April 2008

A regular e-zine from the British Institute of Sathya Sai Education  www.ssehv.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 1118625

Dear Readers

Welcome to the February 2008 issue of the Sathya Sai Education in Human Values UK email newsletter.

This month:

Croydon Holiday School Enjoyed by Children and Teachers Alike
Volunteer Teachers Needed for Sathya Sai School of Thailand

'Wot U On?' Ask Good Values Children

Scotland Holds First Ever Human Values Holiday Camp

Summer Half-Term SSEHV Holiday School in Brent
New SSEHV Regional Co-ordinator for the Midlands
Date for Your Diary - SSEHV UK National Day
Drama: Billy and the Trainers
Resources Update
Training Update

If you have any feedback, or would like to share your experiences of SSEHV, please write to us.

Kind Regards,
The Edito
r


Unsubscribe information

 

 


Croydon Holiday School Enjoyed by Children and Teachers Alike

Around 45 children aged between four and 12 years attended a five-day SSEHV Easter Holiday School at a primary school in Croydon, South London, during the week of 7th April.

The School was organised by Radha Sithsabesan and lead by ten volunteer teachers, many of whom are now very experienced at teaching SSEHV in this context. The teachers and children were supported behind the scenes by Easwary who kept everyone sustained with food and refreshments throughout.

One teacher, Maureen O'Hara, described the Holiday School as "an enjoyable event all round" that left the volunteers both tired and exhilarated. She continued, "The children were very mixed ethnically and it occurred to all the teachers that they could teach all of us a lot about acceptance and simplicity."

As usual, the Choi Kwang Do martial arts classes taught by Keith Banfield were particularly popular with the pupils - who also enjoyed the daily silent sitting exercises, and gave positive feedback about the experience which was new to many of them.

There was a presentation of certificates on the last day and a charming display of talents (mainly singing) by the children. During the week they produced some very nice art work, which they took home in their folders at the end of the School.

Top

 


Volunteer Teachers Needed for Sathya Sai School of Thailand

The Sathya Sai School of Thailand is in the process of upgrading the level of English studies for all students. As part of this, it is starting a bi-lingual programme so that the students are exposed to more English. It would like to have English medium for such subjects as maths, science, physics, chemistry, biology, computers and English as a second language - in fact any subject except Thai language and social studies can be taught in English. The School would like to invite professional teachers who adhere to the principles of SSHEV in their own lives to volunteer to come to the school for at least one year. All their living expenses would be covered by the school including their travel to and from Thailand. They would also receive a token living allowance or pocket money.

Applicants should:
- Be professional teachers
- Be people of good morals and character
- Be vegetarian, non-smoking and non-drinking
- Live up to Sai principles
- Love children and want to serve
- Provide a detailed CV, work and character references

The new school year begins on May 1st 2008 – March 15th 2009, however as term-times are different in different countries, start dates are relatively flexible.

Interested applicants should contact their local Sai Organisation or SSEHV Institute to progress their application.

Top

 

 

'Wot U On?' Ask Good Values Children

Around 1,000 people attended a drugs awareness and healthy living family day in Leicester on 9th March. 'Wot u on?' was organised by the Leicester Good Values Club and Abbey Primary School in conjunction with Northfield House Good Values Club and other local community groups. In addition to stalls and exhibitions informing visitors about substance abuse and positive lifestyle choices, there was plenty of fun to be had with activities including dancing, face painting, scrap-booking and games.


Children of Northfield House Good Values Club

A series of performances was held and repeated throughout the event featuring music, classical Indian dance by children from the Good Values Club as well as professional dancers, two powerful masked dramas masks and raps written and performed by Club members.

The whole event was captured by local television station MA TV which ran a half-hour feature about it. Henna Patel, a youth member of the Good Values Club, commented: "The purpose of this event was to reach out to the community and get the message across to everyone...I myself was participating in one of the acts and enjoyed conveying the important message to the viewers and learnt a lot from this event and I hope others benefited as well."

Top

 

 

Scotland Holds First Ever Human Values Holiday Camp

By Lesley-Ann Patrick

In the week of 7-11th April, Scotland held its first Human Values Holiday Camp. It was hosted by the St.Andrews school and was attended by 25 children foom two neighbouring schools. They joined with the St.Andrews children in a week of games, singing and music-making, stories, quiet time in the woods, and cleaning the stream. Each day was dedicated to a specific value. The school parents provided delicious lunches for the children each day. The highlight of the week was Human Values football in which the children played fairly and co-operatively: it was interspersed with the famous yellow and red cards of mainstream football but these ones introduced Human Values teachings.


