6/14/2015

Our last class of this Balavihar year.
We had an early assembly, where we had our Dear Swami Ji joining us and blessed us. There was a beautiful Graduation ceremony. About 8 12th graders graduated from balavihar this year and they were honored. Followed by all the teachers were felicitated. Then we had few presentations by Language classes, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Sanskrit. It was so nice to see all these programs and we then proceeded to our classes.

As usual, we started with OM chanting 3 times and followed by the slokas we learned this year- Gajananam, Saraswathy namasthubyam, Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu, Sivam Sivakaram and Sarva mangala. Each and every child did an awesome job by chanting and reciting all the slokas.
We are so proud of all of you, children!

We then had a potty break and then had a nice end of year party with chocolate chip cookies, juice and lolly pops!
The parents expressed their happiness and how they have started liking the balavihar as the year progressed. We are extremely thankful to everyone of them.

The children gave all of us warm good bye hugs before leaving. We concluded with the closing Prayers- Poornamadha poornamidham.

We hope to see our present Madhuram families to come back in fall and be a part of Balavihar in the coming year as well.

Take care. Have a great Summer.
Hari OM

Regards
Rajesh Ramamoorthy
Vidhya Aiyer

6/7/2015

On June 7th, the Kindergartners and the 8th graders did class presentations at the morning assembly. 

After which we got to our classes and started our regular routine with OM chant 3 times and then followed by Ganesa slokam, Saraswathy slokam and Guru slokam one after the other in a fast manner. Then we slowed down for the Siva and the Parvathy slokam. The 4 kids who were present that day, did a remarkable job by saying loud and clear and with enthusiasm.

We did some yoga and some fun physical activities- the jumping jack was real fun. We also learned the tree pose is called the vruksha pose. Tree is Vruksha in Sanskrit. 

We then got to our seat to color a beautiful Siva Parvathy image. The kids outsmarted each other in coloring. Good job children! proud of all of you!

A little walk stretch in the hallway for a potty break and got back with clean hands to much the yummy snacks, given by Sidhu. Thank you Sidhu.

Rajesh uncle, then shared an interesting story from the Mahabharatha. Dronacharya teaching the princes the archery, and about focusing the target- shoot an arrow/aim at the birds' eye. This was the base taken by the 8th graders and presented in a contemporary way!

At the end of the session, we concluded with the closing prayers- The shanthi mantra. Kids were given sticker rewards.

Next class on the 14th is our last Balavihar for this School year and we hope to see all of you and go into summer. The assembly starts at 9 AM that day and we request everyone to please come by 8.45 and take seats in the auditorium. There are a few programs lined up after which we get a few minutes in our class.

We hope all children will get back to Balavihar this fall- with the Madhuram (the sweetness) they have, they seem all set to enter the Amrutham. (the nectar)

Sweetness from this year to more sweetness of the nectar coming year, will make them happy and inclined towards building rapport with the mankind as Hinduism preaches.

Hari OM

Thank you.

Best Regards

Rajesh Ramamoorthy

Vidhya Aiyer

Madhuram teachers

5/31/2015

Today initially we had a thin presence of three kids and the other Pre-K class didn't have any teachers so we had a combined class. As we were starting we had the Amrutham teacher join  and as it progressed we had six kids from our class. 

We had a wonderful joint class with Amrutham kids. We started with chanting OM three times, followed by the new Ganapathy Slokam "Vakrathunda  maha kaya..." though it was new to our kids, they were able to repeat with us. Then we chanted "Gajananam.." Folllowed by that, we said "saraswathy namasthubyam..".  Once we prayed to Saraswathy, we did our Guru Slokam.

We took a bathroom break. Kids lined up nicely and went to the bathroom. 

Then We did a wonderful craft work of identifying and pasting various cut pictures of Lord SHIVA and Lord Ganesha along with Thrishul, Damru, Modhak, laddu and Mooshika.  A Big Thanks to Meena aunty of Amrutham class to bring in the craft work. The kids completed and spoke about both GODs, their various names. All kids were very enthusiastic about it and clearly mentioned the names and identified various aspects of the GODS.

The kids then had yummy snack. It was time and we chanted our concluding prayers. See you all next weekend June 7th.

Thank you. Hari OM.

Rajesh and Vidhya

Madhuram.

5/17/15

This week we went on our field trip to our Vrundavan Ashram in Cranbury, NJ. The ashram & temple was wonderful. We all felt @ home. Initially, the kids attended the local Balavihar classes for the first fifteen minutes where the kids were asked to do "Likitha Japa" of the sanskrit OM word. It was wonderful - a 3 with a tail, moon and a dot. We traced the activity. After which, we all assembled in the temple for Aarathi. It was such a nice atmosphere were the entire Balvihar families (from both) attended.

The assembly started with Meena aunty singing a bajan followed by Seema aunty announcing the Bhagavad Gita Preliminary winners. Muni uncle along with the finalists recited the entire 15th chapter. Congratulations to the finalists. After this, our kids performed on stage. The Kids did a marvelous job of reciting all FOUR slokams. It was so beautiful. A great round of applause to all the kids and the Parents for making this a success. Everyone loved it. Followed by us, the Amrutham class performed as well. It was so awesome. We had a good presence, seven kids and family.

