What I fear the most - Tenzin Nyingsel

Tenzin Nyingsel

Wed, 4 Jan, 09:54

Subject: Reflection on; What I fear the most and how I can overcome that fear...

I hope this email finds you well.

What I fear the most is generally what many people have been through, which is the fear of getting a scolding by their parents, especially my father; even though he is the most friendly person in the family, his anger is the most dangerous from our family.

I still remember the day when he scolded my brother for not picking me up from school and leaving me there till 6 or 7pm, which was very scary since I couldn't walk properly due to the injury on my foot. I can never forget that anger and the fight they both had because of me.

For me, that's my biggest fear and how to overcome that fear is still in process because I try my best not to make him angry and to always listen to his guidance.

Thank you for reading.

Yours faithfully,

Tenzin Nyingsel,

From PCVS (Pestalozzi Children's Village Society)

The Big Give 2022

What I Fear The Most... Gaurangi Rastogi

 

At The Sunday School, we read the book The Art Of Focus by Gauranga Das on the 1st of Jan, 2023. Reading Chapter 32 - Human Quality: Preparedness, we set out to discover the fears within. Gaurangi Rastogi shares her reflections in her maiden podcast. You must listen to her and prepare to overcome your fears. She studies at The Doon Girls' School Dehradun and works as an Intern at My Good School. We meet her often at The Sunday School - reading, writing and speaking. #JoyOfLearning

The Special Gateway - Kunal Rajpurohit

I have gone through many gates. It can be someone's home, the glorious forts of Rajasthan, or Haveli's entrance, but I always find that gates never speak, and that's so true. How can a non-living thing tell? They say and share feelings if they see you worth it. I got to talk with the gate but only twice in my life!

15 years ago, when I had my first day at school, My School's gate spoke to me and said, Hi! Kunal, What you are finding out is inside me. Let's see if you can crack it and find it. 

Though I find it true that time that everything is inside my school, my hope, prayers, friends, everything that goes in my mind comes again within my school, and that's very true for a child or a student who has been there for 15 years, part of an immensely great 30 years old institution. I was completing my 15 years in the school, and the school gate talked for the second time, and I was well prepared. Gate spoke, "Did you find the thing which you wanted?."

I said yes, "Yes, I found it."

Gate said, " You would find it. I knew that I was there but did you crack it?"

I said, "I find it but, What to crack?

Gate said, "Kunal! You think everything is inside me, but it's the learning which is inside me, and that's true that you have found it very right and a perfect form of education.

 I said, "I had good learning inside you. Did I crack it?

Gate said, "No, the challenge which had to be cracked is that everything is not inside me. I had learning which will help you to get further learning opportunities. There is further learning."

That's so authentic learning is not in the six-wall classroom. (Yes, we have a six-wall classroom at our school)

True that everyone considers learning within your institution, but institutions give us better learning opportunities even beyond.

So learning is always open to institutes. It is everywhere, so let's learn with passion.

Kunal Rajpurohit

The Fabindia School
Images - archives of The Fabindia School.

हमारी हरी घास की छप्पर वाली झोपड़ी और बौना पहाड़ की यात्रा। - Hindi Podcast

Listen to one of our best podcasts for 2022 #JoyOfLearning

हमारी हरी घास की छप्पर वाली झोपड़ी और बौना पहाड़ की यात्रा।

Vani: "ॐ नमः शिवाय गुरुवे सच्चिदानन्द मुर्तये निस्प्रपञ्चाय शान्ताय निरालम्बया तेजसे"।

अर्थ - गुरु सभी का आत्म है, सत्य, ज्ञान और आनंद का अवतार है। जो संसार से परे, शान्त, स्वतंत्र और दीप्तिमान हैं, उन्हें नमस्कार है।

Yashraj : माय गुड स्कूल में एक साल वास्तव में तेजी से बीत गया है जो हमारे हिंदी सत्र का भी अंत करता है। इस सत्र का हिस्सा बनकर हमें बहुत खुशी हुई, इसलिए मैं यशराज।

Vani: और मैं वाणी ।

Yashraj:  हिंदी के सत्रों की यात्रा के बारे में इस पॉडकास्ट की मेजबानी करने के लिए यहां हैं। लेकिन, क्या आपको नहीं लगता कि इस पॉडकास्ट को और अधिक रोचक बनाने के लिए हमें अपने कुछ और जॉली इंटर्न की आवश्यकता होगी?

