The month of January 2024 began with a visit to Sadhana School by five nuns from SouthEast Asia (from the Philippines and from Indonesia). The sisters were happy to observe the interventions and therapies offered by the school and to interact with the staff and the school. Souvenirs made by our students were given as momento.
17 students of the B.Ed. Special Education course conducted by the S.N.D.T. University also visited the school, as a part of the Teacher Training component of the course. They were provided a detailed orientation by Ms. Kashmira Vazifdar, Coordinator, Enhanced Intervention Centre, which was followed by observation and interaction in the classrooms. The students provided positive feedback about the school, mentioning that the physical environment of the school was excellent. As compared with other special schools they had visited, they felt Sadhana School offered a wider range of activities and therapies and provided a more systematic approach to learning. They appreciated the teacher-student ratio, the holistic approach to teaching and the facilities provided such as the Enhanced Intervention Centre, as well as the meaningful interaction between students and teachers. According to them, there were several things they learnt from Sadhana School which they would like to apply in their future professional life, including the use of visual aids, the clarity of instructions, the focus on skills training rather than just academics, and particularly the child-centred approach where the focus was on the child's level and the child's individual needs.
Another wonderful experience was the collaboration opportunity between students of Sadhana School and students of the DDGM Department of Sophia Polytechnic, at the Fashion Show "Tvashtar 2024", where students of the school walked the ramp as part of the show. The students of the VAC and WAH Departments curated the textiles and accessories, and the costumes were designed and custom made for each student. The collaboration with DDGM department has promoted inclusion and awareness about the abilities of special needs and disregards their disability.
The Sports Day held on 23rd January, "SPIRIT 2024", was an extraordinary day of celebration and unity, according to the Principal, Ms. Fionika Sanghvi. The sponsors for the event were the Inner Wheel Club of Bombay Bay view and the Rotary Club of Bombay Peninsula I. The Principal, Ms. Sanghvi warmly thanked Ms. Dipa Kapadia, President of the Inner Wheel Club, and Ms. Prita Shah, President of the Rotary Club, for their generous commitment to social responsibility. According to Ms. Sanghvi, the Sports Day represented a community that embraces diversity and champion’s inclusivity. Several other special schools, such as Mariposa, Sankalp Navy School, Hope Foundation and Different Strokes participated in the Sports Day. Ms. Sanghvi highlighted the fact that this collaboration was for creating an inclusive platform where abilities shine brighter than differences and where every participant embodies the strength, resilience and sheer determination that sports inspire. She stressed that the focus of the event was not on the medals won but on breaking barriers, fostering friendships and overcoming hurdles, thus recognizing that everyone is a champion.
The School celebrated Republic Day with project work, where the students were required to use the colours of the national flag to make a 3D item such as craft work, a clay object, a food item (including the recipe) etc. This project was a joint effort between the students and the parents/siblings. Project based homework saw better involvement of the families with the students and a better turnover of submission.
Thus the month of January 2024 ended on a celebratory note.