enough or men not being rich enough. It's just what our culture would have you believe, but don't believe it. Every society has problems, and the way to do them is not to run away. You have to work at creating your own culture. 

No matter where you live, the most significant defect we human beings have is our shortsightedness. We are still determining what we could be. We should look at our potential, stretching ourselves into everything we can become. But if you're surrounded by people who say, 'I want mine now,' you end up with a few people with everything and a military to keep the poor from rising up and stealing it. 

The problem is that we don't believe we are as much alike as we are. Men and women, whites and blacks, young and old. If we saw each other as more alike, we might be eager to join one big human family in this world and to care about that family the way we care about our own. 

We all have the same beginning - birth, and we all have the same end - death. So how different can we be? Invest in the human family. Invest in people. Build a little community of those you love and who love you. At the start of life, when we are infants, we need others to survive, and at the end of life, we again need others to survive, but the truth is that in between, we need others as well. 

Anvesha Rana 

Grade 10-B 

Gyanshree School

The Art of Focus - Anvesha Rana

The Art of focus is a piece of advice, 

for life and for the next generational resize, 

It can be passed on because we might change, 

but our values will nevertheless be the same. 

We need focus in our lives, not for success, 

but for a family, for happiness and for building a fortress, 

Without focus, we are inhumane and uncertain, 

like a play without a curtain. 

Stories can be your guide into another world, 

They can make you believe what you thought you never would, 

You'll find your moments and live up to them, 

You'll find your gratitude and treat it as a hem. 

Focusing on the present will make you someone new, 

for neither the past nor the future will be now pursued, 

We'll learn to be better and better till we can then share it with others, 

for what is life without a teacher who isn't like a brother. 

Let's dive into finding our focus for it might be deep down, 

or it might be on the top which just needs a little jerk, 

If we have focus we will not want to be the winner on the field, 

but we will want to be the winner in life. 

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 10-B, 

Gyanshree School

Into the Fabric Buzz - Anvesha Rana

As I enter the fabric buzz, 

I look here and there, 

Nothing seems to be

Right enough to wear. 

The colours are strong.

But they do not stand out, 

The lines are long, 

But they only wait for a shout. 

The clothes at the start

Are overflowing with jewels, 

Their colours do not blend, 

Their design is awful, 

Their pattern makes me feel bad

But what can I do?

Yet People look over them. 

As if precious diamonds, 

Yet the mass buys them 

As if a lost treasure, 

And yet all wear them 

As their prized possessions. 

I can’t manage to look.

At such faces, 

Not because I am jealous, 

But it just makes me feel devastated. 

So, I enter deeper into the market, 

Where there is less racket, 

And for the first time, 

I see something I like. 

The clothes at the end

Do not stand out, 

But they make me feel welcome. 

They have just the right. 

Blend of colours yet 

No one there for them, 

They have just the 

Perfect pattern yet 

No one sees them, 

They have just the 

Best design yet 

No one buys them, 

They have just the 

Good inside yet 

No one understands them. 

I like it better here, 

In the end, 

The start is too crowded and painful, 

But the end has no one yet it is oozing 

With Love. 

The Way we see Beauty, 

Is no different from this, 

We like the ones with pretty faces, 

But not the ones with untied laces. 

We seek perfection in looks, 

Not in books. 

Beauty lies within, 

And there is no beauty out, 

When there is no beauty in. 

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 10-B, 

Gyanshree School. 

Totto-Chan - Anvesha Rana

I wish I could be a little more like her, 

for Totto-Chan would be a true dreamer, 

Her incidents can make you laugh out loud, 

and her innocence can create love around. 

Totto-Chan is so much fun, 

      She can pass through barbed wires without a grunt, 

  She makes up her own crazy games, 

and plays them without any aims. 

I have never seen another like her, 

So sensitive and empathetic, 

and yet so succumb. 

She can make anyone a friend, 

from Takashi to Yasuaki-Chan, 

all of them are mates. 

Totto-Chan is truly a gem, 

living the way she loves to, 

by sliding down a cesspool, 

or standing in the sand for a

time too long!

I wish I could be a little more like her!

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 10-B, 

Gyanshree School

Ignorance, Evolution and the Avatar - Anvesha Rana

It is uncanny that we sometimes just need a short story or a mishappening to make us realize our position in this circle of life. We all are human, yet we stand at different steps of the same staircase. Our mindset defines the place we idealize, but there are many positions to choose from: 

Realization of Ignorance is the first stage of development. It is the state where we think we are superior to our fellow beings, but in reality, we are just the same. Ignorance makes us turn a blind eye to the tiny creatures; it fills us with a sense of pride and destroys the humility within us. When the worms discovered the ray of light, they felt that it was meant for them to find and that they were special, but if the worms had been a little wiser, they would have decided to share this finding with the entire the worm population for everyone's wellbeing. Ignorance makes us immature, and after some time, it will cause us to rot. There is no development in ignorance; when we blindfold new learning opportunities and avert our eyes from new people when we disregard new things, that would stop our learning. Ignorance stops us, but observance adds a boost to our life. 

