We were excited to host the second in-person event, following the success of our Pumpkin Patch SENIA Scholarship Award ceremony! SENIA India had the pleasure of organizing the Community Connect event at Stonehill International School, Bangalore, and we are grateful for their gracious hospitality. Members from different parts of India signed up for this event, and we were thrilled to bring everyone together. The day began with informal networking over coffee and tea during registration. After the welcome session, we kicked off the day with an engaging icebreaker activity designed to set the tone for the rest of the event and help everyone get to know each other. The rest of the morning featured a special session led by Anita Churchville on the academic and socio-emotional strengths and challenges of gifted and twice-exceptional learners. The session explored best practices, strategies, and insights for supporting students with unique learning profiles and provided a solid foundation for the day’s subsequent discussions. After a break for lunch, we divided the group into smaller discussion circles. Participants engaged in meaningful conversations around four selected “hot topics,” aimed at furthering our collective knowledge of best practices. Prompts were provided for each topic to stimulate thoughtful and productive exchanges. To conclude, we gathered for a brief feedback session, where participants shared their thoughts and reflections on the day’s discussions. It was an inspiring day of collaboration, learning, and community building, and we look forward to many more such events in the future!
SENIA India successfully hosted its inaugural online event, bringing together educators from various corners of the country. The primary objective of this two-hour session, held on January 20, 2024, from 10 am to 12 pm, was to foster acquaintance among participants and delve into their goals as members of SENIA India.
The session commenced with a focused discussion on the theme, “What Inclusion Looks Like at Your School.” Participants enthusiastically shared insights, experiences, and aspirations related to inclusion in their respective educational settings. This dynamic exchange of ideas laid the groundwork for understanding the diverse perspectives and future goals of SENIA India members.
The event marked a significant milestone in building a collaborative community dedicated to promoting inclusive education across India. As SENIA India continues to grow, these insightful conversations will undoubtedly contribute to the collective efforts towards creating more inclusive and supportive learning environments.
Bangalore International School hosted the first SENIA Outreach Scholarship Award ceremony in India on October 16, 2023. BIS alumna Ms. Alyx Alburquerque was felicitated for her outstanding work at Pumpkin Patch Design Studio. Dr. Gerald Anthony, SENIA Director of Scholarships and Awards, joined us from Beijing to present the award to Alyx from Pumpkin Patch. Kudos to Pumpkin Patch for creating a workplace where individuals with varied abilities work together in an inclusive environment and make customized products! We were overwhelmed by the love and support extended to Alyx by our attendees. We also took the opportunity to launch SENIA-India, our local SENIA chapter.
SENIA India held their initial conference at Stonehill International School’s Learning Hub in Bangalore on 2nd March 2019.
Members of the board and other interested teachers met and discussed how inclusion works in their schools, things they are proud of, and some of the challenges that they are facing. Many of these challenges were common to all schools so we hope to develop our network of contacts to support inclusion and professional development opportunities across India.
Angelle Thibodeaux, SENIA India board member and SENIA teacher rep from the American School of Bombay, shared her expertise in meeting sensory needs with over 45 teachers. Learning support, homeroom and specialist teachers were eager to find out how they can better support their students. Not only was the session very informative, with lots of ‘ah ha’ moments, it finished with some practical activities using yoga balls that could be taken back to the classroom and used immediately.
For our final session, Lia Bartholomew from Autism Teaching Institute in Melbourne, developed teachers’ understanding of ASD and how to meet the needs of students with Autism in mainstream settings. With over 25 teachers in attendance, Lia shared practical strategies, resources, responded to questions and even offered to support teachers via email and in their classes. We are very grateful to have such an amazing resource available to us.
Thank you so much to all the teachers who attended the conference and shared their energy and enthusiasm with us all!
Maria Hamblin
SENIA India Chairperson
Head of Learning Support, Stonehill International School
Are you in India, or know someone who works in India? Connect with the SENIA India Local Chapter HERE.
SENIA India Local Chapter Board Members:
Maria Hamblin, Sarika Umamahesh, Angelle Thibodeaux (Beth Rappe absent)
