November 2009 Newsletter

Newsletter - November 2009

Message From The Director by Visvambhara das I am pleased to present the inaugural issue of the Bhaktivedanta Academy newsletter for the 2009-2010 school year. By the grace of the Lord we saw all of the fundraising efforts of the prior school year come to fruition when we opened up our new Audarya Bhavan classroom to students on August 24th. This new classroom space is a significant improvement: a cramped dark space has been transformed into a spacious and vibrant learning environment. As a bonus, this new building gave us the facility to establish a multi-use room that is being well utilized for reading instruction, meetings, and other uses. Thank you to everyone who stepped forward to ensure that the new Audarya Bhavan classroom was ready to receive students on the first day of school. This project is a testament to what can be achieved when we work together to achieve a worthwhile goal. I want to take an opportunity to welcome the new additions to the Bhaktivedanta Academy community this year: Janaki, Radha, and Divya – daughters of Rakesh and Pooja Jishnu – son of Gaura Shakti and Krishna Dhama Nimai Sundar – son of Jaya Gaurasundara and Gopi Paranadhana Nityananda Ram - son of Mahakirti and Jvalamukhi Nityanavina and Navakishore – sons of Bhagavan and Ananga Manjari Penny - daughter of Paul and Sabrina Rai Kisori – daughter of Ishvara Puri and Kamala Sarva Mangala – daughter of Kulavira and Adi Gopi Shyamananda – son of Pundarika Vidyanidhi and Indrani Surya – daughter of Rama and Phisima We are seeing many families making the move to Alachua from far and wide to give their children the opportunity to have a unique educational experience; one that fosters both spiritual and intellectual growth. We are taking some steps this year to continue to bring parents and the school together via the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization). The Bhaktivedanta Academy board of directors recently voted to establish the PTO as an official committee. Padmaksi and Sabrina have graciously agreed to lead the group and have been hard at work on several initiatives. Their dedication and commitment to the growth of the school have been an inspiration. Be on the look out for an invitation to the next PTO meeting and for other announcements relating to school development projects you can be a part of. Thank you for your continued support and trust. I am looking forward to another productive year working together to continue to develop Bhaktivedanta Academy into an unequalled educational institution that Srila Prabhupada would be proud of. Your servant, Visvambhara das Director Bhakti Bhavan - Pre-K/Kindergarten by Vrindavanesvari dasi The start of the school year ushered in a time of new beginnings for all of the children in Bhakti Bhavan. Bhakti Bhavan students playing together as a group. We spent the month of September forming many new friendships and routines, and learning how to function both as individuals and as a group. We spent a lot of time focusing on lessons of Grace and Courtesy. Serving the young child’s need for orientation or order, we gave many demonstrations and lessons and role-played what to do in many scenarios. From our three-year-olds to our six-year-olds, all our students learned very practically how to walk in the classroom (slowly), how to talk (softly), how to accept something graciously (yes, please), how to refuse something (no, thank you), how to have a proper lesson, how to put their work away, how to clean up spills, how to care for the pets and plants in our classroom, how to independently take their snack, how to take care of our classroom Deities, how to set up for lunch, and even how to resolve conflicts if and when they arise. Harini and Chandramukhi dress the class deities. Such lessons go a long way towards building the foundations of a positive and harmonious classroom society filled with confident, independent children (and an adult or two or three). Amidst all these specific rules and guidelines, we also let the children know that, really, we only have two main rules: take care of/respect all of the living things in our classroom (students, teachers, pets) and take care of all of the non-living things in our environment (which covers about everything else). Children from the age range of 3-6 are experiencing a developmental period in which they are particularly sensitive to acquiring these manners and etiquette and our hope is to take advantage of this time to equip them with lifelong skills befitting Vaisnava ladies and gentlemen. Nataka-candrika presenting devotional flannel board stories. Some highlights of our first couple months of school: learning about the Govardhana Puja pastime, seeing many beautiful flannel-board stories depicting devotional tales told and presented by Nataka-candrika, and learning and putting on a play at the temple, “The Brahmana’s Wives.” This featured our whole class enacting this lila as well as collectively singing a song about this story. The line repeated three times at the end of the song: ‘Krsna is our life and soul’ sung by the children with their eyes closed, hands on their hearts, swaying gently back and forth struck me as the real essence of our philosophy, readily realized by young children who are so connected to the Lord in their hearts. The month of Karttika was observed in our class daily with Damodarastakam prayers sung and candles offered to our Lords Jagannatha, Baladeva and Lady Subhadra. Students dressed as their favorite devotional characters. Our annual Harvest Festival fair at school was another highlight with teachers and staff dressing up as devotional personalities of their choosing. We had many Radhas, Krsnas, and gopis as well as a devotee dragon. The children spent the afternoon outside happily engaged in face painting, arts and crafts, cookie decorating, and an ox cart ride around the cow pasture. These are a few of the special events that have marked the first quarter of school, and there aremany more to come! Audarya Bhavan - Grade 1-3 by Satyaki dasi Vishnu shows off his talents. The first quarter of the school year was filled with new experiences in the Audarya Bhavan classroom. Talent Show Thursdays were a chance for all the students in our class to share their many talents. We had magicians, singers, dancers, and actors. We learned what it means to be a courteous audience and an effective performer. A good time was had by all. Mahavishnupriya discusses Hawaiian culture. We explored the Hawaiian culture by learning Hawaiian songs and stories. Mahavishnupriya, who is of Hawaiian heritage, visited our class. She told us of her experiences while growing up in Honolulu. She shared the history of hula and many Hawaiian family traditions. We hope to have her back again. Audarya Bhavan class deities. Daily we worship our Deities with songs and service but in September we had a special day of worship. The children brought in fruits and vegetables for the Lord’s pleasure. Our altar was decorated with fragrant flowers and colorful pictures. Offering this service made all our hearts happy. Bhakti Vasudeva Swami distributes cookies. We were honored with a visit from His Holiness Bhakti Vasudeva Swami. He told stories about Krishna and about his life as a preacher. Lali joined the Tooth Fairy Club and we celebrated Radhe’s 7th birthday with a birthday walk and homemade fudge. We also held our annual Star Gazing /Sleepover Night. The evening events started with a potluck dinner followed by Moon Dancing and a chance to view the night sky with friends. The first 9 weeks of school turned out to be very eventful in our classroom. Madhurya Bhavan - Grade 4-6 by Krishna Priya dasi Oh no! I knew this would happen! I knew it! You must not have put in the credit card number soon enough because I checked my Reserve America account and it didn't go through! We don't have the reservation! What should I do? Awaiting further orders, Bali Krishna Priya and students canoeing on the water. A week before our planned overnight field trip, I received the above e-mail from my student Balarama das, who had heard that the trip was cancelled. The rumor was correct. I needed a parent present the entire time, and I only had part-time volunteers. Balarama’s concern was justified; after all, he had researched the location, Gold Head Branch State Park, complete with a lake, canoeing, and comfortable cabins. He even took the extra step of creating a camping supply list and printing the directions. The rest of the students were involved as well. Nayana and Narayani had planned a menu, and Ramai, Nityananda and Narottama had already signed up as servers, pujaris and cooks. Because each student had taken responsibility for a part of the planning and preparation, they were keen on going. So when Jahnavi dropped off Balarama andannounced, “I’ll be a chaperone for the entire trip,” the students were overjoyed. Narottama, Ramai, and Nityananda having fun in the mud. During my Montessori training, many teachers shared that they took students on an overnight field trip during the first six weeks of school to give them the opportunity to bond outside the classroom and thus create a stronger community when inside it. The camping trip exceeded my expectations in this regard. During the day, we swam together, canoed together, and (to confirm the worst fears of some of the parents) spotted an alligator together. In the evening, we danced like Indians around the bonfire and chanted the Lord’s holy names while high on the sugar from prasadam Smores. As a bedtime story, we listened to a gory part of the Mahabharata. While I read about the mutilation of Kichaka by Bhima, I had all the students scream on cue. After all, what is a camping trip without scary stories and creepy reptiles? The next day, as a final activity, I had the students choose a spot in nature and write a description of what they saw. I observed Nityananda, writing furiously, pausing only to watch a flying crane ski on to the water.. I noticed Balarama and Ramai drop their notebooks, run closer to the water’s edge and point to the crane now dipping into the water and emerging with a flapping fish. As I watched my student’s wonderat one of nature’s daily cycles in, it occurred to me that when they are in an environment that thrives on interconnectedness, it is natural for them to connect with each other on a deeper level. A special thank you to Jahnavi (Balarama’s mother) for coming and all the other parents who made this possible. Srila Prabhupada Didn’t Write A Math Book by Navina-Shyama das When I first heard about the use of Montessori methods at Bhaktivedanta Academy, I wasn’t sure what to think. Here I was, about to make a commitment to help manage what I thought was a devotional school, and the first name I heard cited belonged, not to one of the goswamis or acharyas, but to Italy’s first female doctor. Since that time, however, I have come to appreciate the compatibility of many Montessori techniques with Vedic ideals, and I am convinced that Srila Prabhupada would be happy with how we use them at his school. The natural touch: One of the first aspects of the Montessori classroom I noticed was the ubiquitous wooden furnishings. Plastic furniture and toys are eschewed in favor of more organic materials. From my previous study of Vedic environmental design (Vastu Veda), I already knew that synthetic, processed materials didn’t resonate as well with the human body and mind, so I welcomed the ideal. Walk into any of our classrooms, and you’ll find shelf after wooden shelf full of simple and elegant learning materials. Besides just being more natural to work with, such items are easily produced locally (Mother Akuti made most of the shelves and teachers fashion new materials all the time), more eco-friendly, and more durable. Take it to the floor: Wooden or not, what you won’t find here is a room full of desks. There are certainly single-person work areas throughout the room, but the Montessori approach doesn’t keep young bodies pinned in the same place all day, like so many cubicle-workers-in-training. Instead, there are large round or U-shaped tables to work at in groups, and much of daily instruction takes place on the ground. Sitting cross-legged on the floor working on mats...not such an unfamiliar situation to devotees! This variety is good for the posture, facilitates healthy social interaction and is just plain practical in the amount of useable surface it creates. Order is the order of the day: Together these elements create a pleasing and well-organized space in which learning can occur. And the children’s time is as regulated as their space. Not only does the day itself follow a fixed schedule, but the procedures for many activities also have a constant form, from the way a student unfolds a mat or napkin (left to right, top to bottom) to the way a student resolves a conflict (by getting the peace flower). Routines like these are characteristic of the mode of goodness, which is always pleasing to the mind, especially that of a developing child. Maria Montessori may have arrived at this conclusion through observation and thoughtful analysis, while we as devotees learned it from the Bhagavad Gita, but the principle is one and the same. Clean as a whistle: We further enhance the mode of goodness at school by our focus on cleanliness. In addition to the after-hours cleaning carried out by staff, children rotate through various maintenance tasks throughout the day (washing dishes, doing laundry, sweeping the floor, etc.), as do students in any Montessori classroom. This practice helps them learn responsibility and conscientiousness, and it is strongly reminiscent of a traditional gurukula. All of the above considerations were apparent to me over the course of last year, as they probably would be to anyone who even casually observed the classroom in action. Not until Krishna Priya undertook Montessori training last summer, however, did I note two broader and more subtle themes that underlie this approach, and are equally harmonious with Vedic ideals. Gross to subtle: The first theme is the progression from concrete to abstract. Most evident in the Montessori approach to math and reading, the idea is to appeal to students’ various senses before appealing to their intelligence. Thus, letters are learned as sounds, traced in wooden form with one’s fingers, and color-coded as either vowels (blue) or consonants (pink) well before they are given names and assigned categories. In math, this orientation means students are able to physically handle a single bead, a row of ten beads, a grid of one hundred beads and a cube of a thousand beads instead of just looking at digits on a piece of paper that merely keep gaining zero after zero. Such a progression is also advised in the Vedic culture, as young children have keener and more active senses, while their intelligence is not ready for theoretical processes until later in their development. No impersonalism here: The second theme is the Montessori focus on the individual. While mainstream classrooms have the teacher giving uniform assignments to a large number of students -- leaving only the gifted few to achieve success while the rest struggle with unaddressed needs -- both Vedic and Montessori classrooms feature personalized instruction. Children work alone or in small groups, taking assistance from either a peer or one of the teachers, who move throughout the classroom as needed. The philosophy of Krishna Consciousness makes it abundantly clear that each living entity in the material world functions under a unique combination of the three modes of material nature and is subject to a unique “karma cocktail” from previous activities. It thus makes perfect sense that each child will exhibit varying abilities, needs and speeds of progress. The Montessori approach, which involves little whole-class instruction, is highly suited to addressing this reality. Though I had my doubts at first, I now see the logic behind adopting Montessori teaching methods at a Hare Krishna school. The simple fact is that Srila Prabhupada didn’t write a math book…or any other general subject textbooks, for that matter. That’s why gurukulas throughout ISKCON’s history have had to adopt some or other outside curriculum to meet the basic academic needs of their students. But His Divine Grace did transmit the eternal Vedic model of education, complemented by his own guidance and insights, leaving it to us to use our intelligence and common sense in applying it in a modern context. So until we have a comprehensive ISKCON curriculum (which is a worthy and attainable goal, already under development but far from complete), the careful adoption of compatible principles from the Montessori method is turning out to be an excellent strategy for educating the youngest members of Srila Prabhupada’s family.

