1. Jain Sangh of New England (JSNE) Pathshala Overview – www. jsne
Jain Sangh of New England (JSNE) Pathshala Overview – Middlesex Turnpike Burlington, MA Presentation at JAINA, Detroit, USA–July 2013 By:– Haresh Mehta – Level 4 teacher Nirav Shah – Rookies teacher

2. JSNE Pathshala Overview
Celebrated 10 years anniversary in Spring 2013
Number of students as of June 2013 – 105 students from states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine
Pathshala frequency – Once a month – 2nd Sunday of the month with additional sessions for special projects and Lab sessions
Pathshala time/duration – 1:30-4:00 pm
Pathshala Year – September – June (school year)

3. JSNE Pathshala Pathshala Registration – One form per family every year
No registration fee but we have optional Class AND Food sponsorship programs
Minimum age for registration – Pre-K
Parents who wish are allowed to sit in Rookies class

4. JSNE Pathshala Pathshala Day structure –
Group prayers at 1:30 - recitation by all present in Rang Mandap
Arti performed by birthday students
Divo performed by families of class and Food sponsors of the month
Assembly announcements including recognizing sponsors, introducing new pathshala families and upcoming pathshala events and news
Classes from 2:00 – 4:00 pm for Philosophy, Sutra, Stuti and mini vidhi sessions
Snack at 4:00 pm

5. Pathshala Class Structure and Teachers
Level
School Grade
Number of Students
Teachers
Rookies
Pre-K and KG 18
Nirav Shah
Arpita Gosalia
Level 1
1 and 2 20
Nimisha Asthagiri
Jignesh Shah
Level 2
3 and 4 21
Dhruti Ashara
Mitul Dalal
Level 3
5 and 6 14
Ajay Vora
Level 4
7 and 8
Haresh Mehta
Level 5
9, 10, 11 and 12
Hemant Shah
Swathyay
Adults
Pulkit Shah
Sutra teachers
All
Amit Shah
Himanshu Palkhiwala

6. Pathshla Overview
Curriculum - The suggested curriculum is by each level and based on JAINA books but teachers may introduce/teach other Jainism related subject matter from other sources based on class interest and need. Plan to revisit curriculum in summer 2013.
Monthly report and HW - Lesson plan and HW details are sent via to all students/parents and also available at website under pathshala section.
Lab Sessions -Hands-on learning of what/why and how covering key important rituals- Going to Jinalaya, Astha Prakari Pooja, Chaityavandan, Guruvandan, Samayik, etc. Now that we have Pathshala in the Derasar building more short sessions carried out in small groups.

7. JSNE Pathshala Selection criteria for pathshala teachers -
Faith and knowledge of Jain religion, values,, self-motivation, dedication and commitment to learn and teach
Class Attendance –
Rookies to Level 4 – 90%
Level 5 – 75%
Parents/students are always encouraged to call/ and also to have a one-on-one meeting with teachers for make up class.
Pathshala Staff Communication - Most of the communications is thru and phone calls but do meet periodically as and when needed.

8. JSNE Pathshala Special techniques for Sutra learning –
We have dedicated Sutra teachers who help out regular class teachers for Sutra memorization, and meaning.
Teacher generally spends appx 45 minutes of a class for Sutra/stuti learning for level 1, 2 and 3
Level 4 class performs Samayik every month and during the Samayik they learn/recite Sutra and Jain Philosophy.
Level 5 students - learn/recite sutra and perform Samayik occasionally during the class.

9. Teaching Techniques -
Show and Tell for teaching basic Jain concepts to Rookies Class
Games, Puzzles, Unscrambling words :- Charades, Don’t Say it, Pictionary, Your Choice, etc
Memory tools - creating multiple connections, stimulating multiple sensory points
Songs and Poems - 24 Tirthankars Names and Symbols, Dreams of Queen Trishla, Shravak, Shravak what do you see? ( To describe the spiritual elevation of a Jain Shravak from the moment he sees a Jain Derasar, what he sees in Derasar).
Number Games (Math) – Memorize various Jain concepts by thinking of their quantities.  

10. Teaching Techniques -
Interactive teaching methods used in the class rooms to teach and engage students in learning subject materials.
Power Point Presentations - Learn, discuss and review various Jain concepts and philosophy in the pathshala class thru slides
What, Why and How of Lab sessions –
Lab sessions are in addition to the regular pathshala sessions
Emphasize is on practical aspects of Jainism
Students learn Do's & Don'ts at the temple, what to do and how to do right way, the common rituals.
All the mudras/vidhis are demonstrated and practiced in a small group in each session along with the presentation (which will explain the importance/why/how of the activity

11. JSNE Pathshala Award/recognize students in many ways –
Award to each participant student for all the religious activities student does during Paryushana Parva (Paryushana Parva Activity Point Sheet)
Award to each student for the performance during the pathshala year. This points system is based on Attendance, HW assignments and annual Test score.
During the monthly prayer assembly, we recognize all the families who sponsor food, pathshala class (cash donation) and donate or do prabhavna (e.g. Samayik Upkaran, pathshala bags, etc).
Year-end Outing at the end of last pathshala class
Graduating students (seniors) from pathshala are honored with ‘Certificate’ in the last month – June.

