Registration
Out of courtesy to other families and the teachers, as well as for your child's safety and the best educational experience, we require advance registration. Visitors are always welcome for short periods, but registration and regular attendance are necessary to participate for longer periods. We do not charge a registration fee, but ask that you consider RE participation when you make your annual pledge. Registration forms are available from the RE Office.

Times
Class Times. Classes run one hour and 15 minutes:  

9:15-10:30 and 11:15-12:30

This gives parents a few minutes to attend the coffee hour in the Fellowship Hall following the adult service. Please pick up children promptly so that teacher(s) may join their own families, and please do not ask your young children to meet you on the playground or at the Fellowship Hall‑‑ they should be picked up from their classroom both to assure their safety and to enable you to interact briefly with their teacher and other parents. Safe and prompt arrivals are also important. Please allow enough time to give your child some comfortable settling in and socializing time at the beginning of each class.

All Church Sunday - At least one Sunday each month children 5 and older accompany their parents and attend the first 20 minutes of the adult service. A special story or program is usually featured at this time, and one child may serve as a chalice lighter. Children are then dismissed for classes.

Worship

On other Sundays children from kindergarten through sixth grade attend a short worship service each Sunday in the Children’s Chapel at either the beginning or end of their class.  Worship services are led by the MRE and members of the Children’s Worship Committee. Donations are received each Sunday to support a children’s social welfare project, for which the children voted at the beginning of the year.  Please remind your children to bring a coin for the collection basket.

All Church/All Service Sundays are conducted several times a year.  To provide yet another worship opportunity for school-age children, we invite them to spend the entire hour worshiping along with adults.  These services are designed with the knowledge that children will be attending, which means that they will often include more music and action and less sermon time than “normal” adult worship services.  Read The Arlingtarian to find out when these services occur.

Attendance
Regular attendance helps children feel connected and enhances the classroom experience. Talk with your child(ren) about what they did Sunday morning and what is planned for the next meeting.  Reinforce with them our concept of a safe classroom:  where ideas and information are welcome but put-downs and unkindness are not.  Share with them why you come and what needs of yours are met by the church community.  And, please feel free to assist any time in the classroom.

Other Tips
Please introduce yourself to teachers and group leaders and ask questions about the program.   Please also look over the available literature, respond to opportunities to participate and follow the activities of your child’s group. Feel free to let children know your thoughts, opinions, and values.  Be patient with them and with yourself as you struggle to understand each other.  Your presence and participation are appreciated–our children learn about religion from their parents’ actions.