Showing posts with label retreat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label retreat. Show all posts

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Sunbeam Lahartara- My Good School Retreat 2024

Day- 0 
We were the first to arrive at Khan Farm for the Retreat. We met Manisha Khanna, ma'am, who introduced us to the members and took us around the farm to explore. After that, we waited for others to arrive, started our playtime, and chatted with the others to bond with them.
Grade -IX D
Shubh Jaiswal


Day- 1
We went for a walk around, enjoying the nature around us. Then we went on to Arthur Foot Academy, where we celebrated Children's Day and donated them some stationery and saw their faces light up with joy along the way their faces were. In the afternoon, we went back to Khan Farm and had a session with Amit Sachdeva sir, where we explored the meaning of 'giving' and tried to find a way to do it. After that, we had an art session with Feroza Ma'am, where we displayed our creativity about nature with our drawings.
Grade -IX D 
Divyanshu Singh


Day- 2
Our second day starts with jungle walking early at Khan Farm. After getting ready, we did our school project and represented our school and its culture. Then, in the afternoon, we had a session with Sandeep Dutt, sir, in which we read three books: "Is Your Child Ready to Face the World", " Inner Life of Animals" and "Shomie Das, The Man Who Saw Tomorrow". Then, in the evening, there was a cultural program in which we sang a patriotic song, 'Mera Mulk', and recited a beautiful poem on our city, 'Kashi'. Then we celebrated our night and danced with the students of JDS and Gyanoday, members of My Good School.
Grade -IX D 
Prashant Singh Kushwaha


Day 3
On our last day, we started with dispersal from the Khan Farm, where we presented our token of love with a thank you note to Ms Firoza Khan, owner of Khan Farm. From there, we departed to The Doon Boys Schools, explored the campus, and met the Headmaster, Mr Jagpreet Singh. All the school departed for their journey home. we headed to Doon Girls' school, as our train scheduled for on 17th Nov. We had dinner there and then returned to our destination. That was all of the Dehradun trip.
Grade -IX D 
Anmol Kashyap

Monday, 18 November 2024

JDS School - My Good School Retreat 2024

DAY 1
Joy of Giving
The Retreat began with a walk on Khan farm, where we explored more about birds, plants, and animals. We also went to Arthur Foot Academy. There, we celebrated Children's Day, which included dances and speeches from Khan sir and our special guests, Mr. Amit Sachdeva, Mr. Sandeep Dutt, and Mr. Assad. Then, we helped AFA children with some stationery, decorated their class board with handmade flowers, and found real happiness in giving. The evening session was completed with our reading session.
Parnaz Singh
Grade-7th

DAY 2
Joy Of Learning 
First, we went for a jungle walk, saw different kinds of trees and tree houses, and enjoyed ourselves a lot in the lap of nature. In the presentation session,  all the schools help to explore and learn more about service, skills, sports, and study by representing the timetable and calendar of their school. Then we attended the GSA meeting, where we studied the inner life of animals and learned more about facing the world's challenges with Sandeep sir. In the evening, we explored the treasure hunt. And the memories were made more robust by dancing and enjoying the retreat to its fullest.
Prabhveer Kaur
Grade-7th

Day 3
Joy Of Exploring
On 16th November, we visited The Doon School, one of the best schools in India. We had many more beautiful experiences in the design and technology lab. There, we saw students of the Doon School making different types of metal and wood things. We also learned a lot about the art and creativity of the Doon School students. We went to music school, where we.

We Explored different types of musical Instruments. We also went to the library of the Doon school. That was a wonderful and exciting experience for all of us. The greetings of the Doon school staff were very warm. Finally, we visited the office of My Good School, which Sandeep sir very well maintained. Also, we got a chance to see the Bookshop, where we bought books to enhance our knowledge. Last but not least, it was a wonderful experience for all of us.
Harpreet Kaur
Grade-7th

Friday, 15 November 2024

Reflections - My Good School Retreat 15th November 2024

My Good School Retreat 2024 - November 15

To conduct a My Good School retreat session focused on discussing animal behavior and emotions through the book "The Inner Life of Animals" by Peter Wohlleben.

