Namma Veedu Montessori HOC-First Annual Day ,Dec 2008

FIRST ANNUAL DAY CELEBRATIONS- 2007-2008
25.12.08-Today by 7 A.M, our chief guest family has arrived to Sendurai. They have been dropped in taxi by Mr.Ravichanderan. We thank him for his interest in this school. Balaji was appreciating the natural setup of the village. His children were so happy and free moving in Mani’s home. Mani’s family also welcomed them warmly and made them to feel very comfortable.
After the regular morning formalities we had good breakfast and left to our HOC. By sharp 9, our staff and few of our parents gave warm welcome to the chief guest family.
We took them around the HOC and our staffs were asked to care them.
*** By 9.30 A.M, Dr.Pradheepkumar and his family called from USA and parents –staff listened to their message. Chief Guest also spoke to them. Pranav has made the excellent greeting card which carries the various aspects of our HOC in the pictorial depiction. Priya and Pradheep have also send greetings and messages to staff and parents. The greetings and message got explained before all.
Balaji said, ‘’ it is very much inspiring to see the Montessori HOC in a village. I can feel the real depth in the Montessori philosophy inside this school. The efforts made by staff and foundations are very much realized by me’’
Mrs.Kavitha said, ‘’ I can see the real difference between the Montessori setup between the city and village. I feel the HOC has implemented all most every aspect of Dr.Montessori’s views about the children and education’’.
THE GREAT INDIAN FLAG:
Then Mani’s father hoisted the great Indian flag and we all sang the state song and saluted the national flag. Children observed the ground rules and followed perfect behavior. Then we all went inside the main hall and settled for the meeting.
Mrs.Priyakannan who took her assignments for the day to her home beyond her son’s illness gave a perfect welcome address.
Then I gave the thanking greetings for all who are behind this great scheme and asked the chief guests to honor Dr.Montessori and Gandhiji with flowers. Then we all chanted the school prayers.
Then I introduced them to the parents. Slowly many parents started arriving.
THE SACRED LAMPS OF WISDOM: Two traditional clay lamps of wisdom were lighted by the chief guests and placed before Dr.Montessori and Gandhiji. Two lamps denote the completion of one year and beginning of second year.
Mrs. Kavitha’s speech delivered the following aspects:
1. Her experiences about Montessori system.
2. How she got into this system?
3. Her husband’s role in uplifting her as a Montessori staff.
4. Her children’s evolution in a Montessori HOC.
5. How to control our anxiety and anger before the children and society?
6. How to observe a child within the school?

Mr.Arulbalaji‘s speech delivered the following messages:

1. The real chief guest in a school is the parents who have made their presence and recognized their children.
2. What made him to become a Montessori parent?
3. Why he made his wife to take Montessori training?
4. What he wanted from the young parents?
5. He asked them to do 3 things:
· Shed your anger and comparison.
· Believe the school and surrender the children to the staff.
· Spread Montessori movement.

He too spoke about the fees structure and asked the parents to pay it regularly.

· I am not writing many things about his talk because he has praised us a lot.
THE WAY WE HONORED:
When I was studying in B.B.B school I have seen my craft teacher Mrs.Revathy decorating pure cotton towels as garlands and she said that the school follows Gandhi’s few simple principles. We buy kaadhi cotton clothing to honor him and also to help the weavers. So I wished that to be done in our Sakthy School also. So we made few garlands and honored our VIP people. I too explained about how my teachers have inspired me all many such things.
· Mr.Ayyanna garlanded Mr.Arulbalagi.
· Miss. Selvi garlanded Mrs. Kavitha.
· Mrs.Kavitha and Mr.Arulbalaji inturn honored Mani’s parents.
· HOC children gave bouquets to chief guest family.
· Teachers gave the brass bowl full of flowers to the chief guest.
· Children gave the box full of clay vegetables and fruits made by our children to chief guest’s children.
· Then we also honored Mr – Mrs.Ganeshkumar from Pongalloor who are taking steps for a new HOC in their village. He has paid Rs.101 for his daughter in 2006 when we started the school plan.
R EPORTS
We gave away the narrative reports, Certificate which say top 10 skills of a child, Guide book about Montessori system to parents and a greeting with Maria’s quotation. This book was received and honored by Mrs.Kavitha.
Each child was invited by Miss.Mallika , Mrs.Shanthi and Bodhini with an introduction to them. The parents were so proud of them and saw their children receiving the report.
Children, who were ill, received the reports through their father or mother. There were few parents who have never turned up and we too commented about that.
Then we have asked Rajashrees’s father to address about the child’s vocabulary skill and parenting. Meanwhile we too decently highlighted the bad way of handling emergency situations by them without openly pointing out their names.
Few children sang few Montessori songs. Miss. Sasikala gave introduction to Montessori songs. Then we all joined and sang few songs.
Balamithran narrated the story of Pandurangan.
Rajashree exposed her vocabulary skill before every body.
HONORING SESSION:
We have greeted and honored Mrs.Kalaivani who was our first staff. I spoke about her talents and her parents were honored in her absence with grand gifts.
Then we have received Mrs.Bodhini and her husband. Children and parents gave warm applause for them and gave flowers. He was honored with towel and she was honored with kaadhi mat letter hanger.
We also honored Mrs.Jothy akka and Mrs.Shanthi. Then we gave the sacred brass lamps of wisdom to all other staff and parents who were attending the previous day festival. Lamps were given to all by Chief Guest’s children Rakshitha and Harshavardhini.
Then we also honored Late.Mr.Palaniswamy for his service and Mr.Dharma who have taken free service in transferring all materials from Madras.
Then we read out the annual budget and greeted all the staff members who are behind this great success.
· We asked our parents about the idol of GOD Murugan to get placed in the village. But every body opposed that because they all said that their children are growing with true spiritual qualities and discipline because of this idol.
We too explained the International Montessori Congress – 2009.
We ended the festival by 2 A.M and admired our children and parents for their presence for a long time.
We all stood and sang the national anthem and concluded the festival and asked all to view the album room and take sweets. Usha amma has prepared sweet porridge and sundal. She was totally involved in cooking for the guests and staff. We thank her and her daughter for their service. She too got honored.
Then staffs were talking to the guests and we walked to our school land and prayed that there must be the school building by next annual day. Then we all took grand lunch served in Mani’s home. The chief guests left to Erode city by 3.30 P.M.
THE GREAT DONATION BY MY CLASS MATES:
The chief guests collected money from few of my school friends who are serving the nation from their own profession. He has donated Rs.17, 000 for purchasing Montessori materials. We thank them. So we thank God for making this great day of effort as a grand and depth day which is the real honor to Dr.Montessori and Mahathma Gandhiji.
Thankyou all!