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AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2021, WE'VE MOVED!

The Antiochian Orthodox Department of Christian Education site is now hosted on a new platform. Visit us HERE!


 

The Feast of Pentecost, 2021 

DOWNLOAD The Church School Transition Planning Guide

Dear Sunday Church School Directors,

On March 4th, new COVID directives were issued by His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH, including that church schools may reopen with the approval of the local bishop, with proper precautions in place, and if it is safe to do so in the local community. Soon after, a group of church school directors and diocesan coordinators met virtually to discuss how the Department of Christian Education should support church school directors as they begin preparing classrooms or alternative spaces for a return to in-person teaching.

A committee of your fellow directors quickly formed and began creating a user-friendly resource to support church schools in this transition. The Church School Transition Planning Guide is a comprehensive source of information and recommendations for clergy, directors, and church school staff as you navigate through the reopening process.

For the most part, our church school classrooms have been closed for well over a year. Welcoming the students back will be exciting (for them and us!) once a safe and healthy environment has been made ready. For questions about the guide or about re-opening, please contact the Department of Christian Education at aodce@aol.com. We can do this!

Anna-Sarah Farha
Assistant to Church School Directors
Antiochian Orthodox Department of Christian Education
aodce@aol.com; ww1.antiochian.org/christianeducation

This, then, is our task, to educate ourselves and our children in godliness ...

+St. John Chrysostom

Department of Christian Education


 

View our latest (1.20.2020) comprehensive ONLINE RESOURCE LIST for Teachers and Parents! 

Church School Directors, we hope to get a community together who can help one another by sharing their experiences. Check in with our Facebook page.

If you have not registered for the listserv, please email the department, at aodce@aol.com or Anna-Sarah at aodce.csdirectors@gmail.com with your name and parish.

The Christian Ed Materials and Order Form  is available for download! Be sure to see the revised Billing and Shipping/handling sections of the order form. Also, visit the Antiochian Village Bookstore and Giftshop for your gift needs for Sunday School and home.

Church School Resources Fall 2020
And its companion file, PDF Resource Folder
   Ideas for Teen Classes
   Important Zoom Settings
   Icebreakers
   Platforms and Resources for Virtual Classes
   Getting Parents on Board
   Fr. Tony's Advice
   Effective Zoom Lessons
Resources for Parents During Covid-19  (rev. 6/24) 

And its companion file, Printable Prayer Resources (rev. 6/1)
Our curriculum and other materials, April 2021 (Word doc)
Our curriculum and other materials, April 2021 (PDF)

FEATURED RESOURCE 

Holy Land Exhibit

This exhibit has been retired and the elements for display are no longer available.

By Carole A. Buleza

"Scripture Through the Lens of the Holy Land" is an exhibit is available for rental from the Antiochian Archdiocese Department of Christian Education (see below for details). The exhibit is dedicated to His Eminence Metropolitan Philip for his continuing support of Orthodox Christian Education, and to all in the Archdiocese whose roots in the Middle East have given the Antiochian Department of Christian Education the particular privilege of presenting the Holy Land in word and image. Participants at the 2011 Orthodox Institute, "Scripture Through the Lens of the Holy Land" were the first to view the exhibit prepared especially for that event.

FEATURED ARTICLE FOR DIRECTORS

An Active and Growing Sunday Church School

An Interview with Rebecca Likiardopoulos
St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Wichita, Kansas

Rebecca is serving her first year as Church School Director at St. George Cathedral. There are usually 75-90 students attending each Sunday, and the program is seeing growth, especially in preschool through second grade classes. As the second half of the 2019-2020 school year has been affected by a global COVID-19 pandemic - with temporary closure of churches and church schools - this interview includes a special look back at St. George VBS 2019.   


Which curricula is used for Sunday classes?

Our classes utilize a mix of curriculums; our rubric is based on the Archdiocese’s recommendations. This year we are trying out “My Orthodox Church”, the new 7-questions middle school curriculum.

How is Church School organized for Sunday classes and how many teachers are assigned to each class?

This year we have 6 classes: pre-K, K, 1&2, 3/4/5, Middle and High school. They are usually broken up by enrollment numbers and applicable grades. Because we have so many little ones, next year we will probably have pre-K, K, 1, and 2 as individual classes. We try to have at least 2 teachers per class to help share the load and provide coverage. The goal is to have those with teaching credentials or experience on staff. That is not always possible, but the goal. I also try to get at least one helper for class to help with snacks, getting supplies etc.

FEATURED ARTICLE FOR TEACHERS 

On the Liturgical Year for Teachers: Great Lent

This series of blog posts will offer basic information and resources regarding the liturgical year. It is our hope that Sunday Church School teachers will find this series helpful as they live the liturgical year with their students. The series will follow the church year in sections, as divided in the book The Year of Grace of the Lord: a Scriptural and Liturgical Commentary on the Calendar of the Orthodox Church by a monk of the Eastern Church. May God bless His Church throughout this year!

Great Lent consists of the 40 days leading to Holy Week, which, in turn, immediately precedes Pascha. Since its early days, Great Lent has been observed as a time of penitence, spiritual growth, and illumination. Although it is a time of great spiritual struggle, it is also a time of deep joy for Orthodox Christians, as we prepare our hearts to experience Christ's Passion and Resurrection.

FEATURED ARTICLE FOR PARENTS 

40 Activities for Great Lent

by Sylvia Leontaritis (used with permission)
Follow her blog

While we are already moving along the path to Pascha (this is published during the first week of Great Lent), it’s never too late to find fresh ideas for enhancing the journey with our families. Sylvia was generous enough to grant permission to share this list of activities with our Orthodox Christian parents. (from the archives of Adventures of an Orthodox Mom)

One of the things parents constantly ask is how to keep their children involved during Lent. It’s a tricky business, this Orthodox child rearing. As parents we struggle with finding balance between regular every day activities (both theirs and ours) and making sure our children keep in mind the seriousness of what we’re preparing for. Involving them should be a process everyone enjoys, a special time to pass on spiritual lessons in a way a child will both learn from and have fun with.

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Our Curriculum and other materials (Word doc)100.79 KB