Vani: सच में, इसलिए मैं अपने दोस्तों और इंटर्न- रिशोना, शांभवी, आरफा,और संदीप सर को आमंत्रित करती हूं।

Yashraj: रिशोना, शांभवी और आरफा, कृपया हमारे साथ हिंदी सत्र के अपने विचार और अनुभव साझा करें।

Rishona: हां, मैं इस बात से पूरी तरह सहमत हूं कि हमारी हरी घास की छप्पर वाली झोपड़ी और बौना पहाड़ की यात्रा वास्तव में कुछ और थी! तोत्तो-चान और स्वामी से अंग्रेजी सत्र में, मैंने बहुत कुछ सीखा है, मुझे लगता है कि बोलू, स्वामी और तोत्तो-चान सबसे अच्छे दोस्त हैं। यह इत्तेफाक ही है कि हम तीनों दोस्तों की कहानियां पढ़ते हैं। जैसा कि हम अध्याय या बल्कि रोमांच से गुजरे तो यह बहुत ताज़ा महसूस हुआ।

Shambhavi: इस सत्र में हरी घास की चप्पल वाली झोपड़ी और बौना पहाड़ जैसी अदभुत किताब पढ़ना, असल में एक बहुत नए अनुभव के जैसा था जिसने हमे एक नया नज़रिया दीया। इस किताब ने हमें एक और बहुत ही अच्छे दोस्तों के समाहार से परिचित करवाया।

Arfa: हमारी हरी घास की छप्पर वाली झोपड़ी और बौना पहाढ़ को पड़ने में अलग ही मज़ा था।कल्पना की इस बनावट में एक ताज़गी और नयापन है।उपन्यास में बच्चों के सपनों की दुनिया जैसी खूबसूरत चीजें हैं। भाषा की चमक के साथ-साथ भाषा का संगीत भी कहानी को आकर्षक बनाता है। भाषा की आन्तरिक रचना आख्यान के साथ-साथ वर्तमान के बोध को सजीव करती है।

Vani: धन्यवाद रिशोना, शांभवी और आरफा ,आपसे यह सुनकर बहुत अच्छा लगा। अब में हमारे गुरूजी संदीप सर को दो शब्द कहने के लिए आमंत्रित करना चाहूंगा। Yashraj: हमेशा हमारे प्रेरणा स्त्रोत बनने के लिए और हमारा मनोबल ऊँचा  रखने के लिए धन्यवाद सर ! अब, हमारे लिए कुछ शब्द कहने के लिए जुगजीव सर को आमंत्रित करते हैं। वह एक अंग्रेजी शिक्षक हैं जिन्होंने उत्साहपूर्वक हिंदी सत्रों में भाग लिया है। मैं महोदय से अनुरोध करूंगा कि आप जिन कुछ यादगार हिंदी सत्रों में शामिल हुए हैं, उनके अपने अनुभव कृपया साझा करें।

Vani: आपकी ये बातें निश्चय ही सत्य हैं। तुम्हारे बारे में क्या, यशराज? एक सक्रिय हिंदी JOL इंटर्न होने के नाते और हर सत्र में भाग लेने का आपका सफर कैसा रहा?

Yashraj: मैंने अंग्रेजी की तो बहुत सी किताबें बचपन से पढ़ी हैं, लेकिन हिंदी की किताबों श को बहुत ज्यादा नहीं पढ़ा था। परंतु पिछले 1 साल में माय गुड स्कूल के माध्यम से मैंने हिंदी की कहानियां भी पढ़नी शुरू की, जिससे मेरी रुचि हिंदी की किताबों में भी बढ़ गई है। और साथ ही साथ मेरी हिंदी शब्दावली में भी सुधार हुआ है। अब मुझे हिंदी भी रोचक लगने लगी है।हमने जो यह उपन्यास हरे घास की छप्पर वाली झोपड़ी और बोना पहाड़ पढ़ा है,उससे मुझे बहुत से लोक भाषा के शब्दों का भी ज्ञान हुआ है। साथ ही साथ हमने समय-समय पर उपन्यास पर आधारित प्रश्नावली आयोजित की जिससे हमारा हिंदी पठन और रोचक और ज्ञानवर्धक हुआ।आपका क्या कहना है वाणी?

Vani: हिंदी सत्रों का हिस्सा बनना मेरे लिए हमेशा बहुत खुशी की बात रही है। और इस अद्भुत किताब को पढ़ना - हरे गैस की छप्पर वाली झोपड़ी और बोना पहाड़, निश्चित रूप से मुझे अपने बचपन में वापस ले जाता है और मेरी प्यारी यादों से जुड़ता है। जब मैं किताब के पन्ने पढ़ती थी तो अपने आप एक किरदार में बदल जाती था। मेरी पसंदीदा कूना थी- एक प्यारी लेकिन मजबूत छोटी लड़की।हिंदी सत्र ने अन्यथा मेरे हिंदी पढ़ने के कौशल और हिंदी में मेरी रुचि में भी सुधार किया है। Yashraj: इसके साथ ही हम अपने पॉडकास्ट के अंत में आ गए हैं। नीचे कमेंट करें और हमें बताएं कि क्या आपको हमारा पॉडकास्ट पसंद आया। आज हमारे तरफ से बस इतना ही। ट्यूनिंग के लिए धन्यवाद।

Enjoy our shows on www.DilJeeto.com.

Thank you, Anvesha Rana and students, from Gyanshree and Ahlcon Public Schools.

Please find out more about My Good School at www.MyGoodSchool.in.

Thank you to the author of the book Ashok K Shukla and his publisher Rajkamal Prakashan. Above all, we are grateful to Ms Chandra Prabha from Gyanshree School for recommending the book.

