Our Schools with Year of Establishment...

1.   Anchuthengu, St. Joseph's 1821 
2.   Arayathuruthy,  1882 
3.   Ayroor, St. Thomas' 1888
4.   Chittattumukku, St. Andrew's 1890 
5.   Kadinamkumalam, St. Michael's 1894 
6.   Kalliyil, R. C. LPS 1899 
7.   Kaniyapuram, St. Vincent's 1902 
8.   Kochuveli, St. Joseph's 1903 
9.   Mampally, St. Aloysious  1906 
10.   Moongode, St. Sebastian's 1911 
11.   Mudiacode, St. Sebastian's 1916 
12.   Palappoor, Holy Cross 1917 
13.   Palayam, St. Joseph's 1917 
14.   Pallithura HSS 1918 
15.   Paruthippara, Holy Cross 1919 
16.   Paruthiyoor, St. Mary's 1924 
17.   Pettah, St. Anne's 1950 
18.   Poonthura, St. Thomas' 1951 
19.   Poozhikkunnu. St. Antony's 1951 
20.   Puthenthope, St. Ignatious' 1964 
21.   Shangumughom, St. Peter's 1966 
22.   Thazhampally, St. Veronicas' 1982 
23.   Veli, St. Thomas' Nil 
24.   Vennicode, Monut Carmel Nil 
25.   Vettucaud (Not available) 
26.   Vettucaud (Not available) 
27.   Vizhinjam (Not available) 
28.   Vizhinjam (Not available)  

Kudos to St. Aloysious LPS, Mampally!

Our little kids at Mampally LPS have done it at the Varkala Education Sub-District competition among forty plus schools! It was the top slot for the overall work experience with First Place in Stall, On-the-spot Embroidery, Book Binding, Metal Engraving etc.

Our children could certainly achieve still more, provided we tap their talents in right time, encourage their creativity and inspire them to contribute for a better future for our planet, not to mention the universe. Let us not fail to congratulate those sweet, smart and promising children with their committed teachers and the insightful and dedicated guide and headmistress, Ms. Jessy Pereira. 

Teachers' Day thoughts...

HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY!

“Tribute to students… on Teachers’ Day”

– Dr. Bhanumati Mishra [Open Page, The Hindu, Sunday, September 04, 2011]

Last Monday, as I entered the classroom, I was in for a pleasant surprise. The entire class of 50 erupted in cheerful clapping. On my table was a cake – complete with candles, flowers, cards, balloons and chocolates. No, the occasion was not Teachers’ Day. It was actually my last day in school. While I was still contemplating how to break the news, the students somehow got wind of it (I suspect with my daughter’s connivance) and arranged a farewell party.

Amid the hullabaloo and ‘please don’t go’ requests my mind raced back to the day the Principal called me to his office and entrusted me with a specific charge, I must admit I was reluctant to become class teacher of XI Commerce – the most notorious in the whole school. Having passed their class X examination with not so flying colours, these children could not join the elite Science stream, which was traditionally reserved for the brightest. With no other subject option left, these students unwillingly landed up in Commerce.

Thus, I began with a bunch of students whose self-esteem had taken a beating and were labeled as trouble-makers and attention-seekers. Any mishap – be it a broken windowpane in class VI, some graffiti in the boys’ toilet or a lost duster in the junior section – would bring the property in – charge thundering into my class threatening to fine the culprits. Many a time I was at my wits’ end trying to deal with internal squabbles and the complaints from other teachers. But each time I announced in exasperation that I would give up the charge of the class if the students didn’t improve, there would be strong protest followed by a sincere promise to behave better next time.

I soon realized that each one of these students had a specialty. The sleepy looking one was an artist, the quietest one had a beautiful handwriting, the shyest was exceptional at playing soccer, the weirdest had an excellent memory, the naughtiest was a total errands boy and the academically weakest had a tremendous sense of devotion. Why could I not see these qualities right at the beginning? How easily was I giving up on them? Gaining ground inch by inch, I finally managed to crack the toughest nut. Some tiny spark in a child would fill me with hope that these students were not incorrigible. Moreover, having achieved this without ever punishing them reassured me that I was on the right path.

Words of Encouragement: Slowly, with words of encouragement and delegation of responsibilities, I could build their confidence and win their trust. There was a semblance of sanity in the classroom and we began working as a team. My task at English teacher multiplied manifold as the majority in the class were children of army personnel from the Gorkha regiment. I had to first undo Nepali and then Hindi in order to teach English. As a corrective measure, we started collecting a paltry sum of one rupee from anyone caught not speaking English in the classroom.

Very soon, we had a handsome amount. I had planned to spend the money, taking the students on a class picnic. To my amazement, they unanimously wanted to donate it to charity. They unknowingly cleared a crucial test that day.

As I stood facing them for the one last time, I joked that I had no clue they would be so happy at my leaving. As if my words broke a surging dam, I saw tears rushing down a few faces. I was left with no words to reciprocate their feelings, only tears which I too couldn’t hold any longer.

I would not trade their love and adoration for anything in the world. In the course of teaching them, I got enriched. Like the proverbial ‘potter’ showing patience and sensitivity, I could gradually mould these children into caring individuals with self-worth. This Teachers’ Day I wish to salute all my students. Farewell and God bless you!

Do our teachers prepare students for life? – J. Eden Alexander [ibid.]

Teachers’ Day observed on September 5 every year in India is being celebrated in about 70 countries, but on different dates. The birthday of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, second President, who started his career as a teacher, was chosen as Teachers’ day in India as he preferred to be remembered as a teacher always. Teaching is known as the noblest profession because every teacher functions as a ladder for his/her pupils to go up in life while he/she stays at the same place. Teachers are the real nation builders and function as the pivot on which the entire nation revolves. They spread the light of knowledge all over as a candle does and a day to remember their contribution to society is a fitting tribute that the nation can do for them.

William A. Ward said: “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” When our class teacher wrote something on the blackboard in English about 55 years ago, on the first day of my entry in to IV form (present IX Std) all 40 of us, who belonged to the Tamil medium, were sitting blissfully ignorant of what he wrote and what it meant. But, that famous quotation from Thomas Alva Edison, “Genius is one per cent inspiration; 99 per cent perspiration” became my motto in life later.

Explaining the quotation, he spoke for one full hour, quoting examples from the life of Edison to imprint in our minds what hard work could do for students like us. Teachers should aim at making sustained and substantive influence on the intellect of students and inspire them, encouraging creative thinking and positive questioning. Ancient teachers Confucius, Socrates and Aristotle followed this method. I am not sure how many of the teachers today are capable of enchanting and carrying their students with them as these great teachers did.

