First Parish Unitarian UniversalistReligious Education for Children — General Information
Our Program
The Religious Education Program at First Parish seeks to teach and empower children to develop the spiritual knowledge and practices that will sustain them throughout their lives. Our RE programs are made up of various components including worship, social action, community development, knowledge, and practice, all within the context of spirituality and Unitarian Universalism.
We want our young people to experience being part of a caring liberal religious community. First Parish offers regular classes that meet in combined-grade groups. We encourage friendship and cooperation among all various age groupings. Parties, potlucks, and other activities are opportunities for children to be in a community with people of all ages. People of all ages enjoy coffee hour after services at First Parish.
Registration forms for classes are available in the religious education office, and are enclosed with this booklet for your convenience. There is no fee to register your child(ren) in First Parish Religious Education programs, thanks to the generosity of past and present First Parish members. However, we need to have up-to-date information on your child(ren). If some information about your child changes during the year, please be sure to let us know.
Attendance
Children and families are encouraged to make regular attendance a priority. The children who participate each week reap the most benefits from our programs. We require parents or guardians to remain in the buildings while children attend worship and classes.
We welcome parent’s involvement in religious education at First Parish. We always need classroom helpers, and that’s a great way to find out more about what your child is learning. You are your child’s primary religious educator! We are here to assist you with your child’s religious education.
Opportunities
The Religious Education Program at First Parish is everyone’s responsibility. There is a place for each person to participate and share his or her own unique gifts and abilities. Some of the ways in which you can participate include: classroom teaching or assisting, sharing a skill or special experience, helping with children’s worship, volunteering for social and holiday activities, cooking, organizing outings, helping with teachers’ meetings, chaperoning youth, becoming an R.E. Committee member, or helping out in the nursery. We encourage all of our church community to participate in the religious education of our children in some way, at least once every year. We will help to find the right spot for you.
Children’s Worship
In Children’s Chapel, children experience child-centered worship. During opening worship in chapel, children may share their joys and concerns, listen, sing, and explore silence together. We want them to feel the sacredness of themselves, of all of life and the universe, including their connection with other people. The DRE will usually be responsible for these services, but there are always a variety of opportunities for parents and other members of the congregation to participate in the chapel services. The children themselves are encouraged to take an active role in chapel services if they would like to do so.
Service Projects
Every year, First Parish youth and adults have the opportunity to be involved in various service projects. Past years’ service projects have included collecting food for and helping out at the Canton Food Pantry, contributing to “Guest At Your Table,” sending hurricane care packages, collecting books for an underserved urban school, making tactile art for the blind, gift-giving to local families at Christmastime, working at a soup kitchen, and making cards for members of the congregation. Watch the newsletters for opportunities this year.
Trimesters
The religious education programming is scheduled in a trimester format. The theme and curriculum for the winter trimester will be announced later in the year. The program for the fall and spring trimesters is outlined in this handbook.
Sunday Morning Scheduling
Sunday Morning RE Classes:
At 10:30 A.M., students and teachers begin by participating either in the first portion of adult worship services in the sanctuary with their families, or in the chapel with other children and teachers. After this time, students go to their regular classes. Newsletters, the enclosed calendar, and signs will guide families to the appropriate places. Regular classes are approximately 45 minutes long, so that children may be dismissed to coincide with the end of adult worship. Parents must pick up children under age eight before coffee hour. Parents are responsible for their children during coffee hour.
Sanctuary:
During the first portion of adult worship services, a story or activity called “A Time for All Ages” is often presented and children are encouraged to gather in front of the pulpit. This year, children will sometimes start in the sanctuary even when a “Time for All Ages” is not scheduled. Following times in the sanctuary, the teachers and children go to their classes.
Children’s Chapel:
Students and teachers go directly to the chapel at 10:30 AM on chapel and extended chapel Sundays for their own worship service. Classes follow immediately after regular chapel services. On the Sundays of some holiday weekends, the children may start in the sanctuary and then go to the chapel for special activities.
Intergenerational Services:
Several times during the year, First Parish has intergenerational services. Children remain in the sanctuary with their families for the entire service. These services are designed for people of all ages.
