Welcome to Plymouth Church of Shaker Heights-a United Church of Christ Church in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Education and Children

Adult Education

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Education and Children

Children and youth are encouraged to participate in all parts of church life. While some activities, like Church School, separate children into age groups for appropriate learning experiences, we also feel that it's important for children to have opportunities to develop relationships with people of all ages within the church. These relationships can be developed and nurtured during our many inter-generational fellowship programs, in outreach, and in service.
Preschool Church
Beginning Sunday, September 9 the Preschool Church program is offered to 3 and 4-year-olds during the 10:30 am worship service. Parents are invited to drop their children off before worship in the Preschool Church room (the PDO room). Preschool Church continues to use the "Exploring Faith" curriculum. Parents may pick up their children at the conclusion of worship.
Confirmation
Confirmands share a year-long journey together as they discover the life of faith, both its cost and its joy. The Confirmation Program is available for 9th graders (and older youth who have not yet been confirmed). As part of the year's activities, each confirmand is paired with a mentor (an adult member of the church) who is willing to share their time, care, and faith through a series of organized get-togethers. The group also explores church history, scripture and discipleship.
Youth Mission Groups
Plymouth Church believes that faith development is just as important outside the church walls as it is within them. Mission trips are an essential part of this development. Fifth graders through twelfth graders, along with several dedicated adult leaders, are given the opportunity to leave our comfortable surroundings and head off to the places where God calls us to serve. Recently, this has included trips to Puerto Rico, Mississippi and West Virginia. Generally, there are two trips per summer, one for 6th - 8th graders and one for 9th - 12th graders. This is an opportunity to serve by building homes for those in need, getting to know people from a different culture and exploring what it means to truly live the life of faith. If you have a chance to go on a mission trip, you will not soon forget it.
Nursery
Plymouth Church is committed to providing loving care for your children while parents are participating in Adult Education programs and worship on Sunday mornings. Because we believe that a person's lifelong spiritual journey begins at birth, we are dedicated to sharing God's love with the children in our care. The Nursery provides care for children from birth to 4 years. It is open from 9:15 am until noon every Sunday and, when necessary, for most special events. We have a staff of paid care givers and we also have volunteers that serve in our nursery on a rotating basis. Our nursery also has a silent pager system so parents can be discretely contacted if their child has need of their attention.
Adult Education
Plymouth encourages members of all ages to explore their religious interests not only through worship but also through education. Rev. David Powers works with a committee to plan our adult education program. Throughout the year we offer a variety of options which begin at 9:30am (and occasionally at 11:45am). Our offerings range from Bible study, to Spiritual Journaling, to Christian Parenting and Family Communication, to Practical Spirituality, to the exploration of controversial ethical issues. See more details of our Adult Education courses.

Sunday School

Sunday School for K-7: Begin with worship in the Sanctuary. After the Children's Message,

go to Fellowship Hall.

Sunday School for grades 8 - 9 meets in the Krumbine Room, during worship

Preschool Church (ages 3-4) before worship begins, go directly to Room 2 downstairs

Infant Child Care (up to age 3) in the Nursery upstairs,

Room 202

For this coming year the Children and Youth Department has developed a new format for our children's Christian education. We'll be offering a one hour Sunday morning children's program to be held during worship in Fellowship Hall, using the Workshop Rotation format.

This new program offers an exciting pattern which is used by many churches of all sizes. In our situation, three groups of students will rotate through the workshop stations week by week - K-2, 3-5, and 6-7. Instead of the traditional longer-term teacher responsibilities, teaching commitments in the Rotation Workshop model will be for a month at a time. The theme for the fall will be Jesus. The beginning unit will be "Who Is Jesus?" We are hoping that some who have not taught before will want to be involved in short-term projects which particularly interest them. Cooking? Art? Music/Movement? Science? Storytelling? We'll be doing all that, and more. You can find out more about this curriculum at: http://powerxpress.com.

What will not change:

Nursery and Toddlers (up to age 3) from 9:30 to noon.
Preschool Church (ages 3-4)
8-9 grade Sunday School

(The 8-9th grade class will serve as a pre-confirmation experience, with a Confirmation Class anticipated for both grades together in 2008-2009).

Youth Groups

Young Christians on the Move (5th and 6th grade)

Middle School Fellowship (7th and 8th grade)

Senior High Youth Group

Youth Group Permission Slip

Dively Application

Our active youth groups undertake a variety of projects and activities throughout the year, including mission work weeks, retreats, leadership for Youth Sunday, and special educational events. Senior Youth Group generally meets each Sunday evening. YCM and MSF generally meet twice a month on Sunday nights.

Children's Council

This is one of the most exciting groups at the church. The Children's Council plans special activities for young children up to 4th grade. Their activities include the Sugar Plum Workshop where children make easy crafts for Christmas, the Valentine Cookie Bake and Delivery to Shut-ins, the Holy Week / Easter party and egg hunt that tells the story of Holy Week, the annual cook-out for families, and the Halloween Reverse Trick-or-Treat where children, instead of seeking treats, offer them to folks at a local nursing home. Children's Council generally plans one event per month for families with children. It is a group that has grown quite rapidly over the past year.

Parent's Day Out (PDO)

Begun in 1978 by Plymouth Church as a service to its members and to the Heights community, Parent's Day Out is a unique program of child care which gives children an opportunity to play, learn, share and socialize in a positive environment outside the home. PDO operates from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m; a snack is provided and children bring their own lunch. Children need not be toilet trained. Parent participation in PDO activities is always welcome.

Parent's Day Out Kids:

Children must be at least 30 months old to begin a session and may attend until they turn 4. The maximum enrollment for each day is 16 children with 3 teachers. Your child can register for one or two days of your choice. Play is the focus of PDO KIDS, guiding young children as they discover the world and make new friends.

Parent's Day Out Pre-K:

Children must be 4 by October 31 to attend. Enrollment is limited to 8 children with 1 teacher. All children attend 4 days a week, Monday through Thursday. Learning through play is still the focus, but PDO Pre-K also integrates activities to help older children build the skills they need for kindergarten.

Parent's Day Out Goals

To provide a nurturing place for children outside the home.
To make children feel safe, secure and happy with a consistent routine.
To promote respect and sharing among friends as children advance their social skills in a group setting.
To foster positive self-esteem as children gain independence and learn new skills and concepts through play.
To encourage language development with stories, songs and discussion.
To enhance cognitive development through constructive and creative activities.
To build large and small muscle coordination with physical movement and manipulative materials.

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