Elementary Programs - The North Parish Church of North Andover

RE programs will begin September 8.

Donations Needed!

We will continue to collect items for our neighbors who are experiencing housing insecurity. Blessing bags will be assembled this fall.

If you are willing and able, please consider donating travel-sized toiletries, warm socks, small water bottles, and non-perishable protein snacks for this project. Donations can be dropped off in Susanne’s office. We appreciate you and thank you for helping us teach our children to live out their UU values!

When are classes held?

Our Elementary classes are held on Sundays, September through June, concurrent with the Worship service. We begin in the sanctuary with the congregation where children engage in the service with our church community. Following a brief “Time for Wonder” story sharing, where the children are invited to gather around the chalice, the congregation sings everyone off to the classroom wing where fun, learning and spiritual exploration awaits! Parents and caregivers are welcome to sit in on the classes at any time with their children especially as they adjust to the new environment.

What does the curriculum include?

We believe that elementary children learn through stories and story-based conversation and play. We also turn to multiple sources to gather religious, ethical or spiritual wisdom. “Story Play” is the name for our gatherings for the youngest children. Each Sunday, children learn a wisdom story from Unitarian Universalism, one of the world’s religions, the Hebrew or Christian Bible or the earth’s seasons. They then engage in activities and conversations related to the story to see how it might connect to their lives. Story Play is fun, engaging and creative!

Additional Programs

Kindergarten and First Grade

OWL for K-1st Grade engages children through stories, songs and activities and helps support parents and caregivers in educating children about their bodies, birth, babies and family.

4th and 5th Grade

OWL for 4th and 5th graders helps children navigate key life areas such as body image, consent and peer pressure, social media and the internet, changes of puberty, feelings and attractions.

Here is more information about the OWL programs.

Save the Date!

Due to construction happening on our campus, this summer’s Peace and Science Week has been moved to winter break, February 17 – February 25, 2025!

Science, mystery, and wonder are some of the sources that inform our Unitarian Universalist tradition so children and youth, PS (3-and-4-year-olds) – 12th Graders are invited to spend a glorious week learning peaceful practices and exploring amazing experiments, thought-provoking activities, and wonderous music and art, with lots of time for games, relaxing, and building friendships.

Our youth will have their own Peace Week experience as well as well as engaging in the service project of serving as Junior Counselors (6th – 8th graders), Senior Counselors (9th-12th graders), and CIT’s — counselors-in-training (5th graders).

Use this link to register online. For more information, please email our Director of Family Religious Education, Susanne Hinson-Rieger.

How you can help

Volunteers are the cornerstone of our Religious Education programs here at North Parish and there are many ways you can share yourself with our children. One of the best ways to get involved is to help teach a class session. There are ongoing and limited ways to be involved.

Ways to volunteer might include:

Assisting during a Children’s Chapel
Sharing a specialty in a Backyard Nature program
Leading a community service project
Sharing your skill as a performer or storyteller in our Spirit Play program
Becoming a facilitator in our Elementary Our Whole Lives (OWL) program
Donating materials for our classrooms
Serving on our Faith Formation Team

Signup to help with our 2024-2025 RE programs

If you need more information, email our Director of Family Religious Education or call the church office to leave a message.