Involvement: A teacher is considered venerable next only to the parents. He should have a genuine interest and cent per cent involvement in the job. Pythagoras, the mathematician, and Sir Isaac Newton, the scientist, were celebrated teachers who exhibited this quality. I cannot forget my English professor who taught us Shakespeare’s King Lear more than five decades ago when I was in my UG class. While teaching the famous tragedy, he would become King Lear himself, making everyone in the class shed tears so that we could forget neither Shakespeare nor our professor. The teachers became illustrious and everlasting characters in our memory because of their deep involvement in the subject. Such teachers achieve unattainable recognition and everlasting respect from the entire student community.

Teachers cannot enjoy unending rapport with their students just by teaching the subject given to them alone. They should also instill morals and discipline in the minds of students to help them lead a successful and happy life later. Classic examples of teachers of precepts and preachers of morals are King Solomon and the Buddha. Nowadays teachers prepare the students for the exams no doubt; but it is doubtful if they prepare them for their life too. Incidentally, there used to one full period allotted for ‘Moral Instructions’ in all schools those days. Now it has been conveniently removed for reasons not known.

Alexander the Great once said: “I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.” The whole society is concerned with the future of children which is in the hands of teachers because the teacher is the one and only person capable of influencing the thoughts and deeds of the future generation.

Every eminent teacher, dead or alive, stays in the minds of the students forever and his/her degree of distinction very much depends on how efficiently the sacred job is handled.

“As time marches on” – Sudha Mahesh (Magazine, The Hindu, Sunday, September 04, 2011)

Throughout history, teachers have always come from different backgrounds – with varied experiences, motivations, expectations and preparations. There is a story in each of their decisions to become a teacher, and quite often there are wonderful anecdotes from their work that tell us a lot about them.

My grandfather was a teacher in a school in Thanjavur. Even several years after he had retired, he was often surrounded by people wanting to learn Tamil, English and Mathematics from him, though he was 70-plus by then. Many of his students were foreigners who visited The Theosophical Society frequently. His passion drove him to put extraordinary efforts to his classes. This would always amaze me. I used to wonder what could be driving him to do such things. Definitely not money for, he earned nothing from all this.

He also taught my grandmother to speak and read English and instilled in her a great interest in reading the newspaper daily, so she was well informed for a woman of her time. This helped her carry on a conversation with his pupils who came home, and made people look at her with awe.

My husband remembers Professor A. L. Krishnan, past Principal and Head of the English Department at A. M Jain College, who taught him more than 50 years ago. Professor Krishnan would mono-act roles like Shylock and Portia from Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice”, taking his students back in time. His oratory and style of teaching must have been something special, to have left such a lasting mark on his student.

The more I think about these things, the more I am convinced that only passion could have been the driving force for such teachers. For the best teachers, the challenges come from within. They take it upon themselves to pass on what they knew to the next generation. And the way they do this brings them an exalted position – liked and remembered well by many of the students who pass through their classes during the teaching years. I am sure this is the way it has always been with teachers – and it may remain so in the future too. In fact, teachers have greater opportunities and better facilities available today than what obtained earlier, so they should be able to engage even more strongly with their students as a result. But there are also many challenges.

New Challenges: Many parents today are well educated; this is especially true of mothers, who in the past were considerably less educated than their husbands but not so nowadays. So, there is greater support and involvement with children’s education and holistic development form home. On the other hand, the same development has given opportunities for both parents taking up jobs, which leaves them with very little time for their children. These developments bring challenges to the classroom too.

With the rapid developments in technology, and with the consumer market being flooded with very well researched and developed educational products, children can find a lot of information at their fingertips, along with a great variety of methods for imbibing it. This no doubt sharpens their wits. But in the process, their dependence on and confidence in the educators sometimes take a back seat. So there is great demand and obligation on the part of a teacher to teach using a pedagogy that encompasses the knowledge and information so gathered by the students.

Here I am remembered of a Grade VII student in our school who was unwilling to agree with the teacher’s explanations on global warming. According to him, from what he had read, there was no such thing as global warming and that it was an exaggerated phenomenon. In such situations, where a student brings in different opinions into the classroom, the teacher is confronted with two challenges: one, to make him appreciate what she wants to teach and, the other, to recognize varying skill sets and degrees of knowledge in the class.

Educators must now teach to the higher order thinking skills of students. This means the teachers themselves must be highly accomplished, and be able to recognize these higher order skills and incorporate the same into their lesson plans and assessment process.

Testing times: Teaching apart, in any society, there is also the emotional challenge that students confront, especially when they go through adolescence. For instance, the strong influence of the visual media exposes children instantaneously to different emotions through a window with both audio and visual effects. But some of them also lend themselves to revealing to children things they should not be watching yet.

During the teen years, students are also more likely to believe that teachers don’t understand their emotions or needs, or give sufficient weight to their views and opinions. This shows up as attitude problems in the class. The challenge here is for the teacher to be abreast of all that attracts their attention, and use such things to guide them effectively.

Problems and opportunities: The ubiquitous gadgets – cell phones, ipods and mp3 players – take students to a dream world from which it is quite tough to pull them out. Added to these are the social networking sites which blur the line between knowing things and merely seeing/hearing them. Online, the ‘truth’ of what a student learns is also less clear. At the same time, one cannot take away the opportunities for learning through these devices and the worlds they connect to. It is for the teachers to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses that students have picked up through these exposures.

To be able to manage these challenges, a teacher should also think of strategies that will make her deal with the situations better. She must be well prepared, have all kinds of learners in mind while preparing and delivering a lesson, be ready to answer a variety of challenging questions form students, and be prepared to respect and appreciate children for what they know.

What makes an exemplary teacher? (Magazine, The Hindu, Sunday, September 04, 2011)

In a study on creativity, psychologist Csikszentmihalyi finds that while a “school itself rarely gets mentioned as a source of inspiration, individual teachers often awaken, sustain, or direct a child’s interest”. Teachers who kindle a spark in their students, first and foremost, notice them as individuals, believe in their abilities and genuinely care about their charges. Further, these teachers challenge students without making lessons too boring or frustrating. Another study by Marica Gentry and Colleagues indicates that a teacher’s enthusiasm, ability to give concrete feedback and knowledge of a subject are essential for motivating students. Most importantly, an exemplary teacher coaxes the high performers to straddle great heights while also encouraging those who struggle to maximize their potential. Finally, an outstanding teacher leads by example. As the American psychiatrist Karl Menninger says, “What the teacher is, is more important that what he teaches.”

Office Software...

In our days of 'smart class rooms' how can one, especially the ones to co-ordinate our twenty eight schools remain archaic? We too need to update ourselves so as to be contemporary and competent. That rather forced us to avail a proven software to organize our works in the office so as to be more effective, efficient, prompt and transparent.

