Sunday School

 

 Saint Paraskevi Sunday School  

“And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that
you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2

 

The First Day of Sunday School is September 27, 2026.

Enrollment is on REALM.

 

Click here for Sunday School Registration Form on REALM

 

Children of Saint Paraskevi Stewards are all eligible for Sunday School (There is no mandatory fee for Sunday School enrollment. A small voluntary, suggested donation for supplies is included on the registration form. Registration on REALM will allow us to communicate effectively with families, plan for teachers, classrooms, materials and other resources accordingly).

The Saint Paraskevi Sunday School provides religious education and an Eastern Orthodox Christian foundation for the youth of the community based on The Department of Religious Education (DRE) National Sunday School Curriculum and other resources. The Curriculum Standards provide the foundation for the National Sunday School Curriculum. They outline the key concepts, knowledge, skills, and experiences students should encounter as they grow in the Orthodox Faith from Kindergarten through High School.

 Classes are available for children Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. The education provided by the Sunday School enables children to learn and grow in the Orthodox faith, while practicing the faith in a dynamic environment where the student’s relationship with God can grow. Our program encourages life-long membership in the Church community, which is the body of Christ. Our teachers use various methods and resources to create a classroom full of enthusiasm for learning, while maintaining the suggested curriculum of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Sunday School families are encouraged to arrive for the Divine Liturgy on Sunday promptly at 9:45 a.m.  Our Sunday School classes begin every week following Holy Communion.  Class time is approximately 45 minutes.

Please note, students will be sitting in church with their families and will be able to receive Holy Communion first, to proceed to their classrooms and begin their Sunday School classes.

IMPORTANT: ALL CLASSES CONCLUDE AT 12 Noon. Parents of Pre- K to Grade 4 students may pick up their children from their classrooms. Parents of all other students (Grades 5-8) can wait for their children in the Community Center where there is Coffee hour.

Early Pre-School Sunday School Class for 2 & 3 year old children

Stay, Pray, Sing and Play

This early pre-school Sunday School class meets at the same time as the Sunday School classes (see Calendar below), following Holy Communion until approximately 12 noon. The class is for a parent (or grandparent) to join their  child  with other parents and children to learn about going to church, praying,  singing songs from “Since God Loves You and You Know it Sing Out Loud”( Go to www.SinceGodLovesYou.com), reading Bible stories and coloring/crafting.  Note: One adult per child must participate. Lead parents needed. 

Our Sunday School teachers, staff and classes this year are as follows:

Early Pre-K (2 & 3 year old’s) -Maria Kourounis and Penny Stathakos.

Pre-K and Kindergarten – Lisa Schiede, Eleni Triantafillou and Elizabeth Charalambous

Grades 1 and 2- Haritomeni Karavakis, Erin Antoniou, and. Maria Thomaidis

Grade 3 and 4- Cally Schickler and Cristina Chiciu

Grade 5 and 6 – Angela Fiotodimitrakis and Nina Christoforatos

Grades 7 and 8- Christopher Triantafillou

Grades 9 through 12 – Various TBA

Directors & Staff: Flo Ioannou, Ann Ebe, Christina Papaelias

Sunday School volunteers are always needed. If you have a teaching background, a
passion for the faith or a talent to share or love working with our youth please contact
Father John Vlahos or the Sunday School Directors at sundayschool@stparaskevi.org.

Saint Paraskevi Sunday School

Program Classes For 2026-2027

Sept. 20

No Class/Festival

Sunday After Holy Cross

   

Sept. 27

First Day of Class

1st Sunday of Luke/Ministry  Sunday

   

Oct. 4

Class

2nd Sunday of Luke

   

Oct. 11

Class

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council

   

Oct. 18

Class

Luke the Evangelist

   

Oct. 25

Class

6th Sunday of Luke

   

Nov. 1

Class

5th Sunday of Luke

   

Nov. 8

Class

7th Sunday of Luke

   

Nov. 15

Class

8th Sunday of  Luke/ Pageant -Participation Forms Due for Pageant

   

Nov. 22

Class

9th Sunday of Luke/ Pageant- Leads Rehearsal during Sunday School

   

Nov. 29

No Class

13th Sunday of Luke

   

Dec. 6

Class

10th Sunday of Luke/ Pageant rehearsal until 12:30 pm for Lead roles

   

Dec. 13

Class

11th Sunday of Luke/ Pageant rehearsal in the Church following Liturgy

   

Dec.  20

Class

Christmas Pageant/Sunday Before Nativity

   

Dec. 27

No Class

The Sunday after the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

   

Jan. 3

No Class

Sunday Before Epiphany

   

Jan. 10

Class

Sunday After Epiphany

   

