Strides Newsletter Archives
- Counseling & Assessments
- Early Intervention
- Kaleidoscope Learning Center
- V-Excel Educational Trust
- Occupational Therapy
- Satellite Centers
- Vocational Training / Youth Empowerment Services
Counseling & Assessments
From Parimal Pandit's Desk
C&A Diaries
Most of Novemnber post Diwali rains disrupted many activities which were planned. Our group sessions in KLC and YES continued with the children who could come. They worked on various themes during these sessions.
Our individual sessions continued. We had between all our counselors 20 sessions with individual children and adults. The consultations were carried on and we had in all 10 consultations. Our art therapy with individual children and groups in YES and KLC continued.
We had only two counseling desks as the locations were flooded and attendance was very low. Many associates could work from home.
For Friday inservice with KLC teachers we conducted and interesting activity called 'Welcome Mat'. This activity involved drawing what they wanted visitors to know they will receive at their homes. Very interesting thoughts and drawings came out of it. It made the teachers reflect on how they are with the people outside and what they would like to convey about themselves.
Early Intervention
Speech Facilitation Training
November has been a month of rains. Parent observation and training has been integral part of programme through this month. Parents brought their young children for Early Intervention programme irrespective of heavy rains. Home programmes have been given to parents in line with the progress / development achieved. Speech facilitation training has been undertaken with the parents. The parents were guided through the key facilitation areas of speech namely, pointing, receptive skills and expressive skills. Parents were educated on how to facilitate communication in day to day activities. Blowing exercises and articulation exercises were demonstrated. This is given for improving clarity in speech. Parents and the facilitators are recording the progress in the area in communication.
Kaleidoscope Learning Center
From Gita Bhalla's Desk
KLC Recap
The month of November marked the advent of the monsoon season, and this year the rain Gods seem to be really bountiful and generous to our city. The city has seen unprecedented rain and the school has been working except for a few days when the downpour prevented the families from leading their normal lives. Despite that it’s been an eventful month and some of our happenings are included below.
7th and 8th were days of Anthroposophical Festival at Theosophical Society. Shashikala our School Coordinator attended this festival. Our choir performed for the inaugural festival and won the hearts of our esteemed audience. The festivals offering of the sessions , particularly Aurelio's music and making instruments made from nature was delightful , innovative and inspiring. We hope to make some of these ourselves.
12th we had Diwali celebrations in school by lighting up crackers like flower pots and bhoomi chakkars and sparklers. The children enjoyed, as they all participated and burned these crackers.
14 November, we celebrated Children's Day in school. The children had some games organised by the teachers, some hot masala Vadai by Vasanthi aunty, and a trip to the beach in the van along with the teachers. We had only 25 children present that day and the weather was great to see the beach. We had some singing and sand play in the beach. Afternoon was music time by Neha and Puja with some special songs presented by both of them apart from the group singing.
21st and 22nd the Opening workshop on IRA happened at Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan and some teachers of KLC participated on those two days.
22nd our Kindergarten teacher Tamizhselvi got engaged and some of the teachers from KLC attended the function representing the whole family of teachers.
26th Thursday, KLC celebrated Mother's Day (Pictures Included) exclusively for the mothers of KLC. Though the strength was low, all of them had a great time - playing games in the morning, having ragi kanji, attending a cooking session with Vasanthi who taught them to make Kothmir Vada which they also partook, followed by lunch (they had brought their own lunch). This was followed by a handwork session with teachers Swathi and Tamizhselvi who taught them quilling and finger knitting. The mothers stayed in school from 10 am to 2 pm and had a great day and wanted more such sessions to be arranged for them.
27th Friday in the teacher's meeting there was a session of Eurythmy with Neha and Puja for the teachers, and finally a unique experience of every teacher demonstrating various parts of the curriculum of each grade. The teachers of each grade demonstrated how they work with the children during - main lesson work, form drawing, handwork, finger rhymes time and other activities, with the other teachers acting as students. It gave an insight into the working of the class and how it is being managed and what improvements can be made to make it effective.
V-Excel Educational Trust
Tarang in Chennai
This month's Tarang concert featured Carnatic vocalist Bharat Sundar. He was accompanied on the violin by Vijay and on the mridangam by Akshay Ram.
About Bharat:
Although Bharat Sundar attained international fame after winning Jaya TV's first Carnatic Music Idol, his experience in the field dates way back to when he was in his early teens. The singer, who first began training under Smt. Leelavathi Gopalakrishnan gave his first recital at the VDS Arts Academy in 6th standard. Not too interested in Carnatic music, his interest leaned more towards light music as he entered a lot of competitions in this genre. Looking back at his childhood, Bharat recalls a time when Smt MS Subbalakshmi sang at a Hanuman temple near his home. "It was packed that day. I remember I had to go to the terrace to see her in concert! I didn't understand her greatness back then, but now looking back, I treasure that experience of actually having seen a true legend the field of Carnatic Music". It wasn't until he was presented with a CD of Sri TN Seshagopalan's music, that he changed his mind and perception of Carnatic Music forever. Currently receiving advanced training from P.S.Narayanaswamy, Bharat has gone on to perform in India and beyond accompanied by senior instrumentalists and is one of the most promising young musicians of today.