As we all know, a computer will only give back or generate something from what we fed it by way of data entry. That to be authentic the persons concerned should enter the data by themselves. This will be verified by the heads of the concerned persons and confirmed. Only then will it be processed for any logical results.

For this purpose each teaching and non-teaching staff and the concerned heads will be given a user ID and Password to log in and enter/verify/confirm as needed his/her details. Here we need whole hearted support of everyone concerned. Once this is done, the Seniority List and such other details would be generated and viewed by everyone in the management. Also one can apply for promotion, transfer etc. online.

This will certainly reduce much of our precious time and hardships in travelling besides saving paper thereby saving forests and other resources.

Please do co-operate and make it a success for all of you, our schools and thereby our society at large.

It had been quite a long time since...

Am blogging again, because people do visit and some have commented on this while others have taken offence of this, though they could boldly comment on the same blog.

Teacher community is one which everyone looks upon, for the future of any nation very much depend on them as they nurture young minds. Though it is said, "catch them young," teachers need not catch them young, rather we send them to those teachers. But then what do they do with them? In spite of the experiments almost every other day in the field of education, none can excuse her/himself for not making our children to read and write their own mother tongue at least. That is state of affairs not only in our schools, but almost everywhere other than the private schools where they won't be tolerated any longer but will be fired mercilessly.

In this context a committed and disciplined teacher community is a must. Where do we go for such ones other than make the ones we have into that special brand of teachers to mold our younger generation? For this certain measures would be unavoidable and those ones may hurt some, especially when we warm ourselves in the status quo!

Nothing was done arbitrarily. Everything was thought out well, discussed in all the possible representative bodies available and was even circulated for comments from all concerned. The only possible defect could be that each affected person was not consulted, nor was he/she was taken into confidence. And that was taken care of when individuals came and convinced their genuineness and had their own mutual adjustments. This was at the cost of a nick name "Tuqlaq" for daring to trod the untrodden path and sail in the troubled waters.

As if that was not enough, some of them have even dared to level accusations against, that too, too general. They would have better sharpened their weapons and aimed so pointedly and unfailingly. However, such ones need to be appreciated for the guts they have exhibited, though not for a better cause.

If people are really serious to do anything for our children and their education, let them come out with creative and realistic proposals. No effort will be spared to realize those good suggestions to make a better generation for the days to come.

Anyone is welcome to comment and contribute rather than taking offence at what is being said here in this blog. It is a public forum and anyone is welcome.

Some more events...

At St. Mary's HSS, Vettucaud they inaugurated 'Readers' Club' to encourage reading, especially news papers like the Hindu. The ceremony stood out exceptionally as it was organized in such a disciplined manner. Hats off to the Principal, Headmistress, the entire staff and the students besides the local manager, the PTA members etc. It must only be a beginning to the changes we all expect to bring in that school which suffered such a bad propaganda in the years gone. Am sure that the present team will succeed. Best wishes!

At St. Vincent's HS, Kaniyapuram they had the General Body meeting of the parents to elect a new PTA. The meeting was attended by the School Supportive Group (SGS) besides the outgoing PTA and former staff of the school, as it has a new HM with nearly 10 new teachers. New blood will certainly have some good impact in the entire curriculum and the results.

Some ruminations...

Some of the teachers, including the heads, still could not get settled with the transfers made recently and they seem to resist and dispirit the staff and at some instances the PTA even! This transfer was intended to bring some order and accountability among the staff and all the more so discipline and transparency. The interested ones may not like this as they always look for favours rather than what they really deserve.

Majority of the staff is inclined to please and get favours than demand for their rightful claims and if needed fight for that. This will certainly leave them self-respecting in the course of time. They should know that they are here because of their own merits rather than anyone's concessions and they should be more loyal to the students, their parents and the society at large than to the management, the diocese or even some in the manager's office.

Am looking forward for the day when our teachers and non-teaching staff will stand up clamour for their rights while doing their duty properly towards the children entrusted to their care and teaching. In this great process, i don't care the hardships i undergo, though many a times it is little too much to bear. I may be here around for long and you people can have a respite by the end of this year at least. But please don't pledge your self-esteem and beg for some favours which ultimately put you in an embarrassing situation and also to the detriment of the students and schools at large.

Let us take this profession as God-given and render everything best to extract all the best in us to contribute to the formation and growth of a vibrant and value based generation for the future of our community and our great nation. Jai Hind!

Droping numbers in aided schools...

Government schools and Aided schools experienced a drop in admissions for long. However, the government schools with their financial support, especially from the Central Govt. projects and the local self-government assistance, could overcome most of the hurdles. In this juncture one cannot but appreciate the teachers there who with the support of the PTA and Alumni associations do wonder works in attracting children to their schools through various attractive steps. Unfortunately this is not the case with the aided schools, at least in the case of R. C. Schools, though it is their own community children who are the beneficiaries and they got into this noble profession precisely because most of them were the members of the community.

Nowadays, parents don't want to risk the future of their children sending them to such schools as the children of those teachers are usually sent to 'better' schools elsewhere! If the very teachers who teach in a particular school don't believe in the quality of that school, how can one expect others to send their children to such schools?

Besides other reasons, medium of language is an important factor in such decisions, i think. English has captivated the Malayalees more than any other language groups! May be tht in the highly competetive global job market English could go a long way. That doesn't necessarily mean that one should neglect one's own langauge and stand alienated in one's own land. They are ashamed to own their own language and ready to do anything to obtain a job! In the ultimate count they may not have an individuality of their own even! I wonder where it all will end up!

Would like to suggest something to those who still love the language and try to save it in this onslaught of English and covertly Hindi also. This is could be applicable to all the Indian states and their regional languages. The mother tongue of each state should be the only language in the Primary school level. By this time they could be given a strong foundation in the language and culture so specific to their identity. May be in the Upper Primary stage there could be an opportunity to get to know of as many languages as possible, including Hindi and the children be enabled to choose in between according to their aspirations and aptitude in life.

Also all correspondences within the State be in one's own language and other interstate communications be in English or Hindi as one prefers. This is because no imposition whatsoever is not good.

Another Academic Year!

The early monsoon set a bountiful scene for a this academic year! Children in their best came drenched in rain, in spite of the colourful umbrellas. Teachers and parents did their best to welcome the new ones to the school.

At St. Joseph's HSS, Anchuthengu, it was a happier day as children were provided a better place to learn in the place of a thatched building by dedicating the ground floor of a would be three storeyed building of fifteen classrooms. The new comers were welcomed in one of the classrooms of the new building. They were given free writing materials, sweets etc.

On my way to Anchuthengu visited Pallithura HSS where the heads of the school were new. On my way back visited St. Michael's HS and St. Vincent's HS where the construction of the compound wall was going on at long last. In the later school also the HM was new.

