SSEHV: Educator of Distinction Award to Kumudini Lakshman

[Guest guest]

Educator of Distinction Award

Mrs Kumudini Lakshman, of the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Saskatoon,

Saskatchewan, is the recipient of the Educator of Distinction Award, given by

the Saskatoon Pre School Foundation. There were 45 nominees for the awards in

various categories. She is one of five who received the award in the Volunteer

Category. She has been teaching SSEHV in an inner city school. The children

come from lower economic groups, broken families, or families with problems.

The citation for the award says

Volunteering four times a week Kumudini built great relationships of trust with

the students and staff and proved her willingness to do any task. She shows

commitment by showing up day after day with cheerful and humble attitude. In

the classrooms Kumudini teaches values such as honesty, respect, friendship,

kindness, and love with the Grades 1-4 followed with a craft. She initiated an

after-school Homework Club once a week for Grades 3-8, also provided an

after-school sports program for ages 8 and up, followed with a healthy snack.

Part of the work Kumudini does in the school involves staging drama productions

(to convey the message of Sai Baba’s Education in Human Values) involving

scripts adapted to accommodate all students in the class along with elaborate

costumes and special props.

On occasions she provides nutritional foods for our breakfast and lunch program

at the School. Kumudini is currently involved with the “Heart of the City”

piano program and is on the committee that serves all of Saskatoon schools that

provides the piano program. Through the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Saskatoon,

Kumudini initiated an annual Christmas gift-giving to all the students and staff

at the Pleasant Hill Community School. At last, the most important contribution

Kumudini has given to us is that she is an inspirational role model for

everyone. We as staff and students are fortunate to have her in our lives.

Kumudini was trained in teaching SSEHV at the Institute of Sathya Sai Education,

Thailand, in 2001 and received her Diploma from Swami on November 20, 2001. As

soon as she returned from Thailand, she started volunteering in Pleasant Hill

School, helping in the library and helping the teachers with their research in

teaching etc. The Pleasant Hill School staff were already familiar with the

SSSB Centre of Saskatoon and Kumudini, because she had been organizing seva

activities in the school.

In September 2001, she approached the Principal and got permission from him to

teach SSEHV, and started with the Grade 4 students. Since then it is one

journey of progress.

Kumudini is expressing her devotion to Swami through the dedication for her work

in the School. As the citation mentions, she is using multi-various activities

to inculcate Human Values in the children. There are other schools in

Saskatoon, who have approached Kumudini to start the SSEHV program. The Centre

is looking at training more people to help Kumudini for the same.

The first picture shows Kumudini receiving her Diploma from Swami on November

20, 2001; the second one shows Kumudini receiving her Educator of Distinction

award from Bev Hanson, Superintendent of Schools in St.Paul Roman Catholic

School Division in Saskatoon, on March 31, 2006. Read below message from the

Sathya Sai Organization of Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SRI SATHYA SAI BABA ORGANIZATION IN CANADA

 

 

MESSAGE OF APPRECIATION

 

 

“Academic knowledge alone is of no great value. It may help one to earn a

livelihood. But, education should go beyond the preparation for earning a

living. It should prepare one for the challenges of life morally and

spiritually. It is because human values are absent in "educated" persons that

we find them steeped in anxiety and worry.”

Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> --Sathya Sai Baba

 

 

This is the reason why our beloved Bhagawan gave us the programme of Sathya Sai

Education in Human Values (SSEHV). Baba says that education has two aspects:

one related to external and worldly education, referred to as bookish knowledge

and the second known as “Educare” which is related to practicing human values in

everyday life thereby recognizing the all pervading divinity. These basic human

values of Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-violence are inherent in

every human being. But somewhere along the line we have forgotten the inherent

values and Swami says that this is the reason for the sad situation in the world

today. How can this be corrected?

Baba knows that habits die hard and it is very difficult to mend the ways of

grown ups. So He focuses on children who are the most precious treasures and

future leaders of the world. SSEHV combines academic excellence with human

excellence. Sathya Sai Schools all over the world have adopted an integrated

approach to teach SSEHV with the curriculum.

 

Well, our duty does not end there. Each one of us should strive to spread the

message of SSEHV into the community and that’s what Mrs Kumudini Lakshman has

done.

 

Mrs Kumudini Lakshman wanted to equip herself for this task – she went to the

Institute of Sathya Sai Education, Thailand and got trained in teaching SSEHV.

When she returned to Saskatoon, after her training, her quest started. Her

entrance into the public school system did not happen overnight. It happened

due to the persistence and patience of Mrs.Lakshman. She has succeeded in

getting the SSEHV programme into the school system and has been teaching SSEHV

for the past five years. She is a volunteer teacher, teaching full time. Her

efforts, sincerity of purpose and the transformation, the programme brought in

the children, led to her being nominated and being awarded as a Special

Teacher.

