Mary Ward (1585 - 1645)

Mrs Dhir and Miss S. Paul attended a History Workshop on the 15th and 16th September 2017 organized by the Loreto Education Board. The workshop was conducted by Mrs A. Prasad (Dean of Research and Analysis Heritage School) (15.09.2017 and 16.09.2017) and Ms Priyadarshini Guha (Dean of Activities) on the 16.09.2017. The workshop was divided into several segments highlighting the aims, difficulties and different strategies for teaching History. Mrs Prasad emphasized the need of approaching History as a Science. She demonstrated the need for students collecting data, processing information and reaching conclusions. Mrs Prasad emphasized on the use of anecdote in teaching History and to make our students think as “Historians”. On Day-2 Ms P. Guha demonstrated several History lessons on the First World War, The Mughals, and Civics with the help of mind maps, graphic organizers and maps with animation. All the sessions were interspersed with several fun activities like History Dumb charades, Taboo, Pictionary, and Quiz which can be used by us in our classroom teaching. To conclude the workshop was a learning experience for both of us as we were enlightened with the innovative techniques of teaching History.

Mrs. U. Ghosh and Mrs. S. Dey attended a half day meeting titled “Forum For Awareness” organized by CUTS International in collaboration with Earth Day Network at Hotel Hindustan on October 28th, 2017 with key Policy makers, Educational Institutions, Solar Project Developers, Financial Institutions, Media and Civil Society Organisations. West Bengal Power Minister Mr. Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay was also present to mark the occasion.

The key objective of the session was to create an implementable energy/proposal for energy transformation from fossil to non-fossil fuel at the sub-national level to facilitate sustainable growth. According to the stakeholders, the basic strategies was to address those bottlenecks so as to facilitate greater uptake of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar among educational institutions in West Bengal. This was based on a number of initial interviews and stakeholder consultations key Government Officials, Seed Community Member, Solar Project Developers and Educational Institutions and Civil Society Organisation. The minister declared that around 1400 schools in the state have already installed solar power. He appealed to each institute, colleges and various organisations to decrease conventional electricity in the long term.

The concluding session was more interesting where the Principal of a government school from Jadavpur Balika Vidyalaya shared the experience of having a solar plant in the school, Rahara Ramakrishna College at Rahara also shared information through power point presentation with an interactive session. It was an enriching experience.

On 10th November 2017, Mrs. Raka Das and Mrs. Shaheen Faiyaz attended a workshop at Middleton Chamber (Garden Courtyard), 10, Middleton Street, Kolkata, on Best Practices in English Language Teaching and the launch of the Magnolia English Reader for Classes 1-8. The workshop was conducted by Dr. Martin Gungulu.

The format and content of the Magnolia Readers from Grade 1-8 were explained to the teachers present. The Readers were equipped with various reading and learning activity guides and comprehension aids. Children were taught to appreciate Literature. Audio aids were provided to help children read and pronounce correctly and remember better. The contents of teacher resource packages were explained.

The workshop was geared towards teaching Language and especially Grammar in the Primary Section (Classes 1-5) and was not particularly useful for Middle Section teaching. However, the activities and interaction employed made the workshop interesting.

Seminar on Protection of Child Rights on 30th November 2017

On 30th November 2017, Mrs L. Samuel and Mrs M. Kapur attended a seminar cum panel discussion at Novotel during which the West Bengal Commision for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) in collaboration with International Justice Mission (IJM) disseminated information and studies of a Research conducted on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Kolkata. The study highlighted the networks of sex trade and human trafficking in public and private establishments in Kolkata. It provided insights about the changing trends of crime.

The event created a high degree of awareness and the results of the research studies will be shared with other staff members.

On 13th January 2018, a seminar for Heads of Schools and Colleges was held at Seva Kendra, Kolkata which was attended by Mrs Gaspar and Mrs Lazarus. The programme began with a brief Prayer Service and Welcome. It was followed by an Address by the Archbishop, His Grace Thomas D’Souza.

Session I was conducted by Sr Cyril on the effectiveness of a Catholic School. This was followed by the distribution of Certificates received from the CBCI National Commission for Education for Schools and Colleges who have completed the Evaluation of the All India Catholic Education Policy 2007.

Session II was conducted by Fr Benny Thomas, S.J., Principal of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Kolkata on The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) 2012.

Session III, conducted by Cidermatics Private Limited, was based on how to incorporate technology into Education. The seminar was organized by the Diocesan Commission for Education and Culture, Archdiocese of Calcutta.