May our children enjoy a joyful year of learning and our teachers and parents provide whatever is needed to achieve that. May the heavens shower blessings as uninterrupted as the monsoon rains.

+2 Results 2011

Pallithura HSS : 84.28%
St. Mary's HSS, Vizhinjam : 74.00%
St. Joseph's HSS, Anchuthengu : 69.02%
St. Thomas' HSS, Poonthura : 66.45%
St. Mary's HSS, Vettucaud : 62.05% [64.00%]

Congratulations for the Students who have contributed to this much success with their hard work and constant care of the committed teachers. They still can do better in their future. Best wishes for all their future endeavours.

Those students who could not do well this time need not be disappointed. Let this be a challenge to prove their talents and hard work. Don't ever give up. Success is for those who persevere till the end - till you attain your goal. When you do your best, God will do the rest.

Bring glory to yourself, your parents, teachers and to your school too. The nation needs you to build it up and make it proud of youngsters like you. Come on; prove yourself.

Exploring preventive methods to arrest imminent divisionfalls...

The days of visit are 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th May. The response was overwhelming in a sense, though there were almost constant defensive from the teachers' side! If only the teacher community were little more realistic, we could work wonders with our smart children and their ambitious parents. The PTA, the concerned Parishes and their systems are quite happy to overcome any obstacle in the journey to good education.

Desparate attempt to arrest the impending divisionfall threat...

It is so tough to get children to maintain divisions in the aided schools in the context of low birth rate, parents fancy to send children to English medium and that too streams like CBSE and the like and the high competition in the field of education like any other service providers in the market and so on...

In the above context some 13 of our 28 schools face divisionfall threat! After knowing this we desparately visited all such schools inviting the entire staff along with the PTA people, Local Managers concerned, the parish education convenor, the forane animator and so on to explore possible ways and means to prevent that and ensure quality education to attract the students and make them retain our schools.

On Thursday, 5th May 2011 visited 1) St. Anne's LPS, Pettah, 2) St. Mary's LPS and 3) HSS, Vettucaud, 4) St. Peter's LPS, Shangumugom and 5) St. Thomas' HSS, Poonthura. On the next day visited 6) St. Mary's LPS, Vizhinjam, 7) St. Ignatius' UPS, Puthenthope and 8) St. Andrew's UPS, Chittattumukku. On Saturday, 7th May, visited 9) St. Antony's LPS, Poozhikkunnu, 10) R. C. LPS, Kalliyil, 11) St. Mary's LPS, Paruthiyoor and 12) Holy Cross LPS, Paruthippara. 13) St. Ignatius LPS, Mampally and 14) Pallithura HSS are to be visited on Monday, 9th May.

Heads of the Schools' meeting...

On 30th May all the heads of the schools in our management were invited for day of evaluation and future plan in view of the forthcoming academic year. Almost all of them came. And the ones who could not make it, arranged substitutes through their senior assistants.

After a prolonged motivation talk by the corporate manager, the archbishop came and addressed them. He thanked them for all their good services and expected their continued and committed service for forming a better generation through their great call of teaching.

After lunch, Kumari Alice Alex, a +2 student from St. Joseph's HSS, Anjengo faced her principal along the rest of the heads of the schools and told boldly and frankly what she and her companions expect from them and also appreciated their enlightening service.

It was followed by Fr. Rodrigue Kutty, a local manager of St. Peter's LPS, Shangumugom and Valiathura forane co-ordinator addressed the heads and told what he and priests like him expect of the heads of schools. He spoke of who can become a good teacher and all the more a good head of a school.

Finally came Mr. Sahayam, the PTA president from St. Mary's HSS, Vizhinjam, spoke very clearly of his expectation and also made a friendly evaluation of their leadership qualities and other academic excellences.

This day should certainly be empowering and challenging them to make a good academic year for all concerned for the year to come.

"Vannanmala" Govt. Model High School - A must to visit...

"Vannanmala" Govt. Model High School with "0" pass history in the years behind, recorded cent percent victory with all A+ for all the 12 students with the guts and determination of a single teacher who could motivate all his colleagues and the 12 students from varying life situations such as illicit liquor brewing and selling to situations amounting to child labour and teachers engaging in as many side business as fertilizer sales with godown in the schoool itself, real estate contract to poultery business and so on and achieve 100% resulit venturing all odds against that great venture.

This is the sweet story of one of the beautiful films released just today by name "MANIKYAKALLU"! Happened to see this great film with friends at a time when one of our schools in the individual parish management had the rarest 'honour' of being one of the two schools with less than 50% pass in the SSLC result announced just a week ago. It was a blessing in disguise as i didn't want to go for a film this night!

If Vannamala from '0' percentage could achieve as much as 100% and that too with all A+, our schools also could mark that much result, provided we all work determinantly.

My humble request to all you, my dear teachers, non-teaching staff, parents and all those who have some interest in the education of our children, the promise of our future, is that please do see this rarest of films and be motivated to achieve maximum results.

It is running at "Kairali" theatres, Aristo Junction, Thampanoor. Please don't miss it.

SSLC Results... 2010-11

Anchuthengu, St. Joseph's HSS 95.45% (Previous Year 87.01%)
Kadinamkulam, St. Michael's HS 62.00% ( 57.00%)
Kaniyapuram, St. Vincent's HS 91.00% ( 92.54%)
Pallithura HSS 86.00% (93.61%)
Poonthura, St. Thomas' HSS 80.26% ( 79.02%)
Vettucaud, St. Mary's HSS 86.00% (87.04%)
Vizhinjam, St. Mary's HSS 92.45% ( 72.09%)
State Average: 91.37%
Thiruvananthapuram District: 85.93%

Promotion to head our schools...

There arose three vacancies for the heads of the schools among few others as teaching and non-teaching staff. The heads of the schools fall in the category of a Principal, Head masters in a High School and U. P School respectively. An interview was held on Saturday, 9th April and the results are awaited.

Interest-free loan being repaid...

Some fifty seven teachers of the Higher Secondary Schools in our R. C. Schools are being given back the amount they paid some 10 to 12 years back when they joined the schools. It would come around Rs.72, 95,000/- after having paid Rs.17,25,000/- at different times for different needs.

31.03.'11 Academic year end...

Kochuveli St. Joseph's LPS was rebuilt by the parish after its partial collapse on the previous week of school re-opening with assistance from the MLA fund, the archdiocese etc. Compound wall problem at St. Vincent's High School, Kaniyapuram. The Panchayat is involved... met the president... briefed Linto... Went personally to bid farewell to all the three heads of schools in the management: Mudiacode UPS HM, Kaniyapuram HS HM and Vizhinjam HSS Principal. Product selling at a Higher Education Exhibition at Kanjiramkulam college for our B. Ed and TTI. Visited Ms. Omana & family as they are getting ready with a new house and Ms. Celine who has undergone a surgery, and Mr. Varghese who retired today, at all the three's houses.

