On 2^nd July 2016 a seminar on moral education was conducted in St. Mary’s Convent School Sikkim for the teachers. Sr. Lucy John, Principal welcomed and introduced the resource person, Mrs. Joita Shah of Macmillan publishers. Teachers from six different schools of West Sikkim participated in the seminar.

Sr. Lucy John, the principal of St.Mary’s Convent School in her welcome addressed  stressed that the children are the wealth of the nation and are looked upon as future leaders of the country. So children are our assets. Education is a great challenge for us today. We need to impart values, and form the character of the child from the very early stages of life.

Ms.Joita Shah in her input session focused on the moral values such as

Respect others, Fairness, Caring, honesty, responsibility, integrity etc.

The 6 pillars TRRFCC which forms the personality of a person is:

T-TRUSTWORTHY

R-RESPECT

R-RESPONSIBLE

F-FAIRNESS

C-CARING

C-CITIZENSHIP

Through mono act she brought out the contemporary moral issues. The seminar highlighted the value and moral responsibility of educators to be good role models and to build relationship with students.

 Seminar was comprised of activities, screening of video clips, and discussion on the importance of emotions. Importance of 4c’s CONNECTION– having the sense of belonging, CAPABILITY–having the ability to take care of oneself, COUNTING–having the knowledge that can make a different and COURAGE–beliving,one can handle what comes.Seminar ended with the song “Light the lamp” where teachers raised their voice to sing together and pledge themselves to light the flame in the hearts of every young child.

All the teachers were grateful to the Management for organizing the workshop.

Sr.Sandhya Minj

A seminar on SCC was conducted by Rev. Fr. Jagdish Parmer on 8^th June 2016 at St. Mary’s Convent Kurseong. 34 sisters took part in the seminar. Fr. Jagdish presented to the participants the brief history of SCC, gave valuable points on how to visit the families, made to understand with clarity the method to conduct faith sharing in SCC groups, inculcated interest and love to form SCC groups and encouraged to take active participation in SCC.

Parenting is a joy, it’s a blessing but it’s a very big responsibility too. The aim of every good parent is to ensure their children grow up into good citizens and good human beings.

A seminar was organised at H.C. Auxilium Vasant Vihar by Bharti Bhawan Publishers and Distributers on the 6^th and 7^th May 2016 from 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm for the parents of classes VI- XII. The enriching session was conducted by a skilled and professional school headmistress, life skills trainer and motivational speaker Mrs.Renu Vashishta.

The seminar was very interactive and gave an insight to the parents on the various ways to deal with children of different age groups and the different dimensions and complexities faced by the children and parents, such as ; ‘Be truthful to yourself, use affirmation technique, spend quality time with family, be friends not dictators, etc. The seminar consisted of a meditating session which helped the parents to find their inner-selves. It’s also consisted of various prayer songs and motivating quotes. A token of appreciation was presented to the esteemed guest by our Principal, Sr.Celine.

In the changing and challenging scenario of the modern world   with abounding paradoxes, can value education be still a choice or should value education be made a compulsory subject in every school?

A seminar based on the importance, objective and skill of teaching Moral Education in school was conducted at St. Anthony’s School, Jaigaon on 7^th April 2016.

Sr. Margaret Fernandes, the Principal of St. Anthony’s School, Jaigaon welcomed and introduced the resource person,Ms Yashika Jain of Macmillan Publishers. Teachers participated with enthusiasm asking question and interacting with the main speaker. Emphasis was laid on character building not only through teaching about values rather witnessing them through one’s personal life. Youngsters today have already a long drawn list of do’s and don’ts. Hence they know what is true. However it is essential that we as educators stand beside them, helping them to cross check their list.Through various activities, she kept the teachers busy who took keen interest in the session.

Mr. Pankaj Bansal on behalf of all thanked Miss. Yashika Jain and the organizers. The staff of Auxilium New Chumta who had joined the seminar were also grateful for the opportunity provided for them.

All the teachers are also thankful to Sr. Margaret and the management of S.A.C.S. for giving this golden opportunity to take part in this seminar so as to be an effective and influential educator who lives by values.

Reported by

Mr. Suraj Pariyar

 The Parent’s seminar was organised for the first time in St. Mary’s – Geyzing on the 8^th & 9^th April 2016. Almost all the parents attended the seminar and the school hall was packed to its capacity. The purpose of this meeting was to make known to the parents Don Bosco’s system of education and  to create a platform where teachers and parents together to enrich the student’s educational experience and to discuss various issues for an all round development of the children.

The meeting began with the welcome address by Principal Sr. Lucy John. She welcomed Rev. Fr. Patrick Lepcha S.D.B, the Dean and Professor of Salesian college, Sonada , the resource person of the day. The Chief Guest of the day was Mr. L.P. Sharma, the Deputy Director of Education HRDD, West Sikkim.

Fr. Patrick explained clearly and efficiently the Preventive system of Don Bosco. With the help of the power point he stated the importance of Reason, Religion and Loving Kindness. He also said that “ if we can win the heart of a child, we can win them”.

The Deputy Director of Education Mr.P.L.Sharma congratulated and appreciated the school authorities for the excellent value based education imparted in the school for the past 25 years. He highlighted the good discipline and the good handwriting of the students. He expressed his joy and satisfaction for the quality of education that St. Mary’s school is disseminating to every child where moral education and religion is combined, which he personally feels that it is indeed a great vehicle towards becoming a better human being.

The Parents too appreciated the Management and staff for their dedicated service and above all appreciated the Principal for organising this type inspiring and enriching seminar.

After the session all the parents were asked to meet the Class teachers and the subject teachers to discuss the performance of their wards. Everyone returned home happily thanking copiously the Sisters.

