HOLY FAMILY HIGH SCHOOL- PRESTONSAGAR, CHEMBUR: STD IX Orientation

HOLY FAMILY HIGH SCHOOL - PRESTONSAGAR: STD IX VALUE ORIENTATION

Feb. 11, 2014: Thanks to the Principal, Mrs. Nirmala Fernandes and the Value Education Coordinator  Teacher Katherine Joshi, that 130 students of STD IX were able to spend two hours of quality time together with the AVEC resource personnel Fr. Glenford Lowe and Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes. The session began with a few introductory words by Mrs. Catherine Joshi. She invited the students to take this opportunity that came their way as an opportunity to change and see life differently through a value lens. 

 Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes invited the students to take the first few minutes to relax and focus themselves on the session ahead, by assisting them through a fantasy meditation that took them through their school days. They were asked exhale everything that was negative, denergizing and toxic and to inhale values and virtues that are good, positive and energizing. The students really took this entire moment of silence seriously. He then introduced Fr. Glenn to the students while also making mention of his noble deed in donating his kidney to a fellow Salesian priest in 2011.

Fr. Glenford then took over the program to motivate and guide the students to make 'Qualitative Changes' rather than mere 'Quantitative changes' in one's life. "Life offers us plenty of choices and it is a myth to believe that we can choose all of them. Value Education gives us the right perspective to make responsible choices", he said. He added, "This session is about change and no matter what your past has been ' because of the choices you made, here is an opportunity to start afresh and make small 'Qualitative changes' that will also lead to 'quantitative changes'.

He focused on four important dimensions of life's journey: Listen Attentively, Revisit your Past, Reorganize your Future and rite your problems on the sand. A well prepared handout enabled the students to look at their life's journey. "During the last twelve of your fifteen years you have been studying various subjects, today, you have an opportunity to study on the most important subject 'YOU'", he stressed. The students took the time to look at their 'Now' moment - the various dimensions of 'Body-mind-Heart-Soul-Earth' and with the help of a number of true life examples and motivational insights, the students were able to look at their lives a lot more honestly and meaningfully.

The 'Spiral of Life' exercise was an opportunity to delve into the past, while the exercise on the 'Wheel of Life' threw light on the future that they needed to reorganize. Through a very playful and simple reflection, the young students were able to identify their areas of concern that needed to be changed. The two hours just flew by!

At the end of the session, a number of students came forward to express their words of appreciation for this novel session on Value Education.
Below are a few notes of appreciation that were entered in the AVEC log book:
"I would like to thank Fr. Glenn and say that he is such a motivating person and help in a students' life. I consider him as a role model" -  Adithya Acharya IX-A

 "Life is made up of choices we make. i loved your session and enjoyed it immensely. Thank you and come again" - Shalet Serrao IX-B
"Life is just unpredictable. It was a pleasure having you here and sharing your views. Hope to see you all again in school" - Jessica Cherian IX-A

 "It was a pleasure to have you here. I really enjoyed the session a lot. We revisited our past. Thank you for the precious time to have taken to come here and give us so much values" -  Aarti Vijayaraghavan IX-B

 "I would like to say that before I came to this session, I was feeling my life very boring and upset. I really enjoyed this session. We just needed to discover new things in us" - Sameer Khadtale IX-A

 "I would like to thank 'AVEC Mumbai' for conducting a great session on Values in our school and enlightening us with such noble thoughts" - Arjun Bharadway IX-A Head Boy

Congratulation to all the students, staff and Management of Holy Family High School - Prestonsagar, Chembur for your whole hearted participation in all our AVEC programs and competitions. I personally would rate the performance of your students as one of the best that I have come across in my last five years as Director of AVEC" - Fr. Glenford Lowe

VALUES FOR THE YATRA February 2014

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) 

Resources for Value Education

To read or download the Values for the Yatra Feb 2014

please click on the link given below:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/205975136/VALUES-FOR-THE-YATRA-February-2014

FR. AGNEL'S MULTIPURPOSE SCHOOL - VASHI: LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Fr. AGNEL'S MULTIPURPOSE SCHOOL - VASHI: LEADERSHIP ORIENTATION

Feb 7, 2014: AVEC began it's 2014 Value Orientation Programs with a full day's Leadership Program for the young Leaders of Fr. Agnel's Multipurpose School - Vashi. Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes and Fr. Glenford were warmly welcomed by the managing Director Fr. Saturnino Almeida, Principal Mrs. Snigdha Roy, and Value Education Coordinators and Vice Principal Mrs. Vijaya Vaithilingam and Mr. Tejas. The young Leaders were in for a five hour 'LEADERSHIFT through Values' Orientation Program.

 Mrs. Vijaya introduced the resource personnel to the leaders and then after an initial fantasy meditation conducted by Mr. Rochwyn, the young leaders were set into a serene mood. He then introduced Fr. Glenford and the many activities that AVEC conducts across the Archdiocesan schools in Mumbai.

