ST. ANNE'S GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL - DABUL: TEACHERS' ORIENTATION
June 13, 2014
AVEC had a wonderful opportunity to animate 39 teachers of St. Anne's Girls High School - Dabul for the first time. Thanks to Sr. Romana Fernandes, Principal for her foresight in booking the AVEC team well in advance. On behalf of the management, Ms. Candy Rodrigues, Value Education coordinator, warmly welcomed Fr. Glenn and Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes to the school.
Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes, AVEC program Coordinator, invited the participants to a spiritual start through a prayer song, followed by a fantasy meditation and body awareness reflection. The teachers found this a good tool to be spiritually fit and physically and mentally relaxed for the session ahead. Mr. Rochwyn then briefed the participants about the many activities of the AVEC and congratulated teh school management and Value education coordinators for their very active support and participation in all AVEC programs.
Fr. Glenn, began his session with these words, "I am here to disturb you! As educators we fall into the trap of daily routine. This session is to help you to see things differently. Perspective changes lead to procedural changes", he affirmed. In fact, the whole session was a call to make 'qualitative changes' and to make paradigm shifts from 'career to vocation', 'from prison to palace', from 'survival to significance'. Every educator is called to be a Value Guru!
With the help of a number of interactive exercises, a creative PowerPoint presentation and the use of innumerable anecdotes from everyday life, Fr. Glenn was able to draw the attention of the teachers to understand the 'mind of the young' and their attitudes to six major dimensions of their lives. "As Value Gurus, we have three choices: do nothing, or use grandmother's solutions for today, or to get involved in the lives of the young by making necessary 'value shifts' in our own lives first", he stressed.
The power of one's WORD and the need to 'change one's word to change one's world' was also focused. Management By Values (MBV), was a wonderful occasion for the teachers to focus on their 'personal core values' and align themselves with their 'core values of the institution'. Through a number of interactive moments, the teachers were able to plot themselves on the 'Brian Hall- Benjamin Tonna Value Map'. This was an eye opener to many and an occasion to make the necessary 'value shifts' to reach a higher value consciousness. The use of many examples, from the bible and great personalities' made the picture a lot more clearer.
At the end of the session, Ms. Regina Fererria, proposed the vote of thanks. She very beautifully summed up the entire session and assured the speakers of their commitment to make the 'qualitative changes' that would have a ripple effect in the lives of their young students.
The following comments were recorded in the AVEC appreciation log book:
"Truly, a very disturbing teacher orientation" - Mrs. M. Anthony
We pray God's blessing on each one, especially during this new scholastic year, as you venture into teh 90th anniversary of the school. Be blessed abundantly!