First Day School
A Guide for Young Friends and Their Parents
The First Day School
Program is about:
· Having a sense of a caring community – with and among peers and with Friends young and old.
· Providing opportunity to participate in the Meeting community
· Providing spiritual guidance – through personal and group exploration and the sharing of
· experiences
· Learning more about Quaker history, faith and practice, and how to apply it in daily life
· Sharing in service to others – in the local community and beyond
· Honoring and respecting other beings of the universe and the universe itself
· Having fun together
· Participating in silent worship
General Divisions
and Programs:
Babies and Preschoolers: the youngest Friends will be provided with care and attention. Stories, activities, songs and games will focus on age related topics. The youngest Friends will join meeting for worship at 10:55 a.m.
Youth (ages 5 – 11) and Teens (ages 12 – 19): In general, the lesson plans for the youth and teens will have similar themes but will be designed/focused for the particular age group. Quaker lesson materials and themes that have a Friendly application will be used much of the time. Lessons for the youth and teens may include stories/readings, discussion, song, projects, or a variety of creative activities. Please see the brochure on Teaching First Day School School for more details. Opportunities for silent worship will be provided within the First Day School lessons. The youth and teen groups will join meeting for worship at 10:40 a.m.
About Joining the
Meeting for Worship:
When joining the Meeting for Worship already in progress, the children are learning to: enter during a time of silence (to wait if someone’s speaking); quietly find a seat, disturbing as few people as possible; and participate in the silent worship as each is able.
It will be helpful for parents to give some guidance on what to do in the silent Meeting for Worship – saying “thank you” to God for something good that’s happened, or looking around at each person present and silently asking God to take care of them. Talking about Meeting and including periods of silent worship into your daily routines (having silence before meals or at bedtime) will incorporate Quakerism into your family life. Books such as: We’re Going to Meeting for Worship by Abby Hadley and, On Sitting Still by Mary Test (can be found in the Youth room) are good introductions to Quaker worship.
While occasional fussing, whispers, or verbal observations made by babies or small children are typically absorbed by the adults with love and acceptance, we remind parents that extended periods of loud crying or talking, and activities like walking around or wrestling may hinder others from worshipping or listening to afterthoughts or announcements.
The intent of First Day School is to provide care, educational opportunities, and spiritual guidance for children while their parents attend meeting for worship, and to help prepare them to participate in the life of the meeting. The First Day School only supplements the principles and actions which children see in their families’ lives every day.
What Does the First
Day School Committee do?
· Discuss and plan curriculum and lessons
· Schedule teachers
· Organize service projects for young Friends
· Help with projects, like the Children’s Garden
· Provide intergenerational opportunities to foster relationships between Friends of all ages (picnics, forums, pot-lucks, projects, etc.)
· Join the First Day School Committee
· Attend First Day School Committee meetings
· Teach classes
· Contact Committee members with ideas, concerns, and feedback
· Participate in service projects
· Visit classes
· Join in intergenerational happenings
· Encourage regular attendance
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