First day of Fall 2005 Semester
(Saturday, September 10, 2005 for Saturday Students and Sunday, September 11, 2005 for Sunday Students):

Saturday, September 10, 2005 (Reports written by Sheela Krishnan and Jasmine Gadhavi) On the cool, crisp morning of Saturday, September 10^th, 2005, Vivekananda Vidyapith opened for its first day of classes of the new school year. New students arrived early, bright-eyed and ready to learn, meet teachers and friends and make new friends. The day began with the morning prayers and a recitation of the Shanti Mantra by the senior students.  After recitation of selected shlokas from the 12^th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita and Subhashitani, Mahendra Uncle shared his thoughts with all.  There were several new students joining the Vidyapith today, and they were welcomed with a hearty round of applause. Birthdays of students and teachers (which fall between August 1, 2005 and Septembe 13, 2005) were celebrated with good wishes, prayers and singing.  About 10:00 a.m. the assembly dispersed and all the students rushed off to their classes. The new school year certainly began with cheer and renewed enthusiasm.  

Sunday, September 11, 2005: With September comes the excitement of a new school year as students eagerly await to reunite with teachers and friends.  On Sunday, September 11^th 2005, Vivekananda Vidyapith kicked off another great school year for the Sunday school students.  As the clock approached 9:00 a.m. students, dressed in navy blue and white, scurried into Vidyapith and assembled in the prayer hall as the incense floated in the air and the tanpura resonated.  The altar was gleaming as Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda smiled down on all the students, blessing them with a year full of knowledge and devotion.  At exactly 9:00 a.m., the voices of students, teachers, and parents harmoniously united in singing Pranam Mantras and Veda Mantras.  Students then chanted the traditional Shanti Mantra, which inaugurated an auspicious beginning to the new school year. Then, Mahendra Uncle addressed the assembly.  After welcoming the new students and celebrating birthdays, students were escorted to their new classrooms with their new teachers.  As classes officially began, the overall feeling among the students was unanimous: “It felt good to be back in Vidyapith.”

  On both days Mahendra Uncle shared the following thoughts with all:  (1) Today is the 30^th birthday of Vivekananda Vidyapith.  It started its classes in September 1976 on the day of Ganesha Chaturthi.  (2) Students get excellent physical and intellectual development programs in their regular schools. Vidyapith is dedicated to teaching values and ways to make moral and spiritual development.  (3) Moral and Spiritual development brings awareness of  the goodness in ourselves and in others, makes us better citizens and human beings.  (4) These developments help us to focus our minds in our classes as well as on the playgrounds, improve our dealings with people at home and on the streets, and even help in our vocational field.  These are the factors that give us true satisfaction and peace of mind.  (5) Basic rules about attendance, uniform, homework, parking, etc. should be followed to make one’s education at the Vidyapith successful.