Totto-chan and Us - Anvesha Rana

School, a place to learn and grow, a garden to walk and stroll and land to meet and greet. We go to School every day, but what does School mean? School comes from the Greek word skholē which means leisure. In ancient times, labour was challenging, so going to School was fun since children could simply meet their friends, ponder on diverse topics and completely unwind when from School. The School was meant to be a place for fun and learning. I go to School to learn new things and meet my friends and teachers. Going to School is fun because I get to do a lot of extra activities like sports, dance, music, theatre and art. I even learn some of my favourite subjects, like English or science. But the best part is that when I return home from School, my sister and I get to exchange all our learnings for the day. Discussing School with my parents is also something that I love. Mr.Kobayashi, the headmaster at Tomoe Gakuen had a right hand man as Mr.Maruyama. A Right-hand man is someone who supports and helps us in all our tasks. The children could often associate the smell of incense sticks with Mr Maruyama since he was the one who introduced them to the Rehei Amanoya. Similarly, a scent that I sense is of a ball of yarn. Whenever I see wool or a ball of yarn, I remember my Grandmother. She sat on her rocking chair and would continue to sew woollen sweaters for all of us. That image is still strong in my mind; whenever I recall it, it always fills me with nostalgia. Totto-Chan was called Korean by a boy Masow-Chan, but she couldn’t understand it until her mother explained this. It is true that behind every unique child is an even more radiant mother. We all love Totto-chan, but it’s only because of her mother that she is so curious yet so calm, mischievous and yet so sublime. Totto-chan’s mother has inculcated every possible value in the young girl. Be it equality, love, patience, humility, appreciation or compassion, perhaps Totto-chan has it all! We all should be a little more like her; we all should learn to master our two hawks, our two bears, our two rabbits, our stubborn donkey and the most vicious snake. Let us flow with this rivulet of love!

Anvesha Rana, Grade 10-B, Gyanshree School.

A scent that catches my attention - Reveda Bhatt

It may seem depressing, but the scent that gets my attention is the smell of the corridors of the Max Hospital. It is not that I want to remember it, but I just cannot forget it. I mean, it’s not every time you get to put up a memory such horrible on the pinboard of your life. 

Reveda Bhatt
Grade 9
The Aryan School

Image http://www.zmedhealth.com/

School - Reveda Bhatt

 

A school is a place where, together, we enjoy, learn new things and grow up with our friends to get ready to face the problems that will come our way ahead in life by knowing the solution to each one. It's not the studies and homework that make it a school; the teachers and children do!

These days, there are only some schools left which determine the real meaning of the word, school, derived from the Greek word scholē, originally meaning "leisure."

Reveda Bhatt
Grade 9
The Aryan School

Talking With Your Hands - Rishona Chopra

The deaf and dumb use sign language to communicate; that is, they communicate through their actions- through their hands. Sign language is a beautiful language; I think schools should start educating students, or better, students learn it themselves! You can just learn the basics like - thank you, how are you? Sorry, please, my name is and so on. To say my name is.. - "my "in American Sign Language (ASL), form a flat hand and touch your chest twice. To perform the sign "name ", stick out your index and middle finger of both hands.

Once, I went to a bookstore and saw one of their workers was speaking in sign language, I couldn't understand it, but it was great to see that he was communicating with someone who could say but knew sign language too. Just because one might not be able to speak, they still need someone to share their feelings with, just like we do.

Never let a thought shrivel and die
For want of a way to say it
For English is a wonderful game
And all of you can play it
All you do is match the words
To the brightest thoughts in your head
So that they come out clear and true
And handsomely groomed and fed-
For many of the loveliest things
Have never yet been said
Words are the food and dress of thought
They give it its body and swing
And everyone's longing today to hear
Some fresh and beautiful things:
But only words can free a thought
From its prison behind your eyes
Maybe your mind is holding now
A marvellous new surprise 
- Mary O' Nell

This poem is called "The Wonderful Words" by Mary O' Nell and tells about how we need a way to express ourselves because our mind holds a marvellous new surprise. For those who can't speak or hear, sign language enables them to see these great surprises their mind holds!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

You’re the one for me - Gaurangi Rastogi

Whenever I feel to fly 
There is a feeling of butterflies
Whenever I take a glance at you, 
I feel that's the one 
Whenever you come to me 
I hesitate 
Whenever I said a boring joke 
You laughed for me 
Whenever I win a prize 
I see a different shine in your eyes, 
That's a real prize!
You enter my dreams 
And make me fly 
I cherish the dreams 
But the question comes to my mind 
Do you really see the thing in me
As I see in you?
I seek the answers in my sleep 
But you made me a pretty creep 
Yes, I stalked you 
Yes, I changed myself for you 
Yes, I lost weight for you 
I will never rest 
Until I find that you're the one for me 
You're the one for me 
You're the one for me 
You're the one for me 

Poetry By Gaurangi Rastogi, The Doon Girls' School Note- The poetry is written from the perspective of a teenage girl 

Love - Rishona Chopra

If you judge people, you will have no time to love them.