Dear Teacher Shantha,

Your name signifies The serenity in you! That was your strength indeed, Though others might have Felt otherwise! You did sail smooth And safe through the Troubled waters of Non-co-operation From many quarters… Now, you have reached The safe shore of retirement! It is only a change of stage, As you remain always a teacher! You need rest and relaxation After so many years of service Enjoy your days ahead From 31st March 2011. Being a neighbor, You are always welcome As a concerned teacher And headmistress To guide us, correct us And contribute in the Growth of our beloved St. Sebastian’s UPS, Mudiacode Corporate Manager, R. C. Schools, Archdiocese of Trivandrum, Vellayambalam - 695 003

A Tribute to Varghese Sir… 31.03.2011

A Tribute to Varghese Sir… 31.03.2011 A teacher is always a teacher! And no teacher retires in fact! Retirement, however, is only To facilitate justice to all In the highly competitive Employment market! One can teach not only Within the confines of the Four walls of a class room! Anyone can teach Anyone else, All the more so A teacher can. You climbed almost All the ladders of teaching Possible in a school situation! From an ordinary master To an extraordinary Headmaster and to a worthy Principal, you adorned All the posts in a school! You had the rare privilege Of working with your students As teachers in the same school! The R. C. Schools management Along with all your students And colleagues of the past So many years pay homage Of respect and appreciation For your commitment and Uncompromising resolve To get things done Whatever be its Consequences! That made you different! Remain different ever, Remain loved ever more!

കടലമ്മ

കേട്ടാല്‍ കാണാനോടി വരും
കണ്ടാലാദൃയം പേടി വരും
ജ്നാനുമൊരമ്മ കടലമ്മ
കനിവുളളമ്മ കനകമ്മ
വിരിച്ചിതാ വെണ്മണല് മെത്ത
ഇരിക്കിരിക്കുവിനുണണികളെ!
ചിരി വരുമല്ലോ നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കെന്‍
ശരിയറിയുമ്പോള് പറയുമ്പോള്‍.
എനിക്ക് പ്രായം കുറവല്ല
എനിക്ക് ജോലിക്കുറവില്ല
അലറിത്തുള്ളി മറിഞ്ഞാലും
അകത്തു ശാന്തത അതുമാത്രം.
എന്നാത്മാവില്‍ നിന്നല്ലോ
എന്നും സൂര്യനുദിക്കുന്നു
എന്‍ മണിയറയില്‍ വന്നല്ലോ
എന്നും സൂര്യനുറങ്ങുന്നു.
എന്റ്റെ കിനാവില്‍ നിന്നല്ലോ
എന്നും താരകള്‍ വിരിയുന്നു.
എന്‍ നെടുവീര്‍പ്പില്‍ നിന്നല്ലോ
ഏഴുനിറക്കൊടിയുയരുന്നു
പെരുകിവരും തിരയോരോന്നായ്
മുറിച്ചു തുഴയാന്‍ കഴിവായാല്
തോണി നിറച്ചു തരാമല്ലോ
മുത്തുകള്‍ നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കെന്നെന്നും.
പേടിക്കരുതെ ഉണ്ണികളേ
പ്രേമത്തിന്‍ പെന്‍ കണ്ണികളെ!
ജ്നാനുമൊരമമ കടലമ്മ
കനിവുള്ളമ്മ കനകമ്മ
- പുലിയൂര്‍ രവീന്ദ്രന്‍ (വിദൃരരംഗം, മാര്ച് ൨൦൧൧)

Desire what you deserve...

'Desire what you deserve' is a saying not applicable to many! It was especially so for the neighbours of our St. Vincent's High School, Kaniyapuram. The school had 5 acres of land, out of which nearly 30 cents were given for a road in view of the development of the area.

Now, when we wanted to put up a compound wall in the rest of the area, the neighbours came asking for a way and that too a way for a autorikshaw, say some 5 feet. This was agreed upon in a meeting of almost all the neighbours in the presence of the panchayat ward member and other respected people of the area.

And when we went to build the compound wall yesterday, the neighbours came asking for more space and we came down for 6 feet. Then one of the party, namely, Mr. Xavier, son-in-law of Mr. Leon and a temporary worker in our school, asking us to limit in their side for 4 feet and then giving the 2 feet to the other side, thereby making that to 8 feet. This was agreed and we dig for foundation.

In the mean time, Mrs. Leon was impatient and she went to call the Puthenthope parish priest or council. Before that Mr. Tennison, the former Panchayat president came and was insisting for more land. This was followed by the Parish Council secretary, vice-president and another member's arrival. The parish council team wanted us to give a way for an autorikshaw and we said that it is OK. But Tennison was not ready!

Now, what they owe is nothing as they all have their land out of which they could take enough land for any way of any width. If it is for people without land, we are supposed to give only 3 links or feet. If we also need the way, both the parties could share the 3 feet by 1.5 and 1.5 respectively. In that case what at the most we are supposed to give is only 1.5 feet of land for a way.

Now, this 1.5 feet alone will be their due, if at all it is taken to any reconciliation forum! And they

stand to loose. People play games to exploit others and for this end they are ready to use any sentiments, even that of the religious sentiment! Let us wait and see.

Farewell to colleagues in a different situation...

The heads of the schools of our management arranged an outing for all of them on Saturday, 5th March 2011 to Ponmudi. Though people started coming well in advance, we could start at about 9.30 a.m only.

The following heads of the schools participated:
I. St. Joseph's HSS, Anchuthengu 1. Mr. Sylvester - Principal
2. Ms. Mary Freeda - HM
II. Pallithura HSS 3. Mr. Stephen Pereira - Principal
4. Ms. Mary Pushpom - HM
III. St. Mary's HSS, Vettucaud 5. Ms. Roselin - Principal
IV. St. Mary's HSS, Vizhinjam 6. Mr. Varghese - Principal
7. Ms. Florence Fernandez - HM
V. St. Michael's HS, Kadinamkulam 8. Mr. Dominic - HM
VI. St. Vincent's HS, Kaniyapuram 9. Mr. Vijayakumar - HM
VII. St. Ignatius UPS, Puthenthope 10. Ms. Sushamma - HM
VIII. St. Andrews UPS, Chittattumukku 11. Ms. Iona Grace Paris - HM
IX. St. Veronicas LPS, Thazhampally 12. Ms. Mary Assumpta - HM
X. St. Sebastian's LPS, Moongode 13. Ms. Sharlet Almeda - HM
XI. Holy Cross LPS, Paruthippara 14. Ms. Devika Rani - HM
XII. Holy Cross LPS, Palappoor 15. Ms. Alphonsa - HM
XIII. St. Joseph's LPS, Kochuveli 16. Ms. Saramma - HM
XIV. St. Aloysious' LPS, Mampally 17. Ms. Jessy Pereira - HM

Besides this Mr. Nelson of the Office of the Corporate Manager also joined.