Key Takeaways

  • The group explored the concept of animal emotions, particularly maternal love, through the first chapter of the book
  • Participants learned about squirrel behavior, including their nesting habits, food caching, and interactions with other animals
  • The discussion highlighted how human perceptions of animals are often influenced by emotions rather than objective observation
  • The session emphasized that maternal love is not exclusive to humans and exists across species, though with variations in its expression and development

Topics

Book Introduction and Context

  • The group is reading "The Inner Life of Animals" by Peter Wohlleben
  • The book explores animal emotions and behaviors, challenging assumptions about human uniqueness
  • The author uses scientific research and personal observations to illustrate animal experiences

Squirrel Behavior and Survival

  • Squirrels demonstrate maternal care by carrying babies on their necks
  • They build nests (dreys) in trees, using soft materials for comfort
  • Squirrels cache food for winter, but often forget locations, leading to natural tree planting
  • Their survival strategies include spiral descent to avoid predators like hawks

Animal Emotions and Human Perceptions

  • The group discussed how humans categorize animals based on appearance and perceived usefulness
  • Squirrels were used as an example of how perceptions can shift (e.g., from cute to predatory)
  • The discussion emphasized that animals act primarily for survival, not to be "good" or "bad"

Maternal Love Across Species

  • The chapter explored whether maternal love is innate or learned
  • Hormones like oxytocin play a role in bonding for both humans and animals
  • Human capacity for learned love (e.g., adoption) was contrasted with more instinctive animal behaviors
  • Examples of interspecies bonding were mentioned (e.g., cats caring for human infants)

Next Steps

  • Participants encouraged to watch related movies/documentaries (e.g., Born Free, Lion King)
  • Research Jane Goodall's work with chimpanzees for further insights on animal behavior.
  • Reconvene at 5:30 PM for the Teacher's Academy session to continue book discussion.
  • Local retreat participants to engage in a treasure hunt during the break.

Think it over

1. Did the story connect with you today, and why?  

2. Find out about- 

a. dreys

b. nests of animals

3. How do animals prepare their nest? Which material is required by the animals to make their nest?

4. Winter, however, is more devastating than any predator. Who does the writer refer to ?

5. What will happen if there will be no food chain?

6. What is selfless mother's love according to you?


Fireside Chat with Christa - 14th November 2024


Check out the Photo Album


Follow the: 
VIEW RECORDING - 87 mins - courtesy FATHOM - AI generated E.&.O.E.

Meeting Purpose

To discuss the Three Principles framework and share insights on managing insecurity through a story-based approach.

Key Takeaways

Topics

Introduction of Christa Campsall

The Three Principles Framework

Story: "Many Faces of Insecurity"

Masks of Insecurity

Understanding Thought and Separate Realities

Practical Applications

Next Steps

Wednesday, 23 October 2024

Joy Of Giving

My Good School Retreat 2024, from 13th to 16th November 2024. 

Don't miss out—scroll down to discover how you can be a part of something amazing! 


 

 JOY OF GIVING by Learning Forward India Foundation


**JOY OF GIVING with Learning Forward India Foundation**

Kunal Rajpurohit has crafted an incredible roadmap for the Joy Of Giving initiative under the Good Schools Alliance. Join us in making a difference and lend a helping hand to the students and community at the Arthur Foot Academy. Together, we can spark joy and create brighter futures! Let's do this!

Tuesday, 17 September 2024

My Good School Retreat 2024


Reflections 

 Like every chapter in the book has its own ending, our Retreat also ended with memorable experiences and friendly relations. But the chapter containing our memories will be the best I have read and experienced.” Tenzin Nyingsel

“Seeing all the teachers and friends leaving with whom I spent an excellent time for four days, I almost cried. After spending four days together, I felt like we had been together for a very long period, and during this time, I became very close with them; I suppose that we all became so close that we were much more than best friends and because of this bond I emotional when everyone was leaving, the only thing which  I could say was " goodbye " and " best wishes ahead " I wanted to say many things, but the words were not coming from my mouth, one after one everyone started leaving and only HPS (Hyderabad Public School) group were left, for few minutes we talked and after a while, they were also nowhere to be seen.” - Tenzin Jambey

‘I have got many great opportunities in my life. The excellent My Good School Retreat is one of the best opportunities, giving me many life lessons. This will be an unforgettable part of my life. I had never been so excited about many things, but this was the opposite. I have described below my experiences and what I learned during this retreat” Nishan Karki


—-
Dear Teachers,

Hope you had a nice day.