Dedicated to the the service of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Important Dates Wed., Nov. 9: 1st Qtr Student Reports Sent Home (AB and MB only) Wed., Nov. 11: School Holiday - Veterans Day Sat., Nov. 14: Garden Party Wed., Nov. 25 - 27: Thanksgiving Holidays Mon., Dec. 21 - Jan. 1: Winter Holidays Mon., Jan. 18: School Holiday - MLK Birthday Mon., Jan. 25: Pupil Holiday - Teacher Workday Thu., Jan. 28: School Holiday - Nityananda's Appearance Day View Online Calendar Mahajan Corner Current Mahajans Thanks to the following "Mahajans" for volunteering their time, talent or treasure to the school: Bali: The Givers of Charity The family of Anasuya for $50 towards classroom supplies. Bhagavan (Nava Kishore and Nitya Navina’s father) for making a coat rack and lunchbox shelf for Audarya Bhavan. Gaura Priya for some valuable Montessori materials and educational CDs. Jahnavi for some wooden puzzles. The family of Janaki, Radha and Divya for two new digital cameras to help the school create its first yearbook, as well as some cooking supplies for Audarya Bhavan. Jnanagamya for a foam alphabet set. Krsna Katha and Gopinatha for art supplies and an assortment of useful books. Mahamaya for keychain curios for a Bhakti Bhavan work. Nataka-candrika for a rug for the Bhakti Bhavan altar, hula hoops, sand toys, a play parachute and a framed picture of Krishna. The family of Navakishore and Nityanavina for some fun Montessori puzzles. The family of Naya Kumari for a Tulasi plant. Radha Sylvester for books. The family of Ross and Penny for a blender and microwave for Audarya Bhavan. Visnupriya from Jacksonville for an ice cream maker for Audarya Bhavan, clipboards for Madhurya Bhavan, and a wide assortment of much-needed stationary items, including new markers, pens and highlighters and several reams of pastel colored paper. Bhishma: The Dutiful Bhaktas Ananga Manjari and Bhagavan, Babhru Prabhu, Hanuman (Shyam and Vishnu’s father), Jaya Govardhan (Karuna and Haridas’s father), Malati (Kalyani’s mother), Madhava (Ramai’s father), Raghunath (Chandramukhi’s father), Rakesh, Ram (Surya’s father), Yadu and Param (Anasuya’s parents) for their tireless work over the school’s two summer work days. Lalita Sakhi (Karuna and Haridas’s mother) for cooking for the troops on both work days. Kapila: Parents and Children Helping Each Other Learn The families of Balarama, Haridas/Karuna, Krishangi/Jishnu, Divya/Radha/Janaki, Narottama, Vishnu/Shyam and others for coming to guru puja on a regular basis. Kumaras: Assisting the Instruction of Your Kumaras and Kumaris Bada Haridas for recording and mixing Madhurya Bhavan’s audio production at his home studio. Bev (Karuna and Haridas’s grandmother) for reading to Bhakti Bhavan and bringing colorful fall leaves from her home state of Indiana. Gaura Purnima, Lilananda and Rucira for volunteering to be interviewed by Madhurya Bhavan students for their project on ISKCON throughout the world. Haripriya, Vani and Vrindavani (Balarama’s sister) for Rama bhajans on Dashera. Kamala (Rai Kisori’s mother) for coming in on a weekly basis to help dress Bhakti Bhavan’s deities. Lila Padma for assisting with the Bhakti Bhavan play. Pooja (Divya, Radha and Janaki’s mother) for assisting with art projects in Bhakti Bhavan. Radha Damodara (Nataka-candrika’s husband) for bringing caranamrita to Bhakti Bhavan on a regular basis. Visnupriya for volunteering in Madhurya Bhavan. Yamaraja: Supervising the Students Jahnavi for driving and chaperoning Madhurya Bhavan on their field trip to Gold Head Branch State Park. Guruseva (Ramai’s mother), Indrani (Narottama’s mother) and Jahnavi (Balarama’s mother) for driving and chaperoning Madhurya Bhavan on their field trip to Paynes Prairie. Future Mahajans We need the following services for the upcoming month: Bali: The Givers of Charity Programmable thermostats for Bhakti and Madhurya Bhavans would help us save a lot of energy...and money! Our soccer goals were broken and had to be disposed of and our basketball hoop is damaged. Any help in replacing the goals and/or fixing the hoop would be greatly appreciated by our young athletes! Kapila: Parents and Children Helping Each Other Learn The school is ready to host parents and community members for classroom observations. Please contact the school office at 386-462-2886 if you would like to schedule a time to come in and see Krishna-conscious Montessori education at work. The quality for October was self-control, in honor of the special month of Kartikka and the austerities many devotees accept during this time. November’s quality is honesty, the trademark of any cultured lady or gentleman. Prahlada: Creating the Right Conditions for Learning As the season changes, please be sure and dress your children in layers. Unless it is raining or freezing, we begin the day outside to help children socialize with their peers and work off some energy before they settle into the workday.

17414 NW 112th Blvd, Alachua, FL 32615 ⋅ PO Box 937, Alachua FL 32616
386-462-2886 ⋅ www.bhaktivedantaacademy.org

Copyright © 2009 Bhaktivedanta Academy of North America Inc. All rights reserved.

