Gurukul Parents Meeting

1
Gurukul Parents Meeting

• February 12, 2006

2
Agenda

• Introduction
• Gurukul Directory/Forum
• Teaching Hindi
• Cultural Education
• Events Management
• Q/A and Sign up

3
Why Gurukul?

• Teach Hindi and Indian Culture
• Provide a platform for our children
• Create a community network for parents

4
Gurukul Facts

• Started in 1998 with 5 students with one
  volunteer
• Today
• 6 Levels
• Number of students 206
• Number of classes 13
• Number of Teachers 25
• Number of volunteers 45

5
Gurukul Structure
Board of Directors
Cabinet
Benefits
Teachers
Parents
Our Children
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Gurukul Cabinet

• Board of Directors
• President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Hindi Language Chairperson
• Cultural Education Chairperson
• Event Management Chairperson
• Operations Chairperson
• Parent Liaison Officer
• Librarian

7
Gurukul Committees

• Hindi Language
• Revise syllabus, update lesson plans, select
  books/material
• Help teachers with tips/techniques/feedback
• Cultural Education
• Syllabus and lesson plans for Beg/Inter/Adv
• Demonstrations and creating New Topics
• Help teachers with tips/techniques/feedback
• Event Management
• Organize an Event
• Diwali, Annual Day, Holi/Picnic, Camp
• Administration
• Website development
• Registration
• Daily operations

8
Meeting Today

• Parents engagement
• Community of Gurukul Families
• Gurukul Directory
• Parents Forums
• Feedback and improvement of Gurukul
• Volunteer Opportunities and Sign ups

9
Directory and ForumSalil Dave
10
Directory

• Why?
• Car-pool find other Gurukul families in your
  neighborhood
• Just get to know each other better
• Information to form a community social network
• Invite classmates for Birthdays and play-dates

• What?
• Opt-in model OR Opt-out model
• Family pages
• Content
• Contact Information
• Address, Phone, Email
• Names / School / Grades
• Languages spoken
• State / Town in India
• Volunteering interests
• Other Interests
• Skills (professional/arts)

11
Forums

• Why?
• Place to hang out while kids are in classes
• Exchange ideas on parenting and other topics of
  general interest
• Discuss Gurukul topics via Email List

• What?
• Parents Chai Lounge
• Parents Talks
• Mailing List

12
Teaching HindiNidhi Oberoi
13
Teaching Hindi

• One of the main missions of Gurukul
• Always need more teachers
• All that is required is commitment
• Teacher training and support
• Peer group to help
• You could make a difference!

14
Opportunities

• Teachers
• Committed to teach Hindi for the school year
• Planning
• Revise syllabus/lesson plans
• Help with research and preparing material
• Implement new idea/techniques for teaching
  effectively
• Volunteer in classrooms
• Extra help for the students in class rooms

15
ContactsTeaching Hindi

• Praful Kacholia kacholia_at_hotmail.com
• Raj Jhanwar rajj_at_microsoft.com

16
Cultural EducationRajinder Kaul
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Cultural Education

• Socio-Cultural heritage
• Festivals
• Family structure, values
• Cultural, religious icons
• History
• Hindu Period
• Muslim British rule
• Modern India
• Geography
• Indian people
• Land, Rivers, Mountains
• Cities, National parks

• Mission
• Impart socio-cultural knowledge about life in
  India
• Increase awareness about history and geography of
  India
• Make children proud of Indian Heritage

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Opportunities

• Demonstrate for Gurukul
• Musical instrument, Indian classical and folk
  dances
• Regional Showcases
• Craft work for young children
• Padhaku types and tell good stories
• Share your knowledge with Gurukul
• Prepare/revise lesson materials related to India
• Create new topics
• Photography/Video buff
• Share videos, pictures, and experience with
  children
• Have a critical eye
• Review what we do
• Dont like? Be the cause for change

19
Contacts Cultural Education

• Rajinder Kaul (rk.kaul_at_verizon.net)
• Advanced
• Archana Verma (archana_suren_at_hotmail.com)
• Intermediate
• Kavita Sharma (ka_sharma_at_hotmail.com)
• Beginner
• Ira Rastogi (ira_rastogi_at_hotmail.com)

20
Events ManagementOm Maniyar
21
Events Management

• Mission Organize Fun and Enjoyable Events
• Plan, arrange and execute
• Diwali
• Annual Day
• Picnic/Holi
• Create new events
• Day Camp
• Sports Camp
• Field trips

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Anatomy of an Event
Volunteers
23
Opportunities
Many more roles exist.
24
ContactsEvents Management

• Om Maniyar omprakashmaniyar_at_hotmail.com
• Kavita Jhanwar
  kavitajh_at_hotmail.com

25
Success Factors

• Regular Attendance
• Better Knowledge Retention
• More Self-confidence
• Form Social group/friend circle
• Parent involvement
• Encourage children to speak in Hindi with you
• Show your deep interest
• Create situation to showcase what they have
  learned
• Spend time to review material at home
• Help children complete homework

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How can you help?

