Love and Attachment- Rishona Chopra

Love is not staying with people forever, not giving them freedom saying that you love them. It is to care, not caring for the other person to know you love them. 

Like when our mother told us to sleep alone, I used to feel that she did not love me, but the truth is that she wanted us to be more independent and mature. She cares for us. When she tells us to do our work ourselves, I think we feel more comfortable when we have that space. On the other hand, if our mother stays with us all the time watching every move of ours, I think that's very uncomfortable. 

Staying with someone is attachment, caring for someone in love. When we say ' I love you, therefore, I want you to love me,' it is an attachment, but when we say ' I love you, therefore, I want you to be happy is love. We love them; it doesn't matter if they don't love us back. That is unconditional love. 

Even if we have no one who loves us, there will always be one who does, which is God. 

Rishona Chopra
Grade V
Gyanshree School

The Annual Day At School - Simar Kaur

What was a time when I felt good about myself?

I do my best to find faults and flaws in myself, even in situations where people usually flatter themselves. But there were two moments where I felt terrific about myself. There was a costume competition in my old school, Sneh International School, and the theme was freedom fighters. There were a few rounds that had to be passed. Now, I am very confident only in front of the audience I know. I had prepared a few ferocious lines to narrate and establish my hatred when it came to the Britishers. My mom helped me transition into that furious, confident, loud and unknown persona. And there I was in front of my class, shouting my lines. I got selected for the next round, which was to perform in front of the senior students. I was not as nervous as I thought I would be as a third-grader, but I nailed it. Next was to perform in front of the teachers, and I nailed that too. And finally, it was the enormous stage where the audience was the whole school. And for the first time, I was terrified, and I was the first performer to make it worse. I ended up not nailing it and whispering my lines on the stage. But nevertheless, I wasn’t distraught or overcome by embarrassment. I was rather proud of myself for making it this far. 

The second incident was when I had won a Bronze medal in the SOF International English Olympiad. My class rank was third. I had never won a medal before that, only certificates. And when the results were sent to me through Whatsapp, I was on cloud-9. I jumped on the bed while my parents jumped on the ground. It was a moment when I was a fifth-grader felt like I was the happiest person on earth. After a long time, I was given the medal in an assembly. I was very excited and what added to the excitement was that I was sitting right next to my then-best friend. And it felt amazing to have the cold bronze touching my skin. 

Share a good time you had in school. 

School may be where we feel the most pressurized at times, but sometimes it is the best place on earth. Sports Day at school has always been my favourite day. It always happens when the weather is windy and not too hot. Sometimes, the clouds can’t help drizzling sweetly. It is always in the morning and goes on for about two hours at the maximum, but those two hours make the day better. I am not an athletic person, so I have never been selected to any race or sports competition. I’m always on the cheering side, screaming for my house’s victory and jumping on any good news. I’ve upset my throat many times because of the same. Sitting on the cool and tickly grass in our comfortable house uniforms and cheering for our houses makes the day special and fills me with zeal and enthusiasm for the rest of the day. Covid years made me miss these annual days a lot!

When I met someone who became my role model. 

I feel blessed to say that I have many role models in my life. The top of the list has my grandfather on it. My beloved grandfather went through many hardships in life. He stood on his own feet and helped himself rise. He lost his father at a very young age and was a really, very hardworking person. He was always there for all of us and was the most supportive person in my life. A helpful, generous, loyal, affable and devoted person is what people describe him. He had the extraordinary ability to make friends anywhere and everywhere. He was independent, kind-hearted, humorous and always used to play games with me. I’ve only known him for thirteen years, but I am so grateful that I had a chance to know him and that too as my grandfather. He will always remain my first role model. 

