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Report from the Director of Religious Education –
November/December 2002
Teachers and Program
November was dedicated to the study of Judaism. The children celebrated Sukkot, the Jewish Harvest Festival, learned some important Old Testament stories (Moses, Exodus, and the 10 commandments), learned about Seder/Passover, sang songs, had Jewish visitors, and of course, ate food! The teachers seem to be enjoying the program as much as the children are. It has been (so far) fewer lessons that they have had to plan and more visitors and others presenters bring information to the class!
The curriculum committee (Joyce Cedarlund, Angie Pebworth and myself) will be meeting over the holidays to plan and gear up for Term II (February-May 2003) We have more celebrations and visitors to plan, as well as resources and research to gather!
We move into the Asian religion section in January, starting with Hinduism, then Buddhism, Shintoism, Daoism, and Confuciousism.
Events and Special programs
The Warm Wear Giveaway is schedule for January 25. The Middle School group will sponsor this program again this year. Items collected on Christmas Eve and through January will be given to persons with low incomes, or who are experiencing homelessness at 1st Place Family center.
We are gearing up for an exciting winter! Sleepovers begin in January with the Firekeepers and Chalicelighters having their gathering on January 17. Earthkeepers and Middle/High School will schedule theirs as well in the near future.
Also, the art class with Sara Glater will happen three Saturdays in January. The group will create a Chinese New Year dragon for the church to use, replacing our old man dragon who is about 12 or more years old!!!!
Holiday Activities:
Holiday Bazaar – Very few children attended this event and it was a bit disappointing to the volunteers. If the event is held in December next year, there might be better attendance, as this date was before Thanksgiving, and people did not have the holidays on the mind as much. Also, we hope that a strong team of planner from the congregation can take this on to make it a richer, more family oriented event.
Advent Garden – This service went well, with about 100 in attendance. Nannette Graves, with a band of helpers, created a magical setting. Nannette added some of her own touches to the garden this year, including having guardians at the entrance to the path (an angel and shepherd) to help young children walk the path.
Hanukkah fair – Twelve volunteers worked with our regular teachers to create a fun and energetic fair! The fair was accented by a Hanukkah sing-a-along at the family service with Emily Fox!
Posadas – Judy Shaw, Pam Dillehay, and Michelle Chaves helped to create a sweet celebration of this Mexican holiday. Pam and Judy sang beautiful songs in Spanish, the children processed, the congregation learned the special call and response song. Mary and Joseph were played by Aubree Johnson and Patrick Wilmoth at both services. This Mexican tradition is a celebration/reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay.
St. Lucia – Natasha Herbert Chaves, a member of our youth group played Santa Lucia this year. Decked out in a satin skirt and red sash made by Diane Wooldridge, and in a crown of glowing candles, Natasha led the children in a procession through the congregation singing the Santa Lucia song. Britt Lindstrom, from Sweden, who had played Lucia when she was a young girl, visited the children. She brought pictures to the classes, and told about the history of the celebration. The children made crowns and hats, set out cookies on trays, and after processing, handed the cookies out while Lucia served a yummy coffee.
Youth
Youth Con – The youth advisors and youth who attended Fall con has lots of fun and came home charged up! They used much of the special fund to rent a van for the trip. The next conference will be this Spring, and there has been word that a summer con is being planned in Alaska!!!!
Middle School Visit to Synagogue – The Middle School group trip to Temple Beth Israel was great fun. Rabbi Jonathan showed us the Torah scrolls, taught us some Hebrew, demonstrated singing the words in Hebrew, and led us in a prayer. A large group of 6th and 7th graders joined us to demonstrate prayers, talk about bar/bat mitzvahs and sing some Hanukkah songs. Our kids were sent home with some Hanukkah gelt!.
Campus Group and Young Adults
Campus Group only met once from Thanksgiving. A few gathered on Thanksgiving weekend to hold a discussion about "dealing with family stress on the holidays". On the 8th, the group joined the TNT potluck and games night. About 20 people were in attendance. There was some great food and the group played Bridge, Cranium, dominoes and variety of other games. Childcare was provided, and 3 couples, and one single mother with children attended!
