Children's Education

We want our children to develop a strong sense of personal values and to feel confident in expressing them and acting upon them.  Our Religious Education program for children teaches ethical living, our Unitarian Universalist principles and heritage, and religions of the world, including Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and Native American teachings.

We offer our program in a way that gives children a framework they can build upon, so that they will grow up to become responsible adults and make wise decisions about what to believe and how to live.

Formal Sunday school classes are held during services from September to June every year, except during multigenerational services, held about once per month, that are designed to be more child-friendly.  We have fall, winter, and spring trimesters.  Between the fall and winter trimesters (around the winter holidays), Intercession classes are held for Pre-K to 8th graders.  During this time, the children do art, crafts, cooking, social action, and other activities focused on the different holidays of the season.  During the summer, fun activities are available for Pre-K to 8th graders, while the blockroom remains open for children up to 5 years old.

Sunday School Classes for the 2011/2012 Church Year

The fall Sunday school program begins with the multigenerational Gathering of the Waters service on September 11, 2011, and concludes with the multigenerational Flower Communion on June 10, 2012.  This year, our themes are UU identity and values in the fall and Christian New Testament scriptures in the winter and spring.  Beginning September 18th, there will be the following classes:

Infant and Preschool:  Safe and fun playtime for our youngest children with Michael Green in the blockroom.

Kindergarten and First Grade:  Using Picture Book of UU, this group will explore our UU Principles in the fall and winter.  In the spring, this group will participate in Our Whole Lives (OWL) during Sunday school.  The spring OWL class is a covenanted class.  Children in the OWL class will go directly to their class at 10:30 rather than starting in the sanctuary with the adults.  See below for information about OWL.

Second and Third Grade:  This group will use the peace and social justice program In Our Hands in the fall.  In the winter and spring, they will be introduced to the stories of Jesus in the New Testament using the curriculum Jesus and His Kingdom of Equals.

Fourth Grade (fall):  This group will explore the “tools” of our faith using the Toolbox of Faith curriculum.  Note that the class groupings will change in the winter.

Fifth and Sixth Grade (fall):  Using the Amazing Grace curriculum, this group will address life’s big questions and grapple with the use of their moral compass.  Note that the class groupings will change in the winter.

Seventh and Eighth Grade (fall):  This group will explore ethics and UU values using current events and the production of a mummer’s play to be performed in the service as the starting point for discussions.  Note that the class groupings will change in the winter.

Fourth and Fifth Grade (winter/spring):  This group will explore the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament using the curriculum Jesus and His Kingdom of Equals.

Sixth through Eighth Grade (winter/spring):  This group will learn about the different forms Christianity takes in our society using the curriculum Neighboring Faiths.  This class will be taking field trips to churches of different faith traditions on some Sundays.

Our Whole Live (OWL) Programming

In alternating years, we offer (a) OWL for 5th to 6th graders and (b) OWL for 7th to 9th graders (outside of Sunday school) and for kindergartners to 1st graders.  OWL is comprehensive human sexuality curricula developed jointly by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ.  The program provides participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas:  human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture.  It helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior.  Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, OWL provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.  Both youth and parents frequently describe the program as an invaluable gift that is helpful, fun, transformative, and safe.  See http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/ourwhole/ for additional information on OWL.

Program Registration

Parents are asked to register their children in the program after they begin to attend regularly. Please fill out the PDF file below and e-mail it to the Director of Religious Education, (DRE) at dreuufrc AT yahoo . com. (Note the e-mail address has the usual format but is not written here that way to reduce spam.) If there are any questions about registration, contact the DRE at 650-365-6913.

Click here for a UUFRC Religious Education Registration form. Please fill out the PDF form and e-mail it to the DRE. If you do not know the DRE's email address, then click here and we will email it to you.

Sunday Morning Schedule

Parents may bring children and youth of any age to church services.

Childcare is available in the Block Room beginning at 10 am for infants to 5 years old.  Parents are expected to pick up children from the Block room by noon.

Children and youth from kindergarten to 8th grade typically begin in the sanctuary with the adults and are then escorted to their classes after the first hymn.  We request that parents of kindergartners and first graders pick up their children at their classroom after the service ends.  Older children and youth are dismissed from the classroom to meet their parents in the Social Hall.  Please discuss requested exceptions to this policy with the classroom teachers.

Parents or another designated adult(s) are expected to remain at the Fellowship while children and youth are in our care, in case of medical emergency or any other situation requiring parental attention.  Requests for exceptions to this policy should be directed to the DRE.

Curriculum Philosophy

At UUFRC, we want our children to develop a strong sense of personal values and to feel confident in expressing and acting upon them.  Our Religious Education program for children teaches ethical living, our UU principles and heritage, and religions of the world.  We believe that exposure to multiple religious perspectives will increase tolerance and provide our youth with many sources as they build their own theology.  Our goal is for our children to grow up to become responsible adults and to make wise decisions about what to believe and how to live.

Each church year, the fall trimester begins with a unit on UU identity and values.  Topics can include the 7 UU Principles, UU history, and famous UUs.  In the winter and spring trimesters, we focus on world religions.  We have a three-year rotation for world religions topics:  eastern world religions, western world religions, and the New Testament.  We plan to have the following rotations:

• Winter/Spring 2012:  New Testament.
• Winter/Spring 2013:  Eastern World Religions.  In the past we have studied Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
• Winter/Spring 2014:  Western World Religions.  In the past, we have studied Hebrew scriptures and earth-based spirituality, such as wiccan and Native American beliefs.

We attempt to make authentic connections to communities within these religions.  For example, children in 4th to 8th grade have visited a Jewish temple, an Islamic mosque, a Hindu temple, and a Buddhist temple.

Beyond Sunday school, we offer a Kindergarten rite of passage, an Age of Reason rite of passage (UU Catechism) for 3rd and 4th graders, Coming of Age for 8th to 10th graders, and Our Whole Lives comprehensive sexuality education for kindergarten to 1st graders, 5th to 6th graders, and 7th to 9th graders.

Unitarian Universalist Principles in Children’s Language (Rainbow Principles)

• Respect the importance and value of every person.
• Offer fair and kind treatment to everyone.
• Yes to spiritual growth and learning together.
• Grow by exploring ideas and finding your truth.
• Believe in our ideals and voice your vote.
• Insist on justice, freedom and peace for all.
• Value our responsibility in the web of life.

Inclusivity

We welcome all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identification, affectional preference or sexual orientation, age, physical or mental challenge, social or economic status, or marital status.

Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact Derby Davidson, the Director of Religious Education.