What we teach:
The center of our Sunday mornings is to pray, worship, proclaim the Gospel, and teach the promotion of justice, peace and love: Christian education for everyone flows out of these basic tenets. Our primary textbooks are the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer.
Our Preschool/Kindergarten class and 1st and 2nd grade class each use an age-appropriate version of “Seasons of the Spirit,” a lectionary-based curriculum that uses stories, songs and artwork to help children learn what it means to live and follow in God’s way.
Our 3rd through 5th graders attend “Junior Youth Group”, a program that is designed as a bridge between church school and youth group. Students learn about our beliefs and the calendar of the church year through Bible study, discussion, activities and games.
In addition to class time, our church school program includes special activities and units geared to Episcopal Church worship, including Advent traditions and party, Christmas pageant, Shrove and Lent preparation, Holy Week/Easter instruction, Palm Sunday egg hunt, and Communion classes.
Where and when we meet:
Students 3 ˝ years through 2nd grade meet in the large classroom to the left of the kitchen for Seasons of the Spirit 9:45 AM on Sunday mornings (unless otherwise notified).
Preschoolers and Kinders will adjourn to their own classroom at 10:00 AM.
Students 3rd-5th grade meet at 9:45 AM in the youth room down at the end of the right hand hallway past the nursery (unless otherwise notified).
Children under 3 ˝
are offered nursery care Sunday mornings from
9:45-11:15 AM with two experienced caregivers in our church nursery. The nursery is
located down the hall to the right from the narthex. Parents are welcome to stay
with their children as long as they need to acclimate them to the setting, and
check on them as they need to. Infants are welcome in the service as well, and
crying infants can be taken to the narthex where parents can still hear the
service.
All children and students join our church service in time for Communion.
Teachers:
St. Gabriel’s church school depends on teams of volunteer teachers and
helpers for our three age-appropriate classrooms. We know that volunteers’ time
is valuable and so we allow for flexibility in teaching schedules. Since new
church school volunteers work with more experienced teachers as part of a team,
previous teaching experience is not expected. All teachers/helpers attend a
class teaching child safety. Our church school coordinators and clergy provide
support and encouragement to our teaching staff, and the church provides
curriculums, library resources and supplies.
If you are interested in helping with church school, please contact Church
School Coordinator Whitney Joshi wrjoshi @ stgabrielonline.org or
Youth/Family Coordinator Page Clothier pageclothier @ stgabrielonline.org.
