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We relate our RE lessons to our 7 principles which are posted on the wall of each classroom (rewritten from the UU Principles in a more basic format for children):
At UUCM it is our goal for children to feel valued as an active part of our church community. For this reason children stay for the beginning of the regular Sunday service during the announcements, chalice lighting and “joys and concerns” (see Worship for more information on our service). Before leaving the service the children are invited to sit in front of the church for “Children’s Worship.” This is a short object lesson for kids (and adults) relating to the topic of the sermon.
For our Middle and High School aged kids we provide more social opportunities and more sophisticated information on religion and cultural issues. These children are informed and empowered to make their own judgments. This is especially important as they mature and begin to encounter the increased cultural and social pressures of the mainstream religious community.Our thriving, energetic youth group will be using discussions and debates about current issues as their curriculum. They will be attending many services and going on some field trips to other churches. They will have lock-ins throughout the year, and opportunities for other exciting activities.
Sunday Morning format
Children attend service for the first 20 minutes or so. They will be invited upfront for “Children’s Worship” (a short object lesson on that day’s Service topic.) They are then “sung to class” lovingly by the congregation with the words: “Go now in peace. Go now in peace. Let the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.” The children are then led to class by their teachers.Registration
If you attend even sporadically, we recommend you register your child(ren) for R.E. so we will have the information to best serve their interests. Membership in UUCM is NOT required.Snacks
A light snack (such as cheese crackers, cereal bars, chex mix, etc.) is served to the younger classrooms upstairs. If your child has an allergy or special diet, you can make prior arrangements with your teacher. If you need to, you may bring a separate snack. There is also an allergy list posted in every classroom.Behavior Policy
Discipline Policy
All teachers are trained to use positive redirection as a means of discipline. In the instance that a child cannot be redirected and is disrupting class, he/she may be brought to the DRE to converse with the child to find out why he/she was misbehaving. After service she will speak briefly with the family about the incident. If the behavior cannot be resolved, the child may be asked to sit with their family for the remainder of the service.Do I need to pick up my child from R.E.?
Yes, Please pick up your child if they are under middle school age. This will let the teacher know he/she can leave to join the other adults for coffee hour. Please let the older children know of the behavior policy. Children are NOT allowed in classrooms before or after R.E. Please note that your child’s teacher is only responsible for your child during R.E. time. Please keep an eye on them before and after service.Communication
We believe Parent/Teacher communication is extremely beneficial to your child’s R.E. experience. Please know that you can talk to your child’s teacher at any time. You can also meet with me if there are further questions or concerns.Intergenerational Services
Every time there is a 5th Sunday in a month, UUCM offers an opportunity to bring all ages together through our Intergenerational Services. There is no R.E. on these days. Please see the enclosed calendar for further information.Volunteering
We are a community with many talents. Please consider sharing yours, whatever they may be. See your child’s teacher or myself for information on how you can help. And let me know if you know anyone who can offer assistance to our program as well.Field Trips
UUCM offers field trips on occasion to our youth. A Parental Permission slip must be turned in before your child (teens included) will be allowed to attend. You can get these through myself or your child’s teacher.Teen Mountain Cons
“The Mountain” located in Highlands, NC (about 2 ½ hours from UUCM) “offers programming during the year for junior and senior high school students. A Youth CONference is a gathering of Unitarian Universalist youth from congregations all over the southeast (and sometimes beyond!) for a weekend program filled with a variety of workshops, activities, good food, a safe environment and warm cozy cabins. Youth participate in all the activities, give back to the community through a service project, share with friends in Touch Groups, bond during free time, and grow spiritually through worship. Adult advisors supervise each group of youth – and they are the ones who make your participation in the CONs possible.”-taken from The Mountain’s website.Visit www.mountaincenters.org for more information about The Mountain.
I have been there and I can tell you not only is it beautiful, relaxing and fun but it is truly an uplifting and safe environment for your teens. There will be a High School Con Nov. 5-7. And a Middle School Con Nov. 19-21st. The cost for these CON’s is $80 per person. We will be doing some fundraising to help alleviate the cost for parents. More information will be available.
Our 2005-2006 R.E. Teachers:
UUCM PO Box 1805, Marietta, GA 30061 | Messages (770) 528-9542| Email | 2007 Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marietta. All rights reserved.
