Embracing Change: Understanding Puberty with Confidence and Respect - Astha Mishra

The session on puberty was very informative and eye-opening. It helped me understand the changes that happen in our body and mind as we grow from children into teenagers. It also taught me the importance of involving an adult whenever we make any important decision.

Overall, the session helped me feel more confident and less awkward about this stage of life. It also taught me to be respectful and understanding toward others who are also going through these changes. I now see puberty not as something to be scared or ashamed of, but as a natural and important step in becoming a responsible and mature individual.

~Astha Mishra

Class IX

Sunbeam School, Ballia

My Good School, Sunday 29th June 2025

YES Workshop with Shikha Agnihotri of Right Side Story

Discussion on puberty, growing up, and adolescence with high school students, led by Shikha Agnihotri from Right Side Story.

Key Takeaways

• Puberty involves both physical and emotional changes that are beyond one's control; understanding these changes helps normalise the experience ("puberty is not a race")

• Students shared insights on mood swings, emotional changes, and physical transformations during puberty, demonstrating awareness but also misconceptions

• The session emphasised communication as a crucial strategy for managing challenging emotions and relationships during adolescence

• Gender differences during puberty were discussed, including societal expectations and biological variations, with an emphasis on respect for all genders

Topics

Understanding Puberty and Growth

• Puberty is defined as a "software update" in the mind and body, signalling the transition from childhood.

• Students recognised that puberty is influenced by genetics and occurs at different ages for different people.

• Physical changes discussed included body odour, voice changes such as the Adam's apple in boys, and muscle development.

• Brain "rewiring" during puberty leads to feelings of independence and new emotional experiences.

• Girls and boys experience different physical changes, but both face hormonal shifts (testosterone vs. estrogen)

Emotional Changes During Puberty

• Students identified negative emotions experienced: anxiety, jealousy, frustration, irritation, depression.

• Positive emotions noted: happiness from recognition, validation, success, and achievement.

• Discussion of mood swings affecting both genders, not just girls, as commonly believed

• Students expressed challenges with controlling emotions during puberty

• Shikha emphasised that emotions during puberty are often temporary but intense, requiring patience

Friendship and Relationships During Adolescence

• Students debated whether friendship affects puberty or puberty affects friendship

• Trust issues in friendships were highlighted as a challenge during puberty

• Advice given: when hurt by friends, communicate within 24 hours rather than avoiding the issue

• Self-inflicted independence during puberty can strain relationships with parents and authority figures

• Importance of finding trusted adults to discuss difficult decisions emphasised

Self-Image and Body Awareness

• Students noted increased focus on appearance during puberty (clothes, hygiene, physical features)

• Discussion about boys becoming more conscious about their physical appearance (muscles, height)

• Girls discussed increased attention to skincare, makeup, and fashion choices

• The importance of hygiene is emphasised, especially regarding body odour, which increases during puberty

• Both genders experience increased self-consciousness and concern about how others perceive them

Reading Session: Animal Behaviour and Taste with Brinda Ghosh

• The second half of the meeting featured a reading from "The Inner Life of Animals" focusing on taste in animals

• Discussed how animals have different taste preferences than humans (example: crows eating seeds from horse excrement)

• Explored how taste is adapted to different species' needs and evolutionary history

• Reading skills were emphasised, including proper use of punctuation and expression while reading

• Importance of regular reading beyond textbooks (15-20 minutes daily) was encouraged

Next Steps

• Shikha proposed separate follow-up sessions for boys and girls to discuss puberty more openly

• Future session on pronunciation and reading skills to be conducted by Brinda

• After completing the current book, the group will read Gerald Durrell's works about animals

• Students are encouraged to practice communication skills when dealing with emotional challenges

• Students advised to develop reading habits beyond textbooks (15-20 minutes daily)

Learning Life Lessons with My Good School - Viraaj Rai

 

In this session, we learned about loyalty. We understood that animals are often more loyal than humans. Another important lesson was that every person has at least one exceptional talent. We also learned about the importance of reading. Reading helps us gain knowledge that can be useful in the future.

What I liked the most was how the teachers explained the topics — everything was clear and easy to understand. The question-and-answer part was also exciting. The teachers answered all our questions patiently and kindly. I enjoy the My Good School sessions on Sundays. They are very informative and well-organised.

I liked this session a lot.

Thank you!

Viraaj Rai
Class: 5th B
Sunbeam Ballia

My Visit to Ahmedabad: A Memorable Experience at the Sort My College Summit

On June 21st, I took a train to Ahmedabad, often referred to as the Manchester of India. I was heading there to attend the Sort My College  (SMC) Summit, one of the leading youth festivals that brings together young minds for discussions and brainstorming. The summit is hosted by my friend Daksh Kala, the founder of Sort My College.

I arrived in the city early in the morning during a refreshing downpour—the raindrops felt like a warm welcome from Ahmedabad itself. After reaching, I went to meet my sister at Gujarat University. She tied a rakhi on my wrist, which I believe would help me perform better at the event. We enjoyed breakfast together before heading to the venue.

