Author: Kavita Sahay

5 Ways to Create a Positive Work Environment

Posted on by Kavita Sahay

A Happy Workplace is a Healthy Workplace

It is said that one’s workplace is one’s second home. Nowadays, it has become the first home for many employees around the world. In this changing scenario, making your workplace environment a happy and healthy one is very important. Apart from comfortable cabins and workstations with all the requisite amenities, there are other aspects too to consider. Here are 5 ways in which you can make your workplace an oasis of harmony, purposefulness and fulfillment.

Meet and Greet your Team

Respect your colleagues on a personal as well as professional front. Have meaningful conversations with them. Ask them what they think about topics related to work and if you are in a managerial position, provide a feeling that everyone matters. Most of all, smile. A smile can brighten up the dreariest and most stressful of days. So, smile from your heart and see how the positive vibes that you emanate uplift others’ moods too.

Praise and Recognition

Show that you care by complimenting your colleagues – for meeting deadlines, completing tasks, for making things easier for you, for helping out. At times even small compliments about attire and outlook can make a big difference. As a team leader, give credit where it is due. Look out for reasons to confer honours and awards for specific projects executed and implemented well – an ‘Employee of the Month’ citation, or a token of appreciation, or a flower/chocolate/cake or complimentary tickets and coupons.

Trust and Ownership

Communicate matters to the entire team verbally or through emails. Transparency can reduce needless confusion and negativity. Additionally, it can also act as a barrier to the gossip mills running overtime in most organisations where secrecy is the norm. If you are the boss, refrain from micro management. This will make the employees feel more confident. Empower your employees by entrusting them with responsibilities. Giving a sense of ownership can boost their productivity and commitment.

Practise the Pause

Mindfulness is the new mantra. Take time out of your busy schedule during working days to pause for a few minutes every day and reflect and introspect, or just connect with yourself. Make it a regular habit to set a 3 to 5 minute ‘Me’ time for yourself at least twice in your regular workday routine. These precious minutes can be spent on meditating or just doing some breathing exercises. Be mindful about oneself. Follow this routine diligently.

Clutter Free is Stress Free

A messy desk or cabin with files and papers and stationery spread all around looks unpleasant and generates a feeling of discomfort. On the contrary, a spic and span office gives a powerful message of positivity and productivity. If you are going to spend the better part of your day at work, then a clean, organised and inviting environment will create a good impression on colleagues, bosses, team members, clients and guests. Get rid of all the clutter periodically, decorate your desk artistically (not flashily) and use subtle natural air fresheners for a ‘feel good’ effect.

Work matters. Let us make our workplace matter.

Ways to Reduce the Smartphone Addiction among Children

Posted on by Kavita Sahay

It is time we realise how invasive technology has become in our personal lives and how it is affecting our children’s interactive skills and emotional intelligence. Nowadays, because of spending more and more time on their smartphones, many children have become less productive; face to face playtime has diminished and a distinct lack of empathy is being perceived among them.

If you, as a parent, have been worried, then these 5 helpful tips will work wonders for you:

  1. Schedule a Special Bonding Time
    Spend time actively with your children. Go walking, swimming, horse riding with them. Read books together, watch TV, play sports and games, sing, dance, enroll for hobby classes, go to parks, movie theatres and beaches, do community service, pray and meditate. This will strengthen the parent child bond. Just remember not to overdo it. Give them their breathing space, independence and time with friends too.
  2. Be friendly, relaxed and approachable
    Modern life has its fair share of stress and you may not always be in the frame of mind to speak to your children or listen to them. Do what will help you relax and unwind – it may be a rejuvenating shower, exercise or having your favourite cup of tea or doing what you enjoy. After that, give your child the pleasure of your company, minus the smartphones.
  3. Follow Steve Jobs’ Rule
    Steve Jobs, who introduced the iPad wouldn’t let his children use one. His now famous words should become your mantra: ‘We limit how much technology our kids use in the home.’ Observe how long your children are on their phones and negotiate curfew times for their use. Reduce the time to less than an hour in a day. And, it would certainly be more effective if you too follow this rule.
  4. Encourage Children to Interact more with People
    Have a ‘No Mobile Policy’ when you have extended family members, friends, guests and other visitors at your home. When your children’s friends are visiting, ensure that smartphones are kept aside. A similar policy should be in place when your children accompany you to other’s homes and for social engagements. Avoid using mobiles during meal times and at parties.
  5. Limit Internet Access and Deactivate Accounts
    One of the best things you could do is to limit access to the net and mobile apps. Let there be a cap on the use of the wifi and other services. Study time and other crucial days such as at the time of exams should see a firm control on the use of smartphones and deactivation of some services would be really beneficial.

