Letter from Suday School Superintendent Frances Pappas

January 30, 2008

Warmest Greetings in Christ,

On Sunday, January 28, the Cathedral Sunday School had a brief Teachers Meeting to go over the Agenda and Calendar for the upcoming Lenten Season, and Godparent Sunday Luncheon. I would like to go over some important information to all Teachers that were unable to attend the Teachers Meeting.

Sunday, February 10th Godparent Sunday & Luncheon

On this Sunday all Children will receive Holy Communion with their Godparents and afterwards they will come to Sunday School. After the Divine Liturgy & Sunday School the Sunday School Department will be sponsoring Godparent Sunday Luncheon.

Mr. George Giannopoulos, Mr. Nick Demos, Mr. Jimmy Chulkas and Mr. Nick Garilas, will graciously cook the meal for the Luncheon.
The Sunday School Teachers are kindly asked to please bring a dessert for the Luncheon.
We will need some help with the serving and 2 people to sit at the door to sale tickets for the luncheon. If you can help please let me know. (frossoula12@aol.com or 313-1215)
I have emailed the Goya and Maids of Athena for help with cleanup. I relayed to them in their email that they will be able to receive community service hours.

Cathedral Sunday School Lenten Season

As Orthodox Christians we will be approaching the Lenten Season soon, and as Orthodox Sunday School Teachers we have an important job ahead of us. Along with our Sunday School Lessons the Administration is kindly requesting that we also follow the Calendar Lenten Guide Lines.

First, I would like to begin by relaying to all that on this Sunday, February 3rd we are asking all teachers to talk to their classes about the importance of Godparents. Also as a reminder on Saturday, February 2nd we will be celebrating The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ into the Temple as Orthodox Christians. This is very important, and as Sunday School Teachers we need to implement this in our Lesson plans.

During the Pre-Lenten Season we have the 4 Sundays of Preparation, 3 Saturday of Souls, certain important fasting guidelines and then we have Clean Monday and the beginning of Lent.

Sunday, February 17th

The Publican and Pharisee & Triodion Begins
(no fasting this week)
Epistle: 2 Timothy 3: 10-15 & Gospel: Luke 18:10-14

Sunday, February 24th

The Prodigal Son
(fasting as usual Wednesday & Friday)
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 4:6-15 & Gospel: Luke 15:11-32

Saturday, March 1st

1st Saturday of the Souls
Epistle: 1Thessalonias 4:13-17 Gospel: Luke 21:8-9, 25-27, 35-36

Sunday, March 2nd

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare)
(dairy permitted this week)
Epistle: 1Corinthians 8:8-9:2 Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Sunday, March 9th

Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare)
Epistle: Hebrews 12:1-10 Gospel: Matthew 6:14-21

Monday, March 10th

Clean Monday Great Lent Begins & Lenten Fast Begins

Sunday, February 24th Teachers Meeting
I am kindly asking everyone to please attend this important meeting. We will be discussing the Agenda for the Lenten Season.

1. I will be passing out during the Pre-Lenten Season along with the Lenten Season the important events of each Sunday that needs to implement into the Lesson Plan.

Deep Appreciation of Thanks

I would like to express my sincerest and deepest appreciation to all the Sunday School Teachers for your love and unselfish devotion to our Cathedral Children.

A Special Thank You To Dr. Julia Papleacos for her devotion and Love to the Sunday School Department. Dr. Julia Papleacos has assisted and helped the Sunday School Department in numerous ways and we truly appreciate her unselfish Love and Devotion to our Cathedral Sunday School.

A Special Thank You to Ms. Marena Giakoumelos & Ms. Nea Zambrano for their Love and Devotion to the Cathedral Sunday School and all of their long hours and hard work in making this years Sunday School Department so Successful.

Again, a Special Thank You to everyone for your Love and Devotion to the Cathedral Sunday School Department. I look forward to seeing everyone on Godparent Sunday & also on February 24th at our Teachers Meeting.