Where Am I Goin’ and Where have I been?
I had to leave for Arkansas on a last minute trip this year. My mother had a leg amputated, and I went to assist her and my father down south. I am very thankful for the RE committee, Nannette Graves, Carolyn, Laura Adams, and a plethora of other wondrous people who pitched in to make things go so smoothly while I was gone!
I have no plans for the holiday, I plan to just hole in until December 28 when I take my yearly jaunt to Eliot Institute at Seabeck, WA.
Respectfully,
Candee Cole
DRE Report to the Board - July 2002
Report from the Director of Religious Education for June/July 2002
Teachers and Program
Recruitment will begin in mid-July for next year's program. Returning teachers include Angie Pebworth with K-2, Amy Nadolski with Middle School, Patti Hanson with the youth, Susan Goes, with K-2, Molly Bell with 3-5 and Jeanne Marie Moore (age group to be determined).
The curriculum team began work on the 2002-03 curricula at the end of June. The team, Joyce Cedarlund, Angie Pebworth, Olga Turner and Candee Cole will hand create a World Religions Program for children in K-5th grade, and choose pre-made curriculum and resources for preschool, middle school and Sr. Youth.
The Summer Funday Program, began June 16, led by our minister, Carolyn Colbert. 20 children between the ages of 5-10 came with more in the childcare room! This has already been a bigger summer program than usual with 15 attending June 23, and another 25 on June 30. For years we have had only 10-15 children each week. We now have to be sure there are 3 adults in the big kid's room each week in addition to the 2 in the childcare room. Megan Psiropoulos is working as group leader in June and July and then will be leaving us after 5 years of dedicated service. She will be graduating with a degree to teach! Molly Bell will finish out the summer session in August.
Events and Special programs
Graduation - 24 children are moving into a new class grouping next year. Also, 9 children from the Firekeepers class were honored for their participation and completion of the "Love and Help" program. Three of the children were from the Cub Scouts and received a badge for their uniform.
Family Worship - The final family worship for the year was lower in attendance but still just as fun. Local musician, Emily Fox led songs and a paper chain of "acts of kindness" was made by those attending. Family Worships will start up again in October.
RE Close Down and Painting - Classrooms were prepared and furniture was piled in the middle of each room by teachers and work party volunteers in preparation for the massive painting job done by Cassie Curtis. The four corner rooms were painted a light cream color, and all six classroom ceilings were painted.
Room 5 changes - Room 5 will be undergoing some changes over the summer. We must make that space more usable for a larger group of young children. The couches and piano are up for sale and it is hoped we can make enough money to buy some stackable chairs and new carpet/linoleum.
July 4 Picnic - A fabulous success due to the work of Linda Yeager, Diane Wooldridge and David Hubmann and their huge line up of volunteers. I counted 92 (out of 200+ attendees) parents and children from RE! It is hoped that we will do this again and the UFO group plans to fundraise throughout the year to help pay for expenses. (Linda put a lot of her own money out this time!)
Middle School Camping Trip, Amy Nadolski is planning a one night overnight at Honeymon Park in Florence for the middle school youth. About 8 are signed up to go with about 5 adults. The plan is to swim in the lake, have s'mores, climb the dunes, build community and go on a dune buggy ride. The date set is August 4-5.
Where Am I Going and Where have I been?
My trip to see my family in Arkansas was a success. I enjoyed flying first class for the first time in my life! One highlight of the trip was canoeing down the Buffalo River with my sister Peggy. I was also able to catch up with a few high school friends.
Summer vacation dates:
July 24-31 - I am taking a week off for my birthday. I am travelling to Vancouver, B.C. to celebrate a "group birthday" with my Eliot UU friends, with a possible side trip to Victoria to see my friend Stephanie, who is an "ex-DRE" .
August 25-30 - I will be attending a professional storytelling workshop at Breitenbush.
