RE Council Meeting

Sunday, January 11, 2009

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.  Hearth Room

Minutes

I. New Nursery – Carpets are being cleaned on Monday January 12, 2009

Shelves have been temporarily moved into the Rainbow Path room and will be returned on Thursday.

II. Combining the Wonderful Web/Rainbow Path Room – We will be creating a “painting wall based on the design of the Center for Creative Exploration” in San Francisco to more efficiently use the classroom space.  Remember – the library and the chapel can be used if the room is too crowded. 

III. OWL Classes – Started on Sunday January 11th.  All students from grade 7 – 12 who have not had OWL before are taking the year long curriculum in the Murray Room.  The Senior High students who have had OWL before will rotate OWL for 10-12 grades with the Dare to Know Curriculum and will meet in the Thoreau Room.  The Rotation Schedule is on the church website in the right column of the LFD page. OWL classes are closed to visitors.  

IV. Spirit Play for 3 & 4 years – 1st Grade

Spirit Play Training – We discussed the possibility of inviting Nita Penfold back to our church for a formal Spirit Play training weekend.  Those who attended the last training session advocated for in-house training instead.  We will be planning training sessions on Sunday mornings during RE class time and possibly the time in-between services.  Alternate activities for children will be planned so that our RE teachers can attend these trainings in the classroom.  One possibility is having a storyteller come for a few Sundays. All Spirit play teachers will be notified to plan these in-house trainings.

V. Raising UU Kids Parent Discussion Group – Wish List

Service Project(s) for the RE children to be actively involved in giving back to the community.  Ideas include in house and off site possibilities:

In House:

• Soup drive for Super bowl Sunday – Have RE families/children bring in cans of soup for Channel One. 
• Organize a book trade and donate leftover books our children’s library or public library.
• Have the RE children & youth be coffee hosts for a day – including having them bring baked goods to share with the congregation during coffee hour.
• Have the RE children & youth be greeters on a designated Sunday.
• Establish a regular Sunday that would be dedicated to classroom service projects such as making cards for elders and those who are ill, creating flower arrangements or gifts for the caring committee to deliver on visits, creating care packages for college students, or decorating the RE wing, making dog toys or collecting items for the animal shelters in town (An Animal Lovers Club), making baked items to sell at a bake sale during coffee hour.  

Off-Site Service Projects:

• Getting our children and youth involved in “A Litter Bit Better Day.”
• Delivering food to Channel One and taking a tour of the food shelf.
• Having our children and youth participate in a Community Food Response Event.
• Delivering cards, flowers, gifts to various nursing homes.

VI. Summer Camp or some way for children to have continuity with the RE program over the Summer:

We talked about offering thee one-week camps – one in June, July, August that would be either half or full day, with recommendations that younger children (ages 3-6) come from 9-12.  These camps would include a lot of hands on activities that would foster a tangible relationship with nature and would focus on nature as a core part of the curriculum.

VII. Can families check out books in the children’s library right now?

Yes, please be sure to use the sign out book.  We are looking into a new protocol for retrieving overdue books.  If you check out a book, please return it!!!

IIX.  When is the next Kids Fun Night?

Friday February 13th from 6-9 p.m. – FAMILY GAME NIGHT

Potluck – Bring a Dish

Game – Bring a favorite game to share!

IX. UU Roots Class – Time, Curriculum

Since there were no Roots teachers present, we will postpone this discussion until the next RE council meeting.

X. We Believe and Belong Class – Classroom, Curriculum

The 9 am WeBB class is now on lesson 6

The plan for both classes is to apply for the Faith Quest field test.  Progress report will be made at the next RE Council meeting.