On the way had tea and little snacks at Neumangad. The journey continued straight to the top of the Hill, Ponumdi where we spent good time climbing the peak of a nearby hill while others who could not make it enjoyed their mutual presence in the shades of the trees with sweet and soft breeze even at noon. This was followed by lunch we brought at a children's park nearby. Teachers became children once again when they saw the swings and other play things. As we were all sufficiently hungry we relished the lunch and shared the rest with the Vana Samrakshana Smithi guards there.

Then we came to the KTDC centre and relaxed there with some fun games with our own Tintmons and Tintumols! It was followed by an unusual farewell programme to Messers. Varghese and Vijayakumar so naturally organized. Almost all spoke so beautifully of the two great men of our management and wished them everything best in their 'retired' life. Varghese sir said that he does have enough strength to go on teaching for decades if needed! Vijayakumar sir said that he is only happy to be of help to the only schools worked and retired, that is St. Vincent's.

For want of time we left to reach Kallar for another cup of tea from a village hotel on the road side and reached home safely and relaxingly by 5.40 p.m. All of us enjoyed every bit of it. Congratulations and thanks to the orgnizers.

You the 16 of us really missed it! [1. Poonthura HSS; 2. Vettucaud HS and LPS HMs; 3. Ayroor UPS; 4. Mudiacode UPS (to retire this year!); 5. Arayathuruthy; 6. Kalliyil LPS; 7. Palayam LPS; 8. Paruthiyoor LPS; 9. Pettah LPS; 10. Poozhikkunnu LPS; 11. Vennicode LPS

Breeze through your exams... contd.

Coping with stress:
* Identify stressful situations and develop strategies to overcome it.
* Encourage yourself; do not look for encouragement from outside. Say to yourself 'I can recall all
that i read', 'i will do very well in the exams' and 'i can score a high marks.'
* Utilise study time to study and avoid unnecessary conflicts with parents.
* Do not think of study as drudgery or be tense, enjoy the preparation process and challenges of
taking the exam.


Useful techniques:
* Preparation: Read and understand, memorise, recall by writing a self-test after 24 hours, read
the missing points and then revise repeatedly.
* Mood: Do not wait to get into a mood to study, build it up by focussing on how much you want
to score and how much you need to study.
* Confidence: Have an objective way of developing confidence.
* Sleep: Very important to sleep well to feel fresh to study and to write the exams.
* Memory: Do not check your memory by arbitrarily recalling some answer. With model tests,
class tests and revisions it is unlikely you will forget everything.

Breeze through your exams... contd.

Sit, Relax, Write and Enjoy:
* Sit: Get seated comfortably. Organize your pen, pencil, marker, eraser etc.
* Relax: Read through the question paper a couple of times; understand the question clearly. Do
not worry about knowing or not knowing the answers.
* Write: As the answers come to your mind, even if you do not remember everything, you can
put together an answer based on your knowledge.
* Enjoy: Writing an exam is a life time event, enjoy every moment of it. Nautrally the best in you
will come out.

Breeze through your exams…

As the exam count down begins, students start experiencing stress, in many cases rising to alarming levels. Stress can manifest as headaches, stomach pain, vomiting, dysentery and even dizziness. Students with previous history of (or vulnerable to) epilepsy can develop a seizure and those with migraine can develop migraine headaches due to severe stress.

Stress can also manifest as poor concentration, memory, attention, calculation and comprehension. Stress can affect their mood: this can make them cry, get irritable or angry or very unpleasant. A simple request to study can lead to a ruckus; losing many hours in the emotional outburst and spoiling moods for the rest of the day, if not a week! Students can experience stress due to academic and non-academic issues: preparation for the exams, confidence vs. self-doubt, pressure from people around, restrictions by parents and most importantly performance in the exams.

What you should do
A comprehensive preparation with multiple revisions is vital for outstanding performance. It may not be a good idea to study in the last minute for such major exams; but if someone is in such a situation then it would be prudent to study selectively depending on the time available, than to exhaust oneself with the entire portion.

The effect of good preparation is high confidence levels. The reverse is also true. Many students, despite preparing well, will report poor confidence levels. Such students must develop a habit of basing their judgment on a test, results of model exams or ability to recite answers. Arbitrarily developing opinions about how well they have studied can have an adverse effect on their confidence and consequently performance.

Some teachers have infamous ways of motivating students: they give lower marks than the student deserve, the logic being the student only then will not develop overconfidence and continue to study well. It would be better to have a realistic self-evaluation based on their past performance and present efforts.

Tips for parents
Parents, teachers, siblings, friends, relatives, neighbours, visitors and even casual acquaintances advice the students on the need to score high marks. The overall focus is to make the student score as much as possible; preferably above 95 per cent, being oblivious to both the capacity and previous performance! If a student is already stressed out, these external pressures can become overwhelming. This can affect the student’s motivation and ability to study, so do not over-advice children on the need to study.

If a student is found not studying during the exams, what they require is not elaborate advice but assistance and supervision. A parent or sibling may have to be physically present, give them selected portion to study within a time period and then make them write the answers after 24 hours, which will show if they have retained what they learnt.

Some parents do not allow their children to have adequate sleep; they expect them wake up in the early hours to study. The student is more likely to waste time sleeping over an open book than learning constructively. Without sufficient res, the brain’s learning centres will not be activated. So a lot of time will be spent learning very little. If a student goes without sufficient sleep, there is high risk of going totally blank in the examination hall.

Allot time carefully
Parents impose restrictions on television, telephone, movies, friends, social network sites. Allotting time for study and recreation is a better idea than totally denying. Frame a schedule and see it is kept. This will enable the child to maintain time discipline and also know that during his study time he would be better off studying.

Exams are held to evaluate the knowledge of the students in various subjects. Depending on their ability to score marks they will be eligible for various opportunities. However high or low the marks are there are plenty of opportunities in this world for everyone. It is very important to be aware that exams are not a life and death situation. Scoring little less or failing does not mean the end’ a few compromises need to be made to move on in life
[Ravi Samuel, The HINDU, Sunday, February 27, 2011 in the Magazine p. 6]

School Teachers to take 'Hippocratic' Oath soon...