Remember, ‘behind every successful student there are some deactivated social media accounts’.

And the Winner is….

Posted on by Kavita Sahay

The outstanding performances of the VIBGYOR students reflected in the recently declared CISCE and CAIE Board Exam Results are certainly a cause for rejoicing and celebration.

They are a testimony to the stupendous hardwork and diligence of our students and the academic and support staff as well as the continuous efforts of the other stake holders — the parents and the management. It is a pleasure to know that students are being nurtured in a caring environment which facilitates them to aim for the highest academic achievements.

However, we, at the VIBGYOR Group of Schools, have always looked at our endeavours with an all encompassing vision. Education goes beyond academics and marks and grades and rankings. For us, all students are winners as they are on a lifelong journey of learning. Many children have their own unique talent whether in the arts or sports or entertainment or a vocational subject. Some children are sensitive and sensible and humane. A few display both talent and humanity. Our schools respect and appreciate each and every student who enters our portals. So, at VIBGYOR, each child is important. While all achievements are valued, they are not the be all and end all of education. We sincerely believe in the concept of education beyond the expectation of achievements. It is more about the fulfillment of one’s singular purpose in life. And that is gaining excellence in whichever sphere you choose for yourself. It may be as simple a purpose as being happy.

For me a smile on the face of a student makes my day. As an educationist I have always encouraged my students and my teachers:

To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.

These heartfelt words by the poet William Blake resonate so much with me and are a part of my philosophy of life. This is what we, at VIBGYOR, have worked steadfastly and tirelessly to inculcate in our school culture.

With that, I wish all the students around the globe a blissful, blessed and insightful academic year full of self discovery and the joy of learning and evolving, and gaining a better understanding of the world. Also, a shout out to all the teachers who are striving relentlessly to brighten up their students’ lives.

Making a Difference!

Posted on by Kavita Sahay

Plastic has almost been declared the No. 1 enemy of Planet Earth. Plastic bags and bottles are on the endangered list of commodities in India with Maharashtra set to enforce a ban on certain types of plastic following the example of 17 other states. Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle have been watchwords from decades. However, now they have gained more significance, especially in the light of the recent developments.

The ominous news that more than 200 cities all over the globe are facing acute water crisis and 10 cities may, in the near future, run out of water is indeed an eye opener. Bengaluru too is on the list and that surely is alarming for people living in our garden city. People in Cape Town, South Africa, are bracing themselves for Day Zero – when there will be absolutely no water in their city. There are many such horrifying scenarios being awaited elsewhere too.

Nevertheless, there is also a growing understanding and mindfulness pervading many places. There are remedies being sought and viable solutions are emerging. Water management strategies are being devised: rainwater harvesting, the way in which crops are being selected for cultivation, planting vertical gardens, harnessing the ocean’s water through desalination are now among the many options being explored, among other environmental efforts.

Some days back, my heart leapt up in delight when I found out about the return of the Olive Ridley turtles to Versova Beach in Mumbai after a hiatus of 20 years. This is a victory for the beach cleanup efforts of Mr Afroz Shah and his dedicated group of volunteers. The VIBGYOR Group of Schools is proud of our association with this stupendous humanitarian and environmentally friendly work.

