CAMPION SCHOOL - FORT: STD IX ORIENTATION

CAMPION SCHOOL - FORT: STD IX VALUE ORIENTATION 

June 24, 2014

Another meaningful and fruitful day spent in the company of 69 young STD IX students of Campion School - Fort, Mumbai. Mr. Paul Machado, Principal of the school, warmly welcomed Fr. Glenford Lowe and Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes to the school and invited the students to focus on the very theme itself - "My Life: A Valued Journey". He then introduced the guest speakers. A prayer song  Sarwesham Swastir Bhavatu, with powerful interfaith video clips, set a spiritual tone to the program ahead. Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes took the young students through a few moments of prayerful meditation and awareness of themselves. The entire exercise enabled the students to calm down and relax.

 The next part of the session focused on the very theme, 'My Life: A Valued Journey'. "No matter what your past has been, how battered, torn, abused and broken it may be, today's session is an opportunity to reset your life and walk by a value compass", he said. The secret of a fruitful and meaningful life is simply this; listen to your inner voice! Life offers us numerous choices, and its easy to be influenced by peer pressure, Bollywood models and immature decisions. Living a life of constant regret can be avoided if one listens to one's inner voice. "In life, direction in life is more important than velocity. It's more important to be on the right track than to run fast", he responded.

The students were guided on four important dimensions, that are also stressed by the school's Jesuit formation: Physical, Intellectual, Social and Spiritual dimensions. Through the 'Now moment' exercise the students were invited to listen attentively to their inner voice chatter. The 'spiral of life' exercise enabled the students to look at their past and to have the courage to accept the whole package of good and not so good experiences. Connecting the dots wasn't an easy part of the exercise. Young people today are so easily disconnected with their past. The 'reorganizing the future' exercise invited the students to make the necessary shifts in the right valued direction and to identity their 'teenage' problems and seek help from significant others in their lives.

At the end of the session, Mr. Machado invited the students to focus on three important aspects: "How did you feel before you entered this room, what are the learning moments of this session and finally, what is your personal commitments to make a difference and leave a credible foot print?" Many students also stood up to share their learning experiences of the day.

The session ended with the hymn, Go Light your World. 

 A few students came forward to write their comments in the AVEC log book:
"I will certainly remember all things mentioned, a great experience and very helpful" -  Vedant Talreja
"It seemed like Fr. Glenn knew all the problems of a child my age, and he also knew all their solutions.  Am feeling very content" -  Dhruv Chandel

 "Remembering about the past was extremely helpful. Learned a lot in our two hour sessions and I will cherish these fruitful moments forever" -  Sanay Doshi 
"Fr. Glenn has a deep insight on many teen problems faced. I think that Fr. Glenn has helped us very much and also it was brilliant to hear Father speak. 'Always remember your inner voice' "- Rayan Badheka IX B

Congratulations to all the young students of STD IX for your very attentive listening and active participation in the whole Value orientation session.

God bless you all and may God's blessings be upon each one as you journey through life in a meaningful and significant way.

CAMPION SCHOOL - FORT: STD VII VALUE ORIENTATION

CAMPION SCHOOL - FORT: STD VII ORIENTATION

June 23, 2014

Seventy students of STD VII from Campion School were in for a surprise today. AVEC organized a half-day Value Orientation program on the theme: 'My Life - A Valued Journey'. Mr. Paul Machado, Principal of the school, warmly welcomed and introduced the two guest speakers to the young students.  A spiritual tone was set in place, right from the start, with a powerful prayer song Sarvesham, Swastir Bhavatu. The visual and the words itself were inspiring and soothing too. Mr. Fernandes, then took the students through a short, but very meaningful, fantasy meditation that enabled them to calm down and relax. The prayer moment was also an occasion to get in touch with one's inner calling.

Fr. Glenn tested the students with simple everyday choices. "Without a Value Compass, direction in life is impossible. It's not how fast you run in life that matters, but, whether one is on the right track. Value Education sets one on this right track", he urged the students. Picking up three 'Making A Difference' stories of Ms. Kia Scherr, Ryan Hreljac and Malala Yousefzai, he challenged the students to start living their lives on a higher standard of significant contribution to society.

He took the students through four important phases in one's journey of life: the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual dimensions of life. The students were invited to spend time reflecting on their present 'now moment', their past 'joyful and sad' moments, their future 'dreams and aspirations' and then finally, on their problems and difficulties in life. With the help of a very creative and practical handout, the students were asked to plot their own 'spiral of life' and 'wheel of life' moments and to reset their future based on appropriate values.

Time passed quickly. The session ended with an invitation to go 'Carry their Candles' and brighten their world through meaningful living. Finally, Mr. Machado took the students through a short review process to help them to put into practice the many insights learnt during the session.

