Church School
Panagiota Perlegis (Director)
The Church School has the task to provide religious education to all the young members of the Parish, ages 4 to 18. The students are divided in classes according to age. Each class has a teacher and in some cases an assistant teacher. The Church School is organized under the auspices of the School Board; the members of the Board (parents of the students and volunteers) work together with the Pastor and the Director to ensure the efficient enrichment of the School. The Church School follows the curriculum of the Religious Education Department of the Archdiocese. All teachers attend monthly meetings with the Priest and the Director as well as Bible Studies, seminars and religious services for their personal edification. Church School events include participating in the Sunday Service, attending the dialectical sermon with the Pastor, receiving the sacraments of the Church (when properly prepared), assisting the needy (including the OCMC, Saint Basil's Academy, Christian missions and other charities), participating in lectures, seminars and retreats, organizing the Christmas Pageant, the Youth Choir and volunteering for the Church. Significant events for the Church School include the Beginning of the Year Aghiasmos (Blessing), Registration and Breakfast, the Visit to Saint Basil's Academy, the Religious Education Conference, the Christmas Pageant, the Godparents' Sunday Breakfast, the Lenten Retreat, the Saturday of Lazarus Confessions, Breakfast and Palm Weaving, the Prosforon and Kolyva Workshops and the Graduation - Moving Up Ceremony.
2022 Oratorical Festival
Public speaking is a great gift that we use no matter what we chose to do in our lives. And the annual Saint John Chrysostom’s Oratorical ensures that our students cultivate the gift of public speaking, as well as their theological knowledge and their faith. Studies have indicated that participants exemplify a greater possibility of success, in their academic and professional career. I also write recommendation letters for all participants for the College applications, for scholarships and for job interviews. The participants also recognize that our faith is a gift that we have in our hearts and we share with others, which is a wonderful characteristic for our youth, who will be, in the future, parents, spouses and people of God who practice their faith in their everyday lives.
Our Saint Demetrios Oratorical Festival will take place on Saturday, March 20th at 12 noon. The links below include the topics as well as the main directions for participation. For further assistance, we hold our annual preparatory public speaking seminar, which this year will take place on Sunday, March 7th after Holy Communion, in the Church Hall. The participants will learn basic skills on public speaking and they will also discuss their topics; we will assist them with ideas to enrich their essays and deliver their presentations eloquently and effectively.
For further information, please, contact Mr. Tom Arianas and Mrs. Panagiota Perlegis, as well as me and your Church School teachers. President’s Week recess is a perfect time to work on their topics and make the most of their free time to enrich their faith and skills.
For 2022 topics, please click the following link: https://www.goarch.org/oratorical
To view the Oratorical Festival Manual, all forms, and all information, click the following link: https://www.goarch.org/-/st-john-chrysostom-oratorical-festival
Sunday School started with registration in September and first class on September 20th with Agiasmos. Classes will be held in the Hall and in the two buildings of the School. We will keep all safety measures, safe distances and health protocols as is the case for Greek School as well. At the same time, Mr. Tom Arianas will hold a Friday Orthodox Study Class at 7 pm for all the High School students, which will be replenished with guest speakers and interactive learning. Father Nikiforos will be there for pastoral discussions and to answer questions as well. When the pandemic is behind us, the class will be followed by social time for the High School youth, and we are already putting together some exciting activities for our children. This way, we are able to space out all our Church School students so that on Sunday we dedicate the program to the younger ones, and everyone can also attend Church with their family. We will keep it for the future and for our Community Center: Friday to be a day for our youth to learn, to play and to engage with one another.
• Staff and students will be asked to stay home if:
- They have tested positive for or are showing symptoms.
- They have recently had close contact with a person with COVID-19. They will be asked to stay at home for two weeks and
provide a negative test result.
• Sanitization of classrooms, bathrooms and shared spaces according to CDC guidelines.
• Mandatory temperature screening for all individuals entering the building using a non-contact infrared thermometer.
• If a student shows a temperature greater than 100.0* F, she/he may not go to class and must be picked up immediately from school.
Parent/guardian must wait until the temperature screening is completed.
• Staggered arrival and dismissal times will be placed to reduce crowding.
• All students must be dropped off at school in an outdoor area with social-distancing markers. Parents and guardians will not be
allowed into the building.
• Hand sanitizing at the entrance of each classroom (school building and church hall).
• All students, teachers, and staff members must wear a mask upon entry to the school building/church hall up until dismissal (masks
will be available if needed).
• Eating and drinking will not be allowed during instruction time. NO WATER FOUNTAIN. Water break (if needed) will be
outside the classroom, in the out-door's canopy area, and with the supervision of the teacher or secretary, under safe social distance.
• Each classroom and every school area used by students is measured and marked for required social distancing.
• Student desks arranged 6 feet from each other in rows, not facing each other.
• Any student that presents flu-like symptoms during class will be moved to a supervised dedicated room from other students until
she/he will be picked up by their parents/guardian.
Embracing All Abilities
Did you know that research shows that spiritual connectedness is extremely beneficial to the well-being and quality of life for individuals with disabilities? In particular, children with disabilities oftentimes face barriers in engaging within their communities, such as in school, on the playground, with their peers, and even within the church. Occupational therapists focus on the importance of helping individuals engage in activities that can bring greater meaning to their daily lives.
Beginning later this month, Saint Demetrios will sponsor a community initiative that will provide our parishioners access to discussion and resources regarding how all can play a very important role in making the church an inclusive environment for all, as the Orthodox faith intends.
Stephanie Fontanez and Nicolette Mallios are graduate occupational therapy students of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University that are excited to work with Saint Demetrios in this initiative. They believe in the importance of immersing children in the loving environment of the church to foster growth, development, and a healthy relationship with God and, of course, with each other.
February 21st, February 28th, March 21st: During Sunday School class, Stephanie and Nicolette will spend time with grades 1 – 6 students to discuss what it means to be kind to one another, and why it’s important to embrace those who might be different.
April 9th: An informative presentation for Sunday and Greek school teachers will be via a live Zoom discussion (Zoom link will be sent at a later date). In this discussion, Stephanie and Nicolette will present helpful strategies that can be used in the classroom to enable participation of children with varying needs.
Date to be determined: A video presentation for all parishioners will be provided that will focus on uniting the community through awareness of individuals with different abilities and talents within the church.