What makes me think who I am - Tenzing Dhekyong N

I belong to Pestalozzi, which makes me feel proud; whenever I go to school, the teachers treat me as a special one because Pestalozzian children do excel in their academics and as well as in the field of sports. I am very grateful to be a Pestalozzian because Pestalozzi has taught me to be independent and mature enough to judge right or wrong and the innovative ideas that make me feel who I am. Expressing my gratitude towards someone makes me think about who I actually am. 

Tenzing Dhekyong N
https://pestalozziworld.com/about/where-we-work/indian-village/

Education - Reveda Bhatt

Education! First, they ask what it is? Then they don't let you have your own definition!

Warning: *CHOKING HAZARD* Contains I.C.S.E. - keep out of reach of kids studying elsewhere.

We should have gotten that, but sorry, here in India, you don't have a choice but to mug the syllabus up!

How do we do it? Does it remind you of something?

It reminds me of Doraemon's gadget - the one just eating the bread; you could learn the whole thing from your book. Doesn't exist, but if it did, the top purchasers would be the children of Indian schools.

Okay, so I personally don't like the system here. It's like you have to scan all that's printed in your books and make a photocopy of it on your exam sheet! Doesn't matter if even it's the last thing you would need in your life. You need to learn all about it.

If you want to become a doctor, you should know the depth of the core beneath the surface.

To become a geologist, you should know the names of the human body's bones.

Does it make any sense? No, right?

But according to our education system, it does. In fact, that's the motive to feed you every baseless knowledge that would help you anywhere in your life!

THEY DON'T KNOW THE FACT THAT FOR EVERY LITTLE THING WE FIT IN OUR BRAIN, ANY AND EVERY USEFUL THING GOES OUT, out in the sense-sinks in into this heap!

Literally, there is no experiential learning. I doubt they even know of that word! L.O.L.! All they do is supply each child with a box to fill in with dead warriors, articles and other things, and by the time you pick out useful stuff, your bag is complete!

Keeping us in a box like that serves no purpose but forces us to enter the class and just wait around the clock for the bell to ring!

Trin Trin!

Reveda Bhatt
Grade 9
The Aryan School

Celebrating the Journey - one year at My Good School

One year ago, I got a call which said an Internship was being offered by My Good School.  

I was excited and nervous, but as time passed, I settled there, or you can say I now have a family here!

In a family where everyone is a good learner, and all accept each other as they are, The best part is we all learn from each other irrespective of our age, place or class. The priority is that learning comes first. We know, excel, collaborate at every moment, and find joy at every flash.

There is no point on the geographical map where we met or collaborated. The bond, love and corporation we have are better than other "offices" (We also have an office National Office), and we collaborate there.

Learning from books is present over there, but I have learned from people you can call "learning by collaboration" I learn from every personality there Anvesha, Arav, Reveda, Rishona, Simar and many more. We also have mentors. They are not like any other one who makes the path or creates the boundaries to explore. We create the way, and we create our own exploring areas. They are just there and observe us.

I can't count when I completed one year, but the journey had to put a mark. I hope the journey continues, and I will be part.

Thanks to Mr Sandeep, Ms Rajeshree, Ms Sukpreet and the family of My Good School for always being there and making the journey remarkable.

Viva La My Good School!

Kunal Rajpurohit
The Fabindia School
Village & PO Bali
Dist Pali, Rajasthan
India

1st Birthday 🎉 Celebration @ My Good School

A special podcast to celebrate Children's Day at My Good School

Release Date: 14th November 

Recording Date and Time: 13th November at 5 pm

Hosts: Anvesha and Simar

Guests:  

• Students:

1. Rishona Chopra, Gyanshree School

2. Arav Agarwal, Billabong High International School Thane

3. Yashraj Sharma, Gyanshree School

4. Vani Pandey, Gyanshree School

5. Arfa Khan, Ahlcon Public School

6. Reveda Bhatt, The Aryan School

7. Shambhavi Nautiyal, Ahlcon Public School
   

• Teachers: 

  Sandeep Sir; and Jugjiv Sir, Governing Council members at My Good School.            

The Script 

No story is ever complete, so with this script!

Anvesha: It's crazy how fast time flies and how things progress around us. We are new to My Good School, but a year has passed. We just didn't realise that. 

Simar: That is very true. My Good School has been a milestone for me. It has taught me so much, and I will forever be grateful. 

Anvesha: This journey has been incredible, full of learning and love. So today, I Anvesha

Simar: And I Simar

Anvesha: Welcome all of you to the one-year Podcast at My Good School! This celebration would be incomplete without all the interns and our mentors who are a part of this beautiful journey, right?

Simar: Truly, so I invite my friends and interns at My Good School, Rishona, Arav, Yashraj, Vani, Arfa, and Reveda, and we also ask Sandeep, sir.

Anvesha: Hi Rishona, How was my Good school? It has been quite a journey, right?

