ROOTS TO WINGS

Roots To Wings

Roots to Wings is a chain of pre-schools, designed to cater to the pre-schooling needs of students from two to five years. Launched in 2006, it is the first structured and process driven IP in the fragmented space for early childhood education. Currently there are 240 franchisee schools operational. Roots to Wings has been awarded 'Emerging Franchisor of the Year 2008' for excellence in Franchising and Business Development, by Franchise India Holdings Ltd. The vision of the programme is to enable, energize and enhance childhood by fostering growth of mind, body and spirit - leading students to become lifelong learners. Our mission is to nurture young minds in a culturally sound environment and provide opportunities that will help them realize their true potential. Our curriculum focuses on imparting skill-based knowledge, using its unique Seven Petal approach and an eclectic approach. The Seven Petal approach looks at enhancing the following skills: Language Development Cognitive Development Fine and Motor Development Gross Motor Development Personal Awareness Socio-Emotional Development Individual-Potential Development Our curriculum is based on certain principles that we have borrowed from various schools of thought on early childhood. Based on the best practices of the various methods and approaches, such as Project Method, Multiple Intelligence, Play Way, Montessori Method and Thematic approach, Roots to Wings has evolved an eclectic approach. The instructional delivery is organized and is responsible for providing skills and concepts, involving problem-solving, decision-making, questioning, evaluating and discovering, to the students. Our philosophy is to provide students with a culturally appropriate environment and values, love and protection needed to grow in body, mind and spirit. Our stimulating environment and a scientifically based curriculum lays the foundation to help students achieve success in all phases of life. Roots to Wings Philosophy Our ancient schools were held in natural surroundings. For us, the tree symbolizes the culturally appropriate natural environment, for a child’s school. A tree grows big if its roots are strong. And for a child, the roots are established in a pre-school, which is a child’s first educational experience. Once the roots are strong, students will emerge strong, confident and creative. And ready to take wings to fly towards making their dreams a reality. These were our thoughts while naming our curriculum ‘Roots to Wings’. Objectives of Roots to Wings 1.     To provide continuous stimulation for dynamic and holistic development of students. 2.     To support, contribute and facilitate the developmental process of grooming young minds by upholding every child’s right to education with a strong belief in inclusive education. 3.     To create an environment for the smooth transition of a child from an informal homely atmosphere to a formal learning atmosphere. 4.     To work in partnership with parents in their challenging and rewarding journey on the various aspects of childhood and parenting.

"Respect for Humankind"

