September 14, 2014

Hari Om

A very warm welcome to the first Sathyam Class of Balavihar 2014-15!

Beginning Prayers

We started off the class with Om chanting three times, followed by

Om Sahanavavathu

Vakra thunda

Saraswathi Namasthubyam

Stotram:

We went on to learn the first Guru Stotram.

akhaṇḍamaṇḍalākāraṁ vyāptaṁ yena carācaram

tatpadaṁ darśitaṁ yena tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ [1]

(Please see  'My Prayers' book)

Please have the kids practice this at home. We will continue learning Guru Stotram one new sloka at a time.

Introductions:

We went around the class introducing ourselves, and shared what we did over the summer. We had fun trying to recall the Ramayana characters, and stories that we already knew, and learning some new ones.

Activity:

We will be doing a folder on ‘Bala Ramayana’ to be filled with various arts and crafts on Ramayana stories, as we learn through each class. We colored ‘Ram Parivar’ today that will go on the front page of the folder.

Meditation/Japa:

We did 'Likhita Japa' today. We wrote the name of Lord Rama quietly, 11 times.

Conclusion:

We concluded the day with ‘Om Poornamadah’ Shanti Prayer.

Om Poornnam-Adah Poornnam-Idam Poornnaat-Poornnam-Udacyate

Poornnashya Poornnam-Aadaaya Poornnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||

Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

(Please see  'My Prayers' book)

Comments:

We had a great first Balavihar class this year. We had 9 lovely, enthusiastic and active friends that participated in classroom activities.  Most are returning students, and few are new.

Reminders:

Please send along the following items in your child’s bag:

Class Text Books/Workbook:
My Prayer Book

·        Ramayana Characters Children’s Workbook

·        Bala Ramayana Junior Balavihar

Supplies:

1. Crayons

2.  Sharpened Pencils

3.  Erasers

4.  Notebook

5.  Glue

6.  Age appropriate Child Proof Scissors

7.  A folder to keep their pictures/artwork

and a nut free Snack/Drink to have during the break

Next class is on September 21st, 2014.

We are looking forward to a fun and spiritual year with your child!

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Please review the following information pertaining to Sathyam Class:

Learning Goals:

Bala Ramayana: Goal for children is to easily learn Ramayana. Bala Ramayana tells us about the Lord of the Kosala Country, Sri Rama. This epic is divided into seven Kandas – Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kiskinda, Sundara, Yudha and Uttara.

Learn thru’ stories, crafts, shlokas and games.

Please note:

Please arrive on time to Balavihar. Assembly starts at 9:30am on Sundays and Classroom instruction starts at 10am.

Please have your breakfast before class, so you are alert and energetic.  Please bring in a nut free snack for the break.

Please bring in all your supplies and books and completed homework to each class.

Please let us the kids and also the teachers know which class the parent will be during the class.

Schedule to attend all of the scheduled classes.  If you are going to be absent, email or call teacher and inform in advance. (Possibly the week before).  Let us know, of any planned vacation or when you plan to be away due to any other commitment.