- Mother Teresa

Love is when you care for somebody so dearly that often the care is a silent one. My parents have loved me unconditionally. They might not have time for other things, but they have all the time in the world for me. 

As Jetzunma Tenzin Palmo rightly said, love is when you say - I love you because I want you to be happy; if that includes me, great if it doesn't matter. I think absolute joy is when we give love. We can provide that love for our parents. A cup of water when they come home, asking them how their day was and giving them a big tight hug can show your love. After all, love has to be in actions, not in words. Unconditional love is essential for happiness and satisfaction. If we love others unconditionally, others will also love us similarly.

Even self-love is quite essential. Of course, that doesn't mean that we should be a narcissist. Self-love includes self-esteem. Often looking at others, doubts arise in our minds like - Should I be more like her? Am I not good? Why is she so good at everything?. Instead of doubting ourselves, we should love ourselves.

Love is not only for people but for our work too. With passion and love for our work, we can achieve anything!

'Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.'

- Lao Tzu

Rishona Chopra Grade VI Gyanshree School

My Life - Mrs Elephant

Hello there! It's me, your favourite one - Mrs Elephant. So let me tell you more about myself and my family. I am beautiful, prettier than most people. I have 14, no 17, actually 25 children. Adorable children with big ears and legs and those who fight a lot. Don't even get me started about the things they do. When I go to the store, they create a complete mess. I select some decent clothes for them, but they are so fussy that they want to buy a dress that doesn't even fit them! Do you understand how difficult it is for me? Now enough about my naughty children; let's talk about me.

Besides being the best mother and prettiest, I am a writer and a doctor. I work 24 hours daily and am swamped, so you must not ask me too many questions because I simply don't have the time to answer them. I am excellent at playing games, especially Sudoku and Crossword. I also dream of having an extensive library, which I suppose will come true someday. If you are looking for a job, then come to me. I will surely give you a fantastic job babysitting my children. It will surely help a lot.

Rishona Chopra 
Grade VI 
Gyanshree School

Haiku - Rishona Chopra

A haiku is a Japanese poem with 3 lines of 5 syllables, then 7 syllables and then 5.

Some famous haikus are as such - 

Birds singing their song,
Wind caressing passers by,
Clouds wander the sky!
- Alma

Tree branch sways slowly,
As a child, sing a sweet song,
Gracefully it goes.
- Donna Brock

Here is a haiku made by me:

Stop worrying, friends,
Good things are coming our way,
Have fun and relax!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Out Of The Box - Reveda Bhatt

Thinking out of the box,

People believe the path is hard,

Paved with rocks.

Just come to our world once!

And, here, the world means a new way of thinking,

And not another Earth; it’s not a pun!

Reveda Bhatt
Grade 9
The Aryan School

Totto-chan's Life - Anvesha Rana

Totto-chan has taught me many things, from selflessness to compassion, curiosity to care, pity to love. She has taught us innumerable life lessons just through her mischievous nature and jovial personality. 

Totto-chan had participated in a sports event and that single event had the most profound effect on her. Similarly, even the sports day at my school is not only a day full of fun but also a day submerged in learning. 

The sports day taught me acceptance, that even though I did not win anything, I needed to accept that fact. It also encourages appreciation for others, I learn to acknowledge the rewards of my mates even when I don't have any. It teaches me to care for those who might have hurt themselves while playing, but the most important lesson on the sports day is cooperation, understanding and following your team and leading them in the right direction. The sports day is a day oozing with fun, learning, sports and values. 

Totto-chan had a fun pet, Rocky, who was a German shepherd. Rocky and Totto-chan are best friends, but their favourite pastime together was to play the game 'Wolf'. In wolf, you had to roll down on the mat and face each other only to make the scariest, wolf-alike face possible. Rocky and Totto-chan were simply playing this game, but Rocky, a German shepherd, raised its animal instinct and bit Totto-chan on her ear. It was awful, the ear was dangling down but the only thing that mattered to Totto-chan, while at hospital to get her ear mended, was that her parents should not scold Rocky. This incident demonstrated the pure form of love that Totto-chan and Rocky share. It showed how deeply they cared for each other but after all Rocky was her pet, only Totto-chan considered him a friend.  

We all want to have a pet, even I want one but I think we should not keep these animals caged in our homes, far away from their families. Moreover, owning a pet requires time, honesty, humility, love, care, patience, cooperation, appreciation and quality, and if we want to have a pet then, we should take full responsibility for it. It should not be that we got a dog home and then just got stuck in our everyday life only to forget our pet. We should respect our desires, and if we want to have a pet, then we should also acknowledge our pet. 

Totto-chan is indeed a unique girl. Her enthusiasm is contagious and full of love and passion, and her inquisitiveness is simply enchanting. She found a great interest in creating haikus. A Haiku is a kind of a Japanese poem where 5-7-5 syllables are applied to express daily situations with a unique twist. 

Here's a Haiku I tried to create: 

                 The Joy is found, 

                     Love is spread at the MGS, 

                           Meet us now at 11:00!

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 10-B,

Gyanshree School