Providing lifespan services to individuals with special needs...
Strides Newsletter - August 2022 - Issue 194
Counseling & Assessments
From Radhika Sasankh's Desk
....
Early Intervention and V-Excel Remedial Centre
From the staff of Early Intervention and V-Excel Remedial Centre
August Festivals (Independence day, Krishna Jayanthi & Ganesh Chaturthi) - Theses had a therapeutic Influence on our children as they got a lot of opportunity to explore things by doing different types of activities:
Independence Day
The following Activities were conducted for the children and below are the intervention which have been catered to:
Hand Painting: Tactile Integration, Visual Integration, Waiting Skills
Figure Impression Painting: Hand Functioning, Finger Manipulation
Arranging Puzzle ( Freedom Fighter Face): Problem Solving, Sitting Tolerance
Parade and Flag Salute: Group Interaction, Bilateral leg Coordination
Krishana Jayathi Activities
Foot Print Walking: Complex Gross motor skills training
Arranging Ladder: Transferring, Cognition
Swing: Vestibular Integration
Pot breaking Activity: Focus & Attention, Hand and Eye coordination, Initiating, target identification, and completion
Ganesh Chathurthi Celebrations
EI - Therapy Vinayagar stole the show ... A huge 6 Feet Vinayagar was erected with all the Therapy materials. Our Baby Ganesh lifted the spirits of our Tiny tots.
Marathon
Run for the Special Children Education: EI children participated in " Velicham" Marathon conducted on 27th August 2022. Our children were able to complete 2 km. It was a great experience and exposure for these little ones. They all had a good time. Few EI parents also participated enthusiastically in this event.
Kaleidoscope Learning Centre
From Shashikala Subramaniam's Desk
August brings with it celebrations in various forms - meetings with loved ones, Independence Day, return of physical Tarang program, taking up responsibility for your life and reveling in it, Krishna, Ganesha and the list goes on.
Students of Rander Hearts had been missing their teacher Pon Rajam who was on leave for personal reasons and the day she returned to school was a joyful one for them. They expressed it by hugging her, talking to her nineteen to a dozen, just keeping her near them, smiling at her and milling around her. Who says that these children cannot express their emotions!
The nature table in the classroom is a little quiet space that a teacher creates for her class. In keeping with the season or festival a table with natural material is brought to life and cared for by the teacher. In our school, the table is usually the first thing that catches your eye when you enter a classroom, and it is designed in such a way that it brings children a sense of awe and peace!
There may be things to touch or look at - but all that surrounds the table brings a feeling of being cared for and connected to the cycles of Nature.
Tarang – V-Excel's own Music / Dance program which had moved to the online platform during the pandemic and continued till July 2022 online, came back with a bang to the physical platform at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore on August 11th. It was the month of Krishna and a beautiful group dance program by young Bharatanatyam artists took over the stage. We had many new students and teachers who had never experienced the program on stage. It was a beautiful experience where each and every student enjoyed, relished, danced and stood awe struck watching it there. The whole of V-Excel staff and students from all units were present. Thank you to Usha Suresh, the main / key person behind this program all through these years, for organising this.
The theme of this year's Independence Day program was given by the students, who questioned the teachers – Why did you choose India as our mother? What does this land mean to you? And based on the answers for these questions from the teachers and friends, the program took shape. Click here to view the whole program
Preethi, one of our Senior School trainees, had been insisting that she graduate to become a trainee in our Vocational Unit at Adyar. And this month, she requested that this be done immediately. So, from the beginning of August, Preethi Venkatachalam started going to Vocational Training Unit, Adyar for the morning sessions. She settled well and got a mentor in Charumathi Sriram. In the days that she attended the vocations there, Preethi became a college girl – more mature and calmer.
Eshwar Narayanan, one of our old students, who had moved away to the US, came back to visit his old friends and teachers. He was very happy and very overwhelmed to be back in school. He spent time with them, joyously, had lunch and then went back with his Appa. When this was shared, Gita said – "All teachers should remember that you are touching lives forever, with your care and devotion. It is never lost. Please give yourself freely to the children, they always carry you." Prasaad in the photo with Eshwar was his friend.