May 2009 Newsletter

Newsletter - May 2009

Message From The Director by Visvambhara das As we approach the end of this school year I am heartened by the amount of cooperation and support we have received from our parents and devotee community throughout. The finest example of this was our recent Gitanjali fund-raising concert: Gitanjali Recap The response we received on the evening of the event exceeded our wildest expectations. It was enthusing to to see an auditorium packed full of people so excited to support the continued growth and development of the Bhaktivedanta Academy. Due to everyone's help we raised over $21,000 toward the Audarya Bhavan classroom expansion project! I truly feel that the response we received is a direct manifestation of Krishna's pleasure with all the hard work that so many have put into developing our school over the years. Thank you to everyone who came forward to make this event a huge success. We could not have done it without you. Tight quarters in Audarya Bhavan. Bhaktivedanta Academy Supporters Program For those of you that did not get an opportunity to participate, we are still in need of the additional funds necessary to purchase and setup the classroom space necessary to serve the new students coming into the Audarya Bhavan (1st - 3rd grade) class next year. We will be adding 7 new students to a class that is already cramped for those that currently occupy it. $13,000 is all that is needed to bridge the gap between what we have raised to date and what we need to setup this new classroom. At the Gitanjali event we unveiled our Bhaktivedanta Academy supporters program: $500 Madhurya Rasa The inspired enthusiast in love with helping the youth of our community. $250 Vatsalya Rasa The devoted benefactor of Krishna’s children. $100 Sakhya Rasa The caring friend of ISKCON’s next generation. $50 Dasya Rasa The faithful servant of Srila Prabhupada’s mission. $30 Shanta Rasa The peaceful well-wisher of devotional education. Just as we did at the event, every contributor will receive a quality gift item as a token of our appreciation for their support. If only 26 recipients of this email commit at the $500 level, we will meet our fund-raising goal! If you have not done so already, I humbly request that you consider making a donation toward the on-going development of Krishna-centered education. Checks can be sent, payable to Bhaktivedanta Academy, to: PO Box 937, Alachua, FL 32616. Summer Camp Registration forms went out a few weeks ago for this year's summer camp program. It will consist of themed 2-week sessions (starting 6/15/09) open to children ages 4-10 with daily spiritual activities (9 am – 3 pm). All participants receive a camp T-shirt plus daily prasadam snack and lunch. If you are interested in having your child participate we need to receive the registration form and payment by Monday, June 1st. Please call 386-462-2886 or email office@bhaktivedantaacademy.org for additional details. Bhakti Bhavan Success During a recent evaluation by the Early Learning Coalition, we learned that our Bhakti Bhavan had received the highest rating of any pre-school in Alachua County! We are continually hearing from the various agencies that inspect/evaluate child care centers in our area, how impressed they are with our program. We are very grateful to receive this recognition. It is hard to belive that the school year is about over. It has been exciting to be a part of it and am looking forward to the next. Your servant, Visvambhara das Director Bhakti Bhavan - Pre-K/Kindergarten by Nataka-candrika dasi In the month of April, the students of Bhakti Bhavan explored the large continent of Africa with its many countries. Classroom shelves were filled with attractive works like the African artifact tray, a replica of an African elephant that made a trumpeting sound, African cut-out dolls in native attire and book making materials on African animals. During circle time, a favorite activity was to pound rhythm sticks to the beat of an African “talking drum” song. They also enjoyed watching a Zulu storyteller narrating stories with morals and lessons from the African culture. Older students who practiced map-making were amazed to see how one continent could contain so many countries with interesting sounding names! Ramananda and his dad, Sri Thakura. We celebrated Father’s Day early by inviting the fathers to spend the morning in our classroom. After the students sung a song honoring their fathers, everyone played a “guess the father” game. Smiles and laughter filled the room as fathers tried to guess their identities based on answers given by the children to questions such as “What do you love most about your father?” Next, students took their dads around the classroom demonstrating their favorite works and letting dads try it, too. Before each dad left, he was presented with a beautiful hand-drawn picture magnet made by his child. Dads were also treated to homemade cookies. Everyone had a great time! As Earth Day always falls in April, students in all three classes had a chance to learn about paper making and were taught the importance of the 3 R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle). Along with the older students, each Bhakti Bhavan student had a chance to make a sheet of paper using recycled materials. Even at this young age, our students are conscious of the importance of not wasting resources. In celebration of Lord Ramachandra’s Appearance Day, Bhakti Bhavan students heard and sung about this pastime with great delight. It came as no surprise when they chose the story of Lord Rama for the topic of their Student Treasures Class Book. Parents, students and teachers couldn’t be happier with the results and almost everyone ordered their own personal copy to take home and read together. April was filled with opportunities for singing in Bhakti Bhavan. In preparation for the Spring fundraiser, the students learned a song about Krsna from the introduction to Krsna Book. Under the guidance of devotee musician, Sri Thakur Prabhu, students practiced several times a week. The end results were well worth the many hours of practice! Students also learned a new song from the translation to the Nrsimhadeva prayers which they sung at the temple on Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Appearance Day. Following their unit study on the 10 incarnations, students learned a song which included mudras (hand gestures). Circle time in Bhakti Bhavan. For our upcoming spiritual curriculum, we will be hearing about many well known stories from the Srimad-bhagavatam such as Dhruva Maharaja, Ambarisha Maharaja, Gajendra the elephant, Jada Bharat and King Citraketu. We will also learn about the Appearance of Lord Jagannatha, as many of our students will be participating in various Rathayatra festivals throughout the summer. Besides our regular Montessori activities, new work included learning about the parts of a fish, how to juice oranges, and brass polishing. Finally, in May, we will be learning about the continent of Antarctica, the oceans, landforms, insects, the life cycle of a butterfly and parts of a fruit. In practical life, we will learn how to make lemonade. Sounds like a busy month ahead for the students of Bhakti Bhavan! Audarya Bhavan - Grade 1-3 by Satyaki dasi April was a wonderful month in Audarya Bhavan: Vraja, Varshana, and the rest of Audarya Bhavan prepare for a bike ride. Bike Week We had some crashes and scraped knees but Bike Week turned out to be a lot of fun. One goal of Bike Week was to talk about bike safety and how to ride together in a group. Abhaya, Node, and Ross make paper. Earth Day To help us understand how we can take better care of Mother Earth, Gayle from Alachua County Public Works, gave the children an opportunity to make paper from recycled material. The children had a lot of fun while at the same time reinforcing important conservation principles. Vishnu shares classroom activities with his father, Hanuman. Father's Day We had a big turn out for Father’s Day. The children were very happy to spend the morning sharing their classroom with their dads. Madhurya Bhavan - Grade 4-6 by Krishna Priya dasi Ram Bol between Audarya Bhavan and Madhurya Bhavan Lord Rama’s Appearance Day In honor of Lord Ramachandra's appearance day, Nataka-candrika facilitated a Ram Bol (a trancendental trivia contest) that tested the students of Audarya and Madhurya Bhavan on their knowledge of Rama lila. The dual class competition was very spirited and touched on many aspects of Lord Rama's pastimes. All participants were rewarded with maha sweets. Writing and Reading Before spring break, I announced to the students that they would all be writting and illustrating books as part of our annual treasure book activity. I was so impressed to learn that some students already had stories they had been working on. Many were so excited, they finished their stories over spring break. After three weeks of hard work, the students completed their stories. We are all eagerly anticipating the arrival of their bound hard cover novels! Father's Day Thank you to all the dads who came to visit our classroom for our Father's Day event. The students played their Bhagavad-Gita songs, shared their essays and presented video taped performances of themselves dressed up as a character from a novel. The fathers shared their experiences meeting Srila Prabhupada. Thanks dads! A special thank you to Kripa Sindhu. He made fresh ice cream, cookies, and samosas for our class.  While listening to his stories about Srila Prabhupada, the students feasted under a tree at the old KCF. Thank you Kripa Sindhu! A Scholar and a Gentleman by Navina-Shyama das That’s what Mrs. Andropolos would always call me, as I left her office after completing yet another small errand. I loved when she said that. Sure, I was just an hourly employee of the university drama department, but her way of saying thank you was so poetic, I couldn’t help but feel distinguished. The phrase has a nice ring to it, to be sure, but it also a deep meaning. Shouldn’t every scholar be a gentleman? Traditionally, education has meant more than just rote memorization of academic subject matter; to be educated was to be refined, in behavior and character. Srila Prabhupada was also in favor of his gurukulas imparting virtues and values to the youth of our movement. He lamented that modern parents had lost interest in this more profound sense of education: “Now people are not at all interested. If you advertise that 'We are opening one gurukula where brahminical culture will be instructed. Send your boys,' nobody will send. They are not concerned anymore that 'My son should be truthful, self-controlled, mind-controlled.'” (Lecture in Vrindavana, 1976) When Bhaktivedanta Academy was holding the first phase of its strategic planning over winter break last year, the staff felt that it was important to make the training of character an explicit part of our spiritual curriculum. But what traits should we aim to instill? For that, we pored over several books, including Bhagavad Gita, Nectar of Instruction and The Twenty-Six Qualities of a Devotee. Cross-referencing the lists we found and adjusting the terminology to be both clear, broad and simultaneously true to our tradition and relevant to the contemporary world, we ended up with a core list of twelve qualities. The list is still a work in progress, but even what we’ve done with it to date has proven its potential. Each month, we have been selecting one quality to focus on, in the classroom, at morning assembly, and at home. An inspirational picture is chosen to help get students and parents alike thinking, including some ideas for practical engagement. I know I enjoy having the opportunity to bring up illustrative pastimes from out tradition based on a focused theme. One parent also shared how having to think of ways to engage her children in the selected virtue was forcing her to meditate on it and try to embody it herself. Not that this year is the first time our students are building character. Thanks to the efforts of our teachers over the years, and especially the wholesome home environments provided by so many of our parents, our young charges already impress visitors. One of the presenters at a recent Earth Day activity remarked on how much she likes coming to our school to do presentations on behalf of Alachua County: “It has such a great energy...and the kids are so nice!” At a time when basic politeness is on the decline and children’s desire for constant stimulation and distraction is on the rise, focusing on developing some basic character traits is a formula for success, not only to those of us striving to please Srila Prabhupada, but for any parent or teacher of the future citizens of the world. As we at Bhaktivedanta Academy seek to improve the educational experience we offer, our staff has made it a priority to take Srila Prabhupada’s advice in a 1976 lecture in Mumbai literally: “First of all character...that is education.” With the help and modeling of our committed parents, we are sure that graduates of Bhaktivedanta Academy will be known for their gracious manners and deep integrity. In this way, our society will produce genuine leaders for the greater benefit of humanity at large.

