Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 13th, 2025! The Good Schools Alliance is kicking off an exhilarating series of weekly Poetry sessions that you won’t want to miss. The GSI Journal proudly presents this vibrant initiative, spreading the joy of creativity and expression to the world through #JoyOfLearning. Join us for an inspiring journey into the power of words!

Brinda's first Poetry Session began with greetings and introductions. Ten participants opened, and soon, we had almost 25!

Sandeep Dutt introduced the session, emphasising the importance of art, music, and poetry in education.

Participants shared their reasons for joining, highlighting the inspirational value of poetry.

Sandeep shared a personal story about rediscovering a Rumi book, which led to the session.

The discussion focused on poetry's essence, its deep connection to life, and its ability to evoke emotions and reflections.

Brinda read Billy Collins' poem, underscoring poetry's personal and practical uses.

The session concluded with a call for future sharing of favourite poems and experiences.

What next?

To encourage more people to explore and share their favourite poems or writings in the GSI journal, you could try the following:

1. Highlight the benefits of sharing - Emphasize that the GSI journal provides a platform for the community to discover new poetry and literature and that sharing their favourites can inspire others.

2. Make it easy to submit - Provide clear instructions on submitting poems or writings to the journal, and ensure the process is straightforward.

3. Feature contributor spotlights - Consider highlighting contributors in the journal or during the sessions, showcasing the diverse range of shared poetry and writings.

4. Encourage discussion and feedback - Foster an environment where participants feel comfortable discussing the poems and writings, providing constructive feedback and insights.

5. Organize themed submissions - You could invite participants to submit poems or writings around specific themes or occasions, making it more engaging.

6. Leverage the community - Encourage participants to reach out to their networks and invite them to contribute to the GSI journal, expanding the pool of contributors.

The key is to make the process accessible, engaging, and rewarding for the participants so they feel motivated to share their favourite pieces with the community.

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Reading Vikas Joshi's book "My Name is Cinnamon," focusing on the last chapter, "Chapter 17: Going Home." Vikas shared insights into the book's creation, including the integration of Usher Syndrome and the emotional journey of the protagonist, Cinnamon. The discussion highlighted the importance of early disclosure of adoption to children and the challenges of bullying. Vikas emphasized the significance of community in his writing and provided advice for aspiring authors, stressing regular writing and resilience. The session concluded with a group photo and a reflection on the book's themes.

In the second part of the session Sandeep reads Chapter 12: Crowd Intelligence from The Inner Life of Animals by Peter Wohlleben, and there is lots to reflect about bees, insect behviour and animal life:

* Collective Behavior

* How do animals benefit from collective decision-making, and what are some examples from this chapter?

* Survival & Adaptation

* In what ways does crowd intelligence help animals survive in the wild? Can you think of a situation where acting alone might be more beneficial?

* Comparison to Human Society

* How does the concept of crowd intelligence in animals compare to human group behavior, such as teamwork or social decision-making?

* Ethical & Environmental Considerations

* What can humans learn from animal crowd intelligence when it comes to solving problems like climate change or resource management?

* Personal Reflection

* Have you ever experienced a moment where working as a group led to a better outcome than working alone? How does this relate to the examples in the chapter?

Sandeep Dutt provided an update on the progress and schedule of "My Good School," a comprehensive educational program. The school hosts various activities on different days of the week: master classes on Sundays, teacher sessions on Saturdays, book readings on Fridays, poetry on Thursdays, music on Tuesdays, and art on Mondays.

The annual fee for the program is 2,500 rupees, which offers a total of 160 hours of learning. Additionally, the program includes a structured internship, a fellowship for teachers, and various workshops. They also share their learning experiences through newsletters, blogs, podcasts, and a YouTube channel. The My Good School Sunday session concluded with a video of the Waggle dance performance and the My Good School School. Check our our Joy Of Learning Diaries at: www.JoyOfLearningDiaries.com.

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In this episode of Reel Reflections, Simar and Oshi dive into the poignant 2018 cinematic adaptation of Laila Majnu, directed by Sajid Ali and co-written by Imtiaz Ali. Set against the mesmerising backdrop of Kashmir, this reimagining of the legendary tale explores love in its most intense and tragic form.

The hosts discuss the film’s layered narrative, which portrays love not as a mere romantic ideal but as a force capable of liberation and destruction. They delve into the stellar performances of Tripti Dimri, who brings depth and nuance to Laila, and Avinash Tiwary, whose portrayal of Qais’s descent into madness is haunting and heartfelt.

Simar and Oshi also examine the film’s stunning cinematography, which transforms Kashmir into a character in its own right, and its evocative soundtrack, which lingers long after the credits roll. From Laila’s symbolic wardrobe to the nuanced depiction of family dynamics, every element of the production enhances the emotional depth of this timeless story.

Tune in as Simar and Oshi explore Laila Majnu's enduring legacy and reflect on its profound questions about the price of true love.

Hosts - Simar Kaur and Oshi Singh (Gyanshree School)

We want to express my heartfelt gratitude to My Good School for their unwavering support and a special acknowledgement to Sandeep Dutt for his invaluable contributions.

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