Day 2 of NECDBS witnesses informative sessions and a vibrant Cultural Extravaganza

On the second day the Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Clive Telles, The Provincial of Panjim.

The first session of the day was COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH FOR THE SOCIO-EMOTINAL GROWTH OF CHILDREN. Rev. Martin Kuruvanmakal, Principal, Don Bosco School, Angamaly introduced the speakers and Rev. Fr. Paul Chalisserry presented the NECDBS shawl to the speakers. The first session was handled by two eminent speakers: Rev. Fr. Dr. Joe Kokkandathi handled the first session on THE NEED FOR EMOTINIONAL HYGIENE and Rev. Fr. Dr. Binu Scaria SDB on SALESIAN COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH.

Rev. Fr. Dr. Joe presented to the audience how unresolved emotional pain has become the greatest contagion of today and hence training our educators, staff and students in emotional hygiene is the need of the hour.

In his presentation on Salesian Cognitive Behavioural Approach basing on the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy founded by Aaron T Beck in the 1960s, Rev. Fr. BinuScaria proposed a structured group mentoring programme for groups of 20-30 students comprising of 8 sessions of 2 hours duration each, involving a Structured Learning Experience, 10 Mindfulness training, input sessions, 15 minutes interval, group experience and a 5 minutes Happiness Training.

After the session Rev. Fr. Paul Chalisserry, Principal Don Bosco School Bengaluru, proposed the vote of thanks Rev. Fr. Martin Kuruvanmakal presented the mementos to the resource persons. A short felicitation video- My Schools- My Second Home- of Mr. John Brittas, MP and Alumnus Don Bosco was presented. The audience then dispersed for the coffee break.

The second session of the day was presented by Rev. Fr. John Parankimalil, Don Bosco Institute Guwahati on the theme DON BOSCO: A SAFE, FRIENDLY AND GROWTH ENHANSING HOME AWAY FROM HOME. Rev. Fr. Rayappa Lawrence, Principal, Don Bosco English Medium School, Chirtradurga and Rev. Fr. Martin Vijay, Principal, Don Bosco ICSE School presented the NECDBS shawl to the Rev. Fr. P D John. In his well-prepared lecture the honourable resource person showed how our educational institutions must be: A home that welcomes the young, a schools that prepares them for life, a parish looks after their spiritual needs a playground that offers them space for enjoyment.

After the session Rev. Fr. Martin Vijay proposed the vote of thanks and Rev. Fr. Rayappa Lawrence presented the memento to the resource person. A short felicitation video from Mr. Roy Jose, Income Tax Commissioner, Kerala was presented followed by a few general remarks from the General Convenor, Rev. Fr. BabuManisserry. The lunch break followed.   

The afternoon sessions began at 02:00 PM sharp by welcoming the speakers. Rev. Fr. Varghese Edathichira, Principal, Don Bosco Infant Jesus School, Kattappana, welcomed the guests and Rev. Fr. Jithin Chakkimangalath, Principal, Don Bosco School, Yadgiri presented the NECDBS welcome shawl to the speakers.

The session had a kick-start with Dr. Dhanya Bhaskaran Educationist and Corporate Trainer, McMillan Education India Pvt. Ltd. moderator for the session, introducing the theme.

Mr. Joji Paul, General Secretary, CKSC and CBSE Master Trainer, began his session reminding the audience the dictum of John Dewey: “If you teach today’s children, the same how you taught yesterday, we rob them of their tomorrows.” With the new emerging Educational Policy at the national level, the times call for a great paradigm shift in the field of education. Learning should be holistic, integrated and enjoyable. The new NEP envisages a restructuring school curriculum and pedagogy in a new 5+3+3+4 format. The foundational stage will consist of five years of flexible, multilevel play or activity based learning and the preparatory stage with play, discovery and activity based learning. Subjects will be introduced in the middle stage with amble opportunities for experiential learning. The final secondary stage will have its emphasis on greater depth, critical thinking and attention to life aspiration. In such an outcome and competency based curriculum aimed at a holistic development of the child. The speaker concluded his session inviting all our institutions to create an experiential learning space to enhance and guarantee the holistic well being of each child who frequents our institutions.

Dr. Anna Neena George, Associate Professor and Research Guide, Dr. Dada Vaidya College of Education who presented the second part of the session laid out in detail the importance of making learning experiential.

The final part of session was handled by Mrs. Neethu Krishna, a Clinical Research Professional who talked about the new kinaesthetic learning where teachers undergo a pedagogical shift, making a space for fearless learning, emotional maturing and wholesome formation of children.

At the end of the session Rev. Fr. Jithin Chakkimangalath proposed the vote of thanks and Rev. Fr. Varghese Edathichira presented the NECDBS memento to the speakers and without further ado, the final session of the day began. Rev. Fr. Jilson Erickatt, Vice Principal, Don Bosco School, Angamaly welcomed the guests and Rev. Fr. Praveen K J presented the NECDBS shawl.

Rev. Fr. Robert Simon, South Asian Co-ordinator for Social Experience, introduced and set in motion the whole session on the frame of reference for Salesian Schools.

Rev. Fr. Sivy Koroth, South Asian Co-ordinator for Education to Faith presented 5 specific choices and a best practice for each of those choices in his presentation on Education to Faith.

The second part of the session was handled by Rev. Fr. Robert Simon himself, who is also the Co-ordinator for the Education to Culture,

The final part of the session touched upon the Vocational Guidance aspect of our ministry of education. It involves helping the young to make life choices, moving from “Who am I?” to “For whom am I?”. It involves the three stages of Proclamation, Proposal and Discernment: proclaiming that life is a vocation, proposing to the young an invitation to discover God’s will about one’s life and finally accompanying them in this process of discernment.

The session concluded at around 04:30 PM with the vote of thanks proposed by Rev. Fr. Praveen K J and Rev. Fr. Jilson presented the mementos to the guests.

The bright evening hours of Cochin was made even brighter with the scintillating Cultural Extravaganza presented by the various schools of the province of Bangalore. The programme started at 06:00 PM set on motion with the prayer dance by the bosconians from Don Bosco School Mannuthy. Rev. Fr. Shibu Davis, Rector Don Bosco Vaduthala welcomed the gathering and Shri Hibi Eden MP, Ernakulam Parliament Constituency inaugurated the programme. Adv. M Anilkumar, Mayor, Cochin Corporation presided over the function and appreciated with great pride the contributions of the Don Bosco institutions in the Cochin Corporation. A spectacular display of the rich cultural heritage of both Kerala and Karnataka followed. Don Bosco School, Irinjalakuda presented the Kerala theme. Dances from Don Bosco School Chitradurga and India @ 75: A Dance Treat by Don Bosco Puthuppally followed. The Karnataka theme dance was presented by M@N!S Academy of Dance. Don Bosco School Mannuthy presented a mime, and the Don Bosco institutions of Devadurga and Yadgiri jointly presented a Lambani Tribal dance programme. Don Bosco College, Angadikadavu presented a semi-classical dance programme by name Sthreeshakthi. The programmes from Don Bosco School Vaduthala, Don Bosco School Tumkur, Don Bosco School Angamaly and the Pooram: dance display by Don Bosco School Central School Mannuthy followed. Rev. Fr. Santhosh Manikombel, Co-ordinator, Cultural Programme committee proposed the vote of thanks. Though the cultural extravaganza exceeded in time, the display of the exceptional talents of our school children mesmerized all the delegates, keeping them stuck to their seats. The solemn dinner followed and then the participants retired to their respective hotels for rest by 09:45 PM.