EVENTS OF JUNE 2009

IMPORTANT EVENTS OF JUNE 2009
On May 30 and 31st our staff has gone out for canvassing for further admission in our HOC. They have highlighted the following points,
1. Individual child care
2. Scientific development of child
3. Personality development
4. Development of languages and logic mathematics
5. Culture and traditions

After the 2 days canvassing they said that the villagers have good idea and opinion about the school especially for the personality growth of the very young children. We have decided to take only children from 2 years.

Mean while Mr.Philip has joined to continue his college studies. Miss.Kamala has again approached us for a job but she said that she cannot study. THIS IS THE FATE OF MANY VILLAGE GIRLS EVEN TODAY.
She will be getting married after a year. So we have asked her to come for a month observation from 5.6.09.

2.6.09 – Mrs.Manjula came in the noon session and gave the spiritual class to our children. The legend behind the VIKAASE VISHAKAM FESTIVAL is getting presented to the children in various forms. On 5th HOC will be celebrating that festival along with our parents. Proper invitations have been designed and send to them.

A new boy has joined today. He is 4 years old coming from near by village. He has settled soon.

On June first Dr.Pradheepkumar has asked Dr.Madeswaran to think about working for HOC and foundation. By end of this term Dr.Madeswaran will be deciding that.

3.6.09- A new boy of 2.5 years has joined in HOC. He is master Bharani.
He too has settled well by today itself.

5.6.09 – VAIKAASI VISHAKAM FESTIVAL
The HOC has celebrated Vaikaasi vishakam festival in simple way but with deep spiritual sense. Ms.Manjula performed sacred chants and rituals in HOC. 5 parents and children participated in this festival.
The legend behind the festival was narrated and meaning behind every sacred bath given to the deities was explained by her. It was observed that our children observed every event without even moving their body and just maintained silence. This is the natural orderliness the Montessori environment has created within them. The icon deities were dressed and decorated. Sacred food was cooked by Ms.Usha and offered to all in the school. Children left home after the festival. Monday will be a holiday because the HOC will be functioning on 13.6.09 which is a Saturaday under the observation of Dr.Madeswaran.
10.6.09 – A new student called AANDISAMI has joined in our school today. He is 4 years old. His father has deserted his family and went some where. The mother is going for daily wages and taking care of the child. She has been asked to pay how much as she can. Our staff said that the villagers are asking us to admit 1.5 years old children. But we have decided to take them only after few months because we need our staff to settle the new children.
Dr .M.Madeswaran will be visiting the HOC by this Saturday for observation. Mean while the staff has started giving the legend of one of the local important festival. Dr.Madeswaran may place cube of 1000 material this time in HOC.

13.6.09 – Children were observed by Dr.Madeswaran. It is very glad to see such a peaceful and happy environment with continuous working sessions by the staff and children. Staffs are happy and more confident about their working pattern framed in this summer.
The local Church has disturbed many of our admissions. Some of our Christian children were taken away by the Church’s pressure.
But we are keeping calm and making the villagers to realize the need of a Montessori schooling for a child who is below 6 years old.
Dr.PradheepChalliyil has advised to involve the Church in important Christian festivals and to make the Church to appreciate the secularism feeling in educational system. This is the most important and delicate task for the foundation.
The comment given by a parent:
One of our parents who has taken back his 2 children and admitted them in near by Matriculation school has commented that the foundation must not collect even a single paisa from the villagers. Our transparent account sheets have proved how much we are earning and spending.
We are not ready to give any thing free like the local government to spoil the citizens. But we are giving them concessions.
So we need to work without much worrying about these comments.

THE TEACHER WHO HAS MADE US TIRED
Miss.Prabha who has completed came to us for job. So as usual we have asked her to start her observation. After a week we saw she has never opened her mouth to talk to any one of us and she also could not mingle with us.
On Saturday we have asked her to prepare a story for Sunday. But on Sunday she did not turned up. When we approached her family they said that she is not interested in teaching in the school. We are tired with such attitude people and we have learned not to accept any application for teaching faculty without studying about the candidate. It is the waste of our time and energy.
AGAIN A NEW CANDIDATE:
On Sunday, the local priest has introduced a fresh school passed candidate Miss.Tamilarasi for teaching faculty. She is very sportive open minded and wished to observe the children and staffs for a month. She is also going to study her degree course by correspondence education. Let us see how she is taking her observation.

