SUNDAY SCHOOL
ASSUMPTION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
TOWN & COUNTRY, MO
Fr. Joseph Strzelecki, Parish Priest
Catalina Finck, Youth Director and Pastoral Assistant
Mary Pitliangas, Director of Sunday School
A MESSAGE TO PARENTS
Dear Parents,
The Greek Orthodox Church of Assumption, Town & Country, Missouri in its continued effort to design an effective and impactful educational program for its parishioners and especially its youth, presents to you our Sunday School program. This booklet of our Sunday School and Youth Program is designed to acquaint the parents of our students with the curriculum and purpose of Sunday School and our Parish Enrichment activities, and to impress upon all members the value of the Sunday School, youth program, and our parish family.
We believe that our efforts to create living, knowledgeable Orthodox Christians have been blessed by our Lord. Our Church today is proud of the spiritual caliber of its children and sees the children who pass through its doors as the future members of a congregation that is rich due to its members’ conviction, and Orthodox beliefs.
It is our program in conjunction with the dedication and love of the parents, family members and other community members that will secure our parish’s future. To be effective, the program requires parent support and commitment to achieve the benefits of our parish’s Sunday School and youth programs.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Joseph Strzelecki
Parish Priest
Mary Pitliangas
Director of Sunday School
As this new Sunday School year begins…
We present this booklet for your information and understanding of our Sunday School program. Teaching is a very challenging task. It entails careful study of our faith so that this knowledge can be instilled to our students. It involves planning lessons that will be relevant and interesting.
It also requires dedication and commitment to ensure our children are properly educated and prepared for whatever life brings them. Those who volunteer to undertake such a difficult, time consuming task are to be commended for their stewardship. At Assumption, we have been blessed with dedicated teachers. However, our program can only be successful if the home and school work together. Our goal is the same: to provide the best for each student because we care for them as children of God and because today’s children are tomorrow’s church leaders.
You, as parents, can help with your support and encouragement. You are vital to our success! We ask for your support in the following important matters:
REGULAR ATTENDANCE ~ Have your child attend Sunday School regularly. Sporadic attendance brings limited understanding, often lack of understanding, and develops weaker bonds with classmates. Consider religious education as important as secular education.
BRINGING NEEDED MATERIALS ~ Be sure your child brings his or her stewardship offering to class every Sunday. Some teachers send textbooks or enrichment activities home, and we ask that the student bring these back each Sunday.
VALUING RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ~ Each Sunday ask your child what he or she is learning in Sunday School. Oftentimes the student will have little to say about the lesson.
However, as you continue to keep an ongoing interest, you may begin to get more dialogue.
Much is accomplished in each classroom each and every Sunday. Show your child by your interest and attitude how much you value religious education. Your enthusiasm or your indifference can be catching.
PARTICIPATING IN CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES ~ Participating in the Curriculum Enrichment Activities of the Sunday School helps enhance the learning experience for students and brings a sense of belonging and interaction with classmates. These activities are highlighted in this handbook.
KNOWING THE TEACHER ~ Meet your child’s teacher. All teachers are very accessible and truly want to know the parents of their students. It is important that you and the teacher have a rapport so that you can work together in the best interest of the student.
BEING ON TIME FOR CLASS ~ Coming to class on time is extremely important. Please realize that it is disruptive to the teacher and students if classmates continue to come in after the lesson has begun. Please consider the short time we have with your children as a sacred time and space in their lives. Please allow us the full time that we need.
COMMUNICATING PROBLEMS ~ We encourage you to first communicate any problems to the teacher. After this, specific concerns should be addressed with any of the directors. Following this procedure will create a more successful learning experience.
DISCIPLINE ~ As a church school, we are committed to uphold the principles of a Christian, Orthodox way of life. It is expected that students follow the rules of courtesy and respect for the rights of others in the classroom. Misbehavior will not be tolerated, for misbehavior is not only disrespectful but also denies others in the classroom the right to learn.