The second stage of development would be Evolution. Evolution is simply letting go of all sad things, destructive grudges, negative emotions and guilty practices; it transforms yourself and then rises above others. Evolution is perhaps the final and supreme stage of development for all humans; it is exploring and experiencing such a level of spiritual consciousness that no pleasure can be more significant. It is simply breaking free of all the chains that hold you back and then unfurling your wings to fly in a free and limitless sky, only to discover the real deception of life. We can live genuinely only when we have evolved, grown, learnt and understood, for Evolution is the true joy. 

The third stage of development would be The Avatar. The Avatar is the truest, pure, divine form one can pursue. It is a reconciliation with the almighty to develop the utmost level of emotional, mental, spiritual and physical being. The Avatar is definitely hard to reach and even more challenging to maintain. The Avatar is not god, but it can be us if we attain the final enlightenment possible. Buddha and Mahavir were ordinary people, but the course of their actions was so holy that they acquired the form of The Avatar. The path is not hard, but it is filled with thorns and pricks until the rose. 

The development that I hope for is Evolution. Some day I do expect that I can be the worm who could spread its wings, cross the horizons and truly realize life.

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 10-B, 

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. 

My Good School Song - Arav Agarwal

My Good School, My Good School

It empowers us with life skill tools!

Put on your thinking caps to learn;

Experience the joy of learning and have fun!

 

My Good School, My Good School

This is a place where you learn real-life values;

Explore and strengthen your skills as an intern;

Or experience the joy of reading, writing and speaking in Sunday sessions!

 

My Good School, My good School

Here everyone is welcomed and valued!

My Good School, My Good School

Here life is happy and super cool.

Name: Arav Agarwal

Grade: 6A

Billabong High International School, Thane

Totto-chan's Mother - Amaira Bhati

        

Totto-chan’s mother is kind, gentle and calm. Totto Chan had been expelled from her old school, but her mother had not scolded her, and she did not even tell her about the suspension so as to not upset her daughter. Instead, she made Totto Chan go to a new school. 

The teacher of Totto-chan’s old school was disappointed and annoyed by her but mother always stood by Totto-chan’s side and let Totto Chan be the cheerful and chirpy girl she was; mother kept Totto-chan’s expulsion a secret. 

It was the first day of Totto-chan’s new school, Tomoe Gakuen. It was a school with railroad cars as classrooms, and it deeply excited the jovial Totto Chan. Her mother played a crucial role in all this; she encouraged Totto-chan to share what she liked at the school that day and listened to all her tales with amusement. 

Even when Totto-chan ran to her mother and told her she wanted to be a ticket collector, her mother coolly reminded her that she wanted to be a spy instead. Totto-chan is very lucky to have a Mother so encouraging. Deep down, Totto-chan’s Mother knew all about her daughter’s potential even when she concealed her feelings most of the time. That’s the power of a mother.

Amaira Bhati,

Grade 3-F,

Gyanshree School

Totto-chan's Mother - Anvesha Rana

Totto-chan's mother is a unique parent. She understands her daughter like a mother, treats her like a friend and protects her like a soldier. Totto-chan is lucky to have such a benevolent mother who supports her in all her decisions. She is a calm and composed lady and has brought up her daughter similarly.

The best part about Totto-chan's mother and Totto-chan is the comfort level that the mother and daughter share, so much so that Totto-chan shares everything with her mother. Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believes first. Totto-chan is an open minded and free spirited child only because she has a mother who doesn't want her to walk in her footsteps, but she wishes for Totto-chan to imprint her own feet on a new field.

Totto-Chan's mother is just like my mother,

She is soft hearted yet strong willed, 

She is compassionate yet unwavering in principle, 

She is a loving mother, yet she wants her to go beyond the horizons, 

She worries about her daughter, yet she pushes her into the waters, 

In short, simply a SUPER MOM.

Anvesha Rana,

Grade 10-B,

Gyanshree School.

My Good School Song - Anvesha Rana

    

My Good School,

where passion meets education.

My Good School is our school, 

Where passion meets education

And we reach our destination. 

We can read or write, 

Speak or create, 

Just find your calling, 

And carry it forward. 

Create a podcast, 

Or write a blog. 

Whatever you do, 

The Joy of Learning will be sure. 

My Good School where,

Learning is Fun, and Fun is learning, 

Where we are not mere students,

But all of us are lifelong learners at this school of life. 