Co-operative human values games at the camp

The camp was very well-received and will be repeated at the beginning of the Summer holidays for different children from the same schools.

In the meantime the St.Andrews school will hold a residential camp for its own parents and children and will adopt the theme of Midsummer Sun Shines on All the Same. The purpose is to reach a deeper understanding of Human Values by working and playing together in a weekend camp. We hope the real sun will shine on our tents.

Lesley-Ann is the headteacher of Casa della Pace Montessori Eco School of St Andrews and BISSE Regional Co-ordinator for Scotland.

Top

 

 

Summer Half-Term SSEHV Holiday School in Brent

An SSEHV summer half-term holiday school will be held at a primary school in Brent, North West London, from Monday 26th to Friday 30th May 2008. The co-ordinator, Joyce Power, who has run numerous holiday schools of this type in the area in recent years, is currently looking for more volunteers to take part.

Areas of volunteering include teaching (for those who are SSEHV-trained), teaching assistants, general service activities and sports. To find out more or to obtain a volunteer application form, please contact Joyce.

The Holiday School is primarily for children who attend the school during term time and aims to develop positive values whilst having fun. Joyce expects about 80 to 100 children to attend.

Volunteers are required to be at the school from around 8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. each day (7.30 am on Monday morning, 5.00 pm finish on Friday). There will be a meditation session for volunteers and a brief meeting at the start and end of each day. It is compulsory that all attend these meetings.

It is preferable that volunteers are available on all five days, however if this is not possible, please indicate the days when you will definitely be available on the volunteer application form.

It is a legal requirement that all volunteers at the school have a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check certificate. If you are applying for one, please be aware that it takes approximately eight weeks to process. All volunteers must be over the age of 17.

Should volunteers wish to bring along their own children, this should be indicated on the volunteer form and an additional application form will be sent to you. NB no children under six years can take part in the Holiday School.

Top

 

 

New BISSE Regional Co-ordinator for the Midlands

Dipak Fakey has been appointed BISSE’s Regional Co-ordinator for the Midlands area.

Dipak is an exceptionally active and experienced SSEHV practitioner. He teaches in several primary schools in the region throughout term-time, including Abbey Primary School where he is Human Values Manager and where he also runs the Leicester Good Values Club whose 150 children and youth members meet every Saturday. He is currently running a ten-week course for very young children and their parents as part of the UK government's national Sure Start programme. In addition he finds time to travel the country to take part in SSEHV Holiday Schools and Values Alive Events where he is known as 'Mr Smiley'. He has also developed and produced a range of Human Values board games for use in schools and homes (more information about these is available on our website).

We are delighted to welcome Dipak into his new role and feel sure he will be an inspirational Co-ordinator.

Current BISSE Regional Co-ordinators are:

1. South West and South East London - Radha Sithsabesan
2. West and North West London - Subita Mahtani
3. North London - Suresh Nesaratnam
4. Midlands - Dipak Fakey
5. Northern England - Neil Bisarya
6. South and South East England - Lark Beecham
7. South West England and Wales - Zita Starkie
8. Scotland - Lesley-Ann Patrick

Top

 

 

Date for Your Diary - SSEHV UK National Day

The SSEHV UK National Day will take place on 4th October 2008 at Abbey Primary School in Leicester. The day is an opportunity for SSEHV practitioners and those with an interest in finding out more about it to come together, answer questions and share ideas and experiences. Among other items it will feature a talk from Abbey Primary School's headmaster about the impact SSEHV has had, and how it has now been officially integrated into the School's Connected Curriculum.

Further details about the Day will be circulated nearer the time, but if you would like more information or to book a place, please contact Subita Mahtani.

Top

 

 

Drama

Billy and the Trainers

The following drama can be acted out by children and/or used as the basis for an improvisation on the same theme.

Age group: 10+
Value: Right Conduct
Related values: Duty, Responsibility, and Good Behaviour

Narrator: A young man walks into an expensive store. He wanders around for several minutes, and then casually puts a pair of Reebok trainers into his rucksack. Unknown to him, a friend of his father has seen him do this.

Jack (father's friend): Hello, Billy. How are you?

Billy: Oh, er, um, Hi, Jack. How are you keeping?