Respectfully,
Candee Cole
DRE Report to the Board - MAY 2002
Report from the Director of Religious Education for April 2002
Teachers and Program
We continue to work out snags and frustrations with the lack of space in the K-2 grade room. If we had literally just ONE MORE CLASSROOM, our space issues would be waylaid a bit! The class is way too big at 11:00 with a large number of Kindergartners. The volunteer teachers have a challenge with balancing programming to make it fun for the wide age span, but also to keep it interesting for the 2nd grade. I will be talking to the RE Committee regarding options for this group next year. It is only going to get worse as new families come to us in the Fall. Just since Easter I have registered something like 6 new families with about 9 children between them. In addition I have sent out about 10 new family packets!
The Firekeepers are gearing up for writing Credo Statements and finishing their required workbook pages in the "Love and Help" program. On June 9 they will read their statements of belief to the congregation.
Jr. High attendance is still rocky. The kids who are coming are enjoying the Mock Trial exercise that Kay Crider is leading them in. However, the RE committee and I need to really assess whether the time slot is working for the youth. Depending on parent feedback, we may need to move them back to the 11:00 time slot.
Events and Special programs
Earthkeeper Sleepover Nearly 30 kids enjoyed the Earthkeeper Sleepover and family potluck in early April. The kids, their siblings and parents enjoyed arts, crafts, science experiments and parachute games in the Sanctuary. About 22 children stayed overnight plus about 6 adults. The children created a mural on a used door from BRING recycling for the MECCA Earth Day Recycled Art display. The Firekeeper class completed the other side. See the RE bulletin board for pictures.
The Earth Day Fair on April 21 had about 50 children in attendance. The children participated in reenacting "The Lorax", planted butterfly friendly plants, learned abuot insects and participated in the "Recycling Relay". Many children signed a pledge to stop using paper cups at church on Sunday. Cup racks made by George Koris were available and mugs were purchased used from Goodwill and the children chose and labeled a mug of their own to use each Sunday.
The Secret UU party was fun and crowded. All but 3 of the 36 pairs made it to the shin-dig, which started in the Family Worship service and continued downstairs between services.
The Kutsinhira Marimba dance party was low on attendance, but those who went had a blast! About 6 families and 8-10 single adults attended. The players were fabulous as usual and many toes were tapping as the group led us in African chants and children twirled. The group owes us one more 2 hour gig in the future and we hope to offer it on a different night or for a special event to encourage more participation.
The RE Committee Retreat was cancelled due to an overly busy month. It will be rescheduled at the beginning of the next school year.
The Stand for Children Meeting that was hosted by Jane Wagner with support from the RE program was a great success. About 10 people attended and many decided to join this organization that works to support children's needs and issues. A group meeting has been scheduled for May.
Youth
The Sr. UUth had an extremely successful Spring Con ("conference") in Lincoln City, hosting 240 people! The youth, young adults and adult advisors were very proud of their accomplishment.
They are resting for now and some helped with the Bridging Ceremony. They will begin talking with Candee about the next steps for the playground, are planning a movie night, as well as a "Welcome to High School" gathering for incoming freshmen. They will also complete a survey this year about UUCE's youth programming.
Where Am I Goin&Mac226; and Where have I been?
I attended my last district RE Committee meeting and am finishing up my duties as conference coordinator for the Spring RE Conference in May. We are taking a van load of folks from our church to this conference ...seven total!
My plans are to stick around Eugene through May. At the end of May for Memorial Day weekend, I plan to drive to Seattle with my partner to attend the Folklife Festival with UU friends.
Respectfully,
Candee Cole
Director of Religious Education
DRE Report to the Board - APRIL 2002
April Report from Director of Religious Education for March 2002
Teachers and Program
The teachers had a well-earned day off the first weekend of Spring break. Approximately 24 children attended childcare that day. The older children painted clay pot chalices and created puppet shows.
On Easter Sunday, church school was back up and running with 100 children/youth in attendance that day.