Mean while Miss.Menaka is doing well and she has learned and changed lot. Even Mrs.Priya is very much changed in her attitude. Yes! Dr.Montessori will change every body. I said that I am training them and indirectly training my self.

OUR STAFF HAS OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING THE MOST TOUCHING HUMAN BEHAVIOUR WHICH EXPRESSES THE GREAT HUMAN PERSONALITY.
1. Saravanan has showed Andichami who is new student how to use the toilet.

2. Madhumitha brought a banana after attending a local festival and shared with every friend and also wanted to talk about the fruit.

3. When the special child Yalini cried, Shiva who is 1.5 years old brought a bottle full of water thinking that she might need it.

4. When children saw flower harvest in local farms during the nature walk, Sudeesh said the flowers will be tied along with national flag while hoisting the flag.

5. Saravanan who is a special child slowly requiring from autism has gained the knowledge of language letters and number rods. Teachers are realizing the effect of the educational idea framed by Dr.Montessori.

6. One of our children saw the cotton seeds and said that the cotton will be used fro making wicks, dresses, to thread the needle and to clean the hurts with blood.

7. Manoj who is senior child has introduced the constructive triangles to the new child Jenis.

8. Madhumitha showed the threading of beads to the new child Periyasami.

9. Shiva who is very young child helped the 1.25 year old boy Surya to sit properly during the prayer time.

10. Darshini was able to relate Africa’s green color with Menaka’s saree color.

11. Dharani sawa grasshopper in his home. But he could not remember its name. But as he has received the color lessons, he said that the ‘’green insect’’ has come to the house. His parents have relished this incident.

12. Children have taken the natural interest of cleaning the garden by them self after lunch daily.

13. When the rituals were performed to tree, Gutham asked whether the tree can hear his voice. Teachers said that the tree can feel his love. Immediately he said that he belongs to the HOC and his name was Gautham.

14. Before every presentation children them self conduct one minute prayer.

15. When a special child got admitted in hospital for sickness, Mishal prayed for her and told that she is asking God to send the girl soon to HOC to enjoy the work.

WE HAVE MANY MORE SUCH GRACEFUL OBSERVATIONS IN OUR SCHOOL. IT WILL CONTINUE AS LONG AS THE TEACHERS BELIEVE THE MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY.

17.6.09- Today a new student has paid the fees and got admitted in our school. He is ARUNPANDIYAN and he is 3 years old.
The school is also thinking the various reasons for children leaving the hoc. Dharani is one among them who has joined without even informing the school. The staff has decided to talk to the father about it and to insist about the ethics of parenting and communication with the schools.
There are few suggestions about the improvement of the school. But these ideas must be discussed in detail before we implement which must not be a hurdle for MONTESSORI philosophy.
1. UNIFORM.
2. FEW BASIC BOOKS
3. TRANSPORT SYSTEM

This week again the observation will be done by Dr.Madeswaran and more Mathematics material will be introduced in HOC.

20.6.09 – We have introduced the SOLAR SYSTEM material to our children. First we played the game of sun and planets revolving around the sun. We gave the names and later we did the drama of Earth and Moon revolving each other and sun.
Later children were presented with the material.
We are happy to see our staff working with true dedication.

THE REAL SUCCESS BEHIND THE MONTESSORI EDUCATION
This evening Jenish visited our HOC with his parents. They were forced to join in the local Church school by the Church father. But the parents are very sad about the child who is missing great values and great lessons through Montessori education.
The father said that he can join him again in our HOC even though the Church is against. But we have made him to understand the need of harmony with their family Church and said that the boy can enter and work at any time during holidays. We are very happy to see parents who have really understood the educational system.
We thank our staff members for this appreciation.
THE IMPORTANT LETTER

We are also sending a letter saying the need for Montessori education. The letter has asked the parents whether the child needs a uniform and homework. The letter is also requesting the parents who have taken the children not to talk ill about the Montessori educational system.
The letter is also asking them to discuss any issue they have about the school.