• Volunteers
• Need Few Good Teachers
• Sign up to volunteer
• Participate in Committees and Management
• Engage with children
• Talk to them in Hindi as much as possible
• Ask them about what they have learnt today
• Review the class material
• Help with homework
• Bring children every Sunday on time
• Play the Hindi songs CD in car to/from class
• Show your commitment
• Constructive Feedback
• What do children like the most?
• How else Gurukul be more effective?

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Q/A and Sign ups
28
Appendix

• The Gurukul Community Model
• Parent Engagement Model

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Community

• Purpose The Heart of Our Community
• Places Bringing People Together
• Profiles Getting to Know Each Other
• Roles From Newcomer to Old-Timer
• Leadership The Buck Stops Here
• Etiquette Rules to Live By
• Events Meetings, Performances Competitions
• Rituals Handshakes, Holidays Rites of Passage 
• Subgroups Committees, Clubs Clans

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Purpose

• Today
• Hindi
• Indian culture overview
• Children-centric
• Indian community

• Potential
• More Indian languages
• Indian culture in-depth
• Family-centric
• Broader community

31
Places

• Today
• Childrens classrooms
• Library

• Potential
• Parents Lounge
• Field trips
• Outdoor activities

32
Profiles

• Today
• None

• Potential
• Student Family Profiles
• Online
• Hard-copy
• Year-book
• Opt-in model

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Roles

• Today
• 33 volunteers (2-6 hrs/wk)
• Basic day-to-day tracks
• Administration
• Hindi Teaching
• Culture
• Events

• Potential
• Broader participation
• Development
• Teachers Training
• Media / content creation
• Arts, Music Dance
• Alliances with other organizations
• Outreach to local public schools

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Leadership

• Today
• Individual initiative
• Small group

• Potential
• Organization structure
• Broader base

35
Etiquette

• Today
• Volunteer-only org
• Low-profile
• Minimal expectations from parents

• Potential
• Professional services as needed
• Active parent participation

36
Events

• Today
• Annual Day

• Potential
• Student Summer Camp
• Family Camps
• Competitions

37
Rituals

• Today
• Community Holidays
• Diwali
• Holi
• Annual Day
• Staff Appreciation

• Potential
• Student Graduation
• New Family Welcome
• Honor Distinguished Visitors

38
Subgroups

• Today
• None

• Potential
• Parents Forums
• Interest Groups

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How can I get involved?

• Tracks
• Administration / Operations
• Language Education
• Culture Education
• Events Management

40
Administration / Operations

• Opportunities
• ltRaj-ji to detail outgt

41
Language Education

• Opportunities
• ltPraful-ji to detail outgt

42
Culture Education

• Opportunities
• ltRajinder-ji to detail outgt

43
Event Management

• Opportunities
• ltOm-ji to detail outgt

44
Gurukul Parents Liaison

• Ideas for connecting with Gurukul parents

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Objectives

• Parents as customers make sure we keep a
  healthy and vibrant relationship with them
• Outbound communication
• Inbound feedback
• Parents as a community
• Provide them a forum to interact among themselves
• Give them opportunities to form interest groups
• Parents as resources
• Understand their talents and interests
• Enhance their commitment
• Encourage them to participate and support
• Provide them the right opportunities

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Framework

• Strengths Knowledge, skill, talent, experience,
  relationships, assets, resources
• Interests Willingness and energy to pursue
  something the parent likes to do or wants to do
• Opportunities Teaching, Culture, Admin, Events,
  Content, Outreach

Strengths
Interests
Opportunities
47
Examples
I can speak Tamil fluently and am very keen to
lead a group for learning it.
I have an MA in Sanskrit from Benares Hindu
University
Strengths
Interests
I have a Masters in Indian History but I am too
busy to be a regular volunteer
We love listening to Indian classical music if
only there was a way for our family to learn it
at Gurukul.
I love teaching kids and I am fluent in Hindi
I have a deep interest in teaching Indian
culture, but do not have the deep knowledge
needed.
Opportunities
Gurukul needs a professional trainer to develop
our teachers skills
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Approaches
Strengths
Interests

• A Map parents to roles
• B Provide career track
• C Motivate
• D Outsource
• E Gurukul expansion areas Enable community
  teams
• F Collaborate with other orgs
• G Recognize

E
F
G
A
B
C
D
Opportunities
49
A Role Mapping
Strengths
Interests
A Map parents to roles B Provide career
track C Motivate D Outsource E Gurukul
expansion areas Enable community teams F
Collaborate with other orgs G Recognize
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
Opportunities
I love teaching kids and I am fluent in Hindi

• Announce program in parents meeting
• Profile parents to identify areas of strengths
  and interests
• Publish openings on Gurukul site
• Provide a way for parents to sign up

50
B Career Track
Strengths
Interests
A Map parents to roles B Provide career
track C Motivate D Outsource E Gurukul
expansion areas Enable community teams F
Collaborate with other orgs G Recognize
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
Opportunities
I have a deep interest in teaching Indian
culture, but do not have the deep knowledge
needed.