In His Holy Name,

Frances P. Pappas
Sunday School Superintendent

Sunday School Administration and Staff
Spiritual Advisor.....Rev. Tom Pistolis
Parish Council Liaison.....Mr. Harry Zolides
Superintendents.....Frances Pappas, Marena Giakoumelos, & Nea Zambrano
Junior Choir Directors....Lena Trakas and Bessie Cheros

Teachers

K-3
Mrs Georgia Braken
Mrs. Cynthia Mastorakis
Mrs. Gia Tomaras

K-4
Mrs Lea Kapatanakos
Mrs Vicky Reid

K-5
Mrs Robin Broumas
Mrs Dea Johnson

1st Grade
Mrs Voula Kapousidis
Mrs. Elizabeth Madeckas

2nd Grade
Mrs Valerie Bickley
Mrs Faye Dimopoulos
Mrs Irene Georgopoulos

3rd Grade
Mrs Tammy Conits
Mrs Katherine Pieper

4th Grade
Mrs Peggy Kourlas
Mrs Angela Tollison

5th Grade
Mr. Pat Chitwood

6th Grade
Mrs Susan Haloulas
Miss Mariana Mentis
Mrs Jamie Tarasidis

7th & 8th Grade
Mr Jim Navarro
Mrs Angela Papadis
Mrs Denise Gandis

9th & 10th Grades
Mr. Philip Papadis

11th & 12th Grades Girls
Dr. Catherine Bowden
Mrs Lena Trakas

11th & 12th Grades Boys
Mr Jim Vergas

Junior Choir
Miss Bessie Cheros
Mrs Lena Trakas

Sunday School Schedule

Divine Liturgy begins at 10:00 a.m. promptly. All Students along with their parents are kindly asked to attend the Divine Liturgy. The Church Leaders of our Faith believe that being part of the Church Service is very crucial. When we are participants of our Faith we are given the opportunity to grow Spiritually, and we are able to better understand the teachings of the church when we are in Sunday School.

PROCEDURES
1. All Students are kindly requested to attend the Divine Liturgy Service at 10:00 a.m. promptly. Being on time is crucial.

2. During Holy Communion, all Sunday School Students that have prepared themselves to partake of the Holy Sacrament will proceed forward for Holy Communion under the direction of Father Tom. All Students not receiving Holy Communion will go directly to their Sunday School Classrooms under the guidance and supervision of the Sunday School Directors, & our Junior/Senior Girls.

3. All Parents are to remain in the Cathedral until Father Tom’s dismissal.

4. The Sunday School Students and Staff will be greeted by an acolyte in the Educational building downstairs. The acolyte will be holding a bowl with andideron. This will allow all Students & Teachers an opportunity to receive their andideron.

5. Students will then proceed to their classrooms.

6. All Students will be provided with refreshments in class.

7. At 12:15 all students will be dismissed. Grades K3- 8th will
be escorted upstairs to the back part of the gymnasium
were parents can pick up their children.

8. When Coffee Hour is in the Small Hall the same
procedure will apply. Children will be dismissed at
12:15 and Grade K3-8th will be escorted to the Small
Hall were parents can pick up their children.

Curriculum

K3 – “Reaching for Jesus” & “God Loves Us”

K4 – “Reaching for Jesus”

K5 – “Happy with God”

1st Grade- “Me and My world”

2nd- “Loving God”

3rd- “Sharing God’s world”

4th- “Growing with God”

5th- “God calls us”

6th- “The Sacraments of the Orthodox Church”
“Teenage Ten Commandments”
“Parables of our Lord”

7th & 8th – ‘ The ecclesiastical Year’
‘Saints & Feast days of the Orthodox Faith”
“The Orthodox Study Bible”
‘Mosaic Icon Project’

9th & 10th Grades –“ The Orthodox Church a well-Kept secret a journey through Church history”
“The Orthodox Study Bible”

11th & 12th Grades-
“The Orthodox Study Bible” – Bible studies
“Come receive the Light”
9th-12th grades will also Follow the New Cana Curriculum

Attendance Policy

It is the policies of both the Archdiocese and the Upstate area Church Basketball Leagues that students who would like to participate in Church League Ball have to be ‘active’ members of their church. Being “active” means attending Church services and Sunday school ‘regularly’.

