Religious Education - General Information

Our Religious Education program is a cooperative effort amongst our entire congregation. We thrive on participation by many people at different levels.

Children

Children and youth make the program flourish! Parents can help their kids get the most out of the program by bringing them to RE regularly, being on time and by taking an interest in their child’s religious education. A “cheerful expectation” of a child’s regular attendance will help make the year a success! Children should be dressed for action and/or art activities when they come!

Parents and our entire Adult Congregation

Parents and other members of our congregation are indispensable as teachers, youth leaders, committee members, providers of other special talents and as general help. Parental and congregational commitment and support, comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome. We encourage all members of our congregation to put down roots in our community by volunteering in our children’s Religious Education program.

The RE Committee

The RE Committee has the primary responsibility for formulating, administering and evaluating the RE program. The committee meets the second Thursday of each month and is open to new members. We welcome your ideas, suggestions, comments and participation.

Members: Samantha McCoy (Chair), Fern Paes, David Payne and Suzanne Perry

The Director of Religious Education (DRE), Mary Collins, works closely with the committee.

(See the "Our Staff" link for details.)

General Information for the 2008-2009 Church Year

Childcare service, suitable for children through age 3, is available at both the 9AM and 11AM services. The nursery room is located on the first floor of the Clapboard Ridge House, across the path to the UUCD Fellowship Hall.

Program Offerings: (see "Curricula Detail" for info by age group)

Pre-school (ready 3's) through Grade 5 Sun, 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM

Grades 6-8 RE Group Sun, 11:00 AM

Jr. High Youth Group One Sun/month, 11:00 AM

Sr. High Youth Group * Sun, 4:00 PM

Grades 7-9 OWL classes ** Sun, 9:00 AM

Grades 10-12 OWL classes ** One Sun/month, 4:00 PM

The Religious Education program for 2008-2009 explores the Jewish and Christian heritage of Unitarian-Universalism in age-appropriate ways. (Please see "Curricula Detail" for specifics.) Groups will utilize age appropriate curricula to explore the major themes, people and traditions of both Judaism and Christianity and will make comparisons to other religions with similar themes. Weekly sessions will look at these issues in the context of Unitarian-Universalism, its seven principles and what we can learn about our own spirituality from these traditions.

To provide a consistent and familiar community for the children, families with children from Pre-school through Grade 5 should choose either the 9AM or 11AM service and make that the family’s customary attendance time.

*Senior High Youth Group meets on Sunday afternoons, but there may be off-site activities involved. Please contact the DRE or group advisors for details.

**Youth in Grades 7th through 9th (Our Whole Lives Sexuality and Values Program at 9 AM, as well as Senior High OWL at 4PM) These youth will go directly to the youth room for their programming in the Clapboard Ridge House when they meet unless otherwise directed by the group leaders. Parents should check with group leaders or the Director of Religious Education if they are unsure of the schedule. This program will require parents to attend an orientation in Sept. 2008 and will be closed to new participants after the 2nd session due to the nature of the material.

Parents are responsible their children and youth at the end of Religious Education programming when they will join the community during refreshment time - generally by

10:30 AM, after the 9AM service

12:30 PM, after the 11AM service

11:30 AM, after a 10AM service or Children’sChapel

Our religious community is family-oriented and parents are expected to stay on the premises during religious programming. Should an emergency require you to leave, please see the DRE to designate a person to be responsible for your child.

Materials fee for the Religious Education program for 2008-2009:

$20 per child, with a maximum fee of $50 per family, to be paid annually at the start of the program year in September 2008. (You may speak with Mary Collins, the Director of Religious Education, should you have a concern about paying this fee. We can talk about contributions other than financial)!

If you find us later than Sept. 2008, and transition from guests to regular attendees in our program, please fill out a formal registration form and attach the materials fee after your 4^th visit.