RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

 

Welcome! Our Religious Education program starts after our traditional Ingathering service, just after Labor Day. We have a great program planned for the 2007-2008 school year. You can read more about this year's program in our annual prospectus).

SOURCES OF INSPIRATION
In the words of Rev. William Ellery Channing, "The great end in religious instruction is not to stamp our own minds upon the young, but to stir up their own." Our curriculum reflects this sentiment by drawing inspiration from many sources, including:

• Humanist teachings, which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against the idolatries of the mind and spirit. We embrace science and encourage our youth to use reason to understand and appreciate the world.
• The Bible-We teach appropriate bible stories to provide our youth with a foundation in Judao-Christian heritage.
• World Religions-We study the other major religions, including Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Earth-based religions.
• Nature, Art, Music-We guide our children to value these aesthetic sources to provide spiritual renewal and appreciation.
• Philosophy and Ethics-We encourage our youth to think about the meaning of life and ethical ways to live in community, guided by the sources listed above and the principles below.

SUNDAY SCHEDULE Our nursery opens at 10:45 a.m., all other children join the adults for the first part of the service. We sing the children out of the sanctuary to their classes after the Story for All Ages. Children and youth will share celebrations and concerns in their classes, which run from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 a.m. We ask that you not pick up your child early to give the teachers time for their class activities. You may have noticed our playground. During nice weather, we encourage the children to check-in with their parents before playing on the playground after class. Please check that an adult is present to supervise (on occasion, teachers may have to leave promptly after class).

ATTENDANCE
Children will benefit most from our program if they come regularly. Only then will they find continuity in the program and a circle of friends so they look forward to coming each Sunday. If you are new, we ask that you sign our guest book and fill out a Registration form. The registration form provides us with contact information and lets teachers know of any health or dietary restrictions, as well as your interests and expectations. Comfortable clothes are fine for children to wear, since our classes often involve active and creative activities.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES

Nursery (infants to age 2)
While you renew your spirit by attending the service, rest assured that your young children are receiving friendly, safe and loving care from our wonderful nursery caregiver, Marisa Mohan. We will work with you to figure out what works for your baby or toddler. You are welcome to spend time in the nursery while your child acclimates. You can provide Marisa with a cell phone number (set to silent mode!) so that she can reach you while you attend the service. Some babies do fine when they remain with their parents in the service. We aim to be flexible and family friendly.

Pre-school and Kindergarten class (ages 3 to 6)
The Pre-K classroom is the last room on the right in the religious education wing, across the hall from the tree mural. Pre-K ages will be celebrating special holidays from different traditions and learning about the UU principles, all while having fun and making friends.

Grades 1-5
Children in grades 1-5 meet in the Robert Fulghum room, on the far left of the religious education wing. Please see our prospectus) to learn more about themes and teachers for this year.

Middle school grades
The middle school classroom is the second classroom on the left, the Clara Barton room. Please see our prospectus) to learn more about the themes and teachers for this year.

High school grades
The high school classroom is the first on the left, with its comfortable couches and refrigerator. Please see our prospectus) to learn more about the themes and teachers for this year.

SERVICE PROJECTS
We invite our children and youth to participate in service projects such as the UUSC Guest at Your Table program.

FRIENDLY ADULT PARTICIPATION
Many volunteers contribute their time and energy to make our religious education program one of quality and vision. There are any number of ways that you can be involved. Being a member of one of our teaching teams is a great way to learn more about our sources of inspiration and make friends of all ages.

Other ways to participate include planning special/holiday social events and outings, working on intergenerational services and plays, and serving as a helper.

Your involvement in your child's religious education experience also enriches your child's learning in our program. Encouraging attendance, showing an interest in their classes, and sharing discussions at home lead to a well-integrated family church experience.

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