1. Students must attend at least 50% of Sunday School classes year round. Attendance is calculated on a calendar year basis (January through December). For example, the 2005-2006 school years attendance reverts back to January 2005. So in order to participate in basketball or GOYA for the 2005-2006 school year, a student must have at least 50% attendance going back to
January 2005.

2. If a student misses Sunday School at our church due to being out of town, and he/she attends a service in another city, credit will be given for that day PROVIDED the student brings in a dated bulletin or signed and dated authorization from the visited church. This notification must be turned in to the Sunday School office within 2
weeks after the absence.

3. Credit will be given for attending services on Family Sundays. There will be a log book in the Narthex. The student must sign and date the logbook on that day to receive credit.

4. All students will receive a ‘free’ credit for the Sunday of Pascha.

Policies for Teachers

Teachers must arrive early and attend the Divine Liturgy. This will serve as a wonderful example to our children that promptness is encouraged and important. Teachers, you are truly one of the students’ major role models. They look up to you, and worshipping in the Cathedral where the students can see you reinforces your love to God for them.

Attendance
The attendance will be taken at the beginning of class. Students are to be marked tardy if they come to class late. Please refer to roster for the students that are serving in the Altar. You are to leave your Attendance Book on top of your desk. The Superintendents will collect all Attendance Books during the week and record all attendance on the Master Sheet. You will find your Attendance Books on your desk and ready to go the following Sunday. If a student brings a bulletin from another church or a letter signed by the Priest, Teacher or Superintendent from another church, place the bulleting or signed letter in the Attendance Book so that we may give the student credit for attending that church the previous week.

Materials
The Superintendents will help all teachers with necessary materials. We implore upon all our teachers to give us at least one week’s notice in regards to materials needed for class. You may email us or just leave the materials that you may need printed for the following Sunday on top of your desk in the Materials Folder, along with the Attendance Book. The Superintendents will have everything prepared for you and ready to go the following Sunday. This is also the procedure to follow for any type of materials that you may need for a special project or supplies that you may be low on.

Teachers, we truly appreciate your Loyalty and Devotion, and we would like in every way possible to lessen your pressures, because we are aware that you are all involved in your daily careers, routines, and some of you are also parents. This will allow you to spend more time on preparing your lesson plans. Teachers, please be aware that our students are very intelligent and tend to grasp if teachers are not prepared.

The Superintendents will have many resourceful materials that they will pass out to you each month. We would like for you to please implement the materials along with your lessons. The materials that you will receive will have enough copies for all students on their level, and they will be mostly about special feast days, saints days, and major ecclesiastical holidays.

Prayer
Teachers, you are to have an Opening Prayer and a Closing Prayer during each class time. Prayer is one of the most important means of communication with GOD.

Classrooms
The classrooms are to be left clean after each class. Reserve the last 3 minutes of class time for pick-up and for preparatory prayer. If your classrooms need special attending, please let the Superintendents be aware of your needs.

Grievances
Please do not suffer in silence - if something is bothering you, talk about it with the Superintendents. We understand the sacrifice you are making in giving of your time and talents to teach, and we want to resolve any problems as soon as possible to help make your experience a positive one.

Discipline
We are truly blessed in this community to have very good students. Our students demonstrate respect for their teachers, classmates, classrooms, and books while in Sunday School. However, we know that discipline problems do arise. Please send any and all disruptive students to the Sunday School Office. Please do not involve other teachers, students, or parents. Remember to keep all matters minor or serious in total confidence.