OLCOTT MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL

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OLCOTT MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL

• Renewal for 2010-2011

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Overview

• Free school for underprivileged children
• Founded in 1894 in Besant Nagar, Chennai
• Classes 1 to 10 , Tamil medium, 539 children
• Problem statement
• Supplement school finances to achieve the
  following
• Enhance teacher salaries to reduce turnover
• Medical support for children
• Improve quality of education and pass percentages

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Background

• OMHS seeks to provide a vibrant, happy
  environment for holistic learning
• From nearby slums fisherfolk, coolies,
  housemaids
• Annual income of Rs. 15-20 thousand
• Rampant domestic violence, alcoholism, women
  child abuse
• Students of Class VIII X learn vocational
  skills
• Tailoring, Embroidery, Drawing and painting, Food
  preservation and baking, Carpentry, Book binding,
  Screen Printing, Fabric design, Jewellery making,
  photography (new)

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Initiatives

• Nutrition program
• Mid-day meal enriched with sambhar, rice,
  vegetables
• Breakfast at 930 am of Kanji (ragi, cereals,
  pulses)
• Classroom provisions
• All students provided with good quality notebooks
• TN Govt covers 100 of textbook needs
• Uniforms 2 good quality uniforms/year/student
• Technology Aided Learning (TAL)
• Projection equipment and digital lessons to
  enrich learning of maths, science, social studies
• Special Program for English and Language Learning
  (SPELL)
• To help students with comprehension, oral and
  written expression in English
• Primary Resource Centre
• To improve social and thinking skills through
  educational games and associated activities
• Library Reasonable collection
• Games and Sports Large playground

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Teachers The Schools Lifeline

• Committed teachers are responsible for the unique
  set of initiatives in the school
• Teachers come from community in and around Adyar
• Teachers interested in education of
  underprivileged children

Issues that needed support In 2007 when AZ started to fund Issues that need continued support In 2010 and 2011 What has changed for the better
Teacher and Staff Salaries -- Average teacher salary stands at Rs. 2500/month -- Average staff salary stands at Rs. 1350/month --Most teachers struggle to sustain families --Many well-trained teachers leave Teacher and Staff Salaries gt Average teacher salary stands at Rs. 3300/month thanks to Asha support gtAverage staff salary stands at Rs. 1800/month gt Most teachers still struggle to sustain families inflation is increasing at a scorching pace gt Could add the services of a school counselor Teachers are full of hope -gt Teachers are continuing in school as their hard work is satisfying with improved school results from 63. to 87 in the SSLC exams. gt Teachers are improving their skills with the additional teacher training with a stipend from Asha support gt They are looking forward to reasonable hikes in their salaries to mitigate their difficulties
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Improved health and nutrition
Issues that needed support In 2007 when AZ started to fund Issues that need continued support In 2010 and 2011 What has changed for the better
Health and Nutrition -- Parents cannot take care of sick children at home -- Supporting medical expenses is increasingly demanding -- School pays for 3-5 days of medicines, plasters etc -- Free eye check-up, special equipment for the disabled provided Health and Nutrition gt No change in the parental income improvement ability gt School needs to improve the support to the students in a larger way by attending to chronic problems like anemia in girl children and malnutrition at entry level Students health and general well being has improved gt They come forward to go for treatment as they see the benefits. gt They open up and freely discuss the problems with their teachers and school counselor. gt Girl students are happy to wear spectacles regularly while earlier parents feared that this would considered a drawback in their communities
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Updates for 2009 - 2010

• 302 boys and 237 girls (639 students) from
  classes 1 to 10.
• Noon meal with enhanced protein supplements
• Medical check up, eye check up and continued
  medical attention
• Well functioning resource rooms, labs for
  Science, Maths, language, computer room, AV Room
• Educational games developed by our teachers to
  learn multiplication, factor games, integer
  operations, English grammar.
• Educational tours and IAYP trips were conducted
  as usual.
• Optional summer vacation classes in art, and self
  esteem building
• Class 9 participated in drama festival by
  writing, directing and acting out an hour long
  play relevant to their lives.
•  

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Updates for 2009 - 2010

• Investigative projects and the study of impact of
  poverty on education through study of
  environments in their neighbourhood and
  economically better neighbourhood was selected
  and participated in the state level Childrens
  Science Congress.
• An evening special Bharatnatyam dance class
  activity was started for boys and girls of
  classes 5and 6.
• A photography project through UNESCO grant of Rs.
  50,000 is underway.
• Employees from companies formed support groups
• The Counseling programme included themes and
  activities like friendship, safety, building self
  esteem

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Adventure and Physical endurance camps
This programme has three stages the Bronze
(13yrs 6months duration), the Silver (14yrs 12
months duration)and the Gold (16 to 25 yrs)
awards.
Alumnus Radha R (now in 2nd year of her Bachelor
of Social Work course in Madras School of Social
Work) completed and qualified to receive the
award from the Vice president of India (a patron
of the programme)
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Progress in exams
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Proposal 2010 and 2011

•  Increased support for the teachers salaries and
  school health and medical support to students per
  year
•  Total Budget for Asha for Education US - Rs 6.5
  lakhs for teachers and Rs 0.5 lakhs for health
  (from total Rs 6 lakhs 2007 to 2010) Rs 7
  lakhs, USD 16000
• Request from Arizona USD 7000 (against USD
  5000)
• Request from SV USD 9000 (against 8000)