What a year it has been. From our tiniest parishioners to our high schoolers, every class showed up, learned something, and grew a little closer to God. The fruit of it shows up in a child who knows how to cross themselves, a teenager who asks a real question, a toddler who says, ‘Thank you, Jesus’ on the way out the door. But none of this happens without you.
Sunday School is not a substitute for church. It is an extension of it. Our children need to be in the church, standing in the presence of God, before any of this truly takes root. If Divine Liturgy has not been a weekly priority for your family, we lovingly and firmly encourage you to make it one.
We are so grateful for our teachers, our families, and every child who walked through that door this year. We closed out the year together at our Ice Cream Social, a sweet celebration of everything these kids learned and every family that showed up.
Here is a look at what each class was up to.
Little Angels (Parent & Tot Class)
Angelika Mindala
Our youngest parishioners, 40 days through 3 years old, gathered each Sunday for their own little taste of church. Every class followed the same simple rhythm: a good morning greeting, the Sign of the Cross, a little sign language, songs like Jesus Loves Me and He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, and a short craft or story. We always closed the same way: Thank you, Jesus. Bye bye everyone. Repetition is the language of toddlers, and by the end of the year many of them were signing along and finishing phrases before we did. It was a joy to walk alongside them. God loves you.
Pre-School & Pre-K
Our preschoolers worked hard this year practicing the Sign of the Cross and the Lord’s Prayer, and they have done so well. Along the way we covered being thankful to God, loving others, prayer, and things we see at Liturgy. They were introduced to St. Nicholas, Theophany, forgiveness, icons, the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Sunday of the Cross, Lazarus, Palm Sunday, and Pascha. We wrapped up the year learning about the Good Samaritan and celebrating how God made each of them special and unique. It has been such a joy to share this year with them.
Kindergarten & 1st Grade
This class has really grown in Jesus this year. The second half of the year focused on prayer. Students made their own prayer books, practiced the Lord’s Prayer, and talked about how we pray in church, who we pray for, how we show love to others, and how we ask God for forgiveness. During Lent they walked the path to Pascha week by week, adding each icon to their books and making a craft along the way. We celebrated Pascha with egg sun catchers and Christ is Risen, and ended the year with a lesson on Holy Communion and a Mother’s Day craft. It has truly been a joy watching them learn and grow.
2nd Grade (First Confession Class)
This year our second graders prepared for a significant milestone: First Confession. Together we explored the Ten Commandments as the guidelines God gives us for living. We talked about conscience, that inner voice that speaks when something isn’t right, and how Confession heals it with honesty and a promise to do better. We spent time on forgiveness too: how receiving it lightens the heart, and how giving it makes us stronger. We are very proud of each of these children as they took this next step in their spiritual lives.
3rd, 4th & 5th Grades
6th, 7th & 8th Grades
High School
Children's Choir
This year the Children’s Choir was a gift to our entire parish. From Nativity to Pascha, our kids lifted their voices and sang with heart, tackling not only the familiar hymns but pieces in Greek and Russian as well. Watching them grow in confidence and reverence throughout the year has been truly beautiful. Thank you to Monica Visocky for her dedication and love for these children, and thank you to every child who showed up, learned the words, and sang. You blessed us all.