Rishona:  I absolutely agree. From "Is Your Child Ready To Face The World" By Dr Sibal to Totto-chan, Swami, friends, and now Hari Ghass Ki Chappar Wali Jhopdi aur bona pahad. It has been a journey full of learning, writing, reading and, of course, reflecting. Each of these stories carries its beauty and never fails to leave us with food for thought. I am sure we all agree that My Good School is perhaps unique and has so many outstanding memories! The most memorable part is how we all make the team and work together in coordination.

Simar: I couldn't agree with you more, Rishona. I would like to invite my friend Arav to talk about his experience. 

 

Arav: It has been an amazingly fulfilling experience at My Good School. This 1 year has helped me to explore, learn and know myself better. The books we read together helped me reflect on and taught me how we can inculcate life values in our everyday life. I think somewhere we all could find a part of ourselves in Totto Chan, Swami and Bolu. From reading to working together, My Good School has helped me experience the absolute joy of learning. I am grateful for this beautiful platform. 

Anvesha: Thank you for sharing that with us, Arav. The Hindi session is essential in The Sunday School, doesn't it? Let's invite our host for the Hindi session, Yashraj, to answer that. 

Yashraj: Yes, indeed. It is an honour to be a part of the Hindi session and, of course, to host it. Yesterday, I was self-assessing and noticed how much I've improved since the Hindi sessions started. I'm sure everyone who has participated in the sessions has benefited in some way or another from our Hindi sessions. Every Sunday, we try to make our sessions more joyful and exciting by adding short trivia and quizzes. In fact, we have decided to write a play based on the book we're reading, with everybody taking up different characters and working together!

Anvesha: Thank you, it was beautiful to hear you say so.

Simar:  What about you, Anvesha? What have you learnt from your one year at My Good School? 

Anvesha: My Good School has been a beautiful journey. All of us, the interns of My Good School, have been planted here at the Garden of Learning with so much love and compassion. Every new task is an opportunity to learn, do, and be more. There are numerous things that I have learnt from My Good School that will be impossible to put into a few words, but some of the most important lessons have been: Team Work; I learnt to work with others, collaborate and create. The stories read at The Sunday School left a deep impression on me and made me wonder whether Swami conquered another problem or what Totto-Chan did? I just love it! My Good School is a school we go to every day; it is the school of life, learning and love. 

Simar: That's great. For me, my journey at My Good School has been quite exciting. I was very keen to experience real-life work. My Good School has been helpful to me in many ways. It helped me improve my confidence level and my speaking and writing skills. Furthermore, I was introduced to so many others like me! It was a fantastic experience, one I shall never forget and will look back on in the future. But now, living it is beautiful, and I treasure all that I have been taught here, all the people I have been introduced to, and all the insightful books we read together every Sunday! 

Anvesha:  Wonderful; now let Reveda and Vani share their experiences at My Good School. 

Reveda: My Year at My Good School was great, exciting, significant, fantastic, outstanding, incredible, excellent. I would have put more words into it but let's talk ahead. So, it's brought so many changes in my personality. I can now speak in public fearlessly, yeah, right? It is totally a different concept, I wouldn't call it a School but a Freelancing Group where we can express ourselves in any way we want, and it totally brings my mind out of the box. 

Vani:  Definitely. For me, My Good School has been an outstanding learning experience. I love how we all come together from different schools, read, and share our experiences with each other, which in itself is marvellous. This has been an excellent platform where I have encouraged myself to speak out and write poems and stories. It is a perfect place for every young mind to join, and I have been telling my friends to think about it.

Simar: Thanks Reveda and Vani; now let us invite Arfa and Shambhavi to share their learnings over the past year at My Good School. 

Arfa: 

My time at my good has been fantastic, and I can see how it helped me. When I read in the reading sessions, I increased my reading skills and vocabulary. I was also able to do what I like, writing! I learnt new values each month and improved myself in a good way. In My Good School, I experienced the joy of learning and improved and made myself a better person.

Anvesha: Thank you, Arfa. After hearing you speak, I am sure that all of us love My Good School, but what is your favourite part of My Good School? 

Rishona: For me, the favourite part of the session in The Sunday School is the reflection. After the exquisite reading session, it gives me immense pleasure to reflect, share my experiences and write, speak or draw about them. As Claude Monet said, "It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly".

Arav:  My favourite part at My Good School has been exploring different things, from reading to working on podcasts and comic strips and creating posters. I loved working with the podcast team, and with the help of my mentors, I learned to do Podcast and video editing and found my joy through speaking. As rightly said, "The best education does not happen at a desk but at hands-on exploring and real-life experiences".

Yashraj: I, too, love to reflect and share my experiences with everyone! Reading everybody else's articles daily motivates me to work on my articles more and reflect every week!

Vani: My favourite part is the Joy Of Learning Diaries, where we can post our experiences and facts in the form of stories, poems, articles, drawings and even letters! It has helped me a lot in gaining confidence in writing.

Arfa: My favourite part is the reading session of the book 'Art of Focus' in The Sunday School. It is fun to learn new morals through intriguing stories and uplifting quotes!