CHANGING ADDRESS, PHONE OR EMAIL ~ Church office (314)966-2255
INTRODUCTION
The general education our children receive today is simply not enough. In a world that becomes ever more complicated and morally complex, our children run the risk of lacking the spiritual and moral development to navigate their way through these treacherous waters. Our children must balance the advancement of their intellect through traditional schooling with the development of their moral character through education in the Orthodox faith. It is here, in our Sunday
School program, that we hope our children will not only make new friends and have fun, but that they will fundamentally build a moral compass that will guide them in later years to what is right and what is true.
OBJECTIVES
Our Sunday School, equipped with the latest and best teaching aids, a sound yet flexible curriculum, and staff by qualified teachers, has the following three goals:
1. To educate our children spiritually and morally, in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the faith and traditions of the Greek Orthodox Church
2. To develop in our children the habit of attending church regularly, studying the Scriptures, and participating conscientiously in the worship and sacramental life of our church
3. To cultivate in our children a Greek Orthodox conscience and devotion to our ideals and to prepare them so that they become faithful and devoted dynamic members of our church, our community, and our country
PROGRAM
The Sunday School term begins the second Sunday of September and extends through the fourth Sunday in May.
Hours
Students attend the Sunday Divine Liturgy weekly (9:45 am).
Following HOLY COMMUNION, students attend their classes.
Each Sunday the following schedule is in effect for children ages three through 12th grade.
9:45 – Sunday School children attend Divine Liturgy with their family.
Immediately following HOLY COMMUNION, the children go to their Sunday School Classrooms. Teachers present a lesson according to the Sunday School curriculum.
12:00 noon Classes dismiss and parents with children in Preschool – 4th grade are to meet their children at their classrooms.
Classes Information
Given that children may be of different ages in their classes at school, the Sunday School has grouped its children according to age and grade to maintain continuity across groups. The minimum enrollment age is three years old through seniors in High School.
Sunday School Director and Assistant Directors
Mary Pitliangis - Director
Chrissa Siampos - Assistant
Elizabeth Safarian – Assistant
Pre-School (3, 4 & 5 yr olds)
Beverly Leon
Pam Bohling
Wendy Bear
Kindergarten A child must be in the secular school kindergarten to be in this class
Aliki Malek
Danny Taylor
1st / 2nd Grade
Anna Sadaka
Xeny Simpson
3rd / 4th Grade
Stephanie Taylor
Samia Rabie
5th / 6th Grade
Keve Gialouris
Victoria Ambort
7th / 8th Grade
Soula Marcou
Carol Marshal
High School
Diane Sieckmann
Catalina Finck
CURRICULUM
The Assumption’s Sunday School curriculum is tailored to meet children’s spiritual needs. Our parish utilizes the teaching materials of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Religious Education.
(For more information, visit: http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/resources/what_your_child_should_know)
For the younger children, the curriculum focuses on Christianity in general terms. The curriculum flexes to the children’s interests and desires making the learning process enjoyable and fun.
For the older children, the curriculum becomes more systematic, but drives the students to voice their own thoughts and opinions. The subject matter is primarily centered on the religious traditions in the Greek Orthodox Church, but will frequently apply religious learning to real-world situations and events. The goal for our older children is to help them apply the fundamentals of Christianity in their life journey and everyday interactions.
METHODS
Our Sunday School program seeks to do more than merely insist that students memorize subject matter. Instead, we encourage them to live the values learned in Sunday School in their lives. Our program is one of the valuable ways that our children will learn how to navigate the complexities of life.
Given the positive impact of involvement in class, our Sunday School students are encouraged to participate actively – whether in class discussion, dialogues with our priests or, for the younger students, in arts and crafts projects, prayer recitals or singing hymns or songs. Where applicable, the classes will incorporate audio-visual aids including films, pictures, maps and pictures to make the learning process more vivid. From time to time, we may further enrich our curriculum with field trips to areas of local interest.
In addition, the parish includes ministries for all youth and families, to enrich and support the Orthodox way of life in their families and their homes.
STEWARDSHIP
Students are encouraged to bring an offering each Sunday. Again, it is beneficial when students earn and contribute their own money. In this way, we encourage them that stewardship to the Church is ongoing, even into adulthood.
