At UUCCI we try to promote and maintain a supportive and loving classroom setting in which the kids can be themselves, feel safe, enjoy each other and the adults working with them, and have fun. Any child who comes to church is welcome to join the appropriate age group. The only exception is OWL because this is a tight knit and bonded class and youth need to commence the program at the beginning of the year. For that reason, we encourage young teens (7th grade and up) to either be trained to babysit (call Susan Burton) or to stay in the service with the adults. We know you are old enough to get something out of it now! We encourage adults from the congregation to teach the children in order to build relationships with the younger members of our community! As a matter of policy we will all be undergoing background checks starting this year. This will be a very easy process and should in no way discourage any potential teachers from volunteering.

The Pillar we are working under this year is UU Identity and History. At each class level the children will be exposed to the strong history of Unitarian Universalism and will have our UU values reinforced. It is important for our children to have a good understanding of our faith’s strong history. We try to make the lessons interesting and fun at all ages and there are various good curricula that we use. There are plenty of activities and the children will have ample opportunity for discussion and games. They will also have a Social Action Sunday three times this year with Cathy Caldie leading. On those special Sundays, all the children have the opportunity to work together and come to a decision about a social action project that they will carry out this year.

Chalice Children Class (3,4,5 yr. olds)
Our Chalice Children are the three, four, and five year olds of our congregation. This year their curriculum is entitled “Backyard to the Universe: Dr. Suess and UU’s”. Through the language and lessons of selected Dr. Suess stories, our youngest learners will explore a children’s version of the seven Unitarian Universalist principles. Exploration, games, and arts and crafts suggested by these stories will help illustrate UU principles such as “Everyone is important”, “We are fair and kind to each other,” “We help ourselves learn”, and “We work to make the world better for everyone.” In this class we try to provide consistent teachers so that the youngest children feel secure and supported by recognizable adults each week. The lead teacher for Chalice Children is Susan Burton (371-4280)

Younger Primary Class (1-3rd grades)
UU Super Heroes is a values-based identity curriculum for the younger primary students (grades 1-3). Each week we will learn the story of a UU super hero and how their lives confirm the UU principles we all strive to promote. The examples of these real super heroes will encourage the students to use their own super powers as they interact with the world around them. The classroom leader for YP is Susie Sawin-Johnson (350-7060)

Older Primary (4-6th grades)
“Spirit of Adventure" is this year's special curriculum. This curriculum deals with and reinforces UU identity through sessions featuring exciting activities from themes in engineering, exploration, medicine, sports, holidays, food and nature.  This website has details: http://www.uure.com/spirit.html The classroom leaders for OP are Jon and Rhonda Fischer (342-9164).

Our Middle School Youth will be participating in Our Whole Lives, the Unitarian Universalist/Congregationalist churches collaboration about relationships and sexuality. This is a year long program and we ask that families commit both by making sure their youth is present most of the sessions and also by helping with food which is served every session. The meetings are biweekly and the classes are taught by a team of trained OWL teachers. Carla Barrett is our lead teacher and contact this year for OWL.  This age group may have some outside of OWL activities as well.

Our High School Youth (9-12th graders) will meet twice monthly on Sunday evenings to engage in activities that will help them think about who they are and their own values and help on their spiritual paths. We will watch films, have debates, play games, do artwork, listen to adult congregants’ spiritual journeys, and other activities. The youth will be encouraged to take an adult mentor in the middle of the year and spend time with that person in order to learn more about individual adults’ spiritual journeys and lives. The youth will work on a social action project throughout the year and at the end of the year they will present a service to the congregation. The leader this year is pending.
 

last updated: 09/04/2009