The First Unitarian Society of Westchester

First Unitarian Society of Westchester

First Unitarian Society of Westchester

Religious Education Winter-Spring 2007

A Unique Religious Education Opportunity for Children and Youth

and the Adults who lead them.

Our program year begins September 10, 2006 and concludes June 17, 2007.

Please visit us anytime, bring your children or come alone to scout us out.

Children’s classes coincide with the Adult Services at 9:30 and 11:15, but please note that classes for grades 6 and above occur at 11:15 only. On most Sundays, children in grades 5 and under participate in Children's Worship at 9:30 or 11:15, followed by RE classes.

9:30
CurriculumOverview

Preschool (4 year olds and younger)
Includes childcare for infants and toddlers, plus opportunities for our three and four year olds to explore the world around them through stories and crafts.

Kindergarten – 1^st Grade – 2^nd Grade
Picture Book World Religions— uses beautiful picture books to introduce Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. Children will begin to develop respect and understanding for these religions as they explore the differences and similarities to their own lives.

3^rd – 4^th – 5^th Grade
Spirit of Adventure— is a curriculum of Unitarian Universalist exploration for active children. It uses the themes of sports, medicine, food, science, and building as ways to discover the people and values of our UU faith.

11:15
Curriculum Overview

Childcare (2 year olds and younger)
The Nursery is place where children from infancy through three years will feel welcome, comfortable, and at home. Our childcare providers care for them when parents attend services or other programs at the Society.

Preschool & Kindergarten (3-4-5 year olds)
Discovery Time — provides our young children with experiences and opportunities to grow in trust and caring. Throughout the year their exploration will progress from self to family, congregation and the world. They will celebrate diversity and interdependence along with the freedom to discover and express their uniqueness.

Grades 1-2-3
Holidays and Holy Days — is an introduction to other religions and cultures, through the celebration of holidays from around the world. These festivities tell a story which children absorb with delight through their experiences, far more than they could through words. Some Unitarian Universalist celebrations are included.

Grades 4-5
Travel in Time — uses the imaginative device of time travel to help participants explore their religious identity. Participants learn about the origins of Unitarian Universalism in North America and the lives of individuals, past and present, who exemplify our faith.

Grades 6-7
Neighboring Faiths — helps youth learn about their own Faith and other faith traditions through interactive experience such as field trips and interviews.

Grade 8: Coming of Age
Using the curricula Compass Points and Words to Live By, our youth will focus on clarifying personal beliefs and values. The class culminates with a class-led Coming of Age Service on May 6.

Junior Youth Group for 6th to 8th graders meets on Friday evenings about twice a month from 6:30 to 9:30 at the Society. This is an opportunity for our younger youth to socialize across grade lines, and build community with opportunities to work for social justice, to participate in youth-style worship, and to develop leadership skills.

Youth Group: Young Religious Unitarian Universalists
Youth group activities include social action projects, youth-led services, attendance at youth conferences, and a variety of fun, community-building activities. YRUU has an event each weekend, some evenings, some off site, and meets on some Sundays at 11:15.

Our mission in the Religious Education Program

is to provide an extraordinary spiritual, intellectual, educational, and social experience for the children and youth in our congregation;
to create a safe and nurturing environment in which they feel free to learn together, develop their own theology, build community, and work for a better world;
and support parents and caregivers in their role as the primary religious educators of their children.

Our Religious Education Program is guided and inspired by the
Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association

We covenant to affirm and promote:

· The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

· Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

· Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

· A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

· The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;

· The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

· Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The children’s version of the principles:

We believe:

· that each and every person is important.

· that all people should be treated fairly.

· that our churches are places where all people are accepted and where we keep on learning together.

· that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.

· that all people should have a vote about the things that concern them.

· in working for a peaceful, fair and free world.

· in caring for our planet earth.

Our Director of Religious Education, John Cavallero, is a member of the Liberal Religious Educators Association. John can be contacted by e-mail at RE@westchesteruu.org

This page was last updated on February 20, 2007

The First Unitarian Society of Westchester web design by Howie Bashant
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