First Day School Annual Report 2024/2025:
First Day School is held every Sunday from Sept to June. The children gather at 10am with their families for Meeting for Worship. Around 1015, the teacher stands and departs with the children for their classroom lessons. The children return to Meeting for Worship at the rise of Meeting to be with families for announcements and singing.
In Sept 2024, along with Hospitality and Pastoral Care committees FDS hosted a Welcome Back breakfast—full on with eggs and waffles to order.
In Oct, the families participated in Family Fun Night- a big success with pumpkin carving, food and fellowship, line dancing with Jonathan Williams plus a night game of Capture the Flag. Very fun!!
For the upcoming holidays, some of the families created wreaths for the Meetinghouse doors. FDS families were also the recipient of 2 gifts from the Pastoral Care committee. Each family received an advent calendar and an advent storybook entitled “All Creation Awaits.” This storybook was also used in some FDS lessons.
Also in December, FDS and the Meeting community participated in the Easton Holiday parade in downtown Easton. We again had our "Peace Dove" float. Many thanks for Jeanne Halpin, all the sewers, the parents who drove and rode on the float plus all the kids! It was a combined outreach effort of over 20 Quaker volunteers.
The week before Christmas, FDS held its annual holiday program for the children followed by a Meeting wide potluck.
2025:
The FDS committee was delightfully augmented in early 2025 by the good work of the Nominating Committee. During our first committee meeting of the year, values and curriculum was discussed with much input from the parents. Monthly themes were agreed upon as a natural focus to the weekly lessons. These themes were Gifts, Integrity, Peace and Stewardship. (Recognize the testimonies?) During the late winter, early Spring FDS offered a “Secret Friend” activity. Their exchanges were fruitful in establishing a connected friendship.
Much support from the committee came in March, when FDS provided hospitality each week. On the fifth Sunday in March, FDS along with Hospitality and Pastoral Care held the New Members and Attenders luncheon. The common room was filled to the brim with tables food and friends as we recognized those who recently joined Meeting as members.
In April FDS held its annual Easter Egg Hunt on the Third Haven grounds. Many members contributed hard boiled eggs for the kids to dye and then find them!
Also, the FDS committee showed strong support for the MultiCultural Festival held in early May in Idlewild Park. A vibrant presence was felt as many patrons visited our Third Haven table asking questions about Quakerism and learning more about our summer camp for kids.
Speaking of camp, Third Haven is now in its 7th year of offering the summer mindfulness camp on the Third Haven grounds. There was a concerted effort this year by many members of Meeting to provide more foundational support to help the camp succeed. There is much organizing, promoting, and processing even before the camp begins. With this added help, camp applications are rolling in and being processed quickly and efficiently. Our lead camp teacher, Cherie Baron has been helping with some Sunday FDS teaching as well. We are grateful to Cherie for her inspirations and gentle wondering way with the children.
Besides our monthly themes, the children also learn from our Godly Play and Faith and Play stories, other storybooks, nature walks around the property, and Meeting members all of which supply variations in learning about Spirit.
In compliance with our Meeting’s strategic plans, FDS packed up the 2nd floor of the BMH classrooms this Spring with classrooms continuing in the common room. FDS is very excited for the new stairway and entrance to the 2nd floor. Upgrades in furnishings, carpeting and fresh paint will add a refreshing look for our Fall studies.
Finally, FDS ended our year with the annual “Moving Up Day.” It was a happy occasion celebrating 5 graduates who grew up in Third Haven and are now young adults. We were able to hear a little of their journey and their thanks for the Meeting’s support.
FDS is looking forward to:
- Working with T and C on immigration issues
- Working with P and G on keeping the TH land clean and health
- Continuing to collaborate with Hospitality and Pastoral care on Meeting wide events and celebrations
We really are a supportive community.