Values for the Yatra

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter April 2011

THE VALUE OF LEISURE

“All work and no play, make Jack a dull boy”
Books, assignments, blackboards and laboratory tables, tests and examinations,
discipline and the fear of punishments… for many, days just confined into a small
classroom…all in the name of learning. Holidays come as a breath of new life to
many a student. And why is it so? Perhaps, its because there is more time for real
learning now. Leisure and holidays have its own leaning processes and value too.

To downplay holidays as a waste of time and to relate leisure only as the preroga-
tive of the rich is to miss the very meaning of life. Life is more than just a rat race.
Leisure is a value whose roots go deep into scripture, spirituality, and contempo-
rary society. Mindful of this rich heritage, consider four aspects of leisure as a
value in our contemplative and communal life:
relaxing our bodies: we are present in a calm and re-
laxed manner. The leisure mode is a tranquil quality of presence that is marked
by peace, joy, and freedom
resting our minds: Leisure is a way to develop inward-
ness. The constantly renewed choice to relax our bodies and minds can contrib-
ute to our discovering and revealing God’s personal love for us.

connecting leisure and prayer: Leisure is one way to become

comfortable with our hearts. It is a way to renew our choice to let God be all of
our life, our whole life, to create an open space within where God can act and
which only God can fill. To take “useless time” that is never recorded on our cal-
In this ISSUE
endar is important.
The Value of 1
connecting leisure and community life: Leisure is a way to
Leisure
develop connectedness with the world around us. We are all relational beings and
our capacity to make a difference in the world begins when we step aside of our
AVEC Annual 2 daily routine and take small steps to spread light rather than to curse the dark-
Report 2010 –11 ness.

AVEC Annual 3 Spend your Holidays making a Difference

Report 2010 –11
• Do Voluntary Work in the Neighborhood.
Holidays: Happy, 4
Healthy. Holy
• Join a Sports Club and stay healthy and happy

Results 5 • Share your Knowledge… Each one Teach one

• Collaborate with Nature Clubs to make your place Greener and Cleaner
Care for Creation 6
Results & Photos
• Read Healthy Literature. Nourish your mind with clean literature.
• Relax in deep moments of Prayer. Stay connected with the Divine
Care for Creation 7
• Make your Holidays Valuable: Live your Values Joyfully
 Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter April 2011

AVEC: Annual Report

The Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC) presents its annual report
for the scholastic year 2010-11:
At the ABE meeting , held on July 15, 2010, Fr. Glenford Lowe presented the
vision for AVEC in the promotion of Value Education among the schools affili-
ated to the ABE. As we look back this scholastic year, we can say that we
have reached the targets set and in some instances, gone beyond too.

Care for Creation: During this scholastic year we joined hands with ‘Care for
Creation’ and held various competitions and projects to support this venture.
Over seventy schools participated in these various competitions held every
month. Students were placed in three categories; Seniors (IX—X), Inters (VII—
VIII) and Juniors (IV—VI). Winners in each category were awarded Certificates
and 24 schools were awarded Appreciation Plaques for their active participa-
tion. Six schools in particular; St. Xavier’s Boys’ Academy, Campion School,
St. Anne’s Convent High School - Dabul, St. Mary’s SSC, St. Joseph's Con-
vent –Vile Parle and St. Agnes—Mazagaon deserve special attention for the
very high standards set in all the competitions. The AVEC team personally
visited the 24 schools and presented the trophies.

Ten E-letters “Values for the Yatra” were published every month and sent to
over a thousand E-mail IDs. The E-letters highlighted various Values, Inter-
national Events, Prayer Services, Lesson-plans, Skits, PowerPoint Presenta-
tions, Results of Competitions, Photos of various AVEC animations in schools.
Many schools have appreciated the contents and the format and find the
Value Resources very useful.

As part of the Value Education Training Program, this year AVEC conducted
Ten Deanery level animation programs for 120 schools across the Archdio-
cese of Mumbai. 209 Value Education Coordinators took part in the training
program. We are grateful to the Principals of St. Dominic Savio—Andheri, Don
Bosco –Borivili, St. Andrew’s—Bandra, St. John the Baptist—Thane, St.
Anne’s Fort, Sacred Heart—Santacruz and DBYS—Matunga for providing us
their school premises and facilities for these Deanery level Orientation pro-
grams. AVEC recognizes their collaboration and has awarded these schools
will a small Appreciation Plaque.

SCHOOL VISITS: the AVEC team ventured to visit as many schools as possi-
ble. Over the last few months AVEC has personally visited over a 100 schools
across the Archdiocese so far. We are grateful to all the Principals / HMs for
 Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter April 2011

their cooperation and willingness to participate in the Value Education Pro-

grams. Only a few schools, Twenty Eight in all have yet to be visited by the
AVEC team. This will be done in the new scholastic year 2011-12.

