HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL - JUHU: TEACHERS' VALUE ORIENTATION

HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL- JUHU: TEACHERS' VALUE EDUCATION PROGRAM

January 30, 2013: Eighteen teachers from Holy Cross High School - Juhu attended a full day's Value Orientation program that was animated by Fr. Glenford Lowe and Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes in the school hall. On behalf of the school Principal and Management, Ms. Floweret Immathy welcomed the two speakers. Earlier in the week, the same team had animated the students of standards Eight, Nine and Ten. 

Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes began the day's program inviting the teachers to be spiritually in-tune through a all faith based Prayer song. He then helped the teachers to relax through a reflective awareness session of breathing coupled with meditating on important events in one's life. The teachers were able to be more at ease through this session. He then introduced Fr. Lowe and the activities done through AVEC over the course of the year especially in terms of  animation programs in the schools affiliated to the ABE. 

 The first session was a moment to help the teachers to reset their notions as educators of the young by a clarification of Teacher Assumptions. Through the use of simple everyday classroom experiences, the teachers the able to grasp the need to put great 'heart' into their educative role in the school. "You are second parent and the school is second home. You don't just influence the present students in your class, you in fact, influence generations to come by the Valued person you are", said Fr. Glenn

 The second session involved group activities  personal sharing and finally using 'Management By Values' (MBV) as a guideline, the teachers were able to plot themselves on the Hall-Tonna Value map. The entire session was deep and enlightening to all. The eagerness with which the teachers listened and participated in the session was truly encouraging. The MBV program encourage the teachers to move up the Map by looking at a 'significant contribution to the world' rather than merely living on the survival level.   

 The session ended with the poem by Johnathan Reed and the Video clip of the poem 'When you thought I wasn't looking'. Both were important punch lines to a well deserved moment of personal and institutional renewal. Ms. Genevieve Fernandes proposed the Vote of thanks.

 The following were the comments written in the AVEC log book:
"We have gained a lot of knowledge on how to handle ourselves and our children" - Neeta
"An enriching and unique session that helped me discover the values that play a significant role in our lives. Thank you Father Glenn for your inspirational talk" - Angelina Fernandes

 "The session was very interesting and innovative. It helped us to rediscover our values that were lost in our daily routine of life and our dealings with the students. Thanks Fr. Glenn for this enriching session" - Crystal Luis

 "The good thing I liked is we see that we are going to use this knowledge on how to handle ourselves and our children too. Thanks" - Soar Shedoe

A special word of thanks and appreciation to Fr. Edmund Mascarenhas, Principal of the school and the management and staff of Holy Cross High School Juhu for their warm reception, active participation and eagerness to take the AVEC program forward in their school.

We pray God's blessings on you all and wish all your students, especially those of standard Ten, the very best of success in their examinations.

St. MARY'S CONVENT - ALIBAG: STUDENTS' VALUE ORIENTATION

ST. MARY'S CONVENT - ALIBAG: STUDENTS' VALUE EDUCATION PROGRAM

January 28, 2013: The AVEC team, for the first time, went beyond the normal geographical boundaries right in the Raighad District to St. Mary's Convent - Alibaug to conduct a Value Orientation program for over 375 students from standards VIII-X. Sr. Therese DMello, Principal of the school, welcomed Fr. Glenford Lowe and Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes to their community. The students were really excited to have a program like this for the very first time in their school. After a few words of welcome, Head-boy Prasad Waghmode presented a floral bouquet to Fr. Lowe, while the head girl presented one to Mr. Fernandes.

AVEC conducted two sessions all through the morning. One hundred and Fifteen Students of Standard X very attentively took part in the session. One could sense a real sense of participation and cooperation from all the students. Inspite of being so close to their National examinations, every student was totally focused and took full advantage of the Value session 'Leading Your Life by a Value Compass'. The session began with a Prayer Song and a very apt meditation that linked daily life to the breath of life. The twelve points towards becoming a Diamond Student, by Fr. Lowe, challenged the students to reconstruct their broken Value compass and to set their lives once again on the right direction. Student Nidhi Vartak proposed a vote of thanks on behalf of all the outgoing students,

After the break, nearly two hundred and forty the students from STD VIII-IX participated in the second session. Through the use of current day examples of people who Made A Difference (MAD), and taking the Twelve point Value Skills program, the students were really able to look at their personal lives with a greater sense of conviction, contentedness and contribution to self and society at large. The students of both sessions were highly disciplined, cooperative and attentive all through. 