The conference featured an exciting lineup of speakers and performers. We heard inspiring talks by RJ Krutarth, Rishabh Jain, Anand Kumar, and Arjun Vaidya. To lighten the mood after all the serious discussions, there was a fun stand-up comedy act by Shlok, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

On the sidelines of the event, I also had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people. We shared ideas, discussed our work, and I spoke about the Good Schools Alliance, trying to spread the word about our mission.

I want to extend my gratitude to Mr. Dutt for this wonderful opportunity. I’m thankful for the chance to learn, connect, and grow through this experience.

- Kunal Rajpurohit, Fellow and Analyst at the Learning Forward India Foundation

Joy of Learning Calendar July 2025

My Good School

6^th  July 2025
Book Reading- The Door-To-Door Bookstore
Book Reading- क्या आपका बच्चा दुनिया का सामना करने के लिए तैयार है?

13^th July 2025
Book Reading- The Inner Life of animals
Book Reading- क्या आपका बच्चा दुनिया का सामना करने के लिए तैयार है?

20^th  July 2025
Amardeep Singh Screening of Episode 19 निमृत प्रभाव (विनम्रता की छाप) 
Book Reading- The Inner Life of animals

27^th   July 2025
We aim to inspire young minds, helping them navigate while embracing their dreams and aspirations.
The YES workshop with Shikha Agnihotri, founder of The Right Side Story
Book Reading- क्या आपका बच्चा दुनिया का सामना करने के लिए तैयार है?

The Teacher's Academy

Brewing Knowledge Fridays at 5.30 PM: Book Reading with Sandeep Dutt:

• What Did You Ask At School Today: A Handbook Of Child Learning; and 
• The Book of Rumi 105 Stories And Fables That Illumine Delight And Inform

Saturday Masterclass Webinar at 5:30 PM: Productive Failure - Design for and turn your failures into meaningful learning experiences

GSA Squad Meetings

At 5:30 PM every Monday on Zoom - GSA Coordinators, Volunteers and Mentors. #JoyOfGiving Review programs and plan for the coming week.

Good Schools of India

Are you signed up for the Good Schools of India Weekly yet? Don't miss out on valuable insights—published every Monday at 7:00 AM! #JoyOfLearning Subscribe at: www.GSI.in

My Good School, Sunday the 22nd June 2025

Sunday school session focused on reading, reflection, and discussion of "The Door-to-Door Bookstore" by Carsten Henn and Is Your Child To Face The World? by Dr Anupam Sibal (Hindi edition)

Key Takeaways

• Emphasized importance of reading, listening, and reflection for personal growth and learning
• Discussed themes of perseverance and not giving up in the face of challenges
• Explored how reading and listening complement each other to improve communication skills
• Encouraged participants to write reflections and engage actively in discussions

Book Discussion: "The Door-to-Door Bookstore"

• Continued reading Chapter 4, focusing on Carl's evolving relationship with Schascha
• Explored themes of sadness, intuition, and the power of human connection
• Discussed Carl's changing perspective on Schascha, from avoidance to missing her company
• Analyzed the character of "the reader" and his hesitation to share his writing despite its quality

Importance of Reading and Listening

Manisha Presented slides on benefits of reading and listening:

• Enhances language skills, vocabulary, and grammar
• Improves overall literacy and comprehension
• Introduces new concepts and enhances critical thinking
• Complements each other for better communication

Reflection on "Never Give Up" Story

• Shared inspiring stories of medical breakthroughs and patient resilience:
  • Stephen Hawking's life with ALS
  • Lorenzo Odone's parents' fight against ALD
  • Jodi Miller's hemispherectomy for Rasmussen's encephalitis
• Emphasized the importance of perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges

Participant Engagement

• Encouraged participants to unmute and share thoughts
• Discussed the importance of expressing emotions and not hiding feelings
• Addressed concerns about shyness and difficulties in self-expression

Next Steps

• Participants to write and submit reflections on the session
• Encouraged various formats for reflections: writing, drawing, voice notes, or videos
• Next week's session to continue book reading and feature a guest from "Right Side Story"
• Participants to come prepared for more interactive discussions and reflections

Beyond Ordinary: The Century School’s Chronicle of Inner Light

Each person is born with special qualities that make them different from others. The foremost step to discovering one’s uniqueness is self-awareness. One has to observe what they enjoy doing the most—whether it’s a talent, a skill, or a hobby. Feedback also plays a crucial role in discovering one’s uniqueness.

Sometimes, this journey becomes difficult due to fear, lack of awareness, or parental pressure. It may be the fear of judgment or the feeling of not being “good enough.”

In the journey of discovering your uniqueness, don’t forget—never compare yourself with anyone. Be honest, curious, and confident. The real talent lies within, and the key to unlocking it is to believe in yourself and move forward with courage.

Anshika Sharma

The Century School, Karnal

—-

Kartik Bajoria shared how everyone possesses something unique and explained how he discovered his own. He is right in saying that instead of trying to fit in, one must embrace their differences.

His message is a powerful life lesson—that one’s uniqueness is not a flaw but a strength that leads to the true path of life.

Pranit Batra

The Century School, Karnal