ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA
DIOCESE OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY
St. George Orthodox Catholic Church
2 Nottingham Terrace - Buffalo, NY 14216
(716) 875-4222
Rev. Jason Vansuch, Rector
www.stgeorgebuffalo.org
Dear Parents:
Monday August 10, 2015
Postfeast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord
GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!
GLORY FOREVER!
Greetings to you and your families during this Festal Period of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. We pray that
you and your families had a peaceful and an enjoyable summer.
As we prepare to begin another year within the Life of the Church, we are also beginning another year of Church
School. As we are very busy making preparations for this year’s curriculum and activities, we wanted to send a letter
with some information about this year’s exciting Church School Program.
As we begin this new Church School Year, we express our most sincere and heartfelt thanks and appreciation to
Mrs. June Pavlov who has faithfully served as the Church School Coordinator for many years and has recently stepped
down as coordinator but will continue to help and assist the Church School Coordinators and Teachers during this year
and in the years to come. May God continue to bless and guide June for many more blessed years of good health and
happiness.
With that in mind, we are pleased to announce that Matushka Katia and Natalie Huett have been named the
Church School Coordinators with the following Teachers assisting them:
Stephen Guerra
June Pavlov
Julie Ricci
To kick off this year’s Church School, we will have a Service of Thanksgiving on Sunday September 13 following
the Divine Liturgy. Following the Service, the children along with the teachers will then be introduced to the parish
before they go to their respective classrooms to meet with the teachers for about 10 minutes. Following the service, we
will have a Pizza Party and Make-Your-Own-Sundae for the Church School during which the children will have the
opportunity of spending time together as well as the parents to get acquainted with one another in fellowship. There
will be plenty of good food, Christian Fellowship, and lots of fun and games for all ages…plan on staying!! Although we
will need your assistance with the activities and events for the day, it shall be a day enjoyed by all.
Also on this day, we are going to ask everyone in the parish to wear a name tag so that we can all become better
acquainted with each other as we begin this New Liturgical Year and New Church School Year.
We encourage everyone to make every effort to have your children and your families present for the Service of
Thanksgiving as this is a special time in their life. Also, this Sunday will be Youth Sunday. So, the children will be
participating in the Divine Liturgy by fulfilling the many responsibilities usually fulfilled by the adults.
We held our first Church School Teacher’s Meeting on Sunday July 12 at which time we discussed and reviewed
the following items as part of our preparations for the upcoming Church School Year:
1) The Church School Curriculum for the 2015-2016 Year
2) The Schedule of Classes, Events, etc for the 2015-2016 Year
In order to encourage more involvement and continuity from among the teachers and the parents, we are going
to have monthly meetings for the church school teachers to discuss and review the life of our church school.
With that in mind, please find, enclosed with this letter the 2015-2016 Church School Directory and the
Registration Form for your child (children). With the Registration Form, we kindly ask if you would please fill out the
form and return them to Matushka Katia or Natalie Huett (Church School Coordinators) by Monday August 31. This will
be a big help to us as we begin to prepare and set up the classes for each age group.
As we begin this new Church School year, we ask for your continued love, support, and most of all your
continued prayers for our children as they continue to grow in their faith and in their love for the church.
Please be assured of our continue love, support, and prayers for you, the parents, as well as for your children as
together we will grow in faith and in love.
At anytime, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to see or contact Fr. Jason, Matushka
Katia or Natalie Huett.
May GOD continue to bless and guide you and your families.
With Love in Christ,
Fr. Jason Vansuch
Rector
Matushka Katia Vansuch
Church School Coordinator
Natalie Huett
Church School Coordinator
ST. GEORGE ORTHODOX CHURCH
2015-2016 ~ CHURCH SCHOOL REGISTRATION ~ 2015-2016
(716) 875-4222 – 2 Nottingham Terrace – Buffalo, NY – (716) 875-4222
To guide our children to experience GOD as the essence of our life.
To encourage the children to learn, experience, love, and live The Orthodox Faith!
