NOTE: You may also fill out and submit the 
RE Registration Form (2011-12) offline if preferred.
What do children/youth do when we first arrive at UUI?
On the day we have class, all children begin in service and then are sung out to the Social Hall where they will meet their teachers and walk over to class. Teachers hold signs up for designated classes. Parents/guardians are welcome to stay in service while children are sung out, escort children out to the social hall to find teachers for class, walk over the RE building with children, and/or stay in class with children. Each family is different and we honor that, whatever your family is comfortable with.
When do we pick up our child(ren) from class?
Nursery through 5th grade: Parents and guardians pick up children in their classroom at 12:15pm when class ends. Most religious education classes are held in our RE building. Not sure where that is located on campus, just ask when you first arrive at UUI (or find almost any adult during coffee hour). Not quite 12:15? Please enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and some conversation in the Social Hall.
6th through 12th grade: Youth will be released from class around 12:15pm. Youth head back to the social hall to find their families at that time. If your family needs to leave early that morning, you may pick up your youth from class.
What do we do on the days where there are no Religious Education classes?
On the days when there are no RE classes, we have multigenerational services where families enjoy our family friendly service together. For children 5 years old and under, we do offer the option of childcare. Childcare opens at 10:30am and closes at 12:30pm. Childcare is located in the RE building, downstairs. On multigenerational service Sundays, it is up to each individual family if they would like their little ones to go to childcare or stay in service with the family. Children/youth are not sung out during multigenerational services, so if childcare is chosen, please take your children over before service begins. Of course, childcare is open throughout service, so you are welcome to take children over at anytime during service.
How are the classes split up?
Our preschool/elementary classes are split up into two age groups. We have our preschool-1st grade class and our 2nd-5th grade class. Both classes are focused on Social Justice Curriculum this semester. For more details on the preschool-1st grade class click here and for our 2nd-5th grade class click here. Please note that the first Sunday of each month preschool through 5th grade meet in class together for Children’s Chapel (with the DRE) or Spirit Circle (with Faunette). Children’s Chapel is a UU worship especially designed for children. We sing hymns, listen to stories, meditate, as well as create hands on experiences. Spirit Circle is an earth based worship where children will learn about and celebrate Equinoxes, Solstices and other earth based celebrations.
Our youth classes are also split up into two groups: Junior High 6th-8th grade class and Senior High 9th-12th grade class. Both junior and senior high’s theme focus this semester is Social Justice. There are a few Sunday’s this semester where junior and senior high meet together to focus on social justice projects. Please click here for the junior high (6th-8th) class information and here for senior high (9th-12th) information.
Are you visiting UUI for the first time?
We ask that all visitors fill out a visitor registration form, which are located at our Religious Education welcome table in the social hall (directly next to the main welcome table when you first walk in our doors). This visitor registration is short and gives us important information about your family (for example, what allergies to food your child(ren) may have as we serve snacks in most of our classes). You may also get a copy of the visitor registration form here: fill it out at home and either bring it with you your first visit OR email a filled out copy to UUI’s Director of Religious Education [re(at)uui.org]. After your family’s first three visits, all children are required to register in our free RE program. We have online RE registration here, or paper RE registration forms on the RE welcome table.
What about the nursery?
The nursery welcomes children ages 3 years old and younger on Sundays when religious education is offered and 5 years old and younger on Muligenerational Service Sundays when there is no RE. The nursery opens at 10:30am and closes at 12:30pm. Parents may drop off their child(ren) before service begins or anytime during service. Parents may stay in the nursery with their child(re) OR drop them off. Each Sunday, we have nursery care staff, either Yuya or Jessica, in the nursery to great you and your child(ren). In addition to our nursery care staff, we have UUI volunteers in the nursery each week. Parents/guardians are required to sign in and if it is your first time visiting, required to fill out a visitor registration form. After service, families pick up their child(ren) from the nursery. Children have free play during nursery time.
What about volunteering in Religious Education at UUI?
Each class and program is in need of volunteers. Remember our Religious Education program here at UUI is a family cooperative and cannot run without the help and support of volunteers.
Get more information on volunteering with UUI’s RE program.
Questions?
Please email the Religious Educator, Natalie, at re(at)uui.org or call 317-283-4760 . Please join our RE email list for weekly RE updates of what children and youth are doing by contacting Natalie via email. You may be removed from this list at anytime.
Here’s what is happening this semester in our religious education classes for children and youth during the Sunday service here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis.