Simar: My favourite part is making the Podcast. Podcasts are an engaging and fun way to inculcate all we learn in Sunday School. I always enjoy recording and making podcasts as they reflect everything I know. It is such a pleasure for me!

Anvesha: That's great, and the best part about My Good School for me is the Sunday School. We learn much at the Reading sessions, from Swami and Friends to the Art of Focus; all the handpicked tales flow with love and values. Sunday School is a beautiful experience and definitely, my favourite! We invite Sandeep sir and Jugjiv Sir to share their knowledge and favourite part about My Good School? 

Sandeep Sir: My first year at My Good School was like starting again from Early Years, from Nursery! New school, new friends and an unknown curriculum added to the excitement. I cannot believe how much we can learn from each other, and a classroom has been flipped from the traditional teacher-led to a comfortable space with students at the centre. This really challenges the conventional schooling system. Reading was just the beginning. What followed was pure joy in reflections through blogs, podcasts, meetings and the internship program. Our school is one living example of spreading the joy of learning. As we move to year, too, it seems excellent times ahead as the students lead, and we add to the curriculum programs like Well-being, Space, using edtech and maybe end up with a virtual school for the world! Thanks to each of you for all the joy you spread, and may you always be the young learners at heart.

Simar: Thank you so much, Sandeep, sir. 

Anvesha: With that, we come to the end of our Podcast. Comment below and let us know if you liked our Podcast. If you want to be a part of similar podcasts, join us. That's all for us today. Thanks for tuning in. 

Life is a journey with problems to solve and lessons to learn, but most of all, experiences to share and experiences to enjoy. 

We at My Good School come here today to celebrate our learnings and lessons as a beautiful year passes. 

Join us in celebrating our school as we laugh at Totto-Chan's tactics, learn from Swami's mistakes, realise the road from the Art of Focus and improve from each session hereafter. 

Anvesha Rana and Simar Kaur - Hosts from Gyanshree School

Rishona Chopra, Yashraj Sharma and Vani Pandey - Gyanshree School

Arav Agarwal, Billabong High International School Thane

Arfa Khan, Shambhavi Nautiyal -  Ahlcon Public School

Reveda Bhatt, The Aryan School

Sandeep Sir, Jugjiv Sir - Mentors at My Good School

Comment below and let us know if you liked our Podcast. If you want to be a part of similar podcasts, join us. That's all for us today. Thanks for tuning in. 

             

- Scripted by all the Interns as one joyful 👥.

Quality @ My Good School

Quality @ My Good School

My Good School Season 9, Episode 8.

Quality is defined as the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something. But why is it important? Tune in to discover the enigma of quality.

Join Anvesha and Simar as they are back with a podcast this month. We welcome you to My Good School Show Episode 9, where passion meets education, and it is quality this time. Tune into this fruitful conversation where our friend Arav unfurls his stories. Join us in the celebration of Quality at My Good School and make it even more fun!

Paraphrased from The Little Book Of Values by Julie Duckworth
Quality • noun (pl. qualities) 1 the degree of excellence of something as measured against other similar things. 2 general distinctions. Three distinctive attributes or characteristics.

Children say Quality is: • Working together to get quality work in your books • Making sure you’ve got a great team • Achieving quality can make yourself and others feel good inside • It’s about not giving up on yourself; you need to believe that you can do it • You need quality to care for the world • Your teachers want you to have high standards and quality work. They plan good lessons so you can always do your best • If we think we can, we will do well. We say in our heads and out loud, ‘I can and I will.' Our thoughts need to be of high quality; there is no room for negative words • We need friends of good quality in our lives. The sort of friends who will stand by you when everything is down.

Comment below and let us know if you liked our podcast; if you want to be a part of similar podcasts, join us.  

Anvesha and Simar - Gyanshree School, Noida

Arav Agarwal -  Billabong High International School, Thane

Enjoy our shows on www.DilJeeto.com.

You will love the stories our students, teachers, and passionate educators share.

Please find out more about My Good School at www.MyGoodSchool.in.

Letter To The President Of India - Nishan Karki

Nishan Karki

My Good School 

www.GoodSchools.in

1st November 2022

To

Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu
President of India
Rashtrapati Bhavan
New Delhi - 110 004

Dear Madam 

I would like to draw your kind attention towards the children who want to participate in an online program like 'My Good School'.

My Good School is a program run by experienced and well-educated people. Here children are free to freely share their thoughts, opinions, incidents and feelings about themselves. Children here learn,  read and write with joy and enjoyment. That's why it is also called the joy of learning diaries. 

We should encourage children from different parts of India to attend or participate in the My Good School program. We can put up advertisements explaining the advantages or merits of the My Good School program to the children. We also can collaborate with other schools to inform their students about the My Good School program. For all this work, we need your maximum effort and help to cooperate with us to encourage children to attend the My Good School program.

I hope my concern towards the children attending My Good School program will be looked into by you.

Looking forward to a favourable response.