As mentioned in our earlier strides, many of our parents with their children are opting to move into a Community Living program in Thiruvallur. The homes in the complex are ready and 2 of our students and their families have moved into this complex. Srilatha with her son Eshwar and Vafir with his grandmother have permanently moved. Staff from KLC attended the house warming function at Eshwar's home. Vafir on his last day in school, refused to go back with his parents, with a look of desperation in his eyes. The photo here shows his feelings:
It was time for Krishna to come into KLC and every classroom brought him in different time frames – some became Vrindavan – where he grew up, some became Dwaraka where he ruled, some classes were converted to Mathura where he was born. We invited a cow, an integral part of Krishna and the students fed it and Vasanthi aunty worshiped it in the traditional way. We had the traditional Uri Adi by the students and staff, followed by a small puja, welcoming Krishna.
This Block's main lesson in one of the senior school classes is Travel and Tourism, and learning about the different places that the students wanted to visit, how to get there, what is famous about the place and finding information about the place. One of the destinations selected was Thirupati, which Siva, one of our students wanted to go to. Famous about the place apart from the Temple and laddu was Gongura Chutney which the class got down to making from scratch and eating it for their lunch.
Adithya, one of our senior school students, who was going for 3 days earlier started going to Sreyes Farm for the whole week from Monday to Friday from August beginning. He settled well there and has been working hard.
Ganesha followed Krishna within a few days. Every class worked on their Ganesha made out of clay and brought it down for the pooja, performed by Vasanthi aunty. There was a dance performance by the students and teachers too.
Shashi's daughter – Sara and Aravindh's wedding reception and muhurtham was attended by almost all of KLC and also by staff from other Units. From a personal front, it felt like the family had come together.
Click here to view the whole program
Shashikala Subramaniam's daughter – Sara and Aravindh's wedding
V-Excel Educational Trust
Tarang
The monthly Tarang concert held on Thursday, 11th August 2022 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB) - Mylapore between 2.00 p.m. - 3.00 p.m.
V-Excel Educational Trust and BVB presents Krishna Leela by Smt. Vaidehi Harish, Nritya Samsrti, Founder & Artistic Director.
V-Excel celebrating the spirit of Independence
All the centres of V-Excel educational trust celebrated 75 years of Indian Independence with so much of grandeur and cheer.
It was all about remembering the bravehearts who fought for our independence, paying respect to our mother land and most importantly reminding ourselves of our rich culture and heritage.
Our trainees, parent community and our well wishers joined us in the celebrations and made it even more beautiful and colourful.
#independenceday2022 #75thindependenceday #spiritofindependence #SpiritOfFreedom #proudtobeindian #specialneeds #socialinclusion
Testimonials
What more can you ask for than lovely message from happy parent!?!?
This is from a parent about our Nasik centre.
मी तुमच्या शाळेसोबत खूप खुश आहे. शाळेची शिस्त, आत्मीयतेने शिकवणारे शिक्षक, शाळेतील वातावरण, वाहन चालक, मावशी सर्व छान काम करतात. महत्वाचे म्हणजे प्राचार्य मॅडमचे व्यवस्थापन उत्तम आहे.👍👍🙏🙏
I am very happy with your school. The school's discipline, teachers who teach compassionately, the school environment, van driver, akkas.... everyone works very well. Most importantly, the Principal Madam's management is the best! 😊❤️
Congratulations to Jayanthi Ma'am from the whole V-Excel team.
#parentfeedback #hardworkpays #nasik #vexcelnasik #specialneeds #specialeducationteacher #specialeducator
Social Marathon, run for special children's education
35 of us from V-Excel across all the units participated in the Social Marathon, run for special children's education, organised by Velicham foundation.
For many of us this was the first marathon after the pandemic and for many children it was their first marathon. Special children as young as 3 years participated and completed 2 km run. All the young adults from both the vocational training centres in Chennai completed 5 km run. It was very encouraging to see siblings of YES trainees run with them to show their support and love.
Heartfelt gratitude to Redington who supported our group with registrations, other arrangements and yummy breakfast.
#Velicham NGO #socialmarathon #marathonforspecialchildren #specialneeds #runforacause #runforspecialneeds
Recycle and put to use used paper bags
V-Excel Educational Trust recently got into an agreement with the Kandivali Recycling Group in Bombay to recycle and put to use used paper bags. This is a wonderful initiative that this NGO has undertaken and the attachments will give you an idea of how this scheme works. We received our first instalment of such bags yesterday and we can use these in our next public event.