When I got a chance to attend the My Good School Retreat in the Doon Girls School, first l was very excited to see the people from various parts of India whom I had only heard or seen on the screen. On the other hand, I needed clarification about interacting with them. But who knew that I would talk to everyone and enjoy with them. 

On the first day, we walked to Khalanga War Memorial, Nalapani, accompanied by Col Vikram Thapa and two more people. One of them was around the 70s and was very kind and friendly. We learnt many things from him, like about the Khalanga War etc. After the walk, we returned to The Doon Girls School, where we had the Icebreaking session, held after the tasty lunch in the school. In the evening, we had presentations by various schools which were knowledgeable, but at the same time, I was scared too, as it was my first presentation in public.
            
We left for The Doon School the next day, which was a great life opportunity for me. There we had our breakfast, and I liked the school system as it was different from regular schools; all the activities done in the school were looked after by the students and even the school assembly. After the walk in the school, we went forward to Khan Farm, Biharigarh. We had a nature walk and played many games, including the talent show, team building and leadership activity. Through those games, we learned how a leader should act.

It was the second last day when we returned from Biharigarh. Then back in school, we had to reflect on our two-day journey. And I had many things to say, but couldn't I be nervous to say things in front of others. When it was my turn to speak, I said something funny, which made everyone laugh. After that, we had our friendly basketball match between the retreat team and the Doon Girls School. Fortunately, we won the game by one point. There was a situation when I snatched the ball from a girl, but later in the game, she took revenge, which was fun.
On the last day, it was Earth Day celebrations in which many schools came and sang songs based on nature, and we also sang the song "Somewhere In The World".

I am very thankful to the Director of Pesstalozzi for giving us such a great opportunity, Shelja Ma'am, and Minaxi Ma'am for supporting us.

Thanking you 

Yours faithfully,
Monika Singh Pundir 
Pestalozzi India Children’s Village


Thursday, 8 June 2023

My Passing Out Speech at School - Keyura Rao Cheeti


Hi! I am Keyura, a student of class 5 who is now graduating from Primary and moving to middle school. How can I ever forget the year I first stepped into this school in Primary. The teachers, the ayyammas, the students, everyone were very welcoming. 

The first time when I saw a Prefect minding the assembly and telling the children what was right for them, that was the moment I knew I wanted to be a Prefect! When I discovered I was selected for the Prefect interview, my heart jumped joyfully!

I WAS VERY NERVOUS when I reached the waiting area, and my heart was beating fast. When my name was called to take the interview, I pushed that nervousness away and felt confident. A few days later, I found out I was a Technology Prefect! On the day of the investiture ceremony, I was super excited. I got to shake hands with the Commissioner of Police, Mr C.V. Anand, IPS! That was amazing! 

I made friends yearly but lost touch with them as we got shuffled. In the Primary, I was also a part of the choir. I got to participate in all the singing performances. Joining the choir made me realize my love for singing and being on the stage. During COVID, when I was in 3rd and 4th grade, I made some excellent friends and stayed in contact with them online. I ended my Primary with a BIG surprise! Me and four of my other friends were selected for a student exchange program, My Good School Retreat 2023.

Good School Alliance also offers a Sunday school program for avid readers. We got to go to Dehradun as part of this program. We were warmly welcomed at The Doon Girls School. We visited  The Doon School. We had a lot of fun in Dehradun by trekking, watching cultural programs and attending circle time, where we express our gratitude daily. There, we had to talk about our state and our school. I enjoyed it a lot
though I was a little homesick. But overall, what a way to end primary school, isn't it? 

