Youth Education

The Christian education of the young people of our church is divided into three age groups: The Rotation Group (preschool - 5th grade), Middle School (6th - 8th grade) and Senior High (9th -12th grade).

The Rotation Model is an educational philosophy designed to absorb children in the subject matter by appealing to their interests in story-telling and language, visual art, and physical movement and activity. It's designed to teach Bible stories in a creative manner that holds children's attention.  Each classroom is dedicated to a different function. There's a Bedouin Encampment for story-telling, a movie room for audio-visual presentations, a kitchen classroom, an arts-and-crafts room and the theatre arts room for stage, music and movement.

Each year throughout our rotation learning setting, the same Bible story or theme is taught for several weeks.  Each week learners begin together and then divide into four classes (Pre-K, 1-2, 3rd and 4-5) The story remains the same, but children encounter it in different ways each week. The variety of experiences keeps interest high throughout the unit. Children experience the story in multiple, authentic learning environments, which help with retention for better integration of the faith story in their hearts and minds
 
Rotation teachers change with the change of each unit.  Our church typically enlists the volunteer teaching efforts of 30 to 40 adult members annually. When a new unit begins, the group of teachers change.

This year's rotation units include The Lord's Prayer, (September 23 - October 28, 2007) Follow That Star, (November 4 - December 9 and the Children's Worship Service on December 16, 2007)The Good Samaritan, (January 6 - February 3, 2008) Dig into the Bible, (February 10 - March 9, 2008) and
David the Boy, (March 30 - May 4, 2008).

The Middle Shool students (6th -8th grades) and Senior High students meet separately each week, often incorporating community-involvement and social events into their meetings. The educational emphasis focuses on students discussing how to live out their faith in the community, home, and world as well as Bible study. The middle school uses the Seasons of the Spirit lectionary based curriculum connecting worship, learning and service.