Madumathy’s mother was called for a meeting and explained about her growth and development. We have requested her and her husband not to test the child always to say every thing.

THE MANGO FESTIVAL
Mango festival to remember the great spiritual saint KARAIKAAL AMMAI will be celebrated in our HOC for children to realize the need for feeding poor, selfish less character and staunch trust in God.
Our staff and Mrs.Manjula are practicing the skit about the saint and going to present on 22.6.09. Invitations were designed and send to our parents. Staffs are preparing themselves with the children for the festival. Mango is one of the tropical crops in this village.

THE GREATNESS OF OUR CHILDREN OBSERVED IN THIS WEEK
· When a child was tracing the geometrical shapes, for some time he kept quiet and suddenly said that he saw the full moon as a big circle at night.
· When the 1.5 years old twin brothers are settling for prayer they observe perfect silence and they never distract others also.
· Few children were able to identify the planets along with the colors.
· Madhumitha said that the sea water will be very salty and we extract salt from that water. She is only 2.5 years old.
· When Chandran did not settle down for prayer his brother Suryan made him to come and sit. They are just 1.5 years. This week they are able to utter very clearly the word ‘’rough and smooth’’.
· T.Darshini asked the group around her who were seeing her work to clap after her exercise.
· Younger children were insisted by elder ones not to call them without respecting suffix in the local language.
· Shiva who is just 1.5 years old showed his ears immediately when our staff gave the name lesson of ear buds.
· Mohan who is 3 years old just stayed even after the school time and suddenly went out and saw the setting sun and started singing ‘’I AM THE SUN’’ poem which we are singing for planets presentation.
· Saravanan is fastly identifying the sand paper letters both in Tamil and English.


THE MOST PROLONGED MEETING
On Saturday [27.6.09] we had 4 hours staff and parents meeting. We discussed the following points very carefully and keenly.
1. Uniform.
2. Home work.
3. Transport.
4. Talking ill about the school.
5. Transfer certificate.
Before the meeting we showed how mathematics is being presented to children with materials. Parents were surprised to see Sudeesh working till 10000 within few minutes.
Parents appreciated the quality of syllabus in Montessori HOC.
They too said no to uniform.
They have requested for simple light week end home work for 4 years children.
WE ARE FRAMING A BOOK WHICH WILL MAKE THE PARENTS TO LEARN AND GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN WITH VARIOUS NAME LESSONS. Mr.Ganesh has taken charge of this printing work.
WE THANK OUR STAFF FOR CELEBRATING MAAMBALA THIRUVIZHA. PARENTS HAVE APPRECIATED FOR CONDUCTING SO MANY ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE SUPPORTING CHILDREN’S MORALITY.
NEW MATERIALS:
Spindle box, water cycle and cubes of 1000 were introduced this week.
We are also doing few carpentry works to fix the back yard door, lid to the tank and board to display the sand paper letters.
Our new child Arunpandiyan who is 3.5 years old is delaying in speech. We have spoken to his mother not to beat him and also to talk more in home environment. We need to ask them to see a speech specialist soon.
I FEEL VERY GLAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT MS.SHANTHISAKTHIVEL IS JOINING WITH US ON JULY FIRST AFTER HER GRADUATION WITH B.Ed.
On Sunday we worked with many experiments like, how roots absorb water and leaves prepare food. We showed the day and night experiment with globe. New land form names were given to the staffs by showing the real mountains and plains around the village.
Now we are feeling that we do not have more time. We are also feeling the clear cut framing of syllabus and material presentation. Teachers are very happy and just I left by saying the following line very often said by SreeRukminiRamachandran in Chennai AMI centre.
‘’ LET US NOT ABUSE THE CHILD’S MEMORY, PLEASE!’’