Dedicated to the the service of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Important Dates Mon., May 25: School Holiday - Memorial Day Wed., May 27: Camp Kulaqua Day Trip Mon., Jun. 1: Summer Camp Registrations Due Fri., Jun. 5: Last Day of School (day ends at conclusion of end of year ceremony) Mon., Jun. 15: First Session of Summer Camp View Online Calendar Mahajan Corner Current Mahajans Thanks to the following "Mahajans" for volunteering their time, talent or treasure to the school: Bali: The Givers of Charity Anil and Vidya (Aravind’s parents) for sponsoring maha sweets for the student performers at the Gitanjali event. Dharmatma, Dhruva Maharaja and Radha Jivan for devotional books. Hitakarina and Sabrina (Ross’s mother) for arranging eco-friendly serving ware for the Gitanjali event. The families of Isha, Karuna and Nadia for starter plants for the Bhakti Bhavan garden. The families of Isha, Karuna, Lali and Nataka-candrika for oranges for juice making. Ishvara Puri (Navina-Shyama’s father) for a new set of “Abhay Charan” DVDs. Jahnavi (Balarama’s mother) and Nirmala for donating some children’s classics. Krishna Bhava (Krishna Priya’s mother) for a copy of Radhanath Swami’s new book. Krpasindhu for a wonderful picnic of samosas, french fries, ice cream and cookies for Madhurya Bhavan, which he served while telling Srila Prabhupada pastimes. Laxmimoni for devotional books and a beautiful book on intelligence in nature. Laksmi Nrsimha and Pattarajni for sponsoring cupcakes to help boost Gitanjali ticket sales. Nataka-candrika for maha-sweets to give out to the mothers of Bhakti Bhavan on Mother’s Day. Rohini Kumar for valuable science, math and other curriculum books for Madhurya Bhavan. Vishnupriya from Jacksonville for a CD case and paper trays for Madhurya Bhavan. A big thank you to all our silent auction donors for their generous support of our school’s efforts at the Gitanjali event. Bhishma: The Dutiful Bhaktas Akuti (Kinnara’s grandmother), Krpasindhu, Lalita Sakhi (Karuna and Haridas’s mother), Mantrini (Karuna and Haridas’s grandmother), Pushpanjali (Navina-Shyama’s mother) and Radha Kunda Dainton (Nadia’s mother) for cooking and serving main dishes for the Gitanjali event. Babhru & Satyaki, Jonathan (Karuna and Haridas’s father), Pushpanjali and Visvambhara (Isha and Vishaka’s father) for cleaning up after the Gitanjali event. Dattatreya and Nila Khurana for serving as ushers at the Gitanjali event. Dhirodatta, Manu, Michael, Hari Bhakti, Rupa, and Ramananda Raya for their technical work behind the scenes at the Gitanali event. Ekadasi (Abhaya Charan and Vishnupriya’s mother), Gaura Purnima (Jalangi’s “Alachua mom”), Jahnavita, Jaya Radhe (Karuna and Haridas’s aunt), Nataka-candrika, Param and Yadurani (Anasuya’s parents) and Ratnesvari for serving out prasadam at the Gitanjali event. Jahnavi and Vaikuntha (Balarama’s parents) and Sudharma for taking tickets at the Gitanjali event. Jonathan and Tamohara (Karuna and Haridas’s grandfather) for serving at the donor table for the Gitanjali event.\ Rasikananda and Vrajabhumi for their help with graphic design on our promotional materials and programs. Yadurani for baking for and sitting at the ticket table for the Gitanjali event. All the parents who worked hard to sell tickets and make desserts for the Gitanjali event. Brahma: Getting Things Started Jahnava (Braja’s mother) for coordinating the entire Gitanjali event, including the silent auction, entertainment and promotion. Krishna Dhama (Krishangi’s mother) for coordinating the silent auction for the Gitanjali event and set-up. Lalita Sakhi for coordinating and serving out the prasadam at the Gitanjali event. Mahatama for serving as the MC for the Gitanjali event. Padmaksi (Naya’s mother) for coordinating the program sponsorship sales for the Gitanjali event. Radhika Rani (Vrindavani and Madhuri’s mother) for coordinating thank you gifts and assisting with ticket sales and the pledge drive for the Gitanjali event. Sabrina (Ross’s mother) for coordinating the ticket sales for the Gitanjali event. Janaka: Attracting the Goddess of Fortune Mrgaksi Dasi and Friends for an amazing debut performance of their original “Ballad of Gajendra” at the Gitanjali event. Gaura Vani and As Kindred Spirits for an inspiring set of fresh versions of our traditional bhajans at the Gitanjali event. Sri Thakura for creating the Bhaktivedanta Academy Children’s Choir and leading them in a charming performance at the Gitanjali event. Narada Muni: The Visiting Teachers Krishna Kripa for speaking on the evidence against evolution to Madhurya Bhavan. Siva: Keeping Ignorance Under Control Pani Bhusana for pressure-washing the school office. Future Mahajans We need the following services for the upcoming month: Bali: The Givers of Charity Programmable thermostats for all three classrooms would help us save a lot of energy...and money! Kapila: Parents and Children Helping Each Other Learn The quality for May is confidence, an important complement to humility. Some ideas for engaging children in this virtue include discussing the difference between pride and self-esteem, and looking at what Srila Prabhupada was able to accomplish through his confidence in guru, sadhu and sastra.

17414 NW 112th Blvd, Alachua, FL 32615 ⋅ PO Box 937, Alachua FL 32616
386-462-2886 ⋅ www.bhaktivedantaacademy.org

Copyright © 2009 Bhaktivedanta Academy of North America Inc. All rights reserved.

