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 The Unitarian Church in Charleston offers Religious Education classes for children three years old through high school. A nursery is provided for babies and toddlers under the age of three.
We provide opportunities for our children to grow. We offer a foundation for their ethical and spiritual development, a sense of self worth, and respect for others. We nurture their Unitarian Universalist identities and connect them to our multicultural, global community. We want our older youth to live out their UU values. By offering them effective skills in decision-making, leadership, and spiritual grounding in a liberal faith community—we hope to empower them as confident young adults.
Please join us in our journey. If you would like more information about the services we provide for families, children and youth, contact me at the church (723-4617) or by email at DRE@charlestonuu.org
Janet Watts, Director of Religious Education.
Download the Unitarian Church in Charleston RE Prospectus for full information on Classes, the RE Community, RE Volunteer opportunities, and more...
The Unitarian Church in Charleston offers Religious Education classes for children three years old through high school. A nursery is provided for babies and toddlers under the age of three.
We provide opportunities for our children to grow. We offer a foundation for their ethical and spiritual development, a sense of self worth, and respect for others. We nurture their Unitarian Universalist identities and connect them to our multicultural, global community. We want our older youth to live out their UU values. By offering them effective skills in decision-making, leadership, and spiritual grounding in a liberal faith community—we hope to empower them as confident young adults.
Please join us in our journey. If you would like more information about the services we provide for families, children and youth, contact me at the church (723-4617) or by email at DRE@charlestonuu.org
Janet Watts, Director of Religious Education.
Download the Unitarian Church in Charleston RE Prospectus for full information on Classes, the RE Community, RE Volunteer opportunities, and more...
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More RE info
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REGISTRATION
Please register your children for Church School as soon as possible. This information helps us provide a safe and nurturing experience for them. We do not charge a registration fee, but ask that you consider your participation in RE when you make your annual pledge. Registration forms can also be found inside Gage Hall the first few Sundays of the year and in the RE office as well as classroom bulletin boards throughout the year. When registering your child here, you are joining a partnership. As a parent, you agree to work cooperatively with the RE program to enhance the ethical and spiritual development of your child. To fulfill this agreement, each family is expected to contribute a major effort to the RE program. Through teaching, organizing events, or being a set of consistently helping hands you can fulfill that agreement. We are a growing program with enrollment expected to increase significantly. It is only through your volunteer commitment that we can have a quality educational experience in our growing program.
SOCIAL ACTION
The Religious Education Program is designed to encourage young people to develop a social conscience and to take action to influence change. Our young people help with the UU Service Committee, Guest at Your Table collection, Crisis Ministries Shelter collections and serving meals, Memminger school supplies drive, creating hospital quilts, Empty Bowls meal and fundraiser, and a variety of other annual and one-off events throughout the year. Our church members and friends tutor inner-city children, sponsor scholarships in Transylvania, and run a musical coffee house through church support. We have a dynamic Social Justice Committee that would love to have your support.
FAMILY PROGRAMS
Throughout the year a number of special intergenerational activities are scheduled which give us an opportunity to celebrate together. These special times include the Welcome Back Picnic, Halloween party, Everyone’s Birthday Party, Empty Bowls Meal and Fundraiser, Secret Valentines, Easter celebrations, Earth day activities, three-year-olds welcome ceremony, seniors recognition and all of our other social action projects. Please bring your children for fun and fellowship and enjoy the warmth of our community. In order to give the children and youth a sense of belonging to our larger church community we encourage intergenerational activities throughout the year. Many of these events are sponsored by other committees in the church or arise spontaneously. Check your newsletter for themed events throughout the year.
R.E. LIBRARY
We have an RE library for adults situated in the RE office. Books on topics from philosophy to parenting can be checked out on an honor system. Please feel free to glace over our titles and find something you’re interested in.
MUSIC
The children have a choir called the Canaries that performs in the sanctuary during special services. We practice songs in the classes and at announced rehearsals. Several of our youngsters are talented musicians and play in designated services as well. Individuals who wish to share their talents with the larger church community are encouraged to contact Janet or Lin.
TEAM TEACHING
Teams of volunteers lead classes, with assistance from the Religious Education Director. Each class has two adults in the classroom at all times; alternately, one is in the “lead teacher” position, and one in an “assistant” position. The lead teacher, working with a pre-created lesson plan, facilitates the lesson for the class, having books and craft materials at the ready. The assistant helps children needing special attention, organizes snacks and supervises clean up, with the help of the children. We are grateful for the gift of themselves our teachers offer to the young people of our church, and hope that in this giving they will truly receive much spiritual growth and joy. All volunteers working with children must sign a Code of Ethics and agree to a background check that the Director of RE will provide. The
continuing process of updating our behavior and safety guidelines is an important task that we work on throughout the year.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The REC is a group of volunteers dedicated to the children and youth of our church. Responsible for the overall quality of the RE program, members must deal with issues of policy, programming, staff, worship, and event planning. REC meetings are held once a month at the church. Visitors are welcome. Check The Gateway for dates and times. Parents and other church members are encouraged to come to a meeting to gain a better understanding of the types of problems--and successes--the program faces.