After the assembly all kids below the 5th grade attended a class where the teachers lead by Pushpa aunty conducted various activities for all the kids. While the parents were involved in multiple Seva activities in the ashram and Meena aunty gave a tour of the ashram.

The sixth grade and above were giving a speech on the 14th sloka "Aham Vaishvanaro...", it was wonderful to watch the kids give a speech and you can see how much they have learnt as most of them I have seen like our class kids in Balvihar years before.

It all ended with a sumptuous lunch and ice cream. The final desert was really an icing on the cake as it was hot & humid that day.

Thanks for all. See you again in CORD walkathon on May 31st. We DO NOT have classes this weekend for Memorial Day. Have a wonderful long weekend.

Hari OM
Thank you.
Rajesh and Vidhya
Madhuram.

5/3/15

We had a little longer assembly with the 7th graders presenting the Chinmaya news letter and the interview with adults & kids on our Pujya Gurudev Chimayananda ji.

After the assembly, we got to our classes and Rajesh uncle led the class with OM chant and today the kids wanted to say the slokhas themselves. One by one said the Gajananam, Ganesha Slokha. We followed this with our Parvathi Slokam and we did Yoga for a short time.
Then we went back to learning Parvathi slokam. Kids one by one said Saraswathi and Guru slokam. We revised various names of Ganesha and kids remembered pretty much all the names of Ganesha. Since the kids are saying the slokam themselves, we are planning to have the kids say
these slokas in the stage in our Cranbury ashram. Parents, please practice all four [Ganesha, Saraswathi, Guru and Parvathi] at home.

Please refer to our blog if you need any help or drop me a line. Please practice atleast once a day.

A potty break followed by snacks (thanks to Siddharth) and we revised the Ekathantha story and Ganapathy story. After which we concluded with the closing verses.

Remember, we don't have class this coming weekend (Happy Mother's day). The following week May 17th is our field trip to our ashram in Cranbury.
Field Trip to Vrindavan Ashram (95 Cranbury Neck Road, Cranbury, NJ 08512) on May 17.

On May 17 2015, BBNJ Parents and Children will be going to Field Trip to Vrindavan Ashram directly (There will be no sessions @ Bridgewater school on that day.) Every one must attend the Trip.

It is a wonderful place and it would be an awesome experience for the kids to visit our own ashram, the place where we all can go back to.

Reminders- a water bottle (weather getting better, so please do not miss bringing in water bottles)
-a Box of crayons and
-a hand sanitizer.

IMPORTANT- There is no class on May 10th and May 16th is the Baghavad Gita Preliminary competition in our High school.
The next class is on coming Sunday May 17th in Cranbury ashram. Please try to reach there by 9:30 AM.

Hari OM

Thank you.

Rajesh and Vidhya

Madhuram

4/26/15

We had a little longer assembly with the 9th graders presenting the values of Bhagavad Gita through Harry Potter. Our little ones even remembered Harry Potter from the assembly.

After the assembly, we got to our classes and Rajesh uncle led the class with OM chant and later with our Ganesha slokam along with revising various names of Ganesha. Kids remembered pretty much all the names of Ganesha. We followed that with Saraswathy slokam and Guru slokam.
By now, the kids individually knows all the three slokhams and they recited one by one individually. We did yoga to get some energy and kids participated enthusiastically. With gaining energy, we prayed to Parvathy mata with the "sarva mangala" slokham. Now kids can say this slokam together.  Along with the parents we discussed how the kids can now say the three slokams for Ganesha, Saraswathy and Guru and that they should make it a point to say atleast once a day.

A potty break followed by snacks (thanks to Suhani) and we revised the Ekathantha story, our class's favorite one. Now, kids participated and tried telling the story from what they remember. Next week, we asked the kids to share their favorite story that they heard in the class or any other God story that they like. After which we concluded with the closing verses.

Reminders- a water bottle (weather getting better, so please do not miss bringing in water bottles)
-a Box of crayons and
-a hand sanitizer.

IMPORTANT- The next class is on coming Sunday May 3rd.

Thank you.
Hari OM.

Rajesh and Vidhya
Madhuram

4/19/15

The past Balavihar session on the 19th saw Swamini Ji Vimalananda Mata's arrival to our center. After a brief bhajan session which opened the assembly, Swamini JI Mata took over and addressed the gathering. We had cute stories told by Her to children and adults and a simple, alert, action bhajan- which we all loved doing, singing and playing.

After which all students were dispersed to their respective classes and Parents remained seated in the assembly, were Swamini JI Mata addressed them about "The art of parenting".

Our class by itself a Mom-child one, so at least one parent could able to listen to Mata Ji's talks, while the other was in the class. We started with our opening "OM" chanting 3 times, followed by Gajananam slokam. Since we had a long assembly, we could do only the Ganesa slokam and then with the potty break and to the snacks. By then, the time was up to conclude and we did by the closing verses.

On 4/25, we have "On a  quest"  movie premier and launch at 2PM and shows following at 2.30 PM and 4.30 PM at the AMC Morristown. This is our BBNJ Balavihar center's field trip and we kindly request all parents to book tickets and please do attend the movie day.

The next balavihar session is on 4/26.

Please be reminded in bringing a box of crayons, water bottle and a hand sanitizer.

Thank you. Hari OM

Rajesh and Vidhya

Madhuram.