 A few students took the time to write their comments in the AVEC log book:
"The session helped me to listen to my inner self" -  Aryaan Majumdar VII B
"The session taught me that if life if I run faster than the others but without the right direction, I will reach no where"  Sidhaant Mashruwala VII-B

"This session taught and enlightened me on how to live a simple value based life myself and also contribute meaningfully to society" -  Harshwardhan Zaveri VII B

"This session gave me a goal to strive for and live my life without anger and revenge. It taught me to help people who have less than me" -  Aditya Vencatesan Basu VII-A

 "This session enabled me to think about my past and not make similar mistakes in the future and forgive all" -  Aryan Chopra VII A
 "This was a very inspiring and helpful session. This talk taught me that I should set goals and strive to achieve them. I learnt that one should get M.A.D - Make A Difference!"  - Ojos Date VII A

Congratulations to all the students for their whole hearted cooperation and active participation in this Value Orientation Program. May God bless you all as you strive to make this world a better place to live.

OUR LADY OF HEALTH HIGH SCHOOL, SAHAR: TEACHERS' ORIENTATION

OUR LADY OF HEALTH - SAHAR: TEACHERS' ORIENTATION

June 21, 2014

Good fortune came this way when a prior booking was cancelled in another school. Fr. Norbert grabbed the opportunity immediately to invite the AVEC team for a full day's Teachers' orientation program for 68 Teachers of Our Lady of Health High School- Sahar. Thanks to a warm reception received and the words of welcome by the school's principal, Fr. Nobert. He thanked AVEC for the important role they play in the Archdiocese in teh care and promotion of Value Education.

Mr. Rochwyn started off the session by invoking God's blessings for the year ahead through a prayer song. A spiritual tone was added to the program when Mr. Fernandes accompanied the teachers through a short but meaningful fantasy meditation and awareness exercise. The teachers were able to calm down and dispel all the tiredness and negativity. He then introduced Fr. Lowe and the many activities conducted by AVEC over the last few years. They were amazed to learn that AVEC had reached out to over 130 schools, 19,500 students and over 7,300 Teachers through their animation and orientation programs!

Fr. Glenn started off in his typical 'disturbing style'. Perspective changes and small qualitative changes are essential to having quantitative changes. Value shifts are the need of the hour. The world of the young today has changed drastically and their attitudes to life are also affected by it. As an educator we have three choices in which to respond: do nothing, or seek grandmother's solutions for today or be honest enough and try to respond in small but consistent ways to change their attitudes to life and the world. The six pain points of the youth were touched upon with very vivid examples that made it easier to comprehend the 'emergency state' in which are kids are today.

 Through the use of a number of everyday examples, a creative PowerPoint presentation and coupled with a lot of humor and deep insights, the teachers were invited to make shifts from 'prison to palace', from 'career to vocation', from 'referee to Guru', from a phase of 'survival to significance'.  "All shifts are difficult to make and back sliding is a common part of human nature. Until and unless we embrace values and make them our new lifestyle, their will be very little impact on our role as teachers.

 The Brian Hall-Benjamin Tonna Value Map was an eye opener to many and an opportunity to refocus on their personal lifestyle and make the necessary shifts to more to a higher phase of significance and contribution. The teachers were also challenged to develop the necessary skills needed for this higher phase of living. the examples for 'what you see is what you get' seemed very appropriate and practical too. The participants were able to align themselves and connect easily to the many school situations. At the end of a four hour session, that seemed to pass by so quickly, the teachers felt that this entire session was really worthwhile and necessary at the start of the new scholastic year.

Mrs. Alice Pannikal, proposed the vote and thanks and assured AVEC that the school was a highly value based environment that was conducive for making greater 'qualitative changes' in the lives of their students too.

The following comment was entered in the AVEC log book:

"The seminar was very inspiring and has motivated each one of us to be a better person, teacher and human being. Thank you for coming up with such a great session. Best of luck for the future and hope we have many more such inspiring and motivating seminars"

AVEC wishes to place on record their sincere appreciation for their warm hospitality and very active participation in the entire session. Thanks to Fr. Norbert for his very personal care and hospitality offered.
We pray God's blessings on your school and assure you of our whole hearted cooperation in promotion of Value Education. 

CONVENT GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL - PRABHADEVI: TEACHERS' ORIENTATION

CONVENT GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL : PRABHADEVI

TEACHERS' ORIENTATION PROGRAM

June 18, 2014

This scholastic year 2014-15, has been an opportunity of 'many firsts'! For the first time, AVEC had the privilege of conducting a full day's Value Education Orientation Program for 52 teachers of Convent Girls High School, Prabhadevi. Mrs. Marie Pereira, senior supervisor, welcomed Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes and Fr. Glenford Lowe to the school. Sr. Stella Marathi, Principal of the school received the tow speakers very warmly.

 Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes, thanked the management of the school for their kind welcome. The session began with an interfaith prayer song, invoking God's blessings for peace and abundance for the new scholastic year ahead. He invited the teachers to put aside all their distractions and anxieties and introduced them to a fantasy meditation and a few moments of personal self awareness. This set the spiritual tone to the session that followed. He took the opportunity to brief the teachers about the many activities of AVEC. Fr. Glenn was then introduced to the participants.