Ganesh Chaturthi
3 different Ganesha's from 3 different Units but with a common purpose.
May Lord Ganesha shower wisdom,intelligence,prosperity, happiness and success onto V-Excel, it's team and all stakeholders. May Ganesha destroy your sorrows, enhance your happiness and create goodness all around you. Wishing everyone a Happy Vinayaka Chaturthi.
#vinayakchaturthi #blessings #peaceandprosperity #specialneeds #everychildmatters
Satellite Centers
From Jayanthi Vishwanath in Nashik
Participation in District level Dance competition:
The students of all the 3 service units from the Nashik branch of V-Excel Educational Trust participated in the Nashik District level Dance competition on 6th August, 2022. This program was organized by the Saksham Foundation, in partnership with the District's Social Welfare department.
Our VLC children performed a dance drama, depicting the greatness of Emperor Shivaji. Our Vocational trainees passed on a social message, " How to protect and prevent violence against girls and women" through their musical skit. The Bridges Learning Academy students, dressed like Soldiers of the Indian Army performed a dance-drama, portraying the sacrifice made by these strong men, guarding our Country at all times.
We are delighted to inform you that our students from the Bridges Learning Academy (a special school for slow- learners and regular schools drop-outs) won the First Prize under the ID (Intellectually disabled) category.
Rakshabandhan was celebrated on 10th Aug in all the 3 centers with great enthusiasm. The VTU trainees prepared raakhis, which were sold to parents of all the centers.
On August 15th, the National Independence Day was celebrated with a spirit of Patriotism. All the students came dressed in white coloured attire and presented songs, speech and dance to celebrate the occasion.
On 18th Aug, Gokul ashtami was celebrated at all the 3 centers. Children came in dressed as Krishna and Radha, sang bhajans and danced to peppy tunes. The ceremonial curd pot was broken and prashaad was distributed to all. It was a fun event.
Erode
Greetings from all of us at the Erode Center!
Festivals are an expressive way to celebrate our glorious heritage, culture and traditions. They are meant to enjoy special moments and emotions in our lives with our loved ones. They play an important role to add structure to our social lives and connects us with our families and backgrounds. They give us a distraction from our day to day, exhausting routine and give us some inspiration to remember the important things and moments in life. Festivals were started to pass the legends, knowledge and traditions onto the next generation.
All festivals are cultural in one way or another. There are many types of cultural festivals such as National, Religious and Seasonal. They all attend the purpose of bringing happiness to our lives, and strengthen our sense of community.
National Festivals: They connect us as people of a nation. National festivals connect citizens to important moments of a nation's history such as the founding day of a nation, our independence day solidifies patriotic spirits in the society.
Religious festivals are important for families. To keep this simple we can all agree that religious festivals help us to teach principles and ethics to our next generations. All different religious festivals bring the same message of love, tolerance and understanding. On these occasions we express our gratitude to God, for the special thing or event that originated on this particular festival.
Seasonal festivals reflect attitude of people towards nature. These festivals are important because they are related to food supply. Human beings should adore the nature and acknowledge its beneficence before partaking any of its gifts.
With these in mind, we try to make every festival memorable to our staff and children through activities and programs. This year, Krishna Jayanthi which is celebrated to mark Lord Krishna's birthday was celebrated on 18 th August in our center. The children dressed as Krishna and Radha were a pleasure to watch. The following activities were done as a part of the celebration by our staff and students
* making crowns
* cooking activity (aval mixing and groundnut balls making)
* garland making
* student dance program
* staff dance program
* Bhagavat Gita sloka recitation
* decoration and offering pooja to Krishna
Independence day celebration - Since this is the 75th Independence day this year, we planned to do it on 12th of Aug. The agenda of the Program was as follows:
10.00 - Prayer
10.10 - Yoga (suriya namaskaram)
10.30 - speech about Gandhiji
10.40 - Speech about Jawaharlal Nehru
10.50 - EI and pre voc children dance
11.05 - EI student dance
11.20 - Trippur Kumaran drama
11.45 - National Anthem
The photos are attached. It was well enjoyed by all our students.
