Teacher Appreciation
Rev. Amy Freedman
News for Children, Youth and Families:
- Teacher Appreciation
- What’s happening this Sunday, June 4
- Coming of Age Information Meeting
- Yoga with Laura Grundstrom (K to 3rd grade)
- Kindness Rocks! (4th grade and up)
- Please Register for 2017-18
- Join a RE Team!
- Women’s Wellness Event
- First Parish in Concord Annual Meeting
- Summer Sundays for Children and Youth
Teacher Appreciation
We are so grateful to the nearly 70 volunteers in our Religious Education Program this year. We hope you know how much your caring, stories, ideas and presence means to the young people of our First Parish community. This Sunday, June 4th at First Parish we will have a Teacher Appreciation as our Children’s Message. If you are available, we hope all RE teachers and mentors come forward to be celebrated and to receive a small token of our gratitude. Hope to see you soon!
With heartfelt thanks,
Amy and Dawn
What is happening this Sunday, June 4:
Little RE – Lower Level
Teacher: Heather Packard
Teaching Assistants on a rotating schedule: Talia Aley, Evie Hamor, Olivia Holmes, Rosie Jimenez, Claire Parish-Cowan, Talia Smith, Laura (Nuffi) Wallis.
Our youngest children (0-4 years) will play in a caring environment with time for making friends, reading stories, playing outdoors, eating snack, and craft projects. Parents are invited to bring their children to the classroom fifteen minutes before worship service begins (9:45am).
Spirit Play- Kindergarten/1st Grade– Lower Level
Teachers: Mel Jiganti and Ethan Baxter
Elsina's Clouds, the book by Jeanette Winter, is the basis for this week's session. As the class hears the story of Elsina waiting for rain clouds, they will explore themes of waiting, patience, and change.
Formerly Little OWL- Grade 1 – Lower Level
Teachers: Amy Freedman and Dawn Van Patten
Following the Children’s Message, this class will learn about Henry David Thoreau. We will make journals and if the weather allows, we will go outside to observe nature.
Explorations with Thoreau
Please dress for the weather! We may go outside.
2nd Grade: Greeley Room
Teachers: Amy Rensko and Leanna Walker
3rd Grade: Ripley Room
Teachers: Carolyn Kessel Stewart and Brandon Wilkerson
4th & 5th Grade: Emerson Room
Teachers: Lisa Bennett and Phil D’Amico
Our Spring theme is “Explorations with Thoreau” for Kindergarten, 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders. Any 5th graders who are not enrolled in Middle OWL will be with the 4th Grade class. 2017 marks the 200th anniversary of Henry David Thoreau’s birth. Inspired by our spiritual ancestor, we will spend time outdoors, journaling, walking, connecting with nature and reflecting on our place in it.
Middle OWL– Wright Tavern, 10:00-11:15 a.m.
Teachers:
Jeff Brainerd and Lora Venesy
Our final session of OWL will focus on Decision Making. We will raise awareness about the messages we receive (from family, friends, community, media) and how these messages can influence our decisions.
Neighboring Activists: 6th Grade –
Sanctuary, 10:15-11:15 a.m., Chapel
Teachers: Jan Goddard-Taylor and Ayres Stiles-Hall
Join us as we reflect on our year together and the many ways to put our values into action!
Neighboring Faiths
Teachers: Jan Power, Stuart Johnstone and Jen Izzo
This weekend is our last gathering! On Saturday from 3:30 to 5:00p.m. we will make sandwiches for Common Cathedral in the First Parish kitchen. On Sunday we will meet in the First Parish Parlor at 11:00 a.m. to attend Common Cathedral, ecumenical service for the homeless on Boston Common. We will return to First Parish ~ 3:00 p.m. Questions? Contact Jan: jpo...@gmail.com or 978-764-8569
Coming of Age Information Meeting
Parents and 8th graders are invited to an informal meeting following the service today. We will meet in the Sunroom of the Wright Tavern (the historic red building next to First Parish) at 11:30a.m. for an overview of our program for 9th graders. A calendar of Sunday sessions and three retreats will be available at the meeting. This year each participant will choose a personal mentor to help guide them in expressing their beliefs, values and aspirations. Contact: Amy Freedman, Minister of Religious Education: afre...@firstparish.org
Yoga with Laura Grundstrom
Sunday, June 11, 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m., Emerson Room
Kindergarten through 3rd graders will enjoy Yoga with Laura who is a certified YogaKids teacher. Some yoga mats will be available. If your family has any yoga mats, please bring them to First Parish that morning.
Kindness Rocks!
Sunday, June 11,10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m., Brooks Room
4th graders and up will make “Kindness Rocks” with Dawn Van Patten and Rev. Amy Freedman. Why are thousands of people painting rocks for strangers to find? Kindness is contagious! Come join the fun.
Please Register for 2017-18 RE
New and returning families are encouraged to register children and youth for the 2017-2018 church year. Our program is year-round but we offer classes by age-group in the Fall, Winter and Spring seasons. Please sign-up today so we can plan and be prepared to welcome your family! Registration for Children and Youth: https://goo.gl/forms/nHIXFXbJUpxRb0B52
Join a RE Team!
This year teachers will work in teams and each member will volunteer for eight Sundays across the church year. We hope that this new arrangement will give you more flexibility and help develop closer connections between children and co-teachers. Volunteer Sign-up: http://tinyurl.com/ConcordRETeacher2017-18 Links are also on our website. Please contact our Assistant Director of Religious Education, Dawn: dvanp...@firstparish.org or our Minister of Religious Education, Amy: afre...@firstparish.org for more information or to explore the possibilities!
Women’s Wellness Event
Friday June 9,
7:00pm
Join us for a special workshop at First
Parish about how we, as women, can maintain our sense of balance, hope, and
purpose in the midst of everything that is happening in the world
today. Let’s get together to take a collective breath and refocus on
what’s important in our own lives. We will be joined by two preeminent women’s
empowerment coaches – Amy Smalarz and Paula Greico. There will also be healthy
smoothies and a yoga meditation. Sponsored by the Advocates for Women’s
Empowerment. Contact Jennifer Izzo: jbi...@hotmail.com.
First Parish in Concord Annual Meeting
Sunday, June 11, 11:30 a.m., Sanctuary
We invite you to come be a part of our Annual Meeting. You will receive reports from staff and committees, vote on officers and committee members, approve delegates to UUA General Assembly, approve the budget for next year and more. Who can vote? First Parish members who have signed the Membership Book at least 30 days prior to the meeting. Childcare will be available. Please pack a nut-free lunch for your child(ren). Contact: Kristin Haddad, Standing Committee Chair, Kristin...@gmail.com or 978-254-5012
Summer Sundays for Children and Youth
Children and youth of all ages are invited to drop-in for our fun Summer Program held every Sunday during the service time 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (except on July 2). Join us for Messy Art, a “Science & Spirituality Scavenger Hunt”, Afro-Brazilian Drumming and more! This program is designed to be fun and enriching for the whole family. Our goal is for you to feel energized and renewed!