Welcome Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) 2007!

Welcome rising Kindergarten through Grade 6 children and families! All JYM staff happily anticipate meeting and greeting all of you at Bryant University this August!

• THEME: This Little Light of Mine — We will explore how each of us nurtures our given Light, and explore ways to be beacons or sanctuary for others. Various activities will be introduced through music, art, storytelling, games, and other mediums, which provide building blocks for the exploration of our theme. Teaching and learning opportunities occur for children and staff as their time together unfolds. Prayer, song, Quaker business, play, discussion, and expectant waiting are just some of the ways through which our JYM community tries to discern God’s message and guidance. Most of all, we have fun!

• WHEN: First graders through sixth graders meet every morning from 8:15-11:45am and every evening from 6:45-9:00pm. Kindergarten meets every morning from 8:15-11:45am and every afternoon from 1:45-4:15pm. It is very important for parents or guardians to pick up their children promptly. This may mean that parents must leave a session a few minutes early in order to be on time.

• WHERE: We begin each morning and end every evening in the same large group space. Small group locations and the Kindergarten afternoon session location will be announced at Orientation.

• PROGRAM: Morning session: We begin our day, as a large group for singing, worship, “Bible 10 Minutes” and announcements. Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders then leave for their own activities in their small group areas. 3rd - 6th graders continue to meet together for Worship for Business. After Business meeting, they leave for their small group areas
  

  Evening session: All children begin the evening in their small group areas. All age groups come together toward the end of the evening for sharing, singing and Vespers. Kindergarten has an afternoon session but no evening session except for Saturday.

All children attending Yearly Meeting are expected to participate in their program. If your child is going to miss a JYM session, please let your child's group leader know. Staff care deeply about the children’s welfare and become concerned about unexcused absences. Parents or guardians are responsible for their children when JYM is not in session.

Please feel free to contact me, Betty Ann Lee at weelees@comcast.net or 508/994-1638

ORIENTATION: Orientation is held for all JYM families on Saturday, August 4th at 3pm. It is a brief but important meeting which parents and guardians are expected to attend. Please make every attempt to get there!

The children meet their leaders and peers in their small groups and familiarize themselves with their physical space. Adults meet separately with Betty Ann and receive needed information, are introduced to staff and have the opportunity to ask questions.

The JYM staff feels honored and pleased with the opportunity to be able to live, work and play with your children throughout this intense week. Staff has worked hard to prepare, by communicating, planning and worshipping together, in an attempt to provide a safe, enjoyable and enriching week for your children. Please be in community with us by visiting, sharing and holding the staff, children and program in your hearts and thoughts as the week unfolds.

AFTERNOON CHOICES: This program is an afternoon choice for JYMers. The time frame is 1:15 - 4:15pm and located under the Tent. Various choices of activities are available, some quiet and some active, such as active games and beads. The success of Afternoon Choices is heavily dependent upon volunteers, who are welcome to share, supervise, and/or lead an activity with the children.  Please be prepared to volunteer one afternoon if you use this program. Parents or guardians must sign children in, and let staff know when and who will be signing them out. Children may not leave by themselves in the middle of the afternoon.

An extended program time is available from 4:15 - 5:45pm for parents who need to attend their committee meetings. In order to plan for staffing for this late hour, parents will be asked to sign up separately for this time slot each afternoon.

There is a beautiful pool on campus at Bryant College for everyone’s enjoyment. However, for a number of safety reasons, the pool will not be an Afternoon Choices program option. It will be the responsibility of parents or guardians to make arrangements for those children who wish to go to the pool in the afternoon. Parents whose children are going to the pool in the afternoon should not sign them up for Afternoon Choices.

Do consider how much peer interaction your children can manage. While we welcome and cherish your children, we suspect that some afternoons, they would do better to relax with you.