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REjuvenation!
Religious Education News - November 2004
REjuvenation! ArchivesA Note from Bonnie
Religious Education Curriculum Committee
Many parents have an idea of what goes on in the Religious Education classrooms on Sunday mornings. Often your understanding of RE comes through teaching. You may have taught 1st or 2nd grade, perhaps 6th grade GATE, or helped in the nursery. But few parents really know what's happening all across the different ages at the same time. While we know kids learn about UU history or important people, or about World Religion holidays, or about hunger or world peace, even then we may not have a clear idea of what the RE curriculum is as a whole.
The RE Curriculum Committee was convened so that parents would know what is going on in all the different RE classes, and would have a chance to evaluate and develop the program. We talked about what we wanted the children to learn, and what kind of atmosphere we want them to encounter in RE. While we like the different curricula we use, we also knew there were new approaches out there that we should explore. This RE committee is a very active committee, learning about new ideas in the field of Religious Education, and shaping what happens at Eliot on Sunday mornings.
Our first change was to re-organize our curriculum so that all the classes are talking about the same general theme at the same time. This way we hope that parents and families have a better idea of what is going on, and can talk about the themes after church or during the week. The themes are: UU principles, Jewish and Christian stories, World Religion stories, and Social Action. Right now we're finishing up the UU principles portion of our year and moving on to Jewish and Christian stories.
There are some very exciting approaches to RE that we'll be exploring next. These include using the Covenant Group concept with children, using a workshop rotation plan instead of a curriculum plan for RE, or a Montessori-based plan that emphasizes story telling and individual explorations of a theme. The Curriculum Committee will be taking time to educate themselves about these ideas, then taking time to educate the congregation about possible changes in the program. We don't anticipate major changes for about 18 months, and even then we'll only change things if we feel it will really improve our program. If you are interested in these ideas however, please feel free to find out more about what's going on. Talk to Rev. Bonnie, Joan Casey, or Hilary Babcock (chairperson of the RE Curriculum Committee).
Faithfully,
Bonnie
November RE Calendar
| November 7, Sunday |
Family Worship 9:15 am Classes as usual for Nursery and Intermediate 10:45 am Classes as usual for Nursery, Intermediate, 6th grade, Junior High and Senior High 9:20 am & 10:50 am Family Worship in Adams Hall for Pre-K - 5th grade (see article) 10:15 - 10:45 am Chalice Choir rehearsal in music room 7:00 pm Anthony Castro speaks on ADHD |
| November 12, Friday | 9:30-11:00am Playgroup meets in the nursery (See article) |
| November 14, Sunday | Ramadan 9:15 am Classes as usual for Nursery, Intermediate, and Pre-Kindergarten 10:45 am Classes as usual for Nursery, Intermediate, Pre-Kindergarten, 6th grade, Junior High & Senior High 9:15 am & 10:45 am Students K - 5th grade begin morning in Children's Chapel, followed by Ramadan Celebrations in lower lever (see article) 10:15 - 10:45 am Chalice Choir rehearsal in music room |
| November 21, Sunday |
Intergenerational Bread Service 9:15, 10:15 and 11:30 am Nursery in session/Preschool childcare in room 107 All other children attend service in sanctuary |
| November 28, Sunday | RE classes & Children's Chapel as usual 10:15 - 10:45 am Chalice Choir rehearsal in music room 10:45 am Adult GATE partners in class |
Christmas Pageant and Holiday Party
Christmas Pageant information and registration will be distributed at the Family Worship on November 7. The Pageant will be on December 12 at both services and will follow the same format as last year. Students 5th grade and up get the speaking parts and must be able to perform at both services. Younger children will perform at either the 9:15 or 10:45 service. Rehearsal for the pageant is on Saturday morning, December 11, with times varying depending on roles. Lisa Wilhelms will again be our pageant director and Nancy Collis will be our music director.
Our Holiday Party will be on Saturday, December 11 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. The party runs concurrently with the pageant rehearsal. Children who are in the pageant will have time to participate at the party, and all children, whether in the pageant or not, are invited to attend. We hope that lots of you will be able come to the party and have fun making crafts, playing the dreidl game and snacking.
Bread Sunday services
There are three Bread Sunday services on November 21 at 9:15, 10:15 and 11:30 am. Thanksgiving essay forms will be handed out beginning October 31. We would like one student to read his or her essay at each of the services.
Family Worship
Reverend Bonnie will lead our second Family Worship in Adams Hall on November 7. It will run concurrently with the adult services. Families with children Pre-K through 5th grade are encouraged to attend together. If that is not possible, a few teachers will be available to take children to Family Worship instead of their parents:
At 9:15 for kids aged
Pre-K - 1st grade ~ room 105 (K/1st)
2nd - 5th grade ~ room 005 (4th/5th)
At 10:45 for kids aged
Pre-K - 1st grade ~ room 106 (K/1st)
2nd - 5th grade ~ room 005 (4th/5th)
Chalice Choir News
Fifteen girls from 1st-5th grade are coming to the Chalice Choir each week between services! They are having fun learning musical skills by playing a game each time. They are making new friends. They are learning to read music and each have their own choir folder. They don't have any performances scheduled yet, but when the time comes, they'll be ready! There's room for more young singers. They just need to have their parents contact Jan Chamberlin, Music Director at .
Ramadan Sunday
On November 14, students in Kindergarten through 5th grade will have the opportunity to explore Ramadan during a special RE Sunday. All students will begin the morning in Children's Chapel. Afterwards we will have activities in the lower level of the new RE wing. Parents should pick up their children in rooms 002 - 003 (at 9:15) and 001 - 003 (at 10:45).
Thanksgiving Dinner
3rd Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Eliot -
Thanksgiving dinner will again be served in Adams Hall on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25th, 2004. All are invited to participate by bringing a dish (if you can) and your favorite game. Last year's event was very well attended and a great time was had by all. We will be setting up/playing games at 4:00 p.m., and dinner will be served at 5:00 p.m. A sign-up sheet will be available outside Adams
Hall the beginning of November, or you
can call Mike and Vivian Antoine.
Adult E&E Talk
In an event co-sponsored by the Family Support and Outreach Committee and the Adult E&E group, Eliot member Dr. Anthony Castro will give a talk on ADHD and its effect on families on Sunday, November 7th at 7:00 p.m. in Adams Hall. Childcare may be requested up to two weeks in advance of the event either by signing up for it in the hallway leading into Adams Hall or by calling Susan Duncan.
Attention YUUth Artists!
As part of her Senior Girl Scout Gold Award project to organize a youth art show for Eliot, Sara Luckow is holding art workshops for children and teens enrolled in the RE program. The final two workshops will be held on Saturday, Nov. 20 and Sun., Dec. 5. You may register your youngsters by signing up in Adams Hall (near the donut table); obtaining a form from Joan Casey, Religious Education Director; or calling Sara. If your child is unable to attend a workshop but would still like to submit a piece of artwork, please contact Sara. Original artwork will be displayed at Eliot in early 2005.
Sara also would appreciate in-kind donations for the workshops and the exhibit from Eliot Members and Friends. Donations may be dropped off in the special box located in Joan's office. Suggestions: leftover art paper, poster paints or watercolors, glue, paintbrushes, colored cardboard and matting.
The Playgroup Returns!
Please join us in the nursery on Friday, November 12, for conversation (adults) and play (kids). We hope to see you there!
This newsletter is a product of the Eliot Chapel Religious Education Department. Please direct any articles, comments, or questions to Joan Casey (Religious Education Director) at 314-821-0911 or at . An article must be submitted no later than the 20th of each month to ensure it appearing in the next issue.
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