let all that you do be done with love. 1 corinthians 16:14 6 th, 7 th, & 8 th grade parents...

Let all that you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:14Let all that you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:14Let all that you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:14Let all that you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Parents Meeting

October 19th, 2013


Expectations for Today

•Know your kids

•How to interact with your independent kids

•How to discipline your kids

•Know your kids’ Sunday School Servants

•Know what your kids will learn in Sunday School


How do I know my child?

• LISTEN to your kids - Teens have an opinion that cannot be ignored. EARN their trust

• SYMPATHIZE & EMPATHIZE with them

• TALK to them in a respectful way. They are God’s children. They deserve your respect.

• ADVISE as you are sitting next to them

• SHARE your life experience (education / reason for immigration / life style in Egypt / meeting

spouse)

• INVITE their friends over your house

• LEARN and RESEARCH the hobbies they like

• ENCOURAGE extra curricular activities

• CHEER on your kids by doing what they like to do

• DISCOVER their dreams and DISCUSS what they need to do to accomplish them


My child is independent…Now what?

• Daily “family time” is a must – make it a sanctuary time (no lecturing, criticizing, manipulating, judging)

• Develop a routine and stick to it – allow them to be involved in setting that routine• Kids love to make decisions on their owns. Create that opportunity by giving them

the option between several choices – Don’t rush and make a decision for them• Allow all topics to be discussed at home – Nothing should be taboo (sex,

pornography, alcohol, dating, smoking, homosexuality)• Discuss and agree about technology and screen time

• Computers should never be in the bedrooms – centrally located where the child is visible

• At what age will they be allowed a cell phone • What are the expectations of cell phone usage• At what age will they be allowed a facebook account and how will it be used• How long per day are they allowed to be ‘playing’ online


My child is independent…Now what?

• Keep up with the culture (the good and the bad) of your child’s world. Go to www.pluggedin.com frequently and learn about what’s happening

• Encourage your kids at every moment possible• Get out of your comfort zone – Be daring. Play and explore life with them


How to discipline my child?

• Never bring God or the priest into the discipline – “God / Abouna will be mad at you” is a heresy• Set clear boundaries – this is easy once the relationship is built• Clearly communicate consequences if boundaries are ignored – parents and

kids must agree• Praise the child for staying within the boundaries• Execute the consequence consistently if limits are ignored• Remember the power of saying “NO” – the parents have a job. Don’t be

afraid of doing it!• Don’t issue declarations. Explain reasons for saying no.


How to discipline my child?

• Draw up an agreement (a literal document) that both the parents & kid signs:

What Doesn’t Work

•Hitting (can actually get you in serious legal trouble)• Screaming•Humiliating• Threatening•Criticizing (weight, facial

features, etc)

What Does Work

•Reasoning• Loving• Empathizing•Consequences•Consistence

• Curfews• Sleepovers

• Spending limits• TV / Video games

• Schedule


What behaviors are a must?In church

Out of church

• Respect the church & everyone in it• Skipping liturgy because of work or social activity should not be an option• Engage them in helping out around church• Encourage them to sing along (and you lead them by example)• On the way home, discuss what was taught in Sunday School• Encourage them to participate in all church activities (Tasbeha, Hymns, retreats, activities)• Self worth / Dress for the occasion

• BE THEIR Friend• Spend 30 minutes / day talking about their day• Know their friends. Have their friends over!!• Respect your child. Don’t humiliate, insult or embarrass them.• Establish a date night (take out your kid for a ‘date’ without the rest of the family)• Do community service with them• Self worth / Dress for the occasion


The Servants

6th Grade 7th& 8th Grade Girls 7th& 8th Grade Boys


The servants who couldn’t make it today


Important Dates

6th Grade

• Fall Retreat: Nov 8th – 10th

•December: Boston Liturgy & Ice skating on Frog Pond• Spring Retreat: May 9th 10th

• Summer: Mystic Aquarium

7th& 8th Grade Boys

• Fall Retreat: Nov 15th – 17th

•December: TBD• Spring Retreat: May 9th 10th

• Summer: TBD

7th& 8th Grade Girls

•Oct 26: Greek monastery•Retreat: Dec 13th – Dec 15th • Spring Retreat: May 2th 4th

•Other activities: TBD


Spring / Summer Retreat

As I talked to all of you, I’d like to introduce the idea of a “Purity” retreat for this event.

I’m still researching it, and gathering whatever info is available from other churches.

Please let me know if you disagree with letting the parents know about this now


+ Unit – Preparing for the school year.Studying | Being a Godly student

+ Unit 1 – PrayerPrayer Rule | Types of Prayers | How to acquire the Holy Spirit

+ Unit 2 - Bible Unit Books of the Bible | Characters | New Testament | The Spirit spoke through the Prophets

6th Grade Curriculum

6th Grade – Work of the Holy Spirit

•Manifestation of Christ in the Old Testament• Types / Apparitions / Prophesies

• The work of the Holy Spirit & the work of Christ• Giver & source of life• Life in church• Resurrection


• Unit 3 – Holy Spirit (work)In creation | In the Old Church | In the world

• Unit 4 – Fruits of the Holy SpiritEach fruit is a journey that guides us to uniting with God.• Unit 5 – The Graces/Gifts of the Holy Spirit

- Faith | Love | Joy | Wisdom/Understanding | Coundel/Might | - Knowledge/Fear of the Lord.

• Unit 6 – The Holy Spirit The Comforter (Work of the Spirit in the Church)- Sacraments

• Unit 7 – The Holy Spirit Makes us Holy- Dating | Our Bodies as temples | We are God’s Special People

6th Grade Curriculum


The 7th & 8th grade Curriculum

7th / 8th Grade

• Prominent figures in the bible & Christian History• Christ’s abiding and works in us• The Orthodoxy of our church• Introduction to comparative Theology• Social topics


7th & 8th Grade Curriculum

let all that you do be done with love. 1 corinthians 16:14 6 th, 7 th, & 8 th grade parents...

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