1986 – 1992 - Woodbine / Vanier Secondary School North York Board of Education. North York. Ontario. Canada:

This activity was so successful that Sunanda Tumne spearheaded the “Marathi Shala” project that Marathi classes should start under Canada’s Heritage Language Program. Dr. Madhav Khandekar took keen interest in this step.In the fall of 1986, two Marathi classes started for age group 4-12. Third class started for age group 14 –18 children since Heritage Language Program was restricted up to regular day school grade 8 students. Two more classes started In Mississauga, at T.L Kennedy School under the International Language Program with Peel Board Of Education.

Dr. Madhav Khandekar worked as a co-coordinator from 1986-1992. The classroom program was structured in to three Level – Basic, Intermediate and Advance Levels.

Shalan Khandekar, Sudhana Ranade, Sunanda Tumne, Keshav Godse, Lalita Godse, Mangala Junnarkar, Vinita Ratnaparakhe, Meena Gandhi and Sumitra Thakur served as teachers who took tremendous efforts and energy to carry out these teaching program activities. All students, their parents, teachers and Marathi Bhashik Mandal of Toronto supported the program with whole heart and dedication. The main focus was on four R’s of Marathi Language – reading writing, speaking and understanding. Along with Marathi Language learning; children enjoyed cooking lessons, music lessons and gym classes. Students learned Marathi games such as Kho Kho, Hututu, Ram Ravan, Talyat-Malyat and Lagori, Surya Namaskars and Yoga. Total of 87 children participated and had taken advantages of Marathi school during year 1986-1992. Half an hour of Gym time helped students to learn Marathi through games and build a very strong youth friendship by participations.

1986:

Asha Pawagi suggested a novel idea of Marathi Children’s camp that became a grand success. Total of 50 children attended the summer camp. Fifteen parents volunteered as councilors. Camp children enjoyed classes of Yoga, games of Hu Tu Tu, Viti Dandu and Lagori.

Now Marathi Bhashik Mandal, Inc has taken up responsibility of this activity as a regular Summer camp Youth activity and MBM manages this camp very well.

1987:

Twenty-five teenage children rehearsed and performed full-length Marathi drama “Premachya Gava Jave” at Diwali program. Shalan Khandekar, Sudhana Ranade and Leena Ghanekar produced, directed and coordinated the play. The play was unique because of the character casting. Set of students who performed characters in the first act was replaced by another group of students in the second act. That way more students could participate and fewer lines to memorize. 

Younger group of students performed a short One-act play called, “Shakti Peksha Yukti Shreshth”. Mrs. Watave wrote the short play. Rajashree Manohar coordinated the play. Both plays were received an overwhelming response and applause from the audience.

1990:

Grade 10 OAC (Ontario Credit Course) credit course was developed and taught by Sunanda Tumne. This course was credited towards regular Ontario daytime high school credit course system. Twelve students took advantage of this course. Five mature non-Marathi adult students enrolled in the this Marathi class. Grade 11 OAC course was also developed together by Sunanda Tumne and Shalan Khandekar but cancelled due to lack of enrollment. Eventually junior and senior Marathi Class program discontinued in 1991. As students matured, joined the universities then student enrollment dropped and classes discontinued

1991 - 1995:

Sunanda Tumne taught Marathi to Ms. Marianne Warren (Ph.D. student, University of Toronto) as a Marathi Language course curriculum requirement for her thesis work on Shirdi Sai Baba. Later Ms. Warren published a book called  "Unravelling the Enigma:Shirdi Sai Baba in the Light of Sufism". Ms. Warren acknowledged sincere gratitude to Sunanda Tumne in her book for teaching her Marathi Language and help with Marathi – English translations.

1996 - 1997:

Again in 1996, Sunanda Tumne started Marathi classes in the basement of her home in Mississauga.  Also Sunanda Tumne acted as a coordinator for Marathi teaching program for east and west end of Toronto. Meena Gandhi served as a supply teacher in 1996-1997 .

