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Sunday School News for March 2003
By Helene Pappas
So that you will better understand what is done in the
classroom each Sunday, we believe a summary will be helpful. Each morning
a memo is published and distributed to all teachers. This memo contains
identification of the Epistle and Gospel reading of the day, the classes
scheduled for church attendance, the team of young men assigned to Altar
service, major holidays celebrated or to be celebrated, and significant
Sunday School calendar events. Within the classroom, the Epistle and the
Gospel are read directly from the Bible, either by the teacher or by the
students, according to reading ability. This is followed by implementation
of the material in the Archdiocese curriculum for which each class has
books and workbooks for each student.
Additional time in class is devoted to teacher-directed
discussions and project/activity completion, depending on the time of
year. In specific classes, emphasis is placed on the memorization of The
Lord's Prayer, The Shepherd's Prayer, The Creed, The Beatitudes, and the
Ten Commandments.
Our program is embellished periodically by guest speakers,
and the students in Grades 6 through Teen Rap have had two sessions with
Mr. Ben Scalia, who has led them through an understanding of the Divine
Liturgy, culminating with a series of questions and answers prepared for
them and distributed to them for further reference.
Shortly, you will be aware of additional activity in the
Sunday School. We are again preparing for proper evacuation of the premises
in the event of an emergency or fire. The successful completion of this
activity relies greatly on Board support, which has always been forthcoming.
And soon, your children should remind you that the true
meaning of Christianity will once again be relived through the Paschal
Cycle. Orthodox Easter is April 27. We will slowly and carefully
take the classes through the Triodion directly into Holy Week, Bright
Week, and the Pentecost Period. Material will be sent home so that you
can share this period with your children.
In this second article on the St. George Sunday School
for the school year 2002-2003, we report on successfully completed activities,
proposed activities, and a summary of what is being done in your child's
classroom each Sunday.
The first significant accomplishment was the transfer of
the annual Nativity from the A?EPA Hall to the Nave of the church. The
Nativity is the enactment by our students of the Gospel according to Luke
2:1-14 which describes the birth of Christ with the words, "And it came
to pass in those days . . .." Thus, it is fitting that the setting of
this presentation be the church where the students and parishioners contribute
to, and benefit from, the dignity and reverence of the presentation. We
look forward to continuing this tradition.
The next meaningful experience for our students was their
participation in the cutting of the Vasilopita in their classrooms. Each
class discussed the meaning of the celebration and the significance and
proper cutting of the Vasilopita. This activity in our curriculum
is made possible by the Ladies of the Philoptochos who annually prepare
extra pitas for the classrooms.
Open House in Grades 1 through 9 during October and November
was successfully completed. The parents who attended were genuinely interested
in their children's religious education and evidenced this through their
comments and questions. The completed evaluation forms returned by parents
contained excellent questions, comments, and critiques, which were individually
addressed. Additionally, our students were reinforced spiritually through
the PTO-sponsored Godparent's Day, where they were reminded of the seriousness
of the responsibilities assumed by their Godparents and were privileged
to receive Holy Communion with them. The entire Sunday School continues
as it's "service project" the support of four needy children in Cyprus,
Colombia, and the Philippines and regularly receives communications from
the children thanking them for their concern and continued support.
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