Ms. Esha Gurung

First to tenth December at Nitika Don Bosco,

There gathered some twenty four  to acquire faith.

They all came with a lot of gusto,

So that they may be a guide to the Heavenly Gate.

Second to sixth was Fr. Gilbert’s days,

As he taught us various ways of methods and skills.

Everything on earth has some ways,

Bringing God here for all who got a will.

Movie, video, add and all had to give a lot about God,

Was the overall message that he showed.

Through magic, cards, Youcat, CCC and quiz, we learned,

To teach the love of God we owed.

Sixth afternoon we had a break,

As evening came with a greater thing.

Many came there with a wreck,

But all experienced a different being.

Songs and dances gave a nice blend,

To the following discussions that followed in.

Everyone seemed to be relaxed at the end,

So together we could relish the food preprayed.

Seventh was Fr. Joe’s turn to take up classes,

On Christian faith and meaning of life.

These classes helped us to understand,

That there is meaning in all we do and experience in life.

Eighth continued with the same type,

Freud, Maslow’s and Frankl’s teaching’s he taught.

All this teachings showed us the differences of views,

But to self- transcendence was the best he taught.

Then, there was the climax of our sessions,

When we got the news to go for an outing

It was the day of Our lady‘s Immaculate conception,

So we decided to visit the places with excitement.

First Victoria memorial, gave the historical touch,

To know our Kolkata more and more.

Mother’s tomb and Church at Gobra gave us a Godly experience,

To make us feel that God is above all.

Ninth we waited eagerly for the sessions,

As it was to be something about young.

It was now JTM’s turn,

To show us the Fathers Love in different forms.

It was not the only thing that we learned,

But also to love each other as one.

From many places we had come,

Yet, were glad to know that we were working for the ONE above.

Tenth we brought our thoughts together,

To see how much we had learned.

All shared, “It was enriching to be together”,

It was the fruit of the hard work that our fathers had done.

We express our thanks to God for the lovely days that He had given

Our superiors also we thank for giving us a chance to be a part of that event.

It’s now time to go ahead with our daily works with a thought,

That God’s love for all is ever NEW.

Sr. Dominica Thapa

Participant

Seminar for Animators and Administrators was held from 27 – 29 November 2015 at Auxilium Convent, Dum Dum Provincial house. The Seminar began with a prayer service inviting us to listen, reflect, renew and venture in order to make our communities a home and to be missionaries of hope and joy.

Provincial Sr. Rose Ezarath in her welcome address invited the participants to bear witness to the joyful living of our Consecrated life referring to the talk of Sr. Vilma Tallone, the Economer General which was delivered during PCI. She stressed about the filial, radical and ecological poverty.

Sr. Annie Thevarkunnel the Provincial Economer coordinated the entire meeting of the Animators and the Administrators. Sr. Annie presented in detail the meeting with Sr. Vilma Tallone, Economer General at PCI level focusing on the theme “Communion of Goods and Solidarity at the service of the Mission”.

We were privileged to have Mr. Ashis Agarwal updating us on the present scenario on Income Tax /Societies etc and Mr. Sanjay Mukherjee who gave us practical tips on how to handle the house accounts with diligence, accuracy and accountability.

At a very opportune moment in an atmosphere of prayer Sr. Rose Ezarath our provincial handed to the sisters the Constitutions which was revised   in order to harmonize the text with the new demands of our Institute in fidelity to the guidelines of the church. While giving the Constitutions, Sr. Rose exhorted each one to make our communities “houses of the love of God” as we read the ‘Profile of the FMA’ and the ‘Spirit of the Origins’ together.

In the course of the meeting sisters who attended various courses and seminars shared with the assembly their rich experiences.

• Rose Kureekattu and Sr. Nirmala Tigga shared on the 3 Day National Seminaron the theme “Consecration and Mission” held in October 30, 31 and Nov 01, 2015 in Don Bosco Skill Mission Centre (Don Bosco Renewal Centre campus), Bangalore. They stressed on how each one is called to be consecrated missionaries and joyful agents of evangelization to relive in our lives the mysteries of Christ and share Him joyfully with others as the Saviour of humankind.
• Stella Potteparambil, who attended the World Congress for Catholic Education held in Rome, 18-21 November 2015 on the theme “Educating Today and Tomorrow A renewing passion” on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration Gravissimum Educationis and on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae. As an outcome she highlighted how we are called to perform the works of mercy in education through our educational works.
• Lily D’Souza, Sr. Leelamma Palliparambil, Sr. Rosalia Tirkey and Sr. Lucy Mannooukulangara shared about the Seminar on ‘Formation of Formators’ which was held from October 11 – 20, 2015 at CRI house New Delhi and they drove home the message how as Formators  one is called to mirror in one’s day to day life  the joy of her Consecration.
• Mary Ann Abraham and Sr. Teresa Adampakallel shared their rich experience on West Bengal – Sikkim Regional BRBC – CRI – CDP annual meet  with the theme “Catholic Family: Leaven in today’s world”.

Communities of Mirik,  Aspirantate and  Palam Gaon were accorded with prizes for promptly carrying out the initiatives proposed by the Social Communication Sector of the Province. A booklet on the Proper Offices of the Salesian Saints compiled by Sr. Mini Mary Chettayil, Provincial Secretary was released and highly appreciated by all.

Finally the seminar came to an end with the concluding words from Provincial Sr. Rose Ezarath who exhorted us to work together to bring young people to Jesus.  Before departure prayerful greetings were expressed towards Sr. Rose for the feast of Immaculate Conception and Christmas as Sr.Rose would be leaving for Rome to attend the new Provincial’s course.