Events and Special Programs
Firekeeper Sleepover 10-12 Firekeeper families attended the All Church potluck on March 15. The extra numbers made for a crowded and fun gathering! About 19 Firekeeper kids (grades 3-5) participated in a variety of activities at the overnight, including parachute play in the sanctuary, working on their class quilt with Beth Weldy and "Painting the Teacher" painting teacher Molly's sweatshirt (while she was still in it!). The gang crawled into their sleeping bags about 10:00, and had popcorn and watched a movie.
Egg Stuffing and Easter Sunday - About 90 eggs were given away on Easter Sunday!
Members of the RE committee gathered the week before Easter to stuff the paper mache eggs. In an effort to move away from plastic this year, the committee made up bags of birdseed for kids to spread for the birds, sunflower seeds and instructions to grow a sunflower playhouse, and hand drawn stones that read "Roots Hold Me Close, Wings Set Me Free", "Spirit of Life", "Peace", "Friendship". etc. The day seemed to go well with RE Committee members leading the show (9:00 Greta Sorenson and Joyce Cedarlund and 11:00 Julianne Harris and Dan LaFollette)
Coming up in April is the Earth Day Fair on April 21. The children will participate in activities around recycling, planting, insect education, and theatre arts etc. Volunteers are currently being recruited and the planning team with Candee is Sharon Blick and Amy Nadolski. In one of the days activities, the church school will be participating in the MECCA Door Project and our entry will be on display for the Eugene Celebration. (MECCA is a recycled material art organization that promotes using reusable items (styrofoam, bottlecaps, etc) creatively.)
The Earthkeeper Sleepover is coming up the first week of April. The K-2 grade will also have a family party, games, crafts and a movie. So far 22 of the 40 registered children are attending!
The Secret UU program is winding down. We have had an overwhelming positive response from adults and kids. Most of the kids are writing back regularly! Sandy Coffin and Candee are creating a family worship service for April 7 to help match up the Secret UUs and their kids. The theme is on „Making New Friends‰. It should be fun for all!
The RE program is sponsoring an all-church dance night with Kutsinhira Marimba on April 24. All are encouraged to attend. It is free as Kutsinhira is giving us one of two free 2 hour gigs!
Youth
The Sr. UUth are continuing to work hard on the district youth conference. A very dedicated group!
About 3 youth and Patti and Marshall attended a gathering with the Corvallis and Salem youth groups. (Hosted by Corvallis) Lots of games were played and people generally had a great time. It was good to make these connections to the two nearest UU churches with youth!
Where Am I Goin&Mac226; and Where have I been?
The Renaissance training in Bellevue, WA. on „Ministry with Youth‰ was very interesting and rewarding. I came home with new ideas and resources for our youth and their advisors! I do love these training sessions and will be sad to not have them to go to as I have finished the series. I may retake some of the modules as they get rewritten and updated by the UUA.
The personal days I took on Easter weekend were glorious and MUCH NEEDED. Even though Spring is the time of renewal, it is also the time of year where DREs get fried and frizzled. I needed those days off and now I am ready to get back in the saddle!!! YeeHAW!
I have signed up for some classes at LCC. Two are related to my work here at church: One class is titled "Religions of the Near East". We will be studying Judaism, Christianity and Islam. There are several books that must be purchased for this class, but they all look very interesting! I am also taking "Women Parenting Boys", a one-day community education class. It sounds like good information that will help me in the RE program with our myriad of boys. I have sent out an announcement of this class to all single moms and couples who are raising boys. A few people may join me! In addition, I will be trying out a "Dance Yoga" class for me!
I will be at church all Sundays in April. I will be attending the district RE Committee meeting on April 12-13 and part of the Youth conference in Lincoln City on April 19-20, returning to attend the UUCE RE Committee retreat out in Creswell at Julianne Harris home.
Respectfully,
Candee Cole
DRE Report to the Board - MARCH 2002
March Report from Director of Religious Education for February 2002
Teachers and Program
The new curriculum "Love and Help" seems to be going well in the 3-5th grade class. The kids like their workbook and the teachers are appreciating a more organized lesson structure. Some highlights of the program are:
* The children have designed quilt squares to represent their family. Beth Weldy will be creating a wall hanging quilt for them of the squares. At the Firekeeper sleepover, she will teach the kids how to tie the quilt.