 

Both of us, on behalf of the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Organization in Canada, take

great pleasure in congratulating Mrs Kumudini Lakshman for the honor she

received and the recognition thereby conferred on the SSEHV programme. On

behalf of the Organization, we gratefully acknowledge the selfless service you

are doing for the society. May Bhagawan guide you to continue this wonderful

seva.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr.V.P.Singh / Myriam Jozsa

Central Co-ordinator / Chairperson, Central Council

April 7, 2006

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[Guest guest]

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is the recipient of the Educator of Distinction Award,

given by the Saskatoon Pre School Foundation. There were 45 nominees for the

awards in various categories. She is one of five who received the award in the

Volunteer Category. She has been teaching SSEHV in an inner city school. The

children come from lower economic groups, broken families, or families with

problems. The citation for the award says Volunteering four times a week

Kumudini built great relationships of trust with the students and staff and

proved her willingness to do any task. She shows commitment by showing up day

after day with cheerful and humble attitude. In the classrooms Kumudini teaches

values such as honesty, respect, friendship, kindness, and love with the Grades

1-4 followed with a craft. She initiated an after-school Homework Club once a

week for Grades 3-8, also provided an after-school

sports program for ages 8 and up, followed with a healthy snack. Part of the

work Kumudini does in the school involves staging drama productions (to convey

the message of Sai Baba’s Education in Human Values) involving scripts adapted

to accommodate all students in the class along with elaborate costumes and

special props. On occasions she provides nutritional foods for our breakfast

and lunch program at the School. Kumudini is currently involved with the “Heart

of the City” piano program and is on the committee that serves all of Saskatoon

schools that provides the piano program. Through the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre

of Saskatoon, Kumudini initiated an annual Christmas gift-giving to all the

students and staff at the Pleasant Hill Community School. At last, the most

important contribution Kumudini has given to us is that she is an inspirational

role model for everyone. We as staff and students are fortunate to have her in

our lives. Kumudini was trained in teaching SSEHV at the Institute of Sathya

Sai Education, Thailand, in 2001 and received her Diploma from Swami on

November 20, 2001. As soon as she returned from Thailand, she started

volunteering in Pleasant Hill School, helping in the library and helping the

teachers with their research in teaching etc. The Pleasant Hill School staff

were already familiar with the SSSB Centre of Saskatoon and Kumudini, because

she had been organizing seva activities in the school. In September 2001, she

approached the Principal and got permission from him to

teach SSEHV, and started with the Grade 4 students. Since then it is one

journey of progress. Kumudini is expressing her devotion to Swami through the

dedication for her work in the School. As the citation mentions, she is using

multi-various activities to inculcate Human Values in the children. There are

other schools in Saskatoon, who have approached Kumudini to start the SSEHV

program. The Centre is looking at training more people to help Kumudini for the

same. The first picture shows Kumudini receiving her Diploma from Swami on

November 20, 2001; the second one shows Kumudini receiving her Educator of

Distinction award from Bev Hanson, Superintendent of Schools in St.Paul Roman

Catholic School Division in Saskatoon, on March 31, 2006. Read below message

from the Sathya Sai Organization of Canada.

Roman">

New Roman"> SRI SATHYA SAI BABA ORGANIZATION IN CANADA MESSAGE OF

APPRECIATION “Academic knowledge alone is of no great value. It may help

one to earn a livelihood. But, education should go beyond the preparation for

earning a living. It should

prepare one for the challenges of life morally and spiritually. It is because

human values are absent in "educated" persons that we find them steeped in

anxiety and worry.” --Sathya Sai Baba

LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">This is the reason why our beloved

Bhagawan gave us the programme of Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (SSEHV).

Baba says that education has two aspects: one related to external and worldly

education, referred to as bookish knowledge and the second known as “Educare”

which is related to practicing human values in everyday life thereby

recognizing the all pervading divinity. These basic human values of Truth,

Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-violence are inherent in every human being.

But somewhere along the line we have forgotten the inherent values and Swami

says that this is the reason for the sad situation in the world today. How can

this

be corrected? Baba knows that habits die hard and it is very difficult to mend

the ways of grown ups. So He focuses on children who are the most precious

treasures and future leaders of the world. SSEHV combines academic excellence

with human excellence. Sathya Sai Schools all over the world have adopted an

integrated approach to teach SSEHV with the curriculum. Well, our duty does

not end there. Each one of us should strive to spread the message of SSEHV

into the community and that’s what Mrs Kumudini Lakshman has done.

Roman">Mrs Kumudini Lakshman wanted to equip herself for this task – she went to

the Institute of Sathya Sai Education, Thailand and got trained in teaching

SSEHV. When she returned to Saskatoon, after her training, her quest started.

Her entrance into the public school system did not happen

overnight. It happened due to the persistence and patience of Mrs.Lakshman.

She has succeeded in getting the SSEHV programme into the school system and has

been teaching SSEHV for the past five years. She is a volunteer teacher,

teaching full time. Her efforts, sincerity of purpose and the transformation,

the programme brought in the children, led to her being nominated and being

awarded as a Special Teacher.

#000099; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Both of us, on behalf of the Sri Sathya

Sai Baba Organization in Canada, take great pleasure in congratulating Mrs

Kumudini Lakshman for the honor she received and the recognition thereby

conferred on the SSEHV programme. On behalf of the Organization, we gratefully

acknowledge the selfless service you are doing for the society. May Bhagawan

guide you to continue this wonderful seva.

italic"> Dr.V.P.Singh / Myriam Jozsa Central Co-ordinator / Chairperson,

Central Council April 7, 2006

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