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Catechesis of the Good ShepherdDirector / Nerissa Brueckbauer / 847-381-2323 ext. 33
Summer 2008
One-Room Sunday School for 3-Year-Olds Through 6th Grade
Join us for this special summertime opportunity offered for seven Sundays, June 29 through August 10.
Using a new curriculum, we’ll look at some favorite Bible stories and passages using songs, crafts, and conversation. Each stand-alone session, which will include both age-specific and all-ages activities, will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. and end when the children join their parents in the Nave for Eucharist. A different team of St. Michael’s parents will lead each Sunday. There’s no need to sign up in advance; children may join us as often as they can, on St. Michael's lower level in Room 5.
This program is brought to you through the leadership of Jenn and Pete Belden, Donna and Dave Brooks, Irene and John Brown, Nerissa Brueckbauer, Melissa Buckley, Teri Doran, Hayley Eissler, Kristy and Sean Harrington, Meredith Perrine, Hilary Schultz, Sally and Greg Smith, Janette and Danny Warner, Sue Wilder, Jeni and Jay Younger.
Atrium I (Ages 3 to 6)
The Atrium I room is a prepared environment for children ages three to six to work and worship. It is a place of quiet, where the pace is slow, and the children may see, touch, hear, and move freely. The room is beautiful and simple, the walls and surroundings subdued, not distracting.
You'll notice important items of the church are isolated and put within the children's reach. The articles are small, beautiful and fully accessible to even the youngest child. Everything is functional and has a considered purpose and proper use. Everything about the atrium says to the children, "You are special, and this special place is just for you."
The adults who lead each atrium are trained catechists who are committed to respecting and celebrating the unique needs and capabilities of your child. The Word of God is proclaimed to the children through the parable method, historical narration, silence, prayer, and liturgy.
During our first month, we will be introducing the children to the atrium — a very special place to be with God, talk with God, listen to God and hear the stories of God. The children will be learning how we walk more slowly and talk more softly inthe atrium. They will have special places to work and will keep all their work in personal folders in the atrium.
The children will be learning to use some basic Montessori practical life materials that will help them develop their fine motor skills and give them a sense of mastery over their environment. While teaching independence and coordination of movement, it seems to be soothing and helps the child to center and concentrate — to be still in spirit.
Atrium II (Ages 6 to 9)
Six- to nine-year-olds have a reasoning mind and want to know why things are like they are, and where things come from. Imagination is very important to them; they are interested in the total universe, and are very capable of great work. They seem to lose a sense of order and become messy with their work, but actually, they are making a change in focus from the physical order of things to the mental. We begin the year by giving them the universe, as in creation; then we narrow our focus to talk about specifics within creation.
Atrium II can be compared to a retreat house, a special place set aside for children to ages six to nine to meet each other; to meditate on God's Word; to work with especially prepared materials, and to find their particular place in the Kingdom of God.
Most lesons are given a three-week time slot; the first moment being one of wonder and awe, then a chance to step back and take a second look at the mystery of God, and finally a chance to ponder their own place in God's Kingdom.
Scripture
Children will look up passages and read from the Bible...parables about prayer, such as the Pharisee and the Publican; moral parables such as the Good Samaritan; the awe and wonder about the universe and God's creation are experienced; Jesus' invitations, called the Maxims ("Pray for those who persecute you; love one another as much as you love yourself"); geography of the Holy Land; narratives of Jesus' life; Prophecy; and Jesus' promise to be with us always.
Liturgy
Hands-on charts will give an overview of the Eucharist, the Lord's Prayer, the Sacraments...and ask, "why are they important?" Communal prayer will offer an opportunity for the children to lead in Bible reading and prayer and an experience of First or Solemn Communion will be offered to those who desire it.
Moral Development
An opportunity will be available for the children to live into Jesus' parables and to begin to think about their place in the kingdom of God, using the "keys of the Kingdom" that Jesus gives us to live well and happily.
Atrium III (ages 9 to 12)
Nine- to twelve-year-olds want to develop their own moral code; they have a strong sense of justice. They are compassionate, generous and loyal. They grow into an age of rudeness as they try to express their independence, and yet they have a herding instinct and prefer to work in groups. We recognize their need for communication with each other, and so allow a greater noise level than we would at the lower grades.
Atrium III is a meeting place for children who live all over the Northwest suburbs to get to know each other and their awesome God; to talk about and to meditate on God's Word; to work with especially prepared materials that can help them answer the question, "Where is my place in all of this?"
Most lessons are given in a three-week time slot with an introduction the first week, the central point the second week, and our response as a people of God the third week.
Scripture
We will become more familiar with the Bible using moral parables such as The Talents, Lazarus and the Rich Man, Workers in the Vineyard; narratives of Jesus' life; and Typology studies, or a way of looking at the Old Testament with New Testament eyes in the stories of the Flood, Abraham and Sarah, and Moses. Fourth-graders will make puppets, fifth- and sixth-graders will have other crafts to highlight their work.
Liturgy
We will continue to broaden our knowledge of the sacraments, especially Eucharist and Baptism, and do some work on the creeds and on the meaning of covenant.
History
We will do some large works with the Plan of God and will also look at the history of Israel and the history of the Church.
Moral Development
This is an opportunity for the children to move from the three-dimensional figures that led them into meditation at the lower levels to less concrete meditations with more communal sharing and prayer. The question that we asked them as little ones, "Who are you, Jesus?" grows into the second part, "How will I live my life in response to who you are?"