Children and Youth Religious Education
Religious Education Announces 2010-2011 Schedule
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"This will be an exciting church year for us all, and I am pleased to announce the format for Religious Education for Children and Youth." |
Religious Education Director:
Sherry Warren
785-842-3339 (o)
785-594-3993 (h)
ufldre@sunflower.com
Sunday Morning
9:15 a.m. To 12:15 p.m.: Nursery attendants are available for infants, toddlers, and young children in the Beatrix Potter Room.
9:30 a.m.: Sunday School for children from preschool through 12th grade runs from 9:30 to 10:45. Children start the morning with their parents in the sanctuary. After story time, they leave with their teachers for class in the Religious Exploration wing. They join their parents again at about 10:45 for snacks in Founder's Hall. Several times a year, children of all ages join the older members for the entire service for a multigenerational service created with our younger UUs in mind.
Youths (grades 7-12) spend time together on Sunday mornings with each other and caring adults in the Mary Wollstonecraft Room. Most Sunday mornings, they discuss moral and ethical dilemmas as well as religious issues that are brought to their attention via film and television, as well as their own experiences. On second Sundays, Salmagundi Sunday, the youth prepare a vegan lunch to be shared by the entire community.
11:00 a.m.: Adults and children join together for the beginning of the Program. After Joys and Concerns, children leave with their adult leaders for a multi-age activity. The activities are designed to promote our principles, teach cooperation, and create a sense of community among our children. They join their parents again at noon for snacks or time on the playground.
Several times a year, intergenerational Programs allow us to celebrate holidays and learn together.
*Parents are always welcome to join their child(ren) for any of their class sessions.
Curriculum: Our 9:30 sessions are based on emphasizing our Unitarian Universalist principles and learning to live them. We use curricula from the Unitarian Universalist Association's Tapestry of Faith program. Activities are designed to reinforce the theme of the session, and attempt to address multiple learning styles and childrens’ needs for active learning as well as quieter moments.
Youth: Young people in grades 7-12 are invited to join our youth group which meets on Sunday mornings. Youth help prepare a vegan meal on the second Sunday of each month with supervision from youth advisors, and everyone is welcome to enjoy the meal, play games, hold meetings, and grow our community. Suggested donation is $5 and funds raised go toward the Spring Youth trip. Other activities may include watching socially relevant films, planning outings in our community, and participating in Sunday morning programs.
Classroom Organization:
All of our classrooms are named after notable Unitarians, Universalists, or Unitarian Universalists.
Beatrix Potter – Nursery
Paul Revere – Nursery
Ralph Waldo Emerson – Pre - Grade 1
Louisa May Alcott – Grades 2-4
Dorothea Dix - Grades 5-6
Mary Wollstonecraft - Youth
Wednesday Evening
Families are invited to participate in Wednesday evening programming. A meal is served at 5:30 for a small contribution. Childcare is available from 6:00 to 8:30. Class offerings vary throughout the year and family-oriented classes are offered periodically. This year, our 7-9th grade youth have Our Whole Lives on Wednesday nights from 6 to 7:30.
Our Whole Lives (OWL)
Our Whole Lives is a UU sexuality curriculum that is age appropriate and designed for 6 different age levels. We offer sessions periodically. Learn more at http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/ourwhole/
Our proposed schedule for offering OWL classes for children and youth is as follows:
Fall and Spring 2010/2011
Middle School Grades 7-9
Fall and Spring 2011/2012
Fall 2011 K-1
Spring 2012 Grades 4-5
Fall and Spring 2012/2013
Middle School Grades 7-9
Fall and Spring 2013/2014
Fall 2013 K-1
Spring 2014 Grades 4-5
All of the Our Whole Lives facilitators at Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence have had at least one year's experience teaching in our Religious Education Program, have attended an intensive training for OWL facilitators, and have passed a background check. They are all dedicated to the safety of our young people and their spiritual growth.
Community Activities
We have the opportunity to serve at LINK (Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen), Just Food (collecting for local food pantries), and Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice Saturday Peace Vigils at the Douglas County Courthouse. These events are advertised in our weekly newsletter, and listed online at: http://www.uufl.net/newsletters.htm
In January of 2011, we are hosting a Prairie Star District Youth event that will have the social justice focus of Hunger and Homelessness. Please check the PSD website for updates: www.psduua.org
Every Spring, our youth take a trip to put service and learning into action. Fundraising activities to offset the expense of this trip happen throughout the year, and Salmagundi Sundays are the main fundraising opportunity and provide intergenerational gatherings as well.
Volunteers
Volunteers are the soul of our program. The Religious Exploration Committee relies on them to staff our programs. Teams of adults are assigned to classrooms and use curricula from the Unitarian Universalist Association's Tapestry of Faith program. The contributions of our volunteers' time and talents guarantee quality programming for children and youth and the continuation of our Unitarian Universalist legacy. Adults can help mentor the children of our community and find that they learn a great deal about Unitarian Universalism and relationship through their interactions with our youngsters and their peers. Those with a concern for the future of liberal religion should contact Sherry Warren, Director of Religious Exploration, to discover how they can participate in this meaningful and rewarding effort.
Guidelines and Expectations
We ask that all children attend either their classes or the 9:30 Service and/or 11:00 Program offerings with the adult community. Occasionally, we have Intergenerational Programs during these times that involve the children in an appropriate way - reading, singing, acting, lighting the chalice, and other activities as we create them. Our playground is accessible at all times and children need to be supervised by parents, staff, or volunteers when on the playground.
Children arriving for the 9:30 Service should get their nametags and wear them. Newcomers are asked to check in at the welcome table so we can answer questions and provide you with a nametag. We ask that children then sit with their families until called forward for story time, after which they leave with their teachers to go to their classrooms.
During the 11:00 Program, children will sit with their parents until they are excused to their classroom for an organized, multi-age activity. Before, between, and after activities, snacks and drinks are served in our social hall and people of all ages can mingle together.
An enrollment form must be completed for any child under 19 participating in the Religious Education program. Any dietary requirements or pertinent diagnoses can be brought to the attention of the Religious Education staff at this time. Parents are welcome to join their child(ren) for any of their class sessions.
The Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence aspires to be a welcoming, intergenerational community that respects individual differences and beliefs. Together, we share the joys and milestones of life as we foster intellectual inquiry and spiritual understanding. In the larger community, we promote social action and environmental responsibility. We recognize that parents are the principal spiritual guides for their children, and we are here to act as resources in this journey.
For those enrolling their children into our Sunday school, we have a registration form available to fill out in MS Word and return to Sherry Warren, Director of Religious Exploraton. Please return the form to ufldre@sunflower.com.
RE_Registration_Form (Word doc)
RE_Brochure (PDF)