~Simar Kaur

Grade X

Gyanshree School

Love - Anaghaa Gawde and Hardik Rane

Two kids were brother and sister. Their names were Pari and Ankush. Ankush did not like Pari. It was the day before Raksha Bandhan. While passing Pari’s bedroom, he saw Pari breaking her piggy bank and counting her money. The next day, it was Raksha Bandhan. Pari tied him a Rakhi and gave him a watch as a gift! “Sorry, Pari! I don’t have any gift for you!” said Ankush. “It’s okay, dada, your love is the greatest gift!” exclaimed Pari. They both hugged tightly. “From now onwards, I will protect you and give you much more love,’’ said Ankush. Their mother was watching this admirably. She explained, “Ankush and Pari, remember, Raksha Bandhan is an ancient festival among Indian festivals. This symbolises affection and sacred relationship between brother and sister, and Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Shravan with joy all over”.

Name: Anaghaa Gawde and Hardik Rane

Grade: 5C

Billabong High International School, Thane

Teamwork - Anaghaa Gawde and Hardik Rane

Once upon a time, three girls lived, named Kareena, Rina and Katrina. Kareena and Katrina would always fight. They would talk to each other only after solving their problems.

One day their sister Rina got kidnapped by a thief! It was upon them to save her; they searched and searched; after 4 to 5 hours, they found her in a dungeon, tied up with a granny knot to a pole, a tape piece on the mouth, hands, and legs tied tightly with rope. They both fought to open the granny knot; each one of them tried to open the knot but could not open it. So, they finally worked together. The knot was opened. They did the same with the other 2 knots. 

That’s how they found out the importance of teamwork. This shows that teamwork leads to better outcomes.

Name: Anaghaa Gawde and Hardik Rane

Grade: 5A

Billabong High International School, Thane

Autobiography of an Autobiography - Rishona Chopra

Hello! I am an autobiography. People write in me when they feel like expressing their life to someone else, but I am unique. That is because the most valuable, intelligent, famous, and minor things I write in me. My author is Rishona Chopra, who is very kind for letting several people write in her book. Like my friend, fan, curtain, wardrobe, coin and several other people like that. 

I am the main lead here since I am who you are reading and seeing, and I am talking to you. So that's me, an autobiography and here is an autobiography of an autobiography!

Rishona Chopra
Grade V
Gyanshree School

Happiness @ My Good School

Coming soon, our podcast on Happiness, what it means to us, how do we feel happy and finally how to spread Happiness? The future of education will be built on immutable values alone: Appreciation, Caring, Cooperation, Courage, Freedom, Friendship, Happiness, Honesty, Hope, Humility, Love, Patience, Peace, Quality, Respect, Responsibility, Simplicity, Thoughtfulness, Tolerance, Trust, Understanding & Unity. My Good School Season 2, the 22 episodes will inspire you by using examples of where the values are already being used by children and adults in schools and share practical tools to stimulate discussion and philosophical debate.

Why Go To School? - Rishona Chopra

School. We all have heard about it. What is it? Why do we go there?

A school is where we learn, grow, and work on ourselves. Schools are not a building but are a  building made of education and life. Schools are a place full of knowledge where students learn under the guidance of teachers. They are more than just academics. They focus on making us a good person, an actual human.

Schools are for us to grow and enhance our area of excellence. Therefore, every event in school, every day when we have fun playing games, is probably the best.

I am usually an earnest person, always wanting to do a test (which no one likes). So on the last day of 5th grade, I just had so much fun. With no study and no study, just fun. What made that day even more special was our Principal Ma'am's birthday on that day. So we gave her a card, and we even got toffees! Such small events are so joyful and make the school the best place.

To conclude, school is not just a building but a haven of education, friendship, and happiness.

Rishona Chopra Gyanshree School Grade V

A day in a Bird's life - Aanya Kumar

Hello, world! I am Tutu and I am a bird. Have you ever wondered if birds went to school? We do and participate in activities that most humans do in their schools. We have to wake up at six and reach school by 7:00 am every morning. It is located in the gardens. The clock strikes 7:15, and we are off to music class. I think I should be in the school choir. Anyways, humans find it disturbing, which is why our music classes last for only ten minutes. 

