RE Announcements

UPCOMING DATES 

  • October 25th – Costume Day!
  • November 1st – Faith & Play at the Clearing

  • November 8th – Second Sunday Age-Grouped Classes

  • November 15th – All-Ages Class “Diwali with Kathryn”

Costume Sunday!

Children are invited to wear their Halloween Costumes on October 25th. They will collect money for the Sacred Heart Center at the rise of Meeting. The children enjoy counting the money collected, so the coins you bring not only support a wonderful community resource, but also provide a challenging teachable moment!

RE at The Clearing

Save the date! November 1st, RE will have a Faith & Play in nature experience at The Clearing. Children will join adults for the first 15 minutes of worship at The Clearing before going to their own worship experience. We will also have an all-ages Faith & Play-based class here at RFM on that day during the 11 AM meeting.

Children and Worship

Children are part of our community and join adults for the first 15 minutes of silent worship. The activities in the calming corner may help settle active hands and minds during this time. The shelves are located in the mailroom. Adults are also encouraged to explore and model the available activities. You may find breathing and mindfulness exercises helpful for settling a mind weighed down by responsibilities, plus stress balls and putty to work out tension, and drawing tools for self-expression.

Child Safety at RFM

In compliance with our child safety policy, we strive for adult-to-adult transfer of our children between classrooms and the meeting room. RE volunteers return children to their caregivers at the rise of the meeting. RE does not supervise the playground. Caregivers are responsible for the supervision of their children during non-program times.

Registration Forms 

Parents & Caregivers: As a reminder, RE requires a registration form for each child yearly. You may find forms in the mailroom at the calming corner shelves. Return them to a committee member, classroom teacher, or the RE mailbox.

RE Announcements for August

Summer Committee-Led Lessons

The RE Committee would like to extend a very sincere “Thank you!” to the RFM committees taking over RE classes this summer. Each week, the children are learning from a different committee or working group. Not only do children have the opportunity to learn about the life of the Meeting, but they are also building intergenerational connections. Thank you, committees!

Community Submissions Requested by the WWG

The Willow Working Group (ages 9-17) and RE Committees are working on two special projects, and we need your help! Each person’s contribution will make these projects richer.

First, we want you to share your favorite memories of The Clearing with us. Did a special connection with humans or nature impact your life in some way? These are the treasures we are seeking! We are also accepting a limited number of special photos.

Second, Zoe Garrett will be attending Westtown High School in West Chester, PA this fall.  We are asking everyone, maybe even if you don’t know her very well, to write a letter to Zoe and place it in a sealed envelope. We welcome you to share anything that may bring joy, comfort, or encouragement to a young person living far away from family and friends for a season.

The deadline for both projects is August 9.

How can you turn in your submissions? You have options!

  • Drop them in the Religious Education mailbox at RFM.

  • Give your paper(s) directly to Elizabeth Price.

  • Call, Text, Mail or Email Elizabeth Price

Wayne Taylor Reflection, Coffee Day & Global Forgiveness Day

After learning about Sadako & her 1000 cranes, some of our children have continued to fold paper cranes. We would like to extend this experience to all of RFM. In honor of Global Forgiveness Day and the Wayne Taylor Reflection, Danni Kong & the RE Committee invite anyone interested to fold origami peace cranes. Bring your cranes on August 2nd to exchange with or pass out to those in attendance.

Link to How-To Video: https://youtu.be/RdMNeee3Re8?si=5-WlGuSEOH19ld2H

Introduction to Neurodiversity, a presentation by the Autism Society of Central Virginia will be held in the community room on Saturday, August 29th from 10 am to Noon. This is RE’s annual workshop and Teacher Planning Day. Register by adding your name to one of the sign-up sheets on the bulletin board or letting Elizabeth Price know you plan to attend.

The morning session, Introduction to Neurodiversity, will be a presentation by the Autism Society of Central Virginia beginning at 10AM. It is for anyone who is interested in learning more about neurodivergence and how to better interact with children who see the world differently than we.