Child Dedications
Parents are welcome to bring their children of any age forward for a special dedication ceremony. During dedications, the children are welcomed into the First Parish community and the community pledges its love and support to the child and family. Please speak to Diane or Patsy if you are interested.
Mystery Pals
Some years, a community-building program called “Mystery Pals” is offered. A younger member and an older member of our community are paired up without knowing the identity of the other. Notes, clues, and sometimes small gifts are exchanged in paper bag “mailboxes” for several weeks. At the end of the time, a party is held where the identity of each mystery pal is discovered.
Library
First Parish members and friends are invited to use the lending library. It is located in the RE office beside the nursery. If you are looking for a book that addresses a specific issue, please feel free to ask the DRE for help or recommendations. Also, donations of appropriate books are gratefully accepted.
Children’s Garden Preschool
The Children’s Garden Preschool is a state licensed children’s preschool sponsored by First Parish. It began as Canton’s first kindergarten. The preschool operates Monday through Friday, 9 A.M. – 1 P.M. in the two large first floor classrooms. First Parish also sponsors a Toddler Enrichment Program held in the “Camel Room” three days a week. These rooms are equipped by the CGP with toys and furniture that are used by the enrolled children. These and other CGP materials are not for our use on Sundays. First Parish children may play in the outdoor playground only in an age appropriate manner and with adult supervision. Please be respectful of the preschool property and immediately report any damage to the DRE.
Team Teaching
Teaching is a wonderful way to get involved in the religious education programs at First Parish and to be able to make a difference in the lives of some of our young people. Our teachers function more as “guides” than as “teachers” in the traditional sense of the word. We want to nurture our children’s and youth’s own individual, innate spirituality.
Teaching teams of two or more teachers per classroom enable teachers to plan to be in the sanctuary approximately every other week. We also often plan extended chapels on three-day weekends to give teachers other opportunities to attend worship or take trips.
Because we want to provide a safe and nurturing community for all of us, especially the children in our care, we are committed to having two adults present in each classroom. Besides being a consideration for having a safe congregation, this also provides help for the lead teacher. Let us know how you’d like to help in RE!
Class Descriptions
Nursery:
Kristine McNeil will again be our paid childcare provider this year. Children under three years old may be brought to the nursery after 10:15 A.M. If your child is new, it may be helpful to come early to help with your child’s adjustment. Parents must pick up their children after the service before coffee hour at 11:30 A.M. Parents must sign the attendance sheet in the nursery when their child is dropped off and picked up.
“The Explorers” Preschool/ Kindergarten:
The preschool/ kindergarten class will use the UU curriculum entitled,
We Are Many, We Are One by Colleen McDonald. The program encourages children to use their minds, bodies, and emotions to develop their sense of identity as unique individuals and as members of their Unitarian Universalist and world community.
“The Dreamers” First through Third Grades:
UU Super Heroes by Gaia Brown is the curriculum that will be used for this class. UU Super Heroes is a values-based Unitarian Universalist identity curriculum that encourages children to explore the lives of famous people who were Unitarians, Universalists, or Unitarian Universalists. The children will also be encouraged to use their own positive “super powers” to grow both spiritually and ethically.
“The Seekers” Fourth and Fifth Grades:
This class will use Spirit of Adventure by Kate Tweedie Erslev. This is an active Unitarian Universalist Identity curriculum for children using the themes of sports, medicine, food, science, building, exploring and the web of life as ways to discover the people and values of our Unitarian Universalist faith.
“The Bridgers” Six through Eighth Grades:
Traditions with a Wink!: UU Identity Curriculum for Middle Schoolers offers a comprehensive course for middle school students. This curriculum, by Kate Tweedie Erslev, has lessons that use diverse sources such as the UU hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition, the Bible, UU history, the Internet, and UU rituals including the Flower Communion. It was written in response to the need of the writer’s congregation for a good Coming of Age program.
High School Youth:
The high school program at First Parish is a youth-led program that is designed to bridge that period between children’s RE classes and adult individually determined UU membership. The theme for the year is Connections. Youth will explore connections with themselves, each other, other UU youth, First Parish community, the wider community, the global community, the earth, and connections with their faith. The program includes bi-weekly gatherings, outings, and fun! There will be occasional special activities such as sleepovers, and outreach, such as serving dinner to the hungry.