 The four hours that followed were indeed challenging, motivating and yet, very practical. "This session is about seeing things differently. Perspective changes set in procedural changes. Value Education enables one to make 'qualitative changes' and for this the teacher has to make necessary shifts", he said. He explained, "The shifts are: from Career to Vocation, from Prison to Palace, from Referee to Coach, from Hurting Words to Kinder Ones, and from Survival and from Survival Lifestyles to being Significant Value Gurus! This is a life time journey, but if embraced, the change is drastic and its ripple effect is felt all through."

Through a number of very day anecdotes, a creative PowerPoint presentation, coupled with a lot of humor and deep insights into the world and attitudes of the young, the teachers were able to understand the who meaning and importance of  'Management By Values' ( MBV). The entire session provided the teachers to 'look within' and seek relevant responses to making their home, school and society a 'valued environment'. The simple interactive exercises and the final Brian Hall-Benjamin Tonna Value Map enabled the teachers to identify their present lifestyle and to make the necessary value shifts in their own personal life first.

 The teachers were so engrossed in the session that they did not realize how quickly the time flew past. At the end of the session, Ms Chaitra proposed the vote of thanks.

The following comments were entered in the AVEC log book:

"Reflective and thought provoking" -  S. Subramaniam

 "We had a very informative and interactive orientation at Convent Girls' High School. Thank you for being a magician in our lives and bringing about a change in all of us" -  Mrs. Bhareti Nair

Congratulations to the management and staff of Convent Girls' High School for the good 100% results.

Thanks to one and all for your very kind hospitality and participation in the 'Management By Values' Orientation Program. God bless you all during this new scholastic year 2014-15.

CAMPION SCHOOL : FORT, LEADERSHIP ORIENTATION PROGRAM

CAMPION SCHOOL : LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM

June 17, 2014

Thanks to an earlier booking, Campion School - Fort, will have 5 sessions animated by AVEC this year! The first session, today, was a 'LEADERSHIFT PROGRAM', attended by 32 young leaders from Std VIII-IX. Mr. Paul Machado, Principal of the school, warmly welcomed Fr. Glenn Lowe and Mr. Rochwyn and hoped that the next five hours would be a fruitful learning experience for all. The young leaders were then introduced to a short moment of prayer, reflection and meditation. Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes guided the leaders to get in touch with their inner being, to focus on their breath and sense the sacred spark within. The exercise truly calmed them down.

 Fr. Glenn started off with a call to make a 'LEADERSHIFT'. "As leaders of this institution, your call to be leaders is more than just seeing to discipline. Grab this opportunity to pick up the essential elements of effective leadership", he said. "This session is about making, small but effective, qualitative changes and shifts", he added. Through a number of  interactive activities, insightful leadership traits were touched upon. The U@50 speech by Jonathan Reed set the tone for new perspective changes.

The students were guided on the importance of Self Awareness, Vision, Planning, Team Work, Creativity, Responsible Delegation, Problem Solving and Communication, Time Management, Personal Renewal and Leaving a Legacy. Deep insights were discussed through the use of marbles, scrabble, strings, bouncing balls, sweets, balloons, ropes, paper and a plastic rod! Who would ever believe, that the simple things of everyday playtime would teach us lasting leadership values?

Five hours.... and wow!!! The entire session was lively, creative, participative and interactive. One could sense a new determination and passion among the young 32 leaders to make a difference and to align themselves with the vision and values that this prestigious institution, has over the many years, stood for. At the end of the session, Mr. Machado took the opportunity to thanks AVEC for this Leadershift program and invited the students to personally write down an essay on the entire day's inputs.

 At the end of the session, a number of students came forward to write their comments in the AVEC log book:

Siddesh Kataria: "It was an amazing experience attending this workshop I have learnt many values from here"

Shayar Shah: "These five hours have enlightened me and affected me a lot in the positive side and I learnt a lot about life and I’ll definitely change"

Parshva Jhaveri: "Fr. Glenn eliminated all our doubts and confusion and made us realize the potential energy of our life"

Joshua Machado: "I have been enlightened and inspired by this little talk and hopefully it will bring about a change in me"

Ansh Doshi: "We were inspired and enlightened by this session. Fr. Glenn taught us how to live life to the fullest, live life correctly and rightfully. “The world must be better because you walked through.” Some words Fr. Glenn said have clicked in our minds and will stay forever"

Anant Kedia: "I learned how to see things differently"

Dhruv Agarwal: "I thank Fr. Glenn for this session as it has changed my view of how a leader should be and I will implement his techniques in life"

Thanks to the Management and students of Campion School for this opportunity to motivate and animate the 32 Young leaders through this Leadershift Orientation program.
Thanks in a special way, to Mr. Paul Machado, Principal of the school, for his very warm welcome and hospitality.
We pray God's blessings on your institution and may this scholastic year 2014-15, be a Valued journey for all.