ST. ANDREW'S HIGH SCHOOL - BANDRA: TEACHERS' ORIENTATION PROGRAM
June 15, 2013: Thanks to the foresight of Fr. Magi Murzello, Principal of St. Andrew's High School, Bandra in booking the AVEC team well in advance, that thirty four teachers were able to participate in a full day's the Value Education Orientation Program. Fr. Glenford Lowe and Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes animated the whole program. After the initial words of welcome from Fr. Magi, and a floral tribute to Fr. Glenford, that a Prayer Song 'Sarveshaam Swastir Bhavatu' set the spiritual tone to the program. The prayer song invoked blessings of auspiciousness, happiness, peace, fruitfulness and health over one and all.
Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes, Coordinator of the AVEC Project, welcomed the participants of the meeting and journeyed along with them through a few moments of fantasy meditation that coupled rhythmic breathing along with an awareness of the whole body. It was a good way to relax and focus on the program ahead. He then introduced Fr. Glenford Lowe to the teachers along with the theme for the Teachers' Orientation Program 'Management By Values' (MBV)..
Fr. Glenn divided the whole session into three parts: Part one of the exercise involved understanding the 'New Perspectives of a Teenager's World'. Understanding the teens' world was an important element in Value education. Knowing who they are and what they care for is important in responding tho their concerns. "Procedural changes are always preceded by Perspective changes, and unless we see differently, we will never act differently", he said. Perspective changes can transform any 'prison' into a new 'palace'!
The second part of the session, focused on the important of WORDS. Our values are our lifestyle priorities and often find their expression in the words we utter. "Change your words, and change your world', he reminded them. Every one is called to embrace Value Education as an opportunity to total integration - an Education To Becoming. We are never a full product, we are all 'persons-in becoming' - a life time process! An opportunity was given to align one's personal values with that of the institution, without which, one would only tug along in opposite directions.
In the final part of the session, the teachers were given an opportunity to look at their "Hall-Tonna Value Map' and to plot out their Goal Values and their Mean Values. The time was well utilized and proved to be an eye opener to many of the participants as they were able to gauge their Value phase in life. Value education enables on to move from Phase I to Phase IV along the Value map. Fr. Glenford was able to draw a number of insights into their everyday life in school and home and bring about value based conclusions.
At the end of the session, Teacher Zelia D'Souza proposed the vote of thanks. A number of teachers also wrote their words of appreciation:
"Good session. Wanted the diamond and surely will get it in the coming year. Very informative to change one's life" - Theresa Aguiar
"Very thought provoking, different, and changed my perspective and view of looking at things and people" - A. J