1997 - 1999:

Sunanda Tumne taught during 1997-1998 in Mississauga in her home. Twenty-two students attended home based Marathi Shala on every Sunday afternoon. Shree Nana Datar started teaching similar Marathi class at the community center of North York in east end of Toronto. Neeta Tilak served as teacher for younger group class. Sunanda Tumne prepared teacher’s guidelines and mentored the teachers. Last day of school was celebrated with garden party in backyards of Sunanda Tumne.

Shashi and Anjali Karandikar hosted school backyard parties for next five years. Students played  “Ranga Panchami” (sprinklers, colorful water play activity on the hot summer day). Students performed Marathi skits, dances, songs as a grand finale of the end of school year. Parents participated with potluck food. Students were awarded prizes for excellence, attendance, essay compositions, performances and projects.

1999 - 2000 - The Valleys Secondary Public School, Peel Board Of Education, Mississauga. Ontario. Canada:

Sunanda Tumne approached Peel Board of Education to start Marathi Language Classes under International Program. Now Marathi class started again at The Valleys Public Secondary School in Mississauga every Sunday morning.Sunanda Tumne served as a teacher with current enrolment of 28 students in Mississauga. Student enrollment was 37 by year 2000. Veena Bopardikar served as a supply teacher. Sunanda Tumne prepared a structured Marathi Shala program in Basic, Intermediate and Advance level. She prepared lesson plans, teacher’s guidance, short term and long-term outline of the course. Half an hour of Gym time enhanced Marathi learning through games and play activities. Sunanda Tumne acted as a coordinator for Marathi school in the greater Toronto area.

Oriole Community Center, North York:

Shree Nana Datar served, as a teacher in North York and current enrolment was 11 students in North York.  Shree Nana Datar continued to teach in east end Marathi school; Nita Tilak and Surekha Nimkar served as teachers for two other classes.  The classes continued at the Oriole Community center with support of Marathi Bhashik Mandal, Toronto. Inc.

Sept. 1999:

Twenty-two children rehearsed and performed in a one act Marathi comedy play called “Are Pan Ka?” Sunanda Tumne wrote this play. The theme of the play was a satire on “Thread Ceremony”. It was jointly produced and directed by Leena Deodhare. Veena Bopardikar, Prakash Kale, Anagha Wad and Kishore Bapat managed stage props, sound and lights. The play was a grand success with unbelievable standing ovation at the MBM Ganapati program

2001 - 2002:

Veena Bopardikar served as a Marathi Teacher. The student enrollment was 32. The Marathi school continued to be grand success with strong commitments by parents and students. Nana Datar and Nita Tilak continued serving as Marathi teachers in east end school with enrollment of 11 students.

2003 - 2005:

Meenal Joshi and Vijaya Markendey are serving as two Marathi teachers with strong enrollment of 36 students. Sunanda Tumne serves as a coordinator, mentor to the teachers and lesson planner for Marathi Shala. The school continues to operate under the International Language Program, Peel Board of Education at Valleys Secondary School, Mississauga. This year, Toronto East Marathi Shala classes discontinued due to the lack of enrollment in 2004-2005. Shree Ganesh Yaag Association made venue available at the Kalibari temple for the Mississauga school’s year-end gathering in June 2005.

2005 - present Don Valley Junior High School, North York:

Again this year, Marathi classes in East Toronto are organized under the Toronto District School Board of Education. Sunanda Tumne made persistent efforts to organize and to hold these classes under the structured program with grand success. Twenty-eight students registered for Toronto East classes. The classes are held at Don Valley Jr. High School every Saturday morning. Sunanda Tumne, Ashwini Deodhar and Nana Datar served as teachers.

2006 The Valleys Secondary Public School, Mississauga:

Toronto West classes continued at the Valleys School in Mississauga every Sunday morning with strong enrollment of 40 students. Meenal Joshi and Vijaya Markandey served as teachers. Sunanda Tumne served as a supply teacher.

2007-2008- East Toronto Classes  at Valley Junior High School, North York and west side classes  at T.L. Kennedy Secondary School, Mississauga.

 Sunanda Tumne, Ashwini Deodhar, Jyoti Mulye  and Vijaya Markandey  are serving  as teachers .