Anvesha Rana,

Grade 10-B,

Gyanshree School

Teachers Travel with You All Your Life - Anvesha Rana

        " A Good Education can change anyone, but a Good Teacher can change everything. "

When we go to school, we go with the mindset to learn whatever is taught but seldom do we ponder upon the lives of those who come with the vision to give others as much knowledge as possible, our teachers. A Teacher is a crucial part of any child's development, and they play a vital role in success. Wherever I am standing today, it is all because of my parents and teachers, who never gave up on me and constantly encouraged me to walk forward and never look back again. 

Since childhood, I have always felt connected to all my teachers and share a special moment with each one. I cannot describe it accurately in words but simply say that My Teachers are the Best. A few instances where my teachers are still travelling with me are: 

When I was young, I loved art and would almost draw anything in sight. One day when I went to the fruit market with my mother, I had set my eyes upon a green apple, and it was the first time that I had seen an apple other than red, so this was really amusing for me. The next day at the art class, when we were asked to draw an apple, I drew a Green Apple! All the other kids were doing red, but I was confident that Apples were also green. When our art teacher came to inspect our work, she looked at my drawing and asked about it, so I told her that I had seen green Apples. To my surprise, my teacher agreed and even praised me for my creativity; a phrase that she had said at that time makes sense to me now 'Art Has No Rules.'

Listen to the podcast

Many other occasions have taught me lessons for life, and those are the learnings that I carry forward. Teachers are critical to me because I am who I am because of them.

Thank You, Sandeep Sir, for being the most creative teacher I have met.
Thank You, Brinda ma'am, for being the most dedicated educator.
Thank You, Sunita ma'am, for motivating me to indulge in language.
Thank You, Mahvesh, ma'am, for laying the foundation stone and constantly guiding me.
Thank You, Akanksha ma'am, for making lifelong geography learning.
Thank you, Supriti ma'am, for always being there no matter what.

Thank You to all my teachers who have always promoted Learning for Life!

Anvesha Rana
Grade 10-B
Gyanshree School
Intern at My Good School

Just Dance! - Anvesha Rana

Anyone who meets me probably knows that Dance has a special place in my heart. I don't think there was ever a time when I wasn't dancing, and I can't imagine how my Life would be without Dance. I started learning Dance at the age of 6; initially, I used to learn Kathak, and after completing Kathak, I pursued another classical dance, Bharatanatyam. Both Bharatanatyam and Kathak are ancient classical dances with diverse backgrounds and styles. I love all types of dances, be it western or classical, because Dance is one of those ways through which I can express myself freely. To Dance is to be out of yourself. Be Larger, More Beautiful, More Powerful, and this is the power; it is glory on earth, and it is yours for the taking. All of us need to dance; it is a true joy. Dancing takes place not only on the stage, but it actually takes place in Life, as we dance and leap through all the problems we face. When we dance, our purpose should not be that we are seen; instead, it should be to enjoy each step along the way. 

Dancing has changed my Life; it has enabled me to look beyond academics and explore new things. Dance really interests me; it helps me out when I am stressed and uplifts my mood after a bad day. When we do something different from what most others do, we unlock a path of creativity that is only known to us. Dance is much more than a hobby for me; it is the fire that keeps me burning and the zeal that keeps me ignited for trying out something new. Dance is a way to have fun for me; it is a method to connect with the Indian heritage and relive history in a few moments. Through dancing, I have also learned the importance of hard work and discipline. Learning any skill or art form is not easy; all Classical dances are extremely technique-driven, and technique has to be mastered before moving on and learning more complex pieces. When I started learning Dance, I wanted to grow to the best of my potential and practised well to learn more. At the end of the day, it didn't matter what level I would reach. I just wanted to know other complex pieces that challenged me as a dancer. When the waters get testing, I recall how I had worked for Dance and how my hard work has paid off; this thought sparks the trigger in me to continue hard work and discipline. 

I simply love Dance, and my emotions when I dance cannot be accurately described in a few words. Don't dance for anyone, Dance for yourself and Dance as if no one is watching you. Dance with Life, Dance with laughter, Dance with sadness and a little bit of joy. Replace the heaviness of Life with the lightness of a free-spirited dancer. When you dance for a moment, keep aside all your worries, concerns and problems, enter the stage with a focused mind and a light heart and after that, let the music take you forward. Dance is just following the rhythm to the beat, and once you know how to do that, you have mastered Life.

Dance with the waves, 

Move with the sea, 

Let the rhythm of the water, 

Set Your Soul Free. 