April 2009 Newsletter

Newsletter - April 2009

Message From The Director by Visvambhara das With only 9 more days to go before our Gitanjali fund-raising concert, I am appealing for your help to make this event a great success. As many of you know, we are in desperate need to expand our classroom facilities. We have estimated that it will cost up to $37,000 to add a building to support the expanding Audarya Bhavan (1st-3rd Grade) class. We have already raised a little over 10% of the money necessary to expand but have an opportunity to cover the majority of this expansion expense through the upcoming fund-raising event on May 1st. Here is how you can help: Buy a ticket - I hope every one that resides in the Alachua area is planning on attending. You can purchase tickets at the Alachua temple Sunday Feast, school office, or by calling 386-462-2886. Adult tickets are $12. Children tickets (Ages 5-12) are $6. Contact Sabrina Dobbins for additional ticket sales information: dobbins.sabrina@gmail.com or 352-317-0081. Put a special message in the Gitanjali Program Guide - We have reserved space in the program guide for families to place special messages to their children. If you have a child, grandchild, nephew, niece, etc. in Bhaktivedanta Academy we encourage you to place a special message to them. 2 types of messages are available: 1/8 page text only for $15; 1/4 page text and picture for $25. 1/4 page with text and image - $25 Buy an advertisement or ask someone you know to place an advertisement in the Gitanjali Program Guide - If you own a business or know someone who does, we have ad space available at very reasonable rates. Ads start at 1/4 page for $25 to full page for only $100. The deadline for ad and message submissions is Friday, April 24th. Contact Padmaksi Sutherland for more information: padisutherland@gmail.com or 352-871-8924. Make a donation - Direct cash donations are always appreciated. Any funds raised will go directly toward the expansion of Bhaktivedanta Academy. Ask someone you know to make a donation - Do you know someone who would like to support a great cause? If so, ask them to donate toward the expansion of Bhaktivedanta Academy. Contact me, Visvambhara das at visvam@bhaktivedantaacademy.org or 352-474-0538 if you are interested in making a donation. We are counting on your support. With your help we can make this the best fund-raising event in the history of the school! Your servant, Visvambhara das Director Bhakti Bhavan - Pre-K/Kindergarten by Nataka-candrika dasi The month of March was filled with a variety of both academic and spiritual activities. Having finished their unit study of Australasia, the students of Bhakti Bhavan were treated to a presentation on Australia by Tulasi’s father, Lindsey. Lindsey travels around the states teaching students about the culture and animals of the “land down under.” He mesmerized the children by playing on a variety of handmade wooden instruments called didgeridoos. The children also had an opportunity to act out a story of the unusual animals of Australia while playing their own wooden rhythm sticks. And as always, they made their own booklets to color and take home. Karuna works on letter formation. Grandparents’ Day was celebrated in March with many grandparents coming to spend the morning in our classroom. After singing a song of appreciation for their grandparents, students invited them to explore their classroom environment to see what kinds of activities they do each day. Jahnava Higgins captivated the audience as she gave a dramatic reading of her upcoming book about Narada Muni. She also brought with her the original drawings, which will be in the book. Knowing that Lord Ramacandra’s Appearance Day was coming up, students of Bhakti Bhavan began early in the month learning about this much loved incarnation of Krsna. Each day they heard another part of the story as well as a song about Lord Rama. Teachers were pleased to hear that the students chose this story for their soon to be published class book. On the actual day of Lord Rama’s appearance, students were surprised by the appearance of special guest Deities: Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman. Everyone admired Their beauty enhanced by decorations of colorful flowers from the school garden. As an offering of devotion to Them, the entire school came together to chant bhajans, lead expertly by assistant director, Navina Shyama Prabhu. Students became so absorbed in remembering Lord Rama that throughout the day, teachers could hear children singing both inside and outside of the classroom. Even during recess, students could be seen acting out the story using sticks and sand toys for improvised bows and arrows. Lord Ramacandra ki jaya! Spring has finally arrived and the garden area of the playground has been prepared and ready for planting. So far, students have planted a few varieties of vegetables, flowers and herbs. Each morning when they come to school, students run to see how their plants are growing. With watering cans in hand they lovingly tend their plants with devotion and care knowing they will be offered to Krsna. In the upcoming month we will be learning about the continent of Africa, parts of the fish, brass polishing and how to juice oranges. We will also be inviting the fathers to spend a day with us. It should be a busy, hands-on month of learning and devotion! Audarya Bhavan - Grade 1-3 by Satyaki dasi Audarya Bhavan welcomed March with music and song in anticipation of the blessed event of Lord Chaitanya’s Appearance. Mrgakshi practices with the Audarya Bhavan students Mrgakshi volunteered her time to help us with our Gaura Purnima presentation of the first verse of Shikshastakam. She has been teaching the children important musical components such as rhythm, breathing, timing, and diction. Sri Thakur has also started choir practice. His fist lesson concentrated on breathing techniques and the importance of singing together. We give a special thanks to these devotees who have graciously given their time so that we might serve Lord Krishna better. Lindsey Dank graciously gave the children lessons on how to play the didgeridoo. Lindsey is an expert on the Australian culture. He taught the children how to drone and vocalize on their didgeridoos. Lindsey demonstrates the didgeridoo. On March 11, we celebrated the Vedic New Year 523. Navina Shyama provided sweets, horns, and hats to help us celebrate. Everyone enjoyed the fun activities. On March 30th we had a special birthday walk for Vishnu. He turned 8 years old. We celebrated with warm thoughts and cupcakes. Madhurya Bhavan - Grade 4-6 by Krishna Priya dasi Absorbing Ourselves in the Lord’s Lila Under the direction of Kaliyaphani Prabhu, the students of Bhaktivedanta Academy geared up for another play. This one - a slow and sober mime of the appearance of Lord Rama. The unique feature this time around is that Audarya Bhavan and Madhurya Bhavan worked together. With the older students contributing their experience and the younger ones contributing their enthusiasm, the results were transcendental magic! Ram Navami Performance Multi-Media Bhagavada-Gita Classes Laxmimoni Prabhu asked the students, “Have any of you ever felt bored or dissatisfied?” Everyone raised their hands. Projecting a picture of a heart onto the screen with a black hole at its center, she explained that everyone has an emptiness they’re always striving to fill. With a click of button, pictures of cellphones, cars, and toys went into the heart and faded, leaving the hole unfilled. Students discussed how they try to enjoy material objects but how such things never give them happiness that lasts. After further discussion, Laxmimoni moved a picture of Krsna into the hole in the heart. This time the picture did not fade. The lesson was simple, but profound: we feel complete when we fill our heart with Krsna. Thank you Laxmimoni for such an enriching presentation. Naryani portrays Mary Lou This month we finished reading Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. As a final project, students read excerpts from the diaries they have been keeping, each from the perspective of a different character. Afterwards, another student interviewed the character and we videotaped the presentations. The students also analyzed the different qualities the novel’s characters exhibited. They looked for examples of honesty, respect, and courage, as well as examples of opposite traits. They then discussed the consequences of these different qualities on the characters’ future lives. In this way, we all learned how developing qualities like those we focus on at Bhaktivedanta Academy can make a real difference, both in our material and spiritual lives. Reflections on Parenting by Nataka-candrika dasi Krishna Swarup with his son Purushottama. Recently, I was asked by a young parent if I had any ideas for her regarding raising a happy, responsible, Krsna conscious child. Reflecting back to the late 70’s and 80’s when my own three children were young, I thought about the essence of my own experience as a parent. Of course, things have changed and most devotee parents today do not live and work at the temple like we did. In many families, both the husband and wife must work outside the home in order to make ends meet. By the end of the day, most admit they have little time or energy left to devote to their children. At best, they try to ask them about their day and, those who are able to, eat a family meal together. So how do we perform our Krsna Conscious duty and still balance our everyday lives? The following points may be helpful for those parents who are trying to be both good devotees and responsible parents: ACCEPT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY...It is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.5.18, “One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod.” When you invite a spirit soul into your lives, you are accepting responsibility in all areas of the child’s life for the next 20 or so years. This not only means that you will provide the basic necessities for the child but will also give the child a Krsna Conscious foundation on which to build his or her own life. LOVE THEM UNCONDITIONALLY...Srila Prabhupada wrote in a letter to Satyabhama dasi (3-23-73) “Why should parents not feel attachment for their children? That is natural. But our affection is not simply sentimental; we offer our children the highest opportunity to become trained up in Krsna Consciousness very early so as to assure their success in this life to go back to Godhead for sure. That is real affection, to make sure my child gets back to Godhead; that is my real responsibility as a parent.” There will be times when our children will make the wrong choices in life and we will need to be there for them when they do. Let them know that you may not approve of their behavior but that you will always love them. SET THE RIGHT EXAMPLE...As a parent you are the first and most important teacher in your child’s life. But often the development of character is left to the school in hopes that teachers will impart to the child the discipline and respect the parents couldn’t. Never underestimate the impact your example has on him or her. The impressions from the early years (especially the first 5 years) are the ones that shape the future of your child’s beliefs and personality. A strong family unit and a home filled with love and caring will have a life-long impact on the child and his own future family. If you want them to grow up as devotees of the Lord, let them see you chanting your rounds, reading the scriptures, engaging in practical devotional service in your home and they will get the right impression. Just as Srila Prabhupada said in a Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture in 1972 in L.A., “Children’s nature is to imitate, because they have to learn. So, nature has given them the propensity to imitate. So, the first imitation begins from the parents. If the parent is nice Krishna devotee, naturally the children become devotees. That is the opportunity of taking birth in a Vaisnava family. So you are all Vaisnavas. If your children do not become Vaisnava in the future, then it is a great, I mean to say, fault on your part. So you should be very cautious, careful, that children are not going astray, they are becoming Krsna conscious. That means you have to imitate, you have to be devotee, and they will imitate. By imitation, imitation, imitation, they will come to Krishna consciousness. Then they will never give it up.” TAKE TIME TO TEACH THEM...Young children need guidance in all aspects of their lives. They look to their parents to see what kinds of values they should have and what is right or wrong behavior. Education is an on-going process. In this world, they are going to be exposed to many evils and in spite of all your efforts to keep them protected, there will be times when you find you have no other shelter than prayer and the words of Sri Krsna to guide you. Part of your teaching should include what you have allowed them to view and read, and with whom and how they spend their time. They should be taught to be patient, tolerant and how to respect others. They should also be taught that cleanliness is next to Godliness. That is the responsibility of each family. This may not be an easy process, but the results will be well worth the time you spent teaching these lessons. DISCIPLINE WITH LOVE...Srila Prabhupada explains in the Caitanya-caritamrta, (Adi-lila, Vol. One, Preface, p.xi), “A child can be stopped from engaging in nonsense by being engaged in superior activities.” Parents can take advantage of the association of other like-minded parents to engage their children in meaningful activities. Many temple communities offer social and cultural opportunities for the children and youth such as drama, music and dance. I have seen practically how these kinds of engagements, coupled with a strong focus on devotional service in one’s own family, can help during the most challenging years. According to Canakya Pandit, “Lalane bahavo dosah. If you become lenient, there will be many faults.” Discipline through force and chastisement is the lazy way. Love is the opposite of laziness. Discipline with love means you are constantly endeavoring to redirect deviant behavior through immersing the child in more positive, beneficial activities. If you are committing to the above four points, you are already demonstrating a tremendous amount of love. I believe this is the crux of Srila Prabhupada's system. Although these guidelines may be helpful to parents, no one thing assures success in raising Krsna Conscious children. There are no magic formulas, just a lot of prayers and plain old-fashioned hard work!

Dedicated to the the service of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Important Dates Fri., Apr. 24: 2009-2010 Enrollment Contracts Due Fri., May 1: Gitanjali Fund-raising concert Wed., May 6: Mother's Day Mon., May 11: Parent Meeting Mon., May 25: School Holiday - Memorial Day View Online Calendar Mahajan Corner Current Mahajans Thanks to the following "Mahajans" for volunteering their time, talent or treasure to the school: Bali: The Givers of Charity Bhaja Govinda and Manusamhita for beads, masks and other drama supplies. Brajasundari’s family for a brand new vacuum cleaner for Bhakti, Audarya and Madhurya Bhavans. Chandramukhi’s family for lending her Australian plush animals for the month. Gaura Sakti (Krishangi’s father) for toothbrushes for all students. Gopa and Damodara from New Vrindavana for donating towards a paper organizer for Madhurya Bhavan. Harini and Krsnaya’s family for basmati rice for Bhakti Bhavan lunchtime. The families of Harini, Krsnaya, Lali, Radhe and Tulasi for starter plants for the Bhakti Bhavan garden. Hladini’s family for an electric sweeper for Bhakti Bhavan. Krishna Bhava (Krishna Priya’s mother) for a new projection screen. Nadia’s family for butter for practical work. Sri Rupa and Sacinandana for a box full of markers, ribbons and other art supplies. Vrindavani’s family for crackers for practical work. Bhishma: The Dutiful Bhaktas All the parents and community members who helped with the production of our Gaura Purnima performances, including Indrani (Narottama’s mother), Jahnavi (Balarama’s mother), Krsna Vallabha (Syamali and Nayana’s mother), Mahakirti (Abhimnayu’s father), Mrkanda (Vrindavanai and Madhuri’s father), Vrindavanesvari (Bhakti Bhavan teacher), Manu, Bhakta Dustin, Bhakta Joe, Abhay, Vidyananda, Nitai Prana, Luz Marina, and others. Kumaras: Assisting the Instruction of Your Kumaras and Kumaris Gaura Purnima (Jalangi’s “Alachua mother”) for single-handedly renovating the temple costume shed from dingy dump to diva dressing room. Wow! Maury (Lali’s grandfather) for turning over and fertilizing the Bhakti Bhavan garden. Mrgaksi (Madhuri, Vrindavani and Abhimanyu’s grandmother) for creating props for Madhurya Bhavan’s play. Narada Muni: The Visiting Teachers Jahnava Higgins for a dramatic reading of her new book to Bhakti Bhavan during Gradnparents’ Day. Kaliyaphani for once again directing Madhurya Bhavan in a wonderful festival play. This time around it was “The Kazi’s Insignia.” Krishna Bhakta (Krsnaya and Harini’s father) for reading to Bhakti Bhavan. Lindsey (Tulasi’s father) for instructing Audarya and Madhurya Bhavans in intermiediate didgeridoo playing and for teaching Bhakti Bhavan about the aboriginal origins of this fascinating instrument. Mrgaksi for conducting and providing musical accompaniment to Bhakti and Audarya Bhavan’s performances at Gaura Purnima. Pani Bhusana for reciting Caitanya Lila to Madhurya Bhavan. Prahlada: Creating the Right Conditions to Learn Mahavisnupriya for counseling some of our students and helping them to better manage their emotions. Siva: Keeping Ignorance Under Control Pani Bhusana for fixing some of our signage. Future Mahajans We need the following services for the upcoming month: Bali: The Givers of Charity Bags of oranges for practical life work. Starter plants (not seeds) for the Bhakti Bhavan garden. Kapila: Parents and Children Helping Each Other Learn The quality for April is tolerance, something stressed by Lord Caitanya Himself. Some ideas for engaging children in this virtue include discussing the value of diversity and demonstrating the importance of remaining undisturbed even when provoked. Prahlada: Creating the Right Conditions to Learn Please make sure Bhakti Bhavan children come in closed-toed shows that they can take on and off themselves. Flip-flops and sandals are disallowed by state regulation, and hard-to-tie shoes can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience for the children.

