Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body,
be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is way great spiritual giants are produced. Sawmi Vivekananda
V-Excel News
Diwali the festival of lights was celebrated on the 6th of November with lots of enthusiasm and happiness. The front courtyard at V-Excel and was
beautifully decorated with multi colored Rangoli designs. Diyas (clay lamps) of ranging shapes and sizes were lit at the stroke of 6 p.m., and this was followed by a
fireworks display. All the children enjoyed bursting crackers with their parents and friends. It was truly a memorable occasion.
V-Excel Outreach Program
There are 10 blocks in the Villipuram district, each block consisting of 90 students. An excursion was arranged for these physically / mentally challenged children.
The students visited Sathanur Dam, Thiruvannamalai and Senji. Later they spent some time in Pondicherry at the Aurobindo Ashram and the beach, and also
visited Thiruvakkarai. Each group of 8 students was accompanied by one teacher. All expenses including food were borne by the government. It was an enjoyable
and successful program.
Academy of Teacher Excellence News
A field visit to Bangalore was organized for two days during the month of November for the present batch of ATE scholars. The field trip consisted of
visits to the following institutions:
Spastic Society of Karnataka
Comdeal Trust
Institute of Speech & Hearing
NIMHANS
The institutes were aptly selected and this gave the participants relevant exposure in all the related areas of education for children with special needs.
The trip was very well organized and we look forward to participating in many more such trips in the future. Time spent at NIMHANS could have been extended
to enable us to understand the full impact of the disorders. We also take this opportunity to convey our sincere thanks and appreciation to all the people
at the various institutes for their sustained enthusiasm and guidance despite their busy schedule.
Kaleidoscope Learning Center (KLC) News
The activities and festivities in the second term at KLC scene continue to be an unending stream. Before you can recover from one preparation the next
event looms large and you find teachers and students totally immersed in it.
The month began with Diwali celebrations in continuation with the monthly theme of “Celebration”. So children learnt about another Hindu festival and it
culminated in the beautiful Diwali fire works display at the centre. Each child contributed a lamp he decorated himself for the occasion.
This was followed by a program entitled - Celebration of senses, color, sound and movement, by our children on Doordarshan's Podhigai which meant many
hours of practice. The recording took place on the 12th November at the TV station and the final telecast was on 14th November. A marvelous job done by the
staff and students and our experience of taking them to the studio where they had a long waiting period was rewarding. Our methods are working and this was
the proof of the pudding. We thank Ms. Hemalatha from DD Podhigai for giving our children this opportunity to showcase their abilities on TV.
On 14th November Smt. Neena Dar, Rohit’s mother arranged a party for all students of KLC with class teacher Bharati’s help. The children played games
that the teachers had planned and later enjoyed Rohit’s party. Children’s Day well spent.
The second in the series of Sex Education classes entitled – Teach Your Girl Child about menstruation - is to be held from 28th November, 2007.
The Shiamak Davar dance troupe concludes their 30 sessions of teaching the kids in a final display on 30th November at Kamaraj Auditorium. The dresses
for this event have been sponsored by the Rotary club of Vepery.
V-Excel Remedial Center (VRC) News
Deepavali was celebrated with enthusiasm by all our kids. Lamps were lit, soundless crackers were burst and sweets were distributed.
A Friday field trip to the home of our volunteer Ms. Lakshmi taught us that our children had internalized how to be in a new social setting. They showed
that they had learnt how to take turns, wait patiently and greet the host. What was remarkable was that they did not attempt to handle the delicate
objects of display in their house.
Snippets from our classroom:
Mukkund has many varied kind of difficulties and has learnt to cope with some of them. We were touched with the child’s ability to put in effort when
he expressed that his body and head pained as he was trying to deal with his anxieties.
Adish has expressed his desire to make friends who are non-autistic. He intends to have interactions that will facilitate two-way understanding between
him and his peers.
Bridges Learning Academy
Diwali was celebrated on the evening of the 6th of November. All the children came to school dressed in their traditional attire. They had an enjoyable
time bursting crackers with their parents and their friends.
On the 17th of this month, eight volunteers from Citibank headed by Dev Srivastava spent the day at BLA. At the outset, they were apprised about the
academic levels of the children. Later, keeping the profile of the child in mind, they helped to prepare individual worksheets for them in Math and English.
Children’s Day was a fun-filled day for our kids, who were happy to come to school dressed in their casual clothes. They watched a movie Hanuman as well
as some cartoons. Later they were treated to a pot-luck party which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.
Counseling Unit
The children in KLC completed 7-8 sessions of individual Play Therapy. Some of the children have shown a marked improvement, strengthening our belief
in Play Therapy as an effective method for children with limited communication abilities.
Another milestone which was achieved during last month was a sex education workshop for parents. It was second in the series. The first one was on safety
and teaching children about safe and unsafe touch. The second one was for training parents of girl children to teach their children about menstruation.
The workshop was for the parents of pre-pubertal children of KLC.
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.
Quotes
Neither high nor very far,
Neither emperor nor king,
You are only a little milestone,
Which stands at the edge of the highway.
To people passing by
You point the right direction
And stop them from getting lost.
You tell them of the distance
For which they still must journey.
Your service is not a small one,
And people will always remember you. Ho Chi Minh
Once we begin not to worry about the kind of house we live in, what clothes we are wearing–once we give up the stupid
recreation of this world, we have time, which is priceless, to remember wthat we are our brother’s keeper and that we must not
only care for his needs as far as we are able immediately, but we must try to build a better world. Dorothy Day
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them
and you have their shoes. Anonymous
Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind.
To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue. Buddha
We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winter's evening.
Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nurse them through bad days till they bring them to the sunshine
and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true. Woodrow Wilson