Respect for Humankind

Loving and respecting humanity merely because they are human is an expression of respect for the Almighty Creator. The other side of the coin, loving and showing respect to only those who think the same as one thinks, is nothing but egotism and self-worship. More than this, it is irreverent and self-conceited behavior to hurt the feelings of others who may not think exactly as we think, but who still are on the same main road with us in their thoughts and visions. We dream of a generation who will embrace and build the future upon interpreting problems not according to the sources or reasons from which they arise, but with respect to their ideals. If we are passengers who are on different paths and using different strategies, but all heading for the same destination, then why should we defame the others who are with us on this sacred journey that has such a lofty goal? The circumstances that will shape humanity in the future, in particular current world affairs, are forcing us to act with utmost care and alertness; in fact, they are forcing us to do so to such an extent that any decision hastily taken for temporary measures will result in errors that have no compensation. The architects of the future are obliged to build their world on the foundations of what human love and respect stand for and what they appear to be. With its many dimensions, the modern world has pushed humanity into many dark alleys. And we have come face to face with many problems, the nature of which we have no idea. We are trying to cope with these problems, but they are extremely slippery and inconsistent, and in due proportion the outcomes are full of contradictions. There are thousands of Khidrs who are committed to fetch the water of life from Mount Qaf for humanity, but none of them possess any sign of the elixir of immortality. Despite all the efforts of these people who are "apostles-to-be," respect for the human soul has been severely challenged by real dangers. We have struggled for many years in this way; nevertheless, we have not accomplished any synthesis that will constitute the pillars of tomorrow. This has indeed been impossible. Our feelings and thoughts have promised and brought about discrete things, and we were like musicians with a broken record and an incomplete composition, swaying from one door to another, looking for a producer. When every individual denies all the other truths because of the portion of truth which they hold in their hands, and when they compel others to stick to their respective portions, will it ever be possible to have ideas line up one after another, to attain new syntheses, or to discover remedies that save? Can this ever be possible while some are harassing others with accusations of unbelief and sinning, or even physically assaulting them?  The present situation that we have reached today is very dramatic and thought-provoking. Those who walked side-by-side in the past are strangers to one another today. The truths and untruths have been shifted, in accordance with group preferences, from their foundational pillars to rest on slippery rails. Under such chaotic conditions, it is impossible to discern either the loftiness of the goal or the differences of the means to attain it. Humanity today appears to have become fixated on a single flower alone, although they had set out to enjoy the spring. They have lost all their hopes for reaching the goal that is on this path; the means to do so are what they have been fighting for. Their efforts and actions are merely to engage in effort and action. Just like a guide who has forgotten the responsibility of serving the temple and their servant hood to God, who is absorbed by trying to entertain the visiting tourists, so too have those who devoted themselves to a clique or a party today become foreign and indifferent to the ideal and the goal. The humanity of our time has been imprisoned by focusing on one flower on the way to the spring, and has been deceived by a drop while chasing the ocean. I feel that such slavery will be impossible to overcome until we have liberated humanity and given them a new outlook. We are burdened with the task of expressing the truth . . . I wish that we had been able to have done so! No matter how charming and enchanting the atmosphere that catches the eye or fills the heart is there is no permission for us to forget the truth to which we are committed. We cannot stay alien toward each other while we are in the same camp. We do not have a monopoly of the good and the beautiful; therefore we cannot be allowed to wage a war with the passengers who are heading to the same destination but on a different path. We may have some criticisms about the path and system of someone who thinks differently from us; this is an expression of minds that operate in different ways. But, if we are striving to reach the same horizon, we must at least respect the way others think. This is a prerequisite of heading in the same direction, sharing the same belief, utilizing the same terminology, and finally and above all, of respecting the sacred meaning glorified by God Almighty. Let us be respectful to humankind! Let us respect the exalted truths they possess. Let us love them because of their Almighty Creator. If we can raise a community upon this perspective, people will eventually recover and they will manage to compensate for whatever they have lost.

"Qualities and Characteristics of a Community Leader"

Qualities and Characteristics of a Community Leader

The following is a list of desired qualities and characteristics to be considered when naming a new community leader, keeping in mind that nobody is perfect and that a key issue is a capacity and openness for development and growth.

1. Vision and Mission of L’Arche

· Capacity to understand and announce the vision and mission.

· Capacity t o live the vision and mission.

· Love of L’Arche

· Lived experience and knowledge of L’Arche t o do the job and carry the role

· Desire t o live the role as a call from God.

2. Leadership

· Capacity to inspire and lead others to work towards a common goal.

· Capacity to build positive relationships with Community members.

· Capacity to build effective and good working relationships with the Board, government

  and other professionals.

· Capacity to create unity and trust

· Sets clear standards and expectations for others

· Leads by example and models the values of L’Arche

· Exercises authority and with fairness and respect

· Ability to manage and resolve conflicts

· Open to asking for help and can share weaknesses appropriately

3. Skills and Abilities

· Organizational skills

· Delegation skills

· Speaking and animation skills

· Listening skills and ability to dialogue

· Decision making and follow-up

· Preparation of and chairing meetings

· Oral, written and presentation skills

· Computer skills

· Ability to fix priorities

· Management of finances

4. Personal

· Good self care, health and energy

· Commitment to one’s own personal and spiritual growth

· Fidelity to accompaniment

· Humility

· Capacity to keep a balance in life: to find rest, support and nourishment

· Sense of humor