"The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held prejudices. It may not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true. But our preferences do not determine what's true."
.. Carl Sagan
V-Excel News
Teachers' Day on 5th September every year is a celebration of the care, patience, and perseverance that our teachers, therapists, counselors, and helpers exhibit throughout the year while working with our children. It is also a tribute to the contribution they make to the lives of children and their parents by demonstrating how unconditional love and acceptance goes a long way in boosting the child's sense of worth. The entire staff of V-Excel went to Mahabalipuram and let their hair down; fun, food and games filled the day with cheer!
At V-Excel, festivals are events which are observed collectively and celebrated, in acceptance of our cultural diversity, to show solidarity, and to have happy times together. All our festivals have some profound meaning, have laid out rituals which we teach our children and tell stories related to the event. This month we had Vinayagar Chathurthi with Ganesha being central to the celebrations, had Onam festival celebrated with elaborate flower decorations. On many of these occasions, we involve our children and their parents.
The highlight of the month was the Sports Day held on 28th of September 2013 at YMCA Nandanam, Chennai. Over 100 children participated in this event for which the theme was 'The number 7'. The significance of this mystic number 7 is manifold - colours of the rainbow, seven celestial bodies, notes of music, days of the week, and the seven epochs. Interesting drills, races and presentations were woven around this theme and all the children, parents and guests enjoyed this lovely show of abilities. We had Dr. C. Sylendra Babu, Additional D.G. Police (IPS, Coastal Security) as our Chief Guest and Mr. Balasubramanian, (Marathon Runner Bala), Ms Lakshmi Shruti Settipalli (international Squash player) and Mr. Ramana (GM & Head, Corporate Communications L&T Construction) were the Special Invitees. The program was creatively planned by one of our senior colleagues, Principal of the special school, Mrs. Gita Bhalla. Kudos to her and the entire group of teachers and therapists who tirelessly worked alongside the children to present this grand show.
Kaleidoscope Learning Centre
It was the month of great plans and greater hitches to the plans which were finally overcome. The annual sports day was planned at the end of this month and the theme of number seven was to be explored. Two new coordinators Aparna and Viji were chosen, plans made, committees finalized and children chosen. The practice days planned for the drills and performances were unfortunately fraught with sudden rains and sickness in the air. Yet, an entire sports day with colorful drills and imaginative races was practiced through these hurdles; it's a new feather in the caps of the staff and students who produced and participated in an event that was excellent in its execution and heartwarming in its performances. The event showcased the skills of the children creatively using movement, dance, coordination and rhythm.
Onam celebrations were coordinated by Nirmala this year. Besides the traditional pookolam, we also had the performance of Mahabali and Vamana to illustrate the story of why Onam is celebrated. A dance by all the lovely girls (read teachers) in the school brought in a festive feel on the occasion.
Dr. Swapna visited ourschool on the 11th of September and many of the children were seen and their medical issues discussed with their parents and their respective teachers. Dr. Swapna will be coming in every month and will be available for consultations and discussing children's therapy needs.
A significant positive development was seen with a number of the young adults of Grade 5 who seem to be ready to communicate with the outside world! Till now it was only a few chosen teachers that the children communicated with, but it seems like they have developed confidence enough to say, "now bring on the world and we will converse with them"., demonstrated by Amruth Sunderesan and VIjayshravan who typed to have a conversation with a journalist in a first time ever episode!
We have four new volunteers join KLC and we extend a warm welcome to Sarah, Meera, Tina and Sowmya and hope we have a fruitful association with them.
Academy for Teacher Excellence
All IGNOU Students are busy with their practicals. Assignments were submitted and corrections had commenced, writing their assignments was a good revision work for all the IGNOU Students on the topics of the course.
A visit was arranged for the CESE-MR (Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education) students to see NIEPMD (National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities) on the 13th September. The visit was very informative and all the students greatly benefited from seeing the Institute. Each department - Physio and Occupational Therapy, Speech, Visual Stimulation, Special Education and Early Intervention - were well equipped and caters to many children around the area.
V-Excel had recently applied for Continuous Rehabilitation Education (CRE) Program. All professionals in the field of Rehabilitation need to have their Rehabilitation Council of India's (RCI) Registration number, without which one cannot practice or teach in this field. This is renewable once in 5 years and for attending specified courses is a mandate for acquiring 100 points. We have now got approval to conduct one such program on Autism Spectrum Disorder for three consecutive days where participants will get 18 points (6 points/day). This program will be held from 10.2.2014 to 12.2.2014. Look for details on our website; those who need their points please register with us.
We started the third module of our Counseling course with a small group. This time we intend to cover Marriage and Family counseling, Grief therapy and counseling, Gestalt, Play therapy
Early Intervention Unit
Many new children have been inducted into the early intervention program. The process involves meeting parents to understand their concerns, conducting detailed assessments, drawing up a developmental plan and accordingly briefing the therapists and special educators.
