Values for the Yatra SEPTEMBER 2012

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter September 2012

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‘Called to be ’Value Gurus’ for Today’s Young

Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb

Happy Teachers’ Day

One of my favorite authors and motivational speakers is Dr. Wayne Dyer. In one of his books,

‘The Power of Intention’, he talks about the etymology of the Sanskrit origin of the word

‘GURU’. It is a combination of two words: ‘GU’ means ‘Darkness’ and ‘RU’ means “Light’. So,

‘GURU’ simply translated would mean ‘the one who leads you from darkness to light’. Dr.

Wayne Dyer's own journey to ‘Light’ was inspired by a Harvard professor, Richard Alpert

turned Spiritual Guru by the new name of Ram Dass. Eight words whispered by Guru Ram Dass

changed Dr. Dyer's life forever. He said, “Love everyone, feed people and see God every‐

where.” Words change worlds!

All Educators are ‘People of the Word’. They teach through word, correct through word, act through word and live

by word. No wonder, Benjamin Hall‐Brian Tonna in their Value‐Map list of 125 Values, rates ‘WORD’ as the highest

of all human values. At the heart of every Guru is the invitation to every student‐disciple to move from ‘darkness’ to

‘light’, from ‘ignorance’ to ‘true wisdom’. Every Educator is called by a God given Vocation to share in this ‘lightness

of God’ and to awaken every heart to inner glory, light and peace. Value Education plays an important role in this

‘Guru –Disciple’ encounter to bring light to the darken world.

But sadly, the role of the Educator has be replaced by the commercial ‘Tutionist’. Education to Life and Becoming are

punctuated by the ’immediate test/exam fever’. For many a student, their immediate slogan is “Pass the exam,

please the Parent’. Marks are the yardstick by which a student’s intelligence is gauged. All the time‐tested theories

of education are sidetracked by the present ’Tutionmania’. Sadly, Teachers’ Day may soon be replaced by ‘Tution’s

Day’. Tutions are more expensive but in the long run will be less effective. Tuitions have been the cause of breakup

even in regular family life spent together.

Today, as we celebrate Teachers’ Day, our hearts go out in appreciation to the one’s who brought light to our world.

They have spent hours standing on their feet so that we could fly higher in life. The greatest joy of every teachers is

this: To see their students reach a higher plane in life than they themselves have been seen. They are the wind

beneath our wings, the oil within our lamps, the motivation behind our success.

Since September 5, 1962, Teachers’ Day had been celebrated in India to honor the contribution made by Dr.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishna, the second President of India for his great contribution in the fields of education. May this

day be an occasion to express in simple, yet profound ways, our deepest sentiments of gratitude to all our teachers.

We all can truly say, “We are because of our Teachers.” God bless you dear teachers!

The Value of TEACHERS

Better than a thousand days of diligent study

is one day with a Great Teacher."

- Japanese proverb -

“If a teacher knows that he/she has taken the position of the ‘Guru for a student ‘and is expected to inspire them with his life, then he will have to kindle the Light of Knowledge” Rabindranath Tagore

The Person behind my Life? A Prayer: My VALUE GURU...

God Almighty, with Gratitude and Joy,

We thank you for blessings us with this noble call

Grant us the Wisdom that all through this day, we may so speak and act that

we will bring nothing but happiness to the young whose

upliftment is our privilege and progress our joy.

Help us to get the best refined knowledge in the best possible way, into the

hearts and minds of the students, enabling them to be useful to themselves

and others, we becoming the witness to their progress.

Help us to be patient with those who are slow to understand and grant unto

us the kindliness, that we may miss no opportunity to help, encourage,

cheer and comfort all our scholastically good and emotionally

and mentally backward children.

Forgive us for debilitating our minds by failing to respond promptly to the

needs of the curious students.

Help us to begin, to continue and end each day according to your will and

give us the wisdom and strength to do everything progressively and to the

best of our ability.

Give us the will and strength to lead an exemplary life, inspiring them with

the Values that can transform them into a nation’s pride.

Grant unto us the competence to make them have sublime faith

in the Creator and on the abilities endowed by the Creator.

Enable us to lighten their life, so that they can be the light to everyone

experiencing darkness of life.

Shower your grace‐filled blessings into their life and protect them

from all evil deeds.

Give us the mind to ever remember the dignity, vitality, gracefulness,

sensibility of the entrusted work and the strength to labour hard

upholding our dedication. AMEN





Reflective ’ Value Moments’ for Teachers Top 10 Tips for making your classroom a HOME

Classrooms become easier prisons than palaces, agony more than ecstasy, and above all institutions

for conformity rather than a home for growth. A third of a student’s day is desk‐bound. Education is

more a matter of the heart than an intellectual quest to satisfy. Here are ten tips that can lead to suc‐

cessful Classroom Management and Discipline:

1. It's Easier to Get Easier: ‘Manage with the Mind but Lead with the Heart’, advised Robin Sharma, the great moti‐

vational speaker. Know that the sacred lives of the students have been entrusted into your care. Know them by name

rather than by a roll call number. Students don't care how much you know. They want to know how much you care!!!

