First Day School

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

First Day School (FDS) 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.

The 2026-27 FDS year began on Sunday, September 13th.
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 for 2025-26

• Ages 0-3: Children engaged in unstructured play in our nursery room. Parents are welcome to stay or attend Meeting for Worship.  
• Ages 3-6: How to Be a Peacemaker, a curriculum designed for our Littles Class that explores inner peace expanding outward to peace with family, friends, community, and the world – building a foundation for conflict management.
• Ages 7-12: How to Be a Peacemaker, a curriculum designed for our Elementary Class that explores inner peace expanding outward to peace with family, friends, community, and the world – building a foundation for conflict management.
• Ages 12-18: Teens are currently forming a youth group and deciding on activities they want to do. They will meet up to three times per month outside of FDS hours. For more information, please contact our children and youth coordinator, Rebecca Malke, at fdsprogram@madisonfriends.org.

Upcoming Activities:
Saturday, September 26: Outdoor Movie Night (6:30-8:30pm) Children and youth have decided on the movie: WALL-E. Lemonade and popcorn will be provided. Bring a blanket, pillow and/or stuffed animal.
Sunday, October 18: Annual Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF party during FDS. We’ll have Halloween themed games, crafts, and face painting. After the party, we’ll “trick-or-treat” during meeting for worship to raise money for children in need.
October: Pumpkin Carving TBD
November: Game Night TBD

Past Activities from the 2025-26 year:
September 13: Start of First Day School and our annual Pancake Breakfast!
Sunday, August 23: Boating on Lake Wingra to celebrate the upcoming FDS year
June 7: End of year celebration and ice cream social after meeting for worship
April 26th: Earth Day. We honored our planet with an all-ages activity
April 5th: Easter egg hunt.
February – March: Mystery Friends Pen Pal Activity.
December 28th – January 25th: Porch Bin Collection. Items were collected for The Allied Food Pantry.

2025:
Sunday, December 14th: Holiday Sharing Program. Children and youth put on a pageant called, Refuge.
Sunday, October 26: Campfire and pumpkin carving and painting event at the meeting house.
Sunday, October 19: 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 to raise money for UNICEF.
Sunday, September 14: Pancake breakfast from 9:30-11am.
Sunday, August 17: Annual boating on Lake Wingra to celebrate the upcoming First Day School year.
Sunday, July 20: Sunday Splash event after rise of meeting. We gathered for a potluck then played outdoor water games.
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.


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

Quaker Religious Education Collaborative