"Service is the rent we pay to be living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time."
Marian Wright Edelman
V-Excel News
Celebrations have been the highlight of this month. Ever since the school reopened, it has been a festival
bonanza for children! Diwali, the festival of lights, is the most awaited one. But the rains decided to join us,
making it difficult for us to have the fireworks. Nevertheless, it was a gala event, with snacks and sweets
organized for everyone by the school.
Kaleisdoscope Learning Centre
School reopened on the October 13 after a well-deserved break at the end of the first term. We included one new hand activity
for the afternoon school - Kolam. We are glad to welcome Mrs. Gayathri Shankaranarayanan in our midst. She is teaching our
children to use their finger tips to make powder designs as traditional rangolis and combines it with musical notes and simple
folk songs.
The new block for this term is ‘Celebrations’ as the festival season beckons, starting with Vijay Dashami and Golu, and
ending with X’Mas. Teachers are busy writing stories and anecdotes for preparing material to describe and teach various forms
of celebrations. The focus this term is on ‘Reading’.
We are very grateful to the students of Stella Maris (Fine Arts) for their invaluable contribution this year as part of
their Social Awareness Program. The students have completed eight story kits and have used different materials and techniques
to prepare these. KLC is thrilled with the new tools they possess and the teachers are ready to try out their skill of story
telling.
Bridges Learning Academy
Several new extra–curricular activities have been initiated this month. Vaishnavi and Swaroopa, students of Fine Arts
Department, Stella Maris College, have started Art classes with our students. They are now learning about the different
facets of art – pencil shading, coloring and painting – and are enjoying themselves thoroughly during these classes. Their
colorful portrayal of Diwali was appreciated by one and all.
Mrs. Gayathri Shankaranarayanan, an expert in Kolam Therapy has started working with our students. (Kolam is also called
Rangoli, a traditional Indian art form of sand-painting decoration that uses finely ground white powder and colours). She
is of the opinion that Kolam Therapy will enable the students to improve in the following areas:
Eye–hand coordination
Fine motor skills
Concentration and memory power
She feels that using of dots and single lines while drawing Kolam also helps in sequencing and planning, improves strokes in
cursive writing and aids in speed writing.
Mrs. Lakshmi Mohan has commenced music classes from this month, and our children are having a great time learning new songs
and bhajans.
Academy for Teacher Excellence
A month of holidays and exam fever! The trainees returned after their 1st term break on the 13th of October. Mrs. Latha Kannan
of our computer department spoke about use of computers as a communication medium with non-verbal children. Through some
specific case studies, she gave many useful insights to the trainees about the way the children’s minds worked and how to
recognize subtle underlying points.
The first internal exams were from the 20th to the 24th October. We heard some really diverse comments about the exams –
It was an enjoyable experience writing exams after so many years!
A hair-raising experience!
Take your time over announcing the results!
The exams ended and the trainees had a well deserved four day Diwali break.
Vocational Training Unit
It has been three months since we started working on the ‘workshop’ model with the students where there is a simulated
job environment created for them to learn. They have learnt some very important skills that can be useful in a number of
vocations – measuring, using scissors, folding, hammering, sorting in columns, use of size and numbers. Each time, when a
new skill is taught, the earlier skills are reinforced.
The structure in the workshop has also helped immensely in behaviour management- less shouting, patience while waiting
for their turn or waiting in a queue, giving them a sense of focus and responsibility. While these may seem trivial things
now, they would certainly help the students in many walks of life. However, at the implementing level, we do face certain
challenges. These include -
Being consistent in following the structure and taking decisions at work
Focusing on training and growth of children, especially while choosing a product
Marketing the products made by the students
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On October 30th and 31st and on November 1st, we put up a stall at Valluvar Kottam in an exhibition organized by the Lion’s
Club. It was an opportunity to showcase the abilities of our children and also generate higher awareness of V-Excel on the whole.
Rural Outreach Program
This month saw glowing smiles on the faces of the special children at Villipuram. The credit goes to Indian Overseas Bank
(IOB) which gave us the necessary funds for buying Diwali sweets and goodies for the children. We are happy that nearly 3,400
children could be catered to under this program.
Counseling & Assessment Unit
Refreshed after the term break, the children came back all excited. By the time the children settled into routine, came
Diwali bringing with it a colourful and joyous mood. It is inspiring to see that the children have maintained their level
of progress, despite so many holidays and changes. In fact, some have shown steady growth.
We are hoping to get increased response to our private clinic once the festivities are over. Generally, it seems like a
satisfactory beginning of the second term. Parents have reported improvement in the behavior of their children referred for
counseling. Our observations corroborate the same. It is indeed encouraging that more and more parents are showing interest
in availing the counseling services set up by us.
Contact Info :: India:
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
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.
India Autism: Trying Tradition
In India, old ideas are giving new options to treating autism. Liz Neisloss reports on that country's approach.
Some people see a closed door,
and turn away.
Others see a closed door,
try the knob
if it doesn't open...
they turn away.
Still others see a closed door,
try the knob,
if it doesn't open,
they find a key,
if the key doesn't fit...
they turn away
A rare few see a closed door,
try the knob
if it doesn't open,
they find a key,
if the key doesn't fit...
They make one.
Teachers
Teachers
Paint their minds
and guide their thoughts
Share their achievements
and advise their faults
Inspire a Love
of knowledge and truth
As you light the path
Which leads our youth
For our future brightens
with each lesson you teach
Each smile you lengthen
Each goal you help reach
For the dawn of each poet
each philosopher and king
Begins with a Teacher
And the wisdom they bring ....Kevin Huff