12. Special Projects
Astha Prakari and Snatra Pooja by Pathshala students during Paryushan Parva
Jain Art/painting session - Jain Paintings (Swapnas, Symbols, Asthamangalam, etc)
Essay competition for the Pratishatha Mahotsav Souvenir
Level 2 research on various Jain Food items in fast food eating places and grocery stores
Level 5 students - visits ‘Wheaton College’ in Norton, MA for the Presentation on 'Jainism' in the religion class.
Pathshala cultural program during annual Diwali program, last year Pratishtha Mahotsav and celebration of ten years of pathshala

13. Community and Voluntary Activates
Community and Voluntary Activities –
During Pratishata Mahotsav, pathshala students were encouraged to raise the fund for the temple - following up with their family, friends, relatives, etc. Students were recognized for the donations collected.
Students are encouraged to help in temple and during all program/ceremony preparation.
Future Projects planning -
Community Service project – to practice “Charity” as a group within our Community.
Recycling Center project – to practice “Ahimsa” and “Ecology” as a group within our Derasar.
Derasar Beautification - Cleanup days
Cook and serve a vegetarian meal for those in need at homeless center

16. JSNE Pathshala Sutra Curriculum by level
Item #
Sutra
Rookies
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5 1
Navkar Mantra x 2
Khamasamana 3
Panchindiay 4
Ichhakara 5
Iriyavahiya 6
Tass Uttari 7
Annattha 8
Logassa
x(I) 9
Karemi-Bhante 10
Samaiya-Vaya Jutto 11
Abhuttio 12
Uvasagga Haram 13
Samayik Procedure
I = Intro

17. JSNE Pathshala Stuti Curriculum by level
Item #
Prayer
Rookies
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5 1
Navkar Mantra x 2
Chattari Mangalam 3
Darshanam 4
Mangalam 5
Upasargh 6
Sarva Mangala 7
Arahanto 8
Shivmastu 9
Avyo Sharane 10
Khamemi Savvajive 11
Arati
x(I) 12
Mangal Divo
I = Intro

18. JSNE Pathshala Ritual Curriculum by level
Item #
Item Name
Rookies
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5 1
Going to the Temple x 2
What to do in the Temple 3
Astha-Prakari Pooja
x(I)
x(I-M) 4
Samayika
Show & Tell
x(M) 5
Understanding Pachakhan 6
Different Pachakhan 7
Guruvandana 8
Daily Practice 8a
Navkar - Morning/Evening 8b
Bow-down 8c
Jai-Jinendra 8d
Aarti-Mangal Divo 9
Jian Festivals 9a
Paryushana Parva 9b
Diwali 9c
Mahavir-Janama Kalyanak 9d
Gnan-Pacham 9e
Maun-Ekadashi 9f
Ayembil-Holi 10
Parva Point-Sheet 11
Yoga

19. JSNE Pathshala Philosophy Curriculum by level
Item #
Item Name
Rookies
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5 1
Jain Glossary 1a
Jain Alphabets
x (I)
x(M) x 2
Five Senses 3
Five Great Vows
x(I) 4
Five Auspcious Events in Bhagwan's Life 5
Karma Theory
Beginning high level
Moderate level
Detail level 6
Six Substances (Dravyas) 7
Three Jewels 8
Four Types of Passions (Kashyas)
x(I-M) 9
Meaning of God 10
Four Fold Orders (Chaturvig Sangh)
Show & Tell 11
Eighteen Papstankas 12
Nine Punyas 13
Jain Scriptures 14
External Tapas 15
Internal Tapas 16
Five Samitis and Three Guptis 17
Twelve Vows of Layman 18
Twelve Bhavnas 19
Six Essentials (Avashyaks) 20
Thirty Five Virtues of Shravaks 21
Nine Tatvas 22
Fourteen Gunasthankas 23
Sanlekhana 24
Anekantvad 25
Syadvad 26
Yoga/Meditation 27
Jain Universe 28
Virtues of Panch-Paremesthi 29
Intro to Tatvarth Sutra 30
Into to Utradhayan Sutra 31
What is Dharma (Religion) 32
Four Gatis 33
Leshyas 34
Jain Sects 35
Yaksha & Yakshnis 36
Three Chovisi 37
Das Dharma 38
Jain History

20. JSNE Pathshala Jain Practices Curriculum by level
Item #
Item Name
Rookies
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3 1
Names of Tirthankaras 6 12 18 24 2
Lanchans 3
Mother Trishala's Dreams
Show & Tell
14 (I)
14(M) 14 4
Tirthankara's Parents Names 4a
Mahavir x 4b
Rushabhdev 4c
Parshavnath 5
Life Story of Tirthanakaras 5a 5b 5c 5d
Neminath 5e
Shantinath
Stories (TBD) 7
Jain Symbols 7a
Dhaja 7b
Swastika 7c
Divo 7d
Universal Jain Symbol 7e
Oham-Hrim-Arhanam 7f
Astha Mangalam 8
Jain Temples/Pilgrimage places
x(I)
x(I-M) 8a
Palitana 8b
Girnar 8c
Sametsikhar 8d
Rankpur 8e
Delwara 8f
Pavapuri 8g
Champapuri

21. Level 2 project – Starbucks Jain food choices

22. Level 2 project – CHIPOTLE Jain food choices

23. Level 2 project – TACO BELL Jain food choices

24. Level 2 project – Dunkin Donuts Jain food choices