OWL Classes for Grades 5 and 6
The Board of Christian Education and the OWL Launch Team are pleased to announce that the Our Whole Lives / Sexuality and Our Faith Program for Grades 5 and 6 is beginning this spring!
Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a widely used, age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality curriculum that was developed by the UCC and the Unitarian Universalist Assoc. nearly 20 years ago. It includes topics such as: human development, puberty, sexual health and behavior, relationships, personal skills, and dealing with peer and societal pressure. It helps participants clarify their values with regard to interpersonal relationships and the social and emotional aspects of sexuality. When used alone, the OWL program is appropriate in a secular, community setting. At Rock Spring, it will be taught in conjunction with Sexuality and Our Faith, the faith-based component of OWL that helps young people incorporate their religious values into their behavior.
OWL emphasizes that parents are the primary sexuality educators of their children. Enrolled families will receive materials allowing parents to play an active supportive role with their child(ren) outside of the class sessions. To further strengthen this relationship, parents must attend the first two of 10 sessions. Children are expected to attend the Parent-Child Orientation (session 2) and all eight classroom sessions. (See complete calendar on reverse for specific dates and times.)
Classes will be led by Rock Spring members and certified OWL Leaders Ashley Martinage, Allen Moore and Anne Moredock (known as the "3 AM" Team). We invite all who are interested in OWL at Rock Spring to attend an information session to learn more about the program. Sessions will be held in Carpenter Hall on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 12:30 PM and Sunday, March 9, 2008 at 10:00 AM. The 3AM Team will provide an overview of the program's components and core values, explain the structure of the program, and answer any questions. Program materials will be available for review.
To ensure a successful program, class size is limited. If you would like your 5th or 6th grade child to participate in OWL, you must pre-register for the mandatory Parent Meeting (Session 1 of the program) by sending parent/guardian name(s), email address(es), phone number(s), and name(s)/grade(s) of your child/children to owlgrades456@rockspringucc.org no later than March 24, 2008. Class registration materials will be emailed to you after you pre-register. There is a fee of $60 per child to cover two books (which will be yours to keep) and all course materials. Scholarships are available; please speak to Pastor Hank (confidentially) to make arrangements.
OWL Grades 5 and 6 Leaders
Ashley Martinage, Allen Moore and Anne Moredock (Team 3 AM) will be the facilitators for this class. All members of Team 3 AM have been certified as Grades 4-6 OWL Leaders by UCC Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith Trainers. Ashley has served on the Board of Christian Education and as a Sunday School teacher. She has been a member of Rock Spring UCC for ten years. Allen works in global health policy, specifically focusing on HIV / AIDS. He has been a member of Rock Spring UCC for seven years. Anne has been a member of Rock Spring for one year. She works with Year Up and her job responsibilities include advising 13 students in a program that comprises a college relations program and mentorship program. To reach all three OWL Leaders, send an email to owlgrades456@rockspringucc.org.
Our Whole Lives / Sexuality and Our Faith Spring 2008 Schedule for Grades 5 and 6
Sunday, March 30, 9 to 10:30 AM - Mandatory Parents' Meeting (OWL Session 1)
Sunday, April 6, 12:30 to 3:30 PM - Parent-Child Orientation (OWL Session 2; light lunch will be served)
Sunday, April 20, 9 to 10:30 AM - OWL Class 1
Sunday, April 27, 9 to 10:30 AM - OWL Class 2
Sunday, May 4, 9 to 10:30 AM - OWL Class 3
Sunday, May 11, 9 to 10:30 AM - OWL Class 4
Sunday, May 18, 9 to 10:30 AM - OWL Class 5
Sunday, May 25 - NO CLASS (Memorial Day Weekend)
Sunday, June 1, 9 to 10:30 AM - OWL Class 6
Sunday, June 8, 9 to 10:30 AM - OWL Class 7
Leader Training for Grades 7-9: September 12-14, 2008
This event is open to people nationwide who have been selected by churches, schools or community organizations to teach Our Whole Lives and/or Sexuality and Our Faith. For more information, email the OWL Launch Team at owl@rockspringucc.org.
Our Whole Lives / Sexuality and Our Faith course for Grades 7-9
Currently, this is a tentative offering. The OWL Launch Team will be talking to parents and guardian of eligible youth at Rock Spring to determine the interest in this 27 session class.