We move to our respective classes at bird school and take out twigs and sand (pen and paper). We need to take endless notes. We don’t learn English and Maths or other such subjects at bird school. We learn cool stuff like flying and chirping and making nests. I have many friends at school. Tweetee is my best friend. She is the best flyer in the whole school. We call her Miss Pilot. I ace at my language skills, though.

Next comes PE class. We stretch our wings and warm up a bit for sports. We have races and more such fun activities. Then we make nests. We collect twigs, roses, leaves, and so much more stuff that humans mostly abandon. We make a circle with them and then make our walls. Once again, Miss Pilot stole the show and made the perfect nest. Later, we have lunch. My mother sends me with worms. Sometimes if she gets lucky, she catches fish.

Did I not tell you what kind of bird I am? I am a Seagull. I have a huge beak. Helps in finding and hunting fish. Survival class is the next class. Not to brag, but I am like a pro in it. We learn how to escape from human dangers and fly on the wind’s back. Then we head back home at 2.00 pm. After that tiring but adventurous day, I take a warm bath and get ready for homework.

We need to practise making nests and study some survival moves. Then, I watch some TV with my sisters, Lyra, Tyra, Samaira and Mayra. We fly downstairs and play for a while… well, maybe a lot of time. We get carried away. Lyra and Tyra are twins. Although their choices clearly tell us who is who.

Now, about Mamma. Mamma is an excellent chef. She is a master at about… everything! Soon after, our tummies start to grumble. We fly and gather the food that humans waste. Sometimes we catch that yummy brown thing. Ummm… Chico… no chocolate. We talk about our day at school and eat our yummy snacks. Later we have a family game night… evening. Finally, we slept after having some dinner. While I do not want to give my father credit… he snuggles us in with a beautiful bedtime story.

Aanya Kumar moves from Gyanshree Noida. However, she continues her learning experience at My Good School.

Podar International School, Grade 6 B

Annual Day at School - Arav Agarwal

After reading the chapter The Annual Day At School from the book My Good School: Where Passion Meets Education by Sandeep Dutt, I just flashback, remembering my annual days and the joy and happiness everyone used to get after participating in the Annual Day. 

We all love annual days, and so do I. We, as children, wait eagerly for such fun-filled events. We have skits, voiceover, dance, music band, and speeches on our yearly days. Also, the students get the opportunity and have fun organizing and planning the annual day along with the teachers. 

I still have memories of my Annual Day when I was in Senior KG. I was given the role of Narendra Modi and was to give a speech of Narendra Modi, and the theme was women empowerment. I still remember that parents were clapping in between the lecture. I also remember that after the Annual Day, when I went to School, a few children and parents used to ask me that are you, Narendra Modi. Also, a few parents asked my mother if, are you Narendra Modi’s mother. So, this was my memorable experience of my Annual Day.

We used to have a theme each year for our annual day. I am also missing my Annual Day for two years. As mentioned in the book, Annual days help us identify our skills and strengths, and I was able to identify my skills and strengths through my annual days. Also, it is mentioned in the book that students should get the rightful opportunity to showcase their creativity and talent, which everyone does beautifully on our School’s annual days. 

Annual Days were so much fun for my friends and me, and we used to enjoy them a lot.

Name: Arav Agarwal

Grade: 5C

Billabong High International School, Thane

Forgiveness - Arav Agarwal

Reflection on the chapter forgiveness from the book Is Your Child Ready to Face the World? By Dr Anupam Sibal

I got to know about forgiveness for the first time when I read Dr Anupam Sibal’s book and learned about the magic forgiveness creates. I understood that forgiveness is setting a person free and discovering the person was you itself as when we don’t forgive, we don’t feel good, and it is we who suffer, but if we forgive, then it is we who feel happy.

I had no experience of forgiving someone or someone who has forgiven me. If I happen to meet with such knowledge, I will always keep in my mind that forgiving people is forgiving ourselves.

There are beautiful examples in the book of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi who were always forgiving. Nelson Mandela forgave the people responsible for putting him inside the jail for 32 years, and Mahatma Gandhi forgave all people who did wrong with him.

I will never forget that Forgiving is the key to peace and happiness.

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