With Vinayaga Chaturthi, Teacher's day and Navratri coming up, we are all geared up and planning for them. Shall update all about it in the next issue of Strides.
Wishes from Erode team!!!
Solapur
August (Shravan) is full of festivals and keeps everyone busy in celebrations. This brings festive, spiritual and joyful environment everywhere. So our children and teachers celebrated and enjoyed all festivals with their creativity and enthusiasm.
On 1st August we celebrated 'Nag panchami'.
On this Holi festival women worship the serpent God and offer milk to snakes. On this day, women also pray for safety of their brother and family. Women swing and play many traditional games. Our children made idol of snake, did pooja and played traditional games and enjoyed the festival.
On 10th August we celebrated "Raksha Bandhan". That whole week afternoon , every class was busy in making Rakhi. Every Rakhi was their own creation. On this celebration children came in new dress with a special gift in hand for their sisters. All girls tied Rakhi to boys and boys gave them gift. Everyone enjoyed the sweets.
On the occasion of 75th Independence day we conducted different competitions for the kids at our center. The theme was using three colors of the flag and created a patriotic environment. We organised a Coloring , Rangoli making, Thumb Painting and Salad decoration competition. We encouraged children to do things independently and kids did things very well.
On 15th morning, children, teachers and parents in white dress walked in the colony near our school with flags and banners in their hands and sang patriotic songs. Flag hoisting was done by Dr. Amol Degaonkar (Neurosurgeon) and Dr.Sarika Degaonkar (gynaecologist). Children performed patriotic song,dance and played Rashtra geet on the piano. Sweets were distributed to all the children.
On 18-Aug-2022, on the occassion of Janmashtami we celebrated Dahi handi and did Dandia for kids at our center. Cute little Krishna and Radha were looking really adorable. We also did Coloring of Dahi handi as a activity. After the program all children enjoyed Gopal Kala as Prasad.
On Saturday 27th of August, We conducted a "Team building" session for teachers. Mrs Sunita Vaidya and Mrs Namrata Gaur arranged refreshing fun activities for all teachers. We all had great fun and also learnt how to work as a team and the values of team spirit. I want to thank them on behalf of all teachers for bringing in such a wonderful session.
On 1st September, we celebrated Ganesh chaturthi festival. Ganpati Festival is a big festival in Maharashtra and the enthusiasm and zeal is infectious... Ganpati Bappa literally lifts the spirits of the young and the old alike.
Our teacher Poonam took a Ganapati making session. Children were very happy to touch and make shapes with clay. They enjoyed the session and made their own Ganapati.
Our other teachers did activities with leaf, paper cup, art work and made different types of Ganesh Idols. All children beautifully embellished the Ganesh's, did pooja and Aarti followed by prasad.
Vocational Training Unit
From Charumathi Sriram's Desk
August month was full of fun, festivity, live Tarang performance, Independence Day, field trip, Krishna Jayanthi and Vinayaka Chaturthi.
KLC student Preethi joined VTU for half a day for a Foundation course to begin with. She settled in a weeks' time working with vocational activities.
After a break of two years finally Tarang had a live performance at Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan on Aug 11, 2022. Trainees of VTU, along with other units attended the dance performance on the theme of Krishna Leela by Smt. Vadehi Harish, Nirthya Samsriti. It was a wonderful program with Krishna's Leela and all the students and trainees connected with the songs and the stories. The dancers were very happy to perform and kept the audience with full vibes.
75th Independence Day Celebration On Aug 15, 2022
At Sreyes VTU 75th Independence Day was celebrated along with YES trainees and staff. Our Trustee Mr. G. Rajagopal hoisted the flag at 8.00 am. VTU trainees sang patriotic songs along with teachers, video was played of their expression about “What Freedom Means to Them?” followed by teachers and staff song “Ennile Maha Oliyo – A.R. Rehman, Coke Studio. YES, trainees performed a skit and patriotic dance. They had also displayed the artwork done by the trainees. Parents attended the program and at the end sweets made by trainees were distributed.
