“The Gurus” by Suhradam House
The first day of the week was about the importance of Guru in our lives. The word Guru comes from Sanskrit and its root words are gu, meaning darkness, and ru, dispeller. A Guru is an awakened person who has personally, through the help and invaluable transfer of consciousness from a Guru before, become able to transmit higher consciousness to the aspirant. An aspirant who is accepted by a Guru and who is considered to be worthy to be initiated is called a sisya, meaning disciple, one who accepts the discipline of the Guru.
The next day children were enlightened by the meaning of the sloka “Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Guru Devo Maheshwara Guru Shakshat Para Brahma Tasmaishree Guruve Namah.. Here, the Guru is compared with Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar because Guru is the trinity of all the three Lords. .
The third day of the week was based on the life of Rishi Valmiki. A video was shown as Valmiki’s life. It said that initially he was a hunter but circumstances made him a thief but then by the grace of Narad Muni, a Guru he transformed into a great Rishi. By Guru’s wisdom his life was transformed. Rishi Valmiki went into a wrong path but when he came in touch with a Guru and followed his Guru’s words with utmost faith. After chanting mantras for years he was blessed and later he wrote the holy book of the Hindus -The Ramayana.
In the Jr. as well as the Sr. assembly Suhradam House tried to take up each and every aspect of guru and give some values that can be taken up by the children so that they can lead a better life. Each day, was a new unfold of light for the children when they came to know about some great men like Ashoka, Rishi Valmiki etc. and how their lives changed.
The soft board had various information about the different gurus with their details like the birth date, place of birth etc. It was very informative and decorative.
The week ended with a drama based on Gunatitanand Swami who could see ahead and how much is loves and cares for his devotees. He could see one of his devotee’s future and he wanted to save him from it. He kept on insisting on coming along with him but he refused. The skit showed the circumstances he faced later in his life till he came in touch with the Swamiji again.
The entire Suhradam house students’ worked very hard to make it a grand success. Through out the week the thoughts and speeches were said by students of various grades. They were Chaitanya, Harsh Gondalia, Parth Amipara, Jigar, Tarak M, Anirudh Chawla, Darshan, Sagar, Divan, Aditya, Meet, Rajveer, Dinal and many more…
Written by: Ruma Madam (Suhradam House)
Prayers of Sundaram House turned Heavenward
/0 Comments/in AVM Updates, Prayer, Value Based Education /by Seema JoshiIn the third week of July 2011, Students and teachers of Sundaram house made a humble effort to explore and explain different aspect of prayer. On Monday, Smit Patel of Std VI A, Nimit Patel of VI B and Sarveshvar of VI B handled the mike very well with anchoring, thought of the day and news for the day respectively. Sundaram House members very well explained ‘Why should we pray’ on this very first day of the week, at the end of the assembly, on behalf all students, Sundaram House prayed to the lord to make every student an obedient child and a good listener. On Tuesday, Abhishek Purohit of VII was the host and Krushan Panchal presented thought of the day. Through a small skit, some students of Std 7th demonstrated the different timings of prayer which are early morning, before study, before meal, in evening and before sleep in the night. It was followed by, Tanmay Patel and Jay Baria chanting and explaining the different prayers to be offered at these timings. Thus, these students gave details about ‘When should we pray’. On this second day of their week, Sundaram House placed a prayer onto the lotus feet of Swamiji to give them good company and friends.
On Wednesday, Students of Std 8th came on the stage to explain yet another aspect of prayer, that is Whom should we pray. On this day, Mukesh Sir, in his speech, talked about grandeur and unconditional love of God. Once again, on behalf of all the students, Sundaram House offered a prayer to the lord to make every student ‘a focused reader’. The following day, Thursday, Students of Std 9th made an attempt to give you an idea about ‘How should we pray’. Everybody watched a video clip in which Swamishree Himself explained the significance of prayer for students. Students were benefitted by Swamishree’s divine words and resolved to pray before and after studies. At the end, students placed a prayer onto the lotus feet of Swamiji to make them ‘His Bhoolku’ (God’s choicest child).On Friday, students were showed a presentation to show the universal acceptance of Prayer as a medium to get connected with the Supreme. On this second last day of the week, Binu Madam told the students about yet another aspect of prayer that is ‘What should we pray’ .Last but not the least, on this day, Sundaram house prayed the Lord to ‘keep everybody at peace’.