I, son/ daughter of (so and so),

solemnly declare that

i shall always strive

to raise the prestige and dignity

of the teaching profession and

shall not do anything

which may affect the reputation

of the profession adversely.

I willingly bind myself

to the observance of the

'Code of Professional Ethics for School Teachers',

in letter and spirit

in order to discharge

a teacher's obligations towards

students, parents, community and

society as enunciated in the code.

[Sunday Express, Thiruvananthapuram.

Sunday, 27 February 2011, p.10]

Important informations...

1. If you see children Begging anywhere in TAMIL NADU, please contact: "RED SOCIETY" at 9940217816. They will help the children for their studies.
2. Where you can search for any BLOOD GROUP, you will get thousand's of donor address. www.friendstosupport.org
3. Engineering Students can register in www.campuscouncil.com to attend Off Campus for 40 Companies.
4. Free Education and Free hostel for Handicapped/Physically Challenged children. Contact:- 9842062501 & 9894067506.
5. If anyone met with fire accident or people born with problems in their ear, nose and mouth can get free PLASTIC SURGERY done by Kodaikanal PASAM Hospital . From 23rd March to 4th April by German Doctors.
Everything is free. Contact : 045420-240668,245732 "Helping Hands are Better than Praying Lips"
6. If you find any important documents like Driving license, Ration card, Passport, Bank Pass Book, etc., missed by someone, simply put them into any near by Post Boxes. They will automatically reach the owner and Fine will be collected from them.
7. By the next 10 months, our earth will become 4 degrees hotter than what it is now. Our Himalayan glaciers are melting at rapid rate. So let all of us lend our hands to fight GLOBAL WARMING. -Plant more Trees. -Don't waste Water & Electricity. -Don't use or burn Plastics
8. It costs 38 Trillion dollars to create OXYGEN for 6 months for all Human beings on earth. "TREES DO IT FOR FREE" "Respect them and Save them" 9. Special phone number for Eye bank and Eye donation: 04428281919 and 04428271616 (Sankara Nethralaya Eye Bank). For More information about how to donate eyes plz visit these sites. http://ruraleye.org/
10. Heart Surgery free of cost for children (0-10 yr) Sri Valli Baba Institute Banglore. 10. Contact : 9916737471
11. Medicine for Blood Cancer!!!! 'Imitinef Mercilet' is a medicine which cures blood cancer. Its available free of cost at "Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai". Create Awareness. It might help someone.
Cancer Institute in Adyar, Chennai
Category: Cancer Address: East Canal Bank Road, Gandhi Nagar Adyar Chennai -600020 Landmark: Near Michael School Phone: 044-24910754 044-24910754 , 044-24911526 044-24911526 , 044-22350241 044-22350241
12. Please CHECK WASTAGE OF FOOD If you have a function/party at your home in India and food gets wasted, don't hesitate to call 1098 (only in India ) - Its not a Joke, This is the number of Child helpline.
They will come and collect the food. Please circulate this message which can help feed many children.

AND LETS TRY TO HELP INDIA BE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN
Please Save Our Mother Nature for "OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS"

IT@School

INTRODUCTION
The pace of change brought about by new technology has lent significant changes in the way people live, work, learn and play worldwide. But the education system in the developing countries like India is yet to catch the bandwagon. Though the Information Technology revolution has brought in radical changes in all walks of life, it is quite disheartening that our classrooms and teaching system could not encompass this advancement in technology in the journey towards a quality education system.

IT@SCHOOL is the project of the General Education department, Government of Kerala to introduce IT enabled teaching and learning in over 2600 high schools (984 Government High schools, 1260 Government Higher Secondary Schools and 375 Government Vocational Higher Secondary Schools) of the State. The project commenced its operation during the year 2002-03 with the introduction of IT in standard VIII. The project aims to integrate information technology into the mainstream curriculum of the high schools and higher secondary schools with a view to enhance the intellectual productivity of teachers, to improve students’ learning capabilities and to increase the management efficiency of school administrators. Right from the inception, the Project has been making efforts to strengthen the Information Technology resources required to usher in IT enabled education system. There were only around 2000 computers across the schools of the State when the Project took off in the year 2001, which has now reached to 30000 plus computers, with almost all high schools having at least one computer lab. The project has completed the first phase of its objective, i.e., to provide training to teachers and to provide the basic infrastructure requirements in schools to facilitate IT education. Now the project is in second phase of its realisation i.e., transferring of the complete high school teaching into IT enabled one.

Activities
MAIN ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN SO FAR :
Syllabus and Textbook: A text book for VIIIth Std. classes (high school starts from VIIIth std in Kerala) has been prepared and introduced in the high school. The text book could not only be used for teaching VIlIth std students but also for students of other classes wherever infrastructure facilities are available. NCERT guidelines were followed with necessary modifications to suit the State's requirements and that the exercise was undertaken with active guidance and leadership of State Council for Education Research and Training (SCERT) 10 - 20 textbooks are given free of cost to all the 2400 high schools to be placed in computer labs for reference by the students attending lab sessions. The IT -1 textbook has been prepared with contents that are capable of familiarizing the basics of the information technology. At the same time, practical exercises have been included in the textbook, which enables students to use the technology skills in the context of the subjects they are studying. The respective subject teachers themselves are instructed to supervise these exercises in computer labs with the help of agency or PT A appointed instructors. The department has already issued guidelines on the timetable, the methodology and association of private agencies empanelled for this purpose.
Training of High School Teachers: The IT orientation training of the Head Masters of 2400 high schools is almost complete. Training of HS teachers has also commenced in 41 training centres of the project. In fact this is the most enormous task which the project confronts. There are over 60000 schools teachers in the High schools. The State has already set up 41 training centers with 10 computers in each centre and 75 HS teachers have so far been trained as Master Trainers. Government of Kerala had entered into an MOU with Intel to adopt their 'Teach To Future' programme for teachers training. In order to train 60000 teachers, some 350 Training Centres are to be set up throughout the length and breadth of the State. These training centres set up in Government schools can be used as Computer labs of schools for teaching students by the trained teachers once their training is over.The teachers once trained at the Training Centres are not provided with any opportunity to learn more about the technological upgradations as the training centres established in schools will, by then, converted as school computer labs. They should be exposed to emerging trends in technology to update their knowledge. The project also envisages setting up, at a later stage, permanent facilities at District Institutes of Education and Training teachers (DIETs) for periodic re-training of the trained.Conducting of IT Practical Examination : The “need” for embracing this technology is to be sustained through compulsions, here, the achievement of IT@School is worth noting. As a result of constant persuasion of IT@School, Government of Kerala declared Information Technology as a compulsory paper in the High Schools of the state and revamped IT curriculum in the Standard X so as to allocate 5 marks for the IT practical examination. Accordingly, IT practical examination for the last year SSLC batch was held impeccably throughout the state, a small step in the way of conducting examination, but a giant leap in the education history of Kerala.Technology offers no magic solution to the academic backwardness in schools: It can only provide tremendous support to the efforts to improve the quality of school education. The ground for implementation of the project is being prepared and will definitely be tested before launching full-scale implementation. Very little can be achieved without the support and participation of the major stakeholders - children, parents, teachers and school managements, parent teacher associations and community leaders. The project has been visualized with the teacher, as the key implementer. Therefore enlisting of stakeholder participation would be a major component of the project. The state will take major initiatives for building a stakeholder support and for teacher empowerment in the first phase of the project itself. The project is conceived as a dynamic one, constantly refined and corrected on the basis of changing perceptions during implementation. The project when implemented will have a far-reaching impact in producing a new generation of young men and women who can fully participate in the knowledge based information age.