Krishna Jayanthi Celebration On Aug 19, 2022
VTU trainees were made to draw Krishna and painted him with beautiful colours mentored by therapist Vasanth. Trainees along with teachers help, drew the footsteps of Lord Krishna. Puja was performed and Krishna's favourite snacks of seedai, vella seedai, murukku and fruits were offered which was distributed to the trainees and staff. We all sang bhajans of Krishna taught by volunteer Rama.
Charu along with our Founder Director Vasudha Prakash and PR committee attended meeting at Doordarshan for a program on awareness disability.
Field Trip Of The Month To Crocodile Bank And VGP Marine Kingdom On Aug 26, 2022
VTU along with Sreyes Farm group visited Crocodile Bank and VGP Marine Kingdom on Aug 26, 2022. Staff of the Crocodile bank took our trainees for a tour and staff explained about each and every variety of crocodile and their habitat. Uma Swaminathan translated it to the trainees accordingly. They walked with so much enthusiasm despite the hot weather and were also well behaved. We had lunch and then watched the removing of snake poison. From there we visited to VGP Aqua Kingdom. This was a wonderful experience for all trainees, and they all enjoyed watching different varieties of fishes and underwater species. Nature with beautiful colors made our trainees happy and calm. They wanted to take photos in front of each colourful species.
Vinayaka Chaturthi Celebration On Aug 30, 2022
Vinayaka Chathurthi was celebrated at VTU on Aug 30, 2022, at the center. Therapist Vasanth took a printout of outline picture of Lord Ganesha and along with trainees made it as a form using all the pulses. They also made clay Ganesha and kept it ready for the puja. Trainee Narayanan drew one with water color. Placing all these, the team performed puja and trainees wanted to be a part of this time and started doing archana while chanting ashtotharam. It was so nice to see them participating and competing to shower the flowers on the Ganesha and trying to recite the mantras.
Redington Foundation Marathon On Aug 27, 2022
Trainee Chandra along with teacher Abhirami and Admin Manager Manivannan participated in the Marathon along with other units at Elliots Beach for a 2 KM run. They received a medal and certificate.
Visitor from Grundfos Pumps Pvt. Ltd. on Aug 30, 2022
Our CSR partner Grundfos Pumps Country Head Mr. George Rajkumar along with Ms. Apoorva, CSR Head visited our unit on Aug 30, 2022 at 9.00 am and stayed till 11.00 am. They watched all our activities and products. He interacted with trainees and he watched the vocational activities. Supraja explained about scanning process the project supported by them Digitization of Records. He was very happy to see the activities and was ready to support for internship and placements. They visited all the centers at Chennai.
• Regular vegetable packing project went on all Saturdays and trainees have improved a lot on the speed and now able to complete the work in 2 hours.
• SNEH order of Jute penstand and block printing went on as per schedule.
• Under the supervision of Mrs Margaret Buch, Jayanthi, Staff of Sreyes Farm Outlet, ESVI Saradha Foundation during her break time was asked to teach trainees bead work. Varun, Lokesh and Chandra are the trainees who she will teach bead work.
• We received order for pen stand from Dr. Sudarshan. Trainees were busy braiding, stitching the jute and making it into final products. The target date of delivery was Sept 2, 2022.
• Trainees were also getting ready with making of products for Inner Wheel stall to be held on September 01, 2022 at Ramee Mall.
• Counselling and therapy went as scheduled along with vocational activities. Therapist Vasanth had individual and group sessions. He made the trainees paint the small walls on the ground before the Independence Day. Project of Wall Painting will be starting at VTU shortly. To begin with trainees painted white base color.
Youth Empowerment Services
From Gayathri Suryanarayanan's Desk
Key highlights for the month of August 2022
• Vocational training program, Counselling and Therapy services.
• Commencement of Archery training sessions
• Participation of YES kitchen at NIFT campus
• Group counselling session for the staff members on interpersonal communication skills
• Participation in Social Marathon
• Celebrations
o Independence Day
o Krishna Jayanthi
o Vinayagar Chaturthi
• Grundfos team visit
• Production
Vocational training program, Counselling and Therapy services
Vocational training and day schedule at YES gained momentum in the month of August. All the vocations had their full-fledged training sessions along with the production work. Day schedule which includes prayer, warm up, chanting, newspaper reading, functional academics sessions, life skill sessions, music therapy, art therapy, yoga sessions and skill training has been happening consistently and in a very structured way.