Teacher Orientation Programs: During the scholastic year 2010-11, the

AVEC conducted a number of Teachers’ Orientation programs for 14
schools reached out to over 671 teachers, both of the Secondary and
Primary levels.

Student Orientation Programs: As compared to last year, this year the

AVEC has made vast inroads into various Student Orientation programs.
This year alone, 19 programs were conducted with an outreach to over
3,534 students. At the start of the year we had targeted 30 schools and to
reach out to 6000 students but fell short in this regard.

Retreats for Students: A few retreats were conducted for students of three
schools this year. The retreat catered for over 353 students of all faiths.

Value Education Posters: Three dozen Value Education Posters were pre-
pared by AVEC. 65 schools have so far purchased these posters and find
them useful for various occasions.

Networking: This scholastic year, AVEC networked with ASIA BOOK

House, a publishing house that also promotes Value Education in schools.
Their series ‘Roadmap for Good Living’ (STD I—X) have been introduced by
many schools.

Leadership Training: This year, only one Leadership training program was
conducted for 38 Student Leaders of Rosary High School, Dockyard.

Teachers’ Lesson Plan Competitions: This year, AVEC conducted a

competition for Teachers’ Lesson Plans on Value Education. Cash awards to
the sum of Rs 23,500/- were given to Twenty Teachers from Std I—IX.

I am grateful to Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes and Ms. Michelle D’Souza for their
whole hearted cooperation and for walking the extra-mile in ensuring that
Value Education, this scholastic year, reached newer heights. We look
forward to assisting you in the new scholastic year in more creative and
enthusiastic ways. Fr. Glenford Lowe SDB
 Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter April 2011

HOLIDAYS: BE HEALTHY, HAPPY and HOLY

AVEC joins hands with Don Bosco Youth Services ( DBYS )

to organize Summer Camps for Catholic Students

Only limited places…. Hurry and get Registered!!!

“ H olidays are only a change of occupation ” Don Bosco

 Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter April 2011

Care for Creation: Competition

STREET PLAY: One Child
Right I will Defend

NAME OF STUDENT SCHOOL STD POSITION

Ami Rathod  SENIORS St. Anne’s Girls, Dabul  IX—A  First 
Saima I. Chougle  St. Joseph’s  Convent, Vile Parle  IX—B  Second 
Parth Gangar & Group  St. Mary’s SSC, Mazagaon  IX—A  Third 

INTERS       
Adit Ubale & Group  St. Mary’s SSC, Mazagaon  VIII—C  First 
Sameer Merchant & Group  St. Xaviers’ Boys’ Academy  VII—1  Second 
Reema U. Rathod  St. Anne’s Girls, Dabul  VII—B  Third 

JUNIORS       

Dhairya Kapadia  St. Xaviers’ Boys’ Academy  VI—1  First 

Adash Bafna & Group  St. Mary’s SSC, Mazagaon  VI—A   Second 
Kaiwan Randeria & Group  St. Mary’s SSC, Mazagaon   VI—B  Third 

LOOK OUT FOR...

AVEC will be

introducing the

TWELVE DIAMOND

VALUE AWARDS

starting from the

New Scholastic

Year 2011…

Stay in Touch and

know more about it

 Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter April 2011

JO!BQQSFDJBUJPO!AVEC has identified

TWENTY FOUR SCHOOLS who actively participated in the
Value Education Programs this scholastic year. AWARDS were presented to the
respective Principals. DPOHSBUVMBUJPOT///

St. Louis Mid. School—Dhaisar St. Anne’s Girls High —Fort Auxilium Girls —Wadala

Sacred Heart School—Vashi Convent of J & M—Kharghar Loreto Convent—Chembur

St. Xavier’s School—Vile Parle

Holy Family—Chembur Holy Cross Girls—Kalyan

St. John the Baptist—Thane St. Anne’s—Orlem St. Joseph’s—Umerkhadi

 Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter April 2011

Don Bosco—Borivili St. Dominic Savio—Andheri St. Agnes—Mazagaon

Sacred Heart—Santacruz
Mary Immaculate—Borivili St. Mary’s SSC—Mazagaon

St. Stanislaus—Bandra
St. Joseph’s —Vile Parle Campion School—Fort

St. Andrew’s—Bandra St. Anne’s—Dabul St. Xavier’s Academy

AVEC E-Letter ‘Values for the Yatra’ is an initiative to provide

Animation Resources for Teachers involved in Value Education in the
ABE schools/ Jr. Colleges .Values for the Yatra will be published every
month and is for private circulation. Your valuable suggestions are most
welcome to assist us in making Values for the Yatra a useful tool of ani-
mation and bonding among the teachers and students of the ABE
schools in Mumbai.
CONTACT:
Fr. Glenford Lowe, SDB / Michelle D’Souza / Rochwyn Fernandes
AVEC—Don Bosco Youth Services, Matunga 400019 , MUMBAI
Ph: 24154477 e-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com