2. Fairness Vs Favorites: I am my teacher’s pet. Students have a distinct sense of what is and what is not fair. You

must act fairly for all students if you expect to be respected. Remember you are a Teacher for all. No favorites.

3. Deal with Disruptions lovingly : The Word in the Ear Students will always be students. They will disrupt and

distract your class. Remember a rebellious student in an insecure student. Find time after class to give attention to

them by building confidence in them by ‘giving a word in the ear’. Correct them with love. A small word can transform

the climate of your class and school.

4. Panic control: Save Face The Classroom must be a second home not a battle ground for winners and losers. Or‐

der and discipline is necessary in your class. Be human and deal with discipline issues privately than cause a student to

'lose face' in front of their friends.

5. Add Humor not Sarcasm: Poor teachers confuse good humor with sarcasm. While humor can quickly diffuse a

situation, sarcasm may harm your relationship with the students involved. Use your best judgment but realize that

what some people think as funny others find to be offensive.

6. Motivate for Excellence: Students are not stupid. They are only sleeping giants. Trigger the need for excellence

and draw out the best in each student. Be a coach not a referee!!!

7. Creative Use of Time: Let your classroom be a learning laboratory. Have plenty of creative use of space and

syllabus. Remember your kindergarten days…. Learning is maximum in an atmosphere of fun and creativity.

8. Build Family Spirit: Develop collaborate learning than competitive learning. Invite the bright students to adopt a

weaker student. To go higher, students need to learn to pick up the other.

9. Make Rules Understandable: Every rule defends a value. Let students know why a rule is set in place. Purposeful

students are open to learn better. You play the parent figure. Help the student to know that discipline is not the en‐

emy of freedom.

10. Attuned to the Master Guru: All learning is futile, if, at the end of the day, we do not become

more loving human beings. While we feed the intellect, we need to nourish the heart and the soul.

Education is largely a matter of faith. Have a primacy for God in your life and your students too will

become more god‐loving. Your classroom must create a sense for the sacred and a respect for people

of all faiths and religious traditions. Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter December 2009

Value Coordinators’ Forum 2012



An INVITATION to all MANAGERS/HEADMASTERS/ PRINCIPALS/ VALUE EDUCATION COORDINATORS OF SCHOOLS At Don Bosco Primary School Auditorium , Matunga MUMBAI

On Thursday, October 4, 2012

From 8.30am—4.00 pm

The Program :

08.30 am: Registration (Don Bosco Primary School Hall, 2nd Floor): 09.00 am: Words of Welcome: Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes, AVEC Program Coordinator Inauguration: Fr. Gregory Lobo, Secretary ABE Prayer Service: Sr. Vera Almeida, AVEC Resource Person 09.30 am – 10.45 am: Session I – Mrs. Kia Scherr: ‘One Life Alliance’ Project‐ Honour the Sacredness of Life. 10.45 am – 11.15 am: Coffee Break 11.15 am – 12.30 am: Session II – Ms. Sherly Paul: Principal, ‘Pilot School Project‐ A Testimony of Hope’ 12.30 pm – 01.00 pm: Session III – Connecting with Value Based Resources/ Personnel 01.00 pm – 01.45 pm: LUNCH 01.45 pm – 02.15 pm: Session IV – Mr. Sanjay Srinivas: Founder ‐‘I love My Mother Earth Foundation’ 02‐15 pm – 02.45 pm: Session V – Fr. Savio Silveira sdb: Director ‘GreenLine: Green Schools Campaign’ 02.45 pm – 03.30 pm: Way Forward – Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb: Director AVEC 03.30 pm – 04.00 pm: Tea – Departure

Registration fee per participant is Rs 300/‐ (includes Refreshments, Lunch, Posters, handouts).

All payments will be done through cheques in favour of: Archdiocesan Value Education Centre.

Please end in your Registration Forms before September 25, 2012

Ms. Kia Scherr,

Founder: One Life Alliance

Together to the Valued Path: Make a Difference in Valued Ways

I love a Teacher who gives me something to think about, than just mere homework!

Make A Difference



Teaching is a noble calling! Teaching is not merely a job but a Vocation.

Here are a few pointers for Teachers to note :

The deepest need of the students are understanding and Love.

Your students do not want to know how much you know, they want to know how much you care.

Teachers must maintain their Dignity and Discipline but they must realize that they are second

parents, and as second parent’s students expect more than just teaching.