Therapy sessions and counselling sessions were also happening regularly. These sessions are planned as per the needs of the trainees and whenever needed; individual sessions are conducted.
Weekly activites like YES market, Friday volunteer visits and Sreyes farm visits were also happening.
Commencement of Archery training sessions
Archery training sessions have commenced at YES from 01 August 2022. Mr. Balakrishnan of Theatre Nisha has accepted to offer archery training to our trainees and we have 11 YES trainees enrolled for this program. We had a demo session for the staff members in the month of June and following that the materials needed for the sessions were made ready in the month of July. Trainees and the parents show great interest in this program as this has multiple benefits, both physical and mental.
YES food stall at NIFT campus
On 05 August 2022, YES kitchen was invited to put up a food stall at the NIFT campus, Tharamani as part of their orientation program, Pokkisham. This was a whole day program and YES had participation of 2 trainers and 4 trainees at the sale counter and 2 trainers and 5 trainees in the kitchen. A few products were also outsourced to give some variety. We got wonderful feedback from all the people who visited the stall. It was a good experience to have a food stall after a break of 2 years.
Group counselling session for the staff members on Interpersonal Communication skills
On 25 August 2022, there was a group counselling session for all the staff members at YES. The session was conducted by counsellor Ms. Jayadevi. The one-hour session included a few fun activities and role plays to emphasize effective communication. This session also focused on the need for clear and crisp communication and professionalism in the workplace. All the staff members participated with great enthusiasm and the session ended with each one sharing an important take away from the session that they would follow.
Participation in Social Marathon
On 27 August 2022, 15 of us from YES participated in the Social Marathon organised by Velicham Foundation. This run was for special children's education. 15 included 7 trainees, 3 siblings, 2 staff members and 3 volunteers. As part of our sibling forum, siblings were also invited to run for their special brother/sister to show their love and support. They helped each other to finish the 5 km run in about one hour. The registrations and breakfast for the day was supported by Redington.
Celebrations
Independence Day
As every year, YES had a combined Independence Day celebration with the other vocational centre at Sreyes, Adyar. From YES 3 programmes were performed for the day that carried a theme, Unity. First one was a dance by 7 male trainees and 3 female trainees along with 3 trainers. The songs were chosen to suit the theme and the occasion. Second was the presentation of artwork co created by the YES trainees. These were presented to the audience in both verbal and sign language. Third and final item from YES was a poem recital. While one trainee recited the poem in Tamil, the other translated it for the audience. All the programs were well received by the audience and much appreciated.
Krishna Jayanthi
On 17 August 2022 Krishna Jayanthi was celebrated at YES with full josh and energy. On the previous day, kitchen trainees got together and made yummy seedai for the occasion.
On the day of celebrations, Krishna's idol was beautifully decorated. Therapist Mr. Vasanth helped the trainees to create a lovely portrait of baby Krishna which was also kept for the puja. A dance skit was presented by all the trainers and the story of Lord Krishna's life was beautifully portrayed. Trainees enjoyed the dance and it was followed by dandiya dance by all. We offered payasam for the Lord and seedai was distributed to all the trainees.
Vinayaga Chaturthi
This year, Vinayaga Chaturthi celebrations also spanned for 2 days. On 29 August, with the help and guidance of our Arts and Crafts mentor, Ms. Girija, a mould was made to make Ganesha idol. Trainees with the help of that made an idol for each one of them. On 30 August 2022, we had a small puja for the Vinayagar at the premise. Trainees and staff members chanted slogans and aarti was conducted for the Vinayagar. After the puja, the idols made by the trainees were hand painted by them and they took them home happily.
Visit by the Grundfos team
On 30 August 2022, Mr. Goerge Rajkumar, Country head, Grundfos and Ms. Apoorva, CSR consultant visited YES. They took a tour of the center and observed our trainees and trainers at work in each vocation. They had a detailed discussion regarding the association of Grundfos with V-Excel and the way forward to make it more fruitful. Mr. George was gifted with a few YES products as a token of our love and gratitude.
Production
We completed orders for a few mugs, water bottles, kanji maavu, idli podi and soaps.
We completed 5 designs of chocolate wrappers of 500 prints each in screen printing for Kocoatrait
Laundry services are going full-fledged.