Jan. 17

Class

12th Sunday of Luke

   

Jan. 24

Class

14th Sunday of Luke

   

Jan. 31

Class

15th  Sunday of Luke

   

Feb. 7

Godparent Sunday

16th  Sunday of Matthew/Godparent Sunday

   

Feb. 14

No Class

Sunday of the Canaanite

   

Feb. 21

Class

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee:Triodion Begins

   

Feb.  28

Class

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

   

Mar. 7

Class

Judgement (Meat fare) Sunday

   

Mar. 14

Class

Forgiveness Sunday

   

Mar. 21

Class

Sunday of Orthodoxy/Icon Procession/ Oratorical Festival

   

Mar. 28

Class

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

   

Apr. 4

Class

Sunday of the Holy Cross

   

Apr. 11

Class

Sunday of St. John Climacus

   

Apr. 18

Class

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

   

Apr. 25

No Class

Palm Sunday

   

May 2

No Class

Great and Holy Pascha

   

May 9

Class

St. Thomas Sunday/ Mother's Day

   

May 16

Class

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

   

May 23

Class

Sunday of the Paralytic

   

May 30

No Class

Sunday of Samaritan Woman

   

June 6

Last day of Class

Sunday of the Blind Man    

 

Christmas Pageant

On the Sunday prior to the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Sunday School students present a Christmas Pageant in Church.  Children in Grades Pre-K through 12 will have the opportunity to participate in the Nativity scene on a voluntary basis.  The forms for participation are completed prior to the first week in November prior to rehearsals. Please note rehearsals on the Sunday School Calendar.

Godparents Sunday

On the first Sunday of February our parish celebrates Godparent Sunday. Parishioners, family and friends come and share their faith with their God-child by celebrating the Divine Liturgy, receiving Holy Communion, and enjoying a wonderful brunch together following the Divine Liturgy in the Community Center.  

Great Lent Outreach Mission

Each year during lent, the Orthodox Christian Missions Center (OCMC) distributes Lenten Missions Boxes to Orthodox Churches throughout the country. The Orthodox Christian Missions Center is a Pan-Orthodox administrative body which coordinates the charitable activities for Orthodox throughout the world.  A box is given to each student at the beginning of Lent.  It is hoped that during the Lenten period, the student will make the effort to fill the box with monies earned through chores or allowances and in doing so assist others who are in need of our financial assistance.  The sacrifice of a few coins a day could then accumulate to a substantial amount by the time the boxes are collected after Holy Pascha. 

Oratorical Festival

Our parish participates in the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival  held during March each year for the Parish Level following the Divine Liturgy. Students in 7th  through 12th  grade are encouraged to participate. The Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival provides teenagers the opportunity to learn, write, and speak about their Orthodox Faith, Church, and Heritage. This process will enhance their understanding and appreciation of their identity as Greek Orthodox Christians, and will cultivate spiritual growth and maturity.  For more information go to :  St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival: https://www.goarch.org/en/oratorical

Lenten Retreat on Saturday of Saint Lazarus

Our parish youth 2nd to 7th grade is invited to participate in the Lenten Retreat. The Retreat begins with the families gathering in church for the Divine Liturgy for Saturday of Saint Lazarus.  Following the Liturgy, there is a Lenten brunch for the community, in the Community Center.  Following the brunch, there is  Palm making, a craft, a Lenten discussion and Confession. Parents are welcomed to stay and help make Palms.

 

Mission Statement 

The mission of the Saint Paraskevi Sunday School is to nurture, instruct and direct students growing in the Orthodox faith by fostering a closer relationship with God and one another, by following Christ in Christian living “the life in Christ”.

Education of faith is a life-long journey that starts in the family home and is enhanced, nurtured and fulfilled in the community of faith, the household of God, which is the Church. The goal of the Orthodox teaching is for each person to become an icon, a living image of God, a person who lives in continual fellowship – communion – with God, reflecting a particular way – the Christ-like way – of knowing and living in the world.

 

Click on the Links below for additional online Religious Education Resources to Foster the Spiritual Life of Your Children

Department of Religious Education (DRE)  Sunday Sermon Series - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Kids Sunday Sermon Series - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Did You Know? - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Kids Holy Week Series - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Nativity Sermon Series - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Kids Nativity Series - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Children:  http://ww1.antiochian.org/christianeducation/letusattend

Saint or Feast (Online Chapel):  https://www.goarch.org/educators/churchschool

Y2AM Live the Word:  https://www.y2am.org/athome

Click here to access the Scholarship Opportunities and Application

 

High School Students- Grades 11-12 interested in assisting in the Sunday School classrooms should fill out a registration form on REALM and contact by email the Directors at "sundayschool@stparaskevi.org"  for more information.