A Visit to Vasantham
The staff, students and some parents from our Youth Empowerment Services visited Vasantham's Arivom Ariviyal Science Exhibition. Vasantham is a special school located in Mogappair (East) on the outskirts of Chennai. We are grateful to Mrs. Alli Murugesan, their Founder-Director, for the hospitality extended to us.
Occupational Therapy
OT and SI Diaries
Meeting between Therapist and KLC was held in the first week of November in which Parents’ active interaction in communication book with therapist, Grade wise Therapist-teachers interaction, maintaining records of therapist suggested classroom activities and interventions for Critical children were discussed.
Children are now enjoying even more after introducing some new therapeutic items in the department. Children who want to touch everything and are constantly seeking tactile input gladly touch, squeeze, and play with Kinetic Sand. On the other hand, who were sensitive to or avoidant of “messy play” (or who are hesitant to try out new things in general) are likely to be open to engage with creative sensory play with it due to its soft, non-sticky texture. It also promotes a sense of calm in addition to fine motor skill development. They also get more precise finger exercise from the new micro magnetic beads.
Satellite Centers
From Jayanthi Vishwanath's Desk
Nashik Happenings
In western India, Diwali is celebrated for five days, marking the victory of good over evil. This year, preparations for the festival were begun in the school with painting of earthen lamps by the children and making of kandil by the teachers. On 7th November, Diwali was celebrated in the school. Children came dressed in colourful clothes; simple competitions were held for the children and all the kids were given prizes and sweet packets. From 8th November to 17th November, the school remained closed for Diwali vacation.
Mr. Sachin Bedmutha, the landlord of our school building, gifted a small refrigerator to our school for Diwali. We are thankful to him for this good gesture. We have some good news from the CP classroom. Shlok Paranjpe, a child afflicted with CP and mild autism, has begun walking after one year of intense physiotherapy at our school. Shlok's parents and teachers are thrilled with this achievement. Home-visits are happening in full swing. Most of the parents are very glad with the progress that the children are making. The visitors, i.e., the class-teacher and the psychologist got a more holistic view of the child and family in the home and many families appreciated this initiative of ours.
Solapur Diaries
1st November onwards Deepavali preparation was held students make Akashdeep and decorated diva and make greeting cards. 6th and 7th November Jayanthi Ravi visited the Solapur Center and she observed the classrooms and programs of children. 7th November Jayanthi Ravi took counseling session with New Parents whose children joined our center after April 2015. 7th November we celebrated Deepavali festival at center with Jayanthi.
Vocational Training / Youth Empowerment Services
From Usha Rajagopal's Desk
VTU Diary
At Sreyes, we had parents coming in to meet with unit head and staff to get an update on their wards activities at the unit , in the first week of November. Primarily, they were happy with the way the activities are going. Short and long term goals of the new entrants were discussed.
Mr. Aatmanaadan of Worth Trust visited Sreyes and saw the activities. He got an idea about the EI as well as Vocational unit. On the 3rd, Ms. Charu, with Shankari, went to Grundfos to exhibit our products, as requested by Ms. Mahathi.
On the 5th, the first practical training session on hospitality etiquette was conducted by Ms. Chandra, to train the group for cafe Samarth.It was received very well and the teachers plan to give practice for a week before the next session is planned. As a part of this , a mock restaurant was put up and food served.
The last three weeks have been quite uncomfortable with heavy downpours and jammed roads. However, we did have the unit working with the brave and the conscientious ones.
Anandi, the trainee from RA Puram came on all days, by bus, braving the rain . Every night she spent bailing out water from her home and helped her mother put some dry clothes on her special brother. The subsequent week saw three adventurous staff. Shanthi, Prakash and Nirmala who braved inundated homes without power supply for more than 8 days, to be at the centre . We thank them and look up to them as examples.
26th and 27th, Shanthi and Rajendran went to Srirangam to train the teachers there in 3-4 vocational activities. This maiden attempt was welcomed by the staff and the trainees there. The order from Valeo has been completed and new orders have come in. Stay connected to strides to follow what our special young adults are engaged with.
From YES
:
On 4th November 2015, Mr. John Bosco a special educator joined YES. On 27th November 2015 our trainees with all the teachers visited a science exhibition organized by Vasantham, a school for special children. The exhibits were in department wise and easier for our trainees to understand the exhibits. We are doing all the vocational activities as per our plan.