Tetsuko Kuroyanagi - Rishona Chopra

 

Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window is an autobiographical memoir written by Japanese television personality and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. The book was published originally as 窓ぎわのトットちゃん in 1981 and became an "instant bestseller" in Japan. - Wikipedia

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

My first day of school after 2 years - Yashraj Sharma

Today when I went to school for the first time after 2 years, my sister and I were very excited to go to school. We even got excited hearing the school bus horn when we boarded the school bus. When we reached the school and I reached my class I saw all my classmates and my teachers in person after 2 whole years, who I had been seeing through my laptop screen.

When we heard the school bell ring after the first period, it just added more melody to my ears. The small chitchat sounds of my classmates sounded so exciting.

After that, the barren land of the noticeboard caught my attention and I could somehow empathise with the noticeboard and how it had been totally empty for the past time period and so to add to its vibrance so I decided to make it lively and give my splash of rainbow colours and draw some calligraphy strokes and make it a bit more vibrant and colourful, and so I thought that we weren’t the only ones excited to go to school. Even our class notice boards were excited for us to come to school and make it vibrant again. Yashraj Sharma Grade VIII Gyanshree School

The Reading Session - Rishona Chopra

 

Every Sunday at 11 AM, the reading session is a fascinating and unique place to be. Even though we could read the books we are reading in the session at home too, reading in front of a group of people is just so different. It helps improve fluency in reading, develops better pronunciation, and everything seems so much more fun! Even listening to other students and teachers read is enriching. 

I am still not sure what attracts me to join this reading session, but I feel that joining this session just makes my day!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Honesty - Arav Agarwal

Honesty for me means being authentic and being who I am.

Whenever I feel that I should not tell the truth, I just ask myself, do I want to live peacefully or in fear. If we say a lie, we feel regret, and then our minds cannot live peacefully. Being honest has helped me get many opportunities for my growth because of my teachers, coaches, friends, and parents' trust and confidence in me. I also get a good feeling and calmness in my mind by being honest.

I have listened to many stories on honesty since my childhood and many parents' experiences where being honest has helped them in life. Even my experience of being open and getting appreciation from my teachers and parents has made me more confident and courageous to always be truthful and honest in life.

So, we should always keep in mind that practising honesty will take us ahead in the future. By being honest, we are only being true to ourselves.

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

Real World Learning - Yashraj Sharma

Learning is a lifelong process. In books, classrooms and word-of-mouth, all we can learn is theory. But, the real learning comes from application and not just by memorising theories…..Like Issac Newton discovered gravity by merely watching an apple fall from a tree, with no aim or goal to find something.
 

Let me give you an example from my life - When I was in the 3rd standard, for classes 3 to 5 a ‘Rock sports camp’ was organised by our school. There were many activities, like zipline, Burma bridge, rock climbing etc. For the first time in my life, I got to experience walking over a Burma bridge. I was so hyped, and it was a much more thrilling experience than I had imagined. I also got to experience zip-lining over a bottomless, large pit. I was terrified and excited at the same time. After these two activities, I did rock climbing, and that was the part I was most scared of.

But, the important thing is that until that time, I had only heard of these activities and heard other people’s experiences. When I finally got to actually do and experience these activities in real life, I understood why people always said, “Rock climbing is very scary” or, “Zipline is breathtaking!”. I also learned that all these activities require spot-on hand and eye coordination.

No matter the situation we face in our lives, be it good or bad, we can always learn something new from our experiences. All of it depends on the individual’s personality, intellect and capabilities. Therefore it is rightly said that “When there is rain, look for the rainbow; when there is night, look for the stars”.

So, in conclusion, I would like to say that no matter how many books we read or how many videos we see or how many articles we read. We can only experience authentic learning by doing what we have seen, heard or read.

Yashraj Sharma

Grade: VIII-D

Gyanshree school 

Today Is The Day When You Define For Yourself - Arav Agarwal

Reflection of the chapter Today Is The Day When You Define For Yourself from the book My Good School ~ Where Passion Meets Education by Sandeep Dutt.

I was really inspired after reading the chapter - Today Is the Day When You Define for Yourself. The chapter is about decision making, and every day we have a choice to choose the wisest option for ourselves. The line with which I connected deeply was that whenever you make decisions listen to your inner voice to make the right decision. Also, the counsellor we need for counselling is our inner self, which helps us act as a counsellor; we only have to start listening to it.

