LORETTO CONVENT SCHOOL – CHEMBUR:
TEACHERS’ ORIENTATION PROGRAM
June 14, 2014
Finally, after many years, the AVEC
animation team was able to make it to Loretto Convent School, Chembur. Thanks
to Sr. Geeta, Principal who made it a point to book the team well in advance to
avoid further disappointment. 50 teachers took part in a full day’s Orientation
program on ‘Management By Values” (MBV). In-spite of the busy school
preparations to get the school painting works complete, the AV Hall was ready
to receive us all. The new AC's added the cooling moments for the sessions.
Mrs. Sulekha, Senior Supervisor and
Value Education Coordinator, welcomed Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes and Fr. Glenford Lowe
to the school and thanked them in a special way, for all the animation in promoting Value Education in the Archdiocese of Mumbai. Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes,
initiated the teachers to a spiritual experience through an appropriate Prayer
Song, followed by a fantasy meditation that
enabled them to relax and slow down. “It was indeed a very calming
moment, right at the start of the session”, remarked a participant.
Fr. Glenn began his session, in his
usual style! Breaking through all their comfort zones, he challenged them and
invited them to be prepared to be disturbed. “School supports routine, and
somehow, unconsciously, we get stuck in the process. Every new day only becomes
a repetition of yesterday”, he said. He guided the teachers to become ‘Value
Gurus’ rather than mere teachers of a particular syllabus. Perspective changes
bring about procedural changes. This session was an opportunity to see things,
for the first time, through a new eye!
Using a well prepared PowerPoint
presentation, very interactive discussions, coupled with a lot of humor and
everyday life situations, the teachers were taken through a journey to make ‘qualitative changes’ in
their homes, classrooms and the world. Presenting the ‘attitudes and world of
the young today’ was an eye opener for many a parent and teacher. “Today, I
have learnt to look at my teenage child and make new approaches and
interventions in her life”, remarked a teacher.
The three-part session, enabled the
teachers to look at their value based lifestyles and to make the necessary
value shifts to start living a ‘significant life’. When small qualitative changes take place, it has a ripple effect in quantitative changes too. The
power of the Word and the ‘teacher as mother and coach’ were two highlights of
the session. “You are not here in school to catch and red card the students,
your primary vocation here is to be a coach”, he said. Through the Brian
Hall-Benjamin Tonna value map, the teachers were able to plot their value
lifestyle and make the necessary changes and shifts.
On behalf of the school management
and staff, Ms. Manoshi Mukherjee proposed the vote of thanks.
"A very enriching experience" - Delphine