Anvesha Rana 

Grade 10-B

Gyanshree School

Forgiveness - Anvesha Rana

' There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love. '

All of us have had experiences where we were angry at someone. A small mistake, a menial conflict or an accusation can raise our fury in seconds and without thinking of the consequences, we let anger take control of our actions. We are aware that when we yell, scold or blame, we create a vicious cycle, yet we allow our wrath to flow out on the other person. Why should the person who has no connection to our misery be blamed for it, and then how are we supposed to expect him to say it's ok? A simple sorry does not change anything; sorry is not just a word; it is a lesson and a promise that we make to never repeat the same action again. These days sorry is treated nothing more than five letters, and it is almost obvious, as per the new social norms, that the person we are apologizing to has to say it's ok, whether they like it or not. 

Forgiveness is not just a virtue; it is also a sacrifice that the world immensely needs right now. I believe forgiveness is the best form of love because it requires a strong person to say sorry and an even stronger person to forgive. We should forgive others, not for their sake but for our own peace, since as long as we don't accept the apology, we continue to boil our pessimistic emotions to the point that they start overflowing. We suffer due to the deeds of others. Consequently, we should free ourselves of this and instead forgive the person with our whole hearts. When we hold grudges against people, those grudges consume our good deeds, and they probably affect us much more than they affect the person we are holding them against. Grudges seldom hurt anyone except the person bearing them. 

If we don't bend, we break. Forgiveness does not make the person smaller, but it makes him bigger. Revenge is not the only solution; through the means of revenge, we are retaliating to the person who affected us through his own ways. By seeking revenge, we continue the cycle of evil deeds in the world. Instead, if we forgive everyone for whatever they did, we convey the message that goodness is still alive, and we also instil a sense of morality in the person we had to forgive. 

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 10-B, 

Gyanshree School. 

Honesty - Anvesha Rana

"Integrity is telling ourselves the truth, and Honesty is telling the truth to others."

Honesty is probably one of those values we have talked about since childhood. Our parents and teachers often remind us to be honest. There may also be many situations through which we all have demonstrated honesty, but in the long term, challenging situations might suppress us to dishonesty. These are the circumstances that test our character, even if hope keeps us going, one has to be realistic and absolutely honest. Just because it is challenging does not mean taking an easier route. 

Some of the ordinary men and women who have displayed extraordinary honesty are Lal Bahadur Shastri, Abraham Lincoln, Bobby Jones and Ivan Fernandez Anaya. They did not let the society determine their choices but took their decisions as per their own judgements. Their choices exemplified them and inspired others to take on similar steps. 

Another instance of honesty are the Nghah Lou Dawr shops, this word literally means Shops Without Shopkeepers. At the Nghah Lou Dawr shops there are no shopkeepers, the only things present are the goods along with a rate list and deposit box. The customers take whatever items they have to buy, calculate the amount and leave the money in a deposit box. For many years these shops have worked upon the virtue of honesty, trust and faith and continue to do so. It is tough to discover a place blossoming with belief in a world filled with duplicity and dishonesty. 

We all need to be honest before we have integrity for there can be honesty without virtue, but no integrity without honesty. Honesty is one of the core values required in any person, it shapes us into a better human being. Honesty makes others believe in us so that we can also put our faith in them because of honesty we have friends, we have brothers and we have sisters. Without honesty there is no one for us and we are no one for them. 

If you want to be trusted, be honest. 

Anvesha Rana

Grade 10-B

Gyanshree School 

Gratitude - Anvesha Rana

"Gratitude and Attitude are not challenges; they are our choices."

Most people find it very hard to thank you, yet others can be grateful for everything. We all live a life of peace and comfort, many of us consider food, clothes and toys as fixtures, but they might be a luxury for some others. Whenever we face challenges in life, we tend to complain to God and ask, "Why me ?" but we all should remember that challenges make life enjoyable and overcoming them is what makes them meaningful. Embrace the challenges you face; they are a part of the journey called life. 

The power of gratitude should be understood and implemented by all of us. When we want to have something rather than wish for it, we should thank God for it, and maybe we can even get it. Life is made up of success and failures, ups and downs. When we succeed, we often forget to thank God, but when we are ill or in a challenging phase, we always remember to blame God for all the troubles. When we did not thank God in the first place, why should we then blame him? 

When we are young, our parents teach us to thank everyone, but in reality, how many of us follow this until we grow older? Saying thank you does not diminish our reputation, but it destroys our ego; we should learn to free ourselves of arrogance and treat everyone the same. Whether it is our maid or our friend, we should thank both of them for everything they do for us. When I was young, I loved being appreciated, but seldom did I thank people for their appreciation, but as I grew, I understood that the least we could do for the people acknowledging us was to thank them. 

Cherish every person in your life for the role they played in shaping you and your life; it wouldn't have been the same at all without them. Thank them for the big and little they did for you. There is no word more powerful than a ' Thank You.'

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 9-B, 

Gyanshree School.