Nursery
Our youngest children, 2 months to age 3 years 9 months (as of September 2007), will be lovingly cared for by our paid childcare workers. Note that between the ages of 3 years, 9 months and 5 years, the children are assessed to see if they would benefit from our religious education classes and a decision to move them up is made by the DRE, teachers, and the parents. Our nursery is open from 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. We provide extended nursery care for longer Sunday morning services and activities throughout the year as needed.
Grades PS - K
In order to introduce the children to the religious community and tradition, we offer a year-long religious education curriculum, called We Are One, We Are Many by Colleen McDonald. This curriculum is based on the philosophy that young children learn about religion through relationships. It encourages children to use their mind, bodies and emotions to develop their sense of identity and self-esteem within their Unitarian Universalist community and their world. Questions such as “What is a person?Who am I? How am I related to others? How do I treat other people? What are my responsibilities? What kind of world do I live in?” are explored through the lessons.
Grades 1-7
The program for Grades 1–7 will be multi-faceted. It will emphasize exploration of World Religions, Bible stories, Unitarian Universalist principles in action, confidence building, service to church and community and self awareness. The formal curricula that will be used are A World of New Friends and Lessons of Loss. Informal activities will include social action projects, mask making, intergenerational service participation, and inquiry lessons in Bible stories and themes and nature.
World Religion: A World of New Friends (Grades 1-7): Unitarian Universalism teaches us that there is some wisdom to be found in allthe great religions of the world. Our chosen curriculum, A World of New Friends by Sara Sautter, uses a child’s curiosity flavored with stories, art, drama, and song to introduce our students to the many truths and faiths that richly color our earth and enrich our lives. The lessons are designed to introduce the multi-age classroom to eight major religions through a multi-intelligence approach. Religions to be examined this year are: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Traditional Chinese religions (Confucianism, Taoism), Earth-centered Religions, Sikhism and Judaism.
UU Pillar with a Focus on Loss (Grades 1-7 and 8-12): Lessons of Loss by Carol Galginaitis is part of a life-span curriculum, which examines death, dying, loss and change. The curriculum is written for five differentage levels from primary through adult. This curriculum will recognize that change and loss are inevitable and exist through nature, and that grieving with its wide range of feelings is a normal reaction to loss. Students will have an opportunity to voice fears and questions about loss. UU and other religious/cultural traditions concerning death and dying with be identified with emphasis on UU principles and how they provide guidance in understanding loss and supporting the grieving process.Lastly, the curriculum will help students to develop a personal theology regarding loss, death and dying and respectfully remember loved ones who have died.
Youth Group (Grades 8-12)
Although the curriculum foundation of the Pillars will be used, the youth program will emphasize self-awareness and confidence building, service to church and community, and will facilitate youth in fully developing their unique personal journey. Youth will continue to develop their own belief systems, work together cooperatively, become aware of the larger UU community, and plan social service activities. They will explore UU principles and exemplars, and in doing so they will continue their development of personal faith and become more discerning and critical of the culture in which they live. Throughout the year, the youth will be engaged in various activities to help develop their journey. Film as Theological Text, and Lessons of Loss are two short-term curricula that will be used. In addition, youth will plan and conduct their own service, participate in social service projects, and create activities of their own choosing.
Film as Theological Text (Grades 8-12): More than at any time in our history, the entertainment industry has taken a leading role in cultural interpretation. Indeed, film and television play a central role in setting the cultural agenda. Whether intentional or not, we – the viewing public – draw meaning from what we see on the screen. Film functions as a “hidden curriculum” in that we are often unaware of the ways in which popular culture shapes our values and teaches meaning. Film as Theological Text is designed to promote dialogue, to help us to think critically, to engage more deeply, to broaden our perspectives and theological interpretations of both the ordinary and the extraordinary in a complex cultural milieu. One of the goals for this series is to provide a structured opportunity for spiritual reflection on popular culture – specifically dramatic film – while having fun. Another goal is to help participants begin to see culture as more critically informed by faith and religious values and to reflect on personal values and actions. A final goal is to strengthen our understanding of and commitment to an anti-racist, multicultural society and deepen our commitment to “justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.” All films selected for this series engage the student in more deeply in thinking about ethical choices and moral values of our time. Films that will be discussed this year will be: Dead Man Walking and Riding the Bus With My Sister. |