First Day School

Sundays during Meeting for Worship
11:10am – 12:15pm

The First Day Program seeks to nurture young people’s connection to their inner Light and the Meeting community, within a safe and welcoming setting. The program helps young people build friendships and grow in skills of relationship and responsible community life. We remain awake to inner guidance, and trust that children and youth are also guided to receive that which nurtures their lives.

Believing that people learn when curiosity and creativity are engaged, we teach through story, art, group discovery, discussion and service that may nurture that of God in each. We show respect for each participant by supporting differing needs, abilities, emotional development, and learning styles. Each class is taught by two adult Friends who are centered in Quaker life. We believe our lived example is a profound way of passing our tradition along.

We began our new FDS year on Sunday, September 15th and ended on June 1st
Summer activities with children and youth are currently taking place. We gather downstairs in the Meetinghouse and on the back patio for summer games, crafts, stories, and play. A nursery is also available for infants and toddlers ages 0-3.

Classes from 2024-25

  • Ages 0-3: Children engage in unstructured play in our nursery room. Parents are welcome to stay or attend Meeting for Worship.  
  • Ages 4-6: Children learn Quaker faith and practice through stories, activities, and centering practices. We seek to nurture community by helping children interact with kindness and respect. This year we’re using the Godly Play curriculum.
  • Ages 7-11: This year’s curriculum is Quaker Time Machine. Each week, a member from the meeting house comes dressed in costume as a famous Quaker. Just some of the people who will be visiting us this year: George Fox, Margaret Fell, John Woolman, Alice Paul, and Joan Baez. Classes are active and involve conversations with adult Friends and include art, games, and centering practices.
  • Ages 12-18: Through discussion, activities and service projects, youth learn Quaker faith and practice, build healthy friendships, and serve the wider community. This year students will be using the curriculum Quaker Affirmations along with monthly antiracism lessons.

Upcoming Activities:
June 15th: Children and youth will make lemonade then set up a lemonade stand along the bike path behind the meetinghouse. They will hand out lemonade to all those walking or biking.
June 22nd: Children and youth will be making slime! They will have the opportunity to create a variety of slimes, including purple, green, rainbow, and even glitter slime. Best of all, they get to take home their unique creations.

Past Activities:
Sunday, June 8: Ice Cream Social after rise of meeting
Sunday, June 1: Teacher Appreciation Potluck to celebrate all our educators in First Day School
April 20: Easter Egg Hunt for children and youth during First Day School
April 13: Environmental Justice with Children: Action and Appreciation versus Anxiety.
March 16: Making Social Media Safe, Linda Hall and Amy Marsman, Office of Children’s Mental Health (WI)
February 16: Conflict Resolution in the Family, John and Robin Greenler, Madison Friends Meeting
February 2 – March 2: Mystery Friends, an intergenerational pen pal activity
Jan. 31, 2025: Game night at the meeting house
Dec. 29, 2024 – Jan. 19, 2025: Porch Bin Collection. We collected items for Open Doors for Refugees.
December 15th: Holiday program. During meeting for worship a performance of Las Posadas was performed by the children and youth of MMM.
December 1st: A Nifty Gifty holiday crafting party. Children, youth and adults made gifts for family and friends made from recycled materials. After crafting they wrapped their gifts.
November 29th at 6:30pm: We watched the 1983 version of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, at the meeting house.
November 17th from 11:10-noon: Children and youth learned how to turn plastic shopping bags into plarn (plastic yarn) that can be crocheted into items like purses and coasters.
October 20th from 11:10-noon: Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF party. We spent the morning playing fun Halloween games (with prizes!) then after meeting for worship children and youth went “trick-or-treating” amongst Friends in the meeting house raising almost $300 for UNICEF!
September 15th: Pancake Breakfast to celebrate the first day of FDS.
August 25th: Boating on Lake Wingra to celebrate the upcoming FDS year!

For more information, email the Children’s Program Coordinator at FDSprogram@madisonfriends.org.

First Day School Registration Form
You can also receive a hardcopy at the Meetinghouse. See our program coordinator for more information

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