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"Children are not vessels to be filled, but lamps to be lit. Children are the architects of the future world. They are the builders of humanity. It is the most sacred task of parents as well as teachers to mold their lives in accordance with the sublime Indian tradition. The seeds of spiritual values should be sown in young hearts and the condition should be made favorable for its sprouting and steady growth by the exercise of proper control and discipline. Cared for with the warmth of love and affection, such a tree shall blossom forth flowers of brotherhood, universal love, peace, bliss, beauty, and perfection."            - Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda

Dear Chinmaya Bala Vihar Parents and Students,

Hari Om! By the Lord's grace and Pujya Gurudev's blessings, we are pleased to welcome you to another wonderful year of Chinmaya Bala Vihar (CMBV)!

Throughout CMBV, we request your help in sharing with our children the Vedantic and scriptural teachings and traditions as taught by our ancient rishis. We have seen our children blossom over the years, and are pleased to continue growing with them in love, learning, and joy.

MAINTAIN DISCIPLINE: Be regular in attendance and punctual in arriving at least 5-10 minutes before the start of each session. Come prepared with all class materials (bag, BV books, binder, pens/pencils, completed HW). Come neatly and appropriately dressed (no sleeveless tops).

STAY INFORMED: Review, mark, and save the dates per our CMBV Calendar of classes and events. E-mail is our official and primary mode of communication with you. Be sure to mark mailings AT chinmayaprasad DOT org and Mailchimp as Safe Domains in your e-mail account and check your account regularly for CMBV communications.

TAKE INTEREST: Spend time to ask your child what he is learning and have him to discuss each week's materials. Yes, it makes for great dinner conversation, but most importantly, it encourages and inspires your child to continue his spiritual studies. Commend your child for his knowledge and remind him to practice noble values. This will help him strive for excellence in all aspects, at all times. Maintain high standards and proper discipline, for your loving care and attention are invaluable for your child's continued interest, participation, and growth in spiritual, cultural, and value education.

WEEKLY HOMEWORK: CMBV students are assigned weekly HW to keep them connected to spiritual teachings throughout the year. CMBV HW must be completed every week and is reviewed in the next class. For all days of absence, email us the same Sunday to request the HW assignment (include student's name and class/teacher name).

ATTEND FESTIVALS/EVENTS: Every year, CM volunteers put in great effort to organize festival celebrations and special events for all of us to pray, learn, and enjoy together as a CM Family. For each event, we send e-mails and request RSVPs to plan the event. Please always respond promptly. Attend the festivals and events to learn the solace of worship and help your child grow in devotion to God.

STUDY GROUP for PARENTS: Chinmaya Study Groups are forums of Vedantic study for adults, and are free and open to the entire community. Parents attending spiritual classes encourage and inspire children to recognize the value of spiritual study and application in daily life. The opportunity to pray, learn, and grow together as a family becomes invaluable for children searching for their identity while holding on to their cultural roots and traditions. View the Sunday topics and timings of the Study Groups for adults on the CMBV Syllabus page.

By the Lord's grace and Pujya Gurudev's blessings, we look forward to another wonderful year of CM classes and activities. Hari Om!

CMBV PARENTS' AGREEMENT for Contact Information and Waiver of Liability: By registering for Chinmaya Bala Vihar, I hereby give Chinmaya Mission teachers/volunteers permission to contact me/my child via e-mail, phone, text, or mail to communicate Chinmaya Mission information. By registering for Chinmaya Bala Vihar, I, for my heirs, executors, and administrators, release and forever discharge Chinmaya Mission Tampa, and the city, county, state, and district where Chinmaya Mission classes and events are held, and all sponsors, producers, agents, representatives, successors, and assignors, of all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, or expenses that I or my family may have against them arising out of, or in any way connected with, my family's participation in Chinmaya Mission classes and events, and in connection with exposure, infection, and/or spread of COVID-19 related to utilizing Chinmaya Mission's services and rented premises. I understand that this waiver means I and my family forego the right to bring any claims, including for personal injuries, death, disease or property losses, or any other loss, including but not limited to claims of negligence and give up any claim to seek damages, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen. By submitting my child's Chinmaya Bala Vihar registration, I agree to all of the above.