There are many crucial sustainability initiatives that all our VIBGYOR schools are promoting. The foremost among them is the banning plastic initiative and the water conservation initiative. Our schools are promoting environmental consciousness and spreading awareness among the students about these socially relevant topics and year long plans have been drawn up and implemented.

Let us all begin in our own small ways to save our beloved Earth.

Let Us Build Bridges

Posted on by Kavita Sahay

As an educationist any aspect of change in the teacher student relationship impacts me deeply and leads me to introspect and reflect on my role in modern day India. We have long been proud of our traditional methods of education and such hallowed relationships like the one between the teacher and the learner (the guru and the shishya) have been seen as sacrosanct.

Recently there have been many instances which portray this beautiful relationship in a new light – not always positive. Are these rare incidences or do they symbolise the deep chasm that seems to have developed between the tutor and the taught and are they a sign of the times? This has struck at the very basic root of the educational system in India and has created unease and led to soul searching. Indeed it is a wakeup call. If only we could open our eyes, look with compassion and listen with our hearts.

More than that, we have to lend our ears to the pleas of the teaching fraternity toiling under great duress and struggling to enlighten the minds of the future citizens of our nation. Education should be the one area of constant revision, change and improvement for any country which seeks to establish itself as a world power. Revolutionary progress is much needed at all levels of our education system. A complete overhauling of the system and a more open minded approach to teaching and learning should be our clarion call.

Much needs to be done. A constructive and effective dialogue has to be set up between the teachers, the parents and the students. The channels of communication and facilitation should be opened and widened so as to allow for more awareness and understanding. Parents and teachers both have a great impact on the psyche of a young child. If the home environment is conducive and children are encouraged to respect their teachers, then the school too will become a place of illumination and learning. Creating an optimistic feeling towards school and teachers will only help parents to enable their children to establish strong bonds with their alma mater and their teachers. Similarly, school staff too needs to be sensitised to the pressures faced by parents and children today and be facilitated to handle them with sensitivity and sensibility. This will lead to mutual respect and acceptance and further strengthening of the teacher student symbiotic relationship.

Let us begin this noble task. Let us build bridges. Let us make platforms that will enable our future citizens to fly high.

New Hopes for the New Year 2018

Posted on by Kavita Sahay

With awards galore, the excellent results in each and every VIBGYOR school, the local, city, state and national level achievements of our young learners and the success of Viva 9, our inter school and college Sports and Cultural Fest, in 2017, the cup of life is full.

Having bid adieu to 2017 with a heart full of gratitude, I look forward to 2018 with a sense of renewed hopes and a firm focus on what lies ahead. It is certainly a pleasing thought that the next VHMUN (VIBGYOR High Model United Nations) is going to be held in Bengaluru. After 7 remarkable years, this premier event, which was earlier based in Mumbai, is now going to be the highlight of 2018 down south in the garden city of India. Much has to be imbibed by our team in Bengaluru which is in charge of organising the conference. Certainly a time of immense change and an opportunity for avid MUNers there to participate in one of the most prestigious and much awaited MUNs in the country.

Meanwhile, the flagship school of the new VIBGYOR Roots and Rise chain of niche schools offering the CBSE curriculum became functional in the academic year beginning in 2017. Situated in Malad, the school has received a very good response from parents. I am overwhelmed. Our newest VIBGYOR High in Kharghar too has created waves and has become the most preferred school in the area in its very first year. I look forward to it becoming an established entity.

The VIBGYOR Group has always been in the forefront of innovation in the educational sphere, a leading chain of schools, spread over 4 states in India, spearheading the needful overhauling required in the world today and specifically our nation. Our new initiatives are being implemented and quite a few changes are on the anvil.

With these uplifting thoughts propelling me to work towards the enhancement of the students’ academic and overall welfare, I wish all my readers a very Happy New Year 2018…!