There have been many times when I also had to make decisions and choose for myself. As I reflect back, I think it has helped me become better and more confident. What I have learned is that when we make choices, we should be kind enough to think about ourselves and others. And this will keep us happy.

Name: Arav Agarwal

Grade: 5C

Billabong High International School, Thane

Online to Offline School: A Journey for the young - Aanya Kumar

The last two years have been a setback for everyone. Suddenly everything was shut down. However, no one can compare the hardships students and teachers faced during the pandemic to anything else. Some students took advantage of this by either skipping some classes or cheating on exams. Some people were still loyal and truthful towards the school and themselves. 

The first year was skimmed through. The second year made everyone miss the school bus honking near their buildings. As offline school has resumed, students face issues regarding waking up on time for school. However, students can interact more with their teachers. Of course, we also missed talking to our friends during the online schooling. 

The reprimands of teachers were something our ears had been waiting for. Muting and unmuting were complicated, and now we can speak whenever we want. So, this phase of students' hearts being broken and then put together again was a complicated but exciting journey.

Aanya Kumar

Podar International School

Grade 6 B

If I were a character in a Book I would be ... by Arav Agarwal

Books and characters take us to places where we have to stay where we are, and there are times when we are fascinated by the characters and their qualities that we aspire to be like them. If I were a character in a book, I would be Tom from the series Tom Gates by Liz Pichon.

The character Tom inspires me because he does not have any superpowers, and Tom is like one of us. Still, he is active, intelligent, solution-oriented and loves trying new activities. In one of his books called ‘Super Good Skills’, things did not go the way he wanted, but he made it fun for himself and his family with his qualities. Tom transports me to his school, classroom, home, on his school trips and at his friend’s house, where he teaches so many life values like friendship, being courageous, communication ways and keeping a positive attitude. The most important thing is that he does everything in a fun and enjoyable way. With him, I get motivated to be a better person, give my best in whatever I do and make this world a better place. I love to be in the brilliant world of Tom Gates. 

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

Student Leader: Mentor or Monitor? - Anvesha Rana

                                                                        

Great Leaders don't tell you what to do, 

they show how it's done.

There is always a significant role for the monitor in every class, and there are many criteria for selecting a monitor. Usually, a monitor is the most disciplined and ideal student, but a monitor cannot actually help anyone. A class needs a Mentor or a Student Leader, the one who can take up tasks with zeal, do them with endurance, and ensure contributions from each student. A Student Leader is not an ideal student, but it is someone who is appreciated by all for everything that they do.  

A Real Leader should be the one who carries immutable values and respect for the past. A Real Leader may be older than you, but they will still treat you the same. Leaders should be amiable and charming personalities who are diplomatic in their terms. We all have a Leader within ourselves; we just need to recognise it. Student Leaders are within all of us. 

Today we read the last chapter of the book 'My Good School', and there are many things that I learned from this book. Primarily that school is much more than brick-and-mortar and is actually land that has come to life. A School can become a Good School only through Students Mentors, Happy Teachers and Dynamic Leaders. We view the different aspects of School through this book, and if you read this book, then there is one thing for sure you will also realise that School is FUN!

Anvesha Rana, Grade 10-B, Gyanshree School

Student Leader: Mentor or Monitor - Rishona Chopra

A class monitor. It is one of the most exciting things for me. The best day is when the teacher announces you as the class monitor. It's a feeling that you could lead the class. Writing names on the board is not a monitor, but helping students correct their mistakes is being a monitor. A monitor is not someone who brings a list of complaints to the teacher but finds out tricks to make other students listen to them. 

Monitors are supervisors ad set an example. 

A monitor is a young mentor. Imagine your teacher running in the corridors and not solving problems but even for the most minor mistakes giving their names to the Principal, won't that be odd? In the same way, we have to be the example for the class when the teacher is away.  As said, " When the cat's away, the mice are out to play". In the same way, when the teacher goes out of the class, the children start to play! We, as young mentors, should be able to handle the class in the similar way a teacher does.

A monitor is not supposed to be bossy but sweet, kind, and helpful. After all, a monitor in a classroom is a monitor for life. 

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School