Classes are held every week that there is a regular platform. On the Sundays when there is a society festival, children stay with their families for the celebration. We put effort into making festivals child friendly.
On regular Sunday mornings, children start in the main room with the adults they came with for introductory music and welcome. A “story for children of all ages” is read. Children are invited to the front of the room to see the pictures better. When the story is finished, the children leave to go to their respective classes. Parents are welcome, but not required to walk their children to their classes.
Each class starts with a greeting and sort of class meeting that allows all participants to check in about how their week has gone and maybe ponder a question or report on an ethical action they saw or engaged in. Classes end at 12:15. Parents/guardians are asked to come th their chid’s classroom to pick them up and maybe get to see what they have been doing.
Once a month, the classes gather to engage in a service project. This year we are hoping that some of the youth will initiate and organize service projects of interest to them. Some traditional projects we have done are making lunches for homeless shelters, making fleece scarves and blankets for needy populations, cleaning up the playground and collecting for UNICEF.
Me and My Friends, Our Feelings and Needs - Pre-School/Kindergarten
Fun play, stories and activities to help each child develop awareness of and pride in their individual identity, respect for the uniqueness others, increasing familiarity with an array of human emotions and the basic needs that drive them. These are foundation skills for the development of respect for others, empathy and non-violent communication skills. Opportunities to participate in service projects and celebrations with the older children will be frequent.
Celebrations - Early Elementary
Each Sunday, the group will learn about, prepare for and celebrate a holy day or holiday, as a way to begin to explore and develop respect for other religions and cultures. Values important to each celebration will be compared to values of ethical culture. There will also be opportunities to participate in service projects.
Comparative Religion - Later Elementary/Middle
This group will learn about the religions of their friends and neighbors through visits to other houses of worship, guest speakers and classroom activities. Comparisons of values, beliefs and practices of religions including Ethical Culture will be encouraged. There will also be opportunities to participate in service projects.
Youth of Ethical Societies/YES Group: Youth of the Society are invited to attend the national youth conference sponsored by the American Ethical Union. This year’s YES conference will take place in St. Louis. As in the past, NoVES will have a chaperoned delegation from our society attending.
Other youth group activities will be planned as the group determines interests. These may include social and service activities.
Future of Ethical Society activities are available to students beyond high school level. Please refer to the American Ethical Union for contact information.