* The children will be visiting the worship service on April 7 to participate in Joys and Sorrows as well as observe how worship in our church is structured.
* They will be creating "Statements of Belief" around topic such as God, people, nature, love, etc -- Some of these statements will be shared at the worship service on June 9.
* Children who complete their booklets will receive an award and badge for their work.
The Earthkeeper class went out to Linda Yeager's farm on February 24. 31 children and 20 adults converged on Linda's farm and enjoyed a hay ride, feeding the donkeys, seeing cows, goats, dogs, cats, geese and chickens. Each child was allowed to go into the chicken house and get an egg to keep.Circle time was held in the barn on hay bales with the sheep coral as the back drop. This field trip is connected with the children curriculum called "Experiences with the Web of Life", which uses the book Charlotte's Web to introduce concepts around life, death and nature, as well as caring for the earth and each other. A fabulous time was had by all, and much gratitude to Linda and her family for sharing her home with us!
Events and Special programs
The Family Worship service has been sooooo wonderful! At both the February 3 and March 3 services, we have had about 40 + people--children, parents, and elders! The theme this term is on "Friendship" and I have worked with kids to create a fun gathering of story, song and candle lighting. The March 3 service featured three middle schoolers, Doug Hendrickson, Michael Cummings and Nathan Heldt, who put on a fun rendition of "Frog and Toad - The Story". We were also blessed with donated musical assistance from local musician, Rich Glauber. The April 7 service will include the meeting of the Secret UU Pals! There will be no family service on May 5 due to the large amount of work that I will be putting into "Youth/Young Adult Sunday". And June 2 will be the final worship for this year.
The Egg Making Party was very successful this year. For the first time ever, the volunteers actually made our 100 egg goal in an hour and a half!!! About 25 adults and children helped. It was delightful to have several older adults involved this year! A grateful thank you should be given to Valerie and Michelle Olney. They spent their Friday night blowin&Mac226; up 100 balloons and cutting 500 napkins into thirds to get ready for the paper mache! Then Valerie came on Sunday at 2:00 and helped me clean up the goop and glop!
Youth
The Middle School Group had a successful Warm Wear Giveaway at 1st Place Family Center. They gave away 2/3 of the items collected at Christmas. The youth and leaders interacted with families and served cookies, hot cocoa and apple cider. Co-leader Frances Blades has expressed interest in organizing the kids to do further work for the agency, including possibly working in the clothing room, organizing and cleaning up.
Our Sr. UUth group is excited at the success of their fundraising project for the playground. They received a check for $1000, from Beth Weldy (and Jim) at candle lighting on February 24, bringing them to over $2000.
The Sr. UUth will be heading to Corvallis later this month to join their Youth group in a Friday activity night. They will be joined by the Salem youth group as well. The Corvallis group has access to a gym at a nearby church, and holds a gathering there every so often. The Corvallis DRE has expressed interest in hooking up with our group, and it is finally happening!
Where Am I Goin&Mac226; and Where have I been?
I attended the Campus Ministry Conference with Aaron Phipps in Portland
mid-February. Did some good networking and came back with some good ideas. I would like to get the church involved in reaching out more to our Young Adults in college, especially when they are in their most stressful mode--test time. I hope to find a group of people to great "care packages" for the students to show them we are thinking of them.
I attended a lecture by Dr. Sol Gordon, Psychologist and Sexuality Educator put on at South Eugene High by Planned Parenthood and the school's parent council and peer educators. His topic was "How to be an Askable Adult--Talking with young people about love, sex, relationships, and other stuff that's important to them" --Very informative and inspiring.
I am leaving this weekend, May 7-10 for a Renaissance training in Bellevue, WA. The topic is on "Youth Ministry". I am very much looking forward to that.
I am taking a personal day on Easter Sunday, March 31. The RE Committee will be in charge of the egg hunts and program that day.
