- Each day begins with a short prayer
on awakening and later on for the older girls at the morning assembly.
- At all times of prayer care is taken
to provide short periods of silence and reflection to help the children
grow beyond the mere recitation of words into deeper awareness of their
relation with God.
- All major events such as Teacher’s Day, Domestic
Staff Day, home elections, welcome of visitors etc. begin with a period
of prayer.
.........................Value
Education :
At least one session per week.
- Sex education is an integral part of the instruction
given.
- Nightly, before bed, a brief meeting to clear away
any
misunderstandings, bad feelings, results of scoldings
etc.
Every child should be sent to bed, happy, loved, forgiven
and at peace.
Intellectual formation
of each girl includes all aspects of her mental development, keeping
in mind her capacities, talents, background and opportunities for study.
Each girl is evaluated on her arrival
and this evaluation is kept as a record against which her future academic
programme can be measured. Oral tests are also a part of their initial
evaluation.
Depending upon the results of the evaluation
the girl is provided with personalized teaching by the regular students
of the school until she catches up to her own age level and is then
slotted into school.
Special care is taken to provide, where
needed, head start / remedial / alternative programmes to meet the needs
of academically handicapped children even after they join the regular
school.
Joy in learning, in discovering new
facts and new ideas and in developing one’s talents, is a very
effective educational tool, and very much in the Loreto tradition.
As much extra educational stimulation
as is possible is provided. This includes visuals, audio visuals, the
use of the library and the local environment, as well as educational
games to which the children should always have easy access, and educational
outings.
Opportunities are constantly provided
for exploring new ideas, new experiences, the environment, trying out
new things and constant conversation and discussion, with each other,
the older girls, the regular students, volunteers and staff members.
Social
and cultural development includes an awareness of and respect
for the diverse aspects of the Indian social milieu and a readiness
to contribute constructively to the creation of a just society.
The home is genuinely sensitive to the various cultures of the girls
who are helped to understand and love the richness of their own culture
and to respect and appreciate other cultures too.
The girls are educated to appreciate beauty in whatever form it presents
itself. They are taught to care for the environment, and to look beyond
themselves to the needs of others.
Destructive behaviour in all its forms, is firmly discouraged and the
girls are taught how to handle things carefully, and to maintain their
home in an attractive way, taking the trouble to clear up after themselves
/ others.
Programmes where the children have experience in working for justice
and equality, in sustained contact with children or others deprived
of the advantages of education, are integral to the home curriculum.
Reflection on situations of injustice, on their causes and possible
remedies, is central to these programmes so that while she is engaged
informing relationships with other people in society, the girl also
becomes aware of the power structures in society.
It is seen as very important that the girls of the Home are challenged
off to think of others before themselves and to reach out over a period
of time in sustained service.
All activities
are creativity rather than money based so that the girls learn how to
improvise and make do, to be thrifty and do with simple materials and
yet maintain a good standard.
Concerts and public shows are seen as opportunities for education in
improvisation and thrift as costumes and sets are designed and created
by the girls from cheap materials, thus allowing everyone, even the
poorest girl or the less academically gifted, to take part.
Birthday
gifts, money collections and expensive foreign items are frowned upon
not only as detrimental to the value system of the home, but also as
giving rise to such negative emotions as jealousy in girls who do not
get such items, leading on to stealing and a begging attitude. Rather,
the children are encouraged to see such material consumerist values
in their true colours and to realize that happiness lies in who you
are (a child of God) and not in what you have. All forms of soliciting
things, especially from visitors, are discouraged as being undignified
and lacking in self respect.
Growth
in personality of the girl includes all that enables her to become
aware of her unique and God given talents and to develop them to their
full potential for the Glory of God, the service of society and her
own and other’s happiness.
Opportunities are provided in co-curricular activities, house system,
camps, leadership training courses etc. to enable the girl to develop
leadership qualities, organizational skills, self expression and character.
Home rules are so formulated and enforced as to inculcate self discipline
and a sense of personal responsibility. The Senior girls of the Home
form a Girls Council which takes responsibility for the smooth running
of the house duties and care of the younger children, allotted to each
team and which acts as an advisory body and sounding board for the adults
who are in charge of the children. Their ideas are listened to and it
found useful, acted upon and they in turn are involved and help in the
running of the Home, as far as possible.
Children are trained to be responsible
by being trusted.
All children are helped to respect
themselves and others, by being respected and challenged
by the adults around them.
Opportunities for counseling and career guidance are made available
to the girls on a regular basis.
Working together in a spirit of community is strongly affirmed while
all unhealthy competition and the structures which foster it are strongly
discouraged.
For physical development, a regular programme of games and
outdoor exercise is provided.
Classes in Indian dancing and
Yoga are organized especially as they develop the children culturally
also. Karati is also taught wherever possible as the skill of self defense
is important for girls in Indian context. Singing is also made available.