IT@School at a Glance

Number of High schools in the State
Government
-
996
Aided
-
1407
Unaided
-
374
Panchayath
-
21
Total
-
2798
The Uniqueness of IT @ School Project
Winner of National e-governance award 2006 for exemplary leadership and ICT achievements.
Government made IT, a compulsory subject in school curriculum. About 40000 computers have been supplied to the schools by the Government.
The first State to conduct compulsory IT theory and Practical examination in SSLC examination (4.72 lakh children)
Nearly 16 lakh students per year benefited in acquiring the IT skills. Manpower includes 161 Mater trainers and about 5600 IT coordinators to attend the IT needs of school
Training imparted to all high school teachers. About 60, 000 teachers trained in IT
IT Mela introduced in state to encourage IT initiatives among students and teachers
Hardware made available in a totally decentralized way – providing assistance under LAD funds of MP/MLAs, Local Self Governments, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), Old students, philanthropists et al.
IT@School project had developed its own OS in Linux in association with Free Software foundation namely IT@School Linux The platform of IT education completely shifted from WINDOWS to non proprietary software – Linux
Infrastructure development in schools by undertaking supply of solar panels , Generator, multimedia rooms etc to schools.
Introduction of EDUSAT network and ViCTERS channel- the first and only education channel in Kerala.
EDUSAT initiatives
The project is the nodal agency for implementing Edusat initiatives in Kerala
The project runs two channels of EDUSAT one- Interactive channel and other non interactive channel namely ViCTERS
There are a total of 95 Satellite Interactive Terminals (SITs) and full fledge utilization of interactive network
ROTs (Receive Only Terminal) supplied in all 1400 schools for reception of ViCTERS channel.
ICT initiatives
Steps being taken for establishing multimedia rooms in every school.
Focus towards IT enabled teaching. The project has developed for physics and mathematics for standard 9. The first phase of the try out of these initiatives has already been completed in selected high schools. Full scale implementation by next year.
Full scale HS survey and UP survey completed collecting the minutest details.
Broad band connection to all high schools. This scheme expected to be completed by June 2007.
The project recognized as the nodal agency for implementing e- governance initiatives with in the department.
Activities Pipelined
Establishment of General education management portal
UP and HSS roll out
Major e-governance initiatives like:
Noon-meal computerization –to analyze all the intricacies in noon meal scheme from top to bottom. Piloting of the scheme already started in Palakkad and Kozhikode
Child Census data entry support – the activity was initiated by SSA. The project provided the technical support for implementing the scheme.
Staff Fixation software – To analyze the staff fixation pattern in accordance with students ratio for the past 10 years and also to help in future staff fixation.
Model Residential school teacher deployment monitoring – To analyze the quality and monitoring of model residential schools.
TTC admission computation
Youth festival software – Software to help and coordinate various programmes in youth festival
Staff transfer and posting software – Software to help in staff posting and transfer.
Efforts to roll out ViCTERS as a 24*7 educational channel and to telecast it through local cable network

Agnes Stella, don't give up...

Yet another smart girl, AGNES STELLA, a +2 student from St. Mary's HSS, Vettucaud, has gone up to the State Youth Festival to prove her metal in English Recitation. But fortune was not on her side and hence had to be contended with a B grade only this time. She qualified herself for this higly competitive slot after grabing A grade in the District level Youth Festival.

Our wish is that she keeps her spirit up till she proves herself in the years to come by achieving still higher heights of glory. Our students can indeed achieve still better acolauds, provided we direct them properly and encourage them after instilling in them greater confidence.

Don't take another chance please...

HC seeks progress report on toilet facilities at Govt schools (Express News Service, Kochi, Januray 28)

The Kerala High Court on Friday asked the Secretary of the Education Department to submit the progress report in connection with providing drinking water facilities and toilet facilities at aided and government schools in the state by March 1.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice S S Satheeshchandran issued the directive after finding that the Directorate of Public Instruction failed to achieve expected progress in the matter.

The court asked the Secretary of the Education Department to be present before the court to explain the details of facilities provided at schools.

The court had earlier directed the State Government to ensure that toilets, urinals and drinking water facilities were provided at all aided and government schools.

The Bench had ordered the Director of Public Instruction (DPI) to ensure that such facilities were provided at all aided schools as well.

The court issued the directive while considering a contempt of court petition filed before the court complaining that the authorities failed to comply with the court order. [The New Indian Express/ Saturday, January 29, 2011/ Thiruvananthapuram. p.6]

E-mail ID

You could contact the R. C Schools' office in the following e-mail ID: boetvmadl@yahoo.in

It would be highly appreciated, if you could sent your school e-mail ID, if you have one. Or else, create one and send it at the earliest.

The R. C Schools Manager is not available anymore over mobile phone. So, kindly contact him in the office phone: 2312291 or extension No:411/412 (office) of 2724001.

To avoid inconveniences and ensure efficiency, kindly book your appointments ahead to meet anyone in the office and if possible let us know in advance, the matter you are going to deal with.

To save your time and that of your children you could deal most of the matters over this medium. Let us make use of this great facility for the good of all of us.

Though you are all welcome to this office, one can't expect a readymade reply to all one's problems. Better put your matter in writing and give us little time to work on it and give you a clear and specific reply.

Better not to involve anyone else in dealing with the official matters, not even your spouse.

After presenting your matter, leave us alone to work on it and wait patiently till you are called in.

Also be mindful of our work and the little time for lunch from 1 to 2 p.m. You could also have your lunch then and relax till 2 p.m.

Try to confine your business during office hours only and that too on working days. All of us need some personal time so that we could better perform on the other days.

Let us be punctual, professional and disciplined and be a model for our children.

Let us together build our community to greater heights through the greatest tool of educating our younger ones.

Have wonderful year ahead for yourself, your family, students and school. Let us be a blessing to one another! Smile, God loves you!