REGISTRATION
Please register your children for Church School as soon as possible. This information helps us provide a safe and nurturing experience for them. We do not charge a registration fee, but ask that you consider your participation in RE when you make your annual pledge. Registration forms can also be found inside Gage Hall the first few Sundays of the year and in the RE office as well as classroom bulletin boards throughout the year. When registering your child here, you are joining a partnership. As a parent, you agree to work cooperatively with the RE program to enhance the ethical and spiritual development of your child. To fulfill this agreement, each family is expected to contribute a major effort to the RE program. Through teaching, organizing events, or being a set of consistently helping hands you can fulfill that agreement. We are a growing program with enrollment expected to increase significantly. It is only through your volunteer commitment that we can have a quality educational experience in our growing program.
SOCIAL ACTION
The Religious Education Program is designed to encourage young people to develop a social conscience and to take action to influence change. Our young people help with the UU Service Committee, Guest at Your Table collection, Crisis Ministries Shelter collections and serving meals, Memminger school supplies drive, creating hospital quilts, Empty Bowls meal and fundraiser, and a variety of other annual and one-off events throughout the year. Our church members and friends tutor inner-city children, sponsor scholarships in Transylvania, and run a musical coffee house through church support. We have a dynamic Social Justice Committee that would love to have your support.
FAMILY PROGRAMS
Throughout the year a number of special intergenerational activities are scheduled which give us an opportunity to celebrate together. These special times include the Welcome Back Picnic, Halloween party, Everyone’s Birthday Party, Empty Bowls Meal and Fundraiser, Secret Valentines, Easter celebrations, Earth day activities, three-year-olds welcome ceremony, seniors recognition and all of our other social action projects. Please bring your children for fun and fellowship and enjoy the warmth of our community. In order to give the children and youth a sense of belonging to our larger church community we encourage intergenerational activities throughout the year. Many of these events are sponsored by other committees in the church or arise spontaneously. Check your newsletter for themed events throughout the year.
R.E. LIBRARY
We have an RE library for adults situated in the RE office. Books on topics from philosophy to parenting can be checked out on an honor system. Please feel free to glace over our titles and find something you’re interested in.
MUSIC
The children have a choir called the Canaries that performs in the sanctuary during special services. We practice songs in the classes and at announced rehearsals. Several of our youngsters are talented musicians and play in designated services as well. Individuals who wish to share their talents with the larger church community are encouraged to contact Janet or Lin.
TEAM TEACHING
Teams of volunteers lead classes, with assistance from the Religious Education Director. Each class has two adults in the classroom at all times; alternately, one is in the “lead teacher” position, and one in an “assistant” position. The lead teacher, working with a pre-created lesson plan, facilitates the lesson for the class, having books and craft materials at the ready. The assistant helps children needing special attention, organizes snacks and supervises clean up, with the help of the children. We are grateful for the gift of themselves our teachers offer to the young people of our church, and hope that in this giving they will truly receive much spiritual growth and joy. All volunteers working with children must sign a Code of Ethics and agree to a background check that the Director of RE will provide. The
continuing process of updating our behavior and safety guidelines is an important task that we work on throughout the year.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The REC is a group of volunteers dedicated to the children and youth of our church. Responsible for the overall quality of the RE program, members must deal with issues of policy, programming, staff, worship, and event planning. REC meetings are held once a month at the church. Visitors are welcome. Check The Gateway for dates and times. Parents and other church members are encouraged to come to a meeting to gain a better understanding of the types of problems--and successes--the program faces.
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Parents
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We hope that as parents you will all take an active interest in your child’s religious education. This is not necessarily a complicated task, but it is time consuming. The topics and principles that we introduce on Sunday mornings will have a greater and longer-lasting effect if they are reinforced at home. Morals and values are often “caught not taught.” You can…
encourage prompt and regular attendance each Sunday;
introduce yourself to teachers; ask questions and take an active interest;
let your children know your thoughts, opinions and values;
put your beliefs into practice together—you may both learn something.
Parents new to Unitarian Universalism are encouraged to attend a “New UU” series of classes offered several times a year that introduces adults to the history and theological foundation of this religious movement. It is essential that parents make every effort to bring their children on a regular basis. Children who attend church consistently build friendships (with amazing kids), experience the curriculum and have more fun in RE. While
some non-parents also teach, our program could not survive without parents taking a major role. If teaching is not possible we ask that you seek out the many other volunteer opportunities available in the program.
We hope that as parents you will all take an active interest in your child’s religious education. This is not necessarily a complicated task, but it is time consuming. The topics and principles that we introduce on Sunday mornings will have a greater and longer-lasting effect if they are reinforced at home. Morals and values are often “caught not taught.” You can…
encourage prompt and regular attendance each Sunday;
introduce yourself to teachers; ask questions and take an active interest;
let your children know your thoughts, opinions and values;
put your beliefs into practice together—you may both learn something.
