South Church Unitarian Universalist - Religious Education Department

South Church Religious Education Program

2007-2008 Family Commitment Form Details

Religious education secures Unitarian Universalism’s future by nurturing in children a lifelong commitment to our values and principles. South Church ’s religious education program is a cooperative effort that depends on your contributions. Each family is expected to designate at least one adult as a religious education leader or a participant in RE activities and events. Our program succeeds because of the collective wisdom, energy and talents of the entire congregation.

Detailed Activity Descriptions

Teaching Staff: Teachers lead a class as a team of four, with two team members per Sunday. There are two terms with approximately 16 Sundays per term. An every other week schedule means eight Sundays in the classroom. Summer program runs June through Labor Day.

Roaming Supervisor: Our safe congregation policy requires a trained, fully screened adult in each building to monitor the activities in the classroom and provide support to children who need it.

Religious Education Council: Council members oversee the lifespan program and assist the various subcommittees in putting together a fully integrated program. The council is the governing body for the program.

Subcommittees: (1) Outreach: provide guidance to teachers, children and youth on Make A Difference Sundays and Community Connections. Develop specific programs to support the local and global community; (2) Intergenerational Activities: Coordinate social events like picnics, game nights, museum visits for all ages; (3) Worship: Reflection For All Ages, Chapel, Youth Worship support; (4) Curriculum/Learning: research, evaluate and help implement new faith development programs; (5) Family Ministry: research, evaluate and implement programs specifically for families with children; (6) Teacher Support: As a team recruit, train, support and recognize volunteer teachers; (7) Safe Congregation: monitor current policies and provide recommendations to the Board for revisions and additions; (8) Youth-Adult: support the senior youth in developing and implementing a faith-based youth program; (9) Adult Spiritual Enrichment: See ASE Chair for details.

Room Parent: Assist teachers with special projects, help organize field trips, help on when a substitute is required; call parents when special help is needed.

Nursery Assistance: Join our Nursery Supervisor in caring for babies and toddlers up to the age of three.

Child Care: Provide child care during meetings, workshops or other church-related events. Child care providers are required to be successfully processed through our safe congregation program and are paid hourly.

Socials Chaperones: Join a group of adults in leading social events for either the 5th/6th graders, who are meeting monthly, and our Jr. Youth Group, who meet on a less regular basis.

Make A Difference Sunday/Community Connections: Under the Direction of the Outreach Subcommittee, organize collections, help children and teachers with  projects, drop off donations. This includes the Gift Tag Preparation on 11.25.07.

Young Church Knitting Ministry: By popular demand, our children want to learn to knit and to donate their handiwork for worthy causes. Help teach our children and provide special projects. Work will be available during Young Church .

OWL Parent Orientation: Provide refreshments and do clean up following the meetings.

All-Church Picnics/Game Night Potluck: First picnic is scheduled for September 30th.  Gather food supplies, recreational and other items for a potluck gathering.  With the help of the Intergenerational Activities Subcommittee plan and implement our yearly game night/potluck gathering.

Annual Meeting Chaperone: We provide a program for the children during our annual meeting. Chaperone will help the children enjoy the program and have a snack. Chaperone is not asked to provide the programming.

All-ages Sunday Morning Leaders: We want to give our volunteer teachers some Sundays off! Be willing to work with multiage group on special holiday or outreach projects.

Teacher Orientation: Under the guidance of the Teacher Support Subcommittee provide refreshments for one or two orientations held yearly.

Teacher Appreciation Sunday: Organize and/or provide special refreshments and decorations for social hour. Help us make a big fuss over our volunteer teachers!

Year End Celebration: The RE program ends on May 18th with a special celebration. Help us treat the children, youth and teaching staff with some fun surprises and food.