Amrutham Class---Oct 26th

Hari Om Parents,

Wishing you ALL a VERY Happy Diwali!!!! Happy New year (to some of you) and Happy Bhai-duj!!!!!! We had a great class with everyone dressed up SO well in their traditional outfits. Thank you for dressing them up!!!!!

As always we started our class with:

• 3 Om's
• Opening prayers (Om Sahanvavantu....)
• Ganesha Shloka (Vakratunda.....)
• Saraswati Shloka (Om Saraswati....)

We discussed how each of us celebrated Diwali in our own special ways. Some said they went to someones house to celebrate, others said they went to the temple, some said they did fireworks, but everyone said they dressed up and ate lots of good food. So we told them the story about Diwali to help them understand what is Diwali all about---more than JUST festival of lights!!!!!

To re-emphasize their learning we showed a short video on Diwali, which they ALL enjoyed cause they were pin drop silent for that 5 minutes and very expressive and excited!!!!!! I am attaching the link below incase they want to watch it again.

Diwali Story--5 minute video

• We colored a picture of Ravana. 
• Had animal crackers and water for snack.
• We ended our class introducing them to the new Shloka (Sarve bhavantu..) and also did Purnamidam....

Shriya's parent is signed up for snack for next week!

Few reminders (repeat):

• Please take your child to the restroom before dropping them in the class.
• Please send crayons and folder with them every class.
• Please continue to send snack with your child, if they have allergies to avoid any situation.
• Please continue to recite Sholkas with them at home, they are doing an amazing job. It is a team work!!!!!!

Next class is on November 2nd---it is the Daylight Savings time end time!!!! Remember to turn your clocks an hour behind!!!!!

See you all Sunday!!!!!! Have a great rest of the week!!!!!!!

Amrutham class - October 19, 2014

Hari Om Parents,

It was really a fun class this Sunday. Most of the kids have opened up and were participating. We started our class with Invocation Shloka "Om Sahana vavatu and "Saraswati Namastubhayam"

After that Navayashri did a wonderful job by leading the class with very famous Ganesha Bhajan,
"Jai Ganesha Jai Ganesha Deva
Mata Jaki Parvati Pita Maha Deva"

All the kids and us teachers were repeating after her. That was very inspiring. Thank you Navyashri.

. We talked about Navaratri. Explained kids the meaning of Nav means "Nine" and Ratri means "Night" It was explained to them that we worship three differet Goddesses during nine nights. First  three days Goddess Durga, fourth to six days Goddess Laxmi and seven to nine days Goddess Saraswati.

Taught them Goddess Durga gives you strength, Laxmi gives you Peace and money (clothes to wear, food to eat etc.) and Saraswati gives you knowledge (writing, reading, music etc.) and told them the story about "Mahisasura" & "Ma Durga".

They also learned two different shlokas about Goddess Durga & Laxmi

 'Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Shakti Rupen Sansthita, Namastasye, Namastasye Namastasye, Namo Namah'

'Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Laxmi Rupen Sansthita, Namastasye, Namastasye Namastasye, Namo Namah'

After all these learning,  of course they were ready for snack and colouring. They coloured Ma Durga's picture & had snack. Our bathroom break was done right at the beginning of the class. We finished our class with ending prayer.

We have a request for parents that if it's not much of a trouble for you and kids both please bring them in traditional out fit because we are going to talk about Dushera and Diwali in the next class.

Amrutham Class Teachers

Amrutham class---Oct 12th

Hari Om Parents:

Our children enjoyed Pushpa's visit SO much that we invited her again. This time kids enjoyed her and the bhajan even more since they know some of the words. Continue to play the song to them; its a cute bhajan! Am attaching the link again:

Ganpati Bhajan

Here is how our class progressed:

• We chanted the opening prayer (Om Sarvavavatu....)
• Enjoyed singing and enacting the Ganpati bhajan
• Discussed Gandhi ji:
• Born in Porbandar, India
• We call him Bapu, Bapuji with love
• Freedom fighter and nonviolent
• Discussed and learned 5 names of Ganesha:
• Ekdantaa
• Vakratunda
• Gajanana
• Lambodara
• Ganpati
• Discussed the "LOOKS" of Ganesha:
• Big head--to think BIG
• Big ears--to listen MORE
• Small eyes---to FOCUS/concentrate
• Small mouth--to talk LESS
• Big belly--to DIGEST good and bad
• We chanted Ganesha shloka 5 times slowly so children can learn (Vakratunda mahakay.....)
• Chanted Saraswati shloka slowly 2 times (Saraswati namastubhyam.....)
• Snack break--had gold fish and juice
• We colored a picture of Gandhiji
• Chanted closing prayers (Om Purnamadah.....)

Few announcements for parents:

• Please send crayons with your children every week. 
• Each child needs a folder with their names written and keep their work in there.
• Please send a leak free water bottle with your child to avoid any messes.
• No more juices for the snack--at their age they are not able to finish it and we end up throwing it and again making another mess.

 Next Balavihar class is on Oct 19th!!!!!!

See you then!!!!!
Meena Arvind 

Amrutham class--Oct 5th!

Hari Om Parents,

Hope you are having a blessed morning!

Last week started off a bit rough. We enjoy the holidays but that sometimes messes up the little ones schedule and even their comfort level. But that didnt last very long. We had a special guest--Pushpa Narayan for a special bhajan! She mesmerized the children by her singing and acting capabilities. It was astounding to see how they were ALL singing along (word or two) with Pushpa and enjoying the bhajan. Here are the lyrics:


"Come o bulky stomach o Ganapathy

You are the son of Shiva - Parvathy

riding a rat O, bending a serpent O

you have the face of an elephant O

We offer you modaka payasa

you are steno of veda vyasa

please ensure us vigna vinasha

you are the guru of examination passa"

Here is the link if you want to play it to your children:

http://www.chinmayakids.org/hellogod/ganesh/ganesha_bhajans.asp

This was a REAL treat for our Pre-K class. We read a story about Ganesha "Boogie Woogie Ganesha" They were all engaged and thrilled listening to the story--not knowing what is going to happen next. 

We had snack (animal crackers and juice) and then formed in a small group for a stretch of yoga. They really enjoyed the new aspect of that class. We will continue to introduce yoga for 10 mins whenever we can.

Again, please continue to recite the shlokas to your little ones and lets work as a team working towards the same goal.

Next class is Oct 12th!!!! See you then!!!!

Amrutham class
Meena Arvind and Dhruti Trivedi