Fr. Glenn began the session with enabling the students to make 'intelligent shifts' in their leadership styles and to transcend the mediocre leadership styles so prevalent today in the world of politics or business. The poem ' Lost Generation' by Jonathan Reed set the note to have the courage to make SHIFTS that are wholesome and purposeful towards Self, Others, the World and to the Divine. The young leaders were then divided into Four Teams: Lively Sixes, Gen Changers, Future Group and Phoenix. The Teams took part in the various activity based moments that were coupled with deep sharing on one's personal lives and experiences.

The Leadershift Orientation Program focused a lot on the necessary values that Leaders need to acquire and live. "As Leaders in this school, your role must go beyond mere agents of discipline", he advised them. The young leaders were then taken through a battery of reflections and change in attitudes towards relevant leadership patters. The Orientation Program helped the leaders to find answers to the following Questions: Who am I? Where do I want to go and who do I want to be? How do I get there to my new point of arrival? Who are those who journey with me as a Team? How can I achieve my task differently? How can I can responsibly and delegate power? How do I handle conflicts and problems? How do i manage and invest in my Time? How do I leave a legacy? What would I like to be remembered for at the end of my life's journey?

At the end of the session the young leaders had discussed on Self Awareness, Vision, Goal Setting, Creativity, Responsibility, Delegation and Communication, Time Management and Wholesome living on Body-Mind-Heart-Soul dimensions and leaving a legacy of love for all to follow. Five hours passed so quickly that the young leaders could not believe it. So much was learnt in such a short span. The students expressed their gratitude for the wonderful 'Leadershift Orientation program - the first of its kind organized by AVEC and wished for more int eh near future.

 In the end, a few students wrote their comments in the AVEC appreciation log book:

I got to learn a lot from the workshop not just about Leadership but also about myself. I now realize on areas I need to work on. My perspective of being and working towards being a good leader has been changed and will try my best towards all that I learnt today.  Sashbit Nair

 A mind boggling session to say the best , complex things explained in an extremely simple manner. It will bring out the best in me. Rishikash Ganguly.

Thank you so much Father. You really have given us a new out look to our duties as Leaders. We have finally decided what we want to do with our life and have understood that life is restricted to much more than academics. We leaders have gained inspiration from your meaningful words. Thank you so much once again. Abhishek Krishnamurthy.

 Extremely superb! Highly recommended for all. Thank you Fr. Glen.  Kopal

This Seminar was a learning experience and I enjoyed it. Shahana

It was a refreshing and rejuvenating experience which helps us to think out of the box and constantly challenge ourselves to be better human beings. Sonali  Vaidya.

Had a wonderful time. All the things said by Father were really encouraging and I’ll try to implement them throughout my tenure. Vaishnavi

 Amazing experience. Imbibed Values for life. Shriya Murthy

Awesome experience very motivating Sakhi Mhatre.

Today I came to know what is real Leadership. Dhanashree. H

This is my 3^rd seminar with Fr. Glen and every time it creates a huge impact in my life. Chantelle George

DON BOSCO HIGH SCHOOL - MATUNGA: STD X D / E ORIENTATION

DON BOSCO HIGH SCHOOL - MATUNGA: 

VALUE EDUCATION ORIENTATION for STD X D / E

November 26, 2013: Fr. Glenford Lowe spent two sessions with ninety five STD X  students of Don Bosco High School Matunga. The theme for the day was "Living by a Value Compass'. He enabled to students to focus on the gift of the present NOW by listening attentively to their inner self. In the second session, like Steve Jobs, the students were invited to 'connect the dots' of their past on the Spiral of Life and finally to Reorganize their future by resetting their 'Wheel of Life'.

In a very playful way, yet with a ting of deep insights and moments for personal reflection and group sharing, the young students were invited to focus on life beyond their examinations. One could see the seriousness with which the students ran through their entire life in a span of an hour and a half. Speaking on various issues that defocuses a young mind and heart, Fr. Glenn was able to draw the attention of all the students to life their lives guided by a Value Compass.

After the session, a number of students came forward to express their sentiments of gratitude, while a few wrote their comments int eh AVEC logbook:

"Thank you Fr. Glenn for this enlightening session" 

"Gave a chance to improve our life" -  Masin Patel X-D

 "Thank you Fr. Glenn. You gave us a meaning of life and the why to life" -  Sarvesh X-D

"Thank you for making us aware of our life" -  Akash Balla X-D

"Thank you Fr. Glenn for your motivational words" - Mohit Thapar X-D

"It was a pretty good session with you Fr. Glenn loved it a lot" - Yash Ramani X-E

"Today I understood that life is long and mistakes are a mere part of it. Thank you for lightening up our future" -  Shivansh X-E

"Thanks a lot ....we came to know the real meaning of life" -  Vinyas Shetty X-E

""Thank you for your presence" - Donald Fernandes X-E

"After listening to what Fr. Glenn said, I will change my life by changing my attitude, discipline and love for nature" - Joel D'Souza X-E

"We will always remember you with love" - Alister Rebello X-E

"Thank you Fr. Glenn for changing our attitude towards life and also enlightening our future" - Subhjit X-E 

Congratulations to all the students for participating so very attentively all through the session and making a difference in their attitude to life. May God bless you educative journey with much meaning and hope. - Fr. Glenn Lowe