Media Release
Mangaluru, Jun 1: The Bethany Educational Society (BES) under the guidance of Sr Mariette, secretary of Bethany Educational Society and correspondent of St Theresa's School organised a four day annual Orientation Programme for the teachers of St Theresa School Bendur, here from May 27 to 30 at the school main hall.
On May 27, Dr Alwyn D’Sa associate professor of English and director of the admin block of St Aloysius College Mangaluru and Stephen Quadros, associate professor at Government First Grade College for Women Puttur, were the resource persons for the day.
Shilly Prakash introduced the resource persons and Sr Philomene, the principal welcomed them with a sapling. The session began with prayer and made spread awareness of how each individual is important. The sessions highlighted that communication is a very important and effective tool in teaching and learning process. To create a cohesive society, to realise that every thought, word and action is important and to be an effective communicator inside the classroom. The session ended with a note to stop focussing on how stressed one is, but to remember how blessed we are. The activities were interesting reflective and theoretical which helped them to make the rest of their life the best of their life, to deal with resistance and build a creative open environment.
On May 28, Sr Shilpa Mary BS, pioneer principal of St Theresa’s School and presently head of the Bethany Convent School Naini, Allahabad, UP Prayagraj was the resource person.
Sr Shilpa enlightened the gathering on the topic 'Capacity building programme on class-room management'. She shared her knowledge on the importance of social values, the proper etiquette to welcome children on the first day of school and how to manage the classroom. She also spoke about creating an environment that supports and facilitates academic, social and emotional learning that could be achieved through effective classroom management skills, creativity and motivation.
She articulated the difference between classroom management and discipline and said that management is effective in keeping discipline but discipline is not management.
The resource person also conveyed to the audience the importance of understanding the concept multiple intelligences namely VARK (Visual, Auditory, Read and Write, Kinesthetics) and how teachers should be aware and quick to figure out the type of intelligence the child responds to.
In the second session, Sr Shilpa focussed on the topic 'Physical Arrangement in the classroom'. She urged the teachers to have set classroom rules involving students.
To make the theme of the session compelling, the seating arrangement was like a classroom and the teachers were involved in group-activities. Handouts were given to enable them to fully take in the experience of a potent and operative classroom arrangement.
On May 29, the classroom Management Orientation started with prayer led by Sr Shilpa. The topic for the day’s session was 'Non-Violent Communication' (NVC). She started the session by explaining that needs are universal and violence begins when one’s needs are not met.
To enhance non-violent communication observation, feelings, needs and requests are the four essential steps. The teacher should know the strength and capacity of her students, their interests and group them accordingly for an effective teaching learning process.
The workshop on ‘Freedom from within: Building self esteem’ conducted by Sr Agnesia began with an explanation of self esteem in a very detailed way. The importance of self esteem in our lives and the reasons which influence a person’s self esteem were explained in a meaningful way. The resource person showed the difference between low self esteem, high self esteem and inflated self esteem by citing many personal experiences in a humorous way.
Everyone was made to understand that true freedom comes from within only when we allow it. The speaker explained very beautifully that freedom from within should be possessed by all and that the most free person in the world is the one who has nothing to hide.
On May 30, Orientation was On child protection policy and its implications in the classroom by Preetham Rodrigues director of Inchara Foundation, member of CWC and founder of Project Angel.
The session began with listing out expectations from the teachers for the session. Role plays were conducted showing teacher-student and teachers–parent relationships. Group discussion on developmental milestones for three age groups namely 3-6 years, 6-12 years and 12-18 years were held. The interventions on various behaviours of these children were discussed and problems arising due to missing interventions were discussed.
Awareness was created on the different kinds of abuses such as physical, emotional and sexual.
The final Session was conducted by Sr Mariette BS, secretary BES and correspondent of St Theresa's School on the topic ‘Looking ahead through 2019-2020’. Sr Mariette welcomed the teachers for the new academic year. She lauded the achievements of the teachers for their work in achieving 100% results and proudly honoured them with a
rose.
Sr Mariette thanked the outgoing vice principal Sr Shanthi and Sr Saritha for their selfless services to the school. She wished them well as they take on new responsibilities in the coming year. She welcomed heartily the newly appointed vice principal Sr Lourdes and the new members of the staff.
Sr Mariette stressed on the need to be united as a family in building a community where there is peace, empowerment of girl child and excellence in education and harmonious relationships which are priorities of BES. The need is to focus on giving life as it was the vision and goal of the Father Founder Msgr R F C Mascarenhas.
The session was an interactive one with participation of all the teachers. The workshop was useful and through their insights, knowledge and experience teachers had a great opportunity to empower themselves in order to empower others.