Since we work primarily with very young children, we see parents of infants and toddlers who are extremely disturbed with the delays in their child's development. Moreover they are confused with many people passing judgments and giving advice with respect to their child. They need proper counseling and hand-holding through these tough times. We are really happy to share that we now have a psychologist to help the parents, staff and children with any emotional and behavioural issues.
Children who come to Early Intervention are on medication for different reasons, including those with a history of seizures. This month, we have completed a review of all such children who need to have carefully designed development program.
Group sessions have commenced for children with physical challenges. The focus of the group is to enhance communication, interactive play and socialization. The group program is conducted thrice a week. Children are also trained in functional independence such as eating grooming and dressing parents are given hands-on training by the therapist and special educator for handling behaviour issues of children and for home program.
V-Excel Satellite Centres
On September 5th, Teacher's day was celebrated at our satellite centers Nashik, Erode and Tirunelveli, each in a manner that suited the respective place keeping both, the work and fun aspect, well in sight. Everywhere, food and frolic was the common denominator of the day.
On August 30th, a picnic was organized for all the teachers and therapists of the school and training center at Nashik. We visited very picturesque waterfalls Dabhosa (Jawahar waterfall) amidst the Sahyadri mountain ranges. We had loads of fun, danced in the rain and generally had a lovely day eating hot bhajiyas and posing for photographs with the tribal women there!
Mrs. Jayanthi Vishwanath presented a talk on 'Autism today' at a two-day seminar in Nashik on 'Learning issues of children and youth' organized by Mumbai's Don Bosco Counseling Group on 28th-29th September 2013.
The enrolments and work are both increasing at Erode and Tirunelveli. Getting and hiring staff trained and experienced in working with special children is one of our challenges in these locations, but we have been able to retain the good staff we have engaged, thereby ensuring service quality.
V-Excel Remedial Centre
It was that time of the year; to watch our little Milkhas and Ushas go out there and sweat it out; the run up was as memorable and joyful as it could be. The VRC team worked along with the Counseling department in planning and designing the charts and props that provided the backdrop for the Sports Day. On hindsight, we wonder how we effectively managed the scheduling of our remedial sessions along with balancing the work towards V-Excel's unique and lovely Olympian quest!
Our remedial intervention work continues to be well received across geographies. This month we welcomed a very adorable little child from Durgapur, West Bengal. He will be with us for a month for an intensive session of remedials and we are excited at the opportunity to be able to work on accentuating his gross motor, fine motor and attention skills, pursuant to which we will recommend a follow-at-home-remedial program.
The regular course of work continued well. In brief, we attended to two new assessments in addition to four complete assessments. The development of all the children across all cases has been positive and they give us a reason to tap-dance to work every day!
Vocational Training Unit
It was sports time and our teachers spent the best part of their time and efforts in practice and preparation for the event. The theme chosen was 'the number 7' and every drill, race, game and activity revolved around this broad theme. All the trainees enjoyed their part thoroughly. The VTU team performed a drill with the 7 notes - Sapthaswaras and a race using bean bags to show the 7 different directions. Another race that they displayed their skills was the 7 steps to setting a table.
Learning towards enhancement of their social skills was the theme for the month of September. Trainees were taught how to conduct themselves at a buffet lunch. On the 21st of September, a buffet lunch was sponsored by a staff. The trainees conducted themselves very well, following almost all of what was taught to them as etiquette.
Group counseling sessions are being conducted regularly for the trainees, addressing the issues faced by their parents in social situations. We hope to soon see a behavioural change on this count.
Orders for Dusherra are being completed. IPMT has placed an order for bags for their conference in November. We have also received a regular order for our paper cups being made at Samarth.
Counseling and Assessment Unit
The work with our ongoing corporate partner continued with a greater response from the associates who are by now aware of our services and voluntarily seek our support.
We have been having a grandparents group for some time now and we get varying response from them at different times. We also had six consultations this month.
One of our counselors has started communication through typewriter for some children from the special school with amazing results. We believe that continued interaction with these older children will be really fruitful and we will also have an understanding of their issues.
Sibling Forum group met this month. The sessions was conducted by one of counselors, but given that it was exam time, we had a slacker than usual response from the siblings.
Counseling group, along with VRC, made posters for the Sports Day based on the theme "Number 7".
Our work with the parents, their group therapy and work with individual teachers continued despite the hectic Sports Day practice. The counseling group in-service focused on foot massage this time. The merits of this simple calming technique are many; teachers and students alike have been experiencing it positive effects first hand. We also recommend it to our school parents.
Contact Information
V-Excel Educational Trust
#1 Norton 2nd Street
Mandaveli Chennai 600 028
Tel: 91 - 44 - 24620243
91 - 44 - 24956373 E-mail us or visit us at www.v-excel.org
V-Excel Center for Research and Rehabilitation
(In assocation with S.V. Sarada Foundation)
50 Sreyes, M.G. Road
Shastri Nagar, Chennai 600 041
Tel: 91 - 44 - 24522061
91 - 44 - 24521986 E-mail us
Academic Concepts, Inc.
33 Pine Street
East Brunswick New Jersey 08818
Tel: (732) 619-7944
Tax ID: 22-3632715 E-mail us
