ST. DOMINIC SAVIO HIGH SCHOOL, ANDHERI: LEADERS’ ORIENTATION PROGRAM

July 11, 2012: Forty three young leaders from St. Dominic Savio High School, Andheri attended a day’s Leaders’ Orientation Program organized by AVEC. Fr. Godfrey D’Souza, Rector of the school, welcomed the guest speakers Fr. Glenford Lowe, Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes and Fr. Osborn Futardo and introduced them too. Thanks to the Value Education Coordinator, Mrs. Vaidya for planning the event for the students. Floral bouquets were presented by the students to all the animators.

 Mr. Rochwyn introduced the session by a Prayer song, a Story and a Fantasy Meditation that enabled the students to relax and get set for the sessions ahead. The student-leaders really took the meditation seriously. He then introduced Fr. Glenn to the leaders.

 The Leadership session “Leading By Values” focused on various relevant topics such as: The Need for Self Awareness, the Power of a Vision and clear Goals, the Strength in Planning, the Synergy in Team Building, the Purpose of Creativity, the Resilience in facing Obstacles, the Priority of Time Management, the Balance in Daily Renewal and the Difference in Leaving a Legacy. Through a variety of value based activities and interactive sessions, the student leaders were able to imbibe a lot of leadership qualities and attributes. Using paper, balloons, ropes, twisted hands, sweets, bouncing magic balls, scrabble coins, marbles and Mikado Sticks, the leaders were engaged in team work and personal reflections too.

 Four hours of Value based leadership were truly well spent! The session ended with a vote of thanks by Mrs. Vidhya.

The following comments were entered by the leaders in the AVEC log book:

“It was an inspiring session and it also created a positive environment” – Dhruvit Metha IX-A

 “Father Glenn is very interactive and always helps to foster Values in us” ­ Declan Rego IX-A

“A great program which really turned us ‘UP SIDE DOWN’… we surely shall be great leaders” ­– Shantanu Naik X A

“This was a great inspiration of Leadership. Father Glenn gave us Values of Leadership and how to succeed in a different and a happier way” – Shubham Rasam VIII A

“It was a motivation session, which actually inspired me about team work, time management. In future, I will always hope for the best and will be a good leader” – Abhishek Kini X B

“I’ve met Fr. Glenn before as well. He was in GRO MO 2010. He is just as cheerful now as he was then!” – Christopher Baretto X A

“Thank you Fr. Glenn for this wonderful experience with you. We got the Values of good Leadership and how to succeed in life too”  ­Brian D’Souza X B

“You are inspiring, fun-loving, and totally interactive Fr. Glenn. A great experience to be with you” ­– Delvin Fernandes IX A

Congrats to all the budding leaders of the school and I pray God's blessings on you all!!
Thank you, It was great being with you all....

ST. TERESA'S HIGH SCHOOL - GIRGAUM: TEACHERS' ORIENTATION PROGRAM

July 10, 2012: At the invitation of the Principal, Fr. Dennis Gonsalves, AVEC organized a day's Value Orientation Seminar for forty seven teachers of the primary and secondary sections. Mrs. Sheetal D'Mello, School Value Education Coordinator welcomed the guests and introduced the speakers to the teachers. The theme for the day was: "Management By Values" which was held in three sessions.

 Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes, AVEC Program Coordinator, began the program with a brief introduction and set the mood going with a beautiful prayer song 'Go Light Your World'. A fantasy meditation followed that also focused on one's rhythmic breathing process. The exercise enabled the teachers to relax and to be focused on the program ahead. The main activities and objectives of the AVEC was presented to the participants to enable them to see the bigger picture.

 Fr. Glenford Lowe, Director of AVEC, then took the floor and wished the teachers to be ready for a 'humpty dumpty experience' - to be ready to see with a new perspective. "Perspective changes brings about procedural changes", Fr. Lowe kept emphasizing. The entire program was divided into moments of personal reflection, clarifying of one's own assumptions, reviewing of one's educative style and pedagogical methods. Group work and a touch of humour and real life's experiences added to the quality of the session. The first part of the orientation session focused on clarifying one's assumptions. 

 Following the break, Fr. Lowe dwelt on two very important aspects in the Value Education orientation program: Aligning one's personal values with the institutional values, and 'Managing By Values' by plotting one's life on the 'Brian Hall-Benjamin Tonna Value Map'. The sessions were an opportunity for the teachers to gauge where they  stand in relation to their Values and their response to life's priorities: Moving from Survival to Stability to Success and finally to Significance. The session was very educative and challenging too.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Mrs. Romona Lewis on behalf of the management and teaching staff. She hoped that many more such opportunities be offered to benefit the educative journey of the school and the students.

The following comments were entered in the AVEC appreciation log book:

"Amazing teaching. Mind blowing experience. Thanks a lot. God bless" -  Jayshree N

 "Much needed seminar. Enjoyable as well as informative. Thanks and hope to see you all again" - Louella Fernandes

 "Very educative and informative. Very apt and applicable in today's times" - Mrs. Sara Rodrigues

 "It was a very interesting and educative session. It made me to understand the present developmental skills of mine and which in turn calls me to go further" - Sr. Annie

 "A much needed orientation to help us once again to be compassionate and passionate about our profession and understand the growing young. Thank you" - Clara

 "Very enriching. looking forward to more. An absolutely awesome experience! God bless"  Romona Lewis

Wish you all the best and God's abundant blessings as you take your students and school on the Valued Path of life and humanity.