Rev. Jason Vansuch (Parish Priest) or Mat. Katia Vansuch/Mrs. Natalie Huett (Church School Coordinators)
Student’s Information
1.Child’s Name: ____________________________________
Age and Date of Birth: _______________________
Patron Saint/Saint’s Feast Day: _________________
Child’s Interests/Hobbies: ____________________________________________________________
Allergies and pre-existing conditions: ___________________________________(use back if necessary)
Best way of Learning______________________
2.Child’s Name: ____________________________________
Age and Date of Birth: _______________________
Patron Saint/Saint’s Feast Day: _________________
Child’s Interests/Hobbies: _____________________________________________________________
Allergies and pre-existing conditions: ___________________________________(use back if necessary)
Best way of Learning______________________
3.Child’s Name: ____________________________________
Age and Date of Birth: _______________________ Patron Saint/Saint’s Feast Day: _________________
Child’s Interests/Hobbies: _____________________________________________________________
Allergies and pre-existing conditions: ___________________________________(use back if necessary)
Best way of Learning______________________
Primary Physician
Name: ____________________________________
Address: __________________________________
City or Town: ______________________________
State/Province: _____________________________
Phone: ____________________________________
Parent’s Information
Father’s Name: _________________________________
Mother’s Name: ________________________________
Phone: ______________________
Cell Phone: _________________ Email Address:_______________
Address: ____________________________________
City or Town: ______________________
State/Province: ____________
Zip/Postal Code: ______________
In the event of an emergency, please contact parents at the above phone numbers! In the event we cannot
be reached , please contact the following person(s):
Name/Relation to Child: _______________________________ Phone Number: _____________________
Signature of Parent: _______________________________________________ Date: _________________
Signature of Rector: _______________________________________ Date: ________________________
Signature of Church School Coordinator: ___________________________ Date: ____________________
** Please return registration forms to Mat. Katia or Natalie Huett by AUGUST 31 **
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To guide our children to experience GOD as the essence of our life.
To encourage the children to learn, experience, love, and live The Orthodox Faith!
Rev. Jason Vansuch (Parish Priest) or Mat. Katia Vansuch/Mrs. Natalie Huett (Church School Coordinators)
Church School is held in the Classroom/Parish Fellowship Hall every Sunday Morning
following Holy Communion from September through May.
The children and teachers begin and end each class together with a Prayer Service.
SEPTEMBER
13 – OPENING OF CHURCH SCHOOL: (YOUTH SUNDAY)
-
Moleben Service following the Divine Liturgy!
-
Children and Teachers meet briefly following Service before the Church School Picnic.
CHURCH SCHOOL PIZZA PARTY and MAKE-YOUR-OWN -SUNDAE ON RECTORY PROPERTY
18 – Family Bowling Night
20 – REGULAR CLASS
27– REGULAR CLASS
OCTOBER
4 – Q&A with Fr. Jay – in the Church following Divine Liturgy {Youth Sunday}
{Fall Outing for children to The Great Pumpkin Farm – Clarence NY}
11 – REGULAR CLASS
18 – REGULAR CLASS
25 – REGULAR CLASS (Parent’s Visit)
- Sharing God’s Love
- Spiritual Safe Haven During Coffee Hour (Ages 6-12)
NOVEMBER {Nativity Fast: Nov. 15-Dec. 24}
1– Q&A with Fr. Jay – in the Church following Divine Liturgy {Youth Sunday}
8 – REGULAR CLASS
14 – Church School Retreat
15– REGULAR CLASS
20 – Monthly Family Night
22 – REGULAR CLASS
29 – REGULAR CLASS
- Sharing God’s Love
- Spiritual Safe Haven During Coffee Hour (Ages 6-12)
DECEMBER
{Nativity Fast: Nov. 15-Dec. 24 }
6– Q&A with Fr. Jay – in the Church following Divine Liturgy {Youth Sunday}
13 – REGULAR CLASS
20 – REGULAR CLASS
Church School Ice Skating Party or
Go to see The Christmas Carol at Alleyway Theatre
- Sharing God’s Love
- Spiritual Safe Haven During Coffee Hour (Ages 6-12)
27 – Nativity Program following Divine Liturgy in Parish Hall
Weekend after The Nativity of Our Lord
? – Church School Nativity Program Practice
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2 Nottingham Terrace – Buffalo, NY
To guide our children to experience GOD as the essence of our life.
To encourage the children to learn, experience, love, and live The Orthodox Faith!
Rev. Jason Vansuch (Parish Priest) or Mat. Katia Vansuch/Mrs. Natalie Huett (Church School Coordinators)
Church School is held in the Classroom/Parish Fellowship Hall every Sunday Morning
following Holy Communion from September through May.
The children and teachers begin and end each class together with a Prayer Service.
JANUARY 2016
3– REGULAR CLASS
10 – Q&A with Fr. Jay – in the Church following Divine Liturgy {Youth Sunday}
{Blessing of Water for Church School Children}
15 – Monthly Family Night
17 – REGULAR CLASS
24 – REGULAR CLASS
31 – REGULAR CLASS
- Sharing God’s Love
- Spiritual Safe Haven During Coffee Hour (Ages 6-12)
FEBRUARY {NATIONAL YOUTH MONTH} – plan an event!!
