Monthly Meeting - 25th January 2025

Meeting Purpose

Monthly review and planning meeting for the GSA Impact Team to discuss the calendar, new initiatives, and an upcoming quarter.

The minutes will help the Interns and Fellows stay informed and contribute meaningfully.

Key Takeaways

February calendar finalised with structured weekly events (Meet & Greet, documentary, workshop, book reading)

New customised learning programs launched for schools (e.g. Arthur Foot Academy, JDS)

Focus on teacher development and engagement through reading, reflection, and technology integration

Retreat sign-ups close January 31; limited to 50 participants (20 supported schools, 30 GSA members)

Topics

February Calendar Overview

1st Sunday: Meet & Greet with K.C. Jain on health, yoga, meditation

2nd Sunday: Documentary series + book reading

3rd Sunday: YES workshop (45 min) by Lena Arsha on passion, purpose, play

4th Sunday: Extended book reading session

Weekly: JDS reading sessions (Fridays 2pm, 45 min) for 40 weeks

Monthly: Arthur Foot Academy offline session

New Initiatives

Customised learning programs for schools (e.g. Arthur Foot Academy, JDS)

Transition to Google Meet for My Good School sessions

Interns focusing on the joy of learning rather than social media posts

Happiness survey implementation at Arthur Foot Academy (every 6 months)

Digital Platforms & Resources

WhatsApp communities/groups for different programs

Blogs: happyteacher.in Joy of Learning Diaries

Website: www.MyGoodSchool.in with program info, book lists

YouTube channel & podcast (Learning Forward) with 6000+ subscribers

Teacher Development Focus

Reading and reflection emphasised over direct "values" lessons

Arthur Foot Academy: Teachers creating visual representations of reflections

Technology integration: Basic computer skills, plans for AI introduction

Student Engagement

Positive feedback on English-speaking initiatives

Increased lab access for students (e.g. Sunbeam School: 15 workstations/school)

Young students (8-10 years old) participating in sessions, sharing experiences

Next Steps

Close retreat sign-ups by January 31

Implement a happiness survey at Arthur Foot Academy

Create a list of teacher volunteers for the Sunday School reading

Establish minimum post requirements for intern certification (1 post/month)

Share the happiness survey format with Minakshi for implementation

Continue encouraging teacher reflections and original content creation

GSA Impact Team Monthly Meeting
January 25, 2025

AI supported the draft; please forgive any errors and oversight.

Two men looked out prison bars; one saw mud, one saw stars - Rishona Chopra

 Image Courtesy - Twitter

Perspective changes something completely. We can be happy even in the worst times with a positive view of the situation. Every cloud has a silver lining; we just have to find that lining. 

Suppose two men look out prison bars; one only sees the bars, and the other looks beyond it and sees the immense beauty of nature. It is our choice to choose what we want to see. It is our choice to be happy, and it is our choice to look at the good sides of a situation. 

In every situation, there is a choice. Either look at the positive and optimistic sides or find faults and be sad. We just have to see that choice. When something happens that is not to our satisfaction, we get negative feelings about it, but we don't realise that there is always a choice to be happy about it. To rejoice in the smallest of things. 

Two men looked out prison bars; one saw mud, and one saw stars. 

It is our choice to look at the positive things in life. After all, peoples' perspectives and thoughts define who they are. There is so much sadness in the world, and it is easy to find faults, but the real challenge is finding happiness in everything. 

Rishona Chopra
Grade VII Gyanshree School

My Contribution To Change The World - Monika Pundir

Changing the world doesn't mean that a person has to change the whole world at once; it can be done by making minor changes in their society that would help spread the changes.

I would like to contribute to changing the world by teaching basic things about life to the poor people in our society. Teaching them the meaning of one's value in life, how important life could be, and how it would affect the future.

Monika Pundir Pestalozzi Children's Village India

Changes In Our Lives - Nishan Karki

We must change our lives, mistakes, behaviour and bad habits. Changes are essential to our life from now on. We can be successful people in future if we start making changes in our day-to-day thoughts and work. I want to be a better person and enjoy a bright future. For this I will need to make many changes in my life going forward. I need to change my day-to-day thoughts about how ideas, behaviour, and various skills like thinking, reading, writing, listening, communication skills, etc. If I start improving myself and changing these skills I will surely have a great future ahead.

Nishan Karki

Pestalozzi Children’s Village India.