Church School and Nursery Program
At St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church we are committed to providing a safe, welcoming space for children in which they can explore their faith, develop community with one another, and experience a growing relationship with God. All families in the community, whether or not they are members of St. Gabriel's, are invited to join us. Guests and drop-ins are always welcomed. For preschool-aged children through 6th grade we offer two levels of Godly Play: a class for younger children Pre-K through 2nd grade and a class for older children 3rd through 6th grade. For little ones, aged birth through early preschool, we provide a nursery staffed each week by two care-providers. The children have a dedicated, fully-equipped nursery room with age-appropriate toys, books and games. Godly Play classes run from September through May. The nursery is open year-round. We provide summer craft activities and child-care for all ages during our summer services. To view our Church School and Nursery Brochure, click here.
Our Sunday Schedule
9:45 am: Godly Playclasses begin and the nursery opens.
Approx. 10:30 am: Children in Godly Play classes rejoin their parents for Communion.
At End of Service: Parents may pick up their children from the nursery.
Godly Play
Godly Play, a Montessori-based curriculum, teaches children the art of using religious language - parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action - helping them become more fully aware of the mystery of God's presence in their lives. A typical Godly Play class begins when the child is greeted at the door of the classroom, encouraged to calm him or herself, and enter the worship space of the classroom. The children sit in a circle and begin the class with a centering prayer. A storyteller then tells a story using props and figures appropriate to the setting and action. (For example, the story of Abraham wandering in the desert utilizes a large sandbox!) This allows the children to engage with the story at many levels. When the story is done, the storyteller asks "I wonder" questions, allowing the children to draw their own parallels, conclusions, and synthesis of the story, each in his or her own way. Afterward, the children have an opportunity to participate in creative activities using the story props, high-quality art supplies, journals or other materials designed to promote interactive, multi-sensory engagement with the story.
Nursery
Our nursery room is staffed and ready for little ones, opening approximately 15 minutes prior to the 10 am Sunday Service. Children may remain in the nursery for the duration of the service, or they may be picked up by parents who wish their children to participate in Communion. The nursery is staffed by two care-givers at all times and is equipped with age-appropriate toys and games. To ensure the safety of children in the nursery, we ask that you take a moment to fill out a registration sheet for each child prior to dropping him/her off for the first time.
Registration
Registration for the school year will begin on the first Sunday after Labor Day in the Parish Hall (on the right as you face the Church). We ask that you fill out one (pink) Church School Registration Form per family, with the names and birth dates of each child. Registering your child/children is not required for attendance, but it will enable us to put you on our mailing list so that we can notify you of upcoming Church School events. Registration will continue throughout the fall. Drop-ins and guests are always welcome.
Our Classrooms
Our classrooms are located just past the Parish Hall on the right side of the courtyard. Go through the glass doors. The classrooms and nursery are along the hallway to the left.
