Sayonara Totto-chan! - Anvesha Rana

Yasuaki-chan left Totto-chan, and now Rocky also vanished. Everyone whom Totto-chan loved seemed to disappear one after the other. Tai-chan no longer spoke to her, Rocky could no longer be heard, and Yasuaki-chan no longer stayed with her. It was as if her little world of love was tumbling down and she was walking alone on a broken road with the rain constantly thumping over her head. Her near and dear ones had gone far away in sight but not in mind, for love is what remains even after you are gone. The little Totto-chan had learnt lessons that made her stronger and bolder in a world full of strangers. She now knew that she had to live up to her limited time in this race on earth, but Totto-Chan remembered to always run with happiness and happiness that makes others happy. 

I have often heard a story of a woman who lost her son but was so desperate to get him back that she went to Lord Buddha to bring her son to life again. In listening to her story, Lord Buddha said he would bring her son to life again only if she could get a fist full of mustard seeds from a house where no one had died. So the woman had set out on her task, she had gone to every home in each locality, but there was not a single house where someone had not died, be it the grandfather, father, mother, child, someone or other had always passed away. Lost and depressed when the woman returned to Lord Buddha, he had simply told her that human lives are like flickering lights. They light for a long time, but suddenly they extinguish. We need to learn to accept the loss and let the ones gone be always loved in our hearts. Just like Totto-Chan will always love Rocky and Yasuaki Chan.

When Ryo-chan, the janitor at Tomoe, had to leave for the War, all the students had organized a special Tea Party just for him. Everyone drank saké and shared something or the other for Ryo-chan. It was a fun time and the children continued the tradition of the Tea Party even after Ryo-chan was on the war ground. It was the last time they had ever gathered at Tomoe. 

Whenever I have to drop someone at the station and bid goodbye, I feel as if they could have stayed just a little longer; no matter how many days we spent together or how much fun we had, at that point, all that matters is whether they can be here for just a bit more time because no amount of time feels enough when you are with your loved ones. 

Sayonara, Sayonara is a Japanese goodbye, but it literally means 'if that's the way it is'. We have learned so much from Totto-chan, the Headmaster and Tomoe. It is even so unique that a young girl, simply through the means of her actions, has taught us friendship, responsibility, coping with loss, freedom and most importantly, love. So all we can say is Thank You and Sayonara, Totto-chan! 

Anvesha Rana,

Grade 10-B, 

Gyanshree School

Just the Way you are! - Anvesha Rana

There is so much happening with Totto-chan. Her friend, Yasuaki Chan, dies, and all she is left with is a longing to see him again. Her heart broke down on his passing, but she did not let that show, for she knew they would meet again soon. Their lives might have been entangled once, but they had broken free. 

Totto-chan was still an optimistic, cheerful girl. She let her ambitions cross limits and did live up to them. Her dream of a spy might have been full of zeal, but it crashed as Tai-chan pointed out the reality, yet Totto-chan gathered her courage and awaited the bright, new future. Twisted, they both were in their own lives, simply finding the correct path to walk up. 

No wonder Totto-chan is Totto-chan only because of her parents; the values that Totto-chan’s mother and father have instilled in her, not through sermons but through examples, have led her to be the same person. Another man who has contributed massively to the becoming of Totto-Chan is her headmaster, who not only made Totto-Chan realize her worth but also made her learn the art of respect and helping others. 

Totto-Chan, 

Be just the way you are, 

For you are perfect 

And you are pretty. 

You are strong, 

And agile enough. 

You are a tree, 

That will never fall. 

Everyone in Tomoe, 

Should be just the way 

They are, because I can’t

Imagine it to be better. 

Let it be Tai-Chan, 

Or be it her mother, 

Let it be the young teacher, 

Or the Headmaster. 

I wouldn’t want anything

Different at all, 

Because it is perfect, 

Just the Way you are ! 

Anvesha Rana,

Grade 10-B,

Gyanshree School

Totto-Chan's Life - Anvesha Rana

Chew, Chew, 

Chew it well, 

Everything you eat, 

Your rice and fish and meat 

Little Totto-Chan

Can make a soldier

 Cry happy tears

Totto-Chan can 

Comfort an Importuned

Father

She can make Tomoe a good school, 

For she is a really good girl, 

She is Totto-Chan. 

Anvesha Rana,

Grade 10-B,

Gyanshree School

You're Really A Good Girl - Rishona Chopra

 

" You're Really A Good Girl," said the headmaster to Totto-chan and the better part is that Totto-chan agreed with him; now that's what I call - self-esteem and self-love. 

It was not that she wasn't a good girl; she was a really good girl. She was kind and helpful, but always curious took the better of her. It always got her into trouble! I wonder what a marvellous friend she would be!  

Telling a young child that he/she is a good girl/ boy is really good. It means to say that - Some people may not think we are good, but your character is not bad. It has an excellent great deal, and I know that. Maybe someone makes us believe we are not great, but when we have one person who tells us that he believes in us and likes us, doesn't it feel great even if it is your friend. These words instil self-confidence in us, which is very important.

So, today let's give ourselves a message that we are great girls and boys!

 

Totto-chan, you're great,
You're someone with who I can relate,
You are kind,
You help the blind.
You are sweet,
You acted like you were meat!
You have amazing skills,
You bravely climb hills.

You wanted to be a ticket seller,
But you could even be a storyteller!
You want to be a spy and a musician,
You truly have a great ambition.

You're talkative and have so much to tell,
You're a great rebel.
I wish I were a bit more like you!
And that's true!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

A Trip To a Hot Spring - Amaira Bhati

It was getting dark when all the children of Tomoe Gakuen were ready for a three-day trip. It was almost time for dinner when all fifty students had finally arrived. The Headmaster hadn't brought along any food supplies with him, and he had an amusing thing for the students to do. 

