The First Day School’s Corner of the World: June 2024
Head of First Day School, Charlotta Koppanyi
Recognition Sunday, June Potluck Picnic & Summer RE Program
Sunday, June 2nd, is Recognition Sunday where we celebrate our students and their families in our religious education program, First Day School. We also celebrate and acknowledge our amazing volunteers, teachers, guest teachers, and RE Committee members, and not forgetting our staff, Norma, Raphael, and Charlotta, all who spend valuable time with your children each Sunday on their spiritual journey and community building.
For our last class, before the Summer RE Program starts, we are having a special guest visiting us. Last year John Woolman, through the practice of time traveling, visited us and spoke about his life. This year our guest is a Quaker from a Programmed Meeting, who will share the differences and similarities with Unprogrammed Meeting, and allow time for Q&A. A big Thank You to Rex who takes on these roles.
After the visit and meeting of our guest, we will set up the tables and all other preparations for our picnic potluck, and join the Meeting around 11:10 am to celebrate our students. As is our tradition, an individually chosen book will be given to each child who attends First Day School during the year that captures (hopefully) their interests, Quaker values in their many different forms, and SPICES in our daily life.
Following the recognition, we are inviting you to join us for an amazing potluck picnic feast, which we hope the weather will allow us to have outside. Grilled hot dogs and burgers (vegetarian and non-vegetarian), salmon and many other delicious dishes, as well as dessert, will be shared.
As the years go by our students are growing up and new young friends are joining us. Our program is growing. I want to express my gratefulness to all the families who attend Evanston Friends Meeting and have their children in First Day School. Having the opportunity to work with our students is such a joy, it is interesting and rewarding, and I believe an important part of building a foundation for their lives. The importance of a creating a safe, loving, age-appropriate spiritual program, and religious community is universal. Last year, I attended a Godly Play conference via Zoom with participants from all over. In one of the workshops, I mentioned we use the Godly Play, Faith and Play, and Quaker Stories in our Primary classes – and that I was Swedish. Behold, I was quickly introduced to a Swedish woman through one of the participants. A few emails later, she shared with me she was coming to Chicago for a training program, as it turns out, at the Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, here in Evanston! She is the Chief Ecumenical Officer for the Church of Sweden and the current Chair of The Godly Play International Council. I am looking forward to be meeting her and having conversations about children’s spiritual development as well as hoping there will be time for her to visit Evanston Friends Meeting.
The Summer RE program, an all-ages program, starting June 9th, is about being together, building community, playing, reading stories, doing art, and learning from nature as we spend most of the time outside. There will be no Summer RE program, or Childcare, Sunday, June 23rd as Raphael, Steve and I will be at Illinois Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions and Norma is having the day off. Families are welcome to join the Meeting upstairs.
In short, it has been a good year with many nuggets of love, care and joy and I so appreciate each family who joins us as their time allows. Thank You!
Mark your calendars for a few dates…
Sunday, June 2: Recognition Sunday Celebration, with a visit of a Quaker (aka Rex taking on that role) from a Programmed Meeting for the students, and our Annual Recognition Sunday Celebration Potluck Picnic.
Sunday, June 9: Summer Program starts – the program is intergenerational for all students. The youngest will be with Norma and Raphael.
Sunday, June 16: Pancake Breakfast and Father’s Day
Sunday, June 23: Families are welcome to worship upstairs as no RE or child care will be provided. Charlotta, Steve and Raphael will be at Illinois Annual Session in McNabb and Norma will have the day off.
Illinois Yearly Meeting Annual Session Information
Wednesday, June 19 – Sunday, June 23: ILYM (Illinois Yearly Meeting) Annual Session. Join us at McNabb for a day or two, or for the full annual session. Programs for children and adults alike. For more information see Charlotta or go to https://ilym.org/ilym/2024annualsessions/
