Sixth grade is a pivotal transitional year as “tweens” begin looking ahead to their teenage years with all the changes and choices those years will bring. In Launch, our three-fold goal is:
- To see students GROW IN THEIR FAITH by helping them review fundamental biblical truths and giving them tools to make wise choices based on biblical principles.
- To have students CONNECT with others to facilitate the development of good, godly friendships.
- To have students experience the joy that comes from SERVING OTHERS in their church and community.
The specifics of our program are as follows:
CONNECT:
Since students in the 6th grade class will most likely be together throughout their Junior High and High School years, it is important that they begin to develop friendships with others who will encourage them in the Lord and help keep them accountable in terms of choices they may make in the future. In order to encourage such friendships among students, Launch teachers purposely plan activities that require students to study, work and/or play together. While these activities sometimes take place on Sunday mornings, activities which promote interaction in social settings take place once a month on Sunday afternoons. In most – but not all – cases, students meet at 12:15 P.M. in the Launch classroom and will be brought back to the classroom by 3:15 P.M.
GROW IN FAITH: a two-pronged approach on Sunday mornings
From 9:30 A.M. to 10:45 A.M. students are taught BASIC CHURCH DOCTRINES. Topics include the Bible, God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Salvation and the Church. There is also an emphasis on prayer with opportunities for students to share prayer requests and pray for one another.
From 11:00 A.M. to 12:15 P.M. the teaching is specifically geared to the APPLICATION OF BIBLICAL TRUTHS which are relevant for students entering adolescence (loosely based on Dennis Rainey’s book So You’re Going to be a Teenager). Topics in this class include Traps of Adolescence, Obeying Parents, Attitude, Deceit, Anger, Purity, Peer Pressure, Media, Appearance, the Power of Words, Friendships, Thankfulness, Goals and Witnessing.
SERVE OTHERS:
During the year a number of service activities will be scheduled. Some of these will take place during our regular class time on Sunday mornings while others will take place during our monthly activity time on Sunday afternoons. Our goal is to introduce students to the opportunities that exist to serve others and thus demonstrate the love of Christ to those in our church and community.
FALL 2010 ACTIVITIES:
Sunday, September 26th Kick-off/Getting to know you Party
(for 6th graders & their families)
Friday, October 29th Sugar High Fri. Party
November Service opportunity (TBA)
December 19th Launch Christmas Party
