Religious Education
Note: Religious Education classes do not meet during the summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day). Following is a description of the 2008-09 school year curricula and a general description of our Religious Education program.
UU Religious Education programming is the greatest thing our denomination has to offer the world. And it’s unique! No one else is doing what we are for young people in our churches on Sunday mornings. We are teaching children and youth to feel good about themselves, their abilities, their church, and the wider world in all its rich diversity. We are giving them a basic understanding of, and respect for, the great religions and philosophies of the world. We teach them the Golden Rule, and help them practice it. We teach them our seven UU Principles, including the importance of voting and caring for the earth. We teach them that they can make the world a better place, and we give them tools to do so in ways that are inspiring, fun, and community-building. All our programming is age-appropriate. We tailor what we teach to suit the children’s developmental stages. And we give the children role models they can admire, from the heros and heroines of UU history, to their caring and dedicated staff, parents, teachers, and mentors.
I am a third-generation Unitarian Universalist, and have been a UU all my life. We hope the children and youth of our church will continue to be UUs throughout their whole lives as well. We want them to become moral, empathetic adults with a passion for justice and an openness to new ideas. Vibrant RE programming such as ours is what makes all the difference. The young people of our church are getting ready to change the world. Their high hopes are an inspiration for us all.
Rev. Jennie Barrington, Interim Minister
Our Goals
- Create a loving and supportive atmosphere within the classroom and within our congregation.
- Help each child feel connected to our church community and to the world.
- Encourage children to reflect on their beliefs about God, religion, social issues, environmental responsibility and community.
- Encourage respect and value children’s questions.
- Introduce the beliefs and practices of Unitarian Universalism and other religious traditions and cultures from around the world.
- Recognize and celebrate the diversity among us.
- Help children become principled, ethical people who act upon their values.
- Nourish a sense of wonder about the world
- Have fun!
When you teach your children, you teach your children’s children.
— The Talmud
Curricula
Preschool / Kindergarten
Story Time and Honoring the Light of a Child
Primary ~ 1st – 3rd Grade
Walking the Rainbow Path
Intermediate ~ 4th – 6th Grade
Time Traveling and Games for UU and Me
Tweens ~ 7th – 8th Grade
Compass Points
Teens ~ 9th – 12th Grade
Philosophy Circle and UUs and the Bible
Child Care & Nursery
Child care is provided throughout the year for infants and toddlers to 3 years old. Please bring diapers, bottles and a favorite toy, if desired. During intergenerational services preschoolers and kindergartners are welcome in the nursery at the parents’ discretion.
Notes to Parents
- We miss children who miss RE! Please come regularly.
- Please register your child for the RE program so we can keep in touch with you.
- RE classes are held concurrently with the morning service; children join their parents for the first part of the worship service the second Sunday of each month.
- Family Sundays, when children join their parents for the entire service, will be announced in the newsletter.
- Four times a year, children 5 years old up join together for Kids’ Connection (chapel), featuring music, special visitors and projects.
- Most of the younger children’s classes include an arts and crafts component. Clothing should be washable.
- Please remind your child that good behavior is expected in our classroom and worship settings. If problems arise, parents may be called to help.
- From time to time, you may be asked to volunteer in the classroom. Parental involvement is important to the success of our RE program.
- When a given curriculum contains sexually-sensitive materials, parents will be advised.
- In accordance with our Board policy, all volunteers working with our children read and sign the UUA Sexual Ethics statement. In addition, paid RE employees submit references and agree to a background check. A copy of this policy is available through the church office.
- Please remember to watch your children on our playground before and after church as no adult supervision is provided.
Unaccompanied Child Policy
All children and youth (under age 18) attending Sunday School at First Unitarian Church, South Bend, must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or designated adult. When the accompanying adult is not a parent or guardian, the classroom teacher should be informed. When possible the minister and chair of the Religious Education committee should also be informed.
RE Committee
Mary Beth Dickey, DRE
Maureen Wijnen
Tama Crisovan
The Rev. Jennie Barrington