St. Gabriel’s Church School and Nursery
St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church welcomes children of all ages to come celebrate the joy of learning about Jesus and the Christian faith. Our lessons follow the Episcopal church year and use the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Godly Play and Seasons of the Spirit curriculums as our primary teaching sources.
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. Of course, we also like to have fun while learning with imaginative games, crafts and activities designed to enhance the lesson.
Infants through age
3 ½:
We
provide a nursery staffed with 2 adults during the 10:00 AM Sunday service,
except during the major Christian holidays, when everyone is in service
together. The nursery is open on Sundays from 9:45-11:15 AM. 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.
Preschool and
Kindergarten Age Children:
These children are taught through the Episcopal and Montessori-based “Godly
Play” curriculum. Godly Play teaches students about the Bible and the Church
using techniques based on the Montessori method. While children hear a
creatively told story from the Bible, they become deeply involved in the story
though use of play figures and props. Each child then has the opportunity to
respond to the story through a imaginative, reflective activity of his or her
choice, alternated with more guided projects and games. Students join their
parents in service in time for Communion. The classroom for Godly Play is
through the door at the end of the narthex to the left of the kitchen door.
Grade School
Children:
Kids 1st through 5th grade use the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum to learn
about God’s love through creative storytelling and activities based on the arts,
including music, poetry, prayer, original artwork and sacred rituals. Kids meet
their parents in service in time for Communion. Seasons of the Spirit meets in
the youth room down the right hallway at the end of the narthex and through the
furthest door.
Special Events:
In addition to class time, our church school program includes special
activities geared to Episcopal Church worship and church holidays. These
include: All Saints Day shield making and parade, Advents traditions and party,
the annual Christmas pageant, Epiphany celebration, Shrove and Lent preparation,
Holy Week and Easter instruction and a Palm Sunday egg hunt, Communion classes
and an end-of-year scavenger hunt and picnic. All church school students are
welcome to bring friends to these events.
Teachers:
St. Gabriel’s church school relies on teams of volunteer
teachers, greeters and storytellers. All classrooms are staffed with at least 2
adults at all times. New church school volunteers work with more experienced
teachers as part of a team, so training is “on the job” and new teachers are
always welcome. We offer church school team meetings and training sessions. Our
clergy provide support and encouragement to our teaching staff, and the church
provides curriculum, library resources and game and activity supplies.
For more information about St. Gabriel’s church school, please contact our Church School Coordinator Whitney Joshi wrjoshi @ stgabrielonline.org or Youth and Family Minister Page Clothier pageclothier @ stgabrielonline.org or see our church bulletin board for current info and events at the end of the narthex at St. Gabriel’s.