17414 NW 112th Blvd, Alachua, FL 32615 ⋅ PO Box 937, Alachua FL 32616
386-462-2886 ⋅ www.bhaktivedantaacademy.org

Copyright © 2009 Bhaktivedanta Academy of North America Inc. All rights reserved.

March 2009 Newsletter

Newsletter - April 2009

Message From The Director by Visvambhara das With only 9 more days to go before our Gitanjali fund-raising concert, I am appealing for your help to make this event a great success. As many of you know, we are in desperate need to expand our classroom facilities. We have estimated that it will cost up to $37,000 to add a building to support the expanding Audarya Bhavan (1st-3rd Grade) class. We have already raised a little over 10% of the money necessary to expand but have an opportunity to cover the majority of this expansion expense through the upcoming fund-raising event on May 1st. Here is how you can help: Buy a ticket - I hope every one that resides in the Alachua area is planning on attending. You can purchase tickets at the Alachua temple Sunday Feast, school office, or by calling 386-462-2886. Adult tickets are $12. Children tickets (Ages 5-12) are $6. Contact Sabrina Dobbins for additional ticket sales information: dobbins.sabrina@gmail.com or 352-317-0081. Put a special message in the Gitanjali Program Guide - We have reserved space in the program guide for families to place special messages to their children. If you have a child, grandchild, nephew, niece, etc. in Bhaktivedanta Academy we encourage you to place a special message to them. 2 types of messages are available: 1/8 page text only for $15; 1/4 page text and picture for $25. 1/4 page with text and image - $25 Buy an advertisement or ask someone you know to place an advertisement in the Gitanjali Program Guide - If you own a business or know someone who does, we have ad space available at very reasonable rates. Ads start at 1/4 page for $25 to full page for only $100. The deadline for ad and message submissions is Friday, April 24th. Contact Padmaksi Sutherland for more information: padisutherland@gmail.com or 352-871-8924. Make a donation - Direct cash donations are always appreciated. Any funds raised will go directly toward the expansion of Bhaktivedanta Academy. Ask someone you know to make a donation - Do you know someone who would like to support a great cause? If so, ask them to donate toward the expansion of Bhaktivedanta Academy. Contact me, Visvambhara das at visvam@bhaktivedantaacademy.org or 352-474-0538 if you are interested in making a donation. We are counting on your support. With your help we can make this the best fund-raising event in the history of the school! Your servant, Visvambhara das Director Bhakti Bhavan - Pre-K/Kindergarten by Nataka-candrika dasi The month of March was filled with a variety of both academic and spiritual activities. Having finished their unit study of Australasia, the students of Bhakti Bhavan were treated to a presentation on Australia by Tulasi’s father, Lindsey. Lindsay travels around the states teaching students about the culture and animals of the “land down under.” He mesmerized the children by playing on a variety of handmade wooden instruments called didgeridoos. The children also had an opportunity to act out a story of the unusual animals of Australia while playing their own wooden rhythm sticks. And as always, they made their own booklets to color and take home. Grandparents’ Day was celebrated in March with many grandparents coming to spend the morning in our classroom. After singing a song of appreciation for their grandparents, students invited them to explore their classroom environment to see what kinds of activities they do each day. Jahnava Higgins captivated the audience as she gave a dramatic reading of her upcoming book about Narada Muni. She also brought with her the original drawings, which will be in the book. Knowing that Lord Ramacandra’s Appearance Day was coming up, students of Bhakti Bhavan began early in the month learning about this much loved incarnation of Krsna. Each day they heard another part of the story as well as a song about Lord Rama. Teachers were pleased to hear that the students chose this story for their soon to be published class book. On the actual day of Lord Rama’s appearance, students were surprised by the appearance of special guest Deities: Rama, Sita, Laxman and Hanuman. Everyone admired Their beauty enhanced by decorations of colorful flowers from the school garden. As an offering of devotion to Them, the entire school came together to chant bhajans, lead expertly by assistant director, Navina Shyama Prabhu. Students became so absorbed in remembering Lord Rama that throughout the day, teachers could hear children singing both inside and outside of the classroom. Even during recess, students could be seen acting out the story using sticks and sand toys for improvised bows and arrows. Lord Ramacandra ki jaya! Spring has finally arrived and the garden area of the playground has been prepared and ready for planting. So far, students have planted a few varieties of vegetables, flowers and herbs. Each morning when they come to school, students run to see how their plants are growing. With watering cans in hand they lovingly tend their plants with devotion and care knowing they will be offered to Krsna. In the upcoming month we will be learning about the continent of Africa, parts of the fish, brass polishing and how to juice oranges. We will also be inviting the fathers to spend a day with us. It should be a busy, hands-on month of learning and devotion! Audarya Bhavan - Grade 1-3 by Satyaki dasi Audarya Bhavan welcomed March with music and song in anticipation of the blessed event of Lord Chaitanya’s Appearance. Mrgakshi practices with the Audarya Bhavan students Mrgakshi volunteered her time to help us with our Gaura Purnima presentation of the first verse of Sikshastakam. She has been teaching the children important musical components such as rhythm, breathing, timing, and diction. Sri Thakur has also started choir practice. His fist lesson concentrated on breathing techniques and the importance of singing together. We give a special thanks to these devotees who have graciously given their time so that we might serve Lord Krishna better. Lindsey Dank graciously gave the children lessons on how to play the didgeridoo. Lindsey is an expert on the Australian culture. He taught the children how drone and vocalize on their didgeridoos. Lindsey demonstrates the didgeridoo. On March 11, we celebrated the Vedic New Year 523. Navina Shyama provided sweets, horns, and hats to help us celebrate. Everyone enjoyed the fun activities. On March 30th we had a special birthday walk for Vishnu. He turned 8 years old. We celebrated with warm thoughts and cupcakes. Madhurya Bhavan - Grade 4-6 by Krishna Priya dasi Absorbing Ourselves in the Lord’s Lila Under the direction of Kaliyaphani Prabhu, the students of Bhaktivedanta Academy geared up for another play. This one - a slow and sober mime of the appearance of Lord Rama. The unique feature this time around is that Audarya Bhavan and the Madhurya Bhavan worked together. With the older students contributing their experience and the younger ones contributing their enthusiasm, the results were transcendental magic! Ram Navami Performance Multi-Media Bhagavada-Gita Classes Laxmimoni Prabhu asked the students, “Have any of you ever felt bored or dissatisfied?” Everyone raised their hands. Projecting a picture of a heart onto the screen with a black hole at its center, she explained that everyone has an emptiness they’re always striving to fill. With a click of button, pictures of cellphones, cars, and toys went into the heart and faded, leaving the hole unfilled. Students discussed how they try to enjoy material objects but how such things never give them happiness that lasts. After further discussion, Laxmimoni moved a picture of Krsna into the hole in the heart. This time the picture did not fade. The lesson was simple, but profound: we feel complete when we fill our heart with Krsna. Thank you Laxmimoni for such an enriching presentation. Naryani portrays Mary Lou This month we finished reading Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. As a final project, students read excerpts from the diaries they have been keeping, each from the perspective of a different character. Afterwards, another student interviewed the character and we videotaped the presentations. The students also analyzed the different qualities the novel’s characters exhibited. They looked for examples of honesty, respect, and courage, as well as examples of opposite traits. They then discussed the consequences of these different qualities on the characters’ future lives. In this way, we all learned how developing qualities like those we focus on at Bhaktivedanta Academy can make a real difference, both in our material and spiritual lives. Reflections on Parenting by Nataka-candrika dasi Krishna Swarup with his son Purushottam. Recently, I was asked by a young parent if I had any ideas for her regarding raising a happy, responsible, Krsna conscious child. Reflecting back to the late 70’s and 80’s when my own three children were young, I thought about the essence of my own experience as a parent. Of course, things have changed and most devotee parents today do not live and work at the temple like we did. In many families, both the husband and wife must work outside the home in order to make ends meet. By the end of the day, most admit they have little time or energy left to devote to their children. At best, they try to ask them about their day and, those who are able to, eat a family meal together. So how do we perform our Krsna Conscious duty and still balance our everyday lives? The following points may be helpful for those parents who are trying to be both good devotees and responsible parents: ACCEPT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY...It is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.5.18, “One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod.” When you invite a spirit soul into your lives, you are accepting responsibility in all areas of the child’s life for the next 20 or so years. This not only means that you will provide the basic necessities for the child but will also give the child a Krsna Conscious foundation on which to build his or her own life. LOVE THEM UNCONDITIONALLY...Srila Prabhupada wrote in a letter to Satyabhama dasi (3-23-73) “Why should parents not feel attachment for their children? That is natural. But our affection is not simply sentimental; we offer our children the highest opportunity to become trained up in Krsna Consciousness very early so as to assure their success in this life to go back to Godhead for sure. That is real affection, to make sure my child gets back to Godhead; that is my real responsibility as a parent.” There will be times when our children will make the wrong choices in life and we will need to be there for them when they do. Let them know that you may not approve of their behavior but that you will always love them. SET THE RIGHT EXAMPLE...As a parent you are the first and most important teacher in your child’s life. But often the development of character is left to the school in hopes that teachers will impart to the child the discipline and respect the parents couldn’t. Never underestimate the impact your example has on him or her. The impressions from the early years (especially the first 5 years) are the ones that shape the future of your child’s beliefs and personality. A strong family unit and a home filled with love and caring will have a life-long impact on the child and his own future family. If you want them to grow up as devotees of the Lord, let them see you chanting your rounds, reading the scriptures, engaging in practical devotional service in your home and they will get the right impression. Just as Srila Prabhupada said in a Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture in 1972 in L.A., “Children’s nature is to imitate, because they have to learn. So, nature has given them the propensity to imitate. So, the first imitation begins from the parents. If the parent is nice Krishna devotee, naturally the children become devotees. That is the opportunity of taking birth in a Vaisnava family. So you are all Vaisnavas. If your children do not become Vaisnava in the future, then it is a great, I mean to say, fault on your part. So you should be very cautious, careful, that children are not going astray, they are becoming Krsna conscious. That means you have to imitate, you have to be devotee, and they will imitate. By imitation, imitation, imitation, they will come to Krishna consciousness. Then they will never give it up.” TAKE TIME TO TEACH THEM...Young children need guidance in all aspects of their lives. They look to their parents to see what kinds of values they should have and what is right or wrong behavior. Education is an on-going process. In this world, they are going to be exposed to many evils and in spite of all your efforts to keep them protected, there will be times when you find you have no other shelter than prayer and the words of Sri Krsna to guide you. Part of your teaching should include what you have allowed them to view and read, and with whom and how they spend their time. They should be taught to be patient, tolerant and how to respect others. They should also be taught that cleanliness is next to Godliness. That is the responsibility of each family. This may not be an easy process, but the results will be well worth the time you spent teaching these lessons. DISCIPLINE WITH LOVE...Srila Prabhupada explains in the Caitanya-caritamrta, (Adi-lila, Vol. One, Preface, p.xi), “A child can be stopped from engaging in nonsense by being engaged in superior activities.” Parents can take advantage of the association of other like-minded parents to engage their children in meaningful activities. Many temple communities offer social and cultural opportunities for the children and youth such as drama, music and dance. I have seen practically how these kinds of engagements, coupled with a strong focus on devotional service in one’s own family, can help during the most challenging years. According to Canakya Pandit, “Lalane bahavo dosah. If you become lenient, there will be many faults.” Discipline through force and chastisement is the lazy way. Love is the opposite of laziness. Discipline with love means you are constantly endeavoring to redirect deviant behavior through immersing the child in more positive, beneficial activities. If you are committing to the above four points, you are already demonstrating a tremendous amount of love. I believe this is the crux of Srila Prabhupada's system. Although these guidelines may be helpful to parents, no one thing assures success in raising Krsna Conscious children. There are no magic formulas, just a lot of prayers and plain old-fashioned hard work!