• Build a career track in four areas
• Language Teaching (Hindi, )
• Culture Teaching
• Administration
• Community Outreach (Events and Liaison)
• Form teams of parents that get guidance from
  Gurukul

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C Motivation
Strengths
Interests
A Map parents to roles B Provide career
track C Motivate D Outsource E Gurukul
expansion areas Enable community teams F
Collaborate with other orgs G Recognize
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
Opportunities
I have a Masters in Indian History but I am too
busy to be a regular volunteer

• Create expert positions / advisory group
• Invite them to give talks to teachers and
  volunteers
• Request them to review and guide
• Involve them in their childs class
• Recognize them e.g., let teachers and
  volunteers know about them

52
D Outsourcing
Strengths
Interests
A Map parents to roles B Provide career
track C Motivate D Outsource E Gurukul
expansion areas Enable community teams F
Collaborate with other orgs G Recognize
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
Opportunities
Gurukul needs a professional trainer to develop
our teachers skills

• Hire external experts and agencies
• Create a long-term plan to build skills and
  develop interests in staff and volunteers in such
  areas
• Leverage parents social network to identify
  people in larger community with these skills

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E Expansion Community
Strengths
Interests
A Map parents to roles B Provide career
track C Motivate D Outsource E Gurukul
expansion areas Enable community teams F
Collaborate with other orgs G Recognize
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
Opportunities
I can speak Tamil fluently and am very keen to
lead a group for learning it.

• Create parents forums around areas of high
  interest
• Assess interests of students in these areas
• Enrich Gurukul curriculum in these areas
• Expand Gurukul offerings

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F Collaborate
Strengths
Interests
A Map parents to roles B Provide career
track C Motivate D Outsource E Gurukul
expansion areas Enable community teams F
Collaborate with other orgs G Recognize
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
Opportunities
We love listening to Indian classical music if
only there was a way for our family to learn it
at Gurukul.

• Partner with other organizations that would
  provide complementary offerings and services.

55
G Recognize
Strengths
Interests
A Map parents to roles B Provide career
track C Motivate D Outsource E Gurukul
expansion areas Enable community teams F
Collaborate with other orgs G Recognize
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
Opportunities
I have an MA in Sanskrit from Benares Hindu
University

• Recognize the parents as appropriate

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Administrative Track

• Presenter - Raj Jhanwar
• Rajesh BOARD/Cabinet/Strategy regular meeting
  and f/u on AI, annual/quarterly plans, success
  measurement/performance tracking,
• Praful Legal/Financial managing accounts
  money etc, paying bills managing books etc,
  file annual tax return IRS, renew regn with
  state, managing getting legal advise on things
  such as liability etc. insurance renewal,
• Salil Parent Liaison organize parent meetings,
  parent directory or gurukul directory, parent
  forums/engagement discussions,
• Partner management Raj
• Operations Sachin registration and fees
  collection, facility management, website
  management, Materials carts bringing
  everyday, Pushpa Library Management, Teaching
  Supplies, managing staffing for day to day i.e.
  backfill for absent teachers etc. etc.

57
Events Track

• Om Maniyar
• Planning owner tbd location, calendar, food,
  schedule of events agenda or action plan, list
  of volunteers how may do you need and what
  categories, recruiting , role and
  responsibilites, briefing volunteers voluntter
  meeting, f/u with volunteers on day of meeting,
• EXECUTION owner tbd Volunteer followup,
  emergency contact, Fallback plan, checklist of
  materials and things to do/happen, cleanup crew,
  making sure that the volunteers are there.
  Schedule management.
• Specific event owners
• Annual day - Sumedha Kukreja
• Diwali ???? 2006
• Holi picnic Ravi Chhabra
• Gurukul camp

58
Language Track

• Praful Kacholia
• Syllabus/curriculum planning revision, feedback
  from teachers, decide the books and materials,
  owner agastya (alpana/nidhi)
• Content procuring books, photocopying
  materials, packet of material per class,
  delivering material to teachers, in advance,
  reviewing this material . owner kavita
• Teacher training how to use material, teaching
  tips, share best practives owner nidhi / renu
• Teachers review material, prepare for class,
  deliver classes, lesson plan prep, meeting with
  trainers, calendar planning leason plan for
  year. Parent comm., student eval, - owner praful

59
Culture Track

• Rajinder Kaul
• Syllabus
• Owner beginner Ira Rastogi
• Inter Kavita Sharma
• Adv Archna Verma
• Owner ashutosh tiwari Content stress on AV
  media
• Integration with overall system
• Parent participation in culture teaching
• Meeting on Jan 8th kick off for this
• Agenda for meeting on Feb 12th
• parent engagement discussion
• parent directory family directory
• parent discussion forum