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Christian Education

Bethany School strives to develop the whole child in mind, body and spirit. The spiritual aspect of the child is nurtured throughout the whole school, in the classroom and in various activities, by the caring of the teachers and staff in the children’s environment, in the way discipline is handled, and by the example of the teachers’ and staff members’ lives. In addition, we give a great deal of time to more formal Christian education in Chapel and in Christian education classes, which are taught by Sisters, the Sisters’ Chaplain and other teachers who have both background and interest in this area. Though the program is Christian and some parts specifically from the Episcopal tradition, children of all faiths participate and find Chapel and the classes to be both interesting and to contain much that they can apply to their own lives in their own tradition. Furthermore, children from other traditions have enriched our classes with their own faith’s insights and traditions.

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Chapel is the heart of the Christian education program. Every week, Kindergarten through fourth grade attends Chapel on Thursday and fifth through eighth on Wednesday. In addition to the learning that takes place through the following of the Church calendar, the readings, the songs and the regular sermons from Chaplain, there are other presentations by classes, various teachers, and guest speakers. We usually have a Franciscan brother come to speak on St. Francis Day. One of the second grades acts out the Christmas story every year. The Chapel Choirs frequently add to the meaning and beauty of the services by the singing of appropriate anthems. From second grade on, the children serve as acolytes, ushers, readers and prayer leaders in Chapel.

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Beginning in kindergarten, first and second grades the children at Bethany learn about the Church Year. This learning is reinforced for the rest of the grades by participation in weekly Chapel services, which follow the Church Year in theme, colors and visual symbols.

In class, our youngest students learn about the Chapel and how to be respectful and prayerful in that serene and beautiful space, no matter what their religious backgrounds may be. The teacher brings out the natural awe and wonder that young children feel in the presence of things that are holy and beautiful. The children also learn about the Eucharist (Holy Communion), and about some of the theological concepts that come up in the Church Year (like the Trinity) in ways that they can understand. Much of this is done through repetition, Bible story-reading, singing, videos, worksheets they can take home, etc. At this age they learn much about the symbols, the words, the music, and the stories of faith that will stay with them for life.

In third and fourth grade, children continue to celebrate the Church year on a more mature level in the Chapel and in Christian Education classes. The lives of the various saints celebrated in Chapel are studied in class. In addition, they begin a study of the Bible that will last four years. In third grade, they will learn about the parts of the Bible and how it came to us. They will study the lives of some key figures in the Bible with the theme of “Who, me?’ - God’s call to people in the Bible and to us. In fourth grade the children follow the theme of Faith & Trust through the Old and New Testaments and in the lives of the saints.

In fifth grade they explore the Bible with themes such as rules (Moses, the ten commandments, the greatest commandment, Jesus’ new commandment) and Parables. They also deal with issues that confront the children in their own lives, like bullying, gossiping, loyalty and friendship. In fourth and fifth some of the BBC films of the Chronicles of Narnia are used to explore religious themes and to discuss in relation to the Bible.

Sixth grade students study the creation, the foundations of the Jewish faith (Abraham), and the foundations of the Christian faith (Acts of the Apostles). They will discuss their own faith journeys and learn about prayer on a deeper level, using the Psalms as a starting point. They will also explore “fears and choices in my world.”

Seventh graders study "Heroes of Faith". They also explore friendship issues through Bible stories and verses, games and activities, and discussion. This grade is also responsible for writing and reading prayers for Chapel services, and occasionally sharing a message in Chapel.

Eighth grade students study ethics as it relates to their everyday lives, and also to history and society in general. Part of the class trip to Washington, D.C. in the spring is designed to contribute to their study of ethics. The class visits Arlington Cemetery, the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the National Cathedral and the Holocaust Museum. The Christian education teachers spend some time in class before the Washington trip, preparing the class for their visits. They have also visited the National Underground Railroad Museum in Cincinnati as part of the program.