Dedicated to the the service of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Important Dates Fri., Apr. 24: 2009-2010 Enrollment Contracts Due Fri., May 1: Gitanjali Fund-raising concert Wed., May 6: Mother's Day Mon., May 11: Parent Meeting Mon., May 25: School Holiday - Memorial Day View Online Calendar Mahajan Corner Current Mahajans Thanks to the following "Mahajans" for volunteering their time, talent or treasure to the school: Bali: The Givers of Charity Bhaja Govinda and Manusamhita for beads, masks and other drama supplies. Brajasundari’s family for a brand new vacuum cleaner for Bhakti, Audarya and Madhurya Bhavans. Chandramukhi’s family for lending her Australian plush animals for the month. Gaura Sakti (Krishangi’s father) for toothbrushes for all students. Gopa and Damodara from New Vrindavana for donating towards a paper organizer for Madhurya Bhavan. Harini and Krsnaya’s family for basmati rice for Bhakti Bhavan lunchtime. The families of Harini, Krsnaya, Lali, Radhe and Tulasi for starter plants for the Bhakti Bhavan garden. Hladini’s family for an electric sweeper for Bhakti Bhavan. Krishna Bhava (Krishna Priya’s mother) for a new projection screen. Nadia’s family for butter for practical work. Sri Rupa and Sacinandana for a box full of markers, ribbons and other art supplies. Vrindavani’s family for crackers for practical work. Bhishma: The Dutiful Bhaktas All the parents and community members who helped with the production of our Gaura Purnima performances, including Indrani (Narottama’s mother), Jahnavi (Balarama’s mother), Krsna Vallabha (Syamali and Nayana’s mother), Mahakirti (Abhimnayu’s father), Mrkanda (Vrindavanai and Madhuri’s father), Vrindavanesvari (Bhakti Bhavan teacher), Manu, Bhakta Dustin, Bhakta Joe, Abhay, Vidyananda, Nitai Prana, Luz Marina, and others. Kumaras: Assisting the Instruction of Your Kumaras and Kumaris Gaura Purnima (Jalangi’s “Alachua mother”) for single-handedly renovating the temple costume shed from dingy dump to diva dressing room. Wow! Maury (Lali’s grandfather) for turning over and fertilizing the Bhakti Bhavan garden. Mrgaksi (Madhuri, Vrindavani and Abhimanyu’s grandmother) for creating props for Madhurya Bhavan’s play. Narada Muni: The Visiting Teachers Jahnava Higgins for a dramatic reading of her new book to Bhakti Bhavan during Gradnparents’ Day. Kaliyaphani for once again directing Madhurya Bhavan in a wonderful festival play. This time around it was “The Kazi’s Insignia.” Krishna Bhakta (Krsnaya and Harini’s father) for reading to Bhakti Bhavan. Lindsey (Tulasi’s father) for instructing Audarya and Madhurya Bhavans in intermiediate didgeridoo playing and for teaching Bhakti Bhavan about the aboriginal origins of this fascinating instrument. Mrgaksi for conducting and providing musical accompaniment to Bhakti and Audarya Bhavan’s performances at Gaura Purnima. Pani Bhusana for reciting Caitanya Lila to Madhurya Bhavan. Prahlada: Creating the Right Conditions to Learn Mahavisnupriya for counseling some of our students and helping them to better manage their emotions. Siva: Keeping Ignorance Under Control Pani Bhusana for fixing some of our signage. Future Mahajans We need the following services for the upcoming month: Bali: The Givers of Charity Bags of oranges for practical life work. Starter plants (not seeds) for the Bhakti Bhavan garden. Kapila: Parents and Children Helping Each Other Learn The quality for April is tolerance, something stressed by Lord Caitanya Himself. Some ideas for engaging children in this virtue include discussing the value of diversity and demonstrating the importance of remaining undisturbed even when provoked. Prahlada: Creating the Right Conditions to Learn Please make sure Bhakti Bhavan children come in closed-toed shows that they can take on and off themselves. Flip-flops and sandals are disallowed by state regulation, and hard-to-tie shoes can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience for the children.

17414 NW 112th Blvd, Alachua, FL 32615 ⋅ PO Box 937, Alachua FL 32616
386-462-2886 ⋅ www.bhaktivedantaacademy.org

Copyright © 2009 Bhaktivedanta Academy of North America Inc. All rights reserved.

