PTA General Body Meeting

Carmel School held its annual PTA general body meeting for the year 2024-25 on June 14, in two sessions.

Mrs. Lugina Miranda, Director of You Matter Counselling & Training Centre, served as the resource person for the day. She was accompanied by Sister Lilly Pushpa, the Principal, Sister Smitha, the Joint Secretary of St. Ann’s Campus Institutions, Dr. Sr. Prem, the Administrator, and Sister Premal, the Vice Principal. The first session for grades 1 to 5 commenced at 9:30 AM, and the session for grades 6 to 10 began at 2:30 PM. The sessions started with a prayer service that included a poem reading, reflections, intercessory prayers, and a concluding prayer.

Mrs. Jahnavi and team presented the annual report, highlighting the institution's achievements for the year 2023-24.

Mrs. Miranda's address for the parents of grades 1 to 5 focused on "Handling New Age Children". She posed thought-provoking questions about creating a joyful learning environment, making school a pleasant place, boosting children's self-esteem and managing parental expectations. She then elaborated on the learning process, the importance of understanding children's feelings, and effective disciplining methods without tears. Mrs. Miranda also discussed alternatives to punishment, problem-solving strategies, and ways to encourage freedom and self-esteem in children. She emphasized the impacts of mobile/screen addiction and provided tips to overcome this issue, including setting clear rules, exploring creative alternatives, and practicing e-fasting.

The afternoon session, focusing on adolescent behaviour, was also led by Mrs. Miranda. She addressed issues such as lack of organizational skills, anxiety, peer pressure, and addiction among teenagers. Mrs. Miranda provided communication tips for parents, such as using "I" messages, active listening, and avoiding barriers to communication. She also discussed mental health in teenagers, identifying common signs of anxiety and depression, and offering strategies to address these issues. The session reiterated the impact of mobile/screen addiction and provided tips to manage it.

Mrs. Zeena, the PTA secretary, announced the names of the newly added PTA executive committee members, who were welcomed with roses by the principal. Sister Lilly Pushpa, the principal expressed her gratitude for the parents' cooperation and outlined several upcoming initiatives for the school year. These include the introduction of interactive learning modules and life skills programmes , launching a co-curricular theatre program to enhance students' expression skills. Administrative improvements such as an online payment option and an alumni association were also announced. For kindergarten, the addition of "bunnies" aims to create a more engaging environment, while plans to install lifts for students with mobility issues and issue parent ID cards will enhance security. During the discussion, the Principal addressed traffic congestion, the importance of maintaining tidy uniforms, and the need for parents not to criticize teachers in front of children. She also highlighted the school's support for students during difficult times, the upcoming diamond jubilee celebrations and concerns about vulgar language among students. Parents' queries about parking facilities, quarterly online payments, and nearby junk food sales were discussed, with the principal explaining measures being taken and the necessity of monthly payments to cover staff salaries. The need for more washrooms for girls and the idea of reusing textbooks to save paper were positively received.

Mrs. Lidwin and Mrs. Lolita compered the program, while Mrs. Juliet and Mrs. Asha Gowri welcomed the gathering, and Mrs. Deepthi and Mrs. Ashwitha proposed the vote of thanks.