7 – Q&A with Fr. Jay – in the Church following Divine Liturgy {Youth Sunday}
Trip to Palm Island Indoor Water Park (Batavia NY)
14 – REGULAR CLASS
21 – REGULAR CLASS
28 – REGULAR CLASS
- Sharing God’s Love
- Spiritual Safe Haven During Coffee Hour (Ages 6-12)
MARCH
6– Q&A with Fr. Jay – in the Church following Divine Liturgy {Youth Sunday}
13 – REGULAR CLASS (Forgiveness Sunday)
18 – Monthly Family Night
20 – REGULAR CLASS (Sunday of Orthodoxy)
Annual Church School Children Procession of Icons….REMEMER YOUR ICONS!!}
27 – REGULAR CLASS
- Sharing God’s Love
- Spiritual Safe Haven During Coffee Hour (Ages 6-12)
APRIL
3 – Q&A with Fr. Jay – in the Church following Divine Liturgy {Youth Sunday}
Church School Outing
10 – REGULAR CLASS
17 – REGULAR CLASS
23 – Lazarus Saturday/Eve of the Entrance of Our Lord into Jerusalem
- Making of Palm Crosses following Divine Liturgy
- Church School Retreat/Prophora Baking/Confessions
24 – REGULAR CLASS – Feast of The Entrance of Our Lord into Jerusalem
- Proskomedia Lesson in the Church – 9:00 AM
- Annual Palm Sunday Church School Procession
- Sharing God’s Love
- Spiritual Safe Haven During Coffee Hour (Ages 6-12)
MAY
1 – HOLY PASCHA (No Class)
8 – REGULAR CLASS {St. Thomas Sunday/Mother’s Day)
15 – REGULAR CLASS
22 – {Last Day of Class}
End- of – Year Moleben and Picnic
Passing out of Church School Certificates and Awards!
++++++++++++++++
**Please refer to the weekly bulletin, monthly
calendar/newsletter, email notices, and our church
website for any changes to the calendar**
++++++++++++++++
TOTAL NUMBER OF REGULAR CLASSES FOR 2015-2016 CHURCH SCHOOL YEAR: 26
TOTAL NUMBER OF CLASSES WITH FR. JASON: 7 (1ST Sunday of every month)
TOTAL NUMBER OF MONTHLY YOUTH GATHERINGS: 8
TOTAL NUMBER OF CHOIR REHEARSALS WITH MAT. KATIA: 7 (1st Sunday of every month)
Fundraisers
1. Coffee hour
2. Christmas Bake Sale
3. Easter Bake Sale
4. Meatfare Sunday Dinner
Events/Outings
1. Fall Outing
2. Nativity Program
3. Bowling
4. Ice Skating
5. Hockey game
6. Baseball Game – in the summer of 2016 with the parish
7. Palm Cross Making Class
8. End of year picnic/outing
9. Monthly Youth Gatherings on Friday Night or Sunday Afternoon
10. Outings to other Orthodox Parishes, Monasteries, Soup Kitchen, Retirement/Nursing Homes
11. Christmas Caroling and Deliver Christmas Cards to Nursing Homes
12. OC KIDS Club – Food Drive Collection/Pantry, School Kits, Emergency Kits
ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA
DIOCESE OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY
St. George Orthodox Catholic Church
2 Nottingham Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14216
(716) 875-4222
www.stgeorgebuffalo.org
PRIEST JASON VANSUCH, Rector
2015-2016 – LIST OF CHURCH SCHOOL CLASSES – 2015-2016
Ages 3-5 (Mrs. Natalie Huett)
1- “The Wonder of it all” – Page 5
2- “God, My Friends, and Me” – Page 5
3- “God Loves Us” – Page 5
4- “Together with God” – Page 5
Ages 6-8 (Mat. Katia Vansuch)
1- “New Life in Jesus” – Page 6
2- “Making Things Right” – Page 6
3- “New Life in the Church” – Page 6
4- “We Worship God in Church” – Page 7
Ages 9-12 (Mr. Stephen Guerra)
1- “Jesus: The Promise of God” – Page 7
2- “Our Life in the Church” – Page 7
Substitute Teachers
Mrs. June Pavlov
Teacher Assistant
Miss Sarah Khoury
Mrs. Juliana Ricci
Plus the Following Books:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
“Orthodox Daily Planner and Resource Guide”
IOCC Prayer Journal
The Divine Liturgy Activity Book
Weekly Children’s Bulletin
Basics in the following Areas (refer to chart):
Biblical
Church History/Tradition
Doctrine
Liturgical (Prayer/Worship and Sacraments)
Ethical/Spiritual
Stages of Faith
6. Q&A with Fr. Jay will cover the seven (7) Mysteries of the church:
October – Baptism
November – Christmation
December – Eucharist
January – Ordination
February – Marriage
March – Confession
April – Holy Unction