February 2009 Newsletter

Newsletter - February 2009

Message From The Director by Visvambhara das It is hard to believe that we are already well into the second half of the school year. We have just finished up the second quarter and our teachers, administration, and students are diligently focusing on everything that needs to be accomplished by the end of the school year. Christmas Fundraising I want to take a minute to sincerely thank Padmaksi (congratulations on the birth of her new son, and hopefully future Bhaktivedanta Academy student!), and Sabrina for spearheading the Christmas fundraising effort. Through their tireless organization and contributions from many parents and New Raman Reti community members, the effort was a great success! We sold out all the fudge and cookies that were produced for a total profit of almost $2,000. This money has been put into our school expansion fund, which now has over $3,000. Yadu (Anasuya's Mother) was the winner of a Krishna.com gift certificate. I also want to thank Krishna.com for contributing a $50 gift certificate that we raffled off at the prasadam sales table. Special Guests Prior to the Christmas break we had the distinct pleasure of welcoming Advaita Acarya and his wife, Sarad Bihari, along with Tamohara and Mantrini to the school to present gifts to all of our students. Advaita Acarya conceived of and solicited support from others to give children $30 gift cards ($20 for Target and $10 for Krishna.com) as an expression of affection from the elders of the New Raman Reti community for the holidays. Needless to say, the gifts were very well received by all students. We hope that this was just the first of many visits from estemed elders in our community to the Bhaktivedanta Academy. Thank you to Advaita Acarya and Sarad Bihari for setting such a fine example of lovinging exchanges between devotees. Strategic Planning Over the holiday break we took an opportunity to envision the future development of Bhaktivedanta Academy via a strategic planning process. Prema Caru, a business-planning consultant, flew out from California and facilitated many intensive sessions where members of the board, administration, and teaching staff, along with some parents, evaluated where we are at today and where we want the school to be in the next 3-5 years. It was a very powerful and enlivening experience. Presentation of gifts to students in Audarya Bhavan by Advaita Acarya, Sarad Bihari, Tamohara, & Mantrini. Much of what was done over the holiday was preliminary but through this process we will be finalizing a vision and will define specific objectives in four areas: curriculum, operations, facilities, and finances. Our goal is to have an initial draft of the plan complete sometime in March. This plan will then become our roadmap for the future growth and development of Bhaktivedanta Academy. If anyone has any interest and/or expertise, particularly in the areas of operations, facilities, and finance/fundraising, please contact us. We would greatly appreciate your input. Spring Fundraiser Our annual spring fundraising event is quickly approaching and we need all the help we can get to make it a great success. We are depending on the proceeds from this event to help fund the much-needed expansion of the Audarya Bhavan (Grade 1-3) classroom. As in previous years, Jahnava Hausner has taken the responsibility for organizing the event, but is counting on the assistance of our parents to make this the most successful fundraiser in the history of the school. Specifically, we are looking for a highly skilled entertainer/performer to headline the event. We will also need assistance in organizing ticket sales, prasadam sales, sponsorships, and an auction. Please let Jahnava know what you can do to help. Summer School I am happy to announce that we are currently in the process of organizing a summer school/camp for this year. Satyaki and Radha Kunda Rico will be leading this project. Details are still being sorted out but it promises to be a fun and enriching experience. I am grateful that Krishna has blessed us with a wonderful year so far and look forward to everything he has in store for us as we head toward the summer! Your servant, Visvambhara das Director Bhakti Bhavan - Pre-K/Kindergarten by Nataka-candrika dasi In the months of December/January we introduced our students to the continents of Europe and Asia. (We will continue our study of Asia into the month of February). Along with map making, students have been learning about the animals and cultures of these two continents. They especially enjoy making their own animal books and the Kindergartners had an opportunity to research the animal of their choice. After learning about their chosen animal, each Kindergartner student gave an oral presentation to the rest of the class, much to the delight of their younger classmates. At the end, the Kindergartners even fielded questions from the audience. Vrindavanesvari gives Shyama a lesson using sandpaper letters For Biology, students learned about the parts of a bird and a turtle. They explored the varieties of each and put a lot of energy into making their own booklets to take home. In practical life, one of the most popular choices was the nut cracking work on the shelf. Little hands and fingers were daily strengthened as many varieties of nuts were cracked (on a manual nut cracker) and served out to friends. Wood polishing continued to be a popular choice as well. Isha distributes prasadam to his classmates for his birthday To help students better understand a time line, we talked about the life of Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakura. (They also had a lot of practice with time lines as six of their classmates had birthdays over the last two months!) Since there were several religious (and non-religious) holidays during December and January, students had an opportunity to try their hand at making such things as colorful paper chains, snowflakes and mandalas. Art projects are definitely something they all enjoy! Finally, the students of Bhakti Bhavan have had daily practice in chanting the maha mantra, offering obeisances to their Deities and the vaishnavas, taking caranamrta, and hearing about the wonderful pastimes of Krsna. For Lord Nityananda's Appearance Day we have been practicing a song called “Jai Nitai” (written by Mrgaksi dasi) which will be sung for His pleasure at the temple. We will begin hearing soon about Lord Caitanya's pastimes since Gaura Purnima is just around the corner. With all the wonderful spiritual festivals coming up, we have a lot to look forward to! Audarya Bhavan - Grade 1-3 by Satyaki dasi In January Audarya Bhavan discussed voting, our nation's capital, our presidents, and national and local governments. On January 20th we watched the inauguration of President Barack Obama. We also took the opportunity to talk about Florida's governor and our local mayor. Audarya Bhavan students at Alachua City Hall Concluding our study, we took a tour of Alachua City Hall and the police station at the Alachua Municipal Complex. The children were able to see the council chamber, where Alachua's City Council makes local ordinances. They also had the special privilege of viewing the secret vault where Alachua's records are stored. At the police station children were shown the evidence room and the jail cells. We concluded our tour with Officer William Baldry showing us his motorcycle and speed gun. Officer Baldry shows his police motorcycle to Audarya Bhavan students Also this month we studied haiku poetry and onomatopoeia. We combined the two elements of literature and created our own haiku with onomatopoetic words. Here is a poem we wrote together: Rain All is very wet. Rain is falling very hard. Drip, drip, dribble, drop! This next haiku was written by Madhuri, and is entitled "The Wind:" Whoosh, whoosh, the wind blows. The wind is blowing hard now. The leaves are spreading. January was an exciting month and February promises more of the same. Madhurya Bhavan - Grade 4-6 by Krishna Priya dasi Krsna Cranium board game In Bhagavada Gita class we are creating a board game on the three modes of material nature. As we learn and read about each mode, the students create cards that will bring them two steps closer to Krsna, keep them in the material world or even land them in the lower planets for one turn. A sample mode of passion card from Nityananda is "You wanted praise for playing a soccer game. Go back one space." Or a card from Aravind, "You just ate a rasagulla offered to Krsna. Go forward two spaces." Creating the cards helps students apply the modes to the choices they make in life and it drives home the point that the mode of goodness is conducive to Krsna consciosness, the mode of passion binds you in the material world and the mode of ignorance can have extremely negative consequences.      In social studies the students have just started to create an almanac for a state or country of their choice. Each week they research a flower, an animal or even a famous person in their state or country. They write a paragraph or draw a picture for each of these, and at the end of the year they will bind it into a book organized alphabetically. This project brings together skills from across the academic disciplines. Students are focusing on expository writing and reading and simultaneously learning about both science and history in their chosen state or country. Aravind represented our school at the Alachua County Spelling Bee The last week of January was a special week for two students: Aravind and Vishaka. Aravind won first place in the  Madhurya Bhavan class Spelling Bee and Vishaka won second place. Aravind went on to compete in the Alachua County Spelling Bee. His first word was "servant" (which every Vaisnava knows how to spell) and his second was "tithe" (which he knew because of the temple tithing campaigns). But alas, he stumbled on the word "etymology." Vrnda was the winner amongst the fourth graders and Vishnu was the winner amongst the fifth graders.

Dedicated to the the service of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Important Dates Mon., Feb. 16: Holiday - President's Day Wed., Mar. 4: Grandparent's Day Tue., Mar. 10: Holiday - Gaura Purnima Fri., Mar. 27: Pupil Holiday - Teacher Workday Mahajan Corner Current Mahajans Thanks to the following "Mahajans" for volunteering their time, talent or treasure to the school: Bali: The Givers of Charity Adi Kavi for donating a tool box and kid-friendly tools to Audarya Bhavan. Advaita Acarya Prabhu and Sarad Bihari Mataji for leading the effort to provide Target and Krishna.com gift cards to the children of our community (including all of the students at our school) as a loving exchange from its elders. Karuna's family for a month's supply of crackers and butter for practical-life work, as well as pretzels for a bonus snack. Krsnaya and Harini's family and Shyam's family for providing nuts for nut cracking work. Node's family for a calendar and flags from his trip to New Zealand. Bhishma: The Dutiful Bhaktas All the parents who helped cook, package and distribute cookies and fudge, including Ekadashi (Abhay and Vishnupriya's mother) and family, Govinda Mohini (Radhe's mother), Jahnava (Braja's mother), Kanchambala and Hanuman (Shyam and Vishnu's parents), Krishna Dhama and Gaura Sakti (Krishangi's parents), Lalita Sakhi and Jonathan (Karuna and Haridas's parents), Maliti (Kalyani's mother), Navina-Shyama, Nila Lenna, Radha Kunda (Nadia's mother), Radhe and Roy, Raina (Tulasi's mother), Krishnadas (Vishaka's brother), and Yadu and Param (Ana's parents) among others. Brahma: Getting Things Started Padmaksi (Naya's mother) and Sabrina (Ross's mother) for spearheading our winter fundraiser and organizing the cookie baking and fudge making. Kumaras: Assisting the Instruction of Your Kumaras and Kumaris Vishnupriya for coming from Jacksonville to assist in Madhurya Bhavan. Krishna Bhava Mataji (Krishna Priya's mother) for assisting in Madhurya Bhavan. Tulasi Granofsky for volunteering to assist in Madhurya Bhavan throughout January. Narada Muni: The Visiting Teachers Jagannath for sharing stories from the Mahabharata with Audarya and Madhurya Bhavans during the anniversary days of the battle of Kuruksetra. Kripamaya Prabhu (Krishna Priya's father) for helping the students of Madhurya Bhavan create songs from the lyrics they had written based on the twelfth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna Bhava Mataji for speaking to Madhurya Bhavan about mandalas and helping them create their own. Madhava Pandit (Madhumati and Venu Madhava's father) for reading to Bhakti Bhavan. Nila Madhava for teaching Madhurya Bhavan about astrology and helping them create their own zodiac wheels. Siva: Keeping Ignorance Under Control Mahakirti (Abhi's father) for fixing the Audarya Bhavan computer. Yamaraja: Supervising the Students Padmaksi and Yadu for taking some of the students to a couple friendly businesses in Gainesville and around the temple property to distribute cookies and fudge. Pradyumna (Radha Kunda Rico's fiancee) for coaching Madhurya Bhavan students in various sports during recess. Future Mahajans We need the following services for the upcoming month: Bali: The Givers of Charity For physical education, we could use: Play parachute Six Frisbees Several paper towel rolls Four 1-gallon milk containers Kapila: Parents and Children Helping Each Other Learn Beginning February, Bhaktivedanta Academy will be choosing a specific quality/virtue to focus on each month. At school, we will relate stories and encourage thinking and discussion on the quality during the morning assembly and in the classroom. At home, we ask that parents also discuss the quality with their children throughout the month, as well as modeling it for them and helping them apply it. The quality for this month is compassion, in honor of the appearance of Lord Advaita Acarya and Lord Nityanada. Some ideas for engaging children in being compassionate include discussing why devotees are vegetarian and going out with them to distribute Krishna Consciousness in the form of public chanting and book distribution. Prahlada: Creating the Right Conditions to Learn REMINDER: Please send your children to school in simple and sturdy, closed-toed shoes so that they may safely engage in sports and playtime. Appropriate clothing for physical activity is also strongly encouraged.

17414 NW 112th Blvd, Alachua, FL 32615 ⋅ PO Box 937, Alachua FL 32616
386-462-2886 ⋅ www.bhaktivedantaacademy.org

Copyright © 2009 Bhaktivedanta Academy of North America Inc. All rights reserved.