Youth Classes

Sunday School Offerings for 2011-2012 School Year

Our Religious Education program is divided into the nursery and three older age-based class divisions.  Please see the age guidelines as a rough division only—we are always happy to be flexible and accommodating should children be more suited for a class outside of their literal age range.

Nursery

Older infants and toddlers may be taken directly to the nursery before the service (main church building, in the far back of Fellowship Hall). Parents need to let the caregiver know of any special needs for the morning.  Parents may be asked on occasion to assist   with childcare if their child is in particular need of their presence that morning.  Unless otherwise noted, nursery hours are 8:45am until 11:45 am.  Coverage is sometimes extended for after church meetings and classes.

Chalice Children (ages 3-5)Our Chalice Children group will use the curriculum by the same name by Katie Erslev. Based upon a philosophy that a child’s spiritual development is related to direct experience, this curriculum helps young children learn what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. Using a chalice theme, children learn about their religious community, engage in sharing with others, and explore a sense of belonging.  This lively curriculum includes many crafts, holiday themes, and physically engaging activities.
The Explorers (ages 6-11)The Explorers will be using the UUA curriculum, “Faithful Journeys.”   Participants embark on a pilgrimage of faith, exploring how Unitarian Universalism translates into life choices and everyday actions. In each session, they hear historic or contemporary examples of Unitarian Universalist faith in action. Stories about real people model how participants can activate their own personal agency – their capacity to act faithfully as Unitarian Universalists – in their own lives, and children have regular opportunities to share and affirm their own stories of faithful action. Through sessions structured around the Unitarian Universalist Principles, Faithful Journeys demonstrates that our Principles are not a dogma, but a credo that individuals can affirm with many kinds of action. Over the course of the program, children discover a unity of faith in the many different ways Unitarian Universalists, including themselves, can act on our beliefs.
NUUC Youth (ages 12+)  –Fall Semster  Youth will use the UUA curriculum, ” A Chorus of Faiths,” which explores interfaith understanding.  Promotes values of service to our community and religious pluralism through stories from our Sources and personal storytelling.  Youth are led this year by Nancy Gamso, Kim Poderys, and Jackie Mallett. 
 
NUUC Religious Education Policies and Procedures for Sunday Morning Classes
  • All Sunday morning Religious Education Classes meetings take place in the House.  However, the preschool class will meet in the rear of Fellowship Hall, adjacent to the nursery.  Please be sure to check the Worship schedule on the website for dates for intergenerational worships when the children join us for the main service instead of having RE class.
  • The program takes place from 10:30am until 11:30am.
  • We ask that all parents/guardians of children personally escort their children to their Sunday morning religious education program no earlier than 10:20am.  Teachers and assistants, please arrive by 10:20 AM at the latest.
  • Visitors will be asked to complete a visitor registration form.
  • Each class will leave the house at the conclusion of its religious education program.  Children are required to stay with the group as they leave the house, cross the street, and enter Fellowship Hall.  It is expected that parents/guardians will promptly join with their child in Fellowship Hall upon completion of the worship service.
  • Parents are ultimately responsible for their minor children at all times.
  • To ensure the safety of everyone, children, youth, and their parents are asked to abide by the NUUC Religious Education Behavioral Covenant.
  • All adults in the community accept the responsibility for the care and nurture of the children in our midst. All adults are encouraged to model and encourage safe behaviors.
  • Older children are expected to be mindful and considerate of younger children at all times.
  • Inside the buildings, children and youth are expected to use “walking feet and indoor voices” at all times.
  • Any concerns should be reported to the Acting Director of Religious Education Ministries, Rev. Susan Ritchie.