Religious Education for children and youth is a cooperative venture involving both children and adults in the church community. In a liberal religious tradition such as Unitarian Universalism, religious learning, spiritual growth, and faith development are viewed as a lifelong journey each person takes.

We may hold different beliefs, but we covenant to journey together as a community, using as our guide our common principles and values. Together, we strive to create an atmosphere of respect, compassion, and spiritual growth for ourselves and others.

Read more about the philosophy of the RE program here.

 

2023-2024 Religious Education Program:

Please register children and youth for the UUSS Religious Education (RE) program by clicking HERE.

If you have questions about the Religious Education program, contact Director of Religious Education HB Steadham at dlre@uuschenectady.org. If you have questions about registration, contact Congregational Life Coordinator Kristin Cleveland at clc@uuschenectady.org

Nursery: Infants through preschool age (year long)
Our nursery staff creates a welcoming, inviting place for children up to 5 years old. Children are introduced to our UU values of love and kindness through modeled behavior, sharing, and fun activities.

Grades K-3: Favorite UU Stories – (fall — September through January)
We’ve tied our favorite UU-themed stories to our congregation’s monthly worship themes. Fun activities help children learn about our faith, and learn to practice compassion and build relationships.

Grades 4-7: Windows & Mirrors – (fall – September through January)
This program centers on the UU value of compassion. Through art projects, stories, and other activities, children connect to their own experiences and learn to seek out, care about, and respect the experiences of others. The teachers also help children develop a supportive group atmosphere.

Grades 8/9: Yearlong Our Whole Lives (OWL) (year long)
OWL is an antidote to sexualized media messages, peer pressure, misinformation and prejudice. It provides accurate, age-appropriate information, puts sexuality in the context of values and personal responsibility, supports healthy decision making, and strengthens social skills. These skills and values help prepare youth to make healthy choices for life.

Grades 9-12: High School Youth (year long)
We promote youth empowerment as our youth discuss and work through curriculum based on social justice, worship, fellowship, learning, and leadership opportunities. This group meets the first and third Sundays of the month only. Youth are invited to attend the worship service or ask the DLRE about helping with younger children other Sundays.

Special Programming for Elementary Aged Children Starts February 4 th

We will be offering Our Whole Lives (OWL) at the k/1 st grade level and at the 5 th/6 th grade level

We’ll have multiage programming for elementary aged children not in OWL:

  • 5 and 6 year-olds not yet in kindergarten
  • 2 nd graders
  • 3 rd graders
  • 4 th graders
  • 7 th graders
  • children whose families choose not to have them participate in OWL

Details about OWL:

  • This is a lifespan, age-appropriate sexuality program developed and run by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Offering OWL at all the levels for children is a longstanding hallmark of the RE program at UUSS.
  • The UUA gives the facilitators special training that covers both the k/1 st and 5 th /6 th grade levels. The teachers at UUSS who have or will receive this training soon are Meagan McClearn, Sarah Tyo, Joel Best, Erin Piotrowski, and Bryan Cherry.
  • The k/1 program is 9 sessions long, including a mandatory 2 hour orientation session for parents/caregivers and children. This is scheduled for Feb 4 from 10:30 -12:30, and childcare for siblings after their RE session will be provided until 12:30. Here is more information about K/1 OWL https://www.uua.org/files/2023-01/K_1_owl_2nd_ed_flyer_2023.pdf
  • The 5/6 program is 11 sessions long, including the mandatory 2 hour orientation session for the parents/caregivers and the 5 th /6 th grade children. Also scheduled for 2/1 from 10:30 – 12:30 with childcare for siblings after their RE session until 12:30. Here is more information about the 5 th /6 th grade OWL program: https://www.uua.org/files/2023-06/owl_flyer_4_6_2018.pdf

Parents/caregivers of children in kindergarten, first, fifth and sixth grade, please mark your calendars to attend the orientation for you and your child on Feb 4. We offer OWL using the guidelines from the UUA; parents and caregivers must give informed consent for their children to participate.

 

Helping Out

As the Religious Education program is a cooperative endeavor, volunteers are needed. Volunteer options include teaching classes as part of a teaching team, filling in as a substitute teacher (no curriculum preparation is necessary for being a substitute), assisting in a RE classroom, running or assisting with a one-time “Children’s Chapel” program, and offering an extra pair of hands to help with particularly involved crafts or other similar activities. Contact the Director of Lifespan Religious Education (DLRE) at dlre@uuschenectady.org for more information about volunteering.

 

General Information

Check here for information about times and dates for the Religious Education (RE) program, and for safety information.
Read more: General Information

Coming of Age: A Modern UU Rite of Passage

The Coming of Age program at Unitarian Universalist Society Schenectady typically offers eighth and ninth graders an engaging and structured atmosphere in which to explore significant issues at this transitional stage of life.  For 2022-2023 we’re REimagining RE a little bit during this time of transition and opening COA to all high school students!  Next year we’ll return to offering it to 8/9 graders, and the following year we will return to our tradition of offering it every other year.
Read more: Coming of Age: A Modern UU Rite of Passage

Our Whole Lives (OWL)

OWL is a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum that spans all ages. We are excited to offer OWL for 7th and 8th graders for the 2022-2023 church year.  We will skip OWL next year and return to our tradition of offering OWL every other year after that, including K/1, 5/6, 7/8, and 11/12 OWL!
Read more: Our Whole Lives (OWL)