MOUNT MARY'S HIGH SCHOOL, BANDRA: BOARD OF HONOUR 2012-13 LEADERSHIP 

June 26: 2012: The Board of Honour 2012-13 of Mount Mary's High School, Bandra had a full-day's Value based Leadership Program that was conducted by Fr. Glenford Lowe and Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes in the school auditorium. Sr. Eliza Joseph., principal of the school welcomed the guest speakers to the school and wished the students a fruitful Leadership Orientation Program. Fourteen Leaders from the School Board of Honour participated.

The Program  started with a Prayer song 'Dil Ke Mandir Mei", after which Mr. Fernandes took the young leaders on a fantasy trip that helped them to refocus on the Divine and to calm down too. The students were enlightened on the contributions that AVEC makes in the ABE schools of Mumbai.

The next four hours were moments of deep reflection, interactive discussions, creative activities and new learning. The young leaders were invited to focus on the following themes: The importance of Self awareness, the Power of an Illumining Vision, the Strategy of SMART Planning, the Synergy in sharing the Vision as a Team, the Energy In Thinking Higher and more Creatively, the need to Share and Delegate Power Responsibly, Seeing Solutions in every Problem and Obstacle, Living by the Clock and Time Management, Taking the time daily to Renew Oneself on all dimensions of 'Body-Mind-Heart-Soul' and the final Contribution to Society - a Lasting Legacy! Four hours of intense Leadership skills that were value based and very practical too.

At the end of the session, the song "Go Light Your World' was played in keeping with the motto of the School 'Illumine and Warm'. Ms. Sneha Gondawane proposed the Vote of Thanks on behalf of the managements and the Board of Honour 2012-13.

 Here are some of the impressions written by the participants in the AVEC log book
:
"Thank you Father Glenn because we have learnt many good and new things" Saba Mansoori X-A

 "Thank you Father Glenn! You are my idol now. My mother was my idol but now.. you have replaced her. This day will be the best and most memorable day of 2012. - Preeti Yadav X-B

 "We enjoyed your company alot.Thanks for your guidance" - Mehak Ali - Head Girl
"We learnt Good Leadership Values from you. thank you" - Namrah Khatri

Congrats to all the Board of Honour and we wish you all the best in your Leadership role during this scholastic year 12012-13. God bless you all.

St. JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL - VILE PARLE: TEACHERS' ORIENTATION PROGRAM

June 25, 2012: At the invitation of Sr. Eliza Joseph, Principal of St. Joseph's High School, Vile Parle, the AVEC Team organized a day's Value Orientation Program for fifty one teachers. The theme for the Value Orientation Program was: "Managing By Values". Fr. Glenford Lowe, Director of AVEC and Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes, AVEC Coordinator organized the three hour program. 

 Mr. Rochwyn started the session with a Prayer Song "Go Light Your World". It was an invitation at the very outset, to make a difference in the World around. Mr. Fernandes, then took the teachers through a fantasy meditation that helped them to calm down and refocus on the program ahead. He then briefed the teachers about the various objectives and activities of AVEC through a brief PowerPoint presentation. He then introduced Fr. Glenn to the participants.

 Fr. Lowe started by challenging the teachers to set their perspectives right from the start. "What you see is what you get," he kept repeating over and over again. Perspective changes lead to procedural changes. He also took the teachers through a list of 'perspective movements' and to let go of unnecessary assumptions that blur our vision and vocation as Educators of the young.  

                                  

 Through a variety of creative and down-to-earth examples, Fr. Lowe brought home the point that our words create our world. He invited the teachers to plot the graph of their personal values and institutional values and to check out one's level of alignment. The significance of one's life is determined by the level of the alignment of values. 

 In the final session, using the 'Hall-Tonna Value Map', the participants were once again able to check out their level of Value consciousness and to their perception to the world and their response to it. The teachers found this whole exercise very fruitful and a good indicator to determine where one stands in relation to one's values. Through a small creative puzzle, the teachers also understood the importance of giving everyone their rightful space within the school community.  

                                 

 The vote of thanks was given by Ms. Zarine.

The following words of appreciation were found in the AVEC log book by some of the participants:

"This session was very innovative, interesting and inspiring. We have learnt many values which we can instill in our children. We appreciate Fr. Glenn and his associate for giving us such a wonderful talk. We wish them good luck and God bless them both" - Lily Pitale

"The session was definitely a very meaningful one, where each one of us rediscovered ourselves. The values are known to us but it is a need in the present situation in which our children need to be taught so that they can lead a balanced life between values imparted by us and values taught by the Mass Media. Last, but not the least, as Shiv Khera says, "Winners don't do different things, they do thing differently. We surely will be winners" - Zarine

 "The session made us think and realize our purpose and our vocation: we are here at teachers for the students and hence we have to think with our heads and feel with our hearts. The Values introduced us to the importance of Values and without it our lives would be meaningless. Lastly, we can make our lives and the lives of our students significant, when we ourselves imbibe these values and our students see them in us. Thank you and God bless you." - Queenie D'Souza

Thanks to one and all for your participation, attentiveness and commitment to 'Manage Your Lives By Values" - Fr. Glenford Lowe, AVEC Director

MOUNT MARY’S CONVENT HIGH SCHOOL, BANDRA: TEACHERS’ ORIENTATION PROGRAM

June 24, 2012: At the request of the Principal, Sr.Stella John, the AVEC team conducted a Value Orientation Program for forty five teachers in the school auditorium. The theme for the Orientation was “Management By Values” (MBV). It was a novel presentation for many. Sr. Stella, Principal, welcomed the guest speakers to the school and invited the teachers to take full advantage of the opportunity offered. This was a first-of-its-kind seminar in the school

 “Go Light Your World” was a beautiful prayer song that set the tone for the program. “Make a significant contribution to the world around you by the values that you live in your lifestyle” was an underlying invitation to all. Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes, AVEC Coordinator, welcomed the participants on behalf of AVEC. He conducted a fantasy meditation and focused on the quality of a rhythmic breathing technique to calm one’s self. He then briefed the participants about the Objectives and projects of the AVEC across the ABE schools of Mumbai, through the Twelve Diamond Values.

Fr. Glenford Lowe, Director of AVEC, then took the participants on a ‘roller-coaster’ adventure through three sessions that mainly focused on: ‘Having a Better Perspective of Life by Clarifying One’s Assumptions’, ‘Aligning One’s Personal Values with that of the Institution’s Values’ and finally, ‘Discovering One’s Level of Value Consciousness on the Hall-Tonna Value Map’. The session was very intense, practical and challenging to one and all. The numerous personal examples gave an added touch of truth to the whole session on MBV.

 Ms. Sheela Simon, proposed the vote of thanks on behalf of all the participants.

The following comments were made by the teachers in the AVEC appreciation log book:

“This session was very enlightening – we will definitely change our world by changing our words. We will look at things differently and find solutions to problems around us. We will accept new things and change accordingly” ­­­Cheryl Pereira

 “A very motivating session, world will change for better if we change our words too. Shall begin anew with an optimistic view, finding value based solutions to the problems.”Ms. Anju Seth (MMC)