We learnt many things here in Primary School that we must apply in Middle School. I enjoyed winning, learnt to accept failure, stand up for what I believed in, let go and always have a good time. My best friends might be shuffled as I speak, but this will allow me to make more. I am leaving here with many memories, advice, friends and teachers that will be in my heart forever. 

Keyura Rao Cheeti,
Class VI
The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet

Saturday, 29 April 2023

My Good School Retreat 2023 - Shristi Khulal

On the first day, when I entered the gate of The Doon Girls School. I was excited and nervous and was experiencing a mixture of feelings inside my head. I thought about what it would be like to meet new people from different parts of the country, for which I was a little nervous, but now I have known them for a long time. I couldn't even believe that the four days we spent were so memorable and not just unique but precious too.

While I sit and think about those days, the flashback of the precious memories always strikes my mind. I cannot explain how beautiful they were. Meeting different people and learning so much about their places and schools from Powerpoint Presentations was an excellent experience. I felt amazed when I learned that the school from which Ram Charan studied was there with us. 

Whenever I sit and reflect on those four days first scene that comes to my eyes is our visit to Khalanga War Memorial. I enjoyed the trip and loved the smell of flowers from the Sal tree and the hill. I was grateful to meet mr Col Vikram Thapa and his team, from whom we learned many things about the war between Gorkhas and the British. As I am Nepali, I felt proud to hear about the bravery of Gorkhas. I enjoyed the walk up the hill, talking to the guiding sir. I felt thrilled to speak to the guiding team in my mother tongue and remain in my place. The view of Dehradun City from the hill was beautiful, in which I was trying to locate my school. I didn't know we could be so connected and share a precious moment in less time. 

I even smile when I think of the funny moments in the Khan Farm where we played fun games. Not only were they fun, but they also taught us many skills like listening, coordination, teamwork and other leadership qualities. Also, the o ji, o ji by sir from Blossom School was a lot of fun.

How can I forget the visit to one of the most prestigious schools in India for which I am really grateful? Before visiting The Doon School, I used to talk to my friend while going to school by bus on seeing the tall wall, and now I feel fortunate and grateful. Whenever I see the wall from the bus, the memories stike in my mind of taking around the school with curious minds. I loved everything about the school, from the beautiful buildings to the activities available there. 

I also miss the German Shepherd of the farmhouse, Max, Lily, and Dizzy, with whom I played. It was a beautiful moment. I was so mesmerized by the performance of The Doon Girls School students in the cultural show. I will never forget the motivational words by Monisha Ma'am. The morning walk on the Khan farm comes to my mind whenever I see the fields filled with crops and trees. On hearing the song Jeena Jeena, the moment came into my mind when the music teacher of Doon Girls School was teaching us guitar.

On the last day, when everyone was leaving one by one, I could see the beautiful memories we cherished together, and for a while, I felt sad. Before going to The Retreat, I never thought these four days would be this memorable. I am really grateful and thankful for getting this opportunity. Thanks to The Doon Girls School for being so good to us.

Shristi Khulal

Reflecting on the My Good School Retreat 2023

Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2023 at 21:52

Subject: REFLECTION ON THE MY GOOD SCHOOL RETREAT 2023.

Dear Teachers,

Hope you had a nice day.

When I got a chance to attend the My Good School Retreat in the Doon Girls School, first l was very excited to see the people from various parts of India whom I had only heard or seen on the screen. On the other hand, I needed clarification about interacting with them. But who knew that I would talk to everyone and enjoy with them. 

On the first day, we walked to Khalanga War Memorial, Nalapani, accompanied by Col Vikram Thapa and two more people. One of them was around the 70s and was very kind and friendly. We learnt many things from him, like about the Khalanga War etc. After the walk, we returned to The Doon Girls School, where we had the Icebreaking session, held after the tasty lunch in the school. In the evening, we had presentations by various schools which were knowledgeable, but at the same time, I was scared too, as it was my first presentation in public.
            
We left for The Doon School the next day, which was a great life opportunity for me. There we had our breakfast, and I liked the school system as it was different from regular schools; all the activities done in the school were looked after by the students and even the school assembly. After the walk in the school, we went forward to Khan Farm, Biharigarh. We had a nature walk and played many games, including the talent show, team building and leadership activity. Through those games, we learned how a leader should act.