The creative assembly on Saturday incredibly portrayed the transformation and positive change prayer can bring in a student’s life. The junior group presented a dance at the same time senior group, through a drama, evidently proved the prayer as an unavoidable part of student life. The students conveyed the message that no prayer goes unheard, sooner or later God does answer our prayer by blessing us with something which can bring us happiness and peace. The drama was based on P.P Swamiji’s praying habits which explained what a student should ask for… in his prayers; similarly, God might not give us exactly what we have asked for but it is sure that God gives us more and better than what we have prayed for. In this way, Sundaram House members assured the students that prayer is a medium to communion with The Supreme which keeps the mind free from anxiety and worries.
ગુરુ પૂર્ણિમા 2011
/0 Comments/in AVM Updates, Value Based Education /by AVM Teachersકોઠારી સ્વામીજીએ તેમના વક્તવ્યમાં જણાવ્યું હતું કે “આપણે તો એક દિવસ અથવા એક અઠવાડિયું ગુરુપૂર્ણિમા ઉજવીએ છીએ પણ પરમ પૂજ્ય હરિપ્રસાદ સ્વામીજીતો 365 દિવસ ગુરુપૂર્ણિમા ઉજવે છે અને જીવન પર્યન્ત પોતાના ગુરુને રાજી કરવા તેમના આદેશને તથા તેમના વચનોને અનુસરે છે” તેમણે ગુરુનું આપણા જીવનમાં મહત્વ સમજાવતાં કહ્યું કે આદર્શ ગુરુ એક આદર્શ માતા સમાન છે જેઓ પોતાના શિષ્યનું વાત્સલ્યપૂર્વક ઘડતર કરે છે. ગુરુપૂર્ણિમા એ કોઈ વ્યક્તિનું નહિં પણ આસ્થા અને શ્રધ્ધાનું પૂજન છે. ગુરુપૂજન વ્યક્તિના રૂપમાં નહિ શ્રધ્ધાના રૂપમાં જોવાનું હોય છે. આમ, ભાવાત્મક સમજાવટ દ્ધારા કોઠારી સ્વામીજીએ પોતાની વાણીને વિરામ આપ્યો. ત્યારબાદ સર્વે ભૂલકાંઓએ ગુરુપૂજન કરી પ્રસાદી ગ્રહણ કરી.
Building active communities through sport and games
/0 Comments/in 21st Century Skills, AVM Updates, Sports /by Seema JoshiFootball is a very popular game among the school children. Part of its popularity may be its simple rules and the large field and for AVM students….part of its popularity may stem from the fact that a slight drizzle adds fun to the game and an excuse to get wet. Students display amazing ball control, dexterity and other skills with the ball, during this Annual Inter-School Competition termed as The Subrato Cup Interschool Football Tournament. In which five schools of Surat region participated, two revolutionary teams going head to head on the football pitch, just days after creative uprisings topple rain-bound passivity.
Subrato Cup Football Competition
The football event was in two categories, Under 14 and Under 17
Under 14:
8 teams participated.
1ST .SEMIFINAL:-SWAMINARYAN MISSION V/S VALMIKI VIDYALAYA
2ND SEMIFINAL: – ESSAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL V/S P.P SAVANI
WINNER TEAM:- ESSAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Under 17:
10 Teams participated.
1ST .SEMIFINAL:-ESSAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL V/S VALMIKI VIDYALAYA
2ND SEMIFINAL: – ATMIYA VIDYA MANDIR V/S P.P SAVANI
FINAL: – P.P SAVANI V/S ESSAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
WINNER TEAM:- P.P SAVANI
AVM won the first knock out round against Ryan International School but lost against PP Savani School in the second round who were the eventual winners of the tournament. It ended with unprecedented excitement and many learning experiences. The match — between VALMIKI VIDYALAYA and ESSAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL kicked off in a festive atmosphere.
The thrilling game has promised to return stability to the academics, but in the aftermath of this tournament students are believed to win the other tournament too ….which was Inter House Table Tennis Tournament…..There were more than three groups in the Table Tennis set, junior and senior group but in house wise team.. Junior group for classes 6 and 7, and senior group for classes 8 to11. The school Table Tennis set practiced and played on four tables at the old hostel building. The inter-house Table Tennis trophy is awarded each year to the winner of the inter house Table Tennis Championship.
But as the game entered stoppage time with Satyam and Suhradam house students trailing 5-4 on aggregate and facing elimination from the competition, supporters of the house began pouring on to the place in droves, supporting their respective house player.
Watching children at play sometimes, one can see that teamwork does act as a natural condition . Teamwork must be learnt, and to be learnt, teamwork is stressed from the very first day of practice of games and Sports at Atmiya Vidya Mandir. Discipline is even more important. Participation in all athletic endeavors demand a lot of discipline, and this is something for which many young players are well prepared.The free event saw approximately 50 children – aged between 14 to 17 years old – entering a mini league.