The session will include:

  • Understand neurodiversity and ASD and how it impacts children.
  • Learn how to set up classrooms that support all learners.
  • Explore the functions of behavior and the ABC model.
  • Practice proactive and de-escalation strategies.
  • Apply skills through real-life scenarios.

The afternoon will be a time for teachers to prepare for fall classes. If you plan to teach or assist in an age-related classroom, please plan to meet with your co-volunteers to begin planning for classes beginning September 13!

Annual RE Workshop

Introduction to Neurodiversity, a presentation by the Autism Society of Central Virginia will be held in the community room on Saturday, August 29th from 10 am to Noon. This is RE’s annual workshop and Teacher Planning Day. Register by adding your name to one of the sign-up sheets on the bulletin board or letting Elizabeth Price know you plan to attend.

The morning session, Introduction to Neurodiversity, will be a presentation by the Autism Society of Central Virginia beginning at 10AM. It is for anyone who is interested in learning more about neurodivergence and how to better interact with children who see the world differently than we.

The session will include:

  • Understand neurodiversity and ASD and how it impacts children.
  • Learn how to set up classrooms that support all learners.
  • Explore the functions of behavior and the ABC model.
  • Practice proactive and de-escalation strategies.
  • Apply skills through real-life scenarios.

The afternoon will be a time for teachers to prepare for fall classes. If you plan to teach or assist in an age-related classroom, please plan to meet with your co-volunteers to begin planning for classes beginning September 13!

RE Calendar & Announcements

UPCOMING RE DATES 

  • April 19 Faith & Play
  • April 25 WWG Talent Show Auditions 1-3 PM, (Talent Show May 23rd, 3pm)
  • April 26 Fourth Sunday Age-Related Classes
  • May 3 Movement Circles with Eunkyung Ahn
  • Willow Working Group (Ages 9-17): Next Meeting, May 3 12:15 – 1 pm
  • May 10 Mother’s Day, Second Sunday Age-Related Classes

WWG Intergenerational Talent Show

The WWG Intergenerational Talent Show will be during Spring Retreat on Saturday, May 23 at 3 pm at The Clearing

Things to Know:

All ages are invited to participate – children AND adults.

  • Acts must be preapproved by the WWG Talent Show Coordinators
  • Must be able to attend the Spring Retreat Talent Show on May 23!
  • No real weapons; no supporting violence.
  • If you wouldn’t want your mother, boss, or principal to see it, don’t perform it/write it.

Talent Show auditions will be held here in the Community Room on Saturday, April 25 from 1-3 pm. We want to make space for as many participants as possible. Auditions will serve as a dress rehearsal and help us keep within time limits. You do NOT need to stay for the entire time. Present your act and you are free to leave. Sign up sheets may be found in the mailroom or hanging on the bottom of our posters throughout the Meetinghouse.

Sign up to reserve your slot today!

JYF/YF Roleplaying Friendly 8 FYI

  • Joining: Talk to John Garrett or email at jonathanegarrett@gmail.com

  • Food: Pack a bag lunch/snack

  • Dates: Second Sundays

  • Times: Rise of Meeting (~Noon) until 2 PM

German Candlelight Event, January 19, 5 pm

January 19, German Candlelight Event, 5-6 pm: At the end of World War II, a German Quaker family took in many orphans.  Having nothing to celebrate the holidays, they gathered the children to light candles and share the gift of themselves, their talents, and Spirit. This custom has spread to many American meetings. This year, we will have our first such candlelight service.  Join us by bringing a gift of yourselves - a message of gratitude and hope, a song, a joke, or any gift you wish to share. 

Religious Education Announcements

December 7 - We are planning a Holiday Train Station Exploratory.  If you celebrate a specific holiday during December (Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, Christmas, Winter Solstice, etc.) and are interested in sharing it with our children, please talk to Elizabeth Price.

Upcoming Dates

  • November 23 - Age-Related Classes
  • November 30 - Age-Related Classes
  • December 7
    • Intergenerational Holiday Exploratory during Meeting for all children in the community room
    • Willow Working Group Meeting (ages 9-17) during coffee hour 12:30-1PM
  • December 14 - Multigenerational Worship: The Gifts Story
  • December 21 - Faith & Play: The Story of the Nativity