Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya - Galle 2009

The Bilingual unit of Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya together with the English Unit held a two-day residential Learning Essential Camp for the students in grade 11 in the English Medium stream from April 30 to May 1, 2009.

Aiming at 100% results at the G.C.E O/L at the end of this year the camp was initiated with the participants from Richmond College, Mahinda College, Aloysious College and Sangamitta College.
Though there were a few schools who refused our invitation the feedback we received from the participants at the end was really amazing and impressive.

After a survey on Grade 11 classes, we decided on the course contents. According to their requests, trigonometry in Mathematics, World Wars and attempt to promote world peace, balance of power in the world after World War II in History, circuits and systems in Science, Village by the Sea in literature were discussed in detail.

In addition, we prepared English-speaking activities to promote communication abilities among the students. The following resource persons took up the challenge of fulfilling the learning desires of the students. Mr. U.S.P. Jayanath head of the bilingual unit, illustrated trigonometry through video presentations, practicals and outdoor activities.

Mr Saman Mudugama, who had overseas experiences in teaching physics, made a great contribution in making the subject area circuits easier, through well planned practicals .Mr. Nilmini Ariyadasa and Mr. Suranga Thennakoon are both Teacher trainers.

The video presentations by Mr. Suranga were a rare opportunity for the students to watch. Mr. G.L.A. Kumarasiri and Mr. U.L.D Sampath did their best through the 5E method to explain about the World Wars and promoting peace. The mini clips and other multimedia presentations by them not only highlighted the key points of the subjects but also left us to think more about our lives.

Though the literature session was very short Mrs. A.W.Sanjeewani the young and energetic teacher who taught literature at J .B.V made it a lively session. Mrs. M.D. Siryalatha Head of the English Unit of J.B.V. brought variety to the camp with many English-speaking activities.

One of our objectives being to promote activity based learning all the resource, persons were careful to contribute their maximum through group and pair work. Using IT in the classroom is the latest trend in the teaching learning process and almost all the lessons were conducted through video presentation, PowerPoint presentations with the help of the multimedia projector and OHP.

The camp fire organized by the Girl Guides Unit of J.B.V. under the guidance of Mrs. Manori Liyanage,the district guide commissioner was the most interesting occasion. On the first night it gave a chance to show the various talents of the students in other schools too. The film screened on the first day captured the children's attention on under privileged students in other communities in the Asian continent.

The parents of Grade 10 and 11 English medium students at JBV took an immense interest to make this camp a big success. They took up the challenge of providing all the meals, including tea and snacks for the participants. Their cooperation and support were appreciated by all the invited schools.
Guidance and support given by Mrs. Soma Gunathilaka the Principal of J.B.V. and Mr C.D. Nagawattha the Deputy Principal were commendable and encouraging Mr Manoj the Director of Education Mrs. W.A.S.D. Kalyani the assistant Director of English, Mr G.Mayakaduwa the coordinator of the RESC graced the inauguration on the first day.

Apart from the feedback we received I would like to highlight the most appealing comment made by Sachin Kolambage a Richomondite, a participant in the camp, "we will show you the benefits we gained from the camp at the end of this year by our O/L results."

Mrs M.D. Sriyalatha, Head of the English unit of J.B.V.