HOLY FAMILY HIGH SCHOOL, PESTOM SAGAR - CHEMBUR: STD X RETREAT

July 8, 2012: The AVEC Team today held a one day Retreat at holy Family High School, Chembur, for the students of standard Ten. In all, a hundred and twenty six students participated in this unique retreat experience that turned out to be a life changing experience for many. Fr. Francis Carvalho, Manager of the school was also present to welcome Fr. Glenford Lowe and Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes. Mrs. Nirmala Fernandes, Principal of the school, welcomed the two guest speakers and invited the students to make the best of this experience. 

 Mr. Fernandes, AVEC coordinator, began the program with a Prayer Song that spoke of God's presence everywhere. He then initiated the students into a fantasy meditation that enabled the students to relax and become more focused. He took the opportunity to introduce Fr. Glenn to the students. Fr. Lowe began his session by helping the students to know what is a 'Retreat' and its importance in a person's life. "You need to regularly take a step back at look at life from a distance to appreciate it and move on with greater passion and excellence", he said.

The students then took the time to focus on their journey of life using the metaphor of a RIVER. Taking the students through a personal journey along the fourteen stages of a River flow, every student spent a reflective moment to be grateful to God for each blessing at this particular stage, and also to seek pardon and forgiveness for any wrong doing along this moment. One could notice the sincerity with which the students attuned themselves to personal reflection and silence. "It was a journey worth making," said one of the students.

 In the session, following the break, the students were invited to look at the lives of Jackie Subarido and Kia Scheer, two models of abundant and passionate living! Their life stories were teatimonies of deep faith and a personal belief that no matter the circumstances that cross our lives, we can choose to be loving, compassionate and  forgiving. The 'Twelve Value skills' were an inspiration to all the students to make a difference in their river flow and to add significance to the landscape through which it flows. The personal testimony of  Fr. Lowe in donating his kidney to a fellow Salesian priest was also very inspirational to them.

At the end of the session, student P.V. Krishnan proposed the vote of thanks on behalf of the management and his fellow companions.
The following remarks were entered in the AVEC log book of appreciation:

"It was a very informative and reflective retreat. indeed, it helped us change our lives. hoping to have some more retreats like this in the future too." - Royston Sequeira X-B

 "It was a very good experience. We really learned a lot of new things in this retreat session and we promise to inculcate all the values taught to us" - Meru Kothari X-B


"I learnt a lot about the new methods to lead a life and take up problems with gratitude" - Anubhav Tripathi X - B

 "This retreat was very important for us. As this is our last year and next year we will step out into the world, we promise that we will use all that you have taught us today. thank you. AVEC Rocks!!!" - P.V. Krishnan, Sanat Salian, Akhilesh Ghewede, Jainam Shah - X-A

 "This retreat was an elaborate session. I request you to hold this session every year and guide us. This will definitely change our life" - Prerna Jambhale X -A

 "I got back to my exact path of life. Very helpful and interactive too" - Surbhi Dhoot X - A

 "I would like to keep in touch. It is already helping me out of my problems" - Michele D'Costa X-B.

Student P.V. Krishnan proposing the vote of thanks and requesting that such sessions be held every year for all the students.

On behalf of AVEC, we wish to congratulate the students for their whole hearted cooperation and participation in today's Retreat. Truly, the students proved to be real 'LIGHT HOUSE' students.
God bless your efforts to live a passionate and meaningful life.

St. Aloysius High School, Bandra

ST. ALOYSIUS HIGH SCHOOL, BANDRA - TEACHERS' VALUE ORIENTATION PROGRAM

July 7, 2012: Twenty One teachers from St. Aloysius High School, Bandra participated in a day's Value Orientation Program that was conducted by AVEC in the school AV Hall on July 7, 2012. The session began with a few words of welcome by the Principal, Mrs. Regina Rodricks.

Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes began the program with a Prayer Song "Go Light Your World". The teachers were then taken through a fantasy meditation cum relaxation moment focusing on one's breath. The AVEC objectives and activities were then presented to the Teachers, Mr. Fernandes then introduced Fr. Glenford Lowe to the participants.

 The session focused on three areas: Resetting One's Assumptions, Aligning Personal Values with Institutional Values and Discovering  One's View of Life on the 'Tonna- Hall Value Map'. The three sessions were very reflective coupled with a lot of humor and group discussions. The Teachers were challenged to rethink their vocation as Educators of the young and to contribute significantly to making a Value based environment in the school.

 The whole session was an opportunity to 'Manage By Values'. Looking at the Four Acts of life: To Achieve, To Connect, To Integrate and To be Significant; and the various levels of Value consciousness: Survival, Stability, Success or Significance, the teachers found the entire session an eye opener and an opportunity to take their Vocation as teachers to a higher plane based on solid Values.

 The Principal, Mrs. Regina Rodricks proposed the vote of thanks on behalf of the Management and the Teachers. 

The following were words of appreciation by the teachers in the AVEC log book:

"Today's session gave us a better vision of values, it encouraged us to utilize it in future with our students" - Mrs. Priyanka Patole

 "Very good session. Identification with our value system and to help us from from a state of dependence to interdependence.To clarify our Values so that there is no dichotomy between what we teach and how we behave with our children"  Mrs. Sharon Singh

 "The session was excellent. Thanks a lot to Fr. Glenn for awakening us. We are recharged with confidence and new strength to face new challenges as a teacher. We promise to do our best.Thank you" Mr. IndraKumar 

 "Thank you Father Lowe and Mr. Fernandes for a very inspiring session. You have helped us to open our eyes to realize the needs of our students. They are very special to us and this session will help us to make their lives fruitful" - Regina Rodricks