Upcoming RE Classes:
K-6 Experiences with the Web of Life: These nature lovers will meet again Sunday morning, 3/6, from 9:30-10:15. A couple of activities for the children to do before our 3/6 class were emailed last week and will also be included in this week’s parent email. We’d also like them to think about the pets they have and draw a picture or have something to say about their pets. If they don’t have pets, they can imagine a pet they might like to have and make up a picture and/or story.
Special K-6 Event on March 4th: Celebrating Spring! 6-6:45 pm, with movement and stories to share. Location TBD dependent on COVID numbers.
7/8 THE FIFTH DIMENSION: Their next meeting is Sunday morning, 3/6, from 9:15-10:15
8/9 OWL: This group’s next in-person meeting is Sunday evening, 3/6, from 7-9.
SENIOR YOUTH (9th-12th)
3/6 Ice Caves/7th-12th Grade! (Rescheduled) Randy Jennings will lead us on a fun adventure! We’ll begin with a 9 am meetup at the church–anybody who doesn’t already have snowshoes, yak tracks, or ice skates can get fitted for some equipment. Everybody will need to bring their own lunch and a water bottle. Permission slips will be required and have been emailed. Dress in warm layers! Less than 2-hr drive to the trail head. We’ll hike from the trail head to the caves, hang out at the caves for an hour or two, have our lunches, head back down to the trail head, and return to Schenectady around 4 o’clock. Very limited parking at the trail head, so not practical for each family to drive separately, so participants must be masked and vaccinated and willing to ride share. Please RSVP by Thursday, 3/3, at 3 pm so we know who’s interested in the trip and who wants to borrow snowshoes, ice skates etc. Contact Director of Lifespan Religious Education Robin Ahearn at dlre@uuschenectady.org with questions.
Our next meeting is this Sunday, 3/6, at noon, online. We’ll spend our regular meeting time (may be slightly extended!) doing a quick check in and then we’ll work together making some super cool macrame plant hangers! If your Youth would like to participate, please let me know asap and I’ll do my best to get supplies to them. Here’s the link to the Senior Youth Group Meetings: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86309253458?pwd=ZXZWSTFveGZwYzN6Qjd5czc4N2thdz09
And, I’m excited to report the 3/13 Senior Youth meeting will be IN PERSON! Masking and social distancing will be required, and we will have an air filtration unit in place. But, we will meet in the Youth room and sit on our couches and connect. And be in person. Together!
GREETINGS FROM THE ANTI-RACISM TEAM!
You may have heard recently about the UUA’s 30 Days of Love Campaign that takes place each year around February. This year, week 3 focused on the topic of Decriminalization & Racial Justice. In honor of this topic, the Anti-Racist Team has collaborated with the RE Team to bring a belated Valentine’s Day gift, Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You, to families with children in grades K-6.
In 2020, the RE Team hosted a book study of the book Raising White Kids, by Jennifer Harvey. One of the conclusions I came to, after these discussions, was that many UU parents want to talk about race issues with their children, but it’s often challenging to find the right words and situations. We hope that this book, Stamped (For Kids), will provide an opportunity and structure for our intention to live our anti-racist ideals.
The UUSS Youth Group read an adaptation of this book meant for older youth about a year ago. My son, Blake, received the book and began reading it independently. He doesn’t talk a lot about what he’s reading, but he did mention it several times, commenting that it was very good. He also doesn’t always finish books, but he said it was easy to read and understand.
Last December, I was in the Open Door Bookstore looking for a book for my 8-year-old daughter. Blake was browsing the shelves with me, and he saw the Stamped (For Kids) book. He plucked it off the shelf and brought it over to me. When a teenager recommends a book about antiracism, I take notice!
This is a book that is meant to be read with your kids. It is intended to foster discussion and a common background of knowledge. As you can imagine, this is a heavy book. The publisher recommends it for ages 6 and above, but obviously you are the best judge of when your child is ready to read it with you.
If you are interested in participating in a discussion involving the book or your experience reading the book with your child(ren), Erin Piotrowski will be hosting a book discussion sometime this spring (May?). You are welcome to join with or without your kids to talk about our experiences.
Thank you to the RE Team for providing funding for the books and support for our antiracist mission!
–In solidarity, Erin Piotrowski, Kat Wolfram, Tom Comparin, UUSS Anti-Racism Team