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

Happiness - Rananjay Rajput

Once upon a time, there was a tomb raider,
Who still was a seventh-grader!

She was a martial arts champ and a pro
trader.

She had skills, by performing, she gave
people thrills.

In the city was spread a piece of news,
That there is a treasure on top of Mount Zeus!

She heard the news and wanted to “RAID!”
As people said,
The mountain Zeus made.

She quickly asked her mom and dad,
By wondering the consequences they were sad.

She said to them, “don’t worry,”
And left her house in a hurry.

She reached the mountain,
Through a beautiful fountain.

But understood it wasn’t going to be fun.
She passed through some thorns.
Heard some battle horns.

She dodged some arrows.
And fought some Pharaohs.

Finally, she saw the treasure.
Her heart filled with pleasure.

She opened the crate.
Her heart was in discontent.
There were just some papers and a silver coin.

She then reached her house in a shock,
She went to her room and put on the lock.

She thought that her adventure was a complete mess.
The next day she was interviewed by the town press.

She was happy, not more, not less.
In her achievement, she found happiness!

Name: Rananjay Rajput

Grade: 5A

Billabong High International School, Thane

Forgiveness - Simar Kaur

My reflection post-reading chapter 18 of the book. I deem forgiveness as an opportunity to look at the situation positively. When someone does something to hurt us, we start hating that person. It often results in adverse changes in our mood and a thirst to take revenge. We don’t get satisfied until and unless we retaliate. Once we maintain this as a habit, people notice behavioural changes, and that is how we enter into a vicious cycle that traps us for life.

My middle school experience is something that I describe as terrible. The reason for that is the bullying I faced as we entered into a wider world. Till fifth grade, our innocent selves don’t let materialistic items affect our judgement. But in sixth grade, as we enter into the world of unavoidable changes, we can’t help judging a person by the way they look, how someone performs in their studies and much more. I was a victim of that and possibly an attacker. I kept that with me for a long time, resulting in my grades and academic life deteriorating.

Eighth grade was a breath of fresh air. Covid pandemic hit, and we were all trapped into lockdown. 

Eighth grade was like an opportunity to escape my struggling social life. I had a chance to get away from all my friends and classmates and be the ones I loved. And that made all the difference. I felt refreshed, and I was a lot more cheerful and happy. But I realised that my happiness was not a by-product of avoiding people. I became happy when I decided to forgive everyone who hurt me in the past in one way or another. I forgot all about my past misery and people who had actively been a part of it. It made me feel a lot better. 

After two years of break from social life, I enjoy school. I may not have a lot of friends, but I have what I need. Going back to school wouldn’t have felt this good if we wouldn’t have been trapped in lockdown, and I wouldn’t have been as forgiving as I am now. But now I know that forgiveness is extraordinary, and I am trying my best to apologise and forgive anyone I hurt or anyone who hurt me.

Simar Kaur Grade X Gyanshree School

Forgiveness - Ananya Bhatia

My reflection on Forgiveness after reading the chapter in Doctor Anupam Sibal's book called Is Your Child Ready to Face the World?

Forgiveness is the key to Happiness.

Happiness and Forgiveness are both connected to each other. If we forgive, we will also feel a sense of Happiness. Bhagavad Gita says that if you want to be brave, look to those who can forgive. It means that a weak person can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of a solid and courageous person. I conclude by saying that we forgive others for being happy ourselves.

My Name is Ananya Bhatia. I study in Ahlcon Public school in class 9th. I like Reading books.

Meeting Sandeep Sir - Rishona Chopra

Today Sandeep, Sir of Learning Forward India Foundation, visited our school,  Gyanshree Noida. It was indeed a pleasure to have him here; it was the first time I saw him in person and met one of my friends too! 

It was great to be in school and meet him. He is one of the best mentors I have had till now. I also met a few other teachers and students. We, along with a few teachers and students, discussed a small marketing plan and how we could motivate people to write in languages other than English to feel comfortable with the language they like.

We plan to read the chapter "The Annual Day At School" from the book My Good School, Where Passion Meets Education by Sandeep Dutt on the 20th of March.

I hope to meet him once again and be back in school physically!

Rishona Chopra
Grade V
Gyanshree School

Forgiveness - Anvesha Rana

' There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love. '

All of us have had experiences where we were angry at someone. A small mistake, a menial conflict or an accusation can raise our fury in seconds and without thinking of the consequences, we let anger take control of our actions. We are aware that when we yell, scold or blame, we create a vicious cycle, yet we allow our wrath to flow out on the other person. Why should the person who has no connection to our misery be blamed for it, and then how are we supposed to expect him to say it's ok? A simple sorry does not change anything; sorry is not just a word; it is a lesson and a promise that we make to never repeat the same action again. These days sorry is treated nothing more than five letters, and it is almost obvious, as per the new social norms, that the person we are apologizing to has to say it's ok, whether they like it or not. 

Forgiveness is not just a virtue; it is also a sacrifice that the world immensely needs right now. I believe forgiveness is the best form of love because it requires a strong person to say sorry and an even stronger person to forgive. We should forgive others, not for their sake but for our own peace, since as long as we don't accept the apology, we continue to boil our pessimistic emotions to the point that they start overflowing. We suffer due to the deeds of others. Consequently, we should free ourselves of this and instead forgive the person with our whole hearts. When we hold grudges against people, those grudges consume our good deeds, and they probably affect us much more than they affect the person we are holding them against. Grudges seldom hurt anyone except the person bearing them. 

If we don't bend, we break. Forgiveness does not make the person smaller, but it makes him bigger. Revenge is not the only solution; through the means of revenge, we are retaliating to the person who affected us through his own ways. By seeking revenge, we continue the cycle of evil deeds in the world. Instead, if we forgive everyone for whatever they did, we convey the message that goodness is still alive, and we also instil a sense of morality in the person we had to forgive. 

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 10-B, 

Gyanshree School. 

Happiness - Anish Gaitonde

I wanted to share my experience of coding, which gave me happiness.

After coding on other projects for a long time, I came across Code Better (Master)'. It looked interesting, so I clicked on it and started coding. After coding for a month or so, I finished my project. Its features were: 5 block categories, sprite information, different button to start and stop, etc. I was thrilled to make a coding app that was scratch in another coding platform.

Name: Anish Gaitonde
Grade: 5E
Billabong High International School, Thane