It was the second last day when we returned from Biharigarh. Then back in school, we had to reflect on our two-day journey. And I had many things to say, but couldn't I be nervous to say things in front of others. When it was my turn to speak, I said something funny, which made everyone laugh. After that, we had our friendly basketball match between the retreat team and the Doon Girls School. Fortunately, we won the game by one point. There was a situation when I snatched the ball from a girl, but later in the game, she took revenge, which was fun.
On the last day, it was Earth Day celebrations in which many schools came and sang songs based on nature, and we also sang the song "Somewhere In The World".

I am very thankful to the Director of Pesstalozzi for giving us such a great opportunity, Shelja Ma'am, and Minaxi Ma'am for supporting us.

Thanking you 

Yours faithfully,
Monika Singh Pundir 


Minor edits were made to publish the letter in its form and substance.

Friday, 28 April 2023

Reflection on our Retreat - Tenzin Nyingsel

Many questions were spinning around my mind on the first day. Whether I'll be able to communicate correctly or not? Or will the presentation be good? All these questions raised anxiety and fear inside me, due to which I felt so hopeless. But I thought I was still in my hostel once I got there. Including all the educational and professional places we visited during the Retreat.

So at the start of the day, before going to the Khalanga War Memorial, we played many indoor games which taught many morals about teamwork, leadership and self-power. Then after that, we had our meals, which were so deliciously made and professionally served for us at the table, including the tasty sweets and cold ice-creams after every meal. After that, we went to the Khalanga War Memorial, where we learned about the importance and the history behind that place. Two to three people guided us while explaining the site's significance. Even with them, I had a great time. 

On the second day of the Retreat, we went to The Doon School, where we learned about the names of the buildings named after the great master of that school. Many of the masters who studied there and passed from there were under the lists of names of the titles who had many achievements in that school. Children learning there had many activities as optional, and the students had to move from class to class of teachers. They had a great big hall about which I liked the most and was shocked about the most! They conduct their assembly with talented students playing many instruments and making melodious music.

After The Doon School, we visited The Khan Farm in Uttar Pradesh. While going, we had many funny moments and sang many songs. Due to this, I enjoyed that time a lot. We also did many indoor games and activities when we reached there. We learned that whenever we lead a special team, we should first listen to every opinion suggested by our teammates. But we shouldn't do things in a hurry to always win; instead, we should take our time to think and do the activity with no load. At the farmhouse, we stayed one night and had a great time with the other people in the Retreat. We even had a talent show at night where everybody showed their various talents. Due to this, I got to know more about them. In the early morning, we had a nature walk. Even though I didn't see many animals, I got their presence due to the footprints and sound. Then again we were served many delicious foods and sweets at the end.

Back at The Doon Girls' School, we had our reflection time and a friendly basketball match. Since I didn't know much about the game, I joined them by cheering them up.

The days flew like thin paper in the blowing wind at the end of the My Good School Retreat. The great experience and funny moments with the people in the Retreat were about to end. On that day, we had a function held by The Doon Girls' School, where many talented kids came from different schools to sing on Earth Day. A few hours later, we bid farewell to our unforgettable friends with handshakes, hugs and promises to meet again. 

Like every chapter in the book has its own ending, our Retreat also ended with memorable experiences and friendly relations. But the chapter containing our memories will be the best I have read and experienced.

Tenzin Nyingsel
Pestalozzi Children's Village India

Wednesday, 26 April 2023

My Good School Retreat 2023 - Nishan Karki

I have got many great opportunities in my life. The excellent My Good School Retreat is one of the best opportunities, giving me many life lessons. This will be an unforgettable part of my life. I had never been so excited about many things, but this was the opposite. I have described below my experiences and what I learned during this retreat.

Day 1: 18th April 2023

Our trip was going to be great, and I was very excited. Excitedly, I left Pestalozzi, my four friends, and my escort teacher Minaxi Rawat. I was hoping my day would go well. On reaching The Doon Girls School, we first had our RT-PTR tests. The good result was that all of our reports came negative. We assembled at the basketball for the walk at Khalanga War Memorial, Nalapani.

