Activities and celebrations of October at Glance

The month of October was filled with many “innovations and festivities” in which the students learned they are always changing, growing, and adjusting. The month included the celebrations such as Gandhi Jayanti, Dushera, and Diwali the festival of lights.

SDG- Aim to transform our world

The month of October began with an introduction to the Sustainable development Goals. Sr.Libania, the justice contact person for the North India Province came to Presentation Convent School, Pachama, Sehore on 1.10.2022 to initiate the students towards the UN 2030 agenda of, Sustainable development goals which are designed to be a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. . She interacted with the students of class I – IV and introduced the 17 SDGs which are an urgent call for action by all countries towards peace, prosperity, and transformation of the world for persons with disabilities. All the students participated in the training programme. She briefly introduced the 17 goals and targets in a simple way for the little minds to understand. She focused on goals of Quality education, Gender equality, health, and well-being. Goal 13, climate action, its impact on the environment, and the need for urgent action were also explained to the students.

The students were encouraged to speak up on pollution and they promised not to burn crackers during the festival of Diwali, but instead to burn more diyas, share sweets with neighbours, and plant trees. While focusing on gender equality, she emphasized equal opportunities and fair treatment to both boys and girls.

The training included group activities and a demonstration of segregation of dry and wet waste and its proper disposal, and reusing waste materials at home. She practically showed the children to segregate dry waste and wet waste, and to make manure with kitchen waste namely vegetable peel, fruit, and food waste. An invitation was extended to be the agents of change.

Children are Safe in our care

We the Presentation Sisters in India commit ourselves to respect all children's dignity, rights, and sacredness. To introduce this a training program on child safeguarding policy was held on 01.10.2022 for the teachers at the Presentation Convent School, Pachama, Sehore. All the teachers participated in the training. The priority area of concern was the children and teachers. Sr.Libania was the resource person who very effectively communicated the policy to the teachers through various activities. The session included group activities, storytelling from real-life experiences, case studies, interactive sessions, videos, etc.

The teachers participated in it with their whole hearts and mind and were very enthusiastic. They promised to sustain the objectives to respect and uphold all children's rights and dignity, particularly those under their care. The meaning of Child protection was explained with the help of the focus on the 4Rs. They were helped to Recognize the abuse, respond to it, report it, and record it. Sr.Libania also explained that there are various forms of abuse namely physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. The teachers were divided into three groups for case studies and were asked to report it in a larger group. The participation of the teachers was remarkable. Finally, the resource person explained the good practices that will prevent child abuse and safeguard children mainly in our ministry areas. The need to play a major role in facilitating a safe environment and developing a code of behaviour that will reflect the values outlined in the Presentation Policy Statement.

The key highlight of this seminar was to create a safe environment for children and to ensure a child-friendly place where activities are conducted with safe persons around. At the close of the input session, the teachers promised to exercise moral, ethical, and legal responsibility, to ensure that all children are safe in Presentation Convent School, Pachama.

Gandhi Jayanti – Truth Prevails

To mark the festival of Gandhi Jayanti a special assembly was organized. The students eagerly participated in it. An event from the life of mahatma Gandhi Ji was the highlight of the day. It was a feast for the eyes to see the students speaking confidently ‘’ Truthfulness is even more important than peacefulness’’. Through this, the students were invited to practice the values such as truthfulness, non-violence, and honesty. The students, teachers, and the Principal Sr.Jeya along with the Manager Sr.Jancy paid tribute to the great personality, the father of our Nation. The principal her address explained the reason for celebrating the birthday of this great personality and invited the students to be like him ‘’ Simple living and high thinking’’.

Eco-Friendly Fancy Dress Competition

To mark the Indian festival of light Presentation Convent School organized an eco-friendly competition on 19.10.2022, for the students. Inspired by the seminar on Sustainable Development Goals, the students came dressed in clothes made of newspaper, polythene bags, and trees. Specific pieces of information were given before the competition to encourage the students to participate in it. It was also to raise awareness among the parents too. The fancy dress message included

• Save water
• Save environment
• Save trees
• Plant trees
• Say no to plastic
• Minimize the use of paper
• Save wild animals
• Create a pollution-free environment
• Say no to crackers and burn oil Diya’s
• Use cloth bags instead of poly bags
• It is inspiring to see the students delivering immensely powerful messages and courageously expressing the message that ‘We are part of creating a better world for everyone to live in. The cooperation of parents, teachers, and students was remarkable.

Diya Decoration

A competition was held on 20.10.2022 to commemorate the festival of Diwali. All the students at the school participated in it with great zeal and delight. It was a great feast to the eye to see the students colouring and embellishing the Diya with great enthusiasm. The contest aimed to create a spirit of participation and improve their aesthetic competencies. The students enjoyed transforming the simple mud diyas into magnificent pieces of art. Finally, the winners were encouraged with a prize.

Celebration of Lights

The great festival of light was celebrated for a week at Presentation Convent School with immense happiness and joy. The students lit diyas and danced with a fabulous dance performance. The students shared their lunch and homemade sweets as a gesture of their friendship and affection. The colourful rangoli made by the teachers lifted the festive spirit of everyone. The principal and the teachers insisted on not burning firecrackers but instead burning oil lamps and sharing sweets with their neighbours and friends. The students were made to understand that the best way to overcome evil is only by doing good. The students were encouraged to plant saplings and to take care of them so as to reduce the impact of global warming.

A Special Assembly towards Alleviation of Poverty

A Special assembly was held to commemorate the international day for the eradication of poverty. Awareness of poverty, its meaning, and the condition of people living in poverty were explained to the pupil through stories and posters. The students were given time to reflect on small steps by which they can contribute towards alleviating poverty in our country and eradicating it. The students were reminded not to waste natural resources. They were helped to become aware of the people at the railway platform, under the bridge, and side of the roads, treat them with respect and offer possible help. It was brought to their awareness that they are privileged to have three meals a day, while there are people who struggle to have a meal. Finally, the students were given a task to go home and thank their parents who worked hard to feed them and supply shelter, quality education, and good clothing. After the assembly, the students spend more time with their class teachers towards helping those in need and encourage their parents to do the same.

We the Management and teachers work together as we strive towards creating a better world for everyone to live in peace and harmony.

As we celebrate cultural diversities, our prayer is that we may work towards creating responsible citizens who not only aim big but learn to live in harmony with all of creation.

Jeya Pushpam