First Day School Page

 

Hello FDS Committee,

We had a terrific meeting on First Day, October 18th with a great turnout and a lot of good  ideas and discussion.

In attendance: John Schreiner, Beth Mufson, Cathy Thompson, Leigh Ann Dodge, Mark Beck, Larny Claggett, Susan Claggett , Cindy Browne, Paige Bethke

 

We continue to plan the program for First Day school around a core Quaker Value each month  with some structure to the delivery of the sessions for both the Middle Children (4 to 10) and the Older Children (11 – 16).  We reviewed Self Worth and Integrity for the month of October.  Cathy Thompson led a Godly Play on George Fox for the Middle and Younger Children and Larny took the Older Children for a Bible Story for the October 18th Session.

 

We then mapped out the rest of October as follows:

October 25: We have some library stories that reinforce self worth and suggest that we read with the Younger Children (Some Dogs Do ); for the Middle Children (A Bad Case of the Stripes, The Empty Pot or Horton Hatches the Egg);  and for the Older Children (the Book of Virtues or Say Something).  We have purchased hard back composition books for each child and the Older Children can help the Middle and Younger Children cover their books so that each child will have their own book to draw and write in for First Day activities.

 

We then discussed how we would like the program to unfold for November and December.  We identified several activities and lessons that we would like to cover with the children. We have assigned where we had volunteers.  There are plenty of places to participate if you see an activity you would like to lead or help out with.  We continue to seek adults to come up and sit with the younger children (1 to 4) in the play room and help keep these children, who cannot sit still for the Godly Play, entertained. We also encourage anyone who would like to come up and lead a story or an activity to volunteer.  WE will post this outlinein the FDS room so you can pencil in your names and or provide input.

 

Submitted by,

FDS Co Committee Chairs

Paige Bethke and Beth Mufson

 

November we will focus on Community

November 01: Circle time – talk about community –what does it mean ? what do we think about our community?

Godly Play Story with Candace Shattuck for  the Middle Children

                                Older Children will read and discuss Seed Folk with Larny Claggett

November 08: Circle time  - talk about our community as Quakers – how is it different from other communities?

Leigh Anne Dodge will work on a craft with the Middle Children

                                Older children will work on the plans for the Play Structure (develop a list of materials) with Mark Beck

                                Business Meeting – Child Care- ??

November 15: Circle time – talk about what we can do to make our community better: Interfaith Housing/NSC

                                Birthday snack

Godly play for the Middle Children with Cathy Thompson

                                Older Children will continue reading and discussing the Seed Folk with Larny Claggett/Paige Bethke

                                Discuss upcoming Ping Pong Tournament for Interfaith Housing

November 21: Rake leaves at Meeting in the morning and play Ping Pong in the afternoon

November 22: Circle time: upcoming Thanksgiving – what can we do for our community? Food Drive and winter clothing

Middle Children continue with craft project with Leigh Ann

                                Older Children work on play structure, bring canned food/winter clothing  for Neighborhood Service Center

November 26   Thanksgiving morning – (we will use the time bake setting  on the ovens) and meet at the Common Room at 7 AM to cook and carve Monimia’s  turkey and prepare and cook a pan of stuffing for the Homeless and needy in our community. Deliver turkey, stuffing and bones to Asbury Methodist Church at 9:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day

November 28: gather with children and greens in the Common Room with Susan Claggett for Wreath Making

                        Nancy Mullen to bring songs

Bake cookies for Hospitality

 

December we will focus on Simplicity

December 06: Circle time: talk about the gift of being simple with reference to some of the verses in the song

                                Godly play for Middle Children with Susan Claggett

                                Older Children begin a look at  Whispers of Faith

December 13: Circle time: talk about what we like about being simple and share a Birthday Snack

                                All children work together on a simple craft project as a gift for someone and practice songs for Christmas program

                                Business Meeting – Child Care – Brandt Bethke and ?

December 20:   Circle time: what we like about Christmas

                                Godly play for all children with Candace or Cathy

Finish projects and practice songs with Susan Claggett and Nancy Mullens

                                At Rise Of Meeting – Christmas Program – “A Simple Christmas”

December 27    Circle time: what do we hope the New Year will bring

                                 Middle Children read a story about simplicity and journal

                                Older Children read from Whispers of Faith and journal