Working with regular schools: V-Excel has a regular school interfacing program. This wing, headed by Dr. Vasudha Prakash, conducted
a 3-day Faculty Development Program for the Little Rock Indian School, Udupi, South Karnataka.
A series of workshops have been arranged for AMSB schools, Chennai for this academic year.
We had referred three of our students to NIMHANS, Bangalore for detailed evaluation and recommendations. The process required the
whole family to spend around three weeks in the NIMHANS campus during which doctors and psychologists and counselors worked
with the child and the family to develop a program.
Ms. Nandini Santhanam, Coordinator, VRC, and Dr. Vasudha Prakash went to NIMHANS to meet the doctors and exchange notes about
the best direction to take for the children. The doctors and service providers were really wonderful in their professionalism
and total commitment to their work with the children. It was very encouraging that an institution of such caliber exists in India.
We look forward to a continued positive association with them.
Academy of Teacher Excellence News
The ATE's one-year Diploma Course in Special Education begins on 27th June 2005. Mrs.Prema Raghunath, Former Vice-Principal, Vidya
Mandir School, Chennai will be the Head of the Resource Development for this course. Therefore, ATE will be under her guidance from
this year. She has exciting plans for this section of V-Excel. Her enthusiasm is bound to propel the entire program forward. We
welcome Mrs. Raghunath to our faculty.
Kaleidoscope Learning Center (KLC) News
Mrs Gita Bhalla, Principal of KLC, had to undergo a major surgery in May. While she is recuperating, KLC is under the efficient
stewardship of Mrs. Neela Chandramouli. Mrs Bhalla hopes to be back with us in the first week of July. In the meanwhile, KLC has
settled down to its timetable.
Mrs. Anne Panghat, art therapist, will be conducting a 2-day workshop on arts and crafts and classroom tools in a special class
session. There will be similar ongoing teacher in-service programs throughout the year.
V-Excel Remedial Center (VRC) News
The second satellite V-Excel Remedial centre was launched this month at Royapuram, Chennai. There are approximately 20 schools in
that area and sadly there are no remedial services available there. So we hope to help many children with learning disabilities.
The Final examination results of the VRC children were declared last month. All the children from the remedial program have obtained
good results in the examinations conducted by their respective schools. Seven children in the autistic spectrum have been admitted
into inclusive schools in the city. Also, children with learning difficulties have been promoted to the next class. One child with
learning difficulty has been moved to the Bridges Learning Academy. We are proud to state that five children have been moved from
the center to their respective schools. We wish them a terrific future.
Project Prabha
Project Prabha is designed for building a bright future for special children, - children who are autistic, have attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, suffer from mental retardation, beset with specific learning disabilities and the like. Project Prabha aims to support and nurture
the emotional, physical, social, spiritual well-being and development of special children through the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP)
formulated specifically for each child the organisation works with.
Under this programme, people can contribute to whatever extent they can, even as minimal as Rs. 5 a day, i.e., Rs. 1,825 for a year. In the USA,
an amount as low as $1 (a dollar) a day will go a long way in helping our cause. Cheques, in India, can be sent in favour of V-Excel Educational Trust, or to Academic Concepts, in the USA. Mailing addresses are in the top right corner of this newsletter.
The contribution will be invested in providing extensive support services like enhanced amenities, a conducive barrier free learning environment, equipped
therapy rooms, effective teaching aids and recreational facilities.
Bridges Learning Academy
The month of May is vacation time for the kids. Meanwhile, at BLA we have improved the infrastructure with additional classrooms,
furniture, and have incorporated many more teaching aids. We are eagerly awaiting to see the kids dressed in their lovely new
uniforms that we have introduced from this academic year.
Montessori Program
V-Excel will be using Montessori method as a therapy for some of our KLC and Remedial children. A Montessori room is being set up
under the guidance of Ms. Neha Bhalla who is trained in the Montessori method of teaching.
Contact Info :: India:
V-Excel Educational Trust
#1 Norton 2nd Street
Mandaveli Chennai 600 028
Tel: 91 - 44 - 2494 2255
91 - 44 – 2495 6373 E-mail us or visit us at www.v-excel.org
Contact Info :: USA:
Academic Concepts, Inc.
1403 Merrywood Drive
Edison, NJ 08817
Tel: (732) 572-3748
Tax ID: 22-3632715 E-mail us
Volunteer Info:
Volunteers are an integral part of our success. Our most pressing needs are in the areas of occupational and speech therapies, and
as teacher aides. We also require assistance in library management.
If you have any of these and are interested in volunteering at V-Excel, please contact us.
The Montessori System
The Montessori system of education can best be described as experiential learning. The child's "absorbent mind" readily takes in
knowledge soaking it up as a selective sponge. Every stage in a child's life is one of learning. Thus he reads, writes, adds,
subtracts and multiplies when he is ready to and when he wants to. This learning is permanent because it allows the child to move
from doing and feeling (the concrete world) to conceptualizing and thinking (the abstract world). Man is constantly working on his
development. As a child his enthusiasm and determination for achievement and perfection is at its highest and purest form - untouched
by ambitious power, driven by self motivation. The Montessori system of education recognizes this and allows and helps the child's
natural development to take place in a holistic manner.
