The last article suggested ways that parents can actively support the Sunday school program of the ecclesia. There are also things that the Sunday school can do to establish strong ties with the home. The Sunday School Superintendent and his or her staff need one vital thing to forge this partnership and keep it going: commitment. If, as ecclesial servants they “wear a hat”, let it be a hard hat! There is work to be done.
The following list of Sunday school initiatives is extensive. A good way to make use of the list is to sit down as a Sunday school staff and consider the suggestions it contains. If it is determined that some of them would be useful to put into place, then prayerfully:
- Decide to focus on the one or two that will be most useful for your Sunday school;
- Think through how they can be carried out, and
- Make the commitment.
Don’t take on more than is practical, but don’t back away from the hard work either. Sunday schooling is serving. It’s more than just a once-a-week happening.
Sunday Schools can …
1) Communicate directly with the home: teacher with parent; superintendent with parent:
- In person.
- By phone.
- By e-mail.
- With a personal note or letter. Communicate positive news, not just negative news.
2) Visit homes, especially of those who are less ecclesially involved, to
- Explain the Sunday school program.
- Encourage parental support.
- Give parents tips on things they can do to promote spiritual growth in their children (see the previous article in July 2010: “It’s a Partnership: Things Parents Can Do”).
- Seek parental input and listen to parents.
- Hold a parent-student-teacher meeting at the beginning of the Sunday school year to explain the program, define expectations, brainstorm ideas and listen to each other. This could be done over lunch on a Sunday afternoon.
- Establish an occasional Sunday school newsletter. This can feature:
- A calendar of Sunday school events and outings.
- Curriculum and class highlights.
- Recognition of student or class accomplishments.
- Tips for parents and students.
- Promotion of Bible schools and CYC functions.
- Lots of pictures of the children and the SS activities. (Digital cameras, computers, and printers make it faster and easier than ever to create a Sunday school newsletter that includes great pictures.)
- Student birthdates.
- Recognition of Sunday school student baptisms.
- Establish a Sunday school “telephone tree” for passing information from family to family.
- Seek specific feedback from parents concerning the Sunday school program; e.g., by questionnaire or evaluation form.
- Promptly mail, e-mail, or deliver Sunday school work and assignments to a child’s home whenever he or she misses a Sunday.
- Run a Sunday school extension service for isolated or less active families. I.e., take Sunday school to the home once or twice a month, perhaps on a midweek evening or Sunday afternoon, much as one would conduct a home Bible class with an interested contact. Encourage the entire family to participate.
- Conduct a strong adult Sunday school class and promote it among all the ecclesial families. A healthy Sunday school program for the children often depends in part on a good adult Sunday school class that involves the parents.
- Deliberately design some part of the child’s Sunday school homework to be family oriented. I.e., make it necessary for children and parents to do something together on part of the assignment. E.g., include a question that requires talking with parents, or a family activity using materials from a Sunday school resource center (see next suggestion).
- Develop a working Sunday school resource center (at the ecclesial hall or, if you meet in a rented facility, keep the resources at an ecclesial home). The resource center should house a wide range of supplemental educational materials for Sunday school use.
- Encourage family use of the center. E.g., provide families with up-to-date inventory lists; even issue Sunday school library cards to families to promote interest in the center, etc.
- Make up thematic “Bible Bags” containing resource materials. Lend the bags to your Sunday school families for a month. Include such items as a Bible game, puzzle, toy, book, audio or video program, etc. Include a small gift-wrapped Sunday school surprise in each bag for the family to keep when the rest of the materials are returned.
12) Give pre-school learning materials to families with tots not yet old enough for Sunday school. This can establish a positive connection with the Sunday school from the earliest age.
- g., give a Bible toy, picture book, book of verses, song tape, etc. to pre-Sunday schoolers at birthday times.
- g., give a “Future Sunday School Scholar” present to the moms and dads of newborns in the ecclesial family.
13) Involve parents as assistants in the Sunday school program when possible.
- On an occasional basis in one of the classes.
- As a guest speaker.
- To help organize or run a Sunday school outing.
- To share a special talent or hobby at a Sunday school family night (see next suggestion).
14) Plan a Sunday school family night (Family Unit Night = FUN).
- At least one parent should accompany each child.
- Plan a meal and Bible game or devotional time that focuses on the family unit doing spiritual things together.
15) Recommit to the annual Sunday school program, play, or open house. Encourage families to attend and support their children.
16) Run a schedule of Sunday school family outings and special events. E.g., hayride, circus, ball game, picnic, skating,camping, museum trip, a play, a concert, pancake breakfast.
17) Get together socially. Sunday school teachers and superintendents make a point of inviting Sunday school families into their homes for a visit or a meal. Forge bonds. Develop good relationships. Look out for families on the fringe.
18) Establish rapport with Sunday school children outside the normal Sunday school setting. E.g., open your home to them for a sleepover; pitch in to do an ecclesial car wash together.
19) Remember birthdays. Send each child a card from the Sunday school.
20) Give some perks to your Sunday school families. E.g., present certificates of appreciation to families at any time for exemplary effort, support of Sunday school, special service. Certificates may be purchased at Bible book stores or generated on the computer. Use the good old-fashioned thank you note, too. Let families know that the Sunday school appreciates them.
Your comments and additions to this list are invited.
Please send them to me at 2harps4u@gmail.com
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One