Jack: Fine, thanks, Billy. Nice rucksack you have there.

Billy: Thanks.

Jack: I didn't just see you put a pair of trainers into your bag, did I?

Billy: Um, no.

Jack: I was standing just at the corner. The latest design, weren't they?

Billy: Well, OK, suppose I did. It's not hurting anyone is it? This shop can afford it, can't it?

Jack: And you know that for sure, do you?

Billy: Well, what's £70 to this shop, they must be making loads of money, every day.

Jack: Maybe they do, maybe they don't.

Narrator: A shop assistant overhears the conversation and tells Mr. Rodgers, his boss.

Shopkeeper: Well, what's happening here then? If you steal from here, I lose goods and therefore money; then I have less money to pay wages and employ people. I might also have to pay for cameras and security people, and maybe tag the goods as well, which puts the price of everything up. Also if you carry on stealing, you could end up in prison, you know - you don't want that, do you?

Billy: Er, no.

Shopkeeper: Because, there you will mix with the wrong sort of people, you know, bad company who won't treat you kindly.

Jack: What would your parents say, if they found out that you had been caught stealing from a shop?

Billy: Um, er, they would be upset, especially my mum.

Shopkeeper: Now give me the trainers back, and if you give me your word, that it won't happen again, I am prepared to drop the matter.

Jack: I think that's very good of you, don't you Billy?

Billy: Ur, yes, thank you, Mr. Rodgers.

Narrator: Billy thanks the shopkeeper, and he and Jack leave the shop.

Questions:
1. Why do you think Billy tried to steal the trainers?
2. Did he think it was wrong to steal them?
3. Why did the shopkeeper let him go?

4. How did you feel when you heard the story?
5. Did it remind you of anything in your own life?

Top

 

 

Resources Update

In response to many requests from teachers, the teaching manuals have been reclassified to align with school years. The new editions have also been slightly revised following classroom feedback and now include 'Learning Intentions' replacing the previous 'Objectives'.

In due course there will be one teaching manual for each school year from Reception through to Year 9. The manuals currently available and in the pipeline are:

Reception: ages 4-5 year olds (green)
Year 1: ages 5-6 (to be written)
Year 2: ages 6-7 (Book 1, pink)
Year 3: ages 7-8 (Book 1M, lilac)
Year 4: ages 8-9 (Book 2, blue)
Year 5: ages 9-10 (nearly finished)
Year 6: ages 10-11 (Book 3, yellow)
Year 7: ages 11-12 (being written)
Year 8: ages 12-13 (Book 4, mauve)
Year 9: ages 13-14 (to be written)

For more information about all SSEHV resources and to obtain an order form, please visit the Resources section of our website.

Top

 

 

Training Update

All SSEHV courses are free to attend, although a refundable deposit of £10 may be required at registration (this is to cover photocopying costs of the extensive handouts provided at the course for you to keep). Details of all our training courses, together with contact information and dates can be found on our website at www.ssehv.org.uk, in the Training section.

Quote from a recent Foundation Course participant:

"I found the six days very transformational. All the five values - love, peace, non-violence, truth, peace and right conduct, were beautifully and skilfully brought to our awareness...The course provides much needed healing, much needed enlightenment, much needed relaxation and much needed inspiration for the soul."

The next SSEHV courses are:

Location
Date
Module
Contact
Pinner, NWLondon or Broadstairs, Kent - Foundation Course 3rd Aug 08 1
4th 2
5th 3
6th 4
7th 5
8th 6
Findhorn Community, Forres, Scotland - Training for School Teachers (Residential) School Holidays, dates tba  

If there is no course scheduled in your area but you would like there to be one, this can be organised, as long as there are a minimum of ten people who would like to attend. Please contact the editor for more information.

Top

 


Unsubscribe Information
This newsletter is sent once every two months to subscribers. If you prefer not to receive further newsletters, then please send a blank email with the word 'unsubscribe' in the subject box to:
leave-ssehv-newsletter@list.sathyasaiehv.org.uk


To subscribe
, click here.

Top

 

Copyright © 2007 British Institute of Sathya Sai Education (BISSE Ltd).
BISSE Ltd is a non-profit organisation committed to promoting human values in education.
Registered Charity No. 1118625
Registered address: The Glen, Cuckoo Hill, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 2BE United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8429 2677   Email: feedback@ssehv.org.uk