 After the session, many students came forward to express their words of appreciation in the AVEC log book:
"This session has given us the true meaning of spirituality, It has imparted a message that every person should be a bright ray of hope top eliminate darkness of vulnerability in this world" -  Nidhi Vartak  X
"It was truly a wonderful session. we all have enjoyed a lot in it. Along with it, we got to know about various traits essential for a happy and pleasant life. I'm sure we are all going to be MAD too!" - Prasad W X

 "It was a very informative session. I have learnt various values. By your guidance, we are certainly gonna 'Make A Difference' - Anirudha P X
"It was a great opportunity to come across such a beautiful session. It was not at all boring. as it had many inspirational songs and messages to keep us motivated. Most of all, the Values which it taught us were the most note worthy part of it" -  Payal X

 "Thanks to Father Glenn for making our day a really wonderful one. Today, I had an experience totally different from ever before. Truly a heart touching time. You rock!!!" - Saurav X
"It was a wonderful session., I will try to inculcate the values of love, peace and spirituality in me. Thank you for your motivation and I will surely live a life of abundance" - Apurva X

 "It was an extraordinary session for me. It taught me the greatest values of life" - Pooja VIII
"It was a very beautiful session and experienceful too. I got many values to learn. You are simply great!" -Tritha 
"It was a very interesting and nice session,. I will try my best to change my life and live the twelve points. Really great!!"  Saniya VIII

 "Today's session made a big difference in my life. And they gave me good values and it was a really good experience for me too" - Divya VIII
"The experience will help me to become good" Indrani VIII
"We really want to make a difference in our life. It was a very enjoyable session. Please do come again and give us more knowledge" -  Rishika VIII

 "Father Glenn really repaired our broken Value compass and made us MAD. Hope you come again!" - Jai IX
"Father, by your session today, we are sure that we will make a difference in our lives and surely repair the compass of our Values. Hope you come back again" - Melba IX

 "I loved your session and was really glad to attend it. I think you really helped me to become MAD. Come again." -  Ashish IX
"Father Glenn taught us good values in nice ways and really enjoyed your session about Values" - Dipesh IX 

"Father thanks for coming to our school here in Alibag and teaching us good values. I request you to come some other time and have a session with us" - Nuaman IX

AVEC wishes to express a sincere word of thanks to Sr. Flavia and Sr. Therese and the entire community at St. Mary's Convent - Alibag for their very kind hospitality and going out of their way to make our stay a very comfortable and memorable one. thanks once again and we pray God's blessings on your Educative and Social ministry with the young.

Holy Cross High School, Juhu Tara: Orientation Program

January 21, 2013: HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL, JUHU TARA

One hundred and seventy students of Std VIII - X, from Holy Cross High School, attended a Value Orientation program organized by AVEC. This was the first program for the Year 2013. Fr. Edmund, the Principal of the School warmly welcomed he guest speakers to his office. The students gathered together in the school auditorium to listen and participate in the Orientation Program. 

Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes and Fr. Glenford Lowe were welcomed by Teacher Floweret. The Value Orientation program began with a few words of introduction. An opening Prayer Song, 'Sarvesham, Swastir Bhavatu' invited the students to pray for God's blessing on each one. The students were then invited to a fantasy meditation, that enabled them to focus on the Breath of Life and the awareness of living one's life to the full. He then introduced Fr. Glenford Lowe to the students too.

Fr. Glenford Lowe, then spoke to the students on the importance of living life based on a Value Compass.Through a very novel exercise, the students were asked to draw the 'spiral of their life', to chronologically chart their life and then to reflect on the Positive and Negative experiences of each year of their life. No one lives a life without failure and pain. Success blends with failure, health with sickness, joy with pain. Only when we begin to see the bigger picture, with hindsight, will we be able to start living life on a higher and meaningful way. We are not called to 'merely survive', we are called to live meaningfully and to make a positive contribution to the world.

Citing examples from the life of Ms. Kia Scherr who forgave the terrorists that killed her husband Allan and daughter Naomi on that fateful day 26/11, and the generous contribution of a young student through the Ryan's Well Foundation and the personal witness of Jacquie Subarido were testimonies of people whose lives were directed by a 'Value Compass'.The students were captivated by these living models.

After the break, Fr. Glenford Lowe, invited the students to look at Twelve Values that need to be imbibed in order to make a meaningful and fruitful life. He challenged the students to start by having a 'Winner Attitude'. Once we Value a 'win-win' situation in life and see the optimistic side of life, the journey of life becomes more interesting and worthwhile.Other important values were the importance of 'Being a Team Player', Communicating Effectively, Exuding Confidence, Honing Creative Skills, Multi Tasking and Prioritizing One's Time and Schedules, Being Honest and Accountable, Motivating and Leading Others, and the need to Live a 'Balanced and Abundant Life'. Living and directing one's life by a Value compass is indeed important.  

                                   

The students were very participatory and listened very carefully to all that was being presented. They certainly found that the time spent was invested well and that there was a way of moving from merely surviving to leading and living a meaningful life. The day ended with a Vote of thanks form Student Sneha Sawant and finally a word of appreciation by their Value Education teacher too.

 After the session the following comments were entered in the AVEC log book:
"This program has helped me very much and this program should not only be for children but also for all" - Shahabas
"This was an auspicious moment in my life that I have spent with the organizers. It was very inspiring and had helped us to think beyond everything else. Thank you" - Vrunali X

"This program enriches each and every student. This session must be held everywhere for everyone so that they can imbibe knowledge of such Values in their life" - Ankita IX

"The best and the most wonderful session of my whole year of school. It was the best thing to become the loving person. Helping others I have learnt to help and become loving too. Thank you for coming to our school" - Pranisha IX

"It was a great time being here. We have learned too much to live better. Thank you" - Anna VIII

"This session was really great. It was a very wonderful time that we have had today. We have learnt many values form this session which are so beneficial in our future. we have learnt things by enjoying them. We have picked up great values" - Zeba