The Headmaster sent all the kids to buy the veggies and fish. He knew that some kids would be afraid of this, but he wanted to make them experience the essential things in life. This simple action of buying vegetables could make them more open and make them learn more about doing calculations.

People at the market were eating their food and asking the students about them, and the students were supposed to reply politely. Some students took all the fish and veggies, but others either got lost or didn't get it. Some children went missing and had even cut their feet in the sand since it was filled with glass. This might have not been fun for some students, but in the end, it enclosed a lesson for life.  

When it was time to go back, everyone was sad that the trip was over, but they couldn't stay there forever…Half of the students slept on the way around, and the other half could not stop talking about this beautiful memory of the hot spring trip.

Amaira Bhati
Grade 3-F, Gyanshree School. 

Tomoe Gakuen - Anvesha Rana

I wish I were a student at Tomoe, 

so free and yet so connected, 

I could have met the headmaster, 

and made friends with Totto-Chan. 

If I were a student at Tomoe, 

I would have visited the Hot Spring, 

while enjoying the new bling. 

The Souvenir photo would have cracked me up, 

and the Oops boy would have been a fun hub, 

I really wish I were at Tomoe, 

for it would be so lively. 

If I were at Tomoe,

I would have learnt Eurythmics, 

Though it would be funny to be so Rhythmical. 

I do wish I were at Tomoe, 

but I already have my own right here, 

which is My Good School!

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 10-B, 

Gyanshree School

Eurythmics - Rishona Chopra

Eurythmics is the art of rhythmic education. We can listen to a song, but very few can relate to the beats and rhythm. Once you do that, mastering dance and music is like taking candy from a baby with hard work and dedication.

Rhythmic education makes the body and mind equally developed in harmony and peace.

At Tomoe, the headmaster has added Eurythmics as a subject in his school. He teaches students to change their body steps with the beats. It increases focus too.

When I was learning the piano, my piano teacher sang a song, and I had to play the beats with one key. Now, I understand he was teaching me Eurythmics. I am grateful to him for teaching me what I know today.

Having eyes but not seeing beauty; having ears, but no hearing music; having minds but not perceiving truth; having heart that are never moved and therefore never set on fire are the things to fear of.

Children could be taught to hear and feel music in their minds rather than just with their ears; how to make them feel music as a thing of movement rather than a dull, lifeless subject; how to awaken a child’s sensitivity.

Rishona Chopra

Grade VI

Gyanshree School

The School Song - Rishona Chopra

A school song displays the school but do we really need a song to display our school? Isn't the love of the teachers quite enough? Isn't the hard work of teachers quite enough? We don't need a school song to realize that this is a perfect place, or do we? At Tomoe, we don't have a school song, but the headmaster's love is quite enough to describe his school.

Even if we have a school song, we should sing it with pride because going to a good school is a blessing as it is a haven of knowledge. At Gyanshree, we have a school song, and it goes like this:

We, the Shreeyans, are virtuous and strong
To this heavenly place, we belong
We see our future gleaming in the light
We vow to be prudent and upright
Seeking knowledge, resolute to attain
At Gyanshree, excellence and acclaim
We, the Shreeyans, we are proud to be
Radiant and blissful, wise and worthy
All the Shreeyans, sing out loud
With such a lovely school, we are endowed.

Isn't that a wonderful school song? Although I don't really know the tune, I love to sing it!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Sea Food and Land Food - Rudransh Awasthi

This was the picture when the headmaster was asking Totto-chan about sea food and land food. She also learned that Denbu is a sea food.

Name: Rudransh Awasthi
Grade: 6A
Billabong High International School, Thane

Learning: The Fun Way - Anvesha Rana

At Tomoe Gakuen, the students could study the subjects at their own pace. Unlike regular schools where children have fixed periods for different topics. At Tomoe, one could start by doing their favourite subject and then somehow manage to do the ones they dislike; this was learning the fun way. Independent decisions made the children ready for real life. 

Another aspect of Totto Chan's new school was that lunch was unique. Everyone was supposed to bring something from the ocean and the hills to meet the essential nutrition requirement. Also, if the child only had something from the sea or something from the sea, then the headmaster's wife would dole out the other. So all kids at Tomoe Gakuen always ate Something from the ocean and something from the hills. 

The Headmaster was a distinctive individual; he always encouraged the children to chew their food well and respect it. He would often test the students' culinary knowledge by asking them about the place from where their food belongs: The hills or the sea? 

This was all the fun at Tomoe Gakuen, but the best part was probably the School Walks. After lunch, all the kids would walk in the open with their teacher in the midst. Everyone would think of it as leisure time, but these walks were actually memorable lessons in science, history and biology.

This is Learning the Fun Way, which is at Tomoe Gakuen but is even at My Good School, where Learning is Fun and Fun is Learning! 

Anvesha Rana, 
Grade 10-B, 
Gyanshree School

Going to a new school from home - Reveda Bhatt

Reveda Bhatt
Class 9, The Aryan School
reveda0311@gmail.com

 

The Headmaster - Rishona Chopra

 

The headmaster or the headmistress leads the school. Teachers sometimes use them as a weapon to scare them; when someone does something wrong, the teacher says that she'll send that child to the Headmistress's office. They aren't that scary. They are not frightening at all. They can be as sweet as plum and a strict at a stick.

In this book, Totto-chan meets the headmaster to see if she gets approved. Surprisingly, the headmaster told her to speak whatever she wanted. The headmaster listened to her for hours without a yawn!

This chapter is a must read for everyone as it changes the point of view about teachers.

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School