Thanking you 

Yours sincerely,

Nishan Karki
Student
My Good School 
Pestalozzi World India

Letter to the President of India - Tenzing Dhekyong

Tenzing Dhekyong
My Good School
www.GoodSchools.in

Date: 30/10/22

To

Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu
President of India

Rashtrapati Bhavan

New Delhi - 110 004

@MurmuDraupadi via Twitter

Dear Madam

Don't you think our children in this society are not so good and confident in communication skills?.

I would love to introduce "MY GOOD SCHOOL". I am still a student here and liked it very much since I learned many things through this. So I wish all could come and learn something on this platform. It improves the skills of listening, reading, writing and also speaking.

If everyone joins this session every Sunday from different places and shares their thoughts, then everyone will get distant and even better new ideas. It is open for all ages, especially ages 9 to 90!

I would love to ask if you can help us raise this organisation.

With deep regard and respect, we look forward to your support.

Yours faithfully,

Tenzing Dhekyong,

Student of My Good School & Pestalozzi India

Letter to the President of India - Rishona Chopra

Rishona Chopra  
My Good School
www.GoodSchools.in

Date: 30/10/22

To

Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu
The President Of India
Rashtrapati Bhavan
New Delhi - 110 004

Dear Madam,

Subject: Bringing the Joy Of Learning in every classroom.

I am an intern at My Good School, where we spread the joy of learning. Learning is an art that must be experienced by every individual. As Henry Ford said, "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young." Children find joy in everything they do in a classroom where the joy of learning exists. They make their own decisions and, when faced with difficulties, can solve them themselves. 

Learning doesn't mean learning to read and write; it means understanding life, instilling values, and making the world better. Children are the future, and it all starts with the joy of learning. We want to make this possible for every child in the world. The joy of learning isn't something special but something every individual deserves to feel.

Thank you for your consideration. Waiting for your response.

Yours sincerely,

Rishona Chopra
Student from Gyanshree School, Noida

Dear School Uniform - Yashraj Sharma

I remember my first day of primary classes when I wore you proudly and happily, but honestly, that was not my first reaction to you. Initially, I felt detached, because you replaced my favourite casual clothes, my t-shirts and trousers. But when I reached school, I saw my classmates and other children wearing the same uniform. I felt a sense of belonging. I felt like I was a part of something then.

I like you and always wear you with pride and happiness as a Shreeyan. Today, I want to confess that I know how I got you soiled in the playground and how you got stained with oily vegetable mom gave me in my tiffin, how you got wet because, at times, water spilt on you from my water bottle. Sometimes you feel lonely when I put my ID card (your companion) in my school bag during sports period. I am sorry for that. Now I am in grade 8.

After grade 12, you would not be there with me as my companion. I will miss you a lot then. And last but not least, thank you for being carriers of almonds, cashews and raisins in your pocket. I am sure my mom is also thankful to you for this. You will always have a special place in my heart, my dear school uniform.

Love you always!!

Your proud owner

Yashraj Sharma
Grade 8
Gyanshree School

A Story Is Never Born Before Its Time - Panchami Manoo Ukil

"A story is never born before its time". - an old saying.

Once its time has come, nothing can hold it back. For the last four or five years, my husband and I had a conversation about writing this story at the beginning of October. However, the conversation never progressed to writing it down, maybe because its time had not yet come. We have not spoken about this year, but the story has decided it is ready to be told. In December 1997, almost twenty-five years ago, I was in my eighth month of pregnancy and was to go to Bhubaneswar for delivery. My father had come to Delhi for work, and I was to travel back with him. Though I was all packed and ready to go, I had a sleepless night, wholly distraught and depressed. There was a reason. A Beagle puppy. One Sunday morning in September, we heard the whining of a dog close by. From the direction of the sound, I understood that it came from the house just across from ours. I opened our front door and looked out to see a puppy chained to the handrail of the external staircase that led into the flat. It was a tiny male puppy, scared, maybe hungry and utterly traumatised. It looked like a Labrador to me. Beside it was a halved shell of coconut containing water and another with some food that seemed like curd rice. I climbed up the staircase, removed the collar from the pup and picked it up. It was shivering with fright and simply snuggled into my neck. I took it home and fed it with some warm milk. The puppy lapped the milk, curled into my lap, and fell asleep in a minute.

