We treasure the Meeting’s children and young people, and we welcome new families with children.
Our Children’s Program
We have an active First Day* School program for children from preschool through high school age. This is comparable to the Sunday School that you might find in other denominations. Our volunteers and paid staff have child safety training and clearances.
How it Works
On Sundays, children begin their morning with First Day School at 10am. Children then join Meeting for Worship for the last 5-20 minutes, depending on age. We are very tolerant of the fidgeting of young children, and find that most children gain an appreciation for the silence over time. At the conclusion of Meeting for Worship, children and parents are invited to join the rest of the adults for community time, with conversation and snacks.
Classes
From September through early June, First Day School is divided into several classes, based on school grade and the needs of individual children, while during the summer, there is one activity for all ages. For the youngest children (usually up to age 3) nursery care is available for the entire hour of Meeting for Worship. Child care for all ages is also provided during the hour after Meeting for Worship to allow parents to attend a Forum or Meeting for Business. We ask that parents sign their children in and out of childcare.
Currently, there is no children’s program or childcare at the 8am Meeting for Worship, so the description above applies only to 10am worship. If you have questions about the children’s program or the curriculum of First Day School, members of the First Day School Committee would be happy to talk to you.
*Note: early Quakers objected to the use of the common names of days of the week and months of the year, because they were named after pagan gods, so they spoke of “first day” instead of Sunday. Although this usage has largely disappeared, we continue to us some special terms, like “First Day School.”