Khalanga War Memorial: The day's first activity was visiting Khalanga War Memorial. The Memorial was located in a hilly region which I like. Now for sure, my day was going to be very significant. When I entered the memorial surrounding, I felt like I was in my hometown in Nepal. We gathered at one place where we had our introduction. We had a little introduction about that place by Col Vikram Thapa.


Along with him, there were three more people. They all were Nepali. I conversed with them and gathered a lot of information about that place. We had a nearly 1 km walk from where we gathered to the Memorial. 

We reached the Memorial and spent time talking, making friends and clicking pictures. After some time, we left the Memorial and went back. On our way back, we also visited the Chandrani Devi Temple. Both the Memorial and temple were incredible. The sal forest also added more beauty to them. We thanked all the people who supported us during this visit. We also presented them with some gifts.

Ice-Breaking Session: The ice-breaking session was conducted by Monisha Ma'am and other teachers of The Doon Girls School. In this session, we had many activities, such as our introduction, the secret fact about us and some fun games. The games were entertaining, which also continued hidden moral values.

Schools shared their PowerPoint Presentations: In this session, students from various schools presented the Presentation about the heritages of their places. It was a very effective learning source, and we learned about the heritage of different areas.

Fun Games: We played fun games during this session, including dodgeball and chasing games.

Cultural Program by The Doon Girls School: The school girls presented various cultural activities in this session. They included choir, dance, drama and yoga. They gave all of their actions very beautifully.

 Day 2: 19th April 2023

We all came to The Doon Girls School and assembled at Basketball Court for a visit to The Doon School.


The Doon School: One of the top 10 schools in India, The Doon School indeed needs appreciation for its level of education, environment and facilities. The students studying there are very hardworking and disciplined. Even the Headmaster, Dr Jagpreet Singh, was very friendly with everyone and knew every child's name. Indeed the visit to The Doon School was once in a lifetime opportunity.

The Khan Farm, Biharigarh: The Khan Farm in Biharigarh was beautiful. It was a mango farm with small fruits growing on the trees. We stayed here for a day and had a lot of fun. We also did many activities. They included team-building sessions, walking and exploring the farm and a talent show. During these sessions, we played various games containing moral values. Exploring the farm surrounded by beautiful mango trees was fun. Coming close to nature is a great experience. In the talent shows, every group shared their talent. We sang a Nepali, a Tibetan, an English and Peatalozzi song. The food here was also delicious. Even now, also I miss the food.

Day 3: 20th April 2023

Again there was another new day starting. We all woke up and got ready for a fresh start to the day. We had to do many activities this day. We had the activities like Understanding Farming and Leader in Me. Without farmers to produce the food we need daily, we would die of hunger. Farming is an essential source of livelihood. The Leader in Me session taught us about famous leaders and their characteristics. Each school had to choose two leaders and talk about them.

After all these activities, our trip to The Khan Farm ended. We thanked all the people on the farm who supported us during this trip.

We reached The Doon Girls School in the afternoon. We all were tired due to the travel by bus. Now it was time for us to take some rest. After our rest time, we had to share our trip experience. Each child from every school shared their experience of the past few days.

The session after this was very interesting. It was a friendly Basketball match between the retreat and The Doon Girls School teams. Both the teams played very well. I also participated in and played the game. The good news for us was we won the match by one point. The score was 19- 18. After the game, we all were praised for playing so well.

Day 4: 21st April 2023

This was the last day of our retreat. The activities today were only till the afternoon. On this day, the activities included workshops like needlework, art, craft, designing, bamboo works, music, etc. There was a music festival also.

I attended the needlework class and the bamboo work class. I found both of them very interesting and valuable. I enjoyed this time and learned new things.

The Music Festival - Music of Spheres was conducted by the Doon Girls School. Many other schools also participated in this event. We sang a song called Changer of Seasons. All the schools sang very beautifully. Indeed, music brings peace to mind.

After this session, we had some snacks and left for home. It was such a wonderful experience.


Nishan Karki is a great youth ambassador for Pestalozzi Children's Village India.