Meanwhile, my husband had gone up to the flat and rang the doorbell. After almost five minutes, an elderly gentleman opened the door, looking somewhat grumpy. Perhaps the bell had woken him up from sleep. My husband told him their puppy had been crying for a long time. The gentleman was unperturbed and peered out the door to look at the puppy. My husband explained that since the puppy had been crying for a very long time, we had unchained him and taken him home. He had been fed and was sleeping. In the meantime, the lady of the house had come out. Hearing that the puppy was at our home, she seemed a bit disturbed, but my husband calmed her, saying we would bring the puppy back to them as soon as he woke up. She invited my husband to step in for a cup of tea. Over tea, my husband learnt that the elderly couple had been gifted the puppy by their son and daughter-in-law. The puppy had travelled by air all the way from Chennai and had been picked up from the airport by the couple. These were obviously first-time pet parents, so they appeared pretty baffled. The puppy had been indoors at night and had soiled the floor. The lady had felt so harassed that she had put him out early in the morning and was deeply regretting the entry of the puppy into their lives, but they did not wish to hurt the sentiments of their children by asking for it to be sent back. My husband returned home and updated me with these details. After a while, much against my wishes, we took the puppy back to its home. The lady was quite aghast to see that I was letting the puppy lick my face. The puppy was clinging to me and refusing to let go. I put it down with great difficulty and tied the collar and leash back around its neck. The lady told me to chain it outside again. I requested her to allow it to remain indoors, but she vehemently denied it, saying there was no one to clean up the soiled floors. Gently, I gave her a lesson on toilet training the puppy, but she said she had neither the energy nor the patience. Before I knew it, I had blurted out, saying that if it was okay with them, my husband and I would walk the puppy three to four times a day, enabling it to be toilet-trained. The couple was thrilled to hear this. I told them the only condition was that the puppy would remain inside the house. They agreed. That evening, my husband and I took turns walking the puppy. We would feed it with Cerelac, chicken and milk after the walks, and his owners were relieved that we were also taking care of its feeding. Over a few days, the puppy was almost toilet-trained. It began to whine to indicate that it needed to go out. The driver or the part-time house help of the owners would then take it for a walk. We had explained to the owners precisely what diet was to be given to the pup and had also introduced them to a vet. At night, however, my husband would take it for a walk every day and bring him to our home for a few minutes before taking him back home. The pup was named Toffee, and, as it turned out, it was a mixed breed of Labrador and Beagle. With my advancing pregnancy, I would notice the puppy's affinity towards snuggling into my belly. Sometimes it would put its ear to my stomach and then cock its head from side to side. It was strangely emotional for us as if Toffee had already found a way to communicate with our child. However, after a few days, we noticed the puppy again tied outside on the stairs during the day. The elderly lady could not trust leaving the puppy inside when she would go out, fearing that he might chew up the furniture or spill water. I was utterly distraught, the state of hormones of impending motherhood already playing havoc with my emotions. We told the lady that we were willing to keep the pup with us when she went out. She was happy to hear this but said she would take it back home when she returned. This became a regular routine, with Toffee spending more time with us than in his home. His owners were also more relaxed with this arrangement of informal joint ownership.