Parents new to Unitarian Universalism are encouraged to attend a “New UU” series of classes offered several times a year that introduces adults to the history and theological foundation of this religious movement. It is essential that parents make every effort to bring their children on a regular basis. Children who attend church consistently build friendships (with amazing kids), experience the curriculum and have more fun in RE. While
some non-parents also teach, our program could not survive without parents taking a major role. If teaching is not possible we ask that you seek out the many other volunteer opportunities available in the program.
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Child ID System
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Religious Education Child ID System
Nursery: Children under the age of three may be in the nursery from 10am-12:15. You are asked to sign in on the clipboard provided and must take a Kiddie Keepers wrist band. Deloris and Michelle will instruct you on how to use this system. Only an adult with the matching tag may retrieve an infant or toddler.
RE Children: Children older than 3 are given a colorful paper wrist band upon entering the sanctuary every Sunday. A second wrist band, with a matching number, is also given to the adult that accompanies them to the service. You do not need to write anything on this wrist band. The matching numbers are what is important when you collect your preschooler from the Annex or your grade-schooler from the playground at Charleston Day School.
These and other measure have been taken to ensure that you and your child feel welcome and safe in our community. If you have questions or concerns please see Janet, the Director of Religious Education.
Religious Education Child ID System
Nursery: Children under the age of three may be in the nursery from 10am-12:15. You are asked to sign in on the clipboard provided and must take a Kiddie Keepers wrist band. Deloris and Michelle will instruct you on how to use this system. Only an adult with the matching tag may retrieve an infant or toddler.
RE Children: Children older than 3 are given a colorful paper wrist band upon entering the sanctuary every Sunday. A second wrist band, with a matching number, is also given to the adult that accompanies them to the service. You do not need to write anything on this wrist band. The matching numbers are what is important when you collect your preschooler from the Annex or your grade-schooler from the playground at Charleston Day School.
These and other measure have been taken to ensure that you and your child feel welcome and safe in our community. If you have questions or concerns please see Janet, the Director of Religious Education.
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RE Community
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LEARNING COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL GUIDELINES
Our objectives in behavior management are directed towards developing skills necessary for religious education participation, according to students’ maturity and experiences in order to:
1. Be in a physically and emotionally safe environment for all 2. Develop positive relationships with others
3. Solve problems successfully
4. Become contributing members of the community
5. Recognize when their actions are interfering with the rights of others
6. Recognize their rights within the limits of society
7. Respect property rights of others
8. Understand and appreciate differences among people
9. Develop a sense of responsibility for their actions and an awareness of probable consequences and
10. Experience spiritual growth through a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
We believe…
1. The church and home/family work as partners to prevent and resolve problems.
2. The most effective behavior management is the result of positive prevention rather than negative punishment.
3. Simpler solutions to problems should be exhausted before proceeding to other steps.
We have been fortunate to have very few behavior problems in our RE program. We credit this to saintly children, patient teachers and clear guidelines so that everyone knows the behavior expected in the classroom and the social environment of the church.
Within the classroom our teachers follow these actions:
1. The child and teacher will discuss the behavior and possible solutions. Adults remind the child of the agreed-upon solution as necessary. Intervention at this stage solves most difficulties with doses of distraction or additional attention.
2. If the behavior continues, the individual is taken to the Director of RE for the remainder of the class. The DRE will meet with parents.
3. Any further problems will follow steps one and two, but if no satisfaction is reached, the teacher, parents, DRE and child will meet.
4. If all these efforts have been unsuccessful in improving the child’s behavior, the child will lose the privilege of attending our RE classes for a month and we encourage him/her to attend church with his/her family. We have never had to use this unfortunate final step.
LEARNING COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL GUIDELINES
Our objectives in behavior management are directed towards developing skills necessary for religious education participation, according to students’ maturity and experiences in order to:
1. Be in a physically and emotionally safe environment for all 2. Develop positive relationships with others
3. Solve problems successfully
4. Become contributing members of the community
5. Recognize when their actions are interfering with the rights of others
6. Recognize their rights within the limits of society
7. Respect property rights of others
8. Understand and appreciate differences among people
9. Develop a sense of responsibility for their actions and an awareness of probable consequences and
10. Experience spiritual growth through a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
We believe…
1. The church and home/family work as partners to prevent and resolve problems.
2. The most effective behavior management is the result of positive prevention rather than negative punishment.
3. Simpler solutions to problems should be exhausted before proceeding to other steps.
We have been fortunate to have very few behavior problems in our RE program. We credit this to saintly children, patient teachers and clear guidelines so that everyone knows the behavior expected in the classroom and the social environment of the church.
Within the classroom our teachers follow these actions:
1. The child and teacher will discuss the behavior and possible solutions. Adults remind the child of the agreed-upon solution as necessary. Intervention at this stage solves most difficulties with doses of distraction or additional attention.
2. If the behavior continues, the individual is taken to the Director of RE for the remainder of the class. The DRE will meet with parents.
3. Any further problems will follow steps one and two, but if no satisfaction is reached, the teacher, parents, DRE and child will meet.
4. If all these efforts have been unsuccessful in improving the child’s behavior, the child will lose the privilege of attending our RE classes for a month and we encourage him/her to attend church with his/her family. We have never had to use this unfortunate final step.
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