St. Thomas's Church School

St. Thomas's Church School meets during the 11:00 a.m. Sunday service in a children's play room under the parish hall. Church school members range from roughly 5 to 10 years of age. At present, membership stands at about six. A nursery run by an experienced caregiver is available for children aged 3 weeks to 4 years, and the St. Elmo's Youth Group offers activities for youth 11 years and older.

There are two teachers present at church school each Sunday. The teachers are carefully screened volunteers and members of the clergy. 

The church school runs from the beginning of September to the end of June in the following year.

Learning activities

The church school program consists of a variety of activities that mix fun and learning about the church:

• a craft from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., such as drawing or making cards, which is related to the lesson topic;
• the Lord's Prayer and other prayers at 11:00 a.m.;
• an interactive lesson that encourages the children to locate places on the map, comment on pictures related to the lesson and talk about what makes people good Christians. Lesson topics include Bible stories, the sacraments and people in the Bible and the history of the Christian Church;
• the singing of a hymn with the St. Elmo's Youth Group, which is led by a choir member in the parish hall at about 11:30 a.m.

Participation in church services

The church school and youth group members process into the church behind the choir cross at the beginning of the offertory hymn and remain in church until after Communion. Those children who have not been confirmed receive a blessing instead of Communion. After Communion, the children return to the play room for supervised play until the end of the service.

Special activities

The church school also undertakes some special activities, such as:

• raising funds for World Vision to buy animals and supplies for poorer countries

presenting a tableau of the nativity in Church on the Sunday before Christmas.

Further information

New members of the church school and new volunteer teachers are always welcome.

For further information about Church School, contact Michael Wood through the church office at (416) 979-2323; saintthomas@rogers.com. 

For further information about the nursery, contact the church office.