With the present dot.com generation, Teachers should humbly acknowledge there are some things

that they may not know and not act as a Super teacher.

Be aware that Super Teachers cannot be put on a pedestal and cast in stone because the best ones

are made out of malleable clay, that they reach up and work on themselves and allow the specific

needs of their class to also mold!

Every teacher should make every student feel that they are important, unique, and have a purpose in

this world and as a teacher who not only loves them, but wants to help them on that journey to

find what they are good at doing.

Teachers ‐ you will never be paid enough nor praised enough! No cheque can pay it all….

This teacher day, We hope you took the time to step back and appreciate the gravity of what you're

doing. Nobility is shown in how we act and the calling upon our lives to educate the next generation.

This is a tough Vocation that is misunderstood by pretty much everyone except those who have ever been

in a classroom. Students nor parents nor principals understand what it is like to wake up in the night and

see a student's face and agonize about how to reach that child. Whole futures weigh in the balance of how

we behave and if we can meet our calling. Your worth is measured not in accolades or money but in how

you behave in your own classroom. Your worth is measured, not in newspaper articles, nor magazine

spreads but in the impact on the individual students who will remember not the subject matter you

taught, but your example and relationship with them.

Your worth is measured by the many thousands of deeds, words, thoughts, and actions that you pour

upon a generation that will run the world one day.

A good Teacher is like a candle, it consumes itself to light the way for others

Teacher, you have a noble calling in the most noble profession.

TEACHER: A NOBLE CALLING Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes

AVEC: Activities for August

Divine Child Junior College: Value Orientation Retreat 4/08 St. Joseph’s High School, Umerkhadi: Teachers’ Orientation 6/8

Holy Family High School, Colaba: Std X Value based Retreat 7/8 St. Sebastian’s , Chembur: Std X Value Orientation Program 8/8

St. Teresa’s School, Girgaum, —Std IX-X Students’ Program: 13/8

St. Dominic Savio’s, Andheri: Teachers’ Value Orientation 17/8

St. Dominic Savio, Andheri: Std X: Students’ Retreat , 16/8

Carmel of St. Joseph’s, Malad: VII-VIII Students’ Program 21/8

Carmel of St. Joseph’s, Malad: Std. IX-X Students’ Program 22/8 St. Anne’s Girls High School, Dabul: Leadership Training 23/8



AVEC- Activities for AUGUST

Don Bosco High School, Borivili: Std IX Value Orientation 27/08

POEM COMPETITION

“My Teacher: My Value Compass”

. Minimum Six Stanzas,

Maximum Eight Stanzas

Please send the best three entries in each category (Juniors/Inters/ Seniors) to AVEC by the Sept 27, 2012.

To qualify, all entries must be signed by the Value Coordinator and sealed with a school stamp. Thank you!

AVEC COMPETITION



Don Bosco High School, Borivili: Std X Value Orientation 28/08

Don Bosco High School, Borivili: Std VIII Value Orientation 29/8 Don Bosco High School, Borivili: Std VIII Value Orientation 29/08

AVEC E-Letter ‘Values for the Yatra’ is an initiative to provide Animation Resources for Teachers involved in Value Education in the ABE schools/ Jr. Colleges .Values for the Yatra will be published every month and is for Private Circulation. Your valuable suggestions are most welcome to assist us in making Values for the Yatra a useful tool of animation and bonding among the teachers and stu-dents of the ABE schools in Mumbai.

CONTACT: Fr. Glenford Lowe, SDB / Rochwyn Fernandes / Sr. Vera / Veronica D’lima AVEC—Don Bosco Youth Services, Matunga 400019 , MUMBAI Ph: 24154477 e-mail: [email protected] Blog: avecmumabidbys.blogspot.com Facebook: avec mumbai



Results

ORDER OF MERIT

1. Canossa Convent High School, Mahim

2. St. Mary’s High School, Byculla

3. Don Bosco Secondary School, Nerul

4. St. Anne’s High School, Fort

5. St. Louis High School, Dahisar

6. St. Jude’s High School, Kalyan

7. St. Blaize High School, Amboli

8. St. Anthony’s High School, Versova

“Diamond Values: Education to Becoming” Value Trophies

will be presented to

The Eight Winning Schools on

October 4, 2012 at Don Bosco Primary School Hall—Matunga

during the VALUE EDUCATION CORDINATORS’ SEMINAR

WELCOME TO A YOUTH FOR PEACE MEETING

Students are invited to a ‘YOUTH PEACE MEETING’ to be held at

Don Bosco Primary School Hall, Matunga

on Sunday, Sept 30, 2012 from 3.30 –7.30pm

Entry by Registration only. Call AVEC for more details

Values for the Yatra SEPTEMBER 2012

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