Christian Education News and Notes

March 2007 — Newsletter Article

Curriculum News - Our special unit on The 10 Commandments has started.  The entire church school is working on this unit and will present the Children’s Message on March 25th.  Please plan to attend this special event!

Horton Center Update - Even though summer seems a long way off, it is time to turn your thoughts to summer camp.  The Horton Center camp catalog is available.  Several children have already signed up.  We are hoping that camp scholarship money will be available.  Please talk to Rachel Cobban for more information.

C.E. Board Members Needed - We have several openings due to terms expiring.  If you have an interest in serving on this important—and FUN!—Board, please contact Lucy, Nominating Committee, or any current Board member.

February 2007 — Newsletter Article

The Ten Commandments - Following our January winter retreat, a church school teacher’s meeting was held on January 23rd to unveil our special unit on The Ten Commandments.  Starting in February, each commandment will be presented through relevant bible stories that convey the meaning and message of each commandment.  The unit will culminate on Sunday March 25th when the entire Church School will present the children’s message on this important unit.  Many thanks to Rachel Cobban who has been hard at work for months putting this unit together!

Important dates to remember:

February 4th....................Zimbabwe will be the theme for the children’s gathering time. The 10 Commandments unit begins
February 11th..................Valentine’s Day cards will be sold during fellowship to support the African charity Nothing But Nets
February 25th..................No church school.  Multi-Age class will be held for all children.

The C.E. Board will have several openings this spring due to terms ending.  Please speak to any member of the Board or a member of the Nominating Committee if you have an interest in serving on this important Board!

January 2007 — Newsletter Article

In January, the Board will meet for our annual Winter Retreat.  This year, we plan to focus on the curriculum and social needs of our “tweeners”…those children in the 4th & 5th grades.  This age group is an interesting one.  They aren’t “little kids” anymore, but they aren’t quite “big kids” either.  We are excited to see what we come up with.  After all, our popular middle school and senior high groups started with just such an idea...  If you have any ideas, comments, suggestions, please talk with a member of the Board.

We are also busy working on a 7 week unit on The 10 Commandments which will begin in February.  

First Grade Bibles will be presented on January 21st.  We hope that all First Graders will attend this special day.

An adult study group entitled “What’s Theology?” begins Sunday, January 7th from 6:30 - 8:00 pm.  These sessions will be led by Debbie Allen, Diane Breeden, Alice Ling and Lucy Alexander.  Books, What’s Theology Got To Do With It? by Anthony Robinson, are available for purchase in the church office.

A reminder that there will be no separate church school classes on December 31st, but there will be a multi-age group lesson.

Many thanks to our Mission Board which paid the postage for our letters to Zimbabwe.  We hope to send Valentines in February.  So stay tuned!

December 2006 — Newsletter Article

No More Nursery Care - Because we have not had any babies needing nursery care this fall, we have discontinued offering care during worship.  The nursery room is open during worship for anyone who needs to use it.  If you need nursery care in the future, please let a member of the Board know.

The C.E. Bulletin Board - The CE Bulletin Board (outside Lucy’s office) was decorated by members of the third grade Church School class, which is taught by Kris Barker and Lucy Goldthwaite.  Great job!

Thanks to All - Thanks to all who wrote letters to our pen pals in Zimbabwe and to Janet Wetherbee who organized this project.   We look forward to receiving more letters from them in the future.

November 2006 — Newsletter Article

Our first annual Church School Open House on October 22nd was a big success!  The feedback we have received has all been positive.  Thanks to ALL who participated, baked, planned, etc.  And the biggest thanks of all goes to our wonderful teachers!  Without them, there would be no Church School at all.

The entire Church School participated in a fire drill on October 29th.  It is a good idea for your family to have a fire escape plan and meeting place at home, too.  Many of the children have heard this message at their schools recently. 
         
Remember that all food for the Thanksgiving Baskets is needed by November 12th.  Several of the Church School classes are making cards to put in the baskets that the Mission Board will deliver.

We are sad to say goodbye to a long-time Christian Education Board member – Lori (Montgomery) Sanborn who recently resigned.  Lori was in charge of the summer camp program and will be sorely missed.  We thank her for many years of dedicated service.

Consequently, we have an open spot on the Board.  If interested, please contact any Board member or talk with Lucy.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

October 2006 — Newsletter Article

The new church school year kicked into high gear on Rally Sunday.  Over 101 children attended church school.  There is still time to register your child.  There are forms in the church office and every teacher has extra forms.  Church school is offered for children age 2 through high school.  The nursery is open every Sunday for the youngest children.

A reminder to parents of children through grade 5:  Please remember to sign your child into and out of church school each week.  This is according to Safe Church policy.  Thank you for your cooperation!

Our Teacher Orientation meeting in September was a big success.  The teachers were given new procedure manuals which the Board has been working on all summer (with Shea’s help!).  The teachers are excited and enthusiastic about the new curriculum, Bible Quest, which is a bible story-based curriculum rather than a lectionary based one (which followed the same readings we were hearing in worship).  We think this new approach will be more user-friendly, especially for the younger children.  There are songs and suggested related activities included.  We welcome any feedback you may have on this new curriculum.
         
UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sunday, October 1st is World Communion Sunday.  We feel that it is important for the children to be part of this world-wide Christian celebration.  There will be no church school for children 1st grade and older.  The younger children will have school as usual.

Sunday, October 22nd is our first annual Church School Open House.  After worship please join your child’s class to meet the teacher and the other children and parents for a short social time.  Refreshments will be served.  ALL are welcome!

From the September 2006 Newsletter

We have had a very busy summer getting ready for this year’s Church School. To make it easier for our hard-working teachers and superintendents, we have written a formal procedure manual; organized the C.E. closet; met with both the Library Committee and Music Board to discuss ways in which we can utilize their many talents; and purchased a new story-based curriculum called Bible Quest for the younger children!

We are hosting an Orientation for all church school teachers, assistant teachers, substitutes and superintendents on Monday, September 11th at 7:00 p.m.

We still have several openings for both teachers and assistants. If interested, please talk to any member of the Board and come to the orientation. We will be explaining the new procedures and handing out the new curriculum.

Other Important Dates to Remember:

Sunday, September 10

Rally Sunday. Sign your children up for Church School

Monday, September 11

Church School Teachers Orientation 7:00 pm

Sunday, September 17

Church School begins

Sunday, October 22

Church School Open House. Come meet your  child’s teacher and see our new curriculum. All are welcome! Refreshments will be served.