Respectfully,
Candee Cole, DRE
DRE Report to the Board - FEBRUARY 2002
Report from Director of Religious Education for January 2002
Teachers and Program
We were blessed this term to only have to replace 6 volunteers in the RE program. Marietta van Eekeren stepped down from teaching the K-2 Earthkeepers class at 11:00, and assistant Susan Goes agreed to take over! Carolyn Sykora came on to take over for Kurt Engelmann as assistant at the 9:00 Earhtkeepers class, and Gordon Sturrock is now volunteering in Susan Goes place at 11:00.
In the Windwalkers preschool class, Mary Maschal at 9:00 and Sarah Guichard at 11:00 finished up their volunteer time and Judy Fusek and Karen Austin have volunteered to take over! And finally, Kristin King is leaving the 11:00 3-5th grade Firekeepers, and Janet Colwell has stepped in to assist.
We have had such a wonderful and dedicated team this year. These wonderful people help make my job a little easier and most importantly, provide lots of fun and learning opportunities for our kids!
I will be holding a new teacher orientation on Sunday, February 17 for the newcomers.
Events and Special programs
The Secret UU program is off to a great start with 35 kids and 35 adults participating. Sandy Coffin is co-coordinating with me and we had lots of fun matching people up. This is the first year we have hand-matched children and adults. They are usually chosen anonymously.
Information packets were mailed to families with youth in 7, 8th and 9th grade to gauge interest in starting a Coming of Age program this Spring. Only 5 of 15 people responded with the send back card. I will be making calls to the other families to check in with them. We need 8 youth to participate. Of course because of lack of funding on the youth line this year, we will have to offer a limited/modified program.
Carolyn has offered to lead a parent class this Spring and will be working with Lallie McKenzie as well as another church member. The class will be „Parents as Resident Theologians‰. We are also looking into another class for mothers and daughters called „Side By Side‰. I am exploring leader options for this class.
The Campus Ministry Group is going very well, The Young Adults meet weekly at the Koinonia Center and have been planning discussion topics. They will be doing some work trade projects with the center to be able to use the building free for the term!
Youth
The youth had their Bowl-A-Thon for the Playground project. Now with most pledges collected and generous donations by church members to the Weldy's matching offer, they are at $1000 +.
The youth have also generously decided to give a grant of $200 to the Campus Ministry group from their youth special fund. Since some of the members of the campus group were responsible for the fundraising of that special money, they have decided to give some seed money to help the group get started. THANK YOU YOUTH!
The Middle School Group met at my house in January for food, a general meeting and bowling. About nine kids showed up and there was lots of fun and laughter. We also tried to eat and entire 3 foot sub sandwich, but did not quite make it! The group has decided to take on the Mitten Tree project this year. They will sponsor the "Warm Wear Give-Away" at 1st Place Family Center on Saturday the 23rd. The kids will lay out donations we collected on Christmas Eve, serve hot cider and offer activities for kids.
Also, Kay Crider will begin the Mock Trial process with the youth in March. The topic will be a case in which a neighborhood organized to keep out an AIDS patient home. Should be interesting.
Where Am I Goin&Mac226; and Where have I been?
In January, I attended the district RE Committee meeting in Issaquah, WA. We have been making plans to create a General Assembly (GA) Scholarship fund for DREs who have never attended. The fund, which could be as much as $2000 will pay partial expenses for 2 Re committee members and 2 DREs from the district who have been in their position for at least a year.
We also are planning the Spring RE conference which is for RE teachers, committees and DREs. Its theme is on Peace and Social Justice. I will hopefully be sending a few of my volunteers in May.
Had a good time at Annual Meeting this last week, although the exorbitant costs kept some of my friends and colleague away. I don't believe it was a good use of my professional development funds and plan to skip next year's meeting.
In February, I will be attending the Campus Ministry Conference in Portland. I am looking forward to gaining new information and ideas, as well as getting the Lay Chaplain training.
Respectfully,
Candee Cole
Director of RE (DRE)
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