St. Richard's Church School News
Children's Christmas Celebration - 4 pm, Thursday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
Sunday School Update October 1, 2009
On September 13th, the Children’s Ministry team held its first Sunday School class of the year and the church’s infant and toddler program began. Since we didn’t know how many children might be coming to join us or what age groups they would fall into, we decided to gather all the teachers and children together for the first several classes. Our emphasis was on creating a warm welcome for each child and providing an opportunity for them to become comfortable with each other and with the adults.
With close to a dozen school-aged children registered, the time has come to separate into classes. Beginning next Sunday, the children will leave the church service just before the readings begin to gather in the Fireside Room for a short opening with prayer and music. The Fireside Room partition will then be used to create two separate spaces and the classes will divide as follows:
- the older children (Grade 4 to Grade 6) will meet in the section of the Fireside room next to the church hall under the guidance of Wilma DiGaetano, James Hall and Nat Birkinshaw.
- the younger group (K to Grade 3) will meet in the room directly across the hall with their teachers, Jennifer Kirkpatrick and Janet Jakubowski.
Each class will follow a curriculum that introduces the gospel for that week in age-appropriate ways and then reinforces the learning with practical, hands-on activities.
All groups will continue to be supported by additional adult friends who will provide extra hands when necessary, supply teach for absent teachers and participate in the program in an informal way to increase the number of grown up friends our children have within the parish family. All adult participants are undergoing police screening as volunteers with a vulnerable sector of society are required to do.
Our youngest group (infants and toddlers) will be under the careful and loving supervision of Daphane Mifflin, Pat McCourt, Arlene Smyth and Martha Capyk in the Nursery side of the Fireside Room. Rocking chairs, play pens, a changing table and toddler toys, puzzles and stories have been obtained for this area and families are welcome to either drop their children off with the Nursery staff or to visit the Nursery themselves with their infants and toddlers.
Please note that next Sunday, October 4th, we will be learning about Operation Christmas Child during our classes. There will be a short video presentation followed by an exploration within each class of how we can participate with the parish in reaching out to disadvantaged children in other areas of the world.
Church School Begins - September 13, 2009
Our children's church school is back in full swing with registration and our first gathering on September 13. A supervised nursery is available for our youngest members, along with classes for three age groups (3 years old to Grade 6). Please join us, or speak to Wendy Birkinshaw Malo (260-0631), Pat McCourt (224-3816), or Janet Jakubowski (224-5201) if you have questions.*******
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1
Dear Friends,
This verse from the Bible and those that follow it remind us that seasons of renewal and revisioning are part of the rhythm of our lives. Recognizing that the needs and desires of families with children in today’s busy world require a new response from the parish, plans are underway to revitalize the children’s ministry at St Richard’s.
Beginning September 13th, with the first 10 o’clock service of the fall, registration and classes for Sunday morning church school will be held for all children of the parish from 2 ½ years to Grade 6. There will be three classes - 2 ½ to SK, Grades 1 to 3 and Grades 4 to 6. Each class will be lead by a team of teachers and will follow an age appropriate curriculum composed of Bible based stories, children’s music and prayer, games and drama, and arts and crafts. Teaching methods will include both whole group and small group activities to encourage the growth of community amongst all children of the church within this age range. Please complete the Church School Registration Form at your earliest convenience and return it to the church to assist in planning.
In addition to the Sunday morning program, a separate venture is in the planning stages. A series of special get-togethers for children and the significant grown-ups in their lives will be held throughout the year at the church, offering opportunities for fun, Christian growth, family time and service to others in an informal, easy going atmosphere. More information will be available in the fall.
A warm welcome is extended to all members of the church community who wish to join a teaching team. Experienced teachers will be available to "team up" with those to whom children’s ministry is a new venture. Whether you can volunteer your time for a special day’s activities, a number of weeks or months or the entire year, speak to one of the coordinators and every attempt will be made to accommodate your contribution to this important and rewarding work.
Please contact the following Children’s Ministry coordinators with any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you and to working with you and your families throughout the next year.
Wendy Birkinshaw Malo (613-260-0631) Janet Jakubowski (613-224-5201) Pat McCourt (613-224-3816)