First Day School Annual Report 2015:
We have an active, vital First Day School!
Although we may not have the numbers of children we had 10 years ago, we do currently have a handful of committed families. Lessons were taught by the FDS committee members as well as parents and special help this year from members of Testimonies and Concerns committee. Our largest attendance fell on holidays, Christmas and Easter, and, on our inaugural Fall Pancake breakfast. (Nov 23)
The lesson plans centered around the Testimonies: Community—Pancake breakfast; Equality—a book entitled "One" donated to our library; Peace—a visit by Sophie, the Peace dog. We collected gifts for the multicultural Center at Christmas and made peanut butter birdfeeders in the winter. The new year brought more lessons from our Testimonies. From the PYM curriculum, Sparkling Still, the children did a peaceful mediation. Two books were read about Community. One was "The Can Man" about homelessness and "The House That Love Built" about caring for elders. The Spring brought Easter and lessons on stewardship for the environment. FDS participated in the Multicultural Festival in early May at Idlewild Park. Finally, our curriculum is rounded out with our Godly Play and Faith-and-Play storytelling. A total of 5 different stories were shared throughout the year.
Upcoming plans for FDS are to work with the Library committee to organize a "children's section" in our current downstairs library and to continue to explore more ways to invite more young families to worship with us.
The First Day School committee consists of Mark Beck, Catherine Cripps, Dawn Atwater, Katie Theeke, Amy Owsley, Beth Mufson, Cathy Thompson and Susan Claggett, Clerk.