So, the night before I was to leave for Bhubaneswar, I suddenly felt panicky at the thought of leaving Toffee behind. I had seen the apparent disinterest in his owners who were simply tolerating his presence in their lives, keeping the sentiments of their children in mind, and, also, because we had chipped into a large extent in taking care of the dog. My husband and I had discussed the idea of me taking Toffee away to Bhubaneswar though we knew that his owners might never agree to this if we asked them. I cried all through the night, making my husband extremely worried. In the morning, we found Toffee tied outside on the stairs again, the proverbial last straw on the camel's back. I decided that I would be taking the dog home with me. I had no idea how to do that, but I had to do it. We called the Vet, who guided us on how I could carry the pup in the aeroplane cabin. With my weight and the bulk of pregnancy, I wondered how I'd have a seven-kilo puppy for a moment. But I was determined. We went out and bought a zipped bag on which we made holes. When we returned home, the pup was still tied outside. We rang the bell, but there was no response. I simply untied the dog and brought it with me. We fed it and then put it inside the bag to see if it fitted inside comfortably. It was perfect. We gave the pup its first dose of sedation prescribed by the Vet and left for the airport. Getting off at the airport, I picked up the bag and strode inside with supreme confidence. My husband was in a state of anxiety as he saw me off. I walked up to the check-in counter and said I needed to buy a ticket for my pet puppy. The manager at the counter did not bat an eyelid. The bag with the dog was weighed, and I was given a bill of Rupees Nine Hundred. The ticket was done. I was asked to open the bag and show the pup at the security check. The puppy was fast asleep, and I was allowed to pass. I'm sure most people around must have been aghast at seeing a heavily pregnant woman carrying a large bag, huffing and puffing, and looking absolutely hassled. Anyway, I saw my father walking into the boarding area with a few other colleagues after a while. I went to him and told him about the pup in the bag. The smile on his face vanished. I have perhaps never seen him more livid than he was at that moment. After giving me a mouthful on even daring to do something like that, he said to me that I was on my own on this and that I should not be expecting any help from him at all. I decided that having come this far, I would not relent to any pressure. Toffee, the puppy, had woken up and was moving inside the bag. I opened the bag and ruffled his ears. He looked at me sleepily and went back to sleep> When boarding was announced, I went ahead in the queue, showing both tickets. I got off the bus, carrying the bag, and the pup was absolutely still. I showed both the tickets and climbed the stairs into the aeroplane. At the entrance to the aircraft, the air hostess asked me what was inside the bag. I told her it was my puppy and I had a ticket for him. She told me the bulky bag did not seem to carry a puppy. I opened it and showed it to her, saying it was a Labrador pup. She said it was big enough to qualify as a dog and the captain's prerogative to allow its presence inside the cabin. She called the captain out. The captain was in no mood to let the pup remain inside the cabin. He was sceptical about him remaining calm in case of turbulence and said that I should get off the aircraft. I told him I had no choice now but to travel with the pup in my present state, as my husband had already left the airport after I had gone through the security check. I expressed profound helplessness, begging him to allow me to travel, assuring him that the pup had been sedated well and would not cause any problem. Most importantly, the bag was zipped up, so there was no way he could jump out. Finally, the captain agreed to let me in as we were causing a jam at the entrance to the cabin. He told the air hostess to allow me to place the bag at my feet.
As I walked into the aisle, I saw Shri Naveen Patnaik, Member of Parliament, in the first seat on the first row. I walked past, a tad embarrassed that so many people were witness to the discomforting state that I was in. I settled into my seat in the third row, not daring to look at my father, who was in the second row with his colleagues. I imagined his fury and embarrassment at the chaos I had created. I was, however, relieved that we were finally on our way. A minute later, the air hostess came to tell me that the first seat in the first row had been vacated by Shri Naveen Patnaik to accommodate me so that I could sit comfortably with adequate leg space for the bag. He had voluntarily moved to the last row. I was stunned and overwhelmed. Busy in settling into my seat, I had not seen the tall man walk by to the last row. I told the air hostess that I would like to go and thank the Hon'ble MP for his extreme kindness, but she said there was no way they would allow me to leave the puppy bag alone. She said I could thank him after we had landed. As I walked to the first row, I whispered to my father about what had transpired. My father told me – look at the inconvenience you have created! After all the day's drama, the journey was uneventful as Toffee, the puppy, slept throughout the flight. My mind, however, was focused on the empathy of the leader who had understood my state of distress. Living in Delhi, we hardly connected with Odisha politics, and I barely knew anything beyond the fact that Naveen Patnaik had taken over the mantle from his father. As soon as we landed, I was desperate to rush to the Hon'ble MP and thank him. Those days passengers would exit from the front as well as from the rear. I asked the air hostess if Mr Patnaik was still seated. She said that he had exited through the aircraft's rear door. With my dog in the bag, I was the last to get off the bus. I stepped onto the bus and looked around, but Mr Naveen Patnaik was obviously not there. He would have boarded an earlier bus. Getting off, I found my sister waiting for me. I handed over the puppy to her and asked if she had seen Naveen Patnaik. She said that she had seen him going out. I told her the entire story. My father said I could write a letter of thanks or meet him sometime later to thank him. Over the years, neither the letter nor the meeting happened. Over the years, as a family, we have reminisced about this incident time and again. Toffee lived for fourteen years in Bhubaneswar, adored and cared for in my parent's home. In the meantime, Shri Naveen Patnaik had become Chief Minister of Odisha. Two decades later, when I met the Hon'ble Chief Minister several times, it was no longer possible to engage in a personal conversation with him. I have repeatedly wanted to remind him about his huge act of kindness, but somehow I have held back. It is said that great men never hang on to their acts of generosity which is why I was apprehensive that he would obviously have no memory of something that had transpired ages ago. He expressed childish enthusiasm when I explained the Peregrine Falcon is the fastest creature on earth when it swoops to pick up prey. He chipped in with the scientific name of Palash when I presented him with a Palash sapling, requesting him to launch "Mission Palash" he narrated the story of a famous photograph taken on Children's Day in which he was seen seated on Pandit Nehru's lap, he has indulged the children of our school with the best chocolates and affection, and, of course, very kindly inaugurated our new school campus.

About three years ago, I was seated behind the Hon'ble Chief Minister in the aircraft. Throughout the journey, I saw him watching video clips of his pets, two playful beagles whose antics brought gentle smiles onto the face of the CM as he watched. In the last twenty-three years of his Chief Ministership, reams and reams of commentaries and opinions have been written about Shri Naveen Patnaik's personality and governance. As someone who has been personally impacted by his one act of kindness twenty-five years ago, I firmly believe that nothing about Naveen Patnaik is fake. His charm, enigma, stature and governance are his own, honest and original, deeply appealing to the masses. Most of all, his empathy is real. Small wonder then that he is the longest-serving Chief Minister and the No. 1 Chief Minister in the largest democracy in the world.

The story was published with the author's consent, Ms Panchami Manoo Ukil, and posted on Facebook on the 17th Day of October 2022. Panchami, is School Leader & Vice Chairperson, The DN Wisdom Tree Global School. Panchami Manoo Ukil is a school leader with a difference. Multifaceted, spirited, and dynamic, Panchami Manoo Ukil has an infectious positivity that reaches out to everyone around her. Passionate about children, she infuses the curriculum with her brand of original ideas, be it a celebration of our culture and roots, bonding with nature, or simply engaging with the little ones with a heart overflowing with love. She gathers everyone into a happy circle woven in with her brand of wisdom, warmth, affection and concern, an inspiration for many and a supportive motivator for the team.

THIS POST IS BY SPECIAL INVITATION.

Wisdom Tree School is not a part of the Good Schools Alliance. The story is all about the #JoyOfLearning.