May not be the winning but the importance of sports and games in school encompasses more than just the benefit of physical activity. Increases in self-esteem and mental alertness make school sports and games necessary for every school age child.
The evidence supporting sports participation for AVM students is overwhelming.
शैक्षिक मनोरंजन यात्रा – Std 5, 6 एवं 7
/0 Comments/in AVM Updates /by AVM Teachersनाश्ता ग्रहण करके लगभग सुबह 6:30 सभी बच्चे प्रशासन परिसर (एडमिन बिल्डिंग) सामने संचयित हुए जहाँ पहले से ही बस की व्यवस्था की गई थी। कक्षा 5,6 एवं 7 के मिलाकर कुल 269 बच्चें एवं शिक्षक, छात्र-व्यवस्थापक (हाउस मास्टर) एवं छात्र-व्यस्थापिका (दीदी) को मिलाकर कुल 20 व्यक्ति थें। शिक्षक, छात्र-व्यवस्थापक एवं छात्र-व्यस्थापिका समेत सभी ने भगवान स्वामिनारायण एवं गुरु हरि श्री हरिप्रसाद स्वामिजी का जयगान करते हुए सुबह 6:40 मिनट पर पाठशाला के अहाता (Campus) से शैक्षिक यात्रा के लिए प्रस्थान किया गया।
सभी बसों में बच्चों के लिए बिस्कुट के पुलिन्दें (पैकेट्स) एवं शुद्ध पानी (मिनरल वॉटर) के बोतलों की व्यवस्था की गई थी । बस में सभी ने अंताक्षरी का मज़ा लिया। बस 8:15 बजे भरूच के BAPS के मंदिर पहूँची, जहाँ बच्चों ने नाश्ते में भर पेट पौंहे खाएँ।
वहाँ से लगभग सुबह 10:00 बजे बड़ौदा आईनोक्ष सिनेमा-गृह पहुँचे। वहाँ पर पहले से ही टिकट की व्यवस्था की जा चुकी थी । बच्चों को 3D में ‘कुँफू पांडा-2’ देखने में बहुत मज़ा आया । चलचित्र समाप्त होते ही वहाँ से निकल कर दो बसें माझलपुर यु. एस. पिझा में गई एवं दूसरी दो बसें फतेहसिंह म्युज़ियम में पहुँची । फिर जो बच्चें यु. एस. पिझा में गए थे, वे फतेहसिंह म्युज़ियम में पहुँचे; एवं जो बच्चे फतेहसिंह म्युज़ियम में गए थे, वे यु. एस. पिझा में गए ।
सभी बच्चों ने विविध प्रकार के पिझाओं का स्वाद लिया और म्युज़ियम से दुन्यवी ज्ञान हाँसिल करके प्रफुल्लित हु्ए । म्युज़ियम में व्हेल मछली का पिंजर सबके आकर्षण का केन्द्र रहा।
तत्पश्चात सभी बच्चें 3:15 बजे सयाजी गायकवाड़ म्युज़ियम देखने गए, जहाँ पौराणिक चिज़ें देखकर दंग रह गए। सयाजी गायकवाड़ म्युज़ीयम में ‘ममी’ आकर्षण का केन्द्र रहा, जो कईं सालों से वैसे का वैसा ही था। अंतत: सभी बच्चों ने शाम 5:15 बजे प्लेनिटोरियम की मुलाकात ली, जिसमें ब्रह्मांड दर्शन किया। सूर्य, चन्द्र तथा अन्य ग्रहों की दिशा एवं दशा का दर्शन एवं मानसिक भ्रमण किया। सभी ने शाम 6:00 सयाजी बाग से आत्मीय विद्यामंदिर की ओर प्रयाण किया । रास्ते में ‘शमा’ होटल पर रूकें तथा ‘पफ’ एवं ‘एप्पी’ ज्यूस का लुफ्त उठाया। बस में ‘कुँफू पांडा-1’ देखा। सभी ने खूब आनंद किया। रात्री को 10:00 बजे सभी आत्मीय विद्यामंदिर पहुँचकर आराम की साँस ली। सभी ने हाथ-मुँह धोकर रात्री-भोजन लिया एवं अंतिम प्रणाम करके निन्द्रा ग्रहण करने अपने-अपने निवास के लिए पृथक हुए।
आत्मीय विद्यामंदिर की बड़ौदा की शैक्षिक यात्रा अत्यधिक रसप्रद रही।
लेखक: मुकेश सर