“A Place To Grow Young Liberal Religious Minds”
What we value, what we study and what we do together makes us the people we become.
2009-2010 Registration Information and Form
Our vision is to create a strong liberal religion community in which people of all ages grow spiritually, emotionally, and ethically. We encourage them to live out these principles in their everyday lives and share them with others, too. Our curriculum includes world religions, peace and social justice, Unitarian Universalist history and identity, and the interdependent web (ecology and environmental studies).
Our school runs from September to June every year. We offer a nursery, Pre-K, 1st & 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 5th – 7th, 8th & 9th, and 10th – 12th grade programs and an Outdoor Playground.
Our process of religious exploration offers young people respect for their journey and encouragement along the way. If you were a child who questions made the Sunday school teacher squirm - know that questions here are very welcome. Unitarian Universalists believe that each of us is on our own journey and questions serve to move us along our way. We gather together to accept, support and encourage each other as we grow in our congregations. You and your children are welcome to join us on our collective faith journeys this year!
A group of Sundays in the term are Social Action Sundays for the children in their classes. We sometimes have a guest from the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church Social Action/Great Turning committee come to help us make the connection between being a UU and doing social action. Some Sundays we work on projects together. Other times we work on our own class projects. Some of our past projects have raised money for Water Partners International, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Heifer Project and UNICEF. We’ve also made lunch for Tent City, cards for shut-ins, had a reception for our seniors and many other projects.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth, Chris Pollina, shorelinedre@gmail.com or (206) 363-7994, ext. 3.
Infants and Toddlers
Shoreline provides two wonderful spaces for infants and toddlers. One is our quiet room in the back of the Sanctuary where parents can rock their children while listening to the sermon. The second space is the nursery located to your right as you enter the church. Infants and toddlers can play and interact with others under the supervision of our nursery staff.
Parents are asked to sign in and introduce their child to our staff in the nursery. We provide a small snack. (Parents of children with allergies need to notify the staff members upon signing in.)
4-6 Year-Olds – UU Alphabet
The themes of “U.U. Alphabet” are intended to be an introduction to the Unitarian Universalist communty of faith. Lessons focus on the importance of caring for the universe as well as caring for ourselves as part of the interdependent web. Through stories and hands on activities they will be learning about other UU’s such as Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Thomas Starr King.
7-9 Year-Olds – Spirit of Adventure
“Spirit of Adventure” is an active curriculum that involves physical movement and learning using challenge and adventure. This curriculum teaches Unitarian Universalist identity through such hands on activities such as dissecting a computer, building cantilevered architecture using graham crackers and interviewing a sports coach. Yes, sports can be a valuable way to translate our Purposes and Principles too! Themes include taking care of others, keeping each other safe, being kind and generous, being creative, trying new things, loving animals and living simply.
10-12 Year-Olds– It Starts With Me
“It Starts With Me” is designed to teach children about community service. It is based on the idea that one’s work, volunteer or otherwise, can be a form of creative expression of one’s passions, talents and abilities. Some of the goals of this curriculum are to develop an understanding of the concept of community and an awareness of oneself as part of the community, to explore one’s family values around community service, to enhance and understanding of compassion and to explore one’s talents and creative inclinations and to learn that community service can be a formof creative outlet.
Outdoor Playground
Our outdoor playground provides a safe environment for children to play. We have both climbing structures as well as a green grassy area. Adult supervision is required at all times.
