Standing
Committee on Education Children's
Religious Education Programs
Dear Expediters,
Thanks for letting your RE Committee know about what is happening in the Yearly Meeting. We recently sent you a request for volunteers for one or two sessions (between July 17-22) for the Children’s Program. In a couple of weeks we will be asking you for an updated list of Middle and High School Young Friends in your meeting. Then you will, hopefully, get some well-deserved rest from your Meeting RE responsibilities.
For the moment, please alert your Meeting’s families to the Adult RYM Agenda (bright yellow, sent in April) and Children’s Program (tan, sent late May); registrations are due by June 23. Brenda Rose Simkin, CYPYM Assistant, will be available in the office on Thursdays to answer questions about the Children’s Program and to place volunteers in the session(s) of their choice. Her phone # is (215) 241-7075; her E-mail is brbmumkin@msn.com. You may also call or E-mail Marty Smith.
Marty Smith, editor
martys@pym.org
Non-Violence and Children Position Opens Up Again
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is seeking a two-day per week Coordinator for the Non-Violence and Children Program to begin October 1, 2001. The PYM staff person will:
- Support the work of volunteers who conduct trainings and workshops in the area of children and peacemaking
- organize and provide trainings and consultations to Quaker meetings, teachers, parents, and professional organizations
- keep abreast of recent developments in the field of children and peacemaking
- provide consultations in the area of nonviolence and children to groups outside of PYM.
The applicant must be a college graduate or equivalent, with training in some aspect of child development. Two or three year’s experience with teaching and/or leadership of young people required; program development and implementation experience desirable. Inquiries to Marty Smith (215) 241-7008 or by E-mail: martys@pym.org. Send cover letter and resumé by September 1 to: Marty Smith, PYM, 1515 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA.
Equal Access to Messages for All
Do you know if there are deaf people in your meeting? Does every worshipper have equal access to vocal messages? Have you thought about making deaf worshipers feel more welcome by providing American Sign Language interpretation? How can “signing” be incorporated sensitively into worship? Even though it takes quite a while to learn ASL, could teens or adults contribute more meaningfully to the faith community by learning American Sign Language (with your financial support) and interpreting vocal messages? Hamsa O’Doherty of Lancaster meeting is willing to talk with meetings about ways for Friends to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people in their midst. She can be reached at (717) 687-3617.
An Opportunity for Elementary and Middle School Educators
This is too good to miss: a training in Conflict Resolution and Community Building, available without charge to teachers of First-day Schools, Friends Schools, and Public Schools on Friday and Saturday, August 10 and 11 from 9:00 – 4:00 p.m. Provided by PYM’s Nonviolence and Children Working Group, the training will be held at Friends Center, 1515 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA. Participants are expected to commit to both days of the training and to attend three follow-up support sessions held during the school year (lunch and written handouts included). Space is limited, so register now with Mary Anne Crowley at (215) 241-7221 or maryc@pym.org.
You Can Do It! Day
Wrightstown Meeting is sponsoring a You Can Do It! Day on September 29, 2001 (9:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.) for RE Committees and teachers, parents and youth leaders.
Upcoming Events
- Children’s Program (Infants-Grade 5):
July 17-22: Residential Yearly Meeting
Infants and toddlers will be under the care of Maria Alvarado. Three- and four-year olds will do a little with the theme of Integrity but mostly will be playing with one another. Wednesday through Saturday mornings, Kg-1st, 2nd 3rd, and 4th-5th grades will participate in games, stories, singing, crafts, and drama related to the theme. In the afternoons there will be swimming, art activities, a newspaper, and a trip to Lost River Caverns. In the evenings there will be a Mock Turtle Marionette Theater, games, and then Cliff Sunflower’s “Dancing with Honeybees.” Watch for the flyer in the mail; register by June 23 (or by July 6 at the latest) on the form that was sent with the flyer last week, or in the YM Agenda Booklet. For further information or questions, call Brenda Rose at (215) 241-7075 or Marty (215) 241-7008.- For Middle School (Grades 6-8):
July 17-22: Residential Yearly Meeting
Activities will include a one-day hike in the Lehigh Valley Gorge, a day of service, game-playing, singing, art activities, and discussions around the theme of Integrity. Flyer in the mail, questions to Melanie Douty, Middle School Friends Coordinator (215) 241-7171 or melanied@pym.org. Registrations due by June 23, using the form in the YM Agenda Booklet.- Young Friends (Grades 9-12):
July 17-22, under the leadership of Cookie Caldwell. Young Friends will stay in one dorm and have a gathering-within-a-gathering program during the adult sessions at DeSales University. Flyer in the mail. Call Cookie for details: 215-241-7222 or E-mail him at: cookiec@pym.org.
August 19-25, at Camp Onas, Young Friends, under the leadership of Fleur Frascella, will spend the week at Ottsville, PA. “The American Teen: Relationships and Sexuality.” The focus will be on how to make emotionally healthy choices in the midst of media pressure. How to respect ourselves and care for each other. Look for a flyer in the mail. Register by August 13. For information or questions, call Fleur at (215) 567-2096 or (215) 241-7221 (RE Secretary).
September 21-23: Sailing Adventure on the A.J. Meerwald
Originating at Burlington Conference Center. Watch for flyer in the mail; call or E-mail Cookie for additional information.
- Nifty Ideas
American Sign Language (ASL)
For more information on American Sign Language there is a Web site that may be helpful: National Institutes on Deafness and Hearing Disorders www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/asl.asp
First-day School Teachers in Quaker Meetings often need new ideas and ways of teaching. Something that has worked for you might be just what other teachers are looking for. Please send your ideas to Marty Smith, by e mail if you like at: martys@pym.org or to 1515 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102. Thank you!
Published by Religious Education Concerns Group, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Office: 1515 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Marty Smith: (215) 241-7008 (E-mail: martys@pym.org);
Cookie Caldwell: (215) 241-7222 (e-mail: cookiec@pym.org);
Melanie Douty: (215) 241-7171 (e-mail: melanied@pym.org);
Mary Anne Crowley: (215) 241-7221 (e-mail: maryc@pym.org);
Gene Hillman: (215) 241-7182 (e-mail: geneh@pym.org)
or: 1-800-220-0796, with the appropriate extension number.
Last modified: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 at 04:22 PM