Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting
First Day School (Sunday School) Program

An Overview for Parents

Welcome to our First Day School we look forward to getting to know you and your children.  The following is what we expect you will most want to know about our First Day School program.

First Day School is for all children from kindergarten (usually age 5) through eighth grade (usually age 14). The First Day School is divided into two groups: Primary School (kindergarten through 4th grade) and Middle School (5th grade through 8th grade). There is child care for younger children.

First Day School is open to the children of all members, attenders and visitors. Regular attendance is encouraged, but one-time or irregular attenders are also welcome.

When:

First Day School begins at 10:45 a.m., which is 15 minutes after meeting for worship begins, and ends at 11:30, which is when meeting for worship usually ends. Children are encouraged to attend the first 15 minutes of meeting for worship with their parents (a teacher will signal for the children to rise and leave the meeting room together at the 10:45), and the children will be led back to the meeting room at the rise of meeting.

Activities:

The First Day School curriculum includes stories and lessons from the Old and New Testaments, Quaker history and values, and opportunities for play and projects. We consider all of these activities to be a form of worship for the children, and we endeavor to lead the children in a manner consistent with Quaker values and testimonies such as the testimonies of peace, simplicity, integrity, equality, and community.

The specific activities can vary greatly from week to week and teacher to teacher, so please ask a teacher if you have questions about that day’s activities, the activities planned for future First Days, or if you would like to receive an e-mail notice of future activities.

Teachers:

Our First Day School is taught by volunteers from the members and attenders of our meeting under the supervision of our Religious Education Committee. If you have been regularly participating in the life of our meeting for at least six months and would like to become more involved, please talk to a teacher or any member of the Committee.

Other Questions?

A collection of frequently asked questions, a First Day School calendar for the year, and a copy of our child safety policy are also attached.

For up-to-date information about the First Day School, please see the meeting web page http://www.quaker.org/chestnuthill/ReligEd.htm