Adult Education
A
series of educational programs challenging adults to explore issues of
Christian faith and practice is offered twice on Sunday mornings
after each service. A wide variety of timely personal and social
issues are addressed. A Bible Study with the clergy is also offered every
Wednesday morning from 8:15-9:00 A.M. Other study groups are held throughout
the year.
Children's Church School
Trinity Church provides a comprehensive Christian education program for children 3 through High School. The church school year begins in mid-September and ends in mid-June.
Trinity Explorers is our program for children aged pre-K through fifth grade. Rotation workshop is an innovative new way of experiencing Church School. It takes seriously the spiritual development of children while providing creative and exciting activities that engage children in a whole new level of learning and retention. The rotation-style model means that children work on the same story or concept for several weeks, using different learning approaches in each workshop room they visit.
For older students, the Journey to Adulthood program provides three levels of involvement for parish young people: Grades 6 and 7 in “Rite-13”; Grades 8 and 9 in “Journey to Adulthood” (J2A); and Grade 10 and above in “Young Adults in the Church” (YAC). The program builds community in age-appropriate ways with a foundation in informed Christian living
The purpose of the Church School is to help the children to develop a personal relationship with Jesus through multi-disciplined study of our faith, our Church and the Bible while learning respect and developing friendships within our diverse and multi-generational Church family.
Types of workshops
Art, storytelling, music, cooking, games, drama and puppets, movies, geography and many more!
A Unique Learning Environment
Cycle classrooms are intended to create an inviting atmosphere where children are challenged to learn. Our classrooms have been decorated in different styles to compliment the various activities. The story room is a temple looking out over Jerusalem in Jesus’ time; our art room is full of the colors of the rainbow. We have a movie room and a puppet theatre. As the year progresses we’ll add new and interesting things to look at and interact with in the rooms.
Adult Involvement
CYCLE TEACHERS sign up as part of a team of 2 or 3 adults who will teach one 4 week cycle. The fifth week is convocation for all of the children to get together with their teachers and shepherds and reflect on the cycle and celebrate God’s gifts to us. Teachers remain in the same workshop room each week of the cycle and teach the same lesson plan to a different class each week. Workshop rooms may use skills in such areas as music, dance, cooking, quilting, gardening or painting, but you don’t have to have a special skill in order to help. Teachers can sign up to help read stories, turn on computers, make popcorn, hand out art supplies, etc.
SHEPHERDS commit for the entire school year, but they never have to prepare or teach a lesson! Shepherds work in teams and travel with their class through each of the different workshops. Shepherds are the essential relationship part of this program, learning the children’s names, providing continuity of leadership and being a friendly, safe presence in the classroom each week.
General Class Structure
1. OPENING ACTIVITY IN THE EDUCATION WING (10-15 minutes)
Shepherds welcome students and make sure everyone has a nametag. We will provide a snack and a drink for the children. It is a time to gather all of the children together and talk about the theme of our cycle and read the underpinning story for the cycle. There will be an opportunity for the children to ask questions. After a closing prayer, the children will be escorted to their classroom by their shepherd.
2. INTRODUCTIONS BY THE TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM
3. WORKSHOP ACTIVITY AND REFLECTION (approximately 25-30 minutes)
The activities will be varied and fun. The teacher and shepherd will ask questions like “What did you learn today?” or “How did you feel while doing this activity?” and connect the activity back to the story.
4. CLEAN UP (approximately 5 minutes)
Calendar for 2004 -2005
Sept 19 to Oct 17 “What makes my Church special”
Oct 24 to Nov 21 “Let there be Light” (creation)
Nov 28 to Dec 19 “Emmanuel, God with Us” and Christmas pageant rehearsals
Jan 9 to Feb 13 “A voice in the Wilderness; John the Baptist”
Feb 20 to Mar 20 “This is my Body” (Eucharist)
Apr 3 to May 1 “The Moses Chronicle”
May 8 to June 5 “The Good Shepherd”
JOURNEY TO ADULTHOOD
Our youth program for grades six through twelve follows the Journey to Adulthood curriculum. Classes are divided into grades 6 and 7 (Rite-13) and 8 through 12 (J2A). Topics for discussion include prayer, self and society. The youth learn about their role as Christians in society today and how they can shape their own life in the light of Jesus' teaching. The Journey to adulthood youth meet after the 10:00 service, (at the same time as Church School) but they also get together for other activities on occasional weekends. The aim is to combine the youth group experience and the teaching experience and to allow for the youth to get to know each other and have fun together. Upcoming events include a bowling trip, Laser Quest, a meal and assisting with "Christmas in April". The J2A class will work towards an urban experience weekend in June 2005 and a pilgrimage at the end of the course.
Our Rite-13 students wrote the Prayers of the People used for the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday, March 6, 2005. To read these prayers, click here.
See Youth Programs for more information .
